Fan Fiction ❯ Professional Hero ❯ The Lost Woods revealed ( Chapter 38 )

Chapter 38 - The Lost Woods revealed

"Man, am I glad to be out of that volcano!" Mikau stretched as he entered the throne room.

"Why did you came anyway?" Link asked.

"Well, the Gorons made us these tunics that absorb heat and they said even we could survive in the volcano, so fishface here," Mikau nodded at his brother, "suggested we go in and help you guys. And helpful as I am…"

"We're just sorry we couldn't save Goro's father." Zora replied.

"What?" a nearby Goron shouted out, "what happened to Big Brother?"

"Gather all Gorons in the main hall," Goro told him grim, "I'll tell them there."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Link whispered to his friend.

"They will find out, and it's better that I tell them. It's my duty."

Darmani and Mikau made their way through the Gorons that started flowing in the main hall. They didn't know what was going on but they heard rumours that their father and Goro had returned and somewhere they held the suspicion that something had happened to Darunia. Call it a gut feeling. Although the two boys were only ten, they had picked up their fathers instincts. They came to a halt not far from the entrance to the throne room where Goro stepped outside. Without a word he held up his hands to motion silence and as one man, the Gorons went silent.

"Darunia is dead!" he exclaimed.

The Gorons started to talk again, hardly believing this news, but Goro silenced the crowd again.

"I will make sure his dead will be avenged and kill the ones responsible for this," he continued, "when this is settled, I will take my place as the Death Mountain Big Brother and hope to be such an inspirational leader as my father was."

"Where's Terrani?" a voice from the crowd asked, followed by other Gorons.

"My brother is killed by the same people that were responsible for the death of my father. And for this they will pay as well."

"This is not good," Darmani whispered to his brother.

"No," Mikau answered, "that monster killed another sage, I hope we'll be able to save Saria."

"We better! Let's go see dad to ask what we can do."

The two boys started to dodge upset Gorons again to reach their father who stood aside Goro. When Link saw his two oldest sons he kneeled and hugged them.

"I failed again." He whispered.

"We'll get him," Mikau comforted his father, "it's not over yet."

"No, it's not," Link nodded and stood up, "let's go find your brother and sister and leave for the Lost Woods."

After every Goron paid his respect to Goro, the party ventured in the Lost Woods, in search of the Temple. Link stopped for a second and looked around.

"This way." He said and stepped forward in dark forest.

"Are you sure?" Mikau-Zora asked since he could see no path and every tree looked like the other.

"I am now," Link smiled as he stepped into an open spot with a large iron gate, "gentlemen, welcome to the Sacred Meadows."

"And lady." Impa smiled as she stepped forward, "gentlemen and lady. Don't forget about me."

Malon was just about to say something when a grim voice cut her off.

"I haven't."

On the wall next to the gate stood the Gravedigger, ready to strike.

"Stand back!" Link shouted as he drew his sword.

"I can take care of my own," Impa assured Link and drew her knifes, "after all, I'm a Sheikah, one of the most renowned fighters in Hyrule."

"I don't care," Link snapped back, "that's monster's Alexis. And if I'm not mistaken, he's also Sheikah."

"That was a long time ago," The monster responded, "and that matters no more. All that matters is death."

"Alexis, huh?" Impa started to grin, "then I shouldn't have any trouble at all, I taught him everything he knows."

"Not really," the Gravedigger said and jumped up.

Several deku nuts came crashing down and before even the first one hit the ground, the Gravedigger had landed and kicked Impa in the chest. She flew back against a tree and landed hard. Link could barely evade the large scimitar and jumped out of reach.

"Kids! Go! Now!" he shouted, but his voice was lost in Goro's battlecry.

Goro lifted his hammer and charged the Gravedigger, but Alexis just kneeled and jumped up with his fist right on Goro's chin. The big Goron landed flat on his back. The Gravedigger charged to Impa again with his scimitar ready, but Link jumped before him and blocked the large sword. He couldn't stop his other hand however.

"Too late, hero," the Gravedigger laughed, "you failed again."

Link looked back and saw a small dagger protruding Impa's forehead as she slowly slid down.

"No!" Madakar screamed and charged the monster, but before Link could react, Alexis had turned and slammed his fist in Madakar's chest.

