Legend of Zelda: Book of Mobius

Reading something. —Remembering something someone “said” or did.— Thinking Sensing something ‘Reno hearing something from far away’
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Link jerked awake, a cry caught in the back of his lean throat. Whether it was from rage, fear, pain or shock; the teen was clueless. The dream burst into sandy shards, dissipating the in soft winds to soar to the star studded sky. The stolen Malon, a dapple grey gelding with a pitch mane and tail, who Link hadn’t bothered naming sighed nearby; a mere silhouette against the brightly lit sky. A delicate ear flicked towards the filcher and away, no longer concerned.

Reno was out pacing the grounds, the teen was sure. The kit took on patrolling the grounds at night for Unknowns while Link rested. During the day, the fox was more silent than usual, a thoughtful and faraway expression clear even on the alien face. Link had no idea what was going on behind those large violet eyes, but weren’t nearly as clear and open as they had been before.

It made the thief less inclined to share the tangled mess he’d gleamed from the ruins of Dolstrol and the last paragraph of the book.

The hero’s name was Link.

Two other Links, unconnected, had existed. The one in the portrait of Dolstrol wasn’t the one from the Book. The one in the Book was a Knight of Hyrule and spent most of his time pleasing a spoiled princess. The one in the ruins of Dolstrol had been one of high standing and had lacked the hard look of discipline.

If anything, the Dolstrol Link had been a bored twit.

How many other Links had passed through time? How many had been puppets of Ganon? How long would it continue? Did they all look like him? Perhaps the correct way to phrase that would be: did he look like them? How could he go about finding out?

Link squeezed his eyes shut, trying to shut out the torrent of questions. He knew one to discover the answers. Ganon was the key figure in the entire twisted mess.

His fingers brushed against the hat as he swept his bangs in an impatient gesture. That’s why he hated headgear: it stopped him from fidgeting with his hair. He’d always been vain about his hair and had dyed it only out of necessity. Now he couldn’t touch it all.

The lanky teen shifted, tucking an arm under his head and opening his eyes in defeat. He’d pushed hard to make it as far as he did today. He judged to be nearly a fourth of the way to the Yards. He wasn’t going to drive the blasted horse as hard as he did the bull. He planned to keep the beast alive so he could use it if he needed to again.

His left hand reached out, brushing over the sword hilt first and the bow beside it next, taking comfort in the cold metal. He’d left Kakariko before the ghost of dawn could give birth to its true colors. His traveling clothes had been cleaned and left folded with four potions on top. The only thing Tris couldn’t save was the leather breeches: they were no longer black, but had been stained an ash grey.

Link had left behind a letter for Darmon, one he didn’t remember writing and barely remembered reading. It’d been a terse update on the town. The bare bones of news and hopes that he was well and the teen could only assume he’d answered in kind. He’d never been one for writing because his talents lay elsewhere.

Chris had offered a collapsible fishing rod, which Link dubiously accepted if only to quiet the chattering fool. At least the rod had a chance to be useful. It was better than the advice of where to use the Paradox Converter.

—“Eeeeh…You’ll know when to use it.” The tall man said after a moment, nodding wisely. Link’s twitch threatened to return.

“That’s it?” Link growled. “There has to be some way to know!”

“Use your rabbit senses. My squirrel ones have helped me immensely since returning.” Chris advised with a smile. The blonde nearly had an apoplexy.—

Leaving had been easier and he was actually looking forward to what he’d find in the Yards. The sooner he faced off Ganon, the better. He had no doubt that everyone would be pleased with his efforts, lavishing him with praise and rupees. The images were sweet and Link let his eyes shut to concentrate on them more.

The visions kept the discomforting dreams at bay, allowing the blonde to drift into a restful sleep.
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Link awoke on the fifth day, bad tempered and groggy in the weak pre-dawn light. Humidity made the air thick, the chocking scent of the marsh almost too strong to the delicate nose. Reno had stayed close in the night, forfeiting patrol since the land was more likely to swallow the fox in a single misstep.

The terrain began to change on the third day of travel, bright green dulling into drab olive. Where lush grass once spread, patches of dry, brittle weeds rose from grey earth. Dust floated listlessly into the balmy air at every thud of the dapple-gray’s hooves. No life dwelled within range of the traveling teen.

The fourth day, the thief had to keep his eyes sharp on the ground. Bits and pieces of the land were proving to be pits of mud. A cloying scent of decaying plants and the tang of metal tainted the winds from the south. Link was hard pressed to find solid by the day’s end. Blue-green moss coated over the sink pits, effectively masking it to the unwary.

Black storm clouds crowded the sky, flashes of lightening flaring in the distance. The blonde winced, not looking forward to the potentially soggy day ahead. Trees rose in the distance, barely taking form in the dim light. Great expanses of shallow water cut through the poor grass and shrubbery.

The thief stretched to warm the cold, cramped muscles. Damp clung to clothing and skin, softening the leather of the bridle and his gear. Fire was a distant dream, for dry anything didn’t exist in the stinking marsh beyond the small patch of earth. The horse snorted tiredly, shaking the large head in bother. The long legs were coated in the muck up past the knees.

