Beyond the boundaries
Note: I don't own Zelda or any of the characters from it. Zelda is the rightful property of the Nintendo gaming Industry.
Chapter # 8- Q and A
Hex reached up and grabbed the book from the top of the book shelf. He set the thick and dust covered book on the table in front of him and opened up the cover. He had not left his study since the arrival of the other worlders but rather, he was seeking answers for a troublesome question. For hours upon hours the beastly guardian carefully skimmed through all the ancient documents of all ritual sealing and banishing during the last thousand years, read and re-read his ancient scrolls and text books, even some journals he had found hidden away in an old crypt and nothing was even close to what Hex was looking for. It was as if Shuns' banishment didn't even happen. The elders of the Magistral court would never allow any ritual to be done unless it was documented and if it was, the document was always to be kept in the sealed vaults located in the Hall of Guardians.
If the sealing ritual was done by the elders of the court themselves then there was no way for Shun to have escaped the banishing void so prematurely. So how was it that he did?!
Something wasn't right about all this. Shuns' premature escape, the missing ritual scroll, and nothing to be found in the ancient text……something must've happened. But what? And how could it have happened in the world of Hemix? Was it….was it that there was some tampering in Shuns' restraints or maybe the wrong incantation was uttered? No, that couldn't be right. The elders would never make such a dire mistake!
Unless….
This was getting him nowhere. Rising onto all fours, Hex left his study and decided to pay Shun a little visit. Hex walked down the hall and entered another, a set of double doors at the end of the long hall. Immediately, Hex knew where these halls lead to and he had to go through there to get to where Shun was being kept. Drudgingly, Hex walked over to the doors and he opened them. Inside the grand hall old withered banisters hung lifelessly from high on the ceiling and the walls. Old suits of the former guardians stood faithfully in their frozen state, covered with layers of collected dust from the passing centuries of not being used. The marble floor was cracked and the tapestries were on the verge of disintegrating at the slightest touch. Hex scanned his beastly eyes over the depressing scene laid out before his very eyes and memories of the older days came flooding into his minds eye. And almost as quickly as the memories came, they left his mind.
As much as Hex would like to reminisce about the good old days, there was something he needed to get done. There was no time for him to be feeling nostalgic nor was this the time for it. He had to keep his mind clear of emotional build up, now was not the time to be sentimental.
Hex walked down the old hall, his massive claws making a clattering sound against the cracked marble that seemed to make a disturbing echo, like a cry in a hollow cave. It seemed like an eternity until he reached the end of the hall. Before him was a heavy set of double doors with rusted chains draped all over the steel doors. In all of the years since he became a guardian, Hex was still the only one with the ability to unlock the doors to the limbo chambers. Shuns' new prison for now.
With his claws fully extended, Hex stabbed them into the center of the right door. His claws fully embedded into the steel door, he then turned his paw first a quarter turn clockwise and then a quarter turn counter clock wise. He positioned his hand so that his fingers were upward as before only this time, he pushed his claws forward and heard a loud Click! Noise. The lock now open, Hex pushed the double doors open, revealing a wide open fiery room as vast as the ball room. Inside a seething Shun sat in his black steel bar cell with a huge circle of fire wrapped around his prison, acting as a barrier to keep him in and everyone else out.
Hex approached the caged figure, seeing Shun in his full form.
Shuns' massive centaur like form sat with its lion like bottom half laying down with its paws crossed comfortably across each other, both paws and hind legs strapped to a black steel chain link and cast iron cuff links at the wrists and feet. Shuns' upper half had his head bowed down and his ears drooped at the sides and his arms folded over his chest with his wrists chained as well, his human like characteristics cast in an angry shadow, all the while emitting a low decibel growl. All of a sudden, Shun began to chuckle.
"So….to what do I owe the pleasure of this quaint little visit? What, no cake with a file in it?"
Shun could see that Hex was obviously not amused. His toothy grin widened as he saw that Hex had indeed come for a reason.
"Ah…so you want something. Is that it?"
Hex sighed and began to speak.
"Why is it you have come back to Hemix? The Elders of the Magistral court had banished you to the nether void. The sealing and banishment scrolls and documents are missing and only you have turned up."
