The man she sought no longer resided in the Castle's dungeons, to her slight chagrin, but had been transferred to another prison, far away from the Castle he had helped stage an assault on.
Cia walked through the less than crowded street, clad in a modest dress, leaving her Sorceress's robes behind, she didn't want to attract unneeded attention, after all. She had used her magic to change the color of her eyes to a dark brown, as purple irises with red pupils was a rather unusual aesthetic for Hylians, but not for Ikanians. Cia slowed as she remembered her once bustling civilization, there were many like her, many with eyes like hers, she was just one of dozens that were being trained to protect the Gate of Souls, among them was her sister Lana, the real Lana, she was always upbeat, kind, and loving, something Cia envied greatly. It wasn't long before Cia was chosen as the next keeper of the Gate of Souls, and spent most of her time in the Valley of Seers, it was during that time that King Igos Du Ikana summoned Majora to aid them in their war against the Garo Empire, she was safe in the Valley of Seers as Majora broke from it's bonds and killed indiscriminately, erasing all life in the kingdom of Ikana, her sister included. Majora allowed the Garo to live if they promised to serve him, something that troubled her greatly when Lannis decided to bind them under his service, whatever the Garo saw, Majora saw too. Cia continued onward towards the prison, focusing on her current mission as the thoughts of her former life drifted away.
"You there! Halt!" A guard called out, pointing his spear at her, the other guard doing the same in a delayed fashion.
Cia merely gave a wave of her hand, both men going unconscious instantly. Stepping through the entryway, she was immediately greeted by the scent of smoke, numerous torches casting light over the halls of the complex. The Arbiter's grounds were once a very dangerous place to be, the prison being abandoned after the numerous spirits of those executed cast a curse over the place, making it a haven for the dead and nightmare for the living. It would normally take anyone on horseback half a day to get here from the Castle, but with her abilities she was able to arrive in an instant. Slowly she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, reading the Hylian words inscribed on the first sign her eyes met. She held out her hand, her staff materializing in it, with one tap of her staff she teleported three floors down into the section of the Prison designated for the fiercest of criminals. As she walked down the narrow hall the cells that held the prisoners came into view, her eyes sweeping over them, looking for the person she intended to "visit".
Cia scowled as the men behind the bars reached for her and yelled quite tasteless things that only served to disgust her further. The village outside was built for the guards and their families, if these men escaped it would not be pleasant for any of the villagers, Cia looked the bars that separated them up and down, they were old, covered in rust, and were greatly worn, she surmised that they could even be the original bars that were installed during the compound's first run as a prison. She probably would not have cared in the slightest in her younger days, but in recent times, she had felt the humanity she had left behind returning to her, her reunion with Erris allowing her compassion to resurface, and his subsequent brainwashing by Ganon fueling a new rage, the likes of which needed to be let out in one way or another.
"You want me to come over there?" she asked with a smirk.
"Yeah, just let us get a little feel." a large bearded man growled, a manic smile on his face as the other prisoners around him laughed, the same grin adorning their faces.
Cia walked forward, a smile on her face as she extended a hand, the large man grabbed her, jerking her body forward against the bars. The moment his other hand moved she grasped his wrist tightly, energy traveling down her arm into his.
"Enjoy the next life." she whispered, smiling all the while.
The man went rigid, his facial expression growing tense as his breathing sped, his chest heaving as Cia let go of his arm. The other men backed away as he fell to the ground, his veins glowing a bright orange. The moment his breathing stopped and his body stilled, he burst, fire exploding outwards as burning tissue flew through the cell and out into the hall. Cia smirked as she heard the other men that leered at her screaming out as they caught fire.
Cia came to a halt in front of a cell at the end of the hall, it had been magically warded with a powerful spell and contained Chancellor Lawrence of Holodrum, taken prisoner after his part in the battle of the Great Hall. His gray hair had grown long, as did his beard, with his body now having a gaunt appearance.
"It's been a long time, Lawrence." Cia said, a low tone to her voice.
The Chancellor jerked his head upward, looking on in disbelief at the Sorceress, before laughing. "Another starvation induced hallucination, you are." he said quietly.
"You know that's not true." Cia said, a threatening tone to her voice.
"Even if it's not, what brings you here, to see me? I don't suppose it's to free me?" he asked aggressively.
