A/N: Ok well it took me all week and weekend to finally get this chapter up, and I really didnt do a whole lot of school work, so the next chapter may take two or three weeks to get up. Please note, the next chapter is the FINAL CHAPTER. All good things come to a close, but please, read my IMPORTANT note at the end of this chapter. Also, I hope this answers a couple peoples questions as to how or why some past things happened, and sorry, but I jumped around a lot between Misty and Link, sorry if anyone gets confused. Thank you.
Hyrule castle and the surrounding area had been completely changed. Where once beautiful gardens and paths that crossed the lush green lawn before the castle, was now nothing more then a gaping drop down to a pit of lava. The beautiful entrance gate was now demolished, its rubble blocking the path to the right except for a small path through the middle. The castle had become a demented twisted structure. Where once tall proud white towers stood high, now black spires rose to meet the dark clouds over head. The black fortress floated over the center of the lava pit, seeming to have been ripped from the ground, with no means to reach it.
Misty stood at the edge of the cliff across from where the entrance to the fortress was heat waves from the lava below brushing her hair back. Things hadn't turned out as she had planned. She should have been here standing next to Link, should have been the one to just watch the events unfold before her, helping where she could. Fate had woven a different thread though, and she didn't have much of a choice to be here.
'It's not fair, I shouldn't have to do this, Hyrule isn't even my home.' She thought angrily, closing her eyes as she recalled the events leading up to her position.
She stood there in silence as she only half listened to what Zelda was saying. Zelda, she had been the one who gave Misty all her spells, and had also helped her get back to Link at the Shadow Temple in time to help him with the boss. Now though, Zelda commanded all of Link's attention, and Misty was feeling insignificant, like her role was now over once Zelda had finally stepped into the picture.
"As long as you had the Ocarina in your possession…" Zelda started, but Misty never heard the rest of it.
The air around her seemed to grow thick and chilled, the air seeming to steal her voice, so that as something pulled her backwards, she couldn't utter a sound. It felt as if she was being pulled through water, the area around her darkening to near black, and then from no where she was blinded by a blue light.
When she could open her eyes again she floated in the middle of nothingness, though she was not alone. Three women seemed to stand before her: one was dressed in green with shoulder length green hair; one dressed in blue with long flowing blue hair; one all in red with short spiked red hair. Even without introductions Misty knew who they were, she was using a spell from each of them.
"Welcome to our realm." The Goddess Naru said.
"We are sorry we had to take thee in such a manner." Farore said looking directly at her.
"But we have gazed into the future, and the fate of our precious Hyrule rests within thy actions." Din followed up.
"Wha-what?" Misty started, looking from the face of one goddess to the other. "How is that even possible? I wasn't even supposed to be here. I only have meagre spells Zelda gave me and I'm no fighter, I don't see how this is even possible."
"Fate designed it so that Link would carry out his whole journey on his own." Naru started. "Thy coming here was unexpected. Thy thread of fate kept entering into this world, and when it was finally pulled all the way in, it upset the wave of the life of Hyrule."
"Because thy thread started to weave next to Link's," Din picked up. "It has changed his fate. He was supposed to awake all the sages on his own and gain all their power. Because you worked with him though, their power was divided into two, meaning he is not as strong as he should be. Fate now show the two of you going through the traps of Ganon's castle together, but when the final showdown is at its peak, thy energies shall run out, you shall return home, and Link shall fall, and Ganondorf shall gain his full power and the world shall know Hyrules' pain."
Misty's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped, but before she could say anything, Farore held up her own hand and spoke.
"We have taken the liberty to interfere with what fate has planned out. If you accept, we will give you the powers to make it to Ganon's castle and keep Link from joining the fight too soon. The threads of fate will be woven in another way, and Link shall come out victorious, know this though, should you accept to go this way, thy life could be forfeit. Thy body will not be used to carrying such power, and along with the physical strain, you may not make it through."
Misty floated in silence, staring into nothing. This wasn't her land, wasn't even her world, but she had the chance to save everyone. She thought of all the people she had met along the way, everyone had been so nice, and Link, she had to admit now that she had fallen in love with him. She now had the power to save or damn this whole world, the choice to go home or to perhaps die. Such a large decision should not be hers to make alone, but it was, and she had to decide soon. But then Naru spoke, as if she had read her mind.
"You may take your time with this choice. When you have made a decision, thy heart shall know, we will know, and thy powers shall be granted to thee. Rauru will take you back to the temple now."
Rauru, the sage of light suddenly appeared and held out his hand to Misty. She took it, and then the world around her began to fade, but she could hear the voice of all three goddess's as one as they called out to her.
