Chapter 46

The Golden Key

The corridors sped past me and the countless fokkas never slowed behind me. I needed to come up with an idea fast, or they will catch up with me eventually.

And then an idea hit me. All I needed to do was to dash a little more ahead. I smiled when I saw the walls on either side of me shortened as they turned into more passages. This was my chance! I rounded the corner to my left and quickly cast "fairy". Taking little time, I then flew up to the darkened ceiling with haste.

The fokkas rounded the corner and were uncertain. They gathered and glanced around, wondering what to do next. One fokka pointed down the hall and some of the others responded by following his command and continued to run and leap through the path. And that's when the moblin caught up to the group, huffing from exhaustion.

"Why-" He stood straight and took a deep breath. "Why did we stop?"

"We lost him." A fokka simply stated. "We saw the intruder turn this corner, but when we followed, he was nowhere to be seen."

The moblin threw his arms up in frustration. "Why aren't you following them then?"

The fokka turned to look at him through his metal helmet. "These halls all connect, and if the intruder is somehow far ahead of us, then we will find him easier if we cover more ground." He then looked back to the soldiers who stayed and gestured them to keep up with him as he ran the opposite hall. The moblin picked up his stubby legs and breathed in gasps as he went with them.

I floated down from the ceiling and allowed the spell to return me to normal. I would have laughed at my cleverness if I wasn't still in danger of being caught. To think I thought of using magic chants at all was useless to me back when I first left my home to go on this quest.

But now wasn't the time for self-reflection. I looked at the passages around me. If these all connected, then there wasn't any safe choice for me. I then decided that the best strategy was to continue down the hall I was already in, where the first group of fokkas ran down. If I was close behind them, then maybe I could remain missing for much longer. I walked at a relaxed pace, thinking that running would attract my enemies, and if I was quiet and calm enough, maybe I could avoid them the way I avoid the first fokka; by blending into the darkness.

I may have been walking slowly, but that didn't stop my heart from almost pounding out of my chest. The strong smell of the murkiness lying dormant on the stones seemed to become stronger the more I walked further in the identical tunnels. Every now and then, I could hear the moblin giving a shout or the marching footsteps of the fokkas. I jumped every time I heard them, wondering if the halls carried sounds as far as it did the unclean air, or if I was close to being discovered. And now that I walked at a slow stride, I could feel the lingering ache in my legs with every step.

But luck was on my side! I neared a corner that only turned to my left, and as I rounded it, a rotting chest sat against the wall that was now to my right. Since the forks in the halls were always entering into three others, the thought quickly crossed my mind that I was at the edge of the chambers altogether. I touched the latch on the collapsing, unhealthy wooden chest, and carefully lifted it open. The key resting inside it was so dirty and muted, that when I brought it up to take a better look, my glove wiped off the surface to reveal a beautiful golden glow.

This key was different from any of the others I've found, though it was also familiar somehow. The rubies in the handle made me feel like I've already seen this. That was when I remembered the key from New Kasuto. I quickly scoured my bags until I found it. As I compared the two side by side, I realized they were identical. How odd, I wondered what the purpose to this was.

I stuffed both keys safely in my pouch after I heard the moblin's call again. It would be too dangerous to backtrack where I came, so I continued to creep down the edge of the corridors until the left wall opened up into another hall. I refused the urge to run and remained as quiet and calm as possible. I felt like the hunters were all around me, and that it was only a matter of time until I was discovered again. But the murky tunnels must have been large because I remained hidden so far.

Up ahead was another four-way split in the halls, but as I neared it, thinking to keep going straight, I saw two fokkas dashing from the hall on my left and going directly straight. I prayed that they didn't notice me, even though I was close to them when it happened. I grasped the hilt of my sword and retrieved my shield to be safe, but, to my dismay, two fokkas have turned around back to my location. They stopped suddenly when they realized it was me. They looked at each other in amazement and one leaned back to give an ear ripping screech. I quickly pointed my sword tip to the soldier approaching me and summoned a sword beam to soar towards him. He wasn't expected that attack, so neither was he able to block it in time. I took advantage of his flinch and brought him down with my sword. I didn't have time to fight with the other one, however, for more of them were on their way, and if the rest of the group caught me, it would be less likely that I could escape from them alive again.

Without thinking much about the consequences, I turned and ran back the way I came. Of course, the fokka took up the pace and followed behind me. I knew then, as I rounded a familiar corner with the treasure box, that there was no way I could lose him. I had to turn around and face him, but what if I'm caught? What if there was a way to fight him quickly before even the rest of the group could catch up? I took the risk to glance back behind me to see him leaned over, running at full speed, and occasionally leaping off the walls to gain even more speed and momentum.

