The Legend of Zelda: Union of Evil Powers

by Martian Tempest

One year after the events of Majora's Mask, Link makes a safe return to Hyrule and is reunited with his friends. However, two of the villains which Link has slain have formed an alliance through the power of one and are ready to take their revenge. Can Link and his friends stop them before it's too late?

24. Chapter 24: Into The Arena

Chapter 24: Into The Arena

After passing through the hallway, the group stopped as they saw a single round room up ahead. Inside the room itself stood a Club Moblin, while Link could very faintly see a Floormaster patrolling in the hallway behind the gate that was currently closed up, which the Club Moblin was apparently guarding. A door then closed behind the group, effectively locking them in the area in the process.
"Drat, we're locked in!" Ruto said.
"Then our only choice is to move on and defeat the enemies ahead." Nabooru said.
"The Club Moblin can best be taken out from a distance so its club won't become a hinder to us." Link said, striking the Club Moblin with an arrow, hurting it.
Saria and Zelda both took turns in striking the Club Moblin as well, with Saria eventually finishing it with her Deku seeds and Fairy Slingshot, the Club Moblin collapsing before disintegrating in sheets of green flames. However, the gate ahead remained locked, even as the group went into the main room.
"Aw, geez..." Ruto said, looking around.
"There's multiple eye switches around, all in the same, silver color..." Nabooru then said.
"Some of them even are covered in ice." Zelda said.
"We'll deal with those switches soon; first we need to lure the Floormaster to the gate and take it out before it can become quite a bother to us." Link said, moving to the gate and, as he predicted, the Floormaster colored green and tried to charge at the group, only to stop due to the gate being in the way.
This in turn gave the group the opportunity to take out the severed, demonic, reanimated hand out properly, including its smaller versions once it split after its initial defeat. Once the tiny Floormasters had been taken out, it gave the group the time to carefully study the Eye Switches and see which one would open the gate ahead so they could proceed into the area and hopefully find a way out as well. Saria tried it first by shooting the eye switch above the entrance to the hallway they just came from. It didn't open the gate, but it did open a shaft on the floor which contained yet another Powder Keg and a bunch of Rupees which the group took.
"Well, at least it's something." Saria commented as she waited to see what would happen now as Zelda took aim with a Fire Arrow on one of the ice covered eye-switches.
Zelda fired the Fire Arrow and struck the switch, only for it to disintegrate in flames. Almost immediately Link heard the unmistakable eerie sound of something coming from above and spotting Zelda's shadow growing.
"ZELDA, LOOK OUT! WALLMASTER INCOMING!" He shouted, to which Zelda responded by jumping to the side, causing the incoming Wallmaster to miss its intended target, only to be slain by Nabooru.
"These traps are getting quite annoying." Saria said as it was now Link's turn to take aim, also gunning for an Iced Eye Switch, striking it, but like with Zelda's it disintegrated and another Wallmaster made its presence known, this time aiming for Link. Thankfully Link already clocked it and jumped aside to make the second Wallmaster miss its goal, before Rauru stepped in and used a Light Sphere to strike and kill the Wallmaster in response.
"Well, one more switch to go." Link said, letting Zelda have another shot at it.
This time the switch was the correct one as it closed up and opened the gate in response. Moving on, the group then encountered a Beamos, which was soon disabled after Link threw a bomb at it, leaving the group alone with several small chests around the area.

After opening the chests to take the ammunition and the rupees they respectively contained along with them, Link and the Sages went further into the new hallway, only to find that they exited the building, finding themselves face to face with another Bomb Soldier who promptly retreated behind a large gate, while a small group of Bow and Arrow Soldiers went in to charge at the group, whom used their shields to deflect the arrows shot at them, before disabling those soldiers with arrows in kind. Darunia used the Powder Keg he found to demolish a barrier which had another small chest containing some Bombchus behind it, other than that nothing out of specific interest. Bringing another screw-stilted platform down, Ruto then led most of the group towards a small alcove that allowed Link, Saria, Zelda, Nabooru and herself to move into the area behind the gate using their respective Hookshots, but before they could open the gate itself, they already came under attack by another contingent of Sword Soldiers whom charged at them. Thankfully the group saw them coming and the Sword Soldiers were soon defeated, but then the Bomb Soldier made himself known, attacking the group from a higher platform. Changing tactics however, Saria constricted the Bomb Soldier using vines she let climb up on the platform, allowing Link and Zelda to finish it off using their arrows, while Ruto used her Boomerang to break another cage, freeing another Deku in the process, while Nabooru found and activated the switch needed to open the gate so Rauru, Darunia and Impa could rejoin them.

