Comradery by Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They have been created for the sole use of within this story and are not meant to resemble anyone else's characters. Additionally, some characters are depicted as underage and experience cross-generational relationships. There is also some minor violence. You have been warned.
“Being second is to be the
first of the ones who lose.”
-Ayrton Senna
Each and every day is a journey. Mind you a journey may not actually end on the day in question. After all the grandest journey of all is life and how we approach it is nothing short of small goals we take on to better ourselves. But there are times when we face the prospect of superiority. When we are presented with the idea of bettering oneself through sport. It is in these times we must both enjoy the aspects of both competition and comradery that come with it.
Link was a young man who lived in the village of Kakariko. It was set among the sprawling fields of Hylia but was in itself a quiet town that was set at the foot of Death Mountain. The mountain itself was both revered and worshiped by many of the townsfolk. For they figured praying to Din would keep the volcano from erupting. There was always an ominous cloud of smoke around the tip of the mountain. Though it hadn't erupted recently the occasional shower of ash reminded them of the threat it posed on a regular basis.
At 16 years of age, Link was very battle-hardened hero. In his short time on Hyrule, he had managed to save Hyrule from Gannon and defeat the terror known as Zant. With those evils felled, the world seemed to be at peace for a while. But everyone knew such times never lasted long. There was always some new evil beset in the world. It was never something anyone ever looked forward to, but still something on the back of everyone's mind.
Recently strange occurrences were springing up around Hyrule. Fonts of darkness were sprouting out of the ground, replacing the otherwise green grass of the fields beyond Kakariko and towards the Castle. Even in the desert out in Gerudo territory, the warrior women were complaining about it on a more regular basis. Over time people began to transform into monsters. Even Link himself found that he had taken on the form of a pink bunny, though his mindset of heroism never changed.
One day he was visited by his old friend, Navi, a fairy who had accompanied him on a previous journey. Now the old companion was in service to the gods and only visited him when there was some dire need. Link was sitting under a tree, sharpening the blade of his sword when the purple pixie flew towards him. The teen was a boy of few words Andean very seldom did he actually speak. The Hylian looked up and smiled at the pixie.
The fairy fluttered and dust sprinkled off of it as it flapped about. “Link we need you. Din has received word that the Evil sorcerer Vaati is behind all of this fell taint in the world. Nayru claims that he rests and gains power inside of Death Mountain.”
Link nodded and understood, putting the sharpening stone back into his pocket. Once he grabbed his sword and shield, he was almost ready to go. He just needed to make a quick stop at the apothecary and spend some rupees potions and a tunic to withstand the heat of the volcano from within. So he made his way to the store and pulled out a few gems in his hand. Popping his head inside, he could see that Beedle, the old shopkeep was manning the place.
“How can I help ye?”The usually shirtless man was now a shadowy ghost with malformed tendrils for limbs.
The bunny pointed at the potion and then did the same for the red tunic near the corner of the shop. The keeper fetched the item and handed them over.
“20 pieces. Can jus' ren' da 'unic.” The man's speech was slurred and somewhat difficult to make out.
Link handed over the cash and Beedle's face beamed with glee. Not being much for vanity, the Hylian changed right in front of the shopkeep. Handing over his green tunic for the red one. After all, it was a rental and he'd be getting it back.
Beedle waved as the teen made his departure. “Come back ya hear?”
The teen made his exit from the shop and back into Kakariko. When he exited he saw that Navi was waiting for him.
The fairy fluttered to the rabbit's arm and came to a resting position. “Din has commanded me to assist you in this journey. We get to be partners again!”
Link nodded and smiled before looking around town. Only a few people were about and they were too busy with their own tasks to pay him any heed. Link chuckled as he watched the old cuckoo herder run after one of his hens. But it was time to be on his way, putting his newly acquired potions into his belt satchel, he began to make his way up the base of the mountain.
Link unsheathed his sword and brandished his shield, just in case he encountered any wayward beasts on the way up.
“Onward to victory!” The fairy cheered him on from his shoulder.
Looking up, the rabbit could see it was a cloudy day. Dark clouds circled around the top of the mountain and orbited around its tip. Still, that didn't bother him as he made his way up the dirt path that spun around the base of the mountain. Nearing the first turn some Skulltula's began to surround him. If there was one thing he truly hated, it was spiders. Though he wasn't afraid of them, the rabbit was still caught off guard once he was surrounded.
