Hello all! Sorry this is late, the wedding planning is starting to take up my free time. We're less than a month from it now! This was also a pretty important chapter for me so I didn't want to rush it.
Thank you NoNameAvailable, Guest, Cathrath, Milliemstart2014, CosmicZelda, Imagination That, Marasia, Shaveza, RedRoses, Stormhelen, RhysZ99, CaptainAzenor, and Random Chick 29 for your reviews!
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Part II
Chapter Twelve
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Blue light flashed from Zelda's hands as she struck time and again, turning on the balls of her feet, hair flying around her face. Again and again magic from the Triforce of Wisdom shot from her hands and slammed into a boulder about 30 feet away, creating black scorch marks. After one more spin and strike she stopped, panting for breath. She turned with a smile to her spectators, Link and Sahashrala, the elder who clapped enthusiastically.
"Well done, my lady!" the old man beamed, standing up from his seat on another boulder. They were along the coast of the island close to the waves, their presence concealed by the steepness of the coast and the rocks that created a fortress around them.
"I'm getting better," she replied, pushing blonde strands back from her sweaty forehead. "I've been practicing all week and it gets easier every time."
"That will come in handy," Link agreed. "But next time Veran will not be taken by surprise."
"And neither will I," the princess countered.
"Let's hope it does not come to that," Sahashrala stated, leaning on his tall walking stick. "Perhaps we will be able to outwit Veran before it comes to a fight."
Link rolled his blue eyes. "I've been trying to fight, outwit, outrun, and confuse Veran for years now. You can't just show up here and pretend you know more about her than I do."
"Link!" Zelda gasped.
But Sahashrala calmly replied, "You don't have to guard yourself so closely and push everyone away, young man. You would be wise to take advantage of my knowledge, which I'm freely giving you. And if you won't listen to me, I know at least you'll listen to Zelda. From now on should I relay all my information through her?"
There was a few beats of silence before Link grinned in amusement. "No need for melodrama, I understand. But I've yet to see any results from all this 'knowledge' you claim to have."
The old man shrugged. "Fair enough. There has been something bothering me since I came to this island. Veran's nature sounds very familiar. So I think this evening I will take a look around and see if something can jog my memory. Or at least help me put these puzzle pieces together."
Link stood up. "All the better, Zelda and I are going to the Night Lights, and for once I won't be performing so we can have a relaxing evening."
"We deserve to relax after that run in with Veran," the princess agreed. "We'll see you tomorrow, Sahashrala."
The old man nodded, "Have fun tonight."
Link and Zelda climbed up to level ground as the sun began to set, turning the sky red and orange. They walked through the streets, the residents of the island coming out for nightly festivities. The multicolor lights that decorated Trash City began to flicker to life.
"He's right, you know," the princess said. "You don't have to push everyone away. I know why you do it. But you don't have to live that way. You need friends. Close friends. Associates like Jolene don't count."
"I have Telma," he responded. "And I have you. And you both have already sacrificed a lot for me. I'd rather have two best friends like you than one hundred Jolene's."
The sincerity in his voice struck her to the core, and she realized he was right. Who was she to judge? Who exactly were her "best friends"? Everyone in the castle was there to serve her. And even Mila, her highborn friend who loved to gossip, was not someone she could share her darkest secrets with. She'd lived a sheltered and distant childhood. And she found it ironic that her first real, true, deep friendship was with Link. This roguish, thieving, complicated young man who only opened himself up to two people.
"You know," she said, "you're my first best friend too, Link. Back at the castle, no one wanted to treat me like an equal because, in all honesty, I was born a superior class to them. I never noticed it then, but I do now. And I wouldn't trade this real friendship, this real life that I've experienced with you, for all the days of getting bowed to in the castle."
He smiled, his eyes wide and full of emotion. He turned his face from her then, perhaps to hide how much that had affected him. But he reached out for her hand and she grasped his gratefully.
As they approached the club Zelda said, "Who knows? Maybe all of Sahashrala's research will reveal that you are, actually, the Hero of Legend. Just like I originally thought."
Link looked back at her, chuckling. "I'm not the Hero, Zelda. I think I'd know if I had the Triforce of Courage."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely positive."
