Twenty Years Ago-The Spirit Temple
"Did you find it?" Koume asked pointedly.
"Of course I did." Veran answered wryly. "Why is it you and Kotake second-guess me so often?"
"We're just being careful...after all, you're the only one of us who has been sent back to the Dark World." Kotake answered.
Veran stopped, turning to looks the witches in the eye. "You think you can hide your defeat at the Hero's hands from me?" she growled.
"How ridiculous...such a thing has never happened." Koume replied.
"And you deny it...it makes me wonder if you truly have deluded yourselves into thinking you weren't killed by him." Veran said, starting toward Koume.
"Enough of this!" Kotake shouted, startling the other two. "Do you have it or not?"
"Fear not, it's here." Veran said, materializing a long object wrapped in a shroud from thin air. "It wasn't easy to get either." she added, pulling the covering aside to display the Sword of the Six Sages.
I'd say, you look exhausted." Koume said with a laugh.
Veran bared her teeth as she looked back at the witch. "If you two would actually follow along sometimes, maybe I wouldn't have to exert myself so much...and maybe we could get things done faster."
"Ridiculous!" Kotake said, dismissing her. "Lord Ganondorf needs us here to aid him."
"Excuses." Veran said as she started forward again. "It's a shame because I think you would have had fun...the Sages were stronger than they appeared."
"Did you kill them?" Ganondorf asked as he stepped into the hallway.
Veran, Koume and Kotake went silent, quickly bowing their heads as Ganondorf approached them.
"I had no other option." Veran replied.
"She has no self-control!" Kotake accused.
"Maybe if you two came along to help hold them off-" Veran began.
"Silence!" Ganondorf boomed, the three going quiet. "Let me see it."
Veran stepped forward and outstretched her arms, the Sword of the Six Sages giving off a strong glow. "I hope you can forgive me, my Lord."
"The death of the current Sages produces a new problem, the Goddesses will select new Sages now, and we will have to find them." Ganondorf said as he unsheathed the Sword. "Just as I remember it."
"Pardon me, my Lord, but what is it we need the sword for?" Kotake asked. "Do you plan to snuff out the light and leave Hyrule in darkness?"
"No, well, possibly, but this sword has more uses to me than just that." he answered, holding the sword aloft. "It's blade was stained with the blood of the Hero long ago."
"Do you plan to use a blood curse?" Veran said.
"Unfortunately that wouldn't work, the Hero's incarnations have different physiologies, thus the only thing I'd be cursing is the corpse of his former body." Ganondorf explained. "I've decided, the only way to fight the Hero, is with the Hero himself."
"My Lord, what do you mean?" Kotake asked.
Ganondorf telekinetically lifted the sword out of his grasp so it levitated, point down, in front of him. He quickly held up a hand, focusing on the blade. Koume, Kotake and Veran watched as a small, almost invisible trace of the Hero's blood was drawn from the Sword, gathering into a single drop in midair. The Demon King jabbed his fingers into his chest, gritting his teeth as he withdrew some of his own dark essence.
"My Lord, I do not mean to question you...but what can combining your essence with the blood of the Hero accomplish?" Veran asked.
"We've seen the omens that the Hero and Princess are to to be born soon, the harvest moon glowing gold, magic becoming more prevalent and the appearance of the crimson, cerulean and emerald meteors above Hyrule...and who better to defeat the Hero than himself?" Ganondorf asked.
"You plan to make a copy of him?" Kotake questioned, sounding somewhat uncertain.
"You'd think that the Hero would be evenly matched with another version of himself...but my essence will give him the edge he needs to win." Ganondorf said with a grin.
"But don't you want to do away with the Hero yourself?" Koume asked.
"By the time our confrontation would take place I will be far too old." Ganondorf said, giving a pointed glance at Veran, Koume and Kotake. He had used magic to slow his aging and prolong his life, but there was only so far it could go. In all honesty he somewhat envied Veran, Koume and Kotake, they appeared in their true forms and thus didn't age, Koume and Kotake's elderly appearance the result of a curse and nothing more.
