Chapter 45: Going underground
The group slid down a chute, eventually landing on a wooden platform, between several stacks of crates alongside the walls and the path ahead.
"OUCH!" Link said as he landed on his rear.
"That was quite sneaky." Nabooru said, grunting as she got up.
"Well, he showed us the way, but he didn't need to be so rough!" Darunia said.
"Right. I only wonder where on Hyrule we are now…" Zelda said.
"This looks like one giant storage facility… check out all those crates!" Ruto said.
"It could be more than just a storage facility…" Rauru noted once the group had recovered altogether and got ready to explore the area.
"Why is it so hot in here?!" Saria asked.
"We'll find out as we'll explore the area. Let's go." Impa said.
Moving past the stacks of crates, the group entered an area that apparently had a kind of machinery working around a small pool of what looked like lava.
"Might as well switch to the Goron Tunics again." Nabooru said.
"Good idea." Saria said.
"What's the matter, Link? You seem rather… annoyed by the device there…" Zelda said.
"It's nothing, it's just that such contraptions remind me of the Great Bay Temple… I just hope we don't have to tamper with it to change the flow or something…" Link said, before moving back behind the crates to get changed into his Goron Tunic.
"It is hot, but is it really lava? Seeing as several crates are standing IN it…" Ruto said, blinking before putting her tunic on.
"It's probably reinforced by some kind of lava-resistant magic or materials that can withstand such hot temperatures." Impa mused.
"Hmmm…" Darunia said, nodding as he waited for the others.
Once the group had switched back to their Goron Tunics, by extension benefitting from its heat-resisting properties, the group made their way down the platform they were on, landing in a wider area that was separated by a small lava river. The gap was too big to be merely jumped over and on the far side were already a few enemies present. This time, there was one enemy that stood silent like an Iron Knuckle, but instead of an axe it carried a massive broadsword that could inflict just as much pain as the axe itself. The enemy itself was completely covered in armor. Nearby this enemy was a Dinolfos, also clad in armor, carrying crates to and fro around a small crevice in what appeared to be a small storage stack.
"This must be something big; if the enemies here are armored…" Ruto said, blinking.
"Yeah, perhaps this could be more than your run-off-the-mill outpost." Nabooru said.
"But how do we cross this lava river to fight them?" Saria asked.
"There's a metal plate held in the air by ropes. If we can find a way to get it down…" Link said.
"Won't it be easy to just cut the ropes?" Ruto asked.
"That is the easy way out indeed, but there is the risk of the metal plate coming down wrong or otherwise fall in the lava, rendering it useless for us." Link said, moving to the other side of the area to a more numerous stack of crates.
"So we must find another way to lower the plate then…" Zelda said.
"Exactly. Considering the amount of ropes and how they are connected to the plate, makes me believe that a machine of some sort is keeping that plate up, so we need to find a switch to lower it." Link said.
"There's a switch right here behind this wooden barrier." Zelda said.
"Let's see if we can find an explosive around here that can be of help while at the same time allowing us to conserve precious ammo; I have a feeling we will be needing our bombs more than ever." Link said.
"Wise idea." Saria said.
Hopping over several crates, Link eventually saw a bigger crate that led to a crevice to his left. It was too small for him to crawl through, but instead he settled for the use of a Bombchu to see what was behind the crevice. The Bombchu traveled past the debris and pillars and struck a crystal switch hidden behind one pillar, activating it to let a big chest appear on the area where the others stood. Opening it, Darunia discovered a Powder Keg, which he immediately used on the wooden barrier, destroying it in the process while Link returned to the group. Nabooru then hit the switch, which activated the device that lowered the metal plate and make it cover the gap precisely, the ropes still keeping it in place, creating a makeshift bridge that allowed the group to cross the lava ditch below. Immediately as they got close, the Armored Dinolfos dropped the crate and went to engage the heroes, while the Darknut, the armored foe wielding the big sword, remained in place for the time being. Believing that the Armored Dinolfos would be a test regarding things to come, Link first rolled around the Dinolfos and performed a Back Slice against its weak behind, causing it to yelp in pain as it was hit, before turning around to attempt to set Link ablaze with his Fire Breath. Saria intercepted and struck the lizard from behind, defeating it. This only left the Darknut as Zelda woke it with a Silver Arrow, making him move to the group to charge at them. Link intercepted this time and clobbered the Darknut with his shield, dazing it enough for him to perform the Helm Splitter, followed by subsequent strikes that also fragmented its armor as it sustained more and more damage, akin to the Iron Knuckles. After several more strikes, the Darknut lost all of its armor and, in rage, tossed its broadsword to the group, whom narrowly avoided it, before it drew a shorter sword to combat the group in a quicker speed. Zelda intercepted with a shield attack of her own before slashing the Darknut several times while it was dazed, with Impa coming to her aid. Impa and Zelda both managed to defeat the Darknut, despite the being putting up a fight itself.
