Legends of the Waker: Remnants of Old
Chapter LVII: Of Murder and Torture
(Link)
Hunger, thirst, and fatigue plagued my will as I stumbled after Trisyrt. I hadn't eaten since I'd left the ship, nor drank, and I hadn't slept since the night I'd fallen in love with Zelda, despite the dirt nap I'd taken. Unless you counted falling unconscious for a short time. It was too much. The ghost had refreshed me, but that had only helped so much. How had the Hero of Time survived?
How was I going to survive?
And something else was bothering me. I kept chewing over what had just happened. I didn't like it. They could be leading me into a trap with no intention to let Zelda live. I had to set things straight.
We reached a door much like the one I'd opened earlier, all innate carvings and runes. Trisyrt spoke the same words I'd used, and the door creaked open, much slower than when I'd used them. Before the man could walk through, I grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.
"I need to speak with your master."
"My master will not be bothered will trivial matters. He will speak to you when he so deigns to lower himself."
"If he values your life and his own, he will have to prostrate his rear presently."
A pair of eyes like brilliant rubies and a mocking voice colored Trisyrt into the other person. Darunia? "What is it you require now, O valiant hero?"
"You threatened the life of my love, and by doing so threatened my own life," I growled with fists tight, ready. "Now it is my turn. I hold in my hands the existence of ALL FREE PEOPLE. If you so much as mistreat Zelda with a scratch, an unkind word, a missed meal, I will snuff out you and all Gorons like a sputtering candle flame under a driving downpour. Am..."
"...I..."
"Clear?" I spat out the last word through gritted teeth. Darunia didn't respond. He scowled, relinquished Trisyrt and left. Suddenly as I looked at his face, looking so young for a moment, I realized he wasn't much older than me. Hardness crossed his face, and the thought vanished as he spoke.
"Are you done wasting time?" Trisyrt asked, striding through the door without waiting for an answer or even looking to see if I were following.
Trisyrt called out more words in the Goron tongue without turning and it shut behind me with the same slow yawn it had opened with. We stood in complete darkness now. No fires, torches, or lanterns cut through the blackness. My guide seemed unconcerned, walking from memory and leaving me to stumble after him blindly.
Or so he thought.
The Triforce lit the way, illuminating an arching tunnel about eleven feet apart and six feet high. The pure yellow light was caught and twisted red by long, swirling veins of ruby gems running through the walls. Behind and before, there wasn't much to see. The tunnel went on unchanging for what looked like an eternity. Not wanting to seem dependent on the light, I put it out.
We walked on, and my burdens once again came to tie themselves around my neck. My throat rasped, my stomach grumbled, my legs buckled with weariness. I would soon be in no condition to fight. Trisyrt couldn't be much better.
But he might have food and water. He would never give them to me. I'd have to take them by force. Perhaps I could kill Trisyrt, get what I needed, and run ahead to rescue Zelda. Could I? Really? Could I slide my sword into his back?
Could I murder?
(Zelda)
The Goron city was incredible. Somehow massive deposits of rubies must have been discovered, for nearly every building I saw was made from it. The city was situated in a massive, domed cavern. A ring of massive torches at the roof seemed to serve as a makeshift sun, flooding the area down below with waves of light, which sparked off the brilliant buildings.
The Bellen-Der carried me high over head, now bound by some thin webbing and unable to fight. I was brought to one of the few plain, brickwork buildings and dropped painfully to my knees. A piercing whistle shook the air and my captors took off swiftly. Six massive brown skinned creatures with round bodies, egg shaped heads, stubby legs, and powerful arms came and encircled me, gawking.
Gorons? They struck a vague memory of dealing with very similar creatures before. But they had been merchants. These Gorons wore thick, green body armor laced with more of the ever-present rubies. Each also carried a weapon of some sort. Two carried hammers, one an ax, and the final three bore maces. All red weapons, often glittering in the torchlight. But weren't Gorons a peaceful race?
One of the ancient books my mother had left me described the various races of the once mighty land of Hyrule. It called Gorons a peaceful, brotherly race, though when they spoke I soon saw this tradition was lost.
I had no more than a few seconds for all this to flash through my mind before they began to discuss me.
"She's so thin and small and pale. She must be horribly ill. What could Darunia want with her?"
"What's that brown stuff growing from her head?"
