Chapter 18: Lost Hyrule
After Malon had raced out to fetch Ruto and the doctor had gone downstairs to speak with Daphnes about the startling events behind the hero's recovery, Link let out a heavy sigh and, for a long, long moment, simply enjoyed being alive. His battered form feeling spent after that small exertion, and then feeling spent twice over when he recalled the purpose of Malon's departure, he sagged back against his pillow and stared at the ceiling. When she saw his somber look, Kelli's giggling trailed away and her lips curved downward.
"Hey, you can't blame Ruto, you know," she pointed out. "Seeing you for the first time in seven years, and all the while, worrying that you might die no less, had to be really hard on her."
"Yeah, I know. She does have a right to see me, as much as I hate to admit it," Link agreed. "And…truth be told, I…do consider her a friend."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yeah. She may have forced me to carry her around inside Jabu-Jabu's disgusting stomach, and she may be kind of annoying, but there are qualities about her that I do like. I think she would make a good ruler for her people someday."
"Heh, I see."
"I mean, I have to admit that she's loyal and that she'd do anything to protect the Zoras. And when she really cares about someone, at least, more than she does for herself, she really cares. She can be pretty smothering about it, believe me, I know, but I have to credit her sincerity, seeing as she risked getting in trouble again to come here."
"Yeah, that's true. I'm really surprised to hear this from you, hee hee."
The Sky Guardian's mischievous tone caused Link's still-pallid features to pale even further and he tried, without great success, to raise himself up on this elbows. When that didn't work, he tried to glare at Kelli, but his wincing from the pain made the gesture less-than-intimidating.
"Hey, just keep this between us!" he demanded. "If she finds out I'm talking about her like this, she'll never leave me alone!"
"Okay, okay, don't worry," Kelli agreed with a smile. "Still, I'm sure once you confess your love to Zelda, she'll be bawling like a baby."
"Watch it," Link warned, painstakingly lowering himself back onto the mattress.
"Oh, but poor Ruto would surely be hurt."
"You're lucky I can't get out of this bed right now!" Link grumbled. "Still, you do have a point. I don't know what I'd say to Ruto to soften that kind of blow. I mean, if I did have feelings for someone else, which I don't."
Link's placations rapidly gave way to frantic stammering as a hint of embarrassed red climbed his cheeks. Kelli, by this time, was feeling light-headed from holding in her laughter.
"Heh, I'll believe that when I see it," she struck back, her tone more smug than dismissive. "Now don't worry, I'm sure Ruto understands that she can't be all over you due to your injuries. I guess she'll have to settle for little fishy kisses."
Link sighed again.
"Gee, I feel so much better now. I swear, I—"
"Link! Oh, Link!" a familiar feminine voice cried, causing Link to pale like a sick Wolfos. Ruto had rushed up the stairs and barged through the door, followed by Malon. Link cringed as the Sage of Water threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, I'm so relieved that you're finally awake!" the Zora princess gushed, her cheeks soaked with ice-blue tears. "I was so afraid that I was going to lose you."
"Y-Yes, it's good to finally see you too, Ruto," Link reluctantly replied. "Hey, you're hurting me a little."
"Oh, sorry about that!" Ruto apologized and let go. "I guess I got carried away. It's been seven years, you know? I still have no idea how we missed each other that day that Ganondorf was banished. But you're back and that's what matters!"
The Zora princess then pecked Link on the cheek, and Link found Kelli's quip about "little fishy kisses" to be dreadfully apt. Ruto's lips were cold, and scaly, and gave Link yet another reason to hope that the Sage of Water would ultimately be disabused of the notion that they were "engaged." Kelli and Malon both giggled at Link's obvious discomfiture, prompting another piteous glare that only made them chortle louder. I really need more guy friends, Link thought in annoyance. Judo, where in blazes are you?
"Well, Ruto and I have to get back to the lookout tower soon," Malon spoke up once the hilarity subsided. "We decided to keep watch for any enemies while you rested."
"Ah, yes, that's right," Ruto added, with obvious reluctance. "Much of the village has also taken up arms. They've fortified the entrance to the village and new recruits have been joining the village's defenders ever since you came back with those awful wounds. Malon and I volunteered to serve as lookouts right when Kelli went off to look for something that could help you. The Gorons have come down to aid us as well."
"Really? Wow, I see. I never knew people had so much respect for Kel and I. Of course, I probably shouldn't be surprised," Link replied.
"Heh, true," Malon agreed. "Oh, and also, I brought the ranch's last bottle of milk for you. It should help speed up the healing process."
"The last bottle? Dang, I don't know what to say."
"Don't worry, you need it more than anyone else."
"I agree," Ruto seconded. "And don't worry, Malon and I have also agreed to take turns coming back to check on you. You'll be well taken care of!"
"Oh joy," Link murmured under his breath, again cursing his lack of male friends to draw off obsessive female admirers. "Well, thanks for the help."
"You're welcome! We'll see you later, handsome!"
With that, the two girls headed downstairs, leaving Link wondering why there was never a horde of attacking moblins around when somebody actually wanted one.
"Hey, where's Navi?" Link wondered, finally realizing that his fairy friend was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, um…" Kelli began nervously. Link shot her yet another glare and, this time, he was met with silence.
"Alright, what did you do this time?"
"What? Nothing! She got all up in my face! I revealed that after I found the Jewel of Ice, the Fairy of Winds had given me a clue on how to save you! I couldn't figure it out at the time and I thought I had failed. Navi started screaming at me and said it was my fault you were dying. Afterwards, she rushed downstairs. She's probably outside."
Link's expression softened a bit, then his glare vanished altogether amidst a grimace as his wounds made themselves known once more.
"Oh. Figures…" he remarked. "She's like that when she's really worried about me."
"Yeah, I'll go get her and see if she's cooled off," Vira offered. "She'll feel better knowing that you're okay."
"Good idea, thanks."
With that, Vira flew downstairs. Moments later, there was the sound of another person ascending the stairs, rather laboriously, from the faint gasping and wheezing that echoed from beyond the door, and Daphnes entered, a look of profound relief on his careworn face.
"Oh, Link, I'm so relieved that you're finally awake," he said. "The doctor told me everything. Kelli possessing tears with such extraordinary healing powers is incredible, and practically unheard of since ancient times."
"Yeah, I can't argue with that," Link replied. "The doctor said I'm stuck in bed for a while, though. I'm sorry that this had to happen, your majesty."
"Don't worry, you fought as hard as you could. And, from what I've gathered, you and Kelli have made great strides in cleansing our lands of this blight. Rest as long as you need."
"But of course. Are you doing alright? I'd imagine a lot of people were scared when they heard about me being so near death."
"Oh, I'm fine…for now. Yes, it was hard. I had actually believed that all hope was lost when I learned that your heart had stopped. But, the goddesses gave us a miracle in the form of Kelli's healing powers. And, perhaps, another in how the people have risen to the challenge."
"They did indeed."
"Speaking of which, Kelli, I believe I know what this means about you. But…as much as I wish I could tell you, I'm afraid that I cannot at the moment."
"What? But why?" Kelli wondered in surprise, and more than a hint of incredulity. "If it has to do with my parentage or my past, I simply must know. I hardly know much as it is."
"I understand, believe me," Daphnes replied, a hint of empathy in his tone. "Revealing this information now, however, could seriously harm our efforts to save Hyrule. I know it sounds farfetched, but you must trust me on this. The time to tell you will come eventually."
