Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.
AU: Well, this is it, for now anyways. I've dreaded and anticipated to write these last chapters for so long. I can't call it perfect, but dammit this is the type of stuff I love about writing.
Anyways, giving how special they are, I will 'bring back' a small tradition of giving a soundtrack to the chapter. Since I don't recall doing this for this fic, let's just keep it simple and short. As a small guide, I will copy the last part of the URL from a youtube video and put the name of the song, if you want to follow along and hear music I was hearing while doing the scenes, just play the video. The one included in this and the next chapter in a proper homage to a great game and the inspiration to more than a few names in the story... if you know Vahn's name origins, then you know this music.
Without much more stalling, please enjoy.
Opening act
"Goddesses… how many nights I've dreamed about this place, how many nightmares plagued me about it as well?" Jumping down from his horse, El'Azul wobbly walked towards the edge of the small river running down from the valley's top. "Despite the corruption tainting this place, my home is as beautiful as I remember."
"Yes… it is." Link slid down from Epona's back, quickly his red eyes began to sweep the area around them, searching for any hints of enemy forces but finding only the traces of destruction upon the now grey-colored grassy paths.
Patting Epona's side, the blond walked his animal companion towards the lone tree hidden behind some large chunks of broken boulders.
"Stay safe and please just way for me this time, okay?" He gave her another pat, this time running his hand over her white mane.
Epona looked at Link, shaking her head as she let a quiet neigh.
Giving Epona a strict look, Link left her sniffing at the grass as he walked towards El'Azul's horse to guide him to the same hiding place.
"What's in the package?" He asked pressing a curious touch on the pouch tied to the grey horse's saddle.
Turning his attention back to the blond, El'Azul jogged his way back and untied the brown pouch, taking the slightly heavy bag on his hands. "This my friend is a little something I found in one of the Legion's caches." With a little grin, he unpacked the bundle, revealing two large and sturdy weapons made of hardwood and metal pieces. "These babies are called Tonfas."
"Tonfas? I gather they are some kind of weapon, but isn't a sword better? Maybe a spear, it got reach." Link commented a little skeptical of the tools.
El'Azul snorted a short laugh, then he held the Tonfas properly in his hands, poising the wooden poles along the lines of the long fins of his arms. "My people fight using similar weapons. Well, to better put it, we use a special type of armor on our arms. These armaments are very sturdy right here." He tapped one of the large fins at the side of his arms. "It serves a weapon and a shield at the same time. You may call it a tool of Zora martial art."
"Then I take back my comment. In a situation like this, comfort and practice with a weapon are more valuable than anything else." Taking the other horse to stay with Epona, Link then came back and pulled the Darkened Master Sword from the sheath on his back. "Too much cloud in the sky tonight, but the moon is almost gone. I wager we have at least two hours before sunrise. Let's make the most of it."
"Link, wait." The sound of El'Azul's voice rung a little louder within the small valley, making the blond stop and give him a small glance back. "Once we are in there if it comes between saving me or them…"
Link fully turned to face his companion, mildly frowning at him. "I won't leave you behind." He said firmly.
"Please, if you have to choose between saving me or my people, please save them." The Zora pleaded, not a hint of hesitation on his big black eyes.
"If it comes to it, fine. But we will survive this, it's what trash like us do right? Survive in this hell, no matter the odds."
El'Azul sighed but he nodded anyway. "Right… that's what we do."
After spending five days without seeing Sheik and only pushing himself harder and harder against General Val's training regiment, Link was suddenly awake from his sleep by a panting Vahn saying that Sheik was back and something urgent came up.
Now the blond is stuffing his bag with more than enough things that they will probably don't need; Link is hastily preparing himself for the sudden journey he has to make.
By the Princess and Sheik's suggestion, they are to charge to Zora's Domain as quickly as possible. In his last scouting mission, the young Sheikah has discovered the state of disarray surrounding the area, giving them a unique position to invade the territory without raising the Legion's attention, at least until it is too late.
"You don't have to come, you know? Even if is just the three of us, we will save everyone and bring them back." Link suggests softly to La'Azul as he pushes another piece of bandage down the already brimming full large bag.