"Look at those arms! I'll bet she can't even lift three hundred!"
The one with the ax put an end to their ponderings with sharp orders. "Stop gawking, fools. She isn't a Goron. She comes from the water-land Above. Take her inside while I report to His Highness." Rough hands lifted me easily into the air. It only took one Goron to carry me. The others milled behind awkwardly. I wondered about their leader, 'His Highness'. Was that Trisyrt? His red eyes bored into me again. He'd seen me and walked on, as if I was no more important than an insect.
After walking through several long corridors, each filled with doors that seemed to lead to even more hallways, we arrived it a jail cell. There were several others lining the wall, each with thick, powerful bars much stronger than necessary for a thin girl of eighteen summers.
As soon as I was untied and thrown in, I reached for my sword. Somewhere I'd lost it. It had to be somewhere outside the first door, when I'd been using it.
I was all but helpless now, entirely dependent on Link to rescue me. Our strange, sudden love was untested. I didn't really know him very well, but I knew he would come.
I was soon fed, a massive bowl and jug placed through a moving flap in the bars that had had to be locked up behind my food because I could crawl through it. The portions were, of course, Goron-sized, and far too much for me, but it was so delicious and well cooked that I wondered if I would be Goron-sized too by the time Link arrived.
But that wasn't an issue for long.
A surprisingly thin Goron wearing the familiar body armor arrived while I was lying back after my meal and wondering where Link was now. If he was thinking about me, if he missed me...I hoped he was okay. He seemed to be good at getting out of tight spots.
Unlike the helm of the other Gorons, which curved to match the shape of their heads, this one was more angular, jutting upward from his thin face. He carried a long whip as well as a spear and a mace. The whip he cracked constantly at the other Gorons, though it did little more to them than bounce off their sturdy hides.
I shuddered at the thought of how much more damage it would to mine.
I was personally yanked out by my now almost waist length hair. He spun me around painfully and held me at arm's length, smiling with a glint of humor and a heavy measure of malice. He spoke with a quiet, rasping voice that was somehow worse than a loud, angry one. This man simply didn't care about me, only his own joy in the creation of suffering.
"Are you ready for your torture? I hope so, because you don't have a choice."
Chapter LVIII: The Search
(Fado)
As I walked through the door, I could see the blood around my eyes as a fading green. Full of life where it spouted from my damaged eyes, but soon dying as it ran out of oxygen. The ghost captain was waiting for me. I pulled up my bandages and looked around. He stood, seemingly taller even than before, an immense pillar. A pillar of red. His body was an outline of it. I couldn't see much else of the room, just a few planks that had known the touch of living beings recently. The rest was darkness. With my limited sight I could only see life and wind.
"Why did you do this?" I asked, trying to control my pain but unable to keep my voice from faltering slightly. "Why no just kill me? What do you get out of this?"
"Be patient. You are going to die. I can't have you seeing your way out to escape, can I? Being stuck on this ship is rather dull. We need music to liven things up. But first, your eyes. On a shelf over there," he said, pointing to my right, "You'll find a bottle. Go get it."
"If I refuse?"
"You'll probably bleed to death, and deprive us of the joy of killing you. That's about it, really. I couldn't care less if you go or don't."
I walked over to the wall and pressed my palms flat. The whole thing was a blank. I couldn't see this jar anywhere, nor could I see a shelf. I breathed on the wall and a faint yellow outline of wallpaper appeared, covered in a spade pattern. I also spotted the end of a shelf. I leaned towards it and breathed out again, right on a glass bottle that appeared violet.
I grabbed it and the captain spoke again. "Now pour it over your eyes, Faddie-paddie."
I couldn't see the liquid as it poured down, making it impossible to flinch. But I felt the pain, like an acid wash, burning into me. I dropped to my knees, the agony driving more tears and blood from my exhausted eyes
For one moment, I could see again. Blue liquid all over my face, clothes, and the floor. Bright green wallpaper with a silver spade pattern. Even though it was only lit by a small lantern, the light stabbed into me and I was about to squeeze my eyes shut when my sight went away again. But the aching and the flow of blood were gone. I threw off my bandage and it hit the ground with a wet plop.
