Chapter Two: There is a Talking Tree
The last thing Link expected when he met Sheik's aunt was… well Sheik's aunt. He was one hundred percent certain that Impa could bench press seven children. She was paler than Sheik, and her hair seemed to have gone white early. She probably wasn't out of her thirties yet. On her right arm was a tattoo of the Goron crest, her wrist had the Zoran crest. Her left arm had the Gerudo crest. Link was willing to bet she had a crest for each of the peoples of Hyrule.
"My aunt works as a peace keeper. She's gets a new tattoo for each new group she works with and adds more each time she goes back to visit." Sheik explained. "She's met with the Goron's the most, since they were so close."
"That's really cool." Maybe Impa knew a bit about the legends… Maybe she could help him on his quest? Link pushed the thought out of his mind. A quest? Suddenly pain seemed to split his skull.
"Link? Are you okay man?" Link felt Sheik's hand on his back, but when he opened his eyes the countryside was racing past him and the wind whipped at his hair. He felt himself being jostled, as if he were riding a horse. "Link!"
"Wha?" Link shook himself out of the vision. "Sorry, head ache. Not much sleep last night." The car pulled into a drive way and Link practically leapt out of the car before it stopped, hoping to avoid the gaze of the two Sheikah.
"If you're trying not to draw attention to yourself you aren't doing a good job." The ghost whispered from his backpack.
"Let's uh... get started on the project!" Link tried to change the subject. He could feel the tension in the air. "Come on Midna's gonna blow a gasket if we don't have something for tomorrow." He followed Sheik inside.
"You can set your stuff in my room, just ignore the boxes, I'm not done unpacking yet." Sheik led Link to his room. There was a pile of boxes in one corner and a few peeking out from under the bed. "Okay so where should we start?" Sheik sat down on the bed.
Link chewed on his lower lip and leaned against the dresser. He looked down at his backpack where the hero's spirit hid. Did he remember this life? Was it a good one? "You said your aunt might have a book about the legends?"
"Yeah probably buried somewhere in one of these boxes. I'll go ask her." Sheik left his room and the spirit popped out of the bag.
"The temple is not far from here. At nightfall you have to go to purify it." The ghost popped out of the bag.
"What do you mean purify? You said I needed a weapon but all I've got is my slingshot…" Link hissed.
"My mom's got a few books on all the legends." Sheik came back with an armful of books. "These are the ones she let me take. She's got more but they're either in other languages or a million years old so she doesn't let me touch them." He dumped the books on the bed.
"Welp… That's way more than what I was expecting." Link looked between the books and Sheik.
"Too much?" Sheik raised an eyebrow nervously.
"Maybe. We just need three sources." Link leafed through one of the books. "This one looks good." Sheik started looking through books as well. "It's got stuff on Outset Island, where the legend starts."
"This one has the legend in its entirety." Sheik held up a thick book. "This one has pictures." He held up another one.
"One two three. Good enough for me."
Link waited until he was sure Sheik had fallen asleep before sneaking out. The slingshot and pouch of pebbles were in his hoodie pocket, and the ghost followed behind him giving unhelpful directions.
"I know where I'm going! Zelda and I went here every year for that haunted…" Link trailed off. Something was pulling him in another direction. Link headed down the path opposite the old haunted house.
"Where are you going? The temple is the other direction." The ghost said.
"There's something here." Link made his way into a clearing with a giant tree. The tree had to be ancient, the grey trunk seemed to be about half a football field thick. The tree seemed to have…a face…? "What is this?"
"A deku tree…?" The ghost was just as confused. "I have not seen one in such a long time."
"Huh?"
"The deku trees are protectors of the forests. They would often guide the heroes when their quests began." The ghost explained. "But I have not seen one in ages."
Come to me children. Your quest has begun again.
"You heard that too right?" Link looked around. The ghost nodded.
"We cannot dally here. We must purify the temple."
No. She is here.
"She?" Link blinked. "Zelda?!" He darted forward as an opening to the tree appeared.