"It's okay Link. I have to do this." The Zora girl replied with certainty. "For all this time, everything I could do was just sit idle and watch while everyone is doing their best to fight back. Now we get the chance to save my brethren, I need to be there." Shyly raising her hand, La'Azul shows the short bow she has received as a gift from Zelda. "Like you, I've been using this time to get better, to be able to help when necessary."
A brilliant and sincere smile crossed Link's face. As La'azul said, Link had spent an entire month training in that hellish torture his master calls martial teaching. As someone that was already tall and lean-muscular, the blond now has an even more impressive figure. While his arms are not a bulging mass of muscles like the seasoned General, the young Hero of Time sure looks a lot more intimidating.
"True… we've been preparing ourselves for this." Pulling the knot closing the top of his bag, Link swung the heavy thing over his shoulder and turned to face La'Azul and the exit to his newly provided personal quarters. "Come, Vahn is probably getting antsy with how long I'm taking here."
Giving a light touch on her shoulder, Link pulled La'Azul with him. The pair got out in the camp at the very end of the night, very few guards are on post, as most of the night shift patrols are ending and the morning ones have yet to start with the first light of the sun.
Moving quietly between the empty lanes of the camp, they arrived at the entrance where four figures are standing at the very gate waiting for the young Hero.
"Link! Finally, jeez. For a moment I thought you went back to sleep." One very agitated Vahn came running forward as Link got closer, the small red-haired scholar waving a reproving finger at his friend.
"Calm down, Vahn. Let the lad breathe a little before you talk his ear off." His father growled silently from the back, the older man is currently wearing his heavy vest backward and his eyes are barely open, little signs that he is not completely awake at the moment.
"Papa! You are too soft on him; we have been waiting for at least twenty minutes!" Vahn's high-pitched cries ring in the air, making most of them that are not quite as wake, cringe at the volume of the small scholar's voice.
At his comment, both Link and Val shared an odd glance between themselves, the older man holding a little smirk back, with Link just grimacing at the memory of how bad some of his training sessions usually got.
"Sorry Vahn, I had to make sure we would have everything." Link said with a little smile, his expression deflating instantly any aggravation showing on the red-haired boy's face.
Right next to Zelda, past the open wooden gates, Sheik allowed himself a playful snort as his visible ruby eye sparkled with mischief. "Oh, I thought the job of overthinking every step we take was mine."
The tall blond smiled at his lover, both in the mirth of the joke and happiness of seeing the stoic Sheikah after so many days without him close by. "That is a very Sheikah thing, yeah… Let's just say that your aunt dragged me by the ear a few times to teach me a thing or two."
"Dread fills my soul at the thought of what my master has shoved into that head of yours." Sheik said back.
Moving closer to the gate, Link stopped in front of the blond Sheikah and smiled even more. "Just the utmost essential."
"Goddesses…" Sheik shrugged. "Zel, she broke him." Cried out the red-eyed blond. "Link is even using fancy words now."
Playful giggles sang past the Princess' lips, her pretty blue eyes shining with mischief but then changing its light into a concerned glow. "Do you really have to go?" She said in a little voice, just loud enough for Sheik and Link to hear.
"Yes, we do." Link replied simply. "Zelda, I've been fighting and running ever since I was ten. This is just one more job."
"I know that, but… But before, you were just the Hero of Time. Now you are Link, my friend… you are family." She said back, her eyes cast down to avoid the odd glance Link gave her. "If something happened to you, it would be my fault."
The blue-eyed blond warrior snorted as he shook his head. "Now you are just being silly."
"He has a point, Zel." Sheik jumped in. "We are all past the point of return, not only from this operation but this war as a whole. We made our choice and we have chosen to fight. Just like you had to take the burden of Hyrule even as a little girl."
She sighed in defeat. "You are right, both of you. However, I still have my rights as a sister to worry about you. So… please come back. Not only today but… After all of this chaos is done with, I want to have you by my side."
Trading a small look with Sheik, Link glanced back at Zelda and bowed. "As you wish, Princess." Which made her frown at him, as she likes to hear her title from Link just as much as he likes to hear his from her.
