| GCB Fanfics: The Fanfiction Project |
August 17th, 2003Preshow: "Rise of the Machine" Since her last match, in which Zelda had obtained the chaos emerald, she had gone from being seen as just another spoiled princess, to a force to be reckoned with. The power she had unleashed had knocked out all the contestants other than the robots. The princess had become elusive in her whereabouts, and unstable in her emotions and personality. She had unwittingly tapped into a volatile source of power, and the effects upon her personality were evident. She seemed split between the Princess Zelda, a protector and leader for her people, and Sheik, a ninja who had been forced to survive in a barren world where Ganondorf had reigned. For the first time, she had access to the kind of power that had caused so much devastation to her world, and she still seemed unable to deal with it. Even Link had failed to help her. The chaotic power she had at her disposal combined with her magical abilities from the triforce of wisdom were enough to intimidate many of the remaining fighters. But MegaMan was not afraid. He didn't know the meaning of the word. Nitpicking, it might be more accurate to say that his circuitry was not engineered in a manner capable of simulating the emotion of fear. Dr. Light had built a significant emotional range into him, but had gone easy on the more negative emotions. Hatred, jealousy, fear... they would only prove detrimental to an efficient fighting robot. But his emotional core was still flexible- he had learned hatred opposing Dr. Wily time after time. Gradually, MegaMan was becoming much more than just a machine, stuck though he was in eternal childhood. But he still differed from humans in that he could consciously control his emotions to a greater extent. There was no fear in facing Zelda/Sheik-merely some analysis, and anticipation. But even if he wasn't afraid, MegaMan was nervous and excited. The boy robot was not a true fighter, he'd been built for peaceful purposes, but he had become quite powerful, and had learned to enjoy a good fight. Even if it was against a human, rather than a robot like himself. MegaMan had grown used to anticipating his fights rather than worrying about them. He had something to gain from every opponent he fought. Dr Light was able to take their abilities and modify them to work with his armor. Thus, every robot he destroyed only added to his versatility. The Blue Bomber had long since grown bored with shooting helpless targets in the training arena, and decided to do a little exploring. The forest was an inviting location... a nice contrast to the mechanized worlds he usually existed in. Of course, the first thing that came to mind as he was wandering through the woods was still Slash Man's level, but it was an interesting environment. MegaMan spotted what looked like streaks and skid marks in the grass... patches of the grass were burned away or crushed, it looked like a chase had occurred somewhere near there. The ashes of an incinerated tree rested on the ground, while the clump of trees around it were untouched. MegaMan knew enough to say that kind of focused destruction couldn't have been done by his kind of technology... Must have been Zelda. Great. I just hope I'm stronger than a tree. MegaMan suddenly thought back to Slash Man's world again. Hadn't there been something up with the trees there...? On a hunch, the blue robot inspected the trees around the burnt one... they had all grown together in one thick patch. The grass around it stopped a little short of it, like it couldn't quite reach there. Taking a chance, MegaMan adjusted his gun for a fire wave, and prepared to commit another crime against nature. Hope this works... it'd be a bummer to burn this whole place down. The fiery wave began to pour into the center the thick clump of trees, melting away the leaves. The flames began licking at the branches, and to MegaMan's surprise, the trees began to peel away, revealing two blue pads. One was raised several feet above the other... simply hovering in the air. A light blue shape began to appear between them. "Hello X, good to see... wait, MegaMan? What are you..." MegaMan gaped at the capsule. It was his creator, Dr. Light... only he was blue, transparent, confused and apparently not really there. The hologram resumed its speech. "Oh yeah, wrong pod. Hey there Megaman, good to see you." MegaMan quickly blurted out an excited stream of words. "Dr. Light! Hey! You wouldn't believe..." "Shut up. I knew you were going to come here, win your first round in this tournament, and face a psycho elf girl with some weird magical abilities, so I prepared this capsule for you." MegaMan cocked his head, and looked at Dr. Light's projection quizzically. "Really? That's pretty cool. But how...? "Shut up. I know this because I'm Dr. Light, and I'm awesome. I'm not really here MegaMan, this is just a recording." "Wow, cool. But what are you going to...?" "Shut up. I knew you were going to ask that. You're predictable. I prepared a series of upgrades for you, mostly to your weapons. The complete databanks on every robot you've ever fought, and some you're never going to. I call it-the deus ex machina." MegaMan scratched his metal head in a pointless mannerism. "Nifty. How will they work?" "Why thank you, I do think I look sexy in my lab coat. And