Episode 9
The Second Relic-The Battle with Omega!

The rain began to calm down as Link wobbled to his friends. Jabrow and Deity both stood with stunned glares, while Toray kept an emotionless face. A small smile crossed Link’s face as the group’s look of confusion settled. Garibal’s hand twitched from under the rubble, but with the injury from Link’s attack, Garibal wouldn’t be able to move for a while.

“Well, now that that’s over, I think it’s time to get the sprite and wake Lena up!” Link said to break the silence. Link then limped over to the ruins of the royal gravestone. He charged his hands up, and placed them on Garibal’s lifeless head. After a few seconds, the Sprite floated out of Garibal’s mouth, and flew over to the statue of Ascension.

“So…that means that we have all five Dragon Sprites!” Jabrow said, with a chuckle at the end.

“Link! Lena’s all right! She’s regaining consciousness!” Toray explained, fanning Lena’s face. Lena squirmed around after a few minutes, moaning from the aftershock of Garibal’s attack.

“Brother…mother…father…please…” She moaned as her head turned.

“ Lena…don’t worry, you’re just having a bad dream,” Jabrow said as he kneeled by Lena, and stroked her forehead. His usual tough face was absent, replaced by the face of a man who had a genuine care for this girl’s life. His sharp eyes were now friendly as her held Lena’s head.

“Hold up! What’s going on between you and Lena?” Link asked, slightly stunned by Jabrow’s actions.

“Oh, it’s nothing, I’m just…comforting a friend…” Jabrow said.

“Yeah, right,” Link said, sarcastically.

“Brother…please…help…me…pl…ea…se…” Lena moaned. As she finished, her eyes began to flutter open, as she glanced around the area.

“So, you awake?” Jabrow asked, almost teasingly.

“Yeah, what happened?” Lena asked as she sat up from her spot. She stood, but nearly collapsed as she stood. She regained her balance and glanced around the graveyard. Her eyes widened as she saw the numerous broken head stones, and she made an odd squealing noise when she saw Garibal’s unconscious body.

“Yeah, there was a skirmish…” Link grunted.

“Well, I should get to healing!” Lena said, her energy returning. She started by Placing her hands on Link’s wounds. The moment she touched, the wounds cleared, and the pain faded. After a few seconds, Link felt as good as new, if not better. She then rushed to Garibal’s side, and after a much longer time, Garibal was on his feet, and rubbing the back of his neck.

“Wow, she’s good!” Garibal joked. Toray didn’t laugh, instead he began to stride to Garibal’s spot. He stood in front of Garibal, wearing the same look he did they day he saw him in Zelda’s private wing. Garibal’s face changed from that of a joker, to that of a man who must face his judgment. Toray stood silent for a matter of minutes, so Garibal broke the silence.

“Toray…what’s up?” Garibal stated sheepishly, but the moment Garibal released those words, Toray struck Garibal in his face with a powerful punch. Garibal teetered on one leg, and when he regained his balance, he held his cheek as he stared at his brother.

Link, who stood on near the two, stood in awe. In all the years he fought against Ganondorf, Donovan, Mardan, and even Deity, he had never been in an area with such an intense feel. The fierce look in Toray’s eyes gave a ghostly feeling, so thick, Link swore he could feel it.

“Garibal…you have no right to ever speak to me,” Toray said, his voice very scratchy, and his fist shaking, “Our rotten father never told you about mom? Well, no, he never told you the truth! When you left, she was dying! She died from a disease our father caused! He poisoned her, so that he could return to Palis and say that he never had relations with a Hylian! The only reason that he took you was because you were always the smart one, so you could have created an antidote, and for the fact that you look much more Palinon than Hylian!”

“Brother…I had no choice…” Garibal stuttered.

