Hunting The Five
Link, the hero of time, departed from the world.
Despite all his efforts to awaken the sages, defeat Ganondorf and finish the tyranny imposed by the villain, lost the duel against the dictator and died. However, there was still hope: Link could still count on his brothers, Peach, Zero and Alucard, to defeat the Gerudo's king, for they had come with him to help.
The fallen hero gone to the place where everyone goes, without exception, when they die.
Link was knee deep in a red liquid: it was blood. He looked around and saw a wide and tall stalagmite, two caves atop waterfalls of blood (one of them had a cocoon spiked by three wooden stakes) and pale, skinny, bald creatures with deep set eyes and gaping mouths. Some had fearful expressions, with their hands on their faces, looking to the sides. Others were crouching or circling around themselves. All, however, were trembling and whimpering. He looked up and saw a greenish sky and a very tall and dark building in the distance. Then he looked down at himself: his skin was as pale (and cold) as the creatures around him. Then he put his hands on his face and yelled in horror.
—What... what is this place?—asked Link, pulling himself together. —Hey, you!
The hylian approached one of the gray bodies, trying to find out where he was, but they didn't say anything. They either ran away in fear or shrunk and trembled even more. Saw a path out of the pool of blood and followed it. Walked until he heard voices. He stopped, looked furtively and saw a man and a snake talking.
—She mentioned a certain prophetic dream she's been having—said the man. He was tall, thin, bald and had gray skin. He wore blue jeans and brown shoes. The snake had a skull as a head and was wearing a top hat.
—Well, I think the old witch might be right this time. See that big dark tower yonder?—asked the reptile.
—How could I miss it?
—The old Bruegel, the medieval painter, told me the other day that it looks remarkably like a picture he once did.
—Pieter Bruegel?
—No. Seamus, his distant Irish cousin.
Link continued listening to the dialogue. Heard about the black construction being a menace and an indestructible power called Dark Souls, which couldn't fall in wrong hands and would be scattered all over that place. In a moment, the snake and the man approached a gate that seemed to be made of human rib bones. After some insistence, the reptile opened the gate, revealing a tunnel. The man pulled out a pistol and entered the tunnel. Seconds later, concluding the snake wasn't hostile, Link came out from behind the wall and approached it, which said:
—Welcome to the Dead Side, man. What is your name?
—I'm Link—introduced himself. —So, this place is called Dead Side—spoke, looking at the gate. He also noticed that the floor and some parts of the wall had red "tears", like exposed flesh from a wound.
—How did you die?—the snake asked, curious.
—In combat. Against a tyrant—said the hero, despondent. —Who was that guy?
—Were you listening to us, huh? That was Michael LeRoi, the Shadowman. My name's Jaunty.
—Shadowman?
—He's the bearer of the Mask of Shadows, who travels freely between the world of the living and the dead. He's the Lord of this place, this is his kingdom.
—Looks like he's in trouble, doesn't he? Is there anything I can do to help him? I was a hero when I was alive, so I think I can help.
—I don't think so. After all, you're dead.
—Well, isn't he too?—questioned Link, raising an eyebrow.
—No. He can move alive and free between here and there.
—I see. See you around, Jaunty—farewelled the hylian, bored. He wanted to ask about the Dark Souls too, but the snake couldn't give Michael any details, couldn't tell him any more either. He entered the tunnel to try to reach Michael. Didn't like what he heard about the dark tower on the horizon and was determined to destroy it, if t'were a threat to the world of the living, for his brothers and friends were still there.
When came out, was in a large place with a depression, with three drums facing a closed door on the bottom. There were also three narrow passages, one to the left, the most accessible, and two others at the same level as the floor where Link was, but the depression made them difficult to reach. Ignoring the wailing and crying of the dead, the hylian went left and walked along a narrow path until he reached another open area. This time, besides the crying zombies, he saw winged ones flying over the place. Saw a tunnel in front of him and a path to the right. Decided to go through the tunnel.
Some parts of the wall had fabric with a flame drawn on them. However, there was no time for an investigation, he had to find Michael and talk to him. In the end, was surrounded by two Duppies, who roared and attacked Link. He grabbed the enemy coming from behind and threw him against the one in the front, causing them both to crash into a wooden bridge. He no longer had his sword to attack, but still had fists and feet. Took advantage of the fact that they were both stunned, stepped on both of their heads and squeezed until they crushed. He looked to his right and saw a gray man pointing a pistol at him.
—Who are you?
—My name's Link. I overheard your conversation with Jaunty earlier. I'd like to talk to you.
