Chapter 13: Pain
It was a bright and early morning on the shores of Lake Hylia. The birds were out chirping as a cool breeze blew from the lake. The docks of Lake Hylia that keep Hyrule's trade ships in order were not yet opened for their daily travel. Too many, it would seem like a perfect day, but to Link, it seemed like a day that could go wrong at any moment. 'Calm before the storm' as Zelda noted it.
Most of the building that still stood standing in Hyrule were boarded up, and the residents took refuge in some of Hyrule' more remote locations. Most took refuge in the Forest Temple, deep within the Lost Woods, with hopes that Evil would get lost in pursuit.
Today, Link planned on fighting Jason in Zoras Domain. Zelda had been pondering for a long time as to what the symbol of the Dark Triforce stood for. She soon narrowed it down to three things that represent those with an evil heart. Anger, which Brick showed in abundance the night he crossed blades with Link. Spite was narrowed down to Jason for his sadistic ways; bullying those weaker than him. And jealousy was given to Rick, for attacking Link because he had more of something, such as witty come-backs.
Jason was the most ruthless of the three, meaning more Zoras have either been murdered, or tortured for his pleasure. Link's plan for getting to Zoras Domain was to sneak in through the portal that connected the domain to Lake Hylia. Doing so by daylight would be difficult, but Link would be fighting the most ruthless and fastest being in all of Hyrule; it would be better to fight him when he can see him.
Link plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Hylia, diving for the portal. Inch by inch, as Link drew closer to the portal; he could feel the water pressure squeeze his body. Link did his best to ignore this discomfort, and swam into the portal. Within moments, a strong current sucked Link deep into the portal. The lack of light in the transport made it difficult to tell how fast the current was moving.
Link soon saw a light ahead of him, which drew closer every second. Link could feel the water pressure dropping around him. In an instant, Link was out of the portal and was at the surface of the water, taking deep breaths of air. Link then heard the sounds of metal armor all around him. He looked up to see Moblins and Dark Nuts standing around him, holding their weapons in an aggressive manner.
"So nice of you to join us hero," remarked Jason, as he came towards the water that Link was in. "Why didn't you come through the front door? At least there you wouldn't have been surrounded."
Link glared at Jason, anger burning in his eyes. "Are you gonna try and pull the same thing Brick pulled? Have all of your monsters surround me, with out a good fight? If you fought me, then you'd have a free shot at killing me."
"Ordering my monsters to kill you would be the same thing," replied Jason, smirking. "And I wouldn't get blood on my sword, and I wouldn't waste my arrows and throwing stars."
"Scared?" asked Link, wiping water off his forehead.
"Me?" answered Jason, taken aback. "You think I would be scared of an insect like yourself?"
"Of course," said Link, ringing the water out of his hat. "I took your buddy Brick out, and you shouldn't be much harder."
"Brick is still alive," spat Jason, clenching his fists.
"Only because he ran away like a little baby," Link was stifling a laugh, just enrage Jason. "Don't tell me you're gonna be the same way? Oh wait, you are already."
"Hold your tongue!" wailed Jason. "You think you're tough just because you have a sword? Well I have a sword and an army on my side! You couldn't even get a few Gorons to help you!"
This last comment shocked Link, "How'd you know about that?"
"We're always watching," noted Jason. "We know about your plot to have the Gorons distract us, while you sneak into our fortress in Gerudo Valley. Your only option left is to surrender and receive your punishment."
Link let out a small laugh, "Why would I want to surrender to someone who's too scared to fight me alone?"
Jason let out a long sigh, and then raised his left fist. All of the monsters backed off.
"If it's a fight you want, then I'll give you one," said Jason, unsheathing his katana sword. "Just don't disappoint me."
Link got out of the water, unsheathed the Master Sword, and held his shield on his right arm. "Just one thing before we start."
"What?" asked Jason, rolling his eyes.
"Where are the Zoras?"
"Out fishing for the army's supper," replied Jason.
Link used his Pegasus Shoes to lunge at Jason, swinging his sword in a baseball bat fashion, sending Jason flying into a crowd of Moblins. Jason, in his anger, killed most of the Moblins in the crowd. Jason stood, breathing heavily as he sheathed his sword and pulled out his bow.
"Have you ever heard of a Light Arrow?" asked Jason.
"Yeah, Zelda told me that I need to get it," replied Link.
"Ah, well it's time for you to meet my version of the Light Arrow. Something I like to call, the Dark Arrow."
