Chapter 5
Saria placed her hand on the Zelda's trembling shoulder. The Princess looked up at the Kokiri girl, hot tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "Saria … Link …" was all she could manage, emotion choking her voice.
"… Is not dead ... He is alive, but only just …" Saria said reluctantly. "He would have perished had you not played his song … The Prelude of Light should heal his internal wounds …"
Zelda picked up her blue Ocarina from her lap as Saria took hers from the green garb she adorned. She and Zelda began the Prelude, matching each other's notes perfectly … "Now … All we can do is wait …" Saria said as the final notes died away.
Zelda held her hand to Link's cheek, he was still deathly pale. "You can pull through, Link … I know you can …" she said softly.
* * * * *
Inside of Link's ghoulish dream he was on the brink of being defeated by a maddened Zora, one possessed by darkness.
Link jumped back, and arrow nicking the toe of his left boot, when he heard Zelda's voice. "You can pull through, Link … I know you can …"
Somehow he felt strengthened by her words; a green flare raced up his blade and entered it. The Forest Element, Farore's power. Link jumped to evade a barrage of arrows. He flipped in mid-air, propelling himself off the ceiling and plunged his sword into the Zora.
Link rolled as everything vanished in a flash of pale green light.
* * * * *
Color was slowly returning to Link's face. Saria glanced at the Master Sword, which the blade had briefly glowed green, then back to Link's limp form. "Do you suppose he learned how to use the Forest Element offensively?" she inquired softly, her voice barely audible.
"I do not know …" Zelda replied, although hardly heeding the question spare attention.
"… Zelda …" Link whispered, "… Thank you …"
"Link! You're alright!" she cried from sheer joy and threw her arms around his neck as he pulled himself into a sitting position.
"You enabled that …" he said as his eyes strayed to Veran's body. "You also disposed of Veran, hardly a simple task," Link said softly.
"I could not simply stand aside and let that witch kill you!" Zelda exclaimed, pulling back slightly, with astonishing attitude at the mention.
"And you did not … I am in your debt," he said solemnly.
That evening Zelda and Saria stood at the gates to the Castle Town square, Link was about to depart for Zora's Domain.
"Link, please exercise caution, Gannon or Shadow may've a snare set for you …" Zelda warned, concern evident in her eyes.
"I shall be alright," Link said as he tightened Epona's loose cinch. The Princess stepped forward, within arm's reach. He slowly turned, a slight shade of pink touching his features. "This is farewell, Milady, but hardly goodbye …"
* * * * *
Saria watched, distancing herself from them as not to interrupt.
Link stepped closer, placing his hands on the Princess's shoulders, drawing her closer. "Zelda …" he began softly, gently tilting her chin up to where she could look him in the eye. And tenderly kissed her.
She started to pull away, startled, before relaxing into it, returning the kiss. As he let the blissful moment end Link took a step back, pivoted, and mounted Epona, spurring her into the moonlit night.
"… I wish him luck …" Zelda said as Link's retreating form vanished in the folds of the night.
"Link shall be alright, his Courage assists him," Saria said, thoughtful.
* * * * *
Shadow paused, observing his counterpart from a distance as he trained in the early morning light. Link's agility appeared to be improving, he also had the Forest Element. Resting his hand against the rough bark of a tree, he stepped in front of it. Twigs snapped under his boots, watching as nearby a hawk caught a lark. It's song was cut off mid-trill.
Shadow strode through a void, reappearing at the base of Death Mountain.
* * * * *
Link's journey to the Domain was fairly simple, as well as brief. Merely three days' ride at a trot, with increasing duels with various creatures on the way.
As he arrived at the entrance of the Domain a blue Tekite appeared, Link unsheathed his sword and slashed through it before the creature could as much as utter a cry of surprise.
He left his sword unsheathed, if there was one … There was bound to be more.
Link walked onto the grating, water rushing around his boots. He stopped, glancing through the dark steel designs, before pulling on his blue-scaled Zora Armor. Link dove into the water, swimming downward rapidly. As he reached the bottom Link spiraled out, searching for something.
He paused at a statue, and placed a Water Bomb atop it before backtracking slightly. The once elaborate statue was blown to fragments. Link swam through the hole his bomb had created in the wall. The flippers on his armor had barely gotten through when the water frosted, sealing his exit with ice.
The water was bracing, even with his adaptive garb. His muscles began cramping, Link swam as fast as his body would allow, the water freezing in his wake. When he reached solid ground, while pulling himself out of the water it froze around his lower legs.
"For the Love of Nayru," he cursed under his breath, and pulled out his Lantern. Assuming he was careful, it would require take him around fifteen minuets at minimum to melt the restraining ice.
After he was finished, Link straitened, glancing around the cavern he'd come to. It was large; moss was growing on the dark stone walls. Roughly an inch of clear water stood on the floor. The cavern was poorly lit; occasional torches linked the walls, with spider webs accompanying the dim light. He walked across the room and into the corridor, drawing his sword.
At the sound of metal scraping metal a creature on the ceiling hissed, an overlarge Skullata dropped to the floor. He back-flipped as the spider scuttled towards him, slashing his sword diagonally as he landed. The creature lost half a leg, greenish-brown blood seeping from the wound.
It veered to the left, running into the wall from lack of balance. It turned and shot its venomous string at him. Link held up his shield, the substance was rebounded. The spider awkwardly ran at him, and reared up to pierce its prey's neck.
Link saw his chance, and thrust his sword upwards, into the Skullata's weak point. It let out a long, blood curling cry as its poison dripping fangs stilled. He pulled out his sword, which was up to the hilt in Skullata, with minor difficulty. Link walked around the carcass to a large, web-ridden oaken door. He pushed it open, sighing. The corridor was lit worse, so it seemed.