“You had all the choice, but you chose power over life! You rather be in the company of a murderous demon than our own mother, who you would’ve saved! Don’t you dare try and say that you had no choice!” Toray growled, lowering his head so that his eyes were covered. Garibal slowly moved his hand from his face, showing the reddened area left from Toray’s punch. Instead of wincing, his face became more serious, his eyes narrowed, as if trying to show his professionalism to his brother.

“Toray, I know that I could have stayed…but mother really never knew me as well as she knew you. I was always out with father, while he showed me off as his Palinon son…Yeah, I’ll admit, I loved the attention, but I would have loved it more if he could have included you, as well as care for our mother…some Noble man he was…” Garibal explained.

“Knew me better? That’s the dumbest comment you’ve made! Yeah, I was around her more, but she loved us the same! In fact, she died yelling your name!” Toray yelled. His head jolted up while he said that, looking his brother in the eyes. Link gasped as he saw tears streaming down Toray’s face. In all the years he had known Toray, Toray had never cried, not once. Garibal’s eyes widened as large as they could get, showing his shock in Toray’s comment. Toray, torn from his first show of emotion in the longest, fell to his knees in tears, repeating the words, “She died yelling your name…”

“My…Godessess…” Garibal stuttered, lowering himself to Toray. He placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder, trying to calm him. “Toray…I didn’t know…I’m…so sorry…I can’t believe that I couldn’t see it!”

“You would have been able to…If you only would have opened your eyes! If you would have woke up to our father’s plot, then you would have stayed!” Toray muttered.

“Well, if it means anything…I’m awake now,” Garibal said, “ I know that apologizing now…would mean nothing to you…instead…I’ll show you something! The only way that I can show how much I apologize for me and father…is to denounce the throne.”

“No! You’re right about your apology meaning nothing, but there is one thing you can do! You can remember our mother, and her dream. Do you remember what her dream was?” Toray yelled, his tears finally dry.

“No, what was the dream of the World’s Strongest Woman?” Garibal asked.

“She dreamed that, even in her death, she wanted to be the one who could watch over the end of the Hylian-Palinon standoff! I want both of us to give her that!” Toray said.

“Well, I guess, that I cannot do that by denouncing the throne. If you look at it, me marring Zelda, and you keeping the peace here, has already begun her dream,” Garibal said with a smile.

“Yeah, then let’s finish it, as brothers…” Toray said, looking up at Garibal with a smile.

A grin passed over link’s face as he saw the end of the brotherly standoff. Toray and Garibal stood, and for the first time, the tension between the two was diminished.

“Link, all this never would have happened if you wouldn’t have fought Garibal, and shown Garibal’s reason for fighting. That opened Toray’s eyes to Garibal’s intentions, and allowed him to forgive Garibal. Even when you don’t realize it, you seem to make everyone’s lives better, day by day,” Deity said, “You even allowed me to see that Garibal is worthy of protecting Zelda.”

“Yeah…but Deity I want you to remember one thing. Even if you don’t ever end up with Zelda, you can still show your love for her…by defending her,” Link stated.

“Don’t worry, I will!” Deity explained.

“Hey…Link, have you collected all five sprites?” Lena asked, after she got finished recovering the graveyard.

“Yeah, but, well, I heard that you could die from the spell,” Link said.

“Lena, if it’s that dangerous, I don’t want you doing it,” Jabrow said sternly.

“Listen, you guys, I knew what this spell could do when I first told you about it! I know that I could die from it, but at least I could be known as a woman who helped save the world! Besides, I want to do this for all of my family, who died in vain. This is the only way that I can honor their deaths…So if you plan to try and stop me, then go on!” Lena yelled. Link lowered his head.

“Even though I hate people when they throw their lives away, I think that you are too strong to die that way. So, let’s get ready!” Link said, a grin beginning to cross his face. He then lifted his cap off his head, and the other four sprites joined Garibal’s sprite on the Ascension statue. Toray, Deity, Garibal, Jabrow, and Link all crowded around the statue as it began to pulse blue.

