The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny

XVI

 

                It was morning already. Link was downstairs, using the kitchen table to pack what he needed with efficiency. In a few hours, they’d be right into the fire temple. Right where he had died.

                Because he had. Oh yes. And he remembered it. And he also remembered that the Goddesses wouldn’t allow him to. So to keep him in this world, they had forced the triforce down on him.

                That was the only reasonable explanation to why Link was still alive.

                And that was also his conception of what happened.

              Nevertheless, he was checking his items, deciding what to bring (because it isn’t exactly easy to carry around a bow, a hookshot, a sword, a shield, bottles, a lens and even more…). Of course, he settled his choice upon his usual arsenal: bow, arrows, shield, sword and hookshot.

                And, anyway, he would get something in the temple, he was pretty sure. So he was better off leaving some space in his inventory.

                When he was done, Link straightened himself and rested his hands on his hips. He sighed heavily and rolled his shoulders, attempting to hear them crack. He was feeling sore as the night hadn’t necessarily been nice on him.

                He had fallen asleep on some roots, in the middle of the forest.

                Looking out the window, he saw the rising sun. The air was humid. Here or inside the volcano, it would be hot and disgusting anyway.

                And thinking about this incoming heat, he realized something: he had no idea whatsoever where his fire tunic was… Or if it was still usable… That should have, technically, been an important issue to the Hylian. Right now, however, it was only a little problem amongst all the other major issues floating and filling his cranium.

                He had a headache. And that headache had been lasting for weeks, now.

                Save Hyrule, risk his life, become a father, life after all this adventure, his fire tunic, what to eat and where to go... That was only part of all the thoughts going on in his head. And the father-involving one seemed to be more and more of a source of insecurities, nowadays…

                He wasn’t ready to become serious and drag along a family. But he’d have to do it anyway, wouldn’t he?

                Link shook his head. Enough self-flagellation for the time being, he needed his tunic. Or what could have remained of it.

                 “Link…?”

                Surprised, he jumped slightly before looking above his shoulder. Behind him was the Princess of Destiny, in her white nightgown, looking down at her hands as her undone hair fell over her shoulders. He turned around to face her, crossing his arms over his chest.

• 
  “I… Perhaps we could talk a little…” Zelda said, voice low, as she chased away a strand of golden, wavy hair behind her ear.

Link was, truth be told, angry with her. He felt betrayed by a person he considered a friend and it hurt him. He wouldn’t exactly forgive her, he knew it, but he also appreciated the Hylian woman. And under his harsh and asshole-ish manners, he hid somewhat of a sensible heart. He sighed.

• 
  “About what?” His voice was, he observed, dead cold. And yet soft.

Zelda looked up at him, probably hearing that softness as well and taking this as a welcoming invitation.

• 
  “I’m sorry you had to learn this the way it happened… I should have told you long ago.” She said.


• 
  “I’m not angry because you told me about my parents, in fact, I’m glad to know that, at some point of my existence, some people cared about me.” Link explained, his voice still low. “What I cannot digest is the fact that, despite all that time we’ve actually spent together and despite how you read me easily, there’s one thing that you did not allow yourself to see, and it’s my motivation.” He paused and looked out the window, uncrossing his arms. “I’m not saving Hyrule to save myself and even less to save the nobles. I thought you knew that. And I thought you were a different ruler from all the others.” Slowly, he casted a cold, blue gaze upon the princess.

Zelda stared up at him, seemingly thinking about what he was saying. She wasn’t angry, she merely looked contemplative over the points he was bringing. And when she spoke, her words were not vain…

• 
  “Link, I know that when this adventure will be over, you will not take the titles I’d be glad to offer you in a platinum cover… But I still want to offer you something that will be worthy of you, of what you have done… And of this…” She shook her head lightly, looking for her words. “For this courage you are showing by standing up for what most people wouldn’t even dare to look at.” Zelda took a step forward, getting closer to her Hero. “I’ll become the Queen of Hyrule; I’m the heir. However, I will change my views upon politics and how to reign. Because I think you are right. I think that this kingdom, in order to grow and perhaps reach the Golden Realm once again needs harmony… And there cannot be harmony with homeless and poor citizens…”

Something in the Hylian’s eyes seemed to glow softly as Link was moved by these words. He swallowed, unable to do anything else, as he wondered if what she was saying was true… Or merely beautiful words to comfort him and better use him as her pawn.

• 
  “Tell me something, now.” Zelda continued, getting once again closer to the other Hylian. “You are going to flee Hyrule when this will all be over, won’t you?”