She sighed, disappointed. "I suppose you're right. "
They walked into the club and took a seat in the back, ordering two waters and some snack food. They watched as performers came and went – singers, dancers, comedians, fighters – enjoying a night to themselves. About halfway through the show Zelda stood up, whispering, "Stay there, I have a surprise for you. I'll be right back."
Link frowned as she disappeared into the crowd, then shrugged one shoulder and continued eating. He watched a man on stage that was doing tricks with three daggers end his performance. Everyone clapped and cheered as he exited the stage and Jolene reappeared to announce the next act.
"Tonight we have a brand new performer," the pirate announced. "She's here to play a musical piece which is titled Desire. Let's welcome, Mila!"
Link's jaw dropped as the applause sounded and Jolene exited the stage. In the dim candlelight a few notes were heard before Zelda twirled onto the stage, holding a wind instrument to her mouth. And as she began to perform, the music seductive and fiery, she started to dance. Swaying hips, spinning on her feet, and causing the men in the audience to give out whistles.
But that wasn't even what surprised Link the most. What really caught him off guard was that she'd changed clothes. Gone were the baggy, ugly, peasant clothes they'd scavenged from town on the way to Trash City. Before she'd looked like a foreigner to the island, someone who had come there as a poor outcast. But now, she looked like she belonged. Her clothes were all black except for a blue top that was partially concealed by a vest similar to a corset. She wore high black boots and gloves and a tattered skirt that forced her to wear pants underneath. A few strands of her short hair were braided, and all up her arms, in blue paint, were the outlines of flames. Even her uncovered fingers were laced in blue.
She looked rebellious, she looked feisty, and – he couldn't help himself – she looked sexy. He watched, amazed, as she finished her performance. She threw a wink in his direction and disappeared behind the stage. Link got up and followed, winding through the tables before going in the back.
Zelda was waiting there, all smiles. "Well?"
"Wow!" he laughed. "That was unexpected, certainly. You look fantastic. Where did you get those clothes?"
"Telma helped me find them," she replied. "I thought I should wear something more practical for Trash City."
He laughed again and swept her up in an embrace, twirling her around once. After sitting her down he said, "I have something I want to show you. It's my favorite place on this island." He held out his hand.
The princess took it willingly, "I'd love to see."
The left the club and walked through the streets. It was a clear night, and as Zelda looked up at the stars she realized just how big the sky looked. A diamond dome over the island. At Hyrule Castle, she'd only been able to see narrow glimpses of the sky through all the tall buildings. And most of the time she spent inside the castle, anyway. But out here there was freedom. She was free. And it was the greatest feeling she'd ever experienced.
They approached a large party along a cliff edge, lights and music and dancing people crowding the area. But Link veered from it and instead climbed down a steep slope towards the ocean. The breeze rushed in to meet them as they got to the water's edge. Waves rolled in, their crests white in the moonlight.
"Watch your step," Link advised. "We're taking this path." He pointed to a row of rocks that breached the surface of the water.
The two carefully made their way across, stepping from one stone to the next. The path led them underneath a natural arch in the land, creating about thirty yards of land between the water. It was protected by the cliff above it angling out over the ocean, a thick column of rock connecting that to the cliff above.
Zelda looked around, seeing the stars and the water on either side of her in this hidden pocket of ground. "It's beautiful here." They were directly beneath the large party they'd passed, but now the music was a soft echo around them.
"Sometimes I come down here to be alone, and to listen to the music," Link said. "It's more relaxing away from the crowds and the lights. Telma took me down here on the first night we spent in Trash City. I was overwhelmed by all the people and the danger and the city. But here it was peaceful. We danced to a song that was played above us – I was young, eleven, and she was taller than me – but it's one of my favorite memories of us."
Zelda was touched by what she was hearing. As a slow melody started above them, she put her hand in his and put the other on his shoulder, arching an eyebrow. He grinned and followed suite, putting his free hand on her waist. They danced in circles on the land, relaxed and smooth.
"I didn't know you could play an instrument," Link said. He glanced down at the silhouettes of blue flames painted up her arms. "I thought only painting was your talent. Now we can add dancing, music, and magic to the list, haha."
