-- CHAPTER 7: Departure --
Link fell to the ground as the Castle continued to tremble. It would not hold for long.
"Hurry!" a voice yelled from in front of him, "We have to stop him now!"
Link quickly picked himself up and pushed forward dodging falling stone as it tumbled from atop. He raced on along the narrow ledge winding up to the castle top, not two feet between the wall to his right was the ledge that loomed over no visible ground. More than once his balance was challenged as he leapt across ominous gaps in the ledge. The entire castle was falling apart. Eventually, Link reached the end of the dangerous spiraled path. Standing at the top of the crumbling castle, Link gasped in horror. There, at least six feet Link's superior, towered his foe. The newly transformed beast's face, resembling that of a deformed boar, hunched over glaring at Link. Behind it a thick lizard-like tail thrashed about wildly. And then it laughed, throaty and raspy grunts. A chill ran down Link's spine.
Then, as if summoned by the laugh, the wind picked up and a thick veil of rain roared from the heavens, a continuous stream as thick as a waterfall surrounded the castle's top. Link looked up, it was almost as if the sky above them was an ocean emptying itself. The beast's grunts became more human sounding. The laughs sounded, no, felt evil. It was as if the beast breathed darkness. Link focusedhis sight back towards the beast.
But instead stood a man, clad in black, in it's place. The wind howled loudly and the man's cape trashed in the wind. He sneered, and then, looking down, he grinned psychotically. The wind died down and the flooding water turned into great trees that rose so high they disappeared into the clouds. Link was no longer on top of a tower, instead he stood on a small island in the middle of a beautiful crystal clear lake
Terrified Link screamed, "Don't touch it! It doesn't feel safe. It feels like something bad could happen."
The boy, wearing a thick black tunic didn't listen. His stare, washed in greed and lust, was focused on the floating object made of three triangles that was shinning in front of him.
"It calls to me. I want its power, I need its power. Don't try to stop me brother!" He said in a possessed tone.
"No!"
But it was too late. All faded into black. When Link came to he was in the same place. Except it was different – there was no water, just a beautiful rich green meadow, and the trees – they were younger ... and alive. The trees were afraid. Panicking, they fled the area as quickly as possible. Unfortunately Treants were not known for their speed. They were not quick enough as the shadow above them clarified. With a loud thud the giant black dragon crashed to the ground.
"You no why I've come," The beast rasped.
"And the answer is still 'no,'" The tree returned.
"Very well Aonque, you leave me no choice."
The beast spat an apocalyptic fire of shadow consuming the forest floor. Aonque felt the base of his trunk go numb as the black fire crept up his body. He swung his thick wooden fist at the dragon's head. The blow connected with a resounding !KA-RACK! The dragon's head whipped back in response to the force and the black beast stumbled backward. The tree quickly swung again but the dragon was now out of reach, and paralyzed from the fire, Aonque could not advance. The dragon roared in laughter.
"HAHA! It is hopeless now, I have won!"
- - - - -
Link gasped and suddenly sat up in his bed, a dim light from the moon crept into the otherwise pitch-black room. Link breathed heavily as he tried to catch his breath. What? ...What just happened? A wave of déjà vu overcame Link. I've done this before haven't I, more than once ... woken up in the middle of the night from nightmares. 'You have a connection to all the bearers of the Triforce of Courage that have lived since the dawn of Hyrule. You remember their memories. You have not learned to become aware of this connection. Memories simply pass thru your dreams at night.' Memories...what memories? Link concentrated hard to remember his dream. The outline of a darkly clad figure blinked into his mind. Link focused on the man trying to remember more details, but it was to no avail, the dream was far out of Link's recall by now. Odd... Link gave up and went back to bed.
It was 5:30 in the morning when Jaber woke his son by rocking his shoulder gently.
"buh ah dun wan anudder pie... ah cooden ead anudder piece iv ah ad a segun stomah..."
"Oh fer Din's sake child! Geddup!"
"wah ... ugnnn, it's still dark..."
"-cough-cough- You'll need an early start if you hope to make The Hyrule Marketplace by sun -cough- sun down. Hyrule Field is a very dangerous place at night. -cough- You don't want to get stuck out there when -cough- when the sun sets. -cough-cough-"
"Daddy! Are you already sick again?!"
"No!" he lied, "-cough-cough- just got a little cold. I'm fine really -cough-"
"It's the middle of summer dad!"
"Just don't worry about me son You've got..."
"A very important mission," Link said in monotone, "I know." Link sighed as he stared at the floor."
"No, you're -cough- you're looking at it all wrong -cough-cough-. A grand adventure! One where you're the hero! One where -cough-cough- you get to save your hometown!"
"I know what your trying to do. It isn't wor ... it doesn't matter, I'm going anyway." Link looked up at his father, a tear he had attempted to hold back running down his cheek. "Just promise you'll still be here when I return."
Jaber met his son in an embrace. "Everything will turn out alright, -cough- trust me. I will be here when you -cough- when you return." But his coughs betrayed him.
They held the hug for a long time before Link finally broke away. "I guess I better get going then..."
"Here," Jaber handed Link a backpack. "I packed everything for you -cough- last night. Breakfast is in the bag ... wait awhile before you eat ... Make sure your hungry I mean ... and then wait a little longer ...You know, to be cautious, you'll need to learn how to ration food."
It seemed as if Jaber was hiding something, but Link chose not to say anything.
"Thanks dad." Link offered a sad smile and gave his father one last quick hug and then went out the door not looking back, afraid he might change his mind. He turned to the right, bent down, and picked up the block of Deku wood that he had set there yesterday.
"You're not going to take that?!" Jaber asked incredulously.
Still not turning around Link said simply, "It's special" and made his way to the outskirts of Koriki village.
He stopped shortly, apparently deciding he didn't want to carry the block of wood with his hands, so he took off the backpack and strung the block of wood in it's place. Then he picked up the back pack and slung it over his right shoulder off to the side. It was a bit awkward to carry but it took a lot less effort than the alternative.
- - - - -
Jaber watched his son set off into Hyrule Field, an ominous red sunrise foreshadowing what was to come. Oh Farore, What have I done? What kind of a father would send his son off on such an uncertain path. I'm supposed to watch him, care for him, guide him! I have failed as a father... You watch over him - keep him safe, Farore, or so help me...
- - - - -
Link heeded his father's suspicious advice. It was noon before he opened his back pack to see what his father had packed him for him. He pulled out a sack that read 'breakfast' on a tab that was slide onto the string that held the bag shut. Link opened it eagerly, he was so hungry. The first thing he noticed was the roasted cucco sandwich. Link salivated – his favorite! Poking thru the contents he notice another smaller bag. It too had a note attached to it. He read it. I knew if I asked you, you wouldn't have let me give it to you. But I had a feeling you'd be needing some. Love, Dad. Link untied the bag. Fairy dust. No, Link placed his hand on his forehead, this a far too much, it has to be at least half of what was left. Now it made sense why his father had wanted him to far out before he opened his meal. He had hoped if Link had gotten out far enough he wouldn't bother returning the Fairy dust. Well, Jaber's ploy worked as Link had long since decided that there was no turning back. Idiot! Why have you done this? You needed it much more than I did! Link didn't get mad at his father often, but this was too frustrating. You need to stay alive for me daddy! Why did you have to give me this?!
Link started on his cucco sandwich, but as hungry as he had been before, he suddenly didn't care about food anymore. He threw the rest in his bag saving it for later, got up and continued forward, expressionless. He had to make it to the castle by nightfall, that gave him about seven or eight more hours, there was no time for dilly-dallying. He could just make out the castle walls from off in the distance but turning around he could also still see the considerably smaller Koriki village. He wasn't even halfway there yet and his legs were already getting tired. But, some how, this long-sheltered 12-year who knew very little of responsibility, and, until recently, pain and suffering managed to press on.
It was not strength, or speed, or experience, or even a preserving hope that enabled Link to make it to the castle as the sun set, but sheer will despite the lack of them. His legs ached and all he wanted was to lie down and rest, he already missed home, and he had so much further to go. That village offered him the rest he sought. And, though his body screamed 'stop!' it made all the sense in to world to Link to reach that gate as quick as possible. He took of in a mad dash, well, as fast as his tired legs could carry him, towards the walls.
Focused on the gate in front of him, he didn't see the object set in front of him on the ground. The top of his foot hit the side of it and Link crashed hard to the ground. Ow!...What happened? The boy, still laying on the ground from the fall, cocked his head to the side to see the object that tripped him at eye level. It stared back at him, a wicked grin across it's face. A skull?! ...hmm... did that thing just ... move? He could have sworn that the left eyeless socket just winked at him. He got up and circled the skull around to the back of the head, and then, stupidly curious, bent down and picked it up.
Twisting it so he was staring strait at the skull. This can't be a human skull ... can it? He felt around his own head with his free hand. You know ... can't say I've ever seen an actual skull before. Focused on the skulls face he didn't notice the eight appendages protruding from the skulls underbelly. Then, the skull shot Link an even wider grin. Shocked Link jerked his head back, just in time to watch the eight legs spring out and tightly coil around Link wrist. Before he had time to react the skull flipped it's head upside down and sunk it's fangs deep into Link's wrist.
Link screamed in agony and swiftly flung his wrist to try to flip the skull spider off, but it just sunk it's fangs in deeper and held fast. With all his might Link took his free hand and bashed the monster to the ground, instantly bringing his foot down hard on the nightmarish fiend. The cracking sound suggested that the creature was obviously dead, but Link continued to stomp skull until it was ground into a white powder. He was breathing heavily and cold beads of sweat ran down from his forehead.
Recovering from the panic, Link noticed the sharp pain pulsing from his wrist. He looked down to see blood and puss foam out from his wound, but, worst of all, he could visibly see the dark green of the poison as it crept along the bloated vein. Link quickly ripped out the Fairy dust and sprinkled some on his wrist. It'd be a waste not to use it. Link marveled as he watched the poison retract and spit back out from the wound. Once all of it had emptied the wound self healed leaving nothing but a faint scar ... in the shape of a skull. The sharp pain from the piercing and the numbness from the poison was gone, but a strange tingling remained. Must be the magic at work, Link mused, I was, in fact, unconscious the first time I experienced magic. Recovering from the adrenaline rush Link was disappointed to find the magic didn't take care of the weariness from his journey, nor the aches he suffered from the recent fall. In fact, after that sudden burst of thrashing about, Link was even more tired than before. Exhausted he stumble through the gate.
"Hello! Hello, anybody here!" Link called out breathing heavily and dropping his burdens to the ground. There was no answer. Frustrated, Link slugged around looking for a sufficient place to rest. He eventually decided on a church in the far back corner. There was just ... something about it. I hope nobody minds. And in not much time at all, Link was snoring loudly on a pew mumbling something about 'donuts.'
-- WRAP UP --
Alright, there ya have it! Chapter 7. Sorry if it took a little bit longer than normal. Christmas happenings an' all. If things seem kinda boring right now, well I think so too. Apparently transition is important or something like that. I didn't make up the rules. Anywho, I tried to throw in things like the dream and the skulltulla to spice things up a bit, they weren't really originally in the script. Funny though, writing the bit with the skulltulla I came up with an unintended plot twist. It's scary how deep the simple little spicer-uper turned out to go. You'll have to keep reading to see how it plays out. As for the dreams or 'memories' they weren't really planed either. It's just me being overly eager to get to the 'good stuff' I hope I don't start giving too much away. I try to keep them fairly short and not very detailed. Things will eventually play out in more depth I promise. Anywho, I'm rambling about things that are a long way off.
In general I've done a lot of revamping of the 'theology of the Triforce' if you will. Don't worry, it doesn't effect anything you've read thus far. It was all just too complicated and confusing. It's also a lot better developed in general, well, in my opinion at least.
As always, thanks for reading, and please review if at all possible. G'day.