CHAPTER 6: PART 8
The barge that set off for Castle Island was pretty small. In fact, it seemed to be the smallest barge Ness had ever seen.
Mila: well don’t just stand there gawking, hop aboard!
Ness: yeah…are you sure we’ll all fit?
Mila: I’m sure I’m sure. But only just, it will get a little bit squashy. But the King of Hyrule could turn into a boat and sail alongside us…that would make a bit more room.
Y. Link: you heard her! Make like a boat!
King: you disrespectful little schnook!
Link: yeah, you disrespectful little…
Y. Link: oh, shut up, ya fat poe…
Paula: OH NO YOU DON’T!! IF I HEAR THE WORDS “FAT” AND “POE” IN CONJUNCTION WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR, I WILL FLIP!!
Poo: calming yourself down…
Shiek: yeah, take a pill.
Mila: er-HEM! In case you haven’t noticed, we are ready to leave now!
Jeff: yeah, let’s all get aboard.
On board the barge, things started to get squishy. It would probably be illegal to call it a barge because it actually had only about four rooms in total. And they were tiny.
Gannondorf: and I bet the food will be just awful…
Mila: well it’s better than scrounging from a bin. But only by a bit.
There was a groan from everyone on board.
Ness: oh, well…good thing I still have some PIGGY JELLY! CHOW TIME!
Paula: mmm!
Fox: um…Ness…the last time you took that stuff out, it transformed into Edward Hemorrhoid. One of our most powerful enemies yet. How do we know we can trust that stuff?
Ness: well back then we were still in Ridley’s horror world. I think we won’t have to worry about that anymore.
G&W: but how do you think it’s possible that Edward Hemorrhoid is able to exist now that Ridley is dead…again?
Ness: I really don’t know…I think that Edward Hemorrhoid might just be a very powerful dimension traveler who can use “Festy objects” such as vomit as warp gates! This would explain the way he can appear whenever Pokey vomits.
Fox: I guess that just means that your piggy jelly is FESTY!!! EWWWWW!!
Everyone except Ness: EEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
Ness: (looking guilty) well…it DOES tasty a little bit foul…but..er…IT’S REALLY GOOD FOR YOU!! SO BOG IN!
Paula: actually, Ness…I think we should destroy that jelly. If you ate it and Edward Hemorrhoid teleported into your stomach…
Ness pitched the piggy jelly out the window. Everyone clapped at his quick thinking.
Captain: oi! Oi! Oi!! Not so much noise, will yer? If you’re going to make any noise, then SING IT!
Everyone: EYE EYE, CAPTAIN!!
Rawk Berry: dooooOOOUIAUU!!
Captain: what in tarnation was that?
Ness: ignore it.
Y. Link: (dressed in his crawfish pajamas) ENOUGH CHAT, LET’S SIIIING!!
_______++++++++________
Y. LINK’S SEA SHANTY.
Here we go saiiiiileing,
Saling on the boun-cy waaaaves.
All our arms are Flaaaaailing,
As we sing like knaves!!
The sky is blue, the sea is blue, the boat is green and I am too.
We’re not gonna stop until our faces match the huuuuuuuee….
O-of the Bibbel-de Bobbel-de Sea! All on the Bibbel-de Bobbel-de sea!!
Out on the sea it’s raaaaaaining,
It’s p*ssing down in major droves,
We’re so wet we’re paaaaining,
‘Cos there’s a hole in the roof! (Oops, that didn’t rhyme…)
This song we sing, is really bull, I made it up, I’m such a tool,
Oh my gawd, we must look like fooooooools….
Out on the Bibbel-de Bobbel-de sea! All on the Bibbel-de bobbel-de sea!!
########(((((((()))))))))#######
Ness realized that the now waist-high confetti was making it slightly difficult to dance. Suddenly, reality flooded back to him as he quickly discarded the fandango costume and put on his old clothes.
Fox: jeez, that was embarrassing…I hope no-one else saw that…
Y. Link: no-one but the seagulls.
Fox: (taking out blaster and firing it out the window) DIE, SEAGULLS!
