The longest update yet! Hoorah! And I feel incredibly bad for making you guys wait this long, for at this time I'm reading four books, writing two papers, making a Zelda MTG block, writing this, and moving. But back to the script: At last! The inciting moment! This is my favorite part of these past few chapters. I feel inclined to let you know that the song I listened to while writing this was Sanctuary is Lost by Two Steps from Hell, which is where I got the name and the song you should listen to while reading this. Trust me, if you didn't like the other chapters, this should change your mind. Reviews for this chapter in particular are appreciated.
Chapter 3: Sanctuary is Lost
Dawn teased over the horizon of Hyrule. Most of the bustling capital's populace had begun to stir, preparing for the day of work ahead of them. The general excitement of the generation was over. Now, it was time to work.
Even fortune tellers could not predict what would become of the shining country of Hyrule on this fateful day.
A sixteen-foot tall giant stood, levitating, high above the fountain in central Castle Town. Xul watched as the dampened sun rose over the mountainous natural borders of Hyrule. Instead of the sky being it's cheery dawn colors, it was a timid grey. He stood there, simply waiting, until the sun struck eight o'clock.
He was also surprised that nobody noticed him, but then accredited it to Hylian ignorance. They wouldn't know if a dragon was sitting on top of them, let alone a creature such as he. In fact, Xul had read upon the villain of Hyrule- Ganondorf. If they could not be bothered, or were actually incapable of decimating him, they were lazy. Each country had at least three wizards, where were H yrule's? It made no sense to Xul. He could snap the puny Gerudo over his knee if he truly desired.
However, Xul knew of one Hylian that did kill Ganondorf. He had succeeded where literally all of his ancestors had failed. He had killed the Gerudo, and proven that he was, ultimately, the strongest of his bloodline yet. Which is why (this wasn't in the history books, but Xul knew about it) the Twili reverted back to her normal form. She was stronger than most others of the Twili royalty, which were supposed to be eradicated with the bringing of the Palace into the Light Realm, and not only because she had the Fused Shadow. It was pestering to know that, despite his best efforts for the time being, she survived. No, more than pestering, infuriating.
The Antithesis had to tell himself to keep calm and wait on. The time would come soon enough.
Link got up with a moan and a groan that morning. The bed room he was sleeping in was an L shape, and his bed lay in the lower quadrant of that L. The entire room was painted red, with red carpets and even a red blanket. A dark wooden table lay directly across from the bed, with two out candles. The room didn't hold any other furnishings, which was odd, especially for a castle room. A loud sound penetrated the room, and Link's hand immediately reached for his sword.
He traced the noise in his head thanks to the Sacred Beast, and it sounded like snoring.
The Sacred Beast had been nagging him about Midna and the stone for the entire night. Admittedly, he had wanted more time to talk with his friend, but he had done the 'Escape' maneuver and she had went on a miniature tirade and stormed up to the empty rooms. He had followed her to see her open a door, which he knocked on. Last night, she had refused to talk. He was hoping today she would've calmed down. Knowing Midna, she would either be still mad at his perverted joke (which was his boredom stare, and it did work) or would give him the silent treatment. He got off his bed slowly, and checked on his wounds. He was glad to see that the flesh was firm, but horrified to see the veins around the bite had turned black and orange.
"The hell?" Link whispered. The flesh itself was a sickly grey color. It was only an incredibly small portion, but still it shook the Hero to his core. He hadn't recalled seeing a poison in the alchemy book that Midna had carried that had left such a mark. Dismissing it, he slid on his chain shirt and tunic, not forgetting about his signature hat.
Link knew some major objectives of his day, the first being that he was to try to get Midna to talk to him. Then, he had to persuade her to warp him to Lake Hylia, and for her to come. He missed Epona his chestnut mare with unusual white hair.
The Hero of Twilight decided that, as he exited the room, shutting the door behind him with a loud fhmhp, that he'd bring his Twilight Princess breakfast. Wait, my Twilight Princess? When the hell did that occur? If I'm slipping already, today's bound to be full of fun.
He had no idea how truthful he would be.
He pondered for a moment about the Twili's taste in food. If he remembered correctly (he'd never hear the end of it if he didn't), his companion was fascinated with eggs and bacon, two things that did not exist in the Twilight Realm. Link scorned the Goddesses on the subject of the Twili. They had paid far too much and been in exile far too long for their ancestors, not even their own, mistakes.
The Goddesses were cruel, cruel women. And the Twili had paid for it in bloodshed that they didn't need. Bloodshed that was completely unnecessary, bloodshed that poor Midna had to watch unfold in front of her. He could point out many reasons the Twili deserved to be defended. He had made that sole promise to himself and he had stepped on it, in their time of need. He felt horrible about not going back for his friend. It gave him a queasy feeling in his stomach that made him want to throw up when he thought about it.
His feet and his empty stomach had brought him from the rooms he and Midna slept in to the kitchens, where three chefs, two males and a female, worked feverishly. One male was tall and slightly skinnier than average, his peachy skin was marked by multiple burns. He had shaggy black hair blocking his eyes. He was apparently spicing a soup dish that smelled like pumpkins and cheese. The female in the room wore a green dress that ended in a skirt on her knees, with flowery patterns running the length of it. She was a bright blonde, and her back was turned to him. The third cook he recognized.
"Shad?" Link asked. The Hylian turned to him, and laughed.