Jason notched an arrow on his bow and drew it back. Dark energy began to emit from the tip of the arrow. Dark shades of purple and blues, along with black began to surround Jason.
"I wish I had Navi here to help me," thought Link.
"Welcome to a world of pain," mocked Jason as he released the arrow.
The room filled with darkness, as though an eclipse has just taken place. Link managed to raise his shield to intercept the arrow, but the power of the arrow shattered his shield. With no further defense to stop the speeding arrow, it collided with Link's right forearm, sending a searing pain through his body. A pain so great, that Link collapsed to the ground in agony.
"Ahhhh!" screamed Link.
Link managed to open his eyes, to see that the room was entirely dark. The only thing that could be heard was Jason's sinister cackle echoing through the domain.
"Ah, behold the power of the Dark Arrow," stated Jason. "Not only can it bring the mightiest warriors to their knees in pain, but darken a room completely."
Link frantically looked all around him, looking for Jason, but to no avail. Without making a sound, Jason ran up to Link, and planted a round house kick to Link's right cheek, sending Link flying across the room and back into the water.
The darkness began to thin, giving Link some vision. Link swam back out of the water and looked for Jason again.
"Ah, no shield, what are you gonna do know hero," mocked Jason, readying another arrow.
Through the thinning dark, Link saw what Jason was preparing for. Frantically, Link readied an arrow himself.
"You think a regular arrow will be able to stop a Dark Arrow?"
Link relaxed his body, concentrating on anything and everything that he as a hero stood for. Justice, peace, hope, life…Link's arrow began to glow a luminous yellow. With some kind of miracle, Link was able to form an arrow without being taught how to do so.
"H-how did you do that?" stammered Jason. "You didn't even know how to do that!"
"Just a last attempt to save my skin I guess," answered Link, firing his arrow at Jason.
Link's Light Arrow was fired way before Jason could release his arrow, leaving Jason in a severe disadvantage. Link's arrow flew right into Jason's chest, causing Jason to fire his arrow too high, missing Link entirely. While Jason was stunned by the pain, Link charged at him, swinging his sword in an angled fashion. Link, unknowingly, used his power bracelets which unleashed a slice of his sword so strong, that Jason flew backwards into a wall, knocking himself unconscious.
"Now's my chance to finish him," thought Link as be began to charge Jason.
Jason's eyes shot open, glowing neon purple. In an instant, Jason vanished, but not in a purple smoke like Brick. Jason's evil laughter could be heard echoing once again through the domain.
"You may be able to run fast, but I am faster!" yelled Jason, with a laugh.
Link could feel the cold steel of Jason's sword sliding across his back, the sharp pain bringing him to his knees. Link turned to the water from which he came, as he pulled out his hookshot and aimed it to a boulder on the other side of the water. Although Link could not see Jason, he could see the splashes of his feet as he ran across the water. With precise timing, Link shot the hookshot at the boulder, just in time for Jason to run into the chain, cloths-lining himself. As Jason was dangling on the chain, the hookshot pulled Link towards him, where he swung his sword, slicing his lower abdomen.
After several minutes of running and hiding, Link and Jason came face to face, exhausted. For what seemed like an eternity to the two bitter enemies, they were crossing blades with each other. All of their swings connecting with the others sword, making an unbearably loud crashing sound.
"Give up Link, you know you can't beat me," panted Jason, holding his lower abdomen.
"You're way too full of yourself Jason," implied Link. "Way to sure of a power you don't have."
In a rage, Jason pulled out a throwing star, and threw it at Link, which hit him just above the hip. Link looked down to see the weapon sticking out of his body, a warm oozing liquid pouring out of the fresh wound.
Without even thinking, Link hurled the Master Sword at Jason, which went right through his chest. Shocked by this move, Jason stared that the sword of evil's bane protruding out of him.
"So, is this how I'll end?" asked Jason, to himself.
Link walked over to Jason and grabbed onto the hilt of his sword. "Now you've just entered a world of pain."
Link began to twist the sword as be pulled it out of Jason, his screams were unbearable, a punishment that seemed unfit for anyone.
"Using the same thing I used on the King of the Zoras," said Jason. "Can't you be more original?"
Link began to swing his sword at Jason's head, but right before the holy blade made contact, Jason escaped by the same means as Brick.
"This will never end," thought Link, sheathing his sword before collapsing to the ground because of his wounds.