Chapter 11: Ghost Stories

Link

Not wasting another moment, I flew into the fog toward the source of the Malice I felt in the air to everyone's surprise and shock. However, I flew farther than I thought and soon when I turned around, I couldn't see the boat or hear my friends' cries anymore.

Dang it! As the fog surrounded me, so too did a sense of solitude. I have to admit, after having everyone around me, being alone again was… Never mind, it didn't matter, the only way to go was forward. I swore a silent oath to myself I would find a way to reunite with them as I flew further into the unknown.

Revali

What the!? Link not only flew off on his own, but he vanished when he was a few feet into this cursed (I'm certain that is the proper word here) fog! We all continued to call his name, the fear rising in Mipha's and Zelda's voice as we received no response. I don't know what came over me at that moment, maybe I've been hanging around Link too long,

"Mipha! Can you manipulate this water!?" I said.

"I… I think I can." she said.

Our boat, which I forgot had the King's spirit, spoke up. "But that won't get us there fast enough, we need wind."

Concentrating on the air around that surrounded me, I pulled it around me, making a miniature cyclone before pushing the air into the sails, once more putting the boat in motion. I turned back to the others.

"There's your wind, Old Man. I'll take the wheel, we can't let Link disappear for good. Now let's go!"

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Daruk said.

Ordinarily I would have told him to shut up, but this time I agreed with him.

Link

I had a really bad feeling about my situation. I had recently landed on an empty, ominous ship that appeared out of nowhere. Only the gentle clacking of my talons against the wooden floor, the creak of the ship, and the lapping of water broke the silence as I walked. Everything in my body was on high alert as I drew my sword and readied my shield eyes darting this way and that for threats.

"Well, well, well. You're a long way from home aren't you, little birdy?"

I turned to the source of the voice to see Ghirahim on the ship with strangely black arms. Hm… surprise, surprise. I tightened my grip on my sword as he jumped and floated down in his typical prideful manner.

"Nonetheless, it seems fitting that this is how it would end. You and me, facing each other. What? Did you honestly think I would ever fully trust those Yiga Pests? Please! They look like they could turn on my Master if it didn't serve their own interests."

"Like your trust is actually worth anything," I sneered.

"You know, I think I preferred it when you were silent!" he shouted.

"Can't stand the truth?" I said.

I was starting to think I'd been spending too much time around Revali.

With a growl he stepped forward and materialized his sword with a snap of his fingers.

"Allow me to help silence you!" he said, lunging at me.

Sidestepping, I blocked his sword with my own as we once more locked ourselves in single combat.

He seemed to know my fighting style, but this time I had an idea about his own fighting style. His overconfidence and showy personality tended to leave him open as I dodged, blocked, and struck, being careful to mix up my moves and keep them subtle.

I had to admire his prowess with a blade, even without a shield. Yet as we exchanged blows, I began to push him off balance seemingly gaining the upper hand in our conflict as the ringing of clashing steel broke the silence.

But no matter how much I hit him, he seemed to just get angry rather than sustain any kind of visible injury, while I had already taken a few hits myself and was starting to tire. As I blocked and threw off another blow towards my head, I recentered myself.

Well if I can't beat him, I'll wear him out! With as much energy as I had left, I threw myself back into our fight.

He growled in frustration.

"Just die already!"

In response, I cut him diagonally from his right shoulder and then his left before shoving my sword into his stomach. Retracting it, I then kicked him back.

I was surprised that once again there was no blood from where my sword had cut as that black material replaced his skin at the site. Was this guy even normal?

I jumped back as he swung at my chest before striking him again. Same result, but he seemed to be getting tired and his technique was starting to suffer as he got more and more frustrated. It became clear that the fight was once more turning in my favor; a fact which he noticed.

"I must admit I've underestimated you, and that overgrown knife of yours doesn't seem to be very happy with the power I have over this domain.", He snarled in frustration, "What is it with you!? Anytime my Master and I try to do anything, you're always there to stop us! Why do you have to be such a pest!?"

I almost laughed, "I guess your Master cursed himself when he cursed me."

He sneered, "No matter! I'll make sure your victory is a hollow one!"

With that, he stabbed his sword into the ship with so much force that the entire thing began to crack loudly. It became clear, with the growing increasing louder sound of bubbling water, that I needed to escape, so I opened my wings and took off. But before I could get any significant air or distance I was slammed down onto the deck by an unseen force.

"Ah, Ah, Ah, none of that.", Ghirahim said materializing a second blade with a snap of his fingers.

Gritting my beak, I reengaged him with a battle cry.

Revali

"Ship Ahead! We're going to crash into them if we don't slow down!" Rhoam cried.

"Then don't just stand there! Do anything we need to do to slow down!" I said.

"Shorten the sails, and drop the anchor," Rhoam said, "Revali! Be ready to turn us to the left!"

The other champions followed his instructions as I gripped the wheel in anticipation.

"NOW!"

With a grunt, I turned the wheel as hard as I could to the left, we whirled around the anchor point attached to it like a rock on a sling, throwing water over the side as we all hung on for dear life.

Without a word, Mipha moved to the side and extended her hands with a grunt, the water around us seemed to come to life and grabbed us to help us to stop our spinning.

Finally we came to a stop in the water. I flew down from the helm to Mipha's side catching her as she collapsed.

"You ok?"

She responded with a tired nod. She walked with me as I walked to the right side of the ship, taking out the Light bow as I did.

I couldn't see or hear a thing through this stupid fog. Where was Link?!

"Revali! Ready a shot!" Zelda shouted.

Not sure what good it would do us, but I raised my bow and pulled back the string, aiming blindly into the mist.

Only then did I notice that the fog was dissipating where the bow was aiming. And it was dissipating more as Zelda added her divine light into the mix.

A sinister-looking ship was revealed, sinking into the water. On closer inspection, I saw Link fighting with that white-skinned freak, Ghirahim.

Why was Link not flying away? A possible answer came to my mind as I shifted the Light Bow over to Link's foe.

Sensing the power from my bow, Ghirahim looked toward us, just as I released my arrow, hitting him between the eyes.

Boy, was it satisfying to see that, but considering the other boat was sinking, now was not the time to celebrate.

"Link, jump!"

Turning to see me, Link didn't waste another moment as the rest of the boat sank.

Things seemed to go in slow motion as Link jumped and opened his wings. The entire ship sunk beneath the waves as I reached from the deck ready to catch him, I almost did, before he suddenly plummeted.

"Link!"

He disappeared from sight, into the fog just before it cleared. I peered over the side of the boat to see just empty water. My heart practically stopped. Where was he? We all cried out for him, our cries getting more and more desperate as we searched the water.

A few minutes later, Zelda and I ran into each other on our respective searches.

She quite predictably, was in tears, "Where is he?"

I shook my head sadly in answer, but just then…

"Revali! Zelda!"

We turned to see Link climbing over the railing with a new sword in his hand over where he had first fallen. He fell onto the deck, out of breath. We all ran to him and helped him get on his feet. As we did this, I looked at his blade.

"That's… not the Master Sword,"

He shook his head, "No, it's the Phantom Sword, the Ocean King gave it to me."

He looked off into the distance, "He also told me where we need to go next."