"Well, alright. But when that time does come, I have to know everything. Sometimes, I feel like I don't know who I truly am. Aside from being a Sky Guardian, that is."
"Don't worry, you have my word."
"Thank you."
As this exchange concluded, Link could not keep his brow from furrowing in skeptical consternation. He had not forgotten that Daphnes had studiously avoided informing Kelli of Judo's disappearance in Mayia, and the likelihood that he was no longer alive. And, the former Hero of Time found himself wondering if the troubled Hylian king would keep this latest secret to himself as well.
Link cut off that musing by mentally kicking himself. He had, after all, lost the right to profess forthrightness some time ago. After all, he could have told Kelli what Daphnes had revealed, just as he could have told the Gorons and Zoras of Termina what had really happened to Darmani and Mikau. Yet, he had not done so.
Whether that was for the best or not, he still could not say. The king, meanwhile, seemed to catch Link's thought and offered what, on a less worn face, might have been a reassuring smile.
With that, Daphnes turned and departed the small room, leaving two anxious adventurers in his wake. A heavy silence soon fell over the room as Link sighed once more and turned his gaze toward the ceiling. He didn't exactly relish the thought of remaining abed with so much evil remaining in Hyrule, but he also knew that hunting for another of the Elemental Jewels in his current state would be suicidal. Even rising to a sitting position seemed to exhaust him more than fighting an Iron Knuckle. But, if what Malon said was true and the bottle of Lon Lon Milk that she brought did speed up his body's healing process, perhaps he would be up again soon enough. When he tried to sit up and open the bottle, however, his arm suddenly felt like it weighed more than Death Mountain, and he irritably sagged back against his pillow. Kelli frowned again when she noticed the hero once more wearing a somber expression.
"Hey, Ruto didn't really embarrass you that much, did she?" she wondered.
"Actually, no. I've been more concerned about something else for once," Link replied. "I know, surprising."
This time, rather than splitting open with laughter, Kelli's expression became pinched with worry.
"Oh, I see. What's the matter?"
Such a simple question, but with such a complicated answer, Link mused unhappily.
He knew that he was about to say what he had long ago vowed to never even consider. Yet, he knew as well that his latest brush with disaster had proven that he could no longer remain silent.
"Well…" he began. "Kelli, in all honesty, I don't think I'll really be able to help save Hyrule this time anymore."
"What?" Kelli blurted, thunderstruck and angry. "Link, that's complete nonsense! Hyrule needs you and I need you and you know it. You're the Guardian of the Moon."
"See, that's what doesn't make sense. Kel, just look at me. I've nearly been killed twice already. And the only reason I survived at all was because of people who just happened to be there to save me. Next time, I probably won't be so lucky. And Dark Kelli is an extremely powerful enemy. She's merciless and more skilled in every way than either of us. If she hadn't chosen to retreat, I'd have died right there. She's…frightening."
Link turned over in bed and grimaced as he felt his heart lurch at the memory. Unthinkable as he had once considered such a thing, it was true. Ever since his encounter with Dark Kelli, he'd been gripped by an undeniable fear and dread of her power.
Link had battled dragons, phantoms, terrors of the deep and horrors from beyond the grave, yet each and all of these paled in comparison to the Sun Guardian's dark counterpart. Against such an enemy, he, the former Hero of Time, the hero of Termina and the most implacable enemy of all who would threaten Hyrule…just…didn't…have it!
Kelli, hearing his confession, however, didn't seem inclined to show Link any mercy either.
"Alright, who are you and what have you done with Link?" she wondered, folding her arms.
"I'm serious," Link insisted. "Just the mention of her name makes me shudder. I don't know if I could ever face her again after what she did to me."
"Link, listen to me. Bloodied and cleaved or not, you're still a Sky Guardian and you're meant to be one for a reason. You were chosen by the goddess of the moon herself, just as the goddess of the sun chose me. If she didn't believe you had the makings of a powerful Guardian of the Moon, you would not possess those powers."
Link glowered a bit in reply. Aside from a few of Kelli's techniques, he truly had little idea just what "powers" he was supposed to have. And, thus far, they hadn't exactly done him much good. Yet, hadn't he felt the same way when he'd awoken as the Hero of Time, a ten year old boy in a man's body stranded in a world so much darker than the one he'd known? The recollection of those tribulations, and how he'd eventually prevailed over them, softened his glare.
"Well, I hope you're right," he replied, though his tone was still skeptical. "But it doesn't mean that I'm not afraid."
Here, Kelli's stern expression softened a bit. Her fingers curled around Link's and tightened in a grip of reassuring strength.
"I know," she admitted. "I honestly don't blame you for that. I would probably be scared too. But you've done a great job already. You've defeated monsters who knew techniques of mine that I haven't taught you yet, and without the Moon Sword no less. Dark Kelli is just…out of our league for now. But so was Ganondorf. And, that didn't stop you from defeating him when you finally did face him. We just have to make sure you're ready the next time you meet Dark Kelli…if I don't get to her first, that is. And, by the looks of those muscles of yours, I can tell that you're a lot stronger than me physically, and you're more skilled with a shield. With my techniques combined with your own skills, you'll become a real force to be reckoned with. Eventually, you might even surpass me. Given time, Dark Kelli won't stand a chance. But again, no promises that I won't beat you to her."
"Hm… Yeah, I guess that's true. You haven't taught me everything yet. I guess this means that once I've recovered, we'll train hard and not let anything stop us."
"Now that's the Link I know."
As the words passed her lips, however, Kelli suddenly felt a heavy weariness descend upon her. Though she had done little since her fight with the Stalknight inside the Sun Shrine, aside from wait for some sign that Link would recover, the exertion of her flight through the enchanted blizzard and the frantic search afterward had now caught up with her. Her breathing was slightly labored, her eyes were glazed over from fatigue and her limbs felt heavy and leaden. Still, she chose to shrug it off as only natural, especially given all that had happened since Link was injured. However, Link soon noticed the heroine's exhaustion.
"Kel, are you alright?" he wondered, arching an eyebrow.
"Huh? Oh, of course," Kelli replied, a yawn punctuating her words. "I'm just tired from all the action I saw today. Especially since I had to travel through a frozen shrine just to find the Jewel of Ice."
"Oh wow. Believe me, I know how you feel. The Fortress of Ice felt worse than that winter Snowhead suffered under Majora's curse, during my time in Termina. So, anyway, what do you plan to do next?"
"Well, I'd like to…to…AAACHOO!"
Kelli's words were abruptly cut off as she let out a violent sneeze, so loud that the noise made Link grimace, and the force sending the young Sky Guardian stumbling. She snatched at one of Link's bedposts before she could hit the floor, though her eyes were still bleary. Link's eyebrows rose again and, though the motion left him breathless, he quickly reached out to feel Kelli's forehead.
"Yeesh. I knew it," he assessed. "You're burning up. It must've been that cold shrine. Kel, you're too sick to go anywhere."
"I'll say," a familiar masculine voice agreed. The doctor had returned from downstairs, followed by the fairies.
"Huh?" Kelli uttered.
"You've got a bad cold," the doctor pointed out succinctly.
"Yeah," Vira agreed. "Your nose is all runny and red now and everything."
"I-I'll be find. Honest," Kelli insisted through a stuffy nose. "Really, I…AACHOO!"
