To Xqueezme: That was a good guess, but I've got something different planned for him since he happens to be one of my favorite characters. I never thought to give Link an evil twin brother lol. That could be a cool twist for another story and yes I did spend quite some time on this. Zelda is one of my most favorite games of all time after all.
To Sheikah Ninja: Honesty? I really don't know. I think I'm just going to leave it open for the reader.
To Transformersjunkie: Really? That's good to hear. I was worried for a minute that I was maybe moving the story a bit to slow.
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Sheik laughed wholeheartedly as he leaned his forearm against a rock wall. He would almost calm down but then catch sight of Link crawling on the ground toward a very angry and wet Seshat. He'd turn back, rolling with new peals of laughter.
"Aww, come on! How was I supposed to know that you would land in that puddle of water? I didn't mean for it to happen!" exclaimed Link, trying to calm the growling cat that was giving him a death glare.
Seshat hissed before pouncing on Link's outstretched hand, sinking her teeth and claws into it. Link yelped in pain and jerked it away. He covered his slightly bleeding hand with his other one. He pouted at Seshat as she stopped growling but continued to glare at him.
"Okay, I deserved that. Are we even now? You're...not gonna to go 'all out ninja cat' on me, are you?" asked Link hesitantly. Seshat narrowed her eyes, as if considering it, but then padded up to him and crawled up into his lap. Link sighed, and then stroked her head. He tried not to cringe as her wet fur started to soak his pants.
Great. Now its gonna look like I wet my pants. Well, its better then getting my face ripped off at least.
"Man, this is just pathetic." muttered Link as he wrapped his left arm around Seshat and stood up. Seshat climbed up on top of his left shoulder and immediately started cleaning herself. Sheik finally pulled it together enough to turn and give Link a look of amusement.
"Well, that was quite a show. I am sure you realize that Seshat is not fond of water, yes? I think we should get out of this forest before anything else happens to us, hero," said Sheik as he approached Link. The hero finished inspecting his hand, deciding that it should be fine now that it wasn't bleeding anymore.
Link paused, taking a moment to absorb the events of late. He'd barely started to come to terms with his last adventure. The choices he'd made. Consequences of his actions. In the end, the world began to settle but he'd felt like he was still there. In the moment where he had to make the right decision or everyone else would suffer.
It just never felt like it was over to him. Was that because he'd wanted more then the quiet life he'd once had? Or was there some part of him that resonated with the need to protect whenever the world needed him? Did something inside him just know that there was more to done? Was he truly just a divine sent guardian who's only purpose was to defeat evil and then disappear into a revolving cycle until he was needed again?
"Meow!" A paw batted at his temple, making him chuckle. He looked up into bright green eyes that watched him curiously from a slightly tilted head.
Then he caught sight of the sheikah. Whatever trials this new adventure brought, Link felt he could handle them as long as Sheik stayed by his side.
Then the red eyed man tilted his head curiously when Link remained silently observing, an image that mirrored the feline currently sitting on Link's shoulder. The hero laughed, making Sheik raise an eyebrow in question. Dirt still smeared across parts of his shawl from when Link had tackled him. His eyes still held a hint of redness from the tears he'd tried to hide.
None of that raw vulnerability Link had briefly seen earlier was within sight now. For once, it didn't seem like Sheik was attempting to hide it either. There was a certain distance that the sheikah was still clinging to however.
That needs to change right now.
"Alright, we'll head out. First, we've got to settle a few things." said Link as he approached Sheik. The sheikah gave him a confused look.
"Now that we are official partners, I think it's about time you started calling me by my name. No more of this 'hero' business," Replied Link as he pressed his index finger against Sheik's chest. The sheikah looked startled.
"But that would be improper of me-!" Link cut him off.
"Only if I take offense to it, which I don't. I will actually take offense if you don't call me by my real name, got it?" said Link with a grin. He placed a hand against his hip.
Sheik frowned, something that his shawl covered. Therefore, Link was uncertain how he really reacted.
"Is it really so bad to be proper? I would rather not show such disrespect to you," grumbled Sheik as his head tilted down slightly. His eyebrows drew closer together as he peered up through his blonde bangs. Link blinked, his grin widening.
Is he...is he pouting?! Oh, Farore. That is adorable. What I wouldn't give to see the rest of his face!