“Link, before Lena casts the spell…I wanna know one thing. Why doesn’t that damned cap ever fall off your head!” Toray exclaimed, causing everyone to laugh. Once again, Toray was lightening the mood, “Man, I can’t believe that I get to ride on the dragon the Link used! And, I get to fight a freaking God of Darkness! Man, isn’t life great?!” Toray said with mock enthusiasm.

Lena then pushed past everyone, and stood in front of the statue. Everyone else backed up, and watched as the spell began. Lena started by chanting some weird, foreign language, then she began to glow and pulse blue. The pulses of both the statue and Lena slowly synchronized, and when that happened, Lena began to move from side to side. An odd, eerie music began to flow from no where, a music that sounded like the hum of the goddesses. Lena’s movement sped and became more fluid, to the point where she was spinning and dancing around the statue. The pulsing lights began to blink faster and fast, as the music of the goddesses grew thicker and louder. Lena then stopped in the middle of a spin, and turned to face the statue on one leg. The pulsing then stopped, being replaced by a steady flow of blue light. The blue light grew brighter and brighter, and when the light became almost unbearable, Lena began to rise from the ground. He body floated several feet above the ground, her body resembling a cross. The ground began to shake, and thunder clapped louder and louder. Huge bolts of energy struck around the graveyard, some nearly hitting the group. The wind began to increase, all of it meeting where Lena hovered. As everything intensified, Link heard a distanced mumbling.

“Bring life to one who waits…Use my life to restore another…” Link heard. As soon as that chant was done, everything stopped, almost as if Time had stopped. Link glanced around, looking around the grave yard. Suddenly a thunderous roar echoed across Hyrule. Link glanced high in the sky, looking through the thick layer of clouds. Suddenly, the clouds began to tear, opening up a window to the blue sky. Another roar thundered from the sky, and when the roar was done, Lena’s body fell to the ground, lifeless. Link looked down at Lena thinking that she had died, but, using the last of her strength, she pointed to the puncture in the heavens. Suddenly, another roar came, but this one was followed by the sight of a large, blue serpent like creature. It raced to the ground, it’s arms and legs becoming visible. Link could see it’s blue scales, and it’s black horns. Link could even see the liquid hairs on the side of the creature. The as the creature neared land, it slowed, allowing everyone to feast their eyes on the powerful creature. Ascension, the legendary water dragon, had finally been awakened.

Ascension laid its head on the ground, near Link. Link and a hand over the Dragon’s head, giving the dragon a warm smile. Ascension growled gently, and closed its eyes, glad to be around his master again. Link then remembered Lena, and ran to her side. Jabrow was trying to wake her up, but nothing could get through to her.
“Lena! Wake up! Please! LENA!” Jabrow yelled. He held her in his arms, hoping that she would open her eyes. Suddenly, Ascension brought one of his horns down to Lena, and when the horn touched, a flash of light covered the area. Lena’s eyes then flickered open again.

“Wow…I survived…Jabrow, I seem to be waking up in your arms a lot lately,” Lena said, weakly, “Hey, don’t worry about me though. Go on, you got ascension back. Now go fight that God of Darkness!” Lena said. Jabrow stood, carrying Lena. Garibal took Lena from Jabrow, and gave him a nod. Jabrow clenched his fist, showing that he understood. Link, Deity, Toray, and Jabrow all climbed onto Ascension’s back, and Looked back at Garibal and Lena.

“Hey Lena! When I come back, there’s something very important I have to tell you!” Jabrow yelled. And with that Link pushed forward on Ascension’s horn, and Ascension took of with a roar. The group all clung for dear life as the sped to the sky. Link smiled as he raced towards the sky, and when they crossed over the clouds in the sky, Memories of when Link’s old master, Master Chong , told him about Sky Temple flooded his mind. Link remembered his master’s description of the castle.

