Opia: Ooooookay... That took a lot longer than planned. Well, I forgot to mention earlier that I was going to disappear for about a week... then I got wrapped up in a rental videogame... then I realized that this chapter had to be a bit longer than planned at first for artistic purposes in the next chapter, which meant I had to actually write the rest of the chapter... and lastly I went camping the last two days...
Cari: And that is why this chapter is late.
Opia: I'm starting to thing my promises are worth nil...
Cari: Don't get depressed now, you have a story to write!
Opia: Alright... I hope you guys like this chapter.
Ruto was crying; she had been curled up in the same niche for hours. Leaning against the large boulder, Dark Link watched as the girl's shoulders shook with the force of her sobs. He sighed heavily.
"Hey," He called over to her.
Her sobs didn't falter.
"Princess." He said a little louder.
Still no reaction.
"Princess!" His shout made Ruto jump, "I'm talking to you!"
"What?" She yelled back, looking at him with her tear-stained eyes.
"Get up, we're leaving."
"Leaving?"
"Yes, now come on!"
Ruto shakily got up to her feet. She eyed the shadow suspiciously.
"Where?"
"Zora's Domain if you must know."
"What?" Her voice was filled with surprise, "Y-you're taking me home?"
"Not exactly princess," Dark Link grabbed her wrist and drew her away from the crevice, "You're going to lead me to where you found that book."
"But-but I don't want to perform the counter-spell, you don't need the book."
The shadow's face was inches away from her's.
"Things change. I'm not going to risk you being forced or changing your mind. I'll destroy the book if I have to," He turned his back to her, "Wrap your arms around my neck. It's a long journey and I don't feel like carrying you in my arms the whole way. And don't even try to choke me. You do, and we both have a nice long fall."
Tentatively Ruto reached up and placed her arms around his neck. She let out a yelp as he hoisted her up and held her legs as if he were giving her a piggyback ride. A cool breeze caught her hair as Dark Link walked out onto the ledge. Large, black wings unfurled and he leapt off the edge. She screamed as they plummeted downwards. After a few moments Dark Link leveled out and steadied himself.
"You can open your eyes now," He said.
Ruto, whose eyes had been shut tight the entire time, slowly opened them. She was greeted by a swiftly passing landscape of small mountains and valleys. Far below she could see the small black speck that was their shadow. The air rushed passed them, causing their hair and clothes flutter in the wind. Dark Link's long tresses flew into her face and she tried to shift to avoid getting a mouthful of hair.
"Don't squirm," Dark Link yelled over the wind, "It's difficult to fly as it is!"
The princess became aware of the powerful wings on either side of her. She was just skinny enough to not really hinder their movement, but she could still feel them press her sides as they beat.
"This is amazing!" She yelled, "I wish the spell gave me wings. No wonder you don't want to turn back to normal, I wouldn't!"
As the mountains below them fell away and the endless expanse of sand replaced the landscape, although Ruto didn't see it, Dark Link smiled.
..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..
"I can't believe it."
Link stood well hidden behind the cliff wall that bordered the path to the Gerudo Valley. Mikel neighed softly beside him. The opposite side of the river was crowded with Gerudo warriors; Link counted about twenty.
"I've never seen such heavy forces, and this is outside the fortress!"
It seems they have recruited more members.
Look! Not all of them are Gerudo!
Din was right, many of the women were Hyrulean, there were even a few Zora!
"I never thought I'd see the day when I saw a Zora willingly wear clothes."
What about King Zora?
"He's a strange Zora, so he's excused."
If he weren't Ruto's father I'd think he was a whole different species.
Din…
What!
"So…," Link said, "How am I going to get through?"
Well, I would say to use the Requiem of Spirit… but with this tight guard who knows how overrun the temple it.
I'll go check!
Link felt a presence disappear. The four of them were silent, patiently waiting for Din's return. A few minutes had passed when Din's voice appeared again.
It's safe to go!
"Really?" Link asked, surprised, "Nobody's there?"
Well, there is one person waiting for you, but I've already spoken to her and she promises she won't kill you when you appear!
"Somehow that doesn't make me feel a whole lot better…" Link turned to his horse, "Stay here okay? But don't let them catch you."
The horse snorted his understanding. Link took out his ocarina and played the sweet notes that would teleport him to the Spirit temple. Sparkles spun around him and the world seemed to melt away. Instantly it was replaced by the surroundings of Desert Colossus. The Temple loomed a little ways away. A small figure was running towards him.
"Link! Hey Link!" Nabooru ran up to him.
Link blinked, he could have sworn that she used to be taller than him, and a little older, but Nabooru looked quite young, a little younger than him in fact. She grinned.
"It's been so long! I thought I'd never see you around here again!"
"Hi?" Link waved, confused at the changes in the Spirit Sage.
Nabooru put her hands on her hips and looked him straight in the eye, "What're you staring at me like that for? You're acting like you've never seen the youngest SAGE before."
"What?"
"Youngest SAGE," The young Gerudo blinked, "You know, SAGE, Secret Alliance of Guileless Epics?"