Moving closer, Sheik leaned over and hugged her. "I promise to keep Link safe." He said with a grin as he pointed with his head toward Link.
Link, who didn't respond with words, just smiled at them.
General Val, after shaking the grogginess from his thoughts, moved closer and clapped Link firmly on the back. "We had little time together, lad. Not one true soldier is shaped in a month. However, I believe you have learned enough to keep that big head of yours attached to the neck." The giant man smirked at his pupil, enjoying the small frown his comment got from the blond. "Just remember my words."
"I will, master. And thank you, for training me." With a glossy glow on his eyes, Link shook his head to control the threatening tears and bowed to the larger man. "This is war, I know that now. Your teaching will stay with me, always."
"Good boy, now go out there and make us proud." Val clapped him on the back once more, pushing the blond to tumble a few paces forward. "Ganondorf is powerful, but now he will face a warrior, not a boy."
"Sir!" Link gave the general a proper salute and then turned his back toward the camp, giving Zelda one last smile before he began his march towards Kokiri Woods.
"And now he is the one going in a hurry…" Vahn walked past his father, shaking his head but still holding a smile on his face.
"Vahn…" Val called his son, his hard features twitching just a little into something softer. "Be careful, son."
"I'll, Papa." Showing a small smile to Val, the red-haired boy glanced back at La'Azul and nodded at her to come. As the Zora woman stepped by his side, both of them followed after Link, leaving Sheik and Zelda at the very edge of the camp.
"Sheik…" She called him, reaching with one hand to press a very tight grip at his. "Stay alert, okay?"
The Sheikah frowned, his mouth turning into a hard line behind his mask. "Another dream?" He asked.
"No… not a dream." She replied softly and then looked down to the back of her hand. "Just a feeling. This night the stars shined a little brighter, the moon looked so close and full of light. Today will shape a part of history, I can feel it."
"Good." Sheik said back. "We will make sure to shape this day as the start of Ganondorf's fall." Now giving her hand a tight squeeze, Sheik pulled away and turned to leave. "The Zora will raise again as our allies; this I promise, my Princess."
Reigning in her pained expression, Zelda wore her royal 'mask', nodding at her little brother. "Then see it done, Master Sheikah."
With a firm bow, Sheik turned away fully and began marching after the rest of the group. After getting further enough to not be able to see Zelda at the gates anymore, he noticed the form of his companions waiting for him in the last clearing before the thick tree lines into the Kokiri Wilds.
As he stepped next to the group, Link moved closer and hugged his shoulder with one arm. Exchanging a small gesture between themselves, the pair of blondes moved to the front, leading them towards the battleground where the Zora fell so many years ago.
There can be no light without shadows
It is the south to the spirit's north
A perfect balance that should be maintained
For the tyranny of goodness is tyranny still
Without darkness to counter its brightness
Light will blind even the most righteous eye
There can be… no light without shadows.
Page I – Requiem.
Chapter 28 - Light's Ascent
Legend of Legaia OST 43 - Mist Generator Fortress - watch?v=Xfm9aCZAYyo
"Spirits… what is that?" Link's voice breezed out in a small tone; his eyes glued to the grim spectacle in front of them.
By his side, El'Azul is barely containing his fury. Every bit of his expression is twisted with disgust and anger, his big black eyes squinting painfully. "By the size… this can only be Lord Jabu-Jabu…"
Pressing himself closer against the tall hill right beside him, the Zora leaned his head to get a better view of the gigantic skull hanging directly on top of the entrance of his ancient home. "There's nothing sacred to these bastards! Crashing and burning, Ganondorf and his minions' perverts anything standing in their way…"
Casting a cautious glance at the pair of soldiers standing guard at the very door of Zora's Domain, Link stepped a little forward, moving quietly within the shadows made by the huge walls of stone around them.
"I remember the fish." Link whispered softly, earning himself a glare from his companion. "Okay… Lord Jabu-Jabu, my apologies."
"Don't worry, your ignorance doesn't offend me, not anymore," El'Azul replied with a bit of fire in his hushed voice, despite his comment. "After living outside Zora's Domain for so long, I understand that people outside our culture can't relate to what is important to us, simply because they don't know or don't want to know."
