The Bleeding Effect
Chapter VI
"No, no, no, you're doing it all wrong." Sheik snapped, his patience horribly frayed. They had been at this for half an hour already.
"I'm trying, I'm trying! I guess I'm just not that…musically inclined anymore."
"It's not as if I'm asking you to compose a ten hour symphony! It's just seven simple notes! And half of them are repeated!"
Link shrugged sheepishly.
"Look." Sheik set his harp on the ground before walking behind the other. He grabbed Link's hands, and directed them where to block the holes to produce the notes. Link's face warmed a bit at the contact. Sheik's hands were quite slender when compared to his, just shy of effeminate. He could see why his ancestor might have doubted Sheik's gender. "See? It's really quite simple. Now all you need to do is blow air into the top as you play those same notes again. You'll be encased by a transportation magic. At that point you can either dismiss the magic, or allow it to transport you to the entrance of the Shadow Temple." Sheik released him then, giving Link some room. "Now, try again."
Link didn't have any issue with blowing air through the ocarina—he had had plenty of experiences with playing reeds to call Epona and birds. But it was the grass itself that took care of the actual musical aspect of it; the Hylian had no experience actually playing an instrument. He'd never had the need, before now. As he played, he knew he got the first three notes right—he wasn't tone deaf, just not a musician—but then the nocturne jumbled as he placed his fingers incorrectly, and the half-summoned magic was lost.
"Oh for the love of—fine. We'll just have to do it together, alright?" After retrieving his harp and placing it back in his pouch, Sheik stood behind him again, and pushed the Ocarina of Time to Link's lips. "Begin."
And so Link and Sheik performed the Nocturne of Shadow together, Link blowing air through the instrument, Sheik manipulating Link's fingers to play the correct notes. It was a bit awkward, but they got through it, and soon enough the song ended, and the magic encased the trio. To Link, it felt similar to the magic the Great Fairy of Truth had used to direct him towards her before, but much less forceful; he felt as if a hand was being extended, offering to lead him elsewhere if he so chose. Link accepted the magic's request, and a purple light engulfed them for a few moments. When the light receded, they were standing on an outcrop that overlooked Kakariko Graveyard.
"Let's go." Sheik immediately turned from the sight of the graves and descended to the entrance of the temple. Link followed after him. Below they found a pedestal, surrounded by unlit torches, and a sealed door.
"Use Din's Fire to light the torches so we may progress."
"Yes, that's what I had planned to do."
"Well get to it then."
"Would you stop already?" Link was starting to grow annoyed. "What's your hurry? I mean, I understand that we must gather the medallions and defeat Ganondorf, but you've been especially over-anxious after we left the inn this morning."
"Just light the torches."
"Sheik," Link groaned. "Don't start this. I don't want to fight you, I just want to understand you." He started rummaging around for the aforementioned item. Thankfully, the night before, Sheik had explained what all of the items in his pouch were that he did not recognize, and ways he might apply them in the ensuing temples.
Sheik relented. "Impa, one of the six sages, was the one who initially sealed that malicious spirit in the bottom of the well. Impa went ahead of us through the Shadow Temple to seal it up again, but…she will be in danger without our help."
Link called the fire to his aid, and it lit up the torches in an instant. The door to the Shadow Temple creaked open, and they walked past it.
"What is Impa to you?"
"She is…the leader of the Sheikah. My leader."
"You care about her." It wasn't a question.
"She is my leader." Sheik refused to elaborate any further, and Link let it go. He understood well enough what the man was trying to say, regardless.
"We will find her," Link assured him. "And then together we will all defeat that vile monster."
Sheik made a soft noise of agreement, and his body seemed to relax a little. Link stared ahead of him. The hallway before him was absent; instead of a floor, a dark abyss awaited his next steps. A hookshot target was fastened just below the edge of the floor; Link would have to be very careful when he made the jump. At the other end of the hallway, the face of a skeleton leered at him.
