PART II: SHARDS OF TWILIGHT
CHAPTER 23: THE BLADE OF EVIL'S BANE
(unrevised)
_Midna clung tight to Link's fur as he bounded through the fields of Hyrule.
Link's mind raged. Not in the attempt to digest all that had taken place within Zelda's company, but in the effort to keep his animal nature at bay. While he had been in the presence of the princess, his mind had been clear to the events, however, now that her light did not surround him in its pure form, a war raged within him. Zant's crystal had been a polluted invention of the evilest of magicks. Not only had its darkness taken over-once again-his physical being, but now Link knew that if he stumbled for even a moment within his disarrayed mind … he might lose his sense forever.
He growled at the inner evil trying to command him, and Midna gazed down at him. He felt her shift atop him, but he could not concentrate enough to think on how she had changed during the past few hours. His mind was too fragile, and he needed to spend all his energy in keeping it intact.
The rain pounded against his fur, and the night clouded viciously about them. Suddenly a figure rained down upon them not of the sky. A bokoblin warrior. But Link's lupine anger broke the sentry's neck in one snap of his jaws and he simply continued on.
Down through the outskirts of Faron, Link galloped, and Midna's heart leapt. All they need do was locate the Sacred Wood and Link would again be himself, his mind untainted by the dark presence of Zant's evil.
Familiar territory raced by the pair as they headed deeper into the woods. Link supposed that if the ancient ones had wanted to shield the holy grounds from the sight of the world, then the Master Sword would be buried deep within the land of giants, a place not even the dwellers of the wood oft traveled. It was said that those who entered beyond the giants of the wood never returned, swallowed by the maze that it had become.
Link and Midna would find out for themselves what had happened to those ancient explorers, for upon no map of Hyrule had there ever been marked a Sacred Grove-or anything related to a long lost holy place.
Link pushed through the swamp when he came upon it, leaping from tree branch to trunk until he landed safely upon the other side of the dark murkiness that had infested its length. A shiver had sprinted through Midna. Seeing Link jump directly into the swamp and leaping to his next destination without hesitation made her think that perhaps the instincts of the animal he had become were controlling him more than he realized. Any rational human-as Midna had labeled Link-would have carefully considered their route through such a danger before embarking. Link had plowed through the obstacle without thought.
Perhaps thought was no longer possible to such an extent.... Midna thought it through, though. Link's consciousness had to have been intact, for it appeared-for the moment-he had a general idea in which direction he needed to travel. He still knew what he needed to find to bring him back.
For the moment....
At last he and Midna pierced through the forest and had come to the edge of the giant wood, where they had once discovered an ancient temple wherein they had found the first fragment of the Fused Shadows. Odd, how they had returned to the place where their journey together had truly begun.
Before Midna even had time to look upon their current surroundings, Link had already cantered off in the opposite direction in which she had been looking. Headed straight for the cliff side which dropped into another section of the wood below them, Midna questioned Link's sanity; however, he leapt at the last moment, directing them toward a hollow in one of the giants.
Midna wrapped her tiny arms about Link as if she were a collar, and the quake that jostled through both their bodies assured her that they had landed on something. But Link's immobility did not last for long, for within the next moment, they were again airborne for another fleeting instant of terror. It seemed, though, that-as Link's animal senses had been heighted-he could detect a path quicker and far easier than he could have ever done as a human. And-Midna had to admit-he did seem more agile and able within this state.
I think you're getting too comfortable in that body … she had once said. It had seemed as much when she had said it-after he had managed to ascend the dangerous terrain of the once frozen Zoran waterfall. But now his harmony with the body of the wolf seemed complete, almost natural. Yet this time.... This time things were different. He had not chosen this state. He had thought he had been rid of ever feeling the mutation again. Midna had seen the relief in his eyes when he had flexed his human bones again some time after Lanayru had restored him. All those other times.... He had accepted his fate, she knew. He had to turn into the beast to save people … the people of his and her realm. He had known the cost. But this time....
This time it did not make her crawl with that strange feeling she had felt course through her. Sympathy, had it been? What ever it had been it did not matter. Now she felt-angry. She wanted to destroy Zant, to make him suffer as he had done to so many under his power. She wanted to make him suffer for hurting Link.
It was that very feeling that confused her, though. How many times had she looked to him with disgust, looked to him as a tool? For so long in the beginning, she had regretted having to travel with such a beast. And yet she smiled at how he had seemed to catch her traits of skepticism and of rebellion. He had changed within the time they had spent together, but now she realized.... She had changed, too.
But the jerk of the next landing sent her thoughts flapping away with the rustling leaves he had disturbed upon his fall. She looked about and saw an archway made of bark, where two boughs of different trees had reached together and woven around the other. It was a magnificent sight, for the trees about them were again their usual height, though; they were of some mysterious species that she had never seen the like of before. Boughs twisting elegantly about themselves, and their roots jutting up and out of the ground to curl around those near. Their green leaves-shaped as majestic crowns-whistled in the gentle winds.
Midna looked around and saw that the giants were now behind them, lifting up from the canyon below, a drop-off directly behind Link's hind legs. Above, the trees sprang into a canopy, as if shielding its very existence from the outside woodland world.
"How did you find this place?" asked Midna, impressed with the wolf, yet rather worried.
No bark or growl replied. Instead, Link moved onward, totally aware of all his surroundings-but was he aware of his own mind?
Indeed, Link struggled, trying hard to concentrate as he propelled himself forward. He could feel his human conscious slipping farther away with every step he took. If he could not soon find the resting place of the Master Sword, he feared he would loose his sanity forever. But when there came a faint odor upon the air, his mind fogged, and his last effort in fighting back the thoughts of the wolf failed.
All at once Link reared, and Midna was thrown to the ground. Orange tumbled before her eyes, and she tossed back her mane to watch in horror as Link excitedly sniffed at the air, drool pouring down the hair of his chin. She could see one of his eyes at her angle, and what reached out from Link's blue socket frightened her. An insane gaze of hunger, licking at the air it smelled.
She pushed back her fear, gaining her footing on the ground of the strange forest. She approached Link. "What do you smell?" she tried, hoping that her voice would force his sense to return to him.
But his reply came in an angry growl, and though every bone within Midna screamed for her to back away … she moved closer. "Link … it's Midna. Remember, we have to find the Master Sword?" And for a moment, the eyes of the wolf seemed to flash with Link's answer, but a savage darkness regained the animal quickly, and it sped off under the archway of the trees.
