"At least now I know Impa didn't send me here just to be rid of me," Link said to Navi as he crawled on all fours. This was the fourth such tunnel that he could barely squeeze through. Were he any bigger he would be stuck in the entrance of the temple along with Nabooru.
Navi responded from ahead, "Impa would never send you on such a long journey unless there was a very good reason."
Link continued his snail pace through the longest tunnel yet. He was even slower due to Din's Wrath, which he had to slide on the ground in front of him.
"I still don't see why Nabooru couldn't have ordered one of the Gerudo children to find her damned treasure."
"Nabooru already explained it to you," Navi gave an exasperated sigh. "The Gerudo are afraid of Ganondorf's mothers."
Link snorted. "Probably because they're smarter than us." His knees were beginning to ache and there was still no end in sight. "I hope we don't run into the witches. I hate magic."
"You don't hate magic!"
"I do! Against a sword you can train and learn how to protect yourself. With magic you either have it or you don't. What are we going to do if "they" are here and we run into them?"
"We'll think of something." Ever the optimist. "I can see the end up ahead."
"Thank the Goddesses." Link started crawling faster, sliding his purple blade ahead of him as he went.
"Uh oh," Navi chimed as she hovered about the exit.
"What is it?" Link asked coming to an immediate stop. So far the temple had been brimming with enemies. Keese littered the ceilings of almost every chamber, two floor masters had already almost carried Link away, and a floating mummy had nearly set him on fire.
"The room is full of pots and Armos."
"Ugh."
As they left Gerudo village, before they hiked through the magic sandstorm, Nabooru had finally explained the nature of their mission. The temple of the Queen of the Sand Gods, known as the Spirit Temple, had once been a common worshipping ground for the Gerudo people. Before Nabooru had been born two witches had appeared from the desert and claimed the temple as their home. In the process of moving in, the spell-casting sisters had tainted it with their black magic and filled it with anguished spirits of deceased Gerudo.
Now those spirits possessed objects and corpses and attacked any who weren't Gerudo. Of course, the only non-Gerudo to enter the temple was none other than Link of Terrible Fortune. Already nearly a dozen pots had flung themselves through the air and shattered against the boy. So far he had taken more damage from pottery than he had monsters.
"Is anything moving?" Link asked keeping his voice low. He wasn't sure why he was whispering. Armos only moved if you touched them and any spirits likely already knew he was here.
"No," Navi responded after a quick investigation. "There are a few Keese on the ceiling. Doesn't seem to be any fire for them to ignite themselves with. I can't tell how many of these pots will start flying at you though."
"Aah, it can't be that bad." Courageously the boy crawled out of the tunnel and stood up, sword ready in front of him.
Twelve.
Twelve pots were thrown at him simultaneously.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Link managed to swipe at the first two but their fragments collided into his face blinding him. The other ten pots shattered against his unprotected body.
"Are you alright?" Navi asked weaving above his head.
Link shook the broken bits of vases, bowls and pots from his clothing. He didn't need to check under his shirt to know he was covered in welts. He was lucky he hadn't been knocked unconscious.
"I'm fine." He considered drinking one of his potions to relieve the pain but he decided against it. There were no doubt worse things than grumpy pot spirits ahead.
Link eyed the remaining few vases and pots in the room suspiciously. Careful to give the Armos a wide berth Link shattered the remaining pottery for good measure. The noise had upset the Keese.
"I hate this temple," he complained as he swatted one of the winged rodents down.
"According to Nabooru we should be near – eeek!" Navi had to dive straight down to avoid an incoming Keese. The vermin had a tendency to snap at her if she drifted too far from Link.
"I got it." The last Keese was cut in half, and the room as still. Now free of any distractions Link gave the room an examination. Bits of clay lay everywhere, and Armos lined the walls but other than that the chamber was bare. There were a set of slowly inclining stairs that led to a door on the far side of the room but Link noticed something peculiar before he headed towards the exit.
