Well, I'm *trying* to listen to Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory', but my
headphones refuse to give me sound in the right ear. Stupid, stupid - Oh!
Here's the next instalment!
-Shawshank
Chapter (What is it now? Oh, yes) 18 - The Death Wish
When Kawhin and Navi gathered up enough courage to walk in on the scene, they saw the classic results of a catfight.
Zelda and Tyr were sitting on opposite sides of the large, darkened spot on the ground, shooting glares at each other every now and again. Every once in a while, either Zelda's or Tyr's gaze would sink down to the bloody grass, and silent tears would fall. They would look up again through misty eyes, and the anger would snap back into place. Tyr would bare her sharpened teeth and snarl, and Zelda would huffily turn away. After several minutes, the same thing would happen. Kawhin wondered how short their memory cycles were, and Navi laughed out loud, quickly sobering when she, too, looked to the dark place where Link had died. Kawhin was the only one able to stare at it for longer than a few seconds. He did not shed tears, but he did blink more slowly.
Zelda sobbed and got up, staggering deeper into the forest, mumbling something about wanting to be alone. Tyr angrily shook the tears out of her eyes. Why was she crying over an idiot? Goddesses, it was almost his own fault that he was dead! She saw Kawhin, who was now sitting cross-legged, staring without blinking at the blood that hadn't quite sunk into the ground. Navi sat on his shoulder. Tyr leapt high into the air, landing on all fours just behind Kawhin, using her developing skills of wingless flight to assist her. She was afraid to even reach close to her dragon side, but Tyr was starting to realize there was no denying that she would become a dragon eventually. Tyr recovered and stood up, reaching down her human hand to touch him on the shoulder. He jumped, and looked up at her, narrowing his eyes.
How did you get over here? You were there a second ago.
Tyr shook her head.
"That's not important. Find Zelda - take Navi with you. I don't need that pipsqueak in my way while I'm packing our things."
Why would you be packing our things?
"Never mind. Just go get Zelda. I'll explain on our way out of here."
But -
"Just *do* it, Kid. We need to get out of here before those *things* come back. Get going!"
He nodded and ran off with Navi following behind, her usual contented blue glow tinting red with anger. Pipsqueak! She'd show her *pipsqueak*.
They were completely oblivious to Tyr's longing sigh. The Kid trusted her too much. She'd have to give him reason not to.
Then again, it was nice, having someone not questioning your every move - but no. It was for his own good. Who knew when she would turn on him? On them all?
She whirled around on her dragon foot, the claw hanging from the back of it digging into the forest loam and showing moist earth. Tyr had to physically pull her foot out of the dirt. Damn that foot, and damn all of the stupid rain around here! Her frustration boiled up, and she angrily stalked off to buckle on her swords and belt and tie her bag to it so it hung just behind her left hip.
***
Zelda? We have to go, Zelda.
A soft, feminine sobbing echoed through the misty trees, making it next to impossible to locate its source.
Zelda, they'll come back and take us all.
"I don't CARE!"
The angry shout reverberated, sending a family of songbirds chirping nervously into the air. Kawhin sighed and reached out tentatively for her mind. He felt her pulling away.
If you don't tell me where you are, I'll have to find you myself.
"Let me stay here and rot."
The last word mingled with a deep, heart-wrenching sob. He closed his red eyes, reaching out with his entire being. He had to find her.
Her strong presence, surrounded by shadows and ice, came to him. She wasn't far away. He walked forward, eyes still squeezed shut, following the trail of her essence. When he broke the connection and opened his eyes, he saw a nervous wreck.
She sat with her back against a huge tree, the mist tentatively stretching out long fingers, reaching for her, comforting. When she looked up at him, her eyes were dying. He sat down beside her, staring off into the mist. She spoke first.
"I don't care about these stupid trial things. I don't want to go. I don't want to do *anything*!"
Why not?
She turned to him in anger, her eyes as lifeless as before.
"I loved him, Kawhin. I still do. He's not coming back this time, I can feel it. I can't live without at least that hope." She turned back to the mists. "I just can't."
You still have Navi, don't you?
"Yeah, that's right, Zelda. I won't leave your side, I promise. In fact; well, he made me promise never to say anything, but now that he's dead, I guess it doesn't matter."
Her light tinged pink. Kawhin stared at her, recognizing it for what it was. She was blushing!
"Well, see, I got mad at him for always taking stupid risks one day, and we kind of had a fight. He - well - I think it's better if I show you. Fire up the connection, Princess."
She looked up at Navi, confused.
"I connected with Link, not you, Navi. It won't work."
She shook her head, speaking before Zelda could go on.
"I'm a part of Link. I'm tied to him, or at least I was. When you linked to him, you did the same to me." Zelda blushed, thinking of the conversations they had had, knowing now that Navi had overheard.
"Relax, Zelda, I blocked it out as soon as it started getting mushy. But that's beside the point. I'm sure we can still talk. Try it."
"Kawhin, when I link to Navi, tap into my mind, and you'll see the same thing. That is, if Navi doesn't mind."
