Nayru found the Slayer as he was reading from their library. Or rather, it was a combination of reading and waving a strange light over the books. "Busy?" She asked. "And what exactly are you doing?"
"Scanning. Adding to the FOD's database of the multiverse. All the data, be it scientific, cultural, and beyond," he explains. "It's become a hobby, due to immortality and multiversal travel. Build a database of ALL the information about existence."
"Wait...ALL the knowledge?" Nayru asks, a gleam in her eyes. "All the secrets, of worlds beyond Hyrule? All the history, all the science, all the art and literature?"
"Someone is nerding out," the Slayer chuckles. "I should teach you about computers. Though that's...a ways off. Have to understand underlying tech first."
"We have SOME advanced technology. Link will end up using something called a Sheikah Slate," Nayru explains, magically summoning an example for the Slayer to look at.
"OK, so you all have tablet PC's. But it seems to work via different technology," he says after some examination, handing it back. "Why aren't they everywhere?"
"Because...because of Ganondorf," Nayru explains. On the Slate, she shows some videos of the Guardians going berserk due to Ganondorf's influence, as well as the Divine Beasts. "Because while I once inspired the original Sheikah to create the technology, the royal family grew distrustful, and ordered all the tech buried. The most recent king, Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, had dug for the old tech, but well...you saw."
"And yet, some tech remains elusive. Never discovered gunpowder, nor steam. Compared to Earth, you guys jumped a few steps," the Slayer observes. "Though from what I've read of your history...tech just LOVES to jump around, doesn't it? Various dungeons that Links have gone through have displayed tech far above what a medieval period society should. Not to mention how, before Hyrule was even founded, there were robots, in the desert that bears your name. I've seen some odd views on tech in my time, but here? It's like you all view anything more complex than a sword as evil. Though with what I've seen...for good reason."
"And maybe you can change that," Nayru says as she gets closer. "So much knowledge about the multiverse, you could share it with our people. Get them on the same level of technology as anybody else," she adds with another eye gleam.
"Is it me, or are you thirsty for the knowledge I possess?" the Slayer asks with a chuckle, and Nayru begins to stammer a little.
"H-hey, I-I'm not thirsty! It's only the knowledge of every realm beyond this one! W-why would I be interested in that?" She asks, the lie evident to both of them.
"Well I understand. And besides, something tells me that due to my...situation, you're interested especially in where I'm from. What our history's like. Etc." He then changes the topic. "But you didn't come here for that. Not NOW at least."
"True," Nayru says as she comes closer. "I'm just here to test a theory. To finally prove to my sisters that a decision I made once will actually pay off." The Slayer raises an eyebrow, and she continues. "See, Ganon emits a unique energy, called Malice. And at least on a surface level...seems similar to the Argent you're familiar with. Sure, the EXACT makeup and properties may differ. But..."
"Close enough?" the Slayer asks. "And you think I can absorb it? And if I was to make a guess at the 'decision' you refer to, you have some, don't you? Somewhere secure?"
"You do not know how refreshing it is to FINALLY have a hero with some wisdom. Past Links haven't always had that. The Hero of Winds especially is an example," Nayru says, taking the Slayer's hand as she leads him away, and down some stairs. After going through a few dark hallways, they come to a portal. "It's hard to explain without showing. In fact..." She conjures up a cloud, an image forming on it as if projected. "So the kid you see here is Link. Well, that version of, the eventual Hero of Winds. This is the island he was born on, Outset. He's just rescued Tetra, the tanned blonde pirate girl here, who fell from the claws of this giant bird into a forest. Now this giant bird is about to abduct his sister, Aryll." Nayru explains as the Slayer watches the giant masked bird swoop away with the young blonde girl, and then the video pauses. "Now, what would you do here? Oh, and just as a reference..." she also projects a map of Outset. "Again, imagine you've never left this island, and know it like the back of your hand. And all you have is a sword."
"Well, I'd likely curse at the bird, track where it's going, and force the pirates to give me a ride," he responds. "But what did HE do?"
Nayru just lets the video play. Slayer watches as that Link draws his sword as if he was going to fight the bird, running towards it, and off a cliff, only saved by Tetra and other pirates catching him.
