A/N: That's right, it's a double-update! Also, I'm gonna announce at this time that I'm working on the first LoHH special! However, I won't be starting to upload chapters on it for a while, as it takes place during the Pt. 2. Unless I come up with another idea before that, you guys are stuck waiting for the special. Now, disclaimer please!
Meg: GamesMaster64 doesn't own LoZ (belongs to Nintendo) or KH (belongs to Square Enix). He only owns specific changes to the storylines.
Table of Fonts:
Standard Text: Regular Dialogue/Storytelling
Italics: Emphasis, Sound Effects, thoughts
Bold: Navi's annoyingness, Boss Name, Ganondorf's Speech
Bold Underline:Special Attacks (this is cried out)
Bold Italic: Deity speech
CAPS: Yelling
Underline: Flashback/History, name of location
Italic Underline: Dream
BOLD CAPS: Dungeon name
Chapter 36: Forest Temple! The Four Poe Sisters' Deed!
DUNGEON #6: FOREST TEMPLE
Link and Sora stepped forward. They were in an antechamber of some sort. The two heard scratching noises, and saw about five Skullwalltulas on the vine-covered wall to their right. There was also a large tree by the wall. There was another tree on the left. By looking up, the two could see that only one branch came from each tree, and the two branches almost touched at a point above them. Straight ahead was a door. Link and Sora went through it. The two found themselves in a hallway that was completely empty. However, the next door was chained shut. Sora attempted to open the door with the Keyblade, but it didn't respond.
"Huh... that's odd..." Sora said. Link nodded. Sora then closed his eyes and focused. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes, his face contorted in a look of pain.
"Something up?" Link asked, his voice punctuated by a bit of worry. Sora nodded.
"Yeah, actually. The dark power here... it's so overwhelming. I think it might be interfering with the Keyblade's ability to unlock these." Sora said, tapping the lock with his Keyblade. Link nodded.
"So... we do this the old-fashioned way, then." The two then made their way to the antechamber. Link nodded to Sora, who focused on his magic.
Fire!
Sora shot out five fireballs, defeating the Skullwalltulas. Link the climbed up the vines on the wall, and made his way to the tree. Link stood on the stump, and saw a switch on the other tree. Link slowly made his way over, Sora ready to try and stop him from falling if needed. When Link pressed the switch, a chest appeared on the other stump. Link made his way back over and opened the chest.
"Alright! We're in business!" Link shouted. When he climbed back down to the ground, Sora saw Link had a small key. Sora examined the key.
"What if it doesn't fit?" he asked. Link shook his head.
"It will." he replied. Sora looked at him in confusion. Link sighed. "Look at it like this. A key locked that door. That means there's a key on this side of the door that locked it. Which means if we find a key, the chances are good that it's the key that locked the lock." Link explained. Sora nodded in understanding. Navi then appeared from Link's hat.
"Listen! That's not all of it! I remember that any of these keys in these Temples can be used to unlock any old door, except a door with a big lock! So, any keys we find here will unlock any lock here! However, the keys only work in the Temples you find them in! Each Temples' keys have unique design on them that prevent them from being used in other Temples! Look at this one!" Navi said, flying around the teeth of the key at the last statement. Link and Sora both looked closely and saw that the teeth of the key closely resembled leaves.
"Alright. We know that this is a key for this Temple... Navi, where are we?" Link asked. Navi looked around, and then remembered the symbol on the pedestal in front of the Temple.
"Judging by the symbol I saw, this is the Forest Temple! Outside of Ganondorf's forces, we'll be seeing a lot of enemies that reside in the Lost Woods and Kokiri Forest, such as Scrubs, Babas, Skulltullas, and perhaps a few Wolfos." Navi said. Link nodded.