"Dad?" Link's voice almost broke, "you heartless monster."

"I have a heart, right here,"

Alexis withdrew his fist and showed Madakar's heart in the palm of his fist. He kicked Link back and jumped into a nearby tree.

"I would like to kill you," he shouted as he disappeared, "but you've already been called."

Link kneeled next to the body of his father and closed his lifeless eyes. An unearthly scream sounded through the forest, all the way to Kokiri village.

"Link," Mikau nudged the Hero of Time as he sat next to his father, comforted by his children, "Link, we got to go on."

Link looked up with dull eyes as if he didn't understand what the Zora was saying.

"We got to secure this temple, man," the Zora continued, "it's the only way we can save Saria and stop Zelda. Then we can kill this fucker."

Link's eyes grew cold and hard as steel.

"You're right," he nodded, "we have to go on. But please, let me bury him first. He deserves that much."

About fifteen minutes later, two swords marked the unnamed graves. Link kneeled one last time and touched the grave.

"We go," he simply said and turned to the temple.

"What about us?" Malon asked.

Link looked at his children and seemed to think for a moment.

"You come with us, there's no other choice now."

A mantel of darkness seemed to be laid over the great hall as only the four torches in the centre were seen. Cautiously Link moved to the centre, closely followed by his children. Mikau and Zora stayed at the entrance with their bows ready, as Goro followed the wall to check the darkness.

"The elevator in the middle is gone," Link whispered to caution his children, "and the torches have the wrong colour. It should be coloured flames instead of normal ones."

Just as Link had said this, the flames seemed to jump up and revealed the Kees that were inside. Before Mikau and Zora had a chance to fire their bows, Link's children had already shot them.

"Show-offs!" Mikau shouted.

"We can't help it we're good!" Malon laughed but stopped as two arrows entered the giant hand that came from above.

"Yeah," Mikau retorted, "but you can help it you're not better."

Link stepped forward until he was on top of the elevator.

"Stand back," he told his children as he charged up.

The room was brightly illuminated by Din's fire, but the torches remained unlit. The darkness didn't come back however and revealed four Iron Knuckles who started to move in the corners of the room. Goro stood closely to one and smashed it with his hammer. The armour fell apart and revealed a blue flame.

"Get the other ones!" Link shouted as he drew his sword and charged another one.

Mikau and Zora started to shoot at the one slowly advancing on them but all seemed to no avail.

"Let's try something different," Mikau hissed as he charged an ice arrow, "try this on for size motherfucker."

He let go of the arrow, followed by a light arrow from his brother. The Iron Knuckle froze solid and was shattered by the second arrow. A green flame floated towards the centre.

Link had disposed of the third Knuckle with two slashes and liberated the third flame as he looked to see if his children were safe. They, however, had charged towards the last Knuckle and swiftly dodged the slow blows. Their assault caused a part of the armour to become detached.

"Careful," Link warned his children, "they get faster now!"

Malon barely jumped out of the way of the huge axe, but now the monster had left an opening for Darmani. The young boy drove his sword deep into the armour and the last part of the massive being fell lifeless on the floor.

With the four torches lit again, the elevator in the middle of the room slowly raised.

"I'll go first," Link stated, "when I give the signal, you come," he pointed to Darmani, Mikau, Malon and Dekaru, "then Goro, and last Zora and Mikau."

The rest nodded as Link descended. Minutes later the elevator emerged once again, empty. Link's voice could be heard faintly and his children entered the elevator. They prepared their weapons as they lowered into the ground to finally enter the last room before the Inner Chamber. When they exited the elevator it returned upwards to fetch Goro and the two Zora's. When all were down Link opened the door to the Inner Chamber. Paintings of a deserted path surrounded them as they went up the stairs to the middle. Otherwise was the room apparently empty.

"Careful!" Dekaru shouted as a large shadow became clear on the floor.

Link rolled out of the way as a large Iron Knuckle came crashing down. It was about half the size bigger than a normal Iron Knuckle and it's armour seemed sturdier. One giant horn left the middle of it's forehead and it had large spikes on it's shoulder pads. It swirled it's axe around a couple of times and then pointed towards Link as if to challenge him. However, it wasn't Link who accepted the challenge. Goro jumped forward but the Knuckle just dodged the blow and rammed his shoulder into the chest of the Goron. Goro staggered backward, clenching his chest, preparing for another attack, but the monster turned to Link again.

