Chap. 14

The Charge

"They should be back by now." Link muttered, as he paced the Temple floor. "Calm down." Starfire said, for at least the thousandth time. "Cyborg and Zelda are more then capable of handling themselves." "I know, but they should still be here." 'Here' was the Temple of Time, the closet stronghold to Hyrule Castle, which was now held by Majora. Each group of heroes had been sent here after freeing their respective Temples, except for Cyborg and Zelda. Everyone was worried of course, but Link was the most obvious. He'd been pacing the floor for almost an hour, doing nothing but waiting for their return on the large platform, emblazed with the image of the Light Sage. The others had been trying calm him, with only minimal success.

"Look, if we were able to defeat the Temple demons, then they must've done fine." Brett argued. "Yeah dude, cut them some slack." Beast Boy cut in. "look, if's not that I don't have confidence in them," Link tried o explain. "But she's my wife. I want to know she's safe." "Cyborg's our teammate. We're not panicking." Raven said, rather coldly. Link narrowed his eyes at that, and prepared to walk away. But then a deep voice sounded in the Temple. "If she could take me down, the witches won't give her any trouble boy." Everyone turned to see the figure of Gannondorf, leaning against the Temple's alter. Looking right at Link, he continued with, "You're getting worried about nothing. Let her and the off-worlder deal with it." For a moment, there was silence, then Gannondorf, noticing that everyone was staring at him, said, "What! He was driving me nuts with that damn pacing!"

"I never thought I'd see that happen." Heatstrike muttered, as he walked off to speak with Robin and Brett. "See what happen?" Brett asked. "Didn't Gannondorf do something relatively nice there?" the young hero asked. But the bat shook his. "Don't buy it. Gannondorf doesn't do anything to be nice. He just said that to calm Link down." "Maybe, but Brett, he hasn't tried anything since we brought him here. Didn't you say this was where he entered the Sacred Realm that time?" Robin asked. "It doesn't matter Rob." Brett interjected. "He can't enter the Realm without the Master Sword and even if he could get it from Link, no evil being can touch it. He needs someone to open the door for him. Besides, there's something else I'm worried about right now."

"What is that?" Neruon asked. "Was it just me, or did this all happen a little too easily?" "Huh? Brett, we had to fight five demons." Robin sputtered. "How is that easy?" "Don't you think that those platforms everywhere was a little too convenient? I mean, Link had to slog through all those Temples and he nearly got killed in each one. Why would Majora waste five chances to let that happen again?" "You do have a point there." Robin admitted. "Aw c'mon! Why can't Majora just be lazy for once?" Heatstrike complained Every time this sort of thing happens you try to disprove it. Hell, you might be wrong about Gannondorf, why can't you be wrong about this?"

"Because I happen to agree with him." said the Gerudo, stepping out from nowhere. "Is that so?" Brett responded, rather coldly. "Yes. From what I have learned of Majora, he is a very powerful and intelligent being. I find it hard to believe that someone who could wreck such havoc in one world could be so careless in this one. It would be a huge mistake to ignore a chance to destroy the boy so early." "True, and if there's anyone here who knows about havoc.." Brett began, but before he could finish, the platform began to glow.

As the group turned their heads to view it, the forms of Zelda and Cyborg appeared in a hazy orange glow. "We came, we saw, we kicked witch ass!" Cy cried gleefully as they stepped down. Link ran to Zelda and happily embraced. "Thank the sages you're both all right!" Link said. Releasing Zelda, he asked, "Did you learn anything from the witches' magic?" "No. Only that this time, they were immune to all magics, even mine. If not for Cyborg, I would have failed." "Maybe Majora is planning something after all." Whimpernel quipped. "I don't know. From what you've told me, the demons in the other Temples, they weren't enhanced at all. What would make Twinorova so special?" "Maybe we should go to Majora and find out." Gannondorf said, cracking his knuckle as he did so. For once, Link actually agreed. "Without the protection the Temples give him, we should be able to take him easily." Turning to face the group, the Hero of Time drew his sword and said, "Heroes, we move out!"