Ganondorf was walking through his newly created tower to oversee the units guarding it when a Garo appeared in front of him.
"Report." Ganondorf said.
"Master, our outpost in the forest is under attack." The Garo said.
"What?!"
"A group of eight people have entered the outpost in the forest, freed several of the prisoners and slaughtered several of our units there."
"Eight people, you say?"
"Yes. It were those three Sages you sought, coupled with five others. They have been identified as the ones you killed, but they are with them alive and well." The Garo replied.
"GODDESSES DAMMIT! Those five have been resurrected RIGHT under our noses! What about the Gerudo that were supposedly under our control?"
"The brainwashed ones have been freed and are holding those who willingly went with your cause imprisoned in kind."
"Alright, that's it. Have Dark Link, Dark Zelda and the Stalfos Commander informed about this pronto and tell them to do whatever they can to stop them! I will NOT have those meddling kids and their adult companions interfere with my rule! Do as I say or I will have YOUR head!" Ganondorf snapped.
"As you wish, Master." The Garo said before he vanished.
In utter frustration, Ganondorf hit a nearby wall, just as Majora came in the room.
"Bad news?" He asked.
"Yes. It appears that those five we killed several days ago at that tower have been restored to life!" Ganondorf snapped.
"WHAT?! That's impossible!" Majora said.
"Apparently not, perhaps those five have fallen in good graces from the Goddesses themselves. Well, I'm not letting them get away with this that easily!"
"What are your plans?"
"Have Dark Link, Dark Zelda and the Stalfos Commander gather at the arena which is further down in the Forest Outpost and await the arrival of the group. Then they will show them hell!" Ganondorf said.
"I saw a Garo Robe leaving, is he going to do that for us?"
"Yes, otherwise either of us could go to do just that, showing those pests who is in charge of this planet." Ganondorf said, seeing Majora looking concerned about the current time-lapse of events that have occurred in the past several days.

