A.N.: Yes! I had free time! I try not to let readers suffer horrible cliff hangers for too long ;)
Chapter 13: Enter, Nightmare Dethl
Link looked from Vaati to the dragon nervously, wondering if this was when the mage was going to get the punishment he deserved. Not that Link agreed Vaati should be punished anymore; he had a feeling he was going to miss the mage when this ended, strange as it was. Vaati's smirk was becoming strained as the Sky Spirit remained watching them quietly. Finally the dragon turned its head away.
"That was just a warning. We spirits will never forget, but we are also known to give chances. Redemption. That concept does exist, even for demons such as you." Vaati was still as stone as the dragon arched its neck to the sky and puffed a smoke ring. "I have heard of your involvement with the defeat of the Helmaroc King, and you have assisted the Hero of Time. Zephos has even taken a liking to you, it seems."
Medli shifted over to Link and whispered, keeping her eyes on the mage. "Who is Vaati?" Link jumped, as he had forgotten about the Rito girl, and then shushed her as Valoo growled.
"The Wind Waker has accepted you as its new master, O sorcerer. Use it, and use it well, for there has been a great disturbance in time and the Dark King has returned to Hyrule with a formidable being. We all need your assistance."
Vaati's smirk cracked into a cackle as relief swept over him. "Assistance from me? Ha." He regained his composure and held up the unreadable map in front of him. "Good, this serves me quite well. You won't try to destroy me and I can continue pursuing what I have gone after all this time." There was a rustle of paper as Vaati produced the unreadable map and held it up for the spirit to see. "Now help us read the map."
Ignoring the sorcerer's suddenly arrogant attitude, the dragon squinted its eyes as it craned to see the writing on the map. It gave a soft chuckle with flames escaping from between its teeth causing Vaati to stumble back. The mage was still a bit jittery after Valoo's threat to punish him earlier. "That is the dungeon map of the Tower of Gods. Hero of Time, you have once conquered the tower to gain entrance to Hyrule. You need not repeat the trial again."
Link was confused. "Tower of Gods? Trial? I can go to Hyrule from the Tower of Gods?"
"That is correct, O hero. You will know how to reach the ancient city when next you arrive at the sacred tower, and you no longer have need for the map the sorcerer holds. However," Valoo gave another menacing growl as he rounded on Vaati, stopping the mage from tearing the map in half. "We do not trust you. You must prove your worth for entering Hyrule, O Waker of Winds."
Vaati scowled. "A waste of time, but I'll do it. What do I have to do, go beat up a dungeon boss? Help some screaming people terrorized by a monster that suddenly and inexplicably appeared? Be best buddies with Link, hold hands, and make daisy chains?"
"Let the winds take you to where you need to go. You will go alone, and you will return. O Sorcerer of Winds, that is your task. Succeed, and the goddesses may forgive you. Now go."
Vaati, Link, and Medli stood in silence, waiting to see if there was more to be said. After several minutes, it was becoming evident that Valoo didn't plan to talk to them anymore. Link was the first to break the uncomfortable quiet. "So, I guess good luck then, Vaati."
The mage hissed irritably between his teeth in answer. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and the hand with the Wind Waker twitched a little as he tried to sense something in the air. Vaati eventually disappeared with a cyclone, leaving Medli and Link with the great dragon, but not before giving the green clad boy a worried smile. Link sat with Medli on a boulder as they waited for the sorcerer's return.
"Do you think he'll come back?" Medli asked. She watched Link scuff his boots in the red sand.
"He always does."
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Vaati was forced to stop in front of a sheer cliff that jutted out of the ocean. It was a bit farther out from the mainland, but he could still make out the clouds that circled around the top of Valoo's mountain. He stepped inside a waterlogged cave where the sound of waves hitting the rough rocks echoed around the walls. The salty gentle breeze caressed his bangs and beckoned him further into the cave; the atmosphere was so soothing that Vaati found himself drifting off to sleep. He gave up trying to fight against the sudden drowsiness, and it was only after he slid onto the cool sand that he realized he was under a magical spell.
Sleep, master. There's a better world than this one.
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An hour had passed since the mage had left, and Medli was trying to explain to Link his adventures on the Great Sea. Link gave grunts and "oh's" to appear interested, but his mind was elsewhere. It felt awkward to be told he had done something when it was really someone else who had done the saving.
"Hey Link? Are you listening?" The Rito's voice was exceptionally shy.
"Yeah…"
"You're not."
"Yeah."
Link continued to swing his legs absentmindedly until he realized Medli was looking hurt. He backtracked and tried to figure out what part of the conversation he had messed up. Oh, oops. "I'm so sorry Medli! I didn't mean that!"
The girl tried to smile. "It's all right. I don't mind, really."
