He steadied himself as the Gohma wriggled again, and he flipped his sword point toward the Gohma and raised it above his head, pushing the blade down and into the Gohma’s flesh. He withdrew the blade as the Gohma shook. He balanced his footing, but, to his dismay, he lost it in a second and fell off the Gohma.
The Gohma righted itself and flicked Link across the room with its leg. Link’s sword was flung from his hand as he crashed against the adjacent wall, falling to the ground. The Gohma, bearing its fangs, crawled toward him, and Link looked frantically for his sword as it neared. Realizing his sword was out of reach, he pulled his fire rod and extended it. A blast of flame hit the Gohma but dissipated against the Gohma’s armor. He fired another, this time to the Gohma’s mouth. The flame flew through its mouth, but it kept scrambling to Link, not fazed at all by the flame.
Link waved the rod toward the Gohma again, and a flame shot from it, continuously spewing forth until a wall of blazing fire had put itself between Link and the Gohma. The Gohma stopped at the flame, poking at it with one of its legs, withdrawing it quickly and hissing from the jet of pain. It stood, waiting as the flame continued to burn.
Link sighed in relief, and retrieved his sword. He swapped the fire rod to his right hand, picked up the sword with his dominant left hand, and walked back to the the Gohma, which turned, put its front legs on the wall, and climbed slowly until it was hanging over Link. It dropped from the ceiling, forcing Link to dive away from the impact area. But the flame found his clothes; Link was on fire.
He flicked his right hand, and the flame wall was sucked from the air into the fire rod, extinguishing Link’s clothing. The Gohma crashed to the floor. It pushed itself up and walked forward a few steps. Then it charged forward, crashing through the cavern toward Link.
Link ran toward the Gohma, dodging through its legs, slashing his sword up into the Gohma’s gut. The Gohma lost its balance as it ran forward, blood spilling from the open wound Link had created, and crashed to the floor. Link whipped around, and ran to the fallen Gohma. Before it could stand back up, he slashed his sword through the first leg he got to, cutting through it cleanly. He flicked his blade around again, slicing another leg off, leaving the Gohma unable to walk.
The Gohma used its remaining legs to flip itself over, and Link climbed up onto its stomach. He further ripped open the wound in the Gohma with his sword and plunged the fire rod into the wound. The Gohma squirmed under the gusts of flame that filled it.
The Gohma stilled. Link pulled the fire rod from the wound and hopped down to the floor of the cavern. He compacted the rod abd put it in his belt. Then he walked to the Gohma’s head as it curled its legs up, leaving it’s back exposed. He raised his sword and thrust it sword through the eye. He twisted the blade hard, and withdrew it. The eye shriveled up and began to disintegrate. The ash sifted itself around inside of the eye socket and revealed a small jade emerald laced with gold.
Link sighed in relief. He reached his hand into the socket and picked up the emerald. It was definitely the Forest Emerald. He pocketed the gem and stepped back. Now that I have the Emerald…where am I to go?
He looked around, and, to his dismay, the only exit from the cavernous room was the hole the Gohma had crashed through. Link sheathed his sword and walked to the center of the room. He stared straight up into the room above him and wondered how long he would be here before he made it out…or died of thirst.
He pulled his clawshot from his belt, and fit it on his hand, hoping the chain would reach. He fired it up, and it fell short by a few meters. He stepped back as the chain fell to the ground. He coiled it back into the glove, put it back on his belt, and swore loudly. He began to pace around the room, kicking the Gohma’s furled-up corpse a few times as he went.
The answer hit him when he hit the wall. He looked over at the Gohma and back to the wall. He backed up a few meters and pulled his clawshot out again. He fired it up diagonally as far as it would go, and it latched onto the wall. His body was lurched up, and he slammed into the mossy surface. He used his free hand to dig his fingers into the moss, and he kicked his boots hard against it.