"No, Link. Wait!" called Midna, racing after the wolf.
There were so many winding paths, closed in by the density of the wood, and Midna soon found herself becoming lost. It seemed that the wood was a labyrinth, narrowing in some tunnels, others ending abruptly by rows of trees. Yet there were still few pathways for any visitor to stray through; though, as Midna soon discovered, some of the roads twisted about into areas she thought looked the same as other places through which she had already passed. Feeling misplaced very quickly, Midna soon slowed her sprint into a vigilant pace, searching the paths for any sign of recent tracks.
Just as she thought she had lost herself completely within the woodland maze, she heard the trickling of rushing water. She guided herself along by her ears until she spotted, between a patch of trees, a spring which filtered lightly along two small waterways that spilled into crevices, which-Midna assumed-led down into the cavernous reaches of the giant woods surrounding this spot of mysterious land.
She did not have time to admire the simple complexities of the area. She needed to find what had happened to Link. She doubted that the confusion of this place had bothered his ability to navigate, for it was in an animal's nature to be able to sniff their way out of any dangerous circumstance. Yet-what had Link smelled on the air? Midna could detect no odor other than the scent of the rain sticking to the leaves and bark in the cold night air.
Yet then she realized that the trees shooting up around her seemed more solid, and oddly, a grey tone had infused their bark. Upon closer inspection she realized that the trees and vines that covered the forest here were actually growing against stones. She tossed her vision about and it was then she saw it. The crumbled outline of a building long left to the fate of time. Erosion had pulled away the roof and any remaining bits hung loosely, held up by the mass of the trees that had grown about the structure.
Midna entered the stone housing and discovered that plant life also flourished within its decimated walls, peeking up through cracks in the floor. She crouched over a section of the floor that glinted in a feeble yellowish color. She swept away the rubble that covered the spot to find the rough outline of three triangles-the very symbol that she had seen upon Link's hand. She looked up, and two identical statues-figures somehow untouched by time-stared back at her. They appeared ceremonial in nature, but their scathed bodies made her think that perhaps they were the guardians of this place.
The evidence was conclusive. Link had done it. He had found the Sacred Grove.
Between the statue guards, a tunnel stretched back into the rubble of the building. But then a shuffling noise distracted her from exploring her find any further. In an adjacent room, the dark colored wolf was hunched over some object. Midna entered through a broken archway, stepping over a collection of loosed stones, but when she came to Link, she was horrified.
Link crouched over long dead travelers, the rank of their clothes and hair and flesh a putrid smell. Midna nearly vomited but she composed herself within an instant. What exactly did Link think he was doing? His jaws ripped at the armor and garments covering one ancient man, the rotting flesh exposed to the cooling rain that continued to drench their bodies.
"Do you know what you're doing? Don't you dare!" reprimanded Midna, running up to him.
Link turned and, lowered on his haunches, growled insanely at her figure. Midna halted mid-step and backed away only a few paces. He had truly become deranged, she could see. But his very salvation lay within the chamber past the statues. She could feel it. "You have to come with me now. We're here for the Master Sword, you idiot!" She wanted to help Link, but she could not help her irritation from seeping into her words.
But Link ignored her presence and dug his maw into the decayed flesh. He tore at all his teeth could reach, feasting upon his dead victim with a passion that scared Midna. How would she ever....
Midna felt a cold presence assail her backside, and upon the soil and stone before her she saw a shadow, moving slowly past them in the room behind. Link turned up his nose, sticky with the fluids of the decomposed body. A bark flew wildly from his tainted breath, and he tossed his head, pushing away from the body and sprinting after the silhouette. Midna quickly followed, catching a glimpse of a skeletal shade-dressed in ancient armor-as it headed into the passage between the guardians.
She blinked several times, disbelieving, before following after Link-who had chased the ghost-like being. She only had time to glance at the broken stones that she surmised had once assembled the door to the passage, the stones making up the vague outline of a bird holding something within its talons. She race up a long trail of stairs behind Link, her small, short legs exerting themselves quickly. But once she reached the pinnacle of her climb, she found a somewhat circular room that had become a clearing within the broken stone walls and old trees. Only one item decorated the floor of the chamber.
Link stopped abruptly his eyes tossing about the room, searching for the darkness that he had followed. But as far as Midna could tell, the phantom warrior had disappeared, perhaps into the very walls. Link growled in anger and called out to the missing shade in a series of malevolent barks.
Then the item in the center of the room began to glow, a blinding glint creeping about the room, lacing it with its bright color. The energy of the shimmers burst outward and Midna guarded her eyes with an arm. She watched, her jaw agape, as the madly snarling Link was consumed by the light, it waves undulating about his body, consuming him wholly within its gigantic palm. Suddenly, Link's form darkened, contrasting sharply with that of the light, and the shadow covering him grew larger and larger until at last-in a whirl of flashing rays … darkness collapsed and fell away.
In that same moment, a figure-eyes closed-appeared in the bubble of light that had destroyed Link's dark embodiment. Brownish blonde hair fell in straight and waving curtains about the clean-shaven, youthful face. It was in that moment that Midna could see Link's true likeness, his inner soul for the beauty that it was. His head tilted back slightly, breathing in softly and exhaling lightly through parting lips.
The light circled his body, and as the rays lowered, Midna could see the reshaped body of Link, the muscles of his torso defining the edges of his blue armor. His arms were stretched out somewhat at his sides, the light twirling about them. His hands-perfectly reformed-flexed, and the luminescence finally lowered completely from his body, revealing his strong legs. When he at last opened his eyes, he lowered his head, hair falling against his cheeks. He looked to his body and hands, finding himself again.
He gazed around him, the walls of the half-fallen structure reaching as high as the heavens themselves, it seemed. Rows of trees had merged with the stones. Rain fell down upon Link through the canopy, and he stretched out his arms and tilted back his head. Once again his eyes were closed, as he breathed in the air deeply. A smile littered his face, and it bloomed into laughter.
Midna stepped up to him then, a small grin lining the features of her lips as well. "Are you okay?"
Link's response came slowly, as he opened his eyes once more; he brought in his arms, but bent one out before him, palm upturned. "I have never seen the world like this before," he said, an amazed thrill deep within his voice. "Being so close to such darkness-such a brutal evil … to exist without it once more…. Rain and light have never felt so cleansing."