"Link! What brings you here?" Shad asked, patting Link's shoulder. He was at least three inches taller than when Link had last visited him. His glasses were now gold-rimmed, and he wore a badge through the coat of his cooking robe. The badge was a triangle shape, gold with blue running through it. On said triangle was written one word, which was "WISDOM". "WISDOM" was written in some sort of odd blue ink, with runes written around it. Link recognized this as a badge of a high-ranking official, and the trait that represented him best. Shad's sharp features were inviting.
"I'm here for breakfast, actually. You see, an old friend of mine is up in her roo-" Link began, but Shad managed to cut him off.
"What'll it be for you and your lady?" Shad asked, gesturing to what he was making. Above the pot lay slices of browned bread and cheese. In the pot which Shad was using, he was mashing eggs of some odd kind. A spicy scent entered his nose and had its way with the nose hairs Link possessed. Over the fire, on a sheet of steel, pieces of sweetmeats were roasting. Link's eyes lit up- since the Sacred Beast had awakened again, he practically drooled for the meat. But first, he had to correct Shad on his mistake that would've cost him his life, if Midna had been here.
"We're not together, Shad. She's a friend. And I'll take a little bit of everything." Link opened his rupee pouch to pay Shad when the scholar put up a hand.
"You saved Hyrule, and a different realm. The least I can do is cook breakfast for you and your friend." Shad turned back around, sliding a stone platter from a stack and preparing it. Link still managed to slip the red rupee where Shad would easily find it. For the life of him, he couldn't take things like that. Link's pride would be demolished if he simply took and took and never gave. No, he couldn't just take from his friend, so he took and gave a little more than the cost (which happened to be a yellow and a blue rupee) for breakfast. The smoke of three fires going on was a little too much for Link's lungs. After a total of five minutes, Shad handed the stone tray to Link. On it lay two bowls of scrambled eggs, two slices of toast, six strips of bacon, and four pieces of other sweetmeats, like sausage. Link smiled as he took it, eyes darting to the rupee. After Shad had opened the door for Link, and halfway down the hall, Link had heard Shad exclaim about the rupee.
Ascending a flight of twenty-two stairs was difficult with the tray. Several times he almost fell, losing the entire breakfast. When he made it to the top, it felt an accomplishment, even though the waiters and waitresses did this nearly every day, bringing breakfast in bed to the denizens of Hyrule Castle, the princess and her advisors included. Link made a mental reminder to thank the waiters for all their hard work.
He made way to the room he was sure Midna was in and knocked. He heard a yawn that was nearly the same exact yawn he had first heard when he met the Twilight Princess, back when he was first a wolf.
"Midna," Link cooed. "I've got some breakfast, your favorites." He drew out the word favorites for a second longer than he usually would've. He heard a small laugh.
"Oh Link, don't you remember?" Midna's tone was as if she was asking a child to remember something. "When I was back as an imp, I slept in the nude quite often. So now, I'm continuing my trend." Link's eyes widened.
"Message received," Link answered, blinking away a mental image of a nude Midna. Her garments left little to the imagination for Link, after all. "I'll just put this tray down…" Link was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and revealing Midna, clad in the same Twilit garments. The scar was deep and long, running from the tip of her navel to just below her breasts. It was also available for view behind her, running the same length. It was a miracle that she had not died that day.
"Did you seriously fall for that trick?" Midna rolled her eyes. Link smiled, picking up the tray. Her amber eyes lit up at the sight of Light World food. "Well then, come on in." Her tone was anything but cold. Her room also looked exactly like Link's, except hers was a deep shade of green. There were no tables, so Midna simply sat cross-legged on the floor. Link laid the tray down carefully between them as he sat down, and then the Sacred Beast pervaded his vision.
"Ask." The Sacred Beast was not being friendly. He was commanding Link, who forced him away.
This is the first time I've gotten to spend with Midna in three years; leave me alone, dog. He shot the thought at the Beast, who growled. The Beast knew, however, that she was the one connection he could have to finally be free again. Link didn't make it hidden that he was staring at the Sacred Beast's side, which was a sick grayish color, with orange and black tinted veins surrounding it.
"We didn't exactly have time to sit back and chat in the Palace." Midna bit her lower lip at the mention of the Palace of Twilight, and Link could already feel something welling inside of her. Link nodded.
"And I don't think yesterday counts." Link announced, handing her a bowl of eggs. She accepted it happily.
"What's been going on these past years?" Midna was being cautious, and Link smiled in the specific way that made her heart light, though he didn't know that.
"I've been training the elite guard and rebuilding the castle," Link was proud. "I didn't paint these walls, whoever did had a horrible sense of color coordination (at this, Midna let out a small laugh), but I did help build them."
"How's Zelda? The only time I saw her was last night, and even then, she was quite the cranky princess." Midna responded.
"She's been good, or so I've been told. I swear, if anyone on this planet is unreadable, it is that woman," Link said this with a piece of bacon in his hand, which wagged with each word. After he had finished crunching, Link added "And today's your big day." This time, he made sure a piece of toast was wagging. Midna raised an eyebrow.
"My big day?" Her voice was anything but unbelieving.
"Today is your official tour of the new Hyrule Castle and Castle Town!" Link announced. "I figured since I never got to show you around the old one thanks to Ganonpork, I could show you the new one." Link sensed the emotion, he was unsure whether it was sadness or hatred at the mention of Ganon, simmered. Midna put her head in her hands, chewing on a piece of sausage. After she finished, she looked deep in thought. "So, you never told me about the Twilight Realm." Link stated. Midna nodded, and he could feel the sorrow building up inside again. He mentally slapped himself for asking about such a thing to his best friend, and was on the way to literally slapping himself, when Midna interrupted.