I'm a light blue today. Get it? LIGHT blue? I kill myself. I rock. Anyway, shut up and step into the capsule. I'll see you when I get back. If not, avenge my death. So X, um, I mean, MegaMan... just step in the capsule already. Light out." "... and I met this cool robot named Zero, and he says he knows a MegaMan, and there's this robotic girl who's actually a human..." MegaMan suddenly trailed off, realizing Dr. Light was no longer listening. He quickly ran through his auditory records... apparently he was supposed to step into the capsule thingy. MegaMan hesitated for a second, then impulsively leaped between the two pads. Neon blue light washed over him as the machine scanned all his parts. He could detect minor changes being made to all his systems... his gun in particular was overloading with new weapon modules. Gravity wells... magnet mines... boomerangs... he felt his abilities expanding at an incredibly rate. And then, just as quickly, it was all over. MegaMan leaped back onto the grassy ground, and looked himself over. He still felt the same... but he felt stronger somehow, and he was chock full of new weaponry. The robot smiled as he let his gun cycle through its new powers. Yeah, let's see how well Zelda does against all this! Battle: "Trial By Fire" It dawned on Mega Man that the difference had everything to do with the environment. When he had faced Mr. Resetti, the Blue Bomber had fought in what felt like a detached state--the crowd roared in approval, gasped in shock, and applauded in admiration at every move made by either competitor. A fighter didn't even have to look up to feel the expectant gaze of the onlookers or the critically analyzing stare of his best friend and mentor. Zero... Even the bloodthirsty desires of those such as Kefka and Bowser were more felt than heard, though they yelled as loud as they were able. In that battle, Mega Man had felt like an extension of the crowd--and it had thrown him off his stride. He had felt driven to impress the others, and had nearly made a fool of himself. Now he stared down another featureless, tortuous passageway, just like the one from which he had emerged, and just like the ones branching off to either side. The fans were only audible as a dull rumble, their emotional calls deadened to white noise by the blank walls surrounding the robot. In a way, it reminded Mega Man of the all-too-familiar twisting tunnels which invariably hid Dr. Wily's malevolent creations, but even there he hadn't felt so alone. Now there was nothing except tan dirt and gray walls illuminated by the afternoon sun, one blue robot, and, somewhere in the maze, his lithe foe. The feeling was intensely personal. It was at Mega Man's request that the arena once again be divided by barriers. The robot had considered the request almost compulsory on his part. Mega Man did not delight in the defeat of his enemies, although he had come to appreciate combat as a method of proving oneself. His opposition, the princess Zelda, was at best difficult to approach recently, and at worst seemed absent from the world. She wouldn't have deigned to speak to the authorities of the competition, especially not to ask for help in the match. She surely would need some cover from Mega Man's impressive arsenal, though. In the interests of a fair fight, he had therefore requested the erection of the barriers once more, on her behalf. Zelda, or Sheik as she often demanded she be called, had not seemed appreciative. Mega Man had stood in the clearing at the center of the arena for nearly half an hour under a summer sun that would have caused any human to be pouring with sweat, awaiting his opponent with a somewhat affected machinelike patience. At last she had appeared, creeping from behind a wall on the opposite side of the clearing. The robot had been expecting the princess to arrive once again in her royal regalia, and was taken aback when she emerged in a skintight night-blue bodysuit and gray cloth mask. Though Mega Man could not have guessed it, Zelda's apprehension before the battle had driven her once again to seek refuge in her Sheik persona. The princess' eyes quickly flashed through sad concern, pity, and detached analysis before settling into a predatory stare boring into the blue robot. She had brushed aside the single blonde lock that had fallen across her face and, nodding toward Mega Man, had simply ordered, "Fight." Mega Man had no sooner lifted his Mega Buster than Sheik had thrown something to the ground before herself which gave off a puff of thick smoke. Five shots had torn through the smokescreen and imbedded themselves in the wall behind with a staccato report. Sheik was nowhere to be seen. ---- Now, 11.306429 minutes later, she was still nowhere to be seen. Mega Man was not particularly swift on his feet, and he hadn't had high hopes of catching his enemy when he had jogged off down the passage from which she had emerged at the start of the match. What he had found, though, was nothing at all. No ambush, no hint she had passed this way at all. What's she doing, running from me? I must really be good! Mega Man would have puffed up with pride, but the only such movement he was capable of was the slight expansion of his torso due to exposure to the midday heat. Nah, she's probably got some trick up her sleeve. Besides, she's not right in the