A Hero Out of Time Chapter 12: A Hollowed Ally, a Bleach + Legend of Zelda Crossover fanfic

Chapter 12: A Hollowed Ally

Author notes:

Azure Sky Dance: Don't tell anyone but there may be someone from Squad 0 who visits Link after all this Aizen business about something close to that.

As Link faced Szayelaporro across the desolate battlefield, he reached into his tunic and pulled out the Ocarina of Time. Bringing it to his lips, he played a familiar tune — Epona's Song. The melody echoed across the Hueco Mundo landscape, and from a swirling portal of black energy, Epona appeared, her mane flowing as she stepped forward, undeterred by the eerie surroundings. Szayelaporro's eyes narrowed, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity flickering across his face.

"What is this? A Hollow, summoned with a mere song?" Szayelaporro muttered, scowling as Epona stood beside Link, nuzzling him with quiet familiarity.

Without a word, Link swung onto Epona's back, gripping the reins and guiding her through the rubble-strewn battlefield. As they charged forward, Link pulled out his bow, quickly notching an ice arrow. With a practiced aim, he loosed the glowing projectile directly toward Szayelaporro.

The Arrancar sneered, initially dismissing the arrow as inconsequential. But as it drew closer, he noticed the arrowhead gleamed with an unnatural, ethereal blue light — not infused with the reishi he'd grown accustomed to but something else entirely. A trace of alarm flared as he dodged, the arrow narrowly missing his shoulder and freezing the ground on impact, leaving an icy patch that glistened menacingly.

"What sort of sorcery is this?" Szayelaporro hissed, skirting another ice arrow as it streaked toward him, its cold aura chilling the air. "You have no reishi — so how do you wield power like this?"

Link remained silent, his focus unbroken as he sent another arrow flying. Szayelaporro leapt back, starting to realize that his own abilities couldn't entirely gauge Link's strength. Each arrow struck the ground around him, creating a perimeter of glistening frost and forcing him to keep moving.

Between volleys, Link urged Epona into a tighter turn, pressing his heels to her sides as they shifted speed, keeping Szayelaporro on the defensive. With his guard split between the relentless arrows and the surprising maneuverability of the horse, Szayelaporro's usual confidence began to crack.

Seeing Szayelaporro's frustration grow, Link called to Epona, steering her into a final rush as he readied a light arrow, the Master Sword glowing faintly by his side. This battle had only just begun, but Link had already taken the upper hand, his unusual tactics throwing the Arrancar off balance. In this strange world, the bonds and powers of his past were proving to be valuable allies against even the most mysterious foes.

As Link continued his relentless barrage on Szayelaporro, he felt the protective shimmer of Nayru's Love begin to fade. Just as he braced for the spell to expire, Szayelaporro seized the opportunity, sending a swarm of tendril-like appendages racing toward him, intending to ensnare him and create a grotesque doll to target his organs.

Uryu, catching sight of the attack, acted without hesitation. He quickly notched an arrow and released it, striking one of the tentacles and deflecting its course away from Link. The brief reprieve allowed Link to leap from Epona's back, hookshot in hand. He aimed the device at Szayelaporro, firing it and feeling the pull as it drew him in, closing the distance rapidly. As he rocketed toward the Arrancar, Link readied the Master Sword, its blade shimmering with a divine energy. In one swift motion, he swung downward, the sword slicing across Szayelaporro's stomach and leaving a deep, searing wound.

Staggering backward, Szayelaporro clutched at his stomach, his face twisting in agony. "You insolent creature!" he shrieked. "You think you can defy me, an Espada, with your primitive toys and that… that sword?" He descended into a furious monologue, berating Link and hurling threats about his inevitable demise, oblivious to his surroundings.

Epona, however, had not left the battlefield and had been waiting for her own chance to act. Her deep, primal instincts as a Hollow surged to the forefront, and as Szayelaporro ranted, she launched herself at him. Her form shimmered with a faint spirit energy, and she lunged, jaws wide, clamping down on Szayelaporro's mask. He screamed, shocked, and tried to struggle free, but her grip was unyielding.

With an unexpected ferocity, Epona began to tear into his mask, consuming parts of it as her Hollow essence absorbed his energy. Szayelaporro's tirade ended in panicked screams, his power waning as Epona's hunger devoured his spiritual form. Link, Renji, and Uryu watched, stunned, as Epona finished her grim feast.

