Chapter 12
The Hero of Hyrule
Link paced back and forth once more.
Where could she be? Maybe she went to our special place in the forest. Never hurt to try.
Link got on Epona and raced to the forest. There was an eerie stillness in the forest. Link rode to the clearing and got off Epona.
"Stay here girl," he patted her on the nose gently.
He stepped through the bushes. He saw nothing and no one. Until…
All at once there came an uproar from all around him. There were creatures all over him. The ropes in their hands were used to bind his hands and feet. He could not move. He was dragged to the ground and gagged.
"How anticlimactic," a voice whispered in the shadows, "Here I am expecting some poor peasant boy to come find his true love and wabo (~if you ever saw Bill Cosbey on "Natural Child Birth" this is the sound Bill makes when he is describing the process :D~)! None other than Prince Link of Termina himself. How lucky for me."
He laughed evilly as Link struggled at the bonds.
"Don't bother," the dark figure said walking by the struggling Prince, "There's magic in these ropes, no amount of strength can break them… Well, apart from the strength I have received from the goddesses that is." The figure showed off his right hand. "You are one to know of this kind of magic, no? You have the same kind of mark as I and even the Princess Zelda."
Link stared at the figure.
"Oh? You don't know? Very well, take him to Death Mountain," he ordered a nearby Moblin.
It grunted in obedience.
Link was taken to the mountains and beyond to an evil castle. All the while three girls followed. They snuck in quietly behind the rejoicing crowd of Moblins.
"Take him to the dungeon," the man ordered.
"Yes King Ganondorf," a slimy man responded.
Ganondorf laughed as Link was half led, half dragged to the dungeon.
Din had to be held back by the other two girls so she would not reveal their hiding place. They all immediately raced to the dungeon. They used whatever power they could in order to get in.
They finally made it in but had to hide when they heard Ganondorf coming.
"Now I guess you're wondering what Princess Zelda has to do with any of this, aren't you?"
"Not really, I know that you are the one threatening her life and you are trying to kill her. But whatever you've been trying failed because she's safe at home by now!"
"Wrong, foolish boy, as soon as she left you and went to the battle field her fate was sealed."
Link looked up at Ganondorf wide-eyed.
"That's right; the fair maiden you met in the woods months ago was the same fair princess you were betrothed to at her birth. Life's so unfair isn't it? And now she lies in the tower of Hyrule castle awaiting her true love's first kiss to awaken her from the sleeping death caused by an arrow to her side. Her blood stained the sheets of the bed and her pale face has grown ever paler. Her guardians, poor fools, have done all they can to help the little whelp. But it doesn't matter. She can sleep forever, she will sleep forever, at least until I decide to wake her; which will be after I take the kingdom for my own."
"You monster, I will kill you before you ever get the chance!"
Ganondorf laughed, "You would say that wouldn't you."
"Yes, yes I would."
"It's a shame that you are trapped. I may let you go someday. Perhaps in a hundred years. Then you will be able to return, find the Princess, and give her love's first kiss," he taunted.
"You pig-faced bast-"
"Tsk tsk, you should hold your tongue in the presence of Hyrule's new King."
Ganondorf left Link alone in the cell, but not as alone as he thought.
Din took her chance once he was gone to jump from her hiding place and mouth some very foul words to him behind his back.
Farore was next to reveal herself and she began to tend to any wounds on Link's body.
Naryu grabbed Din and they started working on the chains that bound his hands and feet.
Once he was free they explained everything to him.
"So you mean to tell me that the girl in the woods that won my heart is the Princess that I was betrothed to when I was two?"
"Exactly," Farore said patting him on the back.
"And now this Ganondorf guy wants her kingdom, which is also technically mine, if we get married that is."
"Precisely," Naryu agreed.
"So he put a curse on her, which you changed slightly, in which only her true love can save her. And I'm the one who can do all this?"
"Great," Din said punching him in the arm, "let's go save a Princess."
Before anything else could be said the Oracles had surrounded Link and they were gone.
Link landed on his back and stood shakily, "Where are we now?"
"We are in the Temple of Time," Naryu said quietly.
Time seemed to swirl all around them.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"Look on your left hand," Farore said quietly, "You bear the same mark as that of the Hero of Time. He has the power to change time."
"So what do you want me to do?"
"You also have the mark of the Hero of Winds, Hero of Twilight, Hero of the Spirit Tracks, Hero of the Triforce, basically you are the next in a looooooong line of Heroes of Hyrule," Din said flatly.
"I'm honored," Link said bowing.