"What do you want to know?" She asked, staring into his eyes. It seemed that the other (only slightly for Link, however) softened while they held each other's gaze. The Sacred Beast replied instead.
"Are there more than just the one set floating islands where the Twili live? Or all the Twili all on the ground, looking up to the Palace?" Link glared at the Beast, which grinned wildly. Link wished a great amount of pain on the Beast for doing what the monster had just accomplished. Midna followed his gaze, and blinked. She snarled at the Beast, which blinked in surprise. "You can see him too?" Link asked. Midna nodded, before turning and smiling at Link.
"You taught me quite a few things, believe it or not. But back to the Beast's question," Midna glared at the wolf. "There are three main hovering islands where the Twili live. The wilderness below is far too dangerous for any Twili to step in, which is why we were gifted," Link couldn't tell if she strained this word from sadness or from anger at the Goddesses. "With those Islands, which protected us from the horrible and gruesome deaths that awaited us below. The Palace of Twilight was the government on one Island, there were other jobs on another Island, and the biggest one was the homes. They were incredibly crowded, it was a marvel anyone was able to walk, but we survived. The removal of the Palace of Twilight most likely means the realm I am no longer fit to be called the ruler of will likely descend into anarchy." Midna's face dropped. Link leaned over, and put his hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault, Midna," Link whispered. The Twili looked at him, befuddled. "It never was your fault. Did you bring the Palace here?" Midna shook her head, orange hair shaking like a waterfall. "Whoever's fault it is, whoever did that to y- I mean, the Twili," Midna cocked her head with a small smile at his correction. "You'll pay that favor back, Mid, I'm sure of it. I intend to help you when you do, though," Link looked down. "I have a few words to say to the bastard that tried that stunt."
"You talk too much," Midna retorted. "But I thank you greatly for the gesture of kindness, Link. When you come with me, would you mind if we went alone…?" She ended in a playful tone. Link shrugged.
"It'd be easier, and better, nobody to hold us down," Link replied. "Just like the good ole' days."
"Link?"
"Yes?" Link wondered what she was about to ask.
"Ready yet?" She teased, making her hand-hair point to the door. "I'm going to go on that tour, and you are coming with me whether you like it or not, Wolfy," Link raised a quizzical eyebrow to this remark, and was shocked to see that Midna had pulled off his hat. "You're not getting it back until you take me on that tour." She stood up and held made her hand-hair put it into a pocket behind her. To Link, it looked like she was storing the hat inside her body. Link got up, and led her out of the room, to where the steps were placed. All the while, he was describing what it took to make all of this happen (Link, being oblivious as usual, didn't notice Midna slide her hand into his), and when they got to the door, it happened.
Midna and Link looked up simultaneously looked up to the sky, wondering what was wrong with the clouds.
What they saw would forever alter their lives.
When the sun struck eight, Xul stretched. Finally, now was the time. He cuffed his hands over his mouth and began to shout.
"Citizens of Castle Town and Hyrule Castle," Xul's voice boomed, commanding all to listen. People looked at the sky and screamed.
The first screams of the early morning woke Zelda in her large room. She did not waste any time, when she heard the screaming, she ran towards the source.
When Ros saw the being standing in the sky, he bolted from the market with incredible speed, considering he wore a traditional elite guard uniform- Like a normal guard uniform, except scales were added to the armor. He stopped in front of the castle doors, where Link and Midna were… holding hands? Midna noticed Ros first, and when he picked up his faceplate and mouthed So it worked?, the Twilight Princess nodded. She began to draw away, and took long enough that Link looked at her in worry, and his eyebrows raised once he realized what they had been doing, but the great Hero of Twilight said nothing to his princess.
Ros looked around frantically for- aha! There they were, sentinels on the wall, great shining ballistae. Each of them had been equipped with crossbow bolts so long they could easily impale three men. Ros shouted to Link, and pointed to the ballistae while the monster kept talking.
"This isn't exactly a hostile takeover," Xul explained, deflecting the arrows the guards shot at him. Did they really learn no lesson? "But it can be if you want it to be. I want a certain thing, a certain thing two certain people seem to have," Xul explained. Looking around, he saw Courage being led by a knight somewhere, and Wisdom was running with that damned Twili to an alley. "Send in the Raethieds." Xul commanded.
Raethieds were between 7 and 9 feet tall, and between 4 and 6 feet wide. They were constructed out of rotting scales, which pointed upward. It's arms were long whips, a staggering 20 feet long when extended fully and could easily rip a man's arm off. The legs were stalwart things, slow yet stalwart, and had no way of being cut off to Xul's knowledge. They left imprints where they walked, tearing through the mud and the stone with ease. The chest was one giant piece of scales, which had a mouth running the height of it. Their heads were perfectly circular and were the size of an infant child. They had three eyes, each seemingly human. The eyes were bloody and oddly colored, but resembled Hylian eyes. The nose contained five hexagonal nostrils, where a nose hair would be on a Hylian, there were blades that would reach out and mince whoever came close. The mouths resemble the nose in this fashion. Tearing people asunder, eating them if they get too close, dicing their flesh, and eating spells and arrows are some of the many abilities they have. They can use a chest 'thumper', and after swallowing spells, spit them back out towards their sender at nearly double the power.
