After finishing the previous chapter, I was excited to write the next one because I had it planned out for a long time. As such, I finished it pretty quickly. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed.

Chapter 11: Love and Hatred

As I entered the Lost Woods, I found that the evil feeling went on much further back into the forest. I focused on the feeling and used it to help lead me to the source. I was surprised when the trail eventually led me into the Sacred Forest Meadow. I began to think that it was my special place that the evil was emanating from, and I did not like the thought of that at all. Regardless, I pressed on to the once Mad Scrub filled maze. I had expected to be met with a barrage of Deku Nuts, but the assault never came. Instead, I bore witness to something much worse. There were strange and fearsome monsters the likes of which I had never seen before. They were incredibly tall in stature and wielded large spears. The beasts seemed to be there to prevent intruders from getting any further. This at least confirmed my suspicions as to the location of the source of the evil.

If any of those beasts saw me, it would be over for me. I tried to devise ways in which to get past them with the least amount of risk. Thinking back to the energy I summoned that scared away the evil spirits, I tried to use it again. Sadly, I couldn't bring it back. That plan was out the window. With no other options, I decided on just running quickly past them when their backs were turned. My agility helped me in this regard. My heart was beating rapidly each time I sprinted past the humongous creatures. I was so afraid, but I managed to put my fear aside so as to make it to my goal. Finally, to my great relief, I made it to the stairs. The joy I felt quickly faded however when in front of me was another one of those beasts, one that was gargantuan compared to the others. Its size was intimidating enough, but in its hand was a massive club that would surely crush me if I made a mistake.

I stood on the stairs, completely still. The thought of having to face that thing was unimaginable. My heart was in my throat the entire time. I was just petrified. I would have most likely stayed in that spot all day had I not received an unexpected call. My Ocarina vibrated suddenly, and I grabbed it. It was glowing with a bright green hue. Out of it, I could hear an unfamiliar voice. The person was calling my name over and over. A wave of excitement came over me as I realized who the person probably was. I responded, and the person on the other end said he was so glad that I was safe. I immediately knew then that it was definitely Link who was speaking to me. It could be no one else. I responded with excitement of my own that he was safe. Link proceeded to tell me that he was sealed away in a chamber for seven years.

Hit with a realization, I asked Link if the chamber was all blue. He said with some surprise that it was, and asked me how I knew. I told him I dreamed about him while he was gone. He was glad to hear this, as he apparently dreamed about me too. Our bond was still strong even when we were separated. Link proceeded to ask me how things were in the forest, and I told him everything that was plaguing us. He regrettably said that everything was his fault, as Ganondorf waited till he had all the Spiritual Stones and followed him into the Sacred Realm. It was there that he made a wish upon the Triforce to take over Hyrule as the Evil King.

I told Link that he couldn't have foreseen that outcome, to which he responded that he should have. He blamed himself for putting everyone including me in danger. I told Link that blaming himself wouldn't solve anything, and that he should just believe that everything would turn out all right. I told Link that I was in the Sacred Forest Meadow preparing to go to the Forest Temple, and that I would meet up with him there. This seemed to restore some of his vigor, and he told me to wait for him, as he would definitely be there as soon as he got a tool he needed. I told Link that I would keep my promise to him and meet him again when the crisis was over.

Link was happy, and said he would be here soon. The connection was then cut off. Knowing that Link was okay and that he was coming to see me, I had a newfound confidence. The fear I once had was gone, and I was ready to face the giant creature. I slowly walked up into the tunnel to get the beast to notice me. The moment it did, it started to swing around its club. One thing I did not expect was that the club released shockwaves as it slammed into the ground. I quickly rolled out of the way to dodge the impending wave. Seeing as it missed, the creature slammed the club in a different direction. I soon figured out it switched between two directions with its club depending on which side I was on.

From this, I was able to dodge the strikes accordingly. I kept up with the pattern of dodging on the opposite side till I was right up close to the creature. I didn't waste any time and quickly slid right past it. I sprinted up the next set of stairs and finally made it to my meadow. I was able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the creature couldn't follow me. I had managed to make it. As I laid my eyes upon the entrance to the Forest Temple, I saw the evil energy pouring out of it. Whatever was ruining the forest was definitely in there. The only problem was that the stairs leading up to it were destroyed ages ago. I had to find another way to get up there.

Fortunately for me, there was a large tree right next to the entrance. I had some experience tree climbing from when I gathered fruit for myself and for Link, so this was not much of an issue. After a few moments of inching up the side of the tree, I climbed on to the branch sticking out of it and jumped onto the ledge jutting out of the Forest Temple entrance. Knowing that I was going to face whatever was in there soon, I gathered up my courage and ran inside. The moment I went in, I felt a mysterious feeling. It was indescribable. There was some kind of mystical feeling to this place, and I felt a deep connection to it. At the same time though, the evil that surrounded this temple mired the feeling. I knew that I had to get rid of the evil no matter what, so I pushed onward.