Link threw up his hands to ward off a hail of flying mucus. Needless to say, this did not serve to convince the doctor.
"I'm afraid I must disagree. Besides which, it's quite late. You really should get some rest."
"Alright, alright," Kelli conceded. "Could I at least get a bath though? A hot soak might warm the bones."
"That's not a bad idea, actually. But, come straight back here, get under those covers, and rest afterwards. If I have to, I'll arrange for one of the Gorons to carry you back here."
"Trust me, that threat's worth taking seriously," Link spoke up. "I swear, one Goron hug is worth a full bomb bag."
"Oh, alright…" Kelli fumed.
With that, the doctor informed the young Sky Guardian that he would see to her bath and, as he departed, Kelli sighed and gratefully shed her gear and pulled off her boots. Although tempted to just drop them, she knew from prior experience that such carelessness might prove costly, so she carefully set them down beside the bed.
"I'll have to tell you about by plans toborrow, Link," she said, sniffling.
"I don't mind at all," he replied.
"Hey, Link!" Navi greeted, somewhat sheepishly. "I'm so sorry I left. I was just so upset… I thought you were dead."
"I know, don't worry. But I'm alive…more or less. We'll be back in action before you know it."
"Well, okay. Just don't try anything stupid."
"Right, right."
"Frankly, I think this waiting qualifies as stupid…" Kelli opined as she paced impatiently. "Preventing your death probably left whoever's behind this evil off balance. We should press on, before he can recover, not lay around snoring!"
"Hey, at least you didn't get beaten nearly to death! I got my butt handed to me; and by a girl, no less. You've got it easy!"
"Yeah, think about others besides yourself for once!" Navi snapped.
"What? You think I don't care about Link? For your information, I nearly froze to death getting that jewel! And, I nearly froze to death before that chasing after the Jewel of Water and saving his "fiancée" after he stumbled back here!"
"Now hold on! This is definitely no time to be fighting!" Link cut in, cringing more from Kelli's choice of words than from the lingering pains. "And I never meant that, Navi."
"Whatever. I just don't think she has any right to complain."
"I'b not "complaining" just because I'b sick! I'b worried because both Link and I are stuck in bed when we should be pressing our advantage. We could be bedridden so long that the eneby has tibe to recover or attack the village. Or both. And, that could be very bad!"
"Kel, don't worry. This shouldn't last long," Link assured, though he felt as though he was shouting down her objections. "And besides, if the village as well-protected as you and the others said, everyone can hold out until we're back on our feet."
"Well, that's true. I still plan on leaving toborrow, though."
"With luck, I'll be able to go with you."
His words were met with glares from both Kelli and Navi but, before either of them could speak, the doctor returned and informed Kelli that her bath was ready. Once she left the room, however, Navi glanced at the heroine's gear next to the bed and her tiny face screwed up with indignation.
"Well, I'm not going to sleep up here with her," Navi decided and petulantly flew back downstairs.
"Sigh… I'll go with her. It's best that his majesty isn't left alone anyway," Vira added and followed. Link, meanwhile, resigned himself to a night that would be boring at best and unpleasant at worst.
While Link was reflecting on the sour note upon which the evening had ended, Kelli made her way to the bath and, to her delight, found it brimming over with sudsy, piping hot water. Despite the warm, summer evening, she still felt dreadfully stiff and very nearly frostbitten from her escapades in the Fortress of Ice and the cursed Sun Shrine. The steaming water almost as welcome a sight as a Fairy Spring, she eagerly disrobed.
As she made her way to the tub, however, she caught sight of herself in a mirror affixed to the wall.
Not for the first time, her lip curled in displeasure at the sight of her reflection.
She moved closer to the mirror and studied her body critically. After spending near to half her life adventuring abroad, she was all muscle and sinew; toned and hardened into a fighting form that even the renowned Knights of Hyrule could envy.
But, this had come with a price. One which her earlier encounter with Malon and Ruto had brought to mind.
Her hands, marred and calloused from years of wielding a sword, rose to cup her breasts.
If these were any smaller, I'd be a boy, she mused sourly.
She felt a tinge of envy for Malon who, although a working woman, was nonetheless quite alluring with her well-endowed figure, brilliant red hair and sonorous singing voice. It was no secret that the ranch girl had more than a few male admirers, and that her father's perpetual sleeping likely had to do with his labors chasing them all off. Even Ruto, who was quite a catch by her people's standards, had her obvious charms. The intricate, graceful undulations of her fins, the way her scales gleamed in the sun and her sinuous grace beneath the waves all attracted many a pair of unblinking eyes…though her obsessive personality tended to overpower these assets.
Kelli's figure, by contrast, was bespangled with scars and most of her feminine curves had been worn away by a life spent scrambling through caves and dancing through waves of enemies with a length of steel in hand. Her skin did not retain the pale softness that Malon boasted, despite the ranch girl's laborious lifestyle, nor the river pebble smoothness of Ruto's scales. Instead, her flesh was weathered by sun and wind and brushes with death until it looked like leather and felt rough to the touch, even where it was unmarred by scars.
And, her narrow waist and almost non-existent hips didn't help her appearance either.
Blowing out an angry breath, she ran her fingers through her long tresses. Her hair, which was probably her only true vanity, had long since grown out of her formerly boyish locks and now cascaded well past her hips. More than once, she'd found herself pondering the wisdom of letting it grow out so much. Long hair could more easily get caught in narrow passages or, worse, an enemy could grab a handful and drag her in close for a killing blow. Still, despite her adventurer's instincts warning her that such was a pointless risk, she'd kept her hair brushing her waist.
Why that was, she could not say. What she could say, however, was that those blonde tresses had not come away undamaged either. She could tell that the once golden strands had tarnished to dingy brass. And, the fringe looked as though she'd cropped it herself with her eyes shut.
Which, in fact, was true. She had always adventured alone, often far from civilization and its various amenities for weeks at a time. And, despite so many years of handling a sword, she'd always been so jittery around scissors.
Nabooru, by contrast, had a long mane of fiery hair as fine as red silk. How such a thing was possible in the dusty, sweltering desert was beyond Kelli. And, the question become doubly vexing as she found a clump of strands near her temple which had been gummed together by monster blood. The corners of Kelli's mouth drew downward once more.
She turned, craning over her shoulder to see her bare back, and her disposition soured further.
Her skinny hips had, at times, caused her to be mistaken for a man, in one particularly dreadful instance, by a drunken harlot in a bar who'd decided upon Kelli as her bed warmer for that even, and had torn the Sky Guardian's shirt off before realizing her mistake, and the Sun Guardian's buttocks was as rough as the rest of her after so much time in the saddle.
At least there's too little for the lecherous men to grab, she mused, giving her posterior a harsh slap.
The young Sky Guardian had never been much for dolling herself up and trying to lure in the boys. She'd spent the days of her youth in the sun rather than before the vanity, scrambling up trees and swing oaken swords at imaginary foes. The boys had readily accepted her into their rambunctious circle as one of their own, and she could run and tackle and make mischief with the best of the opposite sex. The boys had forgotten she was a girl, literally, in some cases, and Kelli in turn soon found herself regarding with disdain the less-adventurous of her gender.
One of Kelli's guilty pleasures had been enjoying the looks of slack-jawed astonishment that would overtake the other girls' faces when Kelli strode home spattered from head to toe with mud and with bloody nosed boys trailing her and making improbable threats.