"It's not showing disrespect. It's showing familiarity. I trust you. You're not just some random guy who saved my life anymore. You're my friend. My other friends don't go around calling me 'hero', do they? Neither should you," replied Link. He smirked as Seshat meowed sharply at Sheik, as if agreeing with him.
"See? Even Seshat agrees with me. You have my back, don't you girl?" asked Link as he reached up to scratch Seshat behind the ears. Sheik glared up at his cat that sat perched up on Link's shoulder. He finally gave a defeated sighed.
"Alright…if you insist…Link," said Sheik. He said his name hesitantly, as if the hero might turn and yell that he had changed his mind. He felt honored that Link would consider him a friend though.
Link however, liked the way Sheik said his name. He wondered what it would sound like in his native tongue. One step at a time though.
Wow…should have done this a lot sooner.
The hero turned his head to look up at the feline perched on his shoulder. There was one other thing that he needed to express.
"What do you think, Ninja Cat? Should I do it?"
The white cat tilted her head, meowing. Link took that as a 'yes'.
He reached out and placed a hand on both of Sheik's shoulder's. His red eyes widened at the sudden proximity. The hero smiled down at his slightly smaller frame.
"I've told you before that I won't hurt you Sheik. That's even more true now, then it was then. Like I said. I trust you. I hope you can trust me too. I get it if you don't though. We still don't know each other all that well. It's a goal worth pursuing, don't you think?" Link asked as he carefully watched Sheik's reaction.
The first thing he noticed was that Sheik seemed to have a conflicting problem with what he wanted and how he reacted to that want. There was a sense of longing in the sheikah's gaze that told of an eagerness to comply, but hidden within their depths was also a fear. A fear to what, Link was not certain but it had no place between them.
He wanted Sheik to feel safe around him.
Sheik was at a loss for words. Every part of his mind wanted to shout 'yes!' but his body told another story. Instincts born from years of trying to trust others and only getting hurt in the end made him react defensively. His body tensed and shrunk away slightly from the hero. Something Link seemed to pick up on.
Link moved to step away, some of his playful cheer fading and that sight made Sheik react without thinking. He reached out, grasping each of the hero's forearms before they went beyond his reach. He stood there, not knowing what to say. He just didn't want the hero to think he didn't like the proximity. Sheik just wasn't used to it.
The hero tilted his head and smiled softly.
"This is probably a good time to mention something else. I've noticed that you have two sides. One you show to the public and one you try to hide away, only revealing itself when you're emotional. They seem like two different people sometimes. I can't imagine what you must have went through to think that is the only way you can function around people. I don't want that between us. I don't want the overly polite and submissive Sheik that is willing to simply accept that everyone's opinion mean's more then his own. That isn't the real Sheik. I've seen that fire in you. I've seen the way you treat your animals and I saw hints of it when we were with Zelda. That's the real you. If you can't show that side of yourself to me just yet, then that's fine. I understand that has a lot to do with trust as well. Just...try, ok? No more holding back on me."
Now Sheik felt like crying again, but for an entirely different reason. This was more then he had ever hoped for when he accepted his role as a guide. He refused to embarrass himself any further though. With a deep breath, Sheik allowed himself a shy smile that even the hero could notice by the slight wrinkles around his eyes.
"You have my word. I will...try to hold back no longer." Sheik then released the hero's arms and stepped back. His red eyes focused on the archway that had led them into what he could only guess was the Sacred Realm. Or at least a part of it.
"In the spirit of building bridges, I would like to share with you what my predecessor has taught me. Some of which is...not good news."
Link crossed his arms, Seshat carefully climbing onto his other shoulder.
"Alright. Some form of direction would be great right now and whatever this bad news is, we can tackle it together. After all, teamwork makes the dream work." snickered Link. Sheik smiled sadly, hoping the hero's good nature is not tarnished when he realized just how ill-prepared his guide really is.
"I am grateful that you feel that way. Therefore, I hope you will not think ill of me when I say that even though I informed you of my dream that had warned me of your impending death and subsequent quest afterward. I did not...tell you everything." Said Sheik hesitantly. The hero only tilted his head with a inquisitive look.
"What didn't you tell me?"
Sheik glanced away, more from having to remember the images that had flashed so fast through his mind then any real hesitation toward the hero. Link had proven what he vowed for them was true, and Sheik needed to start trusting in that.
What his dream represented was all to clear however, even if many of the finer details were lost to his mortal mind.
