Disclaimer: No Legend of Zelda characters are mine
Ch 8 Breach
It's been seven years, seven years since training began, seven years since the deity attacked Kakariko Village and went after Saria. Why he was after Saria, Link had no clue, although now due to his age, he can't blame the deity. Saria had grown into a fine woman, her green hair had now gone just past her shoulders, with a slight curl upwards at the end, she was still shorter than Link, only reaching his shoulders, but he found that making her even cuter. Link thought that he now understood what Impa said, he was older now, and he thought differently of Saria, but nothing bad of course. He loved her, but now he LOVED her. He never wanted to be away from her side, and he would protect her with his life. That part wasn't new, but his feeling for it had intensified, but he did wonder, did Saria feel the same? Should he tell her? He didn't want to risk what they had, but could he really hide it? Only time would tell.
Link was out in front of the castle, as he was nearly everyday for the past seven years, training both with his blade, and in magic. He felt himself grow stronger over time, learning all sorts of new abilities, but it wasn't enough. He knew if the deity had come again, it would be the end of everyone. Just as Link was about to be lost in thought of what could be, Impa strolled up behind him, with a bottle of green potion in hand.
"Here, drink up" Impa demanded, passing the bottle to Link, "How many times must I tell you? Take a potion during training so you don't pass out. Last time you almost drowned in the moat!" Impa argued, slightly scowling Link.
Link then let out a slight smile, "Yeah yeah, I've heard the speech before," Impa had become somewhat of a fill in mother for Link and Saria ever since they started staying in the castle. She'd make sure they were up early, made it to training on time, did their studies, even clean their rooms. However, he was still grateful, he hadn't had anything like this ever since The Great Deku Tree died.
"If you've heard it, then why haven't you listened?" Impa continued scowling, "Oh, nevermind, that's not why I'm here. Princess Zelda and Saria want a word with you."
"Why didn't Saria just tell me herself?" Link asked, knowing he and Saria had mastered their telepathy, being able to fully converse together over thought.
"Ask her yourself, just get going." Impa then turned around and walked back to the castle, Link then did the same.
. .
Link entered the Castle Courtyard, seeing Saria and Zelda kneeling in the middle, waving him to join them. As Link knelt down on the ground Saria put her hand on his, "In case you're wondering, I sent Impa because Zelda specifically asked me to" Saria then had a sympathetic look on her face.
"Why?" Link asked, turning his gaze to Zelda, trying to hide his red face from Saria's affection.
"Well, let's start at the beginning. You remember that cloaked man you told us about? The one who set the Fierce Deity free?" Zelda started
"Of course, the bastard who got Dampe killed" Link tightened his fist, nearly drawing blood, but Saria rubbed his arm, causing him to ease up.
"Right, I don't like him either. Anyway, we've been getting reports of him in the market. Drawing things, looking around, being very suspicious."
"Well, why don't we go get him then? I'd LOVE to talk to him," Link had a look of pure hatred in his eyes, only to again be soothed by Saria, he then continued, "Wait, what does that have to do with Saria and I using telepathy?"
"That's simple. It's because we have a mole." Zelda blatantly stated "I have reason to believe the mole was out somewhat near you out in front of the castle. If you were to just leave, he would not have known how long you would be gone for. But with Impa declaring you have an audience with me, that would tell him that you will be gone a long time, and he'll attempt to make contact with the cloaked man. That's my theory anyway." Zelda had let out her entire plan, as if it was child's play.
"Why do you think he'll make contact?" Link asked
"Because, the one I've had my eye on has been quite skittish lately. Although of course I could execute him for treason, I want to get the that man far more than I want to kill a simple guard."
Impa then appeared from a flash of light, "He's on the move princess." She stated.
"Excellent, tail him, and report back."
"Understood," Impa disappeared as quickly as she appeared.
"Now then," Zelda turned back to Link and Saria, "I need you two to be ready just in case he shows up. I already told Saria her part, but Link, when he comes, I need you to be as quick as light itself. He cannot get away from us again, not after this amount of preparation. You need to stop him, whatever it takes. I trust you know what I mean." Zelda made a quick glance towards Link's swords, then back at him.
Link lifted his right hand to the hilt of gilded sword, left hand still in Saria's, "I understand completely princess,"
"Good, if the Hero of Time can't stop a single man, no one can. What's your plan to get to him so quickly if I may ask," Zelda asked curiously
"You remember Termina? The alternate world I told you about?" Link asked, pulling out the Rabbit's Hood "This is a mask from there, this one doubles my speed and acrobatics."
"But will that be quick enough?" Zelda replied, pondering the thought.
Link then let off a sly smirk, "No, but who said that was my only trick?"
. .