Her proximity allowed Link to see that she was smaller than him for the first time. Or perhaps just focus on their height difference. Zelda was slightly smaller than Tatl, though much frailer. She had nice curves, but they weren’t as pronounced as the Twili. Her skin was really pale, her lips thin and features soft. Yet, her eyes held more strength that Link could ever bear… And for the first time, he thought that, if he hadn’t met Tatl… He would have fallen for Zelda.

• 
  “Yes.” He heard himself reply, suddenly appealed by her proximity.

Zelda nodded. And they locked eyes for a moment. And for that same instant, they both felt the link that the triforce forced between them. Perhaps a flash of what could have been and would never be…

She took another step forward.

• 
  “Then… I have the feeling that… We’ll never get the chance to be alone and talk like this again…” Zelda gazed down a moment. “I am the Princess of Destiny, and you the Hero of Time.” She looked up. “In other times, perhaps, we would have…” The words were caught up in her throat, but they both knew what she meant.

All Link could do was standing there, waiting.

Maybe it was a test to remind him that, despite his love for Tatl, he would never exactly change. Perhaps this moment was meant to show him his real and true nature that he had ignored for a little while, now, but when the blond woman circled his neck with her arms and closed her eyes, he grabbed her hips and filled the space between them to kiss her.

It lasted for a moment. It was all they ever shared and all they would forever.

Zelda broke the embrace and looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “I understand, now, why all these women fall for you… It seems like I’m just like any of them.”

Link opened his mouth to reply, still shocked, but the blond flashed him a sad smile before turning around and going back into her bedroom.

Their affair had lasted a minute and it had been enough.

Enough to allow Link to take a decision.

***

                When everyone was ready to leave for the volcano, Link was more than ever walking around and cursing. He was looking everywhere and yet never seemed happy. Sheik, Olwen and Erk watched him walk back and forth, the stoic trio having their arms crossed over their chests.

                They had tried to stop the cursing Hylian from walking around, but he just wouldn’t stop to answer their question. So all that remained was to watch as he disappeared in rooms, and came back arms up in the air, dishonoring Farore.

                Sighing heavily, Zelda, who was sitting in the staircase, hid her face in her hands. She was tired apparently. “Link, what are you looking for, by the Goddesses above?!”

• 
  “My damn fire tunic!” Raged the Hylian as he growled.

Olwen laughed as Sheik sighed, beside him. With wolfish eyes, Link turned to glare at the butler.

• 
  “What’s funny, old man?!” Asked the fiery small guy.


• 
  “I have what you’ve been looking for right here.” Replied Olwen, grinning under his mask as he pulled out the red cloth out of apparently thin air. “I was waiting for you to calm down before giving it back.”

Surprised, Link blinked before actually taking his suit from the Sheikah’s care. He unfolded it to look if it was still wearable, since it was supposed to have a rather impressive hole in the middle of it, along with incredible blood stains.

But the cloth was… Perfect. No hole, no stain. Perfect.

Perplexed, Link stared up at the silver-haired man. The Sheikah’s bloody stare glowed in amusement.

• 
  “I repaired and washed it. It did take me some time to render it back to its initial shape.” Explained Olwen, his usual amused tone of voice echoing into the small room.


• 
  “… Thank you.” Whispered Link, examining the tunic again. “You’re skilled.”


• 
  “As a royal butler, I have little choice to be.” Explained Olwen as he looked over at Tatl.

The Twili rolled her eyes and ignored the Sheikah, acting snob, though she was smiling. She rested her hands on her hips, which only helped to show how pregnant she was.

• 
  “So, when are we leaving?” She asked.

Link stared at her as he turned to face Tatl. She looked back, the silence making her pretty much sure that he was going to say something that she wouldn’t like. But the blood in her veins seemed to cool down in fear as he let a rather distant gaze fall upon her.

He never had such a distant glow to his eyes when it was about Tatl.

He blinked, shook his head and smiled lightly, somewhat sadly.

• 
  “Tatl?” Link called.


• 
  “Yes…?” Replied the turquoise haired woman as she felt a ball of stress filling her stomach. There was no reason why she should be this nervous, but his expression suggested something like I have a very bad new…


• 
  “I don’t think you should… Come.” The Hylian finally said.

Tatl was surprised to hear this coming from him, for he usually would have jumped around yelling that she could do what she wanted, but she smiled nevertheless, because she was waiting for something more harsh, with that face he had…

• 
  “Why not?” She asked, smiling softly and already knowing the answer.


• 
  “It’s not safe.” Link pointed towards her growing belly. “For you or for the kid… Being as pregnant as you are right now, jumping over pits of lava and killing stuff on fire isn’t exactly a good idea. I think.”


• 
  “I know.” Answered the Twili, sighing softly. “And please, stop looking so dramatic, I was afraid that you were about to announce something really bad.”