"I came to see if you were really here, I heard my son forgot you after the assault you helped carry out inside Hyrule Castle itself, I was quite disappointed when you were no longer in the Castle's dungeons, but the energy I had to use to see you was worth it, you deserve this punishment." Cia growled.
"Been to the Castle, have we? What is this? Another attempt to be with the Hero? Forgotten about my brother already have you?" Lawrence replied.
"No, I have not forgotten about Lannis, and that's why I'm here. You continued to work with Ganondorf even though you knew about his plans for Lannis, you knew he'd kill him, and you did nothing, just for the sake of the possibility of more political power." Cia hissed.
"I did nothing, because I knew that Lannis had grown to want peace, he wanted to banish Mahlik and Ganon, and negotiate peace with the Hylians, all for the sake of his son, your son! We couldn't let that happen! Ganon should have killed you when he had the chance!" the Chancellor yelled.
Cia's rage grew as she looked at the man, with the pitiful condition he was in, she could not see why his cell would require magical warding. The sorceress decided to look further, her eyes met his, and deep inside, she found it, a low class demon had been bound to him, it's power keeping him alive, even like this. "You truly are a fool, you bound an imp within you?" she asked with a laugh.
The Chancellor furrowed his brow in anger, "I'll have you know this is a demon bound inside of me, it's power almost overwhelmed Kain Tonbridge, the Hylian's greatest sorcerer!" he argued.
"Really? Because I heard he thrashed you about as a nearby contingent of guards watched!" Cia mocked.
"You!" Lawrence yelled as he stood, lunging at the bars that separated them, the warding spell instantly pushing him back. "Your son is the one that bound the demon within me...and I'm the one that agreed Mahlik be bound inside of him...King Daltus came to me after winning the last battle and gave me the choice of turning Labrynna over to Hylian control, or allowing them to bind Mahlik inside the Prince, as there was no way of sending him back to the Dark World! Erris thought it was his choice all these years...but it was actually mine!" Lawrence shouted, laughing loudly.
Cia grit her teeth, looking at the man, her anger visible. "I see the Hylians have yet to exorcise that demon within you...how about I help them with that?" Cia said, a smile forming on her face.
"What...no...you can't!" the Chancellor called out.
"What? Are you afraid of not having it's power to keep you alive? Or maybe it's the fact that, without the demon, the Hylians will be able to execute you quite easily." Cia mocked.
"No!" Lawrence yelled as Cia extended her staff towards him, the weapon stretching to three times it's length, plunging into the man's chest. Lawrence fell to his knees as the Dark Staff entered his chest, collapsing to the floor as Cia pulled it free. Looking down, he found himself unscathed, "What is this?" he yelled, going silent as he took in the sight before him.
Cia held her staff aloft as the demon that formerly inhabited his body was impaled on the end, thrashing about, roaring in pain. "I tore the demon out of you, I can only hope you feel as helpless without it as Erris did when you condemned him to live with Mahlik inside of him!" Cia turned her gaze to the side, looking upon the Demon on the end of her staff, with one thrust the being was consumed in purple flames, one last roar escaping it as it burned into oblivion.
"What have you done to me?" Lawrence asked, a terrified tone to his voice.
"I've taken whatever power you've had left. At this very moment I could kill you with ease, as you deserve no more mercy than the rest of them!" she exclaimed, extending her arm down the hallway. "But I want to watch the sword be brought down on your neck, I want to see the fear in your eyes as the Hylians have you executed, I'm going to allow you to live, just so you can dwell on the knowledge that you are soon to die." Cia growled.
Lawrence's yells went unheard by her as she turned and walked away, the other prisoners cowering in the corners of their cells as she passed.
oOo
Link, Elgon, Thrakon, Aren, Kallil, and Trystane backed into each other as the Gohmas descended to the ground, encircling them.
"Well...at least their not Skulltulas." Trystane said in a rather forced manner.
"You're not helping." Aren replied.
"What's the plan?" Kallil asked, looking to Link.
Link flinched, he had been assailed in great numbers before, but this was something different, this many Gohmas in one place could only mean one thing. Before he could continue his thoughts, one of the arachnids charged, Link putting his sword through it's eye as it entered striking distance. "There is no plan." Link said as he lunged forward.
"Great!" Thrakon responded as the team broke apart.