"And so has come your true test," a rough voice spoke out.
Link and Midna whirled about, searching. A shadow emerged from the remnants of the light-the shade of a long past hero. Midna gasped at the ghastly figure; Link merely shifted his weight uncomfortably. His undisturbed visage made Midna realize that this skeletal boned man had visited him before. When and how she did not understand, but she made no gesture to reveal her uncertainty.
"Your time has come, young warrior, to attest the name of Hero," the familiar, red-eyed soldier declared in its low, scratchy hum.
Link turned his attention to the object that had freed him from evilness. The Master Sword. A hilt of pure blue, its blade a shimmering testament that time could never dull its surface nor weaken its resolve against evil. A bright yellow diamond-shaped stone was firmly nestled into the blue, and an ornate symbol of the legendary Triforce had been engraved upon the smooth steel of the blade.
Link stepped up to its low pedestal and wrapped two careful fists about the leather straps that had been laced about the hilt. Palms sweaty, Link pulled at the hilt and bursts of light shot into the room from the crack in the pedestal as the sword lifted free of its ancient home. He raised it to the sky within his left hand, as if showing the gods the result of his birth-the mark in time that proved that his destiny truly did lie in saving the land of Hyrule.
"The sword accepted you as its master," gasped Midna.
"Indeed you are the Hero of this time, a hero of Hyrule's greatest legend," the shade spoke. It approached Link, standing before him and the pedestal.
"So this," Link gaze about, "is the Sacred Grove." His gaze fell to the Master Sword, taking in its beauty, how it glinted in even the night.
"Yes," nodded the warrior. "Within the Temple of Time, the most ancient temple in all the history of Hyrule. Home to the blade of evil's bane." The shadow's tone seemed to falter then, but it did not give evidence to its existence.
"May I ask how it became lost to Hyrule?" said Link tentatively. He had never really spoken to the spirit, and it made him anxious-wondering how one was supposed to interact with a shadow in conversation.
But it responded just as any living being. "Lost? No," the hissing voice replied. "Forgotten. The children of Hyrule have long lost their memory of where it lay. The legend remains within the pages of history, but there are so few who have passed down the knowledge of its existence. It is because of this that it became lost, and so the walls of this great temple fell into ruin, awaiting an age once more when the might of its treasured possession would again be needed."
"Were you once its master?" Link had wanted to ask the shade of its past life so many times before this, and now, it felt pointless to leave the question unasked.
"I understand the hardships you face," it affirmed. "In life, I accepted the duty as the hero. I fought many battles; however, the end of my journey had also been the end of my life."
Link could not keep his composure at that statement, and his lips curved into a frown, eyes widened. Fear gripped his heart. For an instant he could not breathe. He looked into the red eyes of his mentor, and for a moment he could not speak. But finally, through a cracking voice, he inquired, "Then … is that my destiny? To die in saving Hyrule? Is that the destiny of the Hero?"
"If you allow it to be your destiny. We each have our own path; no matter how many heroes this kingdom has seen, no one path is repeated. You have to accept that in the battles to come you may fall, but it will have been your decision." The shadow's voice seemed to reverberate, piercing into Link's soul. "But if I am not mistaken, you have already accepted the possibility of such a fate. One cannot walk this path without facing their fears, facing themselves at some point. If you have not battled with yourself, you soon will. You will decide if you could die for the people of Hyrule.
"On my path, I faced my fears; I accepted my destiny, my role, in the perseverance of this kingdom. You must remember that if you are to falter, there are countless innocent lives that face extinction." The shade placed a skeletal hand upon Link's shoulder, its hard grip desperate. "If you falter, will you remember to pick yourself back up?"
Link had spent much time along his journey thinking on that very notion. He had been wounded numerous times along his travels, and each time he had pushed onward in spite of his own pain. "I will fight for Hyrule as long as evil threatens it."
The shade took a step back, nodding-pleased with Link's reply. There was a certain quality of peace that enveloped the shadow from the past in that moment. But to shatter their silence, the shade's tone boomed, "Are you ready to finish your training?"
Link inclined his head and took a step back from the pedestal, Master Sword comfortably at his side. Midna receded into a corner of the room as the grotesque form began to circle Link.
"Now that you have taken the blade of evil's bane, a new power will immerse you," the shade said. "We will unlock this power within you, for only your harmony with the blade will allow you to truly banish evil."
Link listened and watched in silence as the warrior spoke and moved, removing his shield from its nest.
The shadow being stopped opposite him, both looking to each other from the side. "You will come across fully armored enemies who can move swiftly about the battlefield. To them, a back slice would be futile. Upon such foes you must make them flinch. Perform a shield attack to unbalance them; then, as they will be stunned only momentarily, you must be swift. Leap above them and greet them with your blade by immediately striking from behind." And before Link realized, the shade had darted toward him, knocking its round defense into his and hurdling itself overtop him.
And icy blade then descended upon his neck, resting there menacingly.
"This is the helm splitter. Show it to me." The solider backed away and prepared itself for Link's attack.
Link twirled his new blade, feeling oddly relaxed with its weight within his grasp. He sprinted toward his mentor, and though he was not expecting the shade to react-moving quickly from his reach as it had said such foes would-Link stepped into the movement relatively fast, sharply redirecting himself. He landed a shield attack against the dark figure, and in its temporary lopsided frame, Link stepped up onto the surface of its shied in order to give his jump the necessary height required to hurl himself behind it. Once Link's feet were again firmly upon the ground, he twisted his wrist about. Steel touched rotted flesh.
"Impressive," its hollow tone rang.
Link let down his offense, and again the pair faced each other, several paces between them.
"However, the ways of the sword are known to many creatures, and some have strengthened their guard against simple techniques. To any such foe," the old voice instructed, its body pacing the hallowed grounds gently, "the mortal draw will be most effective.
"Sheathe your saber." As it gave the order, it, too, cloaked its blade within the scabbard upon its spine.
The command seemed pointless, though, for if Link was to learn this ancient warrior's skills they would need to use their weapons. However, Link remained respectful and silent, ever vigilant of any step that could conclude in an offensive strike.
"You will need to cast aside your most basic sword skills. For this technique to be successful," it spoke, approaching Link, "you must wait until your foe is directly upon you." It stood over the youth, the scarlet within its eyes flashing wildly. "Then, before the enemy can see through your ruse-and when they leave their flank open upon their own attack-you must quickly draw your blade."
