Chapter 22

The Rising Moon and Falling Sun

Link is pretty sure he is never going to hear the end of this. Apparently, according to Sheik, he has literally been cursed with insomnia. The All-Nights Mask had a history of being used as a torture object to keep victims awake for days, weeks, and sometimes even months on end. Midnight seems to have given Link the curse now. Izanagi told Link he does not usually deal with such curses and Amaterasu gave too much energy the other night healing Ilia's feet to remove the curse. Nuregami has long left the group in Agata forest to make her way to Sei-An so she is not there to cure the poor warrior. They are in a pickle once again. Link sighs as he gains more ranting and lectures from Navi. "I know it's my fault, but they would've attacked me anyway. Hasn't anyone other than me notice that most of the time, these guys are aiming for me?"

Sheik nods. "I have, and I know why. Amaterasu is too weak right now, but you on the other hand seem to be slowly getting stronger. When Dark gave you your memories, you seem to have adopted these into how you fight enemies and interact with the world around you. I am betting that everyone was given a command to weaken you by any means necessary so that you would be easier for capture."

Sheik certainly said a mouthful, but Link has a hunch that he is right. It would explain why he is constantly being attacked. Even when he stays with the group, the attacks don't cease. Link feels that this would've happened even if he did stay last night. It just would've cause more problems to everyone else. At least he wasn't alone this time. Alas has gone back to floating around the group, poking everyone at random times.

Link is rather curious about the poe's actions. Last night cements the theory that the poe is following him and him alone and, for some reason, wants to help him. Why does this poe want to help him so much? Poe's are usually spirits who are stuck wandering the spirit plain as there very soles are twisted beyond recognition of their original forms. They come out malicious, spiteful, and bitter, often hating and attacking the living. Why is this one unaffected by its change? They may never know.

Amaterasu perks up suddenly as she looks around. "I sense her nearby. Yumigami, the God of Crescent."

Everyone turns to the God of Sunrise. She closes her eyes to concentrate. "She is my equal and opposite in many things. Being the one who raises the moon every night, it is not unheard of to hear of us fighting every once in a while. I feel her near the guardian sapling, but someone is there; someone who is not of our land."

Everyone is immediately on guard. If they are not of Nippon, it is most assured that they are one of the Dark Queen's allies. This Dark Queen, who they have not even seen yet. They are prepared for the worse.

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Sheik and Xedro are in front with Waka and Orochi bringing up the rear so as to protect the group better. They approach the guardian sapling of Taka Pass which is perched on a cliff above the path to Agata Forest. With the continuous and near endless onslaught of enemies, they decided to play is safe when trying to save the moon god. Yet, as they near the giant tree, they see no signs of danger.

Amaterasu turns into a wolf and sniffs the ground before changing back. She shakes her head in confusion. "I don't get it! I can smell her, and I can smell someone else, but I can't see anything wrong here. It's like the rest of Taka Pass."

Sheik looks around before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He slowly opens his eyes, only now his red irises hold an eerie glow to them. He jumps back as he draws his knives. "It's an illusion! Taka pass is all an illusion!"

Link looks at Sheik before pulling out the Lens of Truth. The moment he slips it over his eye, he sees the truth. Where once was a beautiful field, is a land of devastation and despair. There is no plant life, the trees are lying as fallen timber, and the water was as black as night. The guardian sapling is bare and yet, all the animals and people wandering the field don't seem to realize that they are walking through a dead land. He passes the lens to the others so they can see before turning to Alas. "You can see that can't you?"

Alas looks around and nods. "Then why didn't you alert us to it?!"

Alas then shrugs before making some noise that suspiciously sounds like 'You didn't ask.'

Link sighs before turning to Amaterasu who currently is holding the lens. She is staring at the landscape in abject horror. Her mouth works itself several times before she can finally bring herself to speak. "This explains so much. We have already freed almost half of the gods, yet my power is not returning. He is draining the energy right out of Nippon!"

Link takes the lens gently from her and looks back to the sapling. He looks it over as he notices dark energy from the roots. He then looks to Amaterasu. "Is there any way to remove the illusion?"