• 
  “I’m not dramatic!” He said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away, acting insulted.


• 
  “Indeed, Link…” Replied Tatl, smirking.

***

Being back in the fire temple sent somewhat of a chill of terror down the Hylian’s spine. His team, now, consisted of Olwen, Sheik, Nami, Erk and himself. They were strong altogether, but the Hero had the feeling that this would be harsher without Tatl to explode monsters all around and Isca to cut boulders in two with his teeth.

They made their way to the second room that was filled with platforms. Right before them, was still the boss room with the golden lock upon the door. And right before that, stood Darunia. Link jumped slightly at his sight. “Who’s there? Is that you, Link?” The massive rock man’s voice seemed tired…

• 
  “Yes, it’s me.” Answered the Hero.


• 
  “The Evil threatening Hyrule is now threatening my people more than ever… My kin has started to disappear as they were kidnapped and brought here to be fed to the monster lying in that room…” He pointed towards the locked door behind him. “I’m going to kill it. You, you save the Gorons who are held prisoners all around the dungeon.”


• 
  “Darunia?” Link sounded… Perplexed. He hurried to the side of his platform. “Don’t do this!”


• 
  “Their cells are in the opposite direction. Let’s talk later.” The Goron leader turned around, unlocked the door and… Entered it. Behind him, the door sealed itself.

Link, with wide eyes, stared at the shut door, mouth-opened. He knew what was about to happen; he had seen it with Impa in the shadow temple and all the other sages… He also knew that Darunia would be the fire sage… In a few moments.

Sheik rested a hand upon his brother’s shoulder. “Link… It’s useless to stay here in vain… If we can save some Gorons, we’re better there than here…”

The Hylian nodded. His stare hardened as he stared at the now locked door.

• 
  “Let’s avenge Darunia’s in-coming death…”

***

                The first Goron they freed jumped at the Hylian to hug him, crushing the young man as he gasped and groaned for air. Finally, he dropped Link to the floor, where the dark blond just laid down on his back, breathing. Or trying to.

• 
  “Yo, brother!” Called the rocky man as he looked down upon the collapsed Hylian.


• 
  “If… It’s about affection… You can-“


• 
  “If you ever take on fire, swing your sword!” Yelled the Goron, lifting its arms in the air. “That was a Goron tip!” And in a similar way to which the carpenters had run from the Gerudo fortress, the rock man fled its cell and, probably, the dungeon.

Link sat up and blinked.

• 
  “What?” He asked. Suddenly, the Hylian got up and stared at his team members. “Wait, woah!” He took his hat off to run a hand through his wet hair. “If I take on fire I have to swing my sword? How’s that supposed to help? And, no, wait… It’s considered NORMAL for them to just… Spontaneously burn?!”

There was something like a heavy silence for a moment… Then, Erk cracked and all the others followed.

Laughing was, after all, a nice way to relieve one from stress…

Smiling, the crew then obtained a small key that was hidden in a nearby chest, in the Goron’s cell. And they walked away towards the next room as Link kept ranting about spontaneous combustion.

***

                There was, in the next room, somewhat of a giant wiring fence going up into a hole in the ceiling. It burned at its base. Perplexed, Link and his crew stood there, staring. There was a switch behind them, on a lower part of the floor. What had to be done was evident. But… No one felt like doing it.

                Climbing a metallic fence that had been heated for Goddesses knew how long with gloves covering half your fingers wasn’t really interesting or tempting… “These dungeons are meant for masochists…” Pointed out Link.

• 
  “Even a masochist would think twice before resting a hand on that.” Replied Erk who was standing by the Hylian’s side, arms crossed over his chest.


• 
  “Let’s send Nami. She can fly.” Proposed the Hero.


• 
  “And I can also burn…” Said the fairy sitting upon Erk’s shoulder.


• 
  “Firefly…” Whispered Link, smirking.


• 
  “Mage?” Called Olwen.


• 
  “Yes?” Answered the dark haired man as he turned to stare at the Sheikah.


• 
  “Can’t you use a spell to cool it down?”


• 
  “I could try.” Answered Erk. “But someone would have to trust me…” He turned around to look at Link. “And climb that metallic fence to see if it’s working.”


• 
  “Why me?!” Shouted the Hylian as he backed away.


• 
  “Because that’s basically your job, young man.” Replied Nami who, apparently, was too upset from the heat to be shy anymore.

Link offered pleading eyes at Sheik. The blond shook his head, denying the Hero’s demand, as he thought that all the heroism his friend might have held within himself was gone. Shoulders falling, the dark blond finally turned around to stare at the burning fence.

• 
  “Let’s see what the switch does, first.” Proposed Sheik as he hit it.

