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The Legend Of Zelda - The Worlds End Ch. 5
By CarnaRaptor
Like a fish in water. Duggan used to watch the young Princess run and jump from stone to stone through the waterways of the castle, and always told her she was meant, maybe in another life, to be a traveler. A fighter. She moved with such grace and elegance over the slippery rocks, Duggan would tell her, was like watching a fish in water.
As the adrenaline rushed through her veins, and the feeling of absolute freedom began to fill her heart once again, the Princess remembered Duggan’s words.
The rising sun was taking her precious darkness away as she dashed from stone to stone, steadily keeping up with the trotting horses below. The shadows would not hide her for much longer, and if the Princess waited too long, Bishop would be back at the gates. She would have to strike quickly.
Sheik dashed out from the stone and leapt from the overhanging cliff down to the horses below, easily knocking one of the Knights from his horse. Quickly, she pulled the spear from its holster and slammed the back of it into the other Knight, knocking him down to the ground and out cold. The Sheikah Warrior spun and rolled from the horse to the ground, slipping the spear’s end under the helm of the black-clad warrior.
“It is about time you attacked, Shiek, I presume?” Bishop laughed as his horse stamped the ground. “I’ve been waiting since we left the house.”
“You will give me the child,” Shiek hissed. “Or, I shall have to leave your lifeless body behind.”
“And where will you take the baby?” Bishop asked. “To the place you took the Princess? They Hylian Armies are searching the lands for you, and they will not rest, especially since the King wants this baby.”
“A shadow grows over Hyrule Castle,” Sheik said carefully. “This King is not himself. The King of Hyrule is a good, just King, not a pawn of greed. I will protect the baby and the Princess from harm, and the King will see the error of his ways.”
“Well, then, what choice have I?” Bishop laughed, lifting his mask. Slowly, he handed the screaming baby down to the young warrior and back away on his horse. “You have the baby, now, you best hurry before I scream for help to come.”
Sheik looked carefully with her ruby eyes at the black-armored Knight. She dropped the spear and threw a marble at the horse’s feet. A small explosion caused the horse to upend, dropping its rider to the ground. Bishop pulled himself up, yanked out his sword and darted forward, but Sheik had already disappeared. The Knight wiped the blood from his lip and looked out at the dusty road leading back to the village.
“Do you see him?” Bishop called out.
“Of course, my lord,” a soft voice answered from the top of the cliff nearby. “He cannot move too quickly with the baby, and its screams will carry very far away.”
“This ‘Sheik’ will lead us to the Princess, Sakura, follow him, and when you have found his hideout, kill him,” Bishop answered. “I will follow as quickly as I can with the Hylian Guard.”
“He is headed towards the mountains, sire,” Sakura responded. “Kakariko Village, I believe is what it is called.”
“Very well,” Bishop responded, turning to the oncoming Horsemen. “Go.”
“At once,” Sakura answered, rushing along the hills to the castle walls.
“The fool will lead us straight to the Princess, and then, when I save her, she will have no choice but to marry me.”
~
Sheik jumped from roof to roof, carefully trying to avoid the eyes of any below on the streets, but the crying baby made it difficult. Already, she could hear the hoofs of the horses from the castle behind her, and her heart began beating a little harder. Even if she made it out of the city, where could she hide?
“Shh,” Sheik whispered, stopping behind a chimney and crouching low over the red-haired child. “Please don’t cry.”
The baby suddenly stopped, looking up at the ruby-eyed warrior in surprise. A smile spread across her face, and her arms flailed out.
Sheik looked around, unsure of where to go. Kakariko made sense. She had hidden there for years, before. But it would only work if Impa was there, and Zelda hadn’t seen Impa for almost two days.
“She can’t have gone far!” a voice called out from the alleyways. “The gate guards have not seen anyone exiting the walls!”
Sheik tightly wrapped a bandage around the baby and tightened the knots around her back and stomach, freeing her hands. She pulled out a knife and started running down the wooden shingles of the roof. With a leap, she left the rooftop and landed on the Castle walls, then rolled over, protecting the infant and slid down the wall, silently rolling past the guard walking along the top.
