Chapter 9: Mysteries in the Dark
Mishcana opened her eyes to find herself in the centre of a great field with long grass. Bright blue sky hung over her head; not a cloud marred its pretty visage. In the distance to the east she could see shadows of mountains and trees. To the other three directions there was nothing but more open field. "I might need cover." She murmured inaudibly to herself. Cold steel rang throughout the field as she drew her double-edge training sword from her back. The small wooden shield that she had found abandoned in the castle went around her left arm. It was worn and old and chipped in many places, yet it was better than nothing. Warily she headed in the direction of the forest at the mountain's base.
A growing feeling of uneasiness flew over her as she came under the shadows of the trees. There was a vague foul smell to the woods that she could not quite place. A feeling of being scrutinized rose to her throat. A hard impact from behind sent her sprawling to the ground. She rolled up and stood facing her attacker. Her ears drooped and her sword dipped as she observed her aggressor.
He was ten feet tall when you took into account his long, long neck that stood nearly erect. A single horn stuck out of his head. Ugly green scales covered its entire body. Around it the smell of char, phosphorus and rotten eggs hung. Its wings were feeble but also not needed; each of his five fingers ended in a long black talon. His toes were the same. Thick hide covering his back and belly looked impenetrable. Only a small area where the neck attached to the body appeared softer than the rest. Despair covered the poor shocked elf and she began to back away, "Holy creators of the Triforce, it's a bloody gleelock!" The gleelock drew in a deep breath and she barely had time to lift her shield and mutter, "reflect" before its fire surrounded her.
Her meagre shield protected her from the blast but its heat still surrounded her. During a break in flame she rushed the creature screaming in anger. Sweat poured out her brow as she repeatedly slashed its neck. Eventually, the head became detached and floated around. Fire leaped from his mouth and Mishcana hurriedly rolled out of the way, "By Din, that was close!" The bottom of her boots had smouldered slightly and her tunic browned at the edges from the heat. During breaks of the fire she rushed the body furiously stabbing through where the neck had been. Eventually the monster sank and disappeared, defeated. The head sent one last volley of fire at her. Its searing flames reflected off her shield, but this time the shield cracked and broke under the heat. When the flames died her shield was finished. The head disappeared with the body and Mishcana cursed heavily. A red and blue glow appeared where the creature had fallen and a blue warp point waited there as well. First she went to the glowing blue and red energy and laid her hands upon it. New strength filled her and she felt restored. Also, she noticed as she checked her life shield for harm, her shield had increased a power rating. Much happier she hopped into the portal, "Maybe my test is done." She said cheerily.
Back in the chamber of the Great Fairy its owner smiled. "There. She has passed the first two tests of Courage and Power. I told you she would not fail." Link shook his head slowly, "That's good to hear, but aren't you going to test her wisdom as well?" The Great Fairy grew disquiet, "I am. She may not pass that test. Be prepared hero, for it will be hard on her. Whether she fails or passes, it does not matter." Again her eyes turned to the crystal, her pink hair floating out behind her. Quiet filled the chamber and she spoke no more.
Mishcana found herself in a cylindrical room when the warping crystal disappeared from her. Darkness enveloped the large chamber relieved only by the pale glow of courage and wisdom from her right hand. For the first time she noticed the second triangle and was surprised. She stroked the back of her hand with a gentle finger marvelling at the second crest. "How'd that happen?" she wondered contently as she wandered around the chamber. She could see no exit from where she stood. She wandered towards the wall on the opposite side of the chamber. It was cold as stone and coarse as sand paper. She ran her hand carefully above it, illuminating the wall with her feeble light. "There's got to be a switch, or something. There just has to be." Sighing with despair as her search revealed nothing she began to grow fearful. "Maybe I failed. I thought the crystal would have been smooth though." Panic started creeping over her but with forceful thoughts she forced it off. "I may be imprisoned forever. I can't give up yet, though. This isn't what I was expecting if I failed. Maybe it's another test, one I have to figure out." Sighing she went back to the middle and sat down cross-legged upon the floor. "I'll just rest a minute. Maybe I'll think of something once I recover some magic." She took out her sword and stabbed the ground with it. She leaned forward, closed her eyes and drifted off.
Some time later she awoke to the sound of footsteps approaching her station. She stood up quickly and withdrew her sword from the ground. Her hand felt for her shield but found it absent. "Right, right. The gleelock." She murmured sleepily to herself. She brought her sword up in a defensive manner instead and watched as the dark-clad figure approached her glowing light. "Who are you and what do you want? Announce yourself or I will attack." The figure remained cloaked in shadows but spoke. Link's fair voice came from the shadowed man, "I am, well . . . You should know who I am, shouldn't you Mish? I don't mean any harm. I came to warn you. He's coming." Mishcana stared uneasily at the shadowed figure, "Come into the light where I can see you." The figure's hat flapped on his back as he shook his head, "That's a bad idea." Despite his warning his footsteps got closer. The light shone on his face. His eyes were chocolate brown and his hair black as the depth of the night. "Dowan!" she exclaimed jumping backwards from him and readied her sword for attack. The figure remained lit and came no closer. "I am not Dowan. I am Link. I only want to help you Mishcana. Please, trust me." She shook with rage, "You're not Link! You tried to capture us. You're evil!" The figure's head shook again, "I am Link whether you like it or not. Do not trust your eyes, they deceive you. You must defeat the one who will come. Do not hesitate or you are finished." He stepped back from the light and was once again embraced by the shadows.