Gannondorf: gracious! These skimpy stockings really don’t do my legs justice!
Everyone: (disgusted) OH FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!! CHANGE!!!!
Gannondorf: you don’t need to tell me…
Link looked across at Young Link, who’s golden hair was now fluffing out as it should do.
Link: put your clothes on!
Y. Link: I have. I’m using my special costume.
Link: you’re in your crawfish jammies!
Y. Link: I’m in a special outfit that only the honest can see!
Link: oh? Um…yeah! Yeah, it looks good on you…
Y. Link: HAH! YOU FOOL! I’M IN MY CRAWFISH JAMMIES!
Link: DOI!
Rawk berry: aAUu!!
Y. Link: I got fooled to when grandma gave me my “special outfit” but she’s a senile old crab, and I should have known better.
Tetra: hey! That’s no way to talk about your granny!
Gannondorf: SSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIiIIILLLENCE!!!!!
Everyone was silent for a few seconds as they looked at Gannondorf.
Shiek: shut yoa hole, you @#$%
Link + Y. Link: YA FA…
Paula: -_0+
Link + Y. Link: er…you rotund ghoul!
Paula: ^_^
Gannondorf: I’ll have you know that I could destroy the lot of you, right now if I wanted to…
Ness: actually, you wouldn’t stand a chance if we all ganged up on you…
Gannondorf: dam…
Captain: Heat Cliffe Island er-hoooyy!!
Y. Link: Heat Cliffe Istland?
Mila: you probably haven’t heard of it. It’s where all good metals are mined from. However, there is a tribe of darknuts who live here…Cadbury’s tribe…and at night, it’s used by native poes to hold their rituals. I, however, have never seen a poe.
Y. Link: phat!
Paula: NEEEAAARGH!!!
Y. Link: I mean…choice!!
Paula: oh, I thought you meant tubby sort of fat…as in fat poe.
Everyone else: NEEEEAAAARGH!!!!!!!
Paula: eek!
Mila: well, I’m also not allowed out at night to see them. But Cadbury tells me that it’s really something to behold! I’m going to sneak out and watch them tonight!
G&W: is that really a good idea?
Link: poes are dangerous!
Mila: I’m not going to go near them, just watch from a distance.
Fox: hey! Let’s go with her! This’ll be fun!
Ness: yeah! I’d really like to see a poe ritual.
Captain: EVERYONE OFF! OFF I SAY!
Everyone was propelled off the barge with much force. It was raining and they all ran to the cover of some shelters that had been set up on a hill.
Mila: it’s here that I help the team of diggers mine for gold by cooking food.
Y. Link: aah, I wondered what you did.
The rain suddenly stopped.
Bug burly dude: hello Mila! Did you bring some friends?
Mila: yes Fred. They’re here to look for some treasure. Don’t worry, they won’t get in the way.
Fred: good. Make yourselves at home, ya all.
Gannondorf: oh great. (hangs up a cobweb)
Fred: I hear you’re planning on going out tonight and seeing the poes, Mila?
Mila: Yes! I am and nobody’s going to stop me.
Fred: well…I’ll just let you know, you’re allowed as long as someone goes with you.
Mila: all my friends are great fighters and I’m sure I’ll be fine.
Fred turned to Ness and Co.
Fred: good on ya! She’s been nagging us for ages. But all us workers have been too scared to go with her. I’ll let ya know, she’s one tough cookie.
The big man walked off and Mila turned to Ness.
Mila: come on! All of you follow me, I’ll show you where it is. We won’t be long.
Y. Link: I’ll pass, me and King are going out to sea to get this place registered on my map.
As Mila and the Ness bunch ran off into the darkness, Young Link walked out to the quiet sea. He had a distinct feeling that something wasn’t right.
@##$%@#$^^
After a few hours out at sea, Young Link had managed to get the island mapped from a very abusive fish, who demanded a hefty amount of rupees for his trouble.