The blonde gave a groaned while putting the tack back on the beast. He mounted up, dragging his body onto the bare back. He settled just behind the withers before taking the reins in his hand while Reno clamored onto his shoulder. The pair was silent as Link turned the quiet dapple-grey towards the distant Yards.

They sloshed through the muck till noon, the trees started to thicken drastically, three buildings had survived the Shift rising high above them. Thin trails of smoke soared above what was left of the Yards like a beacon. The stagnant water brushed the horse’s belly and Link kept his long legs tucked up just enough to avoid getting wet and not losing his seat. The thief dozed, the beast moving by instinct through the shallow areas without deviating too much from the course.

The thief woke a few hours later at a bothered snort from the horse. Storm-blue eyes blinked lazily, taking in his surroundings and wondering if he was still dreaming. Silver and copper twisted with the massive trees that blocked the sky. Leaves tinged milky jade sang a metallic tune when the wind disturbed them. The true bark of the trees ranged from ash to black, olive moss and streaks of glowing gold sap giving a striking contrast to the precious metal that twined about it.

The constant tick of clockwork filled the air, though Link couldn’t be sure if it was coming from the trees or somewhere else. Steam hissed through the cracks between wood and metal of the trees every few heartbeats. The great plants seemed to lean closer to the travelers as they passed. Link rested his hand on the hilt over his shoulder, ready to draw at the first sign of hostilities. The trees offered none, seeming only to be curious of the strangers passing in their midst.

The muddy ground sucked and clutched at the horse’s hooves, the foliage making it impossible to see past the trail the dapple kept them on. Rusted barbed wire and cables wove throughout the vines, the plants leaking black ichor from the never healing wounds. Shrubs were decorated with glass and shreds of thick cloth. Metal glinted all around him and it took a moment for Link’s tired mind to understand.

The entire city with the exception of a few buildings had been reduced to the stinking swamp. Link couldn’t help but notice that the two buildings that soared above the unnatural forest belonged to former Malo Enterprise. One was a factory still billowing out dark smoke with rust streaking the stack akin to bloody tears. The other was the where the first office he’d broken into dwelled.

Reno made a sound of awe at his back. They didn’t speak, though they both tensed as the vines grated and groaned. The plants were always moving, coiling and shifting like thousands of snakes. The thief peered behind him, blood running cold at the sight. Their back trail had been blocked. The great, arching roots of the trees had tangled and woven together. The grinding hiss at his back was the trees actually moving to effectively block his way out.

“A whore in church…” he whispered, eyes growing wide as the fine, damp hairs along his arms fought to stand. He was stuck.

Again.

“Damnit.”

Reno growled in agreement, pressing closer to the teen’s neck for comfort. Link pulled his sword free, letting the reins drop the beast’s neck since it couldn’t go anywhere but forward. He shifted his seat carefully, prepared to abandon the gelding if he had to.

The fine hairs along Link’s flesh stood on end, the sense of the marsh being alive far more prominent than before. He could feel eyes locked on his form. The sense that a figure breathed down his neck increasing with each steady step the gelding took.

The horse had no issues following the path that curved and shifted with every plodding stride. They’d left the muck and now traveled on hard packed, dry earth. The thief narrowed the azure orbs, seeing a large tree with limbs hanging long enough to brush the ground. Thicker branches were buried deep in the earth, seemingly supporting the massive tree.

Discomfort wove through the teen’s veins. He didn’t want anything to do with the approaching clearing. The tree was on the far edge of it, but still imposing despite the distance. Link reined in the gelding before it could step into the open area.

Nothing moved, but it didn’t raise any confidence that nothing awaited him. The groan of vines and metal twisting against another announced that their escape was closing whether he wanted it to or not.

The ground shivered and trembled beneath the thick black hooves. The gelding jerked his head, not enjoying the sensation at all. He pranced into the clearing, feeling the rider gather and leap off the back before the buried limbs shot from the ground to skewer the poor beast in his tracks.

The dying scream from the gelding made the teen’s flesh crawl. Link turned and swept his blade out, ripping through the spearing branches easily where to sprouted from the earth. Wincing since it was too late to save his ride, the filcher turned his attention back to his current problem.

The Kira-ki’s limbs were flailing about menacingly, striking the ground on either side of the teen. Link jerked and jumped from the deadly appendages, cutting them down with his blade when they hesitated after hitting the ground. Cursing and spitting as he tried to find a safe place to retreat and plan.

The Kira-ki’s reach was too long and made that hope impossible. Link pulled off his shield, raising it just in time to absorb the shock of a nasty blow. His shoulder roared a breath before going numb, the shield dropping a little. The cerulean eyes widened at the ebony streak rushing towards him, the thief jerking his head back in response.

Pain seared his forehead, burning chasing the sudden sensation of blood flowing freely against his skin. Link fell backwards, sweeping his blade up and managing to severe the next reaching limb before it could do any damage. Shield arm near useless, the blonde back pedaled, breath coming in hard gasps of panic and pain.

“UNDER YOU!” Reno warned, though Link couldn’t pinpoint where the fox was hiding.

The lanky teen rolled, shield left behind and blood burning his eyes as it poured from the wound. Scrambling to his feet and shaking the blood from his bangs and eyes, he clipped another limb at Reno’s instruction. He no longer thought of where to move, body reacting easily to the fox’s called instructions.

