Chapter 46: A trapped shot
After a few minutes rest, Link and the Sages got back up, moving onward down the hallway.
"Wow, I wonder how much time it took for them to set this place up…" Ruto said.
"Probably in the days when Agahnim was around," Impa said, "He must have taken his time with planning and everything, keeping his forces in check to make us believe that peace had finally come to our land."
"That's a plausible possibility. Given his limited powers he had with Ganondorf being sealed, despite the possession of the Triforce of Power, he must have used this base as a stronghold for him to build up enough power to resurrect Majora in the first place." Zelda said.
"I agree," Link said, "given the time he had and needed, he must have been thinking things through. Ganondorf may be evil, but he certainly isn't stupid; he knows when to take his chance, like how he tricked us to enter the Sacred Realm, creating the Future That Almost Was."
"You got that right. You believe that he's done this again, but by lying in the shadows?" Rauru asked.
"Ganondorf's smart enough for it; how else would he have used Majora to regain his true form? Apparently their mutual animosity for us is what drove them to make this alliance. Even though Majora only has a grudge against me since I defeated him, he obviously hates you too." Link said.
"Either that, or Ganondorf could be looking for Majora's Mask as an additional power source to boost his own powers and prevent us from defeating him once more." Zelda said, just as the group entered the next room.
Entering the next room, the group would already see an Armored Dinolfos and a Stalfos ahead, which were soon joined by an Assault Spear Soldier and yet another Bomb Soldier, while in the distance a Floormaster could be seen in standing position. The Soldiers spotted the group immediately and went on the offensive, just as two Lizalfos, Sword Soldiers and a second Stalfos moved in the area, ready to attack. Without hesitation Link and the Sages went on the defensive, mostly to block the incoming spears and the charging Floormaster, before moving in to retaliate. Link killed the Floormaster in a single strike with his Golden Master Sword, with Zelda and Saria helping him in getting rid of the three smaller Floormasters, while Darunia kept the Stalfos occupied. Ruto used the Nice Boomerang to stun the Assault Spear Soldier, with Rauru and Impa providing cover to keep the Bomb Soldier and the Lizalfos occupied, while Nabooru engaged the Armored Dinolfos. Darunia's rock hard body was able to withstand several blows inflicted by the Stalfos before using several Fire Punches to break their skulls after their guard was lowered. Nabooru displayed great agility as she leapt over the Dinolfos to strike at it with the Helm Splitter, before using a Golden Sword Spark to knock the Bomb Soldier off the crate it stood on, giving Rauru, Ruto and Impa the opportunity to deal with the Assault Spear Soldier properly. Link, Saria and Zelda came to their aid after destroying the tiny Floormasters and defeated the Lizalfos in turn, before engaging the Bomb Soldier as it recovered. Nabooru joined in after breaking through the Dinolfos' armor and decapitating it in the process, although she got a slash in her arm during a failed attempt to perform another Helm Splitter. Once the Bomb Soldier was slain however, two hatches at the wall ahead opened up and two Aeralfos flew out of it, ready to engage the group. This forced the group to switch to their Clawshots in order to pull the creatures towards them and strike at them using their swords, although one of them managed to hit Ruto on the shoulder. Although they were tougher, the Aeralfos were hardly able to fight back once the group put pressure on them with their own blades, causing the two lizards to eventually be defeated more quickly than the group's first encounter with them back in the snowy mountain. There was no time to rest however, since as soon as the Aeralfos were defeated, the gate to the left side of the room opened and TWO Darknuts came out of it, moving in to engage the group. The group retaliated using their Helm Splitter techniques, while at the same time remaining wary of the giant broadswords that the two Darknuts carried with them, being sure that they wouldn't be hit by them as their armor was removed from them piece by piece. Their upgraded blades were of excellent help to the group, being sure to inflict as much damage as possible before the stunning effect courtesy of the group's shields wore off for the time being. Once the two Darknuts' armor was annihilated and their broadswords tossed away, the group had an easier time in dealing with them, with Link and Saria using a Great Spin in order to get in as much damage as possible, before the Darknuts were eventually defeated.
