by N Felts
through the air, Rift descends upon the vine-wrapped archway, pushing off the top of it to narrowly avoid a collision. Landing with just a little more grace this time around, Rift tumbles head over heels through the blue grass before sliding to a stop on his back. Rising to a sitting position, he watches as the temple disappears beneath the frothing drain of the disgusting bog. The setting sun offers what little light it can upon the dire scene, the spirited sounds of wildlife dying down as the creatures give the fallen temple a moment of silence. Watching the gurgling torrent subside with a sense of pride, Rift finally turns to leave the dark realm.
“I hope the next one is this fun,” Mai squeals, prodding an unintentional smile on the boy’s face. Finding the patch of lush green grass amongst the sea of dark blue proves easy enough. Taking a moment to brace himself, he steps through the portal, still unable to shake the sick feeling the gravity switch causes. The large clearing on the other side has grown dark, the massive tree still endlessly yawning while the insects throughout the forest become increasingly lively. Instinctively pulling his hood up and trotting back to the entrance, Rift finds the Deku Baba waiting. “Take him out,” Mai encourages with a fake sort of cockiness. Loving her subtle sense of humor, Rift fakes a step forward. The hungry plant takes the bait, lunging forward and snapping at the open air. With a vengeful back fist, the plant’s head is launched in a circular trajectory like a tetherball circling a pole. As it unwillingly returns, Rift has a right hook ready and waiting. An ugly spray of sap and saliva splatters against the wall of earth as the carnivorous sprout is detached from its stem violently. Feeling a newfound sense of power and pride, the boy continues out of the area with his head held high.
“Didn’t think I’d see you again,” Mido shrugs, watching the boy pass. Without a word, Rift continues down the gradual slope of the valley, stepping over the large roots spread throughout the area. Passing by the shop once again, Rift glances over to find Fido staring at him every bit as intently as before. Still unable to work up the nerve to say anything, he quickly averts his eyes, causing her to giggle loudly. Back in the lost woods, Mai guides him back to Hyrule Field just as a distant Wolfos howls at the emerging moon.
“Oh no,” he unintentionally mouths. Never leave the town’s walls at night remains engraved on his eardrums, and right on cue, a Stalchild’s arm climbs out of the earth.
“These guys are pipsqueaks compared to what we’ve been dealing with,” Mai points out, confused by Rift’s sudden complacency.
“They won’t stop coming,” he reveals, shaking his head in fear.
“Sure they will, you just need to scare them off,” she assures, prodding him to keep going. The first few close in, and Rift makes short work of them. The power of the gauntlets lay waste to the fragile skeletons with ease, but just as the boy warned, the tiny apparitions multiply with every defeat. “Okay, I see what you’re saying now,” Mai has to admit, searching for another option. “There’s a farm right over there. Maybe we can spend the night.” Punching through another bobbing skull, Rift searches the horizon and spots a lighted house a brief jog away. The stumbling orange eyes close in like a tightening noose, and he soon realizes it is the only option.
Bid for Power:
My Oracle of Sages
The Arbiter’s Grounds are an unwelcome sight to say the least, but Gannondorf continues up the sandstone steps just the same. The mighty coliseum looks as though it would house a battle ground for gladiators, but its true purpose is nothing more than a glorified prison. The abandoned, circular halls have deteriorated severely, large chunks of the walkways succumbing to erosion in the harsh desert climate. With two of his trusted guard following close behind, the dark lord proceeds to the center of the large structure, uncertain if this aging heap will offer any answers. A large, sandy pit was determined to be his final resting place, the sages too obsessed with their rituals to carry out an efficient execution. The pair of Gerudo women wander the area, kicking over suspicious looking stones and scanning the architecture above for wandering shadows. Gannondorf inspects the massive black stone he was chained to years ago, futilely fighting against the heavy, steel restraints. He remembers it so clearly, the ethereal sages concaved around him as the blade of light stabbed through his torso. He had been wounded a thousand times, but the Sword of sages impaled his very soul, inflicting him with a wholly new sensation of pain. Their misplace sense of justice, watching and waiting for him to simply die like a pitiless dog, pushed him further still from the limitations of moral men. He remains one of the goddesses chosen, even at the cost of the sage of water, they continue to grant him power.