"Link! No!" The ghost followed after the boy. "Something here is not right!"
Link ignored the past hero and looked around the room. A big hole was in the center, looking over the edge Link could see vines along the walls of the hole and water near the bottom. He felt something pull at his chest and climbed down the vines.
"Link! This is not right, something is wrong."
"But she's here! Zelda's here!" Link protested. "I- I can't explain it, but she's here!" The ghost frowned. "I'll go to the haunted house another time. But if Zelda's here…." His feet touched the soft ground and he let go of the vines.
"There is something not right about this…" The old hero repeated. Link climbed onto the block and then onto the platform. There was another hole in the center. There were no vines to climb down.
"How do I get down?"
The ghost furrowed his brow. "I think I jumped."
"You jumped?!" Link looked at the ghost. "Wait you've been here before?"
"I think so… The memories blur together… I cannot remember all of the details." A faint noise made the two fall silent. "Can you hear that?"
"help!" The voice was faint and horse, whoever it was had been shouting for a long time. Link made up his mind and jumped.
"What are you doing you fool!?" The ghost shouted after him. As quickly as Link had jumped, he was enveloped in water. His feet scraped the bottom of the pool and he pushed himself up. Gasping for breath Link made his way to the shore and stared at the large door in front of him.
"Do you remember this door?" Link asked the old hero. The ghost shook his head.
"I remember my past lives but the memories all blur together, I do know that behind this door is a great evil."
"help…" The voice was weaker this time. "please..." Link steeled his nerves and pushed on the door. To his surprise, it raised up rather quickly. Taking one last breath Link entered the dark room. The door slammed behind him, causing him to jump in surprise. He glanced over his shoulder, in this room the door looked just like the wall. He couldn't tell where one began and another ended. There was a rustling sound throughout the room.
In the center of the room was a bundle of something wrapped up in silvery-white threads. Link rushed forward, finding the thread to be cobwebs. He pulled at the cobwebs finding his best friend underneath. "Zelda!" He hurried to free her from the cobwebs relieved that his best friend was seemingly okay.
"Link?" Her voice was horse. "What happened? Who's with you?"
"Shh… Just gimme a sec, I'll get you out of here." Link didn't notice the room go silent.
"Link look out!" The ghost shouted. Link looked over his shoulder to find a giant Ghoma with its front legs raised and poised to strike. The angry red eyed beast hissed at him. Link felt a cold sensation and then felt his arms moving Zelda and him out of the way. He wasn't entirely in control of his muscles.
"Stay here." He told Zelda, but was that really him? His voice sounded strange.
"Link?" Zelda asked. But he was already gone, trying to distract the monster so it would get away from her.
"Your weapon! Strike the eye!" He heard the ghost, but the voice was weirder, like the ghost was inside of him. Pushing the thought aside Link fumbled for his slingshot and dropped the pouch of pebbles on the ground. "Duck!" Link looked up and ducked in time to avoid the swipe of the Ghoma. He grabbed a pebble in front of him and felt himself roll out of the way of another swipe.
"Are you controlling me?!" Link stood up. "So not cool!"
"Fight better!" The ghost retorted back. Link felt himself take aim at the Ghoma and release. He hit the monster square in the eye. The monster shrieked and fell down, temporarily stunned. "Rip the eye from its socket!" The ghost appeared next to him.
"How?!" Link really didn't want to dig in and rip the eye out with his bare hands… He already half dissected a frog with his bare hands…
"Hurry!" Alright so he was ripping the eye out with his bare hands. Maybe he should just start carrying gloves on him at all times. Link dug his fingers into the eye socket and pulled, trying to ignore the slimey eyeball feel or the green blood he was being soaked in. With a sickening POP the eye came out and the Ghoma fell down dead. Link quickly dropped the eye and flicked his hands, trying to get rid of the monster blood that covered them.
"Blech…" He made a face at the eyeball. A rustling noise made him remember, Zelda was still there… Did she happen to see him pull the eyeball out with his bare hands?
