Chapter 17: Gibdo Mask.

Cremia tried her best to keep her eyes forward as she drove the wagon. In the back, Zak patted his open wounds with a piece of cloth until the bleeding subsided. When the wagon turned down the slope towards the Great Bay, she couldn't keep her mouth shut any longer.

"What happened?" Cremia asked.

"I fought something," Zak said dismissively, "This isn't anything I can't handle. Don't worry, Romani left before I got these wounds."

She shook her head, "I meant what happened between you and Romani. Did you do something to upset her?"

Zak sighed, "Something like that. It's complicated."

Cremia pulled the wagon to a stop, "Simplify it for me, Zak."

"Romani is out there, somewhere," he pointed out, "You and I don't have time for this."

"You're keeping something from me," she growled, "Spit it out."

Zak sheathed his weapons and hopped out of the wagon. She jumped down and grabbed his arm. He looked at her with an expression of both rage and sorrow. Shocked, Cremia let him go. "Fine," he said, "I told her what would happen if I were to fail in my mission here. If I can't drive away the evil spirits my master left behind, or if I die, then I have to destroy Termina."

Cremia kept herself from laughing, "And Romani believed you? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Sure, a few bizarre monsters are bad, but destroying an entire country?"

Zak swallowed hard, "There are a few things about this land that you aren't aware of, Cremia. Long ago, when Termina was young, there existed a society in what is now called Ikana Canyon. These individuals discovered an ancient and terrible power, and, in their arrogance, they turned their backs on the Goddesses. Din, Nayru, and Farore did not take kindly to the construction of Stone Tower, which was built as an example of exceeding their heights. Because of the Kingdom of Ikana, the Goddesses have forsaken the land of Termina. It is solely by accident that you are here."

Cremia blinked, "Wait, what are you saying, exactly?"

Zak narrowed his eyes, "Your land is connected to the world of Hyrule by merely a thread. Once removed, Termina will be plunged into darkness. The doorway that led me here is the only reason for Termina's existence. If the doorway is severed, everything you know and love will be destroyed."

"Why is your mission so important?" she asked, almost too stunned for words.

"My enemy is a secretive, manipulative, and ambitious man," Zak said, his eyes downcast, "He used his sorcery to take hold of my father's mind, and the monsters that I am hunting are filled with his poisonous magic. If I fail and don't destroy this place, his influence will corrupt this land, and he'll use it against my world of Hyrule."

She shook her head, "No. I can't believe it. It's too crazy of a story, even for a kid like you. Why, why did you come to our ranch? Are we just pawns to you?"

He turned his back to her, "Believe it or not, but I need Romani's help. She has something that I don't. I made myself a promise when I met you both. I swore that I would not fail in my mission. That promise is something I won't break, but I need to find Romani. If you care about her, help me. If you're too scared, I won't blame you if you head back home."

She grabbed his shoulder, "I won't pretend that I'm not panicking, but I'll help you however I can. By the way, what is it that my sister has that you don't? Is she chosen by the Gods? A reincarnation of the Goddess of Time?"

Smiling, Zak shook his head, "She's a better shot than me."

The two of them headed onto the beach. As Zak marched towards the water, screams echoed from the northern end of the beach. His eyes snapped towards the Pirate's Fortress. Without warning, Zak dove straight into the water. He yelled out as the salty water splashed into his wounds, but he managed to push the pain away as he slipped his mask over his face and swam off towards the Fortress. Cremia wandered around the beach to get closer without having to swim. As Zak swam, he spotted several skeletal fish headed towards him. He yanked out his spear and stabbed at them, killing off a few before swimming closer to the underwater Fortress entrance. He looked back to see the fish that he incapacitated coming back to life. Zak narrowed his eyes. So that's what it is, he thought to himself.

