So, my most humble apologies for being such a terrible updater... seriously that was a long and unplanned hiatus. Sorry 'bout that. Writer's block and lack of any ideas whatsoever for this chapter kept me from attempting to finish it. But hey, look, I did! Yaaayy! So I'm gonna try really hard and stir up some inspiration for the next chapter and hopefully it won't take me as long to upload it! Once again, seriously sorry about that. Don't hate me pretty please :)
Oh, and just so it'll be easier to keep track of what "mode" Zelda is in, when she's Sheik I'll refer to her as Sheik and use he instead of she. Hope that works out.
XOXO, Kenzi \m/(^.^)\m/
~Chapter Eleven~
As I stare into the flames I think back to a time when I was younger, maybe six or seven years old, when Cody taught me how to make a fire. After an hour of trial and error I finally got a spark to flare up into a weak fire. I was so proud of myself you would've thought I'd found a way to fly.
"You're just like your dad when he made his first fire," Cody said.
I sat forward, intrigued to hear more about my long-lost father. "When did he learn?" I asked.
"He was around your age. But, unlike you, he was over excited and accidentally burned the back of his hand. The scar never went away."
I stared at the fire. "But it's so pretty, how could it hurt him?"
Cody laughed softly at my childish ignorance and ruffled my hair. "Fire may look beautiful in some ways, but it can be very, very dangerous. Just promise me you'll be careful around it, okay?"
Cody was right. The fire burning across Ordon is beautiful in some primitive way, but it's deadly.
"Link?" An incredulous voice shouts.
Zelda runs towards me, disguised as Sheik once again with familiar crimson eyes watering from the smoke.
"What... I... You were... I thought..." He (She?) stutters. "You were half dead twenty minutes ago! You've been unconscious for over a week! We were pretty sure you weren't going to make it! Conner–I mean Taylor sent me to go and get you... how are you up and walking? And what in Hyrule are you wearing?"
I cough and blink the smoke from my eyes. "I'll explain it to you later. What happened here?"
He looks around hopelessly. "We don't really know. But it's Ganondorf's work, that's for sure. Don't worry, we're the only people in the village, all of Ordon's residents are safe at Kakariko. We made sure of that when we brought you, in case Ganondorf found us. Lucky we did." He furrows his eyebrows. "But Link... you'll be okay, right?"
I give her a crooked smile. "Yeah Zelda, I'll be just fine."
Sheik bursts into light and then Zelda is throwing her arms around me in a hug with enough force to make me stumble backwards.
"You're such an idiot Link," She whispers fiercely.
"A brave idiot," I correct her.
She laughs weakly and pushes me away, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Come on stupid, Taylor and Cody have been out of their minds worrying about you, they'll be happy to see you."
She flashes back into Sheik and we thread our way through the thick black smoke and red flames to the edge of the village, where Aiden stands with the anxious horses (which includes Epona, thank goodness) and Navi, who's fluttering around in a blue flurry of panic and talking fast.
"How did this fire start? Who started it? Why did we send Zelda alone to get Link? I mean, even with Sheik's super Sheikah strength I don't know if she can drag him out of there. And he's injured for goodness' sake! What are we, a bunch idiots? Why didn't Taylor go with her? You should have gone with her, dummy!" She kicks Aiden on the arm, hard enough to make him yelp. For a fairy, she sure can hit hard.
Aiden scowls and rubs his arm. "We have no idea how or who started the fire," He says in an I'm-really-annoyed-but-trying-to-be-patient kind of voice. "But I'm betting on Ganondorf. Out of all of us Sheik is probably the strongest, that's why we had her go and get Link. She'll be able to get him out of there just fine. Taylor stayed because he and Cody are trying keep the fire from spreading to the bomb shop, which would kill us all instantly if it caught fire and exploded. I stayed because the horses are acting up and I'm trying to keep them away from the fire. Now leave me alone you nosy little pixie!"
"Nosy little pixie?" Navi shrieks. "I am a guardian fairy specifically chosen by the Great Deku Tree himself to aid the next Hero destined to save Hyrule! I'm the first fairy in three hundred years to have a partner! Please, tell me what fantastic feats you've accomplished lately, besides getting yourself thrown on your butt in Ganondorf's jail. Some soldier you are!"
Aiden's face flushes with anger. But before he can respond he catches sight of Sheik and I and his mouth opens in surprise.
"What are you staring at, dingledork?" Navi says in an annoyed voice, then she turns around. "LINK!"
