A/N: Must… finish… story… before school. -_- I'm trying really hard, ugh! And sorry for slacking off when I said that I would update once every day! I've realized making promises is not my forte. :/ Eh, I feel like a lying shmuck. On with chapter 20! Oh my goodness, 20? No way! I hope there is no limit on how many chapters you can have because… I have a feeling there is going to be a lot. I know that I could have possibly combined the past chapters and I thought about it but I didn't want anyone to get confused whenever they came back and saw that there were chapters missing. So I just left it as is… I suppose I will just have to make them longer. :D If you guys couldn't tell I'm in a magnificent mood! Yay!
To Sarah: I don't mind your question at all! I love when reviewers ask questions or want to talk. :) As of right now Navi doesn't know about Link and Dark… She has sensed some flirtation but whenever they kissed in chapter 12 she wasn't there (which is all they have done so far). She was in the forest. If you read chapter 11 again Link tells her to leave because Dark was upset and he wanted to talk to him alone. So, yeah! And they reunited with Navi in chapter… 17? After, the whole Sheik fiasco. Wow I just had to reread my chapters and make sure I didn't put her in when I wasn't supposed to! :D Buttttt things change in this chapter… well… just read and you'll find out! Yay!
I don't own Legend of Zelda or any of its characters!
Chapter 20: Completing the Shadow Temple
A bad feeling overwhelmed Link as soon as the boat started to move, and his thoughts were confirmed when two Stalfos came crashing to the wooden deck from above. Although, Dark and Link were able to easily fend off the attackers they were still malicious warriors that put on a good fight. Just as Link had managed to knock the remaining stalfos off of the boats edge he'd realized that it wasn't water that lay beneath them but more endless darkness as he watched the skeleton fall into a black abyss. The concept sent chills up his spine but he finally snapped back to reality when Navi started shouting.
"Li-ink! The boat is sinking! Abandon ship!"
He glanced around frantically before Dark grabbed his arm and jumped off the side of the deck bringing Link with him. They landed on a platform below and turned to watch the huge boat fall into a deep void of nothing.
"That was close, huh?" Dark said with a grin that slowly faded as he looked at Link's distraught face, "Are you okay?" Link looked to him with vacant eyes and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just this temple… I'm getting sick of being here." Link replied honestly. Not only was the place creepy to wit's end but it was also extremely depressing being surrounded by all of this death and hatred.
"Don't fret, hero. We're almost done." Dark whispered soothingly while rubbing the blonde's back. He smiled weakly in return and started walking towards a door on the far side of the platform they were standing upon. Once they entered they saw a room filled with several floor masters that caused Link to jump back in defense, yet none of them were attacking. He looked at Dark with a questioning expression then pulled out his lens of truth to discover that there were actually many walls creating a maze throughout the room with a floor master at every corner.
"What is up with this place and hands?" Dark shouted, "Dead hands, floor masters, what else is next?" If only he knew the irony in his statement. He would soon realize what exactly was to come next when he encountered the future boss. Link pulled him through the maze gazing through the lens of truth as he swerved and ran past the monsters. He didn't feel like dealing with them. They would only re-spawn as soon as he reentered the room. They soon found a door at the northwest corner and entered it to find two large wooden posts in the center of the room that crisscrossed to form a large 'X'. There were chains hanging from wooden pillars and a large pool of blood underneath them. Link winced as he realized it was some sort of torture device.
"Link, watch out!" Navi cried but Link couldn't see anything. Dark drew his sword but he didn't witness any enemies either. He glanced to Link with a worried look and he pulled out his lens of truth to see a large bony hand coming their way.
"Eh! It's a floor master!" Link cried drawing his sword. Dark watched in awe as Link attacked the monster while holding up the piece of glass at the same time. He had to be extremely hand-eye coordinated to perform such a difficult task. It looked quite awkward watching Link slash around in the air at something seemingly invisible but eventually he prevailed in slaying the beast and took a few deep breathes to regain his nerve, "I hate those things!" He announced sheathing his sword.
"You are amazing!" Dark exclaimed walking towards the chest at the other side of the room. He was about to walk under the large 'X' shaped monstrosity but Link cried out before he ducked his head to pass through.
"Dark, could you just go around?" Link asked hesitantly. Dark gave him a confused look but shook his head and complied with Link's request, "I just don't want you anywhere near that disgusting trap… plus I don't want your boots to get all bloody." He added pointing to the crimson pool.
"Whatever you say Link…" Dark muttered opening the chest and whipping out a small key. He grinned and stuck it in his tunic and began to walk back towards Link again almost going right under the 'X' before Link got after him. He rolled his eyes and walked around yet again and they retreated back into the maze room. After following the narrow corridors avoiding the nasty creatures that lurked around the corners at all costs, they came to yet another door. After entering, they soon realized they were in deep trouble. There was a wall on either side of them layered with rows and rows of thin needle-like spikes and they were slowly caving in on them.
