Chapter 10: Gravekeeper's Race

The group eventually left the destroyed Castle Town.

Despite the destructive town, the plains looked the same, but there weren't any signs of people on the dirt paths.

"No sign of anyone," Usopp said using his goggles to look for anyone.

"Any enemies?" Luffy asked.

Usopp shook his head. "Nope, no sign, so I guess we're in the clear."

"Don't forget, we're supposed to Kakariko Village, there's a treasure that Link needs to get into the Forest Temple," Navi reminded.

"Yeah, yeah, you don't need to tell us twice," Zoro grumbled waving his hand.

"Also, I suppose anyone is hungry," Sanji guessed.

Blurrgh

"Geez, I am..." Luffy groaned feeling that his stomach was empty.

"We've been asleep for seven years too, so I guess our hunger is coming back," Chopper said. "I could use some candy or something."

"Here's the plan, I will do some shopping, Nami, you look for some new clothes for us, we'll need some for our travels,"

"That's a good idea," Nami said liking the idea.

Zoro then thought of something. "Alright, Robin, Usopp, you guys are with me, we'll look around for a place to stay tonight,"

"Good idea, after a good dinner, we'll need rest too," Robin agreed to the idea.

"Right, I just hope the Sunny is okay," Usopp said.

Franky's eyes widen in realization. "The Sunny, that's right, we left it at Lake Hylia, we need to know if Raura is right about her being safe!" He shouted in a slight panic.

"Fine, Franky, you go around and try to find information about Lake Hylia including about our ship,"

"Sweet!" Franky said suddenly all calm.

"Brook, you take Link and Navi, the three of you will try to find details about this treasure that Sheik spoke of," Zoro said looking at the three.

"Consider it done," Brook saluted.

"Sounds like we're working together," Link said with a smile.

"I'm excited, I can't wait to show my skills," The skeleton musician bowed, and then he looked at Navi. "Oh, Miss Navi."

"What is it?" The little fairy asked.

"Would you be kind of enough to show me your panties?" Brook asked.

Navi was angry and tackled the skeleton in the forehead. "No way pervert!"

Eventually, the group entered Kakariko Village.

Each went into separate groups.

Brook, Link, and Navi went around an abandoned house.

"So where do we start to look for details?" Link questioned.

"Not sure, but there some citizens, but either one of them could know," Navi replied.

"The treasure should be somewhere around here, but if that were the case, they would leave the citizens in danger," Brook spoke putting his skeleton fingers on his chin.

"What'd you mean?" Link asked.

"Think about it, if someone did have the treasure they would need to keep somewhere safe, somewhere that not even these people would go to look," Brook explained. "In other words, it would have to be in a place that might make a person stay away from."

The pirate musician glanced in the direction where the graveyard was. "Kakariko Village's graveyard."

"You're kidding, what if there are ghosts there?" Navi said little scared.

"We'll just have hope that they don't show up," Brook said with a shrug.

"I heard the last time we were here, a grave keeper lives there, so maybe he knows," Link said.

"That's a good point, let's go," Brook said running towards the narrow path leading to the graveyard.

Shortly later, the three arrived at the graveyard's entrance.

They walked cautiously and passed the gate.

"Geez, this place sure gives me the creeps," Navi said feeling her skin crawl.

"Yeah, enough to make my skin crawl," Brook said before he started laughing. "Yo-ohohoh, I don't have any skin, skeleton joke!"

"Over there," Link pointed to the right. "It's a hut."

"That's where the Gravekeeper must hang out," Navi guessed.

Link then walked over to the door and opened it. "Hello..."

No answer, so Link slowly opened the door fully. "Strange, no one is home."

"Strange indeed," Brook added.

"Hey, you three," A voice called out.

Link, Brook, and Navi turned around, saw an old man with a blue outfit and hat that was the same color.

"Are you looking for the Gravekeeper, Dampe?"

"Y-yes sir, do you know where he is right now?" Link asked.

The old man looked down sadly. "Sorry, but you three wasted your time, he passed a few years ago."

"What?" Navi asked in surprise.

"He was just old, however..." The old man said as he looked towards the trio. "I was told that there Dampe was an old man that could the truth."

"See the truth?" Brook wondered in question.

"What does that mean?" Link asked.

"Not sure myself, but I have heard you have to train your mind's eye mostly strenuously to see the truth," The old man replied. "However, Dampe, that old fella he had a different way of doing things, his house stood where the well is now."

