Chapter 8: The casualty of darkness

Link had awoken early that morning, despite getting only a couple of hours sleep. Yunobo who was now feeling much better, had decided that wildberry crepes just did not cut it for breakfast and had long since headed off towards death mountain, seeking a bowl of gravel. Now it was just Link alone with his thoughts…of Zelda. Sitting outside, he did not take his eyes off the perimeter of Hyrule Castle Town. No one seemed to be entering or leaving, which was very odd indeed. He hoped she was okay, he missed her so much.

Unbeknown to him, not too far away they had just climbed out of the boat. With difficulty they hauled the growingly weak Beedle along with them. His body growing ever more lifeless and heavier. "He isn't going to make it at this rate" Impa said flatly. "He will, he must!" Zelda pleaded. "Zelda…we may have to be prepared. The only chance of saving him potentially lies in Hateno and that road is such a long one to carry him down".

Zelda frowned. "I am not leaving him Impa, no ifs or buts! He is my citizen, and he isn't dying because of me!". "But Zel"- "It's Your Majesty!" Zelda shot back at her sharply for the first time ever. It hit Impa like a brick. "You all wanted me to be ruler of Hyrule, well here is me as ruler! I order you to get this man treated and not leave him to die. We owe him that much!". Impa tensed slightly, her breath stilled. A proud smile crept across her face. "Understood… Your Majesty". I am so proud of you! she thought silently to herself.

"Okay, then lets at least get him to the inn nearby, then we can work out transp"- What is that? An eerie sound rang out through the weird silence. It sounded almost like…a maniacal laugh coming from the entrance to Hyrule Castle Town. "G-g-ga" Beedle stammered weakly before losing consciousness. "No!" Zelda cried out. Impa crouched down and checked for a pulse. "Don't worry, he is still alive" she reassured. The eerie laugh rang out again, riding on a frigid breeze that suddenly whipped out from the town. Nayra let out an anxious growl. Shivers crept down the spines of both women. "Wait here a second" Impa said quietly. "Why? Impa where are you going?" Zelda whispered anxiously. "I just need to check something" she responded.

Making her way towards the edge of the town, she crouched down at first grabbing a handful of soil and sprinkling it through her hands. Bone dry she observed to herself. Pulling out the Sheikah slate she scanned across the eerily isolated perimeter. Zelda, whose curiosity got the better of her now made her way over. Impa looked over her shoulder at Zelda. "It both troubles and reassures me, how we went instantly from a raging storm and chaos to brilliant blue skies, bone-dry ground and total peace". She scanned around in a circle, making her way back to the entrance to the town.

"See this…right here?" she asked Zelda who studied the screen noticing a weird, dark, faintly visible line flickering across it when Impa trained it across the perimeter. "Purah said it wasn't working properly? she asked. "On the contrary, Impa responded". I think the Sheikah slate has inadvertently offered us another useful tool. "I think this line indicates the boundary where our curse ends". "Which is somewhat good, as it means the curse is limited?" Zelda concluded. "Precisely" Impa confirmed. "However…". She made her way over to a rake that was left balanced by a nearby fence. "for the residents of the town and the castle itself…".

Walking towards the entrance, she slowly passed the rake over the threshold. "Impa what are you"-. Zelda gasped. The rake seemingly vanished as it passed through the peaceful façade of the Castle Town entrance. Impa was now seemingly holding half a wooden handle of a rake. "See? This is an illu"- suddenly a loud snap rang out and Impa lurched forwards into the illusory wall, losing her balance. Half her body seemingly disappeared with just her legs poking out, thrashing frantically. "Impa! Zelda cried, racing forwards and grabbing her legs. She pulled Impa out…and screamed". Half of Impa's body was now battered and bloodied. Two large puncture wounds on her abdomen oozed with a mixture of blood and a viscous dark liquid. She took deep, laboured breaths as her eyes began to fade.

