Chapter 29: The Hero of Time
Sora was greeted by the over ecstatic shine of the sun. He felt an incredible burst of energy after having a good night's sleep. To him, yesterday never happened. It was like starting anew. To go into the world and conquer any challenges. He and Yoshi headed towards Malon's house, partaking in casual conversation.
Luigi met up with them, and, from the look of his visage, he didn't share the surge of energy Sora and Yoshi had. Bags hung over Luigi's eyes like an uncomfortable hammock.
"You okay?" Sora asked. "What's wrong?"
Luigi spat out a cucco feather, and the two watched in confused silence as it gently landed on the ground.
"I-Is Luigi molting?" Yoshi asked in a nervous tone.
Sora stared at him with a flat expression. "Never mind. I don't want to know."
After a hearty breakfast (which did inject some much-needed energy into Luigi), Malon escorted the trio to the exit. Sora stretched out his arms. With Ganondorf being a possible blockade on their path, he needed to be ready for anything.
Malon walked up to him. "Do you need anything for your journey?"
"Nah," Sora said as he finished stretching. "We're good. Your wonderful hospitality was enough."
"Glad to hear it." She paused for a moment. There was an apprehensive look in her eyes. "You're going to the Marketplace, aren't you?"
"What gives you that idea?" Sora asked.
"You and your friends seem curious about it. Please tell me this isn't true."
Sora sighed; it was wrong to keep this fact behind closed shutters. "No. You're right. We're going."
"What reason could you have possibly have!?" Malon asked, raising her voice with worry. "Obviously you're aware of how dangerous it is!"
Sora felt guilty for upsetting her. She seemed to genuinely care for the trio, and didn't want something horrible to happen. But they had no choice. Not just because of the Star Spirit – Sora wanted to believe that, just maybe, Riku would be there, too. Despite their friendship staggering on an uncertain boat, Sora had to keep looking for him.
"I heard that a friend of mine is somewhere in there," Sora said. "He's one of the most important people I know. There's no way I'd let him rot away in such a terrible place. It's not right."
Malon glanced at the ground in disappointment. "Oh, I see." She looked at him. "You must care a lot for him." Sora nodded. His blue eyes were as focused and determined as ever. She sighed. "I have no right to stop you. It's your decision in the end. But I'll just be so worried. We haven't known each other long, but you three are decent people. My heart would weep if something terrible happened to you."
"I understand how you feel," Sora said. "This Ganondorf sounds like a real nuisance. But he isn't the first nuisance we've dealt with before." He smirked. "I'll be ready for him, 'cause I'm not alone," he gestured towards Luigi and Yoshi; "these two always have my back."
Sora and Malon turned to see Yoshi holding up a cucoo for Luigi to see.
"Isn't it cute?" Yoshi asked.
Luigi screamed and leaped behind a barrel. "Turn it into a drumstick!"
Sora turned back to Malon with an awkward grin. "That last sentence wasn't a poor attempt at a joke, I swear!"
"No, I'll take your word for it," Malon said with a chuckle. "Just promise that you'll come back and visit us."
Sora smiled. "Absolutely. Wouldn't want you to worry."
"Thanks," Malon said, feel a slight pinch of relief deflate her chest. "Be careful out there."
And so, the trio left, preparing to venture forth into a town where they would be no longer under the sun's watchful eye. As they prepared to cross the bridge, Sora's eyes, with heavy hesitation, focused on the lake, at the spot where he threw away the mask. It was gone! His thoughts were wrapped in a web of bewilderment; they tried escaping its clutches with rational answers. Maybe someone else found it, he thought.
Because he refused to let the notion of it leaving on its own slide under the door of his mind like a foreboding letter. He looked over his shoulder, a bit paranoid. Nobody was there. The only form of movement was the tall grass being tickled by the playful wind, and the sun letting out a massive yawn of bright light.
Sora exhaled; he hoped that was the last he saw of the mask. Aside from his first encounter with the Heartless, nothing had ever frightened him more. Those images continued paddling across his subconscious, leaving behind small, uncomfortable splashes. But he needed to quell those unnecessary concerns. Finding the Star Spirits (and Riku) was top priority. Shelfing those images, he followed Luigi and Yoshi into a town silenced by a being of pure malice.
An uncomfortable breeze brushed across the trio's skin as they entered town. Sora had never seen such an unsettling sight in his life. Buildings in ruin; dry leaves comatose on the floor; and disgusting water as black as night infesting the town's fountain. Luigi kept his eyes focused on the 3DS, hoping to ignore the waking nightmare in front of them.
Malon wasn't kidding, Sora thought. Ganondorf completely left this town in ruin. It was a true testament to his power. Would the three of them be able to fight him? Even Sora had his moments of doubt. Yoshi held his hand, frightened to be alone. An uncomfortable feeling scratched at Sora's neck like branches. It wasn't like the alarming chill he experienced with the Heartless.
But it was just as unpleasant.
He felt nothing but rage. Those branches spontaneously combusted into seething flames of hatred. Was this Ganondorf's power? Or was the unsettling atmosphere causing him to imagine things? He tried to focus on something else, and daydreamed about what this town looked like before becoming a wasteland of broken memories.
Luigi, with hesitation, glanced up at a wide pathway that stood between two buildings. "Looks like the Star Spirit is in that direction. We're getting closer." He gulped. "I don't know whether to be relieved or terrified by that notion."
"W-What are those things?" Yoshi asked, trembling in fear.
Everyone noticed a strange, humanoid creatures sitting in the fetal position. They remained static, lackadaisical; their bodies were rawboned, practically skeletons if not for their baggy brown skin. A strong, putrid odor of rotten flesh invaded the group's nasal cavity. Sora thought he was going to choke from the intense stench.
Then, the creatures started rising to their feet; petrified terror had wrapped around the group's legs like vines. What didn't help matters were the masks the creatures wore: a perpetual grin and two black holes for their eyes. Normally, eyes are considered the gateway to someone's soul. But, beyond the two sockets were emptiness – where humanity had ceased to be long ago.
