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A/N: Okay. New Chapter, and my ideas for a new Zelda story were shot down as there is no character categorie for Majora! How queer! I was going to write a funny one-shot with him as the main character, but ah well. I might still, but later. Anyways, after the warriors decide to trek to the Dark Spire in the Lost Woods, they discover a hideous scene in the forest Link grew up in. Did I say they were going to fight Bruka in this chapter? If I did, I extend humble apologies. The bits that had to be tied up beforehand took up too much space, and if I had thrown Bruka into the mix too, it would have been well over 5000 words for the chapter, and I'm trying to cut them down a bit. Anyways, enjoy!
Side Effects Of Bruka May Include...
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda or Shadowman. I do own Bruka, the beast of my creation, along with most of the other Harvesters. I own Herris, and the Dark Spire.
Authors Note:. Many thanks to all my reviewers, for giving me the drive to continue. This story is for the good people of who took the time to read this tale. By the way, the mention of Terras, in the last chapter is a realm of my invention, where a novel/book I am writing takes place. Just for those interested. Anyways, read on, and ignore my rambling.
"I can't believe he tried to have you killed while you slept. Any idea what they're doing with the body?" The Hero of Time asked, setting down his fork.
"Burning it, and burying his ashes in an unmarked grave, as is the way assassins are buried." Zelda replied from her place at the table, conveniently beside Herris, whose signs of healing were great. There were minor burns obscuring his face, but he had a head of healthy looking black hair and his eyes were showing some humorous light.
"Jack the Ripper deserves less than that, even." Herris chuckled. "Fancied himself great, as the actual builder of Asylum. He drew up the plans, you know. He is, in fact, The Dark Architect. Was, I should say. But you see what these delusions had done to him." Herris took a drink of Lon Lon Milk. "I must say, the best two meals of my death have been in Hyrule."
Zelda, who surprisingly did all the cooking herself, smiled and nodded, some color rising to her cheeks. Ganondorf suppressed a smile with a mouthful of eggs. He grinned as his hand brushed the sleek handle of his new weapon, and he could feel its holy power rush throughout his body at the mere touch.
It had been a while since he had sat back and thought since Asylum, and it had made him feel uneasy. So he decided upon it now. Jacks words had brought a sick wave of guilt back. He had comitted one well nigh unforgivable sin, and perhaps he would soon right it.
It came in the form of Phantom Ganon. A being he duplicated off himself, a being who breathed, thought, and felt. He fed this man who was himself notions about the evils of Hyrule, and the righteousness of their quest. And he had followed Ganondorf, willingly, like a trusting sheep to it's master. And after Link had quenched the flaming spirit of this being, he had locked him away in nothingness, simply for the same fault as him, losing to Link.
And now Ganondorf knew what it was to be sealed alone, with nothing but your memories and your pain-wracked soul to comfort you. And this being had virtually no memories to wallow in, and most likely knew nothing but sorrow and hatred for his master's cruel betrayal. What could be worse than creating life, and then simply sweeping it into darkness, letting it deteriorate in a timeless seal forever?
"Are you alright, Ganondorf?" Zelda inquired with a chuckle. "Or did that spot on the table get really interesting all of the sudden?" The Queen had laced her fingers together in a steeple and was using it to support her chin as she smiled at him.
Ganondorf shook his head. "Just lost in the times, I suppose." Ganondorf bit his lip for a moment, staring out at the Hylian landscape, Lon Lon ranch visible on the horizon. He crossed his arms over his barrel chest and black armour, and his spiked red hair stood straight as usual. After the moments reflection he tilted his head towards Herris. "As the morning is in full bloom, Jetblack, our guide and navigator, where will we strike first?"
Herris thought, staring seriously at Ganondorf. "You must understand this is a difficult decision. I would hate to send us into the arms of our demise with an unwise decision, but I have had much time to think." Herris stood, stretched, and grabbed up his scythe. "We will head south, to the Lost Woods, and Bruka, the most terrifying of Legion's henchmen, but we have the greatest chance of defeating him as we are now than any of the others." Herris' skin was no longer mottled green, but dark red, covered in small scars, that he could almost watch heal.
Ganondorf nodded. "So to Dark Spire." And to the very spot where I sealed away my clone. Ganondorf thought bitterly. "Bruka will rue the day he set foot in this beautiful land." The Gerudo drew his mace and stood to his full height, well over six feet.
