![]() Chapter 6 Paranoid white rabbits….A Chapter by DreamerChapter 6
Paranoid white
rabbits….
Two days went by
after Sheik’s encounter with Arachnis. Impa was on edge and tended to snap at
people for no reason, everyone tended to avoid her whenever politely possible. Sheik
still had not woken after he had stumbled in that morning. By now the whole
village had heard of Sheik’s condition and offered their support anyway that
Impa and Sheif needed it. “Why won’t Sheik
wake up?” Lucius asked Sheif. Either Sheif or
Impa were at Sheik’s side at any given time. Both parents kept up a brave front
but as time went on the strain of concern was wearing on them. Lucius sat on
the opposite side of the bed from Sheif who changed one of the bandages on
Sheik’s arm. Sheif sighed as
he finished the bandaging, “I don’t know.” Lucius said
nothing as he studied his friend’s face. Lost in thought he didn’t hear Sheif
get up and leave nor Meria take his place. Meria moved some of Sheik’s hair out
of his face, his skin approaching the hue of his hair. Meria sat back
with a sigh startling Lucius, “Some people believe a person will relive a
traumatic experience in their mind till they’ve worked it out.” Lucius watched
her closely, “What do you believe?” “I’m not sure, I
guess it’s possible.” Meria shook her head slowly, “What I know is Sheik was
hurt, badly.” “Hyrulian minds
are so complicated,” Lucius whispered softly, “and yet fragile.” Meria watched as
Lucius’s fingertips barely brushed Sheik’s forehead. Inhaling deeply, Sheik rolled
to his side. Lucius smiled to himself as he stood and walked out of the room. Impa
was walking into the room as he was walking out. She raised her
eyebrow at him as he smiled, “Sheik should wake soon.” “What do yo-“ “Mom?” Sheik
called quietly at the sound of her voice, “Is that you?” Impa ran to
Sheik’s side, “Yes, baby, I’m here.” Sheik blinked
and struggled to sit up, “I had this horrible dream, and why am I covered in
bandages?” “We were hoping
you could tell us.” Meria helped him to sit up and drink some water, “You’ve
been out for two days.” Sheik’s eyes
widened then narrowed in thought, “Guess it wasn’t a nightmare then.” “What wasn’t sweetie?”
Impa asked softly stroking her son’s hair. Looking at his
mom’s worried, haggard face Sheik just smiled softly and shook his head, “Nothing.” Turning toward
the door, Meria saw Lucius had disappeared. Sheif came into the room a few
seconds late and Meria decided to let the family alone. Meria went downstairs to
the living room where the rest of the group was waiting. “Hey,” Gerad
called to her, “Lucius told us Sheik’s awake.” Meria nodded, “Yeah,
Sheif and Impa are up there now, I figured they needed some family time.” The others
visibly relaxed at the good news. No one jumped up, all of them thinking along
the same lines as Meria. Glancing across the room Meria spotted Lucius playing
a game of Pagra with G-Link. Walking over to the Zora she studied him as she
approached. “What did you
do?” Meria asked him after a few moments. “I helped,”
Lucius replied without looking up from the game, “nothing more.” Meria waited for
a further explanation but none was forth coming from the fish-man. Shaking her
head Meria went and sat on the couch next to Aerica and Meko. As she watched
the Zora beat the Goron she knew she wouldn’t get any further answers out of
him. She had heard rumors that the Zoras had healing abilities and even
telepathic powers but she never put too much stock into rumors, but now as she
glanced back at Lucius she wondered how much of those rumors were truth.