The fire was put out and a timer started to resonate between the walls of the room. It went more and more quickly until it stopped and the fire started again.

Link seemed to be paler as he looked over at his companions from above his shoulder. “I have one minute thirty seconds to climb a heated, metallic fence that goes up to who knows where…”

Erk slapped his back in a friendly way.

• 
  “You can do it, you’re the protagonist, after all.”


• 
  “What?” Asked the Hylian.


• 
  “Never mind.” The mage chuckled. “Now, get ready.”


• 
  “Wait… Are you going to join me, up there? Someone?”


• 
  “No.” Flatly answered Sheik.


• 
  “I’ll accompany you, though.” Said Nami as she flew off of Erk to join Link’s side. “I’ll be the guide I was sent to be.”

Erk nodded at the fairy as he lifted his hands before him.

• 
  “Now, get ready.”

Sweating from heat, adrenaline and utter fear, Link stared at the fence. One minute and thirty seconds to put out the fire, cast a spell and climb… Goddesses…

He stared down at his left hand. The triforce was hidden under his glove, right now, but he knew that it still was there… He hoped that would give him what he needed to succeed.

The worst, in most dungeons, wasn’t the boss… It was a fight, but Link was getting good at that. No, the most stressing issues were these little challenges that needed skills… That needed him to have reflexes, courage, determination and luck.

He merely lacked the courage and determination part.

• 
  “Go!” Sheik shouted.

The fire was put out. Behind Link, Erk started to cast something that was meant to be powerful. He whispered words no one could understand as a savagely strong gust of wind attacked the fence.

Link stopped thinking the moment his feet started to run.

Left hand on the fence. It was hot, not burning. Right hand. Left foot, right one. And upwards…

The fence was very close to the brick wall behind, making it hard to have a good grip upon the metallic surface, and more than once, the Hylian almost fell all the way back. Nami would encourage him as he groaned and growled his way up.

Fifty-seven…

He looked up: the ceiling seemed so damn far…

“Hurry, Link!” Called the fairy.

He answered with a growl. He felt his shoulders being tired, his fingers shaking and knew that his forearms would be very sore.

One minute twenty…

With something like a roar, he neared the end of the fence. Even all the way up there, the metallic surface was hot. And he was sure that it’d be hotter in ten seconds…

One minute twenty-nine…

He reached the top! There was a platform… And he now had to climb to his right to reach it…!

The fire was set back. A choked scream of terror escaped his throat as he hurried to an impossible speed to the platform. Nami called or shouted something, he didn’t hear. But he felt the fence getting burning under his hands just as he finally collapsed on the platform.

Laying on his back for the second time that day, he stared up at the ceiling and smiled as he breathed heavily, his heart pounding madly in his ear. “You did it!” Shouted the fairy, happy and visibly proud.

Link chuckled.

• 
  “Link? Are you alright?” It was Sheik’s worried voice.


• 
  “Y-yeah… Just… Relaxing a moment before going on…” He answered, voice strong enough to reach the trio downstairs.


• 
  “Fine. We’ll be going around the temple on our side, clearing what we can. Let’s meet at the boss’ door later, okay?”


• 
  “O-okay…” The Hylian was very uncertain.


• 
  “Link?”


• 
  “Yeah?”


• 
  “You can do it.”

***

                The next room, to Link’s misery, was some kind of giant labyrinth in which immense boulders rolled randomly around, attempting to squash the Hero of Time. But the said legendary character being, also, Link, dodging boulders and running out of their trajectory ended up being easy.

                Even with his equipment, Link was still much quicker than most warriors. Happily for him.

                And, since he had no chainmail under his tunic (for the metal would have burnt him long ago), he gained more speed. But less defense…

                Anyhow, he ran around the room, finding Gorons here and there, freeing the giants and received hugs as well as mysterious tips.

                So, a labyrinth, boulders and four Gorons later, Link reached a new door and entered it with conviction. In that new room, he was standing on a platform. To his right, ahead, was another one with another door. What linked them was a foot large path. Underneath was a pit of lava.

                Link sighed softly as he looked up. On the wall was an eye into a metallic sort of switch. The door to the right was locked with bars. Nami sat on his shoulder. “Nami?” Called the Hylian, suddenly sounding tired. “Why was I chosen, already?”

• 
  “Because you will succeed, Link.” Explained the fairy. She patted his shoulder lightly, but he did not feel it.


• 
  “Can I die, really? I mean, will the triforce let me die if I fall in that pit of lava, or I’ll be brought mysteriously back to life for the second time?”


• 
  “I don’t know, Link.” Nami replied, her voice somehow soft and yet dark. “But I don’t want to find out. Neither should you.”

