Hero of Winds, present Day-
I had forgotten how eerie the forbidden forest is, so deathly quiet, with the only noise you hear being the sound of your own footsteps. I wonder how a sage of the winds like Makar could have gotten himself into a mess like this... perhaps just the nature of the Korok race to be thoughtless like that, I just don't know.
After we had awakened, Medli fixed me a quick breakfast before I got ready to journey over to the Forbidden forest. The Deku tree and Hollo wish me good luck, and before I know it I am soaring over the water towards that ominous island. It is far more difficult this time, however, as I weigh far more as an adult than I did as a child. The added weight makes the deku leaf quickly drain on my magic power, and I am forced to land on a nearby island to recharge.
The final approach to the forest's entrance is no easier, as I have to maneuver through the updrafts without being able to control the wind this time. (It was times like this I wish I still had the wind waker in my possession). Coming down at the entrance with a hard thud, I run inside.
As I pass through the endless corridors and passageways, I marvel at the fact the koroks once lived here, long ago. I've seen their stump shaped houses scattered throughout the dungeon, left over from the time when the Koroks were the Kokiri. I wonder what it must have been like for the hero of time, to be raised as a child of the forest.
I am pulled out of my thoughts by the sudden sound of the spinning of blades. Looking around, I suddenly find an army of peahats surrounding me! One flies forward too quickly for me to doge, and it's helicoptering blades tear into my arm. Yelling out in pain, I stumble backyards, only to have another one slice into my flesh!
"Argh! Enough of this!" Pulling out my boomerang, I target all nine of them that are surrounding me, and let the weapon fly. The peahats let out a small squeak of terror as their vine blades are cut off. Drawing my sword, I charge the blade, and unleash the hurricane spin. The deadly whirling cyclone of death moves all about the room, killing all of the peahats within seconds.
I am dizzy for a few moments afterwards, before my head starts to clear. Those pehats would not have gotten the better of me had I stayed alert. I will have to be more careful from now on if I am to make it through here in one piece. Opening a door with the Kokiri symbol on it, I continue my trek through this cursed wood.
-------------
Meanwhile, Medli was updating the great Deku tree on everything that had happened.
"So, that is how you discovered our plight?" The Ancient tree inquired.
"Yes, my lord." Medli replied. "We believe Shadow Link may be behind the trouble here, as well."
"And what of this enchanted text you spoke of?" The Deku tree rumbled. "Perhaps if you read some of it to me, it will help unravel this mystery."
"As you wish, great Spirit of the earth." Opening the book. Medli began to read...
-------------
Hero of Twilight, centuries ago-
If there is any place on the surface of Hylia that is close to being hell, the Arbertiter's grounds is it. Everywhere I turn there are moving rivers of sand eager to swallow me up, mummified Gibidos waiting to paralyze me with their shriek, and stalchildren ready to swarm over me. The undead horrors that dwell in this abandoned prison are enough to drive even the sanest person mad.
How I came to be here is a story unto itself. After regaining my human form, I discovered from Araru that the answers to the source of Zant's unimaginable power may lie across the mountains in the Gerudo desert. There, an old prison used by the sages held a mirror, which may be the key to getting into the twilight realm. There, we can confront Zant on his own turf, and put an end to this once and for all. Using Fyer's canon service (on a favor called in by Araru) We are sent hurling over the mountains, to crash into the scorching sands of the gerudo desert.
There were many tales in Odoron about this place, as well. The villages young men would tell of a beautiful tribe of women who lived out here, who would make any man they encountered their slave. Another story spoke of a green-skinned race, who built vast pyramids out in the Shifting sands. When I enter the desert, all I see is a blistering wasteland, and a large,
coliseum-like structure off in the distance, which I realize must be the arbetriter's grounds.
As I begin my trek across the desert, Midna pops up, and confesses that she is of the tribe that the spirit of Lanaryu spoke of. Caressing my face, she begs me to keep helping her. I smile and nod. Of course I won't abandon her, I'm not going to blame her for what her ancestors did. I have come to cherish my impish companion dearly, for although she may be a bit gruff and sarcastic, she is a good person, with a good heart.
As we approach the entrance, I find that the Bulbins have set up an encampment in front of the grounds. Sneaking through, I pick off the archers and armed guards one by one, until I am in the very center of the encampment. King Bulbin is waiting for me here, and Attacks me with a large ax. I quickly bested him in combat once again, injuring him so badly, he had to limp out of the arena. The Bulbins then set the encampment on fire, forcing me to steal a boar,
and bash my way out.
Once I entered the grounds, I discovered just how terrifying a place it was. Large spiked levers and devices lay everywhere, probably used on prisoners for Goddesses knows what purpose. Bit of track seem to run everywhere, which I soon discover can be rode with a large spinner top I recover from a chest. This thing is also helpful in getting over the endless seas of sand. (Though I will admit, riding around on this spinning monstrosity makes me very, very dizzy!)
