The Legend of Sunset Shimmer: Ocarina of Time.
By Ganondorf8
February 25, 2015
Chapter 45: Into the Infinite Darkness.
" Nabooru, your exile has now begun, and I couldn't be happier as it's also the beginning of my being second-in-command. I've longed for this day to come ever since you were chosen for the position which was meant to have been mine from the start. For years I had to toil under you as your servant, yet you never once saw it like that believing us both to be on equal footing.
I knew better because your title allowed you to have so many perks....so why do I feel bad now that you have left the fortress? Could it be that I'm feeling guilty for having wronged you even though what happened back then wasn't your fault?"
" You seem to be troubled with wanting to accept your new destiny Spitfire."
" Huh? Oh, it's you Lady Trixie. I don't know why you and your sister insist on skulking about in the shadows when it comes to paying the fortress a visit. You're both fellow Gerudo, so you don't need to maintain such a cloak and dagger approach," said Spitfire.
" Don't you dare refer to me by that horrendous name child!!!! shouted Trixie.
" It's not a bad name you know," said Spitfire.
" Call me that again and you will wish that you were never born! To you and the others, I'm known as the great and powerful Koume, surrogate mother to the great Ganondorf! For your sake, you would be wise to remember that. Now then, it appears that you're experiencing doubt and that's something we cannot allow to happen.
The Gerudo need someone who can guide them to ensure that their loyalty remains absolute. Nabooru proved that she was unworthy of that task because her opinion ended up clashing with our desire, so she needed to be removed from her position," said Trixie.
" Is that the reason why she was exiled?" asked Spitfire.
" That isn't your place to be concerned child, for you now hold the highest authority among the tribe next to the king," replied Trixie.
" Maybe so, but I still want to know," said Spitfire.
" Since you're insisting on wanting the truth, who am I to want to deny you? Nabooru was quite skilled as a thief, yet her loyalty to the great Ganondorf was always a problem my sister and I viewed as a concern. So, she needed to be given the title of second-in-command of the Gerudo in the hopes of changing her opinions, and fall in line with the vision we had hoped for.
This lasted for a few years, but it seems that the king's desire to claim the Triforce has opened up her old opinions. Such feelings cannot be allowed to be felt in the hearts of the others, so it was necessary for her to be replaced," said Trixie.
" And that someone was me?" asked Spitfire.
" You're much better than she ever was because your loyalty is unquestionable," replied Trixie.
" Now I wish that my curiosity hadn't prompted me to ask. So all I'm meant to be is someone who will make sure that everyone follows the laws of the Gerudo? While I'm okay with wanting to be second-in-command as it's been my desire for years, I can't help but feel that Nabooru was cheated in a way just because she wanted to think differently," said Spitfire.
" That's enough of that kind of talk," began Trixie.
" What do you mean Lady Koume?" asked Spitfire.
" Your only concern is to fulfill the obligations given unto you, and to never once question the authority of myself, my sister, and your king. What she did had to be punished by exile which has come to pass, but we shall make sure that she will always remain loyal even if it means using our magic," replied Trixie.
" Magic? What is your intention?" asked Spitfire?
" Don't pretend to act ignorant and oblivious because you were the one who constantly kept us informed of her actions, so in a way you were responsible for the fate which has been cast down upon her. Nabooru will be made to accept the great Ganondorf, and it will put down any notions of her wanting to question him ever again.
As for you Spitfire, I advise that you continue to do as you're told otherwise you could end up sharing in the exact same fate. Surprised that I know exactly what's on your mind? My power is greater than you can even begin to imagine," replied Trixie.
" I wasn't implying anything Lady Koume," said Spitfire.
" Glad to hear that child for remember that even you can be replaced at a moment's notice. I believe that I shall take my leave so that you can get started with your new duties, and I hope that you make sure that things don't change," said Trixie.
" Won't you stay for a while longer?" asked Spitfire.
" No, I must return home to prepare for Nabooru's arrival for she is planning something according to what you told us. I know that you wouldn't have lied to my sister and me because doing so would mean killing you right here and now! Yes, that expression on your face tells me that the information you provided is most accurate. Don't think that this will be our final encounter Spitfire, so I shall return again in order to check up on you," replied Trixie.
After having snuck back across the pool of water located in Gerudo Valley, I took a moment to regain my composure before playing the Prelude of Light which warped me back to the Temple of Time. I really wanted to spend more time here in the past, but I knew that I needed to return to the future in order to awaken the next Sage who just so happened to be Applejack.
Spike could tell that I was feeling pretty nervous about this, and suggested for me to speak to Fluttershy as she will have information regarding to the next temple we need to visit....the Shadow Temple.
" Before I go and pull the Master Sword and go back to the present, I need to know more about the next temple. While I've no doubt that I can get plenty of information from Fluttershy about some of the things we'll encounter in there, I'm worried that there's something I'm missing which could spell the difference between success and failure. I know the Shadow Temple reeks of the undead because of what you've told me, but can't you provide me with any additional information?
The undead have already proven to be difficult for me to overcome, but if the temple is crawling with the ones that I struggle with, I fear that I could get myself killed thus preventing Hyrule from returning to a peaceful existence," I said.
" That was a bit melodramatic," commented Spike.
" But you know that what I said is true," I said.
" The Shadow Temple as I mentioned before is a place where the history of this kingdom is written in blood due to the wars which ravaged it for centuries, yet there is more to it than that. Of all the temples of Hyrule, this one is perhaps the most difficult to figure out as it's the one place where evil is meant to thrive despite it already being corrupted by Ganondorf''s power.