"Yeah, yeah, let's get on with it. Hurry up, Zelda."
"Be quiet! I have to concentrate."
Whoa, what the-
***
The sky overhead was a perfect, clear blue, completely cloudless. Link rode on Epona's back, slowly making his way to Gerudo Valley, where he had heard the Spirit Temple lay. As Epona turned sharply to avoid a small bush, turning up earth as she went, he thought about the Temple in question. Sheik had said there were five temples to be puzzled out, and this was the last of them. After this, he could take a break from all the travelling and rest for awhile. Then, maybe he could find Zelda, and ask her what she had been doing this whole time.
No. He would wait for that. Link sighed in relief. This was it, finally! The last Temple! After this, the land's troubles would be over. He smiled in half - triumph. Yes, Sheik had said there were only five temples, but what about Ganondorf? The King of Thieves still had to be destroyed. Would that be his job too? He sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. It made him wonder what miracle it was that kept him sane.
"Are we nearly at the Spirit Temple? We've been travelling half the morning already!"
Link rolled his eyes at the sound of his guardian's high-pitched voice, nearly lost in the wind, and muffled by his hat. She was, as usual, hiding under it, clinging to his hair. And, as usual, it was starting to hurt. He grinned anyway and shouted back at her, just to tick her off.
"What are you talking about? We haven't even passed Lon Lon Ranch!"
Navi huffily struggled out from underneath the hem of his hat, made from rough green cloth. She stopped and looked around, turning red in anger when she realized that they were over the Gerudo bridge, newly repaired by the carpenters. Navi whirled around to face Link, then screamed aloud and fluttered her small wings frantically when she saw that Link was already inside the Gerudo fortress. He had a membership pass, but they had never actually seen Navi; she always hid under Link's cap. For all she knew, the Gerudo ate fairies! Anyway, she had to catch up, or else she was dead meat for sure. When Link stopped, laughing so hard he almost fell off of Epona, just short of the woodwork gate leading to the desert, she huffily bopped him on the head and zoomed in under his hat again. He quickly caught his breath and asked the guard to be allowed into the desert. She nodded and, with a short warning about the two obstacles, she clapped her hands. The women standing guard at the crank hoisted up the gate, and Link nodded his thanks and rode Epona inside.
Two steps into the sand, Epona became agitated. She reared and bucked and would not walk forward, no matter what Link did or promised her. Link finally gave in and, stroking Epona's neck, stepped into the sands. He walked forwards for a while, talking aloud to himself, a habit developed on the long, shadowy trail through the Shadow Temple. A shiver ran up and down his spine at just the thought of it.
"Well, this is all well and good, but what about those obstacles the guard warn -"
He cut himself off and looked down at his feet, watching them sink slowly into the deep, slow-moving valley of sand he was trapped in. He gulped.
"Uh oh. Navi? Right about now would be a good time."
She came flying angrily out of his hat.
"Link. Here it is for you. I'll spell it out. I have had a *very* bad day. First, that flock of Keese tried to gang up on me and eat me, because they thought I was some kind of - of - *bug*! Then, I nearly got sliced in half by one of those stupid Peahats. And as if that wasn't enough, that Sheikah boy has to contact me through the private - that's right, *private* - link that Zelda and I share and tell me that it's *our* job to destroy Ganondorf. Oh, no, Zelda couldn't do it - she's too busy hiding in whatever hole she dug herself in the seven years you were asleep. And even though we've freed all but one of the Seven Sages, they can't do it themselves! No, the holy hands of the Sages are too - well - *holy* to summon up just a bit of magic to banish that creature to wherever the hell it came from!"
"Uh, Navi?"
"And what's all this Sheik said about the Seven Sages? There can only be six! Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit. That's right, count 'em, six. Who the hell is the Seventh Sage? And what does Sheiky - boy know about Sages? Jeeze. I don't even know who the hell this Sheik guy is. If he's your *friend*, then why isn't he there to help us out whenever we get in sticky messes?"
"Kinda like this sticky mess I'm stuck in right now?"
"Yes, *exactly* like that. Now, as I was -" She opened her eyes to see Link up to his chest in sinking sand. "Oh my Goddesses! Link! Here, let me help you!"
She took him by the ear, despite his protests, and, summoning up her stronger and more deeply hidden magic, dragged him excruciatingly slowly out of the wet sand that was hungrily swallowing him. She deposited him on one of the handy boxes nearby, but, Link noticed, on the wrong side of the pit. Navi nervously wiped the grime out of his eyes as he sat, breathing heavily to compensate for his winded lungs.
"Link, I'm so sorry. I just got carried away. I was angry. Will you forgive me?"
He smiled down at Navi, who was wrapping her tiny arms around a thick, sandy lock of his hair.
"It's all right, Navi. I didn't die, that's the important part, I guess."
She wailed even louder, and Link had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. When she continued her worried rambling, he actually *did* roll his eyes.
"Oh, Link, I don't know what to do with you. You're my best friend, but it's like you *try* to get yourself killed some days! What would I do if you left me, Link? What would I do?"