Within a blink the dark form had whirled its saber free, blade once again at Link's throat. "There can be no defense for this," the aged voice said in a malevolent octave. "The mortal draw deals only death."
The deceased-though not lifeless-body backed away, blade at its side. "Now, prove to me that you are capable of this lost art. Ready yourself!"
Link readied his left hand for quick action, his arm lying tensely upon the air.
Then the phantom came at Link, swiftly at first, dancing from side to side. Its pace slowed, however, and it came closer to Link. Until, finally, Link could smell its rank odor, and a shadow passed over his face. The glint of the blade flashed within his eyes, and just at the pinnacle of the shade's assault … Link's hand flew to his hilt and brought its full weight hurtling through the air. Just at the last moment, Link pulled his attack, the blade landing a hair's breadth from the soldier's wicked face and neck. The shade's sword had only come within a foot of Link's shoulder.
"A pointed strike!" his mentor raved, its voice sounding hoarse at such a tone. But the tone once again lowered at its next. "But do not forget. This attack leaves your life at risk. I advise the utmost caution whenever you should so choose to implement it." The soldier straightened its stature as Link withdrew his weapon from its threatening angle.
"Now, as I said before, the Master Sword you now wield holds a great power, one that you as its new master must be able to control and call upon when needed. Its strength courses within you. Wrap your mind around its entity."
As his instructor implied, Link closed his eyes, searching within himself for the power that surged within him. After moments of silent meditation, searching every crevice within his mind and soul … a warm light enveloped him, stole him into a whirlwind of color and luminescence. Link gasped as the heat of its energy seemed to shroud his body completely. And as he opened his eyes, he saw that the Master Sword hummed with a faint glow. Link, surprised and a little unsettled at how accessible such power was, looked to his teacher.
But the shade only seemed to shine with pride, its darkness seemingly lessened in that moment. "Very good." Its face reflected in the beaming sword, the shade gazed upon it as if remembering what such power had once felt like. But it soon shed its eyes from the blade, "The energy of the blade can be used upon any number of foes around you, if you concentrate its power properly. Whether a simple stroke or a jump strike, the surge of its power will stun or kill your enemies. Now, I wish you to learn how to channel that power.
"If multiple foes were upon you-" it said, its outline becoming hazed, the silhouette of its body difficult to distinguish. Its defining lines severed, and within an instant, two identical shadow forms emerged on either side of the phantom. Thrice upon Link the shade circled, its voice echoing among the trio of moving teeth. "-you would need to channel your power evenly across the field. Attempt to control the power before I strike."
A little daunted at the image of his mentor threefold, Link hunched his shoulders slightly, coming down into a lower stance. He leveled his blade horizontally within his opposite, upturned palm. Focusing hard, Link delved within the fissure of his soul that now stored the legendary energy of the blade, but before he could spread its warmth throughout his extremities, a chill gripped his nape.
"Come now, young hero," the shade at his back said. "Always bear the power at the forefront of your mind, ready for any possible attack. Never let it dwindle from your soul's fingers."
Marking the instruction Link retained the power he had built up within him and prepared for his mentor's next assault. This time, however, the three figures receded into the recesses of the shadows within the chamber. "Be ready for attack at any moment!" its voice bellowed from the walls.
Link held his hilt tightly, though, hung it loosely at his side. Straightening himself slightly he turned about the room, eyes constantly swiveling as he placed his steps carefully. He could feel every raindrop upon his armor, clanking in harmony with a rumble of thunder that echoed against the deep cavern of the giant forest surrounding the grove.
In her corner of the room, Midna could see the outline of one of the figures within a shadow behind Link, but she did not call out a warning to him. This was his battle to win. Time had already made Link a man, his boyhood having shed itself from his eyes completely. There was not a time when Midna could remember hearing him honestly laugh. Time would make Link a hero, the one this shade had spoken of.
Link stopped at the sound of shuffling footsteps. He turned about on his heel, but to a sincere shadow, not an incantation of the warrior. However.... Link swiped his blade overtop his head, turning as he did so, and the wave of crimson energy he released sailed directly into one of the dark soldiers. Immediately afterward, another aggressor flew in at his right flank, but Link gave a twirl of his blade, and another shot of faint red light ejected from its body, crushing into the second form. In that moment the actions seemed too simple, the power too easy to control-as if it were now an extension of his body.
Thus, when Link heard a creak of the grass near to his left-the sound picked up by the lingering presence of his lupine counterpart-he merely jerked his blade back in and redirected it in its opposite path, the edge landing smoothly against the old hero's shield. Barely sweating, Link gazed up into its flaming eyes, and for a moment … he wished the shade was something more.
He had never known his parents and had often wondered what had become of them. And in that instant wherein Link and the shade's eyes met, Link's desire for the parental love he had never felt increased to heights of the skies. Whenever he had crossed paths with this stranger from the netherworld, he had always felt such a strong connection to it. Not only did he cherish their blade training together, but Link had come to look to the shade as that missing link that seemed to fill the void within his heart … for at least a little while. Each time they parted, it was as if Link felt himself ripped apart once more-just as his heart had been torn when he had discovered as a young boy that Rusl and Uli were not his parents.
He had never been the same carefree soul since then....
"Excellent!" the solider praised.
Link sheathed the Master Sword.
"You house the spirit of the true hero," it beamed. "You, who now gaze to the future with vision unclouded." Its pitch then lowered, uttering words in an almost shamed tune. "I was never able to pass on the lessons of my life to those who came after me. You have eased my regrets, young Link."
Link felt the presence of another goodbye, and he started to take a step forward, but he hesitated, the brightening red within the old spirit's eyes sparkling. Link understood. The spirit had lived on after death for one purpose, a purpose that served not only the new hero but also-Link presumed-the wishes of the goddesses.
"Believe in your strength. Continue to push forward unflinchingly, and without straying from your path. For surely you can restore Hyrule to its stature of yore as the chosen land of the goddesses."
Link tensed at the words.
"Go, my child," the shade commanded as it backed away. "And if you falter … do not forget to cleave yourself from the ground."
And again, the paternal figure departed … for what Link feared would be the last time.
