/ What has happened so far \\
/Skyler finds himself in the world of Zelda and ends up on a wild adventure with Link and Midna. Cursed to work in the body of a small child, of the wrong gender to boot, he quickly finds out that the world he thought to be fiction is much more real than he suspected. After a fierce battle with a character that shouldn't have existed in his games time realm, Skyler finds himself in a meeting with ancient beings of unimaginable power who had transported him here. Now, in search of Link and Midna who had left him in the safety of Kakariko village, Skyler begins the next phase of his journey.\\
Adventure: 8 – Until the Last Breath
I stared down tiredly at the fairy fluttering before my face. It wobbled airily back and forth, its inner illumination switching between vibrant hues of green, blue, and yellow. It seemed to dance in intrinsical circles, its brightness steadily growing and growing until –
"Ow, hey! What the heck?!" I shouted, clutching at my now smarting nose. The fairy tittered obnoxiously as it pulsed in mirth.
I took the time required to fix it with a half-hearted glare but didn't bother to do much more. I had learned long before that trying to seek revenge was an exercise in futility.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Just wait till I find a flyswatter, then you'll really be laughing…" my threat hung ominously in the air for a few seconds before the fairy began flashing and tittering even harder than before.
I silently cursed the stupid creature before refocusing on my task, the deceptively difficult task of not falling off of my horse. I swore that the stupid creature was attempting to throw me.
The crazy saddle in which I was seated swayed violently every time the animal was distracted by something, and only harsh tugs on her reigns could keep the brown mare from drifting off course.
When I had originally stolen the horse, I had expected a fast and wild flight into the night, followed by a quick arrival at my destination, but fate, being the sadistic whimsy it was, had other ideas.
Apparently three-foot-nil of haystack blonde girl did little to spark fear or respect into horses, and as such nothing I did could convince the stupid thing to move any faster. So for the last three days we had continued on at a soft plod, mucking up the distance towards the Lake in an infuriating slow manner.
The only really good point about it was that I didn't have to carry my own supplies; the horse pulled most of the weight and I simply held onto its back and pulled its head in the general direction I wanted to head.
Aside from that, it was a useless animal, so when the point came where I decided to name it, I got rather… creative.
"Hurry up Baka," I deadpanned, kicking my heels into its side only to receive a peeved shake in return.
It was at that moment I wondered whether calling it 'Stupid Baka,' would be an exercise of rhetoric.
A swooshing sound flew past my left ear, startling me and causing me to look over to see my fairy follower bobbing up and down frustratedly. I stared at it in confusion for a couple seconds.
"What?" I asked. All that seemed to do was agitate it more. Now it was pulsating red, green, blue and all other colors in the spectrum while wildly vibrating in place.
"Did I do something wrong?" I questioned, feeling a little nervous as a small field of energy visibly rose around the small creature. Then it burst forward.
I felt like I received a kick to the head, my hands scrabbled wildly and barely managed to hook onto the reigns of the horse before my body slid off the side. A vision suddenly flashed through my head; a cloaked figure and a large wolf, facing off before a pool of crystalline blue. A flash of red and a burst of black, and then a loud scream.
I came to with a gasp, pawing rabidly at the saddle to get back on top of it. Suddenly I remembered, in the cave near Lake Hylia where one of the spirits lived, Zant's appearance, and Midna's near death…
Midna!
I felt panic course through me, and as I locked eyes on the fairy, I watched it slowly flutter down to land exhaustedly on my lap. It was then that I saw the column of rising… something in the distance; it was black as night and seemed to stretch from heavens down to earth where it disappeared over the edge of a large cliff. When the black sigil on my hand flared, I realized that something bad was going to happen, and happen soon.
"MOVE!" I shouted, slamming my heels into the flank of Baka. The mare neighed, and reared up – startled by the sudden sound – and then we were galloping. I could feel energy leaking out from my hand and down the reigns into the horse, feeding its muscles and propelling it forward even faster. For several seconds I felt something different, an almost primal sort of presence at the edge of my mind, pressing in and seeming to leech off of my panic.
The horse began to move faster.
"Link, don't you dare do anything stupid." I prayed under my breath.
(LINE BREAK)
Link swam uneasily through the water, watching as bubbles rose from his mouth and slowly began the long trek to the surface of the deep pit. He shivered unconsciously, the primal fear of drowning instilled in all air breathing animals repeatedly telling him that he should not be able breathe in water and out air.
Still, he had to admit that the Zora suit was pretty cool; after all, how many people could see what he was seeing… not that it was all that great. It was more or less a really dark pit that he was slowly floating to the bottom of.