Link nudged him gently toward the exit, their path leading down a narrow slope. The hero gestured to continue as they walked. It was difficult trying to gauge the hero's mood here. He wasn't the happy, encouraging person he'd been a matter of minutes ago, but he was also not showing any signs of sudden distrust or anger.
Eventually, Sheik realized that perhaps Link was just as prone to becoming lost in his thoughts as Sheik was. However, the hero seemed better at multitasking when he was like this. While Sheik tended to, in his mother's words, get lost in his own world.
"In my dream, I saw so many images. Some felt familiar. Some felt foreign. While some were...indescribable. As if my mind simply...was unable to comprehend it. Among the familiar and foreign images were recognizable symbols that I had encountered before while reading through scrolls and books of Hyrule's history. You might think that having recognizable symbols within familiar images might seem redundant but that was not so. The familiar images were things that felt familiar, as if I had encountered them within my life when in reality, I had not. After speaking with my counterpart, I have come to realize that these are his memories, along with any other predecessor that came before me." Said Sheik. He paused when Link suddenly gasped, a look of realization dawning his face.
"Hey! That's been happening with me too! Except, you know, out here in reality and not in my dreams. Oh, goddess. I think these foreign memories might start invading my dreams, if they haven't already...Sheik!" Link suddenly stopped in the small enclosure where he normally fought the Skull Kid. His hand shot forward to turn the sheikah to face him, a serious look on his face.
"If I ever start going keese shit crazy then I want you to slap me. Like, hard. As many times as you think is needed." Replied Link as he gripped Sheik's arms. His comrade spluttered, momentarily distracted as Seshat leapt from Link's shoulder to perch on top of a nearby tree stomp. Red eyes turned back to the hero and narrowed when he was met with a grin.
"Her-Link. You shouldn't make requests that you'll later regret. I do not hit softly." said Sheik with a grin. His mouth was still covered however, so he looked rather sinister to Link with only his narrowed eyes and serious tone, but the hero took it in stride.
"That's kinda the point partner. I am semi-serious here though. Eldest told me at the end of all this that I would need to play a song. All the Great Hero's apparently instinctively know it but I have no idea what he is talking about. I've never even played an instrument before unless you count whistling or blowing on a blade of grass. The only hint he had the time to give me was to search my dreams if I didn't already know it. I have no idea what to do with that information, but I guess that's what I got you for, huh?" Link said with a grin. Sheik raised an eyebrow.
"Search your dreams for a song that has stayed within your bloodline since the beginning? I wonder where it originated from or what it will accomplish once we have it?" Muttered Sheik thoughtfully. He then turned to give the hero an inquisitive look.
"This song is powerful enough to stand on its own without the use of an arcane focus?"
Link frowned, confused.
"What?"
Sheik gave him an apologetic look.
"Forgive me. Despite how much of our arcane knowledge has disappeared over the ages, I forget sometimes that not everyone has access to what little we do have. If they even cared to look in the first place." Sheik said and then sighed as he watched Seshat begin chasing a squirrel around the enclosed area.
"I meant, does this song need the help of an object designed to strengthen it's magical power?"
Link tapped his chin in thought.
"I think so. Eldest told me to use the Ocarina of Time. I've never heard of it but he said I'd need it in the end."
Sheik hummed, remembering the hurried speech from the Hero of Time. Sheik thought he mentioned an ocarina, but he hadn't been sure. Being smashed against the hero's chest in a cascading pillar of light was rather distracting. He shook his head.
"It is not something we need immediately, therefore we can focus on other matters for now. I think the best option is simply to tell you what I heard. In my dream, the message I was able to piece together was this." Sheik began gesturing his his hands, his voice lowing to what Link has named his 'lecture' voice.
"A shadow slowly awakens. A threat born from ago old hatred looms over all. The time has come for you to fulfill your destiny as the Hero's Guide during his journey of enlightenment. He must return to the Sacred Grove with the ancient power of seven and gather all of himself. In the end, you will have found your purpose within the heart of shadow as your hero is eclipsed by the sun." Sheik sighed as he finished, looking off to the side.
He had forgotten about the 'your hero' part of this message. It sent a chill down his spine. Did that have more then one meaning? He frowned, frustrated at himself. He needed to focus.
"I admit, I may have embellished it somewhat in order to get you to believe me. I had thought at the time that the entire message would make you to wary to travel with me. It...has an ambiguous meaning. What could it refer to by you being 'eclipsed by the sun'? What does that have to do with my purpose?"