When we finally begin to walk around down there, you'll no doubt feel the pain and anguish many had to suffer when their lives were taken from them as a result of war," said Spike.
" I'm guessing that the majority of the spirits who dwell in the temple are Hylians?" I asked.
" You'd be correct as while the wars claimed the lives of the Gorons, Zora, and Gerudo in addition to the Hylians, they had their own burial sites. As such their spirits were unable to enter the Shadow Temple, and instead lingered around for a while before disappearing. The spirits who remain in the temple are mostly Sheikah spirits for the graveyard in Kakariko is where they are all buried," replied Spike.
" It makes you wonder if the undead monsters we've been encountering are the spirits of those who died, or are the result of the magic Ganondorf used to artificially create monsters that have the mannerisms of the dead," I said.
" I wouldn't know for certain," said Spike.
" If those monsters used to be people in a former life, the least I can do for them is to give them a release from their torment, but that would mean running the risk of losing my life in the process given how powerful the Re-Dead and Gibdo are. Those Light Arrows would really be useful right about now to make this an easier experience, but I guess that would be taking the easy way out," I sighed.
While these weren't the exact answers I was hoping to receive, at least I was given a bit more insight as to what to expect. If there was one problem I could say right now to all of this, it would be having a strong sense of guilt over having to possibly fight against the spirits of those who gave their lives to protect this world; something I'm doing myself even though I'm not an actual soldier.
Once I made it to the back of the Temple of Time, I stared at the Master Sword which was stuck in its pedestal, and it made me wonder if using this blade would allow me to really overcome the impending danger awaiting me. It also made me think of Ganondorf, and what he ended up doing at this exact moment. " Do you think he's waiting in the shadows like when I pulled the sword for the first time?
This feels like I'm redoing everything again, and it will result in my transformation which leads to me being sealed away. Must I experience that pain once more as a reminder of me being tormented?"
" I think what will happen this time around is you'll just get whisked back to the future," replied Spike.
" That sounds rather anti-climatic," I said.
" Perhaps, but what happened can only be seen once as it's a part of history which can't be changed. There's no point in repeating it as the result will still be the same even if you were to change a few aspects of it, so the moment you draw the Master Sword, time will jump forward seven years and we'll be back where we belong unless we have to come back here again," said Spike.
" How do we know that we need to do that?" I asked.
" Sheik did mention it to you when she taught you the Prelude of Light a while ago now, but I suppose Saria may be able to clarify things," replied Spike. That sounded like a good idea to me, so I walked up to the Master Sword, and pulled it out which immediately blinded me in a flash of light. A few moments later, I found myself standing in front of the pedestal with the divine blade in the scabbard on my back, and wearing the Zora Tunic instead of the Kokiri Tunic I had on prior.
It felt weird having come back to the present after spending a good amount of time in the past, but I needed to be here to awaken the remaining Sages. I was then relieved to know that the weapons I had picked up in the other temples were now available to me again.
With that concern out of the way, I took the Ocarina of Time from its pouch, and began to play Fluttershy's Song where it felt nice to have her know what's going on.
" Sunset Shimmer? This is Fluttershy....can you hear me? I heard from the forest spirits that you were able to break the curse on the Water Temple, and that you even managed to travel back in time seven years to before Hyrule was invaded by the Evil King. I'll be the first to admit that I'm jealous that you got to do that, but it was necessary if you wish to awaken the remaining Sages.
Our power continues to increase with each of us you awaken, and when we're all accounted for, we can create the seal which will bind the evil of the kingdom into the Sacred Realm. If we want to make the seal perfect, we need the power of the Seventh Sage," said Fluttershy.
" Going back did bring back plenty of good memories, but let me tell you that it wasn't an ideal picnic," I said.
" Yes, I can imagine it being so what with having to get used to the way things were again after such a long time," said Fluttershy.
" I have an item which will allow me to see the truth," I said.
" Something that can let you uncover things that should really be there? The Great Deku Tree once told us a story about it, but we never really believed it. I guess he was right in that some truths remain hidden, and must be exposed for the greater good. This item is going to be of immense help in the Shadow Temple, for it is impossible to progress without in," said Fluttershy.
" Figures it would be like that...." That's when it dawned on me that she mentioned that there was another Sage who needed to be awakened in addition to the six that I'm trying to help out right now. When everything clicked together in my head, I began to sputter repeatedly which caused Fluttershy to ask me if I was okay because it sounded like I was having some kind of convulsion. Eventually, I managed to utter some actual words.
" Another Sage? I have another to find one more?" You could tell that I wasn't exactly taking this little bit of news very well, and it was a miracle I didn't end up taking out any kind of frustration because it meant finding another temple which Sheik never told me about as she only gave me the locations of five.
" This final Sage is said to be the leader of all of us, and through their power will we be able to seal away Ganondorf forever. I have no idea who this person could be, and neither do the forest spirits, but surely it must be someone you know," replied Fluttershy.
" So we're dealing with a mystery person?" I asked.
" That's one way of saying it yes, but first you should focus on awakening the one who waits for you in the Shadow Temple. The spirits have been telling me that you will need to use the item you found in the past to uncover many secrets, and it's the only item that will allow you to see the shadow for what it really is.
I don't know what this shadow is supposed to be, but I think you have a pretty good answer. They also say that you will need to use sacred feet in order to reach places which are otherwise inaccessible to you," replied Fluttershy.
" Did you say sacred feet?" I asked.