"Don't take too long though, Chosen One of Destiny."
Misty opened her eyes again and without another seconds thought, stepped out over the lava pit. The wind picked up around her, tugging at her clothing and hair. Each foot step she took seemed to be supported by almost transparent blue diamonds. Even though it seemed as if she would plunge to her death at any moment, she walked with sure steps, knowing the power of the goddess's were with her. When she finally stood at the very entrance of the castle, wind brushed her face like a gentle caress, and the voice of Farore seemed to be carried with it.
"This is the extent of our powers. Be safe and good luck, Chosen One."
Now, finally alone, Misty squared her shoulders and moved into the castle. She entered into a long corridor, the walls made of stone with a unique trim, the floor, which turned into stairs moving down was a plush purple carpet. Halfway down large torches burned, and two giant, flying skulls blocked her path.
Misty pulled out her bow and fired two arrows, striking the skulls with deadly accuracy. Once they were gone, she moved down the stars, where she was met with two statues she knew would explode if hit with a bomb, and behind them, guarding the bar locked door, was an Iron Knuckle.
"Oh piss off!" She yelled, but got right down to business.
First she brushed her hand against the statues so that they came to life, and as soon as they were away from the Iron Knuckle, she threw a bomb at them. Once the bomb exploded the statues began spinning around incredibly fast and exploded themselves. Taking a deep breath she threw another bomb at the Iron Knuckle and it came to life. Even though it was only slowly walking towards her she felt close to panic. Standing just in range for her bombs to reach, she began chucking them at it. When one bomb knocked some of its armour off, it growled at her and charged. Screaming she dove out of the way as its axe came down at her. Scrambling to her feet she went mad with the bombs. When it finally dropped to its knees and burst into a blue flame, she dropped to her own knees and began to question her sanity. When the bars on the door slide up though, she pulled herself together and moved on.
The next room she entered into was very large and had two levels. In the heart of the room was the entrance to Ganon's Tower, though a barrier blocked her path. Feeding the barrier its energy were six beams of power, each the colour representing the sages. Looking to her right she saw the one for the forest, and shrugging her shoulders, she moved into that room.
The room was circular in shape, and as she moved down the stairs, two stalfos appeared.
"Ah damn." She said and took up her bow.
She had to watch the stalfos carefully, waiting for her moment to strike. As soon as one of them dropped their guard she shot it with an arrow, though she was nearly struck herself. When one of the warriors finally fell she smiled, but the look soon turned to one of pain as she felt the very tip of a sword slice across one shoulder. Turning around and now thoroughly pissed, she took down the remaining stalfos. The doors leading to the next room unlocked, but she noticed something above the doorframe next to a fan. Using the longshot, she hooked onto the torch that was on the other side of the fan, and using the iron boots, crossed and picked up a key. Smiling, she dropped down and moved on.
The new room was a complicated series of pillars with enemies on them and fans. She stood there for a moment and simply sighed. She carefully made her way around the room taking out the beamos and then looking for the way to open the door. With the door at her back she looked to her left and up, seeing a Stone of Time. Taking out the Ocarina Link had left on the table; she played the Song of Time. The stone changed places and a stone dropped down onto a platform she hadn't noticed, hitting a switch and raising the bars on the door behind her. Turning around she moved through the door.
The next room she entered was dark with a couple stairs in the back that lead up to a small raised portion of the floor. In the center of the platform was a green beam of energy moving in a straight line from floor to ceiling. There was a large ball of gold in the center that the beam kept in place. Misty moved through the room and up the stairs, stopping in front of the gold ball. Taking out her bow and fitting an arrow into it, she raised it and pointed it at the center of the ball. Light erupted around the arrow head before she let go of it. The arrow head bit deep into the ball causing a flare of light throughout the room. When Misty could see again, Saria was in the air before her.
"The Forest barrier has been broken, Hurry up!"
Closing her eyes the world shifted around her, and when Misty opened her eyes, she was back in the room with the entrance of the tower. The beam of green above her faltered, and then turned off completely, no longer feeding the barrier. The barrier around the tower still remained strong, but there were still five more beams to extinguish. Looking back to the left her eyes fell on the orange coloured beam which represented the Spirit Temple. There was a slight pang in her heart as she thought about how well she and Link had worked through the temple as compared to when they had gone through the forest one, but she gave her head a shake to clear her mind. It didn't matter now, this was the end, she would be gone soon….or dead. Body stiffening, she moved across the higher part of the room, entering into the Spirit area.
Link sat on the ground with his hands out behind him as he stared at the Deku Sprout, thinking perhaps it hadn't been a good idea to allow Misty to spend so much time with it.