Grumbling about the slimy thief, the hero of winds returned to the miner’s camp sight to see Fred and a few other workers looking hungry.
Y. Link: hey, where is everyone?
Fred: they haven’t returned yet. I hope something hasn’t happened…I mean…that means no soup for us!
Young Link got a gut feeling that he should go and check on them. After a quick inquiry as to where the poes held their ceremonies, he walked off into the darkness of the night.
After a while of walking around, Young Link heard familiar voices. The first voice sounded like Fox talking. Young Link smiled. Apparently they were O.K.
A second voice spoke. That had to be Ness…but there was something different about it…it had a bit more of a jeer to it…
Young Link felt slightly suspicious.
Then a third voice sounded. An absolutely posh, stupid, demented, deformed sort of voice that wiped all the hope out of Young Link’s heart.
It was Specll, Pokey and Edward Hemorrhoid.
Young Link sidled up against a broken wall and stared out at the field where the voices were coming from.
Down in the valley there was a fire lit. Specll was standing next to the fire and crooning into a dark sphere.
Young Link strained his ears to hear what the fox was saying.
Specll: oh Fox…this could have been avoided, but you disregarded my instructions as you always have done. But don’t worry brother…you’re not going to die.
Pokey: nah…he’s just going to spend the rest of his life inside a little black globe. That’s worse than…
Specll: shut up.
Pokey: …
Young Link could hear angry voices coming from inside the dark sphere. He scanned the valley quickly with his eyes.
There were poe lanterns lying all over the ground as if a massacre had taken place.
Specll was now talking in a cruel, malicious tone.
Specll: as for you…Ness…I believe an old friend of yours is probably laughing now…let’s not hang around any longer…hahaha…get us out of here, Eddie.
Fox’s half brother placed the dark ball onto the ground and walked away from it.
Specll: there you lie, for the rest of eternity. Adios, brother…I’ll miss you.
Po0F! Specll, Pokey, and Edward disappeared in a cloud of fairy dust. Young Link screamed and ran over to the dark globe. But it was too late.
Y. Link: No! How could I have been so stupid!? I should have attacked them!
???: no you shouldn’t have, they’d have just caught you as well.
Young Link turned to see Mila hiding under a fern. A smile lit up his face as a little bit of his hope returned.
The girl walked out and stood in front of him. She had a grave expression on her face.
Mila: th…those evil people attacked suddenly, without warning. They got most of the poes first…I don’t know why…just for the fun of it, I suppose…we tried to fight back but…
I’m afraid that pink fox person was in possession of a black prison. There is no escape from one of those magical tombs.
Y. Link: so they’re gone!!
Mila: I…I think that you may be right.
Young Link picked up the black prison and stared into it. Inside its swirling middle, he could just make out the shapes of his imprisoned friends, caught forever in a void.
Crying, the boy fell to his knees. Mila looked sadly away…
Mila: Link! Look!
Young Link looked up to see a few of the poe lanterns rising and floating in the air. He looked on as some of the surviving poes floated slowly back to their crushed ritual grounds.
Mila: …It’s O.K…I think I can sort this out.
A blue poe came within a meter of Young Link and Mila. Young Link moved his hand to the hilt of his sword, but Mila stared undaunted at the ghostly creature.
Poe: woooooo…curse your name…foul creatures who have destroyed and defaced our sacred grounds!
Mila: I know this looks bad, but…
Poe: SILENCE!! You have taken advantage of us! You have used our sacred ritual, the only time we voluntarily take our physical forms, as a means to purge us from this existence!
The poe grabbed a smaller poe and thrust him forward so he was looking Mila in the eye.
Poe: Jaaaahian…See before you the foul living who staged this massacre! The ones who have defied us all! Feel hatred, Jahian, feel anger!
The young poe seemed more scared than angry.
Poe: JAHIAN!! ARE YOU NOT ANGERED? DO YOU NOT FEEL SPITE?
Jahian pulled himself away from the poe elder’s grasp.