Sheik was back
to his old prankster self within the next day. Impa had calmed down now that
her son was apparently on the mend and everyone breathed a little easier. The
town had thrown a party that night to celebrate Sheik’s recovery. Impa had
given them permission to skip a few days of chores after the party. “I think I have
figured out your power Sheik.” Calhan stated with pride. “Really? And what might that be?” “Shadows.” Sheik raised his
eyebrows, “Shadows?” “Yeah that’s
helpful information considering he is the Shadow sage.” Gerad said folding his
arms across his chest and leaning back against a stone. They had moved
the training to an area outside of the village into Hyrule Fields. Sheik had
told the group of his encounter with Arachnis the day he had awoken. Impa had
gone into the Shadow Temple with Sheif but had found nothing like the room
Sheik described. Calhan had suggested moving the training to the fields to
reduce any likelihood of attracting any monsters out of the temple. “Yes I know that
Gerad,” Calhan explained, “but what you don’t know is that he can manipulate
the shadows, bend them to his will or even become the shadows if he wants to.” Sheik pursed his
lips, “Become shadows?” “In a sense, it’s
more like you meld into them, according to the book.” Calhan elaborated. “This melding,”
Sheik pressed, “could that have been what happened when I ran into Arachnis?” “I do believe
so, yes.” Calhan thought for a moment, “Yes that’s a good example of what you
can do. You can meld into the shadows or even transfer from one shadow to the
next or even see through shadows.” Sheik nodded as
he fell silent and stared off remembering the horrible encounter. After a few
moments Meria gently shook his shoulder. He jumped
slightly then shook his head, “I’m sorry.” Calhan cleared
his throat then continued, “Well since we know you have powers let’s see what
happens shall we.” Sheik nodded and
stepped to Calhan’s side. The others watched in silence as Calhan explained
what Sheik should do. Meria chewed on a thumbnail as she waited. “Ok now
according to the book it’s different than with Selene, Shadow is apparently a
very subtle power. I would compare it with your Sheika training. Concentrate on
fading into obscurity.” Sheik raised his
eyebrow at Calhan’s explanation. Then shrugging he nodded as Calhan retreated
back with the others, Sheik closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened.
Sheik fell to the ground exhausted. “I don’t
understand it should work.” Calhan said flipping open the book and rereading
through the chapters. “Maybe it has to
do with location.” G-link mumbled from his curled up position on the ground. “What do you
mean?” Aerica asked him. “Well if it’s
called shadow melding shouldn’t he be standing in the shadows?” G-Link raised
himself up to a sitting position. “Well that makes
sense.” Sheik shrugged looking at Calhan. “Amazing, a rock
outthinks a scholar.” Lucius smiled his half smile. “Let’s just try
it shall we.” Gerad interrupted before G-Link could come back with a sarcastic
answer of his own. Sheik moved into
the shadows of an outcropping on the rock wall behind him. Closing his eyes he thought
back to when he had shifted in the barn. The others watched in amazement as the
shadows seemed to swallow him whole. Gerad stared at
the shadow, “Woah.” The others
nodded in agreement too stunned to add anything. They stood there waiting for
him to come out of the shadows. Dahrin was leaning on the same rock as Gerad
when he suddenly jumped forward with a yelp that made the girls scream. They
turned to see Sheik leaning out of the shadows behind them. He stepped out
laughing. “You should have seen your faces.” He fell on
the ground from laughing so hard. “Oh great you
gave him a new prank to add to his already overwhelming arsenal.” Dahrin said
stepping over Sheik to walk back to the village. The others shook their heads
and followed after him. Sheik stopped
laughing long enough to realize he was being left behind. This was enough to
make him snap out of his laughing fit, jump up, and run at top speed to catch
up to them. Back at the
village Impa was preparing dinner when they walked in the door. She smiled as
they shuffled past to the back to get cleaned up for dinner. Calhan’s grin was
evidence enough of a fruitful day of training. A week later
Sheif was the first to realize the change in Sheik. He never stayed in a room
without someone else there even if he wasn’t finished with what he was doing.