"Seriously," It said, "The coolest thing to do would be to just barge right into the fortress, take out anything that's in your way, go to the top, and kick Ganondorf's ass, save the Princess, and ask Misty to marry you right then and there."
"Ok, get off the topic of Misty for once, we have a bigger problem then if she'll stay with me or not. And as I said, we can't just walk right into the fortress; one of the girls could get hurt." Link said sitting up some.
"Right, well Zelda isn't really in terrible danger. She has to Triforce of Wisdom, Ganondorf can't really do anything so long as she has that. Remember, Ganondorf can't just take it from her either, he needs all three pieces together and be worthy to take them." The sprout said happily.
"But Misty is in more danger then what we originally thought. Rauru made it very clear that Ganondorf must not get a hold of her because she has some sort of power or knowledge that can mess up his plans."
"Why not leave her here with me then?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"She'd put an arrow in my ass if I even suggested that she stay here."
"Ah." The Deku Sprout said knowingly.
"We're both so tired from all this though." Link said lying down, arms under his head. "I wish we could take a week or so to recover, but I know we can't afford that much time. There's bound to be so many traps throughout the fortress, it'll be like another temple all on its own. I have to plan it out so that we use up as little energy as possible."
"I now see your dilemma." The Deku Sprout said, and then continued slowly. "We could go over each monster that you've encountered and figure out which is the best way to get rid of them."
"Sounds good." Link said sitting up again.
"The Shadow barrier is dissolved, please save the princess." Impa said before Misty was pulled back to the main room where the shadow beam was cut down from the towers barrier.
She was already done two others, but she could already feel the strain of it. She had multiple bruises, small cuts across her legs and the slash across her shoulder received from the stalfos was still bleeding. Shrugging off her discomfort she turned to her left and moved down two flights of stairs to the Water Temple room.
The room she entered into was made of ice and snow. In the center was a vat of blue fire, though a high pressure jet of water surrounded it. Moving into the room Misty watched as three Freezards came at her. Taking out her bow she dispatched them with the power of fire. Walking around a bit more she found a long arm sticking out of the snow. Striking it with an arrow the water pressure vanished from around the blue fire. Walking over to the fire, she scooped some up with three bottles. Moving over to the door, she melted the red ice that was in front of it, and used a key she had found in one of the other rooms to unlock the door and moved on.
The next room made her smile, for it was another giant ice block puzzle that she was so good at before. Taking out the couple of bats that were in the room, she collected the silver crystals that opened the door, having to use blue fire to get one, and then used the remaining bottle of fire to melt the ice in front of the door.
Again she reached the sage without too much trouble, and she again burst the gold ball with her light arrows, Ruto appearing before her.
"The water barrier is dispelled, hurry up!"
A couple hours had passed since Link had first started talking to the Deku Sprout, and in the early hours of the morning he and Navi finally climbed up the ladder to the house.
"Misty I'm ba-" He started, and then realized she wasn't there.
Eyes darting around the rest of his house he realized his weapons were gone, and knew right away that she had left for Ganon's Tower. Cursing he turned around to leave, and walked right into a barrier. Taking a step back he punched the seemingly to be empty doorway, only to have his fist stopped.
"Damn it!" Link swore as he kept hitting at the barrier. "Misty…..why?" H asked the almost empty house.
Misty stumbled backwards at the full force of the barrier as it was dispelled from the tower. She knew she should release the spell on Link's house now, but she wanted to move on. She was a little more beat up after finishing the rooms, and she was breathing a bit harder then usual. Straightening up as best as she could she walked over and crossed the bridge, entering into the tower.
The first floor room of the tower held its circular shape, the walls displaying gold designs along its grey stones. Torches burned around the room, and a large set of stairs swung up to the right and out of her sight, a plush red carpet covering them. Taking a couple of steps, Misty paused as she heard a lot of rustling. Looking up towards the ceiling above stairs, she gasped as about fifty fire bats came at her. She took as many out as she could with her arrows, but when she realized it was futile, she slug her bow over her shoulder and ran up the flight of stairs. The bats came down at her, clawing at her arms and burning her lightly as wings hit her skin.
When she reached the top of the stairs she threw the door open, but it slammed down behind her, bars locking her in. She had entered into another circular room with gold along the walls, and also two Dinolfos coming at her. The lizard like creatures moved away from each other, catching her in the middle. Misty wasted no time in shooting an arrow into one, but the other came up behind her and made a clean slice along her ribs. Crying out in pain she turned around and shot it with an ice arrow to freeze it in place, but the other Dinolfos came in and cut across her upper arm. Turning her attention back to that one, she pulled out another arrow, using fire as her ally. After a couple more near hits on her own person, the lizard thing finally fell to a burning heap on the ground. Turning around Misty again felt the sting of a blade as it sliced across her collar bone, the other having broken free from its ice prison. Stumbling backwards, she shot a fire arrow at it, taking it out.