The Deku which was freed by Ruto thanked the group and showed them a path towards the entrance of the building of which they were now in what appeared to look like its courtyard, with the structures around them while still being in the open.
"Well, looks like this could be the big one." Link said as Saria and Ruto worked together to create vines strong enough to climb on towards the higher platform.
"Indeed. I hope whatever we find there will be useful to us." Zelda said.
Once the vines were ready, the group climbed on them towards the higher level, entering the building itself.
"Wow, they sure aren't kidding with the preparations here." Saria said.
"All the more reasons we have to put a stop to them." Impa said as the group moved on, seeing a group of crates stacked in a way similar of a staircase.
Disabling a group of Dinolfos whom were guarding the crates, the group went on its way to climb their way up towards a ladder, which in turn took them to a ventilation shaft big enough for an adult to walk in upright, leading to a room where more Stalfos were waiting for them, poised to attack.
"Is it a shame to say that I enjoy taking these boneheads down?" Link asked the Sages while drawing his sword.
Zelda giggled.
"We enjoy it as much as you do, as long as we end up victorious here." Zelda said, smiling.
"True." Link said as the group went to engage the Stalfos present.
The Stalfos were valiant skeletal warriors, but they didn't stand a chance against the onslaught that Link and the Sages unleashed on them, mainly to show Ganondorf and Majora who's boss. However, after the Stalfos were defeated, the group found themselves almost locked in; that is to say, a barrier was blocking their way, but this time Darunia had no powder keg with him.
"Alright, now what?" Darunia asked, just as Nabooru climbed a ladder to a higher platform, before she went to cross the net that was hanging just below the ceiling area, reaching a platform that contained a switch that she spotted.
Out of curiosity, Link and Zelda followed Nabooru, who on their turn were followed by Saria and Ruto, just as Nabooru got her hands on the switch and began to pull on it, but it proved to be quite heavy as she had difficulties with pulling on it. Link and Zelda also got their hands on it to aid Nabooru, right before Saria and Ruto helped as well, the five managing to activate the switch which opened a valve on the floor, leading to a ground area with another cage. This time Darunia went down to open the cage, while the others decided to wait for him. The cage contained another Goron, who gave Darunia a Powder Keg he had been keeping safe in gratitude.
"Thanks for saving me. This should help you in freeing my brothers on the higher levels." The Goron said, before the gate leading towards the crate-stairway opened, allowing Darunia to make his way back up again, destroying another barrier with another cage behind it along the way. This cage also contained a Goron who also gave him a powder keg in gratitude, before making his way out towards safety. Spotting another barrier on the level close to what was presumed to be the ventilation shaft to where the others were, Darunia again used the powder keg to blow the barrier to smithereens and freed another Goron, who gave him yet another powder keg.
"These things must really be popular…" Darunia commented.
The Goron nodded.
"I've heard rumors that a cargo of these bombs was stolen while underway to a delivery, the Gorons transporting it being captured in the process. Ever since the Powder Kegs have been stored in this area to be used in any planned invasions to wipe out multiple targets at once." The Goron said.
"So the enemy knows about the power of these things… as if they weren't be a bother enough already!" Darunia said with an annoyed grunt.
"Indeed. One of my brothers is still held here. He has the last keg that you need to exit this building and be able to exit the area." The Goron said before he left after Darunia nodded, with Darunia taking the powder keg given to him to where the others were, who in turn kept their distance as Darunia blasted another barrier away with the keg, freeing the last Goron imprisoned there who in turn gave him indeed the last keg.
"Be warned, the Stalfos Commander is close by. You'll be in trouble if he knows where you are." The Goron said.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of him soon." Darunia said, feeling confident before the Goron left.

Once rejoining the others and using the last powder keg with a timed throw to blast the last barrier away, allowing the group to proceed into the next hallway and exiting the building as a whole, arriving in an open field.
"Well, we're still in the forest area, but I do not recognize that building over there…" Saria said, looking ahead, while Link spotted a lone Iron Knuckle sitting on its throne against the wall.
"Hmmm, perhaps it could be something similar to what we saw in the land beyond the Woods of Mystery?" Zelda asked.
"Possibly, but it could be very well a different looking one." Saria replied.
"True."
"Another Iron Knuckle… something's amiss here if he's the only one around here…" Link said as the others clocked him too.
"Let's take him out before he takes us out and stay clear of that axe of his." Nabooru said, nodding as the others were ready.
First the group sent either Bombs or Bombchus at the Iron Knuckle to wake him up and make him go after the group. After about an onslaught of about 10 Bombs/Bombchus or so, the Iron Knuckle lost part of its armor and went to charge at the group, only for Link, Saria and Zelda to pelt it with arrows and Deku Seeds respectively, taking it out from a distance more effectively without in danger of being hit. Eventually the Iron Knuckle was defeated and collapsed, its armor disintegrating into nothingness, revealing another Gerudo who was freed from mind control! Nabooru blinked at this as the confused Gerudo looked around.
"Huh?! What? What's going on?! Why am I here?" The Gerudo asked as the group came to tend to her, sheathing their weapons along the way.
"Relax, you're free now." Nabooru said, comforting her fellow kin as she knelt down next to her.
"Dear Goddesses, did you come here to save me?" The Gerudo then asked.
"That we did." Link said, nodding.
The Gerudo sighed of relief, before shaking all over.
"What's the matter?" Nabooru asked.
"The Stalfos Commander is present… here in this area… he is waiting for you down below…" She said, shuddering as the realization came into her mind.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of him." Nabooru said as the group leapt down one of the holes in the ground which all came together in a single hallway, which led to what appeared to be set up in the style of an arena or coliseum.

