Mountain Villages Part 2
Last Time"Kelian, do you know the whereabouts of the Sheikah?" Kariah asked, grabbing Link's attention again. Kelian thought about it for a moment and then answered truthfully,
"No I haven't heard anything about them lately. You should ask Riako about them," Kelian answered. Link was about to ask Kariah who the Sheikah were when a resounding whiney sounded outside and Link jumped up recognizing the sound of Epona. Kariah also jumped and made for the door.
Kariah followed Link at the cries of the stallion and mare. She wasn't too worried about Arden; he could take care of himself. Link threw open the door and ran to Epona's side.
"What is it girl?" Link asked, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to understand her, but he felt he had to ask the question anyway. Kariah looked at the mare and found out exactly what was wrong.
"She says that a great shadow monster passed over the village and headed to the Royal Graveyard," Kariah said calmly, speaking in the tongue of Hyrule for Epona. Link looked at her incredulously.
"How do you know that is what Epona was trying to say?" Link demanded. Kariah gave him a long level look and calmly walked up to Arden and stroked his bronze head.
"You needn't be reminded of what I am Link," Kariah said softly. Link's face flushed in embarrassment as he remembered that Kariah was a Goddess and not a Hylian. She chuckled softly. Link stood thoughtfully for a moment and then looked back at Epona.
"You said that you saw a shadow monster?" Link asked, directing his question to Epona, which Kariah answered.
"The Royal Graveyard is situated on the eastern end of the village. I see no hurry to go to it anymore today Link, it is getting late and we still have to find the whereabouts of the Sheikah," Kariah said.
"Please, come back in here!" A voice hissed. Kariah and Link looked at Revadania, her face pale and she was clutching Tigo protectively to her. Kariah glanced at the wife and knew immediately that the monster had passed over the village before. Link didn't see into the fear as clearly as Kariah had but he realized that the monster had obviously struck some fear into the peaceful town people.
"Kari, please don't stay out there, that monster is dangerous," Revadania pleaded. Kariah turned to them totally calmly and said,
"Revadania, I am well aware of the danger, now if you will excuse us we must go and talk to Riako. I am surprised that you haven't contacted the Sheikah before now," Kariah said, letting a slight bit of disappointment enter her voice.
"Riako tried but he can't get any contact from the Sheikah villages. They constantly are moving and Riako lost track. We can't find them," Kelian answered miserably and still trembling in fear, more for his family than actual fear of the monster. Kariah looked at then for a moment before turning to Link.
"We must go before the monster comes back Sir," Kariah said to Link, in a respectful manner for he was acting the part of the Prince of Labrynna. Link felt a sense of bravery enter his soul and he nodded to Kariah and said,
"Come Kari, we will speak to your Riako," Link flashed her a grin and she wondered what he was feeling so giddy about but didn't have time to ask as he had already mounted Epona and had the unasked question of where to go in his eyes. With a slightly exasperated sigh, Kariah mounted Arden and with a wave to the family, led Link to a house directly south of Kelian's house. They went up the stairs and stopped the horses outside of the house.
Kariah dismounted and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a short man with a blue robe and silver white hair. He also had a long white beard and slightly miffed blue eyes.
"Kari, how good it is to see you. What can I do for you at this late hour?" Raiko asked, apparently very happy to see Kariah. She shot Link an amused look and then replied,
"We would like to speak with you about certain matters concerning the whereabouts of the Sheikah and also we would like a place to stay for the night," Kariah said. Riako tittered to himself for a moment and then he let in Kariah and Link.
Link looked around the dimly lit room and was surprised to find himself in a type of library. It was almost bigger than the library in Hyrule Castle. The library he had seen when he had gone in search of Din's Ruby.
"Riako, this is Prince Link, he is on a mission to earn the Princess's hand in marriage and we need to the know the whereabouts of Impa. She is needed and we haven't been able to find her. We were hoping that you could tell us where we might find her," Kariah said, getting straight to the point. Riako thought about this before he answered.
"I know not where Impa has gone, but the monster of shadows has taken refuge in the House of Dead. It is there that you will find him. Link had become uneasy at the mention of death.
'What is she thinking? How can you rescue or even kill something that is already dead? Once your dead you stay…' Link was broken out of his thoughts by a question from Kariah.
