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The Legend Of Zelda The Worlds End Ch. 2
By CarnaRaptor
“May your rest be peaceful, Princess,” Impa whispered as she slid the washcloth along the young woman’s warm forehead. For hours, now, Zelda had thrown her sheets about, letting out loud screams of agony as her nightmares tore at her mind. Impa had slid a potion down her throat to ease the dreams, fearing the Princess may hurt herself.
“Has she calmed?” Rauru the sage of the Temple of Light asked, standing calmly in the moonlight that arched down from the window. “I could feel her anguish even through the barriers of time within the temple of the sages.”
Impa nodded slowly.
“I hope she has the strength of mind and soul that she has shown in the past, Sage of the Shadow Temple,” Rauru spoke, not turning away from the window. “Trying days are ahead. Even you and I cannot give our allegiance to her if what she says is true.”
“It pains my heart to hear such words,” Impa said slowly. “Why must she pay for our trespasses?”
Rauru let out a long, slow sigh. “We knew not the ramifications of what we were doing. It is our foolishness, but she will be strong enough to fight. Even if she cannot win, it will not mean her end, or our own, Sage.”
“But, she will not be alone, will she?” Impa asked.
“That, I do not know,” Rauru answered. “Only time will tell, I suppose.”
Impa pulled the quilt tightly around the Princess and kissed her forehead, as a mother would to her own daughter. “Sleep well, and stay strong.”
“We must hurry, Sage, before the Triforce finds us here,” Rauru whispered. “It has already set into motion the events that are to come.”
Impa walked to the window and looked out at the snowy landscape before her. “A chill runs through the lands unlike any I have ever before felt. Evil surrounds us, and yet, I cannot tell if we are a part of the evil or standing against it.”
“Time has shown, the Triforce, for better or for worse, knows what it is doing. We must follow it and learn from it. Let us go.”
As light engulfed Rauru’s body, Impa looked back one last time at the sleeping Princess. Fighting back the tears, the warrior put her hand to her heart and allowed the purple light to engulf her and transport her away.
~
Deep crimson skies filled the horizon over the now snow-swept deserts of the haunted wastelands in the western-most reaches of the Hylian Kingdom. Where once a great, never-ending sandstorm blew, the cold, crisp air brought peace and serenity.
Link looked out over the vast wastelands, the snows reaching out to the horizon in all directions save one. The sun, only just beginning to peep over the horizon to the east looked over the gates of the Gerudo fortress, now visible thanks to the ceased winds of the wastelands.
The young warrior pulled his brown cloak tightly around his body, desperately trying to keep the chill of the strong winds out. Strands of his blonde hair caught the breeze and blew down into his eyes, and the hood from his cloak didn’t want to stay up as the young Hylian stood next to one of the stone pillars of the Desert Colossus.
“What evil has spread to these lands?” Link whispered to himself.
“The evil of man…of War,” a high screeching sound called out from above. “For one who has traveled the world, as well as time itself, I should think you would now be used to seeing familiar places in unfamiliar conditions.”
The startled Link drew his sword at the first words and spun around, ready to strike. He held his sword at the sight of an enormous owl, precariously perched upon the top of the pillar. “Kaepora Gaebora?” Link asked.
“Ho, ho, hooo!” the owl laughed. “Believed long, have I, that time, run properly, would have taken your memories of my face and my name. It brings me no small pleasure that you have remembered it all!”
“Only barely,” Link muttered, sliding his sword back into the sheath on his back. “You’re the first of any talking owl I’ve run across in my lifetime.”
“And you, sir, are quite the surprise, indeed, ho, ho, hooo!” Gaebora responded. “The Hero of Time, returned to the lands he called home not so long ago! And at the time he is most needed, indeed.”
“I did not simply choose to come here,” Link responded, his warm breath carried away in the air. “I was summoned.”
“Of course, my friend,” Gaebora answered. “But, then, why did you come to here, when your Ocarina is capable of taking you so many places?”
“The Requiem of Spirit is the only song from Hyrule I could remember,” Link answered, as he stroked the side of his pocket, making sure his old, beaten up Ocarina was still there. “Through the years I’ve had to learn so many other songs to help me in my travels, that many have long been forgotten. Why are you here, though, Gaebora?”
Gaebora laughed. “I had hoped that the deserts would be unaffected by the winter’s air that comes from Death Mountain. My wings, nay, even my very heart are chilled from this cold air. I’m afraid I will have to leave Hyrule and find warmth in other regions of the world. Besides, I am not needed for what is to come.”