“The land of Hyrule’s greatest secret, a huge crystal palace that sits over the lands as if it over sees it. A place where the energy of all the Deities and Goddesses collected inside the beautiful walls. But, to be fooled by the beauty of the majestic specter would be your undoing, for a great malevolent entity lived within the walls of the Holy Sanctum. The Item, which is not living, nor dead, can be used by those whose heart is not pure. Within that castle lies…the second relic,” Master Chong had said, years ago. Link found out that the second relic was the fable Dark Triforce, the item that Donovan had risked his life to obtain. Link laughed as the dragon stopped at a certain height, and a huge Island could be seen in the sky. Ascension floated to the island, and landed. Link leapt off the dragon, and looked at the huge palace that sat on the floating island.

“So, this it!” Toray said when he joined Link. The entire group could only stare at the palace. The walls sparkled from the glow of the sun, the entire outer walls of the castle were made of diamond. Huge spires and wings lifted from the structure, reaching even higher than space. Sacramental carvings could be seen on the walls and on the front gate. Link and the group stepped towards the huge castle, and opened the front gate. As Link stepped through, a huge rush of wind exited, as well as a feeling of darkness.

“The Sky Temple…A Crystal Palace, dwelled by a great malevolent entity…the second relic…the Dark Triforce…” Link mumbled as he stepped through the large front gate.

Inside was almost as beautiful as the outside. The floor was covered in a beautiful blue plush carpet, which stretched towards the almost infinite end of the hall. Huge oil paintings covered the walls, as well as decorative torches which gave a warm glow. Huge golden chandeliers hung over the huge hall, all of them having candles that burned without melting any wax.

Link looked around the hall, seeing if there was a specific direction that they should go. There were markers, but Link couldn’t read them, for they were marked in an odd language.

“We should go straight. The Relic Sanctum is straight ahead, at the end of this great hall,” Deity informed, “I can read these markers. They’re an old Hyrulian text.”

“Oh, all right. Well, let’s go forward. We haven’t any time to waste!” Jabrow said, and walked in front of the group. The entire party began to stride down the great hall, take in the sight of the palace.

“Link, look up!” Toray blurted, pointing at the ceiling. There was a peculiar carving, one of an immense marble knight, and a dog like creature on its leash.

“Toray, you know, curiosity killed the cat!” Deity said, to get under Toray’s skin.

“Yeah, but the cat has nine lives!” Toray said, giving a sly smile afterwards.

“Let’s get going,” Jabrow said sternly. Toray shrugged, and began to follow the group. Toray sighed, but as soon as he stopped, something fell on his shoulder. Toray looked to see a piece of rubble, but he brushed it off and began to walk again, but when he took a step, even more fell. Toray began to get aggravated, so he looked at the ceiling. Suddenly, the look of anger was replaced by a look of awe. The statue on the ceiling began to move, first with the wiggling of the huge knight’s dog, then with the shaking of the knight’s arm.

“Everyone! Move forward now!” Toray yelled. The whole group jumped forward, in time for the Knight to fall from the ceiling. The marble stone knight and his dog began to change colors, changing from the lustrous tan to a polished, jet black. Link reached for his blade, thinking that this immense Giant was too much for one person to handle.

>Who is this that disturbs the Great Palace of the Stars?< The voice was odd. It was heard, but almost not. It was like the monster was communicating right past speech, and past telepathy, but directly to their souls.

“I am Link, and I’m here to stop Haku!” Link said bravely.

>Well, I was created to keep unworthy creatures from entering the Relic Sanctum…either you can turn around, or you can be crushed, one by one! I am Omega, the definition of true power! The Celestial Relic Guard!, and this is my companion, Alpha!< The Knight spoke. Link drew his sword.

“Link, put the sword away!” Toray yelled.

“What are you planning?” Link asked, utterly bewildered.

“Well, he said he wanted to crush you one by one, and I feel obligated to fight him
first!” Toray said, almost bitterly.

“You’ve lost your mind,” Deity said. If Deity had pupils, he would roll his eyes.