"Link, do something!" Navi cried desperately as she flew frantically back and forth glancing at one wall and then the other as they descended upon them. Link panicked slightly at the situation that was handed to them and he looked to Dark as if for an answer. He always had an answer… a solution… he had proven that in this temple. First with getting them both across the trench, and then with the invisible scythes, he had to have an answer now but he only shook his head sadly at Link in return.
"I'm sorry… Link. I… I don't know what to do." He replied as he looked at the walls a few feet closer than they were a second ago. Link looked back at the door barred shut behind them and then glanced at the walls again. He noticed they were made of wood and decided that the least he could do was try something… anything. Link clasped his palms together while whispering silent prayers to the goddess din, begging for her to bless him with her fire. A small orange orb began to form in his hands and he violently threw his fist to the ground while covering Dark with his body to protect him from the flames. They fiery force field shot away from them disintegrating the walls of spikes. His eyes widened with surprise that the attempt had actually worked. He let out a sudden sigh of relief and then a groan of frustration that this temple had to be so damn frightening.
"You saved us, Link!" Navi shouted hugging his nose in appreciation. Link smiled lightly and glanced towards his right to see a blue and yellow treasure chest he knew for a fact contained the boss key. However, it was being guarded by a single redead.
"Dark… just take care of it please…" Link muttered shooing his hand in the direction of the monster. He smiled triumphantly at the thought of being useful to the hero and jogged over towards the redead blocking their access to the key. Of course, the redead could not freeze Dark in his steps as he could Link because the monster focused on absolute fear and Dark wasn't scared of anything.
"How does it feel to die twice?" Dark muttered before slaying the monster quickly. Link gulped at his statement realizing that the redeads had to be human at some point, hence the name re-dead. He thought deeply about the monster once being a husband or a wife with a family. He felt faintness come over him and called to Dark to hurry back. This place was really making him weary. When Dark returned with the item they hurried back to the platform they'd jumped to when they'd abandoned ship. Link remembered seeing a door other than the one they'd originally entered. He had indeed been correct but he must have been still in shock from jumping off of the boat that he didn't realize the door had been on the other side of yet another large trench.
"Hmm…" Link mumbled thoughtfully as he went through plans in his head on how to get across. The hover boots surely wouldn't reach.
"There!" Dark shouted pointing to a large tower with a familiar looking hideous bird. It was the same bird as the sculpture in the beginning room and at the end of the bow of the ship, "If we can knock it down… we can walk across it like a bridge."
"And how do you suppose we do that?" Link asked with a hand on his hip.
"Don't be so sassy!" Dark replied. He put a hand to his chin enveloping himself in deep thought. He spotted a series of bomb flowers growing at the base of the statue and pointed to them excitedly, "Shoot them! With your fire arrow!" Link did as he was told and the two boys backed hurriedly away from the falling tower. It crashed violently to their platform creating a bridge just as Dark had said. He grabbed Link's arm and pulled him across growing quite eager to finish this temple. The door on the other side happened to be locked but they had a spare key from the floor master torture room and unlocked it quickly. The next room was yet another series of floating platforms leading to the last locked door that led to the boss's lair.
Before they entered the last door, the final one to this chapter of their shadowy journey together Dark turned to face Link and grasped his hands in his. "I hope I was of use to you, hero." He stated softly gazing deeply at Link with his piercing ruby eyes. Link blushed at how serious Dark was being after fooling around joking the entire time. He glanced nervously at Navi who had a look of confusion and disgust. Please don't kiss me Dark… not now… not in front of Navi…
"Of course you were Da-ark…" Link stammered slightly pulling his hands from his grasp, "I couldn't have done it without you…" He added then completely pulling away from him.
"Is something wrong, Link?" Dark asked with a raised eyebrow.
"N-no!" Link lied, "I'm just so tired… and I just want to hurry up and finish this."
"Oh," Dark smiled, "Well maybe this will make you feel better."
And before Link could dodge the impact, Dark grabbed the back of Link's neck and pulled him close placing his soft moist lips onto those of Link's. They happened to fit together perfectly, like two puzzle pieces. Link couldn't help but slightly relax at the sensation of their touch but his eyes shot open when he heard a very distressed fairy screaming behind him.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Navi squealed flying in between their faces and pushing them apart with her hands on Link's face and kicking Dark's away with her tiny feet. Link's face fell and he sighed in preparation for the nagging to come. Dark sat silently with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed as the fairy went on and on with her babbling nonsense, "I can't believe you! Don't you ever lay a finger on him again! You monster! You pervert! You freak of nature! Ahhhhhhh! I could kill you, I could absolutely kill-
She was suddenly cut off when Dark's middle finger flicked her away and she squeaked in pain, "This isn't over Darky!" she stated pointing two of her tiny fingers towards her eyes and then directing them towards Dark as if to say she was 'watching' him. He rolled his eyes and hiked a thumb towards the door.