All of the undead here must be the souls of condemned prisoners, I suppose. I encountered four poes who tried to block my way by stealing the torchlight, and I also battled a large spirit who was wielding a large sword against me. I'd prefer not to even imagine what crimes they had committed. And I also encountered Stalofoses, not benevolent ones like my ancestor, but animal-like ones who tried to end my life. A few sword slashes a a well placed bomb would easily bring down one of them.
As I entered the final room, Zant appeared again. The evil Twilight king brought some kind of ancient skeletal beast to life, then vanished. I had the fight of my life on my hands, as I had to take out the monster's spine section -by- section with the spinner. Then, I had to race after it's head, avoiding the fireballs it shot at me while zooming along after it on a track. I was near exhaustion when my final sword slice shattered it's skull into a thousand pieces. After claiming victory, we headed up to the roof.
Midna nearly broke down when she saw the mirror had been shattered. What were we going to do now? Just then, the five sages appeared, and told us the Tale of how Zant achieved his power.
Ganondorf. I might have known it was the king of Evil behind all of this. Rusl's tales of that demon were far worse than any of the other stories he would tell me, and if he is the one responsible for the Twilight, I can now see why. If I am right about me being the hero of Time's descendant, then it was this monster who ended my family's life. Midna and I have got to stop him before his evil engulfs Hyrule once again!
But if we are to stop Ganon, we must first take down his puppet, Zant. And in order to do that, Midna and I must reassemble the Mirror of Twilight, which is the only known gateway between our world, and the world of the Twili. We need to find those lost mirror shards, and fast...
---------------
Hero of Winds, present day-
As I enter another room, a voice calls out to me. "LINK?!? Is that you?!?" Turning, I see Makar, and several other Korokstrapped in a wooden cage together. "Link, please get us out of here!" I run towards the cage, when one of the Korkos yells. "Swordsman, look out!" I turn just in time to avoid the sword swipe of a large Darknut. Rolling out of the way, I draw my sword, and parry his next attack.
Great, of all the races to be causing trouble, why did it have to be these guys? A tribe of armor-wearing Jackal-men, the darknuts are some of the most skilled swordsmen on the great sea. Taking one of these guys down is a bit trickier than bringing down a moblin!
Dodging his next sword blow, I roll around behind him, and slice his breastplate off. Spinning around, he hits me with a blow from his great sword that sends me flying across the room. I only have seconds to recover from the blow before the darknut is on me again. I leap over the armored warrior, and perform a helm splitter that cleaves his helmet in two, leaving his snarling Jackal face exposed.
"I shall tear you apart, human!" He snarls. "And feed your remains to my pack-mates!"
"We'll see about that!" I yell back in defiance. Putting my sword away, I fake lunging at him unarmed. The darknut falls for it, and I unleash a powerful mortal draw that kills the beast instantly. Gasping for breath, I put my sword away as the darknut's body vanishes in a cloud of purple smoke.
"Oh swordsman, you were fantastic!" One of the Koroks exclaims as I cut them free. "He was one of the beasts terrorizing the forest haven!"
"Then you had better all head back to the deku tree, and tell him what happened." I reply. "I'll stay here, and find the other monsters."
"Okay... but be careful, Link!" Makar replies, as they all fly up and out of the forest.
Entering the next room, I continue onward, crossing over a large chasm on an... elevator-like platform made of wood and vines. This must have been how the Koriri traveled around through this place, before they transformed into Koroks. "Inventive little guys." I say to myself, smirking. Though it is a shame that they abandoned this forest-island after it became infested with monsters.
"So, you're the whelp who defeated both Ganondorf and Bellum." I spin around, to find myself facing a wizzrobe. But this is no ordinary Wizzrobe, for he is dressed all in black, with a large hood covering his face. "You will find I am not as much of a pushover as they were!"
"What is it about villains, and sneaking up behind someone and surprising them?" I say with a sarcastic smirk. "And who are you, anyway?"
"I am Pol, lord of all Wizzrobes." He replies arrogantly.
Pol... I've heard of him before. His black magic created several of the monsters which now roam the world, including the creature known as Pol's voice. Many an adventurer has lost their lives trying to bring this evil mage down. "What are you after? Why did you attack the Koroks?"
"Ssseeds" He hisses out."I needed their supply of Boku Baba seeds for a little... experiment my partner and I are working on!"
"Partner?" I say, my eyes widening in shock. "You're in league with shadow link!" I pull out my sword. "Whatever you two are planning, you won't get away with it!"
"My dear boy, there is nothing you can do to stop us!" His laughter echoes through the room, "My partner has already taken the seeds elsewhere, so I am done here!"
"Farewell, Hero!" He exclaims, as he vanishes in a puff of smoke. "We shall meet again!"
As the last of his laughter dies away, I am left to ponder what he is planning to do next...