head... Fair fight notwithstanding, Mega Man was quickly getting frustrated at Zelda's seemingly cowardly use of the maze. Time to remove some of her precious cover. Somewhere even he couldn't pinpoint within himself, Mega Man's Mega Buster ammunition was swapped for explosive auger-tipped rounds. From a safe distance, he fired the Drill Bombs at several of the surrounding walls. The projectiles bored into the stony material of the barricades with piercing shrieks audible throughout the stadium. One after another, the walls around Mega Man blew into rubble as the Drill Bombs exploded, leaving the Blue Bomber in a newly formed second clearing--still alone. The sudden clamor of Mega Man's remodeling of the arena startled Sheik as she slid through a passage with only a single wall between it and the debris-strewn opening Mega Man had blasted in the labyrinth. The little robot had achieved nothing by his display but to reveal his position to the princess, and now she would punish him for it. She sprung at the wall opposite the opening, hands and feet striking it at the same moment. With a concerted push from all four limbs, she launched herself over the intervening wall. Mega Man wasn't even looking in the right direction when the attack came. He was peering down a newly opened passage when the transformed princess came over the wall behind him and down on his head, feet first. The power of the chaos emerald gave Sheik the strength to make that jump, and the strength also to crush a dent into Mega Man's helmet with her gravity-assisted kick. The Blue Bomber reeled as Sheik propelled herself into the air again by leaping from his head, recovering his senses just in time to see his assailant drop behind another wall across the clearing. Think walls are gonna protect you, huh? Mega Man switched weaponry again and opened fire with his Elec Beam on the wall Sheik had landed behind. The sizzling sound of ionized air followed the intense electric discharge as it passed through the impediment and a muffled squeal of pain reached Mega Man's auditory sensors in response. He felt a twinge of guilt. I was never meant to use these things on humans. Sheik recovered from the jarring shock quickly, and leaped upward, grabbing the top of the wall with outstretched arms. She flipped over the wall and dove once again at Mega Man as a second electric blast crackled harmlessly beneath her. The princess' once-caring eyes were now filled with murderous intent. The robot recovered just in time to slide sideways feet-first in the dirt, narrowly avoiding a punch aimed squarely at his face. Whoa! She means business! Much as I hate to, I'd better not go easy on her. With feline grace, Sheik landed and again bounded off into the maze. All this leaping, won't stay on the ground... reminds me of something... Aha! I know! Despite his peaceful nature, Mega Man had arguably more and more varied combat experience than any of the other contestants. There were few situations he hadn't faced before... and this wasn't one of them. Calmly, he switched weapons again. Now I just need to bait her... "Come on out!" he yelled, but he had hardly finished when once again the blue-black warrior woman pounced from above. Try this on for size, Crash Woman! Mega Man fired the Air Shooter at the falling Sheik. Miniature whirling tornadoes spun upward as the princess tried in vain to twist out of their way. Her body was flung off course by the whirlwind and she sailed without any of her former grace over Mega Man's head, striking the wall behind him with a dull thump and falling in a limp heap into the rubble at its foot. Mega Man spun around, as much out of worry for his opponent as out of desire to end the match. The wily princess was already back on her feet, if lurching somewhat woozily. Sheik snapped her right arm back, then quickly forward again as Mega Man turned to face her. A storm of needle-sharp steel-tipped darts hurtled toward the Blue Bomber as if pulled from the shadows of the princess' mask. Thinking quickly, Mega Man fired a single, oddly-shaped projectile from his gun-arm. The darts veered off their lethal course, drawn by the potent attractive force of the rocket-propelled horseshoe magnet. The entire ensemble smashed into a nearby wall as the swift Sheik sprinted toward Mega Man and landed a blinding flurry of kicks. The robot shuddered under the assault, which ended with a vicious roundhouse kick to the head that would have knocked a man across the clearing and cost him a handful of teeth. Mega Man, however, was considerably heavier than the average contestant. The attack had knocked him on his back and stunned him, and he crawled to his feet as the transformed princess drew out a long chain and swept it around in a swift arc. Her intent to decapitate the robot was obvious. Desperate to find some solution quickly, Mega Man's thoughts turned Dr. Light's "Deus ex machina." Magma Blade? Maybe this will work. I'm trusting in you, Doc... From the end of Mega Man's gun-arm sprouted a fiery sword. He lashed out just as the chain was about to hit, and was relieved to see a piece fly off as the unfamiliar weapon melted it like a hot knife through butter. Twin fireballs spun from the end of the blade toward the princess, but she ducked easily. It shoots too? That is so much cooler than my old Flame Sword. While Mega Man was