With the fight over, the group was presented with a new puzzle, as the gate at one side was sealed shut, while in several crevices, there were floor switches available, four on each side.
"Well, looks like we all partake in solving this puzzle." Link said as he moved to one floor switch, only to see something on it.
"Hey, isn't this the symbol of one of the Medallions of yours?" He then asked, turning to the Sages.
Blinking at this, they went to investigate.
"Yes, I can see the symbol of the Water Medallion on this one." Ruto said, standing on it, to which the switch was pressed down… but nothing happened.
"Let's check the others." Zelda said as the group went to check the other switches here.
"I found the Spirit Symbol here." Link said on one of the switches on the other side.
"I found one bearing the Forest Symbol." Impa said.
"This one has a Triforce mark with the down-left triangle highlighted." Nabooru said.
"I found one with the same mark, but now with the down-right triangle highlighted." Darunia said.
"I found the Fire Symbol here." Rauru said.
"Here's the Light one." Saria said.
"And here's the Shadow one." Zelda herself said, blinking.
"Well, time to check for the respective symbols and stand on the switches." Link said.
Moving around so each of the group found the switches corresponding with their symbols and marks and stood on them to activate them, opening the gate.
"Wow, that was quick." Ruto said as the group went off the switches, moving on to move through the opened gate, entering a corridor filled with stacks of crates around them.
"Are they preparing an invasion?" Saria asked.
"This is likely more like a giant storage facility… or perhaps this could be their main base!" Zelda said.
As the group made a u-turn through the corridor, they came across a regular Dinolfos, whom Ruto struck down with a single sword strike. Turning around the corner and entering a larger room, the group saw, to their shock, a second Darknut, coupled with an Eyegore and an Iron Knuckle standing in front of a path that led further down into the area.
"How mean, to place the strongest henchmen here!" Ruto said.
"Let's try the tactic we've used before back in the land between the Woods of Mystery and Ikana, taking them out one by one." Link said, before firing a Silver Arrow at the Darknut… only to find it blocked by a barrier, courtesy of another Barrier Wizrobe, whom had hidden itself behind a stack of crates on a higher level!
"Hey, no fair!" Ruto said, pouting.
"Looks like we need to circumvent around the area to lower the platform with the stack of crates to reach that Wizrobe." Impa said.
"There's a crevice with a ladder that can perhaps be of help…" Zelda said.
"Then let's not waste any time, let's go!" Link said, heading for the crevice, but just as he and the sages stood in the crevice and Link wanted to climb the ladder, the platform itself suddenly broke and fell down into a hole, taking Link and the Sages with it…
The group landed in a larger storage room, with numerous crates stacked against the wall, several placed on the ground and others suspended in the air by means of ropes being attached on it on every corner of the crate itself. This time the group landed on their feet as they slid down a tube at the end and rolled forward to prevent damage.
"From one section into the other…" Nabooru said, nursing her feet for a second or two before getting up.
"We've got company!" Impa then announced.