“For what is to come?” Link asked. “The Goddess Farore spoke to me…mentioned the destruction to come. What was she talking about? And what did you mean earlier by ‘War?”
“Ho, ho, hooo!” the owl responded. “Why, Link, I do not really know what to tell you. You were not really to play any part of the events that are to transpire! The war between the Zora and the Gorons is supposed to be the trial period for Princess Zelda, not for you. I know not why the Goddesses would speak to you.”
“Then, it would seem, more is transpiring than even you know of, Kaepora Gaebora,” Link responded. “I must go to the castle, and talk with Zelda. She will deal with the wars, but I must find out about the Goddesses.”
“I caution you, Hero of Time,” Gaebora responded, “She is not the same Zelda you knew from your memories of the battles with Gannon. This is a different timeline, one in which she was not trained to hide and fight as Sheik. The sight of you may not be an entirely welcome one to those at the castle.”
“I have been gone for some time,” Link said carefully. “I don’t intend to stay long, and it will simply have to be made clear.”
“Well, then, my friend, good journey, and the goddesses bless,” Gaebora said as he flapped his powerful wings and lifted to the air. “This time, you will have no guidance, no special weapons, and no puzzles. You will simply have to fight with strength of mind, heart, and soul.”
The young Hylian waved to the owl as it flew off and headed south, then pulled his hood back up over his head. The searing cold bit harshly at his face as he turned into the wind to walk to the Gerudo Fortress. He was not worried about becoming lost, for the posts were clearly marked, and easily found, now, but, doubt began to etch at his mind: Why was he here? Had Farore’s warning been nothing more than a trick to draw Link away from where he was needed elsewhere? Would the Goddesses really try to destroy all in this world?
Link did not have much time to think, however, as, when he reached the fourth post, the snows began to shift about, and the earth began to tremble.
The white snow piled and flowed out from a point not far from the colossus and the tan sands poured out over the top of the snow as something began to rise from under the grounds.
An arm, longer and larger than the mountainous colossus itself shot out from the hole in the earth and reached down to the ground. It was smooth and sharp, apparently made entirely of ice. The second arm reached out and slammed into the snows, as well, and the spiky hands stabbed into the ground, the arms pulling the creature out from the depths it came.
Spikes ran up its arms and down its back, and the long, sharp nose of the creature was horned with icicles as large as mountains. The creature was similar to a giant, icy Stalchild, except for the fire that came from its eyes.
Link, barely an ant to the size of this creature slowly pulled his sword and shield from his cloak, and looked out of the corner of his eyes for a place to escape to.
The Ice Demon looked down at the young warrior and laughed.
“Your end is now, Hero of Time.”
Link sharpened his eyes and smiled.
~
“You’re late.”
Zelda froze at these words. She had tried to sneak down the stairs and into her chair at the right side of the King without notice, but it was all to no avail.
“I am…sorry, my lord,” Zelda answered with a small bow. All eyes were now on her as she looked up to her father. “I have…have not been well of late.”
“Your health does not concern me, nor does it concern the Kingdom,” the King answered. “Do you think the Zora or the Gorons will simply stop fighting because their Queen is sick?”
“No, father, Impa simply did not w—“
“Do not blame your servants,” the King answered. “If they do not perform their duties, then dispose of them, but do not blame them for your problems.”
“Y—yes, father,” Zelda answered as she walked, her eyes lowered, to her throne. “I am…I am sorry.”
Whispers filled the air of the throne room. Zora, Gorons, and Hylians filled the room, each looking at the Princess with interest and all seemed to be talking about her.
“Order, now!” the Chancellor of Court called out. “We will have Order!”
“Order?” the Zora Ambassador called out. “How can Order be obtained in the Kingdom, if you cannot even keep it here?”
“If you gave the King a chance to bring order, rather than blabbing aloud, maybe they could bring order to the Kingdom!” the Goron Ambassador shouted over the melee of voices.
“I will have silence!” the King shouted, slamming his staff into the ground. A flash of lightning blasted out the end of the staff and hit the ceiling causing part of the marble top to crash to the ground. The room fell silent.
Zelda reached for her temple instinctively, an old pain suddenly flaring up. The memories of that staff were not fond for the young girl.
“Very well, now,” the King called out. “Hyrule will not side with either Kingdom! We will no longer tolerate your wars spilling out into our lands! End the snows and the ice storms, and the Zora will dry the mountainous regions, or we will declare war on both sides!”
“A threat you cannot carry out,” the Zora yelled. “Your own people are not certain whether or not to trust you!”