The first obstacle I ran into was a Skulltula blocking the hall. I managed to get past it by waiting for it to go back up and quickly running underneath it. When I opened the door at the end, I found myself in a gigantic chamber. The feeling of connection grew deeper, but so too did the evil feeling. I knew it was close. Soon, I heard wicked laughter emanating from all sides of the chamber. In the middle of the room, four ghosts appeared. They floated next to torches that corresponded with their color, red, green, blue, and purple. I prepared for them to attack, but they never did. Laughing all the while, they beckoned me to them. I approached them cautiously, ready for a fight. Still though, they didn't do anything other than surround a strange platform in the middle of the room.

It seemed that wanted me to get on this platform. I sensed that the evil was coming from beneath the platform, so I figured I had to get on it anyway. When I placed both feet on the platform, it jerked and suddenly started to descend beneath the floor. When it stopped, I found myself in another circular chamber with different colored paths. I noticed that one path led to a hall with a large door. The evil was coming from the hall, so I followed it. As I neared the door, I pushed it open and saw a large tower coming out the floor in the next room. Some stairs led up to it, so I quickly traversed them.

Once I got to the top, an unwelcome sight awaited me. There standing in the center of the raised platform was Ganondorf, the evil man who was the cause of everyone's suffering. I only saw the back of his bright orange hair and red flowing cape as his back was turned to me. He seemed to be looking at one of the many paintings in the room. Eventually, the wicked man turned to me with an evil smile etched on his face. I walked up to him in defiance, which served to only make him smile more. He called me the green haired child in a dry humorous tone and remarked upon the fact that I still had the same "foolish" bravery.

I shot back at him, saying it was better to be a brave fool than a wicked coward who hurts the weak. This only made him laugh, and he said we would soon see who the real coward was. Seeing as I was not relenting, Ganondorf inquired as to why I even showed up here and what exactly I intended to do. I told him that I was the guardian of the forest, and I was going to protect everyone from him no matter what. He questioned how a mere child like me would do that, and I responded by saying that I was chosen by the goddess Farore and was given this destiny. I would surely defeat him. This made the evil man break out in hysterical laughter. He went on to say that he was the one chosen by the gods, and the true ruler of this world. He said it was ridiculous that some child like me would believe to be chosen by any one of the gods. I responded to him that he was truly insane to believe he had that right, and I was certainly more eligible than he ever was.

Ganondorf laughed some more, and asked me how I intended to fight when I had no chance. He mocked my resolute behavior, saying that it would be easy to make me falter. He correctly guessed that I was already having doubts deep down inside me. The fact he guessed that correctly made me grimace, which I realize now I should not have done. That kind of reaction was exactly what he wanted. Ganondorf went on to bring up Link as the main cause of my doubts. He brought up my promise, and said it was a shame I wouldn't be able to keep it. I shouted out that I would keep it, and he said that my devotion towards Link would not last. He said that love can only do so much before it inevitably fails. I told Ganondorf he was wrong. My love for Link would help me do anything.

Ganondorf said I was naïve for believing that. He remarked that he would prove to me just how fruitless love was in the end. I said to him that someone devoid of love like him couldn't possibly understand. My words prompted Ganondorf to correct me. He revealed that he did have some love in him, and used to believe in it many years ago. He told me that there was someone he cared about a lot, but his relationship with her was doomed to failure. He said to me that love could not save his people who were trapped in a cursed desert. He told me he had to rely on his hatred towards the Hylians to make any real change. His hatred was what led him to pledge allegiance to Hyrule so that he could take it for himself and change the lives of the Gerudo for the better.

I had my doubts he intended to do that, and I called him out on it. I said he just seemed like a person filled with greed who cared little for others. I said that saving his people might have been his original intention, but sitting on top of the throne clouded his judgment. My words seemed to anger him, but he did not lash out. He instead told me that I would learn the hard way that my love for Link would eventually fall apart. He said that only pain awaited me, which echoed what the mysterious evil spirit said before. I said to Ganondorf that he should not have given up on the love he had for the girl he cared about. I told him that their love could have changed everything for the better. Strangely, this did not spark anger or laughter out of him. He simply stared at me, and said "Perhaps that could have been so many years ago, but it's too late now. Only hatred can change this world."

Ganondorf said that my love would not bring Link to me, and that I would not be saved. He then confirmed that I was indeed chosen by the gods, he just didn't want to admit it. He expressed disgust at the fact that others were chosen by the gods in a much easier manner than he. Ganondorf then said to me that being chosen by the gods was precisely the reason that I had to die. After this, he seemingly pulled off his face, revealing a masked demon of some kind. Ganondorf's voice echoed throughout the chamber, saying that his phantom would prove to me that my love was meaningless. The last thing he said to me was that Link would not save me, and he would not save this land that was doomed from the very beginning. His voice then faded away, and I was left with his phantom staring menacingly at me. The evil spirit held his weapon, ready to strike at me. I prepared myself as well. This fight would determine the fate of the forest, and I was ready to do anything to defend everyone I cared about, especially Link. This beast was not going to stop me.

I told myself that I was definitely going to prove Ganondorf wrong. My promise to Link would carry me through this battle.

Next chapter will be the last.