Link's mind raged. Not in the attempt to digest all that had taken place within Zelda's company, but in the effort to keep his animal nature at bay. While he had been in the presence of the princess, his mind had been clear to the events, however, now that her light did not surround him in its pure form, a war raged within him. Zant's crystal had been a polluted invention of the evilest of magicks. Not only had its darkness taken over-once again-his physical being, but now Link knew that if he stumbled for even a moment within his disarrayed mind … he might lose his sense forever.
He growled at the inner evil trying to command him, and Midna gazed down at him. He felt her shift atop him, but he could not concentrate enough to think on how she had changed during the past few hours. His mind was too fragile, and he needed to spend all his energy in keeping it intact.
The rain pounded against his fur, and the night clouded viciously about them. Suddenly a figure rained down upon them not of the sky. A bokoblin warrior. But Link's lupine anger broke the sentry's neck in one snap of his jaws and he simply continued on.
Down through the outskirts of Faron, Link galloped, and Midna's heart leapt. All they need do was locate the Sacred Wood and Link would again be himself, his mind untainted by the dark presence of Zant's evil.
Familiar territory raced by the pair as they headed deeper into the woods. Link supposed that if the ancient ones had wanted to shield the holy grounds from the sight of the world, then the Master Sword would be buried deep within the land of giants, a place not even the dwellers of the wood oft traveled. It was said that those who entered beyond the giants of the wood never returned, swallowed by the maze that it had become.
Link and Midna would find out for themselves what had happened to those ancient explorers, for upon no map of Hyrule had there ever been marked a Sacred Grove-or anything related to a long lost holy place.
Link pushed through the swamp when he came upon it, leaping from tree branch to trunk until he landed safely upon the other side of the dark murkiness that had infested its length. A shiver had sprinted through Midna. Seeing Link jump directly into the swamp and leaping to his next destination without hesitation made her think that perhaps the instincts of the animal he had become were controlling him more than he realized. Any rational human-as Midna had labeled Link-would have carefully considered their route through such a danger before embarking. Link had plowed through the obstacle without thought.
Perhaps thought was no longer possible to such an extent.... Midna thought it through, though. Link's consciousness had to have been intact, for it appeared-for the moment-he had a general idea in which direction he needed to travel. He still knew what he needed to find to bring him back.
For the moment....
At last he and Midna pierced through the forest and had come to the edge of the giant wood, where they had once discovered an ancient temple wherein they had found the first fragment of the Fused Shadows. Odd, how they had returned to the place where their journey together had truly begun.
Before Midna even had time to look upon their current surroundings, Link had already cantered off in the opposite direction in which she had been looking. Headed straight for the cliff side which dropped into another section of the wood below them, Midna questioned Link's sanity; however, he leapt at the last moment, directing them toward a hollow in one of the giants.
Midna wrapped her tiny arms about Link as if she were a collar, and the quake that jostled through both their bodies assured her that they had landed on something. But Link's immobility did not last for long, for within the next moment, they were again airborne for another fleeting instant of terror. It seemed, though, that-as Link's animal senses had been heighted-he could detect a path quicker and far easier than he could have ever done as a human. And-Midna had to admit-he did seem more agile and able within this state.
I think you're getting too comfortable in that body … she had once said. It had seemed as much when she had said it-after he had managed to ascend the dangerous terrain of the once frozen Zoran waterfall. But now his harmony with the body of the wolf seemed complete, almost natural. Yet this time.... This time things were different. He had not chosen this state. He had thought he had been rid of ever feeling the mutation again. Midna had seen the relief in his eyes when he had flexed his human bones again some time after Lanayru had restored him. All those other times.... He had accepted his fate, she knew. He had to turn into the beast to save people … the people of his and her realm. He had known the cost. But this time....
This time it did not make her crawl with that strange feeling she had felt course through her. Sympathy, had it been? What ever it had been it did not matter. Now she felt-angry. She wanted to destroy Zant, to make him suffer as he had done to so many under his power. She wanted to make him suffer for hurting Link.
It was that very feeling that confused her, though. How many times had she looked to him with disgust, looked to him as a tool? For so long in the beginning, she had regretted having to travel with such a beast. And yet she smiled at how he had seemed to catch her traits of skepticism and of rebellion. He had changed within the time they had spent together, but now she realized.... She had changed, too.
But the jerk of the next landing sent her thoughts flapping away with the rustling leaves he had disturbed upon his fall. She looked about and saw an archway made of bark, where two boughs of different trees had reached together and woven around the other. It was a magnificent sight, for the trees about them were again their usual height, though; they were of some mysterious species that she had never seen the like of before. Boughs twisting elegantly about themselves, and their roots jutting up and out of the ground to curl around those near. Their green leaves-shaped as majestic crowns-whistled in the gentle winds.
Midna looked around and saw that the giants were now behind them, lifting up from the canyon below, a drop-off directly behind Link's hind legs. Above, the trees sprang into a canopy, as if shielding its very existence from the outside woodland world.
"How did you find this place?" asked Midna, impressed with the wolf, yet rather worried.
No bark or growl replied. Instead, Link moved onward, totally aware of all his surroundings-but was he aware of his own mind?
Indeed, Link struggled, trying hard to concentrate as he propelled himself forward. He could feel his human conscious slipping farther away with every step he took. If he could not soon find the resting place of the Master Sword, he feared he would loose his sanity forever. But when there came a faint odor upon the air, his mind fogged, and his last effort in fighting back the thoughts of the wolf failed.
All at once Link reared, and Midna was thrown to the ground. Orange tumbled before her eyes, and she tossed back her mane to watch in horror as Link excitedly sniffed at the air, drool pouring down the hair of his chin. She could see one of his eyes at her angle, and what reached out from Link's blue socket frightened her. An insane gaze of hunger, licking at the air it smelled.
She pushed back her fear, gaining her footing on the ground of the strange forest. She approached Link. "What do you smell?" she tried, hoping that her voice would force his sense to return to him.
But his reply came in an angry growl, and though every bone within Midna screamed for her to back away … she moved closer. "Link … it's Midna. Remember, we have to find the Master Sword?" And for a moment, the eyes of the wolf seemed to flash with Link's answer, but a savage darkness regained the animal quickly, and it sped off under the archway of the trees.
"No, Link. Wait!" called Midna, racing after the wolf.