Such rambunctiousness had been tempered - at times, the hard way - as she began adventuring. She was still as undaunted now as she had been then, though she had also learned the value of forethought and thinking on her feet. This, coupled with her talents with the blade, had made her an exceptional warrior and a famous heroine. Yet, during her time abroad, she'd met many ladies who were possessed of such regality and grace that she felt as scruffy as a beggar by comparison.
Zelda sprang to mind, this particular recollection burning hot in Kelli's mind. Zelda was, in certain, subtle ways, much like Kelli herself. The Hylian princess's tomboyish nature was probably the kingdom's worst kept secret. As a child, Zelda had been known to behave like the son Daphnes had never had, embarking on hair-raising escapades and going through dresses the way Link went through arrows.
Yet, when she so desired, Zelda could indeed look the part of a daughter of kings.
Her lustrous golden hair, her smooth, pale cheeks, her shapely bosom, her graceful figure, her dazzling eyes and her delicate, finely boned hands, not to mention her penetrating intellect, her immaculate manners and her unshakably serene composure, all gave her a regal bearing that marked her as a queen in all but name…
…and, all despite seven years of passing herself off as a boy.
Such a performance, apparently, was truly of the sort seen upon the stage of history but once in a lifetime.
For Kelli, it seemed, had attempted playing a similar role and emerging with the dexterity of a cat, but not even the barest fraction of Zelda's grace.
In fact, as Kelli let her mind's eye paint Zelda's image alongside her reflection, the Sun Guardian felt almost like a decrepit scarecrow by comparison.
Scoffing in frustration, and wondering why she even cared about her looks with so much evil afoot, she angrily lowered herself into the hot water. She flinched slightly as she felt the burn, but soon eased herself down and let out a contented sigh. The lather of soap, bubbles forming in the water like translucent pearls, heaved and parted as she brought up one leg to be scrubbed down.
When her fingers probed the tanned surface of her thigh, however, a different sort of steam left her nostrils.
"Forget the shaving blade," she remarked, fingering the strands of fine stubble. "I might as well use my sword to get rid of this."
And, indeed, she might have to. She hadn't exactly been keen to reclaim her old shaving blade after having put it to different use in order to escape Dorath Riptide's brig.
Once through the brig's lock, again through the jailer's rear end…and, she'd decided she was better off leaving it behind.
And, that impromptu rock climbing she'd added to her "relaxing" stroll on the Mayian coast hadn't done much for her pedicure either.
She let her leg slide back under the water, silently willing the foam to re-gather and conceal it from view. Again, she fought down a tinge of envy as she tried to focus solely on the gentle lapping of the hot water, melting away the strain of the day. She relaxed into the languid warmth, letting the heat loosen muscles cramped by cold and exertion, while the gentle lapping of the water coaxed her still pumping heart to a simmer and…
…and, suddenly, she was freezing.
She was jolted awake from her stupor, vaulting upward and her eyes shooting open.
To her astonishment, the full moon shone directly overheard.
She fumbled for the edge of the tub, seeking to pull herself upright, but her flailing hands found only more water…which, rather than piping hot and sudsy, was cool and clear.
What's more, she suddenly realized that the bottom of the tub had inexplicably dropped away and that she was now afloat.
Righting herself, she discovered that she now stood waist deep in a small pond, alders and elms rising on three sides while expansive grasslands began at the pool's edge and stretched on until they vanished amidst the moonlight on the horizon.
The roof, the room, the house and even the village were nowhere in sight.
As her gaze darted in all directions, her hands reflexively clapped to her body to shield her modesty…only to discover that she was clad in a deep blue, two-piece bathing suit.
Again, her numerous scars, leather-rough skin and gaunt form were on display before the thousand winking eyes above.
"I must look downright ugly compared to Zelda and Nabooru," Kelli spat at the water.
"Funny, I don't remember you being so hard on yourself," a strange, masculine voice called out in reply.
With a gasp, Kelli whirled and beheld an approaching figure. Though the full moon shone on the small pool of water, whoever had spoken yet lingered upon the fringes of its radiance. The confused Sun Guardian could make out a tall figure, well-muscled but with a sleek and slender build. When he leaned forward by the barest fraction of an inch, she could see a pair of brown eyes catch the moon's light.
Though the Sun Guardian had tensed at the sudden intrusion, she found her alarm strangely ebbing away. For some indiscernible, confounding reason, she was not afraid of this man.
He had discovered her alone, unarmed and practically naked in the middle of nowhere but, to her stupefaction, she was somehow certain that this man did not mean her harm.
As he approached with taunting slowness, finally entering the moon's revealing illumination, she was finally able to make out his features. He was clad in crimson trunks and was, indeed, well-muscled. Hard domes rose from his arms and chest, giving mute testimony to his great strength. He walked with the grounded grace of a natural fighter and, though his feet were bare, the brush and pebbles did not seem to bother him. His hair was short cropped, light brown in color, and his bangs dangled across his forehead in boyish tendrils. What caught Kelli's attention, however, were the brown eyes and mischievous smile that lit up his face.
A handsome face…yet, there was more than that.
Strangely, the light in those eyes and the slyness of that grin, was somehow…familiar.
Kelli, it seemed, was not the only one to find familiarity in this strange meeting, for the man began to draw closer and his gaze flicked to her sodden tresses.
"I always did think you'd look better with long hair," he remarked approvingly. "It gives you more of a wild flair than that puff ball everyone wanted it tied into."
The young Sun Guardian scoffed good naturedly, mostly to keep her confusion from showing. Still, she'd heard some dreadful men spout some terrible lines over the years, never at her, thankfully, but that one was just abysmal. Of all the things to begin a flirtation over, he had chosen…
Wait a minute, how did he know how I used to wear my hair?
Whereas quite a few of the women she'd regarded with some envy would wear their hair down and attract approving stares by the hundreds, Kelli had often been told that hers had the look of a tomboyish mop. Thus, her elders would often force her golden tresses, which seemed to grow back faster than they could be cut, into a "fashionable" bun which looked like an overlarge wart, held together by pins that pinched into her scalp.
The infuriating discomfiture of the "puffball," as the man had so aptly called it, was matched only by its fragility. The pins would come loose and fly in all directions if Kelli had so much as leapt from tree to tree too suddenly or vaulted onto a roof too violently…which she usually did on purpose for that exact reason. After nearing pulling out all of their own hair in frustration, her elders had thrown up their hands, made some rather rude remarks during which the word "baldness" had been repeatedly used, and abandoned their efforts to tame Kelli's tresses.
Amusing though the recollection was, it still left Kelli wondering how this man seemed to know this about her.
Rather than answer her unspoken question, however, the man chose to confound her again.
"That's how you caught my eye way back when," he said, drawing nearer. "You were always so adventurous, so daring. You never gave up on what you wanted to do. Frankly, this look gets that across. I like it."
Despite the chill of the water, Kelli could feel a strange warmth climbing her cheeks. Though her adventurer's instincts were still clamoring that there was something untoward about this meeting, she felt no such alarm from this man.
Again, she sensed that, despite the fact that she had never seen him before, she nonetheless knew him…but, from where?
Who else had made her feel accepted, just as she was?
"I thought you would've preferred more voluptuous ladies," she remarked, wondering if this encounter might be too good to be true. "Lush hips, bountiful breasts, a little more in the way of a backside?"