"Too scared to care!" Luigi said in a panic. "Run!"
Luigi and Yoshi sprinted towards the wide path, but were stopped by a sudden feminine shriek. It didn't sound anything like Sora. Spinning around, the two saw him frozen in his place. He couldn't move, no matter how much his brain sent frantic commands. It was as if his own body was too frightened to run.
But the immense terror in his eyes flickered.
Sora heard a low-pitched moaning sound. One of the creatures managed to trap Sora in a bear hug, crushing his chest in the process. Breathing became difficult; his bones trembled from the surprisingly strong grip of the creature.
He couldn't move. He couldn't scream.
Gaining courage, Luigi hurried over and knocked the creature away with his hammer. Sora felt movement in his body, and he gasped from the sudden return of air. He trembled from the shock; the marketplace started to spin. For a moment, he was lightheaded. Yoshi hurried to make sure his friend was okay.
Meanwhile, Luigi used a blizzard spell to freeze the monster in place, then smashed it to pieces with his hammer. But the low moaning continued ringing in his ears. More creatures started to approach them. They didn't know who these three were, nor cared. Only the scent of flesh kept them mobile.
Sora regain conscious control over his senses, but the feeling of fear lingered; it caused his muscles to tremble faster than a guitar string. He looked up to see more of them shambling towards them. Fighting them would not be ideal.
So they ran. And never looked back.
The group arrived at mountain area. Nothing but rocks and rubble as far as the eye could see. There was, however, a demolished overpass on the dirt pathway. Something used to be here, but, like the town, it was crushed beneath the oppressive hand of Ganondorf.
The trio stopped to catch their breath. Emotions swirled around their heads like a whirlpool. They took a moment to compose themselves, and piece together what they just witnessed. Sora was still shaken up from the ordeal, but kept reminding himself that he'd been in worse situations. Namely watching the destruction of his island.
"You okay?" Luigi asked.
Sora took another deep breath. The nerves started to dissolve (albeit as a lethargic rate). "Yeah. I'm fine. Can't believe I'm going to say this, but I kinda miss the Heartless."
"Don't. Say. That. Out. Loud," Luigi said in a stressed tone.
Sora looked back towards the town. "What were those things? They looked like zombies."
"You know what those are?" Luigi asked, startled. "You live on an island."
Sora frowned at him. "Y'know, we do read books. We're not sheltered."
"Erm, fair point," Luigi said, blushing.
Yoshi gulped. "Z-Zombies? Me heard of them! They say zombies love eating the cranium 'cause it the tender part! Keep Yoshi's cranium safe!"
He grabbed Luigi's hat and slammed it on his head.
"Give me that!" Luigi said, snatching it back from him. And then Yoshi stole it again.
The two started fighting over the hat while Sora noticed something out of his peripheral vision. He blinked in shock, as if unable to believe what he was witnessing.
"Guys!" Sora said. "Look at that!"
Luigi and Yoshi turned to see a massive black castle hovering above a large piece of earth. They were just as slack jawed. Its presence was anything but inviting. Spike rested on the top the castle's battlements; gargoyles were even perched on a few, gazing down at the hapless victims brave enough to set food near the castle.
The trio walked closer to get a better view. Above the castle was a spinning vortex of multiple colors: purples, oranges, and pinks. And below it was scorching hot lava, ready to devour the fair skin of anyone unfortunate enough to fall into it. Sora was awestricken; how did it remain afloat above the lava? Magic? That seemed to be the answer for every phenomenon he had experienced on this journey so far.
"Must admit," Luigi said, "this guy's castle is subtle in ego compared to Bowser's."
"Subtle how?" Sora asked with a raised eyebrow.
"How about having your face serve as the entrance?" Luigi said. "And having statues of yourself on every tower?"
"Don't forget the gift ship that only sells Bowser plushies!" Yoshi said. Sora glanced at him in confusion.
Luigi shrugged. "Villain's gotta make a living somehow."
"Never mind that," Sora said, looking back at the castle. "Is the Star Spirit in there?"
Luigi flinched; he forgot about the Star Spirit. But more importantly, was worried that it was being held hostage in the castle. With a reluctant sigh, he checked the readings on the 3DS.
"Yep," Luigi said. "Have no clue how we're gonna reach it, though."
"Even if you could reach the castle," a mysterious voice said, "you cannot penetrate the darkness that protects its sinister maw."
Everyone turned to see the stranger that was spying on Bowser and Ganondorf yesterday. He was still concealed behind his mask. Sora immediately summoned the Keyblade, while Luigi and Yoshi hid behind him in fear.
"Who are you!?" Sora asked.
The figure approached them at a casual pace. Sora noticed a calm streaming pouring out from his blue eyes. "My name is Sheik. Do not feel threatened. I am an ally against the dark force that permeates this kingdom."
Sensing an innocuous presence in Sheik's demeanor, Sora relaxed his posture, and the others walked out from behind him.
"I have been watching your progress ever since you arrived," Sheik said. "Am I right in presuming that you wish to vanquish Ganondorf?"
The trio looked at each other and shrugged.
"We have our own reasons for being here, but I guess we'll have to go through him first," Luigi said, somewhat cautious of this stranger.
Sheik silently started at the three for a moment; it seemed like he was analyzing every pour on their skin. No one knew what to make of this person. Or why he was interested in them? Sora then noticed him glancing at the Keyblade; there was a fascinated glow in his eyes that brightened the area.
"Then perhaps we were brought here for a reason," Sheik said, facing the trio again. "Recently, Ganondorf has acquired a powerful darkness that encased his castle with a force field." He looked at Sora. "I can sense an immeasurable amount of light emitting from your sword. May I have a gander at it?"
The trio were taken aback by this strange request. Luigi turned to Sora with a skeptical expression. "Think we can trust this guy?"
