If Akane had been intent on save her mother before, she was now as determined as a storm that cuts its way through the forest. Storming ahead of her companions, she didn't stop once on their way across the plains, from the ruined castle town to the village of Kakariko.
'I'm coming, Mom!' she thought. 'Just a little longer... don't you worry, I'm coming!'
She knew her mother was more than capable of defending herself against all sorts of evils, but this was Bongo Bongo... and without the Lens of Truth, her chances were slim.
But even though Akane tried to focus her whole will on the rescue mission, her mind began to wander while they were crossing the plains. Back to her trip back in time, back to when she was just a little child. Outwardly, she seemed to have detested the time she was forced to spend as a child. But... that was just a facade. In fact, she had never felt as relieved as she did after she had defeated the monstrosity in the well, the Dead Hand. She had grown to like her return to childhood... and if she'd be honest with herself, she'd actually confess that she wouldn't have minded to spend a bit more time in the past, to revel in the fun and innocent ways of a child. Her nostalgic feelings had always been suppressed by her determination of becoming a good Sheikah warrior like her mother, but now the buried feelings had been uncovered.
Should she have been more honest with her friends and herself? Or had they already seen past her little scam?
"Hey, Akane! Wait up!"
"Yeah, slow down there! I can't feel my feet anymore, and you're storming ahead like a rabid Wolfos."
Akane stopped and turned around. She had almost forgotten that her friends were still following her. "Well, hurry up!" she said. "We're almost in Kakariko... we can save my Mom before sunrise, if we hurry."
"Give us a break, Akane!" Ukyo wheezed as she and Link came to a stop, panting and gasping for breath. "We've been running ever since we left the Tenple of Time... how about we take a short break for the night?"
"Are you kidding? My Mom doesn't have the time. You think Bongo Bongo will wait until we knock on his door?"
"Ukyo is right, Akane," Navi agreed. "We are all tired. We couldn't face Bongo Bongo like this... or do you want to challenge him all by yourself?"
"I bet she's tired as heck, too," Tatl added.
At first, Akane wanted to protest. But then, she noticed that her legs were somehow wobbly, and her knees felt weak. Her whole body felt as if it would slump over any second. How could she have become tired in such a short time?
But what if she had been tired all along, but didn't notice it?
"W-well... I guess we can take a little break..." she finally mumbled as she clumsily fell down on her behind. Her eyelids were suddenly feeling so heavy.
Link smirked, even though he was tired as well. "Not even Heroes of Time and Sheikah warriors can fight for several days with no sleep. You two sleep tight, I'll take care of the first guard."
"Good..." Akane murmured. Then her eyes were closed shut, and she fell down on the soft grass in the shadow of a low hill. Gentle snoring could be heard shortly after.
Ukyo chuckled. "Just a moment ago, I didn't think she'd be this tired. She looked so determined..."
"Maybe she just suppressed her tiredness," Navi said. "You wouldn't believe how people can ignore their own feelings when they are focussed on something that's important and dear to them."
"I guess I can understand her," Ukyo nodded. "If my father was still alive, I'd also be worried for him, knowing that he'd be in danger... well, g'night!" And she lay down as well.
Link took off his cap and sat down next to his friends, took the heavy shield off his back and rested his head on the hilt of the Master Sword. He watched how Navi and Tatl were sharing his cap, using it as a sleeping bag.
'I wish I knew my parents...' he thought.
Later, he must have fallen asleep, even though he had sworn to himself not to let his guard down. Still, he was startled awake when he heard a sudden noise nearby.
"What's that?" he whispered.
It was the middle of the night, and the moon was high up in the starlit sky of Hyrule. Akane, Ukyo and the fairies were still snoozing peacefully.
Link watched a nearby puddle of water. At first, it seemed that everything was quiet and the water surface was as smooth as the marble floor within the Temple of Time. But then, something made the water ripple and quiver. A deep, thumping noise made the ground beneath Link shudder. A few pebbles clattered around next to him. A few birds flew up from a nearby tree.
He gently shook Ukyo. "Ukyo! Hey, Ukyo! Wake up!"
"Hmmm… what's wrong?" the female Hylian in Kokiri's clothing mumbled sleepily. Sluggishly, she pushed her body up and looked at her childhood friend.
"Don't you hear that?" Link whispered.
Ukyo perked up her ears. Then she heard it as well. She also saw the rippling water in the puddle. "What could that be?"
"Whatever it is, it's coming closer," Akane whispered. She and the fairies had woken up as well. The thumping noise was coming closer and closer.
"It's coming from... over there!" Link said and pointed to the top of the hill, in whose shadow they had been sleeping.
Quickly, they were on their feet. Link put on his cap and grabbed his shield and sword, while Ukyo took her spatula and Akane drew a few throwing darts out of her pouch.
The full moon was hovering directly over the hill. And then, a big shape appeared on top of the hill, pushing its dark silhouette directly in front of the moon. It was a big, heavy reptile that was even bigger as a Dodongo. It also had a huge, metal shield on its head that made it appear even bigger as it already was. Small, red eyes glinted underneath the head shield.