Link hooked his Lantern on his belt before continuing, his footsteps echoing in the narrow path. When he came to the end of the winding corridor the path branched off in two directions. Weighing his chances, Link decided on the left hand path.
After traversing for a time something snarled at him. Link glanced up. Piranha Plants lined the ceiling, and were working themselves loose. He threw his Gale Boomerang and preformed the Spin Attack as they fell, effectively dismantling them.
A waft of chilled air blew to where he stood. Link followed the breeze, something hung in the air: Nearly frozen ice particles with a faint blue aura. Link put his hand against the wall, suddenly disoriented. The blue aura thickened, shrouding his vision.
When the haze cleared Link saw he'd been transported. An unknown expanse of the dungeon lay before him.
The walls and floor were coated in a whitish-blue limestone, compacted. This area was well lit; torches were spaced closer together than the previous level. A thin river of blue tinted water ran through the middle of the room, vanishing from sight through a shadowed archway.
He followed the stream until he came to an icy cliff. Link walked around the room, seeking an alternative route. There was none. The only option was to make the accent. The height must have been a minimum of one hundred feet.
Link began his climb, the process was tedious. There were very few places to secure a hold, often far apart. Once he was near seventy feet up he lost his footing, Link barely caught where he was standing with one hand. Seeing another handhold he reached for it, loosening his already poor grip on the minuscule edge. He slipped.
As he fell Link reached for anything that might slow his fall, catching a slight outcrop. He gasped as his wrist and fingers absorbed all of his weight, pain flitting across his features. Something happened to his wrist. He lost his grip.
Link landed with a resounding 'crack' as his arm broke. He rolled onto his stomach and pain shot through his entire left arm. He winced as he pushed himself up with his other arm. Link walked to a rather small spring and dipped his arm into the cool water, and looked back at the cliff, frustration coursing through him. How could one possibly scale something of such height with a possibly fractured wrist and broken arm?
As if to answer his unspoken question, a Great Faerie rose out of the pool. Her long turquoise hair fell over her shoulders, her transparent wings shimmering with various colors. "Hero chosen by the Goddesses … I've been expecting your arrival …" she said softly, her teal-lavender gaze meeting his.
Link stared at the water, his face burning with humiliation. Some hero, he thought sarcastically.
"Do not punish yourself, accidents are inevitable," the Faerie said, as if reading Link's mind. He looked up, startled. His injured arm briefly glowed with a blue aura, the dulling pain vanished. "The Aqua Element you seek is to be found past the cliff, continue onward. I feel that you shall succeed …" she said, smiling warmly, and vanished.
Link stood, his determination renewed. This time when he reached the section he'd fallen previously Link took a detour around it, wary. This time he reached the top, only to nearly have his finger's spliced by a Darknaut's axe. Link pulled himself up and rolled to the side to elude the axe for the second time. He jumped to his feet, still evasive.
Unsheathing his sword, Link feinted. As the Darknaut was pulling its axe out of the floor Link performed the Shield Attack and Helm Splitter, eyes narrowing. He thruster his shield forward, clashing with it's armored chest. Link immediately jumped, bringing his sword down upon his opponent's helmet. It shattered. Pieces scattered the floor, scuffed by his blade. It pivoted, spotting Link.
He barely fended off the attack, confronting the axe blade with his sword. The axe was inches from his neck. Link sidestepped around it and preformed the Back Slice. The armor fell to pieces. He back-flipped and ducked as the Darknaut threw its axe, immediately countering the long blade of his foe. Link took a step back, his foot on the ledge. He pressed for more ground, not wishing to loose what little footing he had.
Link took a chance. He jumped as he gave into the Darknaut's blade. Using the creature's shoulder as a boost, Link landed just behind it. He pivoted, holding his sword aloft.
The Darknaut lost its head. Both pieces of the carcass fell over the ledge, leaving nothing but behind a tell-tale puddle of blood. Link turned and continued, what might be considered the Boss's lair was just ahead.
Searching for the key, Link entered the sub-room. The chest containing the item was simply a walk across the room. It was too simple.
As soon as he set foot on the white marble and icy dagger flew towards his head. He sidestepped. The weapon bounced off the wall, clattering to the floor. Link ducked and ran, dodging daggers every few steps. When he arrived at the chest the daggers simply halted, their murderous course now non-existent.
As he opened the chest he saw an oddly shaped coral key, pocketing it, he returned to the Boss door. When the key wouldn't fit Link glanced at the designs on the door.
At the top of the door was a Forest Crest. His Zora Armor faded to his green tunic. Shaking his head at the pathetic excuse for plants on either side of the door, he held out both hands, palms facing the vases with a green aura around them. The plants burst into bloom and the roots burst out of the pot, forcing the door open.
Link entered the chamber. A Zora awaiting him inside. It turned to face him, its amber eyes glowing brightly. He hesitated; Zoras of the norm had black eyes. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance … Shame you shan't be around much longer," the Zora said venomously. It held out its hand, which was surrounded by a blue aura.
The water in the surrounding pools began to rotate and several whips lashed out at him. Link jumped as sliver wings appeared on either side of his boots, now Pegasus Boots. Odd.
He barely cleared the whips as he jumped. Link landed across the room, one hand brushing the cool stone floor as he straitened. He drew his sword, a green flare raced up his blade. The whips struck again, he sidestepped with lightning speed.
A Zora fashioned javelin narrowly missed his head. It was jutting out of the wall, a black aura surrounding it. Link glanced at it, then back to his foe. "Missed," he commented coolly, and sprinted at the Zora.
Link halted suddenly when his opponent warped. Glancing around, a water whip caught him in the lower back, sprawling him on the floor.
End Chapter 5