Chapter 9

Zelda could not wait to show Link the third Stone. She had done it! Now they could stop that evil man before he did more damage! There was no way Ganondorf would win now!

Her good mood faded as she drew closer to the castle. The air was stiffling hot, almost oppressive. Dark clouds filled the sky, and the sun dropped off the horrizon. She could feel something in the air. She looked at the castle. The torches were not lit, as was the usual. A faint trace of smoke drifted to her, and she suddenly felt sick.

The draw bridge dropped just as Zelda reached it. She jumped back out of the way. Out of the castle galloped two riders on a white horse. Zelda saw that one of them was Link. He threw something at her. It bounced into the moat. Then they were gone, Impa and Link, off toward the mountains.

The air became charged with evil. Zelda stared in horror as a second rider emerged from the city. He rode a black stallion with flaming red eyes. It was the Gerudo man, Ganondorf. He looked down at her, a smirk on his face.

"Tell me where they went, boy." Zelda said nothing. She drew her sword in response. Ganondorf laughed. It was a terrible sound that shook her very core.

"You are going to challenge me?" he laughed. "Boy, you do not know who you are dealing with." He raised his hand. Zelda realized too late that he was going to use magic against her. She tried to dive out of the way, but his blast hit her, sending her flying. She landed face first in the mud, hard rain pouring down on her. She could not move. Thunder sounded as the man laughed once more. Then he took off toward the west.

As sun's first rays pierced the clouds, Zelda managed to limp toward the moat. She could see the thing that Link had thrown. It looked like a blue Ocarina. Zelda knelt at the edge of the moat. She caught a glimpse of her own reflection. No wonder Ganondorf had thought she was a boy. Her clothes were in tatters, covered in ash. Her hair was singed, sticking up at odd angles. Her face was dirty. She did not look like a girl. Girls wore dresses, not pants, like Malon. Zelda looked like she could have easily been Link, when he had worn the Kokiri clothes.

Zelda dove into the cool water. She felt it wash the dirt from her face and clothes. She grabbed the blue ocarina, and came up for a breath.

Suddenly, Zelda found herself standing in the temple of time. White mist obscured her vision. Standing before an alter stood Link, holding the same Ocarina she did.

"Zelda," he said softly, "if you hold this Ocarina then I have been forced to flee. You told me that I should run if Ganondorf come back. He is attacking the catle now. So I intrust to you this Ocarina, the Ocarina of Time, the treasure of the Royal family. ganondorf will not have this. Zelda, you must pull the Master Sword from it's resting place. Play this song at the Door of Time. It is the Song of Time."

He raised the Ocarina to his lips, and began to play. Zelda copied the notes, playing the sweet melody.

"Remember, Zelda, I will always be your friend. Hold on to these keys. I know you can do it." Zelda suddenly found herself on the drawbridge. She tucked the precious Ocarina into her pack, and headed to the Temple of Time.

The Temple was just as she had seen in the vision. The cieling was high, and the sound of her footsteps echoed around in the huge cavern. She stopped in front of the alter she had seen in the vision. The three Spiritual Stones began to vibrate. They rose out of her bag, and settled in the proper places on the alter. Zelda followed her instincts. She lifted the Ocarina to her lips, and played the Song of Time. Before her a huge stone disappeared, revealing another chamber.

The chamber seemed to be the same as the rest of the building. In the middle of the chamber there was a pedestal, with a sword protruding from it.

"That's the Master Sword!" Navi exclaimed. Zelda felt her breath quicken. She went up to the Sword, and wrapped her hands around the hilt. She was hit with a feeling of foreboding. Something felt wrong, but she pulled the sword.

Something was wrong. Her vision exploded with light. Pain coursed through her body. She felt weak. A voice came to her.

"Foolish Prince! I knew it was you. But you are not the hero, Prince. Thank you for giving me my triumph!" He laughed, and only then did Zelda know who it was. Ganondorf's laughter echoed in her mind as she slipped into darkness.