She smiled. "Oh my dear Link, as royalty I was educated well. I can play five different instruments proficiently, speak three languages fluently, and I can tell you the value of any piece of jewelry just by glancing at it."
He raised an eyebrow. "When does that last one come in handy?"
"To know if we're being given a cheap or fake gift as a present. And also during diplomatic meetings to ascertain if the opposite party is wealthy or not."
He burst out laughing. "You're terrible!"
"No, it's strategic! Honestly! You can judge the wealth of a nation by who they send to represent them. If they come in expensive jewelry you know that they are a force to be reckoned with and you should take them seriously. If not, you know their threats are empty."
"You'd make a good thief with that knowledge," he stated. "Or at least a good middleman for the thieves."
"Perhaps I shouldn't leave Trash City, then. If I have a lucrative future here." Zelda couldn't believe how her mouth was running away with her. How her whole body was running away with her. First going with Link to Trash City, then participating on his missions, learning how to defend herself, and choosing to stay on the island when she could easily return home . . . to tonight, when she dressed herself in clothes appropriate of a rebel, performed in front of a crowd of criminals, and now was dancing with one of them in the moonlight, talking about staying on Trash City forever. She didn't know where this Zelda came from, this young woman who was such a far cry from the Princess. Perhaps she'd just grown and developed overtime. But she did know one thing for certain: she liked this Zelda. And she didn't want to give her up.
Link was happily surprised at the turn of events. Not just tonight, but ever since Zelda first stepped on Trash City. It had been slow at first, then rapidly picked up speed as she had embraced this culture, this lifestyle, and now was owning it. It was a part of her. The idea that she might stay on Trash City, with him, and not go back to the Castle made him glad. He liked her. He liked her a lot. A part of him screamed that was a bad thing. He lived a very dangerous life, and that would put her in danger. Another part of him whispered that that wasn't his choice to make. And that he deserved a best friend.
Zelda stopped dancing, dropping her hands from him. "Listen, Link . . ."
His blue eyes were calmly on her before suddenly they shot up and he tensed, staring behind her. She turned around to see Cohen and six others – four men and two women – coming down the slope towards them. They were mostly cloaked in shadow, but she could see the starlight glint off the swords they held.
Link put his hand on her shoulder, directing her slightly behind him. "Stay close to me. He's not here to kill us, he wants me to work with him."
"They have their weapons drawn," she stated nervously.
Link didn't answer but watched warily as Cohen approached. The man stopped a few feet from him as his six followers circled them. Link snapped, "This is a lot of melodrama. What do you want?"
Cohen sighed, shaking his head and giving the other a grim smile. "You know what I want. I told you if you continued to refuse to work with me you would regret it."
"If you need my help so badly, then you won't kill me. That's an empty threat."
"You're right, I won't," the other nodded. "But there's no guarantee about her."
Link spun around as their opponents closed in on the two of them, swords pointed at Zelda. She had pulled her dagger from her belt, holding it up warningly. He wished he had a brought a sword or at least a larger weapon along with him. He pulled out two daggers, spinning them in his hands a few times.
Cohen's followers converged at once, sword points coming at them. Link's hands moved at lightning speed as he turned the blades aside. Zelda was pulling close to him, trying to make herself a small target. She'd never fought more than one opponent before. Her inexperience showed as she clumsily knocked an attack to the side, the tip of the blade cutting her bicep.
As the sword kept coming, Link's panic increased. The air rang with the sounds of metal clanging against metal. But as he twisted and turned the attacks began to be too much to keep up with. Another turn found Cohen's elbow swinging at his face. He'd just blocked an attack and couldn't bring his arms up in time to defend himself, or shift his balance quickly enough to duck. The elbow caught him the mouth and he was sent reeling back. Blood ran from his busted lip and rattled mouth as he staggered, regaining his footing.
Those few seconds were all Cohen's group needed. When Link looked back up, holding the back of his hand to his mouth, one had gotten ahold of Zelda and held a sword to her throat. She lifted her hand up, fingers splayed. He knew what she was about to do.
