So, welcome to the next chapter of Waking Worlds Worth! A few things before I get into the reviews. First of all, I started a new story, The Unbelievable Spider Woman! It's (Obviously) a spider-man story crossed over with My Hero Academia, starring an OC spider-girl, so go check it out if your interested.
Next up, I also updated a story long considered forgotten by myself, the Inquisitions Courier. Also check that out.
Finally...um...I kinda got nothing. Huh. I guess that no one mentioned the Dark Souls easter egg in the last chapter? Maybe?
Moving onto the reviews!
Ruberformfree: I do have an idea for a possible romance for Idris, but it'll take a bit. You'll see soon enough...in the mean time, try to guess who it might be!
Axccel: Yep. He can kill them all and he know's it. However, when they fight together as a Unit he probably wouldn't take them all out before he gets bopped. Remember a couple of chapters ago?
Kill King: The wait is over!
Guest: It's less of them suffering life-crushing guilt, and knowing they made a mistake. They still don't trust each other however though.
All done now, let's begin!
*EDIT* I'm editing all the previous chapters in order for this story to be...well, good.
I know I shouldn't be askin' you, but... If you happen upon someone while hunting, tell 'em about this here Oedon Chapel.
If they seem worth being told that is... Oh, and I do sincerely hope they are...
Hee hee hee hee hee..."
The journey to the temple was not a short walk. It took time, time that was mostly spent on making sure that Link was combat ready despite his injuries. Idris made it very clear that they would need all hands on deck for the potential threats that may come. Therefore, it took far longer for the journey to be made, what took Idris around an hour to reach took several as they had to stop periodically and make sure that Link was healed physically.
"Are you finished? We have much to prepare for." Idris called out to the champions as they took a short rest. Idris knew that unlike him, they were not given a blood transfusion and had a limited stamina for travel. He also understood that the one they called Link was, despite awakening from his coma with the aid of Saint Adeline's medicine, still injured. But they're pace was grating to say the least. The beastly scourge did not wait around for the Hunters to prepare.
"Link still needs rest, you're pushing him too hard. Why couldn't you wait until he was ready to travel?" The Princess asked harshly. A fair question, in all honesty.
One that the Hunter would respond too. "Because the plague, unlike Master Link here, does not get injured. It either must be put down or it will spread. I do not intend on having what precious time we have left being taken by healing a man ready to fight!"
"He's not ready to fight!" Princess Zelda argued. The two of them began to glare at each other, until Urbosa stepped in between.
"He's ready to move." She then turned to the Hunter, and glared. The Hunter ignored it, and began to lead the party towards the Temple. As he did so, Urbosa walked next to him in silence. He did not speak as well, and they continued for several more minutes until the Chiefess spoke finally. "If you're leading us into a trap, if you're medicine somehow poisoned Link, if I find any trace of treachery, I will not hesitate to gut you on sight."
"...Heh." He chuckled. Not out of amusement, not out of fear, out of sheer un-interest. Urbosa stared at Idris, aghast at his chuckle. Why would anyone chuckle like that under the threat of death?
"Many have tried to slay may, some have succeeded." He looked at her, eyes bored right at her from under his hat. "I wonder if you will place into their ranks as well?" She stopped, standing still as the Hunter walked away.
"We have arrived." Idris said. Indeed, they had. The small temple from before appeared to be untouched from the last time he was there, around 2 day's ago. The trip back took longer than expected, due to Link's healing, but he was now combat ready. Idris turned to the other champions, facing them with a cold stare. "Be cautious. I do not fully know what's inside."
"Why didn't you scout it out when you where here then, Mmmm?" Revalli asked haughtily, which resulted in Idris frowning.
"The beasts you encountered were scampering out when I attempted to enter, and thus I followed them, resulting in me saving your lives." He reminded them, making Revalli scoff in embarrassment.
"Never mind that. What' the plan?" Daruk interjected, catching everyone's attention.
"The farthest I reached into the temple was in front of a crossroads spanning three way's. It is most likely that they lead to differing locales."
"What's your suggestion then?"
"Once we reach the crossroads, we shall separate. 3 groups shall go down each route until the end. Once you have found the end, return to the beginning and wait for each one of us to return." Idris said, a sound plan in his mind. Of course, the champions did not react...kindly to that plan.
"What? And leave one of us to be gutted by you?"
"Revalli..." Daruk began, but was stopped by his Avian companion.