Zelda hauled her backwards away from the threshold and set her down. "Impa, stay with me please!" she pleaded as Impa's body began to go limp. Suddenly, a loud scratching sound caused Zelda to whip around panicked. Poking out from the illusory wall…two tendril like...things whipped around. Zelda got up slowly, her body trembling. Nayra approached them growling. "Nayra no! Get away!". Nayra yelped as the rest of the thing followed. Luckily, she shot backwards in fear and was now a safe distance away. What Zelda now saw, left her paralysed with fear.

Two tendrils became eight…connected to a large…skull like body. She had never seen anything like this thing before and yet some primal fear awoke in her. She could neither move nor scream. She was just stuck…whimpering helplessly to herself waiting to meet her grisly fate. As the creature rounded on her she mustered enough strength to raise a trembling hand. A weak bolt of light shot out and bounced with ease, off the thick skull like body of the thing approaching her.

As the thing was about to pounce and Zelda prepared herself, out of nowhere it was buffeted by the explosions of several bomb arrows. Zelda turned to be met with Link, his face etched with both fear and an unwavering focus at the same time. "Link!" she screamed as he ran towards her grabbing her in his arms before grabbing her hand and running with her. "Link, Impa! We can't just leave her!" she pleaded. Link slowed. Pulling her behind him, he drew his sword, steadied his nerve and prepared to do combat with a monster he knew absolutely nothing about how to slay.

Giant Dark Skulltula

Long forgotten horror from an ancient past

There were two things Link learnt quicky from the monstrosity he faced. The first was that the thing had very thick armour, tougher than that of the guardians. It was going to take a serious amount of force to get through and he was not even sure he had the strength. Even Zelda's power seemed to be deflected by the darkness imbued shell this creature possessed.

However, Link soon discovered as a second point that Zelda's power did play a vital role in him staying alive. The creature reared its back, the demonic looking skull now gazing at them with its terrifying fixed grin. The hollowed black eyes shone purple as thick bands of purple energy whipped out from them wrapping around Link. The energy seemed to sear his very bones as he screamed out in agony. Zelda panicked, raised her hand in desperation and her power severed the bands of darkness instantly. However, the creature would only continue relentlessly with this method of attack.

Both Link and Zelda struggled to defend themselves, until they exhausted their energy. As the creature advanced on them, looking at each other helpless they reached out and held each other's hand accepting their fate. Zelda looked so terrified. Her frightened whimpers haunted Link. The creature's fangs loomed over them like daggers, dripping with a viscous acrid smelling liquid. Then, Hylia seemingly smiled upon them.

It came in the form of a usually docile Oxenbeast letting out an enraged wail and charging towards the creature. It slammed into the creature's side with its horns piercing the creature's thick shell. The creature staggered, pouring with a dark purple liquid from two massive holes. It turned its attention to the Oxenbeast, rounding on it weakly. Before it could even attempt an attack, the Oxenbeast reared up and trampled it repeatedly. Both front legs of the Oxenbeast rained down mercilessly on the monstrosity like mighty hammers, smashing the skull like shell to pieces. It was left a mangled grotesque pulp on the ground, twitching ever so slightly before becoming still.

"I-impa!" Zelda yelled. Rushing over to the critically wounded Sheikah. She could tell Impa was dying. "Please hold on!" she cried. "I have…" Impa replied with a weak smile. "I have held on…for over…one hundred years…just so…. I can see you…become our ruler. I can…. pass from…this world…happy". She struggled. "I am not ready to lose you Impa, Hyrule needs you! I need you!" Zelda sobbed. "No…Hyrule…needs you…. whatever…. this…is…. you have…the power to…. defeat it! I…am…so…proud…of you…sweetheart…finding…your strength…finally! Link…please…cherish…her…for…me". She drew one final breath and fell still.

Time seemed to stop in that moment. Zelda drew some deep, shaky, anguished sobs then launched herself into Link completely inconsolable. He stroked her hair burying his head into hers and giving her a gentle kiss. His own eyes let a couple of tears flow as he bid farewell, along with Zelda to one of the greatest allies they ever had.