"That helps a little I guess..." Navi whispered still a little puzzled at the details.

"Also, I heard that two men in town said they saw the ghost of Dampe, he was carrying a treasure chest into his grave," The old man said.

"Where is his grave?" Link asked wanting to know.

The old man pointed up the hill on the left. "Over there."

"Thank you, see ya, sir," Link said waving at the old man.

The old man was confused but then walked away back to the town.

Navi and Brook followed the fairy boy and saw him looking at the gravestone.

Dampe

RIP

"This must be where he was buried," Navi said.

"Yeah, I hope the old man is resting peacefully at least," Brook said taking off his hat and bowing to the gravestone.

Link went behind the gravestone. "I wonder..." He began to pull the gravestone backward.

"What are you doing?" Navi asked little surprised.

A secret hole was revealed. "That's disrespectful, Link," Navi said little ashamed.

"Sorry, I didn't what else to do," Link apologized. "Anyway, let's go in!"

"Alright," Brook said jumping into the hole.

They found themselves in a hidden save.

"Aah, a ghost!" Navi pointed ahead.

There was Dampe, he was a ghost too.

"Whoa, a ghost, a real one at that," Brook said with a gaping mouth.

"Heh heh heh, young man!" The ghost Dampe laughed. Are you and your friend fast on your feet!"

Link and Brook were confused. "Huh?"

"I may not look like it, but I'm confident in my speed! Let's race, followed if you dare!"

Dampe was flying away.

"I guess we don't have a choice!" Link stated. "Let's go!"

"Right!" Brook said following the fairy boy.

"Wait for me!" Navi called out.

They continued through some narrower paths.

Dampe then tossed a flame below. "Be careful!"

"Hey, what's the deal?" Link asked.

"I ain't going to go easy on you two, if you get burned then you and your friend will befall behind!" Dampe replied.

"A challenge, I like it," Brook said with a chuckle. "Don't count us out old-timer!"

"Like your spirit skeleton man, you never I met any skeleton like you!" Dampe said seemingly impressed by the skeleton's enthusiasm

Dampe continued to levitate in the air while tossing some more flames.

Link got burned but got back on his feet.

Brook was able to avoid them due to his speed, which Dampe noticed. "Quite the speed you got Mr. Skeleton."

Eventually, they made it to the finishing line, which was another chamber with a platform.

"Hehehehe, young man, you and the skeleton man are very quick to be able to keep up with me!" Dampe laughed as he enjoyed the race.

"Do we get an award or something?" Brook asked.

"Yes, I'll give the treasure that I've kept hidden for seven years. It's called the Hookshot!" Dampe replied.

A treasure chest appeared in the center of the platform.

Link opened and picked up the weapon. "Got it, we have the Hookshot now!"

"This must be the weapon that Sheik mentioned," Brook added. "Quite the interesting item, it's kind of like Usopp's grappling hook."

"Anyway, let's get out here," Navi said.

"Oh, one more thing," Dampe interrupted. "Be careful on your way back."

Then the ghost of Dampe vanished into thin air.

"What did he mean by that?" Navi wondered.

"Let's find out!" Link said as he jumped off the platform and entered the room in the back.

"Wait for me!" Brook called.

There was a large stone blocking the path.

"Aw man, we're trapped!" Navi pouted.

"Hold on, what's that weird design on the stone?" Link asked.

Brook looked closely at it. "Huh, this design looks familiar."

"It is, it's the same design on the Door of Time!" Navi exclaimed in realization.

Link had an idea so he took out his Ocarina and played the Song of Time.

Then the large square-like stone began to disappear as Link played the tune.

"It's gone!" Brook exclaimed in surprise.

"Look, there's a stairway too!" Navi added in relief.

"Let's go!" Link yelled as he climbed up and ran up the stairway.

As soon as they arrived at the top, they found themselves in a strange room.

"Is this the windmill?" Navi asked.

"Looks like from that strange platform that's in the center," Brook said gazing at the spinning platform.

A man was playing a phonogram, with an angered and annoyed face.

"Grr, ever since that boy with Ocarina played a song, the windmill started going fast!" He yelled with a huff.

Link was puzzled. "Was he talking me about?"

"I don't remember you playing here before," Brook whispered to the fairy boy's ear.

Despite this weird accusation, Link decided to get further into the matter. "Excuse me, sir, what did this song sound like?"

The Phonogram Man growled. "It went like this..."

He began to play the Song of Storms.

"Such a tune..." Brook thought seemingly moved by the song.

