"In the land covered in twilight, where people roam as spirits, you were transformed into a blue-eyed beast... That was a sign... It was a sign that the powers of the chosen one rest within you...and that they are awakening."
Chapter Ten: Banishment, pt 2
Hidden Chamber, Aboda Village Chapel...
"What's happening to him?" a panicked Aryll asked.
"He's...Link...Link?! LINK!" Lydia cried out.
All they could do was watch as Link cried out in pain as green and yellow, vein-like runes suddenly ran up and down his arms. His birthmarks also started to glow and the light coming from them was nearly blinding. What was most horrifying for them was the color of his eyes. They rapidly shifted from their natural azure to gold, then to red, then purple, green, and many others.
The five females could feel a powerful surge of magic that emanated from him. Pressure began building up within the chamber and all they could think of was to run. Aryll bolted, rushing for the stairs. Agitha and Lydia were next, following Aryll out.
Granny Matilde and Impa stayed behind, watching as Link cried out in pain again. His screams shifted from his normal voice to a loud chorus. He then collapsed, the haunting screams ceasing and the surge turning into a massive fountain of magic. His body was engulfed in light and the magic was ready to explode.
Impa raised her hands, holding them in front of her, and yelled, "Shadow Barrier!"
A purple, crystalline barrier appeared, encasing the unconscious Link within. Granny Matilde yelled, "What's going on with him? Why is he...?"
"I'm afraid that all of his personas are awakening at once," Impa told her, sounding rather calm.
"What do you mean? All this magic from one child with four 'others'?" the worried grandmother asked.
"No. If I'm right, based on your grandson's birthmarks, hundreds, maybe even several thousand, are awakening...adding their magical might to his own..." Impa said.
She was about to ask another when the Sheikah yelled, "Run! I don't think I can hold him back for long!"
The grandmother did so, running out of the chamber. Impa looked back and felt the magic from the Hylian. She closed her eyes as she felt the barrier shake. With a nod, Impa said to him, "You've returned...after a 1000-year absence. But this isn't how you were supposed to come. A child with no memories, no control over himself or his powers...This is definitely a curse. But a curse to prevent what? Heika is nothing like the Great Demon King."
The barrier shattered, engulfing Impa and the chamber in a powerful light.
The ice caves, northern caverns...
Groose dropped his pickaxe, looking around as the cave started to shake. The other workers, all from Aboda Village, were scared and one asked, "An earthquake? All the way out here?"
"No. There's nothing natural about these earthquakes..." another said.
Something told Groose that it was coming from something powerful, like magic. He never felt power like that before...well, the last time he did was the day when his family was massacred.
A shard of ice fell next to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. More rumbling filled the cavern and parts of the walls started to crack. The leader of the ice-block gathering party, waving his lantern, yelled, "Guys, stop mining! We're getting outta here!"
The Hyrulian-Holodrumi defensive wall, interior...
A sudden rumbling shook the wall and its foundation, causing for Pipit and a few others to stumble and fall onto the stone floor. The yellow-wearing teen looked around, searching for its source. He panicked as parts of the wall started to crack and break.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"An earthquake?" another worker asked.
"No! We don't have earthquakes this far north!" a third said.
Pipit got to his feet, using the wall as support. He stumbled to a nearby window, looked outside, and saw the Hyrulian forces in a panic. He jumped as the sound of bells filled the air. The shaking grew even worse and the order was given for everyone to evacuate.
Hylia City, Northern Palace...
"And we're advancing farther west, taking Holodrum's Sunken City after losing it 150 years ago and..." General Onox told His Majesty.
The throne room suddenly shook violently and Ganondorf held onto the armrest of his throne. His advisors stumbled about as they were all standing. Onox, a tall, clad in golden armor monster of a man, stood his ground. He smirked at the others, saying, "Wimps! It's just a little shaking."
The tremors stopped and everyone sighed in relief. Ganondorf looked around to make sure nothing was amiss. He found no such thing, save for several Sheikah jumping down from the ceiling. They knelt in respect and one asked, "Your Majesty, shall we evacuate?"
"Yes, shall we? These tremors are not natural in the slightest," another told him.
Onox scoffed, saying, "It was just an aftershock. Death Mountain's probably erupting again."
