Link had no idea what time it was. The moon was below the horizon in the nearby window while a few stars peeked through the expansive blanket of night. He had sat and talked in the garden with Midna for what seemed like hours, the Twili snuggled into his shoulder while they listened to the orchestra of crickets around them. When he tried to wake her with a gentle shake a while later, she didn't stir. After several more attempts to bring her back from the world of slumber, he resigned himself to lifting her sleeping body into his arms and carrying her back inside. Even after transporting her through the castle to her room and gently setting her on the bed, the sleeping beauty didn't show any sign of waking. He lingered for a moment, gazing at the serenity of her face and the vibrancy of her hair. He gently pulled a blanket over her before slipping out of the room and quietly closing the door.
The hero seemed to be walking on air as he strolled down the hallway back to his room. His heart raced with exhilaration against his chest. His eyes wandered to both sides of the hallway, his lips whistling an upbeat tune he had heard on his travels. Somehow, everything seemed so much brighter. His thoughts were filled with an innocent bliss that seemed to liberate his soul from the overwhelming burdens tied around his neck.
He stopped just outside the door to his room, his nose barely grazing the furnished wooden surface as he turned to look down the hall. Taking a deep breath, he gently touched the tip of his lip. In a half-dazed state, he slowly rubbed its moist exterior. Had tonight really happened? Had they really just kissed?
The thought seemed almost surreal. After all, he had been through in the past seven years, it felt refreshing to finally have something to be excited about. He had resigned himself to being the lone wolf, the one to shoulder Hyrule's burdens. Yet, as he reflected over the night's events, he felt all those doubts melt away like ice before a bonfire. Maybe things really could work out in the end.
Unfortunately, reality quickly leapt upon him. The shadows of doubt seemed to lurk at the door like house pets waiting to scurry outside. As he walked into his room, his hair instantly stood on edge. Waiting for him, lying confidently on the rug by the fireplace, was his inner wolf. Though he knew it only to be a figment of his imagination, its low growls seemed all too real.
"How long do you expect to maintain this happy little charade? You can't hide your true colors forever," the wolf taunted as it lifted its head from the rug.
The hero pretended not to notice. He walked behind the changing curtain and began to slip off the elegant clothes from the party. He brought the clothes to his nose as they came off and inhaled; they still smelled of the perfume Midna had worn that night.
The wolf smirked and let out a bored yawn, its tongue momentarily lashing out of its mouth before retracting back behind its teeth. It watched as Link quickly flung the doublet over the curtain.
"Ignore me all you want, but you're nothing without me. The sooner you realize that, the easier life will be for the both of us."
At last, Link emerged from behind the curtain sporting his signature green tunic. As he walked towards the fireplace, his brows creased and his lips straightened into a defiant line.
"I vowed to never transform again. I don't need you." His eyes flashed. "Now get out of my head!"
The spectral wolf snarled at him but did not move. Their eyes met in a contest of wills. Feral instinct and savage brutality stared against boundless courage and selfless sacrifice. Neither dared look away for fear of conceding defeat. The wolf's chest expanded and contracted from its calm breathing, its front paws crossed nonchalantly in front of it. Link stood still as a hunted deer, his fingers slowly clenching and unclenching to an invisible rhythm. Time seemed to stand at a pause.
At last, it was the wolf that broke the silent confrontation. Its ghostly image slowly began to disappear and swirl into nothingness. It growled inaudibly, but somehow, Link could hear its message burnt into his thoughts like a nasty scar.
"We are part of one another. You repel me now, but you will come crawling back to me before you know it."
Link closed his eyes and sat down. He braced his hand on the chair's armrest while he waited for his head to stop spinning. As his eyelids slowly opened, the wolf was no longer there, only the carpet where it had once laid.
Suddenly, pain throbbed through the hero's left wrist as if someone had hammered the back of his hand. The Triforce of Courage glowed brilliantly, resonating like tiny bells in his ears. The pain mellowed to a tingling sensation, as if an army of bugs was crawling up his arm. He looked to the open door and back to the glowing triangles on his wrist. He tried ignoring it for several minutes, but the pain throbbing in his wrist finally made him take action.
The feral warrior jumped from his chair and walked out of the room. If anyone knew what was going on, Zelda would. He casually strolled down the hall and paused before halting cautiously at her open door. He knocked gently against its wooden surface and stepped slowly into the room while calling her name. There was no response.
The sight that greeted him took his breath away. Pillow feathers lay all over the floor like snowflakes from a fresh flurry. A bookcase lay flat on its back, several sheets were torn to pieces, and the canopy to the bed had collapsed on itself. A small tanto and several throwing needles lay scattered on the ground. As the wolf man's eyes scrutinized through the wreckage, they eventually honed in on a body sleeping on its side.
As he rushed over, Link quickly realized it was Colin. He turned the young Ordonian over onto his back and placed his ear against his chest. Much to the hero's relief, a steady heart beat thumped in his ear; he was only asleep. Inspecting for any wounds, Link found punctures stained with dry blood on the sleeve of the youth's sword arm. Luckily, there seemed to be no other significant injuries. Colin's sword and wooden shield lay scattered a short distance away.