"What is that thing?" Link pointed towards the skull.
"One of the many lingering spirits in this place. This particular one seems to be here to enjoy the show of our attempt to cross the chasm. Don't concern yourself with it, hero. It cannot harm you, not anymore."
"You can call me Link, you know," He said as he pulled out the longshot. He glanced at the item in his hand. "Heh. Though getting you to change your mind would be quite the longshot."
Sheik did not comment on Link's awful wisecrack, instead dashing forwards and leaping across the deep expanse. Link stared at the Sheikah's outstretched form as he drifted through the air. Did he have a hookshot of his own? A rope? Anything? What if he didn't make the jump?
Link's alarm was short-lived—Sheik twisted in midair, a strange snakelike whip striking out and catching on the wall past the chasm. He pulled himself to said wall, feet touching solid ground again. After his rather graceful landing, Sheik coiled the whip, and gently unhooked the fangs from the stone. He then beckoned Link over.
Link aimed the longshot and fired; the end sunk into the target, and Link allowed the chain to retract, pulling him forwards. As he neared the ledge he flung one arm up to grip the floor, the other dislodging the longshot. Sheik grasped him by the arm, hauling him the rest of the way up.
Link thanked the other as he dusted himself off. He glanced over at where Sheik had pulled the whip out of the wall. Two puncture marks were still embedded in the rock.
"Do you know of the Mirror Shield, hero?"
Link did know a little about it; his ancestor used its enormous reflective powers to defeat the wretched Twinrova. But he couldn't really tell Sheik that. He was perplexed as to why Sheik asked about it, as well.
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
"The Mirror Shield was forged by the Gerudo Tribe many, many decades before our time; its luster cannot be dulled by the passage of time, however. And it is said that its surface reflects not only light, but hostile intent as well. This whip—" Here he held up the brilliantly orange weapon. "—was created by the same smith. The fangs are made of the same powerful metal used in the shield."
Link drew closer, arm outstretched, and Sheik recoiled instantly.
"Do not touch them!" His command was sharp. Link blinked in hurt, but did lower his hand and step away. Sheik took a short breath to compose himself. "Forgive my abruptness. The fangs are the sharpest blades ever created, small though they may be. A simple touch would cut you quite deeply."
"It's alright, I understand."
Sheik stashed the item away. "But enough history lessons. Let us continue."
They approached the skeleton. It grinned at them, its skull propped up by its hands. Now that they were closer, Link could see that its image was transparent, and that a room lay beyond it. To Link's surprise, it then began to speak.
"It has been quite a time since anyone has graced these hallowed halls." Its voice seemed strained and hoarse, but threads of amusement were interwoven in as well. "I might as well warn you before you progress too much further. The Shadow will yield only to one who possesses the eye of truth, handed down in Kakariko Village."
"Alright, thanks for the help." Link mumbled, as he awkwardly shuffled through the image and into the next room. The precise moment he passed through the spirit felt similar to when the smoke monster had engulfed him the day before, but it was too brief to be of any great concern.
Then Sheik was in front of him, gripping him firmly by the shoulders.
"Stop it, you're hurting m—"
"How did you know that the wall was false?"
"W-what?"
"How did you know that the wall was false?" Sheik reiterated slowly. He narrowed his eyes, and Link swallowed hard; it was the same suspicious glare from that morning.
"Couldn't you see that it was translucent once we approached it?" Link was genuinely confused.
"Of course I could—all belonging to the Sheikah tribe are gifted with red eyes that can see the truth. But enough deflection. How could you see through it?"
"Sweet Farore, I don't know, Sheik, I just…" His denial trailed off as he came to a realization. Of course, the Great Fairy's gift! But how to explain… "Look, it doesn't really matter why I can see through the illusions, just that I can. Now, can we please press on? I thought you wanted to assist Impa as soon as possible."
Sweat trickled down Link's back as Sheik assessed him. Finally, the slighter man huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "This discussion isn't over, merely postponed."