Amaterasu thinks for a moment and nods. She summons her power up and creates a thick mist that covers Taka Pass. She nearly collapses from the effort but doesn't stop. She then summons the rain to wash away much of the curses that has embedded itself in the dirt. Amaterasu collapses. Link catches her in time and hauls her onto his back. Just then something darts out from under the roots and straight for Link. This time Dorobou is caught off guard as a large green hand encases him. Everyone notices that it was protruding from Xedro's head. "What? You didn't think Midna was the only one that could do that did ya?"

He then throws the fox towards Sheik; who wraps it in a long chain. With the fox immobilized, Xedro changes his hair back to normal. "Now let's see if we can get some answers around here."

There was a nasty chuckle from the fox. It transforms for the first time into a form of a thin dirty man. His brown grey-lined hair falls in front of sharp grey eyes as the man struggles in absolutely filthy clothes as a his lips curl up into a nasty grin. His voice croaks as he speaks. "Why fight? You have already loss. After all, did you not think that we didn't plan for this? I suggest that our fairer ones look down."

Fairer ones, that would be someone of pale skin, lighter hair, and light eye color. Everyone immediately turn towards Ilia and Link. On cue the two look down at their feet. Link could see his feet turning grey before his very eyes. He tries to lift his right foot to find it very heavy. To his horror, he could feel his feet go numb, and worse it was now traveling up his legs. He and Ilia are turning to stone.

Dorobou chuckles nastily again. "If we can't get you alive, a statue will do just as well. On top of that, the sun god is too weak to save herself, let alone two others."

Dorobou lets out an insane laughter this time. Link cringes at the sound. It was not as sane or warm as when they first met. He sounds as if he is in pain. Dorobou was not through yet. "I am no alone. Let's see if you can take on a true knight."

A light breeze that smells of death wafts over the tree as footsteps reach their ears. A crunch as a boot steps on dry grass is the last they hear as before them appears a spirit. Black hair drapes around a pale face as red eyes peer out at the group. Dressed in a grey tunic and silver boots, the swordsman pulls a black shield. He stands calmly observing the group but not moving an inch.

Sheik shakes his head. "He's the one that attacked alongside Ninetails. He took out the three gods guarding Link, but why is he standing there."

Link then notices his position. The knight didn't need to move. He was standing between them and the guardian sapling. Link looks around as he loses complete movement in his legs. He looks at Issun as a memory of back in Kamiki hits him. "Issun! You have to revive the guardian sapling."

"What?!"

"Remember how you said that reviving the sapling gives a breath of energy and life to the land and all who stands in it? It'll heal Taka Pass, revive Amaterasu, and save Ilia and I!"

Issun looks at the sapling and at the spirit. "I never revived a whole tree before, let alone a guardian sapling!"

Link looks down at himself as the grey coloring creeps up to his midsection. "You've got to try; otherwise Ilia and I are done for!"

Waka rushes towards the spirit who blocks before drawing a silver sword for a counterstrike. Sheik for once is at a loss as he is forced to stand his ground and hold Dorobou still. The fox struggles against the chain as Sheik continues to hold fast. The spirit swordsman sends both Waka and Xedro over the ledge as it then turns to the approaching Orochi and Alas. Issun bounces around, unsure what to do. Suddenly something grabs Issun and he finds himself tossed into the air and onto Gohma's back. "What are you doing you stupid spider? Put me down!"

Ignoring Issun's commands and insults, Ghoma begins to crawl towards the sapling. Expertly weaving through the chaos, it passes the fighting group as Midna sends an orb of energy at the spirit, and up to the sapling. It crawls up the tree towards the top. Once there it dumps Issun messily on a branch and begins to prod the insect. "Stop! I can't revive the sapling! I can't do it!"

"Ilia!" "Stop!"