But when the group reached Hyrule Castle, they began to wonder if this had been a good idea. "Are you sure there's not some other Temple we need to go?" Beast Boy asked as he looked at the huge structure in front of him. Hyrule Castle, once the glistening centerpiece of the land, had been transformed into a black cathedral. Its spires pointed into the air like black fingers, claws ready to tear the sky asunder. The inner castle was a huge black monolith. But most eye-popping of all, the entire structure floated above a lake of lava on a platform. "Couldn't we be done with this already?" Whimpenrel muttered, remembering the Fire Temple.

"So, how do we get over there?" Gannondorf asked. "I don't seem to recall a bridge from when I lived there." "So? Most of us can fly dude." Heatstrike answered, as he ignited his rocket boots. Flying high, he landed right at the floating castles entrance. Motioning for the others to follow, he walked inside, disappearing into the black shadows of the inner castle. "Impetuous, isn't he?" Zelda commented. "You get used to it." said Bartman, as he wrapped his arms around the Princess. Firing his grapple into the castle wall, he watched it hook in, and then swung off, taking himself and Zelda right to the entrance. One by one the others followed, the flyers carrying everyone who was grounded.

Once inside, the group slowly made its way through the corridor. Everyone's nerves were on edge; danger seemed to be around each corner. Everyone was waiting for an attack, for Majora's soldiers to attack. "Hey, do you here something?" 'Stalker asked suddenly. "You'd better not be joking." Robin warned. "No it's footsteps, coming from… OVER THERE!" the bat screamed, as he threw his sword into the wall…. And right next to Heatstrike. "Jeez, are you that pissed I took the last Hot-Pocket?" the young hero asked, as he removed the blade and handed it back to its owner. "Listen guys, I think I found something you should see."

Heatstrike led them through the corridor, finally bringing them to its exit. Once there, they found themselves in a giant room, surrounded by six doors. In the center of the room was a huge cylinder like structure, with a demons head right in front of them. The monster's mouth was wide open and connected to their location by a bridge. It was obviously the next step for them. But everyone was hesitant to go in. "This is too much." Link muttered. "Where are the barriers? It shouldn't be open like this." "Perhaps Majora was not able to raise them." Zelda suggested. "Don't bet on it Princess." Gannondorf sneered. "As long as those Temples were corrupted, he could access them easily. Something's up." "Maybe, but if we just sit here talking about it, Majora could attack." Nightstalker argued. "If we expect a trap, we'll probably be able to counteract it." "Besides, we've come this far." Cyborg added. Link thought for a moment, then nodded. "Be on your guard." he said, as began to cross the bridge. The others followed, and they soon walked through the mouth. But that proved their mistake. Suddenly a door slammed shut, cutting off all the light in the room. Before they could gather their senses, the group was attacked on all sides. Being confused and disoriented, they were an easy target for the attackers. One by one, they fell to the ground and were dragged off by monstrous hands.

Bright light was forced into Starfires' eyes. As her eyes adjusted, she became aware of a pressure on her wrists and ankles. Finally able to look around, she saw that everyone in the group was chained to the wall and unconscious. The room was large and circular, with a strange star-shaped ornament in the center. Robin and Brett's weapons were laying next it. Looking up, Starfire realized she was in the same predicament. She attempted to bring her starbolts to bear, but something was wrong. Even though she physically uninjured, she was not able to use the bolts. "What is wrong?" she murmured. "Well, for one thing, the fact that you are here." A voice said from nowhere. Star's head whipped around, trying to find the source of the voice. But then it revealed itself.

A mask floated out of the darkness, cloth flowing down from its back. It seemed to be the shape of a heart, but the spikes and yellow eyes made it seem quite frightening. "Majora?" the young alien asked. "I see Link has informed you well." The voice said, coming from the mask now. "Yes. I am Majora, the demon mask of Termina. I must admit, I do not know of you my dear. Well, perhaps Link can inform me." The masks' eyes glowed, and suddenly beams of power shot into the ornament. It glowed for a moment, then it shot out energy into everyone chained to the wall. Howls of pain reverberated through the room, as each hero writhed in pain. Finally, the energy dissipated, and the heroes slumped forward, pained, but awake. Majora floated over to Link, and as it stood in front of the hero, Link slowly raised his head to face him. "Good to see you again, Hero." The mask sneered. "Especially like this, chained and helpless. I've dreamed of this day for more then twenty years, ever since you locked my spirit away in the Realm. Now it's your turn to suffer."