He could still feel Midna's presence nearby, but she had been suspiciously silent since they had entered the pit.
"I take it this is where the last Fused Shadow is?" he questioned, more to himself than Midna. "Why do I get the feeling that this one will be guarded by a large monster as well?"
Midna chuckled darkly at that.
"Silly boy, if it was as easy as picking them up off the ground, well; they probably wouldn't be worth the trouble then."
Link deflated slightly, "I thought so."
It was then that the bottom of the cavern came into view. It was massive and mostly barren, a large sandy expanse with a circle marking in the center by a series of large, stone pillars.
As he slowly floated down, he had several seconds to contemplate if he wanted to do this. He still had time to click his magical heels and swim back up… no, that wouldn't due. He had too many people he needed to help to give up here… Plus, there was always the hope that this one would be easy.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, that hope fled.
A giant tremor rocked the earth, and Link only stayed upright by virtue of the viscous properties of water. When the center of the pit began to bubble and boil, he took that as his cue to back up. His sword hissed, or rather bubbled, from its sheath and he steadily took up his ready position.
It was only quick reflexes and solid shield arm that prevented him from being gored.
When the massive tentacle slammed into him, he was lifted, boots and all, off the ground and sent flying back several meters. His feet hit with a muted thud, digging up a spray of gravel as he ground to a stop.
Link had to bite his lip to keep from hissing in pain at the massive bruise he knew his arm now sported.
He looked up to see a mass of tentacles swirling around what appeared to be a giant mouth, and one thought rushed through his head. 'Why me?'
"Link," Midna's voice hissed out.
"I know." He responded, shifting his grip so it was tighter on his sword.
Letting out a fierce battle cry, Link burst forward, his booted feet kicking up gravel and giving him just enough traction to move.
When he was back in range though, he realized his error. Planting both feet, he lunged to the side, and narrowly avoided the first strike. However, instead of land where he expected, his body continued to float forward for another extra beat, not long, but just long enough to put him in line for the creature's next strike.
Grunting in exertion, he clicked his heels and slammed his foot into the ground, the sudden loss of weight sending him flipping just over top of the lash of the tentacle. Before the dust of its impact had settled, he had clicked his heels again and brought his sword down in vicious arc.
"YAAAHHHHH!" he cried, his blade slicing through the appendage with the muted force of his downward momentum.
Much to his surprise, however, instead of severing it, his blade merely passed through the limb, the tentacle morphing and flowing around the steel as easily as the water surrounding it did.
'What?!'
Before he could react, another tentacle came crashing from the side, hitting him solidly in the stomach and sending him flying through the water and up a good twenty feet. He coughed and struggled in suspension, even as his boots began to pull him back down. His ribs were on fire and he couldn't catch a breath. For a second, the fear of drowning returned.
"Get a hold of yourself!" Midna exclaimed, her shadowy figure appearing in front of Link for the first time since he had dived into the murky depths. "That is a water demon, you can't sever any of its tentacles with brute force, they'll just reform from the surrounding water."
Link pulled in a pained breathe and glared up at her, "Then what do you suggest I do, kiss and make up?!"
Midna shook her head angrily, "No, imbecile, you have to find its core and hit that!"
Link looked for a second down at the gaping maw of the creature, and gulped. "You mean-,"
"No!" she shouted, her figure grabbing its head in despair, "The core, not its mouth!"
Link looked around in confusion for a second before he spotted something, he nearly missed it in the gloom but… there, floating through the tentacle of the beast, a large bulge that displaced the water around it.
"I think I see it," he said, "Give me a second."
By now, the green clad hero had landed once again, and with practiced ease he sheathed his blade and shield before reaching into his pack and pulling out the bow he had won from the Goron's.
He pulled back experimentally on the string, frowning at the sluggish results. He reached back in and pulled up an arrow, knocking it in the slot before pulling the bow up to sight its target.
Under water, the strength of the draw was greatly reduced, and Link was able to pull it back much farther than usual.
'Well,' he thought, 'Here goes nothing.' The he released the string.
Link stared in shock for a couple seconds at the arrow that was floating weightlessly before him, having traveled a grand sum of one foot before stopping cold. He heard a groan from his shadow.
"Not the bow…" she groaned.
The tentacles themselves hadn't budged, seeming to watch with mocking indifference as Link shoved the bow back into his pack.
"Okay," he said, "Plan B."
Plan B turned out to be swimming over top of the creature and dropping down from above in the hopes of slicing the core open. Plan B failed for much the same reason as A, he didn't really think it through and the water conspired against him.
