Hey guys! Happy October 2020! Hope you all are doing great amidst this confusing time we're all living in! I have a brand new chapter that will unfortunately, but very briefly take us away from the battle of Hyrule and back to Link's group one more time as they end their journey within the Korok Forest. What trials will Link and the others have to face going forward? Read on to find out.
Before I continue, I just want to give out my honest opinion on the news that Sakurai unveiled a few days ago.
I was TOTALLY not expecting Steve and Alex from Minecraft to make an appearance in Smash! I thought the graphics wouldn't be all that compatible but once again, Sakurai has a way of making the word "impossible" irrelevant in his line of work. Props to the madman and his merry crew! As for Steve himself, I am just shuddering at the thought at how competitive players would main him and be insanely op in the stages. Kind of like a mashup of Hero and Pac-Man on steroids. After seeing the special moves that Steve has, I feel like his inclusion might break a lot of rules, regardless of whether they were established or not. Despite that, I'm still looking forward to October 13 which is his apparent release day. From what the gameplay video and trailers show, he looks to be a whole lot of fun to play! Hopefully the final product doesn't disappoint.
Now, don't forget to fave, follow, and review! Now without any further delay, let's get into this new chapter!
Korok Forest, World of Trophies
Link, along with his friends, Sheik, Kirby, Pit, and Shulk all made it to the inside of the Korok Forest where the pedestal of the Master Sword laid before them.
Additionally, a younger version of Link, said to be the revered Hero of Time, found his way into the forest as well.
However, the pedestal was not far from unguarded. It was protected by the sheer might of the Great Deku Tree, a being from Link's past that helped him on his journeys. There was also a mysterious spirit that took the form of a golden wolf. He was the one responsible for guiding everyone through their trials and into the Korok Forest.
"So what is it that I need to do to gain this power?" Asked Link to the Great Deku Tree.
The tree was quick to answer. "You must place the sword back inside its pedestal. In doing so, you will enter a spiritual world where the true form of the Golden Wolf will await you."
"What about us?" Asked Pit.
"The rest of you are not to interfere, for this is Link's own trial that he must take." Responded the wolf before turning his head towards the Hero of the Wilds. "I will be waiting for you on the other side."
The spirit then turned itself into strands of golden energy which went into the pedestal, serving as a conduit for which Link would enter through.
The hero was contemplating his decision, ultimately choosing to go through with the task. Before he raised the sword above the pedestal, he chose to ask the tree one last question. "If I do this, and I fail, what happens to me?"
"It is imperative that you must have an unbreakable spirit to enter this trial, for if you do not, you will spend the rest of eternity trapped within the spirit world while your physical body falls apart." Responded the Great Deku Tree.
This, in turn, only strengthened Link's resolve. "Then I know that once I enter there, there's no turning back."
He then plunged his sword into the pedestal at full force. Once it was in, the blade shone a golden color that illuminated the forest and trees around them, blinding everyone present.
This light shone for a few seconds, but once it faded away, the fighters and tree could see that Link was still there, eyes closed, crouched, and still holding onto the sword still placed inside the pedestal.
"What happened to him?" Asked Shulk. "He's not moving."
The tree decided to answer the Monado Wielder's question truthfully. "His spirit has left his body and has passed on over into the other side. He is not dead however. Any pleasure or pain Link's spirit takes will have the same effect on his body."
"What specific power would he gain if-… when he completes the trial?" Asked Pit with faith in his friend.
"He would gain absolute power beyond what the Great Calamity can even match. Theoretically, it could form powerful projectiles and use instantaneous travel for several individuals. However, no hero has ever completed this sacred trial. It is a challenge for even the most strong-willed of warriors."
"I still have faith in him." Said Sheik. "I know he'll succeed."
"I hope so, Princess Zelda. For if he does not, perhaps all hope may be lost." Responded the tree.
Sheik was caught off guard by this response. "Hold on… I never told you who I was!"
The Great Deku Tree then explained how he knew Sheik's true identity. "I can sense your spiritual energy, for I am attuned to the nature of every living thing within this forest, visitor or otherwise."
With this explanation, Zelda decided to take off her facial bandages, revealing her face to the rest of the group.
Pit was caught off guard, as well as the younger Link, given their history towards other versions of Zelda.
"Interesting. You look just like the princess I got to know back in my own time!" Said the young Link in astonishment. "In fact, my princess had the same idea to disguise herself in a garb like yours!"