"But the mountain's been dormant for over a thousand years. How and why would it start erupting now?" an advisor told him.
The general wasn't having it and was ready to give a very loud retort when His Majesty bade him silent. He looked to the Sheikah troop and ordered, "Find Dr. Shikashi and ask him about that earthquake then report back to me. Meanwhile, Onox, evacuate the citizens and make sure they're in the city havens."
"Understood," they said, disappearing.
"Man, it's just some aftershocks," Onox said, not believing that it was anything major.
Hytopia Castle Town...
In a small clothing store was a blonde fourteen-year-old in white, arranging various clothes for its rotund owner. Her elegant, pointed ears picked up a rumbling sound and twitched as they did so. The next thing she knew, the entire store shook from what she thought was an aftershock. The tremors lasted only a few seconds, knocking down jewelry and a few clothes onto the floor.
Once the somewhat terrifying ordeal was over, the girl groaned, saying, "This is just great...I have to clean up all over again..."
"Zelda! Zelda! Did you feel that?" a portly woman in purple asked, coming from behind some curtains.
The girl nodded and said, "I did, Madame Couture. But I have to clean up all this and I had just finished..."
Madame Couture glanced around and said, "It's alright. I'll clean. Just go home for now."
"Okay. But, wasn't I supposed to get paid today?" the girl asked.
The Madame's face became twisted in a scowl and Zelda said, "You didn't pay me last week, so I thought I should..."
"You'll get paid soon. Remember that you didn't take this job for the pay. You took it for the experience! Experience, my dear, is better than pay!" Madame Courture yelled.
Zelda sighed in defeat, wondering why her "paid internship" never paid on time. She left and the Madame looked up as if she sensed something.
"Hmm...Hytopia doesn't get earthquakes. What is going on?" she said to herself.
She then heard bells ringing off in the distance. Madame Couture nodded and said, "Those bells haven't rung like that in 15 years. I guess he's awakening now."
Unknown tower, Great Sea region...
"And we pray to Mother Hylia to put the world back into balance..." a priest in white and gold sang.
He was joined by several hundred monks and nuns, sitting in a large circular chamber. In its center was a raised, golden altar, where the priest stood. Four doors, in the cardinal directions, gave access to other parts of the area and roads of gold tiling led to them. Around the altar and on top of stone columns were six statues of the elemental sages, excluding the sages of Shadow and Spirit. Various torches lit up the windowless chamber and the monks and nuns kept bowing to the golden statue of the goddess of time, Hylia.
Each worshipper was dressed in dark blue robes with gold trimmings. The nuns wore headscarves and veils that covered their heads, supposedly to encourage virtue among the religious sect. One nun came out of her prayers as she could've sworn she felt a tremor.
"Hilda...Hilda, why aren't you praying?" a nun next to her asked.
Hilda removed her veil, revealing a pale face and cold, blue eyes. They quickly turned red and she sensed something...off. It was a power that she had never felt before, a very dangerous if not properly channeled power. It felt like it was coming from Hyrule, but it wasn't possible under normal circumstances to feel magical energy so far away.
"And we pray that the Hero returns to..." the priest sang.
A beam of light came down, striking the goddess statue and destroying it. The sounds of bells ringing filled the chamber and the priest yelled, "He...He's returned to us! The Hero has been reborn!"
"Huh? Didn't they ring 15 years ago?" a monk asked.
"I dunno. A whole bunch of other people said they did," another said.
Aboda Village, thoroughfare...
A sudden jump, followed by violent shaking knocked the patrolling Karane to the ground. She, along with other villagers, was startled at the earthquake as the snowy mountain region wasn't known for geological activity. The "half-breed" tried to stand, only to fall back down.
Other villagers exited their homes, many crawling on their hands and feet from the tremors. Feeling a terrible power coming from the chapel, Karane started for it, only to be stopped by the "terror twins", Mido and Fado, and their crew.
"What's going on? WAAH!" Cawlin screamed, holding onto Fado for dear life.
"I don't know. Where did this earthquake come all of a sudden?" Fado said.
They saw Karane trying to get away and Mido yelled, "Karane! What's going on?"
"How should I know?" she asked.