Once the two Darknuts were defeated, the gate lifted up again as it had closed up once the Darknuts were in the same room as the group, allowing the group to pass.
"Are you alright?" Link asked Ruto and Nabooru.
"We're fine, it's not as bad as it looks." Nabooru said, nodding as the group moved on in the dark corridor, only for another eerie sound of something approaching coming on.
However, since the area was dark, the group couldn't exactly see where it was, only for Link and Saria both to suddenly scream as they were suddenly lifted up from the ground, vanishing from sight, only to be unceremoniously dropped back into the room they had just fought the group of enemies in! Thankfully the remaining Sages came to them right away to see if they were alright, only to see Link comforting Saria, whom looked as if she had seen a ghost.
"That does it; those Wallmasters are going to get it this time!" Zelda said, just as Saria calmed down enough to proceed once more to the dark corridor.
"Let's go." Link said, moving on.
This time the group kept moving, making the Wallmaster miss its target and allowing Saria to exact revenge on it on her and Link's behalf by slaying the Wallmaster in a single strike, before the group arrived in a room where there was a higher platform that they couldn't climb on unless they lowered a plank with crates on it to ground level that acted as a stairway, this plank being moved in the air through a crystal switch by a Sword Soldier, locking himself in through a gate. There was a small hole in the side of the wall at the far side of the room where the Sword Soldier was, which had a curve moving to the left. While the hole was too small for the children in the group to crawl through, it was more than enough for a certain weapon to travel into the room…
"Time for a Nice Bombchu…" Link said, picking one up.
"Is there a difference with the Normal Bombchus, other than the damage of course?" Zelda asked.
"I think it could have a longer range or that we can control its directions, I'm not sure…" Link said as he picked one up, putting it into the hole, after which it began to track down its target, first being the Crystal Switch.
The Crystal Switch was hit, activating and through this lowering the platform with the crates, only for the Sword Soldier to come to the switch and hit it again, deactivating it and raising the platform because of it.
"Okay, you're in for it now." Link said, launching another Nice Bombchu, moving in the same direction… only for it to switch targets and chase directly after the Sword Soldier before detonating, defeating the Sword Soldier instantly. Now Link used a THIRD Nice Bombchu, which this time hit the Crystal Switch as well. Now it was staying activated, allowing the group to climb up the crates and onto a higher floor. This awakened another Armored Dinolfos and an Assault Spear Soldier, whom were protected by yet ANOTHER Barrier Wizrobe.
"These freaks are really pissing me off!" Link said.
"I hear you on that. Good thing we can take them out quicker than before!" Zelda said, firing a Silver Light Arrow at the Barrier Wizrobe, killing it instantly.
This left only the Assault Spear Soldier and the Armored Dinolfos, both of them being slain quickly with the Ending Blow performed on the Spear Soldier, while the Helm Splitter was used on the Armored Dinolfos, allowing the group to strike it in the back to eventually defeat it.
Relieved, the group moved to explore the area, spotting another Wooden Barrier a bit high on the wall nearby. Using a Nice Bombchu, Link destroyed it, revealing a large tube leading downward. At the same moment, Darunia discovered some rupees that he took along, before the group went inside the tube one after the other, each of them sliding down into another room further down, where another Armored Dinolfos confronted them, although he was swiftly defeated thanks to a well-aimed Helm Splitter courtesy of Nabooru. However, the group was faced with another problem; the path they had to cross over had spears flying over it at random intervals, with the path itself being a large plank that was placed over a small ditch of lava. This lava was something that Darunia could walk through, but would be less pleasant for the others, especially Ruto.
"Now what?" Zelda asked.
"There's a large block out here, but what is it for?" Link asked.
