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Mask of Darkness to the Island of Dreams: Chapter 3

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Chapter 2     Chapter 4

 

Chapter 3

Link dashed, using all the speed of his magical new hood to get there in time. Swords wouldn’t work – he’d tried it already once, so he carried a notched arrow and fired wildly.
He barely punctured it.
The aliens all vanished.
“What?” Link gasped, breathing heavily.
“We did it!” Romani yelled happily. “We saved the cows!”
“It’s five in the morning,” Tatl said. “I’m tired. Let’s crash.”
“Oh, yeah.” Romani looked rather chagrined, but not tired at all. Suddenly her eyelids drooped and she fell over.
Link caught her and carried her calmly into the house and up to her room. Then he went down and fell asleep in front of the fireplace.

The next day he rode Epona on Termina field. They headed to the ocean.
The Great Sea was a beautiful sight. Link had never seen it before, and gazed with all his might. It smelled fascinating. A seagull called just over his head and he ducked reflexively. Melancholy overtook him again.
“Hey!” Tatl yelled from over his head, and he looked up. “Look out there, there’re seagulls hovering over something! I wonder what it is.”
“We can go see,” said Link, nudging Epona onwards.
When he got to the waterline, he sprang off his horse and dove headlong into the water. His hat came off, but he paid no attention to it. Someone was calling weakly.
“Help… please, help me… anyone…”
“Hang on! I’m –“ Link swallowed seawater and coughed. It was bitter, and Link had only swum in freshwater before.
He got to the person, floating face down except when they gained the strength to raise their head and call.
“Hang on,” Link repeated, pulling them towards shore.
“You idiot!” Tatl scolded, as a gull swooped down and met Link’s right arm, protected by his shield.
After what seemed like ages, Link and his burden came to sand. The person tried to help his rescuer, and half stood with an arm around the short Hylian’s shoulders. The person was very tall. He was a Zora. Continue reading →

Mask of Darkness to the Island of Dreams: Chapter 2

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Chapter 1     Chapter 3

 

Chapter 2

Link headed for the market and bought some fruit; enough for two or three days’ breakfast. He gave most of it to Tatl to carry. She protested until he reminded her that her magical carrying capacity was far greater and less inconvenient than his.
“We should go to the swamp first,” she said after that.
“Why?”
“It’s the first one Tael said. You see, there’s a legend that says that there are four protector giants. We need to get their attention, and one of them lives at each of the cardinal points, so we need to go in those directions! I guessed that was what Tael meant.”
“I suppose I understand.”
“You’re just a kid, but you have a sword, and you look competent, so I’ll let you through,” said the guard at the gate. “Be careful, now!”
“Hm,” grunted Link, jogging through.

He headed south for the line of trees at the edge of the circular Field of Termina.
As they passed a huge old dead tree, Tatl veered aside to look at it. There was a rough drawing of a Skull Kid and two fairies.
“He was lonely when we found him,” she said. “He just wanted to play, but everyone was afraid of his strange face, even the Deku people, who look kinda similar if you ask me. He was cold. So were we. We knew we weren’t supposed to talk to strangers, but we felt sorry for him.”
“We got to be good friends. We had lots of fun playing in the long grass. That’s when we made this picture.”
Tatl shut up and wouldn’t say any more.
“I know something like that,” Link said quietly.
They carried on south.
They came to a swamp, but the water looked bad, and smelt bad… more than bad, poisonous.
“Um, this would be not normal,” Tatl said. “It shouldn’t be acidic.” Continue reading →

Mask of Darkness to the Island of Dreams: Chapter 1

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As it says, from Termina to Koholint, perhaps the best story I’ve written yet, though that doesn’t say much…
7 Chapters.

 

Chapter 2

 

The Legend of Zelda: Mask of Darkness to Island of Dreams

Chapter 1

Zelda touched his shoulder gently.
“We ought to go now…”
Link sobbed still into Rana’s cold shoulder, but at Zelda’s insistence, gently laid the still girl on the stony ground and stood. Zelda looked in his eyes and felt her insides tremble: they were eyes that did not see. The deep blue was grey and dull.
“Link…” With a simple call on the power of the Triforce, they shifted to the Sacred Realm.
“Link, you must now go back.”
“Where?” he asked dully, not really caring about the answer.
“Go back to when you were supposed to be… to live the years you missed.”
“Oh. Right. Rauru said so once.”
“Give me the Ocarina. I’ll send you.”
“I shouldn’t stay in Hyrule then. It will interfere with history.”
“That is correct.”
Link passed the princess the blue ocarina. “You will… bury her?”
“Yes,” whispered Zelda gently. She raised the Ocarina to her lips and blew.
Link felt the weightlessness and forgetfulness of warp travel surround him, and let himself go.
He saw himself flying over Hyrule, for a brief instant. Everyone in Hyrule was gathered in Lon Lon Ranch. Epona was safe there, along with several people Link assumed Rana had rescued from the dungeons of Ganondorf’s Tower. Mido and the Kokiri, Darunia, and the Gorons, including the two most massive, King Zora and the Zorans… Shoza and Bitu were there. Even the Gerudo were there, dancing in their sinuous, hypnotising style. Ingo was thoroughly drunk, and shouting the praises of Talon as the two danced with an arm about each other’s shoulders. Malon’s pretty voice sang to an accompaniment played by people in all four races.
His gaze turned towards Death Mountain. There were the six Sages. Saria was sitting on Darunia’s head. The Sages turned themselves into coloured flashes of light and sped over Hyrule Field. Some at the party pointed upward, clapping and cheering. A white flash sped to join them, and Link knew it was Zelda.
Again his vision blacked out and he slept in the embrace of time. Continue reading →

