Chapter seven: The Beginning of The End

In the morning, the group got up, and saddled their horses with haste. After putting out the smouldering ashes of the fire, they rode off toward Gerudo Valley as fast as they could.

The sky was unusually gray that day, as Link observed as they rode. Although no rain fell from the sky, and no thunder could be heard. He did not dwell on this for it was the least of their problems, but it was strange nevertheless...

Zelda, who was riding next to Link, looked over at him and saw him looking down at Epona's head, not saying a word.

"Link?" she said, nudging him as she came up alongside him. He started, and looked up at her.

"Are you okay?" the princess asked, worry coloring her voice. He gazed at her for a second, then turned his head away from her, saying quietly, "yes, I'm just worried about what we might find at the fortress."

"Oh..." Zelda whispered. In truth, she was apprehensive about it too. They had not gotten a very good lead on this one, and Majora was undoubtably already in the valley, or worse, the fortress.

Wrapped up in the roiling mass of their thoughts, they sank into silence as the hooves thudded down with an entrancing pattern. The valley loomed ever closer, and everyone tensed themselves up, ready for whatever was thrown at them next.

About a half hour later, they galloped into Gerudo Valley in a straight line, so they could cross the bridge easier. The horses whinnied steadily as they approached the rickity bridge, but Link knew it would hold their weight, Epona and he had crossed it many times before. The bridge withheld the weight, but all the horses, besides Epona, were reluctant to cross it. But they did, and galloped quickly across it so as not to prolong the expirience.

As they galloped toward the entrance to fortress grounds, Link's fears were realized when he saw the lead carpenter with a dagger through each eye, and each dagger had a small dark heart enscribed on the base of the blade.

i Majora, /I thought Link, enraged. He nudged Epona with his heels, and took off in front of the rest of them, entering the grounds with anger boiling inside him.

And then he ground Epona to a halt, looking around with wide eyes.

Hundreds of Gerudo warriors were slaughtered. They had bloody holes through their chests, and lay in pools of their own blood. One part of the fortress had been blasted to rubble, and four or five Gerudo's lay in the wreckage, blood stains on their faces and arms. The majority of the fortress was still standing, but loud noises and sounds of combat could be heard inside.

"NABOORU!" Link yelled, leaping from Epona. He sprinted across the open grounds, past the dead Gerudo women, their blank eyes seeming to follow him as he flew past. The rest of the group watched him running for a second, before taking off after him.

Link rushed into the torn apart entrance, climbing over the singed rocks. He cut himself once or twice, but hardly noticed the scratches in his frenzied attempt to get into the fortress and save Nabooru. Zelda turned into Sheik as they reached the rubble pile, and she jumped halfway up, clinging onto the huge pile. The whole team worked their way up, but Link was obviously first to the small hole inside. He slipped in through it without waiting for the others, and fell down into the dim light of Gerudo Fortress.

He was in the main room, a vast place with many doorways leading to other parts of the fortress, and some of them going straight to the cells Link had once gone to to free the carpenters. This room had been added on after Ganondorf's defeat. When Link dropped down from the little hole high up on the wall, he fell into complete chaos. Gerudo women were running everywhere with dual swords, shouting incoherently to each other. He pushed a few out of the way, looking for Nabooru, hoping she was okay.

He seized one of the running Gerudo's by the wrist, and started to ask her what was happening, but she jerked away and swung her sword at his head. He immediately drew his sword and blocked hers with a loud and carrying clash. Several Gerudo women around him turned around, swords held high, each aiming at his neck.

Link sighed. "It's me, Link, Hero of Time! I am not the enemy!"

The women lowered their swords, and immediately went back to shouting and looking for weapons. He turned to the women he was still crossing blade's with.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" he asked her kindly, releasing her wrist and sheathing his sword.

"I'd keep that out if I were you," she said warningly. "There's some sort of a demon down in the basement, and it's killing our soldiers! Could you help us–?"

But Link had already left. He was pushing his way through the crowd, making his way toward the basement door.