"But I'm getting ahead of myself. Who are your charming friends? They simply can't be the Elementals; they're too human. Well expect for him." The mask acknowledged gesturing to the de-armored form of Brett. "Come over and see how non-human I am." The bat snapped, eyes looking for a fight. But the mask only laughed. "It wouldn't be a fair fight you know. Especially with you, the powerless fool you are now. You don't really think I was unprepared for you , did you?" Floating over the ornament, Majora said, "This is a little toy that I picked up from one of the boys in the Realm. It's a wonderful thing; blocks all the mystic energy from individuals blessed with it. Even seems to work on off-worlders, since your little friend there is powerless as well."

"What do you think this will gain you?" Link finally spat. "The Temple are free now. Without them, you'll never hold this world for long. You'll be beaten back again Majora." "First off," the mask spat back, flying right back into Link's face. "I haven't lost anything. I'm not stupid enough to give up the Temples that easily. The demons aren't dead, I just made it look that way. They're all back in the Realm, where I can bring them back easily. Once your Sages have returned fully, I'll send them back and watch as every single Sage dies. Second, I made it easy for Link, because I didn't want you to die under their hands. I wanted you here, powerless and beaten, where I could kill you myself."

At that, the mask paused and said, "But perhaps, I shouldn't be the only one to cause you pain." Majora floated over then to Gannondorf. "My old friend," the mask began, "I must say you put on an excellent charade." With that, the chains binding the Gerudo fell away. "I knew it!" Brett spat out, venom in each word. As Gannondorf rubbed his wrists, the Gerudo answered, "Maybe you should tell them what exactly has been going on." "Indeed." The mask answered. "How do you think I escaped from the Realm, Link? All it took was a little god-power to break the barrier, and I had a perfect source." "The Triforce." Zelda realized. "Exactly. It was perfect. I would escape from the Realm, and I knew you would think that Gannondorf was the key to stopping me. How does it feel Link, to know that your worst enemies are going to destroy all you have thanks to your own incompetence?"

"Maybe we should show him." Gannondorf suggested. "Indeed." The mask agreed. Suddenly, a glow filled the air, and a huge sword appeared in Gannondorf's hand. Its end was curved like an axe head, and the Gerudo held it with practiced ease. "Now Link," Majora said, "let's have you watch all that you care about die. Perhaps your princess first?" the mask said, as it floated over here. "No, that must be saved for last. I know, you can watch innocence die." With that, the mask floated over Starfire. "NOO!" Robin screamed, as he pulled against his chains almost hard enough to break them. "Gannondorf." The mask said, ignoring the boy's screams. "Are you sure about this one?" Gannondorf asked. "It seems a waste to destroy someone without a strong connection to the boy first. The Knight's death perhaps." "True, but this girl is a pure innocent. What better way to symbolize the destruction we shall rain down on the worlds?" Majora answered. "Come my friend. With them gone, none shall stop us. We shall conquer the worlds, and Hyrule will be yours again. Temrina will be mine, and we shall rule Earth together. Just as we planned."

That seemed to be it for the Gerudo. Grinning, he walked forward, towards Starfire. As he did, the others screamed at him to stop. But one voice rang out above all the others. "I'll find you!" Brett screamed. "I'll hunt you down like the animals you are! You'll both die slow!" Then the bat looked at Link, his eyes reminding the Hero of the promise the Knight had made. But the Gerudo ignored it all. He walked towards the girl slowly with menace in every step. Finally, he stood in front of her. Raising his sword above his head, he said, "Now, I will begin the destiny that should have been mine!" Pulling the blade to his side like a baseball bat, he unloaded…..