Link was skeptical. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! I'm all right. I'm sure," she said hurriedly. "Um, can I ask you something?" Medli asked, trying to change the subject to make it less awkward for Link.
"Sure."
She leaned closer and her eyes bore into Link's. "You understand the ancient language."
"Uh, that wasn't a question."
"Well, do you?"
Link didn't know how to reply. If he told her the truth, there was a good chance she was going to take him for a nutter. Well, Niko believed him, but that was because it was Niko. He also wasn't sure how much more time could be messed up by telling her the truth. Link decided to play it safe. "No, I don't."
Medli looked thoughtful and put a hand to her chin. "Oh. Um, maybe it was only your friend, then? I could have been mistaken. I'm sorry if I bothered you," she said quietly.
Link smiled in relief, glad that she wasn't going to pursue that line of conversation. "It's all right. There's no need to be sorry." He was startled when she tilted her head and pursed her lips accusingly. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I was just speaking in the ancient language, and yet you still understood me. You do know the ancient language."
"I, um, studied it a lot during my free time."
"It takes many years to master the ancient language, and only the spirits and people like myself have the ability to teach it today. Why can't you trust me?"
Link glanced at Valoo for help, but he didn't expect much. He sighed. Well, it's not like history can be screwed up even more than it already has.
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Vaati was welcomed by a shrill voice as soon as he opened his eyes. "You've arrived! Thank goodness, we love guests. Master Vaati, is there anything we can do for you?" A shadow being floated in front of the somewhat groggy mage. It had the form of a miniblin except it was completely black with a crescent gleaming white smile that substituted a mouth. Vaati couldn't stare at it without getting the feeling of having his soul sucked into its blackness.
"Come, come, master Vaati. We're sure we'll get along! We know you want the same things we want."
The sorcerer tried to take a look around his surroundings, but all he saw was a dark void. There was nothing here save for the perpetual darkness.
"Oh dear, we've forgot to introduce ourselves, master Vaati! Our name is Dethl. We are what is left of Nightmare."
Vaati forced himself to look at the smiling Dethl. "What do you want?"
"We want what you want. We have a lot in common, master Vaati, for we also tried to take over a kingdom and we were defeated by Link." Dethl's artificial smile momentarily frowned at the Hero of Time's name. "What do you say we work together to create a perfect world, master Vaati? We can help you. We are your slave. We will do what we have been trying to do before Link came and ruined it, yes."
Vaati perked up and his task assigned by Valoo slipped away from his mind. The mage made himself comfortable on the ground, his eyes glinting. "Keep talking. I want to know more."
"Yes, yes! Master Vaati, we will do what you wish. How about we start off and revive your magical abilities?" Dethl happily clapped its hands. The shadow twirled around and snapped its fingers, causing the blue runes around Vaati's wrists to spiral away until they were gone. Vaati sat stunned and waved his wrists, trying to accept the fact that he was no longer bound by the curse. The mage muttered a few spells and sent a powerful blast of energy into the void.
"We can provide something you can blow up, if you like," Dethl exclaimed and they were suddenly inside the courtyard of what looked like Hyrule Castle. Vaati repeated the previous spell and obliterated the western wall. The mage marveled at the return of his magic, and the sinister aura he had once carried gradually resurfaced.
Dethl giggled as a group of soldiers appeared, attracted by the noise. "Uh oh. Master Vaati, we might win some ugly new statues in the castle grounds."
"Unfortunately. To Stone With You!" There was a flash of light and the soldiers turned to stone. Vaati walked over to one of them and knocked his fists against the new statue. The stoning spell had been one of his most favorite non-wind spells. "Is this real?" he whispered in awe.
"As real as real can be! As real as you and me!" Dethl laughed. "Reality is what you believe is true, master Vaati. We just know how to control it better than most people. Anything is possible in this world, master Vaati!"
Vaati grinned broadly. He liked what the shadow was saying.
"Master Vaati, shall we begin? How about we start with a Hyrule where the Hero of Time never has and never will exist?"
The red eyes gleamed. "I will like that very much."
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fleets: For those of you who don't recognize Dethyl/Nightmare; the character is from Link's Awakening. I just put this notice here because I'm assuming not too many people have played the game. If you're still confused, wait it out for the coming chapters :D.
Rune Caster: Thanks again! I'm trying not to disappoint ;)
Diablo1123: You should definitely play Wind Waker. Best GC game ever. EVER. And one of the best Zelda games.
Reily96: Because! ...I don't have an answer to that. Don't we love cliffhangers? Don't we? Don't we? No? Aw, shucks. XD
Peka the Corsair: I wanted to find out what was going to happen next, so I spared everyone (including myself) from the wait. Plus I had free time ;)