"How sickeningly touching" Bloodwin sneered looking on from afar in the unknown chamber. "You…you monster!" Robbie howled. "You are a cold-blooded murderer!" Sorcia raised a dagger threateningly to his throat. "Now that is ironic!" Bloodwin shot mockingly. "One Sheikah life compared to countless of my Kin's. Such an audacious claim!". "Well, her death will not advance your cause!" he yelled defiantly. "I am not helping you access the Divine Beasts so just go ahead and kill me! Kill me darn you!".

Bloodwin was indifferent. "Oh Robbie, Robbie, Robbie. If only you could be as lucky as your little friend, there! I can kill you most certainly and would gladly…however, I would need you alive to do what we require. That then leaves me with a teeny tiny little dilemma". "Not so much of a dilemma because I am not helping you!" Robbie continued in his defiance. "Sorcia dear, fetch me our little friend from the castle!". Sorcia gave an evil smile and left the chamber.

Bloodwin slowly approached an apprehensive Robbie, circling him. "That hatred boiling in your veins right now Robbie, I know it well. I have been acquainted with that same feeling for your kind for countless ages now. Luckily for me and my friends here, it has proven to be a useful source of fuel for our many spells and wonders". He continued, "you see Robbie, your kind are so inferior. You have all been scavenging around aimlessly in the leftovers of our world and magic like the worms that you are for thousands of years. Meanwhile, we have been spending better use of our time refining and perfecting our art!".

His voice got lower and more sinister "I can summon demons through the flow of time itself! Defy my own mortality! Bend reality and people to my will and with perfect ease, make people long for death!" Robbie winced as Bloodwin placed a skeletal hand on his shoulder. "I presume you are behind the Calamity then!" Robbie responded. Bloodwin laughed evilly. "Oh, I wish Robbie…I wish. However, only he can take credit for that". "Who?!" Robbie shot back inquisitively.

"Oh Robbie, you naïve, ignorant little man" Bloodwin said with an arrogant smile. "The 'Hyrule' you live in, is only a thread in an exceptionally large tapestry of time. A land existed long before this pathetic incarnation of Hyrule and it carried creatures and legends long since lost to the ages. Some fables have survived, most have not". He circled around to face Robbie. "For example, you all suffer and know of the Calamity well and yet, you are completely ignorant of its source". "Then tell me what it is, or I will not help you!" Robbie yelled. "Very well, consider this your payment" Bloodwin grinned. He crouched down and whispered in the Sheikah's ear.

Sorcia arrived with a rather unpleasant looking man. She found Bloodwin standing up, having apparently whispered something in Robbie's ear. Robbie was now ashen; his eyes were wide with shock. H-how?! It had been there…all along. We did not even think to search or to ask…heck we ourselves kept it…hidden…all this time?!

"Ah Kason, how are you feeling now, better I hope?" Bloodwin said in a half-hearted cordial manner. "Much sir, the hospitality you offer me is much better than the Hylian filth!" the man barked back cheerily. "Great to hear!" Bloodwin said with a sickly smile. "Sir too? Robbie you can really learn some lessons in manners from this man!". "Heh yeah, dirty Sheikah dog!" Kason shot smugly. "Our excellency has one more role for you Kason, if you will kindly accept?" Bloodwin said softly. "Of course!" Kason replied with devotion in his voice.

"Excellent!" Bloodwin said with a sinister smile. "Oh, and Kason?". "Yessir?". "Apologies, no hard feelings really, for what its worth you outdid yourself letting us into the Castle". "Eh?" Kason said nervously. Before Kason could utter another word, Bloodwin shot one of his followers by the name of Necrus a look. With a swift wave of Necrus's hand, Kason let out a horrible gurgle. The life drained from the thief's eyes which went glassy and cold. He fell on his back as his body writhed in apparent agony and began to change.