"We should check it out first before we act…" Rauru said.
"But why are these soldiers tossing their spears for? We're nowhere near them!" Saria said.
Link moved closer to see what was happening with those soldiers.
"Wait, what? Are we in a shooting gallery or something?" Link then asked.
"Huh?" Ruto asked.
"Check it out; these soldiers are tossing spears at these wooden targets with badly drawn images of what's supposed to be us, but I'm also seeing such images of Ganondorf and Majora…" Link said, observing the targets rail.
"How do you know this is a shooting gallery?" Saria asked.
"I've seen similar rails in the Shooting Gallery in Hyrule Castle Town and Kakariko Village, which transported Rupees over them to be shot by the player." Link casually explained.
"But why are they doing this for?" Ruto asked.
"Obviously this must be some kind of training center, as if these soldiers are being trained to improve their aiming and targeting skills and see if they can hit the right targets at the right time." Zelda said.
"I'm inclined to agree," Nabooru said, "We have similar concepts in our Training Ground and the Horseback Range in our Fortress in the Desert area."
"Now we need to see where we can go first though…" Impa said.
"I'll handle this." Darunia said, moving through the lava as he was resistant to it, keeping his head down to avoid the spears.
The others waited, although Link did proceed to move the block he saw in the proper position, before Ruto used her Nice Boomerang to strike at another screw-stilted platform, lowering the platform and making a crevice with a chest available to the group. Nabooru went to check out the chest, opening it to find some additional ammunition for the weapons the group carried.
"Finally some supplies." She said, smiling as she took some of the weapons to hand over to the others.
Darunia returned in less than a minute to the group, still avoiding the incoming spears and arrows as he noticed some Corrupted Bow Soldiers have joined them.
"There's a switch at the far side of the area that's too big to be pressed down by any of the statues from the Elegy of Emptiness; it needs the block." He said.
"Alright then," Link said, getting ready, "at least we know where to take it."
"I'll go on ahead to direct you ahead; those arrows and spears will be quite a bother if you 're not careful." Darunia said, moving back to the far side of the path through the lava, while Link got ready to push the block onward, with Zelda, Saria, Ruto and Nabooru coming to his aid. Impa and Rauru worked together to protect the group's sides by intercepting any arrows and spears that came their way.
"I really appreciate your help, girls." Link said, smiling.
"No problem at all. We're all in this together after all." Saria said as Darunia gave the signal for them to push the block onward.
As the group moved onward, pushing the block onward carefully, while stopping at certain spots to rest up and let some spears and arrows pass by before continuing on when it was safe to continue, being out of the firing lines wherever possible.
"Talk about… a challenging puzzle…" Link said as he pushed on.
"I'll say… as if they… are really trying… to stop us… in desperation." Zelda said, grunting.
"Yeah," Saria said, pushing with her might. "we must have gotten something… really… big if they go… this far."
After about a minute or two, which felt like an hour or so, the group were relieved of their pushing duty when Darunia aided them by taking it over for them, pushing it onto the switch and opening the gate, just as Impa and Rauru arrived at where the others were. Now they could enter the room which was not only a shooting gallery, but also an armory as numerous weapons were stored in that room! Immediately the group was attacked by the resident Assault Sword, Assault Spear and Bow Soldiers, giving the group another fierce battle as the Soldiers were fighting with great vigor, despite the group having more superior weaponry. The Bow Soldiers were easily taken out by the Silver Arrows in a single shot, while the Assault Spear Soldiers were a bit more difficult to hit head on due to the arrows occasionally intercepting the incoming spears, although the Assault Spear Soldiers went eventually down in one strike as well. The Assault Sword Soldiers were more of a hassle due to them practically charging at the group, although Zelda did successfully pull off a Mortal Draw against one of them, right before Link knocked another one down before performing the Ending Blow, defeating it. Once the Sword Soldiers were also taken out however, the block that once held the switch was taken away through the ground, lowering the gate and trapping the group in the firing range, with the only holes available to them being the ones that looked at the rail that carried the targets over continuously.
