Disclaimer: I do not own the whole or any part of Legend of Zelda series. Anyone who has told you otherwise is lying. Also, I might own the storyline of this. Just not the characters. I really should get around to checking on that….
It took Kekuta at least twice as long as usual to get to Erowp. The monsters that had sprouted up were proving to be a match for the Swordmaker's blade. And the shield was certainly coming in handy more often than Kekuta thought it would. Usually, he fixed the shield to his back so that it would protect the back of his head as well, which worked nicely. But he still wished he had some more equipment. It might make the fights easier.
Over by where the Weapons shop used to be, Kekuta's eye caught something. A metal bow, finished except for decoration, was lying on the ground, very dirtied by the ashes of the recent fire. And with it were three metal arrows. Kekuta had heard of the Metal Bow and Metal Arrows. The Metalworker who made them was legendary across New Hyrule. His bows never broke, his strings never snapped, and his arrows never warped. They were truly quality pieces. And getting him to make such high-quality equipment was a task in itself. Just the bow would set one back a king's ransom. Of course, the arrows were quite a bit as well, though not nearly as costly as the bow. The bow was the costly part because it was functional on its own, and could be used with any arrows, as bows tended to be. The Metal Arrows were not so costly because only the Metal Bow could handle them. The Metal Arrows' fletchings would tear any normal bow to shreds because they were so thin and sharp-edged. So naturally, Kekuta decided to bring them with him. A little washing in a river or Lake Hylia would take care of the dirt and ashes on the treasures.
He kept looking through the town, hoping to find more useful items that could be salvaged. Unfortunately, he found none. When he was done with that, he started looking for remnants of the Old Man's house and living space, hoping to find some indication that he might have survived, if he did indeed exist at all. He kept walking around the floor of the former house, floor creaking as he walked. But something was wrong. The floor kept creaking in the same spot. Kekuta decided to take a couple of slashes at it with his sword. Half-surprisingly, it opened up fairly easily. A small part of the floor collapsed, letting a small ash cloud rise into the air. "Hello?" Kekuta said into the darkness.
"He…hello…," answered a labored voice.
"Hello?" repeated Kekuta, "Who are you?"
"I am weak," replied the voice.
"What is your name?" Kekuta said, using less-confusable sounds.
"I don't know. I forgot long ago. Come down here. I need to know who will see me die." The voice sounded elderly. Kekuta jumped down quickly, hoping to find who he was looking for.
"See you die?" asked Kekuta. Then he looked at the figure from which the voice had come. An old man with a long, white beard lay in a heap before Kekuta. Intrigued, Kekuta asked, "Are you the old man who's supposed to have some kind of big power or something?"
"Power? Oh, goddesses, no! I'm the most frail and sickly person you'll ever meet. But come closer. Let me see the back of your hand."
Obediently, Kekuta stepped forward, and held out his left hand, the one with the triangles on it. The old man took one look and seemed to get some energy back.
"Ho ho! It's really you! I thought you might be the one I was hoping to meet. I could feel the Black Triangle when you were outside! It's dangerous to go outside. Take this." And with those words, the Old Man encased Kekuta's hand in his. A shock of pain shot through Kekuta's arm and body. He dropped his sword, unable to hold it. When the pain subsided, Kekuta fell to the ground under his own weight.
"AAGH! What the hell, old man! You tell me it's dangerous out there, and now I can barely stand! What the hell did you just do!?"
"I have given you a piece to the puzzle. Look at your hand." The Old Man's health seemed to be recovering by the second. Kekuta looked at his hand. The bottom triangle was filled in in red. "That is the Red Weakness," explained the Old Man. "It is the opposite of the Princess' Power. You know the legend of the Triforce, no doubt?"
"Yeah," replied Kekuta, "Who doesn't?"
"Then there's no need to explain, except for this," said the Old Man. "You know how there are three pieces to the Triforce: Power, Wisdom, and Courage. The Black Triangle is the center of the Three Reds: Weakness, Ignorance, and Cowardice. These will nullify the powers of the Triforce, and will allow you to bring the Princess' most evil reign to an end. And only you can do it, young man. Oh, and by the way, your hand will start to hurt very subtly in close proximity to the Triforce. For now, run when the Princess is near. She will destroy you as you are."
"So, where do I find the other two pieces to complete my triangle?" asked Kekuta, hoping that this Old Man really did know everything.
"I can't tell you that anymore. But you should feel the pull from your hand, should you not?"
Kekuta concentrated for a moment. "Hey, you know what? I think you're right."
"Then pick a direction and stick with it," said the Old Man, as he sent Kekuta on his way.
"Thanks a lot, man! I am never gonna forget you for this!" Kekuta practically ran off to find his next destination.