At dinner he sat as close as possible to a candle. The most convincing turn in
his attitude was when everyone else retired he was right there with them and
left a candle burning by his bed. Sheik had always
been a night owl and this willingness to turn in early was putting his father
more and more in concern that he had changed. Sheif voiced his concern to Gerad
one night after dinner. “With what he
went through,” Gerad sighed, “could you blame him if he’s a little skittish?” Sheif thought
for a moment, “I guess you’re right. But I’m just concerned; guess it comes
with being a father.” “I’m sure he’ll
calm back down soon.” Gerad tried to console him, “He’ll be good as new in a
few days.” Sheif nodded, “I
hope you’re right.” After a few days
it seemed Gerad was correct. Till one night when Gerad had walked downstairs
for some water. Dahrin joined him a few minutes later then Lucius a few moments
after him. They were sitting around the table when Sheik came crashing down the
stairs in a near panic state. He stopped short of barreling into them then
grabbed Gerad by his shirt and shook him demanding to know why they had left
him alone upstairs, he then broke down crying. “What can we
do?” Dahrin asked Impa that morning. Gerad was upstairs with Sheik while he
slept; Gerad had made Sheik a promise to never leave him alone. “I thought you
had helped him.” Meria said looking at Lucius. Lucius tapped
his chin in thought, “As I had stated, ‘The Hyrulian mind is very complicated
and fragile.’ Anything could have set off this paranoia.” “Well what can
we do now?” Aerica asked feeding Meko some bread. Everyone was
silent while all of them furiously thought of a solution. The clock ticked on
the wall as time passed with no answers forth coming. Impa stood and headed to
the kitchen to make some tea. Lucius watched
her leave then sighed, “There is one option. But I will require Meria’s
assistance.” Meria was
puzzled, “Why me?” “Do you want to help Sheik or not?” Lucius
asked her standing up from the table. “Well of course
I do but why does it have to be me, not that I’m complaining, I would gladly
give my life for Sheik.” Meria stood and followed him as the others watched in
puzzlement. “Good. Now come
with me.” With that he left the room and headed up to the bedroom. Meria followed
behind him obediently but still confused. Glancing back she saw the rest of
them follow. As they reached the door they saw Gerad come out of the room.
Meria stopped at the doorway and looked at Gerad in confusion. “What’s going
on?” Gerad asked as Lucius waited patiently just inside the room, “I’m gonna
need a better explanation than, ‘I’m going to heal Sheik’.” Meria shrugged
as she stepped into the room. Lucius without further word closed the door and
locked it. Meria watched him walk and sit next to Sheik’s right bedside and
motioned for Meria to sit opposite him. She did so and waited for further
instructions. “Give me your
hands.” Meria held out her hands and Lucius held them in his own. His skin was
cold but very soft. He placed her right hand on Sheik’s forehead and the left
over his heart. Lucius kept his hands over hers their palms face down. “Now what I’m
about to do you must never reveal to anyone. I’m breaking a few laws doing
this.” Lucius said staring into Meria’s eyes. Meria nodded her
head without taking her eyes away from his. Lucius smiled
then closed his eyes, “Close your eyes and repeat after me.” Meria closed her
eyes still completely confused on what and how this was going to help Sheik. “Dontomica,
spelchulasa, oldrisa.” Meria repeated the words as best she could. She felt a
strange sensation of floating. “You can open
your eyes now.” Lucius voice sounded far off like a dream. She opened her eyes
and regretted it. She was floating in a grey mist with no apparent direction of
up or down. “Don’t panic.” Yeah right. That was weird
her thoughts sounded like they were spoken. “That’s because they are spoken in his mind.
You are still out here physically but mentally you are merged with Sheik.” Well why aren’t
you here?
She thought/asked. “It would take
too long to explain but suffice it to say there is only enough room in there
for two.” Ok. Now what? Meria asked
looking around her as best she could. “You need to
find Sheik.” Uh I need a
better direction than that. Meria heard or
rather felt Lucius sigh. “Pick a direction and start walking.” Meria smiled and
started floating to her right. She kept going for what seemed like hours. You’d think his
mind would be smaller than this. “The mind is-“ Complex yes I
know thank you for reminding me. She kept moving. She felt a presence
that didn’t seem to belong in Sheik’s mind. Lucius do you feel that? “Yes I do and it
disturbs me.” Great now I’m
nervous. “Try to relax.” Meria nodded her
head but kept glancing over her shoulder. She kept going for what seemed like
another hour till she heard crying. She floated faster toward the sound. The
mist dispersed slowly before her and she found herself walking on dry cracked
dirt. She came to a small child huddled on the ground sobbing quietly. She
knelt down next to him. “What’s wrong?”
She asked him. He looked up at her; she saw that it was a younger Sheik his red
eyes swollen with tears. The monster
won’t leave. “What monster?”