"Err, um what?" Link asked his mind still slightly elsewhere.
"I asked if it was okay that we slept together," Kariah asked, grinning slightly. She got Link's full attention that time.
"What?" Link asked blushing a bright red. Kariah shook her head and then said they would be spending the night and that they would have no choice because Riako had one spare bed.
"Um, you can have the bed Kari, I will take the floor, I've sle…" Kariah interrupted him,
"You are a Prince and therefore can sleep in a bed. I want to go and sleep with Arden anyway. See you in the morning," and with that Kariah went back outside.
"Girls," Link muttered, glancing at Riako. He observed Link carefully.
"You are no prince, you are a Hero of Time. You are better than a Prince sir. A prince wouldn't save a foreign country, no matter what the reward would be. You appear to be doing it at your free will," and with that said Riako climbed the stairs to his bed. Link undressed and crawled under the clean sheets. He had no idea what would be coming his way tomorrow.
Kariah looked at the waning Hyrulian moon and muttered a small prayer to her sister Farore to give both Zelda and Link some extra courage for the following day.
Zelda woke to the morning sun shining in her face. With a groan she pulled her pillow over her face. The day may have started out beautiful but Zelda new with absolute certainty that it would not end peaceful just as it had for several days now.
Suddenly the door burst open and a frazzled looking maid came running in.
"Princess, your father wants you in the throne room right now!" she gasped. Zelda's eyes narrowed dangerously with a rebellious glint.
"Tell his majesty the King that I will not meet him until I feel ready to meet him. That is an order from me, his beloved daughter," Zelda said harshly. The maid nodded and retreated from the room. Zelda sighed and walked out into the courtyard to see Libby sleeping peacefully by the wall.
She was still dressed in her nightgown, but she walked out to Libby.
"Oh Libby, what am I to do? My father is going mad, everything is becoming chaotic," Zelda asked the mare. Libby snorted in reply but then gave a low warning whiney.
Zelda glanced back to the other courtyard entrance and found Ganondorf standing there with a evil smirk on his face.
"You would do well to heed you father Princess, he is not a patient man of late. He has executed many already who have kept him waiting. It would be fair to warn you that you aren't totally safe," Ganondorf said coldly. With a whirl of his cape, he strode back inside. Zelda was totally speechless.
Kariah was ready to go at the crack of dawn. She had woken to the beautiful morning air curled up against Arden. She stretched any stiffness away and then she proceeded to wake the "prince" from his sleep.
"Link, we must get going, would you please hurry up?" Kariah said, slightly exasperated. Link muttered something unintelligent under his breath. Kariah shook her head impatiently.
"Where are we going anyway?" Link asked, gently saying hello to Epona at the same time. Somehow he knew that he wasn't going to like her answer but curiosity overtook him.
"We are going to enter the House of Dead," Kariah said indifferently. Link let out a bit of a moan. They were entering a graveyard and he knew that there would be ghosts. Link nodded to Kariah, surprised that he didn't really fear it.
'I wonder why this isn't bothering me. Most people would probably run if they were asked to enter the House of Dead. But I feel a something different. Something restless and dormant. I feel a challenge and for some reason I want to conquer it. I must be going mad,' Link thoughtfully wondered.
"Where is the House of Dead?" Link asked as Kariah led the way from Riako's house.
"Weren't you listening at all last night?" Kariah asked.
"Partially, why?"
"Because, Riako said the entrance is in the Royal Graveyard," Kariah said exasperated.
"Where is the Royal Graveyard?" Link asked.
"This way, behind the Kakariko Windmill. We are going there right now," Kariah said, still leading the way on foot. Link fell silent as they entered the Graveyard.
He quietly read the heading stone.
R.I.P.
Here lie the souls of those who swore fealty to the Royal Family of Hyrule.
The Sheikah, guardians of the Royal Family and founders of Kakariko, watch over these spirits in their eternal slumber.
To Link the graveyard seemed eerie and restless. Sad and lonely was another description that came to mind. They walked silently and quietly through the graveyard, Kariah was leading him to the back of the graveyard.
She stopped in front of a large tombstone with an insignia of the Triforce etched at the base of the stone. She pulled out the Fairy Ocarina and played the melody of the Royal Family.