"Are you alright?" Darmani asked as he stepped next to the Goron with his sword ready.

"I'm fine," Goro replied, "those spikes didn't went deep enough to damage anything vital. If I hadn't been a Goron, however, I would have been dead."

"So we'll have to fight it from a distance," Mikau-Zora nodded and charged an ice arrow.

The Iron Knuckle ducked underneath the arrow and charged Link. Link tried to jump out of the way, but was hit by the fore arm of the Knuckle as it swayed to hit. Link rolled with the punch and crawled back on his feet, fencing off the second blow of the giant axe with his sword. The others tried to attack again, but the Knuckle dodged everything they could throw at him and completely ignored them, focussing on Link.

"Do you think this is the thing that the Gravedigger meant?" Malon asked between a volley of arrows, "the one that called Link?"

"No fucking idea," Mikau-Zora answered, "but we better kill this fucker fast, cause your dad isn't doing that good."

Suddenly he realised who he had talked to and turned to the little girl.

"I mean…"

"That's okay," Malon nodded, "in this situation, swearing is necessary. Now let's kill that fucker."

"It may be necessary!" Link shouted as he jumped over the Knuckle, "but that doesn't mean you should start!"

Link turned around and let his sword come down hard. Unfortunately, the Knuckle had rolled forward and turned as well.

"Now that never happened before," Link blinked.

The Knuckle swayed it's axe again in an attempt to take Link by surprise, but Link was already gone, trying to attack the monster from another angle, but to no avail. Whatever Link tried, the Knuckle fenced off the blow and continued to attack. It was clear to say the two were an equal match.

That's when Link heard a faint melody in the air. One of the portraits started to ripple and a large horse emerged from the painting. The Knuckle turned away so the rider missed him and turned it's attention back to Link, only to stop dead in it's track. It seemed confused to see it's prey had doubled. On one side, there was Link, in a green tunic, holding a bow ready, and on the other side, there was Link, in a black tunic, wielding a two handed sword. Just as it seemed to reach a conclusion, Ganondorf emerged from the painting again, and again the Knuckle rolled out of the way, striking Link with it's axe. Link was struck straight in the face, and before anyone could react, Link had thrust his sword deep in the back of the Knuckle. The Knuckle looked at the Link he had hit as it slowly vanished and turned to Link who twisted his huge sword. The Iron Knuckle fell forward on the ground and shattered.

"That was close," Darmani whistled.

"It was," Mikau nodded his head, "but where's Saria?"

"She's not here," Link sheeted his sword, "she must still be in Kokiri Village. Now let's get there before the Gravedigger gets there."

The sunlight welcomed them as they stepped outside the temple. Link's children were ready to run to the village, but Link stopped them. He turned to the forest and smiled.

"Thank you Din, for looking after my children.

A female form holding a harp came visible through the trees.

"I just figured you needed all the help you could get," the Oracle of Seasons said, "and I don't think Nayru would have objected on me using her harp."

"Not after payment, at least," Link grinned.

Din disappeared in the woods again and Link urged the others to run to Kokiri village.

"Who was that?" Dekaru asked.

"The Oracle of Seasons," Link answered, "she used the harp of time to show you the images of me to help you through the dungeons."

"Told you I had heard music." Mikau grinned to his brother.

Darmani just shrugged and started to run faster.

Link came to an abrupt halt when he exited the Lost Woods, causing Darmani to bump into him. Link shushed him before he could complain and pointed towards the entrance of Kokiri Village. There stood about fifty Hylian soldiers, led by a hooded man in black. Behind them was the Gravedigger visible.

"I'll ask you a last time," their leader said, "where is Link?"

"We don't know," a Kokiri stepped forward, "he left a couple of days ago to the desert and we haven't seen him back yet."

Link looked down to see Saria and saw her behind Mido's house, along with a few other Kokiri's.

"Darmani, Mikau, Malon, Dekaru," Link motioned his children closer, "get Saria and hide deep in the Lost Woods. We'll try to stop the others."

