Anri- Master, we're home!
Sol- Master, where are you?
Anri- This is weird…
Sol- I can't sense him anywhere… I don't like this…
RCM's voice- I'm in the dungeons, I'll be right up!
Anri- Oh, that explains it.
Sol- Must be a new shielding spell.
RCM- You're a smart boy, Sol. That is correct.
Anri- Master, Aria wanted me to…
RCM- I know, my dear. I saw. She is most welcome.
Anri- I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear that.
RCM- To be honest, I'm slightly surprised her little fairies didn't notice that they were written in as well… in a different form, yes, but written in just the same.
Sol- Um… They were rather… busy when we left.
RCM- Heh. I suppose that would be putting it mildly. Now, my children… shall we?
Anri and Sol- Yes sir! We don't own any of the concepts people recognize, no matter how much we wish we did.
RCM- Hmm? That was different… I suppose it'll suffice for now… Anyway, this chapter follows our heroes through the first three floors of the Ice Tower, culminating in a battle with… actually, I'll let you find out for yourselves.
Chapter 16
The Winds of Fate
"You know what I don't get? If this is an Ice Tower, wouldn't it make just as much sense to keep the Water Element here? I mean, since ice is made of water…"
Lance inserted the key into a slot in the wall, causing the shining blue energy barrier to dissipate. "Yeah, but don't forget that winds are strong in high places. Besides, didn't Shadow say the Water Shard was hidden inside an Island Shrine?"
The Darkman nodded. "The temple constructed alone on an island houses the Elemental Shard of Water, as its resting place is surrounded by seas." The inside of the tower was remarkable, as one could see the roof if looking up from the center. "It would seem that we have to find a way up through the side rooms. I don't see any stairs here."
Hugh looked expectantly at Tikal, but she shook her head. "If I can't see where I'm going, I can't warp us there. Until I can see the floor above us, the spell won't work. Sorry."
Lance took hold of Hugh's shoulder and dragged him toward the door to their left. "Come on, bro. It's always more fun with the scenic route."
"Nuts…" Entering the room, Hugh looked around for a way to get to higher ground, but the only means he saw was a ladder suspended higher than any of them could reach. "Oh, that works."
Link saw the problem and realized what was up. "We have to figure out the puzzle in this room so the ladder will drop. Once we do, we can get upstairs." Looking to his right, he saw what looked like a wind-powered switch. "Hmm… I wonder…"
The Deku Leaf blast spun the switch, causing nine blocks to fall from the ceiling and a sketch to appear on the wall. Lance walked up to it, using the Pendant's magic to read the inscription below the drawing. "'Match the image on the blocks to the image here in order to proceed…' It sounds easy enough." Just as they were about to start, four Wolfos dug themselves up from the floor, shaking dirt off of their white coats. "Spoke too soon… Nothing like distractions."
Tikal and Elric exchanged a quick look, nodding in silent agreement. "Elric and I will handle the puzzle. You four keep them busy."
"You got it," Link said, sword in hand.
While the duels commenced, Tikal navigated as Elric positioned the blocks. It didn't take long for the pair to complete the image. Shadow finished off the last of the beasts as they did, turning to see the three wavy lines with extra curls on the top and bottom. He quickly made the connection. "The crest of Wind…" Almost as if responding to his words, the ladder dropped from the wall, granting access to the next level. "Not bad." The door at the top led them right above where they started. "Now what?"
Link saw a ledge on the other side, his first instinct being to float over there to investigate. However, the distance was too great for the others to follow. 'No sense being selfish.' Looking down, he saw a crystal switch hanging under the platform. 'Huh? Oh… yeah, that would work too…'
"Just figure it out?" Hugh snickered, "You have a bit of a look when you mentally slap yourself. It's kinda funny."
"Shut up, Hugh." The boomerang flew, hitting the switch. After glowing for about a minute, it shut off again.
"Huh? What's the point of that?"
Curious, Link jumped across the chasm, floating over neatly with his magic leaf. Turning back, he saw a second switch underneath the others. "Aha! Elric, shoot the switch below me." After the elf did, Link threw his boomerang again to light up the second switch. Without warning, the platform he was on began to move toward his allies.