Those soldiers were fast, but that also had a disadvantage, and that thought gave me a plan. I ran ahead a little farther and then turned my head back one more time, and waited for the perfect moment… I waited for the moment when the fokka would leap up on the wall one more time.

My opponent didn't know what was coming, so he must have been confused when he leaped past me as I fell to the ground. I took little time to jump back up to my feet and strike the stopped soldier. I stabbed at his exposed legs, and he turned in surprise before dropping to his knees. I then took the chance for an overhead chop, but the fokka still had the strength to reach up with his shield and block the attack. I continued to press down on him with my sword but also kicked forcefully with my boot. The kick hit his chest and he fell back, giving me the chance to finish him off.

Now that I didn't have to worry about him, I could focus once more on finding my way out. But the call that the fokka gave earlier has sent the hunters on my location, and I didn't follow the halls quietly. Thoughts in my head screamed that I would have a better chance at scouring my way out if I was quiet, but I knew the sounds of battle would have the rest of the group where I was if I didn't escape quickly enough.

The fear of being found a third time kept me running and gave me the strength to never slow for the longest time. The dark walls soared right past me and the only thing I could hear was my footsteps and the sound of the sprinting enemies. The stagnant air became more and more difficult to breathe in, and after rounding a few corners, I was convinced to slow my pace and catch my breath.

The sound of the soldiers faded as they too, slowed their pace, although I was certain that I heard the moblin yelling orders. I needed to get out of there, and fast! I took up my pace to a quick walk and just prayed that I could somehow find the exit. Every turn and every hall looked the same, but after some time, I came upon the collapsed hall. By now, the shaking has stopped but left the hall even more torn than when I first left it. Some of the floors remained as platforms still, but as far as I could see, though I couldn't see far, there was not a sturdy and safe platform ahead.

Instead of risking it, I should go around it, just like the moblin did when he couldn't make the jump. I made for the hall that I saw him take but quickly stopped short. Footsteps were already in that passage and were coming straight for my location! This is their plan, I realized. They want to continue the chase until I'm caught, and they will always herd me into the passages. The moblin has probably already ordered some of the fokkas to stay near the entrance.

With that in mind, I couldn't keep running around in the passages without being caught forever. There was but one more passage to take. I cast "jump" and launched myself at the first platform. To my dismay, the footsteps behind me suddenly stopped and I couldn't resist a look back to see who stood there. I wasn't surprised to see one fokka standing by the edge, but instead of calling out for his team as the others have, he backed up a few steps, like he was ready to leap. I couldn't let him catch me here; the battle would be way too dangerous!

I turned my attention back ahead and leaped to the next platform. And the fokka was now standing on the ledge I was on a few seconds ago. At this rate, I was afraid he would have caught me eventually. Now that I was discovered, I went ahead and brought out the magical candle, furthering my sight. It looked like the ruined hallway was crumbled all the way to the end. The cavern below swallowed the light that came near it like it was too dark a place to ever be revealed. I quickly continued to leap over the ruined ground and onto the still dangerous platforms, but the fokka wasn't too far behind. I worried that the speed of the bird soldier would allow him to quickly reach me, but, somehow, I remained just in front of him. And with the jump spell, I was able to leap as high as they did.

I, however, was still worried and couldn't stop from looking back and pushing myself along. But rushing my leaps over to the crumbling floors wasn't safe, and the next floor's edge I jumped to fell in pebbles and my foot slipped, causing me to fall forward. I had no time to hesitate! I scrambled up to my feet and didn't turn back as I quickly jumped to the next platform. Somehow, I realized, I was staying ahead of the fokka.

Just a few more leaps! After nearly dropping into the cavern, I decided that the accuracy of my leaps was just as important as my speed. The fokka seemed like he had no trouble at all with the high leaps and crumbling floors, but was now catching up with me because of my encounter with that last platform.

But as I focused once more on the floors ahead, I saw the end of the hallway and the sturdy, unbroken ground. I looked down and squared my feet together at the end of the ledge before quickly judging the distance and jumping one platform at a time. Now that the worst of the hall has been passed by us both, it didn't take long for me to push off of the final torn ground and onto the solid floor.

The fokka landed behind me as I scoured the walls, trying to remember which turns I took.

"So you are the chosen one." He said calmly, and I turned around. He stared down at the golden glow from the Triforce mark on my hand. "You have fought and traveled hard then," The fokka continued. "And that you are here now tells me that this quest is nearly over. But are you ready for the final challenge?" I had no answer for that question, and uncertainty gave me a slight hesitation that the warrior caught on to. "You have a strong destiny to live up to, and I see your courage, despite your pause. But worry not; I am not going to call for my team, however, now that I see you for who you really are, I still cannot let you go, but would give you one more battle before the moment of truth."