" What this means isn't known to the spirits, but it sounds like something you would wear on your feet," replied Fluttershy. Sometimes, I felt these forest spirits were aware of what is really happening, but pretend like they don't know everything as a means of testing me because of being the chosen hero. It was either that, or they desired me to struggle a little as a means of tormenting me.
I'd never reveal this to Fluttershy though as it would make her really upset, and it was just an inkling I had which doesn't really amount to all that much. Still, you have to be cautious in this world as anything can and will happen. " The spirits are seeing one last thing which has them feeling very worried, and you should be aware of that fact.
They say that there is some kind of vessel in the depths of the Shadow Temple which you need to take, but it's not the kind that you can consider being one of pleasure. Why it exists isn't exactly clear, but you do need to use it in order to get to the final destination."
" You said that you're jealous that I got to go back in time?" I asked.
" Being able to return to the past and seeing the world as it was before Ganondorf came must have been a wonderful sight, yet deep down you probably wanted to stay there as the problems of the current time do not exist back then," replied Fluttershy.
" I did contemplate it for a while before deciding to return as I'm needed here," I said.
" Don't get too comfortable being in the present as you will eventually have to go back to the past one more time in order to awaken the final Sage. I know that it sounds difficult having to traverse across a seven year gap to break the curses on all of the temples, but I believe you can succeed in such a monumental task.
What's this? The spirits are saying that you should go to the graveyard and speak to the ghosts who created the song that brings about the light. It seems they wish to talk to you, so maybe you should pay them a visit," said Fluttershy.
" I remember those two from a long time ago," I said.
" Who were they?" asked Fluttershy.
" The Royal Composer Sisters, as they called themselves, were able to create a song which has the power to change night into day and vice versa. It was to do with their project about the musical tones of ocarinas if I recall what they told me, but they weren't able to reap the benefits of their work. Ganondorf desired their research for his own purposes, and they ended up paying the ultimate price by losing their lives to protect their secrets," I replied.
" And I assume that you were able to acquire their song which would mean they could now rest in peace, yet the spirits are saying that you should speak to them before entering the temple. Maybe the shadow has forced them to awaken from their eternal slumber, and they can't return until the creature has been destroyed. You may have your work cut out for you this time Sunset Shimmer, but I know you can accomplish your goals because you have the heart of a proud warrior.
I'm going to leave it to you now, so good luck with traversing the darkness that lurks inside of the temple," said Fluttershy. Now that was the kind of information that I needed to hear, and thanks to her I now had a pretty good idea as to what to expect. The thought of a vessel taking me somewhere was worrying, but the thought of getting to use sacred feet was something to look forward to.
I then put the Ocarina of Time back in my pouch, and proceeded to exit the Temple of Time where I was greeted with the destroyed Hyrule Castle Town; a reminder of what happened during my seven year absence.
" Why not play the Nocturne of Shadow and warp to the graveyard?" asked Spike.
" That does sound like a good idea, but I want to make a quick stop over at Kakariko Village to see how Shining Armour is doing. While he was able to finally get out of his comfort zone, I fear that he may have decided to go back to wanting to be left alone. I know that I have no right interfering with his life as that's up to him to decide, but I want to make sure that he's alright," I replied.
" Your compassion for your friends is a strong power," smiled Spike.
" I never used to understand such emotions due to being alone for a long time in my life, but when I experienced that feeling, I never wanted to let it go no matter what. Shining Armour is going through the same thing that once plagued me, and that is something no one should ever have to deal with. While checking on him will delay us from going to the aid of Applejack, I feel that he may need some kind of closure, and perhaps begin to rebuild his life," I said.
" Then let's go and see him in the village," said Spike. Going to Kakariko the long way was going to take some time, but I chose to follow my heart in this case instead of my head because of friendship. Running through the Market and avoiding the Re-Deads, I made my way outside and back into Hyrule Field where I took out the Ocarina of Time, and played Epona's Song where she appeared out of nowhere and galloped over before coming to a stop. I petted her on the muzzle and engaged in a brief whinny conversation before turning my attention to Spike out of sheer confusion.
" I left her at the entrance to Kakariko Village, yet how did she just pop up and made her way over here like that?" I asked.
" It's one of those mysteries of Hyrule which should remain unsolved. I'm surprised that you played her song and called her over, for we've often had to leave her behind while carrying out various errands. Still, she looks happy that she was called over with her song, but she probably told you that when you two spoke horse just now," replied Spike. Epona and I then continued with our whinnying for a few more moments before I climbed up onto her saddle, and gave her a soft kick to the ribs to start galloping along to the village.
It was still night out because warping and coming back to the present didn't cause time to move onward, so it meant I was going to be exploring the graveyard at night....again. It didn't take long for Epona to make it back to the entrance of the village, and I slowly brought her to a stop where she whinnied several times to indicate that she didn't want me to go back in again. I responded to her with my own set of whinnies before climbing down, and running up the stairs and entering.
" The village has certainly seen better days," I commented.
" And it will take a long time for the wounds from the fire to be healed, so expect the buildings to be covered in soot as well as having lost some colour from the flames. You have to give the villagers a lot of credit for holding out as long as they did until the rain helped to put out the fire, and they knew what they were doing when they migrated over to the entrance in order to save themselves," said Spike.
" Shining Armour deserves some credit for helping out those last villagers who needed rescuing. Even though the wounds he suffered at the hands of Ganondorf prevent him from ever being a guard again, he still managed to come out of hiding and performed the duty that was expected of him," I said. That's when I noticed that the villagers were out and about in the middle of the night, and this was understandable considering their lives were hanging in the balance a short time ago.
