Link ran ahead, his heart pounding, but not from fear or nervousness, he was excited. Ever since regaining his memories, he longed for a fight, but not just any fight, he missed the challenge that lay in defeating what he had come to call "Boss Monsters" (due to their seeming dominion over the area they were found in). Soon after regaining his memories he was challenged by Volga, or the "Dragon Knight" as he was called, but that wasn't enough, he craved a definitive victory over his foe, something the Dragon Knight had cheated him out of.
"You're looking quite determined, Mr. Link!" called the Prince as they dashed towards the source of the now billowing cloud of smoke and dust.
"It's been a while since I've had a challenge!" Link shouted back, still making sure his eyes remained forward.
Link, The Prince, Oren, Impa, and the small group of guards that followed came to halt as they saw a large crowd being held back by a line of guards, explaining the area ahead was off-limits and still quite dangerous.
Audrik walked over to a nearby guard, who was merely watching the event unfold from afar. "Excuse me guard, what is the nature of this incident?" he asked as he grew close.
The guard immediately bowed and began to speak, "I'm not sure, my Grace, I'm merely here to keep the crowd under control."
"Thank you anyway." the Prince replied, visibly irritated with the vague responses he was receiving from guards so far.
Link's attention was caught by Impa yelling from a nearby roof top.
"Hero! Oren and I are going to scout ahead to see what's happening! Make sure the Prince is safe!"
"I will!" Link shouted after them as the two Sheikah darted from roof to roof, making their way to the scene of the event. Link scoured the crowd and finally spotted the Prince, talking to the townspeople attempting to gain some knowledge that might aid him. Link made his way to the Prince, as he approached him, he heard a voice coming from his right.
"My Prince!" An older man approached Audrik, with Link joining him, the guards hanging back awaiting further orders.
"Finally, someone who can tell me what the hell it is that's happening, Minister Tonbridge, what is going on? the Prince asked, his face expressing the urgency with which he needed an answer.
"I apologize profusely my Prince, the fact this would happen is inconceivable, I have no idea how this could be..." the Older man said, while in a visible state of panic.
"Just tell us what it is." the Prince said in a stern manner, while moving in closer to the Minister.
"We call it the Golem, we constructed it in a the same way Armos Knights are created, it was meant to be the last line of defense should Castle Town fall. The Golem is, as Armos Knights are, a living statue of sorts, we built it to resemble the form of a Castle Town Knight, we activated it, hoping to test it's physical strength and structural stability, and also it's ability to interpret what is and what is not a threat, but now it's wreaking havoc across the Town!" Minister Tonbridge clenched his fists, "I don't understand how this could happen, I assure you my Prince, we took every precaution!"
"I don't understand." the Prince answered, "You're magical prowess is far beyond any other Sorcerer in this Town, how can it be that you are having such difficulty with this...Golem?"
"We warded it against Sorcery, my Lord." Minister Tonbridge answered, "It's only weakness is the gem in between it's eyes which is the source of it's power, but the Golem is able to counter any attempt we make at reaching it." the Minister said, looking to the ground.
"I see, thank you for your information, Minister." the Prince ran off, being allowed through the line of guards keeping the crowd back, he beckoned to Link as he ran forward.
Link followed through the narrow alleyways until the dust was hanging thick in the air, the crashing sounds now quite nearby. Link, Audrik, and their compliment of Guards rounded the next corner, finally seeing their foe, an enormous statue that appeared in the likeness of a heavily armored Castle Town Guard slowly moved forward, each step leaving a large hole in the ground. Oren and Impa followed nearby, running along ledges and roof tops, trying to jump onto their foe, but always being batted back.
Link ran from his spot at the Prince's side, charging directly toward the Golem, the Prince ordered the guards to follow, and do as Link said. They joined the guards already present in trying to get close enough to do some damage, but were often forced to move back when their swords didn't have any effect on the giant.
"Use your arrows!" Link yelled to the guards, as he continued toward the Golem, "Aim for the gem between it's eyes!" They did as they were told, taking out their bows and readying their arrows, many arrows came close, but were blocked by the Golem's enormous arms. Link had had enough of this and darted in between it's legs, the Golem attempted to crush him under it's foot at first, but Link quickly darted out from under it, he made his way closer, barely managing to avoid a strike (and almost being carried away by the draft) from the giant spear the Golem carried.