"No! I'm most prepared to say that none of us trust you, Idris...if that's even your real name. You think that one of us is going to willingly walk with you down a dark path to Goddesses know where is happening, you are sorely mistaken!" The Rito hissed at the Hunter, who remained silent. The two stared at each other, neither backing down. Slowly, they reached for their weapons. Revalli for his bow and Idris for the Bowblade, but they were interrupted by Princess Zelda.
"Enough you two! Your acting like children!" The two of the stopped, and turned to the princess. Her face steeled as she looked at Idris. "I'll go with you."
Immediately, the champions interjected, disagreeing with her. They would not let their princess and leader split off with them accompanied by what may be a mad-man! But she spoke up harshly.
"I made up my mind! I'll go with him." Silently, they reluctantly accepted.
Thus, the teams where decided. Link and Mipha would travel together, due to the young Hero of Courage still needed her aid for healing, and they would be joined by Daruk to aid them. Revalli and Urbosa would also travel together, a task that they accepted begrudgingly. Finally, Idris and Zelda would travel together as well. Thus, with the plan set in motion, they entered the dark temple.
Fairly soon they reached the crossroads that Idris spoke off, three paths going down the middle, left and right, and the plan was put into action. Urbosa and Revalli would journey through the left hall while Idris and Zelda would go down the right. Link, Mipha and Daruk would go through the middle. Then they went down their specific paths, each of them given a torch for light.
XXX
The Rito and Gerudo famously did not get along well. That was a solid fact well known by most of Hyrule's military forces or really anyone who saw the two of them together. That's not to say that they despised each other, they certainly didn't. It was more along the lines of them knowing that they could work together and be a force to be reckoned with, but they had too many issues with each other's clashing personalities to be any form of effective.
"We should go down this way." The current situation being a prime example of this. Currently, the two had reached a predicament. They were presented with two paths forward. Both of them identical in all but direction. Due to them only having one torch, they couldn't simply split up and go down them both, no they would have to choose.
"That one has a draft, you chicken. It'll lead us right outside."
"How dare you call me a chicken! Don't you know that term's offensive?"
"Wait, it really is?"
"Yes, and you should apologize and follow my wisdom as repayment."
"OK, now your being ridiculous. The chicken part I'll apologize, but I'm not going to follow your lead because of that alone."
"Well then your out of luck!"
"We have to work together here, you can't just hold out on this until you get your way!"
"And you can't just call people things that you don't know would be offensive or not!"
"I'm sorry about the chicken comment, Ok? Now, can we decide which way we're going to go?" They stayed silent for a moment, but then Revalli pointed to the first one. "This way."
"YOU JUST POINTED TO THAT WAY 5 SECONDS AGO AND THERE'S A DRAFT COMING FROM IT!"
"Because it's the right way to go!"
Urbosa was very tempted to gut herself on the spot. She should've went with the Princess and the Hunter.
XXX
So far, the journey down this particular path had proven fruitless. They had seen nothing as of recently, and nothing had attacked them as of yet. This gave them the opportunity to rest for a bit. Link, being the honorable and self destructive person that he was, volunteered to stay guard and patrol despite his injuries. Leaving behind the other two champions, Link set out back through the darkness, cautious in his approach. Mipha sighed to herself as he left, speaking out-loud to herself, "Why does he always have to be so selfless all the time?"
"He's the goddesses chosen hero, it's kinda in the job description." Daruk commented as he leaned on the wall, setting his axe down by his side. Mipha sighed and sat as well, opposite of the Goron. "Besides, it's not like he can't defend himself right now. Your healing did a pretty bang up job doing that!"
"That doesn't mean he should just throw himself into the next sign of danger whenever he feels like it!" The Zora princess exclaimed. Daruk didn't reply, instead he cracked a grin.
"Remember when we first came together and Purah took a still-picture from the Shiekah Slate?"
"Yes...what are you getting onto?"
"Well, remember when I hugged everyone closer together and you were next to Link..."
"...Oh please no."
"Yep, I know kid! Everyone knows, well except Link." At this point, Mipha had began to hide her face, concealing her blush from consuming her entire head and resulting in a potential coma of embarrassment.
"Please stop..." She moaned, her voice barely audible.
"Ahh, don't worry kid, Nobody'll tell him. That's on you, y'know?"