“My own people?” the King laughed. “I am afraid you are quite mistaken, Rine, my people respect their King, and they will go to war if I ask them to!”
“What of the child?” the Goron asked. “The one? Do you think they will simply forget the prophecies? Do you believe they will follow a King that they know is destined to fall?”
The King looked at his advisors, none of which had spoken of a child that morning. “What do you speak?” the King asked. “What child has been born?”
A small laughter filled the hall. “The King knows not even what the rumors of his people are?” Rine asked. “A child was born last night. She had the mark of the Triforce upon her arm. She is the child of the prophecies.”
Zelda looked to her father, unsure of what the group was talking about. His face was bright red with anger.
“This is all rubbish,” the King answered. “There is no child that will overthrow us, the people love us! If I call them to war, then they will rally around me! Because of this news, however, the court must adjourn so we may discuss planning! Advisors, dukes, meet me in my chambers!”
“What prophecies do they speak of, Duggan?” Zelda asked, standing and looking to the old man next to her throne.
Duggan smiled and patted the Princess’s hand. “Tis nothing to worry about, my child. These prophecies are always overblown. Come, we must meet in the chambers.”
Zelda looked out at the throne room as the Zora and Gorons turned to speak to their own peoples. “I hope you’re right,” she whispered. “We don’t need any more problems, Duggan.”
~
The demon thrust its clenched fists straight down at the warrior, trying to finish him off in one shot. Link flipped backwards, almost losing his balance in the snow, then darted forward, jumping to the top of the beast’s hands
Link reached back with his sword, another ‘legendary’ blade from a distant land he had used to kill a great demon that had tried to kill the Empress of those lands. With all the strength he could muster, he slammed the blade down into the icy fingers of the creature, cutting off two of the fingers of the beast.
Shards of ice fell with Link to the snow below, two almost cutting into him.
The beast laughed as it held up its hand. Two new fingers grew in place of the missing digits.
“You can hack away all winter long, Hero, but you will find that I am not so easily defeated.”
The creature clenched its fists, shooting icicles out of its knuckles straight down at the young Hylian. Link stuck his back leg hard into the ground, raised his shield and withstood the onslaught of shards.
“Think, think!” Link screamed inside his head. He reached down into his pouches, trying to find any leftover items he could use. His fingers pulled out two heavy bombs, all he had left besides three arrows.
The creature took two large steps around the small man, violently shaking the ground as he moved. The fire in his eyes had grown stronger, and he reached back with his large arms, readying himself to punch down on the little creature.
Link lit the two bombs and threw them across the snow at the demon’s legs. They blew before it threw its punch, shattering both legs of the creature and sending it crashing to the ground below.
The snow for miles around jumped into the air, re-shifting the wind-drifts and causing tremors that could be felt throughout the kingdom. Link darted forward after picking himself up and pulled out a small diamond with an orange flame within.
Already, even as Link ran across the icy back of the enormous demon, the legs were re-growing, icy shards jutting out from the hips of the massive creature. Link reached up and slammed his fist down, the magic of the diamond vial blasting heat out in every direction. Din’s Fire melted the ice in a huge sphere, instantly evaporating the ice to water all around the young Hylian. However, instead of destroying the beast, a wave of fire belted out from the heart of the creature and exploded, sending parts of the demon everywhere, as well as shooting Link’s body across the snows, landing hard near what once was the river of sand.
Link looked up as icy shards began shooting into the air. Already, the creature was pulling itself back together. The young Hylian wiped away the blood from a cut by his eye with his sleeve and painfully pulled himself up. His sword was gone, his shield had cracked, and nothing left but three arrows with which to take down and enemy he knew not what weakness it had, if it had any at all.
Link turned and looked at a podium, not far away, from which two blazing purple fires roared. The warrior pulled his bow from his back and rushed across the once shifting river of sand to the podium, and idea racing through his mind.
~
“Long, have the Oracles and Sages of past talked of a child who will lead Hyrule to an age of peace unknown in history,” the Chancellor began, reading from his texts. His eyepiece made his right eye look way too big for his head, and it continued to cover with frost from the sheer cold of the room. “A golden age will come, as the evils of all lands, the world over will be destroyed in the great wars that will see the fall of Kingdoms and the rise of Heros. The Goddesses themselves will play hands in bringing true law to the world, letting those they deem worthy and just live and enjoy the peace of the realms, while the infidels, they will sacrifice.”