Link took out his Ocarina and played the Song of Storms, which made rain pour from the inside, the platform in the middle began to spin around even faster.

The Phonogram Man gasped in shock. "Huh, the windmill is going faster, it was you, you played that Ocarina, didn't you! GRRRRRRR!"

"I think we should go," Navi suggested.

"I think so too," Brook agreed as he bowed to the man. "Forgive our intrusion."

They eventually left and went to go meet at the tree further down the path leading to the exit.

Everyone was there waiting for them.

"How did your tasks go?" Link asked.

Sanji picked up a load of bags. "Fine with me, with these, we should be able to last until tomorrow tonight, but for now I'll whip us some good meal at once."

"Sounds good, I'm hungry!" Luffy cheered slightly drooling.

"Wipe your mouth!" Navi protested in disgust.

"I can't wait to eat!" Chopper yelled with delight.

"Anyway, we got a night with some big woman, also you won't believe who's there," Nami said.

"Who was there?" Link asked.

"It's Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch," The navigator replied.

"What, what is he doing here?" Navi asked.

"Mr. Ingo somehow was able to kick him out and take over the ranch himself," Usopp answered.

Link remembered the girl that lived there. "Wait, what about Malon, is she okay?"

"I heard she's working hard there, the woman that is looking after him, tells that she is forced to work hard," Franky answered with a slight of anger.

Sanji's eyes widen with anger. "Malon, I hope she's alright, I swear I'll kick Mr. Ingo's ass!"

"Hold it, you guys, we can't just rashly go on and attack the ranch, if that's what you're thinking," Navi yelled getting everyone's attention. "I understand your concern, but we can't make any rash decisions, there's got to be a reason why Mr. Ingo became so cruel."

"Either way, we can only hope that Malon is safe for the time being," Usopp said looking worried.

"Yeah, for now, we need to eat and get some rest for the night," Zoro agreed. "At the first light, we leave, once we do, we'll go to Kokiri Forest and get to the Forest Temple."

"What about Malon?" Link asked a little angry.

"Link, we don't have time right now, we can only hope she's keeping strong," The green-haired swordsman replied with a serious look. "I understand your concern, but for now, we need to build up our strength, so once we deal with the Forest Temple, we'll go to Lon Lon Ranch!"

Link's anger eased up a bit. "Okay, you're right."

"What about the Sunny?" Navi asked.

"We found nothing, but we can only hope someone or that old man at Lake Hylia was taking care of her for last seven years," Franky answered even though he was really worried about the ship that he and friends of Galley-La and Franky Family built together.

A short time later.

Sanji prepared dinner, everyone got their fill.

Some stayed at the house that Talon was staying at while the others stayed with a woman named Anju, who takes care of chickens called Cuccos.

M

At Ganon's Castle.

"So the Hero of Time has returned?" The dark king asked.

A skeleton was talking with the evil king. "Yes sir, our resources informed of them being seen in the plains,"

"Should've looked for them harder before," A hag voice said.

"Yeah, but, I heard those brats, like the one with Strawhat was strong, even the long-nose used unusual slingshot, that green-haired swordsman, he's seems like a tough opponent." Another hag voice added

"Yes, I sensed a wild presence from within them especially that strawhat boy Luffy," Ganondorf said with a smirk, below his feet was Saria's Ocarina which was broken into pieces.

"Either way, they're sure to go to the Forest Temple, what is the next step?" A female Gerudo asked.

"Let's take care of the Hero of Time and his little friends, once that is done, we'll take the Ocarina," Ganondorf stated as he looked towards a platform. "Come here, my shadow, Phantom Ganon."

The Phantom look-alike appeared and knelt before the evil king. "The Hero of Time and his friends are sure to head to the Forest Temple, go there at once, and destroy them before they awaken the forest sage."

"Glady your master Ganondorf," The Phantom said as he vanished into thin air and a dark deep laugh was heard from him.

Link with the help of Brook manages to find the weapon known as the Hookshot, the group reveals some information they found in the village, Talon was kicked out of his ranch and has been taking over my Mr. Ingo, Strawhat's ship, Sunny's fate is still unknown for the time being, but for now, they decided to get some rest and then it'll be time to head to the Kokiri Forest to awaken the forest sage."

Luffy: In the next chapter: The Forest Temple

I'm going to be King of the Pirates.

I decided to add the race with Dampe, those that remember, it takes place in the game of Ocarina of Time, so don't be mad at me for putting that in this chapter.

End of chapter.