The captain cupped both hands around his mouth as though he were about to call someone. I shouted wordlessly and he looked down at me. I wasn't going to let losing my sight slow me down. It would serve as a lesson. Never, ever leave yourself at the enemy's mercy. No matter what.
A flicker of intuition struck me. "You wanted music?"
I pulled out my violin and began to play. The Wind God's Aria burst across the room and suddenly the captain reeled as if under a rain of blows. A clear burst flashed outward across the walls and was gone.
I couldn't remember closing the door, but it was creaking open. Holly burst in and I grinned at her. She jumped in shock. Still grinning, I spoke. "Getting your eyes stabbed out isn't as fun as it looks."
(Mako)
Earsplitting noise roared across the plains. The cracking stretched down the mountain, opening it wide. Faceless cried out in panic and I leapt for her tree.
And nearly fell out.
From the middle of her face (or where her face should have been, anyway) a long, green hose was growing that stretched down to a tree branch in front of the one she was perched on. The hose terminated with a wider end like a suction cup.
The trees all around us scattered and left. I couldn't see any sign of the Marauders. Our tree, the only one left, went flying higher into the air. I slipped suddenly and barely managed to grab on to the bottom of another branch, and was hanging over the now distant grass far below.
Gripping the rough bark tightly with sweaty hands, I called out, "What's going on? An earthquake?"
"No! A hatching!" Faceless cried back, her voice somehow muffled.
Then it hit me. The great purplish rounded things weren't mountains.
They were eggs.
A massive crash, louder than anything so far, burst through the air, followed by a high whistling.
A fully formed bird took to the air, too massive to look at all at once. Mountain sized. As it flapped it's wings and sent gushes of air that launched us spinning, I recognized it. Back in the forest, there is a mysterious bird called the Balawi. We don't know where they come from. No eggs or babies had ever been found from the small birds.
I was watching in awe when my wet grip gave way. I was flung air born for a moment and then rushing downward. Too fast. What could I do? Fado would know, but I didn't. My bones would smash. My stomach lurched as the purple grass grew close enough to smell...
And the tree caught me, my legs dangling as I grabbed a branch with my arms. "You should be more careful, Maker," Faceless muttered, still muffled. I breathed a sigh of relief, calmly put myself in a safer position, and vomited over the side of the tree.
I turned my attention back to the green sky. The Balawi bird was flying into it, right where the clouds burst from. Back into my world. And that, I knew, was where I had to go.
Chapter LIX: The New Hero
(Medli)
The ship creaked and groaned as it lifted into the air, much faster than when Gepqa's defense had been activated. I shuddered. That horrible night was still strongly etched in my memory. I'd brushed it all aside. I'd refused even to worry over what happened to my mother. Whatever Laruto might have wanted, I'd been determined to leave without speaking to her once and succeeded completely.
A line of massive, whitish blue squid monsters blocked our path, but I wasn't afraid. I refused to let the fear grip my chest, squeeze my stomach, dizzy my brain.
Or tried to.
Shiek laughed out loud, beside me on the stern (rear, for you non-shiply types) deck, as we rocketed straight for the row of them, and I found myself laughing with him. We were flying, after all. As Laruto would say, this was my world, even with the sky threatening rain. And I was sick of being afraid. I let all my anxieties free with that one releasing laugh. The pirates had tied everyone to the mast with long ropes around the waist, and were now bustling around the cannons, preparing for a battle, though there shouldn't be one. The boat could fly far higher than the monsters should be able to reach.
-Octos-
But it wasn't going more than ten feet higher than the nearest creature, Octo. The ship gave a small start and rose a little upward, but it wasn't enough. A massive, sinewy tentacle stretched out and slapped the starboard side of the ship. It rocked crazily for a moment, sending Shiek and I zooming over the railing to stare down into the waves for a moment before swinging back. Suddenly I heard a rushing of feet. Cufell burst from the lower decks and leapt onto the railing, firing arrows as he ran.
Another tentacle shot out, an ashen whip that wrapped all the way around the center of the ship and began to squeeze. Cannon report boomed through the air and the limb twitched. I could hear hacking swords and flitting arrows from the other side.
The tentacle fell away, leaving wrecked woodwork and injured pirates in its wake, but two more came from either side and wrapped around the middle again.
