The Legend of Zelda: The Regal Flame

Chapter 19: Gohma And A Nightmarish Town

     Link stood frozen in place, but not because he was really afraid that the gohma would hurt the hostages. As long as he remained still, the blins would lay off him, giving him time to think everything through.

     He glanced around, analyzing the room for any advantages. He looked up at Gohma. She seemed restless, eager to be released, constantly fidgeting and hissing. He knew she was going to be fast. But would that mean she would be strong? She wouldn't need to be if her speed enabled her to immobilize him with spider silk before he could even reach her.

     So, how could he get close enough to her without getting wrapped in a cocoon? He noted the obstacles around the room. Torches, branches, and even the bulblins standing about. Suddenly, these weren't obstacles, but refuge. Now the only thing he needed to figure out was how to keep her from harming the hostages.

     They were all blindfolded, except the fairies, who appeared to be in a daze. Perhaps some sort of spell was to blame. He didn't want harm to come to them, but if he drew the monsters off of them, he'd probably end up surrounded, like before. But that was caused by a different reason. That's when he got an idea.

     His hand slowly made it's way around the handle of his seed shooter, while his eyes locked on the bulblin at Gohma's cage. It too, kept it's eyes on Link, waiting for the slightest sudden movement to set the giant spider loose. Then, in an instant, he whipped out the shooter, aimed, and spent the last few seeds on his target. Subsequently, the bulbin cut the rope to the cage door, a second before the seeds made contact with his head, and knocked him from his post.

     Gohma dropped for an instant, but caught herself with her strong silk, redirecting her focus to the smell of the seeds. Her attention was taken for a moment, and Link didn't want to waste this chance, as his seed shooter was fresh out of distractions. He immediately turned to another bulblin who had reached him by now. Before he could get the first hit in, Link whacked him with the flat of his blade. He did the same to a second, leaving them as dazed game for Gohma.

     Dodging the arrows that the remaining bulblin was shooting at him, he made his way up a root to higher ground. So far so good, he thought to himself, as Gohma took up the bread crumb trail he left her.

     It was difficult avoiding the arrows while trying to navigate the uneven terrain, but he managed to make his way to the last blin. It kept backing up in panic, desperately trying to keep enough distance to shoot at him, but he ducked under the last arrow, and past him assailant. Before the bulblin had realized where it's target had gone, Link had to only shove it slightly off balance with his foot, and it plummeted downward, tumbling right into the fangs of Gohma.

     But Link didn't keep to his refuge. He charged at her, while she remain occupied. While she realized just in time his approach, he held up his shield as she began to charge, allowing her no option but to smack right into the hard surface. Then he delivered a blow not strong enough to damage her tough skin, but enough to knock her from the root they stood on, her limp legs not capable of keep her balance.

     He watched as she fell to the ground, and land on her back. Just what he was hoping for. He quickly followed after her, his blade pointed down, piercing her soft, vulnerable underbelly with the impact of the landing. Her violent hissing faded, and he quickly recovered his sword, as her legs curled up inwardly.

     Link released a sigh of relief, then rushed to the group of hostages. He quickly found Birch, but when he removed his blindfold, the boy didn't seem completely conscious.

     "Birch? Birch, can you hear me?" he asked repeatedly, "Wake up it's me, Link!"

     It took some effort, but finally, Birch responded. "L-... Link?"