There were so many winding paths, closed in by the density of the wood, and Midna soon found herself becoming lost. It seemed that the wood was a labyrinth, narrowing in some tunnels, others ending abruptly by rows of trees. Yet there were still few pathways for any visitor to stray through; though, as Midna soon discovered, some of the roads twisted about into areas she thought looked the same as other places through which she had already passed. Feeling misplaced very quickly, Midna soon slowed her sprint into a vigilant pace, searching the paths for any sign of recent tracks.
Just as she thought she had lost herself completely within the woodland maze, she heard the trickling of rushing water. She guided herself along by her ears until she spotted, between a patch of trees, a spring which filtered lightly along two small waterways that spilled into crevices, which-Midna assumed-led down into the cavernous reaches of the giant woods surrounding this spot of mysterious land.
She did not have time to admire the simple complexities of the area. She needed to find what had happened to Link. She doubted that the confusion of this place had bothered his ability to navigate, for it was in an animal's nature to be able to sniff their way out of any dangerous circumstance. Yet-what had Link smelled on the air? Midna could detect no odor other than the scent of the rain sticking to the leaves and bark in the cold night air.
Yet then she realized that the trees shooting up around her seemed more solid, and oddly, a grey tone had infused their bark. Upon closer inspection she realized that the trees and vines that covered the forest here were actually growing against stones. She tossed her vision about and it was then she saw it. The crumbled outline of a building long left to the fate of time. Erosion had pulled away the roof and any remaining bits hung loosely, held up by the mass of the trees that had grown about the structure.
Midna entered the stone housing and discovered that plant life also flourished within its decimated walls, peeking up through cracks in the floor. She crouched over a section of the floor that glinted in a feeble yellowish color. She swept away the rubble that covered the spot to find the rough outline of three triangles-the very symbol that she had seen upon Link's hand. She looked up, and two identical statues-figures somehow untouched by time-stared back at her. They appeared ceremonial in nature, but their scathed bodies made her think that perhaps they were the guardians of this place.
The evidence was conclusive. Link had done it. He had found the Sacred Grove.
Between the statue guards, a tunnel stretched back into the rubble of the building. But then a shuffling noise distracted her from exploring her find any further. In an adjacent room, the dark colored wolf was hunched over some object. Midna entered through a broken archway, stepping over a collection of loosed stones, but when she came to Link, she was horrified.
Link crouched over long dead travelers, the rank of their clothes and hair and flesh a putrid smell. Midna nearly vomited but she composed herself within an instant. What exactly did Link think he was doing? His jaws ripped at the armor and garments covering one ancient man, the rotting flesh exposed to the cooling rain that continued to drench their bodies.
"Do you know what you're doing? Don't you dare!" reprimanded Midna, running up to him.
Link turned and, lowered on his haunches, growled insanely at her figure. Midna halted mid-step and backed away only a few paces. He had truly become deranged, she could see. But his very salvation lay within the chamber past the statues. She could feel it. "You have to come with me now. We're here for the Master Sword, you idiot!" She wanted to help Link, but she could not help her irritation from seeping into her words.
But Link ignored her presence and dug his maw into the decayed flesh. He tore at all his teeth could reach, feasting upon his dead victim with a passion that scared Midna. How would she ever....
Midna felt a cold presence assail her backside, and upon the soil and stone before her she saw a shadow, moving slowly past them in the room behind. Link turned up his nose, sticky with the fluids of the decomposed body. A bark flew wildly from his tainted breath, and he tossed his head, pushing away from the body and sprinting after the silhouette. Midna quickly followed, catching a glimpse of a skeletal shade-dressed in ancient armor-as it headed into the passage between the guardians.
She blinked several times, disbelieving, before following after Link-who had chased the ghost-like being. She only had time to glance at the broken stones that she surmised had once assembled the door to the passage, the stones making up the vague outline of a bird holding something within its talons. She race up a long trail of stairs behind Link, her small, short legs exerting themselves quickly. But once she reached the pinnacle of her climb, she found a somewhat circular room that had become a clearing within the broken stone walls and old trees. Only one item decorated the floor of the chamber.
Link stopped abruptly his eyes tossing about the room, searching for the darkness that he had followed. But as far as Midna could tell, the phantom warrior had disappeared, perhaps into the very walls. Link growled in anger and called out to the missing shade in a series of malevolent barks.
Then the item in the center of the room began to glow, a blinding glint creeping about the room, lacing it with its bright color. The energy of the shimmers burst outward and Midna guarded her eyes with an arm. She watched, her jaw agape, as the madly snarling Link was consumed by the light, it waves undulating about his body, consuming him wholly within its gigantic palm. Suddenly, Link's form darkened, contrasting sharply with that of the light, and the shadow covering him grew larger and larger until at last-in a whirl of flashing rays … darkness collapsed and fell away.
In that same moment, a figure-eyes closed-appeared in the bubble of light that had destroyed Link's dark embodiment. Brownish blonde hair fell in straight and waving curtains about the clean-shaven, youthful face. It was in that moment that Midna could see Link's true likeness, his inner soul for the beauty that it was. His head tilted back slightly, breathing in softly and exhaling lightly through parting lips.
The light circled his body, and as the rays lowered, Midna could see the reshaped body of Link, the muscles of his torso defining the edges of his blue armor. His arms were stretched out somewhat at his sides, the light twirling about them. His hands-perfectly reformed-flexed, and the luminescence finally lowered completely from his body, revealing his strong legs. When he at last opened his eyes, he lowered his head, hair falling against his cheeks. He looked to his body and hands, finding himself again.
He gazed around him, the walls of the half-fallen structure reaching as high as the heavens themselves, it seemed. Rows of trees had merged with the stones. Rain fell down upon Link through the canopy, and he stretched out his arms and tilted back his head. Once again his eyes were closed, as he breathed in the air deeply. A smile littered his face, and it bloomed into laughter.
Midna stepped up to him then, a small grin lining the features of her lips as well. "Are you okay?"
Link's response came slowly, as he opened his eyes once more; he brought in his arms, but bent one out before him, palm upturned. "I have never seen the world like this before," he said, an amazed thrill deep within his voice. "Being so close to such darkness-such a brutal evil … to exist without it once more…. Rain and light have never felt so cleansing."
"And so has come your true test," a rough voice spoke out.