Link narrowed his eyes. He was already on edge about this journey. First, he was part of an endless cycle of divine guardians and now he would be 'eclipsed by the sun'?
And that 'shadow' that is slowly awakening? Could that be a hint at my lapses in control?
"It was a good call. I probably would have been off-put by that. There's a lot to keep track of here." Link paused. He felt like such a hypocrite. Here he was trying to get Sheik to open up to him and yet, he can't do the same? Something held him back from revealing this part of himself, but why?
I want to confide in him but maybe we just need to get used to each other first.
Link grinned when a thought suddenly came to him.
"Heh, I find it kinda interesting that whenever I need something of importance, it's a sheikah that seems to always have the answer. I'm thankful that Impaz was kind enough to look out for Ilia. I shudder to think what would have happened if Ilia had been on her own during the Twilight Incident."
Sheik's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know my mother?" asked Sheik. Link's grin widened as he looked to Sheik as if seeing him for the first time.
"No way! You're Impaz's son?! Why hasn't she said anything about you? Do you look like her?" exclaimed Link excitedly as he peered closer at the part of Sheik's face that he could see. The sheikah flushed, turning his head away.
Link stepped back immediately, cursing himself as he remembered that Sheik covered his face for a reason.
Damn my insatiable curiosity!
Sheik sighed, keeping his head lowered as he looked at Link from the corner of his eye.
"Impaz is not my birth mother. She raised me as her own when my father left long ago. I know not what became of my birth mother. We generally do not interact with outsiders. I imagine she did not say anything because she wished to protect me. Most Hylian's do not have a very good opinion of us." Sheik paused to turn fully toward Link with a small smile that showed in his eyes.
"I am grateful that you do not share this mentality and that you even have comrades that seem to have a similar belief. It has...been a long time since I had any hope of befriending anyone." Sheik hesitated as he closed his eyes. He needed to tell him. No holding back, right?
"In fact, I must confess something else. Since my people are so rare now, I have not met another full blooded sheikah outside of my own clan in all of Hyrule for the entire time that I have lived here. My mother is not full blooded, therefore when our village was still thriving and my clan was...still there, she was not fully accepted. She was not treated poorly, but it is simply our way to not share our secrets with anyone but those that were considered true sheikah. The only relevant matter about this is that she was not trained to be a Shadow Warrior. The element of shadow has always been a core component of our culture. Only those that proved their worth to it could learn from it. Those that were accepted by shadow were known as Shadow Warriors. They were the most distinguished members of our race." Sheik sighed dejectedly, wrapping his arms around himself.
"I was still a small child when all of the Shadow Warriors of my clan left to help another tribe. My father was among them. They...did not return. I am devoted to my role as your guide, however, you should know that I am not a Shadow Warrior. It is unlikely that I ever will be."
Link didn't know how to respond to this. It seemed as if sharing some of this knowledge would have been some form of taboo if Sheik's race were truly so secretive. He didn't even know what the real problem was.
Sure, it sounds like I'd never want to be on the opposing side of a Shadow Warrior but why does it matter that Sheik isn't one? Is it simply a personal desire? Sheik's pretty impressive already.
Sheik frowned as his gaze dropped to the floor. Traces of guilt swirled within his mind. He'd tried to be vague about what it entailed to become a Shadow Warrior but even what little he did tell Link wasn't something his clan would have approved of. They weren't here to tell him otherwise however.
His thoughts wandered from the conversation, recalling his years of trying to improve his combat prowess. He'd learned how to defend himself from Koli but it wasn't enough. Not to him. He wanted to be stronger. Faster. He wanted to excel in magic. Wield illusion just as well as a blade.
First, he'd thought that he could learn from the military of Hyrule. They certainly weren't going to train him willingly, so he'd sneak into the barracks in the morning and hide. Hoping to eavesdrop during strategy meetings or witness any exercises or tools needed to aid in building strength. He saw none of it. Discipline wasn't even very strong within the ranks. Discreetly following the soldiers outside to try and learn from their routine training did nothing that Koli hadn't already taught him.
It worried him. Even at that age. History books used to praise the strength of Hyrule's military. They were the favored of the Three. When did they weaken this much? Was it gradual? Or have they always been this way and it was simple vanity that embellished their strength?
The soldiers of Hyrule were certainly not helpless villagers but they were not warriors either. Sheik's gaze slid up to study the hero, who was watching him with a puzzled expression. Link was probably one of the few warriors left in these lands.