A low cracking began, growing louder and louder till it grew thunderous, and then the ship was broken, and we were being flung in all directions. I couldn't make out anything but a rain of wooden splinters, small and large. Everything happened so fast; I had soon hit the water. I struggled against my rope, but I was still tied to the mast.
Going under.
(Laruto)
I could see the ship wasn't going high or fast enough. We were going to run right into the Octos! "What's going on?" I called out to Zelda "We're not going to make it!"
"Something's wrong with the amplifier. I-" her last words were cut off by the shattering of the large diamond. Zelda fell backward covered in slashes from the razor sharp fragments. Expecting the ship to fall straightaway, I was surprised when it went higher, but I knew it couldn't last.
The ship groaned as I ran to Zelda, and began checking her wounds. "Take cover," She whispered. "And grab the magic armor. The ship's about to give." Before I could react, the ship snapped in half, sending us tumbling into the water.
Home. The place I belonged. In the water.
I easily spotted the armor, but I couldn't find any sight of Zelda. Others were crying out, for me or someone else, it didn't matter. With the Octos killing everything that came close, and the shore of our island still distant...
It was going to be a long night.
Unfortunately, the scattered lost would have to wait. The monsters had to come down first, or I would have nowhere to put the pirates. The odds hit me staggeringly then. One Zora girl against at least a dozen of these behemoths?
I looked up at the evening sky, storm clouds roiling, their bruised purple color merging strangely with the warm orange of the setting sun. At least there was going to be a downpour. That made the world of air easier to take. But it would make things worse for everyone I would be fighting for.
It was going to be a long night.
(Shiek)
I cut my rope as I fell, using Sasuke's sword. I'd kept my best friend's prized weapon without a second thought, knowing he'd want me to have it. Even though I couldn't use it with any skill. I soon lost sight of Medli, but I knew she had to be close to the mast, with no way to free herself from its weight. She was on her own, however. The mast would float.
It was the others, scattered throughout the sea that worried me. I could see two fins raking the crashing waves and knew Laruto was going to be busy taking out the strange, octopus-like creatures. Somehow, I knew it was time for me to be a hero.
"I'll save you," I whispered, to everyone who was about to become squid food. The impossible task thundered over my head, seemingly out of reach. But as I treaded water, I knew it was true.
"I'll save you all."
Chapter LVII: Of Murder and Torture
(Link)
Hunger, thirst, and fatigue plagued my will as I stumbled after Trisyrt. I hadn't eaten since I'd left the ship, nor drank, and I hadn't slept since the night I'd fallen in love with Zelda, despite the dirt nap I'd taken. Unless you counted falling unconscious for a short time. It was too much. The ghost had refreshed me, but that had only helped so much. How had the Hero of Time survived?
How was I going to survive?
And something else was bothering me. I kept chewing over what had just happened. I didn't like it. They could be leading me into a trap with no intention to let Zelda live. I had to set things straight.
We reached a door much like the one I'd opened earlier, all innate carvings and runes. Trisyrt spoke the same words I'd used, and the door creaked open, much slower than when I'd used them. Before the man could walk through, I grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.
"I need to speak with your master."
"My master will not be bothered will trivial matters. He will speak to you when he so deigns to lower himself."
"If he values your life and his own, he will have to prostrate his rear presently."
A pair of eyes like brilliant rubies and a mocking voice colored Trisyrt into the other person. Darunia? "What is it you require now, O valiant hero?"
"You threatened the life of my love, and by doing so threatened my own life," I growled with fists tight, ready. "Now it is my turn. I hold in my hands the existence of ALL FREE PEOPLE. If you so much as mistreat Zelda with a scratch, an unkind word, a missed meal, I will snuff out you and all Gorons like a sputtering candle flame under a driving downpour. Am..."
"...I..."
"Clear?" I spat out the last word through gritted teeth. Darunia didn't respond. He scowled, relinquished Trisyrt and left. Suddenly as I looked at his face, looking so young for a moment, I realized he wasn't much older than me. Hardness crossed his face, and the thought vanished as he spoke.
"Are you done wasting time?" Trisyrt asked, striding through the door without waiting for an answer or even looking to see if I were following.
Trisyrt called out more words in the Goron tongue without turning and it shut behind me with the same slow yawn it had opened with. We stood in complete darkness now. No fires, torches, or lanterns cut through the blackness. My guide seemed unconcerned, walking from memory and leaving me to stumble after him blindly.