After attempting in vain for several minutes to wake Colin up, Link quickly searched the rest of the room for Zelda. The panic started to swell in his chest when he found no trace of her. His wrist continued to tingle softly, reminding him of the unknown threat still awaiting him. Giving up the search for the time being, Link scooped up the sleeping swordsman and carried him to his own room. Setting the youth down in a chair, the hero grabbed his sword, shield, and Gale Boomerang and rushed out the door again.
Link stood helplessly again in Zelda's room for several minutes pondering how to find her. As unlikely as it seemed, part of him hoped that she was safe elsewhere, and that the mess had been caused by some rowdy party-goers. He found it much more comforting then what seemed to be the truth.
There was a way to know for sure, but he hesitated to use it. Doing so would break the vow he had made only recently. It would open him up to the animal lurking inside. It would fling the door wide open to the cage he had carefully constructed in his mind. And yet, given the urgency of the situation, he couldn't think of any other way.
The scents and odors of the room came to life as Link reluctantly surrendered to the wolf. Instantly, he could sense what had happened. Zelda's scent was unmistakable, as was Colin's, but there was a third familiar odor present in the air that was not entirely welcome. He instantly recognized the smell of the wilderness tainted with particles from her armor; he had followed the same scent once before in Holodrum. He instantly understood what happened and knew what it meant.
A wave of self-loathing washed over the lupine warrior. It shamed him to have broken the vow to himself so easily. What if his inner wolf was right and this was who he truly was? Yet, as his feral mind began to gain dominance, such questions began to fade from his mind. The worries of his human life no longer mattered. The wolf felt a growing desire to unleash his fighting instincts in a shower of bloodshed. Tugged by the eager anticipation of a conflict, he raced out of the room following Atrayu's scent.
Link followed the trail down hallways and through various parts of the castle. Everywhere he looked, the scene was the same. Many of the guards were either slumbering deeply or had been knocked unconscious. He could find none of the partygoers; he assumed they had all returned home.
The more the wolf ran, the more he began to suspect Atrayu was not alone. After all, she had no interest in the monarch. There was only one organization that had the resources and motivation to pursue them this far from Hyrule to capture her. The wolf licked its lips as it relished in the chance to dance circles around Scorpio's warriors once again.
The trail eventually led the feral warrior into the throne room. As the wolf-man pushed past the large wainscot doors and into the room, he was shocked to find the scent cease suddenly. Looking around, there wasn't a single scent he could hone in on. For the first time as a wolf, he felt completely blinded.
"You found your way here as expected. I am glad to see you do not disappoint," a deep voice echoed around the throne room.
The chandeliers brightened considerably as the wolf stepped further into the room. At the far side of the room, the throne normally occupied by Queen Ambi was vacant. In the nighttime atmosphere and without her vibrant personality filling the chamber, everything possessed an ominous and lonely vibe. Even the bright carpet and expressive paintings seemed robbed of their splendor. The scene reminded the wolf-man of his first encounter with Ganondorf; he would never forget how the arrogant King of Evil had sneered at him with his chin rested on his fist from the usurped throne. For now, Link looked quickly in all directions for the source of the voice, but the echoing off the walls and lack of smells made it difficult to pinpoint.
Suddenly, the doors behind him closed violently; the loud banging echoed throughout the chamber and resonated in the wolf's ears. However, he was not afraid; he had come here expecting a fight and had no intention of running away. Just as he was about to venture further into the throne room, a blast of smoke exploded inches from the feral warrior's face. Soon, a rancid powder began to circulate through the surrounding air. It overwhelmed his nostrils as if rotten eggs had been shoved down his throat. He sneezed several times over, but there was no getting the putrid gas out of his system. His eyes burned and watered. His efforts to regain a scent met with more stinging in his nostrils. Whatever this horrid smelling gas was, it had nullified his sense of smell.
Even after he transformed back into a human, the burning did not cease. As great as it was to have the enhanced senses of a wolf, it also made him more vulnerable to foul odors such as this. The hero quickly took out his Gale Boomerang and threw it through the air around him. The strong gusts from the Fairy of Winds blew the rancid gas away, giving Link a momentary respite. He quickly caught the flying projectile and placed it back in his satchel. He was never so happy to breathe clean air.
"Where are you!" His eyes scanned the room meticulously. The hero took a deep breath to clean out his system. His ears were ready to detect the slightest sound. "Show yourself!"
His eyes honed in on a shadowy figure slowly descending in front of the throne. His opponent was a stocky man with armor covering most of its body. Much of his features were hidden in shadows created by gaps in his armor. A large steel axe turned restlessly in his hands.
The man gently landed on the marble floor. His voice filled the room again. "Here I am. Come and get me."
Link was all too happy to oblige. The wolf inside propelled him up the few steps to the throne in a matter of seconds. The Master Sword clashed with the fighter's axe in a shower of sparks. The feral warrior back flipped quickly as the man's weapon came slicing down on the floor. He quickly readied his weapon again as Link countered with a jump slash. The blade met the pole of the warrior's axe. Before the hero could recover from his attack, the armored man gave him a strong kick to the chest.
The force of the attack sent Link down the steps. He landed with a grunt and rolled sideways to reduce the impact. Quickly jumping to his feet, he ducked just in time to avoid a sideways swipe aimed at his head. Taking advantage of the momentary break in his opponent's guard, Link thrust his shield in the armored colossus's face. The man stumbled backwards, momentarily lowering its weapon as he regained its balance. Seizing on the opportunity, Link jumped over his armored foe, unleashing a devastating helm splitter in the process. Landing deftly on his feet, he spun around and executed a spin slash before his opponent could recover.