"Okay. Let's find that Sage and get out of here." Link said. Sora nodded. Navi disappeared back under Link's hat as he unlocked the door. The two stepped into what was obviously the main chamber of the Temple. The room was octagonal in shape, with four other doors leading out. The one that was on the left wall was on an unreachable balcony. The one on the right was reachable by climbing up on a balcony, and then a short flight of stairs. The other two were on the other side of the chamber on the diagonal walls (relative to Link and Sora), but were barred shut. There were yellow eye switches above them. In the middle was a feature that looked like an altar. It was square-shaped, with four holes in the walls. In the middle was an odd-looking device painted entirely in gold. It looked like two people could stand on it. On the corners were four lamps, each with different colored flames of red, blue, green, and purple. Before either Link or Sora could move, four Poes appeared, one at each flame. The four Poes wore clothes of the same color as the flames: red, blue, green, and purple. The Poes pulled out torches, and took the flames. This caused the device in the middle to descend into the middle of the floor. The purple-clad Poe turned to Link and Sora.
"Welcome to the Forest Temple! My sisters and I will be taking these. If you think you can defeat us, come for the flames. Otherwise, you'll never see the girl again!" Meg said. The four laughed as they disappeared into the four other doors leading out. Link and Sora ran to the middle of the room, before looking around. Navi came out of Link's hat.
"Guys! Those were the four Poe Sisters! Joelle, Beth, Amy, and Meg! They must haven been resurrected by Ganondorf!" Navi said. Link stared at the elevator.
"Must lead to somewhere important..." Link muttered. Sora focused on his magic outward again, this time probing underneath their position.
"Something... dark... something... powerful..." Sora muttered. Link turned to head to the only unlocked door they could reach, until Sora stopped him by continuing. "I also feel... the essence of the Forest..." Sora said. He opened his eyes and looked at Link.
"Must be our Sage." Link said. Sora nodded. The two then went into the door that was on their right. Inside, they found themselves in a long hallway that was guarded by a few Giant Skulltulla. A few quick spells from Sora finished them off. On the other side of the door, the two found themselves in a hallway that led straight into another room ahead. The two made their way cautiously forward. At the next room, Navi came out of Link's hat.
"Hey! Be careful of shadows from monsters that hang from the ceiling. They're Wallmasters, and they'll eject us to the beginning of the Temple if we're not careful!" Navi said, flying back under Link's hat. On the ground below was a blue chest with ornate gold markings on it.
"Link! That's gotta be important!" Sora said, pointing at the chest. Link and Sora lept down, opening the chest. Link pulled out a giant gold key. It had the same tooth design of leaves as the small key, and had a green gem on the handle. In the gem was the same design as the symbol of the Forest Temple. Link put the key in his pouch. Seeing a shadow forming on the floor at their feet, Link and Sora quickly cleared the way. A giant disembodied hand then dropped down from above. After wandering around for a few seconds, it lept back up to the ceiling.
"That was close... too close..." Link muttered as he climbed up a ladder that led to the only other doorway in the room, which led to another door. On the other side of the door was a giant room. Link and Sora climbed the platform straight ahead, and saw arrows on the floor. Navi came out and examined the arrows.
"Hey! I wonder what those arrows are for?" Navi asked, disappearing back under Link's hat. After walking forward for a bit, Link and Sora saw a giant stone block. With both of them working together, they managed to pull it out of the hallway it was in. They then saw that the arrows pointed to an indentation on the ground. The two pushed the block into the indentation, and then climbed up it.
"What's that noise?" Sora asked. Link then heard the sound of flapping wings. Shrugging, the two rounded the corner and saw a ladder to the top. They climbed up, and saw skulls with wings on them flying around the area. They were coated with blue flames, and numbered about twenty. Navi popped out again.
"Look out! Those are Blue Bubbles! If they touch you while they're coated in flames, you won't be able to attack, cast spells, or use items! Take 'em out from a distance!" Navi warned. Link pulled out his Boomerang, throwing it at the Bubbles. Sora threw the Keyblade at them, applying some of his magic.
Reflect Raid!
The Keyblade and Boomerang cleared the room of the Bubbles, which caused a chest to appear. After opening the chest, Link found a small key. The door out of the room led to a long hallway with a locked door on the other side. After taking a few steps forward, a skeleton armed with a sturdy metal shield and sword dropped down from the floor.