Sora took a moment to evaluate the situation. His gaze met with Sheik's; that stream remained calm, but, as he looked deeper, Sora could see the water splash into sharp rocks. This person was suffering; and it wasn't hard to guess the source of his pain.
"Well, it seems like he's after Ganondorf, too," Sora said. "So I don't see why not."
Sora, taking slow, careful steps, approached Sheik, and held out the Keyblade. The mysterious person scanned every detail for what seemed like to be forever.
"Such a fascinating weapon," Sheik said. "It's even akin to the sacred blade's power." There was a hopeful tone in his voice. "Yes! This weapon might be what we need to slay the king of darkness!"
Sheik's excitement resonated with Sora. Maybe they had a chance after all. "Alright! Let's go get 'em, then!"
"A hasty decision can lead to a perpetual road of regret," Sheik said in a grave tone. "Your key alone is not enough to vanquish the hatred that has disfigured this town."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
Sheik closed his eyes. The agonizing drops pounded harder in his mind, as he recalled memories from the past. "Seven years ago, Ganondorf entered the Sacred Realm, a place where the mystical Triforce resides. He broke it into three pieces. Before they scattered, he was able to obtain one of them: the Triforce of Power. Bending it to his will, he was able to conquer this land."
Sheik had unloaded a wealth of information onto the group through a paper shredder. It was hard to process. Sacred Realm? Triforce? None of it made sense. But, through the torn pieces, they glued some together and came to a terrible realization: this Triforce seemed to contain unfathomable power. Just imagining what it did to this town made them shudder.
"A-And if he had the other two," Luigi said in a nervous tone, "he'd be unstoppable." Sheik nodded. "Well, this news fills my heart with rainbows."
"Your key has the power to obliterate darkness, but not pure evil," Sheik said. "You must seek out the Hero of Time. He wields the sacred blade that can help you defeat Ganondorf."
"Hero of Time?" Yoshi asked.
"The sliver of hope that halts the evil king's schemes," Sheik said. "He is currently seeking the power needed to defeat him. But he hasn't returned from his current mission. Actually, he's been gone for longer than I anticipated." Concern filled his blue eyes. "I do hope Link is alright."
"Link," a sinister voice said. "Now where might I find that meddlesome boy?"
Everyone turned to see Ganondorf looking down at them from his castle. Sheik's throat constrict from overwhelming emotions: fear, anger, and regret. He hated that patronizing smirk. How he wanted to see the evil king fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness before the Gods of Hyrule. Right now, he loomed above them, believing to be a god himself.
Luigi gulped. "Th-That must be Ganondorf."
"It seems my reputation proceeds me," Ganondorf said, taking a gracious bow before his audience. "I must commemorate your efforts for making it right to my doorstep – or rather, lack thereof. You're either very brave or very delusional. I assume the latter, but either way, it's admirable."
Ganondorf gazed at an emblem imprinted on Sheik's outfit – a human eye that cried a large, lone tear. Above the eye were three triangles.
The king's smirk grew wider. "A Sheikah symbol. You must be Sheik. Such pride you take in your race. A rumor has been spreading around that you know the location of our fair Princess Zelda. So I humbly insist that you come to my castle without resistance. That way we can discuss her whereabouts in civilized manner. These little bottom dwellers won't do you see."
"Get out of here, Sheik!" Sora said in a courageous voice. He summoned the Keyblade, and the others prepared to fight, too.
Taking the opportunity, Sheik pulled out what appeared to be a nut from his pocket, and slammed it into the ground. A blinding light forced everyone to cover their eyes. In the moment, Sora heard a voice whisper something to him. When the smoke cleared, Sheik was nowhere to be seen.
Ganondorf gritted his teeth in frustration. "Bah! He can't run forever! No one escapes me! Consider yourself fortunate, wielder of the Keyblade! I'll deal with you later. For now, I'll let my friends keep you occupied."
Upon snapping his fingers, Gerudo Thieves surrounded the trio, brandishing their swords, preparing to cut them into shreds of tissue.
Luigi glared at Sora. "Satisfied? You got your wish to see the Heartless again!"
"I wasn't being serious when I said that," Sora said, slumping his shoulders. "Hindsight seems to be our worst nemesis here."
The Gerudo Thieves proved to be formidable opponents for the group. Despite the Heartless relying on instinct, they were lethal with a sword. On top of that, they were quick. Some were able to dodge their strongest attacks. One of them climbed on top of a large rock, leaped into the air, and flew straight at them like a loose sawblade.
However, it wasn't long before the group understood their attack patterns. Sora had fought better swordsmen such as Cloud and Leon. Even Riku would put them to shame. With their combined efforts, the group managed to dispose of the Heartless.
While stopping to catch their breath, they glanced at the castle again. Ganondorf was nowhere in sight. Only the howling wind kept them company. There was no time to breathe a sigh of relief, however. Sheik was in danger; plus, he knew of this Hero of Time's whereabouts. Without his help, the Star Spirit would forever suffer behind the iron bars of Ganondorf's domain.
But a small firecracker of hope brightened the gloomy kingdom, as Sheik managed to whisper something to Sora before his departure. He would wait for them back in town, behind an alleyway. Upon returning to the marketplace, they took slow, discreet steps pass the zombies. The uncomfortable tightness still lingered in Sora's chest; he wasn't too keen on feeling like a crushed soda can again.
"Aw, they must be having pleasant dreams of frontal lobes dancing in their heads," Yoshi said in a soft tone.
They reached the ally moments later, and moved at a brisk pace, getting far away from the zombies as possible. It was a strange irony – escaping one danger and entering another. A lonely, dark alleyway wasn't a place one would go to find refuge (just ask the number of victims in a horror movie).
Still, they continued inward into its decomposed throat, keeping an eye open for any sign of movement. So far, the only form of life came from their footsteps reverberating throughout the vicinity. Better than nothing, Luigi thought. Then, a voice called out to them, and they saw Sheik walk out from the edge of the alleyway.
After breathing a relieved sigh, Sora asked, "You okay?"
