Chapter 8: A place for Lies, Tricksters and a new Hero
Princess Zelda's POV
As the moblins surrounded me I instinctively summoned the Triforce to me. However, as I did the cursed "zero suit" proceeded shoot pain up my arm. Damn that dark knight! I continued to summon it and blasted the nearest moblins. A few backed up, I knew they feared the Triforce. I shot down two or three more before the pain forced me to stop. My only option left was to run. It was a desperate plan as the suit drained my energy and caused severe pain. One of the moblins seemed to notice my pain and whispered to the others. At first they advanced, but then receded as a shriek filled the night sky with a terror I was all too familiar with. The horrible yellow eyes emerged from the shadows and burned into my soul. The smoke vanished with one sweep of the beast's horrible wings.
"Samus Aran." It hissed. The air crackled as if it too feared it's words.
"No!" I said quickly, then realized my appearance. The blonde hair, blue eyes, the zero suit...
"You lie..." It growled softly.
"No, I am Zelda, princess and ruler of this land!" I said pointing to my long ears, which seemed to be the only difference at this point.
"Trickster!" It howled, slamming it's paws into the ground. It's claws dug deep into the earth. The moblins piped up.
"It is the princess," A few said while others nodded. Those dreadful eyes pierced me.
"Trickster... You know where Samus Aran is... Show me." It said lowering it's massive head so that it was level to mine. It's large jaws opened to reveal it's long fangs. I could smell death heavily on it's breath. Fire began to well up in it's throat.
"If I do, will you leave this land?" I said staring back at those unforgiving yellow orbs.
"No, these lands belong to me now..." It hissed softly, "You will take me to Samus Aran. Once I find her I will kill you and eat your broken corpse."
"Then why should I help you?" I demanded. Fear was clawing at my nervous.
"I will kill you now if you cannot prove useful. Either way, you will die by my claws or my fire or my fangs... I give you the option to prolong your pitiful life a little bit longer if you lead me to Samus Aran."
Several thoughts ran through my head at this point. If I lead it to Samus, she might have a chance of defeating it. After all, this beast was the only reason she was here and I could deliver it to her. At the very least I could probably attempt to escape or get out of this damn suit and fight this god myself.
"I will accept your generous offer," I said finally, "I will take you to Samus."
Samus Aran's POV
The next morning I sought out each elder in the camp who knew of either the hero of legend or the possible remains of the Tri-force. It was a pitifully small amount of information. It certainly wasn't enough to go on but I could find nothing else. I made a small pack out of the supplies offered to me by the refugees and began to head toward a temple an old man believed contained the Tri-force. He was a kindly old man who offered me a shield he claimed to have used when fighting an evil sorcerer. I didn't catch the name of this supposed sorcerer, for I didn't really have the time to listen to every detail of an old man's ramblings. He then apologized that he couldn't give me his old sword because it remained in the dead sorcerer's skull which he claimed turned to stone. Senile old man. I thanked him for the shield and left.
"Wait!" Called the old lady I had saved yesterday. She stopped be by the edge of the woods and offered me a good size bundle wrapped in crude brown cloth and held together with twine.
"What is this?" I asked before accepting it. She smiled.
"It is tradition. Open it in the woods. You'll understand soon enough." She replied cryptically. I took the bundle and she hobbled off. Curious, I opened it and found a chainmail shirt, leather and metal bracers for my arms, metal greaves, brown leather gloves, boots and belt, as well as white pants and a shirt, and lastly, I should have expected it, a green tunic. The foolish old lady believed me to me some sort of hero from their legends. However, I couldn't help but smile at the gesture. At first I considered leaving all of this behind but decided otherwise as it might prove helpful. I feared word of a knight in orange armor with a some sort of canon for an arm might not be welcome after my kidnap of their princess. Feeling completely idiotic I put on the primitive armor and tunic. I sighed and began on my quest.
Going through temples on an alien planet wasn't a new thing to me, as I happened upon it quite often in my work. However I usually had the safety of my power suit. I brushed the worry aside as the creatures on this planet were mostly primitive. I had yet to meet the more advanced race of supposed "goddesses" that gave the weapon of the Tri-force to the people. The first temple I happened upon appeared quite old. Strange writing was inscribed on the entrance as well as the symbol I saw on the princess's hand. I believe they described the Tri-force in this appearance. I pushed through the large temple doors and entered cautiously. It appeared to made of marble or a stone similar. A first glance was enough to tell me that this place had been uninhabited or cared for in quite a while. The stone pillars that held up the structure were in disrepair. I walked slowly through the temple, trying to memorize every detail. My footsteps echoed loudly in the large hall. Such an emptiness filled me that I could not describe. Every minute I spend there felt like hours. Finally I reached another set of doors. A small stone tablet , much like a alter stood before the doors.