"Careful, Link! That's a Stalfos Knight! They're undead soldiers trained to be among the elite of Ganondorf's troops! Just watch their movements, and strike when they leave themselves open!" Navi said. Link nodded and stepped forward, his Master Sword drawn and holding his Hylian Shield in front of him. The Stalfos also raised its shield, as it and Link started circling the hallway. The Stalfos moved in for a Jump Attack, but Link rolled out of the way. When he stopped, Link struck at the Stalfos Knight, knocking it to its knees. The Stalfos roared in pain, turning its back on Sora as it faced Link again. Sora grinned and took aim with his Keyblade.
Fire!
The fireball sent the Stalfos Knight flying right at Link, who held the Master Sword out. Crunch! The skull of the undead soldier was impaled by Link's sword. The Knight's body disappeared and Link unlocked the door. The next room was small compared to the other rooms they'd encountered so far. A small clearing made way to a flight of stairs. Up the first set was a blank picture frame. At the landing, Link and Sora looked back and saw a second blank frame. At the top of the second set of stairs was...
"Hey! That's a painting of Joelle!" Navi said. Link and Sora saw the red-clad Poe in the picture. Link approached it, but was surprised as Joelle laughed at him, her picture disappearing. Sora saw that the painting above the first set of stairs was now occupied. The two continued up to the top of the stairs, entering the door they saw. They passed by an empty circular room, and entered the door on the other side. There, they saw...
"Look! That's Beth!" Navi said, pointing out the picture of the blue-clad Poe. The three made their way down the stairs here, and saw a locked door at the bottom. The two made their way to the circular room again, and saw the middle section was missing.
"Now what...?" Link muttered. The two saw the floor descend, with two Stalfos Knights on the platform. Link and Sora nodded before splitting up, each one focusing on one Stalfos Knight.
Sora rushed at his opponent, focusing on his magic.
Warp!
Sora then disappeared, reappearing behind his opponent. The blow from the Keyblade Master blasted the Stalfos Knight's body apart, bones flying everywhere.
Link, however, wasn't faring as well. He and the Stalfos Knight he'd engaged were locked in fierce combat, blades ringing as they collided with either the opposing shield or blade. Link backflipped, pulling out his last Bomb and tossed it at his foe, who lept to the side. However, the explosion blew off the undead soldier's left arm, leaving it with just its sword. After that, Link managed to outmaneuver his foe to destroy it. With both of the Stalfos Knights defeated, a giant chest appeared in the middle of the room. Link opened it, pulling the contents out.
"It's... a bow." Link said, pulling out the bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Hey! That's the Fairy Bow! It's the treasure of the Forest Temple! See, each Temple has an item that is kept hidden inside. These treasures were used by the first Hero who wielded the Master Sword. They were hidden for the Hero of Time to find and use." Navi explained, examining the Fairy Bow with fascination. Link looked over and saw Sora staring at his magic pouch.
"Hey, Link... remember those weird orbs Merlin gave you in Traverse Town?" Sora asked. Link nodded, before the realization hit him.
"Sora... I think there might be some hope for you yet." Link said, pulling out the red and blue orbs. Navi saw the orbs. The fairy and Keyblade Master watched as Link held the orbs up to the bow. The heads of the arrows in the quiver then ignited themselves, before becoming encased in ice. The arrows then promptly returned to normal.
"What happened?" Sora asked.
"Fire Arrows. Ice Arrows. Magic imbued projectiles." Link said. Sora stared at him. Link took out an arrow, and fired it at a pot, hitting it dead center. Sora's eyes bugged out of his head.
"Link... why didn't you tell me you were good at archery?" Sora asked. Link shook his head.
"I didn't know I was... until now, that is." Link said. Sora stared at him in confusion. "I don't know what it is... but every item I've found on our journey, I've been able to use... it's almost as if the knowledge just comes to me..." Link explained Sora nodded.
"Anyway... we have work to do here." Sora said. Link nodded.
"I'll take Beth. You take Joelle. We'll meet here once we're done." Link said. Navi flew between the two.
"You guys know you'll have to fight them once you release them, right?" Navi asked. The two nodded. Navi then disappeared back under Link's hat as the two made their ways to their separate targets.