The skies grew dark and Cawlin screamed, "We're all gonna die!"
A crack was heard and light poured out of the chapel. An explosion destroyed the building, sending debris, snow, and smoke flying everywhere. Some were about to hit Karane and the others when a barrier of shadow appeared, covering them and repelling the debris.
Karane saw the village's newcomer, Oni, appear. He was quickly joined by a worried Elder Aginah, Lady Umma, and a battle-ready Elder Sahasrahla. The barrier around them dispersed and they could see a column of light shooting forth from where the chapel was and into the heavens.
The next thing they knew, something very bright and very fast shot out of the smoke and dust, crashing into Oni and sending him flying. The raven-haired one performed an aerial flip, recovering and landing on all fours. He gasped as the thing that hit him was a figure pulsating with light.
The figure looked masculine and golden light came from them, like light from the sun. Runes of black ran up and down the figure's arms and legs, coming together in a triangle shape on his chest. He glared at Oni with burning red eyes, but his attention was quickly turned to Mido as the not-to-bright teen started throwing snowballs at him.
Karane screamed, "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like? We're fighting off that thing! Get outta this village, monster!" Mido yelled.
Fado was unsure while Cawlin and the others of their group joined in tossing snowballs. Karane backed away, fearing the worst. Moments after getting pelted in the face, the runes on the glowing figure changed from black to blue and he lifted his right arm.
Karane and Fado jumped out of the way as the snow suddenly swirled about Mido and his flunkies. Fado tried to get in closer, only for the frigid air to push her back.
"Ether," the figure said in a voice that sounded like a chorus.
The violent, frigid winds pushed Fado and Karane back, and died soon after. The two gasped as they saw Mido and the others frozen solid. Fado rushed for her brother, screaming, "No! Mido! Cawlin! Cecil! Asa!"
The figure's attention was turned back to Oni, who got to his feet. The glare returned and Karane could only watch as Elders Aginah and Sahasrahla stood in front of the newcomer. Lady Umma rushed for Karane and Fado, telling them that she knew how to unfreeze the four.
Oni's jaw dropped as he saw the glowing figure suddenly freeze four of the village's children. He never saw magic like that before, or at least he didn't remember. He shook his head, coming out of his shock as the figure glared at him with its glowing eyes. The red color quickly changed to yellow, just as the runes on his body returned to their black hue.
To his surprise, Elders Sahasrahla and Aginah stood in front of him. Aginah held up a blue shepherd's staff while Sahasrahla had a red scepter with a ruby at its tip. Wondering what they were thinking, Oni yelled, "What are you guys doing? Why are you helping me?"
"Because if we don't, I fear that we'll never get him to calm down," Aginah replied.
"What do you...? Whoa!" Oni yelled.
The figure of light tossed several orbs of Light magic his way. Aginah lifted his staff into the air and chanted, "Nayru's Love!"
A prism of light surrounded the trio, deflecting the orbs and sending them flying into various houses. Upon impact, the houses shattered into pieces, shards of splinters and rocks flying everywhere. A bit unnerved by the figure's power, Sahasrahla pointed the red scepter at their foe and it hummed with energy.
"Eldin's Rage!" he chanted and a column of flame was summoned.
The figure crossed his arms over his chest, whose runes were glowing blue again, and a wall of snow appeared before him. The fire struck the wall, turning it into steam. Oni couldn't see where the figure was as the mist prevented it.
He was then struck in the face by a flying kick and stumbled back. The glowing figure had appeared at his right when he wasn't looking. He disappeared and reappeared again, this time punching Oni in the back of the head. He stumbled forward and tried to get his bearings when the figure reappeared again, attacking.
Oni was hit several times as the figure disappeared and reappeared. He was punched in the stomach, kicked in the back, cut by a knife on his left arm, and tripped by a low kick to his legs. The young man fell onto his back and the glowing figure stood above him. He glared, his eyes rapidly changing from one color to the next.
A sword of light appeared in his left hand and Oni thought his end was nigh. Elder Sahasrahla aimed for the assailant and chanted, "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A blast of fire came from his staff, the fire taking the shape of a dragon. The figure was hit and launched into the air. He was airborne for a few moments, only to flip out of the fire's arc and land on a nearby roof.