"Hero! Watch out!" Link heard Impa call.
Link quickly dodged to the side as he saw a bomb appear in the Golem's mouth, with the Golem subsequently launching it. Link dove to the side to avoid it, but the blast knocked him back, with Link landing on his back, he staggered to his feet, watching the Golem continue it's path towards Hyrule Castle.
"What do we do?" the Prince said as he joined Link in following close behind the giant statue.
"Our apologies, we should have warned you about that sooner." Oren said as both he and Impa appeared before them.
Impa cast her gaze at the lumbering giant's path, "We don't know if it has a reserve of bombs inside of it, or of it somehow magically generates them." Impa stated shooting a concerned glance at the Castle.
"So that's the source of the explosion." Link thought to himself, trying to figure out how to counter this ability. He thought back to his many lives, he defeated many opponents larger than him, but their organic structure clearly set them apart from the Golem. Link watched from behind as arrows continued to bounce off the Golem's hide, Audrik caught up to him, taking him by surprise as he thought to himself.
"Mr. Link, please tell me there is something in the Hero's memories that can help us!" Audrik exclaimed, he was trying to repress it, but it was getting harder and harder to avoid showing his panic, "My people trust their Royal Family with their lives, and here I am, just letting this giant stone monster rampage across Castle Town, and what if it does reach the Castle? Imagine my sister coming home to a partially destroyed Town with no Castle in sight! And will it stop there?!"
"Audrik! Stop! I need time to think, I have an idea, but it's going to be difficult to pull off, we'll need to get Oren and Impa to help." Link said, clearly finished listening to Audrik's panicking.
Link and Audrik caught up to Impa and Oren soon enough, they were still jumping from ledge to roof top and vice versa, throwing anything nearby in order to do even a small amount of damage to the Golem. Impa looked down and saw the Prince and Link running, nearly coming into contact with the back of the Golem's foot. Link was yelling something, she beckoned to Oren and both Sheikah left their perches to see what exactly it was that Link was saying.
As soon as the Sheikah's feet touched the ground, Audrik and Link caught up to them immediately, "Hero, I know this must be important, but we can't let it get too far ahead of us, we can't let it reach the Castle!" Just then both Audrik and Link took a bow accompanied by a full quiver of arrows off of their backs, handing them to Oren and Impa. "Thank you for the gesture, but arrows seem to have no effect on it." Oren explained.
"I've noticed that when the bomb enters it's mouth, there's a small amount of time in which it stays there, if we could shoot it with an arrow during that time, it could take the Golem down right away." Link said, looking at the two Sheikah.
"That could work!" Impa said with renewed vigor.
"With the way you were able to keep in front of it, and maintain a higher vantage point than the other guards, not to mention with you having the eyes of the Sheikah, you're the best chance we've got at making this work." stated Link, looking at Oren and Impa, hoping they'd agree with his plan.
The two Sheikah looked at each other, silently coming to a decision. "We'd be honored to aid you in carrying out your plan, hero." Oren said, as they began running back towards the Golem.
"Tell me Hero, what's your part in this?" Impa asked, curious as to why Link was running ahead.
"You'll see in due time." Link replied.
Oren and Impa began their trek across the rooftops again, running while taking their bows off of their backs, readying an arrow each.
It was now Link's turn to do his part, he ran as fast as he could carry himself through the Golem's legs, dodging his steps all the while. He looked other to a parallel alleyway where the Prince was managing to keep up with him. Link managed to make it out in front of the Golem, looking up to see if Oren and Impa were ready, he activated his Triforce of Courage, it glowed brightly, it's power producing the burning sensation on the back of his hand as he turned to face the Golem.
It's steps came faster as now, with the Triforce's energies, Link stayed a good distance ahead of it as it attempted to catch up, he soon saw Oren and Impa reach an awning between buildings up ahead. Link turned as the giant lumbered closer, he called upon the power of the Goddesses, nearly flying toward the Golem, his aura a blazing gold with his eyes the same, and his sword pulsing with the Triforce's energy, Link's blade made contact with the Golem's shin, Link smiled, as he knew the Golem's magical warding couldn't defend it from this.