"Clever." After they all boarded the platform, it rose to the third floor. A brilliantly decorated door stood in their way, meaning only one thing. "Cool. It's go time."
"Elric, why is Hugh so strange?" The elf just shrugged at Tikal's question, following the others through the door.
Inside was a large chamber, dimly lit by a few wall-mounted torches. The sound of rustling feathers seemed to be coming from above them. "Well, what do we have here? Fresh meat?"
A pair of harpies flapped down from somewhere above them, both smiling wickedly. "I do believe you are right, sister. The Snow Fools must have sent them in to flush us out."
The torches flared to a brighter glow, revealing a larger, more dangerous-looking harpy roosting in the highest reaches of the room. Her blue and gold crest of feathers gave her the look of a queen. Appropriate, since that is what she was. "We have news for you, Earth walkers." Leaping from her perch, the Queen of the Harpies floated slightly higher than the other two. "No one can make us leave this place! Go on, girls. It's time to eat."
"Like Hell it is…" Shadow growled, the Berserker extending into a trident. One of the harpies chose him to be her first target, a decision she quickly began to regret. The Darkman's speed allowed him to easily evade the diving monster's claws and drive his spear into its wing. He found the resulting screech of pain to be very satisfying. "Eat this!" Shifting his weapon into an axe, he used a mighty Quake Blaze to finish the grounded enemy.
The second went after Tikal, assuming that she was the most vulnerable of the group. "Hinder!" The winged attacker froze in midair, cursing the young mage that put her in that predicament.
"See ya!" The rising flames of the Flare Blade incinerated the helpless monster, leaving the Harpy Queen as their only adversary.
She was furious. "You insolent worms! You shall pay with your lives!" With a mighty flap of its wings, the beast rose slightly before diving upon them. Unlike her lackeys, she was fast enough to actually make contact. If the razor-sharp wings didn't do it, the fierce sonic boom in her wake definitely did.
"Ow… this one's going to take a more cretive approach…" Link pulled himself off of the floor and began scanning the room. Unfortunately, he failed to notice the growing shadow directly below him. "Whoa!" was all he could say as the enraged harpy wrapped her claws around him, much like the Helmaroc King had to Aryll two years prior.
"Link!" Elric tried shooting Fire Arrows up at the rising beast, but none would connect. However, by sheer dumb luck, one of the missed bolts hit an eye-switch encased in a shell of ice. With the fire eliminating its cold seal, the ceiling-mounted trigger opened a panel below the warriors, revealing a very large fan under steel grating. "What the…?"
With a loud whirring noise, the fan started up, sending a tremendous burst of air upward. As Tikal fought to keep her skirt down, the others watched the scene above them unfold. The sudden gust had completely destroyed the Harpy Queen's equilibrium, sending her into a wild spin straight into the wall. Jolted free from the impact, Link floated into the air current on his Deku Leaf as Elric launched a final Fire Arrow. "Keeeyaaaaaaaaah!" The flaming bolt pierced the creature in the heart, its shrill, dying shriek echoing throughout the tower. The intensity of the cry was enough to shake loose the eye switch, causing it to fall and shatter onto the floor. The airflow abruptly ceased.
"Whew… that's better."
Lance looked first at Tikal, who was the speaker, then at Hugh. Instantly reading his old friend's expression, the blonde whacked him over the head. "Hey! I didn't say anything!"
"I know that look," was his simple reply, turning to watch Link drift the rest of the way down.
End Chapter 16
RCM- Since I have recently realized that I have far less time available to me than I anticipated, I couldn't post the next chapter today even if I wanted to. Once I get the opportunity to type up the next chapter, I will take full advantage of it… though it may be a day or two before that happens.
Anri- We're ready, Master.
Sol- Just tell us where to go.
RCM- Good. Your destination is the top of the Ice Tower, where you will again meet the Chaos Protectors. I will not tell you more, as it would spoil the course of events…
Sol- Okay, we'll manage. Let's go, sis.
Anri- Right behind you.
Sol and Anri- Be back soon. (vanish)
RCM- I just hope they don't get frightened out of their wits, seeing that particular creature again… especially Anri… There's no sense getting overly worried, though. I know Lance and the others will be there in time, probably arriving before my children do. In any case, I shall return with the next installment as soon as I am able. Until then, farewell.