The kids nodded and started climbing down. Link, Zora and Mikau-Zora readied their bows. Just before they could shoot however, the man in black shot forward and grabbed the Kokiri. In a swift motion the poor boy flew over the Hylian soldiers into Hyrule Field. His scream somehow continued as his flesh seemed to burn away while his skeleton crumbled to dust. He didn't even touch the ground.

"You…killed… him…" Mido stammered in shock, but his shock slowly turned to anger, "you killed him!"

Mido jumped up and seemed to grow in size. The rest of the Kokiri dashed forward, all increasing in size until they were even bigger than the Gravedigger, smashing around in the army troop.

"Holy shit," Zora muttered, "Link, did you know this?"

"Fuck no," Link answered, "I knew the Deku tree protected the Kokiri, but I had no idea the Kokiri were the protection."

They looked in awe and shock as the transformed Kokiri held an onslaught in the ranks of the Hylian, tearing them limb from limb with their new grown claws.

"Well, I'm not standing idle when they are doing all the work." Goro seemed to decide and jumped down.

Link shot his arrow at the gravedigger, who seemed the only one that could survive the Kokiri's but the monster dodged the arrow, causing to focus his attention at the entrance of the Lost Woods, and on Saria who had almost reached Link. He let out a deafening roar and jumped up.

"Hide into the Lost Woods!" Link shouted as he grabbed his sword, "I'll deal with him."

"No you won't," the Gravedigger roared as he reached the ledge where Link was standing, "did you forget you were already called for?"

A hookshot missed Link barely and dug itself deep into the bark of the tree behind him. The leader of the Hylians came flying up and landed before Link as the Gravedigger followed his children into the Lost Woods.

"And who the fuck might you be?" Link asked his new opponent as he motioned Zora and Mikau-Zora to go help his children.

"Let's say, a familiar face," the man removed his hood and showed Link's face but with black hair.

"I'm supposed to be impressed now?" Link grinned and held up his sword.

"No, just dead!"

Dark attacked Link ferociously but Link parried his blows.

"Still not impressed, nor dead," Link retorted his attack and tried to slash this impostor.

Dark fenced off the blow with ease and attacked again. This time Link was too slow and a red mark became visible on his left fore arm.

"First blood." Dark grinned.

"I lost my first blood a long time ago," Link answered as he kicked Darks sword arm out of the way and he landed his fist deep in his gut, "and I won that fight."

Dark coughed up some blood and his eyes shot fire. Slowly a grin resurfaced his face.

"You know you can't win, don't you? Even as we speak the Gravedigger is killing poor little Saria. You've failed."

"What did you do to Alexis anyway?" Link asked as he attacked again.

"His mind was easy to crack," Dark answered as he tried a slash, "unlike others, but that's just more fun that way."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"I would love to tell you, but Zelda would rather tell you face to face."

The fight was suddenly interrupted by an inhuman scream coming from deep within the Lost Woods. The two fighters peered into the dark entrance and slowly Saria stepped out.

"What?" Darks eyes grew wide, "that's impossible. Well, I've always wanted to kill a sage."

Dark shot forward, past Link, but his sword was fenced off by a mere Deku stick. Right next to Saria stood Dekaru, holding his Deku stick as protection. Dark tried again but his sword was unable to break the Deku stick.

"This can't be!" he roared, "how can you stop my blows?"

"The Deku tree gave me this stick." Dekaru replied.

"It's just a simple Deku stick!"

"Not really," Darmani stepped into the light, covered in blood with his right arm hanging limp.

"You see," Mikau continued, "Dekaru planted a metal bar into the bark of the Deku tree and the Deku tree grew around it to make it look like a normal wooden stick.

Dekaru suddenly jumped forward and knocked Dark in his gut with the Deku stick, followed by a hit on his chin. Dark knocked the small boy back but turned to Link.

"This isn't over yet," he shouted as he threw a Deku nut and disappeared.

"Far from it." Link spat, and kneeled next to Saria, "are you alright?"

"I am," she nodded, "the Deku tree protected me…"

"This way!" Malon shouted as she, Dekaru and Saria ran through the Lost Woods.

