Epona rode hastily across the barren plains of Hyrule field, Storm ignored everything that tried to attack him except for the peahats, these strange creatures that looked like they were using razor sharp leaves to fly were easy to mistake for an extremely large fruit, only when they were buried in the ground. It was this appearance that sometimes lured unsuspecting victims into its clutches. Storm ignored them thinking that they were indeed a large fruit. He looked onwards until he heard a strange sound coming from behind him. It was difficult to see because of the dust that Epona kicked up, as it rose up, Storm could see the strange object that looked a lot like the thing he had passed, it took a moment for Navi to recognise the creature and Storm tried to urge Epona on faster hoping that the creature would tire before Epona did. After a few minutes it did not break off even when it was far behind, Storm decided to ignore it.
Passed Lon Lon ranch and along the dusty path Storm went, the trees on the sides of the path were dead and looked like they had suffered from a fire. As Epona came to a grinding halt by the staircase to Kakariko village, Storm jumped off, almost tripping.
"Oh no," Said Navi unexpectedly. "We're being followed."
Storm looked behind him and saw the familiar flying figure coming towards him. They never give up do they? He thought viciously.
Presently he became aware of loud terrified screams coming from the village; Storm looked up and saw that the wind was pushing the smoke towards the west. It was getting thicker. His heart sank at the sound of the screams.
Without further delay, Storm raced through the gate and up the hill to the village, Navi following close behind, just as worried as he was. It took Storm a moment or two to take in the sight that met him, two of the buildings had been engulfed in flame, the heat was so intense that Storm could feel it from where he stood, the watchtower had collapsed straight in front of the well, and two buildings had been crushed when it collapsed. As Storm looked in horror at the destruction he started to wonder what had caused those loud screams, it appeared as though everyone had suddenly fled from the village. As Storm watched in horror, he noticed the tree in front of him had caught alight, had this been a work of ganonflame? If he had attacked, where were his minions? Looking around Storm suddenly heard a strange buzzing noise like thousands of flies buzzing together; he heard a yell and saw Sheik standing by the well, as Storm went to help him something very peculiar happened. Sheik was thrown into the air for no apparent reason and by a strange invisible force and was seemingly tossed about in thin air before he fell full force onto the ground. Storm drew his sword and quickly readied his shield even though he had no idea what to do; he saw what looked like a massive swarm of flies approach Sheik.
"Storm I have a very bad feeling about this!" Shouted Navi, the buzzing noise the swarm made drowned out the noise of the roaring fire and Storm barely seemed to notice the thickening smoke that stung his eyes, until he started to cough. He could not hear Navi's warning shouts, not over the buzzing sound, then without warning the swarm turned towards him. Storm covered his face with his shield as they came towards him and brandished his sword, as the massive swarm of what Storm thought to be flies hit his shield.
Storm did see Sheik recover and get up or the weather suddenly turn. He did not feel the rain that hit his face, nor the hiss of the dying flames that licked on the remains of the buildings. The last thing Storm remembered was being knocked back with such force that his arm gave way and broke, braking near the wrist. His shield smashed straight into his face breaking his nose, Storm did not even feel the blood that poured from it, for before he knew it he was knocked out, he was out before he hit the ground.
Storm woke up hours later not knowing where he was, every part of his body was in agony, he was dizzy and his vision was blurred.
"What... Happened..." Storm managed to say in a dry whisper, he suddenly realised how thirsty he was, he continued to stare up at the ceiling though he could barely make it out.
"How do you feel?" A voice asked Storm, it was Navi.
For a moment Storm did not reply, he heard footsteps approaching and he tried to turn his head.
"Lie still." Came Sheik's voice, "I brought something for you, you must be thirsty."
"Very." Storm croaked, "I feel like I just ran into a brick wall and a very fast speed."
Storm looked out the corner of his eyes as Sheik approached him a bottle of milk in one hand.
"Here," He said. "Drink, luckily I know a secret way of getting fairies, I will let it heal you once you have had something to drink."
Storm tried to move his left arm, the moment he did it burst with pain, and he gasped.
"Stay still," Said Sheik. "You took quite a beating back there. I was hoping you would have had some fairies on you."
"I used up my last one," Said Storm, swallowing hard as he talked.
"Ah, no doubt fighting those beasts in the water temple," Said Sheik pressing the bottle to Storm's lips, "Drink."
Storm drank the milk and felt the pain in his body begin to subside; he felt less dizzy and could see properly.
"That's better." Said Storm, Sheik pulled a fairy out of one of the bottles he had and it quickly zoomed around Storm, instantly a strange warm sensation engulfed him, he began to feel very sleepy, the sensation went just as fast as it came.
Storm moved his arm, he was beginning to loose count on how many times he had broken his arm and he could breathe through his nose again as well.
