| GCB Fanfics: Vs. Mode |
Vs. Mode - Interlude: "A Fearful Vision"Rain fell at a steady pace around the green-clad Hero of Time. At first, he wasn't even sure where he was, but a loud and familiar cry filled his ears, causing to him to look directly at its source, Princess Zelda. All at once, he recognized that he was in a stadium of some sort, just like the ones where the past matches have taken place. She was lying motionless in the center of the ring, the signs of a hard battle showing from her body. He then looked up to see Mega Man crouching down to her prone form. What is he doing?! Link's question was answered as Zelda's scream pierced the silent air as soon as the boy robot made contact with her hand. He couldn't believe his own eyes as he watched the Triforce of Wisdom manifest itself above them for a moment before being absorbed into blue armor. No... NO!! The Blue Bomber looked down at his defeated opponent, then to Link before quickly turning around and breaking into a run. "COME BACK HERE!" Link heard himself angrily yell as he unsheathed the Master Sword without thinking and immediately began giving chase. The boy saw his target melt into the shadows of one of the entrance tunnels before he himself followed. As Link continued his pursuit however, he soon found himself in complete darkness. "Where did he go?!" "The better question to ask is, 'Where did you go?'" Link whirled around, trying to find where the voice that answered him came from. "Who are you?! Tell me where he went, or I'll-" "Or you'll what? To answer my question, you have become lost. Listen to yourself, Link! What has happened to that noble and courageous kid I once knew?" "I don't have time for this! I need to know where that boy went to, so I can get the Triforce of Wisdom back before something terrible happens." "Something terrible is already happening, Link," the voice retorted. "You are in danger of losing your identity. Just now, while you were preoccupied with going after your prey, you completely ignored the condition of the princess." The spoken truth shook Link to the core. "Not only that, lately you have shown consideration to practically no one. Do AiAi and Fox ring a bell?" "But those were my-" "Do not try to rationalize it. Did they really deserve what you gave them? Their treatment at your hands was cowardly, selfish, and utterly unbecoming of the Link I once knew. Heed my warning: If you continue down the path you have been traveling, you will lose everything!" Link took this all in. Even if he didn't know whoever was giving him this well-deserved lecture, he knew everything the voice said was true. "I admit I have strayed. With all that I have done, will I still be able to prevent the coming disaster?" "I do not know, and even if I did, I would not say. The future is once again in your hands, but this time, there is much more at stake than just our world. If you can once again become that boy who has preserved Hyrule many times over, then what may come can be averted..." ---- "Link... Link! Wake up, Link!" The boy slowly opened his eyes to see the pleasant face of Zelda looking down concernedly at him. "You're finally awake." Link blinked. (Hey, that rhymes! :p) "Huh? What?" The princess sighed. "Maybe not. Today is when the last matches of the second round take place. We arrived here in the contestants' lodging area last night. I came in here because you were still asleep, and we need to get to the arena to prepare." So it was all a dream? Link sat up before he responded, "Oh, that's right. I'm sorry for holding you up, Princess." "You don't have to apologize, Link. My battle is the last one of the day, versus Mega Man, so I really shouldn't be rushing you." Battle... against Mega Man?! No... it can't be! "I'll be outside to let you wash up, then we can both go there together. Please don't take too long this time, Link." Zelda gracefully exited his room, leaving the boy alone with his thought-filled mind. That was no ordinary dream. Will that really happen, like my other dream did? Link began to strip for his shower as he continued to ponder. And who exactly told me all these things? "What has happened to that noble and courageous kid I once knew? ... There is much more at stake than just our world..." As he continued to undress and try to remember what was said in his dream, the boy never noticed in the broad daylight the glowing symbol on the back of his right hand. Next Entry Back |