Two of them began to spin tirelessly around him, soon wrapping one of his legs in webbing. Link slashed forward as the Skulltula retreated backward. Once it did, his footing was swept out from beneath him. His body spinning as it careened off the side of the mountain and down below, ripping whatever remained of the web.
“Link!” The fairy watched helplessly as she could do naught but look on in terror.
Luckily the distance to the bottom wasn't incredibly far and when Link's body came to a stop he found himself in an unfamiliar place.
The Hylian picked himself up and dusted himself off before sheathing his sword and shield. Link gazed back and forth, looking over the unfamiliar village before him. Some of the townsfolk stared at him. The bunny thought it was strange, he considered himself worldly and yet he didn't seem to recall the place.
A purple and beige bunny with blonde hair approached the befallen link. “You alright?”
Link nodded and looked down at the other rabbit who was only slightly bigger than himself.
“Cat got your tongue? What brings you here?” The larger rabbit asked.
Link scratched his head but was a loss for words. The other rabbit seeming equally confused about his lack of response.
Navi reappeared huffing and puffing. “You're alright....I'm so glad...Oh whose this?”
“Ah, you can call me Cornelius. Is this your partner?” Cornelius pointed back and forth between them.
The fairy fluttered up and down.”This is Link and I am Navi.”
“Pleased to meet you.” The purple rabbit bowed deeply before standing upright again. “What brings you here.”
Navi fluttered over to Cornelius' shoulder and spoke directly into his ear to explain the situation. The bigger bunny nodded and understood.
“Well then. I suppose that is a fine cause. Welcome to Pooka village then. I suppose I can't let you leave empty-handed then.” The Pooka disappeared a moment before returning with a bright blue sword.
Link shrugged having a confused look on his face.
“How would you like a partner for your task? I am the best warrior in the whole village.” Cornelius brandished his blade and showed off a bit.
Both Link and Navi watched, amazed at the small show of skill. The Hylian nodded, as he wasn't averse to the idea of having another travel partner.
The pooka sheathed his blade in his belt and fixed his cap. The three were ready for the journey back up the mountain. Cornelius led the way out of the village and onto the dirt road that inclined towards the volcano.
The path led right back to where Link had been assaulted by the Skultulas. Still, they continued to spindle a web, which now stretched across the path and barred further progress up the mountain. The Hylian watched as the spiders eyed them afar. The venom dripping from their fangs as they dangled from a tree stretching into the chasms of the abyss below. Link wanted revenge and took it upon himself to strike down the first spider, a single thrust pierced through its black heart. The arachnid fading into a puff of black smoke.
Cornelius could see that Link had a personal vendetta against the creatures but wasn't about to outdone. Throwing his sword towards the one hanging from the tree. It melted into a rather pathetic puddle of black slime. Link finishing off the final two, twirling around in a rotary attack of sorts. All that was left was the web itself now. The Hylian tried to slash through it, but the web simply rebounded off of each of his blows.
“Let me try.” Cornelius hopped and fetched his sword which had stuck to the tree and then made a cleaving strike from above, down over the web.
Cornelius was able to cut through the web with a single blow. Link huffing, perhaps feeling a little outdone by the Pooka. Still, they carried on past it and not seeming to linger much in the issue. They made their way around the first bend and trekked further up an incline as they began to make progress up the mountain. It continued to spiral around the ridge as they watched the ground below them creep steadily further away.
Suddenly a loud squeaking and grunting were sounding. All at once, the two bunnies were befallen by two Moblins who were trying to club them from above. In their descent, the monster's clubs had fallen to the wayside. Instead, the two goblin-like creatures were now clawing into the faces of their prey. The two rabbits hats offered little protection and Link swiftly grabbed the Moblin from overhead and slammed it on the floor.
The pooka wasn't quite as quick to rid of his own little problem. The Moblin had blinded him by covering his eyes with his cap. The Hylian soon coming to his rescue, tackling the bigger bunny but only in an effort to dethrone the critter. The monster launched off his head and onto the ground, soon sprawling for his club. But it wasn't nearly quick enough to get away and Cornelius grabbed its tail and felled it in one fatal swoop.
Link helped his new friend and Navi chirped happily that the two were getting along so swimmingly. Looking down, it seemed they were about a quarter of the way up. This meant they still had a ways to go.
“We need to hurry, it is best to get off the mountain before nightfall.” Cornelius warned out of the prominence of monsters around in the dark.