This would be easier with the other clawshot, he thought and quickly unlatched the claws from the wall. As his body began to rip away the small amount of moss his fingers were dug into, he angled the clawshot to the hole in the ceiling. He fired it moments before he would have fallen, and he was carried to the opening. He swung his arm up over the edge and unlatched the clawshot before pushing himself up. He sat for a second, legs dangling into the pit, while he caught his breath. He turned his body and stood up. He put the clawshot onto his belt and headed for the entrance.
***
Thirteen hours earlier…
Impa and Sheik walked through the wood, keeping their thoughts to themselves. They had been walking for a couple of hours and had taken only a few breaks to stop and rest for a minute or so.
Sheik was wanting to stop again when Impa spoke up. “Let’s break for a few minutes, you look like you need it,” Impa said, and Sheik realized she was breathing heavily and sweating quite profusely.
“Uh, sure,” Sheik said, and she sat down on a large stone that was jutting out from the ground. Impa sat down likewise and glanced over at Sheik while she pulled her rations pouch out.
Sheik had her hands on her knees and was clenching her stomach.
“I can’t do it any longer,” Sheik cried out. “Ah, dammit Impa, I have to do it now!”
Impa stood back up, nodding.
“I’ll take you out of the woods; Faron Port is not far from where we are.”
Sheik groaned. “What…about Link? Who…will go into the…Temple of…ohhh…Courage with him?”
“I will leave you once you are in capable hands,” Impa said, “and search for Link and the Temple.”
“Fine…just…let’s go.” Sheik’s knees buckled, and she tumbled head forward into Impa’s arms.
“Can you try to cast another small extension spell?” Impa asked, and Sheik nodded. She waved her fingers and muttered something, and her pain alleviated slightly. She stood up but began to fall over again. Impa caught her and hefted her up over her shoulder. Impa shifted her shoulder a little and set off at a brisk jog to the south and, hopefully, Faron Port.
***
Link slashed his sword down, cutting through a bit of brush, and stepped out of the woods. He was on a cliff side. He walked to its edge and realized that, at the bottom of the cliff, lay Port Faron. He looked at the small trail and saw a set of footprints in the grass that led down to the Port.
He grinned as he saw a figure walking back up the trail—Impa. Link’s grin faded when she reached the top. “Where is Sheik?” he asked.
“She is resting in the Port. She will be with us shortly.”
“Oh. Is she hurt?”
“No, but she is exhausted. She needed care, and I couldn’t provide it in the Forest.”
Link looked around and out to Faron Sea, which sprawled forth throughout the land. The sun was setting, and the light was glinting off the water. It was a moment before he noticed the monstrous stone building at the cliff edge. “I would assume that is the Temple of Courage,” he said.
Impa nodded. “At least the entrance,” Impa said, and Link nodded. “I think you should go down to the village and rest for a while.”
“Yeah,” he said, and he started walking down the trail.
Impa followed him. “Want to fill me in on what happened?” she asked. “You did get the Forest Emerald…right?”
“Yeah,” Link said, and delved into his tale…
Ch.14.
The path Link and Impa were walking on had few people walking it. There were three other paths, two of which were major roads that led to the main road into Port Faron. Link and Impa walked through the palisade gate and entered the port, and immediately they were in a swathing crowd of people. “Whoa,” Link said over the noises that filled the air, “There are a lot more people here than
I thought.” He was shoved lightly, and out of instinct his hand flew to his sword grip but let it rest.
“Yes,” Impa simply said. “The port is full of traders from other provinces and even countries. The fishing industry built this town, and the families of the fishermen grew to huge sizes to accommodate job requirement. Now the population is too large for the required work, and the alleys deep in the port, away from the guard patrol, is full of criminal gangs and rogue thugs.” She turned left, and Link struggled to keep near her as the crowds swarmed by. Link followed her down the street and to the right, then she took an abrupt left into an empty alley.
Link could see a small crowd of people in the street across the alleyway and didn’t bother getting used to the elbow-room. “Where is Sheik?”