This time, when he skidded to a stop on the gravel, both of his sides were aching painfully.
When he sat up, he came face to face with Midna, her shadowy face hovering next to his with what he could only describe as worry. As quickly as it was there, it was gone, and Midna had scooted back several inches, her hand scratching beneath her pony-tail in a flustered manner.
All thoughts off oddities were driven from his mind, however, when he caught sight of her hair and its vaguely hand shaped styling.
"The hook shot!" he exclaimed, pounding a fist into his hand. Midna's face registered surprise at the seemingly random outburst.
Link was already acting however, and reaching behind him, he pulled out the object in question and strapped it to his wrist. "Why didn't I think of this earlier?" he exclaimed, slapping a palm to his forehead as if to hit his brain into gear.
Midna had all of three seconds to look confused before Link was rushing past her. This time, when the first tentacle swept in, Link threw himself to the ground, the attack passing harmlessly overhead. He stood up quickly, disabling his boots and launching himself over the next one. Halfway up, he swung his sword at the tentacle, the resistance proving just enough to halt his momentum, and causing the beast's other attack swung wide.
Grinning, he stuck out his arm, and with a hiss and a spray of bubbles a large grappling hook was shot out. It cut through the water with surprising speed, seeking its target with unerring accuracy. The creature let out a pained shriek as the harsh metal dug into its core, yanking it from the tentacle it was resting in and bringing it speeding towards Link.
He silently catalogued its eye shaped form even as he swung his sword to meet it. Steel grated off hardened water as a semi-transparent shielding made itself known. Link's eyes widened at the sight, but before he was able to attack again, another tentacle rushed him.
It took everything Link had to push himself out of the way, all his muscles straining as he flipped upside down.
The tentacle missed him by inches, but took the core with it.
Link muttered out a few choice curses as he quickly swam out of the danger zone, rising above the creature to survey it.
As soon as the eye had been absorbed, it had disappeared. Link scowered the tentacle for a short time, before he noticed an odd displacement rising up a tentacle on the other side of the creature.
'Bingo.' He thought to himself.
With a click of his heels, he was diving again. This time, instead of dodging, he tried something else. Gripping his blade with both hands, Link started spinning. It was slow at first, but it grew in speed, and by the time he had reached the tentacles range, he was a blur of steel and bubbles.
The first tentacle was a jolt, but the blade shredded through it, redirecting most of the force. The second and third tentacle nearly stopped him cold, as both slammed in from the same time on opposite sides, but Link gritted his teeth and kept pushing.
With a roar, he swung all his limbs out, arresting his momentum and causing his rapid spin to stop. As fast as he could, he sighted on his target, but paused for a second… were there supposed to be three wavering tentacles with a bulge?
Link suddenly felt something force his arm towards the left most target, and he looked up to see Midna holding his arm in place.
"Shoot." She said. And so he did.
Once again, the hook shot out. The tentacle seemed to notice and tried to evade, but it was too late. Once again, a pained shriek lit the room as the eye was torn from its place, and it came rushing towards Link. He heard the sound of rushing water behind him, and spinning as fast as he could, put his blade before the oncoming tentacle.
The combined force of the swing and the tentacle brought the blade in a vicious arc, nearly tearing Link's arm from its socket as it swung through.
It hit the eye dead center, cratering into it with an almighty crash.
Link was send spinning, his blade torn from his grip, while the eye was sent rocketing in the opposite direction. Both rolled slowly to a stop in the now silent water. Link shook his head clear and watched as the shielding around the eye flickered and then shattered.
As he slowly sunk back to the bottom, a single tentacle jerkily made its way up to the spinning core. It sucked it in and then slowly retreated back to the center. Link watched as the entire creature sank beneath the sand.
That was when he got the ominous feeling.
In an explosion of gravel, a monstrous form burst form the earth, the pressure wave alone sending Link skidding backwards through the sand. His shield was raised before his face to protect it from the flying debris, but he could still feel slamming impacts that reverberated through the hardened steel.
"GGYyyaaAARRRROOoooouuUUUHHHH!" a monstrous wail echoed through the cavern, shaking the giant pillars around Link as well as creating a visible current in the water.
A sickening thunk to the left startled Link, and he looked over to see his still trembling blade now lodged in the ground a foot to his side.
He felt the odd sensation of cold sweat running down his neck while completely under water – that had been way to close for his comfort. The monster, however, quickly drew his attention back, and he ripped his blade from the soil, not noticing the crack that had spider webbed its way across the blade.