reacting to his newfound equipment, Sheik once again mounted an attack. She covered the short distance between them almost immediately. The hylian princess threw punch after punch, but none connected with the Blue Bomber. Instead, she channeled the power given to her as the blessing of the goddess Farore in a way the peaceful deity would have abhorred. Concentrated gale-force wind blasts originating from her clenched fists crashed against Mega Man with hurricane force. Again the robot was caught off guard, and again his experience saved him. Charge (oof) and smash, (ow) over and over (ouch), throwing things to (ugh) cover your (oof) approach... Mega Man capitalized on a small opening in Sheik's attack to hop into the air, an ordinary fist extending from the barrel of his left arm. Suddenly he whirled in circles in midair, arms extended. I think I come out on "top" here, Shadow Woman! His attack wasn't sudden enough. One of the spinning fighter's punches barely grazed Sheik's shoulder as she sprinted off again. Not again! If only I had some way to catch up with her. Hey, what's this? "Speed Burner." Sounds about right... Mega Man armed another of the tools Dr. Light's pod had supplied him, and activated it. Flames spread along the ground, but the hopeful Mega Man didn't budge. Talk about false adver--wait, I can charge these things too? All right! A split second of diverting power to the newfound weapon later, Mega Man rocketed forward in a burst of fire. His path curved a lazy arc in the direction he wanted to turn, knocking gaping holes in the hapless barriers that stood in his path. His first experiment with the Speed Burner ended with a shoulder-polishing scrape along the now-scorched wall of the arena, and a colossal cloud of concrete dust wafting up from behind him where there once stood a particularly contorted sector of the maze. I think I'm getting the hang of this! ---- While Mega Man wreaked unintentional devastation on the labyrinthine corridors at one end of the arena, Sheik slipped quietly to the center in a confused haze. The panic that had allowed the sinister force of the chaos emerald to rise once again to dominance in her soul was abating. Talk among the veteran fighters had convinced the princess that her opponent was a nigh-unstoppable juggernaut in combat, and witnessing his first match had done little to suggest otherwise to her, if no one else. Now she had seen Mega Man in battle through her own eyes, even as they squinted and glared with emotion she did not feel. He was no killing machine. More importantly, he is beatable! thought Sheik. We have the upper hand. Strike swiftly! Zelda recoiled physically, as if from an invisible assailant. That way... will not work. She concentrated on the calming spirit of the Triforce as it strove, somehow at once against the emerald's raw power and alongside it, for order in her troubled mind. Thus far we--I--have achieved nothing. It is time for the ways of the goddesses to supplant the ways of men. The princess drew her hand behind her head and grasped the edge of the gray cloth hiding her face. With one swift snapping motion, she pulled the long, scarf-like garment away, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. There will be no more hiding. The false image will be unmade. As Zelda's resolve strengthened, she twirled in the sunlight at the center of the arena, her free hand waving in the air as the scarf wound around her body. There was a flash as the gray streamer tightened. In the center of the arena, the slinking Sheik was no more. Resplendent in her shimmering pink-white royal dress, the princess Zelda came to a halt with a practiced grace unlike the lithe feline athleticism of her alter ego. I am Zelda, princess of Hyrule, and I will face my foe as such! It was at this moment that her foe, as if on cue, appeared. Despite Zelda's self-reproach, Mega Man did appear to be getting the worse of the battle. The rounded blue dome of his helmet was badly crushed in on top, countless other dents and dings marred the fighter's chest and shoulders, and his self-inflicted scrape had smoothed and blackened a broad patch on his left shoulder. The appearance was deceptive, however. Mega Man was feeling few ill effects from the beating he had received so far, and he stared at the princess with crafty determination. If he was surprised to see her drastic change in attire, he didn't show it. Eager to test his recent theory on his opponent's weakness, Mega Man dashed headlong at the princess, leaving a blazing trail. His control of the Speed Burner was much improved this time, and the hurtling robot was far too fast, even for Zelda's swift dodge. At the last instant, Mega Man leaped into the air, switching back to his Top Spin attack. The princess had tried to dive backward to safety from the charge, and had instead fallen into the way of a brutal whirling one-two punch from her enemy. The left fist connected high, dislocating the right shoulder with a bony pop. Then the right fist struck in the small of the princess' back, knocking her a dozen feet across the clearing where she skidded to rest with a pained whimper. Mega Man landed, disoriented. As his gyros regained their balance, he turned and saw the princess slowly stand, bent over and choking back a sob. Her right arm hung limp and awkward at her side, the golden