The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Dungeon Chapter 33 - The Final Stretch

...into the last stretch of the dungeon. Link twisted his staff around in his hand as they rode through the room. The twilight monsters launched themselves at the caravan, a final last-ditch effort to stop their procession from reaching the end gathering before them. Mirum dodged the attacks, still clutching the orb in her arms as she teleported her and her Zol half-steps forward. Dominus's minions appeared once more, keeping at least two minions back at a time.

Endeavor and Journey launched themselves into the fray, next, Endeavor's rapier gleaming as their animal companions corralled monsters into their reach. Link swung his staff, knocking a wave of the creatures back. Mirum shouted over the fighting, "Where's the next door?"

Link looked around, trying to locate the exit. He looked up and saw a series of ledges. He said, "I think it's up."

The Twili turned her Zol around. "Link, watch my back." She started riding up the slope. Link swatted his way through another wave, before chasing after Mirum up the ramp. He heard something coming after them, but then there was a cry as the pursuers were caught between Endeavor's sword and Dominus's magic.

When Mirum rode through the sharp paths, the gaps between the ramps were filled in with Twili magic bridges. When it came time for Link to cross the gaps, he and Epona had to jump them, then turn hard in order to keep from slamming into a wall. So far, the mare was keeping up with Mirum's magic, though both were losing some control over themselves as they progressed.

Epona raced up the hill, throwing stones back as they climbed. Link's staff could reach far enough out across the gaps that he could defeat the monsters before they jumped. And slowly, but surely, they approached the top of the room. It came very close to the ceiling of the entire dungeon.

Below them, the guards appeared through the doorway. They were moving quickly. Endeavor shouted, "Go! We will catch up!"

Link and Mirum went on into the next room. It was a rapid drop down with a series of moving parts. The orb would slow down the platforms for Mirum, but Link and Epona were stuck having to time it right to follow after. Still, Link's staff was effective at clearing the monsters before they reached them. Mirum reached the bottom of the room with her Zol, and turned back to look at Link.

Link and Epona raced down the last ramp. The guards came barreling through the walls. At the top of the room, Dominus and Endeavor came charging in as the monsters turned to follow the glowing key, rushing to get down to the bottom. Both of their horses were more agile than Epona, and their trip was much easier. Not to mention the way was now cleared thanks to Mirum and Link.

The two Twilit summons dropped from several feet up, pushing the guards to the ground. The stone hands shook the ground, and began wrestling with the twilight beasts, trying to get free.

Taking the chance, Mirum dashed through the next door. Link raced after her into the next room while the gap maintained. The light of day shown from across the room through a set of bars where they had entered the temple not long ago. This was the last room before they reached the end. Link dismounted and looked around. There wasn't anything waiting for them.

"What are we supposed to do with this?" Mirum asked, looking at the ground as she hoisted the orb.

Link continued his search as the pressure of their perusing hunters caught up. He was standing the middle of a triangular depression. Three circular depressions surrounded the triangle. Link took a step out of the massive etching. "Mirum, this is the lock."

Mirum sighed as she joined him. "Explain."

"Every temple I've been to before had a key and a decorative lock, with the symbol of that Goddess or Sage that that temple was built for on it," Link answered. "That's key, with the Shadow Sage's symbol on it. And this floor has the same markings on it. This is the lock."

Endeavor rode in, looking over their shoulder. When their turned around, equally pressed as Link had been moments ago, they demanded, "What are you standing around for? There is work to be done! Dominus cannot hold them off forever."

"Right," Mirum replied. She dropped the orb into one of the round depressions. The section began to glow with the bright cyan of the twilight magic. Link picked the orb up as a swarm of twilit keese came streaming down. Mirum said, "Get that into another portion, we'll handle these guys."

Link ducked out of the way of one of the flying fiends. He set the orb down into another depression and watched the floor begin to light around the bright glow. He noticed against the walls where shadows were being casted by the glow. The shadows blocked out certain portions of the runes on the walls, not that Link could read what it said.

As Link set the orb down a second time, Dominus came flying through the doorway with his two minions. The guards came floating in behind him, rushing towards Link.

Without thinking, Link grabbed the orb and flung it into the middle and final groove in the floor. The whole ground began to erupt with light. Mirum leaned over and picked up the orb to protect it, even though the guards had been stunned for a moment by the brilliant light. Behind them, Link heard the door slide open. Mirum rushed through the door, not waiting for her companions.

When the light began to fade, Link looked up at the temple. The challenges were gone, the obstacle course cleared. He could see all the way back to the other end of the dungeon. Long orange bands of magic stretched out from the wall and to the two guards. As the streams of magic began to move, the hands began to get up once more to continue their task. From across the great distance, Link could see the eyes opening on the statue of the Twili ruler.

Dominus urged, "This is the temple's last defense. I suggest we enter the core of the temple quickly."

The horses bolted towards the entrance, real and magical alike, this threat too much for them to abide. But not fast enough. Mirum dropped the orb in surprise. The floor vanished beneath their feet. It was a short fall, mostly jolting the horses more than harming them. Link looked up as the partially see-through floor resealed above them. The guards banged against the magical surface.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief. It was a little ironic that they did, Link thought. While the chase was done, now they had to face whatever was down here beneath the dungeon and in the temple itself.

Endeavor asked, breathing hard, "Why would the Twili plan a temple like that?"

"To keep things in," Dominus answered, still catching his breath. "And to draw things in. We were asked to build a temple, so we built it in our way."

The Drex shook their head. Journey collapsed beside Quicksilver. The black stallion quivered, and let out a short breath. After a moment, Endeavor nodded as they looked across at Link as he caught his breath as well. "I am ready when you are."

Mirum composed herself. "Set."

There were glances between Link and Dominus. Link commented first, "I'm ready."

Dominus bowed deeply, his stamina the last to recover. "Then I suppose we should get going." He turned his Zol around and rode it down the dark path. Mirum kept up with her leader, quick to remount and follow. Link could tell she was ready to get home. He supposed that they all were. This had been no small trial.

Endeavor glanced at Link, before mounting and starting down after the others. Link called, "Wait, Endeavor." The Drex turned back to Link. "What is it that Dominus still has to do?"

Again, the Drex glanced down the path, and then back at Link. "You are about to find out, I believe." They turned Quicksilver and rode down the path. Link looked back up at the ceiling above them where the guards continued to pound the floor in attempts to pursue. But they'd passed the test. The floor won't open again. He climbed back up onto Epona and asked her on...