"What the-?! We're trapped!" Saria said, trying to open up the main gate by force.
"Great, now what are we going to do?!" Ruto said.
"Attention, soldiers," a voice then sounded, obviously having the authority of a commanding officer, "Ganondorf and Majora, our masters, are not pleased; Link, Saria, Zelda, Ruto, Nabooru, Darunia, Impa and Rauru are still alive!"
"So they know who we are…" Nabooru said, narrowing her eyes.
"As long as you don't know how to shoot, you will remain trapped in the firing range until you do. Now, practice!" The voice said, before it ceased.
"Well, looks like we have a job to do then." Link said, grabbing his bow and standing in the center shooting range, while Saria and Zelda took up positions to his left and right.
"I wonder how long this will take…" Ruto said.
"Probably until each of us has met a specific criteria…" Nabooru said, sighing as she waited her turn.
The boat which was led by Reimu and Leia finally arrived at the mountain area, where they saw the boat that Link and the Sages used to reach the island docked at the pier, with the male civilian and two Gorons with it.
"What? Gerudo?" The male asked.
"Don't be afraid, we're here to help you fight against the forces of Evil and assist the true heroes of this land." Reimu said.
"I see." The male said.
"Alright, ladies, move out and follow the trail that our allies have gone through first. I want status reports on the situations around here and report back to me the minute you have discovered their locations!" She said.
"Yes, ma'am!" The Gerudo said as they moved out right away, some of them moving to stand by the escaped prisoners to protect them, others went in groups to patrol the area, following the trail that the group had set out before.
The male civilian blinked at this.
"Wow, I must say that I honestly didn't expect this to see, no offense." He said.
"You mean us Gerudo helping you out? Well, I honestly don't blame you for that; we haven't exactly got the best of reputations out here. However, the atrocious actions performed by our supposed 'king' Ganondorf and his accomplice Majora has led us to turn against him. Heck, he even caused a civil war among us." Reimu said.
"What? How is that even possible?!" The man asked.
"Well, one side of the Gerudo wish to remain with Hyrule's Royal Family's good graces, especially since the exalted Nabooru, our current leader, is friends with the Hyrulean Princess Zelda as well as beings from other races. The other side however consists mostly out of those Gerudo who were openly joining Ganondorf and Majora or otherwise brainwashed in doing so. I regrettably was in that brainwashed camp once, until my younger sister, with the aid of some of Nabooru's personal friends, liberated me and my comrades who were with me at the time. Ever since I've been performing acts to help out refugees and other victims as a partial wish to repent myself for the crimes I committed during my brainwashed state." Reimu replied.
"Hey, you couldn't do anything against that; he made you do it, right?" One of the Gorons said.
"It is true that, because I was brainwashed, I was forced to do Ganondorf's bidding. Yet I can't help to feel responsible for what I have caused, so I chose this route in order to repent myself and show everyone that I am no longer with Ganondorf's camp. The only good thing is that every Gerudo whom have been liberated from Ganondorf's side so far have defected to the side of the good guys, fighting against their former superiors in this fashion."
"I understand." The male civilian said, nodding.
Link, Saria and Zelda managed to get their quota of shots after the holes they had to shoot through to strike their targets closed up, making them leave the area, before Ruto, Nabooru and Impa went to the firing range, taking the bows and arrows from the weapon racks where needed. The three children sat down on a nearby bench where they waited for the others to complete their jobs. Link put his head on his hands, sighing.
"What's the matter?" Zelda asked, worried.
"I don't know… for some reason I feel that we all will be facing death itself once more. I'm not stopping now, but to think that this could very well be the last time we're facing our nemeses…" Link said.
"I see where you're coming from. Apparently our first actual deaths must have impacted you a lot more than originally anticipated." Saria said, looking sad herself.