Sheik dropped down from the hole in the wall and into the pandemonium, followed closely by Saja, Malon, and Darunia. Sheik spotted Link's hat bobbing in and out of the rampaging Gerudo's, and rushed after it, pushing and elbowing the warriors aside as she did. Saja, who had no idea where she was going but did not have any other choice, followed her, and then went the chain, Malon followed Saja, and Darunia followed Malon.

The whole group was separated in the crowd, but they could see each other, so they followed. Link knew the fortress very well by now, and knew where the basement was. Since he had not spotted Nabooru up here, he feared that she was down in the basement being cut to pieces by Majora's swords at that very moment. If this was true, Link would personally tear Majora's liver out.

Link reached the door to the lower levels where he supposedly was, and elbowed it open with such force that it splintered and came off it's hinges, flying down the dark stairs with loud bangs. Taking no notice of this, he rushed into the darkness, lighting up a ball of fire like they had done in the Black Leaf Temple. Sheik pushed a Gerudo aside, and, ignoring her shouts of protest, she ran through the open doorway Link had just run through, and down the stairs. The Gerudo was angered furthermore when Saja pushed past her and ran down the stairs too, and started to draw out her sword as both Malon and Darunia shoved her away, but never got to them, for they were already gone down the stairs.

Link reached the bottom of the steps, holding the ball of fire. He whipped it around, searching for Majora, or Nabooru, or anyone.

He heard shouts coming from somewhere far to the right, and sprinted in that direction, as the rest of the team dashed into the dark room after him. Sheik spotted the bobbing light slowly fading away, and Link's boots thudding down on the floor, and shouted "LINK, STOP!"

The ball of fire halted, and they heard Link shout "I must find Nabooru and save her!"

"We know, we know!" gasped Sheik, running up to him, the others behind her. She stared into his panic stricken face, and grabbed his large shoulders. "But we had to catch up first," she panted. Link nodded, looking back at the rest of them.

"Well then, come on! We can't wait!" and he sprinted off again. They ran after him, trying to keep up with his running, but he was so tensed up and worried that nothing could stop him now. He ran through complete darkness, following the noise of the clashing blades. He ran into several things, and bruised his shoulders, but continued on past them, not stopping to aid his injuries.

And then, without warning, he slammed full force into a door, and stumbled backwards, dazed. Stars danced in his eyes, and he clutched his head and a hard thumping racked his senses.

Once he had gotten his composure back, he kicked the door open, and rushed inside, just as the others caught up with him.

In the dimly lit small room, there were five people alive, three Gerudo women who were doing battle with a towering dark shadow, and Nabooru who was likewise fighting Majora. Surrounding them were the decapitated, ripped apart, hewed limbs and bodies of other Gerudo warriors that had tried to face Majora's Wrath, and failed.

Link gritted his teeth in a tight snarl, and charged into the room, holding his shield out in front of him. Majora did not notice him because he was too busy with the other Gerudo's and was slammed full force with the shield, sending him all the way across the room and through the wall with a loud BANG!

The remaining Gerudo's, including Nabooru, bent over, breathing hoarsely. Link tapped Nabooru's shoulder to announce who it was who had just drove Majora back for a few select seconds.

"Link!" Nabooru shrieked. She was still breathing rather ragged, but hugged him tightly. "Thank the goddesses you're here! That thing just showed up and started killing everyone on the grounds. He was unstoppable! He blew up the entrance with magic. I have never seen anyone so powerful–"

"Nabooru!" Link yelled, as Sheik, Darunia, Malon and Saja ran inside to see the wreckage. Link turned Nabooru's head toward the hole in the wall that he had smashed Majora through. The shadow was now climbing out, and it was growling deeply, enraged.

"YOU!" it bellowed, seeing Link standing next to Nabooru. It held up it's two huge swords and yelled "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR INTERFERING!"

"And I don't give a damn what you think," Link snapped back. He didn't care if he was pushing it. He had to buy time so they could figure out where the sapphire was before he got to it. "I have beaten you before!"

"And I would not rely on that piece of information if I were you," the evil shadow rumbled, walking steadily closer. Some Gerudo's backed off. "You know my power far exceeds yours!"