"Now, come to me, my Dark Link!" Ganondorf shouted, the trace of blood merging with his essence, dark energy surging around the now fused elements. Veran, Koume and Kotake looked on as a small body took form within the storm. All three lowered their arms as the thrashing energy died down, leaving a small boy in the middle, his features matching those of the Hero in every way, the exceptions being his lighter hair and skin colors and in place of his blue eyes, there was a bright, almost glowing red. The boy looked around the room, a look of unease and fear on his face. Ganondorf quickly reached out a hand, nodding at the boy. "Come, I have much to teach you."
oOo
Present Day-Hyrule Castle
King Gustaf sat at the head of the table, fingers laced as he looked out across his Ministers, the men shifting uncomfortably in the silence.
"Minister Blackmoore, are you about ready?" the King asked.
"Oh, of course, my King, I apologize, I was somewhat...lost in thought." the man said.
"Well then, get on with it." an older Minister called.
Minister Blackmoore glared at his colleague before picking up the papers before him. "I know what you're all thinking about this Sorcerer in the Desert, that he's no mere Sorcerer and he's the big and bad Ganondorf himself...but it would seem our evidence points in a different direction."
"How so?" called the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lord Thalmont.
"In all of the attacks, it's been frequently stated that the villages were beset by Mercenaries clad in black armor, as you all may know, historically Ganondorf prefers monsters...this leads me to believe that there is no Sorcerer in the Desert, and our actual enemy is a Foreign land." Minister Blackmoore explained.
"That's preposterous!" an older man shot.
"Not as preposterous as a boy and girl being born every so often, who, as teenagers are capable of defeating the most powerful Sorcerer to ever live, is it, Minister Kalwin?" Minister Thalmont asked.
"You...! That is blasphemy!" Minister Kalwin argued.
"So says the Minister of Religion." Lord Blackmoore answered with a smirk.
"We'll see how your social standing is affected by excommunication from the church, Minister of Royal Affairs." Minister Kalwin said.
Minister of Education, Vera Crenissa placed her hand firmly on the table, eyeing the other Ministers. "Look at you, acting like children." she began. "We have to get back to the matter at hand."
"Finally, some reason." Minister of Sorcery, Trond Svelheim chimed in.
"Minister Crenissa is right, as usual, we have a matter to attend to and I don't have the energy to deal with your bickering right now." King Gustaf growled. "Minister Talon, I believe it is your turn to speak."
Minister Aldous Talon, the descendant of the Lon Lon Ranch owners had used his family fortune to quickly rise through the ranks of the social hierarchy, eventually finding himself in the role of Minister of Public Health. "I'm afraid I have to disagree with Lord Blackmoore. There's been a recent surge in illness in the small villages in more rural areas, signs that beasts are once again roaming the land and moving among areas our people usually occupy. It won't be long before we see an attack."
"There are always beasts around, the fact that they're so rarely spotted means they're hiding and not emboldened by the presence of some mythical Master." Minister Blackmoore replied.
"Must you always put in your two rupees?" Minister Talon responded.
"Rebuttals are allowed." the King said as he eyed an empty chair. "Where in the Dark World is my Minister of Defense?"
"Rumor has it she was upset at your daughter's treatment of her." Minister Crenissa responded.
"Still, she wouldn't miss a council meeting because of that." Minister Svelheim answered.
"I wouldn't." Impa replied from her chair, causing all the Minister with the addition of the King to jump in surprise.
"Goddesses, when did you...? How did you...?" Minister Thalmont sputtered.
"I am a Sheihak, you should need no other explanation." Impa answered.
"If you're late again I'll be forced to find a new Minister of Defense." King Gustaf threatened.
"Understood." Impa answered. "Now where were we?"