Meria asked, a little bit of concern creeping into her voice. The one that
controls the shadows.
Sheik said looking up at Meria and wiping his eyes. “Arachnis.” Lucius voice
came as a shock and slightly startled Meria. Meria glanced around her expecting
a giant freaky monster to come charging at them from the mist, but nothing
happened. What do we do now Lucius? “We have to get
Sheik to face his monster. To banish it from his mind, or at least control it.
He is going to need your help Meria.” Great first time
in someone’s head and I have to fight evil monsters. She sighed to herself. Turning to the little Sheik she put on a courageous smile she didn’t
feel, “Come on Sheik lets go search for a better defendable place.” She helped Sheik
stand up and they started walking. As they were walking clouds of vapor
appeared and drifted past them. One of them was in their path so they walked
through it. They appeared in another place, it was the eastern courtyard of the
Hyrulian castle. The meeting three weeks ago played itself through from Sheik’s
perspective. The vapor cloud passed on and they were back in the grey mist
covered landscape. Lucius what was that that we just went
through? “That was a
memory. You’ll run into those often in someone else’s mind.” Meria nodded her
head and kept walking with Sheik beside her holding her hand. Ok question.
Will we have to enter the memory of his encounter with Arachnis? “I do not believe
so, if I’m guessing correctly the threat is not in a memory it’s in his mind
loose somewhere.” Well is there a
better way to find its exact location without wandering around aimlessly? “The monster
likes to hide in their memories.” Sheik spoke softly, looking up at Meria. “What do you mean by their memories? Could you take me there?” Sheik pulled his
hand away from hers and started to back away. “I won’t go to them, they want to
hurt me, I don’t want to die!” With that he ran away. “Wait, come back!” Meria started off after him but something jumped
out of the shadows to block her path. Meria halted to face the thing. Lucius this is
part of my mind also correct? “Yes you can
control yourself, in a sense you are as strong as you think yourself to be.” I meant can I
think myself up a weapon? As she said this a quarter staff appeared in her
hands. Never mind. She said as she blocked an over arm swing from the
shadow creature. She fought back at it. The shadow fought like Sheik did,
dodging in and out of her reach; she was hard pressed to keep it at bay. She
finally got a good whack at its “Head” and it spun off and landed in a heap on
the ground. She was about to give it another whack when it rolled over and came
into focus. Meria dropped her staff and knelt at Sheik’s side. This Sheik was
his normal age of seventeen. “Sheik, answer me, are you alright?” Meria shook his shoulder, “Please
answer me I’m sorry for whacking you.” Sheik opened his
eyes and stared up at her. “Why are you here? And why are you chasing me?” Meria helped him sit up as she answered, “I’m here to help you; you’ve
given us quite a scare with your paranoia.” Sheik looked at
her and shook off her help to stand up. “I’m fine, you shouldn’t have come
here, there’s a monster lose you know.” He headed off into his memories. “Wait Sheik! That’s why I’m here is to help you deal with this
monster.”
She said grabbing her staff and heading off after him. “Stop following
me and leave my mind.” “I can’t do that.” They passed through memory after memory. Sheik scolded
her over his shoulder, “I didn’t ask you to come here for me, this is my
problem I can handle it myself.” “It doesn’t matter whether or not you can handle it I’m here and I’m
staying deal with it. Or better yet accept it.” “I won’t ask you
to put yourself in danger for me. I care-“ He broke off realizing what he was about to say. Sheik stopped
suddenly causing Meria to almost plow into him. When no further conversation
was forth coming Meria stepped to his side. “What were you going to say?” She asked him. Sheik turned back around, “Forget it, it’s not
important.” Meria caught his
arm as he started walking away, “No
you tell me now, what were you going to say.” Sheik looked her
in the eyes, “Look if I let you help me will you let it alone?” Meria sighed but let go of his arm, “Fine, your younger version said
that it hung out at their memories. What memories was he or you talking about?” After a few
moments Sheik motioned with his hand, “Come with me.” They walked out
of memory lane and started off into another part of Sheik’s mind. Images
floated past them as they walked further on. There was one of a dragon and ones
of other monsters. What is this
place?