I then decided to see if I could spot Shining Armour among the villagers, but when I didn't see him talking to anyone, I feared that he chosen to go back to his quiet life of solitude, and that my words didn't end up changing his ways after all. " I guess the pain that he felt from failing the old king must have been too much for him to want to try to become a part of society again."
" Perhaps that's for the best," said Spike.
" Maybe you're right for his situation was much worse than what I went through as I never lost anyone close to me like he did. I guess we should just make our way to the graveyard, and speak to the Royal Composer Sisters," I said. No sooner had I walked a few steps, the expression on my face changed from sadness to sheer happiness because standing there by the well was Shining Armour.
While he was still wearing that cloak which he used to maintain his aloof identity, he wasn't hiding his face which meant he really did wish to start interacting with the common folk again, yet the walking stick was a reminder that his injuries are ones which can never heal.
I then walked over to him and he looked pleased to see me although his expression changed to one of confusion as though he were wondering as to where I had gone, so I felt the need to address this. " I was hoping that you would be out here instead of being isolated indoors, yet you want to know where I've been since the fire was put out?"
" That thought did cross my mind," replied Shining Armour.
" I had to go on a little trip in order to acquire something," I said.
" Let me take a wild guess by saying that you returned the Master Sword to its pedestal, and ended up going back in time to the point before you pulled it. Judging from your dropped jaw, I'd say that I was spot on with my guess," said Shining Armour.
" How did you know?" I asked.
" When I was the Captain of the Royal Guard, there were certain things that I learned from being by the side of the royal family, and one of them was the secret power contained inside of the Master Sword. I'm not surprised that you ended up going back into the past because that sword has powers the likes of which you've merely scratched the surface of, but I know that what happened in the past can't be changed no matter how hard you may desire it.
Thanks to you Sunset Shimmer, I realize now that I was hiding myself from the failure of protecting the king, and I wallowed in self-misery for years. The people of Kakariko know that I'm now starting to mingle with them rather than choosing to keep to myself, but I'll reveal to them my true identity when I feel the time is right. In the meantime, they simply refer to me by the name of Shin which doesn't quite roll off the tongue," replied Shining Armour.
" At least you're starting to turn your life around," I said.
" I'll never be able to live the way that I used to, but I can continue on and live out my days as best as I can here in this village. As for you, I believe you need to go to the temple that lies beneath the graveyard right? The entrance is currently sealed shut with a heavy stone slab, but you can open the way by lighting all of the torches, and there are roughly 30 to light up," said Shining Armour.
" Isn't that a little excessive?" I asked.
" In a way it is because lighting just a few would have been more suffice, but it was the will of the Sheikah which prompted them to go with a high number. The temple was once guarded by the shadow folk as this village used to be their base of operations during times of war, yet they no longer exist with the sole exception of Madam Impa who is the last of the Sheikah tribe.
As for that other one, I don't know what her story is supposed to be, but I'm not convinced that she is a survivor of the tribe as she claims herself to be. Anyway, I should probably let you get going as you need to rush to the aid of Madam Impa," replied Shining Armour.
" Before I go, there is one more question I've been meaning to ask you, and that is how did you become Captain?" I asked.
" Quite the random thing you asked of me," replied Shining Armour.
" Guess I'm just the curious sort," I said.
" Well, you did ask me and because of you, I've gotten over wanting to live alone, so I'd be glad to answer your question. I'm the youngest solider to have ever been promoted to the rank of Captain of the Royal Guards, but before that I was just an ordinary person who dedicated his life in service to the king. The previous Captain was well liked among the entire corp., and he was the one who believed me to be destined for greater things.
I guess it's because I worked much harder than everyone else when it came to defending the realm, yet this did draw the ire of the others who felt that I was showing off just to be in good graces with the old Captain which never was the case. During the war which resulted in the unification of the kingdom, Hyrule Castle was attacked by a powerful evil force which used dark magic.
Many of the guards were killed that day including the old Captain who gave his life to protect those among the guard who chose to run away," said Shining Armour.
" They ran away? Why would they do that?" I asked.
" The dark creatures were too powerful for them to handle, so they chose to flee back to the castle to defend it until things turned about in their favour. The old Captain wanted them to retreat and protect the royal family, and he chose to remain behind to cover them as they fled. After the war was over, the dark creatures were subsequently banished, but the loss of the old Captain was felt by all of us.
And yet, someone needed to succeed him, and the guards drew their attention to me believing that I would be chosen to lead them because of how I was doted over, but they were surprised when I refused to take on the position," replied Shining Armour.
" Did you feel that you weren't ready?" I asked.
" I knew that I wasn't prepared to handle such a responsibility, and I even refused the king's request for he knew that the old Captain felt that I should be the one to succeed him. To cut a long story short, I said that I would think it over, and my decision came when an incident occurred where her highness almost lost her life to an assassin.
I saved her life by taking the attack, and the rest of the royal guard knew there and then that I was worthy to lead them. So, they insisted on me taking the position after my actions saved the princess, and you know what happens from there," replied Shining Armour.
" You didn't need to rush through the last part of your story as I do have plenty of time to reach Impa, but I have a feeling that she would tell me about what happened when the princess's life was in danger given how close she is to her," I said.
" Madam Impa should know considering she was there at the time," said Shining Armour.