To his surprise Herris began to laugh uncontrollably. "Bruka never once set "foot" in Hyrule." The man chuckled. "He kind of, 'rolled in.'" Herris guffawed as he wiped his eyes. "A joke shared amidst Asylum's creatures, one of the few tasteful ones. A few also comment on Legion's tendencies to duck potential death." Herris returned serious. "We can't let him do that anymore. We have to make sure other worlds don't fall prey to this hideous man."
"I understand this, Herris. Bruka, 'rolled' in? Is he a Goron?" Link asked, confused.
"Nothing of the sort. Bruka was a monster from another dimension, a demon, so to speak, or at least close to one," Herris explained, his thoughts on Morteth. "He was fascinated by new and increasingly more exotic ways at dispatching his enemies, and became obssessed with mayhem, destruction and death. Finally, in one hideous night he annihalated his entire planet, and spent days feasting upon the empty world, free of all life save himself."
Herris paused, sneaking a glance at the Queen, who was staring at him intently, taking in his story with professional observation and a little affection. Herris grinned. "He modified himself, applied his bottom half with tank treads in place of legs, wheels, I mean." He clarified at the looks from the group. "After about a week in his emptied realm, Legion got wind of his deed, and decided him Asylum material, and prepared him for his grand strike."
Herris set the scythe upon the table, and crossed his arms behind his head. "Bruka is quite insane, and a danger to all those alive around him, even his own minions. He destroys things with reckless abandon, and is obssesed with otherworld technologies. Guns, explosives, you name it. Actually, he probably has more things that you can name. We'll have to overcome this with our wills though, and find a way to stop him."
Ganondorf stood, cracking his knuckles and eying his comrades with an expression his old friend Icarah would have remembered. It was that fiery glint, the will-power of a thousand men in Ganondorf's eyes. "A challenge, you say? Why are we sitting around here talking about it? Let's go." Ganondorf slung his large pack over his mighty shoulder and grinned. "You guys aren't... Scared, or anything, are you?"
Link shook his head, and stood, Master Sword in hand. "It was in the armoury, after all. They removed it as a momento, seeing as it was safe now. I'm confident it will help again." He offered Queen Zelda a swift bow, and went and stood by Ganondorf.
Zelda and Herris stood at the exact same moment, and the black haired man turned and bowed deeply, and before he rose, grasped Zelda's hand, and kissed it lightly. Instead of blushing, Zelda assisted him to his feet, and gave the tortured man a kiss on the cheek. "Don't get yourself killed, Herris Jetblack. I have much to talk about when we meet again under more informal circumstance." She smiled.
Ganondorf, who had been fighting in vain, coughed loudly, to mask the small explosion laughs he somehow always had while seeing the old princess behave so affectionately. All hatred he had for her had dissipated, as he understood the atrocity he had been. Ganondorf, with another step towards his new found empathy, offered a short, curt, if not goofy bow to the Queen, who actually laughed.
"That means more to me than you know, Gerudo king." She smiled, and Ganondorf offered a snarky salute.
"Only the best for our Queen." He barked. Link chuckled, shaking his head and grabbed him by the arm, and Herris with his other.
"Come on you two. I think you've been away from civilization for too long." Link smiled, as the three set off towards Dark Spire, and one hell of a fight.
The explosive powder from the bullets had collected on the Silent Scream sword Legion possessed, and he used his dark magic to ignite it, and smacked Bruka's front bumper with it as he pivoted again, grinding it as he did so, causing the gun powder to spark and creating a small explosion that drove the demon backwards. As Bruka cursed, Legion lept lightly, planting a foot on his forehead, and backflipped, his other foot driving into the creatures jaw, slamming his face upwards painfully.
"Uncle, dammit." Bruka snarled, dropping his gun and rubbing his jaw. The great beast rumbled forward to recieve his weapon.
"Not bad, Bruka. But you need to stop holding out on me. I'm no where near as delicate as I make myself appear." Legion critiqued, and he raised an eyebrow. "You know this. Hurting me should not concern you in the least." Legion knew Bruka was not afraid to hurt him, he was afraid of what might happen if he did, but Legion enjoyed toying with the minds of just about everyone in his command.
"It's not that, oh Dark Messiah." Bruka snarled. "I'm not going to give my all for what I'm practicing for. Three mortals, Legion, three! And you're treating it like a challenge! Sir, it's like swatting flies!" The monstrosity hissed.
Legion's temper wavered, and the room darkened and seemed to shift. The room literally shuddered as Legion took one step towards him, and Bruka cringed from this six foot man. Though he towered over eight feet. Bruka was slammed against a wall, and Legion was suddenly in front of him. The dark man delivered a mighty slap to the monsters face, and he cried out.