And then I'm being attacked by a sobbing ball of blue. "Link, we were so worried about you! We thought you were going to die!" She yells. Then she hits me, because she must have realized she was being too nice. "You are such an idiot! Honestly, only you could get yourself run through like that!"
I roll my eyes. Even though I've only known Navi for a short time I already feel that familiarity and kinship that all partners have for their fairies. Like I've known her my whole life. I guess she feels the same, considering she was pretty worried about me. I don't know much about the long-lost Kokiri and the fairies who share their forest, but I do know that the bond between a fairy and their partner is strong, and for life. Even though I'm not Kokiri, the same rules apply to Navi and I. And I get the feeling I'm going to like having Navi around. "I'd like to see you come out of a fight with a shadow person and Ganondorf without a scratch."
"I'd do better than you did," She mutters.
"So Cody and Taylor are at the bomb shop? What happened to Jakob, is he okay? And the rest of the Sheikah?" I ask Aiden, who's still staring at me, dumbfounded but happy.
"He's fine, they're all fine. They headed back to Kakariko yesterday." He answers slowly, trying to figure out why I don't have a gaping hole in my stomach anymore. "How are you up? You–you were unconscious and losing a lot of blood... And why are you wearing those cloths?"
I pick at the seam of my new tunic. "Long story short, Farore healed me and told me to go on a little trip to the Ancient Lost Woods to find the Master Sword."
All three of them stare at me. "Umm... come again?" Navi says in confusion.
"It's really complicated, I'll explain it all when we find Taylor and Cody." I say. "Come on, let's get to the bomb shop. Aiden, tie up the horses to that pole over there, they'll be safe."
We run carefully in the direction of the shop, dodging flames and thick black smoke, our eyes watering. Even though the smoke hangs in front of us like a curtain, blocking off most of Ordon from view, it doesn't matter. I have this village memorized better than I do the back of my hand. We pick our way through the remains of what was once houses when the bomb shop finally comes into view. Cody and Taylor are frantically trying to fend of the fire with buckets of water from the well next to the shop. They look tired and annoyed, but otherwise unscathed.
"Cody! Taylor!" I yell.
"Not now Link!" Cody yells as he dumps another bucket of water. Then he pauses and scrunches his eyebrows in confusion. "Wait, Link?" He looks over at us. "Link! You're alive!" He drops his bucket and scrambles over to us. Behind him Taylor does the same.
"We thought you were dead for sure, kid! Don't scare us like that!" He tackles me with a bear hug that squeezes all the air from my lungs. "And what's up with the cloths? They new?"
"Why does everyone keep asking about my cloths?" I ask no one in particular.
"How are you alive? You had a hole going in and out the back of your stomach."
"I'll tell you guys later, it's a long story." Cody claps my back fondly and turns to Aiden and Zelda. My father finally reaches us and surprises me by pulling me into a hug even more fearsome than Cody's.
"I–I thought you were gone." He whispers slowly, almost painfully. "I was going to send for your mother... I thought we were going to have to end up burying you..."
I blink in surprise at his sudden onslaught of emotion. I don't know what to say.
Luckily, I don't have to, because he quickly pulls back and scratches his head awkwardly. It must be hard for him, I realize, trying to be a dad to a son he doesn't really know at all. As hard as it is for me.
"This fire is definitely not natural, I can tell you that." Cody says, he and the others oblivious to mine and Taylor's failed attempt at a father-son moment. "No matter how much water you pour on it it won't go out. Ganondorf has to be behind this."
"Does he just want us to burn up? Is he trying to kill us?" Sheik says.
Taylor shakes his head. "No. If he wanted our heads on a stick he'd already have them. He's toying with us."
"Maybe he wants to get us to evacuate the village. And then he'll capture us." Navi suggests.
"That's possible," Cody says. "But whatever Ganondorf's intentions are they're going to have to wait. We need to stop the fire from reaching that bomb shop, or we're all dead."
He's right. One bomb is bad enough, who knows how much damage a whole shop full of them could cause.
Sheik picks up Cody's bucket and rushes over to the well.
"Everyone find something to hold water in," He says, lowering the bucket down by a rope. "Ganondorf can't keep this fire stuff up forever, he'll get bored eventually. But until then–" He breaks off with a startled yell and violently flies across to slam into the side of the bomb shop. There's a flash as she changes back into herself, but she doesn't move.
"Zelda!" I run toward her. But something hits me hard in the chest, knocking me backward a few feet and on the ground, gasping for air.
"What's happening?" Aiden yells, pulling out his sword and swinging widely at the air.
"I don't know," I wheeze, pulling myself into a sitting position. "But whatever it is, it packs a punch." Navi flies over and perches herself on my shoulder. She eyes me worriedly.