" Then I'll be sure to ask her about it. Shining Armour, while you can't fight the way that you used to because of the injuries given to you by Ganondorf, you still retain all of the combat experience and maneuvers from the royal guard. Essentially, you could end up teaching a whole new generation because I do believe the royal family could do with some new soldiers when they come back. You don't need to come to a decision right away, but it's something to think about at the very least," I said.
With that, I thanked him for answering my question, and took my leave where I headed for the graveyard once more which still looked the same as it did the last time. Surprisingly, the fire never reached this area which could mean the shadow never intended for the flames to make it this far. There were a couple of Poes floating around most likely looking for fresh victims, but I had my eyes set on the two gravestones located in front of the entrance to the Tomb of the Royal Family.
" Can you feel that power Sunset Shimmer?" asked Spike.
" I know there was an evil presence located below the graveyard, but I never would have guessed that it was this strong," I replied.
" Because the shadow beast is now free from the seal which kept it trapped below the well, it has free reign to use as much of its dark powers as it wants. That means the undead are beginning to grow in strength which is going to make our progress through the Shadow Temple that much more difficult.
Impa felt that she was the only one who could contain the creature as she was the one who did so before, so it's her responsibility to ensure that the undead don't end up swarming all over the kingdom. Speaking of which, I recall the Royal Composer Sisters having moved on from this world after you listened to their tale," said Spike.
" Maybe they decided to come back willingly?" I asked.
" Ghosts aren't able to do that as once they move onto the afterlife, they're stuck there forever. The power radiating from the shadow beast must have forced them to return to this world, and they can't rest in peace until it has been destroyed. That would explain why the undead are increasing in numbers as well as in strength.
Whether Ganondorf decides to do something about this or not remains to be seen, but he'll probably just let things fall apart given that all he cares about is maintaining his grip through the use of the Triforce. As long as you have the Lens of Truth however, you can expose the illusion that the shadow uses to keep itself hidden, and destroy it breaking the curse on the temple at the same time," replied Spike.
" First, we need to speak to the two sisters," I said. Walking over to the gravestone on the left, the moment I approached it, the ghostly form of Octavia Melody rose up from it followed by the form of DJ Pon-3 from the other stone. It still felt weird that they were both spirits in this world, but at least it was better than the alternative which was non-existent.
As I recall from the last conversation that I had, Octavia was the one who does all of the talking as DJ Pon-3 never says a word, and instead relies on expressions in order to speak her mind. Why she was a mute is something I'll never know, but maybe one day she will break her silence and say something.
" Huh? Aren't you the one who listened to our tragic story seven years ago?" asked Octavia.
" That was me yes," I replied.
" You're Sunset Shimmer!?!? But, you look as though you haven't aged a single day although you have had a change of attire from last time, and that sword is awfully familiar to us. Would you not agree with that dear sister?" asked Octavia. I turned my attention to DJ Pon-3 for a moment hoping she would respond with at least a simple "yes", but she decided to go with a thumb's up which was her way of agreeing with her older sibling.
Then I focused back to Octavia who decided to check out the sword on my back before her expression became one of complete shock. " I know that blade! It's the Master Sword! If you have that in your possession, then you must be the Hero of Time who has come to bring peace back to Hyrule."
" Something like that," I said.
" Yet you haven't aged at all which certainly defies logic," said Octavia. I then explained to her as to how my magic was able to keep me from aging during my time trapped inside of the Sacred Realm, and upon finishing my explanation, she was quite shocked that so many years of my life were lost. " And here I thought my sister and I had it rough when Ganondorf killed us, but you had to endure having to get adjusted to a world which was different from the one you left when the sword sealed you away.
Flat and I were resting in the afterlife after you claimed the Sun's Song, but the recent escape of the shadow beast has brought us back here against our will. No one has been able to do anything about it as what can they do against something that powerful?"
" Where did this creature even come from?" I asked.
" What is known is that the beast first appeared during the war, and it targeted this village because of the Sheikah who used it as their base where they served the king. It was a battle between the shadow folk and the shadow beast where many of them were killed, but it was eventually driven into the well where its power was neutralized.
They weren't able to destroy the creature, so they chose to leave it there hoping that it would never return, and yet Ganondorf came along and conquered the kingdom. His evil power caused the beast to stir so it was necessary to have a seal created which would keep the shadow down there under the village," replied Octavia.
" I have been told as to why it was sealed away, but I'm surprised the seal lasted as long as it did," I said.
" You can thank Impa who used her powers to strengthen the spell every time the shadow attempted to escape. Yes, what you witnessed was its eighth attempt at breaking the seal which sadly it was able to do so thus escaping into the world. Every time it tried to break free, she would make sure to reinforce the seal, but she realized that just strengthening it wasn't going to work forever.
She went to the Shadow Temple in order to speak to the spirits of her fellow Sheikah in the hopes of finding a more permanent answer, but the shadow beast immediately went there after it escaped. It has since been increasing its power in order to raise an army of undead monsters," said Octavia.
" I heard that you can't even see the shadow," I said.
" It hides itself in a veil of darkness which it uses to defeat any who would dare oppose it, but it's said that it will yield to the one who has the eye of truth. That item is able to pierce through and reveal the shadow's true form as well as its weakness, but the eye was sealed away under the well long ago," said Octavia. That's when DJ Pon-3 floated over to her sister and began to whisper something in her ear, so she is capable of doing that but she doesn't want to speak outright?
I suppose this was her way of maintaining the image of being a mute, but I'll admit that it was really inconvenient. Once she was finished, DJ Pon-3 hovered back to her graveyard where she lowered her head most likely due to what she said to Octavia who continued to talk. " My sister says that the one who originally owned the eye was fed up with so many asking him if they could take it off of his hands that he chose to have it buried in the complex below the village."