"But-But-WhatifItellhimandhedoesn'twantthatandonlywantstostayfriendsorworselikessomeoneelseandthenhitchesupwiththemI'llbesadandaloneandmiersable!" The princess's panicked, what would actually happen? But Daruk, being himself of course, waved it off.
"Ah, humbug! He'll listen to ya. All you gotta do is tell him yourself, face to face. Tell him how you feel and he'll either return them or not. But I'll let you in on a little secret." The Princess leaned closer to the Goron, curious. "I think he likes ya back." Mipha stayed still for a moment, then smiled to herself. Did Link actually like her back? Daruk, despite being...Daruk, wasn't wrong most of the time. Plus his advice wasn't half bad...
She decided right then and there. Whenever she got the chance, she would tell Link how she felt, straightly.
"Oh, and make sure to name one of them after me."
"I...what?"
"Name one after me, y'know...the youngin's when ya get to it!" Nope. He ruined it. Daruk just mercilessly crushed all confidence Mipha had recently built up. 10 minutes later, Link came back to the camp, sword drawn and shield ready. But what he saw at the camp was...confusing to say the least. He cocked his head towards Daruk, as if asking "Why is Mipha curled up in a ball?...Oh my goddesses why is she bleeding?"
"Ah she's fine Brother, just a nosebleed." Daruk waved him off as he stood up, grabbing his axe. "What's the situation?"
He pointed behind him, as if to suggest that he had found something.
XXX
With Zelda and Idris
Zelda was panicking. Well, she wasn't "panicking" on the outside per-say. Internally, she was screaming. That was the situation she was in when she traveled down the dark corridor with Idris, this...man who showed up one day, nearly killed her best friend, then came back to heal him and ask for her and the champions help. Any other person put in a similar state of events would most likely lead them to a internal freak-out as well. Knowing this did not make the Princess any more comfortable with her current companion.
If she could compare Idris to something, it would be most like a painting. An eerie, disturbing, painting that no one could figure out what it represented or tried to convey. She had met similar men, personality wise. Men who were grim, serious and skilled. She saw plenty of those in the army. But Idris had something the others didn't. A lack of humanity in him. The way that he moved, the way that he spoke, it presented him as someone who would not care about his opponents. He would simply kill them without a second thought. She witnessed this firsthand back at the forest.
As they walked down the corridor, she made quick glances to him. Whether he saw these or not, he didn't acknowledge them. Their torch burned and crackled. However, the hunter stopped moving.
"What is it?" Zelda asked
"...stay here." Idris said as he transformed his sword to bow. Handing her the torch, he ventured into the darkness. Zelda soon lost sight of him and stayed still, waiting for him to return. She didn't wait long, for as soon as 2 minutes or so had passed, she heard screams. Howls and roars from the darkness. Both of rage and terror. She ran. Down into the darkness where Idris had vanished into. As she sprinted down the now winding and curving path, she followed the screaming to her destination. As she grew closer and closer to the noise, her suspicions about the Hunter were being confirmed more and more as she saw fresh blood drip from the ceiling. Mutant bodies, contorted and twisted, were severed into pieces and pierced by arrows. Soon she arrived at the epicenter of this conflict, and a sight she would soon never forget.
The first thing she noticed was the children. Or more specific, lack of children. Of course, there were imprisoned, horribly injured, children trapped in filthy, bloody cages. A mix between Goron, Hyrulian, Rito and Zora. But what was surprising was the small number of Children, she only counted 12. In the middle of this room, without a cage, Idris dueled with an armored Lizalfos with a ball and chain, most likely the infamous Darkhammer, a roaming monster responsible for the massacre of several highly skilled soldiers during Calamity Ganon's attack. Idris rolled out of the way of the oncoming ball, and fired three arrows at the beast. It hit the shoulder plates of the armor, bouncing off with only small scratches made.
Darkhammer roared as he began swinging his ball and chain around in the air, forcing the Hunter to stay back and continue to pester it with arrows. Luckily, one hit flesh, penetrating some chain-mail right into it's arm. It howled in pain, stopping it's swinging to rip the arrow out. However, this gave Idris an opening. Transforming the bow into blade form, he rushed it. Slashing, he cut deep across the plate armor, scratching it but not wounding. Sidestepping a punch from the beast, he rolled out of the way of several more blows before spotting it's exposed tail. A weak-point! He needed to reach it, but how?