Sheik slid his knife into the castle walls and used them to slow her descent to the water before splashing into the river. The warrior grasped the Knife and held very still against the wall, careful to keep the baby above the water, but also careful not to move or make a sound. The guards at the gates heard the splashing and looked over towards the bend.
The icy waters felt like knives stabbing into the princess’s legs as the arctic winds and snows blew around the castle, but Sheik held tightly to the knife, waiting for the guard’s attention to be diverted again.
After what felt like ages, the guards began talking to one another again, and Sheik slowly slid into the water, holding the newborn above and pulled herself across to the bank.
The bridge was not far away, but she was still a half day away from the city. The temptation to use her harp weighed heavily on Sheik’s mind, but she knew it would not carry the infant through with her to the Shadow Temple.
“There!” a voice called out.
Sheik didn’t even look over her shoulder, she already knew she had been spotted. She rushed forward as fast as her legs could carry her, and the thundering of the horses shook the ground.
The black horses kicked up mounds of snow as they darted out from the drawbridge and across the Hylian Plains. Sheik rushed as quickly as she could to the bridge, knowing it was her only chance.
An arrow shot past her head, the force of which was amazing to the Princess. She had forgotten just how powerful these projectiles could be.
The horses closed in quickly on the running Sheikah Warrior, and as they came closer, Sheik heard the sound of swords pulled from sheathes. The cold sound of metal against leather made her skin crawl, and real fear began to slide into her heart.
The baby began to cry, and tears began to form at Sheik’s eyes as she realized she could not make it to the bridge in time.
The first horse thundered close, and the rider leaned down and swiped at the warrior with his sword. Zelda rolled forward, careful to keep her stomach apart and not crush the infant. She paid for the move with a cut across her shoulder.
The second horse rushed in, sword raised. Sheik spun around and yanked out her dagger. The Knight leaned down and swiped with his sword, but Sheik was able to deflect the blade just enough to not lose her head. However, the blade sliced into her arm, and the snow was dotted with red drops.
The horses turned, riders ready with their swords, blocking the bridge. More Knights charged out from the bridge, including Bishop and Duggan, as far as Sheik could see. The baby wailed as loud as it could, its red face leaning out from its blanket.
Whistling sounds cried out through the air, the unmistakable sound of arrows launched from the distance. Sheik ducked and looked over her shoulder as the two riders fell from their horses by the bridge, arrows sticking out from their arms. The Knights howled in rage as they held their arms in the snow.
Sheik took advantage of the attack and launched herself atop the nearest horse, rushing across the bridge. She pulled the horse around the bridge and darted down the river as the other mass of Knights rode along the other bank of the river.
An arrow passed by the Sheikah as she rushed along the bank, snow flying past her eyes. She heard Duggan cuss aloud to stop before the hit the child.
Sheik pulled away from the river and darted towards the stairs leading to Kakariko Village. Three horses had cross the bridge and darted in an intercept path towards her. The pulled swords from their long, white cloaks and pulled their helmets over their faces.
Shiek pulled the horse to a stop and jumped down from the saddle to the stairs. The horses of the Hylians darted forward to cut her off, but before they came too close, Sheik raised her hand and flung her fingers open. A flash of golden light blasted from her hand out to the field, blinding any who looked at the warrior. The horses pulled their horses to a stopped and lifted their helmets, cursing and rubbing their eyes.
Sheik turned and ran up the stairs as quickly as she could to the village.
~
“The Guard of the Castle had only taken the child to protect her!” the Chancellor called from the gate to the crowd that had gathered below. “Before Sir Bishop could take the child in, however, a thief of the Sheikah kidnapped the infant and is on the run, now!”
“The Sheikah have done nothing but protect the people of Hyrule in the past!” a voice called from the crowd. “Why would they want to hurt the child?”
The Chancellor raised his arms to quiet the mumbling crowd. “There are some in the world who believe that this child will bring the end of the world. They will do all they can to stop that, including killing the baby. I assure you, the King’s Guard, and the best of his Cavalry are hunting the Sheikah as we speak, working hard to return the child to the village.”
“To me?” Miere called up. “Will I be able to be with my child?”
The Chancellor thought for a moment. “Of course. However, the child will have to stay in the castle! You will be able to visit when possible.”
As the Chancellor continued to call down to the angry mob below, the King looked on from the castle. “Guard,” he said, turning to the soldier at the end of his room. “If the people have not dispersed in five minutes, run them through with spearmen.”
The guard stood in shock, looking at the King. “Sire?” he asked.
The King looked at the guard and smiled. “If you do not do as I command, you will find yourself at the end of a spear. The Chancellor cannot keep up his lies for too long, and if you do not disperse the crowd, he may falter. Now GO.”
“Yes, m’lord,” the guard answered, bowing and quickly exiting the room.
“Stupid fool,” the Kings spat, turning to the window. “A King’s orders should be followed at once. If they do not, then they do not respect me.”
“You have been too soft on them for too long, Lord,” a voice called out. The King turned slowly to a podium with a cloth covering and object. The King walked over and pulled the cloth off, a glowing blue pulsing as it sat on the podium. “They will need time to adjust to your new, superior way of thinking.”
“The child was kidnapped,” the King spat. “As was my daughter. Where are your legions of soldiers you promised me, Lord Nuerme?”
“Patience, your highness,” the orb responded. “I already knew of the kidnapping. My soldiers are rushing to remedy the situation as we speak.”
“How—“
“How did I know?” Nuerme interrupted. “I know all, my friend. I will have the baby’s life in my own hands by nightfall, you need not worry. Your legions will be in your hands soon. Remember your tasks that have been set before you.”
“I will not forget them, my lord,” the King answered, bowing before the orb.
~
Sheik rushed around the corner and down the snowy field to the gates of the city. The wooden spires were closed off, but they opened by themselves for the Sheikah warrior. The infant had stopped crying and was enjoying a small piece of wrapping to play with.
Sheik rushed forward, expecting the citizens of the city to be out and about in the snows, and the busy city bustling with activity. The sight before her eyes would forever stay in her mind.
The houses burned in raging fires, the smoke of which rose along the mountainside, appearing to come from the mountain and not the city. Spears and arrows littered the ground, and signs of an armed conflict were everywhere.
Icy winds blew the snows down from the mountains, whipping around the smoke and blowing it back up the side of the mountain. Great bodies of water flooded the houses, even as the houses themselves burned.
“How?” she whispered to herself, unable to find any other words.
“And now, you see, the long fingers of war can spread across the valley and touch even those closest to us,” a familiar voice called out. Impa walked alongside her own burning house to face the Princess as she stood by the broken tree. “Do not worry, the people of the village are safe and well hidden, but their homes, their very lives will be forever scarred by what has happened here.”
“Impa?” Shiek asked. “War? The Gorons and Zora? Why did we never hear of this atrocity?”
“Your father did,” Impa answered. “I told him myself. The Zora attacked the city, thousands strong from the river. Their army of Goblins and Wizrobes destroyed the houses and attacked the peoples before they moved on up the mountain to take the fight to the Gorons. This happened nearly three days ago. Your father said nothing. Hylian soldiers were not touched in the battle, only Sheikah warriors felt the touch of war.”
“But, why?” Shiek asked, pulling her hood and bandages back to reveal her long, golden hair. “Father’s heart has darkened, but even he would not allow an atrocity such as this!”
“He would, Princess, because he was behind it,” Impa answered. “His Wizrobes and Goblins aided the Zora and Hylian guards in destroying the city.”
“No,” Zelda whispered, tears forming at her eyes. “It’s not possible.”
“Hyrule Guards were the ones who set the houses on fire,” Impa continued. “For reasons unknown, the Royal Family of Hyrule has turned against its own people.”
“Impa!” Zelda yelled. “I would never! I am a Sheikah Warrior!”
“In another lifetime, perhaps,” Impa answered. “But here, now, you have been nothing more than a dreamer. Dreaming of a life and a love long since run off. You have done nothing to help the Gorons or Zora, and in that sense, you are as guilty as your father.”
“Impa?” Zelda asked, stepping back a few steps and letting her hand slide down to her side. “Impa, you cannot be serious.”