With both Dinolfos gone, the door behind her opened, as did the one that was up a couple steps. One arm wrapped around her waist, she cringed as she walked up and through the door. She took longer then she would have liked to move up the stairs of the long corridor she had entered, and going through the door at the top, it again closed and locked behind her.
The room was identical to the one she had left below, but there was a blue and gold chest in the center of it which she knew would hold the boss key, though it was surrounded by fire. She took one step in when two stalfos appeared out of nowhere.
"I can't do this." Misty said almost in a sob.
Navi hovered by the door as Link slept, having convinced him that since they were locked in he may as well get some sleep while she waited to see if something happened. A couple hours had passed since they got stuck in the house, and every so often Navi would go and place her hands against the barrier. She was doing such a thing when the barrier vanished and she fell through the doorway.
"Link!" She cried as she flew back into the house, "Link it's open!"
Link was up in a flash, grabbing his sword and shield that had been left behind. Running out of his house, he moved through Kokiri Forest without stopping once. When he reached Hyrule field he found Epona waiting for him, and once he was on her back, they were racing through Hyrule Field. Once they reached the walls of castle town, he jumped from Epona's back before she even came to a stop. Castle town was also a blur as he ran through it, and as he entered the castle area, he gave a small gasp as he took in the black castle. As he moved to stand at the edge of the cliff across from the entrance, he heard a voice call out to him.
"Link….can you hear me? It's Rauru, the sage. We six will gather our power to create a bridge to the castle where Ganondorf dwells. The castles keep, which is known as Ganon's Tower, was protected by six barriers which have been brought down. Hurry and save Princess Zelda!"
As soon as Rauru ceased speaking, small globs of light began to fall, all representing the colours of the six sages. There was a great flash of light, and then a bridge made of power spanned out in front of him. Not even questioning the power of the sages he made his way across it. Once he was inside he ran down the long corridor of stairs and through the door. He entered into a large room, Ganon's Tower in front of him, the rooms that had held the barriers all around. He paused for a moment to look around and then ran through the entrance to the tower.
Misty's back slammed against the wall with the force of the sword swing from one of the stalfos against her mirror shield. Crumpling to the floor, she barely registered the fact that fire suddenly leapt up around her. She had lost too much blood, and the power that she wielded was taking its toll on her body. She watched through heavy eyes as the stalfos slowly approached her; weary of the fire that had suddenly appeared around her. Suddenly, she heard the bars of the door slide open, and then finally the door itself.
All three heads turned to look at Link as the door locked behind him, furry on his face as his eyes fell on Misty and the state she was in. With a new target that wasn't surrounded by fire, the stalfos turned their attention on him. Misty watched as Link blocked the first strike made against him and she relaxed against the wall as her mind began to drift….
"Yes!" Misty cried as she pulled out a bow, quiver, and a bundle of arrows from the chest that had appeared after Link had defeated two stalfos. "Now we can get those poes!" She continued, slipping the quiver over her back.
"Why do you get that?" Link said in an annoyed voice as he sheathed his sword and whipped sweat from his brow.
"I've gone through skalthulas, stalfos, hanging wall things, all without a weapon."
"Fine," Link said and then turned around, leaving the room, Misty following happily behind him.
Misty continued to watch Link fight, not yet making any leeway with the stalfos as they worked together, keeping him busy, though not scoring any hits against the Hero of Time. Misty reached down to her pouch and pulled out the Ocarina of Time, holding it close to her chest as she closed her eyes.
Link pulled Misty into the Temple of Time for the very first time. When he let go of her wrist the parting warmth of his hand shocked her mind back into action. Looking around she could plainly see the anger on his face. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a shaky sigh, and then her trembling legs finally gave out.
Link was by her side in an instant, all anger vanishing to be replaced with concern as he looked at her pale face. He gently began to rub her back, speaking in a soft voice.
"It's okay, those things had the same effect on me when I first encountered them. I don't blame you for freezing up, it happens, so don't worry about it, at least you're safe."
"But those things were once people." Misty said in a small voice. "Good people."
"I know, and it's all Ganondorf's fault, that's why we have to keep moving. The faster we awaken the sages, the faster we can be rid of Ganondorf and avenge these people." He replied, standing up and holding out his hand to help her up.