"Did you… Is that… And is he… What…?" So probably…
"Yes?" Link offered. Zelda's eyes fluttered and she began to sway. Link hurried to catch her before she could hit the ground. "Zelda?"
"She will be alright." A soft blue light filled the room. "Take her away from this cursed place."
"What was a Ghoma doing here? I thought they were only in myths." Link carried Zelda into the blue light, feeling himself stronger. The light brightened until it was blinding. When it faded, Link found himself standing in the grove with the giant tree.
"I told you before, you have to bring the magic back to Hyrule. Monsters are awakening and it is only a matter of time before the King of Thieves is reborn."
Thank you. Link figured it had to be the tree. Thank you for saving the girl and defeating Prince Ghoma.
"Prince Ghoma?" Link furrowed his brow. "Wait a descendent of Queen Ghoma?"
Yes. Many ages ago, my ancestor was cursed by the evil man from the desert. Queen Ghoma infected him and he died from the poison. The hero of that time defeated Queen Ghoma, but did not destroy all of her eggs. The one you have slain ate his brothers and sisters and took up residence in my ancestor. The demon lord Ghirahim tamed Prince Ghoma to watch over the girl.
"Ghirahim." The ghost growled. "Him I know very well."
I do not know why this girl was needed nor why the demon lord awoke after ages of slumber. The time for a new hero has come. Are you worthy to be that hero my child?
Link looked down at his friend in his arms. He was thirteen years old, she was thirteen years old. They should be worrying about tests and school and getting ready for middle school to end and high school to start…
But at the same time, darkness was awakening. Who else could seal it away? Groose?
The ghost had come to him. This was his quest. This was his journey.
Link looked up and nodded at the tree. "Yes."
Go north. There you will find a stream to purify yourself in. Your heart will guide you from there.
"I have to take care of my friend. She's been gone for days, her parents are missing her, she needs to see a doctor." Link protested.
Place your friend in the white light in front of my ancestor. I may be but a sapling but I can insure she will be taken to safety. A white light appeared in front of the dead deku tree. Link hesitated a moment before approaching the light.
"You promise she'll be safe?"
Yes.
Link set his best friend down in the light and stepped away. The light faded away along with her body.
Go north.
"How do I find north?" Link asked.
"This way." The ghost stood at the entrance of the clearing. "Follow the stars. They are friend to all the heroes and will guide you." Link looked up to the stars, but couldn't see how they'd guide him…
"How?"
"You will learn." The ghost led Link to the stream. Link rushed in, ignoring the cold and grateful to be able to wash the monster blood off. Once he felt clean Link returned to the bank. The ghost floated near a cave. "Listen to your heart. Let it guide you to where you must go."
"Can't you just tell me?" Link sighed. The ghost shook his head.
"This is a test for you. You must prove that you are worthy of being the hero. Enter the cave and let your heart guide you through." The ghost drifted to one side to allow Link to pass. "You must go through this test alone." Link took one last look at the ghost, waiting for him to say it was all an elaborate hoax, but he didn't. The kid walked into the cave.
The cave was dark, so dark he could scarcely see in front of him. He dragged one hand against the wall, finding it to be smooth and damp. Not knowing any other way, Link moved forward until he came into a dimly lit chamber.
"Please." The sudden voice made him jump. "Do not be afraid." Squinting Link could faintly see an old man standing in the chamber holding a sword. "It's dangerous to go alone. Take this." He offered the sword to Link.
"Thank you." Gently Link took the sword from the old man.
"No. Do not thank me. It is a curse." Suddenly the light was extinguished and the man disappeared. In his place was a green stone. Link pocketed the stone and exited the cave, his hand brushing the wall to guide him.
"So you have returned." The ghost hadn't moved. "Come, it will be day soon." Link groaned. Tomorrow was not going to be fun.
yes! On time! I actually have had this chapter written for a while now... Im working on the fourth one but it's getting long... I might have to break it up...
Hope you're here for a long story because this is gonna be a loooooong story...