Link wearily sat down and sighed, "Sorry, I've been through a lot lately. Explain this 'SAGE', please?"
Nabooru looked at the Hero strangely, but laughed after a moment, "Okay, you always did like playing games," She sat down opposite from him, "The alliance was created back when I was about… um… 5 I think. You were about 10 if I remember correctly…."
That explains why she looks so young, Link thought.
"Our late leader Rauru, may he rest in peace, founded it because he was tired of hearing all the lies and propaganda filtered by the government. He was a temple keeper, so he called together all the other keepers and they agreed to join. That's how I got in, after my mom died I took over her duties as the keeper of the Spirit Temple. Anyway, the alliance prides itself in always knowing the true facts of an event, like a war or political struggle. This is pretty easy because our members are from every race and nearly every social level, so we get to see every side of a matter and pick out the truths from the junk. All the time Lord Ganondorf, Goddesses bless his soul, rallied the kingdoms against the Royals two of our members were truly invaluable, Lady Impa and Miss Saria. I mean, if they weren't a part of us we would have thought of you as a murderer like everyone else!"
"How…" Link interjected, "How is Saria?"
Nabooru blinked, "Oh, yeah! You haven't seen her in, like, forever have you? She's doing fine, I'll tell her you asked about her when I see her next, she'll be happy to know you're okay."
Link watched the ground as a gust of wind tossed the stray sand into the air.
"No," He said, "That's okay, I have this feeling I'll see her before this nightmare's over anyway."
Strange laughter made Link look up at the young Gerudo. Her eyes were glazed over and her mouth curled into a twisted, cruel smile.
"It will never be over," The girl's voice was gravely and hollow, sending shivers up Link's spine, "You cannot fix what has been too drastically altered. This land is mine now. The nightmare is no dream anymore."
She blinked, her eyes regaining their natural shine. Groaning, she massaged her temples.
"Ugh, headache… ow," Wincing, Nabooru looked up at Link. She paused as she saw the look on his face, "Something wrong?"
"Wa-uh-no!" Link stammered.
"Okay," Nabooru got up and stretched, "Sooo, what brings you here anyway?"
"I'm off to the mountains."
"Oh, wow. Really?" She gazed off at the mountains beyond the sand, "You crazy or something? No one's ever traveled beyond Desert Colossus…."
"It will be a perilous journey, but you are used to that, aren't you Link?" Said a voice behind them.
Nabooru and Link whirled around to face the approaching figure. As it became visible through the sand in the air Nabooru smiled and waved.
"Lady Impa!"
Impa smiled at the enthusiastic girl. Her shiekah armor had been almost completely replaced by Hyrulean guard-wear, only her chest-plate remained. A sword rested at her side.
"How many times do I have to tell you, child? If you are going to call me by a title then use my real one. It's General Impa, I'm no Lady."
Nabooru stuck out her tongue, "Whatever!"
Impa laughed and ruffled the girl's hair before turning to Link, "How are you young man? I haven't seen you since the first time you managed to break out of the castle."
"Um… ah," Link blinked, "H-hello, ah… General, huh? Uh… I'm… fine…."
Nabooru tugged on Impa's armor and leaned up to whisper in the Shiekah's ear.
"He's acting kinda odd," She said, "I think he has amnesia or somethin'."
Impa nodded in understanding and smiled at Link, "Just to refresh your memory: I'm Impa, General of the Hyrulean army and keeper of the Shadow Temple. I monitored you during those long, hard seven years."
"You're the one who gave me food?" Link asked, his dreams coming back to him.
"Yes, and healed your wounds."
"But… why are you here?"
"Oh, the Gerudo people know I mean them no harm. They know I support their cause and they know why I must keep my army rank, so I move freely in these lands."
"Hmm…."
"Hey Link," Naborru balanced on a random rock, "Why are you going to the mountains?"
"To save a dear friend."
"From what?"
"From Dar—"
A shadow zoomed across the landscape. Link looked up, but could not see the shadow's source.
Link! That was Dark Link and Ruto!
Link sighed, "From that…"
Nabooru watched the retreating shadow, "Ooooooohhhh."
Something nagged at the back of Link's mind, something he could not decipher. But that something had to do with the swiftly disappearing patch of darkness.
"Guys?"
"Hm?" Both Impa and Nabooru looked at him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot," The young Gerudo said.
"What… does the name Dark Link mean to you?"
The two SAGEs froze visibly. They stared at him, a strange, frightful yet sad look in their eyes.
Oh, us. What now?
Din! This is not the time to say our names in vain.
Silence!
Impa stepped closer and kneeled down so her face was level with his.
"Link," She said quietly, "give me your hand."
Link lifted one of his hands but Impa shook her head.
"No. The other one Link. The one that caused you so much trouble."
"Oh," Link gave her the hand with the triforce on it.
Impa removed the gauntlet and displayed the hand for all to see. Link yelped in surprise.
"B-but… but, h-h-how!"
On his hand only half a triforce glittered.
..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..
"How much longer until we find the chamber?"
Ruto stood at a fork in the tunnel, thinking hard, "I'm not sure… It's down here somewhere though," She looked at Dark Link with a side-long glance, "You didn't have to kill those guards."