Link and Midna whirled about, searching. A shadow emerged from the remnants of the light-the shade of a long past hero. Midna gasped at the ghastly figure; Link merely shifted his weight uncomfortably. His undisturbed visage made Midna realize that this skeletal boned man had visited him before. When and how she did not understand, but she made no gesture to reveal her uncertainty.
"Your time has come, young warrior, to attest the name of Hero," the familiar, red-eyed soldier declared in its low, scratchy hum.
Link turned his attention to the object that had freed him from evilness. The Master Sword. A hilt of pure blue, its blade a shimmering testament that time could never dull its surface nor weaken its resolve against evil. A bright yellow diamond-shaped stone was firmly nestled into the blue, and an ornate symbol of the legendary Triforce had been engraved upon the smooth steel of the blade.
Link stepped up to its low pedestal and wrapped two careful fists about the leather straps that had been laced about the hilt. Palms sweaty, Link pulled at the hilt and bursts of light shot into the room from the crack in the pedestal as the sword lifted free of its ancient home. He raised it to the sky within his left hand, as if showing the gods the result of his birth-the mark in time that proved that his destiny truly did lie in saving the land of Hyrule.
"The sword accepted you as its master," gasped Midna.
"Indeed you are the Hero of this time, a hero of Hyrule's greatest legend," the shade spoke. It approached Link, standing before him and the pedestal.
"So this," Link gaze about, "is the Sacred Grove." His gaze fell to the Master Sword, taking in its beauty, how it glinted in even the night.
"Yes," nodded the warrior. "Within the Temple of Time, the most ancient temple in all the history of Hyrule. Home to the blade of evil's bane." The shadow's tone seemed to falter then, but it did not give evidence to its existence.
"May I ask how it became lost to Hyrule?" said Link tentatively. He had never really spoken to the spirit, and it made him anxious-wondering how one was supposed to interact with a shadow in conversation.
But it responded just as any living being. "Lost? No," the hissing voice replied. "Forgotten. The children of Hyrule have long lost their memory of where it lay. The legend remains within the pages of history, but there are so few who have passed down the knowledge of its existence. It is because of this that it became lost, and so the walls of this great temple fell into ruin, awaiting an age once more when the might of its treasured possession would again be needed."
"Were you once its master?" Link had wanted to ask the shade of its past life so many times before this, and now, it felt pointless to leave the question unasked.
"I understand the hardships you face," it affirmed. "In life, I accepted the duty as the hero. I fought many battles; however, the end of my journey had also been the end of my life."
Link could not keep his composure at that statement, and his lips curved into a frown, eyes widened. Fear gripped his heart. For an instant he could not breathe. He looked into the red eyes of his mentor, and for a moment he could not speak. But finally, through a cracking voice, he inquired, "Then … is that my destiny? To die in saving Hyrule? Is that the destiny of the Hero?"
"If you allow it to be your destiny. We each have our own path; no matter how many heroes this kingdom has seen, no one path is repeated. You have to accept that in the battles to come you may fall, but it will have been your decision." The shadow's voice seemed to reverberate, piercing into Link's soul. "But if I am not mistaken, you have already accepted the possibility of such a fate. One cannot walk this path without facing their fears, facing themselves at some point. If you have not battled with yourself, you soon will. You will decide if you could die for the people of Hyrule.
"On my path, I faced my fears; I accepted my destiny, my role, in the perseverance of this kingdom. You must remember that if you are to falter, there are countless innocent lives that face extinction." The shade placed a skeletal hand upon Link's shoulder, its hard grip desperate. "If you falter, will you remember to pick yourself back up?"
Link had spent much time along his journey thinking on that very notion. He had been wounded numerous times along his travels, and each time he had pushed onward in spite of his own pain. "I will fight for Hyrule as long as evil threatens it."
The shade took a step back, nodding-pleased with Link's reply. There was a certain quality of peace that enveloped the shadow from the past in that moment. But to shatter their silence, the shade's tone boomed, "Are you ready to finish your training?"
Link inclined his head and took a step back from the pedestal, Master Sword comfortably at his side. Midna receded into a corner of the room as the grotesque form began to circle Link.
"Now that you have taken the blade of evil's bane, a new power will immerse you," the shade said. "We will unlock this power within you, for only your harmony with the blade will allow you to truly banish evil."
Link listened and watched in silence as the warrior spoke and moved, removing his shield from its nest.
The shadow being stopped opposite him, both looking to each other from the side. "You will come across fully armored enemies who can move swiftly about the battlefield. To them, a back slice would be futile. Upon such foes you must make them flinch. Perform a shield attack to unbalance them; then, as they will be stunned only momentarily, you must be swift. Leap above them and greet them with your blade by immediately striking from behind." And before Link realized, the shade had darted toward him, knocking its round defense into his and hurdling itself overtop him.
And icy blade then descended upon his neck, resting there menacingly.
"This is the helm splitter. Show it to me." The solider backed away and prepared itself for Link's attack.
Link twirled his new blade, feeling oddly relaxed with its weight within his grasp. He sprinted toward his mentor, and though he was not expecting the shade to react-moving quickly from his reach as it had said such foes would-Link stepped into the movement relatively fast, sharply redirecting himself. He landed a shield attack against the dark figure, and in its temporary lopsided frame, Link stepped up onto the surface of its shied in order to give his jump the necessary height required to hurl himself behind it. Once Link's feet were again firmly upon the ground, he twisted his wrist about. Steel touched rotted flesh.
"Impressive," its hollow tone rang.
Link let down his offense, and again the pair faced each other, several paces between them.
"However, the ways of the sword are known to many creatures, and some have strengthened their guard against simple techniques. To any such foe," the old voice instructed, its body pacing the hallowed grounds gently, "the mortal draw will be most effective.
"Sheathe your saber." As it gave the order, it, too, cloaked its blade within the scabbard upon its spine.
The command seemed pointless, though, for if Link was to learn this ancient warrior's skills they would need to use their weapons. However, Link remained respectful and silent, ever vigilant of any step that could conclude in an offensive strike.
"You will need to cast aside your most basic sword skills. For this technique to be successful," it spoke, approaching Link, "you must wait until your foe is directly upon you." It stood over the youth, the scarlet within its eyes flashing wildly. "Then, before the enemy can see through your ruse-and when they leave their flank open upon their own attack-you must quickly draw your blade."
Within a blink the dark form had whirled its saber free, blade once again at Link's throat. "There can be no defense for this," the aged voice said in a malevolent octave. "The mortal draw deals only death."
