The Rising of the Dead
Ganor and Marcus split up to look for the legendary hero. Ganor searched the Market while Marcus went to check if he was at Kakariko Village. Ganor was the one to find him. "You, sir!"
Link turned, startled. "I?"
"Are you the one they call the Hero of Time?"
"Yes, of course."
"My name is Ganor. I am from the future. We need your help! We're the only ones brave enough to fight."
"Fight?"
"Monsters have come. Strong monsters. And your family…"
"My family?"
"Your son's son."
"You lost me."
"Your grandson is with me. Using the Orcarina of Time we came to the future to find you. Will you come?"
The great Hero did not hesitate. "Let's go!"
The three of them stepped out of the Temple. "This," Ganor began, "is Hyrule as we know it."
Marcus added, "Thanks to you, everything was peaceful."
"Was?" Link asked.
Ganor pointed to the darkened sky. "Hyrule is covered in darkness."
"Monsters have attacked. And… and…" Marcus could not continue.
"The darkness had swallowed some people. They'd just vanish into a dark hole. His mother was one of the victims."
"We have to stop it!"
Link agreed whole-heartedly. "Let's head out!"
They arrived at the village, hoping no more damage was done. A girl sat by the well, obviously depressed, while two other children ran around, cheerfully playing a game.
The girl saw the three young men walking toward her. "Good day," she smiled.
"What's wrong?" Marcus asked.
"Uh… nothing… I…" They all looked at her in anticipation. "I do not wish to frighten you…"
"Frighten us?" Ganor asked. "What is it your hiding?"
"I am hiding nothing… My—my father says that Ganondorf is back!"
"No way! He was sealed away for good 16 years ago!"
"How could he have possibly…" Ganor was lost in his thoughts.
"I don't understand," Link was so confused at this future thing.
"I don't either! The seal was not supposed to open. Wait! In the legends! There's a poem in the legends! I don't know it well, but my father should. He's in the library!"
He was. He was hunched over one of the books of legend. "Yes, I can help you. The poem is right here. It was the last words Ganon spoke before being sealed away again, this time forever, by the Hero of Time.
"'I've come back from other seals
And I will be back again.
There is one way this seal can break,
But not by normal powers of man.
"'Darkness will encloud Hyrule
And as people run in fear,
Others will be taken, and
Their families will shed tears.
"'The only way this could occur
Is if the dead would rise again.
Then I would indeed return
To rule this god-blessed land.
"'I tell you that I will be back
To take over this place.
And when I'm finally victorious,
I'll end the Hylian race!'
"I suppose the 'dead rose.' I don't understand it though."
"Well," Marcus thought aloud, "we know that Ganondorf is back. But we're still not completely sure."
"Perhaps if he truly had returned, he would be in his homeland."
"You mean Gerudo Desert, right?"
They barely came upon the desert when Ganor told them, "I'll see if I can find any clues or something out here. You guys go ahead."
"If you insist," Marcus agreed. He and Link continued on.
"Are the Gerudo still thieves?" Link asked.
"No. You can't blame them, either. After that whole thing with Ganondorf…"
"I see."
A young girl walked by them. "Hey, you!"
"Me?" the girl's wide eyes peered at them in suspicion.
"What's your name?"
"Rianna, yours?"
"I'm Marcus. I was wondering if you knew anything about Ganondorf."
"He was sealed away about… 16 years ago. Everyone knows that!"
"We heard he had returned."
"That's impossible."
"Apparently the 'dead rose' or something. Any ideas?"
"Faeries have powerful healing abilities if used at the right time. Perhaps they healed someone."
"I guess that could be a possibility. By the way, who is your new king?"
"We don't have one."
"Is he dead?"
"He must be."
Shaking the strange answer, they left the desert. Ganor was there to great them. "What did you find out?"
"Nothing," Marcus admitted. "You?"
"Nothing."
"Perhaps another race knows," Link suggested. "Besides, I want to check in on Kokiri Forest."
"Alright, then!" Marcus exclaimed.
"I love the forest!" Marcus sighed happily.
"Me, not so much…" Ganor stated.
"Where are you from anyway?"
"It doesn't matter. I was banished from my home, never to return!"
"What do you mean?" Link was curious.
"It doesn't matter now. Let's go."
"I just noticed something…" Marcus started. "No one's out here…"
"Look at this." Ganor pointed to a sign. "'Home of the Great Mido, Boss of the Kokiris. Lets go in here."
They opened the door and walked in. Right then, a voice, small but with authority boomed. "Who dares step into the Great Mido's house without knocking?"
"Knock, knock. Happy?" Marcus said, annoyed.
"Hmph! You're just—" He stopped short and stared. "L-Link?"
"Yes, it is," Link answered.
"Impossible! It's almost as if the dead rose!"
There was a long pause as the realization sunk in.
Marcus cried out, "That's it! Thanks, Mido!"
"Wait, what?" Link was even more confused.
"Don't you get it? You're dead!"
"Gee, thanks."
"No, no. You died awhile ago. But you came with us to the future, so it's like the dead rose!"
"I understand now!" Ganor exclaimed.
"I am glad that the Great Mido could be of assistance!" Mido bowed.
"Stop talking about yourself in the third person you conceited jerk!" Marcus grumbled.
"I beg your pardon and your apology!"
"Granted and not granted. Now let's go. Now we know for sure that he's alive!"
"Who?"
"Ganondorf."
"Yikes!"
"Let's head back to the village!"
"I'll come along!" a small fairy flew to them before they left.
"Who are you?" Ganor scowled at the small thing.
"You may call me Tinra. I am pleased to be of service to you!"
"Alright. Let's go already!" Marcus led them out of the forest.