"For fuck's sake El'Azul, it was just a stupid comment, please leave the moral lesson for after we are done with this place." Link growled quietly, but loud enough to make a few critters around them bounce around startled by his voice.
In a silent agreement, the tall Zora shuffled his way past Link and gave the pale blond a serious nod. As they approached the funnel area going into the proper entrance, he stopped and made a motion with one hand for Link to come by his side.
"We can't take the normal way in, even if there are just two guards most likely they have an entire squadron watching the entrance." El'Azul started, pointing towards the guards and then nudging with his fingers to the sideway doors at the platform. "Can you swim?"
Link nodded back with a slightly offended look on his face.
"How're your lungs? Can you hold for long underwater" The Zora asked, nodding toward the pathetic dripping of water that one day was a powerful waterfall.
The blond sighed. "I can… for long enough."
"We shall see." Showing a simple grin, El'Azul moved with nimble movements, staying within the shadows until he arrived onto a hidden pond of freezing cold water directly beneath the large path upwards the entrance.
Carefully tying his Tonfas on his back with the help of a small leather cord he brought, El'Azul jumped into the water in a full dive, disappearing without much sound but the subtle splash of water falling to the side.
Link, after buckling the hold of the belt crossing diagonally down his tunic, jumped after El'Azul, securing his hat with one hand as the little piece of clothing threatened to flow upwards because of the rising waves within the pond.
Diving, pushing, and swimming for as long as four minutes straight, Link arrived at the point where his lungs began to hurt and his eyes blur with the surging tension growing in his chest. But as the rapid bubbles of air started to pour out from his mouth, he felt a strong hand grasp him by the arm and pull him into a tight hole towards the surface.
As soon as the chilling air hit his face, Link began to cough and hack, spilling what little water managed to invade his mouth in that last moment of desperation.
"You okay?" El'Azul asked.
Throwing a small glance to the Zora, Link pushed his left hand against the wall at his side, forcing his leg to sustain the weight of his body. "Fine." He growled quietly.
Taking this alternative route got him at the heart of Zora's Domain, however, still at the lowest level just beneath the great bridge coming from the entrance. This secret rift inside the flowing waters is luckily hidden from the watchful gazes of the patrolling soldiers because not one of them is moving remotely close to the bone-chilling temperatures in the bottom area.
"H-How… do you w-want to proceed." Asked the blond, his jaw trembling by how cold his entire body felt.
Hastily detaching the cord around his chest, El'Azul fixed the Tonfas on his arms and crouched right at the edge of their hiding spot. "We don't have much time, so let's go over this quickly. Like we talked on our way here, Ganondorf is holding my people inside some weird magical crystal."
"R-Right. And to break the crystals, you said we need some kind of magic fire."
"We do." He replied with a firm nod. "I learned with some sources that this fire was the exact thing they used to freeze them in the first place. Because of it, they keep this thing sealed and closed off from everyone but the warlocks."
Rubbing his sides to try and get some heat, Link knelt next to El'Azul. "Why in the blazing hells would they keep that here? Isn't stupid to keep the key so close to the door?"
"Don't know and I frankly couldn't care less. The fact is that they have this strange fire here and we need it." Pulling up, the blue-skinned warrior glanced at the moving soldiers passing just up ahead on the wooden bridge above the frozen lake. "We'll have very little time to sort this all when things go to hell and we are limited to only the two of us. So, we'll need to divide our efforts from the beginning."
"I see… Someone draws in their attention, while the other gets the fire." Link simply stated, his right hand already moving to the handle of his sword.
As Link was about to step forward, El'Azul raised one arm in front of him. "Look… sorry for-"
"Stop, spirits don't even start." Link forcibly shoved his companion's arm away. "We both know I have the best chance for facing a horde of them and surviving, and besides… these are your people. Give me a few minutes, then go find this stupid mumbo-jumbo fire."
Casually stepping into the quite well-lit area at the center of the frozen lake, Link pulled out his Longshot and aimed it at the rails of the wooden bridge.
