Hey everyone! Sorry it took me so long to update, but there was no peace in my life this week. **Sob**
This chapter is kind of dark, but nothing you teen people can't handle. Don't worry, it gets happy next chapter. Anyway, enjoy!
Oh yeah, FYI, this is NOT a modern-day Hyrule story. It's a general LoZ world.
DISCLAIMER: Yes, I did have to buy all my Zelda games, my Link wall scroll (3), all my Link pics, the TP and OoT guides DID come from the store, and I did have to pay $20 at Hot Topic for my 3rd Link shirt (the other ones I got for Christmas). And if I did own Zelda, I'd be a whole lot happier. :D
With Link
A few hours later, Link dismounted from Epona and sighed. He found a stable tree with plenty of grass around it, and luckily a little stream also, and tied Epona's reins to it. The temple loomed in the far distance, but Link knew it was safer for his horse here.
Link bent down to the tiny creek and splashed some cool water on his face. As he dried it, his thoughts turned once again on Zelda.
Earlier in the journey, when Link had calmed down enough to remember his own name, he began a mental debate about why Zelda kissed him. Three seconds before it happened, he had been convinced that she thought their friendship to be only that, a friendship. But now he wasn't so sure. Was she actually attracted to him? Did she want more than a strong friendship? Link wasn't sure.
Girls, he decided, are very hard to figure out. (A/N: The wise mortal accepts this fact. :-) )
He sighed again and lowered his flask to the stream and took a long swig. Giving Epona a final pat and checking that his supplies were secure upon her, he set off towards the temple.
It was high noon by the time Link reached the massive stone building. He peered into the massive blackness that lead into the temple. Some markings were above the door, but Link couldn't make them out. Certain death to all who enter here, he imagined. A long scan of the map Zelda gave him revealed a labyrinth of chambers, some with chest-like symbols, and a rather larger room at the back end marked with a skull and crossbones. There, Link assumed, he would find what he always called 'the master'. It was always the hardest monster to beat, so like the final challenge of the temple.
Link stuffed the map back in his pocket. Monster or no monster, he will bring the necklace back to Zelda.
...Zelda...
Link shook his head vigorously, as if the physical movement would get rid of the thought. He needed no distractions in this temple, they would only slow him down. Resist temptation, resist temptation*. Link strode purposefully into the entrance and was swallowed up by the menacing darkness.
Darkness...
With Zelda
Zelda bit her lip and tugged at her hair. She had been trying for-ever to find the right hairstyle. She frowned at the girl in the mirror, who simple frowned back and then completely undid her hair and brushed it again.
After much contemplation, and several pulled-out hairs, she decided on a bun that wound some of her hair into a bun at the top back of her head, then let the rest flow down her back. Zelda replaced the small mirror she had been using into one of her bags, then opened her clothes-chest. The tent she was in had a magical charm on it to make it bigger on the inside. So while the tent looked quite small from the outside, the interior was actually quite spacious.
In a few minutes, the entire tent was covered by clothes. The princess spun round and round, trying to decide what to wear when Link got back. She immediately replaced her nightgowns, and then her most conservative dresses that she wore to teas and other social affairs, then some of her more elegant ones. She wrung her hands nervously. Her dress has to be perfect. Not too aristocrat-y, because all Link wore was that old tunic of his. Not to say she didn't like it, in fact she actually adored him in it, but she didn't want to make him feel-well-underdressed.
But she must look presentable. She must, she must...
Finally Zelda had her dress. It was pale blue with white trimmings and it was laced in front with brown leather strings. The top came off her shoulders, and the sleeves went down at points past her wrists. It fit her snugly, beautifully accenting her small figure. It was rather plain, but the suited Zelda's needs. She twirled around. This was it!
Putting back on her old dress and undoing her hair, Zelda flopped down on her mattress with a sigh. Her long hair spread out on the bed under her. Speaking of hair, she thought, there were strands of it everywhere. Suddenly, Zelda felt rather odd and obsessive. It wasn't like her to go crazy about her appearance, seldom so much that she pulls out her hair!
But then a vision came involuntarily to her mind's eye. Link was riding up on Epona, beaten and bruised, and Zelda ran out of her tent to him. Link eyes lit up, and he jumped off his horse and swept her into his strong arms. He spun her around and around, and they were both laughing and smiling when Link stopped, and he leaned his head down to hers, and she stretched her face up to his and...
Zelda sighed contentedly and rolled under her covers. Soon she was fast asleep.
And...
With Link
Link flinched. There was that wail again. He'd been hearing it throughout the temple. It'd been getting louder and louder as he traveled deeper and deeper into the bowls of the temple. Now it seemed to be coming from the room in front of him. He checked his map again. Yes, this was definitely the master room. Deep breath, and with a strange sense of finality, Link pushed open the doors.
He stepped into a nearly pitch-black room. A few tiny holes in the walls and ceiling offered feeble light. It was vaguely circular, and definitely massive. The doors swung shut ominously behind him. All seemed peaceful, but Link kept his (left!) hand on his sword anyway.