"OK, I see what you mean," the Slayer says with a small smile. "Fine line between courage and stupidity, and he just took a running leap across it. Almost literally," he continues.
Nayru laughs, but speeds up the footage to a later moment. "Oh he did. And it's not even the ONLY time. Now he's at the Forsaken Fortress. He's about to get launched inside. Now, anytime a sword's in its sheath, you'd strap it in, right?" She asks, and the Slayer nods. "Well, he didn't. So watch what happens!" She continues with some annoyance, as Link gets lauched inside, sword falling out of the sheath and onto a higher portion of the fortress, while Link himself landed in the water. "So because he's missing his sword, the ONE thing he has at this point, besides his shield, he has to sneak around for his first visit! Even got caught a few times! That boy...too much courage, too much power, not enough wisdom. Only enough to solve the puzzles."
She then clears her throat and changes the subject. "This portal leads to the Dark World," she explains, waving her hands around as the portal activates. "Or rather, a small pocket realm we created and named after a time when Ganondorf corrupted a pocket of the Sacred Realm itself. You could say it's our own miniature version of Hell, for our own criminals. Various servants of Ganondorf are in there, along with their evil tools of the trade. Along with samples of various evil magics and energies. It's not a pleasant place to be, so—But then again, this is likely STILL just a vacation for you," she chuckles nervously, having been interrupted by the sound of the Slayer, who had silently summoned all of his armor as well as his shotgun, giving it an audible slow pump, and the pair walk through.
The Dark World lived up to its name. To the Slayer, it could've passed for early pictures of Mars, all barren and rocky, without even any dead vegetation, and with a black empty sky above. The gloom was enough that Nayru had to conjurThe air he was getting through his air scrubbers tasted toxic, but nothing he couldn't handle. Hell's atmosphere was hotter, burning the lungs, with the smell of sulfur throughout the air. Nayru was clearly uncomfortable, as she led the way deeper into the Dark World. "I hate it here. Even for us, this place is not somewhere to hang out. I'm glad you're here," she says, sticking close to him. "It's just up ahead, the vault."
It wasn't long until the Slayer noticed two things swooping overhead. When they got closer he realized they fit the stereotype of witches, a pair of old women on broomsticks, complete with cackling. "Ohoho! Why does our esteemed Goddess of Wisdom pay us a visit, hm? And why bring this stranger here! You are a fool to bring a mortal man to the Dark World!" One of them says, the one with an reddish-orange gem, readying a spell that looked like fire. The Slayer didn't even think. One shove pushed Nayru behind him, while with the other he fired a shell at the witch. "Ouch! That thing hurt! What IS that thing?"
"Koume, Kotake, back off," Nayru says, addressing first the witch that attacked her, then the other witch that was circling behind them, similar to the first but with a white-blue gem instead. Let me guess, ice magic. And huh, Koume. Has an M like magma. So now I know how to tell them apart. And therefore, Kotake's the ice witch by process of elimination. The Slayer thought to himself. "The Twinrova sisters. Ganondorf's surrogate mothers. The foulest Gerudo witches, also guilty of brainwashing Nabooru for seven years. Weak to each other's magic though," Nayru introduces them to the Slayer.
"So rude! You introduce us, but who is HE?" Kotake asks as she readies a spell. The Slayer responded by sending a flame belch her way, swapping out for the ballista once the ice witch was on fire. A couple of charged Arbalest shots later, and the witch was down. He was still acting on instinct when he rushed forward, grabbing Kotake as he shoved the Doom Blade into her skull.
But what happened next shocked them all. Since both witches were already dead, there was no true flesh to harm. But the ghostly essence was still vulnerable to the Slayer, and Kotake faded away, Nayru able to tell her essence had just been absorbed by the Slayer. What the fuck...on one hand, this is a good thing. On the other hand...he can kill the already dead and absorb their souls. Even WE can't do that. Are we unleashing something worse upon Hyrule? Nayru thought, fear rising inside of her, especially since her wisdom was failing her, failing to see if this was the correct path.