Sora made his way to the painting of Beth. He approached the picture of Beth, who promptly fled to another painting, laughing at him. Sora grinned. He summoned the Keyblade, aiming at the now-empty frame.
Fire!
The fireball struck the picture, causing it to burn up and disappear. Sora then made his way to the other empty frame, also striking it with his spell. Sora then approached the picture of Beth. Sora stared at the Poe.
"Looks like you have nowhere to go now, huh?" he said. He stared. He could feel Beth staring back at him...
Fire!
The picture burned away, leaving Beth's solid form, which made its way down to the clearing at the bottom. Sora sighed, following the Poe. There, he saw Beth staring at him.
"Hee, hee! You figured out my secret! Now, let's see if you can retrieve the flame!" Beth said, disappearing. The Poe then rushed at Sora, swinging her torch around. Sora dodged her attack, striking her with the Keyblade when she appeared.
"Hiyaa! Take that!" Sora said, feeling the Keyblade connect. Beth backed away from him with a pleading look before disappearing and repeating her attack again. This time, Sora flung the Keyblade at where he'd calculated she'd appear.
Strike Raid!
This time, the strike finished Beth off, and she shrieked in agony as she disappeared. When her body disappeared, there was a blue flame floating. The flame dispersed, and Sora guessed that the blue torch in the hall was now lit. Sora looked over and saw a giant chest appearing. He opened it and pulled a Compass out.
"Huh... wonder what this is for..." he muttered, pocketing the item as he headed back to the circular room.
Link approached the painting of Joelle. He fired an arrow at the painting, but the Poe had retreated to another painting. Link destroyed the other empty frame and approached Joelle.
"C'mon... don't you wanna tangle?" Link asked, pulling out an arrow and fitting it into the bowstring. He then aimed at the painting, seeing an almost pleading look from Joelle. However, Link paid the Poe no mind and released his arrow. Joelle appeared with a cackle, heading down to the clearing. Link followed. Joelle turned to him.
"Welcome, Hero of Time. If you think you can get the flame from me, come get it!" the Poe said to him in challenge. Link drew his Master Sword and Hylian Shield and made his way down to face his ethereal foe. The Poe disappeared, and charged at Link, who deflected the attack with the Hylian Shield. Link then focused on his magic as Joelle appeared.
Hero Skill: Super Spin!
The attack sent Joelle crashing into the wall, where a stab from the Master Sword ended the Poe's life. As Joelle's body disappeared, a red flame was left floating where the Poe once was. The flame, as the blue one did for Sora, dispersed. A giant chest appeared. Link opened it, and found a Map. Link then made his way back to the circular room.
Link and Sora met together in the circular room, Link with the Map and Sora with the Compass. Navi came out to see the items.
"Well, Navi?" Link asked, staring at the fairy as she examined the two treasures.
"Hey! I got it! This map is obviously the Map of the Forest Temple. The Compass there will point out any treasures in a room that we enter. Together, we can use these two items to make our way through the rest of the area!" Navi said. Link and Sora nodded. Link glanced at the Map, and saw that the circular room on the second-level drawing was blinking.
"Uhh... Navi? Are these Maps magic?" he asked. Navi flew over and saw the map.
"Yeah, they are. See, the rooms you've visited are blue, the flashing room is our current location. See those yellow squares with a black line through them? Those are treasure chests. And the lock-shaped icons indicate locked doors." Navi explained. Sora then saw a skull icon on the very bottom level.
"What's that mark?" he asked. Navi looked at it.
"You know... I have a feeling that's the final room of the Temple. Probably where we'll find the source of the evil power here... and the Sage." Navi replied. Link nodded, putting the map away. He then turned back to where they'd come from.
"Looks like we need to go back and find a key in order to continue..." he muttered. Sora nodded, and the three companions made their way back to the main chamber of the Forest Temple.
Notes on the Chapter:
1. First adult dungeon! Woohoo!
2. Yeah, I've decided to actually have the monsters here be able to speak. Makes it more interesting, doncha think?
3. Trying to alter dungeons while still having them be long... harder than it looks.
4. 2 down, 2 to go!