symbol of the Triforce on her hand hidden against her hip. When she looked at Mega Man though, he saw the vengeful rage flare in her eyes as it had earlier. He will pay! Expecting another charging attack from Zelda, Mega Man deployed a barrier of razor-sharp leaves that would surely slice her fists from her arms. Through the storm of leaves that surrounded him, Mega Man was surprised to see the princess not charging into another offensive, but waving her left arm above her head. As she brought it down, a tiny red spark escaped her palm and curved toward the robot. In an instant the sparkling magical projectile was on the Leaf Shield. With an incongruously subtle whoosh, the light erupted into a huge conflagration, incinerating the Leaf Shield and setting Mega Man ablaze as it knocked him back against the wall. And now to finish you. Zelda strode forward as her opponent twisted on the ground to quench the fire that still licked at his extremities. Again she called upon the power of the fire goddess Din as she traced a circle around herself with her good arm. A sphere of flame, at first only barely large enough to hold her, expanded in the clearing. At its center stood Zelda. The fire around her reflected in her eyes, giving them a reddish cast that perfectly complemented the sneer marring her elegantly beautiful features. Mega Man rolled over to see the edge of yet another fiery onslaught racing toward him, the silhouette of Zelda dark against the afternoon sun's orange glare behind the wall of fire. It seemed that the world was aflame. The Blue Bomber, his gun-arm outstretched along the ground, unleashed the perfect counterattack. Gallons of water gushed forth from his arm at incredible pressure, mounting into a roaring white-capped wave that churned along the ground toward the hylian princess. Where the Water Wave met the flaming wall, white steam clouds billowed up with an angry hiss--and the wave continued on unbroken. Zelda's eyes opened wide in shock as she saw the water rising before her, thundering out of the cloud of steam inexorably. "Lady Nayru, save--" was all she got out before the deluge crashed down on her with the force of a storm-tossed ocean. Zelda's vision was a yellow-brown blur of muddy water as she was washed backward and thrown about by the wild torrent. She felt a sharp crack as her head struck one of the stony barriers. On instinct, she gasped in shock, inhaling a mouthful of water. The princess slid into a choking unconsciousness gratefully. Mega Man arose as the wave he had unleashed on his opponent dissipated, seeping into the parched ground. It left only the muddy mire of the central clearing as evidence of its passing. The blue robot slogged to his fallen opponent's side as she slid into the mud at the base of one of the barricades. A green-clad warrior with sword drawn and fury in his eyes splashed into the clearing from a passage to Mega Man's left as he neared the fallen princess. "Touch her one more time, and you're finished!" Link had leapt the wall and wound his way through the increasingly muddy passages to the arena's center when he saw the deluge unleashed by the victorious robot on his helpless companion. Link's words carried all of the weight an undisputed champion's threat could as he advanced menacingly on Mega Man. The Blue Bomber stood his ground. "She needs my help, now!" Mega Man stated with urgency. "Don't get in the way!" True to Mega Man's word, the barricade against which the limp form of Hyrule's princess lay slumped was now leaning over her at a gravity-defying angle. The Blue Bomber's watery attack had washed out the dirt into which the wall had been planted--it would fall in moments, crushing the unconscious Zelda under a ton of concrete. Link stopped dead in his tracks, his look of rage giving way to one of fear. Mega Man rushed under the tilting wall as it began its final descent. With his arm he scooped up the princess, while a muscular-looking hand grew from his barrel and propped the wall. To his surprise, Link was suddenly by his side, putting his back into the task of assisting. The pair slipped backward gradually, unable to get a steady foothold in the slimy mud. "You just get her to safety!" yelled the robot. Link grabbed Zelda. "I couldn't have beaten Cutman if I couldn't handle something like this by myself!" Link had no idea what Mega Man was talking about, and couldn't have cared less. His princess' safety, certainly not that of the little robot, was foremost on his mind. He carried her hurriedly but gently to drier ground and lay her down. There was a loud crash behind him as Mega Man hurled the concrete slab aside. Zelda came to with a sputtering start. She had expected to be staring into a charged Mega Buster, not Link's eyes. Zelda tried to rise, and winced at the pain in her shoulder and her head. Link seemed concerned, but at the same time confident. "Now's your chance!" whispered the hylian hero, a competitive fire burning behind his caring gaze. "Finish him!" Zelda felt the familiar surge of the emerald's power as it ached to comply with Link's command. She felt the magical energy well up inside her as she prepared another attack. And then she thought of Link, caught in the crossfire. He can handle himself! the power of the emerald seemed to say. She willed it silent. Victory in some petty contest