They swarmed the city, destroying the gates with ease. Guards that tried to use their spears were ripped apart, and guards that tried to use bows were grabbed and eaten.
"I repeat, this isn't a hostile takeover. Simply get out of the way, and they won't harm you. Their destination is Hyrule Castle." Xul explained, levitating on his side and examining his nails as if the scene below him was nothing. People scattered, leaving a clear path to the castle. Xul sensed that not Wisdom nor Courage was in the castle, but outside of it. So, to contemplate for that error, he sent one towards Wisdom and two towards courage. It was better to be safe than sorry.
Xul's face was barely missed by a ballista bolt. He saw the metal reflect his deameanor, and was shocked. He turned, looking down to see what had tried-and almost succeeded in-shooting him.
Courage and the Knight were loading another ballista shot.
Link and Ros heaved again, lifting the two-hundred pound shot onto the glimmering steel ballista. They were both already sweating, all this heavy lifting this early in the morning was good for neither of them, where one was used to a schedule, and one was random, this would be making them sore for days, if not weeks, yet to approach.
That is, If they could ever hit the talking shadow. How does someone miss that big a target, with a big weapon such as a ballista? It made no sense that they were missing. Then the shadow seemed to backflip mid-air and spread fifty-foot wings. Link felt his mouth open as the creatures this thing had identified as Raethieds advanced, slow yet sure, determined to win. Those soldiers that stood in the way were brutalized.
Link felt the Triforce of Courage burn. He turned towards the alley near the castle, and saw Midna and a bedhead form that could be identified as Zelda go in the alley. Link called to Ros after the next shot, which deafened Link with a biwoofum sound. Link threw his shield over the defenseless Ros as the ballista bolt broke into what felt like it had been broken into billions of pieces against a magic barrier the shadow put up.
"I need to get to Midna and Zelda! They're unarmed!" He yelled. Ros nodded, and pointed to a random soldier, who was inside the walls of the castle, shielding himself.
"You!" Ros shouted over the shattering, pointing to the guard. He turned, hearing the elite with only a tad of difficulty. "Help me man the ballistae! Get more guards to operate the other!" Ros commanded. The troop nodded and sprinted off, before Link whispered his thanks, and then said it louder. Ros gave a thumbs up after the shattering had stopped. Link scurried down the steps towards the gate, where guards passed him going up, before coming face to face with a Raethied.
Link had to look up to see the end of the gaping mouth of estranged teeth's end. A strange, many-toothed mouth that resembled Bane's was present, in addition to a similar nose. It's eyes looked Hylian, but were bloody. The arms were like whips, Link could tell as the creature raised it.
Biwoofum.
A ballista shot impaled the Raethied's head through cleanly, taking up majority of the space. The shot continued with a force, driving the beast into the ground with the shot and splattering it's green-blue-black blood all over the street. The blood painted the street in front of Link, the shot shattering any chance the horror had to attack. Link turned to see Ros giving him a thumbs-up before waving his arm. Link ran towards the alley.
He had not seen the Raethied that followed the women.
Midna was being pulled at the arm by Zelda, into an alley that was relatively U shaped. Zelda had bed hair, the same purple gown that was too many sizes too big, and that same stifled look. Her Triforce was glowing intensely. It had even burned Midna's arm from the sheer force. Zelda and Midna stopped in the middle of the alley, Zelda panting.
"Midna, listen-"
"Zelda?! What is going on?!" Midna gasped. "What are those things and what is that thing in the sky?!" Midna was being frantic, but Zelda shook her head.
"Listen, Midna, as there is no time to explain this delicate situation. I have had this dream (Here Midna interrupted with an "Oh, Farore. Here we go.) many times. I need you to accept this." Zelda spoke quickly, holding up the back of her right palm. Midna's eyes bulged.
"Zelda! That's your Triforce! There's no way I-"
"That's what they're here for, Midna. The Triforce. These creatures know the original scents of the owners, but can't tell when it's been passed, which is why I need to pass it to you, I trust nobody more. You were my phylactery, after all," Zelda said the last part with a wicked grin that scarily resembled Midna's. "This is my way of saying thank you." Zelda placed her glowing right palm over Midna's and left palm under. This eerily resembled when she had given her life force to Midna, but not her Triforce.
Instead, the light burned golden. A snake of golden flames roared up Zelda's hand and onto Midna's, injecting the tattoo part of the Triforce onto her right palm.
"Midna, Twilight Princess," Zelda whispered with seemingly a thousand voices. "Do you accept the gift we offer?" Zelda's face was soft, but as the snake continued to seemingly spawn endlessly, biting into Midna's hand, the Twilight Princess nodded. A faint smiled zipped across Zelda's mouth. "Thank you." This was the voice of the normal Zelda, and the snake of flame began to glow. The lower right triangle of the Triforce started to ignite, the snake burrowing itself in her flesh. The searing sensation ended almost immediately when the power was fully transferred, and the back of Zelda's right hand was blank. Midna's began to glow.
"Zelda…" Midna whispered.
Then the Raethied decided to show an incredibly ugly face.
It came out of the shadows, whips cracking. Zelda took the first hit, opening up her back. Hot blood poured onto the street as the Raethied struck with the other arm, landing a hip blow. Zelda staggered into Midna's arms. The creature advanced with tired content, wanting to go yet kept going slow. Midna had to look slightly up to see the monster eye to eye. It was completely ignoring her, and focusing on the prize, Zelda.