Link ran forward, performing a spin attack, vanquishing a large group of Gohmas, only for another to take it's place. Behind him Trystane stayed completely still, a white mist emanating from his fists, the Knight opened his hands and flung his arms out, a wave of ice washing over the swarm in front of him. Thrakon leapt into the middle of the frozen arachnids, smashing every one to pieces. Elsewhere Kallil nocked a bomb arrow letting it loose against an oncoming horde, the spiders being instantly blown apart.
"Everyone close your eyes!" Elgon shouted.
Link looked back while dislodging his blade from a Gohma's head. "Every one down!" he shouted. The rest of his team dropped to one knee as Elgon outstretched his arms, releasing a brilliant blast of light. Link returned to his feet, as did the others of his team, opening their eyes to find the Gohma horde backing away.
"Nice one." Thrakon said, patting Elgon on the shoulder.
"I didn't know you had magical abilities." Kallil remarked to his former teacher.
"I only use my magic when I have to." Elgon answered.
"Wait...where's Aren?" Link asked, the Sheikah man having come up short during his headcount.
"You'll see." Elgon said with a smile.
Suddenly Aren dropped from the trees above, landing directly on a Gohma's back. He stabbed his twin knives into it's head, quickly leaping to another as it collapsed, laying still on the ground, then onto another, and the next with speed only a Sheikah could be capable of.
"The flash should have startled them, we need to attack now!" Elgon shouted.
Link looked to his teammates, their attention having turned to him. "Come on!" Link called, waving his sword as he rushed forward.
Trystane let loose another blast of ice, freezing the Gohmas in front of him while Aren darted through the crowd of disoriented spiders, dispatching them with ease. Link backflipped over a charging Gohma, putting his sword through it's head in mid air, pulling it free as his feet touched the ground.
"Watch out!" Kallil yelled from behind him.
Link stepped to the side just in time to avoid a bomb arrow, the projectile blowing apart a rather large Gohma making it's way out of the tree line. The Hero focused as his teammates fought around him, with the numbers the Gohma spiders were appearing in, it wasn't long before they were overrun, he had to do something, something only the Hero was capable of. He closed his eyes, the sounds of ice shattering and bolts of light energy shooting through the air greeting his ears, he gripped his sword tightly and opened his eyes, a golden glow having overtaken them. He pointed his sword back, and the moment a Gohma drew near, let loose a spin attack, the power of the Triforce of Courage flowing through him and into his blade. As he came to a halt, he took a moment to adjust himself, looking around to find most of the Gohmas retreating back into the forest after his assault.
"May I ask why you didn't just start with that?" Trystane asked, looking at Link warily.
"It's a powerful technique, didn't want to catch any of you with it." Link said with a smirk as he watched the Gohma's quickly vanish into the woods.
"Think that's it this time?" Thrakon asked in an unamused manner, scanning the perimeter all the while.
"It would seem we've taken enough of their number for them to perceive us as a threat...or a predator, rather." Aren said, sharpening one of his knives while he spoke.
Link turned his gaze skyward, finding the sun had moved quite far towards the horizon. "Come on, we have to get going if we want to make it to the Sacred Grove before nightfall." Link said, heading off towards the west.
"Why are we trying to find this "Sacred Grove" anyway?" Thrakon asked as he followed.
"It's where the Master Sword rests, I must retrieve it sooner rather than later." Link answered, keeping his gaze forward.
"Yeah, I realized, it's just...shouldn't we be heading towards Labrynna's borders and you know, continuing our mission?" Thrakon continued.
"Are you questioning your commander's orders, soldier?" Elgon asked, an aggressive tone to his voice.
"I'm just wondering why we need this sword when our mission is essentially just to tell the Zora to go home." Thrakon said, digging his heels into the ground as he stopped.
The other members of the team stared at him in disbelief, Kallil backing away slowly.
"Come on, old friend, let's just, be calm and follow our leader, shall we?" Trystane said with a forced laugh.
Link turned slowly, a plain, almost emotionless expression on his face. "We need it, the circumstances may call for it's power." Link explained, turning to face the former sellsword.
"And why is that?" Thrakon asked skeptically.
"Because Ganondorf has risen again." Link answered.
The entire group instantly set their eyes on Link, stunned expressions taking over their faces.
"Link...are you sure of this?" Elgon asked.
"Yes." Link responded, narrowing his eyes at his former instructor.