His runes changed from blue to white. The figure's eyes locked with Karane's and the girl found that she couldn't move. Elder Aginah ran up to her and yelled, "Release her!"
Instead of heeding the old man, the figure held up both hands in front of himself. Magical energy gathered and Elder Aginah cast another Nayru's Love spell, the barrier of light erected around the two. Moments later, powerful flames, green in color, shot forth and engulfed Karane and Aginah.
She closed her eyes, thinking that her end was imminent when she heard Aryll scream, "Link! Stop it!"
The flames disappeared and Karane opened her eyes to see Aryll, Dame Lydia, and Granny Matilde. Off in the distance was Agitha and the Sheikah visitor, helping monks out of the rubble that was the chapel. Dame Lydia held up her small shield in her left hand and a short sword in her right.
In tears, Aryll said, "Let...Let him go, whatever you are!"
The figure jumped towards her, landing in front of Lydia. The woman held up her shield in a defensive posture and he lifted a hand. Instead of attacking, he seemed confused.
"A-Ar-Aryll...?" the figure said, the many voices speaking at once.
Karane was terrified but wondered how Aryll managed to stop him. He looked at Karane and Aginah again and the glow in his eyes dulled. The light pulsating from his body vanished and those in the vicinity saw Link. His blue eyes were glazed over, as if in a trance.
With another glance at everyone, Link fell to his knees and then collapsed face-first onto the ground. The ice encasing Mido and the others disappeared, leaving the four shivering violently. The villagers that went to hide cautiously came out and saw the passed-out Link. Many of them had scowls on their faces and Karane was afraid that they would try to hurt him.
Before they could retaliate, Lydia and Elder Sahasrahla grabbed Link, taking him home. Aryll and Karane followed, with Karane turning around every few steps to see if any angry villagers were following.
An hour later, village outskirts, wagon...
"The damages done to the village by him are astronomical. Twenty homes were destroyed, as well as the chapel. And others suffered structural damage and cannot be inhabited. The entire village wants him banished, but..." Elder Aginah said.
Karane watched as Aryll held onto a confused Link for dear life. She cried and begged her mother profusely not to send Link away. Agitha, who helped tend to the wounded, said, "Let him go, Aryll."
"No! Let him stay, Mom! Please!" Aryll cried.
Link looked to his mother, who turned away from him. Her eyes started to water and she said, "Link...He can't stay here. I should've sent him to get help a long time ago. But I was afraid..."
"He will not be seen as a traitor or anything as I've concealed his birthmarks. When we get to Hylia City, he will receive the treatments that he desperately needs," Impa told her.
"But!" Aryll started.
Agitha grumbled, pulled her sister away from their brother, and yelled, "There are no buts! He nearly killed everyone in the village with his powers!"
"I-I...d-did...?" Link asked.
The girl glared at her brother, saying, "Yes, you did. You lost your mind in that underground chamber and you destroyed the chapel, nearly killing all the monks inside. You destroyed almost all the houses in the villages and you tried murdering everyone in your insane rampage!"
"It...I...It-It's n-not...I-I-I..." Link stuttered uncontrollably.
Elder Sahasrahla and Groose, who returned from the ice caves, placed the last of Link's things in the back of a horse-drawn wagon. The teen placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, only for said friend to suddenly back up and yell, "Don't touch me!"
Karane stepped back, disturbed by another of Link's dangerous personality shifts. He glared at Groose, only for him to return to being frightened seconds later. Impa shook her head, telling Link, "I'm sorry. But that is the reason why you have to leave here. You see, your personality shifts and magical prowess makes you very dangerous."
"I...I-I h-have...to...?" he asked.
"Yes. You have to leave. For both your safety and the safety of this village," Impa replied.
He looked at his family and friends that were present with a saddened expression. With one final apology, he climbed into the wagon. Impa sighed and told them, "You will be able to write to him and even talk to him via Sheikah Slate. I'll make sure that he still can contact you."
"Whatever for? He tried destroying us. Just like…" Agitha started.
Aryll scowled at her sister, storming off. Agitha shook her head as Impa jumped into the driver's seat. With a slight slap of the reins, the white horse took off and the wagon started off for the capital.