Link and Zelda blinked as they saw the arena-styled room and cautiously entered it first together, the Sages looking around a bit more before following. However, as soon as Link and Zelda both entered the arena first, a set of bars suddenly shot up from behind them, locking them into the arena and separating the Six Sages from them. Another set of bars came down from behind the Sages, locking them in and preventing them from so much as moving properly. Link and Zelda turned around, gasping as she saw the Sages trapped like that.
"What's going on?!" Link asked.
"So… the young boy and the princess have appeared…" A crackling voice then addressed the two from behind the large gate.
"What the-?! Who are you?!" Zelda asked, while Link instantly brought his sword and shield to bear, instinctively moving closer to Zelda.
"My name is of more importance. What I simply look for is your deaths…" The voice replied.
"Hmph, that's not the first time we heard something like that…" Link rebuked.
"A cheeky one, eh? Well, we'll fix that soon enough." The voice said.
"What do you mean 'we'?" Zelda demanded.
It was then that two dark figures appeared in the arena, both of them taking the shape… of Link and Zelda themselves. Link blinked at this, but realized he had fought his dark self once in the Illusion Room of the Water Temple, which in turn caused his brain to instantly switch into action mode, his Sword and Shield ready. Zelda on the other hand was horrified at this.
"What… what is this?" She asked, while the Sages on their turn blinked as well.
"You like it? These clones were made from the blood of you which was collected from the tower where you initially met your demise. We did not expect you to get resurrected so soon, so we had to change our initial plan accordingly… let's see if the both of you survive against those made from your own blood…" The crackling voice said with a cackle.
Link growled and was ready to engage his dark self, while Zelda regained her composure and stood next to Link.
"You ready?" Link asked.
"I am." Zelda said.
"Good, we'll focus on each other's counterparts, perhaps we can find a way to best ourselves in a way through this." He said.
"Right." Zelda said as she too grabbed her blade, before the fight began.

The Sages watched as Link and Zelda both engaged their dark selves, with Dark Zelda using her magic to force Zelda into a round of Dead Man's Volley, while Dark Link and Link himself were engaged in a serious sword fight. Link did his best to block the furious strikes of his Dark self, while trying to find an opening to strike back at him while watching his movements closely. Zelda managed to stun Dark Zelda with her own magic attack, allowing Zelda to get in close and deal damage to her. On his turn, Link managed to break through Dark Link's own defenses, using his Gilded Master Sword to slice away on him, while at times using his shield as a battering ram to knock him silly before striking. It appeared to the Sages that Link was adapting himself in battle, finding new tricks to overcome his dark self, while Zelda showed a similar valor, now that she was playing the same 'game' Link was forced to play during his fights against Phantom Ganon and Ganondorf respectively in the Future That Almost Was. At one point, Link himself hopped upward to avoid the thrusting of Dark Link's sword to stab him, before landing on the sword himself. Dark Link looked shocked at Link pulling this off.
"Yeah, not so fun now that someone is using your trick against you, huh? You did this to me in the Water Temple before. Now it's MY turn! BEGONE!" Link snapped before promptly kicking Dark Link in the face, sending the dark copy reeling backwards, landing on his back on the ground and dropping his sword and shield in return.
At the same time, Dark Zelda howled in agony as Zelda once again managed to stun her with her own magic attack, before striking at her with her own blade, seemingly defeating Dark Zelda in a similar way. During this moment of reprieve, both Link and Zelda wiped some blood away from their mouths, showing that they didn't come unharmed out of this battle either, but unlike their dark counterparts, both of them were still standing and ready to fight on. It was as if Link's courageous spirit has affected Zelda and given her the same drive to fight against evil and do what they believe is right.
"You impudent fools…" Dark Link then said, getting up.
"… you may have won this battle, but if you think you've seen the last of us…" Dark Zelda snapped, also getting up.
"… then you are sadly mistaken!"
Both Dark Link and Dark Zelda then vanished in a gust of black smoke, at which the gates opened to allow the Six Sages to move towards their friends to support them. But their rest was short-lived…
"Impressive… you managed to beat your dark selves at their own game… it appears you have improved a lot over the time you last fought." The crackling voice said after the group got together.
The group then heard the creaking sound of something opening. Turning to the gate, they saw that the two giant doors of it began to open inward, revealing a HORDE of Stalfos… and among them was the Stalfos Commander! Now, the Stalfos Commander looked way different from his legion. While it too was a reanimated skeleton, the major difference was that it sported a different kind of armor and appeared taller than the regular Stalfos, wielding TWO swords instead of a Sword and Shield! Link immediately went in a battle stance, gulping a bit as he was somewhat nervous. This was immediately tempered by Darunia laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Brother, you've done well in fighting your dark self, the same counts for Zelda. This time, we're here to assist." Darunia said.
"Thanks, Darunia." Link said, as the Sages also got in a battle stance, ready for what would become a massive fight against the Undead Skeleton Warriors.