"No need to bow, your highness," Naryu said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You must listen to what you must do," Farore said taking his hands in hers.
"You must pass the test of the gods and enter into the sacred chamber where the Blade of Evil's Bane lies asleep," Din explained, "Only then will you be able to defeat the evil wizard Ganondorf. That creep."
Link smiled to himself slightly.
"Not a laughing matter," Din grabbed his shoulders and stared at him.
"Well what type of test is it going to be? Strength? Wit? Skill?"
"No one can know," Naryu said looking at the great wall.
"How do I enter the test?"
"No one knows," Naryu said without looking at him.
"So what do you expect me to do? The Princess is hurt and I have to save her! And you expect me to go off somewhere I don't know to do things I have no idea what how to do and face dangers I don't know all for a girl I've seen only a handful of times?"
"Yes," Naryu said flatly.
"Naryu dear, whatever is the matter?" Farore asked concerned.
"Nothing. It's nothing at all."
"Surly you can tell us," Farore walked up to her friend.
"Now is not the time, Link, you must go and get the sword. No one else can, hurry; Pol- Zelda's time is running out."
Link nodded and walked up to the door. He slowly disappeared into nothingness. The Oracles stared in shock for a moment; Farore brought the subject back up again.
"What is the matter, Naryu? You seem so upset," Farore sat her down on the stairs to a pedestal.
"This… boy is going to go through Hyrule to find a way to save a girl he thinks he loves. How can we know for sure?"
"We can't," Din said sitting next to her friend, "all we can do is hope that the goddesses know what they're doing."
"That's what I was afraid of."
"Have faith," Farore said putting a hand on Naryu's back, "P- Zelda knows what she's doing. She wouldn't fall into some… puppy love and call it real. You know that!"
"First thing's first," Din said pulling Naryu to her feet again, "We need to make sure the young prince is on the right path."
The Oracles waited for their prodigal to return.
~? P.O.V~
Darkness…
Darkness and sorrow was all I could remember…
I can feel the pain…
It's intense.
I feel the cool wetness of blood trickle down my side and onto the ground around me.
I'm lying in a pool of my own blood.
My eyes shoot open when I hear a vile voice ringing in my ears.
"She is not worth it, leave her alone."
"But she's hurt and needs my help."
"She's a peasant; some peasant boy can help her, not you."
"I want to help her."
"You don't love her?"
…
"Surely you don't mean to tell me that you love this girl, you just met her!"
"I also just met you and so far you've all but thrown yourself at me- oh wait, yes you have."
"Don't lie to me, you know you liked it."
…
"She opened her eyes."
Link?
"Are you alright?"
It IS you…
"Can you move at all?"
Link, I just got shot with an arrow! I'm bleeding out!
"Can't you say anything?"
No, listen to me! I am saying something, just listen to me!
"She can't talk. What a waste, she was kind of pretty."
Kind of? What am I deaf too?
"She's not deaf too Midna."
"Does it matter?"
"Come, I'll take you to my tent and I'll help you get better. You were hit in the head pretty hard."
I was not hit in the head; I was shot in the side with an arrow!
"There, all better."
NO it's not all better, I can't talk and you won't treat me like you would treat Polina!
"Can you tell me your name?"
YES, that's what I've been trying to tell you!
I wave my hands frantically, trying with all my might to get him to remember me. I act like I'm fighting to get him to think.
"You were fighting?"
"That explains the ratty clothes."
I look down and see that I'm not in my gown and crown anymore. They're gone. I touch the top of my head and stare wide-eyed at Link.
"Are you missing something? A-a hat?"
No stupid, my crown! I'm Princess freaking Zelda!
"I don't understand."
I pretend to write on my hand.
"So the peasant knows how to write, how exciting," Midna says with a hint to sarcasm.
Shut up you slut.
"Get some paper and a pen."
I sit back and hold my head. What happened to me? Why am I not in my gown and crown anymore? Why can't you remember me? I don't look any different from when I first met you.
Midna soon returns with a pen and some paper. I begin to write.
Link,
I am Zelda, the princess of Hyrule that you were destined to marry from my birth. I have been injured and must be returned at once to my home. Please, take me home. If I could only get you to remember me. I met you in the woods. Please remember me. You loved me and I loved you. Take me back, PLEASE!
Princess Zelda
"The poor girl's gone mad!"
Nobody asked you.
"Now Midna, I think she just got hit a little hard on the head."
Did you forget me? Was this all just a dream? A vivid and horrifying dream?