"Yeah yeah," Link waved away the warning with an easy smile, but hidden in his chest his heart pounded painfully. The hero turned away from Sheik's smoldering gaze, looking around the second room. A stature of a raven was built in the center, and the pillars circling it were topped with skulls. Real skulls. Link grimaced as he walked over to them.
"Sheik, why does this place exist?"
"That's irrelevant."
Damn. Just as Sheik had been starting to open up a little, he shoved all the walls right back up the second his trust in Link wavered. Link wouldn't let it get to him. He'd find out the truth of this gristly place by himself, if he had to.
Past the statue and its surrounding skulls was a second chasm; but unlike the previous one, there was no hookshot target this time; just a faraway ledge shaped like a tongue. Charming. Regardless, he couldn't hope to jump such a distance. Link turned from the sight, and started scanning all the smiling skeletons around the walls. One of the images seemed thinner than the others; as he approached it, the image dissolved, just as the other had, revealing a small corridor and an iron door. Link walked through the door, Sheik at his back. Whether he was there to guard Link or scrutinize him, the Hero of Twilight did not know.
Another fake wall greeted him on the other side of the door, but a different spirit now stared him down. Link met its unholy, glowing eyes unflinchingly.
"One who gains the eye of truth will be able to see what is hidden in the darkness." It peered closer at Link and Sheik, then let loose a cackle. "Ah, I see my information will serve useless here. Already you have been cursed with this power."
"Cursed, not blessed?" Link questioned.
"Ignorance is bliss, yes? Would that you never set eyes upon this place. It's already too late for you."
Link strode through the spirit, then stopped short. The room was fraught with displaces souls. Some whispered, some screamed, and some just stared. The hero slowly searched the room for the next door. Amidst the clamor of noise he heard several snatches of words, each speaker uttering something more horrifying and miserable than the one before it.
"Not me arms, not me arms, please don', not me arms," One whimpered, a boy's voice.
"—don't know where the Sacred Realm is, I s-swear, I swear, I—" The hysterics were broken off by shrieks.
"Water need, water need," a woman's voice sobbed in broken Hylian. "Please, I Zora, water need, water need!"
Unease twisted in Link's gut as the voices filled his head.
"This is…this is…" Link's mind churned, leafing through the history pages of his memory. "This is a torture chamber, used during the Hyrulean Civil War." He turned to Sheik horror. "This is…this is where Hylians tortured people."
"Did you think Hyrule any different from any other land? Any purer?"
"But…" Link floundered. "The Goddesses…"
"The Goddesses created all living creatures. No one species is hailed as superior to any of the others, because all beings fall into the same vices. Every race involved in the Hyrulean Civil War is responsible for uncountable acts of cruelty, including the Hylians."
Link removed his cap, jerking a hand through his hair. This was too much, too fast.
"Shadow Temple…" A nearby ghost hissed. "Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred…"
At long last, Link spotted a translucent wall. With relief he walked through it and the following door, and prayed that the next room might be free of the undead. He was not so fortunate.
A solitary redead was crouched in a ball, moaning piteously. The door slammed behind Sheik and the monster jerked up, the sagging rot of its face contorting with rage as its eyes found them. It struggled to rise, sputtering: "Fools! Fools fools fools fools fools!"
The vehemence of this particular redead made Link pause in his attack.
"Navi, have these things ever talked before?"
"Not that I know of. All the others only scream."
Link watched as it ranted, jaw clacking so hard with fury, he was surprised it didn't break off.
"The magic of my compatriots cannot be defeated! The Fused Shadow will split the Sacred Realm wide open for us, and once we get our hands on the Triforce, oh, you will be sorry, yes, you will all be sorry—"
Link lopped the thing's head off before it could continue further, having heard enough. A Dark Interloper. Link just vanquished the lingering remains of one of Midna's ancestors. Gingerly stepping over the fading corpse, the hero searched further in the room. Skulls of various sizes and states were stacked in piles around the edges of the room: together they totaled an unfathomable number, and this was but one room. There was no telling what the others housed. He would soon find out; the thought drew a shudder from him. Quite soon he had to cover his nose with the sleeve of his arm to shield his sense of smell from the stench of rot and decay. His eyes watered.
