Chapter XI: Despair

Chapter XI: Despair

Link sat upon a cold, stale, stone surface. He could feel a vise clenching his heart. His breath was short, sporatic, and staggered with each breath, the vise tightened its grip. A brushfire began to ignite within his lungs. Also with each breath, he felt the fractures in his ribcage expand. A dagger was imbedded in each of his joints, and they buried themselves deeper within him as he sat there. His head felt as though it was buried beneath a mountain range. When Link coughed, pools of sanguine spilled out, they were rough and coarse as sandpaper. His stomache rumbled like a frieght train out of control. He haunched down on all fours. He could not distinguish where his body ended and the ground he pined upon began.
'Where am I?'
He collected himself enough to sit erect. The air he took in, caused his bowles to quake. He found him self atop a large ziggurat it sat elevated above the land, like a watchman. The sun was nowhere in sight and a cold, unforgiving, stale, stagnant, breeze ran across the land chilling Link. It whistled ominously like the howl of a wolf. He nearly choked when he inhaled. The bleak, anguished sky held a moon that glared at Link between the clouds which were the color of sour milk and drifted hastily by. Link found every aspect of the land unsettleing.
Ravens sang thier caucophonous tones into the night. 'What have I done' He looked upon his sword. The blade was stained with his own blood as well as Agahnim's.
'Revenge'
Amidst his pain he pondered. Link had accomplished what he had set out to do, Agahnim was slain but where were his spoils? He had no home to go to and the only people he cared about were gone. Link also had no idea as to where he was.
'Zelda', he lamented. 'Who'll save you now? Some Hero I turned out.'
His sank head into his palms.
'Link' Sahasrahla's voice entered Link's ear. He leapt up, startled by the sudden message. 'Link' It seemed he always contacted him at the most unexpected of times.
'Yes Sahasrahla'
'Link, you have fell the wizard, however, your victory is not complete.'
'I sorta figured that part out Elder.'
'The seal has been breached, but from what I can discern, it is not great enough for the Evil King to enter into Hyrule. If you defeat him, that will mend it.'
'Yeah that's all well and good and all, but where the hell am I?'
'You are in what was once the Sacred Realm.'
'This rank, ugly place?'
'Yes Link. Here is where Gannondorf reigns. It is here where Agahnim sent Zelda. It is here where you must finish your campaign.'
'Alright, so what do I need to do, kill Ganon?'
'Link, to take on the Dark Heart of Chaos would be suicidal. Even with the Master Sword, he still has the Triforce. He has used his power to imprison the Sages' descendants. By releasing them, you will recieve a fraction of Gannondorf's power. He took four of them, So you must free all four of them.'
'So can I return to Hyrule while I'm here?'
'No. Not untill the Evil King has been defeated.'
'So where do I go?'
'I know one of the maidens is being held in the Palace of Darkness. It is at the easternmost point on the realm. As to the others, I do not know. Perhaps when you free her, she can tell you of the others.' Sahasrahla paused to take in a broad breath and expelled a wearisome sigh. 'I cannot maintain contact with you much longer Link, The strain across the void is too much for me. Please, I beseach you, stop Ganon. I am too old to fight Link, I can rely only upon you. All of Hyrule is in your hands for the future of this land depends on you. Please Link, make this old man's dreams come true.'
Sahasrahla's voice trailed off lke a distant echo being carried by the wind, and then he was no more.
He remained motionless, save for his shivering. He clentched his fists and his jaw clave together. With a stout breath he pulled in his tears.
Please Link, I beseach you...make this old man's dreams come true
Link, it only takes one man to make a difference
'I won't fail you Uncle.'
Link arose and surveyed the land. It was desolate, to say the least. The soil was brown, and parched like rotted meat left in the sun. The trees were bare and their branches were blown about by the wind like a kites without strings. Link climbed down the monsterous ziggurate with steps which were slow and uneager.
'East. He tells me to go east.'

The wind kicked up dust which entered into his wounds, it was as though the land were rising up against him. He walked for what seemed hours, Link was weary, but did not stop to rest. His throat felt lined with sandpaer, and his stomache trembled.
As he went east, Link found himself in a dreary grove. Wanting to slumber, he climbed a tree and found a study limb which could support him. He leaned against the trunk, and settled down.
'You there.' said a voice. 'It has been quite a while since I've had to bare something of your wieght, what are you doing?'
'What?' stammered a half conscience Link.
'Well, You're normal aren't you? Haven't seen a normal person in ages.'
'Who are you?'
'What, don't you realize who this is lad?'
'No'
'I'm the tree you're resting in'
'Oh' Link attributed this to the fact that he was worn. No tree was talking to him, he just needed to sleep. 'I appreaciate you letting me sleep in your branches.'
'Think nothing of it. I must ask though, did you journey here in search of the power? If so you are far too late. I did so long ago, and now, am stuck here. A fool in the shape of a tree. I sought the power so zealously, when I entered, I came into this form. What a foolish thing to leave so much power laying around'
Link said nothing, but only slept
'The last person to enter here and retain their form, was Ganon. He rules this land now. This was once a pristine realm, or so I've heard, but Ganon's dark heart twisted this place.'