Impa was a shadow, unseen and unheard. As Impa was tailing the mole, she pondered the thought of simply capturing him, and interrogating him. After all, she did have the rights to the Shadow Temple. She shook the thought off, 'Zelda hates interrogations, she's too soft hearted,' Impa then saw something that caught her eye. The mole was constantly making laps around the front of Castle Town, what was he doing? Waiting for someone? Something? Perhaps a dropoff? Only time would tell.
. .
Zelda and Saria both stared in awe. The speed Link had just displayed was out of this world, much more than Zelda had hoped for.
"Fast enough for you princess?" Link asked sarcastically.
"H-how is that possible? It's just so-" Zelda couldn't finish the thought.
"Amazing," Saria finished, "When did you learn that anyway Link? It certainly wasn't anytime I was around." Saria began to let out a slight, yet cute, pout.
"Everyday I train solo actually" Link replied, "It's not something I can do all the time however. More like ten minutes a day, any more than that and my muscles might explode, literally." Link had a hint of worry in his voice but shook it off into a smile.
"Well, let's avoid that shall we? The smell would be horrid," Zelda chuckled.
Saria then looked at Link, "Jokes aside, that demonstration took three minutes give or take. Will you have enough time to catch him when he shows?" Saria and Zelda then stared intensely at Link, who was now getting embarrassed.
"Of course I'll have enough time! Close? Maybe, but enough!" Link replied, not even convincing himself. "Even if not, Impa is out there, she'll be able to pick up any extra time we need to get that bastard. She always pulls through," Link then began to think of all the good times he and Impa had shared throughout his stay at the castle. Apart from the nagging, she also always made sure he and Saria ate enough, had enough blankets during the winter, and when they got sick she even made them soup, sticking by their bedside as they recovered. She was their mother in every sense of the word. He knew, without a doubt, she would pull through.
. .
Impa, still following the mole's pacings, started to notice a pattern. He would slow down when he got close to the chains that held the drawbridge, taking a quick glance every so often. There had to be something involving the drawbridge she wasn't getting yet. Was there another guard he was supposed to meet there? Was the cloaked man going to appear there? What was he waiting for? The sheikah couldn't put her finger on it.
The sun then began to set, with Impa looking into its majestic light, 'It's getting late, if he's going to make a move, now would be the time' Impa thought. But as soon as she finished the thought, the mole reached into his pouch and pulled out two bags, and placed one on each joint, connecting the chains and the drawbridge. Impa then immediately knew exactly what he was about to do. 'I have to stop him!' She then dashed towards the bags, as they let out a quick spark.
. .
"All that aside," Zelda began, "Saria, I know I have already told you this, but make sure you stay here when he appears. I need your full strength for your spell. No matter what. Got it?" Zelda had a foolproof plan, and she was determined about it.
"Yeah yeah, I got it. Pour all my strength into the bubble, very exciting." Saria then began to gloom over her role, she enjoyed spells and being a mage, but a protective barrier all for one man seemed a bit overkill.
Just as Saria finished her dramatic mood swing, the group heard a loud explosion come from Castle Town, leaving a puff of smoke and ash in its wake.
"What is that?" Saria asked
"Impa" Zelda let out
"He's here," Link then crouched to the floor while putting on his Rabbit's Hood, "Farore's Gale!" Link dashed off to the explosion at lightning speed.
Claire popped out from under Saria's hair, "There he goes again," she let out.
. .
Link was dashing, faster than he ever had before, straight to the smoke. He was going to catch him today, no matter what. But as he reached the center of the cloud, reality set in. All he could see were the scattered bodies of hylians, children crying for their parents, parents crying for their lost children, stray dogs and cats that got caught in the crossfire, and Impa, with her left arm covered in shrapnel. Link rushed over to the sheikah, helping her up "I, wasn't quick enough," she coughed out.
"Take it easy Impa, everything will be okay now," Link attempted soothing her. As multiple guards came rushing around from all directions to help the wounded, Link looked around to find the mole, and spotted him. Large gash just below the knee, easy to distinguish from the other guards. He knew he could deal with him later, right now he had to help Impa. But as he looked to the sky, he knew why the mole had chosen now to destroy the drawbridge, why now he made his move. The sun was setting, and when the sun sets, the stalchildren rise. The sun sank lower and lower, as the hylian gazed straight at it, until it sank completely. The skeletal monsters then began pouring into the market.
Impa brushed Link off, and rose to her feet, wielding her greatsword in her right hand, "Don't worry about me, we need to keep the citizens safe," She ordered
"But what about him? Did he show?" Link asked, furious at the situation
"No, we fell right into his trap. He knew we were waiting for him. But we were waiting too long, so he made his move, and now we're paying the price."
As Impa, Link, and the elite guards slew the onslaught of stalchildren pouring through the destroyed gate, the new recruits helped the injured get to safety. As they started getting surrounded by an overwhelming army, a green dome covered all of Castle Town, and in a goddess-like voice rang "Protection of the Forest!" Saria's voice, Link knew Saria was the only one who could do this spell, protecting everyone from more stalchildren from getting through. This raised the morale of all those who fought, giving them hope, a chance for survival. However, even with this boost, elite soldiers continued to fall left and right over the onslaught of the dead.