"Is that how you treat it?" Legion roared, his voice deepened, sending a dark echo throughout the room, a sound of pure hate. "Like it's a practice? That is a magnificent way to die, Bruka!" Legion was shifted, seeming to expand and contract. Bruka was actually in tears, the tears black like tar. Another slap was delivered. "Tell me Bruka, ever swatted at a fly who could swat you back, preferrably with one of the mightiest weapons in existence?"
Bruka quaked in fear, unable to speak, and everything instantly returned to normal. Legion chuckled. "My, do you resemble a large baby about now. Of course, one of the ugliest babies I've ever seen, but you do blubber so." Legion stabbed his sword into the floor and looked up at the slowly calming monster. "My point is Bruka, that they are not helpless. They have power, and can and will use it. Be on your guard." Legion turned to leave.
Bruka raised his chaingun, and wondered what would happen if he pumped several rounds into the back of Legion's brain. An instant after he decided against it, Legion spoke. "Wise choice Bruka. I would hate to have to drive you insane before the most important battle of your career. No, wait, make that life." Legion smiled without turning around. "However, as you will see, the moment I heard that thought your weapon was unloaded."
Bruka checked, to find his ammo chain gone. He looked over to see Legion dangling it in front of him. "Impressive though. I wouldn't have expected even that much from you. Conserve your rage for Link and Ganondorf. You'll need it." Bruka snapped the chain back in place.
"Sir, I-" He looked up to an empty room. Legion was gone. The giant monster snarled and drove his fist into the wall, sending shards of stone to the ground in a small hail.
"An illusion, of course." Herris sighed as he plopped himself down and he began gathering twigs to start a small fire. "Legion's symbolism towards Hyrule. Making you see it shrouded in darkness, only half of what he has in store for it."
"Quite right, Jetblack." A voice chuckled, and Legion appeared, wreathed in purple drizzled from the corners of his mouth in a steady flow. His smile showed he felt no fear of standing before them, and a great aura of mockery was oozed from Legion's expression
Ganondorf stood and blasted his fist directly into his face, only to have it pass through. Legion stared at him, a bored expression upon his face. "You didn't hear a word your ally just said, did you, you posturing buffoon?" Legion inquired sarcasticly. "I, at the moment, am also an illusion."
"We'll kill you, Legion. Not now, but we will." Link snarled."You're not ready for us, Legion. We run on heart, not power. Something that you understand nothing of." Herris said boredly. The Dark Butcher didn't bother to stand.
"Oh, Herris. So naive and foolish. This world doesn't run on heart, nothing does. Out of all the worlds, they are all run on one thing. This world runs on words, Herris Jetblack. True words, false words, but words. And words are all I need to snap you like a twig." Legion began to back up, more so float backwards. "You will pity the day you crossed this man. For We Are Many."
Legion dissapeared in an explosion of flames. "A man?" Herris muttered, "Or a veil concealing a monstrosity beyond comprehension..."
Ganondorf cursed. "He was right there..." He fumed. "And I could do nothing..." Ganondorf cracked his knuckles and sat beside the small fire Herris had begun. "We'll only rest for a few minutes. The sooner we shut down this evil, the better."
The effects of the Helltexes were already beginning to show. There were not as many plants and the grass looked unhealthy. Most of the trees were losing leaves, whilst in the grip of summer. The sky over Kokiri Forest was peirced by a massive spike, jutting upwards from somewhere in the Lost Woods. It was black, and topped with a massive sphere.
"Dark Spire." Herris pointed. "It shows itself only at night, where none but the Kokiri can look upon it." Herris stood, brandishing his scythe, and pulled out a small set of double sided hooks, that were about a foot each. "I made these by welding meat hooks together. Great for throwing and catching objects. I'll give you each some."
Ganondorf and Link each took about 5 and left Herris six, as he was undoubtedly better with them then they were. Ganondorf stomped the flame and crossed his arms. "I suggest we get moving." The Gerudo let a devil-may-care grin cross his face as he flipped his new toy around, catching it expertly.
His companions wordlessly repacked and followed Link through the entrance, as he this was his home. As they entered the Kokiri Village, Link froze. There was no movement from the forest. The tree's were gray and shedding leaves like rain. The grass was yellowing, and even the soil was a dull, poor color. No insects fluttered about, and from the numerous small ponds there was a stagnant stench and the buzzing of bloodsucking mosquitos was heard. Nonetheless, it was obvious the Kokiri still occupied this place, and no harm had come to them.