Or so he thought.
The Triforce lit the way, illuminating an arching tunnel about eleven feet apart and six feet high. The pure yellow light was caught and twisted red by long, swirling veins of ruby gems running through the walls. Behind and before, there wasn't much to see. The tunnel went on unchanging for what looked like an eternity. Not wanting to seem dependent on the light, I put it out.
We walked on, and my burdens once again came to tie themselves around my neck. My throat rasped, my stomach grumbled, my legs buckled with weariness. I would soon be in no condition to fight. Trisyrt couldn't be much better.
But he might have food and water. He would never give them to me. I'd have to take them by force. Perhaps I could kill Trisyrt, get what I needed, and run ahead to rescue Zelda. Could I? Really? Could I slide my sword into his back?
Could I murder?
(Zelda)
The Goron city was incredible. Somehow massive deposits of rubies must have been discovered, for nearly every building I saw was made from it. The city was situated in a massive, domed cavern. A ring of massive torches at the roof seemed to serve as a makeshift sun, flooding the area down below with waves of light, which sparked off the brilliant buildings.
The Bellen-Der carried me high over head, now bound by some thin webbing and unable to fight. I was brought to one of the few plain, brickwork buildings and dropped painfully to my knees. A piercing whistle shook the air and my captors took off swiftly. Six massive brown skinned creatures with round bodies, egg shaped heads, stubby legs, and powerful arms came and encircled me, gawking.
Gorons? They struck a vague memory of dealing with very similar creatures before. But they had been merchants. These Gorons wore thick, green body armor laced with more of the ever-present rubies. Each also carried a weapon of some sort. Two carried hammers, one an ax, and the final three bore maces. All red weapons, often glittering in the torchlight. But weren't Gorons a peaceful race?
One of the ancient books my mother had left me described the various races of the once mighty land of Hyrule. It called Gorons a peaceful, brotherly race, though when they spoke I soon saw this tradition was lost.
I had no more than a few seconds for all this to flash through my mind before they began to discuss me.
"She's so thin and small and pale. She must be horribly ill. What could Darunia want with her?"
"What's that brown stuff growing from her head?"
"Look at those arms! I'll bet she can't even lift three hundred!"
The one with the ax put an end to their ponderings with sharp orders. "Stop gawking, fools. She isn't a Goron. She comes from the water-land Above. Take her inside while I report to His Highness." Rough hands lifted me easily into the air. It only took one Goron to carry me. The others milled behind awkwardly. I wondered about their leader, 'His Highness'. Was that Trisyrt? His red eyes bored into me again. He'd seen me and walked on, as if I was no more important than an insect.
After walking through several long corridors, each filled with doors that seemed to lead to even more hallways, we arrived it a jail cell. There were several others lining the wall, each with thick, powerful bars much stronger than necessary for a thin girl of eighteen summers.
As soon as I was untied and thrown in, I reached for my sword. Somewhere I'd lost it. It had to be somewhere outside the first door, when I'd been using it.
I was all but helpless now, entirely dependent on Link to rescue me. Our strange, sudden love was untested. I didn't really know him very well, but I knew he would come.
I was soon fed, a massive bowl and jug placed through a moving flap in the bars that had had to be locked up behind my food because I could crawl through it. The portions were, of course, Goron-sized, and far too much for me, but it was so delicious and well cooked that I wondered if I would be Goron-sized too by the time Link arrived.
But that wasn't an issue for long.
A surprisingly thin Goron wearing the familiar body armor arrived while I was lying back after my meal and wondering where Link was now. If he was thinking about me, if he missed me...I hoped he was okay. He seemed to be good at getting out of tight spots.
Unlike the helm of the other Gorons, which curved to match the shape of their heads, this one was more angular, jutting upward from his thin face. He carried a long whip as well as a spear and a mace. The whip he cracked constantly at the other Gorons, though it did little more to them than bounce off their sturdy hides.
I shuddered at the thought of how much more damage it would to mine.
I was personally yanked out by my now almost waist length hair. He spun me around painfully and held me at arm's length, smiling with a glint of humor and a heavy measure of malice. He spoke with a quiet, rasping voice that was somehow worse than a loud, angry one. This man simply didn't care about me, only his own joy in the creation of suffering.
