Lot's of people! I have this thing. See, I love when everyone's united ad you run into all the old friends you loved throughout a series (I just finished listening to the end of Harry Potter 7 on CD-they do an AWESOME job of making that big reunion. I LOVE IT!
Ask if you want me to identify anyone.
Chapter 22: The Great Gathering
"Where's he gone?" Midna shouted. "We can't sit around and wait for him!"
"Then don't," Nabeen replied. "Let's go!"
"Was he captured?" Link asked. "Did he make it out of the cave with us?"
"He did," Navi shouted. "I saw him land with the rest of us!"
There was another volley of sound. Then a very quiet voice piped up from the din.
"I saw what happened," Medli squeaked. "Back… back where the path forked, he fell back and took the other trail."
Volvagia hung his head. Midna, Navi, and Link were silent. They'd been hoping that Shadow Link was truly on their side. And now he'd run away, taking the Triforce of Courage with him. The mark of courage borne away by a coward.
"You didn't stop him?" Midna said coldly.
"I-I didn't know he would run away," Medli whispered. "I didn't… I didn't…" She trailed off, not sure how to finish.
"It's not her fault," Link said softly.
"He probably went back to help the enemy," Nabeen commented off-handedly.
"He was a jerk, but I don't think he'd do that," Navi muttered."
"I agree," Link muttered almost to himself. "I think he was afraid."
"Why would he be afraid?" Darunia bellowed. "He was safest with us!"
Link shook his head. "I think that he was afraid of me. He might have been afraid that I'd take the Triforce of Courage away from him, and his freedom along with it."
"And now he'll probably get caught, and kill us all!" Nabooru cried.
"This is all fascinating," Vaati shouted," but we have to get out of here. Now. We can't wait around for that guy. If there's no further objections, I'm going to complete the spell."
Everyone fell silent.
"Okay," Vaati continued. "Then lets be on our way."
Vaati began speaking strange words and making gestures with his hands. A bubble appeared around the large groups, with symbols etched across its surface. There was a rushing sound, and the party vanished.
…
Panting and staggering along as fast as he could, Shadow Link rushed down the crooked, uneven trail. When the last of his strength was spent, he sank behind a rock, gasping and shivering.
He buried his face in his hands, the Triforce mark standing out clearly on his pale skin.
…
Suspended in the air was a circular wall of light with spiraling markings shaded into it. It was a strange flat surface, floating unsupported by anything. Its surface rippled, as though someone had thrown a large stone into the center of a pond. And then the wall of light expanded slightly and sunk back down again to reveal a small black and white imp with an orange ponytail.
"Aah, good to be home," Midna sighed happily, turning a sort of pirouette as she hovered in the air.
The hanging surface of the Mirror of Twilight expanded and contracted again, and Link limped in with Navi on his shoulder. Volvagia followed a moment later, then Medli, Nabeen, and the six sages.
They gathered in the square outside of the palace of twilight.
Vaati had taken them all back to Midna's time, and dropped them off at Arbiter's Grounds. Then he'd left to return to his post "guarding" the Master Sword. Midna had activated the Mirror of Twilight and let the group into the alternate dimension.
Soon enough, Link would go to meet with Vaati again and claim the Master Sword. But before then, he needed to let his arm heal, and their group needed to meet up with the army that was gathering at the meeting place here in the Twilight Realm.
Link placed his hands on Volvagia's neck to steady himself as he looked around.
The Twilight Realm was very quiet with a soft golden sky and billowing dark clouds. Flecks of twilight magic drifted about the air.
Something about that light felt… peaceful.
"So, where's this army?" Nabeen demanded.
"Around the other side of the palace," Midna replied. "Follow me." Midna floated forwards a bit before pausing to wait for the others to follow.
Volvagia lowered his head, offering his neck for Link to ride on.
"That's OK," Link said, scratching Volvagia around the horns. "I can walk." But he let Volvagia support him as he moved along.
Midna led the little band around the perimeter of the castle. They passed by a few other Twili, who waved cheerily at them as the passed, and bowed to Midna, their queen.