"You're going to need to get to its core," Midna announced from his side, even as he began running towards the giant beast, "I doubt it will be in the tentacles again."
Link grunted in affirmation, his calves straining under the weight of his boots. However, he suddenly came skidding to a halt when the beast changed directions, now coming directly at him.
"Oh Goddesses," he cursed under his breath, before turning on heel and sprinting in the opposite direction… much faster than he had before.
He could hear the massive roars and rushing water gaining on him as he charged towards one of the pillars. The water was weighing him down and he knew that he wouldn't be able to stay ahead for long, but he just needed to get behind the pillar…
He was three steps away – an angry roar that shook the ground echoed from behind him.
He was two steps away – flashes of flailing tentacles burst past his peripheral.
He was one step away – a veritable mountain of water crashed into him from behind, the displacement caused by the creatures speed and size pushing Link out of the way of its gaping maw.
He tumbled forward through the water, a sound akin to a sonic blast echoing behind him as the beast tore through the pillar, reducing it to rubble and flinging massive chunks of the stuff everywhere.
Link was dazed for several seconds, tumbling slowly head over heels, before he managed to regain his bearings and reorient himself. He looked up and saw the massive sea-snake-thing begin a wide turn around the large chamber.
"How the heck do I stop that." He muttered to himself.
"Look, on its back," Midna said, her hand pointing from behind Link's shoulder and at the creature.
"What?" Link questioned, squinting where the hand was pointing. It took several seconds, but he eventually spotted the core resting in a small hollow on the things back.
As he watched the creature continue its large arc; Link contemplated idea after idea on how to get to it. He kept throwing them out one after another; unable to find one that both got him to his destination and avoided the creature's giant teeth.
It took several seconds, but eventually he caught the glimmer of his hook shot, and an idea popped into his head. It was a crazy, absurd idea, but an idea none the less. With a nigh-on-maniacal grin, Link clicked his heels and quickly began to swim higher.
"You have an idea right?" Midna questioned, sounding worried despite herself. When Link didn't answer, she tried again, her voice a little more strained, "Right?"
She couldn't see Link's grin from her position, but she could hear the smirk in his voice.
"You ever been bison riding?"
Midna had never heard of such a thing before, but by putting together her limited knowledge on both 'riding and 'bison,' she got an understanding.
"Wait, you don't mean –," she began, but it was too late.
With a giddy yelp, Link took aim and fired. His shot flew true, latching onto the corner of one of the neck plates on the beast. With a whir of gears and the rush of water, Link was flying towards the core.
The beast seemed to realize his plan, and tried to shake off the chain, but the claw had bit too deep and the monstrosity was too large to make sufficient turns.
Link set his sword hilt inside his elbow like one would a lance and positioned himself in line with the core.
The distance closed quickly, suddenly Link was next to it. The combined momentum of Links reeling hook shot and the forward charge of the sea-beast sent his blade through the leathery hide of the eye with barely a hiss of effort.
Link planted his feet against the beast, and with a shout he tore his blade upwards, severing the eye in two.
A horrible shriek cut through the water, ripping at Link's ears and forcing him to cover them in pain. The next second he was sent flying from the thrashing of the beast.
He tumbled through the frothing water in a jumble of limbs and metal, eventually coming to rest with his back slamming against a pillar. He watched with wide eyes as the creature convulsed through the water, spasming in and out on itself as if in immeasurable pain, which – judging by its slowly disintegrating body – it probably was.
Then something happened that Link wasn't expecting. The beast crashed into a wall, its full force carrying it part way through and sending huge spider-webs crawling up the wall. Link felt the pull of the current before he saw it.
In a moment of panic, he slammed his heels together, firing his hook shot at the base of the pillar even as the water began to drag him away. The shot didn't grab onto anything, and Link felt a sense of primal fear take hold for a moment as he realized he could be sucked away.
Reeling it in with record speed, he took aim and fired again, this time a little higher. The claw found purchase with a screech of steel and locked in place. After a few seconds it slowly began winching him in.
He let out a relieved sigh… then froze when the chain suddenly jerked to a stop. Suddenly he was spinning, the water level dropping rapidly as the current dug its thick fingers into Links clothing, threatening to pull him to with it to almost certain death.
He held on with a grip of iron, his arm nearly wrenched from its socket by the force of the current, and slowly, the chain already reeled in began to give way, and Link lost ground.
He gritted his teeth in pain and frustration, ignoring the wailing of the water as it was sucked past him, and ignoring the horrible burning that threatened to rip his arm off; only sheer will and a refusal to die prevented him from losing his grip.