The axe flew out of the man's hands as his body flew backward from the strike. The wolf-man wasted no time in pursuing his prey. With eyes full of bloodlust, he slashed several more times at his silent opponent, cutting the straps of his armor as he struggled to regain his footing. Several pounds of steel armor crashed to the ground by the time the man finally regained its footing. He attempted to grab Link, but the hero rolled around him in time to perform a backslice. As the sword slashed across his opponent's exposed back, the large man was sent careening forward onto his stomach.
Link scowled at his defeated foe as he lay still on the ground. What he had thought was a man covered in armor was actually a cheap ghostly imitation. Beneath that metal shell was nothing more than a shadow in humanoid form. The wolf-man stared at the pathetic creature in disgust as it squirmed and writhed in pain. A viscous, green ooze dripped from the wounds it had sustained.
He had had enough. He backed a few steps, braced himself, ran full-speed at the specter, and leapt through the air. With his full weight behind it, the blade came down with tremendous force, piercing the monster's flesh and encrusting itself like a knife in butter.
"That wasn't too hard," Link licked his lips as he pulled lightly to retract the blade of evil's bane from the monster's flesh. Some of the green ooze had clung to the sword. He wanted to clean it immediately.
But the weapon remained where it was.
"What in Hyrule? Why won't this stupid thing come out?" He muttered to himself as he gave it a firm pull. Still it stuck.
Much to the hero's curiosity, the skin of the monster began to crack, revealing small shafts of light. It was not quite like a magic spell or the illumination of a torch, but still it seemed familiar. The green ooze began to bubble and fizz. The axe too began to glow. Warmth radiated from the corpse, quickly heating the hero's skin to an uncomfortable temperature. Just as his hands let go of his trapped weapon, he heard a deafening crash and felt himself hurled through the air.
BOOM!
It was a good thing he was wearing the hero's tunic or else the heat could've burned straight through his clothes and skin. The explosion from the impaled monster sent the hero sprawling halfway across the throne room. He landed with a crash against the ground and rolled several more feet before stopping just in front of the room's sealed doors. The Master Sword was blown to the opposite side of the room, clanking and spinning on the ground before finally sliding into a support column.
The ringing in Link's ears seemed to resonate through his entire body. His head spun in circles as he tried to lift himself up off the ground. His arms and legs stung from the force of the impact, and the back of his hands and the skin on his cheeks showed burns from the blast. Still, the golden triangle continued to glow on his left hand. As he looked up to where the throne should be, he was shocked to find nothing but rubble and debris. As he squinted harder—the explosion had made his vision blurry—he thought he saw a tall silhouette standing with his arms folded.
"So you are the descendant of the legendary hero," spoke a large man wearing a cloak with a scorpion sewn onto the front. Beneath this cloak glinted armor very similar to the creature he had just vanquished. His presence seemed to dominate the room. His crimson beard hid the malicious smirk on his face. "Not very impressive if you ask me. How did you like my shadow bomb? I manipulate it with my magic to gauge your fighting style, and then detonate it once it's served its purpose. But I'm sure you already experienced that part."
Link bent his knees and eyed the location where the Master Sword lay. He decided to humor the man; it would give him valuable time to rest and learn more about his opponent
"I take it you were expecting me." Link said at last. He looked at the large man. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
The cloaked figure folded his arms and snorted. "Why don't you tell me? Surely the 'hero' should have already figured it out."
The hero began to look around the room, silently calculating in his mind a way to get back his sword without alerting this stranger. There was something unnerving about the man. He wasn't sure if it was his overwhelming figure, his confident demeanor, or his cold calculating eyes, but Link knew this was a man not to be underestimated. Yet, at the same time, he felt a tinge of excitement. Perhaps this man would bring the challenge he craved.
Link talked through his thoughts aloud. "You must be part of Scorpio if you're after Zelda. You seem a lot more capable than the average grunts, so I assume you're their leader or at least a high ranking officer." He paused. "I must admit I am a little surprised you hired Atrayu though. I guess you must've gotten sick of failure."
The man's face darkened. His teeth clenched tight against each other. "I see you know more than I thought."
Link nodded and continued. "You've done something to the guards as well, haven't you? Most of them are asleep and won't wake for anything." He paused. "I'm guessing that's how you got in here."
The stranger folded his arms and nodded grudgingly. "Certainly not a bad start, but you fail to comprehend that Scorpio has connections all over the world. I was in plain sight this whole time at Ambi's royal ball. In fact, I was invited. Your strange, red-haired friend noticed me near the feast's start, but after that, I hid myself in the crowd. As for the guards and guests, a simple sedative in the drinks was more than enough to incapacitate everyone."
Link nodded slowly. "But since I didn't drink it…" He clenched his fist. Even as a human, his heart still raced in his chest like he was on the hunt. "So you have to resort to cheap tricks to win? Hardly what I'd call a warrior."
The man's low cackle sounded frighteningly familiar. "You fool! I am Geroshida, master thief and leader of Scorpio! You insult me without having any idea what power I possess? Do you even realize how long I have been searching for you?"
