Chapter 4-
As she opened her eyes, Din wondered if the world had come to an end.
Her head still spinning, the Oracle of Seasons picked herself up off of the floor, and dusted herself off. As her vision began to clear, she saw the room around her was a disaster area; there was rubble everywhere, and she was surrounded by the dead bodies of moblins.
"Well, they certainly won't be bothering us again." She muttered sarcastically.
Just then, she realized that someone very important was missing. "LINK!" she shrieked. Scurrying around the room in a panic, the Oracle searched frantically for the hero. It wasn't long before she heard a familiar groan from under one of the piles of rubble.
"Link!" she yelled again, running over to dig him out. "Great Goddesses, are you okay, Link?" Din asked, as she cleared the debris off of him.
"Ugh... did Moosh sit on me again?" the Hero replied groggily.
Din had to tried to stifle a laugh. "I'm just glad you're okay."
As she helped Link up, he looked away from her. "I'm sorry Din... you were right, I shouldn't have used the spell medallion in such close quarters. That was a stupid trick I pulled."
She looked back towards the flood control lever. "Well, at least the machinery doesn't look damaged."
"Maybe... but you still could've gotten hurt." He shook his head in anger. "That's one stupid stunt I won't pull again."
"Why did those creatures want to flood Hyrule field, Link?" The Oracle asked, puzzled. "And when they said their master would be pleased... did they mean Ganon?"
The Hero shook his head. "No. As far as I know, the evil king is still dead... Sharalsha would have told me if he had been resurrected again." His eyes narrowed. "It's got to be Shadow Link! He's the one who attacked me in the desert. I wonder what he's up to this time?"
"I don't know, but we'd better get out of here." Din repiled, as she helped the still groggy Link towards the door. "But what are we going to do now?"
"We need to go see Sharalsha the Sage." The Hero replied. "But first... we need to get to the Castle, and warn the royal family what's going on."
Standing in the Center of Hyrule field, the Royal Palace was a large, walled structure surrounded by a moat. Several guards stood posted along the walls, giving the place an almost fortress-like feel. Once, a castle town had surrounded the castle. But after Vaati the Wind mage's first attack during the Picori festival over two centuries ago, the King of that time had ordered the town demolished for security reasons, and relocated the displaced inhabitants to the nearby Kakariko village. As Link and Din approached, the Oracle of Seasons almost felt ...overwhelmed.
"Link... this place is so... big!" She said in awe, as they passed through the main gate. "We don't have anything like this back in Holodrum!"
"Every king of Hyrule has had the palace remodeled a bit during their reigns." Link smiled. "And it's built over the ruins of where the old Hyrule castle from before the flood was believed to be, so there's all sorts of tunnels and secret passages running underneath this place. Zelda and I once used them to escape from the castle when the Wizard Aganim..."
The Hero trailed off when he noticed that Din wasn't even paying attention to him, and was instead admiring the lush red carpets. "In her own little world." Link sighed, and followed her up the Stairs.
As they approached the throne room, several armored guards moved to stop them... until they saw Link's green tunic. They then immediately snapped to attention.
"Welcome back, Sir." Thew captain of the guard saluted. "Was your trip to the desert a success?"
"I'm afraid not, captain." THe Hero frowned. "I need to see the king immediately!"
"Oh, well and your gerudo ... friend can go right on in." The Captain replied. As they walked past him, Din shot the captain an evil glare.
"Stupid, biogted soldier!" The Oracle muttered under her breath.
"Prejudice is something Hyrulians don't let go of easily, I'm afraid" Link replied sadly.
When they reached the throne room, link and Din bowed before the King of Hyrule. At his side was Princess Zelda, whom both Link and Din recognised.
"Ah! Greetings, my boy!" The King greeted him, making a gesture with his arm. "I am pleased you have returned!"
"Thank you, your majesty... but we have a terrible problem." Link and Din then informed the King and Zelda about what had happened with the trophy, and at the swamp ruins.
"This is most distressing news." Zelda finally said, after they had finished. "And you think Shadow Link is behind the flooding attempt?"
"Yes." Din replied. "But we have no idea how that ties back into his plot with Ruto town!"
"That is not the only problem your dark twin has been causing, lad." The king replied."For we have received word that Shadow Link has assembled an army of monsters at the Tower of Hera, high atop death mountain."
"And we have no idea what he intends to do with them." Zelda finished.
"We've got to get up there!" Link replied excitedly. "He's probably planning to invade Hyrule!"
The King shook his head. "We'll see to shadow Link my boy. We need you two to go seek out Sharalsha, the great sage of Hyrule. His wisdom may shed light on these matters."
"You can find him at the Eastern Palace." Zelda added. "Where he has gone to commune with the spirits of our ancestors."
"Hey!" Din yelled out angrily. "We're here to retrieve the Trophy, so we can help Ruto town! We don't have time to play messenger for the Royal family!"
"Din, we don't have time for this." Zelda replied impatiently. "The very fate of Hyrule could be at stake!"
"Well exuuuuse me, princess!" Din replied angrily. "But I'm not exactly one of your subjects you can order around!"
The king looked down at the stubborn Oracle of Seasons darkly. "Link could you please keep your "pet" gerudo quiet when we're discussing important business?"
Din looked like jhe was about to explode, when Link grabbed her shoulder. "Come on Din, let's just go." He whispered. "We can settle this later."
Grumbling, the Oracle of Sages followed the Hero out, ignoring the catcalls from the guards.
"Hey Hero! Nice plaything you got there!"
"Is that desert fox any good in the sack?"
"Just ignore those idiots." Link growled. But he could see the quiet tears welling up in Din's eyes. Link wished he could punch everyone one of those smart-mouthed guards in the mouth, then take Din into his arms and comfort her. But he knew he couldn't do either.
"Come on." The Oracle of Seasons replied in a shaky voice. "Let's just get out of here."
Link nodded silently. As they approached the gate, Link thought back to Din's outburst in the throne room. "Well, excuuuuuuse me princess' huh?" He thought silently to himself with a smirk. "yes, I'll have to remember that one..."