"Minister Blackmoore wishes to start a war." Minister Kalwin responded.
"When you say it like that, it leaves room for it to be...misconstrued." Blackmoore answered.
"As the Minister of Defense, I naturally need to know more about this." Impa stated.
"I was just telling everyone, the absence of beasts, the lack of sightings, the lack of magic related terror attacks, none of this points to a Sorcerer. The attacks that have been carried out are the work of Mercenaries, some with a small aptitude for magic and nothing more. Thus, I believe another country is responsible for these incursions...Hyrule is quite rich with resources." Minister Blackmoore replied.
"He leaves out the part where he insults the Hero of Legend and Princess of Destiny...tell him they're real, Minister Impa, your ancestors were there." Minister Kalwin said.
"I was merely stating that they may not actually exist." Lord Blackmoore said.
"I care not for his views on religion, what I do care about are his actions provoking us towards war." Impa began. "I won't condone any military action until you've brought me actual evidence."
"Understandable." Lord Blackmoore said.
"Anything else on the agenda for today?" Lord Thalmont followed.
"As you know, I've sent a ranging party into the desert to see if there's any validity to these rumors, so, Minister, Blackmoore, we'll have an answer to at least some of your claims quite soon." the King said. "Council meeting adjourned."
Minister Blackmoore stood up, turning his head to see Impa eyeing him suspiciously.
"She unnerves you, doesn't she?" Minister Thalmont said as they made their way down the stairs.
"If it were anyone else I'd be fine, but she's a damn Sheikah." Lord Blackmoore replied.
"Are you sure she's not following us?" Lord Thalmont replied as rapid footfalls came behind them.
"No, that would be far too transparent." he answered as he turned around, coming face to face with Minister Kalwin.
"You need to learn some respect for the beliefs of this land and it's people." the Minister of Religion said.
"I take it I'm not excommunicated then?" Lord Blackmoore asked.
"You were saved by your suggestion." Minister Kalwin said.
"My suggestion? Do tell." Blackmoore answered.
"Going to war." Kalwin answered. "War leads to occupation and occupation leads to converts to our religion."
"And I thought you types were supposed to be peaceful." Lord Thalmont said.
"Just don't step out of line again." the older man threatened before walking off.
"What a character." Lord Thalmont remarked.
"Indeed." Lord Blackmoore said as the two ducked into his office.
"You're sure no one will hear us in here?" Lord Thalmont asked.
"Of course not, she cast an enchantment over this room that stops sound from going in or out." Lord Blackmoore replied.
"What was the price?" Lord Thalmont asked.
"Entry to the Castle, of course, Lady Veran likes to get a firsthand feel for what's going on." Blackmoore answered.
"Are you at all worried about this ranging party?" Thalmont asked.
"Lady Veran will keep up her side of the deal." Blackmoore replied. "How's the head, by the way?"
Thalmont placed his hand on his forehead, rubbing the center. "That little cad they call the Hero is stronger than he looks, didn't even have his damn memories yet and fought like he's been training all his life...Bastion wasn't much help, the idiot even called me by name."
Lord Blackmoore sat bolt upright. "He called you by your first name? In front of the Villagers?"
"Relax, I'd be surprised if anyone heard or remembered it." Thalmont said.
Lord Blackmoore leaned back in his chair and sighed before casting his eyes toward the wall. "I don't know why you insisted on going, Halkkon."
"I needed to see it for myself, to confirm he's real." Minister Thalmont said.
"Was he real enough for you?" Blackmoore asked.
"I'd say, the kid had my sword out of my grasp in seconds, as ashamed I am to admit it." Thalmont replied.
"Well, as soon as we get Lady Veran what she needs, you and I won't have to worry about the Hero or the Princess any longer...we'll be Kings." Lord Blackmoore said.
"Speaking of the Princess, what shall we do about her?" Thalmont asked.