Meria asked reaching out to touch the dragon image. There was a
whoosh and there stood the dragon, or more Meria was standing in a field that
the dragon was also occupying. The dragon roared and charged at Meria. She back
peddled but to no effect. Out of nowhere a knight in shining armor rode onto
the scene and started to fight the dragon. The two of them battled fiercely for
a long while. The knight managed to slay the dragon in the end. He dismounted
and walked to the dead dragon’s head, raised his sword and cut off the head,
the head made this disturbing squish sound. Meria started at the sound of the
crowd cheering behind her. The knight took off his helmet. Meria stared at an
older version of Sheik smiling his goofy smile. A woman ran to
his side a kissed him full on the lips, but before Meria could figure out who
it was a hand grabbed her arm and pulled. She fell backward onto the grey plain
with Sheik standing over her, “What were you thinking?” Trying to get to her feet she shot back at him, “Excuse me? What was
that?” “Ever heard of
dreams?” Meria looked at
him, and then looked back at the image of the dragon and pursed her lips, “Who was the woman that kissed you?” Sheik squirmed,
“It’s not important; now please don’t touch anything else, before you give me
permanent brain damage.” Meria glanced
back at the image then followed behind Sheik once more. They made their way
through Sheik’s dreams and came to a black expanse. It might have just been her
imagination but it felt like the temperature dropped. “Here comes the
unsettling part, we must travel through that to get to the others’ memories.”
Sheik looked to Meria hoping she’d back out. Meria flipped her hair and squared her shoulders, “Well let’s get
started.”
Sheik watched
her for a few moments in stunned silence then caught up to her. Nonexistent
wind whipped at them as they walked further into the black. What is this
black Lucius? Meria
asked after about five minutes of walking. “It could be
anything, minds are very-“ Complex. Meria finished for him. A light appeared
off in the distance and grew brighter the closer they got to it. After a few
more minutes they came to a door. Sheik pulled Meria behind him. He unsheathed
his daggers and slowly opened the door. He peaked around the edge of the door
and saw nothing. They moved into a circular room ringed with statues that moved
upward into the ceiling that was lost from view. The last statue was Impa the
one next to her was another woman and then the next was a man. “Why is there a statue of your mother in your head?” Meria asked
looking at Sheik. “This is the
room of previous Shadow sages. That woman next to my mother is my grandmother
that man is my great grandfather, and so on.” Sheik looked around the room at
the statues of the former sages. “Come we must find the monster.” “HEY MONSTER COME OUT AND FACE US!” Sheik cringed as Meria shouted out to
the room. “What are you crazy?” Sheik grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled
her behind the statue of his grandmother. “It’s the only way I can think of to find it.” A chill fell on
the atmosphere of the room, Meria shivered. “You called?” a
voice spoke out from the room. Meria tried to
see where the voice came from but Sheik wouldn’t let her budge. He pulled her
behind him then touched the back of his grandmother’s statue, there was a flash
then they were in her memory lane, for lack of better term. Sheik pulled
Meria after him as he took off through a memory. Meria glanced behind them but
saw no sign of pursuit. “Why are you running from it?” Meria gasped as they passed through
another memory her hand still in his. “Because.” Sheik
kept walking till he came to a memory cloud that contained a figure that
resembled another one of the statues. He stepped through and they came into the
memory, he touched the other person, flash of light they were in his memories.