The release of the chains was heard through the entire Zora's Domain complex. With the permeating silence in the whole area, paired with how acoustic echoing these crystalline walls are, not one person inside could escape the gritting sound of metal flying in the air, followed by the harsh crashing sound of wood splitting into bits.
"The hells was that?!" One voice raised from the second level.
"Did someone fall from a bridge again?" A calmer voice followed from the fourth one.
A rush of a little alarmed chatter echoed into the place, the soldiers clearly disturbed by the sudden noise so early in the morning, but not showing enough care to truly raise an alarm.
That until a louder voice filled with a sense of panic exploded from the third level. "Oi! You there?! Identify yourself!"
Breathing out with a little shiver, Link allowed himself a moment to feel the rough texture of the Dark Master Sword's handle sliding on the palm of his hand. As the rain-guard touched the side of his index finger, Link firmed his grip with all his might, pushing down the weapon in a powerful arc, echoing a terrifying sound around him.
"You better work fast… El'Azul." Breathing out the words quietly, the blond warrior dashed with dazzling speed despite how heavy his clothes are feeling soaked with water.
The remaining silence inside Zora's Domain lasted only until Link's blade came swinging down in an arc, slashing the standing guard across the chest, opening his plated armor as a sharp knife cut through leather.
Everything erupted in chaos in the wake of the man's dying scream.
People from every level of the complex turned their attention toward the single spot where Link just slew his foe. Quickly the screams and stomping sounds of heavy boots rushing through the floor engulfed every wall inside.
Squinting his eyes, Link bounced back a few paces, aligning himself exactly at the middle of the bridge, knowing full well that his enemies will come from both sides. Holding his sword casually to his side, he watched as lines of soldiers began to pop out from within the stairs, both the ones from ahead coming from the upper level and as well the one from behind leading from the second one.
"INTRUDER!" They screamed, charging forward with swinging swords and hovering spears.
The first strike came from the soldiers running from behind, Link had to roll his eyes mentally at the cowardice of the men in front of him. Despite the almost equal distance from the two sides, the ones from the upper level got to him first, but they didn't take the last few steps to get in range.
Instead, they simply waited for the others from behind to get closer and take the jump.
Then it happened, feeling like a singular and drawn-out moment, Link fell deep into the lightless pool of his own consciousness. There were no screaming soldiers around him anymore, there is just the eerie silence of his own self.
For an entire month Link has tried to regain his normal sense of self, he tried to be like he used to, forgoing the anger, shutting down the whispering dark urges that never left his thoughts. For the sake of others, he lived his days as the Link they needed him to be.
Now, after so long, he is ready to let loose again. And something sinister inside his soul is grinning madly at the prospect of it.
Taking one single step with his left foot, Link turned his body in a swift motion. Gripping his sword with both hands, he pushed with all the strength available to him. The body of his blade crashed violently against the incoming sword descending on him.
The Master Sword cut through against the other weapon like soft butter, its momentum didn't slow in the slightest, it continued flying forward until it slashed true past the armor and past flesh.
Like a fire burning at his throat, his voice erupted in a violent display of pure wrath. The incoming soldiers halted in their advance, seeing the pale blond cleave a person in half with so much ease was unsettling to witness, however after hearing the enraged shout incoming from him, that lone swordsman was quickly turning into an incarnation of death to their eyes.
By confusion or fear, this sudden stupor befalling the soldiers proved to be fatal for those standing closer to Link. His sword continued to dance with lethal grace, cutting across their ranks without a shred of mercy in each strike.
When the sixth man fell lifelessly onto the wobbly floor of the bridge, the rest of the force shifted from paralysis to a rabid frenzy fueled by panic.
More and more boots began to run into the increasingly unsteady bridge. By each soldier that fell by Link's blade, two more entered the fray from both sides. In this chaotic field of blood and screams, what little strategic coordination they can pull is to push the sword-wielding soldiers first and try to cover their opening with the ones holding the spears.
However, time and time again, Link's movements proved to be too fast and loose for anyone to foresee. Surrounded at each angle by enemies, he has shifted his focus only into dodging and parrying the strikes coming his way, and each time he does, his sword glides at any blind angle his arm can reach, cutting more and more soldiers at each sharp turn.