"The annual Spring Ball is coming up in a few days, the Grand Hall will be overfilled with guests, it won't be hard for a couple of Mercenaries to slip in and do the job covertly...she'll just appear have suddenly taken ill." Lord Blackmoore answered.
"Hopefully she won't have the same muscle memory as the boy." Lord Thalmont answered.
"Indeed." Blackmoore replied as he poured two glasses of wine. "To our new friendship." he said, handing Lord Thalmont a glass.
"To our deal with Lady Veran." Thalmont said, raising his glass.
oOo
Jakob had tired of his mission greatly, traversing the desert in wagons was nearly impossible, thus they had to carry most of their equipment themselves, the harsh heat of the desert beating down upon their heavily armored and quite unprepared bodies, the horses they brought as pack animals lagging behind because of it. This was his first experience of Hyrule's desert and he honestly hoped it would be his last.
"Sir Lirien, we've been searching all day, maybe it's not here." Captain Yotin, said, the older man running to catch up with him.
"The King sent me to find the Sorcerer of the Desert, so I will find him and I will bring him back to face judgement in Hyrule." Jakob said, staying loyal to his duty no matter how badly he wanted to turn back.
"You think we would have seen something by now, we've checked every outcropping, overhang and cave, everywhere they may set up camp and we've found only Leevers and those damned Guays." the Captain said, looking back at a small flock of the black, large beaked birds gliding over the dunes.
"This Sorcerer is supposed to be of such sufficient power that even King Gustaf is wary of him so I wouldn't expect he'd be easy to find." Jakob answered, trudging through the sand as the Sun progressed past it's apex in the sky.
"The men might not last much longer." Captain Yotin said, looking back at the Soldiers doing their best to keep pace.
"We'll progress a short distance more, then after that, we may turn back, we don't want to be out here at night, especially with the Gerudo around somewhere." Jakob said.
"Why the Princess Zelda of the Twilight Age let them return baffles me to no end." Captain Yotin replied.
"Nothing like my Zelda, is she?" Jakob asked with a grin.
"Your Zelda, ey?" the Captain asked. "Received the King's blessing, have you?"
"No, not quite yet, but the Princess is indeed fond of me and I come from the most powerful family in Hyrule...aside from House Hyrule themselves, that is." Jakob responded. "So I don't see why he wouldn't be eager to give it to me."
"I've known the King since he was a young man, I wouldn't be surprised if he purposely made it difficult for you." Captain Yotin laughed.
"We'll see about th-" Jakob began, trailing off as wind began to whip past them, grains of sand flying through the air.
"It's a sandstorm." Captain Yotin observed. "We need to get going now."
"Wait a moment." Jakob said as he walked towards the storm, focusing on it carefully. "It's not moving this way."
The Captain, followed closely by the Soldiers, approached it, watching the sand fly by, yet the storm front didn't get any closer. "It's like a giant wall of sand."
"That, my friend, is precisely what it is." Jakob as he trudged closer. "So this is how the Sorcerer fortifies his home."
"Oh no, I'm afraid your wrong." a voice called.
Jakob, Yotin and the men with them all turned, swords and bows drawn to find an elderly woman looking up at them.
"This sandstorm was put in place by the Goddess of Sand long ago to protect her Temple." Koume said.
"You're a Gerudo." Jakob stated.
"Yes, and you're a Hylian." Koume replied.
"You say there's a Temple on the other side of this storm?" Jakob asked.
"Indeed, the Spirit Temple, the ancient place of worship for my people, I come here during the day to guide those who want to pray to the Goddess of Sand to the temple." Koume said with a smile.
"How many have you guided recently?" Jakob asked, carefully approaching the witch.
"It's been years, the Spirit Temple's been so vacant only sand resides there." Koume said in mock sadness.
"That sounds like an excellent lair for our Sorcerer." Yotin said quietly.
Jakob nodded as he stepped closer to the woman. "Would you guide us?" he asked.
"You wish to pay your respects to the Goddess of Sand?" Koume asked.