A large crack formed, with the Golem falling to one knee in the wake of Link's Triforce fueled assault. Link hung back, using that much energy left him too drained to run. Audrik ran out from between two shops, drawing his sword, he charged the Golem, the plan finally worked, with one leg damaged, the Golem readied a bomb in order to prevent another, possibly damaging assault.
As Audrik drew closer he noticed the bomb inside the Golem's mouth, and so did Impa and Oren, two arrows flew over the Prince's head, finding their mark immediately, the bomb exploded inside the Golem's mouth. Smoke pouring out of it, the Golem crashed to the ground, Audrik ran up to it, followed by Link, they both plunged their swords into the gem between it's eyes, cracks formed around the edges at first, slowly creeping to the middle. Audrik and Link used their full strength, trying to shatter the gem, when suddenly the Golem came back to life, the gem in it's head pulsating a bright red color as it began to stand up, Audrik stepped back, but Link, not wanting to lose this opportunity, held on, going up with it.
With a tight grasp on a crack in the Golem's hide, Link worked his way to the giant's face, his sword drawn. Becoming aware of his presence, the Golem began to attempt to shake Link off, with Link holding on with all the strength he had. The Golem then noticed the two Sheikah watching it from the awning, it suddenly burst into a sprint, the impact of it's feet shattering the ground beneath it, sending cracks through nearby buildings while Link was sure the vibrations could be felt throughout Castle Town.
Impa quickly realized that the Golem was about to crash straight through their position, she and Oren turned to run and only barely made it out of the way before the Golem crashed through the awning on which they had recently stood. It stopped, looking to it's side, it spotted Impa running along a nearby roof, the Golem raised it's spear and smashed it through the building, the roof began to collapse, with Impa falling through, Link saw Oren running to her aid, and hoped the Golem wouldn't notice. Link felt his heart beat faster as the Golem did indeed spy Oren, it turned around, raising a foot to bring down on the Sheikah, Link climbed as fast as he could onto the Golem's face, the Golem paid no mind to him as it brought it's foot up, directly above a now sprinting Oren.
The Golem smashed it's foot down, barely missing Oren, the impact though, left him on his back, seemingly unconscious. Link held on as hard as he could, his heart skipped a beat when he realized he'd lost his grip on his sword, he looked down just the Golem's foot landed on his sword, destroying it, it had already been weakened due to the earlier assault on the Golem, even with the Triforce's power. Link had nothing else other than the armor he had donned over his formal attire, and his shield, knowing neither would do him any good, he hung on to the Golem, hoping to spot something that could help.
Link soon saw Audrik run from a nearby alleyway, bow drawn, he fired an arrow at the Golem's face, embedding itself in a crack not far from Link. "What was he doing? He knew arrows have no effect on it." Link thought to himself, he then realized, the Prince wasn't trying to damage the Golem himself, he was providing Link with a weapon! Link worked his way over to the arrow, holding on tight as the vibrations of the Golem's footfalls threatened to shake him off. Link grabbed onto the tip of the Golem's sculpted nose, using it to swing across it's face, the force of the Golem's strides gave Link enough momentum to reach the arrow during his swing. It was then the golem bent over violently, sending Link flying forward, with only the arrow to hold onto, Link hung from it's face as it tried to shake him off, sensing the threat in his presence. The Golem righted itself when a large impact struck it's back.
The guards had finally returned, this time wheeling a catapult through the still intact parallel street, they launched another chunk of stone, with the Golem's fist intercepting it. The Golem was distracted, as it began to approach the the catapult, Link seized the opportunity to climb to it's face, silently thanking his old friend Groose for inventing the device long ago (calling it the "Groosenator" at the time). Link pulled the arrow out of the crack in the Golem's face, climbing the bridge of the nose, Link wound up directly in front of it's right eye, the Golem was about to attempt to throw him off once more; when another impact occurred, the projectile making contact with the Golem's chest this time.
