Yay! My homies have reviewed again! You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
And yes, another man! Do you feel the love? Oh, yeah, I feel the love...
I'm pretty sure these next few chapters will clear things up a bit, as far as where the story is going and where everyone fits in. Trust me, I don't write the story, it writes itself, I'm just the messenger.
Actually, it's about 1:30 a.m., Thursday morning, and I have chosen now to update before tomorrow (today?), so that I can get this chapup now, because I know I won't have time tomorrow (today). I had a burst of creative energy this afternoon, and then I had to sit onit for a little while before I could go back and edit, yada yada yada, alright, I'll give you the chapter now.
Here we go again...
Chapter Four:
"Destiny Strikes Again"
"I don't understand."
"I know, it's all so… big," Jennifer said.
"No, I mean, why me? Why us?" Eric asked, looking at her with eyes wide with some emotion Jennifer couldn't name.
She sighed. "You think I don't ask myself the same thing? I don't know."
They were walking towards the temple, following Zelda, Link, and Impa. The two were a few feet behind, having a hushed conversation. Zelda had insisted that they go back to the temple and see what happened.
"Maybe Destiny will visit us again," she said.
"Maybe this time I'll tell her where she can shove it," Jennifer mumbled under her breath.
They had reached the archway leading into the temple. Jennifer and Eric almost ran into the other three's backs.
"Why are we stopping?" Eric asked.
"This is your destiny, not ours," Zelda said. "Go. We will wait here."
Jennifer and Eric exchanged a look. Jennifer shrugged.
"Here goes nothing." And she strode into the temple, Eric following.
Eric stopped to look back and said, "What is the name of this place?"
"The Temple of Time."
"Oh." He turned back around, feeling a little strange at the mention of the name. It was a feeling he had gotten before, when teachers mentioned facts he knew were going to be on a test.
He caught up to Jennifer, who had a somewhat determined look on her face. Her mouth was set in a firm line, and she stopped in front of the altar. Eric stood next to her.
They stood for a moment, waiting for something to happen.
Jennifer's lips parted slightly, a little less determined and a little more nervous. Eric looked apprehensive, unsure of what exactly he was waiting for.
Once again, time froze and the lovely form of Destiny rose from the floor.
"'Bout time," Jennifer said. Eric was dumbfounded.
"Welcome, Eric William Parsons. Your destiny awaits you. This is only the first step on a long and dangerous path. The shadows rise again, more powerful and terrible than before. The key to their defeat lies in the object under your protection."
Destiny placed a hand on his chest, leaving a print identical to Jennifer's. Jennifer took the momentary silence as she completed this action as an opportunity to speak.
"What are the shadows? How can they be defeated?" she asked.
Destiny shook her head, her long red locks bouncing around her face.
"I cannot reveal this to you."
Jennifer groaned inwardly, frustration written all over her features. She began to open her mouth, but Destiny held up a pale hand.
"One cannot know all, child. I am merely Destiny, and my purpose is only to set the wheels of fate in motion. I cannot change the direction, nor the bearing," she said sadly. "Fare thee well, the both of you. May you find your answers."
She slowly disappeared as time began moving again. Jennifer knew she wasn't going to get anything else out of it. Eric looked much like Jennifer did when she first met Destiny. She grabbed him and pulled him, stumbling, back towards the entrance.
"Don't worry, Dopey, you'll get used to it," she murmured, and then spoke up so that Zelda, Link, and Impa could hear. "More cryptic messages, I'm afraid. Destiny's really starting to piss me off. Can she be any more vague?"
Zelda shook her head, Link gave an amused half-smile, and Impa merely frowned at them.
"So, what now?"
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"So, I'm the Protector."
"And I need to seek the shadows."
Jennifer sighed. They were sitting on the balcony of one of the guest bedrooms, currently Eric's. She sighed again, and looked out towards the castle town. If this was a dream, she really needed to wake up soon; it was getting too weird and too real for her tastes.