He groaned in what was, Nami thought, approval.

And Link started to walk towards the dangerous path. He, first, put his left foot upon the bridge to test its solidity. Apparently, it was made with some kind of rock and wouldn’t move under his weight. He stared down at the rock path, ignoring the lava under it.

“Farore… Help me.” He whispered as he put his second foot upon the bridge.

Link was now standing on a way too small rocky road above a pit of lava. If he lost his balance once, he was going to die. He took a very deep breath as he lifted his arms to stay alive.

Muscles tense to keep his balance, he moved forward, breathing slowly and deeply. Nami didn’t dare to depart his shoulder as the simplest of movement could make him fall to his death. And she did not dare to speak neither; it could take his concentration away…

It took the Hylian five minutes to cross three meters of deadly bridge before he reached the other platform and sighed heavily, shoulders falling. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack so much it was pumping quickly…” Link whispered.

• 
  “Yet, it’s over now.” Simply encouraged the little woman. “Now, hit that eye.”

The Hylian nodded and took his bow out from under his shield, as well as an arrow. He pointed towards the eye which was now, awkwardly close to him. He held his breath a split second and shot.

The arrow hit the eye, it closed its lid as if injured, and the bars upon the doors lifted up.

Link turned around and exited.

***

                A few doors and the dungeon map later, he entered a new room filled with lava. There was a platform leading from the door to some metallic bridge. Link stared at it a moment, briefly thinking that he’d run through it and it should be okay, his boots shouldn’t melt too much.

                So he neared the bridge, half thinking about something else, when Nami called him back to reality. “Link, be careful with that bridge.”

• 
  “What for? Besides being deadly burning, it should be okay. And it’s not the first time, today, that I have to face something ‘deadly burning’.” He pointed out.


• 
  “Yes, I know… But it has a different feeling…” Warned Nami.

Link shrugged.

• 
  “We’ll see this in a moment.”

Nami nodded lightly, glaring at the bridge. Feeling that Link would need all his physical abilities and even more, she flew off of him.

He took a first step upon the bridge, then another one. His back to Nami, he stared at the other side. There was a platform that he’d have to jump to get to, and probably a door, up there.

He could feel that, under his weight, the metallic bridge would shake a little. He started to walk.

• 
  “LINK! RUN!”

Blood flowing out of his face from the fairy’s piercing scream, Link looked above his shoulder behind him. A wall of fire that went from one side of the bridge to the other one was going quite quickly towards the Hylian.

He didn’t even have enough time to gasp as he started to run desperately towards the platform.

However, the bridge shook violently each time his weight hit the metal, making it hard for him to keep his balance.

And yet, the fire was coming!

Screaming –which he never realized he did-, he ran for his life, losing his balance more than once as he couldn’t hold his panic anymore. He never remembered behind so sure to die before.

And he ran… The bridge shook, the fire wall came too quickly.

He panicked. He tripped.

As he fell, he tried to hold himself with his hands. His left palm hit the metal first, then the right.

And the burning metal melted his glove. And his skin.

He yelled in agony as he took his burning flesh away from the bridge.

He would have fallen to his knees, paralyzed by pain, if he could have.

But the fire was right behind, and he was back on his feet.

So, survival instincts kicking in like they never did before, he sprinted towards the platform. Nami called for him, he never heard.

The fire reached the end of the bridge as he jumped towards what would be his salvation, if he succeeded to grip the rocky edge and climb it.

His hands hit the edge.

Link screamed in pain. It was so unbearable that he thought he would let go and fall into the lava underneath him.

• 
  “Link! You’re almost done! You can do it!” Called Nami with hope and yet fear.

He growled loudly, as he put his feet upon the wall. His hands started to slide away, but he did not let himself fall in the lava. Not now.

I’m not gonna die!

Screaming in agony, he used what remained of his burnt hands to climb the rocky surface. And quickly, he found himself upon the platform, sitting down, his back to the wall. There was, indeed, a door beside him.

Nami flew above him.

Link was shaking madly. He was in shock as he took his gloves off and out of his open and burned flesh.

Nami would have said something to comfort him, but she couldn’t find any words as she stared at the Hero of Time, growling, shaking and crying in pain.

• 
  “N-Nami…” He called.


• 
  “Y-y-yes, Link?” She asked as she came closer to him.


• 
  “In the, the bags on my b-b-belt… I have… bandages… Can y-you get them for me?”

She didn’t reply as she changed into her human body to kneel beside him. She scurried through his pockets, finding he had some incredible packing abilities to the quantity of stuff that was in there.

In the end, she retrieved the bandages he was looking for. As well as some kind of pomade in a little bottle.