"Are they going to help us fight too?" Medli asked, looking at the strange Twilight beings.
"A few of them," Midna replied. "But most Twili can't survive in the light world, so only those we can protect through magic will come to help us fight. Actually, most of the rendezvous point is surrounded by magic to protect the people from the light world from the Twilight. My magic is protecting the rest of you right now. Trying to protect as large numbers of Twili from the Light would be near to impossible in the midst of a battle. Now we're able to focus all of our magic to the barrier."
They rounded the back of the palace and came in sight of a large field of pale blue grass dotted about with black and red flowers. The entire field was filled with tents, campfires, and people.
Sparkling fairies fluttered here and there. Heavy set Gorons stomped about. Sleek Zoras sat at the edge of a small Twilit pool. Small Deku scrubs bounced between the legs of tethered horses. Koroks and Kokiri were helping to set up a few extra tents. Winged Rito soared back and forth, distributing food and supplies. There were even several monkeys, a large owl, a kangaroo, a blue winged bear, and an armored red crocodile-like creature.
"There's so many of them!" Medli gasped. "Have we really been gone long enough for them to find so many people?"
"They're probably flowing on a different time than we are," said the sage Rauru. "They may have passed more time that we."
Medli and the six sages headed off to search for the people they knew, or for ways to help. Link, Navi, Volvagia and Midna headed down towards the crowd as well. Nabeen followed, looking uncertain.
Din, Tatl, Tael, and Sheik were nearest them, bending over a table spread with papers.
Sheik caught sight of them: the Sheik who was truly the Zelda from Midna's time. He approached them and nodded in greeting.
Link's jaw dropped at the sight of a familiar face, though it didn't take him long to remember that this Sheik was not the one he had once been friends with.
"We have gathered everyone we could find," Sheik informed them. "Thank you again, Midna, for offering your palace as a camp."
"Well, thanks for finding so many people," Midna replied. "Looks like Link makes lots of friends no matter when he lives!"
Sheik glanced back after the six sages. "I didn't see Shadow Link arrive with you." A chilly silence descended over them. Sheik didn't need to hear anymore. "I see. I suppose he still has the Triforce then?" Midna nodded. "Whatever his motivations… let us pray that he manages to keep the Triforce away from Ganon."
"Do you have any healers?" Navi asked. "Link hurt his arm."
"Of course," Sheik said. "Come with me." He led them through the base, weaving around tents and occupants.
"This is a strange bunch of people," Midna said, eyebrows raised.
Anju had a pen full of clucking Coccos. A man Link recognized as Kafei was helping her scatter grain for the birds. The two of them paused and beamed at each other. Link felt a happy warmth spread through him. He was glad that the two of them had finally got together.
Several heavy brown boars snuffled about in the dirt, with one huge white hog towering over them. A girl in a black dress flew overhead, riding a broomstick. What looked like a Poe vanished through one of the tent walls. A hawk perched on the top pole of one of the huts, its head tilting back and forth as it examined the activity below. A large gray bird preened its wing as it sat on the ground nearby. Two large white yetis sat together, boiling what looked like soup over a fire.
Link couldn't help but smile. Even though he'd never seen most of these people, he felt connected to them somehow. As though everyone here were kindred spirits.
They passed a small band of Sheikah and Gerudo that stood practicing archery and swordplay off to the side.
Nabeen paused to watch them for a moment before following the others. "You still haven't told me what's going on."
"I need an update too," Link added.
"Good point," Midna agreed. "We'd better explain the basics first. So, you know about the different parts of the Triforce, right?"
"Some of it," Nabeen agreed. "I've heard that my mark represents power."
"That's right," Midna replied. "Now, Ganon, the man who kidnapped you, also has the Triforce of Power. His grip on the Triforce is so strong that he's managed to return to power several times over the ages. And he always tries to steal the symbols of wisdom and courage as well. Luckily, those who bear the other marks are strong as well. Ganon has not yet united all three parts of the Triforce. So, over the ages, Wisdom and Courage have been passed down to those who worthy."
"So, what about Power?" Nabeen asked. Her curiosity was great enough that she decided to be polite.