"What the…?" Jennifer stared into the distance. Past the castle gates was a huge and horrible creature that stood tall and looming in front of the wall. It was terribly disfigured, as though some vicious little child had twisted it out of clay and hatred. Its limbs were as thick as tree trunks, its mouth set at a jagged line across the mound on top of its body. The eyes were the worst, slanted and narrow, and blood red. The monster reeked of despair. The guards on the wall hurriedly raised the drawbridge, and stood at the ready for an attack. But the creature didn't seem to be on the attack. Instead, it stood silently, waiting. Waiting for what, Jennifer couldn't tell, but the fact that it was just waiting made it all the more ominous.
Eric rose from his seat. "Holy…" It was all he could get out.
He looked down at Jennifer, who sat frozen in her chair. She suddenly looked up at him, and they reached an unspoken agreement. They both hurried out of the bedroom and down the hall. Thankfully, Eric had a better sense of direction than Jennifer, so he led the way to the Grand Hallway. Though he had only been in the castle a few hours, he knew—mostly—how to get from his room to the entranceway.
They rushed down the staircase, only to see a whirl of activity in the Grand Hallway. Everyone was busy, running to their positions, asking what was going on, and Zelda and Link stood in the middle of it all, hastily giving orders and shortened explanations.
Jennifer and Eric ran up to them.
"What is going on?" Jennifer asked breathlessly, just as Eric said, "What is that thing?"
Zelda and Link both looked at them.
"I need to—"
"Yes, Link, go," Zelda commanded, thought her eyes were soft as she watched him. Link ran off, and Jennifer saw for the first time since she had been in the castle that he was wearing his sword and shield.
"It is a Mordeth," Zelda said. "They are—"
Suddenly, the Mordeth roared, a terrible, chilling roar that made everyone's blood run cold. Jennifer felt the creature's roar long after it had ceased, deep in her bones, in her soul. She didn't think she could ever forget that roar. Eric fought the urge to grab Jennifer by the shoulders and pull her close; instead, he turned toward the creature's direction. Jennifer and Zelda did the same.
"They feed off death and pain," Zelda said, more calmly than was possible. "We all thought they were just legend—just a beast in a fairytale. Ostensibly, we were wrong."
She began to walk stubbornly towards the Mordeth, and a handful of guards surrounded her instantly. Jennifer and Eric followed at a distance.
As she strode through the town, all of the people watched her pass. The townspeople hurriedly made their way to their homes, pulling children inside. They shut all of the doors and windows. The market became a ghost town.
Zelda had reached the wall, and was climbing up the stairs to stand over the gate. Jennifer and Eric went up after her, in awe of her courage as she faced the monster determinedly.
The Mordeth, upon seeing her, began to laugh. The laugh was even more blood-curdling than the roar. It ripped into Jennifer's flesh, and she closed her eyes against its terror in vain. She felt Eric move his body closer behind her, and was glad to feel his heat at her back. When the beast stopped, Jennifer opened her eyes to see Zelda doing the same. The queen took a deep breath to gather her courage, before setting her mouth in a firm line, jaw clenched.
Dreadfully, the Mordeth began to speak, its jaws gnashing in a horrifying rhythm.
"Where is the Key?" it asked.
"Why must you know?" Zelda called. Everyone, everything was silent, waiting for its reply.
It only began to laugh again. "We will find the Key, and all my brothers and sisters shall be free of their bonds." It paused, twisting its face into what only could be a maniacal smile. "You cannot hope to stop the Shadows, Zelda of Hyrule, not even with the Hero of Time. Soon, my masters will regain their full strength, and you and your precious Hero shall beg for their mercy." It laughed again.
"You shall receive none."
Everyone waited with bated breath, but the Mordeth simply eyed all of them, and seemed to reach a decision.
It turned and began to walk back towards whatever hell-hole it had come from. Everyone watched it go with sinking feelings in their hearts. If what the Mordeth had said was true, they were on the brink of a war against an enemy more powerful than one they had ever faced before.
Destiny, again? When will that old hag leave poor Jen and Eric alone?
So, what do you guys think of Eric? Is he cute or what? I don't know, I like him. But I guess that's cause he's mine!
I should have another chapter up pretty soon, with the weekend coming up and such. I'll have some time on my hands. I hope.
Please, please, review! And, as always, thanks for reading!
BB