He smiled and scooped the hysterical ball of light into his hands, comforting her with soft words of friendship that were mostly carried away on the wind.
Little did he know that the simple question, barely heard over the whipping winds, would come back to haunt him.
***
Link lay, panting, crouching on the carpeted platform. The Sorceress Sisters, who had, seven long years ago, brainwashed Nabooru, had been tough to beat. They had, somehow, been granted the right to live out their afterlives in the Sacred Realm, but not before warning him.
'We'll come back to haunt you!'
The words still echoed through his head, even now, as he inspected the blood - stained carpet, wondering whose blood it was. When he felt a thick drop roll down over his stomach, underneath his ripped tunic, he knew it was his. It wasn't a bad cut, but it was deep, not to mention painful. He got up, walking in a jerky fashion, and dropped heavily to the red brick floor, ignoring the circle of blue light leading to the Chamber of the Sages. Link walked to the nearest column, sitting down slowly, trying not to open his wound any farther. He gritted his teeth as Navi zoomed in on him, immediately seeing the large dark spot on his tunic. She clicked her tongue at him and placed her tiny hands just above the wound. His sharp intake of breath told her that her magic was working. The wound slowly closed under her maternal gaze. She smiled, and Link smiled back.
He got up and vaulted back onto the main platform, not giving Navi a chance to chastise him before stepping into the circle of refreshing light that felt like morning. Navi quickly struggled under his hat, giving his hair a little tug to let him know that this wasn't the end of their conversation; not even close. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as the prism of magic formed around him and lifted him above all things physical, to somewhere beyond.
***
"Do you know how many times you came so close to Death you could smell its breath in the past few days?"
"Yeah, well, Death has bad breath."
"Be quiet. The Spirit Temple is *not* a good place to die, trust me. In fact, *nowhere* is a good place to die! The world needs you, Link, and what do you do? You go running around like a lost idiot, bumbling your way through mazes, just barely surviving every single time! I'm sick of it! You need to be more careful."
Link sighed loudly and commented in a stage whisper to Epona, "Nice to know somebody cares." Navi angrily bopped him on the nose, and he rolled his eyes and relaxed his muscles, allowing himself to fall backwards onto the ground. The spot was somehow perfectly flat, giving him a completely unobstructed view of the darkening sky. The sun was just beginning to set. His annoyed mood quickly sobered into resigned thoughtfulness.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. I take too many risks. It's beginning to go too far."
Navi flopped down beside him. Link was pretty sure she was on her back, but she was too bright and small to tell.
"It went too far the day we started this crazy journey."
Link crossed his arms under his head, listening to Epona quietly graze a meter or so away.
"I know, Navi."
They lay in companionable silence for a long time. When Link spoke again, the sky was a deep violet.
"Navi, you know what you asked me after the episode with the sinking sand?"
"No, what?"
"You asked me what you would do without me."
She turned her tiny head and looked at him, considering.
"Link, I am as much a part of you as you are of me. We're tied. If you cease to exist - I will too, after a time."
"How long would you live?"
"Not long, in my terms. About two hundred years, give or take a few."
"Well, that's more than two lifetimes. Navi -"
"Yes?"
"Well, I - I'm not sure how to put this - I want you to do something for me."
She looked back to the sky, pretending not to see the red creeping up Link's neck.
"Do you remember Zelda?"
Navi's tone was careful.
"Yeeeesss - what about her?"
"Well, I have a funny feeling that she'll show up after this whole mess is over and done with. Actually, I had a dream."
"Mm hm? So?"
"I hate to be blunt, but I can't think of any other way. Navi, if I die before I'm supposed to, will you - uh - take care of her for me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Navi, can you link yourself to other people, become someone else's guardian, if I'm dead?"
"No. If you're dead, that's it. Faeries can only ever have one person to guard. It keeps us slightly mortal."
"Well, if I die - will you watch over her, until she dies? I need to be sure that she's okay, and I can't think of anyone I trust more than you."
Navi bounced into the air and touched down on his chest. Link kept his gaze on the darkening sky, knowing full well she could see his burning face. He felt small pinpricks of pressure move up to his collarbone, and suddenly Navi was in his face. He saw her familiar fiery blue hair and slanted, midnight blue eyes. She smiled at him reassuringly.
"I promise, Link. I will. You have my word."
Link turned his eyes back to the deep blue sky, and saw a star showing its shy face. He smiled slightly, and closed his eyes, and slept.
***
As I said, whoa.
"You're going to die in two hundred years?"
Navi floated slowly downwards as she answered Zelda's question, coming to an unhappy rest on the loamy forest floor.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. And I'm tied to you now - not as your guardian, but by a death wish, of sorts."
"So I'm stuck with you, huh?"
"You got that right, Princess! C'mon, let's go. Tyr's waiting for us."
Actually, she's not.
Zelda whirled around to face Kawhin, Navi bobbing in the air just behind her.
"What? How do you know?"
He grinned sheepishly.