The man looked almost amused at the notion.
"Meh, they got old after the first few dozen," he said dismissively.
This time, Kelli's suspicions were blown out of her thoughts…and, not just by the transparency of the lie. Though she had allowed this man to draw nearer than any other who'd approached her, she could sense a tentativeness to his touch and, when he made his claim about his previous "conquests," a bit of lip vanished between his teeth.
This man, for all his rugged charm, likely hadn't bedded even one of those woman he had so dismissively referenced.
And, odd though it seemed, the uncanny focus of his eyes made Kelli strangely certain that she herself was the reason.
Not that this stopped her from playfully flicking a fistful of water into his face.
"Oh, you cad!" she chastised, making a less-than-convincing show of trying to swim away.
She led him on a merry chase, and indeed, an ever broadening smile was on her face as he pursued, until he snatched her by the ankle. With a single, effortless tug, he brought her so close to him that she could breathe in a rich, earthy scent which wafted off of him.
"Adventurous, daring, persistent and not afraid to play hard to get," he assessed. "Not a doubt in my mind, you're just what I've been looking for. And, everything I hoped to find when I saw you again."
One of the young Sun Guardian's eyebrows rose at these continued implications that the two of them had met before. And, once again, she vainly sought to recall where she had seen him.
Her mind's eye probed her memories, ranging far and wide, yet the inward search yielded no insights.
"You seem to know a great deal about me," Kelli remarked, her tone going husky. "But, I know practically nothing about you."
It might've been the Sky Guardian's imagination, but she could've sworn that she saw a flicker of pain ripple across the otherwise jovial expression. Yet, it was gone so quickly that she wasn't even sure if it had been real. Regardless, the man chuckled good naturedly and brought up a hand to caress her cheek.
"Maybe that's part of the attraction," he suggested.
"Okay, incredibly, your lines are getting worse."
"Maybe I can prove myself in…other areas?"
Before Kelli could make any more teasing remarks, he swooped in and crushed his lips against hers. At first startled, the Guardian of the Sun sagged and surrendered to the kiss.
She still had no idea who this man was, nor anything about him; save that he had long admired her, had cared for her and was the only person who had made her feel beautiful.
His hands roamed up and down her back, his hands even more calloused than hers and yet not flinching in the slightest from her own worn flesh, while his tongue gently probed the inside of her mouth. Not one to be outdone, Kelli matched his passion and leaned into him, sweeping her hands over his broad, tanned back and tantalizingly pressed in her nails.
The pair broke away, gasping and light-headed, but their arms were still wound about one another.
"I still don't know who you are," Kelli admitted, and this time she was certain of that brief flicker of pain crossing his face. "But, I hope I can see you again. You keep saying we've already met, and I believe it, but I want to know where."
"Maybe the problem is you're looking too far away, and the answer is right under here," the man suggested, playfully flicking Kelli's nose. "Well, I want to see you again too. And, if I can manage it, I will. But, like you, I have my duties to perform."
"What sort of duties?" Kelli inquired, hoping his answer might yield a clue as to this man's identity.
"Urgent," he answered obliquely, "as well as being very important."
Before Kelli could even roll her eyes at this ridiculous reply, he crossed the gap again and their lips met once more. This time, their passion blazed like the Gerudo Desert in midsummer, the Sky Guardian's entire form engulfed in such warmth as she had never felt before. His lips migrated to her neck and collarbone, then blazed a fiery trail lower and lower, while her breath grew shorter and shorter and...
…and, suddenly she couldn't breathe.
Her eyes stung, her vision swam and, she realized with a scream, that the man was gone.
The scream, however, came out as a gargle, her tongue writhing at the scalding bitterness pouring into her throat.
Vaulting upward, and then collapsing to a slick, cold surface, she shook herself back to awareness and saw, with relief and disappointment mingling in her gut, that she was back in the room where her bath had been drawn. She lay crumbled upon the floor, water running down her sprawled form. She glanced back at the tub, the waters still roiling from her furious exit, and realized that she must've dozed off and slipped under the water.
How close she might've come to drowning, she could not say. Yet, in truth, her attention was still riveted on the…
…She was almost loathed to call it a dream, for it had lent her that which the waking world never had. A sense that there was someone who saw her, in her entirety, and accepted her just as she was.
And, she could tell that the dream had been as vivid as her imagination told her. For, despite her immersion in the hot water, she felt gooseflesh on her body and she was more lightheaded from the encounter than her near-drowning. As she clambered to her feet, bracing herself against the wall, she suddenly became aware that what she had taken for the pounding of blood in her ears was instead coming from the door.
Before she could react, the doctor crashed into the room, shouting in alarm…which took on a different tone when he noted Kelli's state of undress.
"AIIIIIEEEEE!" the Sun Guardian screeched, vainly trying to cover her nakedness.
The doctor, who'd only seen women in this state after they were too far beyond the mortal coil to object, cringed in fear that he might soon embark on a similar journey and spun 'round.
"Lady Kelli, forgive me," he implored, a hint of panic in his tone. "I heard gargling and coughing noises, and I feared—"
"Well, you were right," Kelli conceded, her alarm becoming embarrassment as she wondered whether the doctor might've heard anything… compromising. "Almost. I did slip under the water, but I'm alright. I probably should get to bed. So, would you mind…?"
"Ah, yes, of course."
With that, the doctor performed a truly remarkable feat of surgical dexterity by forcing the mangled door back into a closed position without spying the nude Guardian of the Sun a second time. Kelli, meanwhile, snatched up her clothes and, discovering that they'd become soaked at some point during her frantic escape from the tub, instead bound a towel about herself and flung her clothes over the windowsill to dry. As she left, however, she caught sight of herself in the mirror once more.
Perhaps, if that man in her dreams saw beauty in her worn form, there'd been something to her that she'd overlooked?
With a sly smile, Kelli made her way to her bedding, wondering what other surprises might visit her in the realm of dreams.
Link had been more than a bit perplexed when Kelli returned from her bath without having redressed but, between his earlier acquaintance with her fast temper and the likelihood that she'd make some reference to his crush, alleged crush, he amended, on Zelda, he decided to hold his tongue. He did, however notice that Kelli's previously foul mood had been replaced with a hint of sly smile and, after burrowing under the covers and sneezing once more, she fell asleep almost instantly. Link, however, found himself lying awake, staring at the wall and restlessly turning over again and again. His most recent, and, perhaps, most narrowly avoided, brush with death had left him too wary and anxious to even close his eyes. But, if he was going to make good on his promise to be up and about soon, Link knew he should at least try to rest. Still, whenever he forced his eyes shut, the face of the one who left him bleeding and in a coma leered at him from the darkness. Link had been wounded many times before in battle, when he was a child during his adventures in Termina, his quests in Hyrule during the dark future and many other times during later years, and he'd slipped death's grasp many a time. But, he'd never come so close to finally dying, nor had he been so savaged as he had been before finding himself faced with Dark Kelli's onslaught. His still churning thoughts wandered to the heroes of yore he'd read about during his time abroad, how each of them had some manner of nemesis who pressed the skills of these heroes to their very limits. More than once, the tales involved these heroes being defeated, though only for a time, by their nemesis; and, Link wondered if this was how they'd felt after such a defeat. Link decided that this had to be so, for even the bravest of heroes could not be truly unafraid of death. He snarled in frustration, fought to rid himself of these thoughts so he could rest. And soon enough, his eyelids grew heavy and he dozed off.