"It has, as if the whole thing gave me some kind of reality check… and yet I feel that those two will be stopped somehow…" Link said.
"So, what do we do now?" Zelda asked.
"I say we simply stick together and fight our enemies together. By all accounts, we're going to need each other a lot more soon. Once the battle has finally been won, we can finally go and take some time off to relax properly."
"I agree, but where do you want to relax then?" Saria asked.
"Perhaps moving to Lake Hylia or the Great Bay seem good enough for me, but I'm always open for suggestions from you lot. As long as it's a place where we can do things we WANT to do, I'm okay with it." Link said with a smile as he rested.
Saria and Zelda both smiled.
"We both agree with you on that." Zelda said, while Darunia and Rauru waited their turns.
"I wonder what we can find here for the rest…" Saria then said.
"Since this is obviously their main base, it must be something of great importance. Perhaps the final generator to the tower's barrier is here even, so we need to find that one and disable it before we can make our way to the Tower. We should probably expect heavy resistance, so we need to be geared up properly." Link said, just as Rauru and Darunia took their turns once Ruto, Impa and Nabooru were done.
"That was quite tedious I tell you; those effigies of us give us points, while the effigies of Ganondorf and Majora do the opposite!" Ruto said.
"Well, this IS meant to be the bad guy's training center after all, so it's logical that this was meant for them." Nabooru said.
"You got me there. For a moment I thought I only had to shoot those effigies of our enemies." Ruto said.
"I made that same mistake too," Link said, "it would make sense though, since it's also meant to trick us in a way…"
"True, although they weren't subtle; we would have found out what to do quickly enough." Nabooru said.
Link nodded at this.
"I do am puzzled by the fact that the enemies here aren't bothered by the heat…" Ruto then said.
"They must have either adapted to it or have some heat-resistant armor, like what the Goron Tunics are for us." Link said.
"Both are indeed credible possibilities, given our nemeses' resourcefulness and their powers on top of that." Zelda said.
"Indeed, they definitely aren't stupid at all. While their actions are not exactly the smartest, I have to admit that they definitely can plan things ahead and catch us off-guard. Although there is a potential weakness in their alliance…" Link said.
"And what would that be?" Saria asked.
"Given their respective behaviors, Majora is the exact opposite of what Ganondorf does. Sure, both are evil and everything, but where Ganondorf wishes for power to rule the world, thus wanting the True Triforce, Majora simply doesn't give a rat's behind and only craves for destruction, although the Skull Kid's influences could make him a bit more of someone who can indulge in psychological warfare as well." Link said.
"Psychological? What do you mean?" Impa asked.
"The whole 'messing with one's mind' thing. I'm not talking about being brainwashed, it's more about rhetorical questions that can really make one think about things. Majora's illusion on the Moon tried this on me in relation to the masks that I had with me at the time." Link replied.
"I remember you mentioning something about that when you told us about it all those months ago." Nabooru said, blinking.
"Yes. But it didn't deter me to finally show Majora his place…" Link said.
"And that's a good thing…" Zelda said, smiling.
Just then, Darunia and Rauru were finally done with their targets, the satisfaction being that the gates finally opened for them, allowing the group to finally progress throughout the area. Getting up, the group gathered together once more and moved into a wooden corridor. Following a curve to the right, the group hopped down to a lower level, moving further on.
"Well, there's no turning back here now either." Ruto said.
"Indeed. But once we find our way around, we'll find a way out." Link said, smiling.
"Is it me or is it getting warmer all of a sudden?" Saria asked.
"It is getting warmer Saria," Nabooru said, "we must be approaching an area where there's plenty of lava directly around."
"Feels like that lava outpost all over again." Zelda said.
"You can say that again. It's a good thing that these Goron Tunics are pretty much life-savers in such areas." Link said.
"That's what we all can agree on." Darunia said as the group moved on, following along the path towards an exit with a red glow at the far side of it…