"Kotake? What did you do to her? WHAT ARE YOU?" Koume's face echoed how Nayru felt, but worse, seeing her sister suffer a second death. But she raised her wand to cast some fire at the Slayer, though her hand was shaking. The Slayer responded with more of the heavy metal blaring from his suit, which actually caused Koume's spell to miss, as her hand was shaking so badly. But the Slayer responded by firing an Ice Bomb at the fire witch, followed by more charged Arbalest shots. One Glory Kill later, and the last of Twinrova was no more.
"You...you can kill them. Again. Even though they were already dead. You destroyed their spirits. You ABSORBED them. We can't do that. We had to trap them here. But you..." Nayru stumbled over her words as the Slayer walked up to her, and she was tempted to run away, knowing she lacked the power or courage of her sisters.
But his weapon just vanishes as he puts a hand on her shoulder, the music cutting out. "They were going to harm us. I did what I had to do. Apologies for pushing you out of the way," he says politely, talking as if he was asking about the weather. "Now I get why you're afraid. Honestly...even I didn't know I could do that. Here, let me help." Nayru gasps as an armored hand grips hers, tightly enough she'd worry if she were human, but gentle enough to prevent pain or damage. "Oh, and while I'm at it...some music from a game I like." Drums start to play, a soft gentle beat at the speed of a heartbeat, soon followed by something with strings, possibly a harp, but Nayru couldn't be sure. This soon swelled with more strings, but possibly a cello this time, as the music reached its crescendo, with other strings filling in other musical gaps. The Slayer even moved his free hand as if conducting, until the song came to an end, and Nayru could feel that her once quick beating heart had slowed to a managable pace.
"Wh-what was that?" She asks, surprised he had music that didn't make her think of a hunter chasing doomed prey. This piece was relaxing, calming, majestic even.
"Nerevar Rising, the title theme to the old Earth game, Morrowind," he answers as they head deeper into the Dark World. She caught a glimpse of his face through his helmet, and she could tell there was worry on his face, though he hid it well. "Good, your stress levels are dropping."
"How do you know that?" She asks, the wonders of him never ceasing.
"Various detectors in the gauntlet," he answers, and Nayru almost pulled her hand free, but his grip was firm. Is this what it was like for Din? To feel powerless before him? Yet one part of her didn't really WANT to pull away. Especially if he could kill even those the goddesses couldn't.
Much further in, past the souls of many petty criminals, murderers, and beyond. The Slayer didn't even seem to notice them, as they approached a building that resembled the Temple of Time, but made of the blackest obsidian. "We're here," Nayru says as she mumbles out the words to the opening spell.
Inside, where pews would've been in the real thing, were rows of various dark and evil looking items, all contained within magical fields. The Slayer noticed various black swords, a trident, and even some kind of dark helmet with horns. There was also a strange hat, purple in color, of a similar style to what the Links have worn. Another item was an unusual mask, roughly heart shaped with spikes all around it, and the eyes were large, staring into the soul, and so, so much more. "This is the Dark Vault. Everything that's troubled Hyrule is contained here. Most of what's out here? It's actually dead, but we keep it here, in case. Lingering magic and the like," Nayru explains.
"So in other words, presumed neutralized, but you still want to make sure it's all secured, contained, and protected?" He asks, though he still scanned it all.
"Wouldn't have worded it that way, but yes," Nayru says as she approaches the dark version of the Door of Time, mumbling out the words to the opening spell. Once they were inside, there was a whole slurry of things in containment, many of which the Slayer couldn't identify. And I seem to have misplaced my orange jumpsuit. He thought as he walked up to one sample. Some black and purple energy, swirling within a force field of magic, along with many other samples. "Malice, in its pure form," Nayru explains, as the Slayer approaches it. Nayru drops one of the fields as he reaches forward with his hand.
The moment it drops, the Malice at first wanted to spread in all directions. But once the Slayer's hand touched it, the Malice got sucked right into his hand. The Slayer even felt it enter his system, flowing through his body, and somehow he was able to direct it to manifest into fresh cells for his energy weapons.
"Promising. How is it?" Nayru asks.
"Different sensation compared to Argent. Less heat, more electric. And with a taste of burnt pork," he answers. "Actually...he's fond of pig forms, isn't he?"