A light shone from above and a handsome boy arrived within a golden crystal. He grasped a large two-handed sword that was nearly his own height. Mishcana backed up as his feet landed solidly on the floor. From head to toe he was clothed in white. His clothing was fashioned in the shape of those of the Kokiri. Blonde hair held its place firmly as he lifted his head. A small, unkind smile crossed his face. "Hello. I finally found you, Mishcana. I've been searching for you. The Great Fairy was worried you wouldn't find the way out." His eyelids opened and revealed the calm deep blue oceans that were his eyes. "Link!" she exclaimed happily and ran towards him, "Why are you wearing white? Where's your green tunic?" He smiled in answer and shook his head, "Don't you understand?" he sounded very condescending, "The tunic the Great Fairy had for travelling here and lighting up the darkness was white. That is why I changed. Come with me, we should go." The black clothed Link made no comment on the white one and did not attempt to stop her. He merely murmured just audibly to her, "Your eyes deceive you, do not trust them." Suspicion coloured her tone as she asked the white Link, "Where are we going and why do you have such a large sword?" He shrugged and stopped and sneered, "Home. C'mon, I've been waiting for you for hours. I'm bored. My sword's my business. Come close enough or the spell won't work." He opened his arms to her, the sword within one hand pointing to the floor. The dark figure remained quiet as she distrustfully approached the one in white. "What's wrong, Link? Usually you're nicer than this. What's going on?" Link looked frustrated beyond all belief, "Enough with the questions, Mish. The window's only going to be open a few mores seconds. If you don't come, I'm leaving without you." Finally, Mishcana approached him warily, murmuring to herself, "Dowan sounds more like Link than himself right now." His arms wrapped around her and he brought his hand holding the sword behind her. Suddenly her eyes flashed to the dark figure and she realized her error. She tried to break free from her captor's grasp but it was too late. Pain exploded down her back as her tunic ripped under the great sword the white Link had held.
She fell to the ground in shock and drew her weapon carefully. She checked her back; the tunic held on still by the collar but was in tatters. Fortunately, her life shield had prevented her from taking damage. The pain quickly faded and she stood up, circling the white Link slowly. He stood silently as though in a trance, his blade held ready in front of him with both hands. "Who are you? Answer me!" Mishcana demanded. Like a wave crashing on the shore he broke free of his trance and fell upon her with rapid blows. She could barely keep parrying his vicious assault little own strike back. "Link, stop it! Don't make me hurt you!" She shoved him off with a well-placed kick and jumped back panting. The white Link licked his blade and brandished it towards her once again. Reluctantly she charged her enemy and swung her sword with all her might. He sidestepped and tripped her grinning maliciously. His foot came down hard on her back and pinned her in place. The great biggoron's sword lifted into the air. Its point whistled as it rushed towards her. She rolled over quickly and closed her eyes and brought up her sword in her defence. Opening one eye when he did not react, she beheld a horrible sight. Both eyes opened in horror. The shocked eyes of her friend, her teacher, her companion stared down at her. Blood rolled over her hand and dripped onto her. Her sword was embedded in his chest up to the hilt and the point stuck out of his back. No longer gleaming his eyes rolled up. Shocked, she withdrew her sword from him with great difficulty. No longer supported he began his descent to the ground and as he fell he called her name softly, "Mishcana . . ." he trailed off and moved no more.
Mishcana cried. Though it had tried to kill her and did not seem like it was Link she still was not sure. The black Link approached her slowly and strung his arm around her shoulder. The corpse of the white Link faded and magical energy flowed through Mishcana strengthening her life shield. "I'm sorry, Mishcana. You did the right thing, it was the only way." Tears streamed over her cheeks and she looked desolately into the black Link's chocolate eyes. He rubbed away her tears with the edge of his black cloak and smiled sadly. "They're calling you back. I am but an illusion. I beg of you, Mishcana, remember this: Your eyes and mind can deceive you. When all else fails, trust your heart and intuition. Farewell." He stepped away from her and faded into the shadows.
In the chamber of the Great Fairy the crystal became transparent again. Mishcana floated in its centre. Her eyes were closed and her face was tightened into a horrified, troubled expression. A soft thump echoed as her feet landed back on the Triforce mark. "Congratulations." Spoke the Great Fairy happily. "You have proven worthy of my knowledge. I will grant you the knowledge of all the Great Fairies. Brace yourself, it will be quite overwhelming." The Great Fairy's eyes closed and she began to chant a soft song that rose over the sounds of rushing water and the music that filled her peaceful place. From above shot three strands of light, which twisted together and swirled around Mishcana. They were blue, green and red. Mishcana swooned back and forth within the magical beams. The light faded and her sword fell to the ground. She fainted and fell backwards off the altar.
Link caught her, grunting with the force of her falling. He could see that her cheeks were red and puffy as though she had been crying. Her life shield felt stronger then it had before. Puzzlement came across his face as he felt a large rip in the back of her Kokiri tunic. "Is she all right?" he asked worriedly. The Great Fairy nodded. "The experience was very hard on her, that is all. She may share with you what she faced, but do not press her. You'd best call Epona; she needs sleep and may not wake for a while." He nodded slowly and gradually let Mishcana slip to the ground. His fairy ocarina appeared within his hands as he left the fairy's fountain.
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