The almost crippling fear receded to levels he’d grown accustomed to handling. He took advantage of the lull of emotion and thought, eyeing the tree and the surrounding area through flailing limbs. The glint of clockwork was visible in the depths of a knot the size of Link’s hand. Dim memories of destroying the clockwork armor by jamming the gears surfaced through chaotic thoughts.

I could jam the sword in there, but I want the curst thing in one piece! The clawshot is chains and won’t do much good…boomerang is wood and the arrows are light metal and wouldn’t hold. Ducking and rolling at Reno’s command, the teen paused long enough to scoop up his shield. The next strike numbed his arm once more, but he held the shield fast. Bombs!

“Going in!” The thief yelled in triumph as he hitched the shield on his back and sliding under a thick branch. His bruised and battered muscles tensed, energy dragged from somewhere deep inside as he exploded into movement.

Link wove through the flailing limbs, boots digging deep into the ground. His calves bunched and released, straining to move him faster than the clockwork tree. The whip thin limbs whizzed past his flesh. The wind actually cut his skin, blood blooming along the thin slits. He yanked a bomb from the bag on his hip, jumping over a sweeping appendage and ducking under the next.

He ripped off the striker with his teeth, the fuse sparking to life. He jammed his hand into the clawshot as he shoved the bomb into the gapping hole in the trunk. Side-stepping a snapping branch, Link barely took the time to aim the clawshot before pulling the trigger.

His body flew from the tree’s reach, releasing the trigger and rolling to a stop. Scrambling on all fours, the teen braced his back against a tree that isolated the Kira-ki’s clearing. Holding the shield before him, the blonde hunched as much as possible as the bomb exploded.

The shock wave from the blast slammed him hard against the tree. Debris pounded against the shield, pain erupting in his calves and thighs that couldn’t fit behind the barrier. Harsh rasping roared in his ears over the high pitched ringing. He felt something warm trickle down his ear and throat but merely peeked over the top of his shield.

Kira-ki was nothing but a twisted stump of twisted metal and gears. The clearing’s surrounding trees now bowed outward from the strength of the wave. The blonde looked around curiously before he realized the halting thunder he heard was his breathing. A curious ringing accompanied it, blocking out the rest of the world.

He reached up slowly and touched his throat, fingers coming away with scarlet stains. He blinked and fell back, his legs screaming in pain. Shards of metal protruded from the muscles, the blood staining the ashy leather.

Link knew he needed to heal. He couldn’t take the potion without removing the metal first. The tree hadn’t ashed, which was troubling. Would the potion heal the shards as a part of him? It was a disturbing though, to look Shifted when he wasn’t.

He grabbed onto the largest pieces, sweaty fingers slipping a moment before finding purchase. He yanked it free, head spinning in pain as blood flowed freely.

He took deep breaths, leaning against the tree at his back. Sparks erupted in his vision as he felt and removed another with a deft pull. The azure eyes were feverish as they flicked to the sky that was barely visible between the branches twined. He methodically removed the larger pieces, howling in pain after each one.

He nearly swooned; eyes’ fluttering after the sixth piece was freed. There was no more breath to scream, though his raw throat worked despite it. He couldn’t bring his hand up to try to find the next shard. A weak gasp mustered what remained of his resolve. He finally reached up once more, surprised when his hands only encountered torn leather and gritty blood.

The cerulean eyes slowly lowered, relief rushing when he saw what remained of the tree had finally ashed. Relief was nearly as heady as the pain, eyes rolling up for a moment as he fought the urge to allow the darkness to swallow him.

Whimpering, the teen stretched out his legs as he wrestled with the bottle of potion on his hip. He worked the cork free with his thumb, pouring half the concoction down his throat. After a gasping breath, he tilted the bottle so the rest followed. Tingling rushed through his body, the muscles of his legs twitching madly as the wounds sealed.

His head burst, colored fire dancing before his eyes. The hissing tick of the forest filled his long ears once more, he blood fizzing and popping in his veins. The respite was fleeting, because soon his stomach rebelled. Link flopped to the forest floor, bile roiling through his just healed throat to spill on the dirt.

A cold sweat broke over his skin, his muscles beginning to spasm. His mind couldn’t string together a coherent thought, the last of the contents of his stomach dribbling from his lips. Teeth began to chatter, eyes rolling as he shivered and shook wildly. Air refused to enter his lungs, no matter how desperately he tried to drag it in.

The blonde’s body continued to jerk and seize, time losing meaning as darkness finally swamped him.
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Reno sat beside the teen’s body, coming out of hiding in the tree when the tree finally ashed. The redhead wondered if he should be ashamed of his behavior. The thought of leaving Link behind to deal with the Unknown had actually occurred to him. Hidden and safe, the fox had mulled over his options before finally deciding it was better to stick with the teen. He’d listened to the ordered cried by the Unknowns and felt the in his bones what the Kira-ki would do next and relayed it to Link.