Link rolled his shoulders and stood up straight again. The stinging in his limbs was slowly subsiding, but he wasn't quite ready to pick a fight. "Well, I wasn't exactly looking for you."
Geroshida's brow raised in surprise. "Are you not even curious why I am searching for you?"
The hero cracked his neck. "Because you're trying to take over the world. Why else?"
The thief lord shook his head. "This is far more personal than that. How well do you know your history, hero?" His tone had a sinister slither to it. "Tell me, what do you know of the Gerudo?"
Link hopped up and down a few times to stay loose. Geroshida watched him carefully. Until the hero could figure out how to retrieve his sword, he would just have to stall for time with the conversation. He felt his blood bubbling beneath his skin. The wolf inside itched to humiliate this man and put him in his place. "Can't really say I know too much. Isn't that the name of a desert?. I."
At the mention of the name, Geroshida's face darkened. He straightened to his full height, an intimidating sight for any normal man. He slammed his axe against the ground and glowered at the hero. "That desert is named for the people who lived there until your kind interfered. You Hylians accused our leader, the Great Ganondorf, of treason and executed him without trial. You invaded our desert and scattered our tribe. You desecrated our Spirit Temple and converted it into a common prison." He shook his head and began to pace. "We were forced to go underground and live in your Hylian-infested land as thieves. This is how Scorpio came to be."
Link scowled. He got a sick sense of satisfaction working this man up into a rage. "So what? Ganondorf was a monster and your people got what they deserved."
The thief lord snorted. "I would expect you, the so-called "chosen" hero, to say something like that. It was your ancestor, after all, that prompted his execution." He began to pace to the side. "But vengeance has been sweet. Though we were unable to touch him, we extracted vengeance on all those he cared about, starting with those forest freaks he lived with. We followed his descendants through the years, extracting revenge on them when opportunities arose." A sinister grin flashed across his face. "We thought your parents would be our last victims."
The hero was silent, but there was no hiding the interest flashing in his eyes. Geroshida's sneer grew slightly wider.
"It really is rather ironic," the thief lord continued. "For all your talk of heroics and honor, your parents were actually traitors to Hyrule. We were ordered by the former King, Zelda's pathetic father, to dispose of them. Your father was too well-liked by the people to use conventional means. It was far more convenient for him and his wife to meet with an 'accident.'"
Link gritted his teeth. "My parents were attacked by bandits on the road to Castle Town when I was five."
"Precisely! And you can thank Scorpio for that! Feel a small fraction of the loss our people have endured at the hands of you Hylians and your blasted Royal Family! Let your rage flow out!" The thief lord lowered his voice. "If we had known you existed, we would have killed you as well."
A low growl resonated within the feral warrior's throat. The wolf clawed from the cages of his mind, snarling to be released onto the monster standing before him. Still, for the moment, Link tried to keep a clear mind.
"I don't remember much of my parents. Whenever I try and imagine what they looked like, I only see Rusl and Uli's smiling faces. Your attempts to anger me won't work." He clenched his fist and stared right at the thief lord. "However, garbage like you deserves to die. I'll be more than happy to make that happen."Geroshida lifted his axe off the ground. "We shall see, Hero. You are the last of your bloodline." He raised his wrist, proudly displaying the Triforce of Power resonating on the back of his hand. Link felt the Triforce on his own hand glow and sting; it sent shivers up his entire arm. "Already, Wisdom is in my position. Once I obtain Courage, I will have the ultimate power. Then I will rape Hyrule, plunder its people, and make them suffer as we have."
Link gritted his teeth. "So you're the bearer of Power? Guess the old sage was wrong. What on earth were the Goddesses thinking?" He leaned from one side to the other. "No matter. I've already killed Ganondorf once. You'll meet the same fate."
His opponent didn't lose his cool. "Foolish boy. You cannot kill someone who is already dead."
Link could see his window of opportunity opening. "Is that what you think? Then you might want to reevaluate what you know. That war seven years ago was all an elaborate plan to bring him back. He would've taken over Hyrule if I didn't stop him."
Geroshida froze where he was, momentarily stunned by the boldness of the statement. He wanted to deny its truth, but the details of the Twilight War wove all too conveniently with this whelp's story. The Triforce of Power had appeared on his hand shortly after the end of the war. And there was the mysterious invaders who had seized power in Hyrule for a short time.
The hero saw his opponent's hesitation and sprinted towards the Master Sword. The thief lord snapped out of his shock and pulled open his cloak, revealing dozens of small hand explosives tucked into pockets within the fabric. He grabbed two small explosives and tossed them in the direction Link was heading. It was too late for the hero to avoid them. As they hit the ground, the detonation blasted him against a nearby wall. Pain surged down his back as he hit the hard stone, causing his eyes to flash white.
As his vision started to clear, the hero suddenly realized two more bombs were heading his way. With his instincts guiding him, he dove to the side, feeling the heat of the explosion behind him. As Link looked to where his weapon lay, he realized there was no way of reaching it without being vulnerable to Geroshida's well-aimed explosives.
He transformed into a wolf and bolted from his position just as two more explosives detonated where he had just been. The agile wolf zigzagged between the different support beams, jumping out of the way of blasts and rushing towards the Master Sword. Seeing the wolf closing in on his weapon, Geroshida reached for a handful of explosives and scattered them within its vicinity. Link screeched to a halt, turning his head away as the blast screeched against his fur. As the explosion subsided and smoke rose from the ground, the wolf plunged in after the sword.