He quickly darted through the underwater entrance and emerged at the pool blocking his entrance to the Fortress itself. Much to his surprise, he found the large pool devoid of any guards. A single motor boat floated in the water. Zak edged over, surprised to see the pool filled completely with the wriggling bodies of skeletal fish. If he fell into the water, they would cannibalize him in minutes. Zak rubbed his chin, thinking of a way to get across. An arrow flew to the Fortresses' entrance high above him with a rope attached to it. Zak looked up to see Cremia standing on the rock formation above him while holding a bow. She tied off her end of the rope to a secure chunk of rock and flashed Zak a positive hand signal. Zak climbed up the rock wall, careful not to fall, until he made it near the top. His foothold gave way, and he felt himself slipping. A hand reached out and grabbed his, pulling him back to the wall. With Cremia's help, Zak managed to climb the rest of the way.

Once on the top, Zak pulled off his shield and slipped it over the top of the rope. He held the leather straps of it with his hands. He lifted himself off of the ground, making sure that the rope would hold him. "Impressive shot," he remarked.

"Thanks," she said, blushing, "I have to ask you something. Where in the world did you learn how to use your shield?"

Zak laughed, "It's a long story. Remind me when I get back, and I'll explain it."

"And if you don't?"

"Princess Zelda," he said before sliding down the rope. As he picked up speed, he heard the rope creak and groan under his weight. The rope frayed on Cremia's end, which forced her to gasp. Zak swung his body to the side, spun himself so his body was above the rope, and let out a grunt of effort just as the rope snapped. Zak flew through the air, his feet barely hitting the edge of the metal platform at the Fortress entrance. Regaining his balance, Zak put away his shield and headed inside. The rope fell that fell into the water was mangled by the bony fish.

Zak stopped short when he entered the Fortress. Large streams of old musty ribbons wrapped around every surface that could hold them. Scores of mummified pirates lumbered about, groaning in agony. As he stepped further, they turned to him and rushed at him, arms outstretched. Zak yanked out his sword and brandished it to his side. As a large group of them approached, he jumped up and slammed the sword down, dispatching several at once. Those who weren't in range were taken out by his mighty circular spin attack. After three more spin attacks, the pirates spotted attacking. high above him on a platform attached to a wooden mast, a bandaged monster peered out over the side. Zak immediately fired his hookshot at it. The tip buried into its face, and the chain retracted. The bandaged monster struggled against him, and Zak felt himself be yanked off of his feet. As he sped up towards it, Zak held out his sword. He collided with the bandaged monster, taking it off of its feet.

Zak swung wildly, but the wrapping around him caught his sword arm. He struggled against his bindings, which only made them tighter. The bandaged monster gripped him tightly around the face with its decrepit hands. Black ooze spilled out from its mouth and covered Zak's face. Luckily, Zak's nose and mouth were safely concealed behind his mask. He shut his eyes until the creature stopped spewing the goo on him. With his free hand, Zak punched the bandaged monster with all of his might. It stumbled back, giving Zak time to rip the bandages off of his arm. He quickly sheathed his sword, still blind, and hurriedly slipped on his silver plated gauntlets.

The monster lunged forwards, grabbing him around the throat. It lifted him off of his feet. Sputtering, Zak gasped for air. He grabbed at the creatures arm, furiously punching at it. The monster's arm snapped in two with a plume of dust, and it screamed out in pain. Zak opened his eyes, now yellow with red irises, and grabbed his sword. The monster charged once more, and Zak spun around in place, using his momentum to draw the sword on his back, and sliced the monster diagonally in half. A mummy-like mask fell to the mesh floor at Zak's feet. His eyes burning, he stabbed the mask straight in half. As the white light drifted up, the bandages around him, the Fortress, and the pirates faded away, along with the bizarre colors in Zak's eyes.

Zak sheathed his sword just in time to catch a glimpse of something purple inside the Fortress entrance across the bridge in front of him. Before he could run up to investigate, an arrow flew out and pierced his stomach. Zak fell to his knee, shocked. A pale Romani with pure white eyes walked out of the Fortress to meet him.