Tucking his front paws beneath the metal and flesh chest, Reno decided it didn’t much matter either way. The rational, or one might call practical, part of his brain pointed out that he was normally more of a hindrance than help in fights. It was that same part of him that pointed out that there wasn’t much reason in fretting over the blonde when he was still breathing, never mind how long the teen had been sleeping.

He’s emptied his stomach, he has. The fox thought as he watched another dry heave wrack the lanky thief’s body. The soft triangles picked up on the saliva gurgling harmlessly at the back of the straining throat. Else I’d worry he’d drown on his own breakfast, the crazy jock.

The kit’s tails drummed on the ground in a thoughtful matter, jagged bolts streaking through the black clouds crowding the sky. Thunder cracked and shuddered the air barely a blink after. The sharp little ears flick in distaste, but offered no other reaction beyond that.

The air was crowded with the hissing laughter of Unknowns. It mingled with the chiming click of the forest, but the fox easily put it from his mind. He’d been haunted by the chatter since they began to approach the twisted wood. He’d kept silent, trying to find the source.

The voice whispered and crooned as if murmured by a crazed man at all angles. No beginning or end, the words lay just on the side of undecipherable until they’d been led to the Kira-ki. They circled the travelers and distracted the violet-eyed fox. Strangely enough, no real worry touched the fox at the mystery presented.

The tails flicked once more, little black nose working to take in the scents.

Link began to stir, drawing the fox from his musing for a moment. The lids revealed murky azure eyes, mouth closing slowly and smacking to gather moisture. The long face was covered with vomit, snot, tears, blood and spit. He gave a weak groan and rolled onto his side, looking at the kit miserably.

“How long I been out?” He asked tiredly.

Reno remained quiet, violet eyes unreadable as he watched the teen. Relief welled up and the fox let out a sigh as something eased. He’d been dispassionate about the loss of life since the siege. Death was never a stranger to Reno’s life. It happened on the Lower Levels all the time. Sometimes peaceful like and others violent and sudden, like the one that took both of his parents when a robbery went bad and the Provost burned them.

At the ruins he hadn’t had a chance to know the orphans, seeing as he spent most of his nights chasing the Unknowns to bring back information and his days sleeping. Their deaths hadn’t been of much consequence. Again, his practical self told him that those lives were fleeting at most and not worth tears.

He’d shed them over the remains of the Gorons left to smolder in a mountain of fire. Quietly, after he’d been safe sleeping beside Link as he healed.

What that meant, the fox wasn’t interested enough to delve too deeply into. He felt some affection for Trisana. Amused tolerance for Chris Houlihan and grudging respect for Errol and Monk. He no longer felt the urges to wander about the Lower Levelers. A familiar, yet new wariness replaced friendliness he’d once felt for the guards. Then there was Link.

His hate for the thief had not lessened, but it had not grown. It was a constant companion, along with Ganondorf’s call in the back of his mind. It clashed and lost against the simple affection the boy held for the young man.

“A couple hoursh.” He finally answered, licking the long nose gently. Link made a face and pulled away, touching his face gently with a grimace at the fluids caking it.

“Uugh.” The filcher managed, pushing his body up with his arms slowly. “Whot ‘appeened?”

“Dunno.” Reno replied truthfully, his brow knitting since he had his suspicions but didn’t know if he should share them. The distant, disquieting emotions had settled and he felt more assured now that the blonde was awake. They could get moving and save the zora engineer and be done with the whole mess. The Voice would drive him mad, he was sure. “Ya okay?”

“Meh. I’ll live…but…not happily…I think.” He muttered and the fox’s ears flicked at the uncertain tone. Link sounded sloshed, as if he couldn’t quite think straight. The lanky thief cleared his throat with a wince.

“Better grub. Ya’ve yacked yer belly clear.” Reno advised with a panting laugh. The thief groaned in answer, as if it was the last thing on his mind to put something back in.

“Tha horse?”

“Dead shtill.” The fox informed him, sounding amused that the teen would bother to ask.

“Cripes. I have tha worst luck with tha beasts.” Link moaned and seemed more upset that transportation had been lost than anything else.

Reno decided it would be wise not to reply.
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“Curst Unknowns!” Link roared into the air, jamming his hands into his clawshots. “Leave me BE!”

Link had visibly lost all patience. The fox was surprised that he couldn’t hear the crack as his tolerance snapped and the long face twisted in rage. Clinging onto the teen’s shoulder as he shuffled through the thigh deep water to gain a better stance as he crossed his arms over his chest, clawshots aimed at the advancing swamp lizard clockwork Unknowns

The twin clawshots attached to the Unknowns, the beasts barely noticed as they were advancing on the trapped teen. The thief began to reel them in, finally gaining their notice. They thrashed as they were yanked from the water to skim its surface. Link released the claws after a few seconds; hooking the clawshots back onto his belt and taking a step back to avoid the heavy collision he instigated. He stepped forward and drew his sword and carved the top half of the crushed mass completely off with a careless stroke. They dusted as the blade slid through, their remains floating idly on the muck’s surface.

The teen panted for a moment, looking about the filthy water for something to lean against. Reno adjusted his weight on the unsteady shoulders, watching the blonde with perked up ears. They had been trudging through the stagnant water for nearly three hours. The Unknowns had attacked halfway across, forcing Reno to take part in distracting them until Link devised a plan.

