A/N(1): I DO NOT own the Legend of Zelda series, and anything affiliated with it. Any original characters are creations of my own and are used to enhance the already amazing story by Nintendo and crew.
Chapter 1: The Tempest
Link stared out from his second story tree house window at the dark and stormy sky. The unrelenting rain pounded the ground at an amazing rate, creating small streams where before, there were none. There were many people in the small village of Ordon that were calling this the worst storm in a hundred years. He sighed as he thought about how today was supposed to be the day that he taught Colin how to do the spin attack. He knew the 12 year old would have been able to learn it quickly.
A bolt of lightning streaking across the sky brought Link out of his thoughts. The resulting clap of thunder was powerful enough to cause his medium length blonde hair to blow back away from his face. "This is getting really bad," he thought.
He moved away from the window, making sure the shutters were closed and locked tight enough so that if the wind changed direction, they would not blow open. Link sighed again and walked over to his bed, where he sat on the edge, putting his hands on his forehead and closed his eyes.
For some reason this storm, which was in its second day had caused a lot of old memories to come to the surface.
It had only been two years since his triumphant duel against the Dark Lord Ganondorf, but the events that proceeded still had a profound effect on his life. Just thinking about her caused him pain. He could vividly remember the moments before she crossed through the portal to the Twilight Realm for the final time, a top the Arbiter's Grounds in the desert. Once open, she made her way across the glowing path. Before crossing to her home world, she turned back to Link, one last time, a single tear running down her cheek. She used this tear to shatter the Mirror of Twilight, in an attempt to sever the link between the worlds of Light and Twilight. She, however, had no idea, that in the process, she would also shatter Link's heart. Midna…
A sharp knock at Link's door brought him back to reality. Knowing that it would be one of the villagers, he quickly climbed down the ladder and made his way to the wooden door. Before he had the door completely opened, Fado burst in, sending droplets of water everywhere. Outside the wind howled, lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled so loud that the sound caused the ground to shake. "This storm can't possibly be natural," Link thought as she pushed the door shut and turned to a panting Fado.
Water dripped from his brown hair into his face. Link hurried to get something to dry his friend off, but Fado waved his arms around crazily, stopping him. "There's no time to worry about my being soaked to the bone," he said, the puddle under his feet growing by the second. "Mayor Bo's house was struck by lightning and caught fire. Many of the villagers are trying to put it out."
At the startling news, Link rushed into action, diving into his chest and grabbing items, including his Ordon sword and shield, and Hero's Clothes. His hand passed over the enchanted pouch Midna had made for him to store all of the weapons and items they had acquired over the course of their journey.
"Take this," she had said. "It'll hold all of your items, weapons and armor, no matter the weight or size." She smiled as Link took the pouch and attached it to his belt. "We are trying to save Hyrule and the Twilight Realm from Zant, we wouldn't want you slowed down because of those Iron Boots now would we." She giggled before disappearing into his shadow where she hid while he was in his human form.
A pang of agony ripped through his chest at the thought of Midna, but he quickly shut it away, focusing solely on the crisis at hand. "Let's go," he said to Fado, crossing the room to the door, opening it and launching himself out into the tempest. Together Link and Fado ran through the trees down the dirt path that linked his house with the village proper. The pounding rain had turn the dirt to a muddy, puddle filled muck, which slowed them down. Link's heart pounded in his chest. "I hope no one is hurt," he thought.
By the time the duo had reached the village, the plume of smoke from the massive inferno could be seen, rising into the sky, both undisturbed by the wind and rain. Most of the villagers were rushing back and forth between the house and the stream with buckets trying to smite the fire, not realizing that their efforts weren't making a difference. Link and Fado ran towards Mayor Bo, who was barking orders to the villagers attempting to put out the fire, and at the same time, trying to convince Rusl to get his wife Uli and their two year old daughter Taryn out of the village.
"I won't leave Ordon to burn!" Rusl yelled over the fire and wind. "And I know Uli will agree with me. You need every spare hand you can get, Uli and Taryn are safe in the house for now, Colin and I can help here."
Bo rubbed his forehand and nodded, giving in to what Rusl was saying. He looked over as Link and Fado ran up. He looked at Fado and said, "Thanks for getting to him quickly." Then looked in Link's direction, "I know this isn't saving the Princess or anything, but thanks for the help." Link nodded, and rushed to grab a spare bucket to help with the dousing effort, silently wishing Midna was here to help. "She would know how to help…she always knew the way when I was lost." As he ran towards the blaze with a full bucket, he heard Fado tell Bo he needed to go to the pasture to make sure the goats were still safely in the barn.
"Wouldn't want them to escape with all of this going on!" Fado yelled as he ran up the path towards the pasture.
Together, Link and the villagers tried to extinguish the fire. For what seemed like hours, they continued their effort. Every time they thought they had it under control, the flames would flare back into existence with renewed intensity. Link knew they weren't battling normal fire. He recalled the blue fire that was found in certain places around Hyrule, and how it melted red ice. This fire however was yellow and red, like any other normal fire in the world, and the water they were pouring on it was doing no good.