"He has killed many Royals, and many of my own people, I will follow your every command if it means ending his terror." Aren asked, shooting to his feet.
Link locked eyes with Aren, Ganon had indeed killed many members of the Royal family, and anyone who tried to protect them, leaving a large number of dead Sheikah in his wake. "I'm thankful for your devotion, Aren, now, shall we move on?" Link asked, a serious tone saturating his words.
The group turned to Thrakon, waiting for the man to argue, with their teammate choosing to move on instead.
Link silently acknowledged the agreement, moving onward. He admitted it, as he didn't want to start a fight, but it greatly annoyed him that Thrakon remained skeptical. The man had seemingly been trying to say that he didn't believe in the Master Sword's abilities, but Link refused to dwell on this as he focused on the task at hand. Placing a hand on a rather large tree, he pulled himself up the small rise, stopping as he felt something, tightening his grip on the tree, he still could barely feel it, but was sure there was something moving high in the trees. He stopped, withdrawing his bow and arrow.
"Link, what is it?" Kallil asked, looking confused.
Link silently knelt down, jabbing the back of an arrow into a Gohma's web that hung in the air. With the web firmly stuck to the arrow, he launched it at a tree a short distance from him, the arrow pulling the web taut.
The group watched as the strand begin to quiver, the vibrations in the trees moving through it.
"There's something quite large moving around up there." Aren said, staring up at the trees.
"And by the looks of it, it's trying to be stealthy." Elgon said, focusing on the web.
"If I'm right about what it is, we won't have to wait much longer for it to make it's presence known." Link said, keeping his sword held in front of him.
The group looked around, waiting, silence overtaking the woods they stood in.
"There!" Trystane shouted, pointing to his left.
An enormous Gohma large enough to eat an ox whole stared at them from behind a row of trees, it's pincers moving rapidly.
"The Queen has graced us with her presence." Link said sarcastically,
"How did we not notice that?!" Trystane asked, mild terror taking over his face.
Trees exploded into splinters as the Queen shot toward the small force in front of her.
"Trystane!" Link shouted.
Sir Trystane outstretched both his arms, a large dome of ice surrounding the group.
"Well now what?" Thrakon asked.
Link was about to answer as the dome shattered to pieces around them. He looked up to see Elgon shoot a beam of light at the Gohma, the creature almost unperturbed by the attack.
The Queen took her attention off of the group for a moment, turning her gaze downwards, softly nudging one of the fallen Gohmas, it's body turning over limply, the Queen letting out a quiet whining noise.
"I almost feel sorry for her." Aren remarked.
"You won't soon enough." Link shot, his brow furrowing.
The Queen roared, racing towards the team, Kallil loosed arrow after arrow, every shot bouncing off the Queens carapace, Trystane attempting to break through with ice based attacks, but to no avail.
"We have to get underneath!" Link shouted.
"That's insane!" Trystane responded, throwing another spear of ice.
"That's what I thought." Link replied, racing towards the massive arachnid.
The Queen stumbled to the side as a bomb arrow exploded against her, but seemed mostly unfazed.
Link attempted to make his way underneath, only to be knocked back by a kick from the Queen.
"Link, are you alright?" Elgon asked as he ran up to his former student.
"I've been through worse, you know that." Link said, Elgon nodding in agreement.
"So what's the plan?" Elgon asked.
Link looked on, watching his teammates dodge around the spider's numerous assaults, Thrakon demonstrating his strength by tossing a small tree at the Queen, only to have her effortlessly knock it away. Looking up, he saw something large seemingly drop from the sky, straight onto the Queen. With a loud crack and a screech, the Queen dropped to the ground, lying motionless.
Link stood in shock, as did his teammates, eyeing the Queen's corpse warily.
"Did the Princess send help?" Elgon asked, looking just as confused as the other members of his team.
Slowly they approached, stopping as something rose out of a sizable wound on the Queens back. It was nearly three meters tall, two large horns sprouting from it's head, it's face looked like a mix of a man and a goat...the realization hitting Link at once.
"We have to go...now." he breathed, looking to Elgon.
Both the Hero and Sage turned forwards, watching tensely as Trystane stepped forward. "It would seem we owe you thanks, be you friend or foe? I'd much prefer the answer be "friend"." he said, nodding towards the being.
It looked from side to side, it's eyes sweeping over the group.
