Disclaimer - I own nothing.

The Chosen Heroes

A Zelda/InuYasha Crossover

Chapter Ten: Phantom Ganon and the Deku Sprout

Edited: 19/08/12

Once Link arrived to the lower level, both heroes commenced their search. From what it looked like, they were inside the basement of the temple. Just less than one hundred feet from them stood a huge door with a golden lock and chain.

"This must be the boss door." Link smiled. Just behind this door, Saria must be waiting for them. Eagerly, he withdrew the key that Kagome and himself had located before in the upper level of the temple, and inserted it into the lock. He twisted and turned the key, watching as one by one, the massive golden chains fell to the ground.

"And there we have it." Once the lock fell onto the ground, Kagome pushed them away, revealing a bear black door. Both heroes gulped and nodded. Link then reached for the door's massive handle and turned it. Afterwards, they walked inside.

…

…

…

The hallway that led to the large room was dark. There was barely any light, and both heroes stood close to one another as to avoid getting lost. Soon enough, there was a small flicker of a flame seen at the end of the hallway. Kagome smiled and dashed forward.

She gasped. "Link, there's a staircase." A large and highly decorated staircase awaited them, which led to another level.

"Let's get climbing." Link murmured.

"Right!" they climbed the stairs and arrived to a room that was in the shape of an octagon. It had painting on each wall, which were all dark and gave off quite an ominous feeling. Kagome pulled up her coil. Each painting was the same. It had a dark forest and a single gravel path.

As Kagome continued to study the area, Link moved forward wondering where Saria could be. If she was not in this room, then where could she be? While Link pondered over the situation and moved towards the centre of the room, Kagome followed, wanting to be close to him.

She did not like the atmosphere of the room and felt a very evil presence drawing near.

"Link, let's get out of here." She gulped.

Link nodded. There was nothing here. If Saria was not in this room, then they would need to keep searching. "Let's check the other end of the basement." Link moved towards the stairs, only to stop upon witnessing three spiked posts rise up from the ground, blocking their path.

Kagome gasped. "We're trapped!" She shouted.

"Heh, Heh, Heh…"

Laughter erupted into the room. Kagome and Link turned around, coming face to face with a Gerudo man who sat atop a black horse. Link's eyes widened. "Ganondorf!" he shouted.

Ganondorf smirked, revealing his teeth. He then laughed once more and reached for his face. In shock, Link watched as he pulled off his skin. "Gross," he thought, his face paling once more.

"… Is that a skull?" Kagome gaped, noting that all the remained of Ganondorf's face was a putrid blue faced skull. Its eyes were a bright shade of red and were locked on Link and Kagome.

"You're right," Link hissed. "It only makes sense that it would be a skull." He exhaled a sigh. "Ganondorf is merely using the skull as a puppet." He shook his head. "It's some sort of trick."

"He's quite powerful then," Kagome murmured, watching as the skull whipped his horse and then rode off into one of the paintings. "Huh?" Her jaw dropped. "Is that even possible?" She wondered, confused.

"We kill it first then worry about the details," Link explained.

"Right," she nodded. "Kill it first, and then ask questions."

With that notion, Link quickly came up with a plan. Assuming that the skull were to enter and exit from the other paintings, Link deduced that if Kagome and himself were to watch each painting, there was a high chance of being able to eliminate the skull.

"Kagome, get your arrows ready." He instructed. "If you see the skull, don't hesitate to shoot." The bow and arrows were far easier to use to take down the skull than a sword any day, especially given their current situation.

"Got it, Link," she nodded and got into position. She eyes scanned each painting slowly, looking for any signs of the skull. When she briefly saw a man riding them towards them on a black horse, she shouted to Link to get his weapons out.

"Hit the mark!" She lined up her bow and fired the arrow without hesitation. Just as the skull was exiting from the painting, it was struck with the arrow. The skull screamed in pain and retreated, fleeing back down the pathway.

"Good work." Link shouted and watched his retreating figure. "Keep that up."

"I'll try to." She exhaled a loud puff of air.

This series of actions, which involved quite a bit of patience and annoyance, soon ended with another three rounds of arrows. Each time the skull retreated into the paintings. By the fifth arrow, the horse had left without the skull.

"It's your turn, Link." Kagome said, watching as the skull floated above them. It smirked and narrowed its disgusting red eyes.

"This should be a bit easier since he doesn't have his horse with him," Link replied.

"Don't underestimate him!"

Link rolled his eyes. "I know that!" He cried and then turned his attention back towards the skull. Link snarled and watched the skull with tight eyes. The skull moved left and then right. Link followed, waiting for him to make a move.

"Haa!" the skull appeared to be charging up what looked to be a ball of sheer dark energy.

Kagome gasped and gripped the bow tighter. "Link, be safe." She crossed her fingers for good luck.