" I'm aware of that as well," I said.
" Really? That does make things easier for me to explain to you then. If you plan on going into the Shadow Temple, I'm afraid that you won't be able to get very far as you would need the eye of truth in order to have a statue facing an object which exists among those that are false," said Octavia.
" How did Impa get by?" I asked.
" The Sheikah are capable of seeing things in a way that the rest of us would never understand," replied Octavia.
" Would the eye of truth look something like this?" I asked as I took out the Lens of Truth from my pocket and showed it to them. Upon seeing it, their jaws dropped with utter shock, and immediately began to talk amongst themselves for a few moments. " I was able to gain access to the Bottom of the Well where I found the lens inside of a treasure chest."
The two sisters were still conversing with one another, yet I knew they heard what I said due to having kept my eyes on me the entire time. DJ Pon-3 then hovered over to me in order to take a closer inspection to make sure that the Lens of Truth was legitimate, and when she gave a double thumbs up to her sister, that indicated to them that it was the real deal.
" You have the eye of truth? Then truly you are the one destined to overcome the shadow beast," said Octavia. She went on explain that the lens was a powerful magical artefact created by the Sheikah a long time ago where it was used to reveal hidden secrets, and it served an important role when it came to protecting the royal family. " Because you now possess the eye, only you can enter the temple where it will be your one true guide to overcoming the illusions."
" And what about you two?" I asked.
" My sister Flat and I can enter the temple for we are spirits of the dead, but there isn't much we can do. No, you were destined to claim the eye of truth from below the well, and therefore this is a monumental task which lies before you. I don't mean to add anymore pressure onto, but the fate of Hyrule rests on your shoulders," replied Octavia. DJ Pon-3 then made some gestures with her hands which made no sense to me, but what she was doing was a form of sign language which Octavia understood without any problems.
" Flat says that we can aid you inside of the temple, but only in certain places where the light can reach for the darkness has corrupted most of the chambers. Should you have need of our assistance, play the Sun's Song in the rooms of light, and we will appear to offer what assistance we can. Until then, we shall remain here until we can finally resume our rest in peace." I could do with all the help I can get considering what lies within the Shadow Temple, but I didn't really need all of that extra pressure.
" Now you need to play the Nocturne of Shadow," said Spike.
" How did it go again?" I asked.
" Fortunately, I took the liberty of writing it down for you, and because you were taught how to play the Ocarina of Time properly by that scarecrow, you should be able to do well on your first attempt," replied Spike. After he showed me the notes and where on the instrument I needed to play them, I played the Nocturne of Shadow where I disappeared into a ball of purple light, and in the next instant found myself on the high ledge which I couldn't reach from below.
" We didn't go quite as far as I expected plus it feels kind of cheesy that we couldn't just climb up here," I said.
" The Sage Altar was located on a ledge that was too high for you to reach through normal means, and Sheik obviously knew that which is why she taught you that song so you could get up here. Down those stairs lies the entrance to the Shadow Temple, and you know that things will be challenging," said Spike.
" Do you think the Royal Composer Sisters can help us out? Also, where do you suppose these rooms of light are?" I asked.
" I have no idea where such rooms will be located, but I suppose we'll find out once we start exploring. As for the sisters, if they believe themselves to be able to provide us with some help, then I suggest that we take it because they have a better understanding of the undead due to being just that," replied Spike.
" Guess we might as well get this started," I said as I began to walk down the stairs where I entered a large room that featured numerous torches all over the place, and at the back was a massive stone door which had the symbol of the Sheikah etched into it. There was also a small raised platform in the center of the room with some strange text surrounding it which I couldn't decipher.
" Shining Armour wasn't kidding when he said there were so many torches that needed to be lit, but I'm curious as to what is up with that platform in the middle." I walked over to it and saw that it was just an ordinary brick platform, but why did it have a barely visible image of the Fire Medallion on it? Did this mean at one time the medallions served a function other than being merely for show? " Are you seeing what I'm seeing on this platform?"
" The image of the Fire Medallion?" asked Spike.
" Yes, so that must mean these medallions in another time and place would have had their own individual powers. It also means that using a strong surge of fire to light all of these torches is the way to go, so Din's Fire is the best way to approach this otherwise my own magic would take too long," I replied.
Taking out the gem which contained the power of Din, I performed the necessary poses to cast the spell, and the resulting impact lit all of the torches causing the stone door to slowly rise up and open the Shadow Temple. Once the door was fully opened, I walked forward where I became immersed in the darkness as though the very light itself had been snuffed out.
" Well, we're inside of the dungeon now, so where do we go from here?" Around the first corner I came across, I had to come to a stop because of being faced with an obstacle pretty early on.
" It looks like you need to use the Longshot in order to pull yourself across this chasm," replied Spike.
" If I had decided to come here in the past, this would be as far as we could get," I said. I pulled out the Longshot and fired it at the Hookshot plate where I flew across the chasm and to the other side where I put it away before facing what looked like some kind of picture of a skull. " I remember seeing those in the Bottom of the Well, and you heard the spirits talking to you when we approached one that warned us of danger below. Do you suppose the spirits will be able to communicate with you here?"
" Most definitely as this is where the spirits of the dead have lingered for centuries. I'm sure to be getting a lot of messages from them although you may be able to hear some yourself given their power is stronger here than it was beneath the well," replied Spike. When I took a single step forward, the sound of a sinister voice began to reverberate within the immediate area, and it frightened me quite a bit as I wasn't expecting it to happen.