He did not dodge the swinging ball in time. He was knocked back, crashing onto the wall. He was exposed! Zelda had to act. She quickly raised her hands, feeling the power of the golden goddess flow through her, as she cast a suspension spell. Instantly the monster seemed to freeze, no movement made except it's snarling. Idris looked stunned for a brief moment, then saw Zelda casting the spell. Regaining his footing, he casually walked behind the best to face it's tail, then thrust his blade forward into it's flesh. Green blood oozed from the new wound as the blade sunk deeper into the flesh and soon out the chest. The monster roared and howled in pain, before quickly falling silent, still. He extracted the bow-blade, allowing Zelda to cease her spell. As the monster fell to the ground, Idris regarded Zelda. "I thought I told you to stay where you were."
"I heard screaming, and I thought you were in danger. Your welcome." She shot back. Idris said nothing, merely wiping off the blood from his blade. "Still however, thank you for the aid." They then faced the children, and Idris grabbed a key from the Darkhammer's corpse. He unlocked the cage, and stepped inside. The children backed away from the man covered in blood and holding a sword, except for one. "Mr. Hunter!" One Zora child cried out as she ran and hugged his legs. A little Zora girl.
"Ruto? What are you doing here little one?" Idris asked as he knelt down to speak to her face to face. Instantly, the relief in her eyes soured away and were replaced by tears. Her face was dirty, with scratches abundant and dried blood below her eyes. She was wearing rags, but the pendant he had given her still was hanging around her neck.
"T-They-they took M-M-Mommy and D-D-Daddy away!" She bawled and planted herself into Idris's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Zelda watched as Idris awkwardly tried to calm her down. With either no or different context, this would be hilarious. But considering the current situation, that would not ever happen. Ever. In all of eternity.
"They came one night and *hiccup* took us away to this cave! They took M-mommy and D-Daddy down the big bath and me and some o-other's down here. They've been t-t-taking kids once a d-day!" She babbled as she continued to sob. Idris held on to her tightly, holding her and trying his best to calm her down. Once she finished her sobbing, Idris stood up. He looked at all the children, all of the terrified boys and girls...and stepped aside.
"Follow me." He then ran down the hall, leading Zelda and the others back down to the entrance (The children noticed the princess there, whispering among-st themselves in awe of her.) As they ran back to the main split off, he regarded Zelda.
"Is there any possible way for you to communicate with the others?"
"M-Maybe?! I think so?"
"Then tell Urbosa and Rivalli to come back to the split off and meet us at there! The others are in danger!"
XXX
Link grunted as he barely blocked the sorcerer's spell. His tunic was torn up. His wound, once stitched, was reopened in some parts. His hair was frazzled. He blocked another blast of dark energy and lunged, only to be battered aside. He fell to the ground in a slump, unable to push himself up. He stayed on the ground, eyeing his companions. Daruk was on his knees, wheezing. Mipha slumped against a wall, unconscious.
"Pathetic! I thought the hero's of Hyrule could challenge anyone the fought against! Well, I guess I've proven them wrong! Hehehe..." This sorcerer, he was different. For one thing, he clearly wasn't Hylian. Link already had encountered the Hunter, who wasn't Hylian but similar, but this one may as well be another species. His body structure and clothing were very bizarre. His cloak was black with strange patterns aligning it. His upper body had ceremonial armor, and he wore a large cone-shaped mask detailed with more strange patterns and two bulging eyes. The mouthpiece seemed to either be Tusk or tendril shaped. Link could not tell.
"Ah well, I suppose it doesn't matter. No one can stop me now! Hehehehehe..." The man laughed to himself, turning back to the altar. This alter...it was a indescribable how horrific it was. Made of bone and flesh, it was dripping in red ruby liquid and had...bizarre images inscribed onto it. Faces of tentacled monsters, beasts that looked like nothing he had ever seen. Just then. Link heard foot steps, coming from the hall. It was everyone else! They had come.
Idris was the first to step in, he instantly focused on the sorcerer. He walked towards the man as Zelda directed the others to help the Champions to their feet as she would aid Link. The man continued to seemingly ignore Idris, as he prayed to the alter. However, he did eventually notice the Hunter. He turned, glancing at the man with the blood-soaked clothes and strange sword. "You...you're not like the others behind you, helping their pitiful friends."
"..." Idris remained silent.
"You are like me...you've seen the truth of the world. Of our masters, our gods! The great ones!"