"What is this, a conversational interrogation? You want me to tell you about some stupid scrolls and writings?! Why the hell would I know something about that?! Those old fools were sealing me away and then banishing me to the nether void, I 'm pissed off beyond belief and you want me to tell you about some stupid documents??!!...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!"
Hex rolled his eyes at Shuns' boisterous laughter, sighing with his patience dwindling little by little.
"On that same day as I recall, those old fools tried to reason with you for leaving your post as a Guardian. And since it was your execution, I merely thought you would be more than anxious to find a loop hole in the rituals, Revenge being your only motive. But one thing troubles me. You were let out about a year's time later after Ganons' tyranny was put to an end by Link and Midna with the help of the light Princess Zelda. You should have been able to flee to the light world since Ganon was trying to forge another world out of the light and the Twilight realms, but…."
"Get to the bloody point already!!!! I know the events of the other worlds that time ago, you old fool!"
"Very well. So tell me Shun…Where are Tem and Tei at this very point and time?"
"………………………….."
"Well?"
"………………………….Now why would I know anything about those two fur balls?"
Shun opened his eyes to reveal two eyes, each of a different color, One being red and the other a deep gold. Hex let out an agitated growl and sighed heavily.
"….I though as much. Power can be an intoxicating feeling but it will also be your down fall, Shun. I'm going to look into the matter further and see what I can do to restore the order and unfreeze the two worlds."
Shun Let out another laugh.
"The years have really gotten to you, haven't they? AS long as I'm free to roam, chained up or otherwise, those worlds will never move from their frozen state! It is as Ganon said….their History shall be written in blood! One way…or another!"
"Hmph…..we shall see about that now won't we?"
Hex turned to the door and was about to leave the room when Shun roared out.
"You know as well as I do that I will break free from here! It is only a matter of time until my strength completely returns and when I'm free again…Well, let's just say that all Hell will break loose, and not in the rhetorical sense! I assure you, Hex! Blood will rain down from my hands!!!"
Hex stopped in his tracks. Without turning his head, Hex responds.
"And when that happens…I will you take you down to the bowels of Hell. And myself if necessary. That I can assure you, Shun."
Hex opened the doors and left. It all began to make sense now. The only thing left for Hex to do was to prompt the two heroes on the matter and explain their next move. It's been almost a week since they arrived and time was beginning to be an expense they could no longer afford. Their worlds are now in danger! Time is slowly but surely running out for them.
The morning steadily rose above the horizon, the suns light casting away the darkness and decorated the room with sunshine. A lazy hand came up and groggily shut the curtains, blocking some of the light away. The hand belonged to none other than the Twilight princess herself, barely waking from her "Eventful" night.
As soon as she became fully aware of her surroundings, Midna felt as if that night was nothing more than a lustful dream. It wasn't until she felt a heavy arm drape itself over her waist that she saw her hero of light sleeping right beside her. She felt a warmth rise into her cheeks and she couldn't help but to smile. Midna decided to take this time to study his features. If her travels with him had taught her anything, it was that when it came to Link things have an amazingly impeccable timing and the moment could (and would) be ruined by anything!
Link had definitely grown over the time they had been separated. His shoulders were broader than the last time she saw him, so much so that she almost couldn't get her hands all the way around his neck. His height had increased by about a foot or so, at least she didn't have to look down at him as she had done when she had the imp curse lifted from her. His face was still as handsome as ever, no longer the face of a mere farm hand but the square face of a man. The man that she loved!
Not wanting to hold back any longer, Midna lightly touched her fingers to his cheek. The simple movement earned her a happy but sleepy sigh from him, a wolfish smile edging his lips. Midna pulled herself up and came to a hairs breadth of his face and with all the warm breath she could muster, Midna drawled out.
"Good morning, my hero."
The warmth of her breath on Links lips were enough to make them twitch and he unconsciously lifted his head up to capture a morning kiss from his teasing little imp, who kept doing just that: teasing him. Midna pulled away as Link failed to capture her lips, a small groan of disappointment escaping his mouth. Midna giggled lightly and she eventually gave him the kiss he so eagerly desired and so rightfully deserved. His lips were lazy at first but at the first taste of her tongue and he was wide awake.
"And what a good morning it is."