Geroshida paused while he waited for the smoke to clear. As the cloud slowly dissipated, he could make out the silhouette of the hero. Link slowly moved the blade of evil's bane in a small arc around his body. Bringing the Hylian shield in front of him, the feral warrior armed himself for battle.
The thief lord nodded and braced his axe. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a pawn for the goddesses? Thrown around the game board of life as an expendable piece to do their bidding? Do you think they even care about you or your happiness?"
Link spit in disgust. He had thought such things himself. Yet, he knew his enemy was only trying to distract him. The wolf inside howled in delight as the adrenaline of battle pulsed through his veins. His eyes and ears were on full alert; his muscles were ready to spring at a moment's notice. "Mock me all you want. You'll be nothing more than a pathetic corpse when I'm done. Just like Ganondorf," he spat back.
Geroshida's brows furrowed. "Watch what you say, boy. You don't want to make me mad."
The hero grunted. "Well, that makes two of us." Raising his shield in front of him, he began to charge at the leader of Scorpio. "Let's see what you got."
The thief lord raised his axe and met the hero's advance head on. Rotating his powerful shoulders, he swung his axe right at the hero's head. Link blocked the powerful swing with his shield, but staggered back from the immense force. Using the momentum of his weapon, the thief lord whirled around for a second swing. Recovering in time, Link rolled forward to avoid the slash and counterattacked with an upward slice. His weapon rattled against Geroshida's armor like a gong.
The thief lord whirled around with an attack that threatened to cleave the hero's head off. Overwhelmed by the strength of the attack, Link could only redirect the axe's blade so it rose above his head. He felt the air rush by his face and cringed. With the adrenaline pumping through his body, the hero bent his knee, pulled his sword close to his shoulder, and executed a jump strike. Though Geroshida managed to jump away from the initial strike, the resulting shock wave characteristic of the secret technique caught the leader of Scorpio off guard. Link pressed his offensive and unleashed a series of horizontal and vertical slashes against his axe-wielding opponent. Despite putting all his power behind each attack, the hero could not penetrate the thief lord's armor. The most damage his blade did was cutting several tears in Geroshida's cloak, causing several unarmed explosives to drop to the ground.
"There has to be a weakness somewhere," Link whispered to himself. "He's not fast, but his defense and offense are incredible."
Meanwhile, his opponent smirked to himself. The hero was giving him as much trouble as he'd anticipated, even after being weakened by his shadow bomb. It was time to tilt the playing field in his favor.
Reaching into his cloak, Geroshida pulled out a flash bomb and slammed it against the ground. The hero's eyes were unguarded, and the flash overwhelmed his senses. He pulled his face away and retreated a few steps. The leader of Scorpio seized the opportunity to rush behind the stunned hero. When he was sure Link wasn't looking, he swung his axe down with the full intention of slicing him in two.
Yet, once again, the large axe rang against Link's sturdy Hylian shield. Astonished, Geroshida looked to the hero's eyes but was surprised to still see them closed. He quickly jumped back and swung his axe at an angle to catch the hero's arm. Again, Link's shield was there to catch the blow. The recoil rattled from his shield, through his arm, and over his entire body, but he held on. Frustrated, Geroshida swung once more but was repelled by Link's quick reflexes.
"I don't need my sight to find you," Link remarked even as his eyes were still closed. He slowly moved his shield in response to Geroshida's footsteps. "You practically shout your location every time you move."
The thief lord bit his lip hard. "Then let's see if you hear this coming!" He grabbed another bomb from his cloak. Using his tremendous strength, he grabbed his large axe with one hand and let it rain hard on the hero's shield. Once again, Link blocked the strike but was powerless as Geroshida slipped the bomb right over the hero's metal shield. In a last effort, Link blocked his face with his sword arm in anticipation.
BOOM!
The hero was sent flying once again, the heat searing his skin and the blast sending him sprawling through the air again. As he hit the ground, he felt an intense stab through his right arm, like it had been split in two. As he struggled to get up, he quickly understood the cause of his intense pain. Upon hitting the ground, his body had landed on his shield arm, dislocating it in the process. The shoulder looked pulled out of place, and his limb hung loosely like dead weight. His shoulder muscles burned and stung. Loosening the arm strap with his good hand, he let the Hylian shield clatter to the ground. His arm felt better without the added weight, but he'd be defenseless for the rest of the fight.
Link's attention was drawn to something moving towards him. He groaned aloud as he saw three bombchus crawling towards him on their long spider-like legs. He was ready to dodge out of the way when suddenly an inspiration struck him. Dropping his sword for a moment, he whipped out the Gale Boomerang and eyed the moving bombs carefully. He glanced up at Geroshida, who was busy setting up another round of bombchus to send at him.
With a flick of his wrist, the boomerang whirled to life and sailed towards the three bombchus heading towards him. The winds whisked them right off the ground and pulled them into the moving projectile. The boomerang, along with its explosive cargo carried by the wind, took a sharp turn in its path and aimed itself right at the thief lord. Geroshida, caught by surprise and eager to protect the fragile cargo in his cape, turned his back so the explosions pelted the back of his armor instead.
