[center][h1][color=00aeef]Link[/color][/h1][/center]

[center]Word Count: 1237 [/center]

[center][color=00aeef][b] Level 7[/b] [/color] - (37/70) + 2[/center]

[center]Location: Carcass Island[/center]
[@DracoLunaris][@Rockin Strings][@Dawnrider]
[hr][hr]

Link didn't understand anything. Tidehunter had pushed them away, he had pounded the ground, and then something had unfurled under him and he had tasted sky. It any other situation he would have whipped out his glider and turned this attack to his advantage, but there was no way. The tendril that had knocked him up had also coiled around his mind, locking him in a daze. He fell back onto the waters surface, still standing but like a limp puppet. At the mercy of the hunter before him.

The first thing he remembered coming out of that haze was the Princess calling his name. Not his princess, but close enough. He shook his head as his senses came back to him, the sight of Princess Peach locked in a mortal tug-of-war for Tidehunter's very soul greeting him as he awoke. For a moment he thought he was having another nightmare, Peach's form momentarily taking on a dark and terrifyingly slender aspect in the moonlight as she drained something out of the fish man. Then she gave the order and his body was propelled by instinct along. He drew his steel sword and held it out behind his as he skated in, a glint of light traveling up the edge of the blade, and then spun. The blade cut an arc through the air and right across Tidehunter's unprotected neck. A gout of cold black blood spewed out as he fell, the link with his spirit severed along with is life. "To the bottom I go," he managed to gurgle out before his body began dissolving. 

Link, unmindful of his own pounding injuries, skated over to Peach and the spirt she had collected to make sure she was okay. As he did so, he noticed that the sounds of fighting had quieted. He looked around, and to his relief was able to see everyone had made it out of this one with no more than a few injuries. The only unknown element left in the area was the Stalfoe's that had shown up unexpectedly, who stood off to the side sharpening its weapon for the next battle. He couldn't help but wonder if that battle included them.

He skated over to it, approaching slowly as the creature turned its head slightly to fix one of its sockets on him. "Thank you for the help." Link said, trying to be diplomatic.

The only answer he got was the [i]SCHEEINK, SCHEEINK[/i] of the stalfoes whetstone across it's blade as it stared at him.

"We're here to battle the boss of this island. The strongest creature here. If you know anything about what it's like deeper into the island any information would be apricated. Are there other survi...uh...sane people besides you?"

[i]SCHEEINK, SCHEEINK[/i]

"I would be willing to pay you."

[b][i]SCHEEEEEEEINK, SCHEEEEEEEINK[/i][/b]

Maybe it couldn't talk without a tongue. Or maybe it just wanted to be left alone. "Well, we're going to headed back to the mainland after we're done. We could carry you with us if you would like."

[u][b][i]SCHEEEEEEEINK, SCHEEEEEEEINK[/i]
[/b][/u]

This was getting him nowhere. Luckily, before he could annoy the stalfoes into a fight, a commotion was kicked up on the other side of the basin. A wrathful roar cut the air, and he turned to find the monster the fish people had been harvesting whipping its tentacles at a super sized Koopa King. "Bowser!" He called, instantly turning tail and skating across the basin toward the source of the disturbance.

[hr]

Situation with the sea monster thoroughly handled, and richer for it, the hero of the wild road back to where the others had gathered to start distributing the spoils of the battle. He wanted to start stomping Murlock's looking for a shield, but he held off because he was already looking to claim one of the bigger prizes. The one he had left with the Princess. "Can I see Tidehunter?" He asked her, taking the big burly shark man in hand. Northampton's modifications to his body weren't all back, but there was one he had to correct. Besides, if he were going to be as fast on the water as a Zora the least he could do was semi-look the part. Without a moments hesitation he slammed the Tidehunter's spirit into his chest.

Link wasn't the only one that went through a dramatic transformation, either. Or at least that's how it looked. The newcomer, Delsin, rose up into the air as they were about to travel down the route Hat Kid had found into the depths of the island. He rose into the air, glowing as though he too had just absorbed a spirit, but when he dropped he still appeared the same. Save, of course, or a new power. A new way to use a few of those fireballs he had cast at Tidehunter, an ability that he had seemingly lost due to Galeem's diminishing effect on all that came under it's power. He had never seen so clear an example of someone getting something back.

Regardless of that strangeness he descended down the well after everyone else.

[hr]

The grotto they found themselves in was, thankfully, dry if you had the good fortune to be part shipgirl and were able to stand on the ankle deep water. Link, having spent enough time in the rain to wash off Scylla's stomach gunk, took the opportunity to put his cloths back on and pull out one of the lanterns he had acquired to give them a little more light in the dark of the cave. He tensed up, bracing for the ambush, but none came as they traveled through the caves. 

Eventually they came to a wooden balcony, which Ms. Fortune investigated and then recoiled back in disgust. It didn't take Link long to realize why, as he walked over and looked out across the literally writhing floor. The smell was worse than the sight, like what came out whenever he had tried to combine fruit and fish. The sickly sweet smell of rot, combined with cooking meat and the briny stench of the sea all rolled into one. If he hadn't had a cast iron stomach it would have made him gag. The worst part were the shapes slithering out of the shells, pale and slender. Almost beautiful in an ethereal way, though he doubted that that assessment would last if he got any closer than this to them. He pulled out the slate and zoomed in, concluding they were either once women or every dedicated mimics before taking a picture right as one lifted up. 

He heard Delsin comment on the horror of the place and grinned. "This place isn't as bad as the last one we were trapped in." Experiencing The Maw made you look at things differently. At least no one was being tempted to jump down and eat those snail women. He hoped. 

On being asked where they should go, he pointed out the walkways leading around the sides of the room. "I don't relish jumping down there. This is either a trap or a nursery. Kid?" He turned to face their intrepid little scout before pointing across the way to the wall of fog. "I'm guessing through there though, right?"