"I'm not sure what to make of this. This kinda feels personal for you too. I have no expectations here. I've seen you fight. You're quick, precise and deadly once you set your sights on a target." Replied Link with a frown. Sheik bowed his head slightly, the compliment sending a thrill through him.
"Any skill in combat I possess has been from observing others. The only exception is my skill with my throwing knives. I prefer to attack from a distance and this technique was taught to me by someone that took me by surprise. Much like you did. Her name was Fiona. She was actually a part of a traveling circus and her act was her knives." Sheik chuckled at the memory of when he saw Fiona's show for the first time.
"The princess and I were children when we heard the Wondrous Wheels were in town. We snuck out to see it in disguise. It was amazing. I had never seen such a thing before and when Fiona came on stage she threw her knives as if they were simply another part of her. After the show I took the princess home but each day that Fiona had a showing, I would always sneak in to watch. I thought I was well hidden, but she proved me wrong. I had been frightened when she pulled me aside one day, thinking she was surely going to have me arrested. She didn't. She simply wanted to meet the boy she caught sight of in the crowd for most of her performances. When I told her that I was fascinated by her technique, she put one of her blades in my hand and pointed me toward one of the posts that held up the tent of the circus. She said 'give it a throw'."
Sheik shook his head with a smile, remembering how bewildered he'd been at the request. Wondering why she would ask such a thing of a child, much less one she didn't know.
"Fiona loved her knives. Loved 'wowing' the audience as she called it. She apparently had a good feeling about me. I hit the post, but the blade didn't strike first so it just bounced off. She was impressed however. Told me 'it would be a crying shame to let such potential go to waste'. From then on, she all but demanded I come back so she could teach me. Soon, I learned she had other skills. Plenty of which she passed to me. Most were not combat related, but they were useful. She never asked what I was or where I was from. I inquired once and she just replied 'I expect only two things from you. A name and a serious amount of dedication.' I repaid her by running small errands. It only lasted about three weeks. She taught me the ground work and then...left. I have not seen or heard from her in nearly a decade."
Sheik paused, staring off to the side. He remembered the day when he had stepped into the clearing where the huge red and white striped tent had once housed the entire show of the Wondrous Wheels, only to find the space empty. He'd wandered all over the city, asking as many people that were willing to actually speak to him as possible until he could piece together that last night was their last show and they now headed north. He waited, year after year, expecting them to come back eventually but they never did.
He was startled when Link pulled him into a one armed hug.
"I'm glad you were able to find someone like her. In any case, if you are the equivalent of an everyday 'villager' to the sheikah, then I can't even imagine what an actual warrior must be like. I certainly wouldn't want to cross one." Link stepped back with a grin. Sheik wrapped his arms around himself, gaze lowered to the ground shyly.
"I...thank you. It is not enough however. I am sure you noticed how differently my predecessor and myself dressed despite how we should have been wearing the same outfit. I am embarrassed to admit that I am not wearing my uniform appropriately. For once, it is not a mistake of simply not equipping my armor properly. There was no armor or bandages or even a cowl. This shawl is technically considered 'casual wear' to my people."
Sheik gave a half shrug.
"It would make sense I suppose. This was my father's novice suit before he became a Shadow Warrior. It is only logical that he would have been using everything that I am missing on my uniform. Much of the old ways are out of my reach but my predecessor may have provided something that will help provide some ground work." Sheik's tone brightened near the end, his entire demeanor lifting as he reached behind his tabard to pull out a scroll.
Link watched curiously as the sheikah unrolled the scroll. At the top he saw pictures drawn in certain stances, with arrow's pointing in different directions. Words were written beside each one but they swirled together to form nonsense. Link figured it must be written in Sheik's native tongue.
"This is a simple training guide but my predecessor used some kind of spell to inscribe a lot of other information once he realized just how inapt I was. It now houses many ancient secrets that I had thought were long buried with my race." replied Sheik excitedly as he unwrapped the scroll.
Link grinned as Sheik's red gaze swept over the words, pausing only to glance at Seshat as she shot up a tree in pursuit of a squirrel.
"I'd love to learn more about your culture but that would probably be taboo since I'm pretty sure I'd count as an 'outsider'. I get it, but now that I think about it, your people's secrecy might have been part of the reason others may have not responded well to them. It's hard to trust someone you don't know anything about. Not saying you should start tossing your people's secrets around like confetti, but it might go a long way if you reached out first. Not everyone is an inconsiderate racist asshole. " Link folded his arms and leaned back against the trunk of a tree. Sheik held the scroll tighter to himself as he glanced to the side.