“No, I’m perfectly sane…I need to fight for my honor! Look, back in Hyrule, you all had hard, intense fights…but all I had was the world’s weakest Gerudo!” Toray said, “ I think I deserve this fight!”

“I say let him!” Jabrow said, agreeing with Toray.

“Yeah, I’ll take him on, so don’t interfere!” Toray declared.
Toray stepped forward, grasping the axe-hammer off of his back. Omega growled slightly, as if trying to intimidate Toray. Toray merely smirked, and began to glance at his blade.

“Y’know, Omega, this weapon’s handle is about the same as Link’s sword…which means that I won’t be able to hold it for a long time…” Toray began to remove his right glove, “I’m gonna show you something that Link hasn’t even seen,” The gloves fell to the floor. Toray’s hand was fine, except for the weird growth on his thumb. It looked as if someone had crushed the middle of Toray’s hand. “A long time ago, Link went around the entire country, trying to get me a sword that worked. This is the reason. This bone defect makes it to where I can never hold a normal sword or shield, so Link retrieved and gave me the Guardian Blade and Armor. The Guardian blade changes to suit it’s user, so it after three years, it became the Helix blade, a weapon of supreme magic energy. Just think, that Link nearly died to help me accomplish my dream…Link’s the invincible! You don’t have the right to call yourself the definition of power!” Toray yelled. He then tried to grasp the weapon. “oh yes…I would like to call this weapon…the Star Splitter!” And with that Toray wrapped his hand fully around the handle. His face cringed with pain as the growth shifted, and started to throb, slightly. Toray winced, trying to overcome the pain. He then looked at Omega, and lifted the Star Splitter into the air, holding the axe end out in front of him.

Omega rushed swung the chain that connected Alpha to him. Alpha barked loudly, and began to gallop towards Toray. Toray leapt in the air, a move that took some work while carrying such a heavy weapon. Alpha ran under Toray, and when Toray landed on the enormous dog’s back, the Alpha began to buck back and forth. Toray dug the axe end of he Star Splitter into the neck of Alpha, and Alpha fell on it’s side, whining uncontrollably.

“Yeah…Your dog is incredibly weak…” Toray said cockily. Omega walked toward the dog, and in a surprising move, dug his fist into the dog’s skull. Alpha’s whining began to die, as the hot breath of the dog faded away. Toray glared at Omega, and tightened his grip on the Star Splitter, ignoring the pain. “There was no point in killing him! You monster!”

>Well, if you say that there is no point, then you are a hypocrite! What do you think happens in battle!? Commanding Officers send their troops into battle, knowing that they will more-than-likely die! And, when a warrior is down on the field, you dirty Hylians take their lives away! It’s moments like those that created me! I am no more then the perfect Hylian! The only reason I came out evil is because the evils of war is the path that Hylian evolution decided to take!< Omega said. Toray began to tremble in anger.

“People aren’t ruled by the evils of war! They are driven by the glory of success!” Toray yelled. Omega pounded his fist together, and Toray began to run towards Omega.

Omega pounded his fist into the ground, sending a shock through the floor. Toray jumped before the shot, but was swatted to the ground by Omega’s follow up attack. Toray rose immediately, and ran even faster at Omega. Omega tried the same tactic, but this time, Toray blocked it with the Star Splitter. He then used the hammer edge to crush one of Omega’s left fingers. Omega roared in pain, then began to pound wildly after Toray. Toray dodged each shot easily, and a slight smirk began to cross his face. Omega then dove after Toray, and Toray did a back flip while holding the Star Splitter. Toray then brought the Star Splitter behind his back, charging the weapon with red energy. The whole hall darkened as energy began to charge around the weapon. A fait hum occurred when the weapon was covered in energy, and Toray began to laugh. Toray then spun around, realizing the weapon in mid swing. The weapon twirled towards Omega, and when Omega realized what had happened, the Star Splitter had cut and hammered it’s way through him. Omega fell to the ground, and was engulfed by a blue flame. After a matter of seconds, Omega’s body had completely dissolved.