"Misty! Come on, stay awake, stay with me!" Link's voice called across to her, causing her to open her eyes. He still fought the two stalfos, trying to see her better instead of fully concentrating on the fight. Putting her hands down on either side, she pushed herself up straighter against the wall. Once Link had a good look at her, he turned his full attention back to the fight,
Misty shook her head as Link easily moved across a small path of rock over a huge drop in the Fire Temple. She followed after him as carefully as she could to where the path branched out, but when she turned to follow him the rocks crumbled under her feet.
"Link!" She screamed as she began to fall.
She could just see Link turn around with fear in his eyes before he vanished from her sight as the path fell away. Closing her eyes as the wind whistled past her ears, she prayed to whatever divine being that watched over Hyrule would allow her to die a quick death. Opening her eyes again her mouth fell open as strong arms wrapped around her.
"Hang on tight and don't let go!" Link commanded as he slipped one arm around her waist, the other laying across her back some as he moved it to protect her head.
Misty eyes focused some as Link finally took out one of the stalfos, but again he turned back to look at her and almost got stabbed himself. When he looked away again Misty hugged the ocarina and closed her eyes again.
Misty felt someone holding her tightly and call her name. She had thought for sure the boss of the Water Temple had drowned her, but when she slowly opened her eyes with a soft groan, it was Link's smiling face that greeted her.
"Shouldn't we be looking for Princess Ruto?" She asked weakly.
"We'll get to that, what matters most to me right now is that you're ok." Link said helping her up to her feet, though keeping her close.
"Really?" Misty asked looking up at him, cheeks gaining a faint blush.
"Misty, you've come to mean a lot to me." Link answered and then lowered his head, lifting Misty's chine at the same time so that her lips met his own.
Misty smiled at the memories that passed through her mind as she listened to steel clash against steel, and a single tear ran down her cheek.
"Well that was easy." Misty commented as she watched the monster of the Showdown Temple fade away.
Link put his sword away, turned around, walked over to her, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I thought I had lost you to Ganondorf this time, if that had happened; I don't know what I would have done." He said, voice cracking as he fought back tears,
"Link, I'm so sorry." She said as she returned the hug.
When Misty opened her eyes again, Link dealt the final blow, and both doors unlocked, and the fire around the chest disappeared. A wind suddenly picked up out of no where in the room, but Link ignored everything as he moved to Misty, though he couldn't get too close because of the fire that surrounded her.
"Link, I'm so sorry." She said, and her body began to glow a crystal blue, and began to fade. "I had to do this though."
"No….please, Misty. Stay with me, I need you." Link said, pain shooting through his heart.
The wind picked up and pulled the flames around her, and she held the ocarina out towards him in her hand. "I'm sorry Link, I love you." She said as she seemed to disappear, the wind pulling the flames around her, and then vanished, the ocarina falling to the ground.
Silent tears fell down Link's cheeks as he stared at the place where she had been for a moment, before he fell to his hands and knees and full out cried.
"Oh Link." Navi said, coming to rest on his shoulder.
"She'll come back Navi" He chocked through his sobs. "She has to, this cant be the end."
"Link…." Navi said looking to the place she had been. "I really don't know about that this time. The magic that took her was strong, good, but strong. Where ever she is, she's in a better place now."
Link sobs ceased and his hands balled into fists. "This is all Ganondorf's fault." He said and stood,
Moving a couple steps, he picked up the ocarina and carefully put it away. Moving to the chest he grabbed the key and then moved through the room and entered the door. Moving up the plain staircase he could hear someone playing the organ, which fuelled his rage. In the next room were two Iron knuckles, which he took out with ease in his uncontrollable need to destroy something. Moving through the next unlocked door, he moved up another staircase, the boss door at the top. Using the boss key to unlock the door, he brushed aside the chains and moved inside.
The room he entered into had a large, tall square column in the center, and other gate exits around. Ignoring everything else though he moved for the only door to the right. The next stair corridor he entered had tall stain glass windows, the stairs covered in a plush red carpet. The windows didn't leave in much light, but as Link ran up the stairs higher and higher, the sun shone through, lighting the whole area. When he finally reached the top he stopped for a moment outside the door. Taking a deep breath with fists clenched, he moved through the door, the only thing keeping him and Ganondorf apart.
A/N: Ok, so one of my friends really doesnt want me to give up writing about Link, so her and I made a deal. If I get any reponses about writing a second fanfic about Link, taking place in Majoras mask, then I'll write it, if not, then I'm done and two months after this stories completion, which I may add, is coming up, this story will be deleted. I would rather have all your opinions emailed to me through the email address I provided in my profile, and for those of you who are too lazy to go get it, here it is again: