A/N: Hi! I hope you all have been having amazing weeks. I quess you could term this chapter the start of the climax, and things will be getting pretty action filled from this chapter onwards, so hold on to your Link hats so you don't lose them like Link did XP I hope this chapter is satisfactory!
Yami no Nokutan: Interesting in a good way I hope XP Don't worry Link shall be making an appearance this chapter, never fear! I agree with you about Twilight Princess I loved the story and the game play! Pretty much everything except for the clowns and creepy oocos X3
CupcakePride101: I am glad you liked that part. Zelda has got quite a big problem on her hands :P Malver never seemed quite like the extremely helpful type in the game so I decided to keep him that way XD (I never liked that guy) thanks!
Arison Nakaru: Thank you! Yes, Link will be in this chapter, and yes he might indeed be a bit of a mess. Jade is a pretty self sufficient dragon, but I am afraid you shall just have to wait and see (*spoilers* you know :P).
silverheartlugia2000: Yes! It is next week! I am glad you like her :D Thanks for the review!
xXx skytale xXx: I am glad she came off the way I intended, that is really good to hear. Thank you! Here is some more!
Storm Dragon Wolf Princess: Oh wow, that's pretty cool! I can see that now you point it out. :) That pleases me to hear. :P I agree with you about those two games and their plot. Thanks for reviewing!
Kiridia: Thank you for reviewing both my stories, it totally made my day to read your thoughts! Thank you for the compliments also :) I agree with you about the games. Yeah! They came off the way that I intended, I did not want to write a clichéd role reversal and I don't think their characters would have allowed that either, come to think of it. :D I'm glad to hear that! I loved doing the shadow temple level, I thought it was pretty fun. (not the evil history behind it but the level itself XP) Zelda games can get kind of dark sometimes. A hylain noble? That's pretty awesome if I do say so myself. Thanks again!
staticblast1: Thanks again for all the awesome reviews! I think twilight princess had the best gameplay too. I have not yet played WW so I don't know much about that one, I shall have to check it out.
Gojira Geek: I liked ALttP's plotline too, and I think gameplay wise my favorite would be Tp followed by a tie between SS and OoT thank you for the review!
The Dark Lord's Castle
The tunnel was old and musty, the epitome of a moist, dank, worm riddled hole in the bowels of the earth. Periodically, the carven tunnel was supported by wooden crossbeams, like the shaft of an abandoned mine. The wooden supports were rotted completely through in several places and termite eaten. It gave off the unsettling impression that the small claustrophobic place could collapse in upon itself at any given moment.
As soon as her eyes had adjusted to the gloom, and she was able to take it all in, she shuddered and felt her heart griped with an odd mixture of fear and revolution. She could make out the shadowy scurrying forms of rats retreating before her steps. She held the small oil lantern, that she had had the foresight to bring along, up for Jade to light. The wick caught and the small flame partially illuminated the tunnel.
She grimaced as the flickering light played off the shiny silky threads of the webs of the abnormally large spiders known as skulltulas. She thought she could make out the shape of one of those abhorred creatures just where the range of her light lost its reach, near a bend in the passage. Knowing that there would be no going back once she started, she mentally reviewed the method for fighting them in her mind. Their heads and exoskeletons on their backs and legs were nearly impervious to swords. She would only be able to get them when they reared up to strike, exposing their softer underbellies, which they invariably did when they felt threatened, as sure as a snake would rear its head when scared. There was almost nothing she detested more than spiders and rats and it appeared that she would have to fight her way through a tunnel filled with the both disgusting creatures. She closed her eyes and breathed in slowly, in an attempt to ease her terror, revulsion, and nerves. Reading her weapons, she gave a worried glance to the dragon that had alighted on her shoulder and cautiously pushed her way through the murky depths. She held her rapier out before her, her right side turned forward in the guard position to protect her heart and center.
It seemed like forever before the dirt floor of the narrow tunnel finally merged with the cobblestone floor of the dungeon. She had only one more termite ridden support left to go. As she passed underneath it, it creaked ominously and dirt from the tunnel roof lightly fell from above to dust her head and shoulders. Shivering, she passed through in to a dungeon cell. She felt her breathing begin to return to normal levels. She had been aware of the fact that she had nearly started to hyperventilate, and she had no idea how she had made it through that tunnel without it collapsing upon her.
Jade had proven herself to be an excellent rat hunter and Zelda had killed no less than five of the oversized spiders. Skulltulas were odd dark creatures that could grow to the size of a large dog. Link had even told her that he had encountered some larger than himself and, in the Temple of Time, he had even had to fight one that had grown to the size of a house by dark magic. She shuddered at the thought. It was because skulltulas grew to be so large that they fed on mammals rather than insects. These reclusive spiders seemed to be attracted to evil and would worm their way into any dark place that darkness inhabited. Thankfully, the ones she had faced were young and had not yet grown to be large enough to want to make a meal of her. Instead, they had been feeding on the rats.
The cell she had emerged into was the furthest one down the hallway of the dungeon. She cautiously poked her head out from behind the open barred door and looked around. She pulled herself quickly back into the shadow of her cell. There was an enormous darknut guard with a spiked mace guarding the cells. She realized how fortunate she had been that the man had been pacing away from her when she had peered out. Zelda's mind began to frantically whirl as she desperately strove to think of what to do.
"Not worry about the enemy, I go snap it fat neck for you," Jade whispered to her angrily, blowing a tiny puff of smoke.
"Don't you dare, I will take care of this one," Zelda whispered back, eyeing the old siege tunnel, "and he is not fat he is buff." She finished.
She took a step backwards into the shadow of the tunnel as the soldier paced back towards her. She held totally still as he passed her hiding spot. She quieted her breathing, determining not make any incriminating sound. When he reached the end of the hall, he turned and walked right past her for a second time as he continued on his way. As soon as he passed out of sight, Zelda began to take a step forward, only to falter as the support beams above her head creaked lightly again and more dust powdered down on her from above. She grimaced as an idea came into her mind.
Zelda padded into the prison, gathered her wits and stepped boldly out from the cell and into the hallway, trying not to show her terror.
"Excuse me," she yelled to the guard in an arrogant cocky manner, "you look like a big stupid bloke! Would you care to give me directions to you ugly ruler?"
The darknut gave a bellow of rage and charged her. She nearly screamed with terror at the sight of the huge fully armored guard racing for her at top speed. With a whimper, she ducked back into the cell. Her enemy followed her and she backed towards the tunnel, waiting for her opening. The darknut swung down at her. She leapt reflexively aside and continued to back up until she felt her back resting against the largest of the dubious tunnel supports. It was a calculated move.
The darknut lunged forward with his mace and swung violently at her head. She dropped to the ground and rolled into his legs. His mace smashed hard into the crumbling support and the force of strike and Zelda's impact knocked him off balance and he tumbled headlong into the rotted wooden support of the tunnel. Zelda watched as the compromised crossbeams of the entrance to the tunnel gave way, one after another. With a mighty effort, she continued her roll forward and narrowly got out of the way. With a despairing cry of agony, the darknut disappeared under the crushing weight of the earthen roof of the tunnel. The dark warrior stood no chance against the beams and mass of earth that fell from above.
Zelda and Jade coughed as a mass of fine dirt and dust flew into their faces. When the air around her cleared enough for her to see again, she and her reptilian counterpart exited the cell. Zelda padded warily along the moldering dungeon hallway and ascended the steps that led to the dungeon's exit. As soon as she saw that the way was clear, she pulled open the heavy wooden doors and stepped out into the hallways of the castle. Her spirits sank.
"How will I ever be able to find my way to the throne room?" she whispered miserably, "there are so many passages."
Jade inched forward and cautiously sniffed the air, "does your Yink smell like forest woods?" she asked in a whisper.
"I don't know. In my kingdom it's not exactly considered polite to walk up and sniff your friend," Zelda whispered, trying to remember if she had ever noticed what Link smelled like. "Why do you ask?"
"I smell a smell of forest tree, other bad guy smell like yuck," she answered.
"That might just be," she said quietly, thinking of her woodsy hero. "Follow your nose Jade and I will follow you. Um, Jade?" Zelda asked as she followed her dragon, "If Link smells like the forest and bad guys smell like yuck, then what do I smell like?"
"Wildflowers. This way," Jade called over her shoulder.
Jade sniffed out the direction with all the fervor and skill of a relentless hound and the two stealthily made their way down the castle's twisting hallways. Most of the paths they took were unguarded. This was not alarming or illogical because the castle was under siege. It was almost a certainty that most of the solders would have been called to defend the wall. The faint sounds of the battle outside could be heard in the echoing corridors even as they walked.
"Just around that point," Jade said as they reached a ninety degree turn in the passage. "Careful, I smell lot of yuck."
Zelda took a cautious peep around the corner and drew back in dismay. Just ahead, stood the huge embossed wooden door of what had to be the throne room. In front of the doors, were eight fully armored and heavily armed darknuts. Zelda slumped behind the wall she hid behind. 'What do I do know?' she wondered to herself miserably, her heart racing. One darknut had been difficult enough, and she saw nothing around herself that she could use to outmaneuver the enemy, unlike her fight in the dungeon. She chewed her lip as he eyes alighted on the form of her dragon.
"You got planses?" Jade asked her softly after about a minute of waiting.
"Yes I do," Zelda said with a worried smile, "I need you to do something for me."
Zelda silently explained her idea. With a gleeful chuckle, Jade flew off on her mission. Zelda peaked around the corner, watching as her little dragon bounded towards the guards. Their attention was drawn and they raised their weapons. With a hissing puff of smoke, she leaped up and started flying around the confused guards' heads, causing chaos. Jade sat on one solder's head and leapt off only when his partner swung his mace with malicious force downward. He completely missed the irritating dragon and knocked out his friend instead. As soon as Jade had caused sufficient damage, she flew away, stopping only to hiss and growl challenges at the disoriented soldiers. With a simultanious airy battle cry, four of the six conscious darknuts chased after the infuriating reptile, down the corridor and opposite Zelda's hiding spot. Only two remained behind to guard the door.
Zelda reached deep into her satchel for something she had been saving for a long time. Her hand closed around the hard wooden shell of a deku seed. The deku tree used to grow in profusion in the woods of Hyrule but the species had declined greatly over the past hundred years and now they were almost completely extinct. The seeds were a rarity, which was why she only used them in absolute emergences. She had been given a pouch-full by her mother. It had been a rare and expensive gift and, of the pouch of ten seeds, only had five remained to her. When thrown, the chestnut sized seed broke and caused a blinding flash that not only caused temporary blindness but also disorientation. Reading her sword, she charged the last two remaining guards and, closing her own eyes to shield herself, threw the deku seed. The disabled darknuts were easy to best and soon they were lying in heap before the double doors.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped over the guards' prostrate bodies and pushed open the heavy doors.
The throne room was eerily dark and she grasped her sword hilt. Ganondorf was nowhere in sight and she stepped inside. Her body tensed with fear as she inched forward, her heart racing. Every one of her senses was on high alert.
All her caution and trepidation was totally forgotten however, when her eyes adjusted to the gloom fully. She saw Link slumped behind the warlord's throne. He was hanging limply by his bonds and it was plainly obvious that he was unconscious. She ran towards him her mind filled with the desire to cut him down and help him. Her eyes were stinging with tears of pity, horror, indignation, and gratitude that, after so many weeks of searching, she had found him. He was there mere feet away from her. Things might actually turn out alright. Her heart in her throat, she could not help but call out to him.
The creaking sound of the throne room double doors as they opened, caused her to halt in her tracks. Her spine went ridged with fear and she turned to face the intruder, already knowing who it would be.
Ganondorf stood, his large muscular bulk framed by the light of the open door, his face half hidden by shadow. His was a figure and presence she had hoped to never see again and, though she had tried to mentally ready herself for this confrontation, it had nowhere near prepared her.
"It appears I have an unwelcome guest," he said, his deep menacing voice sending shivers down her spine.
He strode towards her and she moved back a pace. Her hand started to tremble. Her sweating palms compromised her grip on her sword hilt. She stood, slowly turning as he circled around her. Her eyes were wide with fear and her heart was beating as loud and as fast as if she had just run several miles.
"What brings you to my humble abode, rebel scum?" he asked, his face twisted in a dark menacing smile, his yellow eyes glittering almost insanely.
She cut her eyes towards Link for a heartbeat of a second before turning back to Ganondorf. A sudden rush of anger replaced her fear and she gritted her teeth. This dark creature threatened the life of her people, he had cruelly abused and mistreated Aveil and Rhydd's people. The memory of their suffering had burned itself into her mind. What angered her the most was the knowledge that he had hurt Link too. He was responsible for the pain her kingdom had suffered and the kingdom of Twilight had suffered and now this kingdom was suffering. She couldn't let it go any further. She hated Ganondorf.
"I have come for my friend," she said finally, between clenched teeth, "release him immediately."
The warlord looked at her quizzically for a moment and then, much to her surprise, he stopped circling and smiled. Ganon's smile was like the smile of a snake. He walked up to his throne and stepped behind it.
"As you wish," he mocked as he turned to his prisoner, "He won't be doing any damage for a while,"
She watched as he used magic to unlock the chains. As he did so, Link shuddered and let out a feverish moan but did not wake. Before he hit the ground, Ganondorf caught him by his shirt collar with one hand and tossed him over to where Zelda stood. He landed nearly five feet from her position and did not move.
Zelda ran to his still form and knelt beside him, whist keeping a wary eye on her foe. Ganondorf seemed to have temporarily lost interest in her and had sat down in his gaudy throne. He had an aloof expression on his ugly face as he stared back at her. Maybe he had not lost all interest for he was clearly waiting for her to do something. She turned back to Link, watching Ganondorf from the corner of her eye. He was probably waiting for her to let her guard down, but she was not going to let that happen. He clearly had some plan she just could not figure out what it was yet.
Link lay completely motionless. His clothes were dirty and travel worn. His handsome face was gaunt and pale, his hair unkempt. As far as she could see he bore no injury except for a nearly healed split in his lip and very faint bruise under his eye. It was not this that that made her angry, what made her angry was the tear streaks running down the dust on his pale cheeks. Ganon had made him cry, she couldn't imagine what disgusting thing her enemy must have done to make him weep. The warlord had probably induced some kind of mental torture, because Zelda had never seen Link weep for pain or self pity.
She gently lifted his head and upper shoulders into her lap. She ran her hand along his cheek trying to directly use some of her healing magic. There was no serious physical injury that she could discern but she could feel something wrong. She could feel that he was strangely weak and his energy was all twisted up. The type of magic that she used to transfer energy or heal, required her to be able to use her triforce of wisdom to sense a person's life force and move or manipulate that energy to where it was needed. When she had sensed his, she had felt something strange indeed. Confused with what she felt in Link, she tried to feel deeper and was repelled by the knotted webs of twisted chi inside his body. Pulsing flashes of red burst in her mind and she gasped. Link whimpered softly and she drew back hastily. This had something to do with magic, and she did not know how to fix it. It was hurting him and she did not have the strength. It had used up quite a lot of her own energy to just to sense Link's, and she could not afford to waste any more when she knew that a battle would probably be eminent. Link still did not wake or move, his body remained completely limp.
"What have you done to him?" She demanded angrily, making full eye contact with the warlord.
"I am simply making him mine. If he had surrendered himself to me like I asked, it would have made it a lot easier on him. Suffice it to say, he is paying for his rebellion in more ways than one."
"Monster," she accused. She could not tell if her small attempt at healing had worked or even done anything at all for him. His breathing was still shallow, but at least it was steady. "Link," she whispered reaching for his hand.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spied Ganondorf straighten, smiling expectantly. As soon as her hand made contact with his, Ganondorf spoke an odd word and all of their hands started glowing where their marks of the triforce were.
Ganondorf laughed darkly, "Princess Zelda… I had a feeling that it was you but I was not sure because my spies said you never left Hyrule. It is indeed fortunate that you have come to me. It saves me the unpleasant hassle of capturing you myself. Now that I have both of you my power will be unlimited, nothing will be able to stand against me. After I regain all my former power I might even be able to take all three pieces of the triforce. Soon everything in this world will be under my control."
"Not while I still draw breath," she challenged rising slowly, gently laying Link aside. As she did so, she noticed him shift faintly. His face twitched slightly, as if he were coming to, but all of her attention was aimed at Ganondorf now. With one swift movement, she lay down her pack and Link's sword and drew her own, striking an offensive pose.
Ganondorf rose from his seat his, face twisted in anger. "Foolish girl, why don't you make this easier on yourself and put down your weapon. You cannot prevail over me, and neither will your little slave rebellion. Oh yes," he said sneering at her shocked expression, "I knew about your and the rebels attack long since. Rest assured my soldiers were well prepared to deal with your petty insurgence, the rebels have already met with a rather nasty surprise."
Zelda raised her blade. Link was unconscious so there was no one left to challenge Ganondorf's power but her.
"Even with this knowledge you are determined to fight?" he asked coldly, "Very well, have it your way."
Ganondorf took a fighters stance and used magic to close the heavy wooden throne room doors. As he did so, Link shuddered from where he lay on the cold marble floor and moaned as he curled in on himself. Zelda gave her friend a quick sympathetic glance before focusing back on her enemy.
"I think it is only fair to warn you that thanks to hero-boy," he gestured arrogantly at Link, "I have all the power I could ever desire, and you will fall. All who stand against me are doomed."
A/N: thanks for reading! May you all have blessed weeks! Drop a review and tell me what you think :D I apologize in advance for any grammar issues and the shortness of this chapter (I will make up for the latter next week)
Question: what Zelda game would you like to see a sequel to?