"H-He's a monster!" One legionnaire screamed in panic as the companion by his side got half of his head slashed off right in front of his eyes.
Another wielding a spear stepped forward, puffing his chest in a pompous display. "Stop chattering. He is one man, keep pushing until-" His head went flying as soon as the man tried to get within reach to thrust his spear forward.
By the time the second spear-bearing soldier fell face-front into the floor, a litany of corpses had started to amass around Link's feet. While this made him even more difficult to reach and extremely more terrifying sight, this situation also limited the amount of free space given to him, forcing his movements to get shorter and less precise.
From the highest level, a single figure appeared at the edge of the platform. "What's the meaning of this!" A man clad in a heavy dark grey cloak; his facial features hidden behind a loose baggy hood. "You men are members of the proud Legion of his majesty! How dare you fail to best a single man?"
Not a single soul upon that bridge got moved by the man's words, they are too preoccupied or scared about the thing slaughtering their ranks.
Their lack of reaction infuriated the man, as he is someone not used to having his words ignored by those lesser than him. Pushing his blackened hands from within the large sleeves of his cloak, a mass of magic started to swell at the tip of his fingers.
"And you!" He bellowed, aiming his crooked fingers toward the petulant blond man. "How dare you invade the sanctity of this place. No one defies our great King and lives, NO ONE!"
Following the spat words flying from his mouth, the warlock began chanting an incantation, the magic and twisted song creating a large ball of pure fire in the air. Hissing the last part out, he shoved his arms forward, unleashing flaming orb toward the bridge.
An explosion roared from the wooden structure almost immediately, a large number of soldiers got blasted to the air as the crossing structure exploded into bits, fire and blood rained down to the frozen lake, breaking large chunks into its surface, allowing water to flow onto the floor of Zora's Domain again.
Grinning with satisfaction at the destruction brought forward by his spell, the warlock just watched as some of his own men fell to their death and others burned alive at the edge of what remains of the bridge.
His small victory, however, felt very short-lived. From within the massive cloud of ash and cinders, came flying a roll of chains. Piercing the air next to the robbed man like an arrow, the Longshot attached itself to the blue frozen ceiling of the fourth level.
Red eyes widened inside the dark hood as from within the grey smoke came flying the grey-clad warrior with a sword in his hand.
A stuttering cry flew from the warlock's mouth, whatever he was about to scream got quickly silenced by the powerful sound of the Master Sword ripping his upper body apart with a single upwards arc.
"M-Master Edref!" Link heard another warlock scream just a few paces ahead.
Pulling the Longshot out from the ceiling, Link landed down on the floor and his red eyes quickly scanned across the large room, one he has a faint recollection of.
"This place…" He glanced behind him, first to the broken body lying on the frozen floor and then to the round format of the entrance where he came from. "The waterfall leading to the throne room." Lingering bubbles of memories tease him about the days he used to spend on this place, the Zora people he met in his quest to get the Zora's Sapphire.
The commotion over the warlock's death quickly began to escalate, the majority of the cloaked people began to scatter in hurried steps inwards towards the throne room, four of them broke out from the mass and began stalking forward, their hands popping out from their robes, sparks of magic flying from their fingers.
"You trail upon the unknown, invader." One of them said, hurling a bolt of lightning towards Link.
Raising his sword, the blond tried to block the spell with his weapon, but it only made it break and spread to his body. The pain made him buckle a little, yet he stood tall and just glared at them.
"Those who are lesser should kneel before their masters." A second warlock said. "One ordinary such as yourself can't comprehend the power bestowed to us by Lord Ganondorf."
Two spears made of lightning flew at Link, this time he dodged to the left and then rolled forward to avoid taking the spells head-on. "Fucking hells, what is with your people in hoods and preaching in battle?" He stood up, stepping forward with his sword aimed at one of them.
Dashing across the slippery ground, Link turned the heels of his boots in a sharp turn, sliding under the wave of spells flying toward him. Pushing the strength of his legs onto the back of his feet, he jumped forward to land right on top of the warlock in the center.
His eyes quickly shifted to the man to the side, his arms had already set the motion, the Master Sword flying in a sideways slash onto the person in front of him.