“You are also guilty of using time, itself, as a toy…a weapon to defeat an enemy that fate had agreed to come to power,” Impa continued again. “It is because of these crimes that we—that we, the sages, must carry out punishment upon you and your family.”
Zelda took another step back and bumped into something that was not there before. She turned and looked up to see the angry face of Darunia, the Sage of the Temple of Fire. He was also the King of the Goron tribe.
Zelda whipped around and jumped back just as the large Goron slammed his fist down into the earth. “Your father is no brother of mine, the traitorous fool!” Darunia barked.
Other figures began to appear at different points: Saria, the sage of the Forest Temple stood by the houses, her hand to her heart and her eyes not looking to the Princess. Rauro, Sage of the Temple of Light, stood by Ruto, the sage of the Water Temple. Nabooru stood next to the broken tree, a long sword ready in her hands as she eyed the Princess.
“Zelda,” Saria finally spoke up. “Let me take the child, she is the only hope for the future.”
“The people of Hyrule will never be able to trust your family again after this,” Rauro added. “It is the only way.”
“As is killing me?” Zelda asked as she unwrapped the baby and gently handed her to Saria.
“Zelda,” Impa started, “It is you who have tried to kill us.”
“What?” Zelda asked. “I would never!”
“The ones who torched the city…claim to have done it in your name,” Ruto answered. “They follow your orders!”
“They lie! I have no powers! I cannot—“
“Then how do you explain them?” Darunia asked, pointing to the burning houses. Three Wizrobes began to float out from the fires, followed by dozens of Zora, and hundreds of Goblins. A Captain of the Goblins rushed forth, swung his sword around and stuck it into the ground kneeling before the Princess.
“We will fight and die for you, my Princess!” the Goblin cried.
“No,” Zelda whimpered. “You have to believe me, I…I have no control over them!”
The Captain stood up and raised his sword to the air. “Attack!” he called, and the army poured out from the houses, brushing past the Princess to the Sages.
“Please, no,” Zelda cried, falling helplessly to the snow. “Do not do this.”
~
“I’ve never seen the Lake like this, Link,” Nacie whispered. “How can anyone, even the Zora, have the power to do such a thing?”
Link stepped forward to the edge of the Lake. The sun had long passed behind the clouds, and the snows that fell from the skies began to once again blanket all around them. The Lake, once so full of life, now lay dry, a great canyon at the edge of Hyrule. Dead fish littered the area, and great birds picked away at their carcasses on the Lake bottom.
“Even Gannon didn’t completely dry the Lake,” Link whispered. “I’m beginning to think your Nuerme is as powerful as you say.”
“Gannondorf dried the lake?” Nacie asked. “When was this?”
“Forget it,” Link answered. “Another lifetime. We’ll have to hurry across the field and river as quick as we can before too many of those birds spot us. They’ll not be too much of a nuisance, but too many of them may make it difficult. This would be easier if I had Epona, but I left her behind.”
“Wear this,” Nacie said, pulling a cloak around the Hylian. “I had it wrapped up in my pouch. It will keep you warm, and it looks like its only going to get colder once we get in that temple.”
“Whatever happens, Nacie, stay alive,” Link said, looking to the Gerudo. “Your people need you. Perhaps now, more than ever before.”
Nacie nodded and checked her dagger. “Let us go, then,” she whispered.
Link nodded and began walking along the snow towards the river. The house at he edge of the waters still stood, but, from this side, it was apparent no one had used it in years. Enormous gaps filled the sides of the house, and a fire had consumed the roof.
“Link,” Nacie spoke, awakening the Hylian to reality. “I think we have a problem.”
“What?” Link asked, turning back to the Lake.
“Those,” she answered, pointing to two statues of men holding swords. “Guardians of the Temple.”
“They’re statues,” Link answered. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Then why are they looking like us like that?” Nacie asked.
The eyes of the statues opened, revealing yellow, glowing spheres. The statues, moving as quickly as any living thing swung their swords around in exact, synchronized motions, both ready to strike.
“Nothing ever comes easy, does it?” Link asked
5/7/2002 6:38:28 PM
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