"That's a Helmasaur!" Navi gasped. "But I thought those aggressive beasts were almost extinct..."
"I've seen one of these before," Akane grumbled. "Onox has one of them as his mount."
"Well, we should be able to deal with one," Ukyo said. "Even if that shield does look like it's pretty durable..."
The Helmasaur then let out a deep bellow. Just a few seconds later, more heavy footsteps could be heard, and another pair of Helmasaurs appeared next to the first one.
"Okay," Ukyo gulped. "This might take a little longer."
"Look out!" Link shouted. "Here they come!"
The first Helmasaur growled and leapt down the hill, trying to land on Link. The Hero of Time nimbly leapt backwards, avoiding being squashed by the beast's heavy body.
Link slashed at its head, but the Master Sword harmlessly bounced of the metal shield without causing any damage.
"You're right, Ukyo," Link muttered. "That armor is too thick."
"Well, then let's attack their backside, shall we?" Akane asked. After the horrific encounter with the Dead Hand in the spooky atmosphere of the well cavern, this battle was rather sobering and exciting. She was a Sheikah and trained in battle. This was just a wild beast. A dangerous beasts, but at least not something out of her nightmares. And she even already had a strategy to beat it.
With the agility that every Sheikah had, she jumped up and landed right on top of a Helmasaur's head shield. The creature aggressively snapped at her, but the bounced off its head right away, only to land behind its back with an elegant backflip.
"Take this!" she shouted and slashed at its backside with her blade. The Helmasaur let out a strangled yelp as it turned around to counterattack. But, it's body was so big and heavy, it stood no chance as Akane attacked with a flurry of rapid blows, until the monster fell down to the ground in defeat.
"That's all there is to it?" Ukyo asked. "Okay, fine! I can do that... I can't jump as high as Akane, though..." she mumbled.
When another Helmasaur lowered its head and charged at her with a frightening roar, she skipped sidewards, rolled across the floor and behind the creature. Then she skillfully stuck her spatula underneath the monster's feet. With all the strength she could muster, she then tried flipping it over.
"Yeah, do it, Ukyo!" Tatl cheered. "Flip that fatso like a Moblin burger on the grill!"
"EEYYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Ukyo then yelled and yanked her weapon up into the air. The Helmasaur helplessly stumbled forward and then flipped over on his backside, thrashing around in the air with his four limbs helplessly.
"And now... the Coup de Grace!" Ukyo shouted, jumping up and bringing her weapon down on the creature's soft underbelly with all her might.
The Helmasaur had only time to utter a short squeak, then its limbs and head fell limply to the side.
In the meantime, Link had finished his own opponent as easily as the girls.
"That's it?" he grinned and pulled his sword out of the Helmasaur's carcass. "Boring... no challenge at all!"
"So you need a challenge?" a deep voice on top of the hill spoke up. "I guess I can help you there..."
The three teenagers and two fairies gasped when they saw the bigger and taller shape that was rising against the full moon. It was another Helmasaur... but much bigger than the other three. Ukyo was uncertain if that beast's body would exceed even the immense size of the colossal King Dodongo...
On top of the beast, an armored giant was sitting. They all recognized him.
"Onox..." Akane muttered. She narrowed her eyes.
"We meet again, Sheikah, filth!" the dark general grumbled. "You see I have not given up on hunting all of you dirty rebels down. Before this night is over, you will tremble at the feet of the great King Ganondorf!"
"Your monsters and minions tried it again and again," Ukyo shouted. "What makes you think it will be different this time along?"
"I see no reason to justify my actions in front of a commoner," Onox growled. "Especially not a savage forest dweller!"
"I'll give you 'savage'..." Ukyo hissed through clenched teeth.
Onox slowly dismounted his enormous Helmasaur ride. "I must admit, I was waiting for a chance to test your battle skills," he said darkly. "I know that one-eyed demon is just waiting for when you arrive in his temple, so he can rind the flesh from your bones... but I think I will bring you to my master first. I think he'll be quite satisfied with me..."
"It's not his temple!" Akane shouted. "Neither his, yours or Ganondorf's! It is the Temple of Shadow, the one my mother is destined to protect by birthright as the Sage of Shadows! And you, Tatewaki, are nothing but an uppity, spoiled boy who is playing with powers he will never understand!"
"HOW DARE YOU??" Onox thundered as he stomped his feet. For a moment, Link believed it made the earth beneath their feet shake. "I am chosen by the greatest kings to fight in the service of Hyrule!"
"Only in the service of darkness," Link proclaimed. "Are you here to fight or to babble, or what?"
"Very well," Onox said. "If you want to die that badly..." He pointed his sword at them. "Helmasaur King... destroy them!"
"You're not fighting yourself?" Link asked.
"Crossing blades with such rabble as yourselves is beneath a warrior of my calibre," Onox glowered. "This mighty beast will pound you into the ground."
"Your snottiness will be the end of you some day, Kuno," Akane growled.
Onox just huffed while he watched his pet stomp downhill, until it stood in front of the heroes. It snorted, and small sparks were coming out of its nostrils. It moved its backside about, and suddenly they could see that a long, fiery tail was attached to its behind.