Finally, with a burst, Link cleared the surface, flailing wildly as his body was sent skyward. He landed with a heavy thump on the damp gravel beneath him, his bruised ribs protesting violently and forcing the air from his chest.
He gaped like a fish for several seconds before coughing violently and sucking in grateful lungful's of air. For several long moments, he just lay there, basking in the lack of things trying to kill him. Sadly, like all good things in his life, it was short lived.
"Get up dog," Midna commanded from above him, looking down on him with imperialistic self-righteousness. Groaning, he grumbled his assent before climbing to his feet.
Sadly, due to his slightly loopy state before, he had missed the several panicked filled minutes in which Midna had frantically cast every diagnostic spell known to her over his prone body, checking for anything life threatening. They all came away clear, and Midna had justified the warm feeling of relief that rushed through her as simple relief that she still had a slave capable of preforming its duties.
Still, as she followed Link, she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to run a healing spell over his chiseled chest again… she justified the rush of heat to her face as the adrenaline of the battle finally getting to her.
Soon the two had collected the ancient relic of the Twili and were standing before a portal. Link paused at the edge of it, seeming to deliberate something. He then took a moment to look up at Midna. She had a scathing response on the tip of her tongue, but something about the seriousness that was set into his deep blue eyes drew her short.
"Now that we have all the pieces, and you…" Link trailed off, looking away for a moment as if thinking over his words, "And you… Well, I just wanted to say that, umm… Thank you." He finally got out before looking up into her eyes with almost ardent intensity, and for several moments, Midna was at a loss for words.
The orbs of deep cerulean seemed to flow into her with a warmth that she had never experienced before, a depth and concern that she had only ever heard of in sappy romance stories, and genuine sense of gratitude for something she had done. Not the petty groveling of those she knew from court, but a deeply heartfelt thank you. It felt… good.
Midna didn't blush – she never blushed – but she did avert her eyes, "What are you going on about?" she questioned while folding her arms and looking anywhere but his eyes, "You sound like this is a goodbye, I'm still stuck with you for a while yet."
Proud of herself for turning the situation back in her favor, she looked back in Links eyes. They looked at each other for several seconds before a huge grin split Links face, one that released a cage of ravenous butterflies in Midna's stomach.
"Yeah," he said, still grinning, "I guess you're right."
With that he held out his hand in askance. Midna took it in a daze, and when that weird burning sensation lit her cheeks again she made a mental note to see a doctor; with all these heat flashes she was getting, she might be coming down with something.
(LINE BREAK)
(Skyler's POV)
I was pressed down hard over the neck of the horse, guiding her more with my mind than any actual commands. By now I could feel the steady beat of her heart, the constant strain of her muscles as her four legs contracted and released in concert. I could feel the link between us, stemming from the contact of my hand on her sweat slicked mane.
I couldn't explain it, and in fact, I didn't really want to. All I knew was that the link felt natural, like something I'd been doing for years, and that it helped to calm my panic.
The energy I was feeding the horse was beginning to strain me, and as the terrain had quickly morphed from flat and grassy to hilly and rocky, I knew we were close to our destination.
Suddenly the bridge was in sight, a huge structure spanning an even larger gorge. I nearly leapt for joy, but instead my thoughts seemed to excite Baka, and she burst forward with even more speed than before.
Soon, the harsh clack of shodden hoof on wood was echoing around us, and I watched as the giant pillar of black that dominated the sky grew closer and closer.
Baka slowly came to a stop as we drew even with it, and I looked down to see its base near the edge of the massive Lake Hylia, which seemed to be miles down from my position.
'Walking won't be fast enough!' I cursed internally.
Pulling my hand away from Baka, I slid of the saddle, having to grab onto the stirrups to stop from keeling over. Pins and needles shot through my legs, but I grit my teeth and pushed past the pain, wobbling my way over to the edge of the planking.
I grabbed onto it and looked down, it took a couple seconds for me to internalize what I saw, but when I did I felt as though my stomach dropped through my feet. I could feel my gorge rising as I looked down into the vast drop that seemed to stretch on eternally before me. I swallowed a lump in my throat.
Quickly, I tried to remember if I had ever jumped from the bridge into the lake in the game and survived… I couldn't even remember. It sounded almost familiar, so maybe I had, but still; physics said that hitting water from this height was the same as hitting concrete, so, I was dead – which was bad.
On the other hand, if I didn't jump then I wouldn't make it down in time, and that could mean Link was dead, which was also very bad. If I did jump and survive, then I could save him which was good, but I could also die, which was bad.