I just know. I felt her anger, and impatience, and then - nothing. Either she's dead or she's gone. I'm voting for the latter.
Zelda marched through the thickening mists, which somehow still hadn't been burned away by the daylight. She walked purposely in one direction, then stopped and thought. She turned to the left and walked that way, then stopped again. Kawhin caught up to her in time to see the sparkle of life fade from her eyes.
"We're lost. Now what are we going to do?"
Navi's small, bossy voice piped up.
"Well, you may be lost, but I'm not. The camp is over this way."
The fairy whirled around and flew in one direction, speeding along backwards and laughing at the odd expressions on Zelda's and Kawhin's faces. Zelda shouted, "Navi! Watch out for that -"
BANG! OOH! TREE!
(A.N. George, George, George of the Jungle :o)
Navi crumpled and fell to the forest floor in a sodden mass of light, fairy dust, and fire. Kawhin ran over and scooped her up, cradling her close to his chest. Zelda, however, was now walking in the direction the now - unconscious Navi had been flying towards, being careful to avoid any and all trees.
The mist swirled around them and swallowed them, slowly, ever so slowly, leading them to where their fates would be decided.
***
"Are you finished, Master?"
"I would finish more *quickly* if you would STOP INTERRUPTING ME!"
"A - as y - you wish, M - master." Bowing, the mindless thing left the creature inside the tent to his own devices.
He smiled again. He had to stop doing that so often, or it would begin to become a habit. No one fears a smiling dictator.
Unless, of course, that smile is cold and cruel, like the one splitting his face was right now.
He had almost finished his noble work. Soon, there would be a new addition to his forces; a General more mighty than any other. Besides, his new General would be immortal; he would not die slowly from being exposed to the evil radiating from the creature now changing him. He would not even die from exposure to *that* creature's master, whom most could only live nearby for a few days.
Yes, this new invention of his would be perfect. Perfectly obedient, perfectly immune - perfect. He forced the smile off of his face and concentrated more deeply on what he was doing. This was the difficult part. If this didn't work, he would have to terminate the whole experiment.
Ah - yes. The muscles and tendons were perfectly in line. The muscles beneath his working fingers flexed unconsciously - his creation wanted to exercise his new - appendages. That was understandable, but it would have to wait. When he was finished, he would show the creature to his horde, and they would see that his new General was something to be feared.
The body that was no longer mortal - and had never really been in the first place - shuddered with nervous energy under the worker's piercing gaze of truth.
***
I am so, SO sorry that this took two stinkin' weeks to get typed up! I'm also sorry it's so darn short - I got some bad writer's block recently. Plus, I'm part of the cast of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and we're performing in about a week! That means rehearsals practically every day, people!
To reply to some reviews:
Coca - Cola: Thank you very much for that well-rounded review! And believe you me, I have no intention of cliché - ing this story. *I am the anti - cliché embodied*. I'm still not quite sure how it'll end, but I have a pretty good idea.
Kokeshi088: Thanks for the review! You're a pal! I really hope you enjoyed my story, and my novelization of your poems. BTW, how the heck do you spell novelization? My spellcheck doesn't like that word or something.
Anybody I forgot: Don't worry, I still love you! Bug me, and I'll put you at the top of the next chapter. I don't exactly have access to the 'Net right now. *Grins sheepishly*
Section Things:
Today's Quote: This is my blessing; this is my curse. (Spider-Man{That's right, with a hyphen!})
Today's Revelation: My best friend is a steel wool pyromaniac. Should I be afraid?
Today's Lyrical Quote:
Fallen angels at my feet,
Whispered voices at my ear;
Death before my eyes,
Lying next to me I fear
She beckons me shall I give in?
Upon my end shall I begin?
Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end.
From 'Whisper' by Evanescence
Oh, wait, I forgot the disclaimer! Might as well put it here. Ahem - hem.
I DO NOT own Zelda.
I DO NOT own any of the Zelda characters (Link, Zelda, Navi)
I DO OWN Tyr, Kawhin and the winged Stalfos. Oh, and the creature guy.
I DO OWN the plot. That's right, I said I own the plot. You know why I own the plot? 'Cause it's not cliché, that's why! So it's mine! MINE! MWAHAHAHA!
*WARNING, CRAZY AUTHOR ON THE LOOSE*
Continuing on.
I DO *NOT* OWN George of the Jungle or the BANG! OOH! TREE! thing.
I DO NOT OWN Evanescence or their lyrics. They do (duh).
Also, I DO NOT OWN any of the other lyrics I have quoted from in the past. Otherwise I wouldn't be quoting them, now would I?
One last thing.
I DEFINITELY OWN the poem 'The Prophecy' in the previous chapter. It's *my* poem, thank you. If you want me to write a poem for you or something, don't even bother asking. (Why not check with Kokeshi? She's way better at it than me.)
Okay, make that a couple last things.
People, we are not *anywhere* near to done! In fact, we're starting a whole new stage in the journey! I'd say we're about half done, maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less. I have no idea how long it'll be; I just know what's going to happen.