“See…I’m right…” Toray panted. Toray then paced over to the Star Splitter, which was lodged in the wall. He lugged it out, and when the Star Slitter was free, many cracks began t show up on the wall. The cracks, coincidentally, formed into three triangles, two on the bottom, and one on top, with a forth one in the middle pointing down. Toray smirked, looking at the odd wall marking. “Hey, look! It’s the Triforce!”

Link strode to Toray’s spot, and bowed his head down, “Hey, if I’m correct, then we’re only a heartbeat away from facing off against the God of Darkness. We should pray now…it may be our last chance,” Link said, sighing. Everyone bowed their heads down, and began to mumble a prayer.

“Goddesses up high,
Light pierce through the sky,
Protect from fire and ice
Give us days, sunny and nice,
We thank you for your love
For our friends, and the white dove,
I pray to thee, to cleanse my soul
I give thanks to thee, and dig me from the hole,”
Link then rose to his feet, and turned. As everyone else finished, they began to follow, except for Jabrow. Jabrow stayed behind, staring at the Triforce crack. When Link and the rest were out of view, he began to pace in front of the Triforce.

“Well, this is odd…I, the proud Jabrow, am afraid…who knew. I’m sure you did, that’s your job. You protect everyone, and you forgive those who wish to be saved, and yet…I have never took the time to tell you what my heart says…” Jabrow began, talking to nothing. Link, who had stopped when he noticed that Jabrow was gone, walked back, but when he saw Jabrow, he stopped and stared.
“My heart…has known that you have a lot to worry about, but I can’t help but hate you! What kind of goddesses are you! You say that under you, we can all live in peace, and that you protect us from suffering! Well, what about those soldiers whose blood is split for a couple of miles of land! What about all the mothers and fathers dying to disease and starvation, because of the power of a rupee?! What about children left orphaned because of thieves and terrorist killing people for no reason?! This all happens every day, and yet, your teachings don’t save anyone! People are no longer looking towards you, yet they look to money! What have you done to bring them back!? You wanna protect somebody…Then there should be no reason for fighting, or war! If you are so good at protecting people…the why does Lena and Sadie have to live in torment?!” Jabrow then, clenched his fists and punched the Triforce on the wall. Link looked on in confusion, wondering who Sadie was. Jabrow then reached inside his shirt, and pulled out a medallion. He clenched it in his fists, and began yelling again,
“Lena had been condemned to walking the streets of Palis, crying everyday! She has no family, she has few friends…she has nothing to live for! A woman like her shouldn’t have to worry about throwing her life away, or about making spells that wear away at her own body. Why…did you have to hide the truth…And what about Sadie! Why do you make it so hard on her! She’s been punished her entire life! If you truly the Goddesses that you say you are, then save them!” Jabrow yelled. His eyes were shining, as if tears were collecting in his eyes. Link finally stepped forward, to get Jabrow to continue.
“Jabrow!” Link yelled. Jabrow turned at Link, giving an embarrassed look
“Link…did you hear what i…”
“Every word,”
“But I thought that you had,”
“Nope, I was standing right there,” Link said. Jabrow gave an annoyed look. “So, Jabrow, I know who Lena is…who’s Sadie?” Link asked.
“Well, she’s known in my hometown as the Bremen Girl. I bet you two will cross paths some day…” Jabrow said, “I really hope that you do.”
“Who knows…we may, or may not!” Link said, “If we don’t get going, then we won’t.” And with that, the two turned and caught up with Toray and Deity. Everyone stood in front of a large door, one with many strange markings. Link stepped ahead of the group. As his hand crept closer and closer to the handle of the door, memories and echoes of every word he had ever heard since the beginning of his adventure began to flood his mind. He heard the countless quotes from his master, to Garibal, to Jabrow, and even from Zelda. As he began to open the door, his erased his mind, and set his sights on the looming, inevitable battle. With one final gasp, he focused himself of Haku, the God of Darkness.