"I don't understand," Colin yelled out in frustration, kneeling down by the stream next to Link to refill his bucket, hair dripping with rain water. "Why isn't anything working?"
Link put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I don't know, but we will figure something out. Don't worry." He looked out at the rest of the village, trying to hide the concerned look on his face. "At least it's not spreading."
At that moment, he heard his name being yelled over the wind and rain. Link turned and saw Fado running down from the goat pasture. Link set his bucket down next to Colin and ran to meet Fado. "What is it?" Link asked.
"There's a woman," Fado panted. "She's badly injured. I need your help moving her."
The pair ran up the path to the pasture, leaving behind the villagers to battle the fire. When they got to the farm, they jumped the gate and ran towards the throng of goats near the center of the field. Link began to push his way through the goats, and when he reached the center, he let out a gasp.
The woman was wearing what looked to be a black tunic, or at least it may have been. It was so ripped and frayed that it no longer served much purpose. Wherever there were rips in the clothing, the woman's skin was raw and bloody, as though she had dove through a forest of blades in a hurry. She was breathing rapidly and her eyes were half open. As Link picked her up, she let out a soft moan.
"We need to get her to Pergie," Link said. "She'll know what to do." Fado nodded, and ignoring the goats, ran with link back to the gate and down into the village. They skirted Mayor Bo's house and were at Pergie's door within minutes. Pergie opened the door and saw Link, holding the woman's almost lifeless body in his arms. Her eyes opened wide, but she waved him in.
Link laid the woman on the small cot that was nearby, and quickly explained to Pergie where they had found her. Immediately Pergie went to work, mixing up poultices and potential antidotes for the wounds on the woman's body. Link walked over to where Fado was standing, looking out the window at the burning house.
"First the freak lightning, and now this," Fado said. "It seems like it's going to be another one of those days. Mysterious things happening here, and then those beasts brought that weird wall of blackness." Fear spread across his face as he looked at Link. "Do you think that's going to happen again?"
Link shook his head. "Don't worry Fado, everything is going to be fine. We'll find a way to douse the fire and rebuild the house. As for the woman, Pergie is the best and will be able to help her. She's had to help deliver Uli's child and help with all of the other injuries."
He turned to check on Pergie's progress with the woman. At that moment a terrible screech emanated from the injured woman's mouth. "Help me, Link! I need the spring!" Link faintly heard the words over the noise. Hands over his ears, he looked around at Pergie and Fado, both of whom were mimicking him. Pergie had backed all the way up against the far wall, next to Fado.
They both looked over at Link, terror crossing their faces. "The spring," Link said loud enough for both of them to hear. "She needs to be placed in the spring! The water has healing powers." "How did she know my name?" Link thought as Pergie rushed over and placed the woman in Link's outstretched arms. With fear still covering her face, she said, "Hurry."
Link nodded at Pergie and made his way to the door, which Fado opened, and together they ran out into the pouring rain and rolling thunder. They quickly passed Sera's Shop, where Ilia had the younger children safely away from the tempest, and past Link's house towards the spring.
Breaking through the undergrowth, they finally appeared at the spring's edge and breathed a sigh of relief. The sun shone brightly in the clearing, quickly drying their clothes and warming their skin. The storm had not yet touched the area, but they could still hear the thunder rolling across the land. Link walked slowly over to the water's edge and carefully placed the woman in the warm, peaceful water.
Slowly, she drifted out to the middle of the spring. Link and Fado watched as the wounds on her body healed and color returned to her face; the spirit of Ordon was working its healing magic through the water. Fado walked up and put a hand on Lin's shoulder. "Is it going to work?" Link turned and nodded, but in an instant, Fado's expression changed from one of happiness to one of pure horror.
Link turned back and looked at the spring and the woman. The woman was now standing on the surface of the water, an evil smile spreading across her fact. "Thank you Link, Hero of Twilight, of Time, of Ages, and of Seasons. You brought me here just like I asked." The water underneath her feet began to change from deep blue to an acidic purple. "For your generosity, I shall spare your life…for now. As for everyone else, well that's a different story."
The woman spread out her arms and looked to the heavens. The water in the spring was now completely purple. "Despair. Sorrow. Destruction. All will befall this land I will be the ruler of the newly created world of Darkness! The wishes of the Dark One will finally be realized." Above her, a ball of dark energy formed and launched itself at Link. With no time to dodge, the dark energy struck Link in the chest, sending him flying backwards and into the ground.
Realizing that he was losing consciousness, the woman floated across the corrupted spring's surface and stared into Link's blue eyes. "Before you slip away…Remember my name…" She turned to the heavens once again. "I am Mael, daughter of Kyla, and great great grand-daughter of Veran, Sorceress of Shadows."
The last thing Link heard before he fell into darkness was the ear piercing laughter of Mael.
(2): I have been away from writing for a while, and from fanfiction for even longer. A friend recently started writing again, and it motivated me to rewrite the first two chapters of this story and to continue (and hopefully) finish it. This is the first chapter, reworked and expanded upon a little more. It flows a little better now and hopefully makes a little more sense. I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review (I love hearing from my readers and I always look forward to reading any constructive criticism anyone might have).