And I'll try to have the next chappie out by next week or so. Sorry for the delay, guys!
The End (for now)
-Shawshank
-Shawshank
Chapter (What is it now? Oh, yes) 18 - The Death Wish
When Kawhin and Navi gathered up enough courage to walk in on the scene, they saw the classic results of a catfight.
Zelda and Tyr were sitting on opposite sides of the large, darkened spot on the ground, shooting glares at each other every now and again. Every once in a while, either Zelda's or Tyr's gaze would sink down to the bloody grass, and silent tears would fall. They would look up again through misty eyes, and the anger would snap back into place. Tyr would bare her sharpened teeth and snarl, and Zelda would huffily turn away. After several minutes, the same thing would happen. Kawhin wondered how short their memory cycles were, and Navi laughed out loud, quickly sobering when she, too, looked to the dark place where Link had died. Kawhin was the only one able to stare at it for longer than a few seconds. He did not shed tears, but he did blink more slowly.
Zelda sobbed and got up, staggering deeper into the forest, mumbling something about wanting to be alone. Tyr angrily shook the tears out of her eyes. Why was she crying over an idiot? Goddesses, it was almost his own fault that he was dead! She saw Kawhin, who was now sitting cross-legged, staring without blinking at the blood that hadn't quite sunk into the ground. Navi sat on his shoulder. Tyr leapt high into the air, landing on all fours just behind Kawhin, using her developing skills of wingless flight to assist her. She was afraid to even reach close to her dragon side, but Tyr was starting to realize there was no denying that she would become a dragon eventually. Tyr recovered and stood up, reaching down her human hand to touch him on the shoulder. He jumped, and looked up at her, narrowing his eyes.
How did you get over here? You were there a second ago.
Tyr shook her head.
"That's not important. Find Zelda - take Navi with you. I don't need that pipsqueak in my way while I'm packing our things."
Why would you be packing our things?
"Never mind. Just go get Zelda. I'll explain on our way out of here."
But -
"Just *do* it, Kid. We need to get out of here before those *things* come back. Get going!"
He nodded and ran off with Navi following behind, her usual contented blue glow tinting red with anger. Pipsqueak! She'd show her *pipsqueak*.
They were completely oblivious to Tyr's longing sigh. The Kid trusted her too much. She'd have to give him reason not to.
Then again, it was nice, having someone not questioning your every move - but no. It was for his own good. Who knew when she would turn on him? On them all?
She whirled around on her dragon foot, the claw hanging from the back of it digging into the forest loam and showing moist earth. Tyr had to physically pull her foot out of the dirt. Damn that foot, and damn all of the stupid rain around here! Her frustration boiled up, and she angrily stalked off to buckle on her swords and belt and tie her bag to it so it hung just behind her left hip.
***
Zelda? We have to go, Zelda.
A soft, feminine sobbing echoed through the misty trees, making it next to impossible to locate its source.
Zelda, they'll come back and take us all.
"I don't CARE!"
The angry shout reverberated, sending a family of songbirds chirping nervously into the air. Kawhin sighed and reached out tentatively for her mind. He felt her pulling away.
If you don't tell me where you are, I'll have to find you myself.
"Let me stay here and rot."
The last word mingled with a deep, heart-wrenching sob. He closed his red eyes, reaching out with his entire being. He had to find her.
Her strong presence, surrounded by shadows and ice, came to him. She wasn't far away. He walked forward, eyes still squeezed shut, following the trail of her essence. When he broke the connection and opened his eyes, he saw a nervous wreck.
She sat with her back against a huge tree, the mist tentatively stretching out long fingers, reaching for her, comforting. When she looked up at him, her eyes were dying. He sat down beside her, staring off into the mist. She spoke first.
"I don't care about these stupid trial things. I don't want to go. I don't want to do *anything*!"
Why not?
She turned to him in anger, her eyes as lifeless as before.
"I loved him, Kawhin. I still do. He's not coming back this time, I can feel it. I can't live without at least that hope." She turned back to the mists. "I just can't."
You still have Navi, don't you?
"Yeah, that's right, Zelda. I won't leave your side, I promise. In fact; well, he made me promise never to say anything, but now that he's dead, I guess it doesn't matter."
Her light tinged pink. Kawhin stared at her, recognizing it for what it was. She was blushing!
"Well, see, I got mad at him for always taking stupid risks one day, and we kind of had a fight. He - well - I think it's better if I show you. Fire up the connection, Princess."
She looked up at Navi, confused.
"I connected with Link, not you, Navi. It won't work."
She shook her head, speaking before Zelda could go on.
"I'm a part of Link. I'm tied to him, or at least I was. When you linked to him, you did the same to me." Zelda blushed, thinking of the conversations they had had, knowing now that Navi had overheard.
"Relax, Zelda, I blocked it out as soon as it started getting mushy. But that's beside the point. I'm sure we can still talk. Try it."
"Kawhin, when I link to Navi, tap into my mind, and you'll see the same thing. That is, if Navi doesn't mind."
"Yeah, yeah, let's get on with it. Hurry up, Zelda."