—What did you hear?
—About that black tower, Dark Souls and someone named Nettie. If that's a threat to the Live Side, I wanna destroy it. I left important friends there.
—That's my task—he said, lowering his gun and stepping closer. Link noticed that he had a mask on his chest, attached to his ribs. —You're dead, you can't do anything but wander around here forever.
—What about my brothers on the Living Side? They're strong, they can help.
—No—Michael spoke, vehemently. Then he looked at the two zombies with their heads bashed, pulled a folded file from his pocket and said:
—Wanna help me? Find out for me where these killers are while I collect the Dark Souls. Just this—and handed the catalog to the hero. The bearer of the Mask of Shadows climbed the wooden bridge, then a wall and continued on his way. Link sat down at the foot of the bridge and began to read the documents. They were about five criminals named Victor Batrachian, Marco Cruz, Milton Pike, Avery Marx and Jack 2. Characteristics, possible whereabouts, photos, the victims, crime scenes, texts and objects found at the scenes, marks, etc. Almost everything Link needed to know was there, and from what he read, the enemies were on the Live Side. The question was: how would he warn his brothers?
Just then, a hole opened in front of the hero, who stood up right away, and a woman wearing a dark dress, with thick blond hair topped by a pointed golden crown, emerged from there. It was the Shadow Queen, a very powerful witch who inhabited Princess Peach's body.
—What's up?—greeted the queen. —Having fun on the Dead Side?
—Is Peach...?—was all Link could say, wide eyed.
—She's alive—the witch answered. —But because I brought her. I told her you'd come here.
—How are the others? And Ganondorf?
—Physically well, psychologically devastated. Ganondorf is dead. Peach, Zero and Alucard were so angry that he killed you that they eliminated him on the spot. Haven't you seen him around here?
—No. He should show up soon, then. Queen, listen—the hylian began. Then he told her everything he saw since he arrived on the Dead Side. Showed her the file and asked her to warn Zero and Alucard about the danger on the Live Side.
—I know Nettie—revealed Shadow Queen. —She looks young, but she's actually centuries old. Let's have a word with her.
The witch opened a hole on the ground and disappeared through it, taking Link with her.
The queen and the hero reappeared in front of a hotel called the Wild at Heart. Shadow Queen entered and stopped, trying to detect some presence, but there was no one there. Link stood outside, looking at himself: his skin regained it's color and he was no longer cold. Entered the hotel and asked:
—Did you resurrect me?
—How will you find out where The Five are if you're dead? Agnetta isn't here, let's go.
—Who's Agnetta?
—Nettie.
They teleported again. Both reappeared on the top of a hill, with a church and memorials around it. They ignored the rottweiler dogs and went inside.
—Nettie?—called the queen. A black woman, wearing black clothes and looking about twenty years old, came out of a room near an altar (flanked by two pods identical to the one Link saw on the Dead Side) to see who it was.
—Your Majesty?—asked the woman, surprised.
—Myself. It's been a long time.
—Indeed—agreed Nettie, bowing.
—I already know part of what's going on. It's Legion, isn't it?
—I'm afraid so, Your Majesty. I had a nightmare about him and The Five last night. So I sent Shadowman to capture the Dark Souls before he gets them.
—Fool!—sweared Shadow Queen. —Did it ever occur to you that this is exactly what he wants?
—Yes, occurred. But the souls can also give Shadowman the strength to destroy Legion.
—... Yeah, who knows? Anyway, this is Link—introduced to Agnetta. —I brought him from the Dead Side to help Michael find The Five. Link, this is Agnetta. She's the one who created the Mask of Shadows.
—That one stuck to Michael's ribs?—the hylian questioned, remembering and grimacing in pain.
—The very same—Nettie confirmed.
—I talked to Shadowman on the Dead Side. He gave me this—showed the catalog—and asked me to find out where the assassins are for him. Who is Legion? Is he the owner of that tall and dark building on the world of the dead?
—Yes, he's back after a long time. Do you have means to kill someone immortal?
—I have—replied the hero, bringing his left hand to the hilt of the Master Sword, but it wasn't there. He no longer had his swords, nor his shield. All the weapons and equipment he acquired on his journey were no longer with him. —Sorry—he said, frustrated. —I lost all my weapons when I died.
Then another black vacuum appeared on the ground and objects came out of it: the Master and BigGoron swords, the Megaton hammer, the Mirror Shield, the Ocarina of Time, a bow and a Longshot.
—That's what we could recover after we killed Ganon—revealed Shadow Queen. Link took the weapons and equipped them.