I quickly weighed the pros and cons of the situation, and decided that jumping was a really bad idea. I tried to turn back to return to the horse, but I couldn't; something in me refusing to budge. I still wasn't sure how, but I knew that if I didn't act soon, something really bad would happen to Link and Midna.
I struggled internally, doing my best to fight past the fear, but I couldn't force myself forwards or backwards, my muscles locking in position as moral strived against survival instinct.
I'd like to say that I made the heroic choice, and jumped. But I didn't… the fairy made it for me. It crashed into the back of my head, and in the single moment I clutched at it in reflex, I fell off of the edge of the bridge.
I made a desperate lunge for the wood planking, twisting my body with speed and dexterity I had never mustered before… but I missed, my fingers scraping past it.
Then I was screaming. Before the sound could even reach my ears it was snatched away by the howling tendrils of wind. It tore at my clothes and sent my hair flying out behind me in a long streak of shimmering gold. The ground grew closer, and with each passing second I felt an increasing sense of panic pile drive its way through me.
The water was getting closer, and I couldn't stop. I was falling faster, and I couldn't stop, I was falling and I couldn't stop and I couldn't stopandICouldn'tStop!
My mind was frantically panicking, and I faintly noted the trail of tears leaking from my eyes; but just as quickly as the wind tore them from my face, the fear tore them from my thoughts. I think I vomited, but I couldn't tell, all there was, was the panic, and the water… and the water!
The expanse loomed before me, and in the last second before I hit I prayed to every deity I knew and asked them to end it quickly.
(LINE BREAK)
Link could instantly tell something was wrong, and the moment his feet had touched solid ground, he was moving. His sword hissing from its sheath in a cold rasp of steel on leather.
Midna seemed to have noticed just as he had, and Link carefully watched her from the corner of his eyes as she took up a defensive position covering his side.
Link slowly scanned the area, his back facing the large pool of water that dominated the center of the cave Midna had teleported him into. His eyes scowered over the craggy recess, combing back and forth as he attempted to root out the feeling of dread that seemed to permeate the area.
"Too slow," someone whispered from behind him.
Links eyes widened as he spun, but it was too late. He felt something akin to a rampaging bull smashing into his stomach; stealing his breath and flinging him across the room. His body rag-dolled through the air before slamming heavily into the stony wall.
Burning pain burst across his spine, and his sword clattered from his grip even as he his body slowly peeled away from the indentation in had created in the hardened rock.
His sword landed first, hitting the ground with a musical ring before bouncing in a way that set the sharp side facing up, and only quick intervention on Midna's part prevented him from skewering himself.
Her shadow manifested hand caught him in its deceptively soft grip before lowering him gently to the floor. Link was still in shock, grimacing in pain as he clutched at his screaming rib cage.
"What do you want?"
Link was taken aback be the sheer venom he heard in Midna's voice, and despite his pain he forced himself to his knees and looked up to see the imp hovering protectively before him. Off a ways, where they had previously been standing, were two figures. One floated lazily above the ground, his heavy and triangular coat hiding all traces of figure, while the other one was standing slightly off to the floating one's side, hands folded contemptuously across her chest.
Link felt his eyes widen at the sight of the second figure, and despite his best efforts, a cold sweat dripped down his neck.
"Sheik," he whispered.
The sheikah seemed to hear him, and even underneath the mask, Link could feel the contemptuous grin that split across her face. She started forward, but a lazily lifted hand brought her up short.
"Now, now," the floating figure said, the cold, clammy, and serpentine voice sending chills down Links spine, "I thought I told you to wait for my command." His head slowly tilted in Sheiks direction, managing to elicit an angry growl from the masked sheikah.
"You were taking too long," she hissed back, "I've waited far too long for this."
Midna growl of rage shook Link from his trance, and he looked back to see the feral snarl etched deep into her impish brow.
"I said, what do you want?!" she bit out, much more venom lacing her voice than Link had ever heard before.
The hooded figure seemed to take notice of her for the first time, his head lolling to the side, sending part of his masked face into shadow.
"Ahhh," he sighed; long and slippery, "Princess. So nice to… see you again." He chuckled malevolently.
Link noticed the way the statement caused Midna to flinch back. Then a movement from Sheik caused him to quickly lock onto her figure, and so he missed the guilty glance Midna had sent his way.
"It has been far too long," the masked figure continued, "Far too long since anyone has seen you. Some might think you've been… running from something." A throaty and malevolent chuckle followed that statement.
His face suddenly snapped in Links direction, causing the Hylian to freeze with his hand hovering just over the pommel of his sword.