Link was staring away, still shaking, as she gently took his hands to take care of his injuries.

For the first time in this entire quest, she thought that he looked tired. Exhausted.

So when she was done, Nami rested a soft hand upon the Hero of Time’s shoulder.

• 
  “It’ll all be over soon, Link.”

He didn’t answer.

***

Back into her fairy shape and perplexed, she stared down at Link who walked around the temple with the Megaton Hammer in hands and an evil grin on his face.

She wondered how he could even stand to hold the handle with his injuries, but did not feel like asking as he slammed a fire bat against a wall with the said tool…

Nami winced and looked away as the creature exploded and its blood stained the wall. And the hammer. Link chuckled somewhat maniacally and the fairy thought that she was better off flying far enough from him not to be reached by that crazy child.

Anyhow. Along with the Megaton Hammer, Link made his way through the temple quite easily, now, as he smashed all the switches on his way, and all the enemies. Even pots. He probably needed to let go of some frustration… After all.

It was also with his hammer in hands that he freed the last Goron who, intimidated by the Hero of Time’s worrying psychopathic gaze, restrained itself from either hugging him or giving the Hylian unnecessary tips.

As if changing personality, Link sighed heavily as he saw the wide golden and blue chest that he well knew. He opened it, a headache growing within the walls of his cranium, to retrieve the Boss Key.

He took it, put it in some pocket, then closed the chest and sat on it, putting the hammer down on the ground, its pommel resting against the Hylian’s left knee.

Link took his hat off and ran his hands through his hair. He needed a bath. Badly.

Feeling that he was no longer going to try to squash her into a wall, Nami flew closer to the young man.

• 
  “Are y-you okay, Link?” She asked.

He seemed surprise to hear her and looked up. He had dark rings under his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. Looking exhausted and about to pass-out, he still found a way to smile to her.

• 
  “Yes… Just can’t wait to be done with this place and this… Adventure.” Link answered, his voice surprisingly soft after he had killed half the temple with a hammer…


• 
  “You should maybe rest a little before going to the boss’ lair…” Proposed the fairy.

Link shook his head.

• 
  “If I sit down too long, I won’t get back up. We’re better off leaving now.” Said he, voice tired, as he put his hat back on.

Link got up and looked at his fairy a moment. Then he turned around and took the map out of a pocket to find a path back to the entrance.

***

                When he reached the room with the platforms and the boss’ door, Link was surprised to see that he was… Alone. The Sheikahs and Erk weren’t there, like they were supposed to be. He looked up at the fairy. She flew around the room to see if she could get a clue where they were… But no.

                So she went back to the Hero of Time.

• 
  “We wait for them?” He asked.

The fairy was quiet a moment before answering.

• 
  “We don’t have to…” She explained, sitting on the Hylian’s shoulder. “We can, but it’s not necessary. You’re the one who has to duel the monster.”


• 
  “I could need their help…”


• 
  “No, you don’t need help. You need self-confidence.” Nami said. Her voice was small and soft. She did not mean to scold him.

Link stared at the boss’ door a moment. He seemed to wonder if he could do this all alone… With Nami. A lone warrior with his fairy…

The Hero of Time.

Gravely, he took one last glance at the door.

He took the golden key out of his pocket. Nami smiled to him, though he couldn’t see her face. And as he unlocked the giant and intimidating door, the fairy flew off of his shoulder and prepared to stand by the Hylian’s side.

***

                The chamber of the monster wasn’t exactly big. On the other side of the door was a platform, then another one on a lower level, and then, a rocky kind of island that was made for the duel, visibly.

                Link gritted his teeth as his heart rate increased slightly.

                And he dropped to the lower platform. Then jumped to the duel ground, seemingly confident.

                Hammer in hands, he waited for something to happen.

                And it came quite quickly.

                The room shook lightly, as if an earthquake was starting. However, it wasn’t a strong enough vibration to incommode the Hylian. But the platform leading him to the exit disappearing into lava did bother him.

                He was now standing on the side of a platform in which there were holes big enough to swallow him, and were filled with lava. And that island of rock was bathing in a pool of lava. And everywhere he looked, it was only lava.

                He tightened his grip around the handle of the hammer, adrenaline making him forget the pain that he should have felt from his burnt skin.

• 
  “Be careful, Link…” Warned Nami. “It’s coming…”

There wasn’t even enough time for him to growl in approval as a pit of lava at the other side of the duel ground started to erupt. Link’s brows shut down as he felt cold sweat make his way down his spine.

And there was a cry. An impressive one. Something that only a dangerous creature could make. Something half way between a bird’s cry and a lion’s roar.

Then a growl.

Then, it came out.