"What a way to celebrate the engagement, huh, Link?"
"Not now."
"Certainly not now. The war is almost over and you are about to become King of Termina. Now you're saddled with this pathetic and confused heap."
I stand up and try to hit her but I fall over from the pain in my side.
"Will you please stop, Midna. She is not deaf, she's just mute."
"You mean DUMB."
I get up again to hit her or something. She grabs a sword and slashes wildly at me. "Link, she's attacking me!"
I take a hit across my right arm. I feel the blood run down my arm. The warmth of the blood seeps to my back somehow. My clothes are getting covered in blood as if I were lying down. Link takes me back to the bed and wraps my arm.
Didn't you see how odd the blood stain was?
I glare at Midna.
"Serves you right, peasant. Link; let's just let some soldier take care of her. We don't need her running around on our wedding night."
Link said nothing.
Come on Link, tell her you love ME not her! Please Link, I'm begging you. This is a nightmare Link, take me away!
I stand quickly and run from the tent.
"Wait," I hear Link calling to me.
I can't let it happen again to me. Running away from him hurts, being with him hurts, even just being away from him hurts. He hurts me. I drop to my knees and begin to sob. I need the Link I know here to help me through this. I helped him through all his problems, now he needs to help me.
~Link's P.O.V.~
"I will help you Zelda!" I shout as I am faced with a very large and very confusing puzzle.
"You must be able to hit the two targets."
"Where are the targets?" I retort.
I watch as a figure stands and makes two moves. It steps forward with hands flat. It moves into a position much like that of the ancient Egyptians.
I take my turn. I step to the side with my hands in a similar position. Then I move closer with hands behind my back.
We continue to move in this fashion until we are very close to each other. It makes a motion for my hand and I move it, I do a likewise motion.
After a few near hits I hit the first target on his hand. This would be such a fun game if it weren't a life or death situation. It does not take long for me to hit the other target. The figure dissolves into dust and the room blurs. I'm back in the Temple of Time. The only difference is that there is a sword in front of me. The Blade of Evil's bane, no doubt.
I walk up to the pedestal and grab the hilt. I feel the Triforce on my hand begin to burn. I pull up on the sword. It comes out with ease. I feel a magic swirling all around me. I see faces, all like my own, but different from my own. Their names, titles rather, echo in my mind, "Hero of the Triforce, Rescuer of the Triforce, Hero of Tal Tal Heights, Hero of Time, Hero of Winds, Hero of Spirit Tracks, Hero of Twilight, Hero of Hyrule. They all stand before me. They all have a sword in their hands.
The last to be named walks up to me, "Hero chosen by the gods. You may be one of many, but you are very rare indeed. Your fate is still your own to decide. But take this blade and bear it well. And save the princess."
The Hero of Time walked up to me as well, "I think we all agree that Princess Zelda is the best girl in all of Hyrule and the best choice for a partner in anything: archery, dancing, wrestling, hunting, sports of any type, games of any kind, life in general…"
"Love," the Hero of Winds added.
"No one loves like Zelda," the Hero of Spirit Tracks chimed in.
"Be wise in your decisions, Hero chosen by the gods. Do not betray the trust of the Princess. Save her."
The Rescuer of the Triforce walked up to me, "This has happened before… you and I have the same happy ending if everything works out… I become King of Hyrule."
"Blech," a small version of the Hero of Time sat with arms crossed and scowl on his face, "My older self becomes a mushy horny-toad. It's a disgrace to the hero's good name!"
"Either way," The Hero of Twilight said changing the subject, "You must go and save her before its too late. I hear that jerk Ganondorf is getting more and more ugly as time goes on. Be sure to tell him so for me."
I nod and smile to my new friends.
"Will I be able to see you again?"
"Every time you look in a mirror," The Hero of Tal Tal heights smiled.
"Go get yourself a princess. And kick some Ganondorf butt."
I nod and smile as the images of myself swirl into nothingness once more. I open my eyes and find myself in the Temple of Time again. The Oracles all stand and run to me.
"Oh good you got the sword," Farore says looking at the hilt.
"Let's get you a shield and some more weapons that you may need," Din said pulling on my arms.
"And just where might these weapons be?"
"Oh all over the place," Naryu said walking along side me, "Be glad that we froze time or else you would have a lot of fighting ahead of you."
"Oh goodie."
"Don't sass me boy," Naryu said punching me in the side.
This is going to be a long day.
It will be a long day indeed. Thankfully, it will be Zelda's turn to tell th story... the P.O.V.'s have begun. :D
Review please!