"Really?" Responded Zelda in bewilderment. "Me and my mentor drew inspiration from a Princess Zelda of the past to make this work! She may be the one you are referring to!"
Pit then spoke next. "I remember fighting alongside a Zelda in the Subspace War, except she had more of a no-nonsense attitude."
"I'm more sure now that both of your Zeldas were amazing fighters and leaders. I'm glad to know I could live up to their past potential." Declared the undercover princess before turning his head toward Link's body. "Right now though, I must hold undying faith in the man who has sworn to protect me until his dying breath."
"Let's hope he completes the trial." Said Shulk as he approached the group once more. "We can only have faith in Link for now."
Master Sword Spirit Realm
Link had awoke inside a vast empty field. He looked down and realized he was standing on a thin layer of water. It was so clear to the hero that he could see his own detailed reflection.
He started to look around at his surroundings, but he could not find anything out of the ordinary, only finding an infinite horizon of a golden sky. He then started to touch himself all over, only to be slightly relieved that his clothes were not changed.
"Settled in yet?" Said the spirit from behind Link.
The Hero of Wilds looked behind his right shoulder to see a warrior. However, at a closer look, Link knew that he was something completely unusual. This warrior had a humanoid frame, but no flesh. All Link could see was his skeleton. Fortunately, worn golden armor partially covered with ivy leaves protected most of his skeletal body. Finally, he possessed a sword and circular shield that served their use to the warrior as a means of attack and defense respectively.
Link approached the mysterious figure until he was about three meters from him. "So you're the golden wolf's true form?"
"I am." Replied the spirit. "I have watched you throughout your journey ever since you first picked up that blade. I have seen your battles, your hardships, your moments of joy, depression, rage, fear. I knew you were indeed worthy of meeting me once you vanquished Calamity Ganon."
"Why did you wait until now?" Asked Link skeptically.
"There was simply no point." Replied the spirit. "Ganon was defeated, Hyrule was restored, but I still had a feeling, a small human instinct, that your journey was far from over. So I stayed in the world of the living, soon making the acquaintance of this era's Great Deku Tree."
The spirit continued to explain his story. "After the light happened, I knew I had to meet you. With this light came a new threat. This 'Galeem' threatens to subjugate not only this world but other worlds as well. I knew that in your travels, you had caught word of a way to unlock ultimate power in your sword beyond what the Sheikah Monks could give you."
"How does one get this power?" Asked Link.
The mysterious skeleton decided to answer truthfully. "You must complete one simple task. You must defeat me in combat. Sword and shield only. No other weapons or items at your disposal."
With this task laid out before the hero, he drew his blade while the spirit warrior drew his own.
Once this happened, the skies around them started to crack with thunder and lightning.
With this change in atmosphere, the spirit walked closer to Link until he was at a close enough distance. "I must warn you now, young one. No other hero of your caliber has passed this trial."
"I'll complete any trial that's thrown my way! Whatever it takes!" Said Link as he started to brandish the Master Sword at his opponent.
As he was going in for a strike, the spirit knocked the blade back with his shield, staggering the hero. This left Link open as the skeletal warrior took a forehand swing. Fortunately, the hero managed to leap out of the way, leaving only a cut on his arm. It wasn't too deep, but it still hurt and bled normally.
"I must also tell you that any damage you take in this realm, your real body takes also." Declared the spirit.
Pit suddenly noticed a small bleeding cut on Link's body. Once he saw this, he became genuinely concerned. "Link!"
However, before he could get any closer, the Great Deku Tree summoned a surrounding wall of roots and branches around Link to prevent the other fighters from getting to him. "You are not to interfere. If you pull him out, his spirit will forever be trapped."
Sheik, along with Pit and the younger Link, were among the ones who were the most worried for their friend.
Ignoring the earlier statement, Link continued to attack the spirit, only to have his swings parried and blocked one by one, having absolutely no effect.
Conversely, the spirit managed to pierce through Link's attacks, managing to make several more cuts on his arms, legs, and torso.
As minutes passed on, the Hero of the Wilds was getting desperate. He was becoming more reckless with his attacks, which in turn only made it easier for him to get attacked. Additionally, he was ignoring the pain he was receiving.
"You rely too much on your strength in a battle such as this one." Said the spirit. "Tell me. What are you most afraid of if you lose?"
Link continued to ignore the statement and took another swing. Unfortunately, the spirit countered with a deep horizontal cut along the abdomen, further weakening the hero.
