A/N: In the prologue we saw Arthur Snibbins kill a small, innocent forest dwelleA/N: In the prologue we saw Arthur Snibbins kill a small, innocent forest dweller. Oh, and a little prick named Mido. In this installment, karma is catching up with him in the form of a blonde guy in a manskirt. Let's watch, shall we?
Chapter One: The Hero's Return
Link. The Hero of Time, wielder of the Master Sword, guardian of the Triforce of Courage. He stood on the steps of the Temple of Time waiting for someone he had begun to fear he would never see again. And why wouldn't he? She hadn't appeared the last six times. Nevertheless, Link had come here every year on the anniversary of when he last saw his dearest friend.
The other 364 days a year Link devoted to searching for Navi. He chased every rumor, pursued every lead, and consulted every damn wiseman he could find. But she wasn't in Termina, she wasn't Ordon, and no one in Lycia had even heard of fairies. So here he was, again, playing the waiting game. Link looked up at the sun setting and sighed; it was time to resume travelling.
"Liiiiiiink!" Link turned around and was immediately slammed in the face by what seemed like a ball of light. Focusing his vision, he realized it was the long lost Navi.
"I missed you so much and I was worried something might happen to you or that something would happen to me and that I would never see you again and-". Link held up a finger to silence his babbling friend. Navi took a few deep breathes. Then, she explained what had happened to her.
"When Zelda returned us to the past, I received a summons from the Fairy Queen. A demon calling himself Uncle Rupee had attacked a Great Fairy spring with an army of cursed people. So I was being drafted to help fight him. Seven years," Navi shuddered, "The war lasted for seven years. If it weren't for this guy named Tingle it would have lasted even longer. But now it's over and we're back together!"
Link smiled and took out the Ocarina of Time. He played a few notes. "Ooh, I remember that song! You're calling Saria, right? Telling her I'm finally back?" Navi interrupted. Link gave Navi an annoyed glance. "Oops, sorry. Keep playing." Link finished the song and felt his mind connect to Saria's for the first time in far too long.
'Link? Is- is that really you? You have to come to Kokiri Forest fast. Some kind of magic man is attacking. And Link- he has round ears. Please, help!'
The connection broke, and Link quickly played another song. Epona galloped up to him seconds later. Mounting her, he took off towards Kokiri village at breakneck speed.
"A magic man with round ears. You don't suppose...?" Link trembled at what Navi was implying. He spurred Epona to go faster. If Gannondorf had returned...
"I asked a question. Why won't any of you answer me?" Arthur asked of his would-be victims. "C'mon, I just want to have a little fun. If one of you talks, I get to kill you. That's the way the game works. Wait- Steve's trying to say something!"
Arthur reached into his tattered robes and pulled out his gnome-head companion. The sight of it terrified the poor Kokiri, though they dared not scream. Any sound, they knew, would cause the magic man to kill them.
"What's that Steve? You say the red-haired one talked after the mean one was killed? But if she talked, that means I get to kill her." Arthur crouched down a stared at the girl Mido had previously been bullying. "Is Steve right? Were you talking?" The girl remained silent. "I don't know Steve; this one doesn't seem to be a girl at all. I think it's a tree stump. I know Steve! Let's play burn the tree stump!" Arthur ignited his wand.
"Hyaah!" Link leaped off of Epona and kicked Arthur sharply in his skull, knocking him back several feet. Undeterred, the madman rose and addressed the interloper.
"You want to play too, eh? Well since you talked, you get to die!" Arthur recited his most beloved incantation and cast the spell at Link. The hero merely rolled out of the way.
"Hey! Listen! I think you can redirect his attacks like you did with Twinrova." Navi whispered excitedly to her partner. Link nodded in understanding, dodged another spell, and drew out his 'special' shield.
"Play by the rules, you're supposed to be dying! Avada Kedavra! The spell hit Link's shield and disappeared. "Wha? That's not supposed to happen... Avada Kedavra!" Absorbed. "WHY WON'T YOU DIE? AVADAR KEDAVRA!" For a third time, the killing curse was absorbed.
The Mirror Shield glowed bright and a green beam shot from it directly back at Arthur. The dark wizard slumped to the ground. Link walked over to him and lifted his head; the eyes were blank, lifeless
"He's dead." Navi announced. The Kokiri gave a half hearted cheer. Saria approached Link and embraced him tightly.
"He took Mido, and now you've taken him." As she spoke, a few tears marred her innocent face. "You've changed Link. You're older and stronger and..." Realization dawned on Saria's face. "...and that means you're not really a Kokiri, doesn't it? Link what's happening? Why did that weird bad man come here? Why is Mido dead? Why were you gone for so long?" Her tears poured as fountains and she grasped onto to Link even tighter. "I understand why you left. I really do, and I know that you had to go, so why do I still feel this way? I'm so sad and angry, and hurt. Link- please explain what is happening!"
Link tried to speak- really, really tried- but he couldn't. He wanted so badly to tell Saria everything but was unable to do so. The ability to form words eluded him even then, when he desired it the most. The only thing he could do was hug his old friend, stroke her hair, and lend her his shoulder to cry on. Like always, he had to rely on someone else to talk speak in his place.
"I'm sorry Saria, but we can't explain everything now. We need to find out where the bad man came from and why he attacked Kokiri Village. You should return Mido's body to the earth." Saria reluctantly pulled away from Link.
"Take the bad man's body to the new Deku Tree. Maybe he can help you somehow." Saria said.
Link heaved Arthur's body over his shoulder and headed towards the pathway to the Deku Tree. A feeling in Link's gut told him he might not see Kokiri Forest again in a long time, so he took one last look at it.
"Good-bye Link." Saria said softly. "Please come back soon." And with that, Link rushed down the path to the Deku Tree.
"Link! I have not seen you in seven years! Or has it been no years? Or perhaps fourteen? That Ocarina of yours did a number on my noggin." The now-grown Deku Tree greeted Link with enthusiasm, but faltered when he saw the 'package' over his shoulder.
"Great Deku Tree, we need your help. Can you tell us anything about this evil man?" Navi asked.
"Well I- lay him at my roots." Link did so. "Okay, I'm still pretty new at this, but let me try a little trick." The Deku Tree's roots enveloped the dead Death Eater's head and part of his torso. The tree's face went rigid. His trance lasted several minutes. When he came out of it, he was shaking so bad leaves were falling off.
"Roll up the man's left sleeve!" Link immediately obeyed and discovered a skull intertwined with a snake. "That symbol means he is part of a group of very evil sorcerers. They're from a world very different from ours, but if this man got here then others like him could too. Link, you have to go to this other world a stop the evil sorcerers! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
"Hey! Listen! You need to tell us how to get there." Navi reminded him.
"Oh, right. Umm you still have the Ocarina of Time?" Link pulled out the ocarina. "Good. Try playing this tune." The Deku Tree hummed out a series of notes. Link brought the ocarina to his lips and duplicated the tune. "Excellent! Now play it with me. I think my power combined with the Ocarina of Time should be able to send you to the bad man's world. On three: One, Two Three!" The pair played the sweet melody of the Forest Warp Symphony. At the end of it, Link and Navi found themselves tumbling into a brand new world.
A/N: And thus ends the first chapter. Be sure to tune in for 'Chapter Two: Hunting the Dark Mark', coming soonish. I can't promise it will be as long or engrossing as this chapter, but Link will be befriending a thestral. Oh, and if you are reading this, please review. Reviews are the only weapons effective against Writer's Block (hint, hint).