Link was about to mimic her with the Ocarina of Time but a rumble stopped him and Kariah stopped playing. The tombstone had moved and revealed an opening.
"This is the Royal Tomb. The composer brothers Sharp and Flat have a song that you must learn before we continue on into the Shadow Temple. Let's go and find the melody," Kariah whispered. Link nodded.
Kariah jumped down into the dusty grave with Link following close behind her. They landed in the dark except for the small amount of light coming from the hole that they had just jumped down from. Link felt Kariah tap him with something. Using feel he found that she was giving him a torch. Drawing the dagger from his boot, Link struck the flint against the steel of his blade and lit the torch.
Link slightly recoiled at the human remains littering the ground but Kariah seemed to ignore them. She took the torch from Link and led the way. Link stepped gingerly around the bones and followed Kariah up to a doorway.
"Why are they just littered in here? Shouldn't they like have their own room and in coffins or something?" Link asked shuddering at the thought of just being slung into the grave.
Kariah glanced at Link but didn't answer right a way. Link was certain now that he didn't want to hear the answer to his question.
"Maybe another day I will tell you Link, but not right now," Kariah said quietly. They continued on through the bones of deceased royalty. Soon they came to a room with acrid green pools and what appeared to be deformed humans.
Kariah silently motioned with her hands that they must be absolutely quiet. She silently padded across and around the humans with Link carefully following behind her.
They had almost made it across when Link tripped. The noise woke the nearest creature. It gave a scream and Link found he couldn't move. He watched in horror as the monster approached, its lifeless eyes red with anticipation.
Kariah hadn't been close enough to be paralysed by the monster but she did hear the scream. Link was on the ground with the monster advancing on it.
Link could only hope that the monster ended his life quickly. He couldn't even defend himself. Suddenly a bright light hit the monster square on the chest and it glazed over. Link found that he could move again and he quickly scrambled away from the monster.
He tripped again and landed right on top of Kariah, knocking them both down with Link laying on top of her.
"Get off of me Link," Kariah hissed. Link looked at how close there faces were and he once again scrambled off of her. Kariah picked herself up and grabbed Link's arm. She pulled him through the next doorway.
"What were those things?" Link asked in a hushed tone.
"They are known as ReDead and they are souls of people who have unfinished business in the world. They detest light though. They are the main reason that we have come down here into the Royal Tomb first. You need the Composure Brother's song to temporarily stun them so that you can either put them to rest or avoid them. The Shadow Temple is full of revengeful souls and without this melody you won't make it out of there alive," Kariah explained briefly.
She lead him up to the stone at the back of this room. Link read it:
This poem is dedicated to the memory of the dearly departed members of the Royal Family.
The rising sun will eventually set,
A newborn's life will fade,
From sun to moon, moon to sun…
Give peaceful rest to the living dead
Restless souls wander where they don't belong,
Bring them calm with the Sun's Song.
-Sharp & Flat Composer Brothers
Underneath the poem, there was a carving that appeared to be a music staff with notes. Link looked at it and then turned to Kariah.
"I don't know how to read music, will you play it for me?" Link asked. Kariah nodded and pulled her Fairy Ocarina from her belt. Soon a haunting but relatively calm happy melody came forth. Link played it with her and then by himself.
"The Composer Brothers, Sharp and Flat didn't not know that there song would be able to alter times flow and when used with the Ocarina of Time, this song will change night into day and day into night. We must use it in great need only Link, The more we use it the less time we have," Kariah said softly.
With that said the duo continued on. They carefully once again made there way through the area that the ReDead inhabited. Once outside, Kariah climbed onto the stone that had been covering the Royal Tomb.
"This is the way to the Shadow Temple. Come, we are running out of time," Kariah urged. Link nodded and followed her up and then over the fence behind the tomb.
Link was surprised to find another hexagonal platform made of stone here. It was obviously hexagonal in shape but had the Triforce and one circular pattern engraved on it. The pattern on this circle was a single triangle with three small circles on each side. He decided that he would ask later so he followed Kariah into the Shadow Temple.
"Umm, Kari, the temple is shut, we can't get in there," Link said, pointing to the stone slab that had the Sheikah symbol on it. Kariah pulled a small orange rock from her pouch on her belt.