It reached up with both arms-
But none came down.
Instead, a blade protruded from the Raethied's head. Midna's hopes soared that this was Link, come to save her-
Only it wasn't. The sword was pulled out of the scales and the Raethied wiped at it's eyes, trying to get a better look at the new combatant. Midna realized she was also wiping away tears, and that Zelda was now dead in her arms. The Hylian princess had stopped breathing a short while ago.
Standing there, blade wet with blood, was a Stalfos. It was unlike anything Midna had ever seen, as on top of it seemed to ride odd gloves. The Stalfos had brown trousers and steel boots which reflected the sunlight that didn't exist. The Stalfos held no shield, only a bloodstained rapier. Midna had a single question: How, or where, in the names of the Golden Goddesses did a Stalfos get through the guards or the wall?
The Stalfos edged around the Raethied, green eyes (Wait, green? Midna thought. Me and Link have fought plenty of Stalfos, but never one with green eyes) checking to see if the monster had any weaknesses. The Raethied, blind to strategy, merely charged with whips. The Stalfos saw this coming, and spun. The blade cut into one part of the whip, making it draw back, and the other whip had a part cut off all together. The Raethied hissed, a sound like ice melting under extreme temperatures. The Stalfos advanced slowly, and eyed the gap in between the Raethied's scales near the pelvis. The Raethied launched out the whip-arms yet again, this time in a slightly more defensive manner. First, one arm tried to knock out the Stalfos' knee bones, but the blade, even when blocking, cut through the skin and scales like butter. Blood sprayed the ground as the Stalfos masterfully wirled out of the way of the other arm, and cut it off at the halfway mark. The Raethied screamed, bursting Midna's eardrums in earnest. It sounded like an animal dying. The Stalfos fought more offensively now, knowing it's weakness, blocking the loud cracking strikes and cutting down the Raethied's arms until it reached the monster's chest. Long, thick white teeth tried to snap at him, but the Stalfos leaped back, and when the jaws closed, sliced at the pelvis. The Raethied roared, which gave the Stalfos the time it needed to plunge it's blade into the thumper of the central chest, which sparked and died out. The creature started to rust, the orange color swiftly overtaking the beast, but not before the Stalfos sliced the weakened scales off of it's neck, and allowed the blood to spill all over the skeleton and the head to roll the other way.
The Stalfos looked at Midna. It seemingly smiled, and groped a grotesque face, or skull.
In front of Midna was a floating face, with red hair and two golden eyes streaked with white and blue and red and green.
"It's an honor, Twilight Princess." (Little did Midna know it, but this was a Face Master that had been watching the exchange, and watching Hyrule for any signs of the shadow.) The being responded, before disappearing in another flash.
Midna was left alone with two corpses, one of a monster, one of a close friend.
That was, until she heard her Hylian calling her name.
"Midna! Midna!" Link's voice echoed in the back alleys. She laid Zelda's corpse down and sprinkled a few of her tears before responding.
"Link?" She responded just loud enough so that he could hear. He heard her, and came running. He was covered in bluish black blood, obviously not his own. He looked in horror at Zelda's body and at the Raethied's body and at Midna. Then he noticed that Midna had the Triforce of Wisdom. He opened his mouth but Midna cut him off. "I'll explain later." She whispered, and took a few steps towards Link, tears brimming in her eyes from the horror of watching Zelda's life expire in front of her, when she could do nothing. Link immediately embraced her, not caring for the blood or the tears or the scene. Midna closed her eyes. She wanted it all to go away.
"You scared me." Link whispered, nuzzling his face into her neck. She stifled her cry for a moment.
"You know me," Midna laughed, out of breath. "Always the one to make everyone so scared and afraid, then pop up and save the day." She felt so warm and so relieved that she didn't want it to end when he pulled away. His big blue pools were slightly wet.
"It's ok," His voice was so low it was almost like he was mouthing the words. She happened to be standing in a footprint of where the Raethied walked, so he was looking down at her. He lightly kissed her forehead, noticing that she was blushing when he pulled away. "It'll be ok, Midna. I promise."
Midna was happy, then. Link was known not to break a promise.
And, it was the first time his lips, in any way, came in contact with her body. It was a start for them as something more, Midna hoped.
"We need to leave Castle Town, though," Link was whispering. "And we have to see if Ros is still alive." Midna nodded before an unmistakable sound struck incredibly close.
Biwoofum.
Biwoofum. The ballista shot roared past Xul, landing in a Raethied. The creature's head popped, the shot tearing into the other Raethied. Xul sighed. These ballistae were strong, he gave them that much, but they were not enough. Not enough to hold back the Raethieds, and he figured he'd give the troops a warning.
"You're making my Raethieds angry," Xul commented. "I advise you just stand down."
The Knight made a gesture with one finger to Xul, who laughed.
"Alright then, your funeral, Knight." Xul changed their orders from being peaceful to attacking on anyone armed on sight, just to show dominance. Xul had a feeling he would win this battle.
Ros and the guard next to him loaded another ballista shot, and pushed it towards the gate, where the monsters were trying to break it down. Guards were being eaten alive and even someone with a knife was brutally slaughtered. Ros spotted the alleyway where Telma's Bar resided, and formulated a plan.
Biwoofum. The shot tore through the first line of Raethieds, landing near the alley Link gone in to find Zelda and Midna. Ros also spotted the Hero, who raised his sword and beckoned for Ros to go to him. Midna was standing next to him, looking at the destruction in shock. Ros pointed to a guard who was using a wooden crossbow, and they traded places.