As the boomerang returned to his hand loyally, Link threw it again to return the next wave of bomchus back at their master. As the windy projectile sailed through the air and picked up its explosive cargo, Link grabbed the Master Sword with his good hand and ran at his opponent. His numb arm flopped around like a slab of meat as he bounced up the stairs. With perfect timing, the bombs delivered by the boomerang crashed into the thief lord, leaving him stunned while he endured the explosion. A few seconds later, Link stormed through the smoke with a vicious jump slash.
"Hiyaaaah!" He screamed heroically.
The blade of evil's bane, for all the strength of its wielder, failed to break through the massive armor of his opponent once again. When the thief lord realized what had happened, he spun around and grabbed the dumbfounded hero by the throat. Link thrashed as he struggled for breath; the blade of evil's bane dropped to the ground. His only good hand reached to alleviate the claustrophobia he felt in his throat. Geroshida merely sneered at him.
"I could choke you to death right now. No one would come to your rescue," Geroshida threatened. His grip tightened ever so slightly, causing the hero to gasp for air. The hero kicked uselessly against the thief lord's armor as his face turned blue. Geroshida reached into his cloak and pulled out a strange purple vial with his other hand. "However, I need you alive. I'll beat you within an inch of your life. Then, once I have your precious Triforce, I'll take great pleasure in killing you."
Geroshida opened the vial, causing a strange purple gas to diffuse out. Holding his breath, he loosened his grip enough so Link could breathe. The hero gasped for air but quickly found a strange gas thrust in his face. As the vapors traveled down the hero's throat and into his lungs, he felt the strength from his entire body drain away, making it as numb as his dislocated arm. His kicking feet suddenly stopped, his struggling arm lost all its strength. However, his mind was still as alert as ever; he was fully aware of the pain starting to engulf his body.
Before he could ask what happened, the thief lord hurled him effortlessly a short distance away. He landed with a thud and grunted from the impact. He could still breathe and move his lips a tiny amount, but the rest of his body felt like an avalanche had fallen on top of him.
"This toxin inflicts paralysis on your body," Geroshida explained. "Except for your head, your entire body will be unable to move for several minutes. You'll still be conscious for what you're about to endure. It's a little invention of mine that allows my victims to fully appreciate their suffering." He reached deep into his cloak and pulled out a large, black sphere. "And this is my ultimate creation. The explosion from this will incinerate your entire body, sapping all your strength and leaving you on your last breath. Words cannot even describe the pain you will feel from this."
Link's eyes widened. He had to think of something fast!
Geroshida tossed the sphere from one hand to one another playfully. "I've been waiting a long time for this. I'm going to savor your cries of agony and despair."
A wave of panic washed down Link's spine. Nervous sweat began to drip down his forehead. Had the goddesses abandoned him to this fate?
The thief lord lobbed the large explosive towards his adversary. He watched in satisfaction as the hero watched in horror as it traveled through the air. Link was mumbling incoherently to himself, but it didn't matter. Before long, he was overtaken in a blinding flash as the bomb landed on the ground. The entire throne room shook from the force of the explosion. The chandeliers overhanging the ceiling thrashed violently on their chains, threatening to crash to the floor at any second. The heat came over him in waves; he pulled his cape towards him and turned his back towards it to prevent an accidental lighting of his remaining arsenal of explosives. His ears filtered through the sound of falling debris and explosions for the screaming of the hero. When, after a half-minute, the leader of Scorpio heard nothing, he turned around to face the pile of smoke rising from where the explosion had been. His face scrunched in anger.
Though the tiles had been blown to pieces and a ring of ash and debris surrounded him, the hero remained intact. The explosion had clearly wiped out everything else around him. He seemed to still be paralyzed, so escape was out of the question. Yet, the thief lord couldn't figure out why Link remained unharmed. It wasn't until he looked more closely that he noticed a small, blue crystal encasing the hero's body.
"How did you survive without even a burn?" Geroshida demanded. His face was redder than a tomato.
Link grunted but managed a small, victorious smile. "Nayru's love. Such a useful spell."
Geroshida clenched his fist so hard he could've broken a walnut. Grabbing his axe off the ground, he stormed over to the helpless hero. He thrust him up by his collar and glared at him. "You think you're so clever, don't you? You may have survived that last attack, but what will you do now? Do you have any last words before I end your miserable life?"
The pressure on his neck was unbearable, but Link could breathe this time. He looked down to his good arm. He was able to flex and extend his fingers at will. The feeling in much of his upper arm had returned as well. Some of the drug seemed to be wearing off. Unfortunately, the rest of his body was still gripped by paralysis.
He began to mutter under his breath. "Evil consumed by the goddesses' ire."
Geroshida scowled. "Just what are you saying?"
Link grimaced from the pain. "Succumb to Mighty Din's Fire!"
With his good hand, he punched the front of Geroshida's armor and unleashed the offensive spell. A large fireball engulfed the two combatants. As the heat overwhelmed Geroshida's hand, he released the hero from his iron grasp. He fell to the floor with a grunt. Meanwhile, Geroshida's armor began to glow a dull red, starting to cook the thief lord like a metal oven. He cried out in pain and started unfastening his armor frantically.