"Wait! Wait!" he shouted. His opponents thought it was directed towards them, but Zelda knew it was towards her. He didn't want her to use magic yet. So she dropped her hand, trusting him.
"Have a change of heart now?" Cohen asked, smirking.
Link sighed, thinking over the situation. He didn't want Zelda to start shooting magic around just yet. That would make her a target for not only Cohen but anyone else in Trash City that had use of someone with her abilities. It would also make her vulnerable to those who felt threatened by her power. For now, it was best to tread cautiously.
Link wondered if maybe he should just put his pride and whatever morals he had left aside and work with Cohen. Would it really be that bad to do what he wanted just once? As much as he hated Cohen and his methods, sometimes it was wiser to pick your battles. Still, he didn't want to look weak or like he'd given up. He still could get out of this. "What exactly do you want me to do? What is so important that you're this desperate for my help?"
Cohen paced as he spoke. "You know my ambitions. All of our ambitions." Here he gestured to the part of his followers that were present. "We are being treated unfairly by the rich and powerful in Hyrule. They hoard the lands, the wealth, control the jobs and justice systems. And they only care about themselves. If we're ever to get ahead in this war, we need to stop them."
Link nodded. "Yes, so you've been saying forever. And all your missions have been targeting this group successfully."
"But it's not enough, Link. We need to do more. To hit harder. To put an end to Hyrule's elite. And, finally, we've hatched a plan. It's so simple, I'm surprised we hadn't thought of it before!" Here he paused for effect. "We're going to unleased a fatal disease on the castle."
Link blinked in surprise, seeing a look of panic cross Zelda's face. He asked, "A . . . disease? And how could you possibly control that?"
"Well, this is called Trash City, after all. A place where the well-to-do of Hyrule used to dump their waste. We all know not to go around the cesspits on the southern part of the island. Get any of that water in your body, and you'll die. So we are going to transport the water to the castle and coat it on everything. Their wells, their dishes, their food, even their doorknobs."
Link's surprise quickly began to turn to alarm. This was not good. "Cohen, that's . . . that's crazy! You know happened the first time someone on Trash City got sick from the cesspits. It's very contagious; it nearly wiped out the whole island sixty years ago!"
"That's the point!" the other said, excited. "It will only take a few to get sick to kill everyone in the castle!"
"Cohen, that could kill all of us! If the disease starts to spread into a plague, you're putting everyone in danger!"
"Which is why we have developed a cure," the larger man answered smugly. "Well, rather, a researcher we captured and forced to work for us developed a cure. There's only one problem, though. We need a lot of more of one specific ingredient. White potion."
"People don't make white potion anymore," Link stated. It used to be used for intestinal infections, but the use was so rare it went out of market, particularly when the more powerful red potion was developed that was much more useful against a wider variety viruses. He already knew red potion wouldn't be any good against something as powerful, as rare, and as sudden as the disease you could get from the cesspits, though. That was why a cure had needed to be created.
"You know as well as I that there is one last stash of white potion here on the island."
It felt as if the ground had dropped from underneath Link's feet, and suddenly it all became clear. Why Cohen was so persistent in the first place. Why he was willing to go to these measures to get Link's help. "The tunnel under the island."
"That's right," the anarchist nodded. "The tunnel. You're the only one who has ever gone in and came back out. So you're going to go in and get all the white potion from the ship down there. And then we will make sure even you and your girlfriend get the cure, so you have no fear of catching the disease."
Link shook his head emphatically. This was beyond crazy. Not only the disease, but the idea of going back into that tunnel. He had never returned, had never wanted to. It was too dangerous. "You're an idiot if you think I will do this! I will not help you unleash a plague on the castle, I will not help you create a cure for it, and I will definitely not return to those tunnels!"
Cohen sighed. "I was worried you would say that, so I made sure to have some leverage." When Zelda started to squirm he waved his hand dismissively. "No, not you. Let her go, we have his attention now." She was released and she ran over to Link. Cohen continued, "We needed to make sure the disease was still potent, so we have tested it on someone. Someone who will die if we don't have a cure. Your Telma. We have her locked in concrete storage away from everyone. She was infected this morning, so I'd say you have until this time tomorrow to bring us the potion."