Impa, who was slashing skeletons and lightning speed, let out a quick spell. "Sheikah's Shadow!" As she uttered the words, a second body formed from her shadow, and stood next to her, slashing at the army in the same manner Impa was.
"Din's Fire!" Link shouted, as a small dome of fire formed around him, and cast out to the nearby monsters, setting them ablaze. But no matter how many they slayed, it seemed as if they weren't doing a thing, even with the dome preventing more from entering the market.
Just then Saria came flying out of nowhere, casting a whirlwind at the horde, taking out a small chunk. Although still not noticeable.
"Saria? What are you doing here? Link asked, remembering what Zelda said.
"I was worried about the townspeople, I couldn't just sit on my thumbs and watch this happen. These people need my help Link!" Saria replied.
"Fair enough, I probably would have done the same thing." Link joked
"If you two are done, there's a slight onslaught of monsters that could do for some exterminating." Impa barked at the two hylians.
"Yeah yeah, I noticed," Link mocked, as he sank his sword into yet another stalchild. As the battle continued on for hours, slowly diminishing the numbers of the opposing force, the hylian army began to get a spark of hope. The sun was on the verge of rising, and when the sun rose, all the stalchildren would burn away.
The army continued its push against the monsters, as more and more soldiers fell to their wrath. Link and Impa fought back to back, with Saria casting spells. Driving the enemy back. The sun then rose. Burning all of the monsters that had risen from the ground, back to the earth from whence it came. Impa, Link and Saria then all fell to their knees together. "I don't know how, but we did it," Saria let out.
"Of course we did, we had three badasses on the front lines," Link replied.
Impa then began to laugh, whole heartedly, very uncharacteristic of her.
"Um, you okay Impa?" Link questioned, worried about his 'mother'
"I'm fine hun, it's just that I never thought we'd make it out of that." Impa let out a large sigh, "If I'm being honest I thought we were finished as soon as the bridge fell, but then you came to my side Link. You rescued me, and raised the hearts of the entire army to fight back. It just shows me how much you kids have grown in such a short time." Impa then placed her hand in Link's face,
Saria circled around, and held Impa from behind.
Impa continued, "I know I've been hard on you two, but I want you to know that you kids, including Zelda, are like the children I never got to have." Impa began to tear up, this was the first time she showed her true colors to Link and Saria. She had complete trust in them. "I love you all" Impa then began to cry, the first time Link had seen her do so.
"I love you too, mom," Link replied. Getting the most heartfelt look Impa could give in return.
"Link I-" Impa then gasped, feeling a piercing pain in her back. Saria had stabbed her right through the heart. "S-Saria?" Impa questioned.
"I'm afraid not," 'Saria' replied, shifting into the form of a cloaked man, "Fell for it yet again I see, oh great Hero of Time." the man mocked.
Link, in shock over the situation, couldn't move, Impa, his 'mother', was stabbed in the heart right in front of him. She spoke but a few seconds ago, but now she was laying in a pool of her own blood, motionless. "I-Impa?" Link reached for the sheikah, "M-mom? Wake up!" Link shook her body, knowing she was gone. A fire then rose in Link's eyes, "You will pay for this!" He screamed, in a most demonic tone.
"HA! That's what I want to see!" The man shouted, clearly pleased by his deeds. "So tell me Hero of Time, how do you feel now?!"
"Like I'm gonna rip your head off!" Link screeched, lunging at the man, sword in hand. As the man dodged, Link continued his fury of swings of blind rage, eventually making contact with the man's arm.
"Damn!" he let out, "Well as fun as this was I'm afraid I must be going," the man let out.
"You're not going anywhere!" Link threw his gilded sword at the man, only for him to move his neck at the last second. The man then turned towards Link.
"Oh? You want to get serious? Fine by me," The man floated into the air, causing a red light to form around him. He started chanting in an unknown tongue, and shot out flashes of red lightning towards hundreds of soldiers and civilians. But they didn't appear to do anything.
"What did you do?" Link demanded.
"You'll see," the man answered, still floating in air, "By the end of the day, Hyrule Castle will be claimed by the Great Sorcerer Xantam!" He then disappeared into a cloud of black smoke.
He got away again, 'Damnit' Link pounded his fist into the pavement. Link then looked over at Impa's motionless corpse. As he struggled over to his now dead friend, and lifted her in his arms, he heard the clock ring. Six in the morning, nothing new. But as the bell rang in the ears of those hit by Xantam's spell, Link knew what he had done. Those afflicted started running at those who weren't, and killing them with either their bare hands, or the weapons they were carrying. Xantam had used a madness spell, a spell with no cure.
Author's Note: Yes, It's rated M for a reason. There is no turning back now. I would love to hear your thoughts so be sure to review.