Link found himself upon a mountaintop, it was a peak he nor anyone else had ever stood upon. The sun shone with a soothing, comforting warmth upon him and the air he took in was clear and clean. He looked out at the land below him he found a terrain he was unfamiliar with. As Link looked around, the sky began to illuminate with a magnificent light, it was subtle at first, but it crecendoed and spread. It grew to envelope the entire sky, and soon the entire realm and even overpowered the sun itself. Link shielded his eyes, fell to a knee and became fearful.
'Link' THe Voice was terrifying and yet familiar. the Voice was as strong as thunder, but gentle as falling snow. The Voice was one he had heard before.
'Who are you?'
'Link. The darkness, has no chance against you.'
'Who are you?'
'As long as you remain faithful, you have nothing to fear from the darkness. I will guide your path, and your sword. When, you are weak, I will stengthen you.'
'Wait, What,'
Link found himself in the tree's limbs. He rubbed his temples, and sighed.
'Who are you?'
'Who am I?' replied the tree.
Link was a bit surprised. 'No no, I, I had this dream.'
Link returned to his slumber. It was a lenghty sleep, the sleep of the just. He had not had such a long rest since he begun his quest.

'How long, have I been sleeping?' inquired Link.
'O a day or so.'
'Now I'm talking to trees.'
It chuckeled, a hearty throaty chuckle. 'So what brings you into this forsaken corner of reality?'
'I was sent here. After I defeated Agahnim, he sent me here.'
'You defeted Agahnim? What are you some sort of Hero?'
'Well, that's what Zelda calls me.'
'So what, you're gonna take down Ganon?'
'That's the goal.'
'Good luck kid, you'll need it.'
Link leapt down from the branches. 'Thank you.'
'No problem. Hey before you go, here.' It threw Link an apple that he wolfed down voraciously. 'Sorry I can't give you anymore than this.'
'You've done enough as it is. Thank you.' With that Link walked off.
'Hope everyone's as friendly as him.' He did realize that he was pipe dreaming with that statement.

'East. I was told to go east.' He kept walking for the duration of a day, figuring he was no closer than when he first began. None of the pains that beset him had ceased, nor did the realm ease up on him. The wind was still as harsh as the flu and his jerkin was for the most part scrapped, and offered only a futile amount of shelter.

It was well into the night when Link had a bit of an encounter.
A band of highwaymen stood in his path. They were the most hideous band of, well, he wasn't sure. Three of them had the form of bulldogs, they drooled and slobbered. Each was roughly the size of a collegate linebacker, imposing, with lazy blood shot eyes, and clad in rusty, worn mail and holding stout pikes. I believe they were called moblins. The fourth was the size of a grzzly. It had a single eye upon his visage, which glared at Link with spite. It had no armour but wore the hydes of some beast and it rank of rotting meat. It's teeth were rusty daggers, yellow and misaligned. I believe in that part of the realm they are called Hynox.
This is the last thing I need 'Well,' stated one. 'Had'n't seen me a normal in some time.' The rest echoed his sentiments, which Link did not heed. He stood there waiting, and biding his time.
'Your money or your life!' barked the single eyed monstrousity. 'How about you let me pass, and I let you keep breathing.'
They let out a chorus of laughs.
One moblin was silenced immeadatly by a swift sting from the Master Sword. He silenced another before they realized it. Link attacked the Hynox, his initial cut did little good, as it cocked it's ham sized fist back and sent Link fifteen feet away. Just as he shook off his daze, he saw the moblin's spear sailing at him. Link rolled out of the way, and sent his blade into the backside of it's knees.
He swung with the intents to finish, but struck only dirt. Link grimmaced as a foot went into his sides, taking the air rather abruptly from his lungs; as well as fracturing his ribs yet further. The Hynox landed it's fist into the small of his back, and Link again took to the air.
He regrouped only to recieve A shot to his jaw, that his head snapping to the side. He juked just as a pike came swishing by. As he stepped, he struck the pike, pinning it to the ground. He kicked it in the side of the knee, which only served to wound his knee. He masked his pain, and brought the sword across its chest.
Link absorbed another hammering blow. He spat out blood, and the fragment of a tooth. In spite of his fatigue, he still managed to raise his sword. The Hynox rared up ready to charge like an angry bull. Link did like wise and they both began to surge. His legs felt as though they were cast out of lead and his sword became a greater burden with each step. Everytime he put a foot down, he could feel the fractures in his ribcage throb. No matter.
When they were no less than a pace apart, Link spun out of the its path. He leapt up like a frog, and delivered his Sword into the base of the monster's skull.
Without giving them any regaurd he walked on. Link was not two steps away when he heard someone call for him.
'Hey, You there!'

End Chapter