"What happened?" Storm asked, sitting up, he nearly squashed Navi who had taken to resting on the sheets.
"Ouch!" Navi said, she flew up shaking her wings in an irritated manner.
"Sorry," Storm said to her.
"I must admit," Said Sheik. "Your fairy looks more like a firefly than a fairy; I had never come across one until I met you."
"Please tell me... What happened... to me, to Kakariko village, let alone you, tell me I must know?" Storm asked desperate to know what exactly had happened.
"Something terrible has happened-" Sheik began.
"Besides Kakariko village burning..." Storm paused after interrupting Sheik. "You mean what sent the village up in flames... Did something attack the village?"
"Luckily only four buildings were destroyed, most of Kakariko village was spared, including its people," Said Sheik.
"Tell me... What attacked the village! Was it Ganon's army?" Storm was growing very impatient, was Sheik trying to hide something from him?
"No it was not Ganon's army, it was something as terrible as that but if possible more deadly."
"Deadlier than ganonflame?" Storm asked.
"Not quite," Said Sheik. "No, it was an evil creature that had been locked away since the start of the great wars that divided the occupants of Hyrule. The same war in which nearly wiped out the Shiekan race, only a few of us remain now. You saw the well in the village, which is the same well where Impa who was once a leader in this town once lived; the house of her birth was there. One day a great evil came to the village, more than half of the village was destroyed. The Shiekans... Or what was left of them, built an underground passageway, which has holds more than one deadly secret. In this passageway the evil creature of which I am speaking about was sealed, the well was built where Impa's house once lay, a spell was cast over it to ensure that the beast never escaped and returned to what it had made its realm."
"Only that spell has been broken." Storm said guessing the rest.
"Yes, I do not know how but it can only be by Ganon's work. I tried to stop it only the monster overpowered me and returned to its lair, also known as the Shadow Temple."
"The... Is that the next place I have to go to?" Storm asked.
"Yes it is," Said Sheik. "You must destroy the shadow, before it returns to full strength and destroys the rest of Kakariko, even the lost woods and Korkiri forest is in danger. If the flames from the village manage to reach the forest, the forest will never survive."
"That's terrible!" Said Navi.
"Alright then," Said Storm slowly. "I suppose I better get to this temple."
He started getting up when Sheik shook his head slowly. "What is it?" Storm asked.
"It's not that simple Storm," Said Sheik.
"You need an item to get in there, an item that is in the well, deep inside. You won't last very long in the domain of the shadow."
"The well... How do I get in?" Storm asked.
'Of course,' he thought, 'my iron boots.'
"Even your boots won't help." Sheik said, Storm stared stunned at him, had Sheik just been reading his mind?
"You must get into the well before the beast is released. There you will be able to retrieve an item, which will help you. This means returning seven years into your past."
"I won't be able to use the iron boots." Storm groaned, he would not be able to walk in them as a child.
"I will teach you a song that will aid you, go to the windmill when you are younger and play it."
As Sheik grabbed his harp from a small table by the bed, Storm had been in, Storm pulled out his Ocarina.
"It's called the song of storms. You can make it rain anywhere, inside or outside."
"What?" Storm stared at him with a bemused expression; by know he was hoping nothing would surprise him that much.
"See for yourself," Said Sheik, he began to play a song, which Storm played along with him and in no time learnt it. He tried not to stop as he stared up in shock at the clouds forming in the room.
It began to rain to Storm's amazement, he personally hoped nobody lived in the house because it was very wet inside, even the logs arranged neatly in the fireplace were wet and the bed was now soaked, Storm wasn't too wet because the zora armour he wore was waterproof. He was very glad he was not wearing one of his other tunics. Sheik on the other hand was sodden wet, more than he would have liked to admit.
After leaving the house Storm returned to the temple of time mostly on foot, using Epona some of the way. He walked through the market, after using the sun's song to freeze the redead, he looked around at the ruined buildings and the hideous structure that stood in Hyrule castle's place, Storm knew that someday soon he would have to venture into that tower. Storm wondered as he walked into the temple of time, why it had not been touched let alone destroyed like the rest of the place, as he looked up at death mountain he wondered where Zelda could be, if she were still alive.
"Storm get a move on!" Navi said urging Storm onwards, Storm stepped into the temple of time, its marble floor cold beneath his feet. He walked passed the altar and up the stone steps leading up to the pedestal where Storm had drawn the master sword. Grabbing the master sword Storm grabbed it with both hands and thrust it into the pedestal. The sword went through the small crack easily, Storm held on to the sword as he felt a sudden tingling sensation began all over his body and just before he blacked out for a moment a wave of coldness engulfed him and he felt like he had just jumped into the Zora river when it was frozen.
Storm did not like using the master sword to change between childhood and adulthood as he found it very uncomfortable.