The shadow flicked some of the blood off his hands in an 'I don't really care' sort of way. Ruto sighed and went down one of the tunnels. After a while of exploring and backtracking a familiar door loomed up ahead.
"There it is!" She said, running up to reach for the handle, "I told you we'd find—"
"Hold it right there!"
The two of them turned to face a small group of Zora warriors. Dark Link smirked and, with a flash of his sword, attacked them. Their screams echoed in the stone hallways. As soon as the last one fell more Zora poured in. Dark Link continued his rampage without faltering while Ruto cowered near the door. She had never seen so many of her people with such fury in their eyes. Each fallen soldier was replaced by three more and soon the shadow was overwhelmed. He and Ruto were bound in chains and dragged off, Dark Link getting beaten each time he struggled.
In the throne room King Zora glared down at the two intruders thrown at his feet. His eyes his eyes filled with hate as he examined Dark Link, who was growling at the soldiers to stay away from him.
"Ha!" The large Zora bellowed, "I knew those pathetic Hyrulean Royals didn't have the courage to finish you off! And you have the gall to show your face in my kingdom after what you have done!"
Dark Link glared up at the overweight king, "What in the name of the three goddesses are you talking about?"
King Zora turned red with anger, "Don't play with me Link! You have been charged with two murders and you have just slaughtered a battalion's worth of my men!"
"I AM NOT LI–AAAAAHH!" Dark Link's eyes grew wide as pain exploded inside his head; he doubled over.
Images flashed in his mind: a knife, the triforce, blood, a full moon, the flash of a sword, a face he could not make out. As these images faded the pain in his head fell away, but his hand throbbed. His hands were bound behind his back so he couldn't see the source of his discomfort. He blinked a few times and shook his head.
What the hell?
King Zora continued, "Now that you are in my custody you shall have a swift execution. First thing tomorrow morning!"
"What!" Ruto stood up, "But-but… Father! It's me, Ruto! This is all just a misunderstanding!"
The King's vengeful eyes fell on the girl, making her cringe in fear, "Ruto! How dare you try to impersonate my daughter only five days after her passing! You are not even a Zora!" He jabbed an accusing finger in her direction, "For that you will join Link at the execution block!"
"F-father!" Ruto's voice was shrill with fear.
"Take them away!"
The girl was stunned. She was silent as the Zora soldiers roughly pushed her and Dark Link towards the dungeons. Dark Link seemed sedated; he barely resisted at all. Soon they were thrown into a circular chamber, its only light filtering down from a high up window.
Ruto stared numbly at the door as the soldiers slammed it in her face. She slumped down with her back against the wall, sighing heavily. This just didn't seem real. What had just happened? Her father had said such strange things. Link a murderer? She was dead? But she was right here. The girl closed her eyes tight; hoping this was all a dream. But when she opened her eyes nothing had changed: dim light, slightly damp walls, rats poking their heads out of cracks in the stones, Dark Link shaking on the other side of the room…
Dark Link shaking?
She looked at him closely. The shadow had backed up against the wall as if he wished to melt into the rock. He was indeed shaking, though he was obviously trying to hide it.
"Claustrophobic?" Ruto inquired quietly.
Dark Link's shimmering eyes glared furiously at her, she had to force herself from cringing.
"No," He growled as he felt his heart beat faster and faster, his breath swifter.
An unknown panic was rising up inside of him. He couldn't understand why, he had no reason to worry about tomorrow. It's not like he could die… right? Things had changed since the Transformation. He could feel the wind on his face, feel the roughness of the rocks and the warmth of the sun. In all of his existence he had never felt so… solid. And now the pain in his hand wouldn't go away, he could feel himself breathe laboriously, and he could feel the beating of his heart. He didn't even know he had a heart.
What did the spell do to him other than change his appearance?
He shifted his wings as best he could; they were starting to ache from being bound so tightly together. The shadow tried to swallow but couldn't, he was too scared.
Scared of what!
Dark Link swore to himself, why was he acting like this? There was nothing to fear. He was just locked in a dungeon…
Locked.
He'll be out in the morning…
Trapped.
Those stupid Zora won't know what hit them…
Can't get out.
And if the girl dies it's no skin off his nose…
No!
It'll only be a few hours…
I can't!
He just…
I need to get out!
Needs—
GET ME OUT OF HERE!
Ruto jumped a foot in the air as Dark link snapped and ran at the door, ramming into it with all his might.
"Let me out!" He screamed, "Let me out! You can't keep me in here!"
Those strangely familiar words echoed in the shadow's ears as he paused and stepped back. A great exhaustion fell over him and he collapsed, causing Ruto to cry out. He didn't hear her, for he was lost in the oblivion of unconsciousness before he hit the ground.
I can't… take it… anymore…Opia: Arg! I need sleep...
Cari: That's what you get from staying up until 3 in the morning and waking up at 7.
Opia: I don't care! Oh, yeah... If anyone here also reads Orb of Bannon, the next chapter is having some technical difficulties and I will get it up as soon as I can.
Cari: Please review!