"What do you know of them?" Idris's tone was low, hostile. He was ready to kill. "
Allow me to introduce myself." The Sorcerer bowed. "I am Zant, King of the Twilight." Zant stepped forward, closer to Idris. "I have come to this realm to learn of them, to seek their knowledge and power. So far however, I've found nothing but brats and meat-bags!" He then began to mutter to himself about a 'Spoiled princess' and 'World of Light is too similar to the Twilight...' But he soon regarded Idris once more, ignoring the Champions who had recovered and were assembling behind the Hunter. "I've been looking and researching for so long now! I think you might be able to...help me? I can see it in your eyes...you've seen their power! Help me!"
The only response was Idris drawing his blade. Zant sighed. "Of course it has to come to this."
Zant then began to ascend into the air, floating above the ground. "I've been gathering sooooo many test subjects recently that I was running out of space! I hope you'll appreciate my ingenuity with this magnificent specimen! Hehehehehe...!" As soon as he said this, the ground began to shake. The altar shook as it...stood up to reveal a...monstrosity. It was large, covered with hair and bulbous flesh pods. Corpses seen to be strewn together to create this ram-looking monster made of flesh and bone. On the front right leg, Idris spotted two zora sewn to the monster. Two familiar faces aghast in horror forever. Okin and Nala. "Have fun." Zant burst into laughter as he vanished in a flash of light, probably teleported somewhere else.
"Prepare yourselves..." Idris warned as he readied an arrow. The monster roared and charged. Idris rolled out of the way first, then the others Champions scattered. Revalli took to the air, firing arrow after arrow. Zelda began casting Fire balls and other projectiles at it. Idris also did this, aiming for it's eyes. The rest of the champions charged for a leg each, hacking and slashing away at their chosen limb.
The beast roared as it charged again, this time trampling the four champions below it. The others managed to dodge. Idris then charged, slashing with his blade and avoiding the monsters stomps. Soon he was joined by Link, who began to stab the beast in the leg.
It roared in pain, and kicked the Hero of the Wild back. Mipha and Daruk both then went in, cutting and hacking away at it's right leg. Howling in primal defiance, it stood on two legs and clapped it's paw's together, creating a shock wave that sent everyone back. It then landed back on all fours, and a red began to emanate from it's throat. Opening it's mouth it shot balls of fire! They were aimed at the Princess and the Rito, who did their best to avoid damage. The bird was hit by the second volley, singing him and knocking him out. Zelda managed to reflect the blasts of fire with her magic, but could not hold on for longer.
Urbosa then leaped at the best, clambering onto the beast's back and began to hack violently, spraying blood and flesh apart until she was shook off. Idris then had enough. He fired an arrow right into it's bulging eyes, spewing pus and gore. As it cried in pain, it collapsed onto the ground, heaving in pain. He sprinted towards it, climbing up on-top of it's head and holding his blade high.
"I'm sorry." He whispered before plunging it right into it's skull. The blood shot out like a geyser, drenching the room in it as it howled and gasped in pain. It struggled, violently shaking the hunter around until it's eyes rolled back and it fell to the ground, dead. He jumped off, facing the champions. "What now?" Daruk asked.
Idris did not answer, not yet, for he was busy hacking at the neck of the creature. Gore and sinew flew out as they cleaved through muscle and bone. Once the blade fell through, and the head fell to the ground, did they stop. Instead, they began to cut away at the creature, severing fleshy faces from it, only to pocket it.
"Now...now we go to your king. We tell him of the new threat."
Far away from Idris and the Champions, there was a group. They were also in a cave, but they were not in a situation like our heroes. Rather, they were refugees. Citizens of a land who's rightful ruler was usurped by a madman who desired power above all else. This group were composed of simple citizens of this kingdom. Men, woman and Children. Families. The leader sighed as she gazed upon her charged. She had little experience with leading before Zant took over, how was she supposed to protect and lead her people now?
"My lady, we have confirmed reports from out scouts that the monsters from this world are gathering together under a banner of an eye. Our scouts spotted a man who called himself, "Girahim." He seems to be leading these monsters alongside an army of light-dwellers who answer to a man called Volga." The second in command spoke to his leader. "What should we do?"
The woman stayed silent, facing a mirror reflection of herself. "Tell everyone to prepare to move. We're traveling."
"Where to, my lady?"
"Hyrule Castle. I have a plan." Midna responded to her second in command. A loose smile on her lips.
Thank you all for reading. Please leave a review, fav/follow, etc etc blah blah blah. See you all next time!