Zelda looked up from the floor of the chamber, across the long room to the Chancellor. Flowers still hung from the ceiling, and the soft smell of their essence filled the room, despite the frigid temperatures.
“They believe this child has been born?” the King asked. “Why? Why now?”
“A child was born last night with the mark of the Triforce upon her arm,” one of the advisors announced. “There were no doubts from the priests. She is the chosen child.”
“Now would be a sensible time, my lord,” another advisor spoke. “Wars are beginning to wear away at the lands. Ever since the Gerudo declared war on the Zora four years ago, the lands have yet to find peace. One nation or another has been at war, and word from the outside realms is, no matter how much the people of the world fight, more evil continues to swell in.”
“But we are so close,” the King answered. “We have almost found peace between the peoples, if only we could end the wars between the Zora and the Gorons. Can we not stop this from happening? Can we delay it?”
“Should we?” the Princess found herself calling out. Quickly her hand covered her mouth and she looked away from the furious face of her father to the ground, once again.
“Perhaps, my lord, if I may, the Princess may well be right,” Duggan spoke up. “This girl will lead us to a golden age. This does not mean she will take over. If we protect her, even help her, perhaps we will be among the just.”
“And let the hands of fate decide, when you, the most powerful King in all of the lands of the planet can simply decide your own fate?” a harsh, older voice called out.
Zelda looked up to the doorway, where, standing tall and smiling broadly, a gray-bearded, black-armored Knight stood, wrapped in his gray cloak.
“Who are you, and what do you think you are doing in my chambers?” the King demanded.
“Excuse me, my lord, for my name is Bishop,” the tall man said with a bow. “And, you need not fear, for I will do you no harm. Would I want you dead, you already would be, but I am a hero. Here to save the world from the destruction of these so called ‘Goddesses.”
“And, my dear Bishop,” the King responded, “As a hero, what would you do?”
“Simple, my lord,” Bishop answered. “The child is a soldier of the ‘Goddesses.’ She, like any enemy soldier, must be hunted down and destroyed. If she is destroyed, then how can she lead this world into an age without the Hylian King?”
The King, to Zelda’s horror, smiled. “Please, good Sir Bishop, have a seat at the table, I would like to talk with you some more.”
~
Link limped up the stairs, the snows beginning to pick up as the demon flailed its arms about, causing great winds about the wastelands. Icy shards flung from its body in every direction as the creature looked in vain for the young Hylian.
The warm cloak that had covered his worn body was lost in the winds, and all his weapons were useless, save his bow and three small arrows. The cold was beginning to seep through his tunic and white, inner clothing, and his fingers were becoming numb.
“The goddesses, if on my side you be, hear my voice now, and guide my strength today,” the warrior whispered as he pulled himself painfully to the top of the pillar. The roaring fires on top were not full of heat, just as Link had figured, but were fires of ice, held by magic from an unknown source.
“My sword is lost, my shield is broken, though my will is neither, for my aim will be true with you by my side,” Link continued, his voice almost sounding as though he chanting.
Link set the arrow in the string and pulled back as he sat down, one leg tucked under his body and aimed through the fire at the creature. His numb fingers and fading sight made the task difficult, but the Hylian knew that he could not miss his first shot.
“Guide my arrow,” he whispered, and let go of the string.
The arrow sailed through the air, the head ablaze with the purple fires of the podium through which they had passed, across the fields and struck dead center in the left eye of the great ice demon.
The creature roared in agony and flailed its arms about, ice ripping into the desert as the purple fire turned the fiery red eye to ice, and putting out its sight.
Link smiled, though he hurried with the next arrow, for, he knew he had given away his position with the shot. He pulled back on the string as the Demon turned and began rushing towards the podium, icicles flying through the air at the elf, and let the second arrow fly.
The arrow was swatted away in mid air by the demon, knowing what Link was trying to do, and in three large steps, the creature was standing over Link, looking down with its great fists raised, ready to strike.
Link, in a move that defied sight, swung his remaining arrow through the purple fire and fired it from his bow directly into the remaining eye of the beast.
The creature froze solid, forever stuck where he stood, a wooden arrow sticking out from the cube of ice where his eye once was.
Link turned and began walking away from the beast, but the cold did what the demon could not. The Hylian’s eyes rolled back, and the young man fell from the podium to the snow, his unconscious body overtaken by the cold.
Just before Link’s eyes rolled up, he thought he had seen cloaked figures making their way through the snow towards the podium, but then, the cold was so overwhelming, even in sleep, he felt he must have been dreaming.
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5/5/2002 9:19:27 PM
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