As the last remnants of Szayelaporro faded, Epona stood still, her form pulsing with a radiant light that began to intensify. The glow grew, illuminating the area around her as her essence processed the absorbed energy. Her Hollow mask took on a more refined, almost regal appearance, and her spirit energy grew in complexity, emanating a strange, noble aura.-

As Epona finished devouring Szayelaporro's mask, a blinding light burst forth from her, filling the entire area with an intense radiance. The brightness was so overpowering that Link, Renji, and Uryu were forced to shield their eyes, unable to make out anything within the dazzling glow.

The light was unlike anything they had ever seen, pulsing with a mystical energy that seemed to echo through the air itself. It grew brighter and brighter, a radiant storm of spirit energy that obscured Epona's form completely. Her silhouette was lost within the brilliance, leaving only the faintest hints of a transformation taking place within.

Moments passed in tense silence, and as the light reached its peak, it suddenly contracted inward, leaving only a soft shimmer hanging in the air. The three of them lowered their arms slowly, eyes wide with anticipation, uncertain of what would emerge when the last of the glow faded away.

As the last traces of light faded, a breathtaking woman with long, fiery red hair stood where Epona had been moments before. She was dressed in a simple white blouse tucked into a flowing light purple skirt, her expression both serene and powerful. Resting along the side of her head was the remnant of her mask, shaped like a horse's face, an ethereal reminder of Epona's spirit. Link stood frozen, staring in disbelief — the woman before him was Malon, from the ranch in his own world.

Without hesitating, Link rushed toward her, hope and shock warring on his face. Renji and Uryu could only look on in astonishment, still processing the incredible sight of an Arrancar being consumed and somehow transforming into a new being — one that Link seemed to know personally.

As Link reached Malon, she gave him a gentle, familiar smile. "Link... thank you for bringing Epona's spirit here," she said, her voice soft yet resonant. "I was trapped within that twisted man's soul, a prisoner because of something Ganondorf did. He's been meddling with powers here, working with a man who had lost an arm. Together, they've managed to bind spirits, even ones like Epona's, to create their own twisted army."

Link's fists clenched, a surge of anger flaring as he thought of the darkness Ganondorf had already begun spreading in this new world. He felt the weight of the responsibility and the danger pressing on him anew. Pulling out the small gem Kurotsuchi had given him, he activated it to signal the Head Captain that he was ready to return and join the fight on the other side.

The gem lit up in his hand, displaying a green number: 40. Forty minutes left until he could be summoned back.

Seeing the countdown on the gem, Link took a moment to take in Malon's appearance. She looked much like he remembered: her long, red hair framing her face, her expression both fierce and gentle, and her beauty unchanged. His gaze fell to the sword at her hip, a new addition that signified her status as an Arrancar. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he briefly wondered if playing Epona's Song might affect her, but he knew this wasn't the time to test it.

"You know," he said, his voice warm, "I'm glad to see you're still as beautiful as the day I left." A light blush crept across Malon's cheeks as she smiled at the compliment, clearly flustered. Link turned back to Renji and Uryu, his tone shifting to something more focused. "Is there anyone else here who needs help?"

Before either could respond, an oppressive energy suddenly bore down on them, its force both dark and suffocating. Link's gaze snapped upward toward the source—a small, ominous hole in the sky above one of the towers. "Renji, whose energy is that?" Link asked, unease slipping into his voice.

Renji's eyes widened as he took in the energy signature. "It feels like Ichigo… the orange-haired Ryoka. But there's something off about it, like it's twisted somehow."

Link nodded, determination hardening his features. He turned to Malon. "Do you think you could still bring out Epona's power?"

Malon's expression grew serious, and she nodded. She held out her sword and, with a soft command, began to unleash her Resurrección: Caballo del Trueno. Her form shimmered, transforming until she stood as a towering, armored minotaur, the air around her crackling with energy. She extended her hand, indicating her back.

Link climbed up, steadying himself as Malon thundered forward. She picked up speed, hooves pounding across the sand before kicking off into the air, her momentum allowing her to soar toward the dark rift. Holding tightly, Link readied himself, knowing that whatever awaited them in the sky, he'd be ready.