That's Got To Hurt

<---Index

The group looked at the monsters, with the Queen looming high over them. Link muttered, “Okay, so we have a horde and a queen. Anyone have a plan?” Saria glared at him and said, “Are you telling me that we ran into this mess without even the slightest idea of what to do next?” Shadow sighed. “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time...”
“Bet this kind of thing never happens to Mario...” grumbled Sheik. The others simply nodded their agreement. Link gauged the enemies and muttered, “Well, we have to hit it in the head somehow. If we had a bow, that wouldn't be a problem.”

“Well, we don't have one, now do we?” Saria snapped. “What's the next plan?” At that moment, the queen let out a sound of horrid pain. The group looked at it and saw that the monster had been struck with an arrow in the head. It thrashed around violently in a fit of rage. Sheik laughed. “Well what do you know? A sniper!” They looked up and saw a man in black armor next to a elven female in a pink gown firing arrows at the queen. The queen kept thrashing as it was pelted by the projectiles.

Link said, “Quick! Let's take out these Phantoms while the Queen is distracted.” Shadow pulled his blade out of one of them and said, “You're the only one who's still standing there, you idiot!” Link slashed at one of the monsters and replied, “Give me a break!” Sheik kicked one of the creatures and smiled. “Sure. Where would you like it?”
“On the enemy, preferably,” yelled Saria. “Now shut up and take these things down!” The group continued to attack, only to have them keep getting to their feet. The group backed into each other as the mass approached. “Great.” Saria muttered. “That queen isn't dying anytime soon.” Shadow nodded. “We need to try something a little more dramatic.”

Link grabbed the spear from Saria and said, “Sheik! Here!” The warrior caught the weapon and said, “What the Hell do you expect me to do with this? I'm a fist fighter!” Shadow smiled. “Slingshot him.” Everyone except both Links looked confused. Link took several steps back and prepared to leap. “Now I get it!” Sheik beamed. Link ran at the warrior and lunged. The spear wielding elf rotated his body and connected the weapon to his comrade's feet. With a mighty heave, Link was sent flying at the queen's head.

Saria yelled, “Is he out of his mind? He's flying into the path of the arrows!” Sheik sighed. “I TOLD you I can't use one of these.” As Link neared the monster, he snapped the sword to his side. “Navi!” he yelled. “Let's do this!!!” Navi spun around the blade and it radiated with a bright blue glow. Now at the monster's head, he snapped his body sharply and whipped his arm in a wide arching motion. The momentum caused him to spin at a remarkable speed. Keeping his blade extended, he implemented a buzz-saw effect on the monster, cutting clean through it.

Shadow yelled, “He did it!” Saria smiled. “He killed it!” In a slightly panicked voice, Sheik exclaimed, “He's going to crash into the cliffs!” The group flinched uneasily as the warrior smashed into the rocks and slumped to the ground. “That's GOT to hurt...” the three warriors and their fairies all muttered at once. The Phantoms, now without their queen to lead them, began acting more feral and started attacking each other. Shadow smiled. “Communal monsters. They can't tell friend from foe without the queen. That will definitely make it easier to clean up this mess.” Saria, Sheik and Shadow all attacked the remaining monsters.

Within moments, the creatures lay defeated at their feet. The group walked over to the elf and Shadow asked, “Is he going to be okay?” Sheik waved a dismissive hand as he replied, “He'll be fine. He only hit his head.”
“Happens a lot,” Saria added. “Give him a few minutes, and it'll be like nothing happened.” Shadow sighed and examined the elf. Pulling out a bottle with a red liquid in it, he poured it into the fallen warrior's mouth. Coughing, Link opened his eyes, muttering, “That stuff is rancid. What is it?”  Shadow smirked. “Red Chu Jelly juice. Tastes awful, and it works.”

Link got to his feet and retorted, “Sound like a marketing ad. I'll stick with soup, thanks.” The group all laughed at the remark and helped him to his feet. Link said awkwardly, “Does Princess Zelda have a fairy?” Everyone looked at him confused. To explain, the young elf said, “I couldn't make them out clearly from the ground, but as I was attacking the monster, I got a good look at Princess Zelda firing arrows at the Phantom Queen, as well as a man I never saw before, His skin was a dark, almost charcoal gray.” Shadow stood there stunned and muttered, “Lord Gannondorf?” The group turned to the dark elf as he continued, “The Prince, Lord Gannondorf actually survived the destruction of my world?”

Link muttered, “Don't sound too surprised. Princess Zelda managed to survive the chaos as well. Whatever happened to this world, I'm sure they are the only ones who really know what is going on here.” Sheik sighed. “Well, I guess that means that we're going to have to look for them.” Shadow shook his head. “This time what happened has nothing to do with the legacy. Something has appeared, and Lord Gannondorf has come to realize that there is no choice but to form an alliance with our eternal enemies. It's probably the only chance we're going to have at saving the kingdoms.”

Link nodded. “We're going to have to make other alliances as well. If we plan to get eh shrines in this world, we'll need the help of the Gorons, the Zora and the Rito. And as if that's not bad enough, they don't really take too kindly to outsiders.” Shadow looked at him and asked, “What are Gorons Zora and Rito?” Saria shook her head. “Don't look at us! We don't know anything about them other than what's written in legends.”

“The Gorons are some kind of stone-like race living in death mountain, with a temper as hot as the molten rocks the land spits out,” Sheik explained, “The Zora are an aquatic race in Termina and the Rito are located at Dragon Roost Mountain. The Rito are cautious towards outsiders, and don't get me started on the Zora. They used to be peaceful enough, but somebody really fried their fillets a few years back and now not even the royal family can get in without being attacked a few times.” Shadow smiled. “Sounds like fun. Which one do we go to first?”

Link replied, “The Great Deku Tree, in Kokiri Forest.” Shadow let out an evil smile. “How nasty are those little Kokiri Bastards?” The three companions loomed over him, glaring, and said in a icy cold voice, “That's us.” Shadow huddled there in fear, saying in a pathetic whimper, “Sorry... No offense...” The group got on their mounts and rode hard as Shadow thought, 'Geez. These guys are more frightening than the creatures we fought when I cross them. After the other incidents in history that my former selves did, I can understand. But, how can I tell them this time is different? This time, I really am...' His thoughts trailed off as he saw the forest over the top of the hill, with a mighty plume of smoke coming from it's center.

Looking at the shock on the party's faces, this was a very bad thing. Without a second thought, He drove his heels into the horses flanks and yelled, “At your fastest, Brimstone! We might still stand a chance of reversing whatever it is that's happening!”