A ruby, emerald and sapphire sat cold and unmoving on the alter. For some odd moment I imagined these stones floating weightlessly above the alter and the second set of doors opening wide. I shook such a foolish thought from my head and walked to the doors. I attempted to open them. Nothing. I allowed my power suit to cover my right arm. I slowly charged a blast and stood back. I released it and... nothing. I glanced around and then back again. Though the rest of the temple looked like time was tearing it apart, these damn doors looked very new. My missiles didn't even leave the slightest trace of impact.
"The doors remain sealed until the life is returned to the hearts of the temple." Came a strange voice from behind me. I spun around and saw nothing.
"Who's there?" I demanded and prepared a charge on my canon. The voice began again but sounded as if it were right in front of me. Again, I saw nothing.
"Only a hero worthy of the object beyond can bring life back to the hearts." It said almost in a sing song voice. I glared around. I hated all of these cryptic messages and damn superstitions.
"Who are you?" I asked while still looking around.
"I am one of the sages of old. Messenger of the goddesses." It replied.
"Messenger, eh? Tell these "goddesses" that I must speak with them at once."
"The goddesses are always among us."
"Yeah, sure but where are they now? Physically I mean."
"Farore waits patiently to meet you, but first you must breathe life back into the hearts."
"Listen, I don't have the fraking time to-"
"Head to the north. Three temples and three tests await you. Only one who proves themselves worthy can pass. A true hero they shall be. Only then shall Farore bestow her greatest blessing on to you."
"What!" I snarled, "I thought I had to 'breathe life' into some hearts and now I have to go through some temples to pass some cryptic test? Listen here! I just want to either get through those damn doors or speak to your goddesses!"
"Each temple will bring a different heart back to life. The reunion of all three living hearts in this temple will open the doors sealed by time."
"I don't know about time but they sure are sealed..." I remarked. I waited for a response but heard nothing. Silence. I looked back at the stone alter, "Are these the hearts?" I asked looking at them. No response. I huffed angrily before walking back to them. "Great, just great," I muttered, "The voice from the ceiling wants me to bring some rocks to life so I can have the goddess bestow a blessing on to me." I stopped to ponder my words. They sounded incredibly foolish. I gathered up the stones and sighed before leaving the temple.
Princess Zelda's POV
Teleporting would be the easiest way to escape this rather complicated situation, however, in order to have the energy for the spell I would need to rest. At this point rest seemed to be intangible. The beast Ridley kept me walking for hours. He seemed determined to wear me out as to prevent any chance of escape. Every time the Triforce tried to give me the strength to go on the suit drained it and shot pain through me. After hours of walking at this rate I soon collapsed. The moblins rushed at me with their swords but I made no effort to move and they instead hung back stupidly, unsure of what to do.
"Get up." Ridley demanded as he stood over me. I lay there, too exhausted to move. At this point not even fear for my life could have moved me.
"I would, but you see," I said thinking quickly, "This suit Samus gave me, prevents me from moving once I get too close to her."
"Then she is nearby." The beast replied in a sickly excited manner.
"Oh, by no means." I sighed, on the verge of sleep.
"Remove the suit." He commanded.
"I would, but it appears to be stuck."
"I will remove it then!" He hissed and slashed at the suit, tearing it in several places as well as scratching a good potion of my body. The suit sizzled away and I felt the scratches burn into my skin. I felt the sudden rush of the Triforce fill me. I was still very weak though.
"I must... concentrate for the next few hours." I lied curling up, "It will help me find Samus." I fought back a yawn, "I'll also need new clothes, it's rather cold out." The yellow eyes narrowed.
"So be it. We will find Samus tomorrow or I shall eat you slowly in your sleep." He hissed. The moblins rushed some rags for me to wear and withdrew quickly as Ridley grabbed me suddenly in his claws. He kept both paws clasped tightly around me before settling his head down to watch me.