"Thanks to you," Sheik said. "You showed such courage standing up to Ganondorf."
Luigi frantically looked around the area. "You can thank us later. Right now, if we're going to have any hope of getting into this castle, we need to find this hero. Do you know where he is?"
"In a faraway desert," Sheik said.
"Well, it good thing me dressed for the occasion," Yoshi said with a content smile.
"But you don't wear clothes," Sora said, confused.
"The shoes and saddle no count?" Yoshi asked.
Ignoring the trivial conversation, Luigi groaned. "Sounds like traveling there's going to be a hassle."
"No, I can make the trip easy for you," Sheik said. "In times of dire need, six sages will awaken in this world – guardians sworn to raise their empyreal shields against the relentless arrows of vehemence. Currently, five of them are awake; Link is seeking out the last one. I can contact them; and with our combined powers, we can teleport you to his location."
The trio looked at each other. Once again, they had a vague understanding of Sheik's statement. But they could tell he was trustworthy – Sheik was on an endless quest for peace, and would never stop until the sunlight dispersed the gray, malicious clouds overhead.
"Sounds like a plan," Sora said. "We're ready whenever you are."
Sheik was taken aback by Sora's determination. "Such eagerness. It's just as iron willed as the hero himself. Perhaps fate has brought us together for a reason. Now, stand close."
The trio did so; they weren't sure what type of spell Sheik was planning to cast, and braced themselves.
"One more thing," Sheik said. The trio relaxed. "Please inform Link that Princess Zelda is in danger, and that he should return to the Temple of Time posthaste."
"Zelda?" Sora asked. "Is she the one Ganondorf is after?"
There was an uneasy look in Sheik's eyes. "Yes. She is rightful ruler of Hyrule. Her power is also needed to defeat Ganondorf."
"Wow," Luigi said, astonished. "It's like we need a whole Rube Goldberg machine to take this guy down."
"A what?" Sheik asked, confused.
"Never mind," Sora said. "We're ready."
Sheik closed his eyes. Five multicolored orbs of light appeared around him. It was the first time the drab marketplace had experienced life in years. Everyone watched as the orbs hovered around them, spinning faster and faster, forming a ring of disoriented colors. Soon, they vanished within the orbs and flew into the sky, breaking through the clouds.
"Good luck," Sheik said. "May the gods of Hyrule guide you towards your goals."
He had a strong feeling about these three. They exhibited a unique power that didn't belong of this world. Confidence started to drain the despondent sludge that filled his body.
Already, he could hear the joyful sounds of people returning to the Marketplace.
Nabooru ran. She never stopped. It had been forever since she felt movement in her legs. And by the gods of Hyrule was she going to use them. She ran down the ancient hallways of an old temple. The sounds of her jewelry echoed throughout the red stone corridors. But two sinister voices overtook the jingling jewels.
"How did you manage to lose her!?" Koume asked, enraged.
"It wasn't my fault!" Kotake said. "You always blame me for your blunders! Your wrinkly eyes were closed!"
"We must stop this pointless chattering, dear sister," Koume said, lowering the tone of her voice. "If she gets away, our king will be most livid."
Nabrooru's heart leaped into her throat. She didn't want to be a prisoner anymore. To lose her freewill – in both senses of the word. It was a horrible feeling, like being separated from your body, forced to forever be a servant. She turned a corner and was struck by the brilliant light of the sun.
Her eyes had to adjust; she can't even remember the last time being in its presence. Darkness had been her only host. She sprinted towards sunlight, arriving outside in a huge desert area. The heat was relentless; immediately her throat felt dry. And she couldn't be more please. She had missed wandering through the endless sea of sand.
Before she could escape, Kotake appeared in front of her, smirking. "Leaving so soon? These old gals were getting used to having a beautiful young woman such as yourself keep us company."
"Yes, indeed." Surprised, Nabroou turned to see Koume hovering over to her, ready to snap like an old, but deadly turtle at any moment. "Us Gerudo need to look out for one another."
"You're no Gerudo!" Nabrooru said in a furious tone. Just hearing the comparison was like feeling venom slide out of her ears. "You and your so-called king bring nothing but shame upon our entire race!"
Kotake's grin widened, revealing the few remaining rotted teeth she had left. "Then perhaps you no longer live to wish in the same world as us. We can make that come to fruition, right, sister?"
"A lovely idea!" Koume said, cackling with glee. "Death can make your desire become a reality!"
Koume snapped her wrinkled finger. Nabrooru was startled as the sand formed two giant hands and grabbed her lower legs. Struggling was a waste of energy; their grip was far too strong. Her breathing became rapid; this was the end, she thought. I was just trying to steal treasure. Did karma have a personal vendetta against me?
The heat intensify behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Koume conjuring a flaming orange orb, which was eager to eat away at the proud Gerudo's dark sin.
"Enjoy your endless sleep!" Koume said. But before she could launch the attack, a sharp, cold object hit her straight in the back. She screeched as the freezing sensation surged through her body. After regaining feeling, she removed an arrow that had a white mist covering the tip.
Both the witches (with furious eyes) and Nabrooru turned to meet the culprit. Standing there, preparing another arrow with his bow, was a stalwart young man wearing a green tunic, a green hat, and white tights. His long blonde hair blew in the desert wind. Like many residents of Hyrule, he, too, had long pointed ears.
Wrapped around his chest was sheath that carried a sword; it had an elegant purple grip. Also on his back was a shield with a red outline, and a polished surface that glistened from the sun's rays. But the most defining feature of this man were his blue eyes: there was an iron resolve that never faltered. It would only rest when injustice was extinguished, like a small, feeble flame.
Nabrooru's eyes widened in surprise. A long time ago, a young boy helped her enter the temple to steal its most valuable prize: silver gauntlets that granted its user the strength of ten people. She noticed he was wearing those same gauntlets. Was this the same boy? How long had she been imprisoned by the witches?