As time passed, however, Link's breathing grew labored again and he began to toss and turn more violently. His lidded eyes began to dart back and forth as images began to intrude upon his sleep, causing his labored breathing to turn ragged and a cold sweat to bespangle his brow.
For though Kelli had met the man of her dreams when she had slumbered, Link was faced with the girl of his nightmares.
He and Kelli were standing in a fairly small room, bare and empty save for a window that even Navi and Vira might consider cramped. Stone walls rose on all sides, the strange chamber illuminated solely by the light of a full moon outside. Distant treetops were visible, far below the window, suggesting that Link and Kelli must be high up in some kind of tower. Suddenly, dark clouds billowed in to blot out the moon, and bolts of lightning crisscrossed the sky in dazzling hairlines. One of those hairlines, inexplicably, seemed to writhe its way through the tiny window, striking the floor in a cloud of dust and smoke. Then, to the two adventurers' horror, Dark Kelli then emerged from the cloud, standing between the two Sky Guardians. Her gaze lingered upon Link for a moment but, with such speed that she seemed to blur to invisibility, she whirled around to grab Kelli by the collar of her tunic. Link quickly reached for his sword, but found that his sheath was empty. His sword was gone. Kelli tried to draw her own, but Dark Kelli proved the swifter. Her perverted facsimile of the Sun Sword clove into the heroine's neck, crimson squirting into Dark Kelli's face as Kelli's face went still.
Link gaped in horror as his partner collapsed to the ground motionless, her eyes frozen open in a perpetual stare of horror. He then tried to un-sling his bow, but he wasn't quick enough. Dark Kelli snatched him by the arms and shoved him against the wall, snickering as she did so. Link could only remain petrified with fear as the dark mirror image of Kelli sheathed her sword and threw him to the floor. She punched him, kicked him, and smashed him into the wall, knocking the breath from Link's lungs and spawning hundreds of stars that danced before his eyes. When Link was too breathless, battered and bloody to do more than writhe in agony, Dark Kelli yanked him to his feet once more and shoved him against the wall yet again. This time, his wrists fell into the waiting grasp of a pair of manacles that clamped down upon him. She snickered again as she gazed with pleasure upon his misfortune and the fear in his eyes.
"Well… Time to have some fun," she said with a devious grin.
Dark Kelli then slowly removed her gear, tunic, and boots, leaving her clad only in dark gray undergarments. She also threw aside her headband and proceeded to trace the curves of her breasts and hips as she nudged closer to Link. The powerless hero, realizing what she intended, frantically struggled to break free and escape, but it was no use. Her onslaught had left him far too weak to pry himself free from the manacles' iron grip. Dark Kelli then grabbed his tunic and literally ripped it off, its pieces drooping from Link's arms. She did the same thing with his undershirt and yanked off his gauntlets and boots as well.
"Hehe… You're mine," she whispered as she pressed her breasts against Link's chest. She then reached for his leggings…
"NOOOO!" Link howled and sprang up from his pillow. He grimaced when he felt a somewhat sharp pain in his torso.
"Agh…"
"Huh? Wha?" Kelli uttered, having been awakened by Link's scream. "Link, are you alright?"
"Kel!" Link gasped and slowly laid back down so he didn't irritate his broken ribs again. "I-I just had the most awful nightmare about…her…"
"Oh…"
"It was t-terrifying…" Link stuttered, turning over and gritting his teeth in fear. "We were in some kind of stone tower. Sh-She killed you right in front of me. Then, she beat me to a pulp again. And then, she took off most of her clothes…and then most of mine… She was about to…to…!"
Kelli's eyes widened as she listened to Link's words.
"Oh by goddesses…"
Tears began to trickle into Link's pillow.
"I can't do this! I can't take this anymore!" he bawled. "I keep seeing her and hearing her dreadful giggling… Her face is everywhere! WHY WON'T SHE GO AWAY?"
"Link, just calb down!" Kelli coaxed, shouting both to force her words past her congestion and to make herself heard over his hysterics. Seeing Link continue to writhe and bawl, she wound her bed's blanket around herself and snatched at his shoulders, trying to restrain him without causing further injury.
"I can't… I just can't…" Link continued, shaking.
Just as suddenly as they had started, Link's convulsions stopped and he fell limply to the bed. At first, Kelli thought that Link might've passed out, but then saw that his eyes were still wide open…
…Gaping with terror, hatching in his mind like locust and devouring him from the inside out. Then, he began shaking again and his mouth feverishly formed mute words.
"Hey, is everything alright up here?" the voice of Daphnes worriedly inquired from beyond the door. He had rushed up the stairs again and pounded urgently at the door. Kelli, shuddering at the effect this news might have on the ailing monarch, tried to shout back that nothing was wrong, but a renewed outburst from Link soundly contradicted her words. Bracing herself for the worst, Kelli snatched up her clothes, which, thankfully, had been dried out and delivered to the foot of her bed, and tried to think of how to explain Link's behavior. Her rushed planning ended prematurely when Daphnes burst in, followed by the fairies. Ruto and the doctor had returned home for the night while Malon stayed in another villager's house.
So much the better, Kelli decided. I can barely stand seeing Link like this, I doubt either of them could.
"Yeah, Link, we heard you scream!" Navi added, rousing Kelli from her musings.
"What happened?" Vira wondered.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry we woke you," Kelli replied, suddenly fearful of what harm the truth might do to them. "Link just had a bad dreab, is all."
The Guardian of the Sun's words ended in a snort as she vainly tried to clear her clogged sinuses, and she worriedly pondered whether her slight deception would fool the three visitors.
"Oh, I see. I understand. He has been through quite a bit," Daphnes recalled, though Kelli could swear the wrinkles around his eyes deepened a bit.
"Indeed."
Kelli sneezed once more after responding.
"Still, he's shaking quite a bit. Are you sure he's alright?" Daphnes inquired, his too-wise stare suggesting that he already knew the answer.
"Well, I don't know," Kelli answered, grimly aware of the true gravity behind the simple words. "I really don't know."
Link, meanwhile, had seemed to have lapsed into a fevered slumber, though he continued to shudder and gasp…and Kelli had no doubt as to the cause.
I swear, if I meet this Dark Kelli, I will beat her like a rented mule and then turn her into a rug!
The Hylian king clapped a hand, almost skeletal from age, but still possessing a commanding grip, over Kelli's shoulder, and Kelli reluctantly relayed what she knew about her evil counterpart.
"This is dire news indeed," Daphnes intoned, his voice again weary and strained. "I had hoped that this Dark Link, of which I was informed all those years ago, would be the sole attempt at such a perversion. But, it seems I was wrong. And, it seems this Dark Kelli is far deadlier. No one has ever known Link to fear anything before. To many, he was veritable personification of courage and bravery. If Dark Kelli could…break him, then I fear we are lost."
"I dow," Kelli replied, again cursing her clogged sinuses. "I'll do my best to help him."
"We will too," Vira seconded. "Right, Navi?"
"Yeah. I'll…try to remain civil," Navi agreed, though she regarded Kelli with narrowed eyes.
"Thank you," Vira replied.
"And I thank you all," Daphnes added. "Kelli, are you feeling any better? The doctor told me of your cold before he left."