"Oh, really?" Link said, raising his eyebrows. "Wouldn't count on it," and he pulled the sapphire they had found in the temple out of his pocket. Majora hissed, spitting like a snake. He recoiled, and backed against the wall. Link held the sapphire up, willing it to shoot the beam of light it had done two nights ago again.

Majora suddenly realized that Link did not know how to control the sapphire. He lunged, and knocked the sapphire out of his hands before he could make a move. Link, who had been holding the sapphire with the same arm that had his shield strapped to it, felt the two shadow blade's glance off his shield. However, the force of the tackle knocked him off his feet, and sent him to the floor. Majora swung the blades down to cut his face in half, but he rolled to the side, and the blades slashed the floor, shooting sparks into the dim lighting. Nabooru and the rest of the Gerudo's backed off, too stunned to try and fight the shadow. Link drove his sword upward toward the blank face, but the sword was knocked aside with ease. Link rolled aside again as both blades stabbed at his gut. They missed again and thankfully got lodged in the stone floor. However, as Link began to pull himself to his feet, Majora kicked him in the side, and sent him sliding across the floor and into the wall. He pulled himself to his feet, his aching side sending pain lancing up to his neck. Majora gave a savage yank, and pulled both blades out of the floor. The two archenemies strode forward purposefully, neither with a trace of fear in their eyes.

As the forces of good and evil clashed and the blades collided, the fallen sapphire that had been knocked high into the air by Majora landed in Saja's hands. He looked down at the sparkling stone, contemplating it's powers. However, as he did this, Sheik, Darunia and Malon were watching the intense battle with a stunned look on their faces. Though none interfeared with them.

Link sincerely hoped that this duel would not end up as their previous one had out on Hyrule Field. He pulled out his best moves, recklessly combining and modifying his greatest tricks, but to no avail. Somehow, Majora was simply too well trained and perfect at the art of sword fighting. Link was soon forced to use his best and most used weapon...improvisation. He flowed from one pose to the next, battering at Majora's large swords. Several times he was nearly sliced in half, but his shield protected him. It was his only defense against the killing machine he was now battling. A rain of heavy blows slammed down on his shield. Link felt his arm go numb as the blade smashed into the surface of it with backbreaking force. He was sure he would have a bruised shoulder afterwards. i If there is an afterwards, /I said a small voice in his head. He did his best not to listen to the sinister voice. Majora slowly pushed him back against the opposite wall. Link caught a swing to his hip with his own sword, and felt a fist connect with his ribs. The wind whooshed out of him, and he stumbled back, hitting the wall. Majora dove forward, swinging to cut his brain right in half. Link ducked the sword just in time, and heard it whistle right above him, cutting a strand of his hair off, and leaving a long gouge in the wall.

Link was about to jab at Majora's ribs while he was ducked down under his arm temporarily, but did not have time, for Majora's other sword was shooting toward his heart. He only just managed to get his shield up in time. The force of the stab however, jarred his arm, and he felt the tremble travel up his arm and through his body. He was sure he would have a severe bruise on both shoulders now. Majora's other sword that had just ripped through the wall came down upon his head, and he blocked the swing with his own sword. Seeing a chance to gain the upper hand, and slammed his shield into Majora's open ribs. While this stunned him, Link head butted him where his face would have been. A few flecks of very dark blood hit his face as he did this. The shadow demon stumbled backwards, and Link charged forward, slashing at his side to cut him in half. Majora recovered fast however, and blocked the blow easily. He batted the sword aside with the other sword, then with a contemptuous flick of his wrist, knocked Link's blade out of his hands. It soared over his head, and stuck into the ground ten feet behind him. Majora raised both blades above his head, and brought them swiftly down to rip through Link's brain. Link did not have enough time to get his shield up...

A blast of blue light flashed through the room, accompanied by many shouts of surprise, including Link. From Saja's hands, the sapphire shot the same energy blast from it that it had done in the Black Leaf Temple. He had not even meant for it to do so, but it had apparently done it of it's own free will. The beam slammed once more into Majora, shooting him across the room, smashing through the wall, and into a pitch black space.