"You wretched boy!" Koume said, fuming. "Don't you know you're supposed to be benignant towards your elders!?"
"No matter," Kotake said. "The Hero of Time will beg for forgiveness when he's kneeling before our king!"
Link launched another arrow at the witches, who both dodged it. Wanting her revenge, Koume prepared to launch another fireball at the young man. Suddenly, a small orb yellow orb with two wings flew right at her ear, screaming with a female voice, "HEY!" She then flew around and screamed into the other ear, "LISTEN!"
Koume swatted the orb away like an annoying moth. "Stupid pixie! Get away!"
"Ha!" the fairy said in triumphant "You can't resist my annoying cries! Link especially hates it when I utter those words at him!"
Link rolled his eyes with his smile. Kotake appeared in front of him, launching an ice spell. Link used his shield to block the attack. The reflective surface of the shield started flashing a bright blue. Then, Link pulled out a boomerang and threw it straight into Kotake's head wrinkled forehead, causing her to grasp it from the pain.
"Link, to your right!" the fairy said.
Link noticed a fireball heading straight for him, and he leaped backwards to avoid getting singed. Koume gritted her teeth; she would not be bested by a child that lived in the forest. As she prepared another fireball, Link drew his sword and stood ready. She launched the attack and Link deflected it with a diagonal slash.
Irritated, she threw another one, only for Link to slash it right in half. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a blue orb, turned towards it, and destroyed it with a thrust. Koume appeared above his head and launched another fireball. Despite carrying many tools, Link was nimble, and able to roll to avoid the attack.
Another blue orb flew right at him; this time, he caught it with the shield. The reflective surface started blinking faster. Before Link could go on the offense, he felt a tight grip around his boots. He, too, had been trapped by the hands. The sisters hovered around Link like vultures, free to do what they want with their prey.
They each prepared their attacks. Link gripped the handle of his sword tightly; no one was going to stop from restoring peace to Hyrule.
And to atone for the past.
Link held the sword close; a magical aura surrounded the blade. The twins launched their spells, and before they could hit the Hero of Time, he spun his blade around a full three hundred and sixty degrees.
"HIYAAAAAA!" he shouted.
Both attacks were deflected. The witches moved out of the way, stupefied by what just happened. Link grabbed the hands beneath his feet, and pulled himself out from their clutches. Before Koume conjure another spell, Link leaped into the air and rammed his shield into her. A burst of frigid blue energy discharged from it, sending Koume flying across the area.
Her withered body trembled from the agonizing cold.
Kotake hurried to her sister's aid. "Are you alright!?"
"I-I'm fine," Koume said, meekly standing to her feet. "I can see why this brat troubles the great Ganondorf."
"We shall rectify that immediately," Kotake said. "For we have the power of darkness – something the hero himself cannot comprehend."
Kotake snapped her finger, summoning Heartless in front of Link. Undaunted by their appearance, Link prepared his sword for battle. But there was a hint of curiosity rumbling within his stomach. On his journey he had faced many exotic creatures, but these ones were different. Their movements felt unnatural; they didn't seem to belong in this world.
Even the fairy felt an uncomfortable chill from the presence. "Such terrible power. I don't know what these monsters are. Just be careful, Link."
With an understanding nod, Link swung his sword at one of the Gerudo Thieves, and it parried his attack. Another one slashed at his shoulder.
"GYAAAHH!" Link shouted in pain. He spun around, knocked the Heartless over with his shield, and stabbed it straight in the chest; it disintegrated before his eyes. He turned to another one, prepared his bow, and launched the arrow. The thief brought its sword up to deflect it. Another thief hopped onto its brethren's shoulder, leaped into the air, and used the same spinning attack it used on Sora earlier.
Link put up his shield to catch the Heartless' blade. One thing was certain: these creatures were aggressive. He needed to stay focused and not lose that fighting spirit; because if he did, Hyrule would die along with it. He continued battling the Heartless, with strength in his hands, and unwavering courage in his heart.
Meanwhile, the sisters had recovered and turned their attention to a defenseless Nabrooru. Still, she struggled to break free. Then, she saw the sisters stare at her with their protruding eyes. Karama had only been delayed; it seemed she couldn't escape the inevitable.
"Okay!" Koume said. "No more interruptions! The afterlife waits you!"
The twins once again conjured their spells – this time, they wouldn't miss. However, being caught up in the moment made them fail to see spinning orbs had appeared above their heads. Sora and his friends emerged moments later. But they soon realized there was no ground beneath them, and went plummeting.
Yoshi shouted, "Yaaaaaaaa-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooeeeyyyy!"
The trio fell right on top of Koume, and they crashed right into the ground, causing an explosion of sand. Link turned to see what caused the noise. Three strangers were sprawled out on Koume's back, whose face was buried in the sand.
"Now what!?" Kotake asked, exasperated.
Pulling her head out from the sand, Koume said, "Why does everyone keep hitting me in the back!? I'm over three hundred years old!"
The fairy looked over every detail of the strangers. Much like the Heartless, they didn't seem of this world. Their attire alone was jarring, clashing with the medieval atmosphere. Fearful that they were dangerous like the Heartless, she hid behind Link.
"W-Who are they?" the fairy asked.
After regaining his senses, Luigi sighed, and looked up at the clear blue sky. "What did I do to deserve this? I grew up in the city as a humble plumber, and now I seem to be the punchline to someone's cruel, sick joke."
Proceeding with caution, Kotake hovered over to inspect the trio. Her eyes inadvertently met with Yoshi.
"Um, hi," Yoshi said.
Kotake shrieked in fear. "A Lizalfos! Such a disgusting creature! Stay away from me!"
Yoshi did everything in his power to not correct her. He knew it was pointless. Taking a deep breath, he said in his thoughts: Let it go, Yoshi. Let it go.
"Kill it with fire!" Kotake said. She then heard her sister moaning in agony. "Oh. Guess I can't." She then conjured an ice spell. "That's okay. Being imprisoned in a sheet of ice is far more punishing."