The Hylian nodded and the two were on their way once again. The elevation becoming steadily steeper as they continued their way up the side of the mountain.
As they reached about halfway, bats became ever more present in the area. Their blood-chilling screeching and cries would make most people cringe. Link knew the Keese would likely not attack unless they felt agitated and threatened. So he extended his arm out in an effort to slow the Pooka down. After all slow and steady movements would be perceived as less threatening to the otherwise territorial critters. Slowly but surely they passed the threat without issue and made their way further up the mountain.
The Hylian looked up and saw that they were now nearing ever closer to the top. The smell of ash and sulfur was getting stronger. It wasn't particularly strong but Link had grown used to it from living at the base of Mount Doom. Cornelius meanwhile had to scrunch his nose in order to grin and bear the somewhat funky odor of the volcano. Link stopped once he realized the dirt path leading into the core of the mountain came to an end.
Cornelius looked around it didn't seem like there were many options to press on. Of course, they could climb but getting to the peak from where they were standing didn't seem feasible. The pooka figured there had to be a way to get into the mountain from where they were.
“NONE SHALL PASS!” A deep voice beckoned and echoed through the chasms between the varying peaks of the mountains that surrounded them.
The pooka looked back seeming confused. “What was that?”
Link unsheathed his sword, assuming that it could be only something foul.
“HAR HAR, FEEBLE MONSTROSITY. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR COMBAT.” A bright light flashed and the sun seemed to suddenly shine through the ever omnipresent clouds above.
Link scratched his head, figuring it must be a trick.
A beam of light struck the floor in front of them, emanating a glow from an aura inducing figure. “SUCH SILLY CREATURES. I WILL NOT WARN YOU AGAIN.”
Cornelius looked at the burning outline in front of him. The frame enveloped in flames but making no movement. The pooka shielding his eyes from the scour of the light.
*SNAP* The light snapped its fingers and all at once the two rabbits weapons were removed from their reach.
The partners tried to move and yet their whole bodies remained motionless.
“NO MOTION IS NECESSARY. HEED WELL. ONLY THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF DIN MAY PASS. ELSE THE FLAMES OF DOOM WILL CONSUME YOU.” The voice continued to boom loudly.
The pooka tried to respond but found he could not utter a single word.
The flash exploded and reappeared behind them within a more personal distance. “YOU MAY ONLY SPEAK THE WORD OF DIN. FIND IT WITHIN YOURSELF AND I SHALL GRACE YOU WITH ENTRANCE.”
Cornelius had no idea what the enigma spoke of. Meanwhile, Link searched within himself. He had dealt with such beings before and tried to relax. Navi too remained strangely silent even as her partners seemed to be beset by fear.
“दिन” The fairy spoke Link's thoughts allowed.
(Din)
“SUCH IT IS!” The light disappeared and the duo found it could move again.
Now it seemed they were able to move again. Link and Cornelius shook off their seemingly stunned demeanor and picked up their weapons. The Pooka couldn't be sure what had just happened but Link figured it must have been the work of the gods. As they stood there, a thin beam of light remained over the stone wall. Once they were gathered back together, they stood there uncertain of what to do. Suddenly a crack began to appear in the wall.
Slowly a rock began to move in front of them. It scraped against the floor and dust picked up as the boulder shifted from it's resting position over to the side. It catapulted itself over to the left, before long coming to a rest and revealing an entrance into the volcano itself. Steam poured out from inside and the heat pouring out was much more extreme heat. Link motioned forward and waved the other rabbit inside.
Once they were inside, Navi chirped quite aggressively. Little did they realize that the stone door behind them had closed right after they had entered. But neither was interested in retreating. The pair continued on towards the center of the volcano. Soon Link found his foot was stuck in a puddle of mud. The ooze materializing around his foot and keeping him from moving. The Hylian started to panic and tried to shake it off. Yet every time he moved, it crept even further up his leg.
Navi screamed and caught Cornelius' attention who finally realized his comrade was beset by the menace. Reaching back into his pouch, he fetched a flask from inside. Throwing it, the glass exploded onto the red ooze climbing up Link's leg and disintegrated it in a split second.
“Thanks!” Navi fluttered happily over the Hylian.
After that ordeal was over the two began to head back down on an include leading into the core of the volcano.
Navi chirped loudly. “Nayru had informed me that Vaati is at the heart of the volcano in the temple lair of Volvagia.”