A spin with another strike, then rolling down and raising forward with the weapon raised; two other warlocks fell in a quick chain of movements. The last one tried to chant a spell as quickly as his tongue would allow him, but as the power began to gather on his hands, the hard and cold shape of Link's sword had already ripped into his chest.
Gripping his sword with both hands, Link spun around carrying a brutal force on his arms. Blood, shreds of clothing, and body chunks flew everywhere around him, instantly making a circle of gore at his feet.
Swiping his arm to the side, he cleaned the heavy load of blood staining the darkened surface of his blade. Unfazed by the grim sight behind him, he simply marched forward, studying the corner and shadows in front of him.
With his first step inside the mighty King Zora's chambers and he was greeted by the image of the giant man encased inside a large red crystal with a giant black spear piercing his heart.
Looking down onto the frozen path of water below the deceased King, Link noticed quite a number of those red crystals, each one of them filled with a Zora inside of them. The people frozen in place have a look of horror and utter sadness on their faces, some even have trailing marks of tears frozen with them in that cruel prison.
Each Zora, despite whatever position they may have been at the moment they were frozen, is looking up towards their King. "They were made to watch his death…" Link frowned, feeling a sense of building anger pilling up inside his chest. "Spirits… these people are sick."
"Isn't that a little hypocritical, coming from the man that just killed more than twenty people in the last five minutes?" A mocking voice echoed from the shadows at the corners of the large room's ceiling. "How are we sick for one death, when you have shown such a barbaric display with no regard to the life of others?"
Glancing from shadow to shadow, Link felt the turns in the air, gushes of wind as if something invisible were moving everywhere while watching him closely.
"Did I, the big bad monster, scare you?" Link replied with a smirk. "Not a response from the man hiding in the shadows?"
"Foolish… cocky." The voice bounced from corner to corner. "You are the same as the fat king dead on this throne. On the day of his death, this unworthy trash chose his pride over his people's safety. If he had only bowed before Hyrule's true king, his people's destiny would've been different."
"And what destiny would they have as Ganondorf's slaves?" The blond replied, teeth gritting fiercely. "If he died spatting on the bastard's face, then he has gained a lot more respect from me."
A wave of silence followed Link's venting words, then a louder gush of wind sounded from the shadow right above the dead monarch. "Words spoken like a true Hylian. Lord Ganondorf is right, your kind is a blight on this land. You shall be eradicated."
"My kind…?" Link just said back, his gaze following the swelling forming over the shadows. "Then what are you?"
From within the bulging mass of darkness, a small brush of silver hair came out. Quickly this strange form continued to expand until a slim masked man appeared all dressed in purple and blue, the prominent crying red-eye engraved at the center of his tunic. "I am a ghost from the people your kind destroyed."
Link watched quietly as the man spun in the air and fell on top of the giant red crystal encasing King Zora. As the silver-haired man pulled two large knives from behind him, a little smile crept on the blondes' lips.
"Ganondorf never ceases to amaze me with the pets he keeps." Even behind the eerie mask covering the man's face, Link could notice the subtle twitches in the man's face. "Never thought I would say these words… but you will be the first Sheikah I'll have killed."
"Lord Ganondorf has spoken of you, Hero of Time…" Twirling one of his knives around the bandaged fingers of his right hand, the Sheikah crouched and simply disappeared into the shadows again. "Your arrogance will be your death." His voice echoed everywhere with a deep shadow available.
From within these darkened spots on the room, one knife came flying toward Link. Swatting the projectile away, Link felt another ring in the air coming from behind him, as he turned toward it, his face flared up with a flash of pain. A deep line of red formed on his left cheek, as blood began to run down his pale skin.
Wiping the blood away, Link poised himself into battle-ready position, his red eyes going to every spot his enemy might be hiding into. "This will be a fun one, huh?"
Arrogance lies forever on the edge of humility
A path only available for those destined to greatness
Arrogance is the world's final test
The measurement that separates the good from the great
Beware should be those unable to see the edge of darkness
For arrogance is the last push into an inevitable downfall
Page II – Requiem.
Chapter End.