Chapter 5 - It's The Faith Diamond Or Bust!

I wandered around the streets of Kakariko Village until I came upon a shop. I noticed that in my pocket I had an empty bottle. It used to be filled with a Health Potion. So I had an idea for the next destination. Basically I would save up rupees (the crystals that were used as currency in Hyrule) and buy myself another bottle of tasty red Health Potion. But for now I had to hurry to get to the first celestial stone: the Faith Diamond.

Luckily for me the guard at the gate leading up to Death Mountain was asleep. So I quietly snuck past him and ran up the mountain trail. With my sword and shield gripped tightly in my hands I saw red Tektites jump towards me. I darted towards them and slashed them with Megami. When they dissipated into clouds of darkness I flourished Megami and ran further up the mountain.

There was a large stone temple surrounded by three boulders. Gazing up at the stone temple I thought to myself, "Could this be my first destination?" To make sure that it was I checked my world map. Sure enough there it was on the map. It was known as the Gaia Temple. It struck me as odd that a dungeon in Hyrule was named after a Greek god but again I didn't have the time to worry about it. So clenching my sword and shield tightly in my hands I walked down the stairs leading into the temple.

When I finally got to the bottom I was in a large room. There in the center of the room was a statue dedicated to Hylia, the Goddess of Unity. I'll talk about it at a more appropriate time. For right now I walked up to the statue and I heard Hylia's voice say, "If you can hear me then listen well. Each temple you visit requires you to pass three trials. The Gaia Temple is a test of Faith. Only then shall you be able to obtain the almighty Faith Diamond."

I nodded my head and replied, "Alright then I understand Hylia. As a matter of fact I'm so ready!" Suddenly a swirling vortex of golden light appeared off to the side of the statue. In the center of the vortex was the Triforce insignia. Yeah now do you get the idea? Since I was in Hyrule everything mystical involves the almighty Triforce insignia. But that's neither here nor there. I stepped on the vortex and teleported away from the room.

Next thing I knew was that I was standing atop a towering marble platform. Engraved on the surface of the platform was the imagery of a golden triangle with a burning red aura. I recognized it as the Triforce of Power. Walking over to the center of the platform I heard Hylia's voice say to me, "Your trials are to prove that you have complete confidence in your own inner strength. Now then time to test your might Brandon Swift."

That's when a swirling vortex of darkness appeared on the floor of the platform. Out of the vortex came three Dinofols, bipedal dinosaurs who wielded swords and breathed fire. I brandished Megami and slashed the nearest Dinofol. It reeled back in pain and screeched loudly. It breathed a stream of flames at me but I blocked with my shield.

The other two Dinofols joined in on the fight and the four of us clashed blades. After I had slain one Dinofol its spirit was absorbed into my body. I then felt a surge of energy and chuckled softly. I then told them, "This is the end of the line for you! Sonic Blade!" After I got done focusing my mind I levitated in the air and flew towards the enemy. I them rapidly slashed away at the Dinofols until they too died. Just like before the other two Dinofols had their spirits absorbed into my body.

Now then time to educate you on what just happened. First off if you have ever played a game related to Final Fantasy or basically RPG video games in general? Yeah I had just gain access to Spirit Magic. By slaying creatures I can absorb their spirits into my body and store it as Spirit Magic. Think of it as SP or Spirit Points for short. (That time for certain I definitely broke the fourth wall!) Oh yeah and just a small tidbit? Yeah I played Kingdom Hearts before so my memories of playing the game allowed me to use a sword technique similar to the Kingdom Hearts attack Sonic Blade.

I checked my watch real quick to see what time it was. It went from 12 o'clock in the afternoon to 6 o'clock at night. I was doing good on time but I only had 60 hours left to complete my quest. Or at the least my first dungeon. So reactivating my shield I heard the voice of Hylia say to me, "You have passed the first trial, allowing you passage into the heart of the temple. Go forth and seek out the other trials. I shall be awaiting for your arrival at the end of Gaia Temple."