"What are you doing to him?!" Robbie yelled out horrified. "You gave me your word Robbie that you were going to help me if I told you Hyrule Castle's little secret. Let us call this, insurance!". Robbie was transfixed with horrified disgust on the writhing, corpse like being that was materialising before his very eyes. "Remember how I said killing you would be a dilemma? Well trust me there is a fate I can inflict upon you far worse than death, while keeping you very much alive. I do not need you conscious per se to do what you need to do for me but trust me…it is a rare act of mercy from me to you, that I am offering".

The creature now sat upright, turning slowly to Robbie, its eyes were non-existent and yet he felt it staring at him. It let out a loud shrill agonising shriek which froze Robbie solid with fear. He could not move. He felt his very spirit being paralysed and sensed great horrors clawing for it, through the creature manifested in front of him. With a nod from Bloodwin and a wave of the hand from Necrus, the creature slowly lumbered over to a corner of the room and sat down in a foetal position. "Wh-wh-what is th-that" Robbie heaved, having winded himself through terror. "Why, you should know Robbie, it was a nightmare of yours from when you were a young boy!". He crouched down slowly.

"Remember when father told you not to play in the graveyard with your friends?" Bloodwin whispered. "He told you that old story about how one of the graves belonged to a beast of great horror, known as the Redead". A wicked grin crept across Bloodwin's face as Robbie cried in fear recalling his nightmares. "Yes!", Bloodwin hissed. "You had so many sleepless nights. You could picture how the Redead looked from your father's ghostly tale. You could hear their tortured cries, the rattling of the chains that tried and failed to contain them".

Robbie's fear was simply delicious to Bloodwin who savoured every drop that poured from the anguished Sheikah's soul. He continued. "It was a tale that he told you that his father had passed down to him from his father and so on". "Now you see, they are very much real. Yet another forgotten creature from the ancient past. Long since lost to the ages".

He leaned in further. "I have an entire army of them Robbie. Trust me when I say they will ravage yourself and everything you hold dear in this pathetic world if you do not do as I say! Believe me also, when I say that to be bitten by a Redead is excruciating and to become one is even worse. An endless cycle of suffering that death will not release you from…because you are already dead!". "I'll do it!" Robbie wailed. "I will help you! Anything but that, please!". "I knew you would see the darkness eventually!" Bloodwin said with an evil smile.

As Robbie was taken away Sorcia shot Bloodwin a furious glare. "Was that really necessary?!". "What, you are saying you care for the worm?" he shot back. "You know I am not talking about that! I am talking about using what is left Lord Ganondorf's power to pull random creatures back through time!" she scolded. "Look the Skulltula was regrettable" he responded with a solemn look. "I really loved that creature, and we were so close to killing them. The Royal Whelp and her beloved knight stood no chance. It was only thanks to that stinking, disgusting creature trampling it to death, that they are with us still!".

He turned to the curled-up husk on the floor. "These monsters can really prove useful in wearing down our enemy, as I just finely demonstrated with this Redead. In fact, I am not done with you yet!" He grinned at the wailing corpse like monster wickedly.

Elsewhere now, Zelda and Link sat embraced in silence gazing solemnly upon a lifeless Impa. "I failed her!" Zelda said in barely a whisper. "Yet again, more people die because of me!". She gazed up at Link her eyes full of pain. "Why does Hylia keep punishing me in this way Link?". "Yet again…I have lost almost everything. All I have left again…is you". She placed her hand gently on his cheek. "If I lose you too"-.

"M-mmph! M-m-moon-ga…Moo-nga…Moonga? Moonga!" The unconscious Beedle came to, having been nuzzled back around by the Oxenbeast. He wrapped his arms around the creature. "So that's what Moonga means?" Zelda said emotionally. "Poor guy just wanted to be reunited with his companion". Suddenly, Beedle let out an agonised yelp and fell to the ground. Dark energy shot out of his body and disappeared through the illusory wall into Castle Town. "Whatever darkness was ailing him has been cast out!" Zelda exclaimed. "All through his love for that creature!".