Link rolled his eyes, "A piece of cake." When the skull fired the sphere to Link, he struck the sphere and sent it back to the skull. The skull screamed out in pain, not having expected such a blow. "Pathetic," Link rolled his eyes and ran forward to slash at the skull.

Kagome smiled and fired a few arrows. For a minute, the skull continued to stay down and scream. However, it looked as though he had enough and suddenly rose back up into the sky.

Link and Kagome shared a glance. Now that they knew what they were up against, this battle would be a piece of cake.

Arrows fired and slashes delivered, the skull finally fell to the ground and began to break apart. Kagome smiled and put away her remaining arrows, while Link sheathed his sword, pleased with the outcome.

"Kagome, he's done." Link grinned, breathing in and out.

"Not bad for a Hero and a Sheikah…" A voice then said.

Their heads snapped upwards, watching as a dark cloud formed above their heads.

"It looks like you both might be gaining some skill," the voice continued. "But remember, you have only defeated only my Phantom. When you fight the real me, it won't be so easy."

Kagome raised a brow. Was the person who was talking to them, Ganondorf?

"That ghost was nothing but a waste of time! I shall banish it to the gap between dimensions!" The skull rose slightly off the ground as even more flames began to encircle it. With disbelief, both heroes watched it scream in pain and agony, before disappearing from sight.

…

…

…

"That voice… it was most likely Ganondorf." Link concluded.

Kagome looked away. "Where are Kirara and Navi?" She asked. All throughout the battle, she had not heard a single word from either of her two friends. She was worried for their safety and hoped that they were fine.

"We are right here~!" exclaimed Navi, coming forward with Kirara. "While you two fought with the skull, Kirara and I watched from the sidelines." Kirara meowed in agreement.

"Sorry to trouble you." She confessed and flew towards Link.

"It's fine." He reassured her. "It's just good to know that you're both safe."

"Kirara!" cried Kagome as she rushed forward and scooped the feline into a tight hug. "I'm so relieved to see that you're okay." She hugged her friend tighter. Kirara meowed and squirmed in her embrace. "Oh no, you don't," Kagome replied, holding her tighter. "You're not going anywhere."

Kirara hissed in protest.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I don't care. You scared me too much with that little vanishing act of yours." To make sure that Kirara would not disappear throughout the remainder of their search through the temple, Kagome was determined to keep her in her arms at all costs.

Link cracked a grin and Navi sighed.

"Look, isn't that a portal?" The fairy wondered in awe, watching as a magical blue circle formed in front of them.

"It looks like it." Kagome marvelled at the sight. It was a perfectly shaped circle and glimmered strongly. "I wonder where it leads to."

"There's only one way to tell." Link walked into the portal, "You coming?" He asked her.

She nodded, "Yeah." When stepping inside, the circle engulfed them both in a bright surge of blue, blinding them both.

Kagome kept her eyes shut. The light was too much for her handle. She knew that they were in a different place. A far more relaxing and calm setting… but the main question to ask was where.

"Thank you… Link and Kagome..."

Her eyes snapped open. Avoiding the rest of the room's setting, her gaze was locked on a small girl that stood a top a green medallion. She had short green grass hair and bright emerald eyes. If Kagome had to guess, she would assume that the girl was Saria.

"Thank you," the girl repeated, her smiling widening. "Because of both of you, I could finally awaken as a Sage." She looked so happy, standing there before them. "My name is Saria. I am the Sage of the Forest Temple."

"Saria…" Link's eyes trembled. "Why weren't you in the temple when we went searching for you?" His voice was filled to the brim with confusion and worry. Kagome frowned.

"It was because when I had tried to reach the Chamber of Sages on my own," she explained with a thoughtful expression. "I was trapped by Phantom Ganondorf… I could no longer move. I was asleep… In a trance, I suppose you could say." She confessed.

Link nodded, still somewhat sad. "Just as long as you're safe now, is all that matters..."

"Link…" she smiled, clasping her hands together. "I always believed that you would come to the Temple and save me, because I know you..."

"Saria—"

"Link its okay, you don't need to explain. I understand it all already."

Link sighed and shut his mouth.

"Link, since our time in the chamber is limited, please allow me to give you this Medallion as a symbol of our friendship." Saria smiled, her eyes watering. "And though we may never be able to live in the same world again, I always want you to know that you'll always be my friend."

A single tear streamed down her face as she raised her hands up into the air. A bright green light formed and slowly, a green medallion floated down towards Link. It fell into his cupped hands, which he stared to sadly.

"You keep this Medallion safe Link, and remember; we'll always be friends." She then turned her attention towards Kagome. "And Kagome, please continue to look after Link for me."

"I will." Kagome smiled and sniffled. "But how do you know my name?" She wondered. "We've never met before."