"Yeah, somewhat," Kelli replied. "I can see that it's dawn dow, so I'll be heading back out shortly."
"To Lost Hyrule?"
"Yep. I believe I'll find bore clues to our situation there."
"Very well."
"Wait, 'Lost Hyrule?'" Link wondered, apparently aroused from his feverish trance but still trembling.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot that I haven't explained it to you yet," Kelli realized. "Lost Hyrule is a land that was once part of Hyrule itself. Or, so one of the guards told be."
"It's true," Daphnes added. "Lost Hyrule has long been shrouded in mystery, and there is very little which is reliably known about it. Only a handful of ancient texts provided credible information and, alas, all were lost when the enemy destroyed the royal library. If memory serves, however, they described a land to the north that was once part of our kingdom. However, the land was erased from the map and sealed off. How and why this happened remains hotly debated, though little more than conjecture has emerged of late. However, the fence behind the windmill here in Kakariko apparently marks one of the paths into Lost Hyrule."
"One of the paths? There's bore than one path?" Kelli replied.
"Yes, the texts say there are at least two paths. But, I fear the second is lost to us. Reportedly, it's somewhere between Castle Town and Gerudo Valley, but I suspect that it has long since been sealed off by a landslide, one which was…arranged to ensure that Lost Hyrule would remain inaccessible. I also believe that such a tactic could not be used here, for fear of putting villagers in danger or causing Death Mountain to erupt. Even so, either from fear or lack of interest, not many people are eager to discover what's beyond the northern boundary of the kingdom. As the guard probably told you, few have left these borders since those paths were sealed off, except for those traveling to Mayia. This is all anyone knows, though. Any maps or other books pertaining to that mysterious land have been lost."
"I see…"
"Interesting," Link commented. "Man, I wish I didn't have to miss out on the fun."
"Oh, don't worry," Kelli replied with a chuckle punctuated by sniffles. "I'll bring you along when you've recovered. Besides, I probably won't be able to explore all of it on by first trip anyway. So, you can help be out later."
"Ah, thanks a bunch."
"You're welcob. Now please, Link, try to relax, okay?" Kelli insisted as she pulled on her boots and grabbed her equipment. "It'll help speed up your recovery."
"Alright, I will."
"Great. Well, see you later!"
With that, Kelli headed downstairs. Vira offered to go with her again and Daphnes bid the pair fairwell once more. Hopefully, Ruto would return to help Malon with the watch while Kelli and Vira were away. As Kelli herself had pointed out last night, the enemy might have been thrown off balance when the attempt to slay Link had backfired, and the possibility that their foe would make some drastic move was very real. She also hoped that she wouldn't get lost while exploring. The area was called Lost Hyrule for a reason, after all, and Daphnes did say that whatever maps of it that had once existed were now gone. Perhaps, once Link and Kelli had driven back the shadow that now stifled Hyrule, their explorations of Lost Hyrule could be used to dispel the mysteries of that land and to replace the destroyed maps? Being a consummate adventurer, it took Kelli but the twinkling of an eye to become enamored with the idea. For now, however, she still had to blindly venture into the unknown and could do little more than simply trust her instinct, as well as the goddesses, for guidance.
Kelli soon made her way back to the fence behind the windmill, glad that she wasn't forcing her way through a blizzard this time around. The sun shone overhead in a cloudless sky, and the only evidence that the blizzard had happened at all was a sudden abundance of muddy puddles. As Kelli drew nearer to the boundary of Lost Hyrule, she found herself wishing that Link could be with her to see this mysterious land. But, she knew he would get to see it in time…at least, she hoped so. She hoped that Dark Kelli hadn't broken Link's spirit and, more to the point, that her dark counterpart would not interfere with this exploration.
Much though she wanted to feed Dark Kelli to a Dodongo, Kelli knew that trying so now would likely prove foolhardy.
As the Sun Guardian passed through the fire blackened gap in the fence, she paused to let her gaze rove over her surroundings. Malon's urgent news about Link's heart stopping had caused her take the last leg of her excursion at a full run, and thus she took a moment to examine the land with greater care. The area around her was heavily wooded, with many trees, shrubs, and other plants, while streams and additional paths coursed through the copious greenery. It was not clear whether this area might have once been inhabited but, if it had been, whatever settlements that were once here had long since been abandoned and overgrown. That musing, however, sparked another. Had Lost Hyrule still been inhabited when the land had been sealed off from the rest of Hyrule? Daphnes had never mentioned anyone who might be living out here, and information on Lost Hyrule was quite scarce. Despite this, however, Kelli noticed that the path she was walking on was significantly wider than the paths that branched off of it. This likely meant that it had to be a major thoroughfare that people had once used. Seeing as it would obviously be the easiest path to travel, Kelli chose to stay on it.
During her travels, Kelli kept alert for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary while enduring her constant sneezing at the same time. For quite a while after she had passed by the Sun Shrine, however, she saw nothing but more plants, small wild animals, and the path wending ever onward. She crossed over a small bridge that spanned a tiny stream, little more than a trickle of water that she could walk through like she would a puddle of rain, idly wondering if the fact that the bridge was still standing could mean that these lands were yet populated. Mere minutes later, however, Kelli found the path branching off into two equally sized routes. One branch continued northeast while the other meandered to the west. Right at the edge of where the path split, there was a signpost with arrows pointing down each of the branching paths. The signpost had vines snaking around it and it was slightly crooked, perhaps from being bent by the wind or the wood warping from the rain. Kelli quickly approached, fervently hoping she'd find some clue as to which choice would be the wisest to take.
"Hey…" she uttered when she saw the writing on the sign. "Vira, this writing… It's not quite our tongue, but I can still understand it. It bust be an older dialect of Hyrule's language."
"Yeah, I can read it too," Vira agreed. "I think the sign pointing to the west path says "Skyview Village." …Say, Kel, do you think the village might be inhabited? After all, somebody was keeping up that bridge we crossed."
"My thought exactly. But, I'd rather have more information before I go around meeting the locals. For now, let's try this other path. The sign says "Sun Temple." Let's go there first. We'll save exploring this village for when Link is able to go with us. That way, if something goes wrong, we have a better chance of dealing with it. "
"Alright, that's fair."
With that, Kelli and Vira continued going straight and took the northeast path.
"Kelli, wait a moment," a familiar feminine voice called out. Kelli halted and turned around to see the Fairy of Winds hovering before her once again.
"Oh, Fairy of Winds. I apologize, I'b a little sick. Is there something I should dow?"
"So I can see… And yes. I can tell you about the Sun Temple," the Fairy of Winds replied. "And, I was also there not too long ago. I sensed a great deal of evil inside, more than I've felt at than any other location in Hyrule, save the castle. You must tread cautiously."
"Alright. Thanks, I certainly will. Dow what else can you tell me about this temple?"
"Well, firstly, and most importantly, it was the original resting place of the Sun Sword and the Sun Shield. Centuries ago, those chosen by the goddess of the sun were led there so they could take up the legendary blade and, with it, the mantle and duties of the Sky Guardian. Similarly, the Moon Temple, located on the other side of Lost Hyrule, once housed the Moon Sword and Moon Shield."
"Wow…"
"When the Master Sword came to be, the blades were moved to underground shrines, where they were thought to remain for all eternity. No one saw them again, until you and your friend Judo unwittingly discovered the Sun Shrine. Thus, the Sky Guardians stopped appearing until you chanced upon their legacy."