Looking to their left, the group instantly spotted three more Armored Dinolfos, two Stalfos and two Assault Sword Soldiers on ground level. Three Assault Spear Soldiers stood on the crates suspended by the ropes, while at the top on the far side of the room stood a single Bomb Soldier. A crevice bearing another screw-stilted platform was guarded by a Skulltula. Ruto instantly took out the Skulltula using her own Bow and Arrows, moving on to explore the crevice that had the screw-stilted platform to see if there was anything of value, with Rauru backing her up.
Link, Zelda and Saria engaged the Armored Dinolfos, using first the Helm Splitter each, while Impa, Nabooru and Darunia attacked the Assault Sword Soldiers, with Darunia providing a decent shield for the spears of the Assault Spear Soldier by using his rock-hard back to make the spears bounce off harmlessly, with Nabooru and Impa occasionally grabbing hold of such spears and tossing them back at the offending soldiers to damage them or intercepting other spears. Link then clobbered one of the Armored Dinolfos in the face using his Ball and Chain to knock it down, before rapidly moving in to perform the Ending Blow before the lizard creature had time to get up, instantly killing it. Saria and Zelda both used the Helm Splitter a second time, slashing away at the stunned Armored Dinolfos afterwards. Ruto used her Boomerang to lower the screw-stilted platform in place so she and Rauru could reach the higher placed platform, locating a set of rupees and a Business Scrub whom offered to sell Red Potion upon its defeat, which Ruto bought. Impa and Nabooru received a few sword slashes of their own while fighting the Assault Sword Soldiers, before Darunia grabbed the two and clobbered their heads against each other, crushing their helmets and defeating them in the process, while Link boldly climbed his way up the crates to engage the Assault Spear Soldiers, using his shield to intercept them before firing a Charged Silver Arrow to fire three at once, striking two of the Spear Soldiers which defeated them right away, while the third arrow intercepted a spear thrown by the last Assault Spear Soldier, to which Link responded by firing another single Silver Arrow at it, this time striking its mark, just as Ruto and Rauru aided Saria and Zelda with the remaining Armored Dinolfos. This eventually left the single Bomb Soldier at the top of the area, close to the ceiling, who was throwing bombs down a path similar to what a Bomb Soldier did back in the Tower of Light, much to the annoyance of Link, Saria, Zelda, Ruto and Nabooru.
"This one better not have any Barrier Wizrobes with it or so help me!" Link said, moving over the crates towards the stack where he could enter the path leading to the Bomb Soldier.
"That bad?" Impa asked, blinking.
"You have no idea. Back during us scaling the Tower of Light between Ikana and the Woods of Mystery, one of these pricks pulled the same act, throwing bombs down the path. It was protected by a Barrier Wizrobe, much to our annoyance…" Nabooru said, following Link with Zelda, Saria and Ruto in tow.
Much to Link's greater annoyance, there were gates that blocked his path, but fortunately there were blocks nearby to help him press the switch down, while at the same time using it as a platform to climb up to the higher path. But this left the danger of the Bombs as well as the steep paths. He grabbed the first block and proceeded to push it upward, hoping it would shield him from approaching bombs to a degree. However, it wasn't easy due to the steep path working against him, feeling as the block was trying to slide back to its position downstairs. Fortunately for Link, Nabooru, Zelda, Saria, Ruto and even Impa and Rauru came to his aid, with Darunia using a Fire Barrier to let the bombs detonate prematurely before helping the group as well. Eventually they managed to push the block onto the switch, opening the gate on the higher level and allowing them to climb further up to reach their target, only for a second block to be placed, forcing the group to repeat their previous action. Thankfully the Fire Barrier helped in blocking the Bombs for the most part, while Zelda casted Nayru's Love over the group to shield them from actual damage for the time being. Still, the massive teamwork of the entire group ensured that the second gate was opened like the first, allowing the group to finally engage and defeat the Bomb Soldier, before Link used a Nice Bomb to destroy the wooden barrier. This in turn allowed the group to proceed into the corridor, with Rauru activating a switch that opened the gate ahead and lowered the wooden platform with the crates on it to the ground. This allowed them to return to the area where the Eyegore, Darknut and Iron Knuckle were still standing, proceeding to engage them to lure the Barrier Wizrobe out. The Barrier Wizrobe was indeed lured out using a Silver Arrow courtesy of Zelda, before Link took the Wizrobe out in a single Jump Strike, leaving the Iron Knuckle, Eyegore and Darknut without their protector.