"Be quiet! I have to concentrate."
Whoa, what the-
***
The sky overhead was a perfect, clear blue, completely cloudless. Link rode on Epona's back, slowly making his way to Gerudo Valley, where he had heard the Spirit Temple lay. As Epona turned sharply to avoid a small bush, turning up earth as she went, he thought about the Temple in question. Sheik had said there were five temples to be puzzled out, and this was the last of them. After this, he could take a break from all the travelling and rest for awhile. Then, maybe he could find Zelda, and ask her what she had been doing this whole time.
No. He would wait for that. Link sighed in relief. This was it, finally! The last Temple! After this, the land's troubles would be over. He smiled in half - triumph. Yes, Sheik had said there were only five temples, but what about Ganondorf? The King of Thieves still had to be destroyed. Would that be his job too? He sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. It made him wonder what miracle it was that kept him sane.
"Are we nearly at the Spirit Temple? We've been travelling half the morning already!"
Link rolled his eyes at the sound of his guardian's high-pitched voice, nearly lost in the wind, and muffled by his hat. She was, as usual, hiding under it, clinging to his hair. And, as usual, it was starting to hurt. He grinned anyway and shouted back at her, just to tick her off.
"What are you talking about? We haven't even passed Lon Lon Ranch!"
Navi huffily struggled out from underneath the hem of his hat, made from rough green cloth. She stopped and looked around, turning red in anger when she realized that they were over the Gerudo bridge, newly repaired by the carpenters. Navi whirled around to face Link, then screamed aloud and fluttered her small wings frantically when she saw that Link was already inside the Gerudo fortress. He had a membership pass, but they had never actually seen Navi; she always hid under Link's cap. For all she knew, the Gerudo ate fairies! Anyway, she had to catch up, or else she was dead meat for sure. When Link stopped, laughing so hard he almost fell off of Epona, just short of the woodwork gate leading to the desert, she huffily bopped him on the head and zoomed in under his hat again. He quickly caught his breath and asked the guard to be allowed into the desert. She nodded and, with a short warning about the two obstacles, she clapped her hands. The women standing guard at the crank hoisted up the gate, and Link nodded his thanks and rode Epona inside.
Two steps into the sand, Epona became agitated. She reared and bucked and would not walk forward, no matter what Link did or promised her. Link finally gave in and, stroking Epona's neck, stepped into the sands. He walked forwards for a while, talking aloud to himself, a habit developed on the long, shadowy trail through the Shadow Temple. A shiver ran up and down his spine at just the thought of it.
"Well, this is all well and good, but what about those obstacles the guard warn -"
He cut himself off and looked down at his feet, watching them sink slowly into the deep, slow-moving valley of sand he was trapped in. He gulped.
"Uh oh. Navi? Right about now would be a good time."
She came flying angrily out of his hat.
"Link. Here it is for you. I'll spell it out. I have had a *very* bad day. First, that flock of Keese tried to gang up on me and eat me, because they thought I was some kind of - of - *bug*! Then, I nearly got sliced in half by one of those stupid Peahats. And as if that wasn't enough, that Sheikah boy has to contact me through the private - that's right, *private* - link that Zelda and I share and tell me that it's *our* job to destroy Ganondorf. Oh, no, Zelda couldn't do it - she's too busy hiding in whatever hole she dug herself in the seven years you were asleep. And even though we've freed all but one of the Seven Sages, they can't do it themselves! No, the holy hands of the Sages are too - well - *holy* to summon up just a bit of magic to banish that creature to wherever the hell it came from!"
"Uh, Navi?"
"And what's all this Sheik said about the Seven Sages? There can only be six! Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit. That's right, count 'em, six. Who the hell is the Seventh Sage? And what does Sheiky - boy know about Sages? Jeeze. I don't even know who the hell this Sheik guy is. If he's your *friend*, then why isn't he there to help us out whenever we get in sticky messes?"
"Kinda like this sticky mess I'm stuck in right now?"
"Yes, *exactly* like that. Now, as I was -" She opened her eyes to see Link up to his chest in sinking sand. "Oh my Goddesses! Link! Here, let me help you!"
She took him by the ear, despite his protests, and, summoning up her stronger and more deeply hidden magic, dragged him excruciatingly slowly out of the wet sand that was hungrily swallowing him. She deposited him on one of the handy boxes nearby, but, Link noticed, on the wrong side of the pit. Navi nervously wiped the grime out of his eyes as he sat, breathing heavily to compensate for his winded lungs.
"Link, I'm so sorry. I just got carried away. I was angry. Will you forgive me?"
He smiled down at Navi, who was wrapping her tiny arms around a thick, sandy lock of his hair.
"It's all right, Navi. I didn't die, that's the important part, I guess."
She wailed even louder, and Link had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. When she continued her worried rambling, he actually *did* roll his eyes.
"Oh, Link, I don't know what to do with you. You're my best friend, but it's like you *try* to get yourself killed some days! What would I do if you left me, Link? What would I do?"