"I see. It all bakes sense now. After that, the Hyruleans had doh bore use for the temples or the shrines, so they cut this area from the bap and sealed off the only paths leading here. This way, doh one would accidentally find the blades…or so they thought."
"Exactly. I shall tell you more when Link is present. This information is of utmost importance to both of you."
"Alright, I understand. I still want to explore the Sun Temple, as there may be another jewel there. I promise to be careful."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'll see you again when you bring Link here."
Kelli nodded and the Fairy of Winds vanished once more. With that, the Guardian of the Sun made no hesitation to continue down the path, more eager than ever to explore the Sun Temple. Along the way, she contemplated what Skyview Village was like, or rather, had been like, and if it might relate to the Sky Guardians. Kelli knew better than to consider that it had the word 'sky' in its name as being coincidental. Hopefully, this information would be at least part of what the Fairy of Winds would have to say later on.
Sometime later, Kelli found herself at another bridge, only this one spanned a river the size of the one near Kakariko Village, and the bridge was made of stone. Though this bridge was still standing, it didn't seem as well kept as the one Kelli had found earlier, as a number of its blocks were overgrown with moss and vines, and some were even cracked or chipped. She quickly crossed, hoping the bridge wouldn't disintegrate beneath her and that she would spot the Sun Temple soon. Despite the Fairy of Winds' warning, she very much wanted to destroy the monsters inside as soon as possible, and, hopefully, recover an Elemental Jewel as well. The jewels that remained missing were the Jewel of Shadow, the Jewel of Spirit, the Jewel of Light, and the Jewel of Sky. The first three surely imprisoned their respective Sages, namely Impa, Nabooru, and Rauru respectively, and thus, were probably hidden in places related to each. The Jewel of Sky, however, was a mystery. Still, Kelli believed that if a jewel was in the Sun Temple, it would most likely be that one.
As the Guardian of the Sun left the bridge behind, she belatedly realized that, in her surprise over learning about the Sun Temple, she had neglected to ask the Fairy of Winds if Lost Hyrule might be inhabited. That the bridges were still standing suggested that someone was here, maintaining them, possibly living in Skyview Village. But, Kelli had no idea who they were, where they might be, whether or not they were friendly or if they knew anything pertinent about the Sky Guardians. Mentally kicking herself for the oversight, she vowed not to make the same mistake again when the Fairy of Winds next presented herself.
Sometime later, Kelli finally beheld what was surely none other than the Sun Temple itself. It was a large, almost palatial building with stone walls the color of the sun's golden rays and lofty towers that pierced the sky. Breathtaking raised carvings, similar to the bird-like motifs upon the Hylian shields, adorned the structure as well. Though the building was still quite beautiful, its long abandonment had left its mark. The ancient stone blocks of its walls were cracked in places, and overgrown with moss and vines, much like the bridge Kelli had crossed earlier. What might've once been stained glass windows were now gaping holes giving free admittance to the elements. And, most glaringly, some of the bird carvings were crumbling away under the ravages of time. A pair of large, golden orange double doors marked the entrance to the ancient, yet magnificent temple. Right above these doors was a large sun emblem of the same color, the very same symbol inscribed upon the hilt of the Sky Guardian's sword and the face of her shield. Two flights of stairs led up to this grand entrance.
Before approaching, however, Kelli decided it would be prudent to test the Fairy of Winds' claims. With a silent incantation, she invoked her ability to sense the presence of evil. Her irises glowed golden and her hair stood slightly on end while the sun emblem appeared on her forehead again and her magic-enhanced eye pierced the temple walls and roamed within the structure. To her vision, the temple stood amidst a veritable fount of darkness, billowing outward in shockwaves, while previously inaudible roars and growls now resounded deafeningly. The Fairy of Winds had been right…in fact, she'd understated the case a little. Kelli's power detected the presence of more monsters within the Sun Temple than everywhere else she'd been to combined, aside from Hyrule Castle. Kelli could not suppress a nervous gulp but, after a moment, she spurred herself onward.
Before Kelli could start up the stairs, however, a dark, feminine voice that sounded eerily similar to her own spoke up.
"Hehe, we finally get to meet."
Kelli looked up to find a twisted, gray skinned reflection of herself sitting in the stone curve of one of the bird carving's wings, one leg draped over the other. Despite her grim coloring and malevolent demeanor, Kelli was struck by how much this figure resembled her. Only, her eyes were colored a baleful golden glow. Kelli knew right away who this was, and her lips peeled away from her teeth to expose a clenched jaw.
"YOU!" she snapped. "You're Dark Kelli!"
"Good guess," Dark Kelli replied cockily. "That must mean the handsome young warrior I met in the Fortress of Ice made it back to you alive. You sound a little worse for wear yourself though. Haha, how humorous."
"Shut up! Oh, and I dow you did more than just 'beet' Link. Disappointed that you failed to kill hib?"
"Ah, of course there's no use trying to hide it from you. Yes, I am very disappointed. He seemed to pose little threat to me, yet victory slipped away from my grasp when he somehow survived my ending blow and then stabbed my sword arm! It was too painful to even lift my blade, so I was forced to retreat. But oh, it's such a shame that I had to resort to violence. All I wanted was a little…companionship, and he had to go and hurt my feelings."
"Ha. As far as I dow, you deserved every bit of it for what you did to him."
"Hmph. He brought his near-demise upon himself. You know, he has such a nice body and he's quite lucky for it. Oh, what I'd give for someone like that to while all those long, lonely nights. I just kill men that I'm not at all pleased with. I would have spared Link's pain, had he cooperated, despite him claiming to be one of those wretched Sky Guardians."
Kelli silently cursed the vast distance between herself and her evil counterpart. Still, if what Dark Kelli had said was true, then the wound in Link's stomach had been caused by an ending blow. No man could take such a blow and live to tell about it, let alone still have enough strength to strike back…except, so it was said, one meant to serve as one of the goddesses' chosen warriors. Apparently, the goddess of the moon had chosen well in selecting Link to be the next Guardian of the Moon. If a warrior like Link could perform such a feat as Dark Kelli lamented over, then he truly did have the makings of a powerful Sky Guardian. Kelli recalled telling him that eventually, not even Dark Kelli would be able to defeat him and she was now certain that her judgment had been correct. She just needed to get Link himself to believe it.
"We'll dever cooperate with you," Kelli hissed, shooting Dark Kelli a glare.
"That's quite unfortunate for you then," the evil twin replied.
"Oh really? Then get dowd here and let's find out if that's true!"
"Ah, tempting, but I'm afraid I have other plans at the moment. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll have some fun eventually. Ta ta for now! Hehehe!"
"Doh you don't! Wait!" Kelli angrily shouted. But Dark Kelli merely laughed at her counterpart and, with a flick of the wrist, conjured a cloud of smoke. Once the wind had broken up the opaque vapors, Dark Kelli was nowhere in sight. Kelli cursed her luck and could only hope that Dark Kelli's alleged plans had nothing to do with Kakariko, the sages, or Link.
Even if the source of the evil plaguing Hyrule had been thrown off balance by his recovery and the retrieval of two more Elemental Jewels, it seemed that whatever shock Dark Kelli might have felt had long since passed.
And, given Link's account of this particular enemy, that meant trouble.