He did this for a while till Meria was hopelessly lost. She kept bugging him
but his answer was still “Because.” She finally stopped and yanked her arm from
his hand. “Sheik why won’t you face it? And don’t tell me because. I want a real
answer. Is it because you’re afraid? Is that it, you’re too scared. You’re just
a little boy too small to take care of his own problems?” Sheik looked at her and the pain in his eyes
was enough for her to regret her harsh words. “Yes Meria I am
scared, I’m scared not of dying but of changing, I already know what that thing
out there is, it’s the Sage spirit.” Sheik replied softly. His tone made
Meria wish he had yelled at her, “What do you mean you already know?” Sheik took a
deep breath, “Those two days I was out, the past Shadow Sage Janor visited me,
he told me of his ordeal with Arachnis, how he had sealed her away, her
swearing revenge on him.” Meria didn’t say
anything as the memory continued around them. Sheik was silent a moment then
continued, “He told me that Shadow Sages walk a very thin line between good and
evil.” Sheik’s red eyes
were filled with pain and anxiety as he looked into Meria’s eyes, “If I accept
it, it will change me, and I don’t want to change, I’m afraid to change and lose
you. I love you Meria and I don’t want to lose that.” Meria was
speechless as Sheik continued, “What if I change and I betray you somehow or I
become evil and hurt you? What if-“ “What if frogs had wings?” Meria put her finger on his lips
interrupting him. Sheik smiled
softly, “They wouldn’t bump their butt every time they landed.” Meria placed her hands on either side of his face, “What if, isn’t always
a bad thing, but it can become so frightening we forget that sometimes it’s
better to take a chance.” Sheik sighed and closed his eyes. Meria waited for him to look at her
again before she continued. His red eyes starred into her brown as she smiled at him, “I will still
be here no matter what happens.” Standing on tiptoe she kissed him. Sheik held her close to him, as they
kissed he tasted something salty and realized a tear had fallen from her eyes.
Finally letting him go Meria smiled up at him and blushed. Sheik smiled back as
he gently took her hands in his. Grinning Meria tugged his hands,
“Now let’s go find this monster of yours.” Sheik nodded and
led the way out of the maze of memories into the circular room of statues.
There in the center stood a figure, he had black spiky hair, and grey eyes. He
smiled when he saw them. Sheik gulped and squeezed Meria’s hand. “I was wondering
when you would get the guts to face me.” The man sneered. Sheik glanced at
Meria then let go of her hand and walked to stand in front of the Sage Spirit.
The spirit watched Sheik’s progress with mocking eyes occasionally glancing at
Meria. Sheik stopped in
front of the spirit, “I’m here. What do you want?” The sage spirit
smirked as he glanced over at Meria then back to Sheik, “She won’t save you.” The sage struck
out with his hand, it went into Sheik’s chest. Meria cried out and tried to reach
Sheik’s side as he knelt down from the pain the strike caused. The statues near
her came to life and held her back. “Give in to the
pain and join the side of evil. Forget this twit of a girl she is nothing, you
can have so much more.” A black light started to envelope Sheik from his feet.
It crept up his legs slowly toward his heart. “Never!” Sheik
screamed at the Shadow sage and started to pull the spirit’s hand out of his
chest. Sweat beaded
Sheik’s brow as he struggled to pull the spirit’s hand out. The spirit cursed
as Sheik began to stand back up. Sheik regained
his footing as the spirit shrieked, “No I won’t lose to love again!” The spirit tried
to push back in but Sheik was stronger, he managed to pull the spirit’s hand
completely out of his chest. The spirit cursed again as Sheik pulled out one of
his daggers and stuck it into the spirit’s neck. The sage spirit
screamed in agony as he staggered back, Meria watched in awe and horror as he
folded in on him-self and disappeared with a shriek. Sheik stood over the spot
where the spirit had disappeared then promptly began to faint. The statues
released their hold on Meria as she ran forward to catch Sheik. “Sheik!? Sheik! Answer me please.” Meria shook him and patted his
cheek. Sheik’s eyes
flickered open, “Good morning.” Meria laughed as
tears came to her eyes, “Morning to you sleepy head.” Reaching up
Sheik wiped away an escaped tear, “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” Meria smiled as
Sheik sat up and kissed her. “It’s time to
come out, now that the threat is gone.” Came Lucius’s voice. Sighing Meria
nodded then looked at Sheik. Sheik smiled,
“I’ll always be here.” Meria smiled
then kissed him again. She felt a tingling sensation and then she was back in
the room sitting in the chair. Sheik was looking at her his face puzzled. Sheik glanced
from one to the other, “What’s going on guys?” Meria looked at Lucius with a quizzical
expression. Lucius gave her a small smile; He won’t remember what happened
in his head only you and I will ever know. And it must remain that way.
Meria’s heart sank but she nodded as Lucius’s words faded from her mind. “Just helping,”
Meria replied softly, “nothing more.” © 2014 Dreamer |
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Added on July 6, 2013 Last Updated on October 4, 2014 Author |