"Are you okay?" She asks in a concerned voice. "Whatever hit you sure didn't hold back."
"If feeling like someone backhanded me with a brick building qualifies as okay, than I'm absolutely grand." I reply, rubbing the back of my now sore head.
Before she can come back with some sarcastic quip her tiny face distorts in shock as she looks over my shoulder. "The well!" She gasps.
I whirl around and to look at the well, and nearly have a heart attack.
A huge... thing... floats over the well. I don't know what else to call it. It's ginormous, black and scaly. It has one big red eye instead of a head, surrounded by what looks almost like black leaves, making it look almost like a disgusting flower. I would laugh if it wasn't so hideous. And it's hands... they're detached from its arms. It's a thing from my nightmares. It doesn't notice me looking at it though, its huge eye focuses on Cody, boldly bringing up water from the well. Cody, however, doesn't even seem to notice it and runs to keep the fire under control. Which is a good idea since it's getting dangerously close to the shop.
He can't see it. But how can he not see it? It's a terrifying monster floating right above him!
"You're seeing what I'm seeing right?" I ask Navi.
"Big bad and ugly over there? Yep, I see him." She replies in a shaky voice. "What exactly is it?"
"You're expecting me to know?" I tear my eyes away from the monster and find myself looking at my father. And he's looking up at Ugly. He can see it? Why can he see it, and not Cody? He makes eye contact with me, and he looks just as surprised as I am. I look over at Aiden. He's running over to Zelda, passing the well on his way. And as I watch, Ugly raises his big black hand and slaps Aiden right in the chest, who almost flies right into the fire. Cody drops his bucket and rushes over to help him.
Neither of them can see him. Only Taylor, Navi and me. What's going on?
And then I blink, and Ugly's gone.
"Woah, wait, where did he go?" I turn around wildly looking for him.
"What are you talking about, he's right there." Navi says.
"No, no he's–" I blink again, and he's back, still staring intently at Cody and Aiden, who's sitting up and looking dazed. What in Hyrule is going on?
"Link," Navi points to Zelda, who's moving a little. That's a good sign. I pull myself to my feet and run over to her.
I drop to my knees beside her. "Zelda? Can you hear me?"
She groans. I help her sit up. She shakes her head.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so," She rubs a spot on her head and winces. "What happened?"
"I'm, uh, not very sure." I point to Ugly. "Zel, can you see anything over there? Above the well."
She squints her eyes and stares for a few seconds. "What are you talking abou–" She breaks off and her eyes go wide.
"Oh. Oh. That's not good. That's really, really bad." She whispers.
"Do you know what it is?" I ask.
"Not what, who." She rubs her temples. "His name is Bongo Bongo, a phantom shadow beast. I recognize him from pictures in some of the Ancient Scrolls."
"Bongo Bongo?" Navi snickers. "What kind of name is that?"
"The Hero of Time fought him in the Shadow Temple, located somewhere near Kakariko. After the Sage of Shadow went after Bongo Bongo and was trapped, the Hero of Time rescued her and defeated Bongo Bongo in the process. He's supposed to be long gone, but it looks like Ganondorf brought him back."
"Why can we see him but Aiden and Cody can't?" I ask. I blink and he's gone. I blink again and he's back. "And why does he keep disappearing?"
"Bongo Bongo, in life, was a Sheikah who had an eye that could see the truth," Zelda says. "After he betrayed the Royal Family during the Hyrulean Civil War he was executed and a well was built where his house stood. The Great King of Evil resurrected him in the form of Bongo Bongo and sent him to infiltrate the Shadow Temple, and he retained his eye that could see the truth." I glance over at Ugly. I can't see him for a minute, but then he's back and I can study his one great big red eye. His truth seeing eye.
"Only those who can see the truth can see him. But no one can see the truth all the time. That's why he keeps disappearing and reappearing. The Hero of Time fought him with a Lens of Truth. But no one knows where that is now."
"So we can see the truth, but Aiden and Cody can't?" I ask.
"You and I are Chosen, and Navi is a fairy, all fairies can see the truth."
"Why can my father see him too?"
"Well, I mean, he's your dad. He must be special to be the father of the next hero of Hyrule. So, I guess he's one of the few people who can see the truth."
"So, what, Ganondorf resurrected him all over again to fight Link like the Hero of Time?" Navi asks. "That guy is such a nut."
"It would make sense, Ganondorf has read all those scrolls before. He would know about Bongo Bongo." Zelda says.