"Move!" Sora said.
The trio scrambled to their feet as Kotake charged her spell, cackling wildly to herself.
Koume looked over her shoulder and gasped in horror. "Wait, Kotake, don't—!"
Sora and his friends avoided the attack just in time, and heard Koume scream in pain; her sister winced in guilt. She could foresee her ears ringing from a mouthful of rage. Sora noticed a young man with a sword and shield fighting the Heartless; he and the others hurried over to help.
Before another thief could attack Link, Luigi used his blizzard spell to immobilize it. Link looked at the trio with intrigue; despite their unusual appearances, they seemed to be friendly.
"Hey, are you Link?" Sora asked him. He nodded. "Someone named Sheik sent us to help you."
Well, if they knew Sheik, he no longer had to scribble a question mark of uncertainty on the trio's faces. Before he could respond, the fairy said, "Oh, no! More of them!"
Everyone turned to see various Heartless appear: Soldiers, Shadows, Space Pirates, and Thieves. They were plentiful. But it didn't matter. Numbers meant nothing when the group had each other. The four assumed their battle position.
"Looks like we'll be saving the introductions for later!" Sora said.
Link threw his boomerang into a Thief's head, momentarily stunning it; this gave Sora the chance to hurry over and cut it right in half. A Soldier ran in from his left side, but Sora swept it off its feet with the Keyblade. Link finished the job with a fierce stab straight into the chest.
Sora took a second to catch his breath; already a wildfire of heat was expanding in his lungs from the humid air. He had to stay focused, despite the sudden change in climate. Or else his stamina would sink into the scorching sand, suffocating in the darkness, unable to regain its strength.
A lone Shadow charged right for Sora while he was distracted. Seeing the creature in time, Link leaped in front of him, held up his shield, and pushed it onto the floor. Sora launched a fire spell to burn it into a crisp; its body disintegrated and drifted away into the desert wind. Link looked over his shoulder, saw another Thief, and spun around just as it leaped into the air, sword held high.
Link put up his black to block the strike. After landing, the Thief delivered a thrust, but its blade connected with Link's shield, causing a loud clink, making his ears rumble like thunder. Before the Heartless could attack again, Sora kicked it aside, sending it crashing into the sand. Link prepared his bow for a relentless assault.
As the Heartless stood up, it heard furious whistling. Arrows were in its line of sight. Holding its blade up, the Thief deflected the attacks. But they weren't the real threat. No, the real threat came in the form of a giant key-shaped sword, which cut the creature straight in half. Link turned his attention to see that Luigi was in the middle of warding off two Soldiers and a blue flying Heartless.
He was trapped in a triangular prison; the Heartless refused to give him a path to freedom One Soldier slashed at him, but he deflected the strike with his hammer. The second one swung at him, but he ducked under the claws, and countered with a kick to the shin. Luigi then diagonally swung his hammer at the first one, hitting it right in the hip, knocking it away from him.
An ear shattering screech caused Luigi's ears to ring like alarm bells. He spun around to see the blue Heartless flying right towards him, conjuring an ice spell in its bony claws. Suddenly, something sharp pierced the Heartless' slender back, and it jerked to a complete stop.
Luigi noticed a spearhead connected to a long chain had pieced the creature's skin. He turned to notice that, at the other end of the chain, was a blue handle, which was held by Link.
"HIYAAAAAA!" Link cried as he thrust the handle downward, causing the creature to plummet to the ground.
Opportunity had been neatly wrapped in a tight bow; Luigi charged up his first, leaped into the air, and landed a powerful punch into the Heartless' stomach; every nerve in its body howled from the overwhelming pain. A giant shockwave of sand moved outward, and knocked the two Soldier Heartless over in the process. As they both stood up, they were destroyed by Sora and Link
Yoshi was rolling away from a red flying Heartless, dodging its blistering attacks. Sweat dripped down the dinosaur's nose; perhaps using his egg roll in the desert wasn't ideal. It was like being in a rotisserie oven that spun out of control. Yoshi stood up, saw a small boulder, and stepped on it to stop the momentum.
The flying Heartless launched another attack, and he leaped away to avoid getting singed. Out of the corner of his eye, Yoshi could see a Thief in pursuit of him. He looked back up at the flying Heartless; it was charging another fire spell. The silhouette of an idea managed to appear within the rough sandstorm of battle.
Yoshi ate the flying Heartless' incoming fireball and spat it right at the Thief, causing it to move around frantically from the burning pain. Then, a slimy tongue wrapped itself around its waist, and the Thief was pulled straight into Yoshi's mouth, where it would stumble through dark, acidic corridors.
Despite the burning pain, Yoshi pushed the Heartless out through his backside, producing an egg. Immediately, he threw it at the flying Heartless; the creature wriggled around, trying to remove the juices and shells from its skin. Link threw his boomerang straight into the creature's stomach, stunning it in the process.
Next, he lowered his shield, allowing Sora to leap off it, and he delivered the finishing blow.
Meanwhile, Kotake watched in dread as a fuming Koume (who was ignoring the massive chill crawling through her wrinkled skin) stormed over to her.
"Hello, dear sister," Kotake said, smiling, trying to hide her nerves under a pleasant quilt. "Whatever is wrong? You seem vexed."
Koume grabbed Kotake's collar and gave her violent shakes. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? THAT'S PROBABLY FIVE YEARS OFF MY LIFE I'LL NEVER GET BACK! I'D LIKE TO LIVE UNTIL I'M A THOUSAND AT LEAST!"
"Hey!" Sora said. The witches turned to see the group standing in front of them; they had finished off the Heartless, and now had their sights set on them. "You hags done fightin' yet? We don't have time to stand around and listen to your shrieks."
Koume glared at Sora, offended. "You little brat! Hags is OUR word! How dare you!"
"We don't know who your friends are, kid," Kotake said to Link, "but they are going to meet the same fate as you." She turned to Koume. "It is time, sister! Let's show them our true power!"