“She is in an apothecary a few streets away,” Impa said as they entered the street. To Link’s liking, the street was not bustling like the entrance road.
The two continued down the street and turned twice before Impa stopped. She walked into a building to the left, and Link followed. He stepped through the door into the building and was blasted by an intoxicating mixture of fragrances that combined to make his head woozy. He rested his hand on the doorway, and once he regained his balance, he stepped forward and saw Impa disappearing through a curtain of sheets into a makeshift room. He followed suit and found Sheik lying in a bed, facedown and unconscious. The apothecary was sitting beside the bed, and Impa was standing at the foot, lips pursed.
“Uh, wanna explain something to me, Impa?” Link asked, slightly agitated.
“You mean what happened to put her here?”
Link nodded.
“She fell faint in the wood, and I carried her here. She was glanced by one of the Wolfos, and her wound became infected.”
The apothecary raised her eyebrow at these statements, and Impa raised a finger to her, hushing her.
“Is she going to be okay?” Link asked.
The apothecary nodded. “The wound…” the apothecary began, “…well, she was able to make a swift recovery after some treatment from me.”
“Will she be coming with us into the Temple?” Link asked.
Impa nodded.
“We will bunk in the port tonight, and in the morning we’ll climb back up to the Temple, Sheik following along, of course.”
“And you…” Link said to the apothecary. “…you think she will be okay by the morning? Okay enough to fight?”
The apothecary said, “Yes. She needs to sleep though, and I believe she may be stirring. I’m going to give her another sedative.”
“Okay then,” Impa said, and put her hand to Link’s shoulder. “Let’s find an inn for tonight.”
“Yeah…” Link said, hesitating slightly. He knew Shiek was not wearing her mask, and he wanted to see her face.
Impa grasped his shoulder lightly and pushed him along out of the makeshift room. “No lingering, Link, you’re married. You shouldn’t want to look upon other women like that.”
“What? Oh, no,” Link said, slightly amused. “I still do not know who that woman is, and I would like to actually see her face.”
“Well, you don’t get to, especially since she is nude. Now, let us find a bunking place…for the third time!” She smacked Link on the head beside his ear, and he followed her sheepishly out of the apothecary and into the street.
***
Link and Impa sat near a comforting fireplace at the Kilfensen Inn, both sipping on a mug of rum, which happened to be the only beverage on tap at that time of night.
Impa set her drink down, and pushed her chair back. “I’m heading up to my room, Link. Will you be turing in anytime soon?”
“Maybe. I don’t wish to be ridden with drowsiness or a headache in the morning, so I should head in within the hour.”
“Right,” Impa said as she stood. “We need to be at our best tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Well, good night, Commander.”
“Good night, General,” Impa said and walked over to the staircase, only to be blocked by a sordid crewman, probably celebrating his first night on land in a while. No kindness from Impa, though, as he put his grime-slathered hands on her shoulders and pushed her against the wall, forcing his tongue down her throat.
“Oh, Hell!” He cried out, after Impa’s knee collided with the man’s crotch. The room quieted, and all eyes gazed upon the two.
“The bloody whore!” the man spat, and Link stood up, his chair tilting back and crashing to the floor.
“You are speaking to Hyrule’s Commander of the army!” Link snapped and pointed his hand to the door. “You will leave this tavern now and not return!”
The man scoffed as he recovered from his temporary pain. He raised his fists. “If you can put me out!”
Link grimaced as Impa remained silent. “You now speak to the General of the Hylian army. If that doesn’t process in your weak state of mind, I’ll try this; I am the second most powerful person in this kingdom!” he spat, and the man grinned.
“It’ll just go to show my feats for the night,” the man said. “Hyrule’s General and a damn whore that I’ll soon take for my own!”