"I wouldn't if I were you," the floating one said, "You might find the results… less than pleasant."
That seemed to have been the final straw for Midna.
"ZAAAANT!" she roared, her body fizzing and fuming as dark clouds of energy roiled around her as they appeared suddenly from seemingly nowhere. Three dark masses of shadow condensed from within the vortex of dark energy, hardening into the fuzzy outline of the shards of fused shadow.
Link could feel the ground shaking beneath him as the pieces began floating together, and couldn't help but stare in awe as he witnessed something incredible.
Then it stopped.
Link watched in bewildered fascination as the power suddenly vanished from around Midna, the aura of power fading like smoke as the pieces of fused shadow shattered into thousands of shards that quickly dissipated into grey mist. Then his breath caught in his throat.
The masked figure – Zant – was holding Midna by the neck, his gloved hand encircling the delicate structure even as Midna's single visible eye stared blankly forward in shock.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he tutted, "So violent, I think I may need to do something about that…"
Link watched in horror as the bottom slots of Zant's helm retracted, revealing a greying and sweaty jaw, dominated by a thin mouth with pale lips that stretched into a cold smile.
The sight seemed to enrage Midna, and a stream of dark words that Link could not comprehend spewed from her mouth even as she began to struggle and kick futilely at the air.
Then Zant's hand shot forward, jabbing two fingers into Midna's brow and stopping her cold.
"You seem to enjoy the world of light so much," Zant began, a long tongue sliding sinuously across his lips, wetting them slowly before retracting. Then his mouth to split into a feral grin, "Why don't you join them!?"
There was a bright flash of light, and then an agonized scream split the air. It sounded completely animalistic and alien to Link's ears, managing to convey so much pain that his brain simply refused to receive it… and then he realized it was Midna.
Boiling fury like he had never experienced before roiled through his body as his heart roared in concert to Midna's pain; and time seemed to slow as his sword found its way into his hand.
Unbeknownst to him, a golden sigil of courage had burst to life on his hand, flooding him with the power of gods long since thought vanished.
"AAAAIYYYYAAHHHH!" his shout tore its way from his throat, and before the waves of sound managed to reach anyone's ears, Link was in the air above Zant's head.
His sword arced forward in a brilliant flare of gold, and Zant had all of half a second to register surprise before it hit. There was a horrible scream of metal and energy as the magic fuelled sword ground through its target – then a snap and a thunderous shatter – and then all was silent.
Link stared disbelievingly down at his hand, his breath hissing in and out as he sucked in great lungful's of air. In one arm he cradled the still spasming Midna – and in the other, the shattered and horribly scorched remains of his once trusty sword.
The frayed leather and steel seemed to melt between his fingers as it disintegrated into soft lake breeze.
Silence prevailed for several long moments, then –
"Thanks," the sound came out terse and strained, filled with just enough seriousness to not be mistaken for sarcasm; but it was the person who said it, not the tone of the voice, that caused Link flinch. He spun upwards into a fighting position, clutching Midna protectively to one side while raising his fist in the other.
He stared over his still smoking knuckles and felt his eyes widen at the sight.
Zant was crouched on the floor, the top half of his helm bearing a jagged rent that stopped about a third of the way down, but all in all he looked no worse for wear. But before him stood Sheik, the proud warrior's legs spread wide into a defensive position, while one arm glowed with the red stain of fading magic – her other arm, however, was gone.
In its place was a cauterized stump, jagged pieces of flesh slowly flaking off even as the clothe armor around it collapsed into ash. Link felt his stomach roil and an unfounded sense of guilt and sickness well up within him. He had never attempted to kill anything human before, and he found that it left a bitter taint on his tongue.
Link watched as she sunk to one knee, her breath hissing in and out in ragged bursts.
At that time, the Spirit of the lake made its move.
Lanaryu burst from his spring in a torrent of water, the magnificent golden dragon roaring his challenge even as he charged Zant. The cloaked figure whirled around, roaring back even as he shot both arms forward and released a veritable maelstrom of black energy at the beast.
The two clashed in a burst of light, and for several seconds the two incredible forces collided – before Lanaryu was obliterated completely, his spirit sent rushing back to its spring; and Link suddenly found himself – weaponless – against a foe so powerful that even the spirits of light stood no chance. Despite his best efforts, a shiver of fear worked its way up his spine.
Still, he shielded Midna's body protectively behind his own, and even as Zant slowly walked forward, refused to budge. He wouldn't fail here, he would stand and fight until there was nothing left to fight against; he wouldn't fail Midna again.