The three guards at the gate were instantly killed by the Raethieds, who threw the door forward. Hylian blood splattered, and their weapons were dropped. Ros ran towards the front of the gate, and saw the monsters advance. He fired two bolts into one before picking up another crossbow and firing it's bolt into the same Raethied's face. The creature continued on, as if it hadn't been touched. Ros dropped the two crossbows he had been wielding and picked up the other two, firing randomly into the crowd of beasts.
Unfazed, the monsters continued their march. Ros ran at them, drawing his sword. A Raethied launched a whip at him, but was shot down by the other ballista. The enormous bolt had also pierced the beast behind his attacker. Ros sprinted towards Link, barely escaping a whip crack by rolling. The Knight was panting when he finally reached Link and Midna, the former helping him up, the latter shooting a bolt of shadow into the crowd of Raethieds. The one he had shot dropped.
"I softened it for you," Ros was still out of breath. "We need to-"
"Leave Hyrule." Midna and Link interrupted. Ros' eyes widened.
"What? No! We can't leave! We have to stay and protect the princess from these…" Ros trailed off as he followed Midna's gaze towards Zelda's opened body and the decapitated Raethied. "What the hell happened?!" Ros shouted. His eyes rested angrily on the Twilight Princess. "You could've protected her!" Ros' eyes burned. "Why didn't you?!" Only then did his eyes rest on the glowing triangle on Midna's right hand. "What the hell, Midna? What the actual hell?"
"Try not to have a conniption," Midna warned. "I'll explain everything when we get out of here, but they're after the Triforce. We need to leave-" Midna was cut off by the sound of a man screaming and yet another biwoofum, which was silenced, as if it had hit rubber, not a second after the shot sounded.
"Now!" Link finished, looking towards the end of the alley. It bordered the wall, which was nearly forty feet high by Ros's guess. "Midna, can you break the wall or warp us out?" The screams of agony were getting closer. Midna nodded, and Link took her hand. Ros placed one hand on Link's shoulder, the other bolstering his sword.
The last thing Ros saw of Castle Town was the city burning, and people screaming. He viewed it from above, as black squares.
Danuvius was not an ordinary person you'd see every day of your life.
He was quite tall for a dwarf, one of the generally short people that lived under the mountains (that nobody seemed to care about). He stood at 5 feet tall even, with a long black beard that nearly reached his knees, which was covered by his technological helmet. It was surprisingly well kept considering his low social caste, which resembled slaves, one could even call them indentured servants- the warrior caste. He had been called back to Hyrule by a friend, and took the warp machine to arrive there. He stood in front of a grand stone prison, almost the height of the tallest tower in Sukoth (where he had teleported from), which was covered in sand. It was incredibly hot in his power armor, which would've weighed him down considerably, but the marvel of dwarven engineering was something to behold. Five fifteen-foot tall skeletons with golden shoulders that depicted skulls waited for him.
"Danuvius?" A Stalfos asked. The dwarf, in his crimson and gold armor, nodded. "Stallord's been expecting you. Follow us." The skeletons gestured before entering the prison, and the dwarf followed.
Mrathil rode atop a white mare towards the small village of Ordon. The horse had greyed hair and was moving incredibly slow for Mrathil's taste. It trodded into the village, color and Mrathil's mother's mask attracting quite a bit of attention. But Mrathil wanted it, at least for today. At least for right now.
A small crowd had gathered around him, a fat man with a moustache that looked like horns and none other than that Illia had been there. Mrathil had been briefed on Orden's inhabitants, and remembered this girl quite well, for this young woman had befriended Courage, and Courage had to be found.
"Citizens of the village of Orden," Mrathil started. More and more people started gathering. This village had about twenty inhabitants, he had eleven. His plan was going well. "My name is Mrathil, and I'm here to tell you of what has transpired at Hyrule Castle today thanks to your hometown hero, the possessor of the Triforce of Courage." Mrathil heard the Illia girl whisper to the mayor.
"Link wouldn't have done anything, would he?" Illia whispered. The mayor shook his head in disbelief, not making eye contact with his daughter, but kept staring at Mrathil.
"How do we know you're not lying?" This voice was that of Rusl, the village blacksmith and foster parent of Link, who Mrathil now learned was in fact Courage. Mrathil grinned, but the villagers couldn't see it.
"Why would I lie when I bring proof?" Mrathil asked, his tone even. He gestured to a segment on the natural walls of Orden, and as the memory that Xul had smithed faded into view, and taking out the golden profile that was Courage and replacing it with Link. The villagers gathered around the story that Xul skillfully constructed.
It started with Courage leading the Raethieds into the walls of Hyrule, killing the outer guards. Courage broke down the gate with a burst from the Triforce, and people in the streets were killed by the Master Sword and the infamous Raethied arms. The story played on for about a half an hour, the villagers faces distorting in horror. Mrathil tapped into their emotions and, as they watched, made them go from feeling horror to feeling hatred. At the end of the memory, the vilalgers cried and averted their children's eyes as Courage put his blade through Wisdom's face.
"Now do you believe me?" Mrathil asked. The villagers murmured and nodded in agreement.
"Death to Link!" One cried out.
"Death to the Usurper!" Another cried out. Mrathil smiled.
All was working, indeed. Now, he had to leave the bait open for the king.