At last Link spied a small roll of paper. He pawed through some of the skulls to snatch it up. The old paper crackled as he unfurled it.
"I've found a map." The hero announced, after he did a quick scan of the document.
Sheik nodded in approval, then opened the door to the room. They exited, and were back in the corridors of the shrieking, screaming spirits.
"Is there anything we can do for them?"
Sheik shook his head in denial, so Link did his utmost to ignore the cries and pleas of the ghouls, though each new sound was a dagger to his heart.
"…bloody greed, hatred…"
"Turn back…"
"—no idea pleasepleasepleaseplease I have no idea where it is, I don't, I don't I don't—"
"What is hidden in the darkness…Tricks full of ill will…you can't see the way forward…"
The tone of the spirits changed the deeper they went. Before, they had simply bemoaned their own sufferings. Now more and more of them seemed to be watching Link and his companions as the group trekked through the halls, and tried to deter them from continuing onwards any further with ominous words. Well, Link thought, it was going to take a lot more than creepy stares and empty words to deter him from his ancestor's quest.
Some nearby pots quivered, and shot up towards Link's face.
"Watch out!" Shouted Navi. There wasn't anywhere near enough time to pull out the Master Sword. Link drew his arms up to protect his head, eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
The pain never came, and instead Link heard the crash of pottery on the floor. Link looked up to see Sheik in front of him, several long needles in his hand. The Sheikah then collected the two needles he had used to stop the pots.
"Thank you, Sheik. You saved me from quite the headache." Link joked. The other man simply grunted, and Link slumped a little; Sheik was still wary of him, then.
When they reached the next door, Link startled as the Sheikah visibly tensed.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Prepare yourself. I sense something ancient and powerful behind that door."
Link drew his sword and shield before slowly opening the door. It made a loud complaining noise on its hinges. There was nothing inside but a bunch of bones and skulls, quite similar to the room with the redead. Nevertheless, he was cautious. He squinted at the walls and the ceiling, searching for any hidden beasts, or illusive traps. Seeing none, Link stepped fully into the room, Sheik protecting his back. When the door shut, and iron grate slid barred it, and then everything happened at once.
Huge hands burst forth from the ground. One of them grasped Link's ankle in a bruising grip, yanking him up into the air before slamming him back down to the ground. He gasped, the wind knocked out of him, back aflame, and the Master Sword tumbled from his nerveless grip. Once he released the Blade of Evil's Bane, the monster dragged him across the grimy floor, out of reach of the sword. The thing was cunning; it knew it couldn't touch the sacred weapon itself, so it forced Link to let it go.
The hands reached for Sheik as well, but he was too quick for them; however, his attacks with his needles dealt an insignificant amount of damage, and he found himself constantly on the defensive against the multitude of grasping hands.
Navi's voice cut through the noise of Link's throbbing heart. "You need to escape from its hold, Link! Hurry, before it's too late! Before the dead hand emerges!" The brave fairy fluttered by some of the hands, trying to draw some attention away from him. Link felt a spasm of panic for her, but it was needless; the hands didn't acknowledge the fairy. They were more intent on pinning down the meat. Link shook and writhed, but it seemed the more he struggled, the more hands clung to him, pushed him to the floor. Their frozen nails bit through the fabric of his clothes.
"Sheik!" Link cried, and twisted his head around to search for him. The Sheikah was trapped in a corner of the room, batting away five of the hands. There would be no help from him, not for a while. The Master Sword still lay several feet away, useless. Even if Link could manage to extricate his arm to strain towards it, he wouldn't be able to reach it.