Link recognized it instantly, he fought it in Termina...or something like it, the face was the same but the humanoid form was new.
"I thought you destroyed all of those masks." Elgon said grimly.
Link shot Elgon a surprised look, he had followed Link to Termina in his owl form, but he didn't know he had been aware of all that had occurred during Link's brief quest there. "So did I." Link said, staring forward. Goht was a powerful boss monster, and the last one he expected to see again.
Suddenly the humanoid Goht sprang forward at Trystane, the Knight bringing up an ice barrier to protect himself, with the wall being easily shattered. Kallil loosed an arrow, but it merely bounced off of the creature's hide. Thrakon and Aren charged, weapons at the ready, but were forced to dodge a lightning bolt generated by the human Goht's horns.
It looked around, eyes setting on Kallil. "You...traitor!" it growled, charging towards him, Thrakon jumped in front of the younger man, extending his arms. Goht grabbed onto his hands, attempting to push him back, with Thrakon managing to push the creature back a few inches before being thrown to the side.
Link ran to his friend's aid, pulling Kallil behind Elgon as Trystane and Aren helped Thrakon to his feet. Goht charged the assembled group, with Elgon summoning a barrier of light energy immediately.
"Why did he call you a traitor?" Aren asked, looking at Kallil.
"How did he speak?" Link thought to himself.
"I...I don't know." Kallil said.
"There's two minds inside that body, one human, and one...well...I'm not sure." Elgon shouted as the creature smashed it's fists against the barrier.
It's eyes burned with rage as it continued the attack, but it started to slow as it's eyes fell on Link, the Hero locking eyes with the creature. Goht stopped it's attack, keeping it's gaze on the Hero.
"It's looking at you." Thrakon pointed out.
"I realized." Link replied.
Goht stepped back, suddenly bending forward as a massive bolt of energy shot from it's horns, shattering Elgon's shield.
"Spread out!" Link yelled as each of his teammates shot off in different directions, Elgon looking back as he did so. Link looked up only to find that Goht's eyes were still trained on him. The Hero dashed across the clearing, Goht's thundering footfalls behind him, he turned brought his sword down, the blade colliding with the creature's armored forearm.
"You're getting slow, Link." Goht growled.
Link felt a chill run down his spine, he had found the voice slightly familiar before, but this all but confirmed he knew the beast, and not just from another life. "Oreck?" Link asked quietly, the voice was heavily distorted, but through all of that he could still tell it was his old friend underneath the mask, even in the radically different shape his body was in.
Goht charged again without answering, Link leaping back to avoid a swipe from the creature. He stopped on one foot, jumping to avoid another strike from Goht, the Hero kicked off the beast's arm, taking a firm hold of one horn. Goht thrashed about trying to shake Link off, but Link refused to let go, energy began to crackle across Goht's horns, Link still holding firm, waiting for the moment to strike. A blue ball of electricity began to form between Goht's horns, the beast attempting to blast Link off, the Hero thrusting his sword into the mass of energy.
Link dropped to the ground as a large crack sounded, Goht falling to the ground after Link's disruption of the energy blast he tried to form. Link walked over to the beast, looking into it's eyes at it lay on the ground, they were Oreck's eyes, he was sure of it.
"Oreck, I don't know what they've done to you, what they've told you, but I can help you, please." Link said, outstretching a hand.
His old friend stared back, extending his massive hand towards his, Link made to take it, only to have the hand form into a fist, knocking him to the ground a short distance away.
oOo
Elgon and the others tried to follow, but were stopped in their paths by a bolt of energy striking the ground in front of them, a Gerudo woman and the traitorous Minister Ryos appearing from within the smoke.
"What is this?" Elgon growled.
"You have your mission, we have ours, Light Sage." the Gerudo woman said.
"Hm, a Gerudo, I haven't seen one of you in Hyrule for a while, legend has it you migrated to Termina after the Era of the Hero of Time, and returned after the Twilight Invasion." Elgon stated in a matter-of-fact manner.
Ryos suddenly teleported away, the group hearing a surprised shout from their left.
"Now, now, no trying to distract me while he tried to sneak away." the Gerudo woman taunted.
Elgon, Thrakon, Trystane, and Kallil looked to the left to find Minister Ryos, arms stretched to extreme length wrapped around Aren. "What shall I do with this one?" he asked in a threatening tone, a hand transforming into a grotesque blade of flesh and bone.