He smiled and scooped the hysterical ball of light into his hands, comforting her with soft words of friendship that were mostly carried away on the wind.
Little did he know that the simple question, barely heard over the whipping winds, would come back to haunt him.
***
Link lay, panting, crouching on the carpeted platform. The Sorceress Sisters, who had, seven long years ago, brainwashed Nabooru, had been tough to beat. They had, somehow, been granted the right to live out their afterlives in the Sacred Realm, but not before warning him.
'We'll come back to haunt you!'
The words still echoed through his head, even now, as he inspected the blood - stained carpet, wondering whose blood it was. When he felt a thick drop roll down over his stomach, underneath his ripped tunic, he knew it was his. It wasn't a bad cut, but it was deep, not to mention painful. He got up, walking in a jerky fashion, and dropped heavily to the red brick floor, ignoring the circle of blue light leading to the Chamber of the Sages. Link walked to the nearest column, sitting down slowly, trying not to open his wound any farther. He gritted his teeth as Navi zoomed in on him, immediately seeing the large dark spot on his tunic. She clicked her tongue at him and placed her tiny hands just above the wound. His sharp intake of breath told her that her magic was working. The wound slowly closed under her maternal gaze. She smiled, and Link smiled back.
He got up and vaulted back onto the main platform, not giving Navi a chance to chastise him before stepping into the circle of refreshing light that felt like morning. Navi quickly struggled under his hat, giving his hair a little tug to let him know that this wasn't the end of their conversation; not even close. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as the prism of magic formed around him and lifted him above all things physical, to somewhere beyond.
***
"Do you know how many times you came so close to Death you could smell its breath in the past few days?"
"Yeah, well, Death has bad breath."
"Be quiet. The Spirit Temple is *not* a good place to die, trust me. In fact, *nowhere* is a good place to die! The world needs you, Link, and what do you do? You go running around like a lost idiot, bumbling your way through mazes, just barely surviving every single time! I'm sick of it! You need to be more careful."
Link sighed loudly and commented in a stage whisper to Epona, "Nice to know somebody cares." Navi angrily bopped him on the nose, and he rolled his eyes and relaxed his muscles, allowing himself to fall backwards onto the ground. The spot was somehow perfectly flat, giving him a completely unobstructed view of the darkening sky. The sun was just beginning to set. His annoyed mood quickly sobered into resigned thoughtfulness.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. I take too many risks. It's beginning to go too far."
Navi flopped down beside him. Link was pretty sure she was on her back, but she was too bright and small to tell.
"It went too far the day we started this crazy journey."
Link crossed his arms under his head, listening to Epona quietly graze a meter or so away.
"I know, Navi."
They lay in companionable silence for a long time. When Link spoke again, the sky was a deep violet.
"Navi, you know what you asked me after the episode with the sinking sand?"
"No, what?"
"You asked me what you would do without me."
She turned her tiny head and looked at him, considering.
"Link, I am as much a part of you as you are of me. We're tied. If you cease to exist - I will too, after a time."
"How long would you live?"
"Not long, in my terms. About two hundred years, give or take a few."
"Well, that's more than two lifetimes. Navi -"
"Yes?"
"Well, I - I'm not sure how to put this - I want you to do something for me."
She looked back to the sky, pretending not to see the red creeping up Link's neck.
"Do you remember Zelda?"
Navi's tone was careful.
"Yeeeesss - what about her?"
"Well, I have a funny feeling that she'll show up after this whole mess is over and done with. Actually, I had a dream."
"Mm hm? So?"
"I hate to be blunt, but I can't think of any other way. Navi, if I die before I'm supposed to, will you - uh - take care of her for me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Navi, can you link yourself to other people, become someone else's guardian, if I'm dead?"
"No. If you're dead, that's it. Faeries can only ever have one person to guard. It keeps us slightly mortal."
"Well, if I die - will you watch over her, until she dies? I need to be sure that she's okay, and I can't think of anyone I trust more than you."
Navi bounced into the air and touched down on his chest. Link kept his gaze on the darkening sky, knowing full well she could see his burning face. He felt small pinpricks of pressure move up to his collarbone, and suddenly Navi was in his face. He saw her familiar fiery blue hair and slanted, midnight blue eyes. She smiled at him reassuringly.
"I promise, Link. I will. You have my word."
Link turned his eyes back to the deep blue sky, and saw a star showing its shy face. He smiled slightly, and closed his eyes, and slept.
***
As I said, whoa.
"You're going to die in two hundred years?"
Navi floated slowly downwards as she answered Zelda's question, coming to an unhappy rest on the loamy forest floor.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. And I'm tied to you now - not as your guardian, but by a death wish, of sorts."
"So I'm stuck with you, huh?"
"You got that right, Princess! C'mon, let's go. Tyr's waiting for us."
Actually, she's not.
Zelda whirled around to face Kawhin, Navi bobbing in the air just behind her.
"What? How do you know?"
He grinned sheepishly.
I just know. I felt her anger, and impatience, and then - nothing. Either she's dead or she's gone. I'm voting for the latter.