"Let's go hero…" He muttered and Link stuck the key in the hole and twisted it. He could feel the pins inside the chamber release and the door swung open revealing a blue room with nothing inside but a single large hole in the ground, "Well I suppose whatever we're supposed to face… is down there." Dark stated gazing over the edge, "Let's do this!" He yelled as he jumped down recklessly to whatever happened to lay below. Link watched with wide eyes as he saw Dark's shadowy figure get smaller and smaller until he couldn't see him at all anymore. He winced at how fearless Dark was and drew in a shaky breath before coming down behind him.
Link landed with a hard thud that created a vibrating echoing sound that cascaded around the room.
"What was that?" He asked to Dark who was standing still and gazing into the darkness that surrounded the circular stage-like area they were standing on. He was referring to the sound he'd made when he landed, "It sounds like this thing is hollow." He added pounding the surface with a fist to re-create what he'd heard.
"I think we're on a drum." Dark finally replied simply still gazing out into nothingness.
"A drum?" Link responded standing to his feet, "What are you looking at?"
"He's here."
Suddenly a large hand, large enough to crush 10 people in one slap, came down and slammed against the huge drum they happened to be standing on. Then another hand came crashing down on the other side of the two men. Link scurried hurriedly away from them but Dark remained where he stood in between both of the massive hands staring at what lay in wait between them. Then Link saw what he'd been looking at, a large red eye gazing back at them.
"It's Bongo-Bongo…" Navi whispered nervously.
"Dark, look out!" Link called as he saw the two palms coming together as if they were going to clap, squishing Dark in their midst. Dark glanced to his sides and leaped high into the air sailing into a backflip and landing beside Link.
"What's the plan, hero?" He asked not once taking his eyes off the massive creature. Link thought quickly and pulled out his bow.
"I'll take one hand, you take the other. When both are injured, he should be distracted enough for us to attack his eye. I'm sure that's his weak spot." Link responded dutifully, "Now go!"
Link took off towards the left hand and Dark to the right hand. Link shot many arrows one after the other, penetrating the giant's palm. Dark then began slashing violently at the right hand's fingers making sure to avoid getting slapped or grabbed violently. The monster was so flustered he didn't know who to attack first or which hand was in more pain. Finally, Link shot the beast's eye and he fell to the drum in agony in which Dark took the opportunity to stab and slash immediately on the behemoth's pupil. The beast cried out in anguish and began shaking its body in suffering. However, the pain soon grew to anger and he started to attack once more, this time with more ferocity slapping and pounding its large fists against the drum. The vibrations from the pounding sent the two heroes flying in the air and struggling to regain stability. This is when the beast saw its opportunity to strike and swung its left hand sideways across the drum. Link happened to duck in time to miss the strike but Dark was caught off guard as he was focusing on his own hand to deal with and got hit from behind sending him sailing off of the drum and to the floor below.
"Dark! Are you alright?" Link called running to the edge. The beast took this chance to grab Link in its mighty grip and start to squeeze tightly crushing the frail blonde. He squirmed and slithered to try and loosen his grip. It didn't take Dark long to get to his feet and he had since climbed his way back onto the platform and stabbed his sword through the pinky of the monster's free hand to distract him from using it. He then leapt on top of the hand that held Link in its clutch and thrust his blade into its thumb nail. It released him instantly sending them toppling on top of each other to the drum surface below.
"Thanks." Link muttered with a wry grin and Dark returned the smirk. They glanced up to see Bongo-Bongo coming down with an open palm and they rolled quickly out of the way. Link grabbed his bow once more and shot the monster again in the eye, this time with a fire arrow. It screeched wildly with pain, once again falling weakly to the drum in which the two men took the chance to start slashing and slicing violently with both their master swords. Although Dark's was just a replica it still did almost as much damage. They continued to attack until there was almost nothing left of the demon red eye that the creature bestowed. Finally, the creature reared back letting out a horrific roar before its body began to dissipate and disintegrate into the blackness that surrounded them. Dark looked curiously to Link.
"That's it? He just evaporates away?" Dark asked as if he were disappointed.
"He was a shadow creature, Dark. It isn't as though he were made of flesh and bones like us." Link replied sheathing his sword. Dark couldn't help but smile. Like us… He loved to hear those words. He'd always been referred to as the hero's shadow, but unlike a shadow he wouldn't just disappear with the light. He was real. A glowing blue portal appeared in the middle of the large drum and though Dark looked suspiciously at it he accepted Link's hand as he led him into the magical light. Link had to be taken to the Temple of Sages to speak with Impa and talk about the rest of his journey whereas Dark was sent to the platform outside the shadow temple in Kakariko Graveyard. He sat patiently waiting for Link to return and smiled to himself knowing that he'd helped Link complete a very important part of his journey.
A/N: Sorry if the fight scene isn't that great! It's really difficult to describe and to be honest Bongo-Bongo is one of the easiest bosses in my opinion. It's so repetitive! Shoot in order: Left hand. Right hand. Eye. Go sword crazy on his ass. :D Oh and it's also 4:30 in the morning... and it's time for sleep. -_-'