"Yes he is, and even I can't say why he favors it," Nayru responds as she opens up another sample of Malice. This time it flies towards the Slayer without him having to do anything, being absorbed right in. "And now, let's try this version." Now she goes over to a sample of solid Malice. "This can be found everywhere. For Link, it'll hurt him. Some variants with an eye can be defeated if the eye is destroyed. Some will even have mouths that spit out some nasties," she explains. The Slayer touched this sample, but didn't immediately absorb it. But nor did it hurt him. "OK, interesting," Nayru says and they repeat the trial with more samples of solid Malice. "OK, so pure Malice you can handle, solid form is a negative, but neither does it harm you. OK, this has overall, been a success. Every monster of Ganondorf's will put out some Malice upon death. But it's JUST the monsters though." The Slayer raises an eyebrow, but she continues. "What? It's not like it's ALL monsters down there. There's deer, there's wolves, boars, fish, birds...you name it. And Link will likely have to hunt some. Which you can help with, I'm sure."
The wind was starting to pick up as Nayru sealed up the Dark Temple behind them as they left, but the Slayer could tell there was something strange about the wind. Excess time around the forces of Hell had given him a sixth sense, tuned specifically for detecting influences of an evil/demonic nature, and it was screaming at him. He pulled out his heavy cannon, aiming everywhere to find something, or someone, to shoot at.
Nayru wasn't sure about the wind's source at first, but her gut was telling her to trust the Slayer, and he was looking paranoid at the growing wind, gathering dust around them. "It must be Vaati!" She yelled to be heard over the tornado forming around them, summoning her own equipment. "One of the few evils of Hyrule not completely aligned with Ganondorf, though they have worked together before."
"How rude. You introduce me, Goddess of Fools, yet not your bodyguard?" A voice from the wind asked. Nayru was even feeling like the wind would pick her up, but one hand from the Slayer kept her down. He meanwhile didn't seem bothered by the wind at all. But instead he just smirked, pulling out his ballista again.
Through the wind, he spotted a figure, firing at it. "Traditionally, it would take the Four Sword to put him down. But I get a feeling you've got this," Nayru says. The Slayer spots an opening, and rushes through the wind to a calm spot, roughly grabbing Nayru's wrist to pull her to safety. Nayru objected, feeling she could handle herself, but she also knew a fundamental weakness of hers. Sure, for all her knowledge of battle, all her battle strategy, she also knew she was the least ready for it. Her sisters had the courage and power to handle a fight, while she was a bookworm.
"Letting your guard dog do all the work?" Vaati asks. "You still haven't introduced him."
Now the Slayer played some of the heavy metal from his suit, as he and Vaati did battle. Vaati didn't always float, nor did he stay in the same form. And he was also fond of his minions to help out. But the Slayer didn't care. The minions were just cannon fodder for him. No, because of traces of Malice they gave upon death, the Slayer just HEALED off of them, as well as refilled his ammo.
But eventually, the fight came to an end. Vaati was in his regular form, wounded, looking up at the Slayer. "Wh-what are you?" He asks with fear.
The Slayer didn't respond. At least not traditionally. Instead he just played an audio sample. "And those that tasted the bite of his sword named him... the Doom Slayer," just before the Slayer finished off the Wind Mage for good.
"He's not been as much a pain in Hyrule's side as Ganondorf, but he's been one of the few villains that've battled multiple Links. Other non-Ganons have only had it once and done." Nayru tells him as they continue on back to the portal. "And I am so eager to get out of here."
When the portal was in sight, the Slayer stopped, putting a hand out to stop Nayru. She didn't see why at first, but then saw a silhouette she knew all too well. One of the few that still possessed flesh. One that vanished in a flurry of diamonds, and reappeared behind them.
"Not now, Ghirahim. Leave," Nayru orders.
"Foolish girl, coming here. And for what, to end my master's curse? Oh yes, I've been listening from afar." Ghirahim was circling the pair, all while the Slayer readied his super shotgun. "Did she tell you the big secret even Hyrule's forgotten, and so too have these three it seems? Ganondorf was not the first. That belongs to my master, Demise. So long as my master's hatred plagues the land, Hyrule will NEVER know lasting peace!" Ghirahim finishes as he stands behind them, sticking his tongue out between the pair. And THIS is why this guy wins the creep award. Nayru thought, inadvertently crossing her legs. Ugh, just being near him makes me want to bathe in the palace spring.