It staggered backwards as it attempted to regain it's balance, taking the opening Link leapt, grabbing onto the border around the gem. Link closed his eyes, using only a small amount of the Triforce's power he stabbed the arrow into the center of the gem, the cracks began to spread with every step, the magic gem's power fading, the Golem began to lose structural stability. Link realized it was the energies of the gem holding the golem together through all of these attacks, as cracks began to spread with every one of the Golem's steps, Link began pounding the arrow with his shield, forcing it further into the gem, the cracks spreading.
Link was forced to hold on with all of his strength as the Golem's lower leg collapsed, with not enough energy to hold it together, the Golem, seemingly realizing it was on borrowed time, began making it's way back toward the Castle, hobbling on one leg, using it's spear as a crutch. Link reached for the arrow again, but found it to be stuck where it was, it was then the Golem turned it's head, looking down at the catapult, which was still firing upon it. Link could smell smoke, he looked down, and spied a bomb in the Golem's mouth. Link climbed down the Golem's nose as it took aim, he finally reached the mouth, seeing the bomb, he noticed only a half a fingers length of fuse remained, Link grabbed the bomb from the Golem's mouth, praying to the Goddesses it didn't go off in his arms, realizing time wasn't on his side, Link tossed it at the Gem in between the Golem's eyes, letting go of the Golem's face completely, he fell through the air, catching himself on one of the designs sculpted onto the Golem's chest. He looked up as the bomb went off, shattering the gem.
oOo
Captain Viscen looked on as the Golem swayed back and forth, attempting to right itself, he ordered another shot to be fired from the catapult, when suddenly the Prince was on scene.
"Captain! Mr. Link...the Hero, he's still hanging onto the Golem, if it falls the wrong way...or falls apart he could die!" the Prince explained desperately.
It was true, Viscen had a certain disdain for the hero, making it known the day they met on the Castle Town training grounds, but because he was the Hero, Viscen was bound by his duty to the Royal family to aid him in any way he could. "Bring me a telescope!" he commanded as a nearby Guardsman brought one to him, he looked through the lens, seeing the Hero hanging desperately onto a piece of the Golem's sculpting. Viscen turned to the Guardsmen operating the catapult, when it sways backwards, aim for it's head, and pray to the Goddesses this works." he said as the Guardsmen loaded the catapult.
The Prince didn't like the plan, but he saw no other option, he looked at the ground, wondering how his sister would ever forgive him if he got Link killed. His head sprang up as he watched a small fragment of a wall fly through the air, the Golem seemingly took notice, and using the last reserve of it's energy, raised it's arm to intercept it, the Golem then began to hop backwards, attempting to catch itself with it's spear, seemingly forgetting about it's missing leg.
oOo
Link's arm strength was fading, but he had to hold on, if he fell now, he would die, die without ever getting to see Zelda in this lifetime, without being able to stop the evil the Hero's Shade warned him of. Link looked up as a loud crash echoed through the Town, trying his best to swing out of the way of falling debris from the projectile's impact, Link suddenly felt the Golem stop moving, it's magical energy completely drained.
The Prince, Viscen, and the soldiers behind them watched as the Golem fell backwards, smashing through buildings and landing on it's back with a loud crash. Without waiting Audrik sprinted to the location the Golem fell, with Viscen calling after him. Audrik penetrated the large dust cloud, barely able to see anything he ran face first into a large stone wall, but looking up he realized it was no wall, it was the Golem's lower left arm, now severed from the rest of it's body. Audrik walked around with an arm outstretched, holding a piece of torn fabric over his mouth, he found the torso of the Golem, Audrik used the cracks and other damaged parts of the Golem's surface to pull himself onto it's chest. Making his way across the Golem's torso, he spotted a figure through the dust and ran over to it, recognizing it to be Link the Prince fell to his knees, he picked up the Hero's upper body in one arm, pulling him into a sitting position.
"Link, wake up, wake up!" He said as he lightly tapped the Hero's face with his other arm, trying desperately to awaken Link, he noticed through the dust, two figures pulling themselves up on top of the Golem's torso, the Prince stood up, a hand on his sword's handle, relaxing when he recognized Oren and Impa, Oren helped Impa forward as she clutched at her chest.