He took his shield and hoisted it high as he also slid his sword from his sheath. I said nothing but copied his movements as we slowly approached one another. I watched him carefully and observed his movements for any sign of a sudden attack. He decided to take my offer for a first strike and jumped unnaturally high in the air before landing close enough to slash me. I saw the attack coming however and had just enough time to lean back far enough for the blade to not reach me. I then took my chance as he retraced and stabbed my blade back at him, but he too was agile enough to leap back to his first stance.

I was not going to allow him to repeat his strategy! I rushed in close and shoved my shield forcefully into him, but, to my surprise, he met that strength with his shield. I was not going to back down that easily though, and as I still pushed back shield against shield, I took my sword and swung low, and he didn't move to block it, but he suddenly jumped up and over my head to land behind me, leaving me with a sudden loss of balance. I recovered, straightened, and turned, preparing to block an attack, but I wasn't able to turn fully before I saw a sword flying by! I flinched as a gash formed on my cheek, but the wound was not severe. However, that hesitation cost me my chance to strike back, and I could only bring up my shield to stop his next attack. I then took my opportunity to slash horizontally across and wasn't surprised when he leaped over my head once more.

But I was catching on to his tricks and turned to where he would land, and struck his shoulder before he could react. Now it was his turn to flinch, and I didn't waste any more time to continue my attack. His armor was thick, but between the weak joints and his exposed legs, my attacks seemed quite effective. But he had enough of me and was able to bring up his shield in time to block any more of my swings. I moved out of range of his next attempt to stab my shoulder and rushed back in once his shield came back down. But he had yet a new strategy to turn to.

The fokka used his incredible leaping abilities to jump from side to side. It was hard to keep up with his quick movements. Every time I turned with him and tried to catch him with my sword, he was already to my left or right. Again, I felt that horrible nick of his blade slicing down my right arm this time as he dodged my blade in perfect timing by quickly jumping to my right. This wasn't working well for me, and if I stayed within the range of his hits, then I would be dead before ever fighting the final guardian.

I waited for the right moment and threw a faint when he came near just so I could move him away from me, and then I jumped back further from him so I could cast "fire". The hilt of my sword pricked with a sudden warmth from my chant, and I pointed at the warrior. Bursts of fire erupted from the sword tip and lit the fokka in flames!

The warrior spent precious moments to snuff it out, and I added my blade to his agony before he recovered and jumped high up and over to the other side of me. I pointed my sword and tried to hit him once more while he was in the air, but he flipped and twirled to avoid the fire. Once he landed, I continued to shoot towards him, but it missed.

He then rushed in close, so close I was forced to fight him without the range of my spell and struck. He didn't seem too surprised when I easily blocked it, but then he spun to my left and attacked low. I quickly swung my sword to simply push his away, but my sword hit thin air, and it was too late to realize that he pulled a feint on me! I felt his shield shoving against mine once more, but this time, I wasn't prepared to press my weight against it, and I was jostled aside. As I tumbled away, I felt the sharpness of a sword barely nick my back.

I couldn't stop myself from falling on my face near the wall. This was it, I thought, there was no way I could protect myself from his next attack. I flipped over on my back and saw him out of the corner of my eye. He was soaring in the air yet again, but this time he had his blade leading for the final strike.

There was nothing else I could do. I didn't even reach the guardian, but at least I give this my best shot. I held my sword in front of me as my final attempt for defense, then I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the finishing blow.

But it never came.

Something heavy fell on top of me, and my sword was bumped over as something slid across it. I opened my eyes to see the fokka. His sword just missed me and was now lying close to my right. The fokka stood off of me holding his shoulder and I could see the blood seeping around his hand. "You have won the fight." He said. "Do not worry about me, I will return to my team and let you go free. My wounds will heal, and once you fight the guardian, then we can all go free. You, hero, have given me hope for the future."

I said nothing but just watched him leave back to the ruined hallway. I continued to sit there after he left, my heart still racing from my close encounter with death. I held my sword close when he collided with it. I stared at the sharp edge of the blade. This sword was the only thing that moved the fokka's weapon harmlessly to the side. I stood up, the old stone leaving murky dampness to my clothes. I still felt lingering hopelessness eating me from the inside out. Reality showed me that my life was in danger now more than ever. I really need to be more careful from now on.

Now, I only prayed that I had the strength to reach the Triforce. I found myself reaching for the golden key I just found. There was only one last door back at the start, and I had a pretty good idea of what was behind it.