Suddenly, an evil cackle filled the room. Quick as a flash, the Master Sword was out, Link's shield raised, and he stepped back a few paces (standard fighting pose). A figure gracefully materialized, hovering in front of him. It wore a black robe with no signs of hands or feet, only floating about 5 feet off the ground. Under its raised hood there was a horrifying, pure white mask. Its eyeholes were empty, and its lips were ruby red, set in a hideous pained expression. In the center of its forehead, an medallion stood out from the plain background. Half of it was a silver moon, the other a golden sun, a smile stretched across its contrasting face. The Moonset Necklace. The phantom slowly made a circle in its spot, cackling all the while. Then it drew two swords from nowhere, though they looked more like massively long knives.
"I know why thou art here," the phantom rasped, "Thou art seeking for the Moonset necklace. It was forbidden from the royal family by the highest authority years ago. I am sworn to protect it with my dying breath."
"Yeah?" Link replied, unfazed. "By whom?"
The thing cackled again. "He who is more powerful than thou shalt ever be. My lord, the great Ganondorf." He appeared to sheath his swords, and they just disappeared.
Link laughed. "Been there, done that!"
"What dost thou mean?"
"Um, this might shock you a bit, but Ganondorf has been banished to the Distant Netherworld." **
The phantom was outraged. His voice shook the chamber. "BY WHOM WAS THIS EVIL DONE?"
"Queen Zelda of Hyrule, the seven sages, and me."
The phantom roared. "THOU SHALT DIE A THOUSAND DEATHS! AND THIS ZELDA OF HYRULE WILL GO WITH YOU!"
Link raised his sword. "Sorry to disappoint, but you're not touching Zelda."
"Oh yes? We will see about that!"
Without warning, the phantom rushed at Link. He swung his sword skillfully, but it just passed through his robe. Instead of chopping Link with his knives, the phantom curled itself into a ball and melted into Link's chest.
Suddenly Link's body was on fire. He screamed and dropped his sword, falling to his knees. He held his head in his hands. The pain twisted his mind. He saw the most terrifying things. Hyrule field covered in corpses, Lake Hylia on dried up and burning, Hyrule castle in a red inferno, people screaming, running crying, masked men slaughtering children, his own body pierced with and arrow, Zelda dead, the Master Sword laying at her side, stained with blood, and things I couldn't even describe, they were so horrific. They twisted and swirled and cut through his mind, he couldn't feel anything except burning pain.
And then, as quickly as it came, it was over. Link let out a moan and fell to the floor. He felt no more pain, but vague ghosts of the images still lingered in his mind. He struggled to his feet and picked up his sword. The phantom appeared.
"Hmmmmmm... It seems that method did not work on thy mind." It drew its swords again. "Perhaps thou need... physical persuasion."
The robed figure slashed skillfully, but Link simply blocked him with his shield. It swung again and Link parried the blade away and slashed its shoulder. This time, a black liquid came flowing out of the wound. The phantom screeched. Thinking quickly, Link concluded he could only be harmed when his blades were out. So he must keep the swords and their master busy!
Link maneuvered his sword with all his might and skill. The phantom got in a few minor blows to Link, but little by little the thing's robe was getting slashed to shreds. Its blood would disappear as soon as it hit the ground. Link was slowly getting tired, but then the phantom fell to the ground. Link raised his sword to deliver the final blow.
But laying before him was not the phantom, but Princess Zelda. He froze, sword in midair. Zelda looked up at him, covered in bloody sword wounds and tears streaming down her face, said,
"Please, Link. No more." Her voice was filled with such sorrow and hurt. Something dropped on Link's nose.
Red blood.
Link dropped his sword and fell on his knees at her side. Tears came down his face. "Zelda, why? How?" His voice was cracked.
"You fell for it." Zelda grinned evilly and stabbed him in his right arm with a long knife-like sword. Link screamed again, clutching his arm. Blood poured out onto the ground. Zelda floated up into the air and transformed back into the hated phantom. It cackled, pleased with its triumph. It floated around the room. Then it turned to face Link.
"Now you will di-" But it stopped. Link was not there.
Suddenly, there was a flash of silver, and its mask split apart. The useless robe pooled to the ground. Link leaned on his sword, panting and bleeding. He picked up the Moonset Necklace, and dropped it into his pocket. Then he collapsed.
No, he thought. Must- not- sleep. Not here, not now. He rolled over and looked at his arm. The wound was gaping, still bleeding, and it was turning a little greenish.
Poison.
Link coughed. Blood spilled out of his mouth. Link dragged his water flask out of his pocket and poured the rest of it over the wound. He then picked up a few strips of what remained of the phantom's robe and tied it as tightly as he could around his wound. Link then dragged himself on his feet and staggered off toward the door.
It was nighttime when Link stumbled out of the castle. He had collapsed several times in the temple, but had somehow managed to pick himself up again every time. Epona, miraculously, was waiting for him at the entrance. At the sight of her beat-up master, she whinnied worriedly and nudged him. Link offered a faint smile, then hauled himself up on his horse. Epona immediately set off towards the campsite as quickly as she could without spilling her master onto the ground. He still smelled overwhelmingly of blood.
Blood.
So, what do you think? I appreciate reviews, and always respond!
*My sister and I have this thing that we tell our shipees NEVER to resist temptation. When it comes to romancing their lover, that is.
**I got this from LoZ OoT part 2 manga, so I don't even know if its in keeping with the game. Haven't gotten there yet, stuck in the Forest temple. :-(