Chap.11

The Shadow Temple

"Just once, can we not have to trek through a valley of dead people?" Bart asked, as they stood before the graveyard. "Not this time, apparently." Raven answered. Indeed, the group had no other options. After they had awoken in Karikako Village, they had made their way to the Shadow Temple. Of course, Brett was the only one who actually knew where it was, so it had mainly been following him. Thankfully, it had been a short distance, which unfortunately led into the village's graveyard. Despite protests from Bart, Brett had insisted there was no other way into the Temple. So now they stood in front of the entrance, with Brett 'feeling' his way around the area's dark energy, trying to make sure that they could pass safely.

The Elemental stood silent, his power reaching out, tracing every step of the graveyard. Finally, he turned to the others and said, "Its' safe." Rolling back his shirtsleeves, Brett unfolded his wings and took off. Bart took Raven's hand and the two of them followed. They landed on a boarded off area, behind the largest gravestone. Standing there to greet them, was the knight-statue; in this case, Brett standing defiant in his armor, sword outstretched. The bat stood next to it, and jokingly imitated the pose. The others smiled briefly, then they made their way down into the Temple, by way of the hidden stairway. This led them into a large room filled with unlit torches, blocked off by a huge stone wall. In the center of the room was a large circular platform. Brett walked to it, and motioned for the others to get back. Once they were out of the way, the bat surrounded himself with the shadow fire, then blasted it out in a wave that encompassed the entire room. When it faded, all the torches were lit, and the door began to cycle upwards. Slowly, they made their way into the dark corridor. After a momentum Brett said, "Bart it's safe to shift now." "Thank God." Bart muttered, as he quickly changed into Bartman. Peering ahead, he said, "I think I see something, let me go check it out." He then ran off, before the others could stop him.

"I wonder how long this will last." Brett asked. Raven gave a barely perceptible shrug. In the days since separating from the others, she had not removed her hood in Brett's presence. In fact, she had been seemingly avoiding the bat when possible. Brett had been so concerned about the groups' venture into the Temple that he hadn't really paid it much attention. However, he now had a moment to notice it, and he began to wonder. Even though he had originally had a very dark design in mind for Raven at first, he had grown to like her. He thought that they had a decent relationship now, and he wondered what had made it change. As far he knew, she enjoyed his company. "Did I do something wrong, Rae?" he asked suddenly. Raven finally turned to face him and replied, "What do you mean?" "Well, you've been kind of… distant from me for a bit now. So, what's up? Did I ruin something for you? 'Cause if that's it, just tell me and I'll fix it."

Raven paused for a moment, and then drew back her hood. Looking into Brett's face, she said, "Do you remember what you said to Link about us?" "You mean the family thing?" Brett asked, slightly puzzled. "Yes. Did you include me when you said it?" "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" "You should know why." Now his puzzlement was even greater. "That's what's bugging you? I don't get it." "Brett, you know me better then anyone here. You know everything about me. That alone should make you exclude me." "Wait, are you telling me that this whole thing is because I consider you family?" "No, its because you shouldn't. Brett I don't deserve that kind of devotion. If you want to call me a friend fine, but don't call me family." Brett opened his mouth to argue, but suddenly Bartman's voice rang out, "Hey you guys better come look at this." Before Brett could even get two words out, Raven was halfway there. The bat pondered for a moment longer then followed.

As Raven walked down the dark hallway, she also began to ponder what had just happened. She had not intended to hurt Brett's feelings in any way, but she didn't want him to believe in something that wasn't true. She couldn't be a part of his family, couldn't allow herself to be that deeply connected to anyone. Raven knew that eventually, she could prove unworthy of all the trust she had been given. It was one thing for her to do that to her friends. But to someone like this…. She couldn't imagine that level of deception. Better to remain aloof. Besides, she told herself, Brett was too different anyway. Perhaps the both of them were dark, but his was an accepted one. He could take the shadow within him and use to make himself stronger, but not to the point where he would lose himself. Raven couldn't do that, so she wouldn't bother weighing him down with herself. Yes, that's it, she decided, as she finally reached the spot where Bartman had called out to them. She found the young hero crouched before a strange glowing object. As she got closer and took a look, Raven realized that it was a floor marking. "You have any idea what it is?" Bartman asked. "It's a portal." Brett said suddenly, coming seemingly from nowhere. He leaned down in order to get a closer look at it, and nodded. "I've heard about these. Supposedly, Majora had them placed in the Termina Temples, to trap Link if he ever returned." "How is this a trap?" Bartman asked. "Supposedly, stepping on it should take you right to the Temple demon." "Isn't that where we want to go?" Raven asked. "Yes, but I wasn't expecting we'd do it so soon." "Aw, what's to worry about?" quipped Bartman. "After all, the others have done ok." "Yeah, but they haven't had to face Bongo-Bongo." said Brett. "Whose Bongo… wait, that's this things name?" replied the others in surprise. "He's much tougher then he sounds, believe me." Standing, Brett said, "But then again, this Temple is a death-trap. Maybe it is best we face him now." "Then let's do it!" Bartman cried, as he leapt onto the Portal. Within an instant, he'd vanished. "There is absolutely no distance between thought and action with him." Brett muttered, but he stepped on as well. After he vanished, Raven followed.

The group reappeared in a large, empty room. There was dark all around, except on the strange platform on which they stood. But even that was a mystery, because that platform did not have the consistency of solid ground. It felt thin and stretched out, and extremely taunt. Bartman bent down and gave a couple of hits; it bounced back up like rubber. "What is this thing?" he asked. "You'll find out soon enough." said Brett, as he changed into the armored form of Nightstalker. Suddenly, the ground shook, causing each hero to jump slightly in the air. The shakes continued, with an almost rhythmic intensity. Suddenly, Raven saw what was going on. A pair of huge purple hands were beating the ground, like a ….. "We're on a giant drum!" she cried out in realization. Just as she said it, a huge mass appeared before the hands. It had no arms or legs, just a bent, flower like body with a giant glowing red eye. "That's Bongo-Bongo!" yelled Bartman in disbelief. "Told you." Nighstalker said, as he drew his sword and began to move towards the demon. But suddenly, a red light shot forth from the demons' eye. It covered the heroes and blinded them…

"Well done, Mr. Simpson!" "Huh?" Bart murmured, still unable to see. Blinking his eyes, he looked around to see the walls of Springfield Elementary. "What am I doing here?" he asked. "Why, helping the wheels of education grind forth." Said Principal Skinner, seeming to appear from nowhere. "Thanks to you, the hooligans who dared to desecrate our sacred puma mascot have been caught." It was then Bart noticed the crowd that had gathered around the two of them. He also noticed the statue of the school's mascot, obviously a puma, covered in toilet paper and decorated with unflattering graffiti. "Whoa, cool! Who did that?" "These pathetic ruffians here." Said Skinner, pointing to the locker behind them. Standing next to it, looking like criminals on Death Row, were Jimbo, Dolph and Kearny. "I've been trying to expel you boys for years." Skinner said, glaring at the young boys. "Now, I finally can, thanks to the work of young Simpson here." The bullies glared at Bart, and Jimbo could be heard to mutter, "Such a tool, Simpson." "Hey hold on, man! I don't know what he's talking about…" But then, Bart noticed something on his arm. It was a Star Trek commorative watch. "What the.. Only nerds wear this!" Bart cried in horror. "Dude, look at yourself." Dolph sneered. Bart looked down and was filled with absolute horror. He was dressed in huge, orthopedic shoes, and short pants. His shirt was a fine white dress shirt, and he even had a tie on. Bart even realized he was wearing glasses. "No, this can't be me!" "But it is, Bart." Skinner cut in. "Honor student, teacher's helper, and my personal assistant!" "NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Raven opened her eyes, and found herself on a large, rocky platform. Everything around her was a strange starry sky. "I'm in my mindscape?" she wondered, looking around in wonder. "How did I get in here?" Suddenly, a searing pain flowed through her body. Screaming, she fell to her knees trying to hold her body together as the pain washed over her like an ocean wave. "What's… happening…. to….. me!" she gasped out. "Nothing that should not have happened before." said a voice from seemingly nowhere. Despite the pain, Raven still recognized the voice. She would have recognized it in death. "F-Father?" she panted. The gigantic form of Trigon appeared before her, floating in the plane of space. "I knew this day would come, daughter. All your barriers are gone. Soon you will belong to me!" "No!" Raven cried out. But then she looked down and saw the demon's words come to pass. Her skin was changing to a dark red, like Trigons'. Her hands were becoming clawed. Worst of all, she could feel her forehead split apart, as a second pair of eyes grew. "I won't… let… you do this." She managed to get out, as she fell to the ground. "You already are." Trigon replied. "Your pitiful compassion and other emotions are dying. Soon you will be mine completely!" Raven screamed then, both from the pain, and from the knowledge that he was right.

All around him, there was no sound. There was no light, and no sign that there had ever been any. It was like that all around, like the depths of space. It was here that the Nighstalker awoke. Looking around, his first thought was that his friends were gone. His second was on his current situation. 'Stalker was completely on his own, with no one to aid, or to give aid. Thoughts began to race through his mind, on his friends and on how he had abandoned them. How now, he would drift alone forever, bereft of human warmth and hope, for all the grim things he had been forced to do. But while others might have surrendered to those thoughts, Nighstalker fought them back. He had expected this from the moment of facing Bongo-Bongo. This was the demons' secret power, the strength that lay within his drum. Using it, he could send his foes into the depths of their souls, to face their worst fears. For Brett, that fear meant this loneliness. It was an idea that filled him with dread, that someday, he would be forced to live alone, bereft of his friends. It was the reason he had not supported the Knight's option to split, why he had joined with another team so soon afterwards. He needed to be with others, needed them around him to help keep him balanced. To be alone, meant facing down the demons within him. But 'Stalker forced himself to push that all aside. He thought of his friends who were embroiled in their own fears. He thought of Raven and Bart, and using what strength he had, he called out to them. You have to fight it! he called out. What you're seeing isn't real! The demon's tying to make us defeat ourselves. You have to banish the fear! Think of what you want the most, that will cancel it out! Finally, he could call out no more. But the Elemental kept the thoughts of his friends near his hear, as around him, the walls began to crack.

Bart continued to howl, terrified of what he had become. He would have continued, if not for the words he heard within his head. Slowly, he began to regain control of himself. "Well, I am glad to see you taking such pride in your work, Simpson." Skinner said, as Bart finally quieted. The boy looked up then, and gave a grim smile. Reaching over to the wall, he picked up the fire extinguisher. Suddenly, in one swift movement, he unloaded it onto Skinner. The principal staggered back, unprepared for the impact of the slush. Bart kept the hose on, blinding Skinner in it's spray until he finally went down. But that was not enough. Bart then swung the empty can at the puma statue. It struck the head of the statue, snapping it off. Bart stood in the chaos he'd created, and felt himself begin to slip away.

"It is almost time daughter." Trigon sneered, as Raven writhed on the platform. The empath had heard Brett's words, but she could not make sense of them. Think of what she wanted the most? She had already thought of Trigon's death, and nothing had happened. If that was not her greatest wish, what was? But the longer she waited, the more convinced she became that she would not get to find out. Trigon's laughter filled the air, as Raven grew weaker and weaker. But suddenly it halted. Raven pulled her head, and saw an incredible sight. Trigon's body was being covered in a shadowy blackness. Her father attempt to blast it way, but it continued to cover his body. As it did so, he was no longer able to move. Soon he was completely covered, and helpless. Raven was watched in amazement, as the dark on his back reared, and formed itself into a large spike. With unbelievable speed, it drove itself into the body of Trigon. As it popped out if his chest, the demon's head lulled forwards, and his body disintegrated. But the shadow remained. It moved over to Raven then, and began to cover her. But for the empath, it was like a soothing balm, destroying the affects of her father's evil. Finally, it finished and pulled itself off her. Raven stood up, and looked at the shadow, trying to figure out what it was. It's only response was to draw itself up, and stand before. As she watched, part of it began to change, growing lighter. Finally, it finished, and a pair of red eyes stared back at Raven……

Each hero opened his or her eyes. Standing before them was no longer the fears they had each seen. Instead, they were back on Bongo's drum. The demon's body had vanished; only the hands remained, still pounding away. "What now?" Raven asked, a grim tone in her voice. "Stun his hands. I'll do the rest." Nightstalker replied. Bartman and Rae went to work immediately Raven shot a burst of dark energy through the left hand, while Bartman lassoed the right and slammed it down onto the drum. The two hands shook and then moved away, turning to face Nightstalker. The Elemental stood silent, even as the hands began to charge him. Calmly, the bat drew out the Lens of Truth. Peering through it, he raised his sword high, and then brought it down in a burst of shadowfire. Suddenly, Bongo's body appeared, stricken down by the blast. Without hesitation, Nightstalker brought his sword up and began to mindlessly slash at the creature. It took the attack for a full minute, then vanished as its hands began to drum again. But Bartman and Raven were waiting to snare them again. The battle went on for almost two hours. Then finally, Nightstalker's blade dealt the final blow. For an instant, Bongo-Bongo beat the drum furiously. Then, he stopped, and dissolved into a glowing pile of ooze, which quickly disappeared. The three heroes stood alone on the drum then, each feeling the memory of their fears lessen. Suddenly, the ghostly image of a woman appeared. Instantly, Nighststalker got down on one knee and bowed in respect. "Well done knight. I thank you and your friends for freeing this Temple." "It was our honor, great Impa." The bat replied. "Impa? This is your Mage?" Raven asked. "Indeed I am, young one." The woman replied as she looked towards the young empath. "I apologize as well, for the experiences that Bongo-Bongo put you through. Though in your case, it may not have been a total waste." "How was that not a 'total waste?'" Raven asked, more then a little sarcastically. "You did not know of the desire you have, now you have seen it for yourself." "What are you talking about?" Bending down, the Mage whispered into the girl's ear, "You know who you want to take your father's place. And he shall." Standing again, she said to all, "Your friends are waiting for you in the Temple of Time. I shall send you there." A purple light surrounded the group……