"This is Din's Fire. It is a magic spell that will raise a ball of fire and light all of these torches before they go out. Let instinct guide you and you will be able to put the spell to work for you Hero," Kariah said, holding out the stone to Link. He took it found that it was rather warm. He realized that Kariah was right and that he did know how to create this spell.
"With the power of the Triforce of Courage, I ask Din to aid me in my quest," Link said while doing a quick motion with his hands. Fire spread from his hands and lit the torches. Kariah had to back away to avoid getting burnt.
"Well done Hero," Kariah said calmly. Link nodded at her and grinned. He had never felt so alive. Kariah knew that it was because the magic in his soul had been awakened.
They entered and found themselves in a labyrinth. It was a maze and a confusing one at that. Link looked at Kariah, determined to find the Sheikah. They walked a ways and found nothing exciting. Soon though they became rather lost and Link had the feeling they were still only walking around the outside of the maze. Link stopped and Kariah also stopped.
They both looked at the writing etched in the wall.
Here is an account on the bloody history of Hyrule. Those feeling alive had better beware of the dangers henceforth.
"This is the way to go then," Link whispered. Kariah nodded feelings of dread rising unbidden in her chest. Link looked a bit nervous to but the Triforce of Courage wouldn't let him feel any fear.
They passed through the labyrinth slipping under the guillotines and fighting Stalfos. They passed through corridors housing ReDead. Kariah had given the Fairy Ocarina to Link to play the Sun's Song on so that they weren't altering time.
They had soon come close to the end of the labyrinth and they found a body. They body belonged to a Sheikah. Kariah approached and found that this Sheikah was still alive, but barely.
"Link, this is Impa. She is the Sage of Shadow. Bongo Bongo must have attacked her," Kariah said, examining the injuries that she could see on Impa. Link looked at the Sheikah and found a burning hatred to the monster that had hurt her.
"Kariah, stay with Impa. I will go and confront Bongo Bongo. It will be easier if you aren't there to worry about. Just watch for ReDead and all should be good," Link said, turning to go.
"Wait, take these. It is a map of the rest of the maze and the Lens of Truth. You won't be able to see Bongo Bongo without it," Kariah said, handing the map to him. In return he gave her the Fairy Ocarina back.
"Where did you get this?" Link asked taking a quick look at the map.
"I found it laying beside Impa, be careful Hero," Kariah said as Link took off down the corridor.
Link made his way really quickly and found it rather easy. He figured that maybe because he was getting closer to the shadow monster, the dead creatures didn't linger very close by. He found the ship and boarded. The mini-boss of this dungeon appeared to be two stalfos. Link made short work of them and got off of the ship before he could fall to his doom.
He entered the last stretch of the labyrinth and found himself at a dead end with a rather big hole in the floor. Looking down, Link could see the solid ground below. With a deep breath, Link jumped.
What he wasn't prepared for was how bouncy the ground was. He soon realized that this wasn't ground at all but the top of a massive drum. He could see severed hands beating on the surface. The vibrations bounced him along.
It was soon after that the monster realized Link's presence. Link got to his feet and found that the only way to stop the monster long enough would be to injure its hands.
Link un-shouldered his bow and notched an arrow as steadily as he could for he was still being bounced around. The hands came at Link in different forms and caused Link to use the bouncy surface to his advantage. He was sent flying a few times and had been hit by one of Bongo Bongo's hands but after a quick moment Link was back on his feet fighting again. One of the hands was able to hit him and it broke a few ribs. Link determinedly shot arrow after arrow.
Finally one of his shots flew true and sank into the palm of the hand. Bongo Bongo roared and Link quickly shot at the other hand. This arrow also flew true and gave Link the chance to attack the eye of the monster. Using the Lens of Truth, Link was able to send another arrow accurately.
It flew and hit the beast in the middle of the eye. It roared in pain and fury. It had been blinded. Link took the chance to advance on the monster and with an enthusiastic HIYA he brought the Master Sword from its sheath and severed the monster's brain from his body.
The body began to react in death rows. Soon the monster moved no more and Link had only come out of the battle with a few cuts and deep bruises and of course his broken ribs.
Link sat down to take a breather. He was covered in sweat and blood. He felt incredibly tired. However he knew that Kariah was waiting for him so he climbed painfully to his feet and made his way back to Kariah, finding a shortcut that didn't involve taking a ship that no longer existed.