Link yawned out. He opened his eyes and saw her fiery eyes gaze lovingly into his. He could get lost in those eyes every time. Link smiled again and touched her cheek with his hand. All of a sudden a realization struck his mind. Link moved Midnas' hair away from her shoulders and saw the faint remains of her wounds, four long jagged lines running down the left side of her shoulder and down her chest. A look of guilt now occupied his face.
"Midna…….."
"What? Oh, those old things? Those healed over three days ago. I'm feeling much better now."
Midna finished her sentence with a sultry tone to her voice. Link couldn't believe he had acted with such selfish abandon as to have completely disregarded the fact that Midna was still recovering from Shuns' attack. Sure, their love making was completely mutual but the fact of the matter is he had "Assaulted" her without making sure she had completely healed first.
"Still……..I was completely terrified when I saw you get hurt that day. And then…..for me to do what I did…."
Midna leaned down and pressed her lips over his forcefully, silencing him. She knew what he was going to say and she didn't want him to feel like that.
"You mean what WE did. That wasn't one-sided, y'know. I know you have the purest of intentions for me but when urges hit you…ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!"
Link laughed at her little growl and the look of guilt vanished from his features.
"I think it's this world that has my powers increased but I was so wiped out from concentrating on healing myself that I drained my body, that's why I slept for three more days. When we had made love, my wounds were closed up entirely and that's why I knew you wouldn't hurt me……well, much."
Link let out a sigh of relief and touched his forehead to hers.
"Quit trying to scare the crap outta me already, I'll be an old man before my time!"
They laughed together at their little jokes until a strange gurgling sound came from both of them.
"I'm starving! You think they got anything to eat here in Hemix?"
"Well, if you would let me get up, maybe we can find some."
Hmmm…..point taken. I'm gonna freshen up!"
Midna rose to her feet and went for the wash room, dragging the sheets with her leaving Link naked and defenseless from the morning crisp air. She went into the wash room and closed the door, waited for a minute or two and poked her head out.
"Well? You comin' or what, hero?"
Hex met up with Midna and Link and brought them to the dining hall where a table full of food was prepared and waiting for them.
"Please, help yourselves to breakfast. You will need your strength for what I have to address to you both"
Hex turned to see that they had already helped themselves to plates full of food. Link had a big chicken leg (or at least looked liked one) half way down his throat and Midna was slurping down what seemed to be a soup of some kind. Hex cleared his throat as to disguise the slight laugh threatening to come from his mouth.
"Now, what I have to tell you is of the most importance. You remember when I said that the two divided worlds of Light and shadow have a fail safe in which to safe guard the natural order of things, right? Well….I didn't finish telling you the rest."
Their clattering utensils and noisy eating sounds came to an abrupt silence as they heard what Hex had said. They lay their food and forks down and paid close attention to what Hex was about to tell them.
"It's true, the other worlds, along with this one and another, have safe guards in which to protect the order of things but the safe guard is not infinite. There is a time limit to their length of use and it isn't long before the failsafe gives out and at that time when it does give out, Shun will be at full power once again! The amounts of days that have passed are currently thirteen days. The amount of the standard limits….is seventeen. After that point…….Shun will be released and he will tear all worlds asunder! At your current state, neither of you would even scratch Shun if he is at full power. Therefore, you both must undergo the guardian trials!"
"Wait, your saying Shun is locked up and you can't even keep him there until all this is done?" asked Midna.
"When Shun had attacked that first day, he was only using 10 of his power. Being locked up for over a thousand years had diminished his powers greatly but it would've been better if he couldn't recover them. Regardless, his powers are increasing even as we speak. The restraints holding him now are forged of a tempered steel called 'Shadow Blood', so those alone have bought us an ample amount of time but its not going to be enough. To put him out of commission for good, it will require both of your powers."
Link and Midna looked to each other and gave a neutral nod.
"We'll do it." They answered in unison.
"Your help means a great deal to the world of Hemix and for all worlds. Rest while you can….the training begins today."
-end chapter
A/N: Well, there it is! Chapter 8 is now done! Forgive my late submission. I can offer no excuses so I will make none. Well, I hope this chapter has shed some light on most of the appreciated readers but I'm trying my best to fill in any holes as I go along. Please let me know if there is something anyone doesn't get and I would be more than happy to inform you. Flames are welcome, as always. Feedback is highly appreciated. Remember, honesty is indeed the best policy! I look forward to the reviews!
Thank you for your time!!!