A slightly stunned silence followed this. Everyone was surprised at how quickly everything had gone up and down. Link ran over to his shield embedded in the floor, and yanked it out. The rest of the group strode forward, Saja still clutching the sapphire, his mind reeling with impossible thoughts. Sheik had turned back into Zelda. Darunia was Goron groaning very quietly to himself, and Malon was at Saja's side, afraid to be anywhere near the hole where Majora was. Nabooru and her fellow Gerudo's were huddled together, staring transfixed at Link. They were amazed that he had fought so heroic against the evil being. Link cautiously walked over to the hole in the wall, keeping his shield raised and his sword out in front of him. Zelda made to walk forward toward Link, not wanting him to face Majora's wrath alone, but Darunia held out a huge bulky brown arm and stopped her. "Let him do this alone," he whispered to her. Zelda did not understand. Why could they not help him?

The rivalry between Majora and Link that had started so long ago in Termina had escalated into something more in Hyrule. Link knew the fiend just wanted to hurt him from the inside by attacking his home. That in turn could weaken him. This thought had been consuming him ever since he found out the shadow's identity. This rivalry of good and evil was between the two of them, and between the two of them it had to stay.

Link stopped, three feet away from the huge hole in the wall that was smoking slightly around the charred edges. He peered inside.

Out Majora flew, knocking Link backwards and onto the floor. Majora landed between Link and the rest of the team. His eyes were shining, and huge. They were sure that if he had had a face, he would be grinning broadly. This was not good.

Link jumped to his feet, and got into his fighting stance again, ready to battle again. Majora turned to look at him. i Pathetic Hylian, /I he thought savagely, looking down at the grown up form of the hero that had defeated him in Termina. No more would he defy him. But he would not destroy him here. He would acclaim the final sapphire before doing that.

Majora held up his hand. In one hand, he held one of his swords still. His other sword was sheathed at his side. In the hand he held up, was a gleaming blue ball of light.

The second sapphire.

Link's mind took a second to register this information. When he did, his eyes grew wide, and he lunged for it. Majora curled his long black fingers around the sapphire, and punched Link in the jaw. The force of the hit knocked him to the floor again. Little white stars popped in front of his eyes, and he blinked back tears of pain. He dribbled blood from his mouth onto the floor.

Zelda gasped, and made to run forward past the towering shadow, but Saja grabbed her wrist, his eyes wide with fear. He only shook his head.

"Filthy humans," snarled Majora, and they found that his voice had changed. It was slightly higher pitched...closer to his real voice. "You try to defy me with your puny little efforts. Do you really think to kill me?"

They all stayed silent, not knowing what to say to the unspeakable evil before them.

Majora placed the sapphire in what must have been a pocket. He simply said, "if you follow me to the final stone, I will rip each and every one of you to pieces." and with that, he walked forward, shoving Darunia and Malon aside as he did. The two stumbled in opposite directions. Majora disappeared into the darkness of the other room, and they knew that he had left for the final sapphire.

Zelda immediately sprinted over to Link, lying on the ground with blood by his mouth.

"Link," she gasped, placing a hand under his head. His dazed mind was still trying to work things out; the blow had stunned him. He looked up and saw Zelda's beautiful compassionate face staring lovingly down at him. He tried to smile, but only managed a sort of pained grimace. The two elves hugged each other. Saja, Malon, Darunia, Nabooru, and the other surviving Gerudo's stood in silence, waiting for them to get up.

Once they had broken apart, Zelda helped Link to his feet. He staggered for a second, then shook his head, and sheathed his sword and shield.

"Hero," said Saja urgently to him. Link nodded, pursing his lips tightly. "I know," Link said just above a whisper. "It is a race to the final sapphire. If we don't get there in time...Hyrule is gone."

Saja just nodded. Link gritted his teeth in fury, looking around the ground at the slain corpses of the Gerudo's.

"Let's go," he growled. He walked out of the room without even a glance back at Nabooru, who was still stunned. Saja, Zelda, Darunia and Malon hurried after him, as he lit up another ball of fire to help them find their way out of the fortress and to the final confrontation with Majora.