Link landed with a plop into Ordona's spring. Midna had landed on two feet not far away, and Ros-
Fell in just after Link, hitting the bottom of the shallow pool face-first.
"That hurt," Ros murmured, slipping his faceplate back on. "As did leaving." He spoke the last part in a whisper, but Link heard it, all the same. He whirled on the Knight.
"Do you think I wanted to leave? The capital of my home country, being devoured by those… things?" Link felt Midna tense when he said 'things'. The Hero of Twilight reminded himself that the Twili were still looked upon as monsters to the Light Dwellers (When the hell did he start calling his race Light Dwellers?), but not even close to the shade of black those things were. The Twili were white on the moral, if anything. "Leaving the fight is always hard. When you do leave the fight, it reminds you that you lost, and you went home to cry. It makes your pride, your honor, forget all about you. I pray to Farore that I could've stayed!" Link whispered. He diverted his eyes, looking towards where Orden was, and Midna looked out with her back turned to him, but listening. "There were more important… objectives than defending the city. We can at least hold down Orden." Midna took a deep breath in, soaking in his words at the same time that he spoke them to Ros.
"I'm eager to meet the villagers." Ros replied sarcastically, sheathing his weapon.
"Unlike you, I actually am eager," Midna butted in. "When I was with Link, I had to remain as a shadow because people would be terrified of me and think Link was working with the collective enemy." Ros and Link pondered something for a second.
"You really should put some clothes on." Ros answered sourly.
"Can you still hide in my shadow?" Link asked at the same time. The two of them locked eyes, Link in sheer disbelief Ros, his favorite student, had just said that to Midna, his best friend. Midna pointed to Ros.
"If I had some, I would," Midna kept a level tone. "But if you hadn't noticed, the castle's too busy burning for me to go get some. The castle-and the princess- that the elite guards were supposed to protect." Link felt the tension in the air rise considerably.
"At least Zelda died with her people and Palace. She must be happy somewhere." The Sacred Beast informed Link that the tension had, by this point, snapped, but neither made a move to do anything.
"Let's go meet my folks." Link said, putting his hands on both their shoulders. The duo broke glare contact before heading towards the village, namely Link's own house. There, a crowd of villagers waited. Link took his hands off of his friend and his student's shoulders.
"How could you, Link?" Illia's voice permeated the silence of the entire village, save for the children, rested their eyes on Link. Link raised a quizzing eyebrow, looking for Illia among the crowd.
"How could I what?" Link asked as Illia, blonde and stunning, exited the crowd in her usual garb. Illia's eyes were in horror.
"You'll have to understand why I have I to do this." Ros and Midna were standing shoulder to shoulder, connected by Link.
Ros drew his sword when Illia drew a knife, and aimed it at Link's terrified face.
"She's got a knife!" Ros shouted the obvious as he turned his blade on the flat and Midna jerked Illia's arm away. The knife collided with the blade, forcing the hard metal to turn downwards in submission. Link noticed that the only move the villagers made, Rusl included, was drawing swords.
"Why? What did I do?" Link croaked, slinging his shield over his right arm. Rusl snarled at him.
"You know exactly what you did, Usurper!" Midna visibly shook when the title was mentioned. Rusl advanced.
"Rusl! I never did anything, please, you have to believe me!" Link cried, unsheathing his sword. "I don't want to have to fight you!" Illia had sunk into the crowd. Rusl glared at Link.
"But I do, Link." Rusl swung his sword, but was intercepted by none other than Ros, who sliced open the blacksmith's arm. Rusl recoiled, eyes going wide at the sight of an injury, when Midna launched a bolt of white at him. The swordsman fell like a statue, eyes going blank. The crowd roared, and charged.
Link was cornered against the outer walls of his house, holding his shield up to defend him from blows. Ros bashed people's faces with the butt of his sword, for they were unarmed. However, Illia weaved her way back into the crowd like a snake, the glint of metal in her hand. Link was now crying, begging them, his family, to stop this.
Ros pushed people out of the way at the same time Midna froze them. Illia raised the knife over Link's head, completely unaware thanks to the Hylian shield taking the blows the other villagers were making.
Ros acted on a whim, and plunged his blade into her neckline. She fell with a gasp, tumbling to the ground like a sack of bricks (which Ros had soon too much of in the past few years.). The villagers stopped pounding on Link's shield and turned to Ros, backing away and whispering as the Knight pulled his bloodied blade out of the girl's neck.
"How could you do this?" A voice sobbed from the crowd. Link hefted his shield up, turning it to his side, when he saw Mayor Bo erupt from the crowd. "How could you do this to my Illia?" Link followed the Mayor's gaze, and saw the blood that poured from Illia.
Link also saw the blood on Ros' sword.
Mayor Bo began sobbing into his dead little girl while the crowd slowly backed away. The mayor was shaking like a leaf when his fingers went on Illia's eyes, closing them for the last time. He was sobbing as his sausage-like fingers wrapped themselves around the knife Illia had been carrying. He had whispered something about a meeting before the mayor took the knife out of his dead girl's hand, effectively committing suicide as he turned towards Ros, full of blood and his eyes screaming murder, and aimed the blade at the Knight's heart.
Ros danced around the blade and plunged his own sword into the Mayor's side with relative ease, and Bo collapsed next to Illia, dying before he hit the ground. Link was horrified beyond the limits he knew he could be horrified. His fr-, no, his family, had tried to kill him, being only saved by his favorite student, who had killed who would've been the mother of Link's children if the Twilight hadn't invaded and separated them. Link was somewhat aware that Midna had grasped his hand again, and gave it a gentle squeeze before slipping it out. Link returned it slightly before she could, though, and they watched as the villagers backed away.