"Of course, I am a man of many cultures." Jakob answered with a faux-grin.
"Very well then, follow me." Koume said as she hopped onto her broomstick.
Jakob pulled his cloth shirt out from under his ChainMail and pressed it over his mouth, looking back at the men behind him before nodding for them to do the same. The Hylians slowly entered the sandstorm after Koume, the witch flitting about as if to her there was no sand at all.
"Are you sure about this?" Captain Yotin asked as they followed their guide, the elderly woman always flying just barely within sight.
"I see no other option, going back to Castle empty-handed won't be good for us." Jakob answered as he kept his eyes on the old woman.
After what seemed like an hour the group emerged on the other side, the men lowering their shirts from over their mouths and shaking the sand out of their hair and armor. The Desert Colossus was the first thing to capture their attention, the massive temple carved into a cliff face extending far up into the sky, even the nearby oasis failing to capture the men's attention.
"So this is it." Captain Yotin said.
"Eyes up everyone, stay sharp." Jakob called out as he flipped the face guard down on his helm, the other Soldiers doing the same as they pulled forth their weapons, raising them up to chest level and pointing them straight forward. Jakob took a moment to look back, finding that their guide had vanished, the Knight drawing his lips into a tight line. "That's not good." he thought.
The Hylian Soldiers began moving forward, an eerie quiet greeting them as they drew closer to the Temple, the only sounds being the desert winds that battered them and the swaying leaves of the palm trees that surrounded the oasis. Suddenly a loud crack pierced the air followed by the scream of an unfortunate soldier as he fell through the sand.
"What in the Goddesses' names?!" Captain Yotin yelled as he ran over to where the man stood, looking down to find he had fallen into a pit that was concealed using planks buried under the sand, the Soldier in question impaled by half a dozen spikes and quite dead.
"Captain!" Jakob yelled as he charged at the man, tackling him out of the way as an arrow flew by.
"I'd say we've found what we're looking for." Captain Yotin answered.
"We didn't find it...that woman...she lead us straight into a trap." Jakob said.
Suddenly the sand in front of them burst into the air as multiple men in black armor came out of the ground and charged them. Jakob rushed forward, ducking a slash before coming back up and stabbing his assailant in the chest only to turn around to find another Soldier ready to strike, Captain Yotin stabbing the man through the head from behind. Around them Hylian Soldiers dueled their opponents, the black armored Soldiers proving to be more than a match for most of them.
"Do you see any crests you recognize?" Yotin asked as he faded away from a strike before slashing his spear across his enemy's thigh, the man grunting and dropping to one knee before the Captain stabbed him through the chest.
Jakob dodged multiple slashes before his opponent dashed forward with a sudden burst of speed, managing to cut him across the shoulder, through his armor. The Knight didn't let this slow him down as he lunged forward and kicked the man in the midsection before bringing his sword straight down onto the man's head, cutting it in two. "The symbol they bare, it's a clock face!" Jakob called back to him.
"But that would mean..." Captain Yotin said, trailing off as another Soldier charged him.
Jakob's attention was drawn to the entrance of the temple as the large stone doors began to open, a man clad in the same black armor but with gold trim stepping out, his face obscured by shadows within his helmet. "There's the Commander." Jakob said as he charged forward, stopping to dodge a sword strike before darting back and slashing the Soldier across his chest.
Up ahead of him two Soldier's charged the man, one Soldier performing a diagonal downwards slash while the other made to stab the man, the enemy commander easily parrying the slash and pushing the Soldier into his comrade's stab before dashing around the dispatched Soldier and stabbing the one that made to stab him through the eye, both Hylians falling to the ground motionless.