It wouldn’t had been so bad if ‘distracting’ hadn’t been Reno jumping on top of yawning maws and lead them on a merry chase. If he’d had any say in the matter, he’d been safe on the sidelines. The Voice had earned the fox’s enmity when it had put the redhead in danger.

“We’re alone?” The thief asked, dark eyes flicking about the water to ensure the stillness. Reno made a sound of affirmative, wondering over Link’s sudden strength.

Even with the swamp lizards’ weight to counter each other and Link as the anchor, the blonde shouldn’t have been able to stand the strain. Better yet, Reno should have felt the strain as he sat on the teen’s shoulder. His arms should have been pulled from their sockets, sweat slicking his skin or groans of stress and pain slipping free. Link was exhausted, but he’d been fighting for the past two hours. Steady fights, just enough to keep him busy and make it hard to advance.

Reno was glad he had bullied Link into eating after the Kira-ki. They had held their breath, both visibly pleased when the teen managed to keep the cheese and hard biscuits down. The sky opened up not long after, soaking the teen within a few beats of the downpour. The only good thing was that the blonde could finally clean his face of the congealed fluids that resisted his earlier efforts. Reno flattened his body down on the teen’s shoulder, his fur soaking up the water better than a sponge and dampening his spirits. It drizzled to nothing thirty minutes later and started up sporadically since then, making traveling less than comfortable for the pair.

The dry ground worked better than his fur, taking the wetness deep and holding firm. The trees had thinned out, the wall of vines creating the passages and eventually forcing them into them into the swamp.

“If I didn’ know better. I’d think this place was trying to kill me!” Link growled after a moment, jamming his sword back into the sheath and trudging towards the exit. It was a few hundred yards ahead. “More than usual, I mean…”

“You’ve alwayzz been shooo loved.” Reno replied dryly, claws flexing to find purchase in the mail just under the canvas tunic. The clouds chose that moment to add their own opinion; drops making a whispering shush against the pool’s surface. The kit’s ears flattened in distaste. “Or not.”

The blonde grunted in agreement, sword hand clenching the hilt as he worked his way towards shore. He was, in Reno’s opinion, making better time than he had a right to considering the shape the thief was in.

“Right.” Reno murmured, ear flicked towards the disturbance in the water. It seemed that the swamp lizards were taking to stealth instead of an outright attack. Even the Voice was silent, the anticipation thick in the air.

Link drew his blade, not ceasing the steady rhythm of churning strides. The four tails thrummed gently against the teen’s back, slowly stilling as the Unknown swam closer. There was only a breathe of hesitation from the thief before the sword rasped free and was jammed into the muck.

The water churned chaotically, a metal tail flicking spray until Link gave a deft twist and turned it to dust. The sodden fur on the fox’s back tried to lift and he cried out a warning as a metallic bird swoops from the branches, wicked talons extended. The thief twisted his torso, yanking his sword from the mud. He swept it up, cutting the Unknown in half before it could strike the fox.

The pair panted as Link began his hasty shuffle towards the shore once more, leaving growled obscenities in his wake.

Reno didn’t feel much more beyond relief as safety grew closer. He doesn’t even thank Link, not that the teen even notices. The fox can’t believe how powerful the blonde has gotten and can’t help but question where he got it.

Or what Link will do with it.
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Link crashed through the ruins of the twisted metal and vegetation that had been dictating his moves nearly from the first time he stepped into the cursed swamp. Solid ground was a blessing, but the teen was tired of being led around by the nose. His muscles burned with fatigue, but not enough to slow him down. No more, he wasn’t going to be a placid mudlark anymore!

His anger melted as he stepped into a clear grassy area that had obviously been a child’s playground. It was strange, but he didn’t feel much point into holding onto it much. Peace teased the edges of his thoughts and Link let it sink into his troubled mind. It was a soothing balm and he could finally think clearly for the first time in ages.

His boots squelched on the barely solid ground. Grass brushed his thighs, clinging to the muck that encased his thighs and leaving streaks of darkness against the bright green. Rain still drizzled down, though it seemed gentler in the place he’d found. More comforting than a hindrance, whispering against the grass and making the unused Jungle Toy glisten in the weak light.

In spite of the Shift and desolation of the Yards, nothing on the playground is rusted or falling apart. The metal is spotless as if new, the swing seats still intact and moving listlessly. The clearing remained unaffected by the trappings of time.

“‘Where time hath no hold’…” Link quoted quietly.

A gentle sigh caused the teen to look down at the fox. The wet triangles were flat against the wedge head, eyes filled with relief. The violet gaze flicked up and seemed to soften at the question held in the blue eyes.

“Shilenshe.” The kit breathed, settling on his haunches. The blonde gave a brief smile since the sounds of the clockwork swamp seemed to disappear. Mayhap it was the sounds and voices of the Unknowns the fox spoke of.

I’ll know when to use it, huh? Cripes. Who’d’ve thought that cracked nut would be right? Link thought with a tired sigh. The thief trudged forward, shrugging the pack off his back without disturbing the other gear.