"You won't hurt her again." He growled, his brows dropping down into a dangerous glare. For some reason, this seemed to amuse Zant, and he chuckled slimily even as he sauntered to a stop.
"Yes, your right … she won't be alive long enough for me too," he replied with a cruel grin, causing Link to stiffen in a heartrending combination of fear and blind rage. "But you…"
Zant never finished his statement, simply raising his hand and blasting Link in the chest.
Link didn't have time to react; all he could do was watch as the spinning shard of orange energy buried itself into his heart.
The world seemed to close in around the warrior, and he felt his body shift and morph even as a horrible chill spread through his being.
He didn't even feel it when he landed on the floor, only blankly noticing Midna's sickly white body crash down next to his, and then his vision began to blur and spin. He noticed the slowly retreating feet of Zant in the distance, the casual nonchalance they displayed eliciting anger and rage from Link, and he roared in silent rage.
No, it was impossible, he couldn't fail here. That bastard needed to pay, and Midna still needed him. This couldn't be it!
"We're going," Zant announced, causing Links fading vision to snap back into focus.
"What!?" Sheik hissed in pain and rage, "No… I'm not… done yet!" she spit out, her words all coming out forced and amidst heavy breathing.
"The master calls," Zant replied, "And you're obviously in no condition to keep fighting, even if the shifter was here."
"No!" Sheik protested vehemently again, "She's here … I know it. That bitch'd never leave these two alone, she close – I know it!" The wounded rage in Sheik's voice startled Link, and after a few seconds he realized who she was talking about… Skyler.
"No, as you can obviously see, she is not," Zant replied with a hiss, "Now. Let's. Go." He enunciated each word with a small burst of power. Sheik merely snarled in reply.
Then Link suddenly found himself looking up, a hard hand gripping the muzzle of his bestial form so tightly it cut off nearly all access to his nose. He stared into the maniacal and twitching red eyes of Sheik, and he could practically feel the blood lust radiating from her grey and clammy visage.
He did his best to glare back bloody murder, but his position kept him from doing much more.
"Tell her… I'm coming," Sheik coughed out, red seeping from her mask, "Tell her… she's mine!" Then she was gone, and the world around Link turned black as pain assaulted his senses.
Sheer exhaustion slammed down on him like a mountain of rock, and it was all Link could do to stay conscious. He struggled to stand, move, anything; but he couldn't.
He snarled impotently as he struggled against his disobedient body, rage and self-loathing flooding his core. He hadn't been able to protect Midna, he hadn't been able to avenge her either; he hadn't even been able to beat Sheik; something that even tiny Skyler had been able to do.
The thought of Skyler brought another batch of angst coursing through him, and his mind roared in fury as he realized he wouldn't be able to warn her in time. He couldn't protect Midna, he couldn't protect Skyler; what use was he?
He was failing in all he had sworn to do, and even now he was too useless to act. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't offered them help, if he hadn't joined them at all?
For a second, he contemplated simply giving up and dying; it would be ease, simply stop struggling against the pain, just lay down and sleep… so easy…
His mind rebelled against those thoughts, shouting out to him that he was better than that, that he had people counting on him, that he could not fail. But all his struggling was for naught; he was too weak to move, and no matter how hard he pushed his aching muscles, they wouldn't move.
Still, he tried… and tried again… and again.
Spots swam before his eyes as his legs began to move, but still unable to do more than twitch a few inches at a time. Gritting his teeth he tried again…
Then something was pressed up against him.
Link saw a flash of red framed by blonde hair, and for a second thought Sheik had returned. Then something wet splattered across his nose.
He stared up in surprise at the sobbing girl who was clutching his head to her chest, struggles temporarily forgotten as he saw the pain expressed within her maroon orbs. She was shouting something; Link could see her mouth working furiously but couldn't make out a thing. He was long past the state of coherency, and couldn't feel any of her feeble attempts to comfort him; but he could see the pain in her eyes; and deep within him, somehow knew it was his fault.
Link feebly attempted to move or respond, but that only seemed to torment the crying girl more. He knew he needed to tell her something, something urgent… but he couldn't –
Sheik! He had to warn her about Sheik.
Garnering up will he didn't knew he had, Link spoke. A strangled growl was the only thing to make its way from his throat, and then the world was spinning, and Link's last sight before collapsing into unconsciousness was Skyler's sobbing visage.
A/N: Hey, sorry for the long wait, my muse fled. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it. I'd love to hear where people think this story is going, and idea's about the 'new' characters I've revealed so far. Anyways, Merry late Christmas and a happy New Year!
Guppy, out.