Jahian: no! I feel no anger! I feel no spite! These living are innocent and are as much the victims of the evil ones as we have been, High priest. I cannot hate them.
This earned him a whack across the side of his face. The old poe floated above Jahian and hissed at him.
Poe: very well! I cannot believe that I have raised a failure! You have been trained for your role in every way, and you refuse to let the final stage take place! Jahian, you will never become one with the spirit world and you will be forever doomed to remain in your cumbersome physical form. Unless you are willing to recognize you’re role, you must find your own way home!
With this, the poe vanished. Jahian screamed and tried to run up to him, but it was too late.
Jahian: no! Don’t leave me here!! I can’t apparate! Don’t leave me here, high priest!!
The young poe sat on the ground sobbing. Mila walked up to him and looked him up and down. He didn’t seem scared of her.
Jahian was rather small and rather thin for a poe. He was dark blue in colour and the swirl on his stomach looked as if it had been freshly painted on.
Mila: are you all right?
Jahian: I’m…fine…
Y. Link: what was all that about. How come you can’t disappear like all the other poes?
Jahian: well…I have a sort of problem, I suppose…I just can’t seem to become ghostly. I just can’t do it. It means I can’t fly, it means I have to walk all the time, it means I can’t pass through walls…and I’m always in danger of being attacked.
Mila: well we aren’t going to hurt you.
Jahian: oh good…well anyway, to top things off, that’s not the only thing that’s abnormal about me…I’ve been chosen to become the channel for our god, Jalhalla.
Young Link’s eyes grew wide at the name. He leaned forward to hear better what the poe was saying.
Jahian: it’s tough. I never wanted to be the channel. I have to go through rigorous training and torture every day to prepare myself for the day I’ve been born for…the day I will become Jalhalla…
Y. Link: but Jalhalla was created from the fusion of many poes joined together!
Jahian looked at Young Link in a surprised manner.
Jahian: how do you know of such things?? Jalhalla was first brought into the world from the fusion of many poes. However, he was somehow destroyed by an incredible power. Our wishes to create a paradise from the land of the living were flattened...
Young Link remembered battling the gigantic poe god. He decided to keep quiet and hear the rest of Jahian’s story.
Jahian: but recently, the coming of Jalhalla was foretold again by our high priest. And that this time, he would be reborn from the next poe child to be born from our tribe…that was me.
Y. Link: so you exist for no purpose but to become Jalhalla…
Jahian: yes…but so far it seems that I will never become Jalhalla…in order for the cycle to be complete, I must feed Jalhalla’s soul with feelings of vengeance and hatred. Emotions I clearly lack.
Young Link smiled.
Y. Link: stay like that, trust me.
Jahian: I do not believe Jalhalla will bring us our dreams. I believe that something that grows on such emotions will only bring us pain. And I do not wish to become Jalhalla. I just want to be a normal poe and learn to play music on my flute. The ceremony you witnessed was the high priest’s last attempt to endow hatred into me. I was to be beaten until I showed signs of these emotions. I hold no love for their religion, but I’m afraid I am stuck as one of them.
Mila: that’s sad. I hope you will eventually get your freedom.
Young Link looked down at the dark prison in his hands.
Y. Link: well we have to find a way to release our friends from this thing…
Jahian jumped up and pointed to the black sphere.
Jahian: aah! I know exactly how you can do that! It’s one thing I learned from my mother before she went away…A dark prison’s bane, is a magical instrument’s flame. That’s what she told me. It means that a dark prison can be dispelled with the tune from a magical instrument.
I’m pleased to have met you. It’s good to tell someone my troubles. Now I must leave. Good luck…friends…
The poe picked up his lantern and wondered off into the dense woods. Young Link and Mila watched the light grow dimmer until it was gone. Young Link turned to Mila.
Y. Link: the Sages! The Sages of the Earth and Wind temples! They can free Ness and the others!
Mila: I don’t know what you mean, but I think we should get that statue off Cadbury first.
Y. Link: yeah, we may as well.
AND SO BEGINS YOUNG LINK’S MINI-QUEST!