A/N: OH MY GOD I UPDATED! This just might be a sign of the apocalypse :o

Seriously, though. I thought I would never be able to continue this. But the other day I was feeling nostalgic, and I played through Ocarina of Time again and you know what? I just...it all came back. The old fangirliness and obsession came right back to me and I started reading all my old fan fictions and getting back into the game. And now? I'm just going to write. I'm not going to worry about the plot, or the direction the story is going, or even where I want it to go. I'm just going to let my characters take over and enjoy the ride. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it too.

And on a sadder note, for some reason they changed the rules so shout-outs are now illegal, so not only will they be absent from this chapter but I'll be going back and editing all my old chapters to take them out. Sorry guys, what can I say? If they delete this story I just might have to keelhaul somebody.

Chapter 10: Coping

Jon opened his eyes blearily. He couldn't remember what had happened exactly, but his head hurt like the dickens and for some reason he was hanging upside down over the car seat. After pulling himself up he sat back and gently massaged his aching forehead, trying to think.

Let's see...we were driving like mad away from the hospital, trying to get away from those-

Suddenly his train of thought broke as his eyes snapped into focus on the window. The view outside was not the expected urban streets and buildings, but rather was full of- trees?

What the hell?

Jon sat up and pressed his face to the glass.

Holy- am I dreaming? When did I get in the middle of the first Jurassic Park movie?

Urgently he climbed over the front seat and began to rouse his unconscious mother.

"Mom? Mom! Wake up, mom!"

With a groan Jon's mother opened her eyes and squinted up at the anxious face of her son. She seemed dazed, and a cut on her forehead was bleeding, but other than that she looked ok.

"Ung- Jon? What's the matter honey? What happened?"

In answer, Jon merely pointed out the windshield. His mother stiffened, her eyes growing wide.

"Wh-what the? We're- !"

"-In a tree."

Indeed, their car had somehow inexplicably gotten stuck in the top branches of a gigantic tree. They hung suspended a good twenty feet or so off the ground, not unlike a famous scene in a certain movie about dinosaurs.

"C'mon, let's get out of here, mom." So saying, Jon opened the door and climbed carefully out onto a nearby branch, his mother unsteadily following. Neither had ever had much experience tree-climbing, but the branches were large and fairly close together, making it easier. They had only traveled a little ways down when Jon paused and looked suspiciously at the car hanging ominously above them.

"Um...maybe we should climb down the other side of the tree...you know, just in case?"

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"Are you sure they'll be ok all alone?"

"...They'll be fine, Navi. They know this world better than we do. Besides, Ganon's minions are more likely to come after me- they would be in even more danger if I stayed with them."

"But won't Ganon be after the shadow medallion? Surely it'd be better if you were there to protect them..."

Link stopped walking.

"...Navi...I know I should be protecting the medallions, but the truth is, I...I'm afraid of what will happen when the light and shadow medallions meet again. They are naturally opposed to each other, and their influence is growing inside us...I'm afraid if I see Julie again I might...attack her. I think it'd be better for us to stay away from each other, and I think Julie knows that too." he paused, smiling ruefully up at his partner, "and don't call me Shirley!"

Navi giggled, though her heart still weighed heavy with worry.

"So what medallion are we going to go after first?"

"Hmm...the fire medallion, I think. Fire and forest may not be technically opposed, but it only makes sense for forest to be weak against fire. Hopefully whoever received that medallion hasn't turned into a mindless monster yet."

"Good idea. Was it yours or Zelda's?"

Link scowled at her taunt and swatted at her playfully. Navi dodged easily, tinkling merrily. And so they continued with grim hearts but smiling faces, taking another step in the quest that seemed to be never ending.

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"Well at least I won't need a Halloween costume this year."

"Heh. Yeah. What would you call yourself though?"

"Um...a final fantasy villain reject?"

"Final Fantasy? Nah, you look much more like something out of Resident Evil."

"Resident Evil? I don't think I look nearly bloody or zombie enough for Resident Evil."

"Hm...Silent Hill?"

"That's even worse! I'm definitely not messed-up enough to look like something from that game."

"Alright, how about Aliens?"

"Ooh, yeah I like that. The skin is just the right texture. My head is still the wrong shape though."

"Just say you're from the fourth movie, as one of those genetic experiments gone wrong."

"Heeey, that could actually work! I just need a roman numeral tatoo."

"Too bad Halloween isn't for another month or so."

"By then I might look even scarier. Bet I could scare all the children in the entire city!"

"And then we'll steal their candy!"

"Yes! And with the ensuing sugar rush we'll be powerful enough to take over the world! Our evil plans are complete! Vuahahaha!"

Jack doubled over in laughter as Julie continued her over-exaggerated evil cackling. It was absurd really, them joking around at a time like this. But they couldn't help it. The situation was too serious not to joke about. If they gave in to the wave of depression and angst threatening them, they might go crazy. And not in a good way.

"So how far is it now?"

"About halfway up your cheek."

"Time?"

"10:15"

"Ha! I'm so going to win this bet."

"Hey, I still have five minutes left!"

"Oh, like it's going to reach my eye in a mere five minutes."

Zelda fought to hold back tears as she listened to their banter. They were being so strong, the both of them. Laughing like nothing was wrong. Playing and joking like normal teenagers. Even going so far as to bet on how long it would take the transformation to reach certain parts of Julie's body. How could they be so flippant? Didn't they realize what would ultimately happen to Julie? Or was this merely their way of coping?

Suddenly she stiffened, sensing something dark approaching them.

Jack!

"Huh? Zelda?" Jack immediately stopped laughing and stood straight as a rod, listening intently for the princess's voice.

Something big is coming straight for you- and it reeks of Ganondorf's magic!

"Dammit- we've got incoming. One of Ganon's goons."

"Curses! Let's get out of here- up that tree, quick!"

Jack and Julie quickly ran to the nearest tree and started climbing.

"Maybe we should have looked for Link after all. Dangit, where is that bloody elf when you need him?" Jack muttered. They had earlier agreed to avoid Link for much the same reasons Link was avoiding them.

"Hylian." Julie corrected automatically.

"Elf, Hylian, what's the difference? They're all magical pointy-eared beings."

"Elf ears are only slightly pointy. A Hylian's could easily poke someone's eyes out."

Jack nearly choked laughing as he scrambled up to the next branch.

Quiet, it's coming within hearing distance!

Jack stopped climbing and stood stock still, gesturing for Julie to do the same. They didn't dare move a muscle as they stared below, waiting for the creature to come into view. They heard him before they saw him- a clatter of what could only be hooves, punctuated by vicious snorts.

Whatever it is, it's on horseback... Jack thought.

And then suddenly he appeared from the depths of the forest like the spectre he claimed to be, an unmistakable figure they could recognize despite the mereness of the glimpse they received.

"Phantom Ganon!" Jack hissed.

"He's heading for that big green presence over there."

Jack blinked and looked over at her. "Green presence?"

"I can see...I don't know, this weird energy everywhere, and it's all different colors. There is a whole network of green running through all the trees and everything, but there's this really big gathering of it over there, directly in his path."

She's sensing the elements. She can see the energy of the medallions. The mass of green energy that she sees can only be the forest medallion. That must be the phantom's goal.

Jack's eyes grew sombre.

"Julie...turn your head to the right. No, my right."

She did so. Jack smiled sadly.

"...I guess I win the bet."

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