"..."
Link sighed as he watched Seshat leap from one tree to the other in her chase.
"Sorry. I didn't mean anything by that."
Sheik shook his head, looking up at Link.
"You are not wrong. I have tried...reaching out in the past but it has rarely turned out well for me. Hostility and fear are normal reactions. Sometimes I am lucky and encounter just sheer indifference but I have yet to meet anyone that was amenable to building anything that resembles friendship. Until I met you.
"I have heard the term 'murderer' and 'blood traitor' by nobles and peasants alike. Nothing that I know of within my peoples history indicates a time where we could have earned such a moniker. I was once able to convince the princess to admit that the nobility believe that we had betrayed the royal family long ago, but she doesn't believe such a thing." Sheik huffed, waving the matter away.
"Regardless, that is not the issue here. My predecessor was a Shadow Warrior and therefore he has the power to give permission to divulge information that he thinks is necessary to an outsider. He has said anything that I know, I am free to share with you."
The sheikah folded the scroll carefully and then tilted it so Link could see a column of different colored sentences.
"Some of this will be very useful in fact. There are inscriptions that describe various artifacts that my people have made. It even tells where some of them are hidden! That is something we should look into later, but something my predecessor taught me was the particular use of these songs here," said Sheik before pointing to the list of different colored sentences.
"They are called Warp Songs. They are designed to teleport us to a designated spot without draining any of our energy. Except this one…the Song of Soaring? It says it will only work within...Termina. I've never heard of such a place. Anyway, the player is able to carry a certain amount of people with them depending on the amount of power used to play the song. Many of them seem attached to a temple of some kind. Hmmm..." Sheik paused, his red eyes sweeping along the lines before nodding.
"It does recommend using the Ocarina of Time to maximize the songs power. You could probably carry a lot of people with you with the power of that instrument." replied Sheik thoughtfully. Link was about to reply but suddenly heard a growl from above them.
They both looked up just in time to see Seshat leap from a high branch into the canopy of another tree in pursuit of the squirrel that was barely able to stay ahead of her.
"Damn…that's one determined cat." muttered Link. Sheik quickly clicked his tongue as he rolled his scroll back up, causing Seshat to swing around to look down at him from her high perch. She quickly climbed down and ran to his side. Sheik placed the scroll back behind his tabard and then picked her up and held her tight.
"I'd rather you not run off again." muttered Sheik. Link snickered.
"Weren't you the one to say that cats will do whatever they want to? Oh, now that I think about it, will those Warp Songs work on animals?" asked Link. Sheik thought about it.
"I…don't know actually. I never thought to ask that. I didn't see anything in the description that said if you can or not. We can always find out if we are close enough to test it out," said Sheik. Seshat meowed irritably as she struggled, obviously wanting down so she could chase the squirrels that she could hear running around them. Sheik just held her tighter.
"No, Seshat. You're not running wild in an area that you could get lost in…especially with that strange child around here somewhere." muttered Sheik.
"You mean the Skull Kid? Nah, he won't hurt her. He might take her just to mess with us though, so I'd say that was a good call." Link straightened and gestured for Sheik to follow him through the rest of the clearing and out of the Sacred Grove. Sheik bent his hand to scratch Seshat under her chin as he followed close behind, causing her to purr. They were approaching the waterfall when Link suddenly huffed in frustration.
"I think this adventure won't last very long. I already met the Sages at the Arbiters Grounds, so that must be the 'ancient power of seven' that I keep hearing about. I guess they fell asleep or something because Eldest said that I needed to 'awaken' them. What I can't seem to figure out are these 'Piece's of Courage'." grumbled Link as he reached into his pouch to bring out a bottle of water and then took a swig.
"Piece's of Courage?" asked Sheik as he accepted the offered bottle of water. He turned his face to take a drink himself. Link couldn't help but be overly curious but understood that Sheik wouldn't go through the effort to hide his face if it didn't mean something to him.
"Eldest said to collect a Piece of Courage from each of my 'brothers', which are the other Great Hero's in my bloodline. What the hell is a Piece of Courage? Are they supposed to be solid? Or am I looking for some kind of spell or something?" asked Link as Sheik handed his bottle of water back to him.
"Perhaps it's something significant only to each Great Hero," said Sheik. He shielded Seshat as they passed through the waterfall again. He huffed in irritation when his wet bangs plastered to his face and obscured his vision.
