Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or terms from Legend of Zelda, Nintendo does. I just write about them.

Long live Hyrule.


Chapter 3

The Challenge

"Hey, Arthur! I didn't know you had a girlfriend. You shoulda told me." Arthur turned to see he two best friends, Saria and Mido.

"She's not my girlfriend. We were just in the same train car going to the same convention." Arthur said in defense.

"That's what you said about Ilia when you first started dating her. Speaking of which, where is she? I thought she was coming with you?" Mido said.

"We broke up a month ago. I haven't seen her since."

"Wonder who's fault that is?" Saria said dismissively.

"Alright, I missed a few of her cheer-leading tournaments. So what? I had told her weeks before I couldn't go."

Saria looked at Arthur carefully. "So you're saying its her fault?"

"What? No. I'm just saying she got mad that I wasn't at tournaments that I had already told her I couldn't come to because I was already busy."

"Come on, Saria. Let is go." Mido said, lightly punching Saria in the arm. "Just because Arthur here didn't go to stuff you were in doesn't mean he does that same with other people. Right, Arthy?" Mido turned to Arthur. Arthur agreed with Mido. Smart move on his part. Saria still was skeptical.

"Look, can we go inside? It's hot out here." Arthur pleaded.

"What are you talking about? It's relatively cool."

"Really? 'Cause I'm sweating." Arthur saw a flash of a memory about walking in a desert; it made him even hotter.

"Must be the material. I think the saleswoman said it was made of wool." Saria said.

"Great, but can we just go inside?"

"I don't know what you two are waiting for. Come on!" Mido was already at the door.

'How the hell did he get over there?' Arthur thought, following Mido inside. Mido's speed always amazed Arthur, along with everyone else.

Inside, there were tons of activities and market stalls. The whole place was packed. The three of them walked around for a while, looking at the items being sold and watching people complete the activities. After a few hours, they made it to the other side of the whole building. There was only one activity in the whole section and not many people were at it. "Hey, let's do this one. It's not that busy." Mido said excitedly.

"That's probably because it's really bad." Saria said.

"Why are you always such a pessimist?" Mido asked, anoied.

"Come on, Saria. It's probably not that busy because everyone else is in the front. It has happened before. Remember last year?" Arthur said, helping Mido out. He really wanted to see what it was about. It somehow sparked some feeling inside him and he wanted to know what it was.

Saria rolled her eyes, but agreed to come along. The activity itself was not in the large room, but in another room that was hidden from view. The person who seemed to be running the activity was an athletic man. His costume was of a swordsman. "Welcome, young adventures." He was saying, ushering the three friends around the door. There were two other people waiting and it seemed to Arthur that they had been waiting for a long time.

After about ten minutes, the swordsman gave up on getting people and hooped off the pedestal he stood on. "Hello, young people. My name is Byrne. The door before you leads into a true test of courage. There is a legend about a hero who is said to be the only one to ever complete this test. It is said that he had disappeared, never to be seen again. But one of you standing here might be this lost hero reborn. Will any of you take on the challenge?"

Most people left when Byrne finished his little speech, but Arthur stepped foward and said, "I will." This made Byrne happy at least.

"Fantastic! If you could step right up." He said excitedly pointing to the door. Arthur did so. "When you step inside, the door will close behind you. To get out, you have to complete the three challenges that wait for you. Good luck."

That door opened and Arthur stepped inside. Just as Byrne had said, the door immediately shut behind him.


Sorry it took so long to post this up. My computer has had a virus for the past few months.

Next up, Arthur goes through the first challenge that takes him up and away.

Please comment.