The Paradox Converter seemed lighter than usual in the weapon-scarred fingers. Link stopped before a tall slide, his instincts settling into place. Everything seemed to click and he let another sigh loose. The handles unhinged and he gave a deft twist, his mind lost in memories not his own.

The rain stilled and he was in the world of unearthly beauty and purity. His chest burned, but he couldn’t name why. Yearning and trepidation made his blood thick and movements slow. Beneath his dirty boots was stone that shimmered with warmth from the loving light from above. The smut from his boots left darkness upon the pureness, making him want to weep.

A small pedestal with the Triforce etched into its face a mere step away. Mist dwelled in the world around him, the only clear spot being where the shaft of light burned it to nothing to strike against the stone platform.

Taking his hands from the Paradox Converter to leave it to hover, he drew the blade in a tranquil motion. The song of the curious steel erupted in the air, amplifying in the fog instead of being swallowed. He twirled the blade in his hand; eyes locked on the pedestal as he moved carefully around the Converter and took aim. Holding the hilt between both hands, he slammed the blade into the raised stone.

Hot, bright light flared when the blade sank home. Color rushed back into the cross-guard, becoming a deep purple and the obsidian jewel that topped the pommel glowed yellow. He felt, more than saw, the Triforce of his hand flare into life in answer. Energy flowed up the long arm and touched something deep in the teen’s mind.

Peace and comfort was overwhelming, causing the blue eyes to shut as tranquility eased into his limbs. The blade no longer slept in his grip, but was gloriously alive. The images continued to flare behind the lids, melting into his reality. It was many eyes opening at once, taking in scenery from different times in unison. He was every hero that existed and every hero that would come.

Master Sword.

The name came to him, unbidden. Evil’s Bane. The blade of the Hero of Time, whom had ironically, been forgotten by its heedless march.

The sword slid from the stone, the blade maintaining a silver shimmer from being encased in the stone. Power coursed through the weapon, tickling his palm through the leather. Link jabbed the sword into the air, the tip piercing through the current reality and into the original.

Clockwork screamed and steam hissed, the Paradox Converter unable to operate with the sudden influx of magic. The barrier fell, the Converter crunching sharply as it imploded into a lumpy mass of gears and metal plates.

The world Link knew flashed into view, sunlight breaking through the clouds for a moment to kiss the beloved blade. The light was swallowed once more, Link tucking the Master Sword back in its sheathe.

Reno stood before him, violet eyes watching with a certain amount of calculation and pride. The four tails flicked only once before the fox gave a shallow nod and turning back to the path Link had carved.
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Link found no more patience to be calmly herded through the swamps. He ripped through the vines and metal with little effort. The mire seemed to have little patience for the attitude and wasn’t passive.

The vines, trees and tangled metal cables whipped out in retaliation. The pipes and vines lashed out randomly, easily pacified by the newly charged blade in the scarred hands. In effect, the blonde was actively fighting the clockwork Unknowns that dwelled in the passages and the maze at the same time.

Half finished clockwork was propelled from wide ducts, aimed with more accuracy than they had a right for. Link paid it all little more attention than to ensure it didn’t become anything other than a hindrance. He continued a steady path towards the still operational factory; the smoke stacks still spewing smut the signal.

The thief broke into the courtyard before the building that had once housed Malo Enterprise’s president, Gorman. It was the first place he’d broken into when he’d arrived in the Yards forever ago. It looked very much the same as when he’d first slipped past the guards and into a frustratingly clean office.

There weren’t guards now. The entire bog at his back seemed to have fallen into silence, drawing away from the factory. The rain had even ceased to fall, the sky still an angry grey over their heads. It worried the teen. He felt like he was walking into a trap. He even had trouble remembering why he came into the blasted swamp to begin with.

Oh, yes. Something about a zora engineer getting lost in the mire looking for parts of some sort. He hadn’t seen hide, nor hair of another living beast that wasn’t fully metal in the entire living maze. He doubted that the zora was still around, if it was ever there at all.

Link stared at the doors, mistrusting the sudden calm that reigned about him. Twinges of pain from wounds he’d never noticed flared to life. His ribs gave a twinge from a blow from a thrown Unknown he couldn’t quite dodge. There were probably a couple of cracked ones knowing his luck. Scarred fingers brushed over them gently, wondering if he should heal with a quick gulp from the potion.

Grimacing, he decided to chance a quick healing. His luck had seemed to really hit the pits as of late. The last thing he needed to do was reach a real nasty Unknown still ailing from his trek through the mire. He did have a suspicion that the potion had given him a fit last time.

He pulled out the next full bottle, shaking the contents lightly. The blood thick fluid caught and held the light greedily. A soft sigh escaped the thief, a wince accompanying the movement of his unhappy ribcage. He thumbed off the stopper and taking a quick gulp.

The bitter potion drained down his throat to splash heavily in his stomach. His muscles began to shudder, the small wounds sealing up nicely. His ribs groaned and cracked, the factures fusing together. His body burned, the temperature turning up to burn out infection.

Falling to his knees, the blonde clutched at his stomach as he felt the dizziness overwhelm him. His mind danced away from thought and he retched the contents of his stomach. A groan escaped his lips as the lanky teen fell onto his side, curling up next to the mess while he trembled and twitched.