A long, very long, majestic and fiery dragon slowly appeared from the hole. A stone mask on its face, giant, reptilian and fierce bright green eyes locked upon the Hylian’s figure as it roared at the young man.

Behind its mask, fire-like hair added to the dangerous beauty of this flying animal. From its body, its long, angular arms revealed themselves. At the end of its paws, deadly sharpened claws seemed to be awaiting an opportunity to rip something apart.

It flew up above the platform, staring at Link.

Then it plunged at him, roaring, before spitting a flame twice the Hylian’s width.

Hopefully for Link, he had way enough reflexes to move even before the fire neared him.

The dragon glared at him and entered one of the holes into the ground.

• 
  “Volvagia…” Whispered Nami. “What have they done to you…?”


• 
  “What do you mean?!” Screamed Link, lightly panicking. “It’s a fuckin’ monster!”


• 
  “It wasn’t always… It’s like Bongo-Bongo… It used to be the protective spirit of this temple. But it was corrupted.” The fairy explained, voice sad. “Who could do this to such a beautiful creature…”

The lava pit beside Link erupted. He gasped in surprise as he turned around and went out of the deadly viscous liquid’s trajectory. Volvagia’s head came out as it held itself with its front paws. It stared darkly at the Hero and spit fire at him, but Link had run away.

The dragon seemed to growl in unhappiness before getting back into its lava.

• 
  “Link, you must-“

Nami had no time to finish her sentence as the lava erupted beside the Hylian. Link ran away from it, his back to another lava pit.

And from that lava pit, Volvagia’s head slowly came out.

Link felt some hot wind hit his neck. A shiver went down his spine as his eyes grew wide. He slowly turned around, sure he was about to die.

Volvagia purred, seemingly grinning. It raised a paw with incredible speed.

Link’s eyes saw the razor-sharp claws.

He screamed. Raised his hands and hit Volvagia right across the face with the Megaton Hammer.

Link had no idea with how much strength he had hit the dragon. He had acted on pure reflexes and hadn’t even realized that he had hit it, really. All he knew was that Volvagia had stopped its attack an inch before cutting him in pieces.

It had growled menacingly, shook its head and fell back into its lava.

• 
  “Link! You broke its mask!” Screamed Nami, her voice high with hopes.

He looked up at her, not understanding.

And from behind him, Volvagia erupted once again. It flew up in the air quickly and started to circle the platform. Its mask was gone.

Its bulbous green eyes met with Link’s.

And it breathed a strong flame at the Hylian.

Gasping, the Hero of Time started to run. Volvagia followed him, purring as it spitted never-ending flames at its enemy. And Link was getting slower. The fire was getting closer.

The hammer was slowing him down.

It was a hard decision to take, but he let the hammer fall to the ground. It hit the rock with a resonating thud.

Volvagia somehow laughed. Link wasn’t fast enough yet.

Growling and running, feeling his heart was going to explode from the heat and the effort, he took another important decision:

He dumped his shield.

And now, he wasn’t encumbered anymore.

So Link ran as fast as he could to the other side of the platform. Nami screamed something he did not hear. He turned around and equipped his bow. And an arrow.

Heart about to explode, shaking madly, he aimed at the dragon’s face as it came dangerously quickly towards him, purring and spitting flames at him.

On the edge of the platform, his back to a pool of lava, Link stood with his bow and aimed at Volvagia.

He had to hit.

So he shot.

Sheik, Olwen and Erk arrived on a higher part of the room just in time to witness the Hero of Time firing an arrow right into a humongous dragon’s open and fiery mouth. Volvagia froze in midair a moment as it choked upon the arrow. Then it roared violently, spitting it down into the lava.

• 
  “We have to help him.” Said Erk.

Sheik shook his head.

• 
  “We’re too high. The platform is too small. We would get in his way more than anything else…”

The mage looked at him. Then he returned his attention to the fight.

Volvagia violently launched itself at Link. He jumped to the ground, dodging its dangerous and sharpened fangs at the last moment. The dragon roared as Link found himself upon his back, and as Volvagia passed over him, Link couldn’t stop the claw that brushed his cheek.

A muffled scream escaped his mouth as the skin was cut open and blood fell.

The dragon seemed to laugh before returning to one of its lava pits.

Quickly, Link got up, Master Sword in hand, determination in his stare. He wasn’t going to let that spirit-turned-monster kill him.

All the lava pits erupted at the same time. He moved so he wouldn’t be splashed. Volvagia came out to show its face again, then flew up in the ceiling. It rushed towards Link.

Glaring at the dragon, he let himself fall on his back.

• 
  “Link?! What are you doing?!” Screamed Nami, hysterical.

Volvagia laughed and plunged towards the falling Hylian. Link’s back hit the hit ground. The dragon’s mouth opened.