" The shadow will yield only to one with the eye of truth, handed down in Kakariko Village!"
" Well, if that isn't a sign that we need the Lens of Truth in order to explore this place then I don't know what is," I said.
" At least we know that the shadow beast can only be seen if you use the lens. Speaking of which, I think this picture is a fake and that you can walk through it, but maybe you should use the lens just to be sure," said Spike. Taking it out and peering into it, the picture instantly disappeared, and the room beyond came into focus. " Since you're going to be using that item extensively in here, you should just keep on your belt for immediate access instead of putting it away somewhere."
" It does feel weird getting to see the truth like this," I commented.
" The Lens of Truth knows all and sees all with the power it contains, but remember that it costs one magic point every second while you use it. Also, I think we forgot to pay a visit to the Potion Shop before coming in here," said Spike. Hearing him say that made me smack myself in the forehead really hard because I completely forgot to do that as I was in a hurry to make my way to the temple.
That means I have nothing to recover my health with, and I know that I'm going to be losing a lot due to the Re-Deads and Gibdos which were no doubt waiting for me further along. " We could quickly run back and get some supplies if you'd like? Or, you can decide to take the risk and go at it with just your wits and weapons."
Looking at Spike for a few moments with a frowned expression on my face, I turned around and crossed back over the chasm before leaving the dungeon as there was no way I was going any further without the means of healing myself. Roughly 15 minutes later, I returned to the same spot as before having gone and made some purchases at the Potion Shop.
" Okay, these three red potions and one green potion should be enough to get us through this place," I said.
" And if you use one of them and have need to capture a fairy in a bottle, you can catch one and replenish your means of healing," said Spike.
" Doesn't it bother you that your own kind are caught and stuffed into such small cramped spaces like bottles?" I asked.
" It's a practice which has been happening to us for centuries, so we're pretty used to it by now. Of course, this only applies to the Healing Fairies whose specialty is to restore the health of those who capture them. My specialty is providing you with advice as well as being a friend and constant companion, so the chances of me being bottled are slim to none," replied Spike.
Knowing that was a relief as I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for his valued assistance. When I walked through the fake picture and into the next area, I saw that there were a number of skulls on top of poles which were surrounding a statue of some kind of bird-like creature. On the other side of another chasm was a locked gate inside the mouth of another statue which looked like the one that spewed out water back in the Bottom of the Well.
There was a sign by the edge of the pit which I believed contained some useful information, so I started to make my way over before I came to a stop due to the booming voice speaking out.
" Make my beak face the Skull of Truth! The alternative is descent into the deep darkness!"
" What do you make of that?" I asked.
" Look how the floor below the statue looks," replied Spike. I looked down at the floor surrounding the statue, and it looked as though it were ready to give way at any moment, but perhaps there was more to it than that. " That must be the statue Sharp told us about where you need to use the Lens of Truth in order to determine which skull the statue's beak needs to face. If you get it wrong, we'll plunge into the darkest depths where death is almost certain, but getting it right should allow us to progress."
Grabbing the lens from my belt and peering through it again, I discovered that not only was the skull closest to the chasm was the real one, but also another picture was fake as there was a door hiding behind it. Grabbing the stone stab which was connected to the statue and keeping the lens activated by holding it with one hand and pushing with the other, I managed to push the statue until its beak was facing the correct skull. This caused all of the skull's heads to light on fire and the gate on the other side of the chasm to open up.
" That gate has opened up the way forward, but there is no way I can jump across this chasm, and there are no Hookshot plates for me to pull myself towards. I think we need to head through that second fake picture, but first I want to read what this sign says," I said. Walking over to it and reading the message, it said that with the power of sacred feet, I could cross the valley of the dead. " Sacred feet? I wouldn't exactly call my feet that, but maybe we can find something that can allow me to cross the chasm without any problem."
" It sounds like a dungeon item is required straight away," suggested Spike.
" Then going in the direction beyond the second fake picture should eventually lead us to it," I said. Walking that way towards the door, I opened it and entered another corridor which ended with another picture, but I had a feeling that it was fake, so I used the Lens of Truth and discovered that the room continued on a lot further. When I made it over to the picture, the booming voice spoke out once again, but this time it said something different.
" One who gains the eye of truth will be able to see what is hidden in the darkness."
" I think we already figured that out," I said.
" Then why bring it up?" asked Spike.
" Maybe it's a hint as to what we need to do further along," I replied. Continuing on through to the next part of the room, I felt rather uneasy as the walls were covered with small skulls that had glowing green eyes. I knew that the Shadow Temple was going to be creepy, but I didn't think that it would do so this early in the exploration.
I felt as though I were being watched given how these skull's glowing eyes felt like they were staring into my soul. As I walked forward a few more steps, the voice boomed out again where it mentioned a fact which I already knew from what others have told me.
" Shadow Temple....here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred...."
" A pretty obvious statement considering I know all about it," I said.
" It's a reminder as to the natural evil that exists throughout this temple," said Spike.
" What is hidden in the darkness....tricks full of ill will....you can't see the way forward..." This message from the booming voice came out of nowhere, but it was a hint that the Lens of Truth can reveal the right path because once again I had reached a dead end. By holding it up to my eye again, I could see the room continues on even further, but there was another fake wall which was covering up a door.