That name brought back a flashback of memories of when he defeated the dragon and put her into a deep state of hibernation. Now travelers were always forewarned to tread lightly and not waken the beast again. Still, Link felt confident that he could fell the creature, should it rear its ugly head again. The Hylian took the lead as he remembered almost verbatim where the lair was. Using the ledge to hop right onto a stone block which led towards an ornate door.
The lock and key still were tossed to the side of the door but the door itself was now easily accessible. Cornelius followed rather easily. After all, the strong hind legs of rabbits allowed them to hop around places with ease. Once they were at the door, they could see into it. A mound of hardened magma and landmass sitting atop a pool of magma. Steam rising in pillars all around them. Cornelius wiped the sweat from his forehead, as he wasn't quite prepared as the other rabbit was.
In the center of the room, Volvagia remained dormant in a spiral. A shadowy figure looking over the top of it with a staff in its hand. A pillar of lava swirling in the middle of one the holes in the ground between the outline and the sleeping dragon before him. The silhouette donned a purple robe and red pants. It seemed it was holding some sort of scepter with a golden and red-eye glistening on top of it, beaming out light into the dragon before him.
Link realized what was going on and quickly lept into action. Vaati sensed the assault and quickly retaliated moving the laser from his staff and following the rabbit as it streamlined towards him. Cornelius knew he couldn't wait either, rushing forward to aid the Hylian blazing his sword forth will the most fury he could muster. The pink bunny keeping his distance from the sorcerer as Vaati beamed in on him with his staff.
Cornelius making a quick sweep with his feet, under the magician's robes but Vaati simply floating above. The mage stopped his attack on Link and turned his attention to the pooka who was left recoiling from his own attack. The summoner made a single quick motion was the staff was sent reeling towards the earth below him. The pooka watched as a huge spell of magma came racing towards him.
Luckily the wave wasn't enough to trap him, and the purple bunny was able to hop over it in a powerful leap. Only he managed to singe his tail a bit, making him a tad bit annoyed. Link used this opportunity to catch the magician off-guard. Vaati was still close enough to the ground, so he attempted to launch himself up and hit the bottom of the staff. The rod spiraled away and melted into the magma as the summoner hissed.
Vaati wasn't about to be outdone by two rabbits. Closing his eyes, he levitated higher up and summoned a tremendous wall of flame. The wall continued to creep ever closer to the two rabbits. Link and Cornelius watched helplessly as the thing seemed way too high for either of them to jump over. A blinding light occurred just as they were consumed by the fire.
“GUARDIAN'S LIGHT” A shield surrounded around them and seemingly saved them from being burned alive.
Once the flame moved beyond them. Vaati floated astounded. The two rabbits arising surrounded by a blinding light of a shield. The light taking the form of a more visceral figure holding a spear.
“ALL AT ONCE! ATTACK AND DO NOT HOLD BACK.” The virtuous light formed a spear and prepared its own assault.
Together the three of them beset themselves upon Vaati. There wasn't much the sorcerer could do, especially with a god among the mix.
The sorcerer's energy was spent and he put up the best defense he could. The shell around him crumbling as he was subdued and brought to the floor without delay. The combined attacks, just too much to handle. The light javelin pierced him through his heart. It wasn't long before he succumbed to the pain. His body disintegrating and returning to the lifestream. The spear of light disappearing not long after.
“A JOB WELL DONE. YOU MAY DEPART. I SHALL RETURN YOU. ARE YOU READY?” The aura of light stood among a sea of fiery sparks.
Link approached Cornelius and shook his paw. Even despite the rather treacherous journey, the two had worked quite well together.
Navi chirped up once again. “Thank you for your help.”
“No problem. Anytime.” The pooka smiled and headed towards the light. “We are ready.”
Two limbs stretched out and clapped with an ear-splitting clap. Both Link and Cornelius found themselves back outside the dungeon. It seemed they had been taken back home. The Pooka began to wonder if he'd ever see the Hylian again.
Link was set right under his favorite tree as if he'd never left. Everyone in the town seemed to have returned to their normal lives. Looking around the fonts of darkness where nowhere to be seen. Even Mount Doom seemed less ominous despite the ever-present clouds of Ash around it. Navi wished her friend goodbye before she made her way. It seemed everything had gone back to normal. Grabbing his sword and beginning to sharpen it once again. Until Next time...he thought...