Now the battle began as the Iron Knuckle and Darknut went to engage the group, the Eyegore first trying to zap them with its laser before tossing rocks, only to be taken out instantly with a Silver Arrow fired by Saria, leaving only the two heavily armored foes to deal with. Link decided to engage the Darknut this time around, mostly to learn more about its battle pattern properly and finding ways to counter it, while at the same time luring it away from the Iron Knuckle to ensure he wouldn't be unexpectedly caught in a swing of its giant battle axe. Saria and Zelda went at his side right away to assist him, shortly followed by Ruto, while Nabooru aided Rauru, Darunia and Impa with the Iron Knuckle. The group's tactic of luring the two armored fiends away from each other to have proper room for battle was successful, although it was somewhat tedious due to their slow speed. Still, Link and his girlfriends engaged the Darknut, first stunning it with their shields before slashing away to break off its armor, while Nabooru used a form of deceptive hit and run tactics on the Iron Knuckle, taunting the behemoth into using its axe and using its momentum from it to rapidly sneak in a hit or two before backing off to prevent being struck with the axe. At the same time, Darunia prepared a few Nice Bombs to bring in additional damage, eventually leading to the Iron Knuckle losing part of its outer armor. The Darknut then tossed his giant broadsword away after losing its armor, with Link and Zelda narrowly avoiding decapitation as they dived out of the way in time. Both the Iron Knuckle and the Darknut had increased speed, but the group was for the most part much more agile and were still able to inflict damage, the Iron Knuckle was eventually slain by a Silver Light Arrow, while the Dark Nut got impaled on the Golden Swords from Link and Zelda both, defeating it as both fiends disintegrated in sheets of flame, finally letting the group through the path the armored fiends were blocking before.
"Whew, that was tough." Saria said.
"Indeed, and I have a feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg," Link said, "if this is supposedly their main base, we should expect more heavy resistance further on."
"Oh dear…" Impa said, looking worried.
It was then that Link grabbed something from his hammerspace bag, taking out a bottle of milk… but not just your ordinary milk…
"Link? What are you doing?" Impa asked, seeing it as he handed out bottles to the others.
"I'm going to ensure we have the means to fight them. I've been saving this up until now, but I feel that this will come into use more than ever." He said, handing a bottle to Impa.
"I see, so what is this?"
"This is a special kind of milk known as Chateau Romani. Whoever drinks it will be energized and have unlimited magic for the next three days after consuming it." Link said, opening his bottle after handing out the other bottles to the others.
"For three days?!" Impa asked.
"You bet. I've used it myself when I had to deal with the Stone Tower Temple and Majora himself a year ago. It works wonders I tell you." Link said, as the others opened up their bottles as well.
"I see." Impa said, smiling.
"Well, bottom's up." Link said, before gulping down the contents of his bottle completely in one serving, feeling the energy flowing through him right away, its mystical effects beginning to manifest within him.
Saria and Zelda followed his example, both of them blinking for a moment as they felt the energy beginning to soar within their bodies through a gentle flow that eased their insides. Ruto and Nabooru also felt the milk refreshing their very beings, giving them the energy boost they needed, Rauru, Impa and Darunia were thinking along the same lines.
"Say, this definitely is delicious." Impa said.
"It is, isn't it?" Link asked, smiling.
"Wow, I feel as if I have so much energy that I HAVE to burn it up!" Ruto said.
"Trust me, you'll get your chance soon," Zelda said, "just make sure we are NOT on the receiving end, but the enemy is."
"Don't worry, the enemies will be my target." Ruto said with a giggle.
"Good." Zelda said, smiling.
Darunia smirked.