While a minor grudge latched onto the tip of Koume wrinkled nose, she knew her sister was right. The four of them disposed of the Heartless. It would be unwise to not take them seriously. Their loyalty to Ganondorf was absolute; they could never forgive themselves if Link's sword pierced his dark heart, causing it to fall; peace would then rise from within the darkness like the proud, glowing sun.
The two leaped onto their brooms, flew into the air, and hovered around the group. Link's neck tensed; what were they planning? The two started hovering closer and closer to each other, as if reaching the bottom of a funnel. Then, they grabbed each other's hand, and started spinning faster.
"Kotake and Koume's Double Dynamite Attack!" they both said.
Soon, they merged, exploding into a ray of white and orange lights, and reappeared as a single entity. She was not bound by the cold chains of age, appearing much younger than the two witches. Her green skin was vibrant and smooth. She wore white pants and an elegant black décolletage.
Her long hair split outward: one side was fire orange, while the other was white as snow. In each hand she held a staff; they were the same color as her hair (one orange, one white) She gave the four a seductive wink.
Yoshi reeled back, growing uncomfortable. "Me need an adult!"
"I come from a world of talking mushrooms," Luigi said, "and even I find this improbable."
Link didn't care what form they took. The entire weight of the world pressed against his back, reminding him that, if he didn't bring about the end of Ganondorf's reign, his entire body would become light with regret. He had already experienced failure once, and would never let it happen again.
In his hand, he held a sword of ancient power; it glistened in the sunlight, displaying an incredible resolve that never shattered. And, right now, he felt stronger than ever. The three strangers stood by his side, also wielding that same resolve. He had so many questions for them, but it didn't matter now. Not when he was staring down the seeds Ganondorf had planted, which grew into wicked vines filled with thrones.
But, with their help, Link was planning to cut through every vine in the dark jungle, until he reached the heart, where a serpent fueled by unrelenting hatred would be waiting for him.
It was dark. The air was still. Nabooru didn't know what happened. One moment, she was watching the battle; the next, everything around her just stopped. She couldn't feel any movement in her body. Her mind was coated with a black paint of fear.
But then, movement return. The air became warm. A faint light started to illuminate the perpetual darkness around her. She could make out a waterfall's reflection in the darkness. The downpour was slow – it was a pleasant sight. But this was far from normal. She stayed on edge. A stranger emerged from the darkness; he was an older gentleman donning elegant orange robes.
"Nabooru, leader of the Gerudo – do not feel threatened," the man said in serious, yet gentle tone. "I am Rauru, the Sage of Light. Because of your strong spirit and noble heart, you have been chosen as one of the Six Sages. With your incredible strength, you will help us aid Link in vanishing the king of darkness once and for all."
Although perplexed beyond all belief, Nabooru listened to Rauru's words, as if they were guiding her with a comforting hand. She didn't know why, but something about this felt right – that she must fulfill a vital task for not only her sake, but for the people of this world.
She was prepared to accept her destiny without hesitation.
Twinrova, a deadly combination of the two witches, was a formidable challenge for Sora and his friends. She spun her two wands around like orange and blue buzz saws. Then, she unleashed a powerful ice and fire spell upon Link. He managed to put his shield up in time, but the combined magic managed to push him back a great distance. Link pushed his right foot into the sand to stop sliding.
Luigi and Yoshi ran straight for Twinrova, and she swung a pillar of ice straight at them. The two leaped out of the way to avoid being cut straight down the middle. Sora was next to try. Twinrova sent a fire pillar at him, and he leaped onto a nearby boulder to dodge it. Taking a chance, Sora launched his spiral attack at her. She vanished on sight before the energy could collide.
Sora's eyes darted back and forth like the spheres on a Newton's cradle, not losing sight of her. Suddenly, he felt a mixture of hot and cold air tickle the back of his neck. Spinning around, he saw Twinrova launching both spells at him. Sora leaped into the air and threw the Keyblade straight at her. She put up both staffs to block the incoming blade.
After Sora landed on the ground (and recovered the Keyblade), she vanished again, appeared just above him, and swung both staffs towards his head. The boy rolled underneath her, got into a kneeled position, and launched a fire spell. Once again, she vanished before the attack could hit her light green skin.
Predicting her movements, Sora conjured a blizzard spell, and launched it as she appeared. But she deflected it with her staff. Then, she countered with another fire spell. While the Keyblade was facing downward, Sora brought it up at a diagonal angle to block the attack. But the flame he deflected was a diversion; for a powerful ice spell froze his foot. He was a bear in a trap.
Sora lost movement in his toes. The weight of the ice prevented him from running. His captor had both staffs pointed at him like the lethal, steel barrels of a shotgun; one pull of the trigger and it was over. But Yoshi wrapped his tongue around Twinrova's arm before she could torment him in a vortex of fire and ice.
Repulsed, she tried shaking it off, but Yoshi's grip was stronger than a vice. Sora took the opportune moment to conjure a fire spell and melt the ice. The harder Twinrova struggled, the more furious she had become. She would not be humiliated by some strange lizard creature. In a way, it was like slobbering over Ganondorf's reputation. She didn't want her king to be embarrassed by such incompetence.
Twinrova noticed Luigi and Link hurrying over to attack. She created a sheet of ice under their feet, causing them both to slip onto the ground. Cold-water seeped into Sora's skin as he watched the ice met. Melt faster! Melt faster! Twinrova managed to launch an ice spell at Yoshi, and he rolled to the left.
Before Twinrova could contend with him, a giant key hit her right in the face. The blunt force made he howl in agony, and she covered her face to lessen the intense feeling. Link fired his hookshot into Twinrova's hip, causing her pain receptors to run around like a panicked crowd. Tears started to form in her eyes from the distress.
But it was about to get worse.
Luigi stood in front of Link, holding his hammer out like a baseball bat. Link pulled the hookshot towards him, reeling Twinrova straight into the hammer, which sent her flying. She regained balance while spinning in the air, fought through the pain, and glared at them – her seething rage made the desert air even hotter.