The white cat kicked her hind legs suddenly, almost launching herself out of his hold when he tried to reach up to move his hair out of his eyes. Sheik sighed, knowing that he probably got her a little wet from his clothing. His gaze rose to take in the dark clouds quickly appearing above them, signaling that they were approaching the entrance. His feline companion was going to be a little terror when it started raining.
Link was to busy with his frustration to notice their impeding doom.
"So, I could be looking for some kind of little trinket that could be anything? Yeah, I can imagine how well that's going to go down. 'Excuse me sir, but could I inspect your house to see if any of my past lives used to own any of your stuff?' That's only if I can even find where they had lived! I don't even know how many there are! Goddess! I'd be thousand years old and still not be done," exclaimed Link in frustration. Sheik sighed tiredly but then noticed the stone with the Triforce symbol stood far to the left. They were almost at the entrance now. He had been following the hero the entire time, but he could have sworn they had chased the Skull Kid for at least half an hour before reaching the heart of the Sacred Grove.
The sheikah huffed. This place was far to good at defying his expectations.
"I'm guessing you knew your way?" asked Sheik. Link grinned.
"Yep. You just can't get into the Sacred Grove without that pesky brat leading the way. If you didn't notice before, he blocks all the archways by sealing them back up. He'll even lead you in circles sometimes. Heh, he learned the hard way that he couldn't hide from me and Midna." snickered Link. He seemed to realize something so he suddenly lowed his voice to a whisper and leaned closer to Sheik.
"Oh, damn…I just realized that kicking his ass would have been a lot harder if he knew I had a cursed wound. Thank goddess he's not that observant," whispered Link as they passed the stone and stepped out of the enchanted glade.
Sheik raised an eyebrow and was about to respond but he paused. A strange sensation overcame him, giving him a feeling that briefly deadened his senses. Making the world around him seem quieter then it should. A chuckle echoed nearby, making them both stiffen.
"Well, I'm afraid that can't be said about me," drawled a familiar voice that echoed from everywhere.
Link unsheathed the Master Sword and spun around in search for the voice, dread slowly filling him.
"Sheik…?" muttered Link hesitantly when he couldn't find the source of the familiar voice.
"Yes, it's the same child from before," muttered Sheik with his knives already out and poised to strike. He was cursing himself. Something was done to him. He was sure of it. Red eyes swept the area but also couldn't spot the target. This unnerved him. Sheik didn't know enough about this enemy to plan properly. He had dropped Seshat the moment he heard the voice. She now stood crouched beside his leg. Her ears perked forward when she seemed to hear something from high above them.
"How dare you! I'm not a child! You pitiful mortals will pay for your insolence! Shadow walker…you deserve something much worse than death after you and that little fiend of yours ruined my plans before! Not this time," said the purple robed stranger as he came hovering into view high above them. He had a wicked smirk on his face as he leered down at them.
They backed up quickly as the stranger hovered closer. He laughed menacingly, obviously enjoying how he could unnerve them. He suddenly shrieked in fright as Seshat flew forward from beside Sheik's leg and hissed in his direction, causing him to shoot several feet higher and hit his head on a branch.
Link snickered as the stranger detached himself from the tree he hit. Sheik was not amused however. This was an enemy they couldn't face yet. He quickly snatched Seshat up from the floor with one arm and then loosened his hold of his knife so he could uncurl two fingers and reach out to touch Link's wrist.
Dread filled Sheik when his teleport spell seemed to fail. He had an idea now of what had been done to him. Red eyes glared up at the smug face hovering high above.
"What's wrong shadow walker? Spells not working the way you want them to? Isn't so frustrating when your plans don't play out like you expect them to?" Sneered the mage. He paused to peer up as the sky started to release the rain they had been expecting, his face lighting up with glee.
Link waited impatiently, unfazed by the rain, but Sheik followed the strangers gaze. What was making the mage so happy? Then it hit him. Those shadow creatures never attacked them at the ranch…because it was during the day.
Sheik hurriedly scanned the area. Looking for a way out. Perhaps the lack of light strengthened those creatures. Or maybe they couldn't be out at all if there was enough light in the area. Regardless, if they entered this fight, then the hero would be helpless. Sheik needed to do something now.