Link finally pushed off the ground after his fit subsided. His jaw found relief as he stopped clenching his teeth. He’d stayed awake during the episode, suggesting that the last time had been an overdose. He was going to have to take smaller sips of the now lethal potion to ensure he didn’t kill himself.

Reno watched beside the double doors that led to the office buildings of the factory. The violet eyes were narrowed, the sharp face neutral and tails flicking thoughtlessly. He scrubbed the tears and snot from his face; pushing off the ground and unsteadily found his feet.

“Enjoy the show?” He groaned after a moment, taking unsteady steps towards the doors. He scanned the overcast sky, noticing he’d barely been out long enough for the sun to move. A quick check ensured that none of his equipment had come loose during the little episode.

The fox didn’t answer and the joke fell flat. Link brushed past the Shifted boy and pushed open the door. It creaked loudly, opening to a swallowing darkness. Taking a deep breath, the teen entered the building to leave the light behind.
------=

After his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he’d found torches lining the walls and had lit them with the flint. The flame blossomed beautifully and drove the darkness back. Link dragged out the map and smiled as the bit of leather had already adapted for the building. The interior hadn’t changed from the last time the thief had tread the halls and tucked it back away.

Beyond the keese that were easy to take out with his slingshot, there weren’t any Unknowns to deter him from his goal: Gorman’s office.

The door was closed in the narrow hallway, the two suits of armor still standing guard. Link frowned, not wanting to face the magical suits today. He pulled free his sword and dropped the torch so it wouldn’t hinder him in case of a fight. He moved towards the suits, shield and sword ready.

They both continued to be inanimate as he approached, but Link attacked them anyway. He sent both of them crashing like the empty shells they were, now content that they weren’t going to awaken and do damage. A snort of annoyance was all the attention Link gave them after, opening the door and swinging it wide.

A red film covered the open doorway, the gold image of a halberd shimmering in the barrier. Link gave it a dark look, suspicion creeping up in the back of his mind. He ignored the clamoring instincts and the sudden itch of the Master Sword in his hand. He passed through the curtain and into the office of the man he’d already stolen from once.

Gorman sat at his metal desk, hand folded politely before him and beady eyes holding a rather bored look. Bushy black eyebrows winged out over them, an impressive mustache sweeping up beneath an impressive nose and hiding the mouth. His red vest had patterns sewn into it with gold thread, the long sleeved navy blue shirt unwrinkled beneath it. Rings of gold glittered on every finger and his hair was obviously leaving him in the worst way. The thin strands were combed over the bald dome in a pathetic attempt to hide it.

“I was told you would come. You certainly took your time, Thief.” Gorman pointed out in a bored tone. Link couldn’t help but notice that the man was unremarkable in every way. His voice didn’t even warrant much attention. The blonde could have easily passed the man on the street and not give the man much notice, fancy clothes or none. “I think it is wonderful that people are always warning me of your visits.”

Link’s sandy brows rose at comments, not sure what to make of the well dressed man sitting politely behind the desk. Was he being goaded into dropping his guard?

“Who told you I was coming?” The filcher finally asked, not taking any more steps into the office. The azure gaze took note of the subtle changes since the last time he’d been in the office. Pipes of varying sizes made up the ceiling, the walls were now bare and cables seemed to nest along the floor just beyond the desk.

“Why, that would be telling, would it not?” Gorman replied with a polite smile. “Let me just say that the guilty parties are far closer to you than you think.”

Link gave a rude snort, not liking riddles or vague answers. He had better things to do with his time. The polite smile faltered and Link twirled the Master Sword in his left hand idly to draw attention to it.

The beady eyes did as commanded but went right back to the glittering cerulean eyes without much change in expression. Link wondered if he should take a step closer and try to intimidate the man, but decided it wasn’t the time. He didn’t come here to kill the old man. He came to find a zora.

“Leaving without this?” Gorman asked quietly when Link turned to leave. The blonde turned his head, watching the hand disappear behind the desk. Link turned back around and held up his shield; ready to attack when the hand reappeared with a gaudy crest. The crest was set on the desk with a muted click, the blue eyes never leaving the bit as it was slid gently towards him.

Link frowned, not trusting the old man and thoughtlessly shifting his feet into a defensive stance. The hairs along his neck stood up as the air seemed to get thicker. For the first time since he stepped into the building, he realized that Reno hadn’t followed him. What had made the fox stay behind?

The door behind him slammed and Link felt annoyance swell at the finality of the sound. The fox hadn’t followed because he knew that Link was going to have to face the bastard before him. Betrayal touched the teen’s mind first, followed by an overwhelming sense of rage at Gorman. Who does he think he is? He’s just a little human and he thinks he can take me down? Cripes! I’ve ripped apart nastier things in this curst swamp than a desk chimp!

Gorman gave a smirk at the sudden shift of expression of the thief. There was no longer an uncaring look on the long face, but one of dawning wrath. The eyes narrowed and lips pulled back from teeth as he strode towards the president. Gorman cocked his head, amused that the teen would underestimate him so completely.

A sudden movement in the air alerted the thief as he jumped to the side. His shield rose, deflecting a glancing blow from a pipe that dislodged from the ceiling to strike at the teen. The pipe struck the wall, crushing the drywall and creating a cloud of dust. Link would have thought it was just luck, but the pipe swung back out of its own violation.