What seemed only a moment later Storm found himself staring out into the large hall of the temple, he felt smaller and looking at himself, he saw he had changed back to a child and like last time the items he could not use had vanished. Storm walked out into the hall, the sunlight poured in through the windows on either side. Storm was somewhat surprised; the light made the temple a lot brighter than in his adult times when it was extremely dark. Storm had no idea why he felt that the temple gave him the creeps, was it the vast size, or was it the temple's hidden powers that made Storm edgy?
Storm walked out onto the stone steps outside the temple and was surprised to see Hyrule Town in a lot better condition; however, he could feel a sense of danger and fear in the town. Nearly everyone was indoors, he could see faces occasionally peering down on the streets nervously. In the market square he could see guards walking around, some leading horses carrying the bodies of dead men, he saw two knights by the entrance to the market square covered in armour, their horses were huge and had a nasty look about them. If they had seen Storm they had not shown it, nor did two more knights by the drawbridge.
"Security's gotten tight," Said Navi.
He saw two guards talking to each other; he quickly decided to listen in on their conversation in case they said anything interesting.
"The king has ordered all villagers are to be evacuated to Kakariko."
"Kakariko is small, it won't be able to sustain such a large population."
"Better than staying here, the rest will be sent into the surrounding provinces and beyond, with escorts. They will be slaughtered otherwise; the king wants us ready for an attack."
"He suspects one?"
"Soon. Can't you see those clouds? I have a nasty feeling about them."
"Eh? What's that got to do with anything they're clouds?"
Storm stared out at the approaching mass of cloud coming from the west, soon it would cover all of Hyrule field, and in the distance, he heard the rumble of thunder.
"Come on let's go," Said Navi, not wanting to hang around anymore than she did Storm obeyed.
Storm continued on foot to Kakariko village, he found he had become used to riding Epona, he looked out at the wall surrounding Lon Lon ranch. He walked over the bridge that went over the river that leads to Zora's domain and up the stairs to Kakariko village.
Storm went into the windmill.. As he looked around he became aware of familiar music, he saw a somewhat small gruff man playing a strange instrument he had never seen before shaped like a box, and the man playing the tune seemed to play it by moving a small handle on the side.
"That song." Said Storm, "I know it."
The man looked up at Storm startled. "I did not hear you enter!"
"Sorry to startle you." Said Storm, "May I play that song along with you."
"What, do you know it?" The man asked, he had a very gruff voice.
"Yes I do," Storm stated for the second time, the man obviously hadn't noticed the first time.
"I suppose you can," Said the man irritably. "It's supposed to make the mill go faster. It is not working though. You could try."
Storm pulled out his Ocarina began to play the Song of Storms; the man played along with him and gave a yell as rain clouds began to form inside the room.
"What are you doing?" He yelled, fear in his eyes.
Storm stopped playing the song, it echoed around the small room and soon the noise of the windmill moving was joined by the noise of rain.
"What's happening? How did you do that?" The man asked, Storm stared at the spinning platform, which began to move faster.
"It worked!" The man exclaimed. "It actually worked."
"How is this meant to help us?" Navi asked, presently the platform was still spinning, faster and faster until Storm got dizzy looking at it.
"No! No!" The man said loudly. "That's too fast it'll drain the well."
Storm stared at him trying not to let out a laugh Navi did too.
"Thanks for telling me that." Said Storm and he made for the door.
"Where are you going?" The man yelled angrily. "Stop it! Slow it down! Come back here you kid!"
Storm ignored the yells of rage that followed him out of the windmill door; he jumped off the ledge onto the ground by the mill, twisting his ankle in the process.
"Ouch!" Storm yelped.
"Are you ok?" Navi asked.
"I'll be fine." Said Storm, limping a little to the well, Storm was amazed to see it was empty, he could now see a ladder going deep down into it.
"I can't see the bottom, it's too dark," Said Navi. "I can produce a small amount of light but not enough to get us through the darkness."
Storm looked in his bag and found the small bottle of fire, he got out one of his Deku stick dipped it into the flame, Storm brought it out and saw the flame seemed not to spread from where it was.
"Interesting," Said Storm, he put the lid on the jar placed it in his waist bag and threw the stick into the well, when it landed they could only a see tiny flicker of the flame, as small as an ember.
"The stick won't have broken, Deku sticks are very strong unless sliced by a sword." Said Navi.
Storm looked around to see if anyone was watching and climbed onto the ladder leading into the well. He climbed down into the darkness; it was a while before he reached the light from the burning Deku stick, by which time his arms and legs were aching. As he reached the bottom, he looked up and saw a small blue dot, which was the top of the well.