Unfortunately, the worst was still to come. The fuse of every bomb, grenade, and explosive in the thief lord's cloak had been lit by the enchanted flames of Link's spell. One explosive after another erupted right in front of his face, blasting Link away with the violent force. He watched as Geroshida was overwhelmed in an eruption of flames and smoke. The whole throne room shook violently as the bombs turned against their master. The feral warrior closed his eyes and turned away from a scourging heat wave that swept over the room like a gust of hot wind. He heard Geroshida's deathly screams amidst the crackling and popping of the blasts and responded with a victorious smirk. Smug triumph was his companion as he imagined his prey meeting the end he deserved.
Several minutes passed in silence after the last explosion subsided. Slowly, the smoke cleared to show the remains of Scorpio's once proud leader. His armor had been completely blown off; the chain mail and clothes he wore beneath it showed significant charring but were still intact. Fortunately for his opponent, the armor had taken the brunt of the damage. However, Geroshida's face and hands had not escaped unscathed. Both were swollen and covered in burns beyond recognition. Much of the skin had been seared off from the immense heat. All his once-red hair had been singed. His hands and clothes were covered in black soot.
"You…what have you done to me?" Geroshida shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes burning with hatred. His breathing was unsteady, and he seemed to struggle to stay on his two feet. "I will tear you apart limb from limb for this! You'll wish you were dead!"
Link stared in disbelief. How could he have survived that? As he saw the Triforce of Power glowing on the thief lord's hand, he quickly remembered.
Luckily, as Link stood to his feet, he realized the paralysis had worn off. He made a dash for the Master Sword and grabbed it with his good hand. He bent his knees as a drop of sweat slowly trickled down his forehead. His other arm hung limply by his side. He was ready to end this.
"Little bastard!" Geroshida cursed. "You've proven more troublesome than I anticipated. You've forced my hand!" Link flinched as he held out his hand, preparing for some sort of magic attack. However, instead of a ball of energy, a mysterious blue stone materialized in Geroshida's burnt hand. He glared at Link with hatred and spoke into the stone. "Bring the girl."
Link glared at the thief lord. "What is that?"
With a close of his fist, the stone disappeared again. Geroshida glared at Link through puffy, blood-shot eyes. "You'll see soon enough." Link didn't like the sound of those words. He ran forward to attack the unarmed leader of Scorpio, but was soon stopped by the man's threat-heavy words.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, hero. You forget your precious monarch still rests in my possession." He leaned forward to rest on one knee. His face winced as pain shot through his burnt skin. "If you want to see her again, I suggest you stay right where you are."
The hero hesitated. He didn't know whether to believe this monster. The wolf inside urged him, nay, compelled, him forward. Yet, a voice in the back of his mind yelled at him to stop. Conflicted, he halted his attack until he could better grasp the situation. Despite the wolf's strong pull, something deep inside him would not let him put Zelda's life in danger.
"Tell me where she is!" he shouted with eyes full of hatred. His knuckles had turned white from gripping the blade so hard.
Geroshida laughed to himself. "White's queen isn't so powerful when her king is in check." He switched his position to lean on his other knee. "Drop your weapon and I might just tell you."
Link scowled. "Burn in Death Mountain!"
Suddenly, the door leading to the throne room burst open and a dozen Scorpio bandits burst through. They were armed with various weapons including sabers, crossbows, and daggers. However, their attention was not drawn to Link. They lined up on either side of the wall. One of them broke rank to attend to Geroshida, but a rebuke from the leader sent him scurrying back into position.
The clomping of boots resonated from near the door as Atrayu emerged confidently through the large, wooden doors and walked past the Scorpio underlings like a dignitary. Hoisted over her shoulder was Zelda. The monarch was unconscious, but was otherwise unharmed.
"Well, Link, it seems we meet again," she remarked casually, readjusting the monarch's weight on her shoulder. The shifter's brows rose as she saw him nursing his dislocated shoulder. "Looks like quite a battle's going on here." She smirked at Geroshida. "Mind if I join?"
The thief lord growled at her. "Stay out of this, shifter! You know what your job is!"
Atrayu shrugged her shoulders and smacked her lips. "Fine, be that way." She slowly lowered Zelda down and wrapped her fragile body tightly in her arm. "As long as I get to see blood, I can't complain."
Geroshida slowly rose to his full height again. From the pain etched on his face, Link could tell this took a lot of effort on his part. From the smirk on Atrayu's face, she must've noticed as well.
"Shifter, wake Zelda. I want her to witness what is about to take place."
Atrayu grudgingly complied, obviously preferring to be in the heat of battle. She took out a small cloth covered with a strange powder. A nauseating odor instantly bit at her nostrils; she was eager to give it to the monarch instead. As she pressed the cloth to Zelda's face, she began to stir.
Mixed feelings swirled around Link's brain as a result of his current situation. He was relieved to find Zelda safe. However, her presence, along with Atrayu, complicated his current duel considerably. Adding in the presence of a dozen members of Scorpio and he realized the odds were quickly stacking against him. His eyes scanned everyone around the room. He had one chance at victory, but it carried only a slim chance of success.
"Hero!" Geroshida's voice snapped him to attention. "I'll give you one last choice. You are outnumbered. Throw away your weapon and surrender or suffer the consequences of your resistance."
Link's grip on his weapon tightened. He smirked defiantly. "What can you possibly do to me in your state?"