will never be worth the risk of endangering the hero of Hyrule. Sheik's victory shall not come at Zelda's expense. What end would such a display of power serve? I could change the world, you say? Never before have I had to exert myself against the will of the world to see peace and happiness restored to my people. I am Zelda, princess of Hyrule, and I need be nothing more. It was as if the sky itself had sighed with relief at the completion of some dreaded deed. A tension of which two of the three combatants present were only dimly aware had, with that simple thought, been relaxed into nothingness. A golden light once again glowed about the princess, outshining the sun's warm rays. In its illumination, even in her mud-stained garb, Zelda's broken form looked queenly and serene. A part of the light coalesced into the rounded yellow emerald last seen falling from Lara Croft's satchel. The stone dropped into the dust. The golden aura continued to shine, slowly assuming a triangular shape hovering above the supine princess. Champion of wisdom, you have acquitted yourself well, rang the voice of the Triforce in a heavy sonorous rhythm audible only to Zelda. To cast out the aimless desire to remake as you would see fit is no small feat. What now does your heart know of wisdom? Zelda did not even hesitate. Wisdom is knowing how to be oneself within the world. When last I left this place, I came upon a tree blocking my path through the forest. Hiding behind my mask and some other name, I burned it to the ground to continue on my path without breaking my stride. Wisdom is seeing the path around the tree, and slowing to walk it. Wisdom is seeing that the tree can be climbed to find a path when none can be seen. Wisdom dictates: "only burn the tree to warm yourself in winter; only cut it down to build a house." It is a villain's lot to change the world, and to reap the fallow harvest of his own rash deed. The wise will let the world change them, for it is older and knows its ways better. You have learned well from your trial, champion of wisdom. Return to your homeland as most worthy bearer of that title, for there they have need of your guidance. Let wisdom temper your courage and guide your hand. The gleaming triangle descended once again to the right hand of the princess as it lay by her side limply. She looked up at Mega Man, who had been watching dumbfounded in the glow of the golden power as she proved her rightful ownership of the Triforce of Wisdom. With a deep understanding in her eyes that belied none of the anguish she had experienced since her victory or of the rapt curiosity that filled them before, Zelda lifted her gaze past the charred chestplate of the robot and gazed into his eyes. "I surrender," she said as a formality, and it took a few seconds for the meaning of the words to sink in. "Keep the stone safe." Aftermath: "Nosce Te Ipsum" Zelda picked herself up gracefully, and stood with as much dignity as she was able to muster, given her disheveled appearance and mud stained robes. The crowd gradually began clapping at the apparent conclusion of the match, once again relieved to see that the fighters had not been seriously injured. MegaMan was gazing at the golden stone given to him by Zelda, turning it around in his robotic palms, apparently having lost interest in the princess, or the crowd for that matter. Zelda felt a tug on her sleeve, and heard two sharp words from Link. "Let's go." Zelda nodded, and slowly began to walk in the direction of the exit. Link escorted her from the arena, quickly moving away from the applause of the crowd. They had not spoken in what seemed like an eternity... but Zelda knew there was something on the mind of the Hero of Hyrule. She slowly thought back through all that had taken place between when she had lost and regained her sanity. Two of the original bearers of the Triforces had now lost, and only one remained. Zelda could sense Link's concern, his competitive spirit... and something else. The princess waited for Link to address her first however, she knew enough of Link's independence to tell that it would be unwise to force the issue. Link's countenance was focused and dark. His arms were straight and unbent, and he moved quickly, at a determined pace. Zelda had to press herself to match him. He spoke to her in short syllables. "You could have won there." "Perhaps. But there are much greater victories to be had then defeating an honorable foe by dishonorable means. As much as I would wish to remain with you, it is better this way. I know I would have fought and remained only to serve my own wishes, and gained glory for myself. It was too high a price to pay... I know who I am now, and that is a greater victory." Link snorted derisively. "You struggled with all that power, forgot who you were, only to give it up at the end. It was all pointless then." "Yes, it was." Zelda agreed. "I gained nothing, aside from the lessons I learned. But that means more to me than a tournament in which I could only win if I defeated my people's hero." She halted her step, and turned Link's face to look at her. "You are the hero of Hyrule... our greatest champion. I am only their leader. I can not win here, but you can. My place is at my home, your place is here for now." Link nodded his head. Zelda could sense his worries and insecurities fade, and