She flew passed Sora and his group, leaving a wall of fire in their path. Right now, her focus was on the hero that sought to silence the everlasting rage that reverberated throughout Hyrule. She threw a ball of ice at Link, who ducked underneath it. He countered with a fire arrow; she jerked her left before the tip could punctuate her cheek like the horn of a vengeful deer.
Twinrova swung at the ground, creating a blade of fire that planned to cut through Link like grass. He leaped over the attack just in time. Next, he threw his boomerang, but she vanished, reappeared in front of him, and delivered a kick to the jaw. Link was able to regain his balance, but noticed she orbited around him, conjuring many fireballs.
Soon, he was surrounded by red orbs. He was trapped in a flaming red ring.
Twinrova hovered above him, letting out an elegant, wicked laugh. "Your assortment of tools won't cheat death this time! Enjoy the last moment of feeling in your skin!"
Link went through his pocket and pulled out an orange shaped diamond. As the orbs started flying towards him, Link clenched the diamond in his fist and slammed it into the ground. A dome of fire surrounded him, which moved outward, catching the fireballs in its path. Twinrova stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Just how resourceful was he? Even Sora's group were amazed by his incredible talent.
"Say, I don't think the ship is running well with the happy faces we've got," Sora said. "One more and we'd be jetting across the solar system."
Luigi frowned. "No."
"Fine," Sora said in disappointment. He placed both hands in his pockets, grumbling, "You and your world order."
Twinrova flew away to avoid being consumed by the flames. She gritted her teeth in frustration. She wouldn't lose, and let Link harm a hair on Ganondorf's head. Sora and his friends regrouped with Link. They needed a new plan; despite their teamwork, Twinrova was a resilient statue. They needed to find a crack.
"I got an idea!" the fairy said, flying over to the group in an excited tone. She had been analyzing the battle. "We need a strong enough attack to weaken her! Link, your shield can absorb enough magic to do the job!"
"And we can help," Sora said. "Luigi and I can generously donate some magic to your cause."
Luigi noticed Twinrova charging her wands again. "But we have to keep her busy!"
Sora felt an idea press against his hip, which sent a surge of jubilance into his mind. He pulled out the glass dome containing Ness from his pocket.
"Hey, Link," Sora said. "I gotta a few tricks of my own! Check this out!"
Sora held the dome into the air, which caused it to expand, and then explode in beautiful ray of purple and yellow light. Ness appeared in front of the group, carrying an eager smile on his lips. Although Link and his fairy friend were confused by this phenomenon, they had to trust in what Sora was doing. It may be their only chance to see the path back to Hyrule Castle.
"Good to see you, Sora!" Ness said. "Need a hand?" He chuckled at his own question. "Or, rather, lack thereof due me using PSI."
Sora gestured towards Twinrova. She had finished preparing her new spells. The young boy instantly understood the situation. After she launched the spells, Ness created a light blue sphere of energy, which absorbed them like a sponge. Twinrova gaped at the boy's strange power.
"PK Thunder!" Ness shouted. A ball of electricity was discharged from his body, and it started chasing Twinrova around the desert. No matter where she went, the ball followed her like a wasp ready to strike.
Sora and Luigi pressed their hands against Link's shield, injecting their blizzard spells into it. The reflective surface blinked a bright baby blue. Any second it would unleash a relentless storm of ice. Twinrova managed to find a feasible position and destroyed the PK Thunder. Link hurried over, pointed the shield at Twinrova, and unleashed a massive blue beam that coated her body in ice. Every muscle convulsed from the overwhelming chill. She screamed, hoping to lessen the sensation. Sora unleashed his spiral attack; every single stream of energy hit upon contact. Her body was being thrashed through a tornado of and misery.
She started descending towards the ground, feeble, unable to feel movement. Link gripped his sword, focusing all the energy on the blade, and performed a spin attack that shred through her skin like a blender. Overwhelmed, she exploded into two orbs of light: one orange, one blue. They then transformed into the wrinkled, unsightly visages of Kotake and Koume.
After the two crashed into the ground, they stood up to catch their breath.
"Such naughty children!" Koume said. "Don't think we're beaten yet, right, Kotake?"
"Definitely!"
But, before they could move an inch, an ethereal light surrounded them. The two looked around in confusion; it didn't belong to the sun. It was like a high power that resided above the clouds had placed a giant spotlight on them. Halos appeared above their heads, and, that same higher power, started pulling them upward with an invisible rope
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Sora said, pointing towards the halos.
The two followed his finger to notice the glowing rings above them. They stared at each other with blank expression, as if unable to process what was happening. Then, a door of realization slammed right in their faces.
"But I'm only four hundred years old!" Koume said, beyond agitated.
"And I'm only just three hundred and eight!" Kotake said.
Koume glowered at her. "We're twins! Don't lie about your age! Have you gone senile!?"
"Senile!? Is that what you say to your younger, prettier sister?"
"Prettier!? You're the one who's sagging!"
The fairy covered her ears from the arguing. It was like listening to a bunch of crows screeching. "Link, I'm sorry for all the times I've nagged at you. I now know what true annoyance sounds like."
Their argument continued as they ascended into the clouds. Before vanishing, they said, "We'll come back to haunt you."
Their words echoed throughout the desert. It was the only remaining fragment of their lives left. Soon, they were devoured by the howling desert wind.
"Think they will?" Yoshi asked in a nervous tone.
"Let them try," Luigi said in a confident tone. "I'll have a Poltergust Five Thousand waiting for them!"
Sora noticed Ness' was fading. His time in this realm was over. For now. "Thanks for your help."
"Anytime," Ness said. "You know where to find me." He returned to the glass done. To him, it wasn't a prison, but a place of respite – where he could recover and prepare himself for the next intense battle.
Unfortunately, Sora and his friends wouldn't receive that same luxury, as the battle against Ganondorf and his forces had only begun.
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