"Whoever designed this place didn't want anyone besides a child coming through."
Navi zipped along the walls of the room circling the whole area. "You're right," she said when she had finished. "That small tunnel is the only entrance."
"Who designs a deathtrap for children?" he asked incredulously.
"Ganondorf's mothers?" Navi offered.
"Reasonable answer." Link wondered what a young Ganondorf looked like running around this temple. According to Nabooru, Ganondorf had been kidnapped as a baby by the witch sisters and raised in isolation until he was about as old as Link was now. Link could only imagine the horror.
With Din's Wrath the boy pointed towards the only door. "Shall we press on?"
Navi settled on Link's shoulder. Apparently the turban he sported was not as comfortable for her as his Kokiri hat.
"Ready when you are."
Navi's warning came too late after Link passed through the doorway. Steel spikes fell from the ceiling and buried their tips in the ground. Reflexively Link jumped forward to avoid them. When they were still, he put his hands around the warm metal and tried to pry them out. They would not budge, their exit was sealed.
Feeling the eyes of someone on the back of his neck Link spun around and pressed his back against the barred doorway in a defensive posture, Din's Wrath at the ready in his hands.
He was in a circular room, well lit by candles. There were brick pillars spaced evenly around the room, each one about ten feet from the wall and twenty feet from the center of the room. In that center was a horrifically massive suit of armor carrying a wicked looking double-sided axe. Behind the suit of armor was a second door, also barred shut.
Link stood motionless, ready for the man in the armor to attack him, to advance on him. The only movement in the room was the rise and fall of Link's own chest.
"Hello?" he called cautiously. Nothing. The boy took a precarious step forward. "Is there someone inside all that armor?
No reply.
"Navi?"
Courageously Navi zoomed passed the faceplate, then again. Link held his breath as he waited for the man to reach up and snatch his fairy out of the air.
"I don't hear any breathing." Navi said. She was now flitting directly in front of the faceplate, inches away.
Still wary Link held Din's Wrath with both of his hands in front of him. "Why would they booby-trap the doors if this is only an empty suit of armor?" he asked aloud.
"Maybe there was supposed to be someone here." Navi leaned in closer to peer through one of the holes in the faceplate.
"Navi don't!"
"WAAARGH!" The armor shuddered to life with a pained cry.
"It's alive!" Navi warned backpedaling through the air.
"I can see that!"
The suit of armor, easily seven feet tall, turned to face Link. With heavy steps it started advancing towards him. It hefted its massive axe high up into the air. Link gripped Din's wrath tightly in both hands and brought it up for an overhead block. The axe, heavier than anything he had ever trained against, smashed into Din's Wrath like a meteor.
Link cried out at as he felt his left wrist fold backwards against his forearm as Din's Wrath was driven down into him. By the grace of the Goddesses the flat of Din's Wrath, as opposed to its double-edge, slammed Link down to the earth with the massive axe atop it.
"Link!"
The pain was unreal. His wrist was broken, he was sure of it. His knee had buckled too and his ribs were probably cracked.
"Move!"
Link looked up to see the axe was being raised for a second strike. Survival instincts kicking into overdrive Link rolled to the side as the blade crashed into the ground sending chunks of the marble floor flying.
Leaning onto his right hand Link crawled backwards as fast as he could. The cursed armor hefted the axe onto its shoulder then began stomping after Link.
It was slow, embarrassingly slow. Link knew that was the only reason he was still alive.
"Link!"
He could hear a distant voice calling his name. The pain in his body was drowning it out though, making it unrecognizable. All he could do was keep scooting back as fast as he could while his left hand flopped uselessly.
"Link! Your potions!"
There was that distant voice again. Was the armor talking to him? Was it saying it would kill him? It would finish him and end his pain? Link wasn't sure if he wanted that yet so he kept scooting back.
"Drink your damn potions!"
That wasn't right. Navi didn't swear.
Navi!
Pulled away from his debilitating pain Link turned to his companion and shoved his snapped wrist towards her.