A Wolfos howl carries in the desert wind, the crescent moon staring down through the tall walls of the mighty structure. A brief glance at the mirror of twilight confirms what he already had assumed. It lies in ruin, the shattered pieces numbering too many to ever successfully reassemble below the large, circular frame. In the back of his mind, the cursed Hylian boy runs him through with the master sword once again. Such a simple and tactless maneuver, it is no wonder it bypassed his complex and overthought defenses. Death had come to him at long last, but it could not have been destined. The goddesses would have left him to eternal slumber if his demise were truly just. A jolt of anger quakes his spine recalling the relentless Link chasing him down in the Sacred Realm, and stabbing him once again. The Triforce hovering at arm’s length as he fell to his knees, defeated by yet another thoughtless act of heroism. The back of his hand glows with power, seeming to feed on his anger as thoughts of vengeance cloud his judgment. In an act of pointless virility, he punches the edge of the portal stone, bashing off a large chunk of the dark rock. Moments later, a confused female’s voice fills the silent air as Ganondorf ignores the dull pain throbbing beneath his gauntlet.
“What the,” she starts, her voice originating from the stone itself. “The portal to Hyrule has opened? Impossible,” she continues, moving closer to the hole between dimensions. “Hello? Link? Is that you?” She asks, a tangible hope swelling in her tone. Unable to stifle his laughter, Ganondorf reveals himself to the ruler of the Twilight Realm.
“Hello, Imp,” he greets with a sinister tone.
“You,” she starts, her voice quickly leaving her. The gorgeous ruler of the twilight realm, Midna’s dark skin is a creamy mixture of blue and grey. The dark cowl of royalty does not mask her face, but instead seems to extenuate her sly, narrow eyes and pursed, purple lips. Her orange hair and red eyes convey a natural sensuality, though the fear and angst they currently display is not what the average man would consider appealing. She thought it best to turn her back on the world of light forever, but fate has offered her a second choice on this particular night.
“To imagine,” he continues, crossing his arms and getting comfortable. “The day I would see the twilight bitch absent her voice.”
“Enough!” She shouts, quickly losing her temper. Thrusting a hand at his smug face, Midna realizes the small fissure is only strong enough for communication, not a physical transference.
“What’s the matter, imp?” He taunts, aiming to discover what secret bars him from entering the twilight realm of his own accord. The mirror has been shattered, but even a weak usurper managed to travel between worlds without any need of a mirror. Zant received but a mere fraction of his power, and traveled between the light and darkness at his leisure. Some minor alteration, some unseen seal has been set upon this gateway during his absence. He must gather what information he can to unravel this mystery, and with a little luck, he might just merge the two realms after all.
“How many times must you be killed before you’ve learned your lesson?” Midna snaps back, gradually calming herself.
“Oh,” Ganondorf starts, clearly amused with the conversation. “I’ve learned my lesson, and learned it well. This time I won’t have to meddle with the likes of you.”
“This is why you’ve come?” She retorts, attempting to ma
tch his cavalier attitude. “You’ve nothing better to do with what time you have left, and I promise you, that time is short.”
“Pathetic threats from a pathetic creature,” he laughs, shaking his head. “I would simply have you know,” he grins, moving in close. “Once I’m done with this world, yours in next.”
“You possess no capacity to threaten my kingdom. Not anymore,” she admits, briefly eying the shattered mirror behind her foe. “You make empty claims, and remain utterly ignorant to the nature of things. I pity you, thief.”
“Save your pity for your hero,” he responds, growing momentarily agitated himself. “Once I’ve lain his severed head upon these very sands, you may gaze upon it at your leisure,” he rants, pointing at the ground beneath his feet. “And know this, arrogant little creature, you are powerless to stop it,” he concludes, searching for a sign his words have sown seeds for later reaping.
“You will fall to Link,” she shrugs, suddenly apathetic. “Just as you always fall. Wait and see if talk shields your breast from his steel,” she points out, unaffected by his mockery.
“Perhaps it isn’t my ignorance you should concern