—Thank you very much, Queen. Agnetta—turning to her—this is the Master Sword—drew a long sword and showed it to her. —The blade of evil's bane.
—Good, but can it kill someone immortal? The Five are immortal thanks to the Dark Souls they possess. Only the Shadowman can kill the murderers, as well as open the Govis—she pointed to the cocoons that flanked the altar. The hylian approached one of them and cut it with his sword, which burst open, revealing a worm covered in dark energy. Link picked up the soul and carried it inside himself. He squirmed a little, but pulled himself together after a few seconds.
—My body feels like it's going to burn!—Link spoke. —How much hatred!
—Yes, that is the effect of a Dark Soul. Now imagine Michael, who has to take several of these.
—I'll give this one to him as soon as I find him again. Queen, keep this other one, please.
The hylian cut the other cocoon and the queen took the dark soul in the princess' body.
—I have friends who can help eliminate The Five—told Link. —They are strong, they also have ways to kill an immortal.
—Great—said Nettie. —Good luck, Link. Take care of yourself. See you soon, Your Majesty.
Gathered in a room at the Maverick Hunter Base, Link reported to the reploid and the vampire what he witnessed on the Dead Side (Alucard already knew of it's existence). He also told about Legion and The Five, the Dark Souls and Shadowman and his brief excursion with Shadow Queen to find Nettie. Peach was back in charge of her own body and said she was feeling, as was the hylian, a burning sensation and hatred since the queen taken the soul in her. They each decided to investigate the areas where the assassins might possibly be: Link would go to Florida after Milton Pike, Peach would pursue Jack 2 in London, Zero would head to the Mojave Desert in search of Marco Cruz and Alucard would look for Avery Marx in New York. They chose to leave their leader, Victor Batrachian, locked up in a Texas' jail, for Shadowman to defeat. Zero requested to Commander Signas to teleport them to the respective places and he allowed it. After saying goodbye to X, Alia, Signas and the others, they left.
Link reappeared in a cave and was startled to see a torso emitting red smoke hanging on one of the walls. It had no skin, empty eye sockets, a gaping mouth, an exposed backbone and no internal organs. It's hands were glued to the ropes that held him down. Stank profusely and was unbearable to look at. He got out of there and followed a narrow path, covered with yellowish grass. Spotted two police cars, with their alarm lights on, but no one inside. Continued on and came to a large area with a wooden house, abandoned cars, and an entrance that looked like a crocodile's mouth. The silence was "deafening": absolutely nobody, no sign of life. Above the "mouth" was a sign that read Camp Ocala. He took a deep breath and went inside.
After going through a tunnel, was in another large area, with a wooden building occupying the entire space. He was attacked by a zombie dog and cut it to pieces, killing it. Entered the building and found himself in a reception area. Looked for an exit and found one on the left side of the building, jumping through a window. He continued along a narrow path and arrived in another open place with two wooden houses, tables for meals and guarded by two zombie dogs. Executed both and entered one of the houses: it was a dormitory, with several bunks. The last one had the bottom mattress stained with blood, much to the hylian's chagrin. He left and went into the other house. Broke the wooden boards blocking the door and came out, spotting a narrow passage past a broken railing. Jumped over the railing and continued through there. In the end, he stopped right away when he saw a crocodile, which opened it's mouth and crawled to attack him. Link jumped over the reptile and stabbed the BigGoron Sword on it's back, eliminating it.
He looked around and saw a black, muddy flood, with an island in the middle and a wooden building in the background. Walked through the mud, carefully, and reached dry land again, killing another crocodile as he arrived. Went in the building and got down a tunnel, then up another. When he came out, found himself in a large place with many trees and a wooden house at the end. Walked a little until he heard a deep, "muffled" voice, who complained:
—Hey, you! This is private property. What the hell you think you're doing here, boy?
It was the bandit Milton Pike. Link recognized him from the photo on file. Fat, mustachioed and pale, he wore an olive green tank top, military gray pants and black boots. He was carrying straps with leather bags around his body, armed with a rifle and standing next to a gatling machine gun.
—Have you ever been to war, kid? I'll show you one, like a rerun of the 'Nam.
Milton turned the machine gun on and it started shooting at Link. In time, the hero hid behind a tree, but noticed that the shots were powerful and it wouldn't last long. He rolled over to another. Suddenly, a grenade landed near the hylian and, two seconds later, exploded.
—AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!—laughed the assassin, in triumph, but only briefly. He heard a burst and looked at the gatling machine gun: Link destroyed it, leaving Milton dumbfounded. He fired with his rifle, but the bullets were repelled by a blue translucent barrier around the hero's body. This drew a bow and shot a light arrow at the enemy, who recoiled, grunted in pain and exploded, leaving the Dark Soul and, along with the blood and guts on the ground, a purple crystal. Link picked up the soul (the burning sensation and hatred increased a little), the stone and teleported back to the Hunter Base.
Peach reemerged in a dimly lit room and was startled to see a torso emitting a red smoke hanging on one of the walls, just like the one Link saw at summer camp in Florida. Besides the smell of corpse coming from the torso, the room had a strong rat stench and they fled the place as soon as the princess appeared. This and the room were contrasting: the first, beautiful, made-up and perfumed, and the second, ugly, old and smelly. In the room, there was a bed and a table with some books. One that was open caught Peach's attention. On the page displayed, it read "Diary of John G. Pierce, otherwise known as Jack the Ripper". She took the diary and ran from there, hoping to get rid of the stench, but came across a sewer smell: she was in one, with a greenish liquid in the middle of the corridor. Walked along the wall until finds a cesspool and saw a "path" at the bottom. Grimaced in disgust as she realized that she'd have to go that way if she wanted to find the killer.
"Are you sure you're going that way?", Shadow Queen inquired.
"Do you know where he is?".
"I do".
"Take me to him, please", the monarch requested. A hole on the floor appeared and both walked away in it.
The criminal was in a wide room, with sewage water on the floor and three narrow passages, one on each side of the walls. He was leaning against one of them, holding a machete, facing a door, from which he expected Michael to come, but Shadowman wouldn't come. He was wearing a white and unbuttoned shirt, brown pants and brown shoes. Suddenly, a vacuum appeared behind him and a dark and big hand grabbed Jack, or rather, John Pierce, and slammed him against the wall where it emerged. Then another black hole appeared in the next wall and Peach stepped out of it.
—Who… the hell are you?—asked John, struggling to free himself from the hand. Facing the assassin with "blood in her eyes", the princess replied:
—You're a real bully against women, huh? Let's see how YOU get gutted!
Peach took the machete the enemy dropped and cut his belly, who cried out in pain, until it gets opened. Then put her hand in and snatched out the Dark Soul, which made him scream even more. Along with the organs and blood, a purple stone fell out. Still holding John, the hand stretched and mashed him to the ground, splattering blood and guts in the sewage water. The regent took the dark crystal and, with the Dark Soul collected (as with Link, the burning sensation and hatred increased) and the psychopath dead, teleported from there back to the base.
Zero rematerialized inside a container. Widened his eyes when saw the stinking chest hanging on the wall and emitting red smoke. "What the fuck is this?", wondered. Concluded that he was dealing with people worse than Mavericks. He scanned the corpse and knew it was a passage to Dead Side, so he shouldn't go that way. Loud music was playing, danceable, Disco style. Exited the container and barely had time to see where he was, for he heard an amplified and rhythmic voice, which spoke:
—Hey there, brother! What's happening, my man?
The hunter looked around to see where it was coming from and saw, in a window, high up, a man wearing a white hat and an unbuttoned light blue shirt, armed with a revolver and a truncheon. It was the psychopath Marco Cruz. Recognized him from the photo in the file. Large amplifying boxes were near the window and a green and a blue light was coming from there.
—Hey blondie! Nice to see you! Is your name on the party list? It's going to be great, I'll see to that!
—I DIDN'T COME TO ANY PARTY!—Zero shouted, trying to make himself heard over the loud sound.
—Can't back out now! It's Mark five, verse nine, an Echo Foxtrot shall we dance!—and shot. The reploid hid to avoid being hit, loaded the cannon in his arm, put it out of hiding and fired, shouting:
—TAKE YOUR PARTY, CRAZY!
—WOOOOOO!—cheered Marco, sneaking out through a tunnel. Zero came out of hiding and fired another loaded shot, but, again, missed. He ran, jumped over a railing, over some piles of old cars and climbed up to the window where he saw Marco. Went inside and looked for the killer, but he was no longer there. Continued through the same tunnel the criminal used and passed through some white corridors and rooms. Got out, walked a little further and entered a spacious shed with a silver globe hanging from it. There was a dance floor underneath, with a DJ stage on one side and loud and dancing music playing on the amplifiers. Marco was there, moving awkwardly and singing. The reploid came down and the psychopath shot him, shouting:
—IIIIIIHUUU!