"It's broken," he said through clenched teeth.
Navi zoomed so she was right in front of his face. "I know it is Link but you need to drink your potion or you're going to die."
I don't want to die.
Finally, Link reached across his body to where he kept his two potions on his belt. He brought both of them in front of him and frantically began taking the tops off. His hand was shaking. It was shaking so much that the red miracle liquid in the first bottle spilled onto the ground.
"Dammit!" Link scooped the bottle up before the last of the liquid could fall away, and poured it down his throat. It was less than half of what had been in the bottle but the effect was immediate. The pain in his body subsided to a dull ache, even in his wrist.
The suit of armor was only two heavy steps away from Link now. The boy pulled himself to his feet and poured the second bottle, this one full, down his throat. The liquid was thick and syrupy but tasted like vinegar. He would gladly bathe in it right now were it an option.
This time the armor brought the axe to its side for a horizontal swipe. Just before the attack Link dove the side and rolled. The axe met the brick pillar instead of flesh. Brick and stone rained down about the cursed armor as it turned towards the nimble boy.
It's too strong for me to block, Link thought as he backpedaled. He needed to get back to Din's wrath but the bones and ligaments in his wrist were still realigning themselves.
"It's slow and predictable, just keep it moving around the room until your hand is better," Navi advised. Without taking his eyes off the animated suit of armor he nodded.
After getting over that initial failed block, this guy wasn't so hard to handle. He was comically slow. Link could have jogged laps around the room without breaking a sweat and without being in any danger. It was likely though that this thing didn't tire, and there was no escape for Link unless the doors unbarred themselves. Eventually he would have to wander inside the axe's range and press the offensive.
After leading the axman to the far end of the chamber Link skirted around the side, back to the center, and retrieved Din's Wrath. It was a miracle the blade hadn't shattered. He tested his grip and when he was satisfied put Din's Wrath in both hands and brought his attention back to his enemy.
"Any ideas, Navi?"
His fairy had been fluttering around the ceiling observing all the possessed armor's movements.
"He's fastest when he's slashing horizontally," she called from above. "But when he slams his axe straight down sometimes he gets the blade stuck in the floor and it takes him an extra second to pull it out."
Link had seen it too.
"Got it."
Prepared for his attacker's might Link stepped forward, eyes following the axe. The moment the axman was in range with his superior reaching weapon he brought his axe to his side.
Recognizing the danger instantly Link threw himself backwards tumbling from his feet to his back and back to his feet.
Woosh!
He could hear the heavy weapon separate the air as it flew. Using the ax's momentum the axman swung the weapon straight over his head then down in a sweeping arc. Link was prepared for this movement as well. Nimbly the boy leapt to his right just before the ax crashed into the floor. Sure enough there was a glorious moment when the head of the axe was stuck in the ground and the man's defenses were nil.
Link closed the distance and swung Din's wrath with all his might.
Clang!
The hilt vibrated in Link's hand. Din's wrath had only managed to breach an inch and a half of the thick steel armor.
"Get out of there!" Navi warned.
Link leapt back just as the axe crossed horizontally only inches from his face. He had to backpedal as the axmen drove forward with quicker, heavier steps.
"I think I pissed him off." Link was sure it wasn't his mind playing tricks on him, the suit of armor was moving faster.
"Keep attacking! If the armor is possessed it won't be able to maintain its form if its vessel is damaged."
"Right."
Link leapt back, dodged to the side, tumbled backwards, even somersaulted over the shaft of his enemy's weapon once, all to wait for an opening. At one point he thought he'd found and opening without having to wait for a vertical strike. He dashed in for a powerful thrust but the axman deflected it by using the flat of his massive weapon as a shield.
No matter, Link said to himself, just be patient. Don't get sloppy, don't be rushed.
Clang!
He landed a second strike.
Clang!
A third.
Clang!
A fourth.
"WAAAAARRRGH!" the spirit in the armor cried.
