Cari: It shouldn't have.
Opia: Meh.
Cari: Oh well! Next chapter start!
The Legend of Zelda: The Orb of Bannon Ch. 11
Link decided he didn't like time travel. His stomach lurched; yep… he really didn't like time travel. Shapes and colors rushed by all around him. Days and nights flashing by in milliseconds, years passing by moments. It all made him nauseous. And to top it all he felt like he was falling.
Falling.
Down.
Down..
Down…
"Ah!"
He crashed into solid ground...
"Ow! Fuck!"
And into someone else.
"Ow! Owowowoooowww! Dammit Link! Get off of me!"
Link opened his eyes to see the pain-stricken face of Ruto glare down at him. He had landed on her legs and, from what he could feel underneath him, one of her legs had bent in a slightly odd angle.
"Oh, shit! Sorry!" He rolled off.
"It's alright…" The Zora got up, being careful with her injured leg, "I had a little spill with the other girl as well."
Dark Link suddenly appeared and landed softly on the ground next to Link.
"Did everyone make it okay?" He asked, tearing the black crystal from its place in the orb.
"Yeah," Called Adlez, who was a few feet away, "Ranik's over here throwing up in a bush though."
"That happens to some people."
Link's stomach lurched once more and he ran to the bush near Adlez, tossing up whatever he had for breakfast. Dark chuckled slightly.
"Hero's always seem to have weak stomachs."
Ranik groaned and stood up from his place in the bushes. Spitting, he turned to the others. His face was one of confusion, fear, and loss. He was shaking as he crossed over to a large rock and sat down, head in his hands. Dark Link placed the gem and orb on the ground and walked over to him.
"Ranik…."
The shiekah's voice was quiet when he spoke, "I feel… I feel this… emptiness inside of me. A void, a great, cold void, like I'm only half here."
"That was the part of you that was controlled by Marinal. We are 800 years out of her grasp, so her tie to you has been destroyed," Dark explained, "And the Marinal now did not create you, she cannot take hold of you. You are your own person once more, completely in control of all you do. Learn how to fill up that void and she'll never be able to command you again."
Ranik turned his eyes to the shadow and smiled weakly, "Heh, I guess I owe you one."
Dark Link waved that statement away, "Nah, I've just repaid my debt. You freed me, now I've freed you."
He left the man on the rock and walked over to the others, picking up the two stones once more. Adlez held a hand over her eyes, gazing out at the seemingly endless ocean of grass extending from the small, forested patch they had appeared in. She turned to Dark as he approached.
"Is he okay?" She asked.
Dark pushed some of his hair out of his eyes with the back of his hand, "He's shaken, but he'll be fine. Just leave him alone for a while."
"Hmm…" She looked back out at the field, "Where are we? I don't see any sign of civilization anywhere."
The shadow's eyes swiftly flicked over the scenery; "We're a little more than a full day's walk from Hyrule City."
"That far?"
"I don't wish to be detected, and I think suddenly appearing in the middle of a sacred temple would arouse too many questions."
Adlez chuckled, "I suppose it would."
"Um… Excuse me," Someone tapped her on the shoulder.
She turned to see Ruto smiling at her.
"Hi," The Zora continued, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced," She extended her hand, "I'm Ruto, Link's… uh-friend."
Adlez stiffened for a moment, then smiled and took the other's hand, "Ruto huh? I've heard of you. I'm Adlez."
Ruto blinked, "You've heard of me?"
"Enough to know you two had an… interesting evening."
The undertone in Adlez's voice caused Dark Link's eyes to dart to her, but he remained facing the horizon. A light blush crept over Ruto's blue cheeks.
"Yeah… Well, I'm here to help you guys, I… I hope I can be useful."
"I'm sure you will," said Adlez with a smile.
Ruto smiled back and ran off over to the bush Link had last been seen at. Chuckling, Dark turned his head to Adlez.
"Well done princess."
"Hm?" She looked at him quizzically.
"You handled that very well. I wasn't so sure how you'd react to her presence."
Adlez sighed, "There's no point in getting angry about it…"
"Link not worth it?"
"No, that's not the reason. I guess I've always known my feelings were one-sided."
Dark blinked in surprise; "He does care for you."
The girl smiled, "Not the way I do."
Smirking, he looked back out at the landscape, "Good, at least you figured that out quicker than some of your ancestors."
Adlez watched the shadow curiously. He was still holding the orb and the gem in each hand. Part of him seemed to be drifting away from the hand clutching the jewel. Her eyes widened, it wasn't him, it was smoke, as if his hand was burning. With a cry she smacked the gem out of his hand, it fell into the soft grass with a thump. Snatching up his hand she examined it closely. Traces of red could be seen on his already dark hand. Dark Link jerked away.
"It's nothing. It's just a mechanism made to discourage me from stealing it. I've gotten used to it."
Looking at him, Adlez bent down to pick up the gem. She held it up and watched it glitter in the sun, then pocketed it.
"I'll hold on to it then."
The shadow nodded in submission then, lifting his empty hand, pulled a large bag out of the shadows and placed the orb inside. Slinging the bag over his shoulders, he turned and surveyed the others.
He grimaced, "Damn… I forgot about clothing…."
Dark reached into the bag and pulled out three cloaks, apparently also made of shadow. He tossed them to Ranik, Link and Adlez.
"Wear these, they'll keep people from asking questions until we get you some new clothes. Ruto, lose the outfit."
"Okay!" The Zora replied and immediately began to strip.
"What about you?" Adlez asked, throwing the cloak around her shoulders.
"I'll be fine."
Dark Link's features began to shift and he grew taller, about half a foot. His hair grew short, becoming closely cropped to his head. Soon the shadow looked like a full-grown man, possibly in his mid-thirties. He was muscular, suggesting a life of hard labor, and wore only a simple tunic, pants, and boots.
"This is the form of the Link of this era," He said, "He was full grown before he knew he was one of the legendary heroes, but that didn't concern him for there was no threat to Hyrule. Marinal fooled us all."
Link (who's stomach had finally calmed down), Ranik, Adlez, and Ruto gathered around the shadow. Adlez adjusted her cloak and smiled.
"So where are off to, oh fearless leader?"
Dark Link raised an eyebrow at her before turning and pointed out into the distance.
"To the grand and beautiful City of Hyrule."
Opia: Woot for a cliche dramatic chapter ending!. :B
Cari: -twirls noise maker- ...
Opia: Ermmm... I heard somewhere that reviewer replies were not allowed... I don't know if this is true or not, but I'm going to play it safe and not do replies until I know the truth. Thank you everyone who does review, you guys really make my day.
Cari: Read and Review. Please and thank you!