"That's a long way." He said and he saw a small hole in the wall large enough for him to crawl through. Storm crawled through the hole and found himself in another room, there were a few skeletons lying against the walls, they looked as though they had been there for ages. He went down the ladder in the room and defeated the skulltula, he continued going onwards and began to realise he had not drained all the water in the well; he found a triforce symbol on the ground and played Zelda's lullaby. The notes echoed of the walls adding and Storm heard the distant sound of water being sucked through a hole a lot, like he had done in the water temple.
"This better not be like the water temple." He said.
"I don't think it will be," Said Navi. "It's a lot creepier I'll add."
He went onwards through the passage under the well; it looked gloomier with every room Storm went into and began to give him the creeps even more. After progressing further Storm found himself in a dark room filled with bones, there four arms sticking out of the ground hands moving menacingly their flesh was mostly covered in blood and the skin was very pale, they seemed to be beckoning Storm to come over to them only Storm was not foolish enough.
"What is that?" Storm said.
"I don't know," Said Navi. "I do not like the looks it either."
Storm walked up to one of the arms his sword drawn ready in case something happened. This was indeed foolish. The arm moved and smacked Storm in the head, Storm swung his sword at it but another one quickly took advantage of Storm and grabbed his head.
"ARRGH!" Storm let out a muffled scream, "Get off me!"
Because he was blinded he could not see the hideous monster that came out of the ground, it made a strange gurgling noise in its throat, it's entire skin was also covered in blood and it was very pale, the creatures head resembled some sort of zombie not unlike redeads.
"Storm BEHIND YOU!" Navi yelled, Storm was brandishing his sword hopelessly, lucky for him one of his sword strokes went astray and hit the creature creeping up behind him. The creature withdrew opening its mouth and displaying a set of rotten teeth covered in blood like the rest of it.
"EURGH!" Commented Navi, a foul stench of rotten flesh emanated from the beast.
The hand let go of Storm throwing him straight into one of the walls after facing Morpha this was nothing. It hurt just as bad being thrown because he was smaller. One of the other hands grabbed him but he did not feel like being played with like a doll, he swung his sword and sliced the hand straight off. The arm for a moment went limp then started waving around in vain. Storm turned and faced his real threat the monster that seemed to be the owner of the hands including the ones, which were attached to it. It went to grab Storm making a hideous groaning noise displaying its teeth only Storm got out of the way and struck the creature in the back. It turned around and went for Storm's neck, one of the other hands grabbed Storm and began beating him against the wall, Storm's sword was knocked out of his hand, out of options, Storm bit it, it was the worst taste ever, so bad that he ended up vomiting. The creature let go of Storm who fell to the floor where he lay as the beast went towards him. One of the hands got clever and grabbed Storm's sword, Storm noticed this and got up and jumped as it took a swing at him, hitting its companion. Storm quickly reached into his waist bag and got his slingshot out, not exactly the most useful weapons but it would do. Storm shot the hand holding his sword it let go of it instantly, and then Storm dived for his sword and got up quickly stabbing the beast before him. It gave a loud noise of agony and grabbed Storm just as one of the other hands grabbed Storm, this act of pulling Storm cut him straight across the neck. Storm yelled in agony and threw his sword at the beasts head just as the hand took aim and threw Storm into the wall opposite, knocking him out. One of the hands did something which it thought would finish Storm off; it grabbed a nearby bottle and threw it at Storm just before it suddenly went limp.
"Storm!" Navi yelled, lucky for Storm there happened to be a fairy in the bottle, which missed him, and hit the wall, the fairy flew over to him and healed him instantly. The beast that Storm attacked made a hideous gurgling sound and vanished into the ground; the hands followed it leaving his sword on the floor of the room.
Storm awoke feeling slightly dizzy.
"Storm are you alright?" Navi asked, Storm nodded.
"Let's go." He said. "I want to get as far away from this well as possible."
"Unfortunately Storm we must visit a place far worse than this well, haven't you forgotten?"
"Oh yeah... the Shadow Temple." Storm groaned. "Let's go."
"Not yet." Said Navi, she was looking at a treasure chest that had appeared, Storm got up and walked over the chest, inside there was an item that resembled a magnifying glass.
"Odd." Said Storm, as he touched it a strange sensation went through him, a pain shot through his arm and his eyes suddenly burned with pain, then it went.
"What the?" Storm began.
"The Lens of truth." Said Navi, "Those who carry this item will see things others cannot see. Hidden things."
"Interesting," Said Storm. He put the lens in his pocket and got out his Ocarina on which he played the Prelude of light. The notes echoed around him and continue to echo in his head. Suddenly Storm felt a strange tingling sensation and everything went dark, a moment later he found himself in the Temple of time, he noticed the light shining into the temple had grown dim, he looked out of the windows and saw the land was covered by cloud, he could hear the loud rumbles of thunder. Storm turned and walked to where the master sword awaited him.