"None of us really know what the Power Triforce does between generations," Navi sighed. "I've never heard of anyone else having the Triforce of Power besides Ganon."
Midna took up the flow again. "You probably inherited it at a time when Ganon was sealed the deepest. A time when the Triforce had to find a new master. Ganon probably never thought that anyone else was worthy to bear the power he thought was his own. It might even have been jealousy that made him kidnap you."
"Pff," Nabeen snorted. "I can't wait to get my hands on this guy."
"I'd better ask this now," Midna said, stopping directly in front of Nabeen. Sheik paused, and Link, Navi, and Volvagia turned to watch.
"Are you with us?"
Nabeen placed her hand on her hip and glared at Midna. "I still don't know what's going on. But I'll tell you this. Ganon will be sorry he messed with me, and I stand by anyone who helps me. That good enough for you, tiny?"
Midna smirked. "I guess we'll find out."
"So," Nabeen continued," why is Ganon so much more dangerous this time than all the other times he's been around?"
"Because now he has control over time, and he's imprisoned everyone who's ever held the Triforces of wisdom and courage. Luckily, Sheik and Shadow Link were able to smuggle the powers of one Wisdom mark and Courage mark out. And you have brought Power to us. Except now Shadow Link's gone."
"Were you planning on uniting the Triforce?" Nabeen asked.
"It wasn't part of the plan, no," Navi said.
"But the individual Triforces would definitely help in the fight," Midna commented. "It might even help us free some of the other Links and Zeldas. We need to rescue the rest of Ganon's prisoners. He has some of the other sages captured as well, and maybe others that we don't know about."
"Why doesn't he try to unite all the different Triforces he has trapped?" Nabeen asked.
"Good question," Navi agreed.
"He only has one Triforce of Power," Link said slowly. "Maybe he wants specific pieces of Wisdom and Courage to accompany it."
"But they're all the same, aren't they?" Midna asked.
"I… don't know," Link admitted. "It's possible that their power varies depending on who is holding the Triforce. Shadow Link may have the Courage Triforce that he wants most. Though I don't know which Wisdom one he favors…"
"Do you think Shadow Link is making the Triforce of power weaker?" Navi asked softly.
"I don't know what Ganon thinks about that," Link sighed.
"So, there's a lot you don't' know, isn't there?" Nabeen scoffed.
"We know more than you do," Midna retorted.
"We're here," Sheik said, interrupting the rest of them. They turned to face him. He was standing in front of a tent, holding the flap open for them. Link and Navi went inside.
Link blinked in surprise. Sitting in the middle of the tent was a small girl holding a doll of a fairy. She smiled at them.
"Hi!"
"Uh, hi," Link said.
Navi landed on the floor in front of the little girl, who laughed and touched the fairy's wings.
"What are you doing, Navi?" Link asked.
"This is the fairy queen," Navi whispered. She was bowing.
Link blinked in surprise and looked up at the little girl.
"Can you fix Link's arm?" Navi asked. "He needs to be able to draw the Master Sword."
"Right," Link said. "We have to meet Vaati soon. And then we can go after Ganon."
"Sounds fun!" said the little fairy queen. "Come up here."
Link moved closer to the fairy and did his best to show her his broken arm. She reached out and took his arm. Link flinched, but didn't pull away. She ran her fingers over the splint and the sling, feeling the bone beneath.
"I can fix it most of the way, but you'll want to stay here for a few days at least. You'll need to let it finish healing on its own. And you'll need to build up the strength in your arm again."
She placed her small hands on either side of the break and closed her eyes. Her hands emitted a faint blue glow. Link felt both a coolness and warmth spread through his arm. It felt wonderful and refreshing.
"There," she said. "Keep it in the sling a little longer though."
"Thanks," Link said gratefully, experimentally flexing his fingers and very slightly bending his elbow.
"Thank you, Great Fairy!" Navi chimed.
They left the tent and met up with the others.
"I think," Sheik said," that we should gather together the group that's most involved with the plan and exchange as much information as we can. Come. There is a large tent we can meet in."