"Is this what the Helltex accomplishes? The slow death of all that lives?" Link said in a low, shaky voice. "I come home to see all I love rotting where it stands, it's luster and inner power being fed to a fiend who would use it for ill! Damn you Legion!" Link sat down hard, mortified.
Herris pulled Link to his feet and patted his shoulder. "I understand your pain, Hero of Time, but we need your advice. Where do we go?"
"Let us first talk to Saria. She will help us get through the Lost Woods and find Dark Spire, and then we will talk to the Deku Tree." Link muttered, pulling away from Herris. The blond Hylian stared around one last time, before being racked with a massive shudder at the misery around him. He motioned for them to follow as he headed towards a house made of a large tree-stump.
She was seated away from them, talking to one of the Know-It-All Brothers, who had a bow in front of him. Link coughed and Saria turned. With a cry of joy she rushed at him, throwing her arms around his midsection. Link laughed and embraced her back.
"Link! Thank goodness your here!" She stopped and turned to Ganondorf. "Don't worry, I was there and heard your story, the other Kokiri have been told, as well as the Deku Tree. Fear no hostility!" The Kokiri girl turned serious. "You've come for "it", haven't you? That terrible monster on the wheels?"
Link drew his sword. "We've come to slay Bruka, yes. I have seen what the monstrosity has done. Tell me, what other havoc has he wreaked?"
Saria began to pace. "Well, nothing at first, but that terrible tower appeared one day, and the forest began to die. You can see there is little vegetation and even less animals. So Mido, myself and Elmsdale, the eldest of the Brothers, went to find out what it was all about." She turned to Link, tears in her eyes.
"We got to the great, black doors and knocked, and not even a question was asked as 4 massive monsters sprang forth and began to savage at us immediately. They were about six feet tall, and covered in spines. The shot these... things at us. Like miniature swords, that peirced flesh like powerful arrows. Mido... he's dead. Elmsdale almost got away but... One of them grabbed him and..." She let out a sob, and Herris bowed his head.
"Those sound like Dark Cupid's. Creatures with guns that feed upon flesh. Bruka's ideal henchmen. Though imposing, they are weak. I take it you managed to escape, Saria?" Herris asked, as if talking to an adult, which Herris knew full well he might as well have been.
"Yes. I think they got lost trying to follow me. But even the magic of the woods is fading. So I doubt anyone will get lost anymore." Saria bowed her head, and tears trickled down her face. "I want this to stop, why here? Why can't they let us go? We've been here for so long..."
Ganondorf kneeled down and took the Sage of the Forest by the shoulders. "Hey now, no use crying over some stupid monster who's picked the wrong place to set up camp. Don't cry. Because we're going to the Dark Spire, and we're going to kill everything in there that moves, alright? We'll make it normal again." Ganondorf comforted, a smile on his face.
Saria wiped her eyes and sniffed. "I'm sorry for that... I usually don't... But Mido... and Elmsdale... How could this happen..." To Ganondorf's mild annoyance, Saria threw her arms around him and began crying onto the Gerudo King's shoulderplate.
"Hey now!" Ganondorf laughed, lightly pushing her back. "Cheer up, okay? We'll save your home." Ganondorf comforted, and got to his feet. Saria collected herself again and looked embarassed.
Saria held up her hand. "I'm not done." She closed her eyes, and rocked back and forth for a second, when she spoke, her voice was shaking. "After we escaped, we told the Deku Tree of what happened. He told us to remain in our homes. So we did, but soon... There was this terrible creaking noise, as if a million Iron Knuckles were grinding together, and he came out of the forest."
She stopped, staring out at the massive black structure. The great orb perched atop seemed to pulsate, as if the beast within was rumbling furiously. "He rolled down into the center of our village, and announced that anyone approaching would be killed. He also decreed himself Lord and Master of the Lost Woods." Saria's voice broke. "We thought he was done, when suddenly... He lifted up that great metal weapon on his arm and started..." She dissolved into tears, hugging herself and convulsing with grief.
The Know-It-All brother spoke in turn. "There are only six of us left. Bruka killed almost everyone who was outside listening to his speech. He obviously wasn't trying to kill us all, or he would've done it." The small child twanged his bow string, and seemed very distant. "Kill him for me, would you?"
Herris took a step forward. The healing process was nearly complete. All that remained of the former damage was small white scars that covered most of his face and skin, and even they were rapidly declining. He no longer sluched, but stood straight and tall, the massive scythe clutched in his right hand stayed steady as he spoke. "The land dies as we speak. Come, let us speak with the Deku Tree."
Saria bit her lip. "Talk quickly. We fear he is dying."