The mage hovered right above the exit but it wouldn't matter even if they got passed him. There wasn't a path that led out of the area, only platforms that were connected with vines and ropes. Sheik might be able to clear them if he got a running start but he doubted Link would be able to. Especially weighed down by all his equipment. The only other option was to flee back toward the Sacred Grove. Hopefully the Skull Kid would be willing to help them.
The mage humphed as he began weaving his hands through the air, drawing diagrams that glowed briefly before disappearing. Malicious red eyes narrowed as Sheik placed a hand against Link's chest to try and urge him to back away.
"Don't waste my time with your cowardly tactics shadow walker. You're not going anywhere. I came prepared this time and you walked right into my trap! A bit disappointing actually. Your kind are normally much harder to fool. I suppose you can't really be blamed for that. Can't be to many of you left." replied the mage thoughtfully. He suddenly raised his hands and what little light that hadn't already followed the setting sun seemed to dim as dark shapes started to form underneath the mage.
"Such a shame that the legacy of such a predominant figure should fade away. I'll have you know shadow walker, that I hold nothing but respect for the one that created your kind. As angry as I am with you, I shouldn't forget that. Just this once, I'll show you mercy. Your death will be quick." He snapped his fingers and the shadow monsters shot forward and began to surround them.
Link had been mostly zoning him out as he subtly searched for a way out and he was pretty sure he and Sheik came to the same conclusion when they caught each other glancing back toward the archway that led into the Sacred Grove.
The mage sneered as he waved a hand, and a gust of wind suddenly blew toward them and almost knocked them off their feet. He lazily waved his hand in circles, causing the wind to revolve slowly around them.
Under any other circumstance, Sheik would have marveled at such a display of control over the element. Now all he could do was try to keep an eye on the small invisible serpent-like creatures slithering their way toward the hero.
The mage jabbed a finger toward the hero.
"As for you. You have some friends that have missed you terribly. So, let's say you guys catch up as I deal with your friend and his little fiend, hm?" sneered the mage.
Sheik stood taller and gave the hovering stranger a lethal look. They needed to distract him.
"You hurt either one of them and you will wish for the goddess's mercy before I am through with you," growled the sheikah. Seshat shot back to her owner's side as the shadows got to close and then spun around to hiss at the stranger again, the sound far more vicious then normal as all her fury at getting wet channeled into the hiss. The mage jumped, almost tumbling to the ground.
"That's it! I've had enough of you mortals! Now meet your doo-!" But the mage was cut off as brilliant light suddenly shone out from the tree next to him. He swung toward it just as something emerged out of this light and crashed into him, knocking him out of the air. He hit the ground with a loud thud.
Link's attention was ripped away from the approaching shadow monsters as this beast stood towering over the small mage. He mouth hung wide open, but then he grinned as the shadows now were confused on what to do.
Sheik had never seen anything like it before. He guessed it was some kind of wolf. Its golden coat shone brightly. It's left eye was hollow, while its gleaming right red eye glared down at the startled stranger.
It suddenly threw its head up and howled. Its entire body shone even brighter, making it almost blinding to look at. The radiant energy emitting from its body seemed to erupt from the wolf and washed over the entire area, easily destroying the shadow monsters in seconds.
Sheik was stunned. He noticed that the mage seemed to have pulled himself together. His hand was poised, ready to strike the holy beast with his magic, but had apparently changed his mind after witnessing what it just did to his shadows. The mage suddenly seemed to melt into the ground before he reappeared out from behind a tree, hovering high above them.
Sheik narrowed his eyes. That wasn't teleporting. How was he getting around like that?
"I'll have my revenge! Just you wait!" exclaimed the mage. He talked faster with each word as the holy beast turned slowly toward him, glaring with its single red eye before the mage suddenly disappeared again.
Sheik sighed with relief. That mage definitely had some kind of personal vendetta against Link. He probably had one against him now to. Just what he needed. He couldn't help but wonder...what did the mage know about his peoples origin? The one that 'created his kind?' Who could he have been talking about?
Link snickered beside him as he sheathed the Master Sword. He walked passed Sheik to approach the holy beast.
"Man! You showed up just in time! Thanks, but I'm guessing you have a reason for being here though?" asked Link. His answer was confirmed when the holy beast crouched low to the ground and growled. Then it pounced, launching it's entire body at the hero.
Sheik let out a shout of surprise when the beast suddenly lunged at Link. They vanished with a bright flash of light as soon as the beast made contact before Sheik could even react. The distraught sheikah just stood there, staring at where they just were.