That's when a large marble double door magically appeared before me. I kicked it open like a badass and I walked through the door. In a bright flash of light I emerged in a cavern filled with wondrous treasures. There was gold coins and pearls scattered around the area. Clay pots lined the walls and on impulse I smashed them open in hopes of getting rupees. (You can imagine the glee I felt when I did. A total of six red rupees! Oh hell yeah oh happy day!)

After filling my rupee satchel with my easy earned cash I walked down a winding staircase. I swear to the goddesses it was heating up inside the cavern. Then I had an epiphany that struck me something fierce again. "I thought it was only my imagination but this cavern seems familiar. I just can't put my finger on it." I muttered under my breath. When I heard the flapping of wings and cries of bats I looked up and saw a flock of Keese.

Now Keese are one of the weakest of creatures known in Hyrule. But when they're in a flock? Watch out cause they're out for blood! Man I couldn't slash the Keese Flock any faster than I could at that very moment. The more I swung Megami the more agitated they became. However one by one they fell and the whole flock was syphoned into my body as SP. I then sprinted down the stairs leading deeper into Gaia Temple. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs I came upon a large stone door. Not to mention it felt like I had just walked into a hellish oven.

Looking up towards the top of the door was the Triforce insignia. The top triangle was shining with a red aura, indicating that this is indeed a temple related to the Triforce of Power. I then heard Hylia say, "Pass this trial and you shall aquire a new ability. And for future reference you'll always be rewarded with a new ability upon passing a temple's second trial. Now then are you ready to go?"

I clenched my sword and shield tightly and replied, "Oh yeah I am so ready for whatever lies beyond that door! Open says me!" There was a loud rumbling and the double doors slowly creaked open. I then sprinted into the doorway and was engulfed in a heavenly light. Once again I was standing atop the same towering marble platform. It still had the Triforce of Power insignia engraved on the surface.

Suddenly a swirling vortex of darkness appeared in the floor and out popped three Dodongos. They were just your average fire breathing dinosaurs. The only problem was that their tails were their only weak spot. And they were very protective of their tails. I learned that the hard way.

I swished my sword and bashed the closest Dodongo in the face with my shield. This angered the overgrown lizard and as such it blew fire at me. I dodged it by rolling to the side and around to its rear end. I then slammed the blade of Megami down onto the Dodongo's tail. Luckily for me since a portion of Farore's spirit was infused in my sword the heavenly aura had caused the Dodongo to be eradicated. So that just left two more Dodongos.

Once I got my pattern down pat I had stored up more SP after slaying the Dodongos. So much that I felt an overwhelming surge of energy in my body. On a whim I stored up SP into the blade of Megami. I then jammed the blade of Megami down into the floor. It was then that the blade of a stone sword rose up a foot away from me. I went into a trance and said, "I have learned the Ragnarok skill! By storing up SP into Megami's blade I can skewer my enemies on an earthly blade!"

Afterwards another large marble double door appeared. Again I kicked it open like a badass and went through the doorway. On the other side I was inside a large lava cavern hallway. Now I understand why it was hotter than hell in Gaia Temple! Oh well even though I was surrounded by molten lava it didn't scare me. I just ran down the hallway, avoiding pitfalls here and there. Oh yeah and I slayed the occasional Baby Dodongos and Keese that snuck up on me. I did so by using my Ragnarok skill.

Even though it was hotter than all hell the deeper I went the heat didn't worry me. It was just that damn time limit of mine! When I finally reached a massive stone door with the Triforce of Power insignia at the top I wiped sweat from my face. My clothes were drenched in sweat and right now I was thirsty for about 3 tasty red Health Potions. So of course I smashed open several pots strewn about the area and found 6 more red rupees. (Oh yeah you can bet your sweet ass I wanted to be rich by the end of my journey!)

I then heard Hylia say to me, "Beyond this door is the last trial for the Gaia Temple. Pass it and the Faith Diamond is yours. Put everything that you had learned to use and over the temple's fiend. My sisters and I shall be watching over you Brandon Swift." That's when Megami glowed brightly and I heard Farore's voice say, "It's just like I promised Princess Samantha. I shall keep her darling sweetheart safe. That's my duty as Brandon's Guardian Goddess. Now then are you ready?" I simply chuckled and proceeded to push open the door, walking inside soon after that.