The world spun. Oh goddesses . . . Link knew what Cohen was saying was true. The man didn't make empty threats. He could hear Zelda yelling at them, saying some very unprincess-like things, but he couldn't process it. He couldn't imagine something worse than this. Even Veran possessing him was nothing compared to the thought of losing Telma.
His eyes burned as he glared up at Cohen, his stare scorching the air between them. "How dare you do this. I will go into those tunnels and I will bring back the potion. But after you have made your cure and saved her life, you better get off this island because I will kill you with my bare hands."
Cohen just laughed. "That's the Link I like so much! We'll be waiting at Telma's Bar. I'd hurry up if I were you." The group was all smiles as they walked away into the night. And when they at last disappeared into the shadows, Link dropped his face into his hands and started crying.
Zelda embraced him, pressing her face into his shoulder. "What are we going to do, Link? Is he lying?"
He shook his head, looking up again. "No, not about something like this."
"But I don't understand. Why would they risk infecting Telma and moving her if this disease is as contagious as you say?"
Link took a deep breath, calming himself. "They obviously had a little white potion to test the cure on – likely by infecting the poor researcher and then having him test it on himself – and they've used the rest of the cure on whoever was going to be handling Telma. But now their supply is out and they need more."
"What's so bad about the tunnels?" Zelda asked. "Why will no one else go in? Why on Hyrule did you go in there before?"
"Because I was running," he answered, "from Veran. During the one time she possessed Telma." He sighed and continued. "I didn't want to fight her at all. I needed a place to hide so she would give up. Hide and pray she didn't kill Telma. I stumbled upon an entrance to an underground tunnel. There are quite of few of these tunnels and caverns under the island. They're useful to smugglers. So I went in, and . . . I nearly died. There were . . . things down there. Things that tried to kill me. When I did escape, word spread quickly that I'd been down there and survived. People asked what I'd seen. I told them the truth. That there was an abandoned smuggler ship down there. Part of its cargo I could see was white potion, which is how Cohen knows where it is. I also warned anyone that asked to never go down there. Because there were things in the dark that could not be killed." He rolled his eyes. "And, of course, like idiots people tried. No one else came back alive."
"Let me help you," she said. "Together we can get the potion and get out."
He shook his head. "Thank you, Zelda. I know you have powerful magic at your disposal but . . . the tunnel is more dangerous than monsters. It's precarious and unstable. I've been there before and know the way. I don't want to risk your life on that."
She sighed, but understood his point. "Please be safe."
Link nodded, giving her a resolute gaze. "I will come back. I have to for Telma."
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Karane sighed heavily, looking up at the night sky thick with clouds. The hood of her black cloak was pulled far down over her face, as it was with the other five soldiers she'd brought along. She couldn't bring all twenty, it would attract too much attention. All of them were dressed in casual clothes they'd bought from a shop on the mainland. If they were going to sneak about Trash City, it had to be in disguise.
The first thing she noticed about the island was that the place smelled terrible. And it was crowded. The piles of trash and run down buildings seemed to squeeze against the maze-like streets. Criminals were walking about, sitting at tables and gambling, standing under multi-color street lights and talking. Overall, no one was paying attention to them. They were just one of a number of people who disembarked on the ship that day.
"Let's find a hideout to stay in," she said softly to her team, beginning to head down the streets. "We'll coordinate our search from there."
"This island is big, Captain," Kev whispered. "What is your plan to cover it quickly?"
"We'll go in groups of two," she stated. "And meet back at specific times. Link won't get away this time. We are not leaving this island without him and the princess."
Karane really hoped Zelda was still alive and okay. It had been so long, there was no telling what could have happened to her in this time. The king would never forgive the army if they were unsuccessful in returning his daughter. Karane would never forgive herself.
The Captain knew there were a few specifics that needed to be worked out, but overall she had a plan. She knew Link was still on the island because when they'd gotten on the ship, he hadn't been among the people disembarking. She had a week until the next ship came. If they captured Link, she could try to sneak him onboard. But she would much rather find a smaller boat to use on the island and return to the mainland with that. It would be more inconspicuous, and easier to control Link if he started to struggle. That also lowered the risk of anyone recognizing Zelda and trying to kidnap her. She would be safe in their protection.