Panting on the ground. Beedle looked up at Link and Zelda. When his eyes locked with Link, they were wide with gratitude. "Oh, Master Link! Oh, such joy! You saved me sir. Something dark was controlling me but Beedle knows you came to his aid. You too, Your Majesty Zelda!" He rushed over to her throwing himself to the ground. "Such kindness! Such a sweet and fair Queen you are! Beedle is in your debt forever more!". Zelda looked down letting tears fall softly on the ground. "I should be the one owing you" she said sadly. "This is all my fault!" Beedle's smile faded, and a look of horror filled his eyes.

"Oh no Your Majesty, it is his, the king of evil. The Gerudo man whose name must never plague this land once again!" What in the name of Hylia is he talking about? "I saw him, amid my curse. Tormenting me, laughing at me. The beast that drinks the suffering of man whilst wearing his skin. The vile creation of pure evil and power lust, which must never lay its hand again on the sacred relic…G-g-ga-ganondorf". Beedle was becoming hysterical, rambling like a crazed seer. Zelda felt unnerved, trying to reassure herself that the curse had just interfered with his mind yet…she could not shake how prophetic he sounded. Link attempted to calm him, but he pushed him away, growing even more panicked.

"Make haste!" he pleaded thrusting a bottle containing a fairy tonic into Zelda's hand. "Use this to save your friend, don't let him have her!". "There is still time, her spirit still lingers in this realm but then hurry on to Hateno afterwards and prepare. For the man in all his darkness, will turn the Beasts of Divinity against their handlers and then the man in all his darkness, will plague the land once more. Should you fail to stand against him, and he obtains that which you possess, all will be lost forevermore! Now go! Take Moonga with you too!" He vanished into the distance.

Zelda now stood stunned looking down at the tonic. She was not sure what just happened but…could this really work? Uncorking the bottle, she poured a few drops onto Impa's abdomen. Link stood close behind her. Nothing… Zelda drew a shaky breath closing her eyes. We are too late- Impa gasped loudly. Her breaths were slow and still very laboured, but she was alive…for now. Zelda gasped and immediately supported Impa's head, putting the bottle of fairy tonic to her lips. She drank the elixir with difficulty, spluttering and coughing as she tried to swallow it.

Zelda then rose to her feet and spun around with tear filled eyes at Link who beamed at her in relief. Without even thinking, she lunged forwards and kissed him before quickly pulling away. An awkward air descended over them, as both became conscious of their feelings for one another. "I errm…we should…we better be going" Zelda said, flushing scarlet.

Link's mind was racing but he knew Impa's life was still not guaranteed yet. He focused on helping Zelda haul an abandoned carriage over to the Oxenbeast harnessing it up. They lifted Impa between them who groaned out in pain onto the caravan. Nayra leapt up onto it, whimpering and giving Impa's face affectionate licks. Nervously approaching the grotesque carcass of the beast that could well cost Impa her life, Zelda picked up a nearby rock. She slammed it hard across the creature's maw, breaking off one of its dagger-like fangs. Hands trembling, she wrapped it carefully in cloth. You will not take her while I'm alive!

Observing from afar, Robbie took huge relief from Impa's survival. His captors, however, did not. Bloodwin now knew that the pathetic Hylian merchant stole a fairy from their supplies back in the cave, likely while they thought he was still incapacitated. Anger welled inside him from being outplayed. He furiously hurled a glass of wine at Robbie which narrowly sailed past his head and exploded on the shell of the guardian he was now being forced to work on. "Don't think that this changes anything worm! That woman will most definitely die. Besides, it appears the Royal Whelp has fallen well and truly in love with her pet knight". He flashed a wicked smile. "Oh, her anguish when he dies will be truly delicious, not just for us but our lord!".

Robbie knew he had to get out of there. He knew he could save Impa and warn Zelda, even though everyone would end up hating him. It was worth it. He began to quietly plan.

~Chapter edit: Replaced fairy in bottle with fairy tonic, reasoning for this will become apparent in chapter 10. Also wrote in Nayra joining them to fix a minor continuity error.~