Link's life had gone been delivered to hell in a handbasket in one day, nay, a few hours, flat.
How selfish he was, for the horrors had yet to truly begin. Link heard a dark laugh and a flash of purple and white before he had realized he was sobbing. The early morning dew was tainted with lifesblood, father and daughter dying together. It was an image Link could not forget, it was one of the many images that would give him strength in the coming storm. Link did not speak up when Midna recommended they sleep next to the spring and get a good nap.
Xul was incredibly mad at himself for not catching Wisdom and Courage In the warp, and killing them when he had the chance. He could only hope that Mrathil's plan had worked, and dismissed the subject as he told the Raethieds to gather in the center of Castle Town, which Xul crashed in. The Antithesis had broken the fountain into two halves, both of which were now spilling water and rupees onto the floor with the Antithesis and the Raethieds.
"We've more work," Xul explained. "You see-" Biwoofum. A ballista shot went through Xul's raised hand, which had commanded the Raethieds to him. The Lord of the Hallowed looked at the wound in shock, before looking at the perpetrator. On the ballista, the shot had already been in, was a dying Hylian soldier. His blood had sprayed the fine machine, grinning wildly as he marveled at his accomplishment. He was dying, Xul had no doubt, but the Antithesis pulled out the bolt and clapped. "You sir, are the soldier with the biggest guts I have ever seen in my life, and I've lived quite a while." Xul meant what he said, literally and metaphorically. This soldier seemed to have enlarged guts. Xul sensed a smile play onto the soldier's mouth.
"My name is Colin of Orden," The soldier was no older than a fourteen year old boy, who had held on with all his might. "And you are officially poisoned by yours truly." The boy, Colin, collapsed onto the ballista, the shouting too much for him to bear. Xul's eyes widened as he checked the armor, and to his horror, the skin beneath it had started to form, but it was orange with black veins running the length of the small patch of skin.
Link had fallen asleep quickly that night. When morning came, he looked around for Ros. The Knight was in the spring, feet kicking into it as he held his head in his hands.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Link whispered, silently hoping that Midna wasn't present, for she'd scold him for what he was about to do. The Sacred Beast didn't smell her, which was a good thing. "You killed two innocent people a few hours ago." His voice was hard. Ros stood up and turned to Link, faceplate down.
"I know," His voice was clearly tormented. "I ended two lives far too soon from their expiration dates. Do you not think it was-is, haunting the living hell out of me? I've killed people before, and that was when they were a danger to me, and were usually heavily armed men. But some girl barely in her twenties and her father? Sir, it's driving me insane." Ros whispered the last part. Link's gaze did not stop being cold.
"You get used to the killing," Link sounded like a mass-murderer who was speaking for his defense. "What you don't get used to is the family you tore apart." Link averted his eyes as Ros rubbed his with his thumb and index finger, not wanting the Knight to have any shame in any way.
"I was just trying to help you," Ros explained. "You didn't see the blade, and I didn't want you to die, so after I put it down once, it just rose again and…" Ros' voice was small. "I want to say I'm sorry, Sir," He put out his hand. "Friends?" He asked. Link smiled.
"Don't call me Sir. Call me Link," Link shook Ros' hand, and Midna, who had hid in the shadows and watched the encounter, smiled. "We're going to need a map, if we're to leave Hyrule. We have to go back and check my house." Link said. Ros nodded.
"Go east perhaps, get to a port, and leave the country. Good thinking, Si- I mean Link." Ros caught himself, and Midna yawned. She walked out of the shadows, pointing to the tunnel that was in the earth, explaining that she had come here from there and tried to make them not suspect anything. It worked on Ros, but Link knew better.
"You two need to hear the whole story, about this," Midna raised her right hand. "Right now. So sit a spell, for I've got a tale to tell." Midna sat cross-legged on the ground, followed by Link and Ros, and began her tale.
The red-haired man in the purple suit had stood there for three years, each day, for five hour intervals per day with two hour rests in between. He stood with his feet apart and his palms outstretched to a stone slab in the room, which resembled two Cs put together. To one not adept in magic, you could see nothing as he stood in the center of the room void of furnishings, holding his palms to the slab of marble. To one who knew magic, however, they could see the outlines of blue orbs the size of tennis balls leave his hands and siphon into the slab of platinum, where three triangle indents making a triangle indent lay inset. After two months, it had started turning lighter. After six months, it glowed yellow. After eighteen months, the top part of the triangle began appearing. Within thirty six, he finished.
With the last bolt of power indented into the triangle, the golden eyed man looked up at his creation. The upper triangle was glowing brilliantly.
The man in the purple suit had, with no flaws, reconstructed and withdrew the Triforce of Power from the Sacred Realm.
Wow, quite the chapter! It's awesome to see a ton of things colliding at once, wouldn't you say? I feel very good about this chapter but I still need reviews, and I've brought my fire extinguisher for putting out the flames. Who is the mysterious man in the purple suit (If you don't know, seriously, there's nothing I can do for you.)? What will Midna do with the Triforce of Wisdom? Why did Orden matter to Mrathil and Xul? Find out in the chapter of the epic saga in the making, The Price of Freedom! –End commercial cuts off- (I just realized this chapter's word length is over nine-thousand. Where's my Vegeta power scanner?)