watched his features relax. These last weeks must have been hard for him to bear without her... she had always been maddeningly close, but spiritually distant. And now it was already time for her to leave. The portal was beckoning to her, over the next clearing. Zelda sighed, and rested her hands on Link's arm. "Thank you for protecting me. Be safe, Link. I will see you when you return." Link nodded. He still seemed so distant, aloof... Zelda still had to wonder what was going on inside his head. But his problems were his own. The people of Hyrule let him bear the weight of their trials, he should be able to deal with his own struggles. Link put his lips next to her ear and whispered softly. "Goodbye. Make sure no harm befalls you until I return." "You should be more concerned for yourself, knight." Zelda could feel Link's muscles tense up. Magus was walking towards them from the direction of the portal. Link began breathing more heavily... something about Magus was evidently upsetting him. Zelda squeezed his arm tighter, but Link slipped out of her grasp, standing up straight to face Magus. "I'm not afraid of you, wizard. I know I can defeat you. I've killed stronger than you." "Perhaps you have, and perhaps you could. We all must die in the end. But that is not what I was referring to. There are fates much worse than death." Magus stopped a few paces away from them and smiled slightly. "The princess knows what I am referring to. Losing yourself, and becoming that which you most despise. It has been known to happen." Link snorted and unsheathed his sword. The Master Sword reflected the last orange rays of the sunset onto the grass, making it look like light flames rested on the ground. Link rotated his sword in the air, showing Magus the Elven runes. "I'm not frightened, mage. I defeated Ganon, the same as you. You can't do anything to me." Magus showed a small mocking smile again. "Of course not. You are the only one who can do that." Link rolled his eyes and whispered sharply in Zelda's ear. "Just get out of here, I can deal with him." Zelda shook her head and whispered back. "Link... the Triforce of Power chose him. There must be something to him beyond what he appears to be. Please... let's just listen to what he has to say." Link gritted his teeth and snapped his head back to Magus. "You don't know anything about me, wizard. I am destined to guard the Triforce of Power, and keep it out of evil hands. The blade I bear is designed to resist the magic of that artifact. You can't defeat me." Magus's gaze grew colder as he shook his head at Link. Zelda saw that his eyes were filled with contempt. "My fight with you is not why I came here. My reason for being here is about you, but my business is with your princess." Zelda was startled to hear that... now that she was fully her rightful self, she couldn't imagine what Magus would want with her. The dark magician moved closer to her, and Link grabbed her arm protectively. Zelda whispered in Link's ear again. "It's all right, I can take care of myself." Zelda stepped a few feet away from Link. Link glanced back and forth between her and Magus, with some tension in his eyes. The three bearers of the Triforces stood next to each other in a triangle. Magus extended his right palm towards Zelda. Zelda reached out to grab his hand, and Link placed his hand on top of hers. The three Triforces resonated, the emblems of the goddesses Din, Nayru, and Faeore, representing Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Magus removed his hand and spoke softly, the coldness gone from his voice. "So is true. What is there to be known of this Triforce?" Zelda spoke hesitatingly... she was surprised that someone like Magus would not have fully understand the Triforce by now... he must be testing her. "It responds to the will of the bearer. It can fulfill your hopes and dreams. It can be used for tremendous good or evil. Your Triforce bears the element of power... its power is determined by the strength of your will and desires. And together, the three Triforces are all powerful, they can do anything." She looked up at him, scarcely believing what he was saying. The legends of her people were so well known, she could not understand someone not being familiar with the story of the Triforce. Magus nodded. "A valuable gift indeed." "You won't be keeping it for long." Link growled. He still held his sword in his left hand. Magus's voice grew cold again. "Will you really do whatever it takes to win?" Link answered without even thinking. "Yes." "Winning is never enough. You won last year, but you still can not be satisfied." Magus looked Zelda in the eyes again, and she began to feel uncomfortable. "If you really want to win, then you must know it is within your power right now. The three pieces of the Triforce are all here. All you would have to do is murder the two of us to take them." Link laughed at Magus suddenly and swung his sword in a quick lateral cut. Magus blocked it with his scythe and ducked to avoid a second attack. What is he doing... "LINK!" Zelda cried out. Link turned to face her with a dark expression... but as he saw her frightened face, his anger seemed to fade away. Magus folded his arms and watched the changes Link was going through. "I'm sorry... you tried to trick me." Link stared accusingly at Magus. Magus shook his