Link rolled on his side, catching one of Volvagia’s horns, twisting his shoulder in a way that would have, had he not been busy and filled with adrenaline, be very painful.

Growling, Link used all his possible strength to jump upon the dragon’s back as the monster vocally explained its discomfort to be ridden by its enemy. The creature instantly flew towards the ceiling, intending to squash the man upon its back onto the burning rocks.

But Link had another plan in mind.

With determination, he punched one of the bulbous, reptilian, green eye.

Volvagia screamed and shook its head violently. Link gave the same treatment to its other eye.

The dragon, busy trying to get rid of that nuisance upon the back of his head, lost altitude. With the pommel of the Master Sword, Link hit an eye, once again.

Volvagia cried in pain. In real pain as it hit a wall of the room, head first.

Dizzy, the dragon flew back to the platform with difficulty and crashed upon the rocky ground.

Still sitting upon the dragon’s head, Link raised the Master Sword, holding it with both of his hands above the creature.

• 
  “I’m sorry it had to end like this for you… But I don’t wanna die… So you’re gonna have to.”

With its only remaining eye, Volvagia looked up at Link right before he brought his weapon down… Was this relief that the Hylian saw?

The Master Sword pierced the dragon’s neck and the blade got out on the other side, sticking itself in the rock underneath them.

An eerie silence filled the room as Link got off of Volvagia’s corpse to claim his sword back, as well as his hammer and shield.

The platform that had disappeared into lava reappeared as Sheik, Olwen and Erk joined the Hero of Time on the duelling ground.

His back to them, Link stared down at the dragon. Nami flew beside him.

• 
  “You’ve done it…” Whispered Sheik, smiling lightly.

Link didn’t answer.

At his feet, the body of what had been a glorious and magnificent creature laid. Its blood spilled itself over the already reddened ground. Mouth opened, it had died with its only remaining eye staring at Link’s face.

And even in death, it had kept that strangely satisfied expression, that soft glow into its eye.

And that relief had taken something from Link, leaving him empty and staring down at what had been a splendid dragon...

He closed his eyes a short moment.

• 
  “Let’s leave this dungeon.” He merely said, a few moments later, his voice as empty as himself.

Sheik stared at him as Link walked by the Sheikah without looking at him.

Quiet, the group followed in silence.

And Nami was the only one who could understand all the meaning of that heavy atmosphere…

***

                The Gorons had taken the death of their leader with much, much pain. However, they had thanked the heroic crew and offered them shelter for the night. As well as access to the hot sources of water on the top of the mountain.

                And that was exactly where Link had spent his evening.

                Naked, sitting in the water, keeping his burnt hands away from it. Now, his palms were incredibly painful. So was his right shoulder that had been dislocated during the fight with Volvagia. Screaming in agony, he had replaced it where it belonged. All his muscles were sore. But what was the worst, was the intensifying headache.

                The cut on his cheek had closed. He now had a nice red line going from the inner corner of his right eye to his jaw. And that was all that remained of Volvagia.

                A cut upon his face.

                And a few things to think about.

                What if, in fact, it was in darkness that things were supposed to be, in Hyrule? What if, in the end, he wasn’t saving the kingdom, but disturbing the destiny of it?

                He couldn’t have an answer to these questions. However, he was sure of one thing, now: he was fighting what wasn’t his fight. And Hyrule wasn’t a homeland to him. Not anymore.

                A noise caught his attention to his right, disturbing his trail of thoughts. It was night time and he was alone in the hot source. His ears moved upward when he caught the sound of a muffled step.

                Acting as if he had heard nothing, he turned around to reach for his clothes, looking through his items, apparently looking for soap.

                He returned his attention to the spring, looking relaxed, even leaning his head back.

                He heard another step. Close.

                And then, suddenly, he was standing and pointing a small dagger at a young Sheikah’s throat.

                Styx, with his spiky white hair and huge red eyes stared up at Link. The Hylian’s stare was deadly and merciless as he pressed the blade against the youngster’s throat.

• 
  “I’ve had enough of these ambushes, Styx. And I’m not letting you kill me, you can be sure.”

The Sheikah who was about to pee his pants raised his hands up in the air to show he was unarmed.

• 
  “L-L-Link! No! I’m not here to k-k-k-k-kill you! I ran away to find you and tell you the truth!”

Link pressed his dagger more against the youngster’s throat.

• 
  “What truth?” His voice was dark and low. He sounded dangerous and was intimidating, in the darkness and naked.


• 
  “The one behind all of what’s going on in Hyrule, and the one who wants you dead, it’s the same person!”

Link waited for an answer.

• 
  “Link… It’s Ganondorf!”