"Are you ready for your torture? I hope so, because you don't have a choice."
Chapter LVIII: The Search
(Fado)
As I walked through the door, I could see the blood around my eyes as a fading green. Full of life where it spouted from my damaged eyes, but soon dying as it ran out of oxygen. The ghost captain was waiting for me. I pulled up my bandages and looked around. He stood, seemingly taller even than before, an immense pillar. A pillar of red. His body was an outline of it. I couldn't see much else of the room, just a few planks that had known the touch of living beings recently. The rest was darkness. With my limited sight I could only see life and wind.
"Why did you do this?" I asked, trying to control my pain but unable to keep my voice from faltering slightly. "Why no just kill me? What do you get out of this?"
"Be patient. You are going to die. I can't have you seeing your way out to escape, can I? Being stuck on this ship is rather dull. We need music to liven things up. But first, your eyes. On a shelf over there," he said, pointing to my right, "You'll find a bottle. Go get it."
"If I refuse?"
"You'll probably bleed to death, and deprive us of the joy of killing you. That's about it, really. I couldn't care less if you go or don't."
I walked over to the wall and pressed my palms flat. The whole thing was a blank. I couldn't see this jar anywhere, nor could I see a shelf. I breathed on the wall and a faint yellow outline of wallpaper appeared, covered in a spade pattern. I also spotted the end of a shelf. I leaned towards it and breathed out again, right on a glass bottle that appeared violet.
I grabbed it and the captain spoke again. "Now pour it over your eyes, Faddie-paddie."
I couldn't see the liquid as it poured down, making it impossible to flinch. But I felt the pain, like an acid wash, burning into me. I dropped to my knees, the agony driving more tears and blood from my exhausted eyes
For one moment, I could see again. Blue liquid all over my face, clothes, and the floor. Bright green wallpaper with a silver spade pattern. Even though it was only lit by a small lantern, the light stabbed into me and I was about to squeeze my eyes shut when my sight went away again. But the aching and the flow of blood were gone. I threw off my bandage and it hit the ground with a wet plop.
The captain cupped both hands around his mouth as though he were about to call someone. I shouted wordlessly and he looked down at me. I wasn't going to let losing my sight slow me down. It would serve as a lesson. Never, ever leave yourself at the enemy's mercy. No matter what.
A flicker of intuition struck me. "You wanted music?"
I pulled out my violin and began to play. The Wind God's Aria burst across the room and suddenly the captain reeled as if under a rain of blows. A clear burst flashed outward across the walls and was gone.
I couldn't remember closing the door, but it was creaking open. Holly burst in and I grinned at her. She jumped in shock. Still grinning, I spoke. "Getting your eyes stabbed out isn't as fun as it looks."
(Mako)
Earsplitting noise roared across the plains. The cracking stretched down the mountain, opening it wide. Faceless cried out in panic and I leapt for her tree.
And nearly fell out.
From the middle of her face (or where her face should have been, anyway) a long, green hose was growing that stretched down to a tree branch in front of the one she was perched on. The hose terminated with a wider end like a suction cup.
The trees all around us scattered and left. I couldn't see any sign of the Marauders. Our tree, the only one left, went flying higher into the air. I slipped suddenly and barely managed to grab on to the bottom of another branch, and was hanging over the now distant grass far below.
Gripping the rough bark tightly with sweaty hands, I called out, "What's going on? An earthquake?"
"No! A hatching!" Faceless cried back, her voice somehow muffled.
Then it hit me. The great purplish rounded things weren't mountains.
They were eggs.
A massive crash, louder than anything so far, burst through the air, followed by a high whistling.
A fully formed bird took to the air, too massive to look at all at once. Mountain sized. As it flapped it's wings and sent gushes of air that launched us spinning, I recognized it. Back in the forest, there is a mysterious bird called the Balawi. We don't know where they come from. No eggs or babies had ever been found from the small birds.
I was watching in awe when my wet grip gave way. I was flung air born for a moment and then rushing downward. Too fast. What could I do? Fado would know, but I didn't. My bones would smash. My stomach lurched as the purple grass grew close enough to smell...
And the tree caught me, my legs dangling as I grabbed a branch with my arms. "You should be more careful, Maker," Faceless muttered, still muffled. I breathed a sigh of relief, calmly put myself in a safer position, and vomited over the side of the tree.