Saria giggled. "You are the Prophesized Sheikah of Legends," she explained. "As a Sage, I am required to be informed on such matters."

Kagome nodded. "I understand."

Saria's eyes softened. "Thank you Kagome… for everything."

"Huh?" Kagome blinked, confused. "But I didn't do anything…"

Saria shook her head. "In dear time, you will understand…"

Kagome stood still and thought over the words Saria had just said. Meanwhile, while their time withered away, Saria briefly explained to Link that he should pay the Great Deku Tree a final visit before departing from the Kokiri Forest.

"Once you are there, all of your questions will be answered."

"But Saria—" Link never got to finish his sentence, since their time in the chamber had ended.

"What do you mean by that?"

After walking through the Sacred Grove and back through the Lost Woods, Link quietly led Kagome to the area where the Great Deku Tree once thieved and grew. While they walked, Link explained to her what had happened to the original Deku Tree, and answered her various questions she had about the tree in general.

By the time they made it to the previous Deku Tree's location, there was nothing seen except for the body of the original Great Deku Tree. Link withdrew his hat and sighed. Upon witnessing the Great Tree's remains, he felt sad recalling that he could not have saved the Tree, no matter his efforts in the past.

"Don't feel sad Link. It's okay now."

"What!" Link jumped a good three feet in the air.

The same voice from before laughed. "You're funny."

Kagome raised an eyebrow and looked down. Barely visible was a small and thriving green Deku sprout. It smiled and locked gazes with her. "Hello," it greeted, moving back and forth.

She nodded, somewhat puzzled, "Um, hello."

The scrub laughed. "I see that you've finally noticed me. That's good."

Link rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you… the Deku Tree Sprout?" He gulped.

Kagome grimaced. What a silly name, she thought.

"Yes, yes, yes, I am the Deku Tree sprout." It greeted. "Because of your hard work in breaking the curse on the Forest Temple and saving Saria, I could finally awaken from my slumber and flourish." It grinned wider. "Thanks a lot!" Both heroes chuckled.

Link tugged at his collar. "Deku Tree Sprout, can you answer me a question?"

"Is your question why your old friends don't recognize you?" The sprout asked all too innocently. Link's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "Is the sprout a mind reader?" He wondered.

The sprout laughed. "Your expression is funny," he confessed.

Link sighed. "Please go on." He was tired and growing weary of the sprout's annoying sense of humour. He just wanted to get his questions answered and then go to sleep.

"Link, the reason why the others don't recognize you," the sprout explained, "With your grown-up body is because the Kokiri never grow up or age. Even after seven years, they're still kids!"

Link's eyes widened. He did not know what to say. Luckily, Kagome did.

"But how is that even possible?" She voiced. "I thought that Link was a Kokiri?" She was stunned too. "He lived in the forest. So why was he able to age and not the others then?"

"It's because he's not a Kokiri!" The sprout explained and glanced towards Link. "You are actually a Hylian!" It confessed, delightful. "And I am happy to finally reveal this secret to you!"

"What?" Link blinked, taking a step forward. "I'm not Kokiri, but rather… a Hylian?"

"Correction," the sprout shouted. "And now, I'll explain to you the story as to how you arrived in the Kokiri Forest, since I'm sure that this will help answer some of your questions." The sprout then went into a brief, but needed explanation about the origin of Link's past and how he ended up in the forest. When he was done, Link had nearly fainted from shock.

"And now, finally, the day of destiny has come!" The sprout finished with a breath. "So Link, you are a Hylian, and were always bound to leave this forest someday."

"I see." His head was spinning. This was far too much information for one day.

"And now that you have learned your own destiny, you know what you must do." The sprout vouched. "You must save the land of Hyrule! Now, Link and Kagome, break the curses on all of the remaining Temples, and return peace to Hyrule!"

"We will." Kagome voiced and began to lead Link away from the sprout. "I promise you that."

"Remember that we all believe in you!" The sprout shouted, watching them disappear.

Link clutched his throbbing head. "This is too much."

Kagome nodded. "It is." For any person in general, it was a lot to stomach. A part of her felt bad for Link. However, she knew there was nothing she could do. The explanation was needed, and at some point, Link was bound to learn the truth of his origins. Better, now than later, she realized with a shrug.

"Do you want to stop and rest?" She suggested when they neared the village.

"No." Link shook his head. "Right now, all I want to do is head for the Temple of Time."

"The Temple of Time?"

"Yes," he repeated. "I just have a feeling that we need to go back there before heading to the next Temple."

Kagome suppressed a sigh. "Is it because of Sheik?" She demanded. "Do you think he's there waiting for us?" Though she did not trust the Sheikah fully, she knew that he was their only prime source of aid at this moment.

"Yes." Link nodded.

Kagome exhaled her sigh. "Great… well, let's be heading off then." Together they both exited from the village, never once looking back.