Link stepped forward, sliding the table away from him. He wasn’t wearing his armor, just the tunic of the Hero, and his dagger. His sword was with the rest of his things in his room. “Right then,” Link said, and the drunken man flung his fist forward, connecting with Link’s jaw. Link crashed backwards, over the table he had shoved away, and onto the floor. He groaned, his left hand cupping his jaw, and leapt up to his feet. “Ugh,” he muttered and looked at the man who was preparing for his next blow. Link ducked under the man’s fist and grabbed the man’s shoulder. He twisted it roughly, and it snapped, sending the man shrieking to his knees.
Link kicked him in the jaw, and the man fell to his side. “It’ll take more than a punch to the jaw to take down the Hylian General.”
Link turned to a few on-looking drunkards. “Well, get him out of here!” he barked, and they scrambled to the downed drunk, who was moaning as he clutched his torn shoulder.
Link turned to Impa, who was stone-faced. “Thank you, Link,” she said, and Link smiled in return.
“You’re welcome, Impa,” he said. “We should both turn in, I think.” He looked at the rest of the room. A few actual whores were batting their eyelashes at him, and he raised his left hand, which was adorned with a silver ring with the golden Hylian Crest encrusted upon it—his wedding band.
***
Link opened the door as he finished strapping on his sheath. Impa walked past him; she appeared to be ready to head out, as was Link.
“Your jaw is bruised up pretty badly, Link,” she said, as she looked around his room. “Do you need anything on it?”
“Heh? No,” Link said coolly. “I’m fine.”
“I had a bit of breakfast prepared for us,” Impa said, and Link nodded.
“Yeah, thank you. We should probably eat.”
Link swept his eyes across the room quickly and looked out the shabby window, which didn’t do any good to keep from being washed with cold drafts off the sea. The Temple of Courage hung eerily over the port, and Link took a small breath and whispered a small prayer to Faron that she would guide him safely through her temple as he went through.
“Ready now?’ Impa asked.
Link nodded. “Yeah, sure, let’s go,” he said, and they exited the room and went down to the first floor. They sat down and ate their breakfast of fish, potato cakes, and eggs. Link kept his head down, trying not to pay attention to the glances of the patrons from the night before.
Link finished his breakfast, satisfied, and walked up to the bar. He pulled out his wallet and plopped it down. The salt-and-pepper-haired innkeeper looked at him questioningly.
“Oh, no,” the innkeeper said. “The leaders of Hyrule’s army need not pay.”
“Heh?” Link said. “No, no.” He opened up the wallet. “For the trouble we caused last night, at least.”
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“Agh, they had it coming, but if you insist, the tab was 30 rupees.”
Link pulled a red and a yellow rupee from his wallet and placed it on the bar in front of the innkeeper. He thought for a second, and set a blue rupee out too, for a tip.
“Thank you,” the innkeeper said. “Remember, you are always welcome here, General.”
“Thank you,” Link said, smiling, and he returned to the table. Impa shoveled down the rest of her breakfast, and they headed out. The two made their way quickly to the apothecary, and Link waited—albeit against his will—outside the makeshift room while Sheik equipped herself.
The two women exited the room.
“Morning, General,” Sheik said.
“Morning. You rested up enough?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “I feel fine. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble.”
“Good. I faced death many times in the Forest Temple, and I think we may face even greater threats in the Temple of Courage, so I need you at your best.”
“Yeah, I’ll have your back just fine, Link,” Sheik said.
“Good to hear,” Link said. “We should head out. Maybe we can make it back here before dusk.”
“Yeah,” Impa said. “That’d be nice, but we don’t want to be reckless. We need to be more careful than last time, so taking our time might be the better option.”
“Of course,” Link said, as they left the apothecary.
They reached the gate quickly enough and started ascending the mountainside to the Temple of Courage.
Ch.15.
Link pulled the Forest Emerald from his pouch and placed it into the golden door. It sat for a second before beginning to glow. Link turned to Impa, “Did this happen when you opened up the Temple of Power?”
“Yeah,” Impa said, nodding. The door shook a little and fell slowly, leaving a doorway for the Trio to walk through. The three all glanced toward one another, and without any further words, they entered the temple.