Chapter 11: Cellar
"Your first mission, Link, is to investigate Ganondorf's purpose alone at Lake Hylia," said Zelda.
To Link, that didn't sound like an exciting first mission. Those thoughts were still true as he stood in the rain at eleven o'clock P.M., his clothes stuck to his skin. He had been staking out here on top of the hill with the tree for what seemed like forever. There had been no sign of Ganondorf or his followers. He couldn't even ascertain as to what had caused them to run off when Link had been trying to escape.
Link was about five seconds away from taking off and going back to the castle when he saw a movement near Marek's house. His eyes darted toward the movement he saw. He scoped around, but he didn't see anything. He shrugged and returned to looking for Ganondorf.
Link saw movement in the same spot. He snapped his gaze in the general direction, but again saw nothing. With a grunt, he searched once again for Ganondorf.
He saw it again. Exasperated, he got to his feet and crossed the bridge to Marek's house, or rather, Marek's old house. Link had no idea if Marek was dead or not; he hadn't seen him dead or alive since he refused to leave his house.
Link arrived at the porch to Marek's house and ascended the steps. When he came to the door, he hesitated a bit before opening. He felt like he was intruding, even though Marek was likely not there.
It was dark, and there were no candles to be found. Link felt like he had to fumble his way through Marek's house. His shin banged into the coffee table and he cursed.
Suddenly Link heard a thud below him. He felt around the ground, but then he realized that it was in the cellar. Link bolted out the front door and went around to porch to the cellar entrance, where he was surprised to see a lock. Using the incredible strength granted him by the gold gauntlets Zelda gave him, Link punched the lock with all his strength. Link was surprised when his fist went through the lock and the entire wooden trapdoor shattered into splinters. Link descended the stone staircase and was surprised to see torches on the walls, which were also made of stone. He could hear someone speaking down below.
Link felt like he was going down the stairs forever. How far underground did this cellar go? And how big was it?
Link finally reached the end of the stairs and went around a bend. There was an arched doorway that led into a very large room for a cellar. Why Marek had a cellar of this size now became clear to him.
The entire cellar was stashed with piles and piles of gold and rupees of all colors: green, blue, red, yellow, and purple. Link rubbed his eyes a couple of times to make sure he wasn't seeing things. But he truly did see the greatest fortune any man had laid eyes on!
Plus, Ganondorf was standing in front of one of the piles.
Link crept into the enormous room and hid behind one of the massive piles of gold and rupees. He could hear Ganondorf speaking.
"I grow very tired of this," he said in his incredibly deep voice. "I will ask you once again: where is the Sword of Light?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know any Sword of Light!" the other man cried. Link recognized Marek's voice instantly. Ganondorf was interrogating him!
The sound of a ringing smack echoed through the stone room, and there was a loud thud as Marek hit the ground. Ganondorf gripped him by the scruff of his neck and lifted him into the air, bringing Marek's face close to his.
"Foolish old man! Do you realize that I could obliterate you into specks right now?" Ganondorf bellowed. Link could see the fear behind Marek's eyes. He had to do something, fast.
Quickly Link drew the Fairy Bow Zelda lent him. Without a second's hesitation he set an arrow in the nock and pulled back the string. Allowing little time to aim, Link released the string and the wooden projectile flew straight at the small of Ganondorf's back.
Ganondorf spun around and caught the arrow.
Link gasped as Ganondorf split the arrow in half with two fingers and then cast the pieces aside. He looked deep into Link's eyes, and Link stared back. He saw menace and cruelty behind those eyes, a sight that made him want to look away. But he held his ground.
"Do you fear me, boy?" said Ganondorf.
Link didn't answer. He just stared back.
"Well, you've got courage, I'll give you that. Or are you just stupid?"
Again, Link was silent, but he kept aware. Any moment, Ganondorf could attack him.
"What's your name, boy?" Ganondorf asked. Link didn't speak. "No matter. I needn't know your name. Only that," he said, pointing at Link's hand. Link didn't even have to look to know what he was talking about. The Triforce of Courage. Ganondorf was the wielder of the Triforce of Power.
"So, what do you say we test our strengths?" said Ganondorf casually.
"What do I get out of it?" Link asked.
"Marek goes free," Ganondorf replied instantly.
"And?"
"You want more? That's generous enough as it is. I should kill him," he said.
Link thought for a moment. There were great risks, but Marek would go free. It was time to put the courage granted him by the Triforce to the test.
"Deal," said Link.
"Excellent. I propose a duel."
"A duel?" Link asked.
"Yes, a duel. The only rule is that no powers or projectile weapons may be used. I think that benefits you more than anyone else," Ganondorf explained.
"Then let's get this over with." Link threw his bow and quiver into a pile, and Ganondorf removed his cape from around his shoulders, revealing a massive sword strapped to his back.
Link drew the Sword of Light and drew closer to Ganondorf.
"I hope you're ready for this," said Link. Ganondorf laughed.
"You have much to learn, young one," said Ganondorf. He drew his own sword and uttered one word: "Begin."
A/N: Haha! I felt like torturing you guys so here's the end of the chapter! Due to my laziness, if you haven't played SSBM, then you probably don't know what sword Ganondorf is using. If you have, it's the sword he sometimes shows when he wins a match. I don't feel like describing it. Just know it's big.