I was compelled to take the door because for some reason I believed something useful was behind it, but then my senses when it comes to exploration need some work. This next room was really small and upon entering it, the door locked itself behind me with iron bars leaving me trapped inside, but at least there were no Re-Deads to be found.
" I'm sensing something in this room," began Spike.
" Which would be?" I asked.
" A dark presence but it's hiding somewhere in the shadows," replied Spike.
" I wonder what it is?" I asked.
" The kind that is able to thrive, and grow strong where darkness is abundant. It's a place where the undead and the demonic are able to move about without fear of the light, and the masses are already increasing in number so long as the shadow beast continues to draw from the recesses of the infinite blackness. Sunset Shimmer....you knew that I still lived, but you lied to yourself to make you want to regress such feelings out of your mind."
" No....you can't be alive!" I said as I stared face-to-face against one whom I believed to be dead. Standing in front of me having since emerged from the shadows was Sunset Demon, the dark side of my personality who was a reminder of what I became when I aspired to gain power in order to become the ruler of Equestria.
I believed that she had been killed after our battle in the Water Temple, but seeing her here was an utter shock. What she said about me pretending that she was gone was true as I always felt that she hadn't been defeated, so my mind made me believe that she was gone forever, and that I could resume my journey.
" Seeing that expression on your face is simply divine," laughed Sunset Demon.
" How did you survive?" I asked.
" I'll admit that my defeat by your hands was real, for I goaded you into transforming into that half-human, half-pony form where you proceeded to beat the living daylights out of me. Knowing that Ganondorf had boxed me into a corner with you becoming a powerful woman whose strength outweighed my own, it made me realize that my own existence hung in the balance," replied Sunset Demon.
She then revealed to me the wounds she sustained during our previous encounter, and I saw that while they had healed, there were hideous scars that remained as a result. The she-demon then walked towards me without lifting a single finger before she began to eye me over for a few moments before walking back to where she started. " I knew that I was going to die, but lucky for me that I used the power from the Element of Magic in order to cheat death."
" Gasp! What did you just say?" I asked.
" You never knew? I'm not surprised given your reaction, but I'll still tell you anyway because I find it all to be so ironic. When you were defeated as me, you were wearing the crown that belonged to Princess Twilight, and while you ended up losing your power, it was able to retain itself inside of my body. Think of it as taking the power from the Element of Magic, and creating it as a backup for me to use.
That crown's magic was one that I could never forget, yet all I have is a weakened version instead of the real thing. Not that it matters mind you as it was still enough for me to be able to survive. By using the element's power, I figured out how to survive, sever my connection with Ganondorf, and become the independent woman that I was before," replied Sunset Demon.
" I never knew that Twilight's element was something you remembered," I said.
" It was a miracle I even managed to use it at all," said Sunset Demon.
" And you used what you gained from her crown in order to return?" I asked.
" The shadow beast brought me here, and I was able to regain my strength although the scars still remain. And so, here we are once again in the same situation we were in last time, but I am no longer blinded by my desire to assume your life. I realize that my own ambitions got in the way of common sense, and for that I decided that a different tactic was needed. Oh I still intend on claiming what's mine, but I think I'm going to have some fun at your own expense. Yes, this is going to be a lot of fun for me," replied Sunset Demon.
I could see the evil glowing in her eyes, but this time it was much different from what it was before. She wasn't as enraged as last time because she knew that it was her anger which caused her defeat, but knowing this meant that my problems regarding her were only to get worse from here. " The locked door won't open until you're finished in this room, and by finished I mean you proving something to me.
" What do I need to prove to you?" I asked.
" You're strong Sunset Shimmer, stronger than you yourself realize, and for that I wish to know just how strong you really are. I'm going to challenge you to a magic duel, or rather several throughout this temple in an attempt to see what kind of power you possess. If you manage to defeat me, then I shall await for your next arrival in a later room, and know that I will not attack you until you reach me.
However, if you end up being beaten by me....well....it means that your life isn't worth taking for my very own, and the undead hordes will devour you to pieces," replied Sunset Demon.
" I take it that losing on purpose is out of the question?" I asked.
" Pretty much, but I hope that you defeat me because it will reinforce my belief that you are strong. While I have no intention of taking you on in a full-fledged fight because that would ensure my defeat, I intend on fighting using a more indirect approach," replied Sunset Demon. Knowing that I had little choice in the matter, I prepared myself to face the she-demon once again, but I couldn't help but think that maybe this was just a pointless thing for her to do.
She knows that I've gotten a little better since our previous battle, and is aware that my transformation will be the end of her even though I can't exactly control it. Is it possible that she can't be defeated because we're inside of the Shadow Temple?
" Why do you want to go through with this?" I asked.
" I want to test your true strength in a more controlled manner," replied Sunset Demon.
" But you'll be destroyed if you carry this through," I said.
" In this temple, the darkness reigns supreme without anything to oppose it, so if I were to be killed by your hands for instance, the evil will just bring me back again although it will take some time for it to go into effect. To put it in more simple terms for you Sunset Shimmer, you can't destroy me no matter what you try to do, so your only hope is to try and survive. Know that I have no intention of making things easy for you just because I'm not being sadistic like before.
Now, let's get this challenge started, so I hope you're ready for my onslaught as this duel is where only our magical skills are allowed to be used. That Master Sword of yours is off-limits, and so is your ability to transfom," said Sunset Demon. Her hands then began to glow red, but then they started to glow with some kind of dark energy which must be the result of the evil radiating throughout the temple. I had to defeat the she-demon again if I am to save Applejack, but this was going to be much harder for me....
To Be Continued.