Not good! The axman charged at Link with a speed he had yet to experience.
"Navi!" he cried as he backpedaled as fast as he could. The axman was now swinging his axe with ferocious speed in every direction. On his vertical strikes he no longer let the blade collide into the floor.
"Pillar to your right! Use it!"
Not being able to risk pulling his eyes off his charging opponent Link had no choice but to trust his companion. He veered backwards and to the right, slowing just enough for the vindictive spirit to catch up to him.
As the blow came in Link dove forward ducking his head below the axe. He felt his turban be swept away by the too close for comfort blade. With a thunk, the axe was buried halfway through the pillar. Link didn't need Navi to tell him that now was chance.
With the greatest war cry the twelve year old hero of fate could muster he brought his blade down onto the armor's exposed back. Instead of a clank there was a screech as Din's Wrath's razor edge pierced clean through the armor. A sudden rush of wind followed by a gasping noise escaped the suit of armor. With one last shudder the pieces of armor clattered to the ground, lifeless.
The steel bars blocking the doors lifted away as quickly as they'd fallen. Link let out a sigh of relief.
"We did it." Link could feel his body still shivering with excitement. "Hmmm." The victorious hero sheathed Din's Wrath and stepped over the pieces of armor on the floor. The massive axe was still imbedded in the pillar.
"It's too big for," Navi stated the obvious.
"I know, I just wanna see something," Link said as he wrapped his hands around the handle. He gave a tug. Nothing.
He gritted his teeth and pulled with all his might. Nothing.
"Satisfied?" Navi asked.
"Can you imagine being powerful enough to wield a weapon like this?" Link asked Navi rhetorically. Navi said nothing.
"Navi, do you even have hands?"
There were no more monsters, cursed pots, or possessed suits of armor. The exit from the axman's chamber had led Link and Navi through a long corridor that opened onto a balcony. As Link stepped into the sun he realized that it wasn't a balcony at all, but the palm of the statue above the temple's entrance.
In the center of the Queen of the Sand Gods's palm was a marble chest. Nothing but a simple latch kept it closed.
"Nice and straightforward," Link said as he opened the heavy lid. After moving a red cloth aside Link laid eyes on the cause for his sojourn through the desert. The treasure of Antaeus, the silver gauntlets.
Reverently Link pulled them out of the chest and examined them. The gloves were made of a leather that Link had never seen before, sturdy and soft at the same time. Across the top of the fingers, back of the hand, and up the wrist were silver plates that, according to Nabooru, were enchanted to give their wearer incredible strength.
"I think that's Nabooru down there," Navi said flying over the fingers of the hand/balcony.
Link walked over after wrapping the adult-sized gauntlets in the red fabric he'd found with them. "Maybe she's got some rope so we can—"
Two women, older than Hyrule, were flying above Nabooru on brooms, cackling to each other. Nabooru's face was pale with fear.
Author's Note: This was one of my least favorite chapters to write for lots of reasons. I don't particularly like to read or write about dungeons and temples that Link goes through in the games. They are great to play through, filled with puzzles and monsters and rupees and little bits of lore, but not so much to read. Even to describe the first room inside the Great Deku Tree adequately would require mountains and mountains of descriptions and explanation. As a reader I don't feel the need to have something explained to me in eight paragraphs that I have seen myself (via the video games) and as a writer I don't, unfortunately, have the patience to provide sufficient details that I'm hoping my reader already knows. So the young Link portion of the Spirit Temple was rushed.
This was also my least favorite fight scene to right. Ironknuckles look crazy cool, and they have taken more than a few heart pieces from many of us I'm sure, but for a child to be able to defeat one they would need to have super basic attack patterns (which they do). And that makes for boring writing. The most exciting thing I did was write a few onomotpias.
Because of this chapter I will have to seriously rethink how I am going to present some of the future temples and video game mini-bosses. Anyway I apologize for presenting this shabby chapter but it was necessary. Let me know what you think! Thanks!