"I told you to wait, pulling yourself up like that only made it worse." Oren said, while bringing Impa to the Prince's side. The two Sheikah placed their eyes upon Link, laying motionless on his back, covered in dust.
Impa broke from Oren's grasp, "Quickly, help me lift him, let's get him to a healer..." She looked back at Oren and the Prince, the expression on their faces grim. "We need to get him to a healer immediately!" she yelled, her demeanor softened when the normally mostly emotionless Oren hid his face with a hand, and the Prince, known for being confident and forever upbeat, looked down, tears beginning to fall from his eyes.
"No..no..no..NO!" Impa yelled, walking over to the Prince, "This is impossible, it can't be!" she said as she looked at the Prince.
Oren lifted his head, glancing upon Link's motionless form, "I'm afraid it's so." he said, lowering his head again.
The Prince looked up, his voice shaking he confirmed it, "Link is dead, it was the force of the impact...it killed him." his voice trailed off at the end, not being able to find his ability to speak.
A single tear fell from Oren's right eye as he saw the Prince's sadness.
Impa fell to her knees, staring at the ground in disbelief, she felt a wave of numbness wash over her, the Hero had died...she should have been there to help, to stop this from happening...now what was going to happen, she wondered, the Hero has fallen, and evil was now free to attack, without need to fear him.
Audrik fell to his knees, "How could I let this happen? How could I do this to him? I've deprived my people of the Hero...I've deprived my sister of him...oh Goddesses...my Sister! What will she do? How can I ever face her again?!" the Prince cried out, he took out his sword as he began striking the surface of the now inactive and broken Golem, "Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!" he yelled beating his sword against the stone. Oren walked over to Prince, grabbing his arm in an attempt to calm him.
Impa stood, she clutched at her ribs, knowing some of them were broken, but right now she couldn't care less, her eyes settled upon Link's body, she walked over and with all of her remaining strength, picked him up, wincing as the pain from her ribs hit her. Audrik and Oren took notice, going to her side, helping her walk as she staggered towards the edge of the Golem's torso.
The three made their way through the dust cloud to the square where the guardsmen were gathering, Oren had taken Link's body in his arms, Impa being too injured to hold him, and the Prince seemingly without his sanity, muttering about being the Royal who let the Hero die.
oOo
Link awoke in a green field, the sun shining overhead, as he stood he was greeted by a calm gentle breeze, he turned around, wondering where he could possibly be, he was greeted by a large crowd of people, who's faces he was overjoyed to see.
"Darunia! Ruto! Groose! Colin!" he called out recognizing more faces every second, he stopped immediately when one individual stepped forward, "Saria." he said softly, going on one knee to look her eye to eye. "Saria...what's happening? Last thing I remember...Saria...am I dead?" Link asked, a shiver moving through his body.
Saria smiled "Link, it's so good to see you again."
Link returned her smile, but it faded slightly, "The Golem killed me..." he said his voice trailing off, thinking of Audrik, and feeling a wave of sadness as he thought of Zelda.
"No..." Saria answered, your life is fading, but your soul still remains, that spark of life inside you still exists, you need to believe you can go back, you need to seize that spark, and make it into a fire." Saria said, looking Link in the eye.
Link stood up, and looked upon the crowd.
"Stay strong brother!" Darunia called, smiling at Link
Link looked over to his left, where a couple was standing, "Kafei! Anju!" he called.
"Link, even though you didn't have to, you helped me retrieve the Sun's mask, and resume my adult form" said Kafei with a smile, "You saved our relationship, Link" Anju added.
"You got yourself eaten by Lord Jabu-Jabu just to save me." Ruto said with a smile
"You need to go back, for Zelda!" Groose called to Link, smiling at his friend.
Smiling at the others, Saria turned to Link, "There's someone here who really wants to talk to you." Saria said with a smile, gesturing to Link's side.
Link stepped back, looking upon a familiar face from this life, "...Father?" he asked quietly.