"So I fight him and defeat him. Easy peasey." I say, starting to stand up. "I just need to find a sword somewhere. You know where I can get one?"
"Link, you can't just go up and start slashing at him!" Zelda says, grabbing my arm and pulling me back down. "Sure you can see the truth, but not all the time. What if you suddenly can't see him and he attacks you?"
I bit my lip. Yeah, that's a little bit of a problem. I don't want to get pancaked by an invisible hand.
"I'll be there to help him!" Navi says proudly, sitting on my shoulder. "Like you said, I'm a fairy. If Link can't see him, I'll tell him where he is!"
"That's a good idea." I say, turning back to Zelda. "You gotta admit, that's a good idea."
"I don't like this," She says doubtfully.
"Don't like what?" Taylor comes up behind us, still looking over his shoulder at Bongo Bongo.
"Maybe you can talk some sense into him," Zelda says as she tries to stand up. I take hold of her arm and help her up. "Your son thinks he's just going to waltz up to Bongo Bongo and stab him with his sword and everything will be right in the world." She groans a little and holds her right arm.
"What?" Taylor turns to me. "Link this is Bongo Bongo we're talking about, brought back to life. You can't fight him!"
"Well, the Hero of Time fought him right? And I'm his reincarnation, so that basically makes me him right?" Taylor nods reluctantly. "So, my theory is if I did it once I can do it again. Simple. It's a good plan, right Navi?" She nods enthusiastically. But it's obvious Taylor still isn't supportive of our plan. "I can take him, you know I can! You saw me beat Dark Link!"
I know it's like I'm practically pinning a bulls-eye to my tunic that screams kill me. But I can't help it, I want to do this. Why am I making such a big deal out of it?
Because I have to know, I finally answer myself. I have to know if I can really do this. If I can be who Farore said I am.
"I also saw Ganondorf slide his sword through your gut," Taylor frowns. "I don't want to see something like that again. There has to be another way to get rid of him."
"Maybe, but this is definitely the easiest." Zelda snorts in disbelief and I throw a glare at her. "You have to let me try. Just have faith in me, Dad." I say, trying out the relatively new name. It feels weird, actually being able to call him that, to have a dad. I kind of like it. But it still feels stiff on my tongue after years of underuse. He's got a lot of making up to do: 14 years to be exact.
And I can tell he knows that. He softens a little and sighs. "Why did you have to be so much like me?" He says, mostly to himself. "Why couldn't you be more like Marni?" He sighs again, this time in defeat. "There's a scimitar in the blue pack on my horse, the red one. It may be a little different than what you're used to, but it should get the job done."
"What?!" Zelda yells. "You were supposed to convince him this is a bad idea, not help him!"
Taylor shakes his head. "Trust me, trying to change his mind is like trying to move a mountain."
"I know that, but you didn't need to tell him where the swords are!"
Taylor turns to me. "Just don't get killed, please. I don't need to see that again."
I smile at my father. This is a step in the right direction. "Don't worry, I'm Farore's Chosen. If I die, she'll just bring me back to life. At least, I'm pretty sure she will."
"Well that's comforting." Navi drawls.
"Marni's gonna kill me." Taylor rubs his temples.
I smile again. "Thanks, Dad."
He waves me in the direction of the horses. "Just get the sword before Cody finds out what you're doing, he has more practice shoving against your mountain." He runs off in Cody's direction. I didn't notice before, but the flames have gotten a lot closer to the shop, and the smoke's a lot thicker. I try not to cough.
"Oh my gosh I cannot believe you're actually going to do this." Zelda says, tightening her scarf around her face to block out the smoke. What I wouldn't give for one of those right now.
"I bet Bongo Bongo is probably fueling the fire," I say. "If I stop him then we can get rid of the fire. And then we can get out of here safely. It's a good plan Zelda, why are you so against it?"
"Oh gee, I don't know, maybe it has to do with the fact that you were bedridden and dying an hour ago!"
"Yeah, but I'm fine now!"
She blows a lock of hair out of her eyes impatiently. "Okay, fine, if you're going to throw yourself at certain death then I'm coming along too." She changes back into Sheik. "Now move it or lose it, Hero."
We make our way over to Taylor's horse and I rummage around in his pack until I draw out a long curved sword with a ruby shinning on the hilt. He's right, it is different than what I'm used to. It feels strange in my grip. But I can use it.
"So, what, we just charge up to Bongo Bongo with a battle cry and hope for the best?" Navi says.
"Yeah," I reply, smirking at Sheik, who I can tell is frowning. "I'm gonna wing it. Usually works for me."