It caught the thief in the chest, slamming the young man into the wall next. Ribs groaned and fractured under the pressure, Link spewing as he bounced off the all and onto the floor. Clockwork clanked, metal groaned and steam hissed; causing the thief to force his eyes open. He watched as Gorman’s desk broke down, his body rise in the air and the very foundations of the factory shake in anticipation.

Gorman had nothing from the waist down; his body was a clockwork spider built from parts of the desk. The walls of the office expanded, the ceiling soaring upward to make space. Link struggled to his feet, eyes darting every which way at once.

A whore in church! I’m not just fighting him! I’m fighting the entire cursed swamp! He’s been doing his damnedest to kill me this entire time! He’s the one manufacturing the clockwork Unknowns… Link dodged a long, thin leg and rolled to his feet. Hooking the shield to his back, he grabbed the Master Sword with both hands, jumping back from another strike.

“Oh-ho! You’re a fast one, boy! How long can you keep it up?” Gorman howled, the floor buckling beneath the teen. Clanking steps sounded behind the filcher. Link chanced a look and felt like banging his head on the floor to see the two suits of armor striding towards him.

His palms burned where they gripped the hilt of the Master Sword. The teen gritted his teeth, tightening his grip as the resolve bubbled up within him. Who cared if he was going against a massive enemy? He could handle it. He could handle anything. He was that good.

A feral grin lit the long face and he charged towards the two suits of armor. They raised their blades, but Link dove under the first swing. He rolled around the armor and swept his sword up and carved the armor in half. The other armor sliced down, Link raising his arm automatically and catching the strike on his bracer. He cleaved the blade in half, doubling back on the swing and hewing it in half.

Ash swirled around the teen as he rolled out of the way of Gorman’s spider leg. He sliced through the offending appendage as it landed, leaping up to run beneath the clockwork Unknowns being thrown towards him. He danced between the pipes and cables that whipped towards him. Power beat in his veins, it vibrated in his muscles. He tapped that wild energy, plying it for his use.

The bow would be the obvious choice of weapon to reach the soft fleshy part of Gorman. He wasn’t going to get the chance to use it against the man if he had to dodge every few seconds. His abilities with the bow were good, but not that good.

The Master Sword cut through the obstacles, a blur in his hands. The body was rebuilding itself; no matter how much damage Link did to it. The severed limbs melded back in place and the dismembered cables still flailed wildly, attempting to trap the teen.

Link ran towards the wall, his momentum carrying up the vertical surface. Dry wall exploded behind him, Gorman roaring as he pounded the thief’s wake. Link back flipped off the wall, reaching out and grabbing onto a leg and swung into the air. Gorman’s face was contorted with rage.

Link clipped off swinging appendages and tore through the obstructions Gorman threw at him. Landing on the platform mass, Link darted towards the soft human body at its center. He rolled and dodged the legs that ripped through the metal body in an effort to impale the lanky teen. Jamming his right hand into a clawshot, Link drew it up and took a breath to aim. The claw exploded forth and latched onto Gorman’s face. Propelled towards the man, Link held the Master Sword accordingly and ran Gorman through.

The clawshot released as his fingers slipped from the triggers. The great meal body paused in shock, the raspy, wet breath of the skewered Gorman the only sound. Despite the burning of his hands, Link kept the feral grin in place.

Gorman gave a bloody smile, eyes crazed and red. “The Sages betrayed you once. They’ll do it again. How do you think I knew you were coming the first time? They told me. You play their tune prettily, little thief. You answered Lord Ganon’s call once. You’ll do it again.”

The human part of Gorman’s body burst to ash, leaving Link in the middle of the mess he’d made of the facility. Link sheathed the sword as he turned his face towards the ceiling and felt the world begin to tremble and shatter about him. A sigh escaped the exhausted filcher as he scooped up the crest and tucked it in his tunic.

“Of course. It would collapse on me.”
-------=

A/N: I’m sorry this chapter took so long. There are a lot of personal things going on in Bob’s and my lives at the moment. The drama just keeps adding up. The saddest part is my cat, Midna, ran away (most likely to pass away). She was only a year and a half old, which makes it harder for me to deal with. She was sick though and knew that it was her time.

Anyway!

Reno is Rex…I guess I didn’t make that clear enough. Reno wanted to change his name and be a dashing thief like his hero. Of course Link would smile and indulge his friend. I tried to give him more of a chance at the forefront at this chapter.

I was pleased to finally trap our Link in a hat, too. ^-^ I’ve been fretting how to do that since the beginning.

I was worried about the kids being a pain in that chapter. The good news is that you’ll only hear from Kessler, Hask, Striker, Razer, Reaper and the little one again. Corbin will be making another appearance and Viscen, too.

I’m sorry that the horse scene was hard for you to read. I’m betting this one wasn’t much easier. I have a lot of love for horses and it was hard to not make Link a wonderful horseman. If I did, he’d just be like every other Link and I couldn’t have that. I think horses will refuse to carry him from here on out. He’ll wipe out Kakariko’s stock otherwise.