"Kill him." the Gerudo woman said with a smile.
"No!" Elgon shouted, lunging at the woman.
Kallil nocked an arrow, shooting it towards Ryos, only to have him teleport away.
"Aren, are you alright?" Kallil called, suddenly he felt a numbness in his shoulder, turning to find Ryos, a bone blade covered in blood. Kallil fell to one knee as pain overtook him.
Elgon threw a ball of energy at the woman, with her easily deflecting the attack and tossing a fireball at him, Elgon fading back to avoid it.
"You're quick for an old man!" she yelled, running towards him.
Elgon ignored the remark, charging a bolt of light energy in his hand, he made to throw it, only to have the woman telekinetically catch his hand. Elgon moved against the grip, but her magic proved strong, he looked up to find Goht above him.
"Take him now, he's too powerful, I can't hold him! the Gerudo woman said.
Just then, Elgon broke from her grip, rolling across the ground as the beast attempted to grab him. Trystane and Thrakon ran up beside the beast, Trystane letting loose a torrent of ice and snow from his palms, the creature slowly freezing solid.
The Gerudo woman looked flustered, only to have a large smile grown on her face, she flipped backwards, letting loose a bolt of energy from the crystal on her forehead, striking Aren, who had been attempting to sneak up on her, in the chest. As she landed, she extended her arm, shooting a bolt of lightning towards Elgon, the projectile making it's mark.
"Elgon!" Kallil called as he stood, only to have Ryos block his path. He nocked an arrow, loosing it at the Minister, only to have the man assume the form of smoke, the arrow passing straight through before he returned to his human form. Kallil drew a knife, only to be kicked to the ground by the Gerudo woman. Kallil looked over to find Elgon lying limp on the ground, Trystane and Thrakon being kept busy with the beast, and Link and Aren no where in sight.
"What shall we do with him, Ryos? He's such a pest with all of his arrows...how about we take the whole thing?" she asked, grabbing a firm hold of his arm.
Kallil tried to throw her off, but was instantly hit with a jolt of electricity, paralyzing him.
"Stay still!" the Gerudo woman growled.
"I'll agree if I'm the one to sever it." Ryos said, a manic smile on his face.
"Fine then, but I'll have some fun first." the Gerudo woman said.
Kallil tried to fight her, but was unable to move as she picked up his knife. He felt the urge to cry out, but couldn't as the woman severed his little finger.
"That's one." she said with a laugh.
"Shilara!" Minsiter Ryos yelled, the woman being knocked off of Kallil by Aren.
Minister Ryos whirled around to find the Hero at his back. "I will kill you this time, Hero!"
Link said nothing, instead reaching inside of himself, bringing forth the Triforce's power. A gold aura pulsed out from him, his eyes glowing the same brilliant color.
What is this?!" Ryos roared as he lunged forward, bone blade pointed at Link.
Link reached out, grabbing the Minister's arm, his hand burning through the man's wrist with relative ease.
"I can't heal it, what have you done to me?" Ryos cried out in panic, unable to regenerate his lost limb.
Link leapt forward as the Minister attempted to take the form of smoke, the Hero jabbing both of his hands into the Minster's form, ripping the Demon in half, Ryos giving a short scream before fading into nothingness.
oOo
"Come, monster!" Trystane called out, Goht charging him.
Thrakon jumped onto the monster's back, slashing madly at it's neck before being thrown off.
"Now!" Thrakon yelled as he hit the ground.
Trystane pointed his arms toward the beast as it started in his direction, the Knight let loose a continuous blast of ice and snow, Goht slowly freezing as he strode in Trystane's direction, his footfalls eventually coming to a complete stop.
"C'mon, we need to go help the others!" Trystane yelled as he got to his feet.
"Wait!" Thrakon replied.
Both men watched as cracks spread throughout the ice surrounding Goht, the beast beginning to break out of it's frozen prison.
"I can't refreeze it, I used all of my magic." Trystane said, looking towards Thrakon.
Without a second thought Thrakon grabbed a hold of the frozen Goht, and with one powerful heave, threw the monster straight across the clearing, the ice around it shattering as it hit the ground, lying motionless.
oOo
Link looked off towards Aren as he tended to Kallil, he was concerned, but this came first.