Then came a rumbling from the ground, and earth was torn open like an old scab. The monster that emerged from the dirt was enormous, its pale skin ribboned with reddish brown flakes. Red blood, not green—the blood was from its multitude of previous victims, not itself.
At the beast's emergence, the hands trapping Link slackened slightly, as if confident that he was too frightened to do anything but remain paralyzed in fear. They were wrong. The second the hero felt their grips loosen, he threw all the force he had into rolling on his side, wrenching his arm and leg free. Once he was halfway free, it was much easier to escape completely. Link leaped up, shaking the remaining hands off. He couldn't stop moving, he couldn't stop, because if he did, they would pin him again, and all would be lost.
Link sprinted, arms pumping, to his sword. He felt a rush of air behind him, and he knew one of them was reaching for his neck; the hero rolled to avoid the attack, and snatched up the Master Sword as well. The blade hummed in his grip, and Link could swear the sword itself was happy to be in his hand again.
One of the appendages dared to attack Link once he was equipped; a single horizontal slash felled the creature. The other hands drew back, now wary. It would be difficult to separate the man and his weapon a second time.
Instead, the large fleshy mass lumbered towards Link. Its head lolled down to face him, and it roared in his face. The reek nearly sent him into a fit of puking, and it took all the willpower Link had to swallow down the urge.
With a battle cry, Link executed the moves that his ancestor had taught him. He bashed the dead hand in the face with a Shield Attack, and as the monster reeled from the blow, Link jumped up and executed the Helm Splitter. The Master Sword cleaved the dead hand's head in two, and dragged down past the split skull, tearing down the ridges of its yellowed spine.
Link recovered his bearings and stance after the double attack was concluded. The dead hand sagged sideways with a moan, its entrails and broken spinal column spewing onto the floor. Then Link could hold himself back no longer. He doubled over and heaved, his sick adding to the already terrible sights and stenches of the room. The other hands must have perished when the dead hand did, because nothing attacked him as his half-digested breakfast spilled onto the floor.
Then something touched him, and Link startled like a cat; but it was just Sheik, gripping him forcefully by the upper arm and all but hauling him out of the room. Neither of them spoke as Sheik guided Link back through the ghost-filled corridors, all the way back to the room with the raven statue.
"Put these on." Sheik shoved a pair of ratty old boots into Link's arms before releasing his grip and stalking a few paces away.
Link inspected the boots, rubbing away at the filth on them. They were similar to his normal boots, but this pair was covered in some sort of metal, and two wings jutted out of the heels.
"These are the Hover Boots," informed Navi. "With these mysterious boots, you can hover above the ground. You can even use these to walk across thin air! The downside? No traction!"
After thanking Navi for her input, Link pulled on the Hover Boots, placing his other pair in his item pouch. Then he stood, and set to figuring out the next puzzle.
Sheik would not look at him.
The sour taste of bile still lingered in his mouth.
They walked in silence for an hour or so. The quiet was maddening to Link in such a terrible place. He would try to start conversations, only for Sheik to shut him down with a clipped word or two, and frankly, Link has had enough of it.
"Alright, this has gone on long enough," Link snapped. Sheik, who had been several paces ahead, stopped and sighed.
"What is it now?"
"You, Sheik. You! What is your problem?"
"Do you not comprehend what being a hero means?" His red eyes blazed as he stared Link down. Link glared back, not going to be cowed. "It means that until your mission is completed, all of your personal emotions are put to the wayside. They do not matter."
A short, mirthless laugh ripped itself from Link. "Are you mad? Of course they matter. You can't just shut off how you feel about things because Hyrule needs saving. To shut off all emotion makes you less than a person, less than an animal even." He steps closer to Sheik. "But this is a distraction. I ask again: what is your problem? Is it because I can see through the illusions? Is that it? Because honestly, I—"
Sheik's eyes widened. "Look out!"
Link turned behind to see and was met with darkness.
-TBC-