But the Slayer was having none of it, grabbing the creep's tongue and pulling him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground, twin barrels aimed at his chest. But Ghirahim vanished before he could fire. "Ouch! Now you've done it, lapdog of the goddesses!" The air yelled as Ghirahim reappeared, swords in hand. The Slayer only smirked, cueing up BFG Division as they did battle. Ghirahim was fast, but the Slayer could track him, using ice bombs to slow him as well as filling him with buckshot. He even had to use the Sentinel Hammer to stun him. Nayru wanted to help, but they were too fast for her. Not to mention that it would've been her first taste of real battle. But she also realized this journey had been the first REAL fight any of them had seen the Slayer in. And while Ghirahim was doing his best, the Slayer seemed to be toying with him.
But then the big shock came when Nayru felt Ghirahim teleport behind her, holding a sword to her throat. "If I can't beat you, I'll make you surrender! Weapon down, or the pretty thing gets it," Ghirahim says to the Slayer, his face besides hers, giving her cheek a disgusting lick. Nayru was afraid for the first time in her life. Afraid, and disgusted. Or rather, the first time she actually DID fear for her own life, her own safety, and not someone in Hyrule. It was the first time she felt vulnerable. She didn't even know if the sword would DO anything to her, but she didn't want to risk it.
But the Slayer didn't. Nayru heard something whip by her head, hitting Ghirahim right between the eyes, causing him to recoil as he dropped the sword from her throat. She didn't even have time to process as the Slayer just zoomed forward, faster than anyone had ever seen him move, shoving Nayru out of the way. Before Ghirahim had time to react, the Slayer was on him, shoving his hand into Ghirahim's chest. Nayru was appalled to see the Slayer's hand exit out of Ghirahim's back, with something pulsing in his grasp she realized had to be Ghirahim's beating heart. But the Slayer wasn't done. He then removed his hand, shoving Ghirahim's heart down his own throat, as the Slayer held his jaw open with his free hand, breaking it open so his arm would fit. The arm went WAY deep down Ghirahim's throat, the Slayer's elbow vanishing down Ghirahim's throat. And then as the Slayer pulled his arm out, Nayru saw the Doom Blade extend out of Ghirahim's back, slicing him all the way up until his head even split right down the middle as the Slayer retrieved his hand, and Ghirahim collapsed into a heap of blood and viscera, one that actually DID make Nayru vomit from the sight.
The Slayer meanwhile wiped his Doom Blade clean as he went over to Nayru. "Are you OK?" He asks, concern clear in his voice.
"I'm fine," she says after clearing her throat. "What was that? You could've shot me!" She yelled as she got back on her feet.
"I don't miss," the Slayer responds, and Ghirahim's body starts to fade. "Is he right?"
"About Demise? We thought that Ganondorf was always his own thing! I mean, he's a Gerudo! Part of the 'one man every hundred years' thing, and their last king, until they gave that law up. Din even asked Nabooru, the Gerudo sage of Spirit, if they'd like to cease all male births entirely, to bear only daughters forever. Much debate happened among the Gerudo happened after Nabooru informed her people of the plan, and it was agreed upon. We all thought he was just a Gerudo wizard, NOT a manifestation of Demise's curse. Demise himself is sealed within the Master Sword, which itself has been used to seal Ganondorf away. Multiple TIMELINES happened because of Ganondorf. It never occured to us that it's all on Demise," Nayru explains, sitting on a rock.
"Wise in many things, foolish in others," the Slayer says as Ghirahim's body dissolves into energy, flowing into the Slayer. "And him?"
"Like the ONE servant Demise has. Literally Demise's sword, able to shapeshift into his own person. And as you saw...a creep," she says as she wipes the spot where he licked her. "If there was one villain I'm most happy to see gone, besides Ganondorf himself? It'd be him. At least you're absorbing him," she says with a small smile.
"Yeah, I...woah," the Slayer says, energy crackling around him, as he doubles over in pain. "What is WITH this guy?"