Zelda marched through the thickening mists, which somehow still hadn't been burned away by the daylight. She walked purposely in one direction, then stopped and thought. She turned to the left and walked that way, then stopped again. Kawhin caught up to her in time to see the sparkle of life fade from her eyes.
"We're lost. Now what are we going to do?"
Navi's small, bossy voice piped up.
"Well, you may be lost, but I'm not. The camp is over this way."
The fairy whirled around and flew in one direction, speeding along backwards and laughing at the odd expressions on Zelda's and Kawhin's faces. Zelda shouted, "Navi! Watch out for that -"
BANG! OOH! TREE!
(A.N. George, George, George of the Jungle :o)
Navi crumpled and fell to the forest floor in a sodden mass of light, fairy dust, and fire. Kawhin ran over and scooped her up, cradling her close to his chest. Zelda, however, was now walking in the direction the now - unconscious Navi had been flying towards, being careful to avoid any and all trees.
The mist swirled around them and swallowed them, slowly, ever so slowly, leading them to where their fates would be decided.
***
"Are you finished, Master?"
"I would finish more *quickly* if you would STOP INTERRUPTING ME!"
"A - as y - you wish, M - master." Bowing, the mindless thing left the creature inside the tent to his own devices.
He smiled again. He had to stop doing that so often, or it would begin to become a habit. No one fears a smiling dictator.
Unless, of course, that smile is cold and cruel, like the one splitting his face was right now.
He had almost finished his noble work. Soon, there would be a new addition to his forces; a General more mighty than any other. Besides, his new General would be immortal; he would not die slowly from being exposed to the evil radiating from the creature now changing him. He would not even die from exposure to *that* creature's master, whom most could only live nearby for a few days.
Yes, this new invention of his would be perfect. Perfectly obedient, perfectly immune - perfect. He forced the smile off of his face and concentrated more deeply on what he was doing. This was the difficult part. If this didn't work, he would have to terminate the whole experiment.
Ah - yes. The muscles and tendons were perfectly in line. The muscles beneath his working fingers flexed unconsciously - his creation wanted to exercise his new - appendages. That was understandable, but it would have to wait. When he was finished, he would show the creature to his horde, and they would see that his new General was something to be feared.
The body that was no longer mortal - and had never really been in the first place - shuddered with nervous energy under the worker's piercing gaze of truth.
***
I am so, SO sorry that this took two stinkin' weeks to get typed up! I'm also sorry it's so darn short - I got some bad writer's block recently. Plus, I'm part of the cast of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and we're performing in about a week! That means rehearsals practically every day, people!
To reply to some reviews:
Coca - Cola: Thank you very much for that well-rounded review! And believe you me, I have no intention of cliché - ing this story. *I am the anti - cliché embodied*. I'm still not quite sure how it'll end, but I have a pretty good idea.
Kokeshi088: Thanks for the review! You're a pal! I really hope you enjoyed my story, and my novelization of your poems. BTW, how the heck do you spell novelization? My spellcheck doesn't like that word or something.
Anybody I forgot: Don't worry, I still love you! Bug me, and I'll put you at the top of the next chapter. I don't exactly have access to the 'Net right now. *Grins sheepishly*
Section Things:
Today's Quote: This is my blessing; this is my curse. (Spider-Man{That's right, with a hyphen!})
Today's Revelation: My best friend is a steel wool pyromaniac. Should I be afraid?
Today's Lyrical Quote:
Fallen angels at my feet,
Whispered voices at my ear;
Death before my eyes,
Lying next to me I fear
She beckons me shall I give in?
Upon my end shall I begin?
Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end.
From 'Whisper' by Evanescence
Oh, wait, I forgot the disclaimer! Might as well put it here. Ahem - hem.
I DO NOT own Zelda.
I DO NOT own any of the Zelda characters (Link, Zelda, Navi)
I DO OWN Tyr, Kawhin and the winged Stalfos. Oh, and the creature guy.
I DO OWN the plot. That's right, I said I own the plot. You know why I own the plot? 'Cause it's not cliché, that's why! So it's mine! MINE! MWAHAHAHA!
*WARNING, CRAZY AUTHOR ON THE LOOSE*
Continuing on.
I DO *NOT* OWN George of the Jungle or the BANG! OOH! TREE! thing.
I DO NOT OWN Evanescence or their lyrics. They do (duh).
Also, I DO NOT OWN any of the other lyrics I have quoted from in the past. Otherwise I wouldn't be quoting them, now would I?
One last thing.
I DEFINITELY OWN the poem 'The Prophecy' in the previous chapter. It's *my* poem, thank you. If you want me to write a poem for you or something, don't even bother asking. (Why not check with Kokeshi? She's way better at it than me.)
Okay, make that a couple last things.
People, we are not *anywhere* near to done! In fact, we're starting a whole new stage in the journey! I'd say we're about half done, maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less. I have no idea how long it'll be; I just know what's going to happen.
And I'll try to have the next chappie out by next week or so. Sorry for the delay, guys!
The End (for now)
-Shawshank
