Chapter 57: Snowpeak District

Crouched in a snug position, Link rode the Clockwork Policeman known as Tin-Kan along several streets through the Hylian District. People moved aside to let the mechanical officer pass, and they always looked away whenever it showed up. Its metal wheels carried it along to the nearest Skyloft Rail station where it boarded a cart much to the concern of all the passengers. They stood or sat perfectly still while the cart moved out of the Hylian District into the neighboring Goron District. Through the narrow strips of glass that served as Tin-Kan's eyes, Link noticed there were some large gaping holes in Terror Mountain while a carnival-like fair was set up near the base. While the Hylian people got off and went to the fair, Tin-Kan went along a different path that took it to a pair of Clockwork Policemen that were guarding a dark tunnel. They interceded Tin-Kan and held their claw-like arms up defensively.

"State your identification number!" said the one on the right.

In response, Tin-Kan said, "1735."

"What is your assignment?" The one on the left asked.

"To escort the Goron slaves to the Snowpeak District," answered Tin-Kan.

"On whose orders?" asked the policeman on the right.

"Ghirahim's."

The two Clockwork Policeman's eyes flashed for several seconds before they stepped aside and allowed Tin-Kan through. At the other end of the tunnel, Link saw several Zoras and Gorons in chains marching down a steep path with Clockwork Policemen on either side. Tin-Kan quickly got in line and followed the Gorons all the way down to the bottom of the mountain where a train stood on black rails that ran all the way to the edge of the Goron District and into an area consisting of snow-capped mountains. While the prisoners were piled onto the train till they were all squished together with barely any room between them, the Clockwork Policeman got on top of the train. Then once everyone was onboard, the train slowly moved away from Death Mountain toward the snowy mountains in the distance.

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"Welcome to the Snowpeak District, convicted felons," announced Ghirahim, who stood on a high platform above the prisoners wearing a white winter coat and fur hat. "Here, you will be put to work while carrying out your sentences. Food and shelter is provided, but it doesn't come for free. You must prove your worth to us before any accommodations can be made, otherwise you'll freeze to death out here. Also, if any of you are planning to escape this prison I would strongly advice against it. Apart from the biting cold, there are electric fences around the district, the train can only be operated by a Clockwork Policeman, and the tracks are made from Shadow Crystals taken from the Twilight Realm which corrupt anything that touches them. Do I make myself clear?"

Everyone nodded their heads nervously.

"Very good," Ghirahim grinned. "Enjoy your stay."

Then after Ghirahim stepped off the platform, the Clockwork Policemen and Moblin guards ushered the prisoners into two lines. The first line which consisted of Zoras went to the mountains on the eastern side which were more snow-covered and icy. Then the second line consisting of Gorons moved to the western mountains which were snowy but primarily made from metal. Once the two lines were gone, Link accessed a keypad with several buttons and arrows inside Tin-Kan and pressed a few to steer it in Ghirahim's direction. He managed to find Ghirahim by a tent that was continuously flapping in the wind and then after speaking to a nearby Moblin he went inside. Curious, Link steered Tin-Kan around the tent out of the Moblin's line of vision till he was standing by the back. Here, Link heard two voices coming from inside the tent. One he recognized as Ghirahim's while the other was deeper but distorted so Link figured it was a Watchman.

"So, Goshawhk, what have you to say about your comrades' lack of attendance?" Ghirahim asked in a pleasant but clearly threatening voice.

"There's nothing to say," said the Watchman presumed to be Goshawhk. "They clearly failed their missions."

"They did more than that, bird-brain!" snapped Ghirahim. "Because of their incompetence, we've lost three of the four Wind Sages along with their instruments and Medley Fragments. That gives us less of a chance to stop Skull Kid from sending the moon down and destroying Skyloft. Now do you have any idea why your comrades failed?"

"No, sir, I tried to contact them through the Mistress but she came up with nothing."

"That's because they've lost their Shadow Crystals."

"But how can that be?"

"The only thing that can destroy Twilight artifacts is the Light Spirits, but they've long since vanished from this world leaving only their tears behind in a Vessel of Light. So whoever has taken out your comrades must've found the Vessel of Light and used its tears to destroy them."

"Then that means I'm the only Watchman left."

"Exactly, Goshawhk, which is why you must find this person and eliminate him."

"What about the last Wind Sage?"

"Use him as bait to lure your comrades' killer out, and then after you've killed the person responsible take the Sage to the Goddess Statue along with his instrument and Medley Fragment which are sure to be on him."

"Do we know who this Sage is?"

"The only thing we've gathered is that the Sage of the North Wind is of the Goron people, but nothing more. Have you been to the Goron District yet?"

"I have, sir, and I didn't find anything."

"Ah, so all we have to do is thoroughly search the Goron Prisons and if any of them are carrying either the Piccolo of the North or the Medley Fragment with the Conga of the Northern Blizzard on it then we've found our Sage."

Gritting his teeth in anger, Link steered Tin-Kan away from the tent and toward the mountains that were made of metal.

To be continued…