"Son." he said as he placed his hand on his shoulder. His father was just as young as Link remembered him being last time he saw him, his long blonde hair draped over his shoulders, his dark blue eyes, looking just like Link's. "I'm sorry I never came back, I knew there was a possibility that might happen, but I never wanted to tell you, you were too young to understand."
"I..I know said Link." tears gathering in his eyes, Mother, Nika, and I...we all miss you." Link said.
Link's father looked him in the eyes..."I know son, I know, but it's not your time now, you need to go back, tell your mother I love her, and your sister too, and know that I'm proud as I can possibly be that you're my son...the Hero of Legend. Give your mother those Royal Grandchildren you promised her." he said, grinning.
Link looked back at all of his friends and family from across the ages, grinning, tears moving down his face, he closed his eyes, everything fading to black.
oOo
Oren walked ahead, Impa was too injured to move quickly, and even if she could, he knew she'd probably keep the same pace, "The death of the Hero has broken her spirit." he thought to himself, hating seeing his tribe's leader like this. He turned to Prince Audrik who was saying over and over again, "You let him die, you let him die.".
Oren hung his head, acknowledging the great tragedy, he craned his neck slightly, thinking he noticed something...he did, there was a faint glow emanating from the hero's hand. "Stop!" he called out, placing Link on the ground, while holding his head up. "His Triforce of Courage! It's active!" Oren called.
Impa and the Prince rushed over, completely silent as Link awoke, he opened his eyes slightly, letting out a few quiet coughs, turning his head slightly, looking at the two Sheikah and the Prince.
"Link!" Impa yelled, you're alive!" she said as her sorrow turned to joy.
Link looked up as Audrik looked upon him, his composure breaking once more, the Prince bent a knee and put one arm around Link, "We thought you were gone!" he exclaimed.
Link thought back to what he had seen, whether or not it was the afterlife, or just a Triforce induced vision, he was happy to have seen it, "I thought I was gone too." Link added, placing his hand on the ground, holding his upper body upright, "Besides, I couldn't just leave like that, I still have yet to see Zelda." Link said, mostly to himself.
"Thank you for sparing me from her wrath." Audrik said as he grinned, looking at Link.
Just then Captain Viscen and a small group of Guardsmen rounded the corner.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked, running over to the four of them, his Guardsmen followed, taking out red potions as they drew near.
Oren helped Impa up as she cringed in pain, "She has multiple broken ribs." Oren said as he procured a red potion for her.
Audrik took one from a soldier nearby, handing it to Link.
Link drank it down as if it were water, he always hated the taste, but the effects were undeniable, he felt his strength returning, as cuts and scrapes healed over, with the soreness in his muscles being alleviated. Link slowly rose to his feet, aided by the Prince, still feeling a bit weak.
A wagon was brought around, the two horses drawing it being steadied by the Guardsmen present, as the four of them were helped onto it, they couldn't help but look back at the Golem's remains, wondering what had caused it to attack the Town it was created to protect. The Wagon pulled away, with Oren, Link, Impa, and Audrik finally getting some much needed rest.
oOo
And with that Chapter six is done! This was a slightly exhausting one to write, a lot of emotions!
Bookwormsrule: Thank you for the compliment! I hoped this Chapter met your expectations! I'm glad you're interested in the Prince, I was wondering how people would react to his character, I'm glad you like him...and have other feelings about him! I'm hoping you stay this enthusiastic about my story. Thank you for the review and your ongoing support!
Lady Kiridia: I've been trying to update almost everyday, I kind of fell behind during the weekend though! And not to worry, your reviewing skills are just as sharp as your writing! I try to write the fight scenes in a way one can clearly envision the actual confrontation, including as many specifics about the combatants movements that I can! As for the inclusion of Volga, I couldn't resist, I feel like Link doesn't get enough Hylian/Human enemies, Volga is one of the few and the proud, and I really like his dragon based abilities, he will be a challenge in battle, if I have my way haha! As with Link and Zelda's interactions, with how I've set up the story so far, the fluff is unavoidable haha. thank you so much for your compliments, and the shout out was my pleasure, I'm just thankful for your help! :)
-Prometheus17