There was always the possibility they would find one without the other. If they found Zelda first, the plan was to get her straight home. She would be able to give them details about Link that would help to hunt him down at a later date. If they found Link first, they would still capture him and force Zelda's location out of him, one way or another. Karane wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty if need be. Not for their Princess.
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Link stood at the entrance to the underground tunnels, staring down into darkness. He couldn't see very far in, and it didn't help that night had fallen outside. The entry was set in the side of a slope, its walls damp from underground moisture.
Zelda stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped around herself from the chill of the night. Autumn was upon them now. "Are you sure you won't let Sahashrala go down there with you?"
He snorted. "Yeah, right. The last thing I need is a jabbering old man with a walking stick to navigate dangerous slopes and difficult climbs. I can hear him now 'You're not taking the right path up that rock face! Let me ride on your back while I tell you the right way and give you a psychoanalysis of your life!'"
"Link," Zelda sighed, exasperated.
"You know it's true," he countered. He glanced again at the dark tunnel. "I'll be okay, Zelda. I promise. I'll be out soon as possible." With a wary smile he turned and descended into the shadows.
The moonlight faded as he went down further, the tunnel a steady slope. After ten minutes his ears popped from the change in pressure, and the light was extremely dim. His pupils were huge as his eyes tried to catch what light they could. It was quiet, the only noise being his footsteps, his breathing, and the sound of trickling water in the distance.
At last he came to the part of the passage he was worried about. There was a ten foot rock face cutting off his path. It was slick but rigid enough he could get a grip. Being careful about where he placed his feet, he made his way up. Only once did he have trouble finding a secure grip, and he was able to reach the top efficiently.
The passage was in a much poorer state ahead. The surface was uneven, and rocks clustered the ground, some only pebbles to disrupt his balance, some as large as six feet forcing him to go around. Moss covered the larger rocks, slimy to the touch. Link wound his way through the maze, his senses on high alert. He was getting close to the ship. Before he'd gone to the tunnel, he and Zelda had stopped by his home so he could get a sword. It was firmly strapped to his back and he had a dagger on each hip. An empty satchel for the potion was strung across his torso. He was ready.
Just as the light completely disappeared and he was stumbling blindly for a few feet, a new light blossomed ahead. Moonlight from the opposite end of the tunnel, where the ship was. The sound of water got louder, and soon green shimmers from it were reflected along the rock walls.
The ground dropped a few feet from Link, and he came up to the edge, crouching down and looking over the area. It was a cavernous space, with a high ceiling that had a narrow opening, allowing the moonlight through. The entire floor was covered in water, and Link knew from experience that it was deep. Sitting in the middle, tilted onto its side, its wood rotting, was a small ship. Its hull had a hole eaten through it, allowing a glimpse of the cargo inside. There were several chests open, and among the items – none of particular value or interest to him – was one full of white potion. Adding a further grisly aspect to the scene were the corpses on the ship. Bones were visible inside the hole, draped over the deck, and propped against the broken mast, weapons still in their hands.
Link let out his breath, adrenaline starting to course through his body. He eyed the shadows at the corners of the cavern. That was where they had come from last time. The dead things that had attacked him. There was no movement now, though.
He looked to the side. There was a narrow and precarious path that wound along the edge and down to the ground. It was natural, not man-made, so it was difficult to traverse. He had done it once before though, and had been in a panicked state. He could certainly cross it now when he had his wits about him.
Link headed over to it and leaned his back against the wall, steadying himself. His fingers were splayed out on the rocky surface, but there was nothing to grip. Keeping his center of gravity steady, he began to inch his way along the ledge. This was the area he most concerned about, and why he didn't want Sahashrala or Zelda coming. He'd spent years and years improving his agility, his balance, and the quickness of his feet. He wouldn't risk their lives when they had no such training or experience.