Eirika’s Alternate Epilogue

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Based on the post-game battles and secret characters. Odd, but rather nice if you missed Ismaire, Glen, Selena, and Lyon.

Eirika’s Alternate Epilogue

Later, after the formal announcement of the engagement, at which there was much cheering – Innes even condescended to clap – Pontifex Mansel called us together. “I have news for you. To the south, there are some ancient ruins, that used to be a castle known as Lagdou.”

“I know, Uncle. They became infested with monsters.”

“Well, it has come to my attention that there is a strange spell surrounding both the Ruins and Frelia’s Valni Tower. I would like to send you to Frelia to investigate. You may take the Sacred Twins with you.”

“We’ll go,” said Innes immediately. Tana was jiggling up and down with excitement. “We’ll break this… spell. Thank you for all your help.”

We set off the next day, and went by sea – Ephraim told me that the ghost ship L’Arachel had been warned about had been defeated, by him. King Hayden greeted us warmly, as I expected, and sent us off to the Tower after a welcome lunch with him.

The Tower contained only weak monsters, so we killed them all easily. But, we had an awful shock when we reached the front gate again… Continue reading →

Eirika’s Story: Epilogue

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Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

 

Epilogue

    We returned first to Rausten, giving back the Sacred Twins to Pontifex Mansel. We stayed there for a time, celebrating, and I came to know and like L’Arachel much better than I ever did on the march. Somehow, she also bullied her uncle into letting her become engaged to Rennac. We all heartily wished them both joy.

    This was the time that Ephraim and I pulled Seth aside, in a little room, and began to ‘discuss’ marriage with him. He argued a bit at first, relasping into his old reactions, saying that Prince Innes was a much better match than he. Ephraim yelled at him impatiently, but I showed Seth the ring he had given me, and he shut up. I smiled apologetically and put my arms around him. He returned the embrace, bent his red head and kissed me.

    After a moment, we looked up and saw Ephraim was no longer there. Seth grumbled slightly about brothers-in-law-to-be who run off at the worst times, but I laughed and ran out of the room to find Ephraim to actually plan the wedding.

    At dinner that night, as I waited in the corridor for my turn to enter the banquet hall, Ephraim and Seth walked up behind me, engaged in a technical discussion of lance-work. Seth laid an arm over both of our shoulders and changed the subject. “I still wish you two hadn’t ‘lorded’ me.” We gave him an extra title as an early wedding present. Lord Seth of the District of Pender…

    Ephraim fixed him with a hard stare. “Seth, just how old are you again?”

    “Er… twenty two, Lord Ephraim.”

    “Just wondering. You’re so proper, I didn’t think you had the nerve to initiate… a group hug!”

    After a brief tight embrace, we three of Renais stepped out to take our places at the tables of peace.

 

Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

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Chapter 21: Darkling Woods     Epilogue

 

Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

There stood Lyon. We three stood still, not moving towards each other.

“Eirika…” he said at last. “Ephraim…”

“There’s no need to say anything, Lyon,” Ephraim said gently. “We know everything, and we’re sorry.”

“You must kill me now. The Demon King will use my body to revive his own…” We stood silent. “You don’t actually know everything. When the Demon King first reached out to me… there was… I must say it… jealousy and envy in my heart. I did not resist as I should have… I am to blame for my unforgivable weakness…”

“No, Lyon. You are not to blame,” I said. “Everyone has weaknesses. I know I do. I’m certain my brother does. We do, we do forgive you.”

“Even now, you are so kind to me…”

Abruptly, the Demon King broke in. “Are you done yet? Huh, making your life over into some sort of epic tragedy… Booooring!”

Ephraim shook himself. “We are going to kill you now.”

“Yes? You think you have the strength to do it?”

Ephraim looked at me, and I gave him a look of determination. “Yes, we can and will do it. You will die this day.” Continue reading →

Chapter 21: Darkling Woods

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Chapter 20: Last Hope     Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

 

Chapter 21: Darkling Woods

    We pressed deep into Darkling Woods, to the west of Rausten. Myrrh led us swiftly, surely, onwards. She said she would take us to an ancient sort of temple building thing, the place where the Demon King had first been destroyed.

    The further we travelled, the thicker the monsters became. At last, Ephraim stopped the army.

    “We’ve got to get a strategy. Just fighting off the random bonewalkers is annoying and stupid. Let’s call it a battle from here on.”