"Oh no!" Nayru exclaims as she tries to part the energy from the Slayer. "Hang on, I'll fix this!" The Slayer writhed in pain, but then by chance, his hand touched his hip, and the empty Crucible hilt hanging there. His mark on the hilt glowed. "Wait!" She yells as his hand leaves it, unaware of what happened. She pulls the empty hilt off his hip, forcing it into his hand. "This might help! I don't know how, but it might!"
And so it did. The Slayer's mark on the Crucible glowed, but instead of the usual red, it was a shade of white. The crossguard split open, and a blade sprung forth, resembling the Crucible's regular blade, but now in the same shade of white as his mark, complete with the strange runes of the Argenta. Nayru couldn't help but stare in awe at the blade.
The Slayer meanwhile was calming down, the last of Ghirahim's energy flowing from him into the Crucible. "Wow, that was something. What did you—well, THAT is not the answer I expected," he says as he finally notices the Crucible in his hand, pure white blade projecting from the hilt. He held it up high, watching energy crackle from the blade, and then back in front of him, bowing his head as he gripped it with both hands. "Whomsoever holds this Crucible, if he be worthy, shall possess the crown of the Night Sentinels," he says as he swings it around, Nayru backing up to give him space.
"I was the first Outsider to be king," he adds, his tone becoming more regal, more commanding. "I've changed their ways somewhat. I helped bring unity like never before. Under me, the Argenta allied with others, instead of conquering them. Under me, they even learned of democracy, electing some of their local leaders, and even a senate. I brought change but I also brought prosperity, showing that a correctly set up economy allows the purchase of resources to be cheaper than war. And when Hell came, I led them to many, MANY victories until the betrayal of Valen and the Deags. I have no idea if they would still call me king however," he finishes, holding up the Crucible, as Nayru comes over to inspect it more closely.
"Wow," was all she could say upon hearing his speech. Now he gave off an aura of leadership, the aura only a king could. And the Crucible was lighting up the surrounding darkness, no, it felt more like the darkness retreated in fear of the blade. "Anyway, shall we head back? I know YOU are fine here, but I..." She didn't finish, but she didn't need to. The Slayer deactivated the Crucible, it vanishing back into his pocket dimension as they stepped through the portal back into the goddess's palace, Nayru sealing it shut behind her as she exhales a sigh of relief.
"Now, you need to recover from that," The Slayer tells Nayru. "I'm sure you want a shower. And I can help you destress."
Nayru raised an eyebrow at the fact he almost gave an order, but couldn't help but agree. "And tell me, how would you help me destress?" She asks.
"Well, a movie. Oh right, you don't know what that is. Moving picture, but the slang term became movie, and soon enough that became the actual term used," he explains, pulling off his helmet, which faded into his pocket dimension. "Hmmm, I know a good one to start with. One of the classics of cinema, one that started many careers, and changed humanity. I'll meet you in the living room." Nayru was curious, but went off to bathe.
After washing off Dark World grime, and a fresh set of clothes, she found the Slayer in the palace's living room, dressed in his normal clothes with some new things present. "This is what we're watching this on?" She asks as she sits down on the couch.
"Yes," he answers as he sits down as well. "This is a TV. Television if you want the full word. But the movie we're watching is old." He then sniffed the air. "Cherry blossoms and peaches huh?" He asks.
"Oooh, someone's nose is refined," Nayru giggles as she scoots closer. "Wow, you're warm," she observes as he starts the movie. Some of the opening logos played, followed by the text "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." The quality of neither the picture, nor the sound, was the best, but Nayru was intrigued nonetheless. She kept watching as the opening title appeared, along with trumpets blaring out a grand inspiring melody, which the Slayer waved his arm around for as if conducting. A text crawl appeared over a field of stars, informing her of stolen plans for a planet killer, which made her shudder. Nothing that can destroy planets should ever exist. Even GODS should be wary of such a power, let alone man.
And for the next few hours, her eyes were glued to the screen. She felt herself exhale a breath she didn't know she was holding, chills running down her spine as the planet killer mentioned in the introduction was finally destroyed. Moments later, the movie was over. She had also noticed that she was now leaning on the Slayer, and his arm had found its way around her. It was all too cozy and cute, and he started the next one upon seeing her reaction to the first. She lost track eventually, falling asleep against him with a smile, but the Slayer carried her to bed anyway once it was over.