Issun looks down. Although Link is only grey up to the torso, Ilia, on the other hand, was already solid up to the neck. She is having trouble breathing. Dorobou manages to free himself and stars wrestling Sheik as the sheikah tries to keep the fox away from the still unconscious Ammy. Alas is on the ground with its soul exposed and Midna and Captain are thrown over the ledge like Waka and Xedro. Orochi is still holding strong, but not for much longer. Navi is beside herself, feeling useless as she and Izanagi try to heal Ammy. Issun turns away from the scene and turns around to see Gohma staring at him expectantly. He sighs in defeat before straightening up. He pulls out his brush, takes a deep breath, and tries to perform the God of Bloom's brushstroke. He stops at the end of the circle, waiting for his failure to show. Silence for a moment, then a flash of light a pink petals swirl around. The sapling is brought back to life. Like a breath of new life, a blast of the petals shoots in all directions. Link and Ilia fall to the ground as their skin softens and their limbs loosen up. Dorobou is tossed through the sky and the spirit swordsman vanishes in the attack of petals. The plants grow again and the water purifies as Taka Pass returns to normal. Amaterasu stirs and lifts her head as her energy renews her. Waka, Xedro, and Midna fly back up to the ledge, Waka carrying Captain. Alas is back to his old self as well. The only downside was the interesting red shade that now covers Orochi. Issun hops down from the tree and turns to stare in awe at his work. "I did that?"

Issun finds himself tackled by a happy fairy. "You did it, Issun! You saved everyone!"

As Navi continues to hug Issun, the tiny envoy turns redder than a ripe tomato. He suddenlt is scooped up in a soft pair of pale hands. He turns to see Amatertsu's beautiful smile. She says nothing, but instead gives Issun a kiss. Forget tomato, Issun now is redder than a ripe cherry. Link stumbles to his feet as Captain helps Ilia to her feet. Xedro, on the other hand, is laughing at Orochi's color change. Orochi is more perplexed. "I guess I still am part demon, otherwise the tree would not have affected me as such. It feels like I have been burned by the sun."

Link winces at Orochi's statement. Sunburns are nasty business. A shine of light from the sapling catches everyone's attention. The light takes the shape of a lovely young woman that seems to be the same age as Amaterasu. While the two had the same height and structure though, this woman seems to be more graceful. Her hair is done up in a beautiful bun and held in place with silver chopsticks. She has an angular aristocratic face with high cheekbones. She too wears ceremonial robes like Amaterasu, except her robes are lined in silver and has ornaments tied to her sash. She has earrings like a crescent moon. The only thing that stands out is the handle of the giant wooden mallet in her hands, its head resting at her feet. Link then realizes that this must be Yumigami, the God of the Crescent. Amaterasu turns her head to the side in jealousy. Yumigami mearly smiles and gives a graceful bow. "I am forever in your debt, brave heroes. I could not escape with the Ghost Knight guarding the sapling. I am ever so grateful for your help."

Amaterasu gives a dramatic sigh before turning to the moon god. "You probably didn't need saving in the first place, cottontail. You are stronger than you have others to believe."

Yumigami gives a devilish smirk. "My dear snowball, it's nice to see you on two feet for once and not playing horse with everyone."

Amaterasu glares hatefully. "At least I don't jump around like toad."

This time the moon god is taken aback. "How dare you compare me to a slimy, wart-covered, amphibian?!"

Amaterasu crosses her arms and nods. "You're right. It'd be an insult to the toad."

Link jumps in front of Amaterasu as Waka tries to hold Yumigami back. The two gods struggle to get at each other and tear each other's faces off.

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After Yumigami is calmed down and sent on her way to Sei-An, everyone else settles down back in the cave. Amaterasu feels much better as the sapling has replenished her strength in full. "It seems that they are doing more than draining power from the gods. They are also trying to drain life from the lands. Taka Pass is the only place affected for now, but I would like if messages are sent to the other lands, just in case."

Waka nods and whistles a hawk down to deliver the messages. Issun hops up to Ammy. "Do you think Sakuya's okay. I'm worried that she might've felt the drain back in Kamiki."

Amaterasu pats Issun gently. "She might have, but one sapling won't hurt her. We should do our best though to keep the other trees and saplings in good condition so it won't happen again."

Despite Amaterasu's new strength, everyone else is tired. Everyone settles down and even turns in early. Everyone, that is, except Link. Amaterasu notices the problem. "What about Link? Did you all forget about Midnight's curse?"

The guilty looks prove that, yes, everyone did indeed forget. Link tries to reassure them. "I'm fine. I'll rest as best as I can, I won't go mad with sleep right now. I'm used to lack of sleep so it should be a few days before I am affected. We can figure something out in that time."