Geroshida grunted in annoyance. He looked to the stirring monarch, whose eyes had just opened. She still seemed unaware of her surroundings. Her sleepy eyes looked around the room absently. The bearer of power turned back to the hero with a hard set face. "I have you right where I want you." He paused, rubbing his chin where all the hair had been singed off. "In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Yet she has her limitations, and given the right strategy, can be brought down by even a simple pawn. In the same way, your own weakness will be your downfall."
Link scowled. "And what might that be?"
The thief lord smirked. Standing became too much work for him, forcing him to kneel once again. "You are burdened by the ones you protect." He nodded to Zelda, who had finally realized where she was. Atrayu held her tightly as the monarch struggled to free herself. Despite the moves she had learned as a Sheikah, the shifter was too strong and cunning to be overpowered. After a short struggle, she surrendered. With the shifter's claws gently pressing against her throat, she could only look pleadingly at Link.
The thief lord laughed to himself. That laughter quickly turned to pain as he began coughing up blood. When he could finally speak again, he leeredat Link. "Tell me, how much is her life worth to you? More than your own?"
The hero swallowed hard. "Whatever you're planning, you won't get away with it!"
Geroshida sneered. "You know exactly what's coming. Either surrender yourself or I will kill your precious monarch. The choice is yours."
"Don't listen to him, Link!" Zelda shouted. "If he wants the Triforce for himself, he needs us both alive. Stand your ground!"
Atrayu quickly covered the monarch's mouth. "Should I silence her, Geroshida?"
The thief lord shook his head. "Let her be. I want her to hear this."
Atrayu just nodded her head and looked at Link. Their eyes met for a brief moment. A knowing smirk flashed across her face before she turned away.
"Listen to me, hero. It is of no concern to me if the monarch dies. Without her, Hyrule's people are like pawns scattered across a chessboard. She has no heirs to take her place. Without her guidance, Hyrule will plunge into anarchy the likes of which hasn't been seen in centuries." He smirked. "You misunderstand me if you think the Triforce is my only objective. I am a patient man. Though it will take longer to find the new bearer of Wisdom when she dies, the resulting chaos will be well worth it."
Zelda hung her head. "Hyrule…what has happened to you in my absence?" She sighed deeply as a small tear appeared on the corner of her eye. "Please forgive me. I never should have left."
Atrayu's lips leaned close to Zelda's ear. The monarch could feel the shifter's hot breath against her skin. "Something wrong, Your Majesty?" She asked mockingly.
Zelda jerked her head away. Though Atrayu had her body in a firm grasp, she could at least move her neck. "I have nothing to say to you!"
The shifter smirked. "Just be a good little girl and you won't get hurt." There was no response.
Geroshida folded his arms. "So what's it going to be, hero? Her life or yours?"
Link's hands began to sweat. He looked frantically between Atrayu and Geroshida. "You have to be bluffing!"
The thief lord shook his head. "I'm sure I don't need to remind you of Atrayu's past deeds. I doubt she'd hesitate to kill someone else dear to you. Isn't that right, Atrayu?"
The shifter looked from Geroshida to Link. There was no hiding the insult in her voice. "I never hesitate to kill my prey." She rolled her eyes and pulled out her sarcasm. "Of course, I will do only what my employer wishes."
The leader of Scorpio raised his brows. "You heard her yourself, hero. Still think I'm bluffing?"
Link's heart beat against his chest like a drum. He knew if he surrendered himself, then they were both dead. But what if Geroshida wasn't bluffing? What if that monster really was willing to throw her life away like common garbage? He was the hero; if he couldn't protect her, then he was a failure. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he glanced between Geroshida and Zelda.
Though she hid it well, he could see the quivering of the monarch's lip. Her fragile body shook softly in Atrayu's grasp. Her cerulean eyes were wide and alert. As their eyes met, he saw small droplets hiding in the corner of her eyes. With her lips, she mouthed a message.
"I trust you, Link."
The silent words hit him harder than if she had spoken them. For the first time in a long time, he felt completely vulnerable. The wolf barked in his ear to stop showing weakness. Yet, another side pulled for him to just surrender. The full weight of his impending decision pressed on his shoulders like a heavy boulder. No matter how he looked at it, he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Should I listen to the divine wolf and show no mercy? Or do I do what a hero is supposed to do and sacrifice myself?
His grip on his sword tightened. His brows narrowed as he took a deep breath. With a large gulp, he forced the words out of his mouth.
"I can't surrender. Not to you."
He could only hope he made the right decision.
Geroshida raised his brows. "So you've decided to go for your opponent's king instead of protecting your own?" He smiled malevolently. "How amusing. It takes guts to make such a bold, offensive move."
Every muscle in the hero's body tensed. He inhaled deeply and held his breath. His teeth clenched tightly together. It all came down to this.
The thief lord continued. "Unfortunately for you, I wasn't bluffing." He turned to Atrayu. "Kill her!"
The hero's heart stopped. How had he guessed wrong? If there was a time to act, it was now!
Yet, it all happened so quickly. A flash of light. The piercing of flesh. The spilling of blood. The death-curdling scream.
"ZELDA!"
A/N- Wow, I'm pretty mean with the cliffhangers. I know this chapter took a long time to write, but don't worry. I still have every intention of finishing this story, regardless of how long it takes. It's been hard finding time to write the last month or so, but I'm glad I as finally able to release a new chapter. I have to say I'm super excited for Skyward Sword in less than a month. 'Til next chapter!