"This is probably the only time I've enjoyed something else other than those Sirloin Rocks found in Dodongo's Cavern." He said, giving the bottle back to Link who stored it back into his hammerspace bag, just like with the other bottles, before the group proceeded onward, over the bridge and entering yet another large storage room, filled with numerous crates around the area.
"Wow, they really are prepared for an invasion or massive occupation!" Zelda said.
"I'll say…" Link said, blinking.
"Do you think we can put a stop to them?" Saria asked, just as several Assault Sword Soldiers came charging at the group.
Without hesitation, the group engaged the Assault Sword Soldiers and it seemed they would have an easy victory, were it not for being pelted by Bombs courtesy of a Bomb Soldier standing on a higher area in the room. The group were in possession of stronger blades, allowing them to get rid of the Sword Soldiers with relative ease, despite continuously moving to avoid the incoming bombs.
"These guys are really getting desperate now." Nabooru said.
"I'll say, now we need to get up there…" Ruto said.
"I'll go in first, that way I'll have that Soldier's attention regarding the bombs." Link said, moving to a crate to climb on top of it, hopping on a net to climb his way further upward, keeping the pace to remain out of the bombs' blast radius whenever they were dropped.
This proved effective as the Bomb Soldier did turn its attention to Link, tossing the bombs at him while Link just kept moving, the bombs missing him fortunately, despite some close calls. Link kept working his way further upward, dropping down once he reached the other side and climbed now on top of the net, moving onto it, only to be launched a bit further up as if he stood on a trampoline, making use of the momentum he gained to reach the second platform, before Ruto went after him, seeing as the Bomb Soldier was still distracted by Link. Making his way to the far side of the second area, Link then turned to face the Bomb Soldier…
"What?! He's standing on a wobbling platform?!" Link asked, while using his shield to deflect the Bombs.
"Then he obviously tried to get a greater view on us to strike at us." Zelda said.
"Link, catch!" Ruto then said, tossing Link her Nice Boomerang.
"Thanks, Ruto." Link said, catching the Nice Boomerang before hopping on the second net, being launched in the same fashion as with the first, before tossing the Nice Boomerang directly at the platform the Bomb Soldier stood on, causing it to break in pieces and making the Bomb Soldier fall on the ground, after which Link jumped on the platform and booted the Bomb Soldier to the ground floor, with Darunia catching the soldier and punched him high and far away using an uppercut, defeating it instantly.
Link then handed the Nice Boomerang back to Ruto after she joined him on the higher platform where they waited for the others to join them.
"That's the first time I've actually seen you kicking someone." Ruto said.
"To be honest, it felt quite good." Link said, causing Ruto to giggle.
Once the rest of the group had joined the two on the higher floor, Link used another Nice Bomb to blow the wooden barrier away, giving the group access to the hallway further ahead.
"Well, that's that for now…" Saria said.
"Yeah, might as well rest up for a bit so we can nurse some injuries. While the Chateau Romani does give us infinite magic power for 3 days, we can still get injured or killed." Link said.
"Point taken." Impa said as the group settled down for a moment.
Dark Link, Dark Saria, Dark Zelda and Dark Nabooru were still waiting for further orders in the tower, after killing off Sakon. They were soon joined by Dark Ruto, who looked just like Princess Ruto, but also with the dark gray to black skin color and the blood red eyes. She returned from having made the water in the tower poisonous, simply to add another hazard in case the group moved into the lair.
"Do you think they will come here anytime soon?" Dark Saria asked.
"Positively. Knowing them, they'll do whatever it takes to move into the lair of the Dark Lords and defeat them once and for all. They'll come across a big surprise once they get there." Dark Link said.
"Indeed. By all accounts, we should have the advantage of being more deadly, considering how they seem to fight." Dark Nabooru said.
"But we must not underestimate them at any level. They already managed to defeat Link and myself, so they are apparently aware of how we fight, just like how we are aware of how THEY fight." Dark Zelda said.
"Hm. At least there can be different possibilities on the battle's outcome…" Dark Link said.
"Indeed. It all depends on how the conditions are." Dark Saria said, nodding.