Darmani and Mikau had stayed behind to shoot that monster and she prayed it would be enough. When she saw something green pass them, she knew she was wrong.

"Oh my Goddess!" she shouted and stopped by her brother, "Darmani? Are you alright?"

"Not now!" the boy shouted as he grabbed his arm, "get away!"

The Gravedigger crashed through a tree and surprised the others. He looked at Saria but then turned to smash Mikau into the ground. He turned his attention back to Saria when two arrows entered his shoulder. The two Zora heroes reloaded their bows and shot again. The Gravedigger was just about to dodge them when a third arrow hit his arm and he jerked upwards. Malon took another arrow, but the Gravedigger swept her away against a nearby tree.

"You'll pay for this!" Dekaru shouted and grabbed his sword in one hand and his Deku stick in another.

The Gravedigger attacked with his scimitar but Dekaru could barely block it with his Deku stick. Alexis was surprised when the stick didn't break and this gave Dekaru the opportunity to plant his sword deep in the arm of the monster. The Gravedigger pulled his arm back, taking the sword with him. Dekaru jumped out of the way of the fist of the monster, grabbing Saria with him. He searched his pockets for his slingshot and found a Deku nut.

"Here," he told Saria, "take this. Throw it at him to blind him and I'll shoot him with my slingshot."

"You think a slingshot will do much damage?" the girl asked him.

"It's better than nothing," he shrugged.

Alexis had just pulled out a tree and thrown at the Zora's when Saria threw the Deku nut at his feet. Dekaru shot a couple of Deku nuts at the same time, awaiting the flash, but instead of the light, the Deku nut cracked open and started to sprout quickly. A huge tree came up from underneath the Gravedigger, ripping him apart as the branches penetrated his flesh. Saria quickly looked away as the forest had its vengeance on the monster but his screams could still be heard.

"He's dead." Dekaru told the girl and then turned to Mikau.

The young boy got up and spat out some blood.

"Did we get him?" he asked as Dekaru helped him up, "where are the others?"

"I'm here," Darmani said as he helped Malon with his good arm, "Malon however took a serious hit."

"Not more serious than you," she softly said, "where are the Zora's."

"Here!" Mikau-Zora's voice came, "help me get this tree off of Link!"

Saria came running to the two heroes and saw that Zora was trapped underneath a tree while Mikau-Zora had a branch through his arm.

"I don't know how to move it." She almost cried as she saw them.

A tree suddenly bended and moved the fallen tree away. Zora slowly turned away, grateful to be free.

"In all my time in the Lost Woods, I've never seen anything like this." Dekaru looked at the tree in awe.

"You've never seen the forest in danger before," Saria told him, "when Link was brought to the forest, it also protected him from those women that wanted to kill him."

"We better get back!" Mikau-Zora said, "we can heal later, but we got to let him know we're alright."

"This way," Saria said and disappeared in the bushes.

At the foot of the Deku tree, Links children were being healed by countless fairies, as well as being praised by Link for their victory over the Gravedigger.

"I'm just sorry I couldn't kill him myself," Goro grumbled.

"You couldn't," Mikau-Zora responded, "if it hadn't been for the woods, it would have been us that were dead. That thing was an unstoppable monster. It's hard to believe that motherfucker was once human."

"I have no idea what Zelda did to him, but he didn't deserve this," Link shook his head, "he deserved death, but not this."

"What did he do anyway?" Zora asked.

"He threatened me cause he thought I had an affair with Zelda. Must have been that look-a-like."

Link stretched his back and grabbed his sword.

"Either way, it's time to bring this war to Zelda's doorstep."

"Lead on!" Goro slammed his fist in his open hand.

"I'm going alone." Link's voice was firm.

"I disagree."

The unknown voice made Link look up. From between the branches of the Deku tree an owl came flying down.

"I don't care you don't take the Zora's and the Goron," Kaepora continued, "but the children should at least see their mother."

AN: I'm sorry for the lack on updates, but I'm momentarily very busy as I'm looking for a new place to move and will be moving soon. I promise I will try to continue the story when I have the time, but I can't make any promises except this one. We're close to the end, and it would be stupid to stop now, wouldn't it? Don't worry, I will end this.