head. "You did it to yourself. You are your own worst enemy, Link, not me." Link shook his head. "No.... no..." "Zelda." The princess of Hyrule had to look away from Link as she heard Magus calling out her name. "Can't you see it too? Your precious 'hero' is slipping away from you." Zelda shook her head, it was too much to take in. "No, I don't believe you." "Forget what you believe. Don't listen to your heart. Think. Prove yourself worthy of your precious artifact of wisdom. What do you see in him?" Reluctantly, Zelda stared at Link. He seemed shaken up by what he had nearly done. He seemed normal enough... but there was something else still there... some presence gnawing at him... "No." She pushed herself away from Link and faced away from the two men. She had to think things through. She glanced over her shoulder, and Magus was staring off into space, like he was listening to an unheard voice. The dark wizard nodded, barely perceptibly. "Link. Are you familiar with the sacred realm?" "Yes," the Hero of Time said, forcing his voice to remain steady. "The Triforce there has the power to your reveal your true form, and what lies within your heart. Ganondorf used the power of the Triforce to reveal the monster he truly was within, Ganon. I can do the same to you, give you a more fitting form. Do you wish to see who you really are?" "No..." Link shook his head, fighting for the words. Magus's eyes burned... Zelda could see tiny flames at his fingertips. "Are you afraid, 'champion of courage'?" Link shook his head again, and looked pleadingly at Zelda. She rested an arm on his shoulder. "It'll be all right." she whispered in his ear. She nodded to Magus. A dark bolt of lightning began to slowly flow from Magus's hands, passing through Zelda, and hitting Link squarely in the chest. Link gasped as he felt his skin changing its texture, and his body growing. His tunic changed color to a dark brown. The hair on his head grew until it covered his whole body. He yelled out as the last changes were completed... his hands gave way to paws, and his boots faded away as his feet and hands grew claws. He had become a monster... a predator, one who preyed upon the weak. Link roared and swung his arms sideways, trying to shake off his skin. Magus stood with his arms crossed, dispassionately. Zelda grabbed onto Link's arms and tried to keep him still. She grabbed his Ocarina to where it had fallen off the ground, and pressed it up to his mouth. "Play the melody!" She whispered quickly. Link looked at her confusedly, until he realized what she was referring to. Link grabbed it with his clumsy paws and pressed it up to his face. Carefully moving his clawed fingers, he slowly played the song of healing. He cried out again as all the fur flew off of his body and concentrated itself into a point in front of him. His body was changing again... Link closed his eyes and wished for it to be over. And then it was. He was back to normal... his tunic and skin had returned. He felt exactly like had before. A mask with the snarling face of a beast rested on the ground in front of him. Link looked at it, barely believing what he saw. He turned it around, and looked at its back...it fit his face perfectly, as always. He shuddered, and tossed it away. "Now do you see what I mean, Link?" "... I don't believe you. Just go away." Link's hands were trembling, still clutching at the air where the mask had been. Magus sighed and addressed Link again. "Sephiroth believes that you are destined to fall in your match with me, that our fight will somehow corrupt you fully. He is looking forward to this. And he believes that you will kill me." "You're lying..." Link whispered. He looked so fragile in that moment, despite his strength, which apparently worried even Magus. But Zelda knew that all the emotions he was welling up would come out later in his fight... she was still worried for him. She grabbed his arms and hugged him tightly. "It's all right." She held onto Link as his breathing gradually returned to normal. Magus was already gone... the prophet of doom had left without her even noticing it. Link looked around the field, trying to spot Magus. His eyes burned. "How dare he suggest..." "Link," Zelda pleaded. "He may be right. He believes he is." Link kept silent, and just looked at her sad face. "Link, I want you to promise me something. Whatever happens, I don't want you to prove him right. I don't want you to go too far, trying to win. You have to remember why you're fighting. You have to..." She trailed off, knowing that Link wouldn't like what she was about to say. "You have to have the courage to lose, if you must. It takes more courage to do that than to win at any price." Link nodded his head. He seemed to have pulled himself together. Zelda felt a pang of fear. It was as though he was changing in front of her very eyes, into someone else.... there had to be something wrong with him. But Link's next words reassured her. "I promise. I'll see you again soon." He took her to the portal and waved goodbye sadly. There had to be a lot on his mind... as she vanished into her own world, she offered up a silent prayer for his safety, hoping for the best for him. But her heart was still troubled, and the words of Magus rested heavily with her. But it was beyond her control now, Link's fate was his own. Next Entry Back |