"No, this one certainly doesn't look like it's going to be as easy as the other ones," Ukyo gulped.
Suddenly, the Helmasaur King roared and lashed out with its tail. Like a scorpion, he made it shoot forward, only barely missing Link and Akane, instead burning a tuft of grass between them.
"I got it!" Ukyo shouted as she ran around the massive beast and pounded his behind with her spatula. But she could clobber it as much as she wanted, it didn't do a thing.
The monster growled and swept his tail around, sweeping Ukyo off her feet. She yelped in fright when it moved backwards, trying to trample it.
"Link, do something!" Akane yelled.
"Put away the sword! You need a more powerful blow to destroy that shield!" Navi shouted.
"Powerful blow, got it!" Link nodded. Sheathing his sword, he reached into his backpack and produced the powerful relic of the Gorons: The Megaton Hammer. Swinging it over his head, he brought it down on the Helmasaur King's mask. The colossus roared in anger when the head of the heavy metal weapon made his whole head shake. And then, to everyone's relief, a few cracks appeared in the material of the mask.
"It's working!" Akane shouted. "Do it again!"
"You can talk," Link winced. The Helmasaur King had opened his mouth and spat out a plume of flame that made Link retreat. "This is not as easy as it looks."
"Maybe the others can help in some way?" Navi suggested.
"Are you that dense?" Tatl shouted. "What else can you use to blast things apart, heh? Try using your heads!"
"I got it, I got it," Akane grumbled. "No need to be a fairy-bitch about it!" She reached into her pouch again, but this time, she grabbed for something else than throwing darts. With a grin on her face, she lit the fuse of the bomb, while at the other side of the monster, Ukyo did the same.
"Ready, Akane?"
"Ready when you are, Ukyo!"
And together, the girls jumped up and threw their explosive weapons at the Helmasaur mask.
Two explosions later, and the mask had even more cracks. Now blind with fury, the Helmasaur King twirled his tail around and spit fireballs that split apart whenever they hit the ground, creating even more, smaller fireballs.
"Only one more hit!" Navi shouted. "You can do it, Link!"
"Okay..." Link murmured, avoiding fire blasts and ducking underneath the tail. "If I manage to approach his head only one more time..." He stormed forth, drew back the Megaton Hammer... the fiery tail was aimed at his feet... Link jumped... and smacked the hammer sidewards into the protective shield.
The cracks grew longer and longer, connected with each other and covered the whole surface of the mask... until the whole metal mask finally broke apart in a shower of metal shards, revealing the monstrous visage of the Helmasaur King. A single, green gem on its forehead was glinting in the moonlight.
"That's its weak spot!" Tatl yelled. "Attack it already!"
"I got it, I got it!" Ukyo yelled back as she jumped on the monster's back and slid down to its neck. The Helmasaur King flailed around and jumped around the area, trying to throw off this unwelcome rider. Akane and Link had to be careful not to be trampled.
"Slow down already, you big beast!" Ukyo cried as she pounded the green jewel again and again with her oversized cooking utensil. "Dammit, it won't crack!"
"Hold him down for a moment, Ukyo!" Link shouted.
"Are you kidding me?? That's not a farm animal, King Dodongo is a docile cow compared to this one!"
"Don't complain! You can do it, you are the Heroine of Time!" Tatl said.
"I got his tail!" Akane shouted triumphantly as she jumped up and grabbed the flaming tail. Now she was glad that her mother had given her fireproof gloves for her last birthday. But when the Helmasaur King flailed his tail around again, Akane was hanging a bit helplessly at its end. "Liiiink! Whatever you wanna do, do it quick!"
"YAAAAAAHHHH!" the green-clothed defender of Hyrule screamed as he charged at the beast. While he was sprinting, his left hand reached for the hilt of the Master Sword. In a fluid motion, he drew it out and... pierced it directly into the center of the green jewel!
For a moment, time itself seemed to have stopped. Then the monster let out a deafening roar. Then an even louder one.
Then it only said "Mff." And then, even quieter, again: "Mff." And then it fell on the ground, spread-eagled and with the tongue hanging out of its mouth.
The gem shattered around the Master Sword.
Everyone sighed in relief. Ukyo slid down the Helmasaur King's carcass and Akane took a deep breath.
"Don't forget about Onox!" Navi suddenly shouted, making everyone jump in surprise.
But when they looked up at the hill... the dark general was gone.
"Hmmph, that's just like the coward, to run when he's outnumbered..." Akane grumbled and crossed her arms.
Just a short run away from the scene, Onox was taking quick, but firm steps that lead him away from the heroic trio.
"I'll get you one day," he grumbled. "I could kill you on the spot... but you're as good as dead anyways. Bongo Bongo will destroy you... if you even manage to get to him! The traps waiting in the Shadow Temple will surely be the death to one or two of you..."
He would come back to witness their deaths, of course. Oh yes, Onox had waited for this day... to see the death of the evil Sheikah assassin, Akane Tendo! And with Impa in Bongo Bongo's grasp, it wouldn't take long until their evil race was decimated once and for all.
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(Posted Sun, 10 May 2009 20:07)
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