"Are you just going to stand there?" the Gerudo woman asked, a cheerful tone to her voice.
Link rushed forward, deflecting an energy blast from the woman, he slashed downward, narrowly missing her as she dodged to his right. "I've bested your kind before." Link shot before diving back at her.
"You haven't met any like me before." she said with a smirk.
Link was blinded by a flash, soon finding the woman right in front of him. She threw a fireball in his direction, narrowly missing as Link faded to the side and performed a jump attack.
Before the assault could continue, Goht landed not for from their location, laying almost motionless.
"Oreck!" Link yelled, the Hero turned to find a ball of energy heading towards him, the projectile hitting him in the side, knocking him to the ground.
The Gerudo woman leapt to Goht's side, "Get the Light Sage! Quickly!" she hissed.
Goht stood up, making his way towards Elgon.
Link ran forward as Goht took up Elgon in one arm, slowly walking towards the Gerudo woman.
"Don't crush him, my big brother has such grand plans for him." the Gerudo woman said with a broad grin.
Link felt a chill travel down his spine..."brother?" he thought.
The Gerudo woman turned to him, electricity coursing down her arms and into her palms. "Sorry I have to cut this short, I'll be seeing you again soon." she taunted, a large portal opening behind her and Goht.
"No!" Link yelled, he ran at full speed toward the portal, he had to help Oreck and get Elgon back. He lunged at the two as they entered, only for it to close as he reached it. Link fell to his knees and drove fist into the ground, so far the mission was turning into quite the disaster. He looked up as a snowball flew past his head, landing where the portal had been.
"That's all you had?" Thrakon asked.
"They were escaping, I had to do something...I just didn't have enough power for an icicle." Trystane replied.
"Come on, we have to keep going." Link said, a dejected tone to his voice as he walked away.
"Did they get Elgon?" Kallil asked as he approached, his wounds sealed with the use of a red potion.
Link lowered his head, looking off to the side. "We have to get moving, we're losing time." he said, his teammates silently following as he walked away.
oOo
Link looked over to his team, they were all injured to an extent, but soldiered on nonetheless, he admired that about them. It wasn't often he had a team that accompanied him, and even less often he had one devoted as this, he looked across the group, Thrakon, Trystane, Aren, and Kallil were all strangers at one point, but were now considered by him to be the closest of his friends.
"We'll get him back, I know this." Trystane said, trying to reassure the group after Elgon's capture.
"What do they need him for anyway?" Aren asked, a contemplative expression on his face.
"His abilities, maybe, he did seem quite powerful." Kallil suggested.
"It's because he's the Light Sage, one of the most instrumental figures in Ganon's downfall." Link said, slightly exasperated.
His team stayed silent for a moment, walking behind him as he went back to his quiet demeanor.
"Looking back on it, that seems rather obvious now." Trystane said, going silent as they rounded the next corner.
Ahead of them lay the ruins of the original Temple of Time, covered in moss and greenery, two enormous statues beside the entrance.
"We've arrived." Link said, a glimmer of hope igniting inside of him as he laid his eyes upon the Master Sword's resting place.
oOo
Here we are, chapter 28! I hope you enjoyed it!
Gerudospirit: Sorry if I freaked you out, I too am arachnophobic, so it's kinda fun writing my characters as the opposite! I totally agree with you about the Armogohma boss fight, I don't know if I could complete it! I'm glad you liked the dialogue between Cia and Zelda, I tried to make it advance the plot all while showing the rather one sided romantic rivalry between the two! I think Zelda has had a brother in one game, but he only appeared in the opening scene, but I'm really happy you like the way they banter and such, I didn't know how I'd write him at first, so I'm glad you liked the end result!
Lady Kiridia: I think Heart of the End is close enough, so it's all good! And thank you so much for the compliment! By the time I wrote the first chapter I hadn't really flexed my literary muscles (so to speak) in a LONG time, but now that I'm 28 chapters and 5 months in I think I've kinda gotten back on the horse! I'm glad you've seen improvement! Thank you so much! Shilara's growing on you? Good! A Gerudo centered fic does sound interesting, so I'll make sure to write something up! Thank you for reviewing!
Shout out to Mythical Geyser, Kiersten-Chan, and DrDonut for favoriting and following! You're all awesome!
Thank you for reading, and if you spot a mistake, feel free to point it! Best of luck!
-Prometheus17