Link was about halfway across, directly over the water, when he saw movement from the cavern floor. He stopped, his heart leaping to his throat. He could swear he saw something lumbering in the darkness of the cavern. One of his hands went to his dagger, unsure if he was in any immediate danger up on the ledge. He watched the cavern for a few minutes, and when nothing came after him he figured he was safe – for now. He continued on his path a few more inches when an ear-piercing shriek sounded from the black, echoing in the cavern and stabbing into his head like a knife. Link cried out in pain, his hands clasping over his pointed ears to try and block the sound. They had done this last time right before they attacked.
The screech stopped and Link started to hurry along the ledge, knowing he had to get down. This position was too dangerous. He stumbled as another screech sounded, and he saw movement in the shadows again, looking like multiple bodies stumbling forward towards him. He struggled to go on, goose bumps spreading across his skin, when a third shriek broke the air. Link cringed and lost his balance, his foot slipping off. His knees hit as he fell down, catching himself with his hands. He looked below him, seeing what looked like walking corpses emerge from holes in the walls. Their skin was brown and stretched like leather over their bones. Their presumably ghastly faces were covered with wooden masks that had holes for the eyes and mouth. The eyes only showed blackness, but the mouth revealed rotten teeth.
Link looked desperately at the chest full of white potion. He had to get it and get out. Taking a deep breath, he released his grip on the ledge and fell into the water. It was cold and grimy, and he opened his eyes to get a better idea of where he should go. The base of the cavern floor, about fifteen feet below him, was littered with skeletons, victims of the undead monsters here. Link recoiled at the sight, and kicked desperately for the surface. He splashed up, gasping for breath, seeing the ship not far from him. The creatures started to descend into the water, disappearing underneath. He swam faster, his heart racing in panic.
Link reached the hull of the ship, reaching up and grabbing onto the edge of the hole. Water sloshed everywhere as he pulled himself up. He bent over the chest full of white potion, stuffing all of them into his satchel and closing it up tight so he wouldn't lose any in the swim back. As he turned around, he saw two of the dead climbing up into the hole, reaching for him. He yanked his sword from its sheath and sliced a deep gash in both of their chests. They flinched back, but weren't stopped. He cut off one of heads and kicked the body into the water. The other shrieked and Link's body seemed to freeze at the sound, pain shooting through his skull. He managed to clumsily knock the monster further into the hull and away from him, staggering toward the water.
The sound stopped and Link jumped in, starting to swim for the wall. Another screech sounded, this one below the water, and Link struggled to stay afloat, writing in pain. But his muscles were failing and he went under the water seeing the severed head floating there, staring at him, the screech emanating from its decaying mouth. Then the headless body wrapped around him, pinning his arms to his side. Link fought violently to get away as he started to sink. The skeletons at the bottom loomed closer, their skulls grinning up at him, waiting for him to join them. The creature's hand wrapped over his face, its leathery fingers trying to pry his mouth open and let the water in. Link felt bile rise in his throat, about to vomit from the sensation.
His hand managed to grasp a dagger and he kicked back at the undead, loosening its hold. He was able to use the leverage to bend his arm and slice one of the monster's arms clean through, separating it from the body. Link kicked away and swam quickly for the surface, gasping for air as he broke it. He swam towards the wall, pushing off any creatures that tried to grab him with his legs. At last he made it to the haphazard rock ledge that functioned as stairs. He grabbed the closest ledge, hoisting himself up. Water dripped from clothes like rain as he pushed himself back against the wall, sidling along as quickly as he could. One undead pulled itself up after him, maintaining balance even with its shaky step as it ran towards him. Link stopped his movement, steadying himself. He grabbed his dagger and as the creature got within an arm's length he stabbed it through the head, using the dagger to pull its body off the ledge. Then he let go, losing his weapon as the undead fell down into the water.
No more came after him as he hurriedly crossed the rest of the ledge, back on solid ground again. And there were no more shrieks as he ran and ran and ran, panting. It was fifteen minutes before he finally broke back into Trash City, dropping to his knees from exhaustion.
"Link!" Zelda gasped, concerned, running over to him. "Link, are you alright?"
He nodded, coughing up water. As she put her hands on his shoulder, checking him, he held up the full satchel. "I have the potion. Let's go save Telma."
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End of Part II
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Thanks for reading and please review! I hope to have the next chapter out before the wedding on 11/27.