I turned my attention back to the green sky. The Balawi bird was flying into it, right where the clouds burst from. Back into my world. And that, I knew, was where I had to go.
Chapter LIX: The New Hero
(Medli)
The ship creaked and groaned as it lifted into the air, much faster than when Gepqa's defense had been activated. I shuddered. That horrible night was still strongly etched in my memory. I'd brushed it all aside. I'd refused even to worry over what happened to my mother. Whatever Laruto might have wanted, I'd been determined to leave without speaking to her once and succeeded completely.
A line of massive, whitish blue squid monsters blocked our path, but I wasn't afraid. I refused to let the fear grip my chest, squeeze my stomach, dizzy my brain.
Or tried to.
Shiek laughed out loud, beside me on the stern (rear, for you non-shiply types) deck, as we rocketed straight for the row of them, and I found myself laughing with him. We were flying, after all. As Laruto would say, this was my world, even with the sky threatening rain. And I was sick of being afraid. I let all my anxieties free with that one releasing laugh. The pirates had tied everyone to the mast with long ropes around the waist, and were now bustling around the cannons, preparing for a battle, though there shouldn't be one. The boat could fly far higher than the monsters should be able to reach.
-Octos-
But it wasn't going more than ten feet higher than the nearest creature, Octo. The ship gave a small start and rose a little upward, but it wasn't enough. A massive, sinewy tentacle stretched out and slapped the starboard side of the ship. It rocked crazily for a moment, sending Shiek and I zooming over the railing to stare down into the waves for a moment before swinging back. Suddenly I heard a rushing of feet. Cufell burst from the lower decks and leapt onto the railing, firing arrows as he ran.
Another tentacle shot out, an ashen whip that wrapped all the way around the center of the ship and began to squeeze. Cannon report boomed through the air and the limb twitched. I could hear hacking swords and flitting arrows from the other side.
The tentacle fell away, leaving wrecked woodwork and injured pirates in its wake, but two more came from either side and wrapped around the middle again.
A low cracking began, growing louder and louder till it grew thunderous, and then the ship was broken, and we were being flung in all directions. I couldn't make out anything but a rain of wooden splinters, small and large. Everything happened so fast; I had soon hit the water. I struggled against my rope, but I was still tied to the mast.
Going under.
(Laruto)
I could see the ship wasn't going high or fast enough. We were going to run right into the Octos! "What's going on?" I called out to Zelda "We're not going to make it!"
"Something's wrong with the amplifier. I-" her last words were cut off by the shattering of the large diamond. Zelda fell backward covered in slashes from the razor sharp fragments. Expecting the ship to fall straightaway, I was surprised when it went higher, but I knew it couldn't last.
The ship groaned as I ran to Zelda, and began checking her wounds. "Take cover," She whispered. "And grab the magic armor. The ship's about to give." Before I could react, the ship snapped in half, sending us tumbling into the water.
Home. The place I belonged. In the water.
I easily spotted the armor, but I couldn't find any sight of Zelda. Others were crying out, for me or someone else, it didn't matter. With the Octos killing everything that came close, and the shore of our island still distant...
It was going to be a long night.
Unfortunately, the scattered lost would have to wait. The monsters had to come down first, or I would have nowhere to put the pirates. The odds hit me staggeringly then. One Zora girl against at least a dozen of these behemoths?
I looked up at the evening sky, storm clouds roiling, their bruised purple color merging strangely with the warm orange of the setting sun. At least there was going to be a downpour. That made the world of air easier to take. But it would make things worse for everyone I would be fighting for.
It was going to be a long night.
(Shiek)
I cut my rope as I fell, using Sasuke's sword. I'd kept my best friend's prized weapon without a second thought, knowing he'd want me to have it. Even though I couldn't use it with any skill. I soon lost sight of Medli, but I knew she had to be close to the mast, with no way to free herself from its weight. She was on her own, however. The mast would float.
It was the others, scattered throughout the sea that worried me. I could see two fins raking the crashing waves and knew Laruto was going to be busy taking out the strange, octopus-like creatures. Somehow, I knew it was time for me to be a hero.
"I'll save you," I whispered, to everyone who was about to become squid food. The impossible task thundered over my head, seemingly out of reach. But as I treaded water, I knew it was true.
"I'll save you all."