The deceased-though not lifeless-body backed away, blade at its side. "Now, prove to me that you are capable of this lost art. Ready yourself!"
Link readied his left hand for quick action, his arm lying tensely upon the air.
Then the phantom came at Link, swiftly at first, dancing from side to side. Its pace slowed, however, and it came closer to Link. Until, finally, Link could smell its rank odor, and a shadow passed over his face. The glint of the blade flashed within his eyes, and just at the pinnacle of the shade's assault … Link's hand flew to his hilt and brought its full weight hurtling through the air. Just at the last moment, Link pulled his attack, the blade landing a hair's breadth from the soldier's wicked face and neck. The shade's sword had only come within a foot of Link's shoulder.
"A pointed strike!" his mentor raved, its voice sounding hoarse at such a tone. But the tone once again lowered at its next. "But do not forget. This attack leaves your life at risk. I advise the utmost caution whenever you should so choose to implement it." The soldier straightened its stature as Link withdrew his weapon from its threatening angle.
"Now, as I said before, the Master Sword you now wield holds a great power, one that you as its new master must be able to control and call upon when needed. Its strength courses within you. Wrap your mind around its entity."
As his instructor implied, Link closed his eyes, searching within himself for the power that surged within him. After moments of silent meditation, searching every crevice within his mind and soul … a warm light enveloped him, stole him into a whirlwind of color and luminescence. Link gasped as the heat of its energy seemed to shroud his body completely. And as he opened his eyes, he saw that the Master Sword hummed with a faint glow. Link, surprised and a little unsettled at how accessible such power was, looked to his teacher.
But the shade only seemed to shine with pride, its darkness seemingly lessened in that moment. "Very good." Its face reflected in the beaming sword, the shade gazed upon it as if remembering what such power had once felt like. But it soon shed its eyes from the blade, "The energy of the blade can be used upon any number of foes around you, if you concentrate its power properly. Whether a simple stroke or a jump strike, the surge of its power will stun or kill your enemies. Now, I wish you to learn how to channel that power.
"If multiple foes were upon you-" it said, its outline becoming hazed, the silhouette of its body difficult to distinguish. Its defining lines severed, and within an instant, two identical shadow forms emerged on either side of the phantom. Thrice upon Link the shade circled, its voice echoing among the trio of moving teeth. "-you would need to channel your power evenly across the field. Attempt to control the power before I strike."
A little daunted at the image of his mentor threefold, Link hunched his shoulders slightly, coming down into a lower stance. He leveled his blade horizontally within his opposite, upturned palm. Focusing hard, Link delved within the fissure of his soul that now stored the legendary energy of the blade, but before he could spread its warmth throughout his extremities, a chill gripped his nape.
"Come now, young hero," the shade at his back said. "Always bear the power at the forefront of your mind, ready for any possible attack. Never let it dwindle from your soul's fingers."
Marking the instruction Link retained the power he had built up within him and prepared for his mentor's next assault. This time, however, the three figures receded into the recesses of the shadows within the chamber. "Be ready for attack at any moment!" its voice bellowed from the walls.
Link held his hilt tightly, though, hung it loosely at his side. Straightening himself slightly he turned about the room, eyes constantly swiveling as he placed his steps carefully. He could feel every raindrop upon his armor, clanking in harmony with a rumble of thunder that echoed against the deep cavern of the giant forest surrounding the grove.
In her corner of the room, Midna could see the outline of one of the figures within a shadow behind Link, but she did not call out a warning to him. This was his battle to win. Time had already made Link a man, his boyhood having shed itself from his eyes completely. There was not a time when Midna could remember hearing him honestly laugh. Time would make Link a hero, the one this shade had spoken of.
Link stopped at the sound of shuffling footsteps. He turned about on his heel, but to a sincere shadow, not an incantation of the warrior. However.... Link swiped his blade overtop his head, turning as he did so, and the wave of crimson energy he released sailed directly into one of the dark soldiers. Immediately afterward, another aggressor flew in at his right flank, but Link gave a twirl of his blade, and another shot of faint red light ejected from its body, crushing into the second form. In that moment the actions seemed too simple, the power too easy to control-as if it were now an extension of his body.
Thus, when Link heard a creak of the grass near to his left-the sound picked up by the lingering presence of his lupine counterpart-he merely jerked his blade back in and redirected it in its opposite path, the edge landing smoothly against the old hero's shield. Barely sweating, Link gazed up into its flaming eyes, and for a moment … he wished the shade was something more.
He had never known his parents and had often wondered what had become of them. And in that instant wherein Link and the shade's eyes met, Link's desire for the parental love he had never felt increased to heights of the skies. Whenever he had crossed paths with this stranger from the netherworld, he had always felt such a strong connection to it. Not only did he cherish their blade training together, but Link had come to look to the shade as that missing link that seemed to fill the void within his heart … for at least a little while. Each time they parted, it was as if Link felt himself ripped apart once more-just as his heart had been torn when he had discovered as a young boy that Rusl and Uli were not his parents.
He had never been the same carefree soul since then....
"Excellent!" the solider praised.
Link sheathed the Master Sword.
"You house the spirit of the true hero," it beamed. "You, who now gaze to the future with vision unclouded." Its pitch then lowered, uttering words in an almost shamed tune. "I was never able to pass on the lessons of my life to those who came after me. You have eased my regrets, young Link."
Link felt the presence of another goodbye, and he started to take a step forward, but he hesitated, the brightening red within the old spirit's eyes sparkling. Link understood. The spirit had lived on after death for one purpose, a purpose that served not only the new hero but also-Link presumed-the wishes of the goddesses.
"Believe in your strength. Continue to push forward unflinchingly, and without straying from your path. For surely you can restore Hyrule to its stature of yore as the chosen land of the goddesses."
Link tensed at the words.
"Go, my child," the shade commanded as it backed away. "And if you falter … do not forget to cleave yourself from the ground."
And again, the paternal figure departed … for what Link feared would be the last time.
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REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER:
~DrakeRenar1 Mar 19, 2010 Nicely done and nice way of putting the last few hidden skills into one session! I am loving how you're going with the story so far.
~XcoinicMar 17, 2011 Another great chapter! I like the relationship you gave Link and the Shade.
~XcoinicMar 17, 2011 Another great chapter! I like the relationship you gave Link and the Shade.