    So, we did. Our winged units zoomed ahead, beyond the rest of us easily. The watery mud slowed our horses slightly. The pegasi and wyvern each carried an extra fighter – magic users and Innes.

    As Ephraim killed the bishop who had attacked us in Rausten, a bishop named Riev who had once served Grado, we gathered outside the temple.

    A damp and ghastly foul-smelling roar swept over us. I saw some of the more delicate members of our army turn away quickly. Myrrh sat on her haunches quickly.

    “What the heck?” Innes swore at the abhomination. A tattered dragon-corpse stood in the gate of the temple, roaring challengingly. Myrrh roared back.

    The two breaths swirled around the two dragons. The draco-zombie caught flame, but Myrrh’s golden brown scales looked paler and greener. She swayed and collapsed sideways. Saleh ran forward with a staff. Artur and Natasha attacked the draco-zombie. It, too, collapsed to one side of the gate. The last shreds of its skin and bones were blown away by the wind.

    Ephraim looked at me. I returned the glance, and, Sacred Twins at the ready, we entered the temple together without a backwards look.

 

Chapter 20: Last Hope     Chapter 22: Sacred Stone

Chapter 20: Last Hope

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Chapter 19: Two Faces of Evil     Chapter 21: Darkling Woods

 

Chapter 20: Last Hope

We travelled the rest of the way to Rausten Court. Many of us, including me, sat despondant and dispairing at the welcome feast and the socializing after. I was extremely grateful when L’Arachel suggested to her uncle that we retire to bed early.

In her room, I tried to discuss Lyon again, but found no more or new hope.

At about ten, I was rested after about three hours of sleep. I got up, dressed, and went down to the throne room. Ephraim, Seth, L’Arachel, and the Frelians were there as well. Ephraim nodded to me as I came in.

“Hello, Sister. Did you sleep?” I nodded. “We were just talking about what to do next…”

A platoon of soldiers rushed in the double doors of the throne room. “Pontifex! There is an enemy at the gates! The outermost guards have been slaughtered!”

“What?” barked Pontifex Mansel, L’Arachel’s uncle and ruler of Rausten. “How could that be?”

“We need reinforcements, milord!”

“We’ll take care of it,” Ephraim announced. “I bet it’s the De- Lyon’s army remnants following us. Seth, go wake up some more troops.”

“Yes, sir.” Seth left at a run. Continue reading →

Chapter 19: Two Faces of Evil

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Chapter 18: River of Regrets     Chapter 20: Last Hope

 

Chapter 19: Two Faces of Evil

We rode north, reaching the heart of Darkling Woods. I was watching Myrrh. She seemed the same as usual, but a little friskier: she skipped along through the black-trunked trees, holding onto Saleh’s hand, sometimes leaving the ground as she skipped, flapping like a sparrow-dragon-girl. Darkling Woods was an incredibly appropriate name.

Then, the scouts let us to Mt. Neleras. It is a volcano, riddled with ancient ravines and saturated with pools of lava. We didn’t actually climb the mountain, but it rambled up away beside us, shadowing our path from the dying sun.

The three pegasus knights flew above us as I talked to L’Arachel. “Is there anything that can be done to bring Lyon back?”

She was silent.

“Please, Rausten is the centre of lore on Magvel; as their princess, don’t you know of something, anything at all?”

The girl seemed touched by my pleading. “I’m very sorry, Eirika.” Her own voice was much softer and less verbose than usual. “There is nothing that can be done.”

“But… It’s just so horrible to think of him imprisoned like that. He’s such a gentle person…”

“Only a person of strong will can escape; in all of history, there is only one person who was ever able to throw off the Demon King: St. Latona the sure-hearted shattered his fetters.”

“But…”

“Once the Demon King takes control of someone’s body, it’s too late. Their soul is gone. Not even the Sacred Stones themselves can restore a shattered soul…” Continue reading →

Chapter 18: River of Regrets

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Chapter 17: Ruled by Madness     Chapter 19: Two Faces of Evil

 

Chapter 18: River of Regrets

We passed back through Jehanna, heading east of the Hall, and turned north. We came to the one major river of the desert country: Narube River. Its sad brown waters flowed sluggishly through farmland and low mountains.

“I sent the Frelian army ahead to clear a path for us,” Innes said as we paused next to the southern bank. Ephraim and I were riding our white horses.

“Innes!” called Tana from high up. She sounded panicky. “They’ve been routed! I can only see Syrene’s regiment left! They’ve got civilians with them. Enemy forces are approaching!”

“Calm down, little sister!” barked Innes. “We’ll have to join with Syrene as soon as possible…”

A warp appeared right in front of Ephraim and me. Lyon appeared.

“Lyon!” I cried. He might help us save Lady Syrene and the Jehannian villagers. “Where have you been all this time? Are you well?”

“Wait, Eirika,” Ephraim said, a stern note entering his voice. “Lyon, we met recently in Grado, remember? Do you remember what you told me then?” His voice was harsh, and I shuddered and Lyon flinched, a terrible hurt look on his face. Continue reading →