But missed. The bandit fired more, but the hunter defended every shot with his saber. When the ammunition ran out, Marco threw down his revolver and tried to draw a pistol, but too late: Zero approached the enemy with his saber on fire and cut him in half, from bottom to top, revealing the Dark Soul and dropping a purple stone. Marco died instantly, there was no time to feel pain. The halves of his body laid on the ground, burning. The red robot picked up the soul ("Link and Peach are right! It looks like I'm going to catch fire!"), the stone and teleported back home.
Alucard reappeared in a dark room, (barely) lit only by a fire inside an oven. Saw the torso emitting red smoke hanging in a corner of the room, but wasn't frightened. Was used to that kind of hideous sight since he was a child. Looked at the corpse for a while, but didn't know what it was for, so walked some dark corridors and climbed up until reached a large room with a broken staircase and an old elevator, which didn't work due to the lack of electricity.
—COME TO MAMA, BABY!
A white blur came down from one of the upper floors determined to stab Alucard with a knife. The vampire turned into mist and escaped.
—I bid you welcome! Enter freely and at your own will!
It was the assassin Avery Marx. Short, hunchbacked, pale and ugly, he wore a blue jumpsuit, night vision goggles and carried what looked like two nail guns.
—Thanks for showing up, saved me the trouble of looking for you—said the dhampir, ironically.
Very fast, Alucard advanced and cut off the assassin's arms, then turned into a wolf and bit his face until rip the skin off. Stretched out and bleeding profusely, Avery screamed in pain, but then laughed.
—I'M IMMORTAL! YOU CAN'T KILL ME!
—We'll see.
The dhampir turned into poisonous mist and entered the psychopath's body through his nostrils. Avery grunted, choked and exploded, with Alucard reappearing already with the Dark Soul inside him and carrying a dark crystal in his hand. Guts and more blood splattered the floor of the room. With his goal accomplished, the vampire teleported back to the base.
Alucard was the first to return, followed by Peach, then Zero, and finally, Link. Grouped together, each told the others about their excursion to the bandits' hideout and the fight with them. When they finished their accounts, the princess showed her brothers the diary she picked up in London. It contained the whole scheme of the Asylum, the black tower that was on the Dead Side: the Schisms, the soul gates and prisms, the Trueforms, the engine block and how to turn it off. They needed to show this to Shadowman and decided to go back to the church where Link and Shadow Queen found Nettie.
—Agnetta, I've figured out how The Five got Dark Souls and where they are—Michael reported—, but it's daytime and I'll need my Shadow powers to truly kick their asses. Maybe I should wait until nightfall—suggested—, which ain't easy, for The Five are after my blood.
—No use hangin' back, Mike! The prophecy is upon us and every minute we are closer to it's terrible conclusion!
—But if I can't use my powers on The Five, we're screwed!
—Not yet—Nettie contradicted. Just then, both heard the church door open. Michael asked her to wait in the room and he came out with his pistol pointed at the entrance. It was the Sword Brothers, who stopped abruptly.
—Ah, it's you—Michael spoke, recognizing Link and lowering his gun. —Are these your brothers you mentioned?
Link confirmed and introduced Peach, Zero and Alucard to Shadowman and Agnetta. Michael was surprised to see the tall and dark figure that was the Shadow Queen leaving the regent's body. Noticed that Nettie revered her and asked:
—Do you know her?
—Yes. She's the Shadow Queen, our sovereign, queen of all witches. So, Link, how did it go?—questioned. —Did you succeed in killing The Five?
—We did.
—You killed the assassins? But that was my task!
—Calm down, we didn't kill 'em all. We left the leader for you—said Zero. He conjured a ball of dark energy in one hand and grabbed a purple crystal in the other. —Here's the Dark Soul that Marco Cruz had.
He passed the stone and the soul to Michael, who took them. Link, Peach and Alucard also gave him the souls and prisms they collected. The princess took advantage and gave to Shadowman John Pierce's journal, which contained everything he needed to know about the Asylum. Strengthened and better informed, Michael thanked the Sword Brothers for their help, but there was still the problem of timing. "I'll take care of it", Link offered. Picked up the Ocarina of Time and played a tune that turned day into night. Suddenly, the Mask of Shadows emerged on Shadowman's chest and his skin turned gray. Red marks also appeared on his arms and back, from the base of his spine to just above the middle. His eyes emitted an energy similar to the shape of the mask.
—This is it, Shadowman. Go after the Lizard King—Agnetta requested, referring to the leader of The Five, Victor Batrachian. Shadowman said goodbye to those present and left to continue his mission to prevent the end of all things.