As the fight began, the group made short work of the Stalfos that became too much of a nuisance; Darunia's massive Goron Pounds were extremely helpful in knocking the Stalfos aside, allowing the others to get some reprieve and strike back. Rauru used his Light-based magic to smite the damaged Stalfos into oblivion, the affected targets disintegrating right away, while Link, Saria, Zelda, Ruto, Nabooru and Impa clashed blades with the remaining Stalfos while at the same time defending against the Stalfos Commander. This was practically no organized battle, but more in a team-based free for all, with the Stalfos attacking everyone except each other, while Link and the Sages did the same. Saria on her turn resorted on occasion to summoning vines from the ground to ensnare several Stalfos, allowing Link, Zelda and Nabooru to cut them up. Ruto on the other hand used a water-type shockwave spell that left her friends untouched, but was very effective at knocking several Stalfos aside as well as damaging the Stalfos Commander. Impa used her Shadow-based spells to confuse the Stalfos as well as striking them from behind, while Link occasionally used a Deku Nut to stun several other Stalfos coming his way. This went on until only a few Stalfos were left, allowing Link and Zelda to focus on the Commander, who charged at the both of them. Thankfully, their shields proved resilient against the Commander's attacks, before Link and Zelda both managed to deliver some serious strikes in themselves, right before the Six Sages joined in along with them, eventually knocking the Stalfos Commander against a wall. Then the Stalfos Commander got up…
"My, my… it appears I have underestimated your combat skills. It's as if you're literally driven by the desire to end this. Very well, let me not disappoint you any further… although it will be the end of YOU!" The Stalfos Commander said, as he suddenly revealed two ADDITIONAL arms, one wielding a sword and the other wielding a battle axe!
"What the-?!" Impa said, blinking as the others gasped or blinked at this.
The Stalfos Commander made use of this momentum by instantly charging at the group with ALL FOUR of his arms forward, smacking the group aside like bowling pins and delivering some injuries along the way.

Landing hard on the ground and skidding along for a few meters , Link grunted as he eventually came to a stop, nursing the shield arm which got slashed during the sudden attack. Nevertheless he got up and regained his composure, readjusting his sword and shield and ignoring the bleeding cut on his arm.
"Congratulations, bonehead, you wanted me angry?! I'M ANGRY!" Link snarled, actually being angry, while at the same time being unaware of a dark force beginning to feed on the anger that Link was emitting.
"HA! Be angry all you want, you little pest; once I'm through with you, I'll take your corpse and those of your friends with me to Lord Ganondorf so he can take your powers for himself!" The Stalfos Commander cackled.
"We'll see about that, bonehead!" Zelda said as she got up, before ripping the lower part of her dress off to give her legs some more space to move in and preventing from tripping over them.
Like Link, Zelda too was angry… and the Six Sages were no better off either, grabbing their weapons once again and getting ready to strike back.
"Fine, don't be surprised when I take pleasure in chopping your heads off!" The Stalfos Commander said, raising his four arms as he got ready to attack.