The Hero of the Wilds soon realized what the spirit was saying. Seeing no other choice, he decided to honestly answer as he stayed on one knee.
"I… I'm afraid of… losing the people… I care about most. I don't want to… see them get hurt… or worse… " Gritted the hero through his pain. "That's why… I can't afford to lose… not now… not ever!"
He tried to go for one last-ditch swing, but ultimately failed and got one more brutal slice across his chest, rendering him incapacitated, but far from dead.
"I must tell you now, Link." Said the spirit. "You fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, but you do not see how capable your friends and allies really are. You feel like you have the whole world on your shoulders and it's up to you alone to defeat this evil."
The skeletal warrior approached him, prepared to administer the final blow.
Link realized what the spirit meant. As if it somehow clicked in his mind. His eyes widened as his breathing pattern changed. "That's it… I don't always have… to rely on myself."
The spirit was getting closer by the second.
"I know now… that I have to count on others. Not always… focusing on myself. I can't… let pride… get the better of me… not like this."
The spirit got even closer to Link, soon towering over him with murderous intent embedded into his only eye.
"This pride I have… will never allow me… to move forward… I know what I have to do now…." Said the hero as he bowed his head down on the ground in heavy hearted submission. "I'm not worthy."
The spirit raised his right arm with his sword ready to swing down.
"I… accept defeat."
As Link was waiting for the final strike to befall him, nothing happened. He still had his head bowed down and his eyes closed in acceptance.
A few seconds later, something unexpected happened. The sword stopped on his shoulder.
"By the will of the Goddess Hylia… "
The spirit's sword then laid on the other shoulder.
"By the will of the Triforce… "
Link soon opened his eyes and lifted his head, more confused than anything else. "What? What's… going on…?"
The spirit was quick to respond. "Link. You have been deemed worthy of the Goddess Hylia's Divine Wrath."
"Is that… the name of this power?" Asked Link.
"Indeed." Responded the spirit.
"Who are you?" Said Link as he barely got on one knee. "Who are you really?"
"I am but a shadow of a hero past, but my legacy is still alive and closer than you may think."
With the pieces clicking together inside the hero's head, he immediately figured out who he was. "You're… You're the Hero of Time! But… you were just out there… "
"Was… the Hero of Time." Corrected the soul abruptly. "And the boy you met in the forest is my past self. As I am his spirit several thousand years in his future."
"How did you end up like this?" Asked Link.
"I lost my way." Answered the shade. "I wandered around looking for a long lost friend of mine after saving another dimension from utter cataclysm. Unfortunately, I became so determined in my search that I was doomed to end up like this. A shade of my former life. However, I could still help the world of the living in times of struggle."
This piqued Link's interest. "What… did you do before now?"
The shade decided to dodge the question. "A good question. Unfortunately, I must save it for another time."
Link was a little disappointed in this, but soon realized that he couldn't stick around any longer.
The spirit raised his sword as a pillar of light soon engulfed Link, only allowing him to see a faint silhouette of the spirit.
"This is not goodbye, Link! I know we shall meet again!" Said the shade. "And tell my past self… to not meet a terrible fate. He will know what it means."
As Link was exiting the Spirit Realm, his soul was thrust back into his real body as he was thrown back from the pedestal.
The sheer force of the transference and the ensuing knockback caused him to break through the wall of roots and branches made by the Great Deku Tree earlier. This covered him in splinters and bark, along with all his cuts and wounds from the Spirit Realm fight.
As far as his physical body went, he was barely alive.
Sheik, Pit, Kirby, Shulk, and the younger Link all rushed to his side, attempting any way to bring him back.
"Link! Link! Stay with me! Link!" Shouted Zelda, pleading to the top of her lungs for the man she loved to come back to her. "Link! Please! I can't ever live without you!"
Pit then turned his attention toward the Great Deku Tree, expressing his concern. "What do we do? He's dying!"
Link barely awoke from his transference as his right hand rose. However, it wasn't at the princess, or at any of his allies.
At a closer look, the hand shone with the Triforce of Courage as it reached out toward the Master Sword, still stationed on its pedestal.
Young Link felt the resonance too, but decided to let Link take the blade, acknowledging the fact that he was the one who earned it.
Once the illuminated hand was raised enough, the Master Sword began to intensely glow a golden white color as it slowly levitated from its pedestal, more than ready to come to the hero's hand.