"Hey you!" Jakob called as he charged the man, leaping into the air and bringing his sword down on top of him, the man blocking it with ease, Jakob grinding his heels into the sand as he landed. The other warrior pushed forward, Jakob gritting his teeth as the man's strength proved to be a match for his. In the blink of an eye both warriors broke from their clash before charging back in, Jakob sending a furious flurry of slashes at his opponent, the man calmly blocking them before leaping backwards, Jakob chasing after him and running in with a stab, the enemy commander parrying it and delivering a blow to Jakob's back with the hilt of his blade, knocking the Knight to the ground. "Damnit." he growled.
The enemy commander lifted his sword, barely missing as he stabbed it into the sand as Jakob rolled to the side and sprang back to his feet. "I won't be dealt with that easily!" he shouted as he charged in, eyes going wide as his opponent performed a spin attack, Jakob bracing for the impact only for one of his Soldiers to grab him by the shoulder and pulling him out of the way, the spin attack narrowly missing him. Before the Knight could get back to his feet, the Soldier that saved him charged the commander, the man deflecting his strike before dispatching him with a lightning quick slash to the throat. Jakob got his feet and looked around, finding that only eight or nine of his group remained while more of the Black Armored Soldiers exited the temple. "Retreat!" he called, the shout gaining the notice of the enemy commander. "Damn you." Jakob said as he joined his men in fleeing the battle, turning to find the Commander wasn't following him, instead he stood, the other Soldiers at his side, watching as the Hylians ran.
Jakob caught up with Yotin and the remaining Soldiers, the group sprinting into the sandstorm. Suddenly his ears twitched, picking up on the sound of Soldier's short but startled grunts around him.
"Someone's in here with us!" Yotin said as he broke into a run along with the other men.
Jakob grit his teeth as he wanted to stay and fight, but there was no sense in taking on an enemy one couldn't see. The Knight emerged onto the other side of the sandstorm, coughing violently as he had forgone covering his mouth and nose. Suddenly a Black armored Soldier charged out from within the sandstorm, quickly setting his sights on Jakob.
The Knight readied himself, loosening his stance as his opponent charged him, the enemy Soldier unleashing a series of slashes and stabs upon him, Jakob taking small steps back before deflecting a vertical downwards slash, his opponent stumbling back before darting back in with a stab, Jakob fading to the side and whipping the tip of his blade across the man's throat. "I'll be taking that." Jakob said, looking down at the cloth emblem the Soldier wore over his armor. As the man stumbled back clutching at his throat, Jakob tore the emblem from him, walking away as the Soldier fell dead behind him.
"Jakob!" Captain Yotin called as he crested a sand dune. "There you are, we thought we'd lost you for a moment."
"How many made it out?" Jakob asked, taking on a severe expression.
The Captain bowed his head for a moment before looking back up to meet the Knight's gaze. "We only have three remaining of the twenty that came with us."
Jakob sighed as he looked up towards the sun that beat down upon them. "At least we have this." he said as he turned his attention back to the Captain, presenting the cloth emblem.
"So I was seeing it right." the Captain replied.
"It would appear so." Jakob said as he turned the piece of cloth towards him. "This is the crest of Clock Town..."
oOo
Bastion smiled underneath his helm, flipping the face-guard up to look out over the battlefield. "That didn't amount to much." he said, his red irises focused on the dead bodies of the Hylian Soldiers.
Veran emerged from the doorway behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, very well."
"That Knight who was leading them, he had some skill...but if I wished to kill him, it would have been easy. Tell me, why did we need him alive, again?"
"So he can go back and tell the King what he found." Ganondorf answered as he stepped out into the sun, looking out across the fight's aftermath.
"Lord Ganondorf." Veran and Bastion said, both taking a knee.
"I didn't use magic, just as you directed." Bastion said.
"I'm aware." Ganon said, motioning for he and Veran to stand. "With that Knight taking the crest of Clock Town back to the King, their focus will be completely diverted from the possibility that I live in this era." Ganondorf said as he grinned. "They'll go to war and weaken each other and with that, I will take them both."
"Ingenious plan, our King." Kotake and Koume said in unison.
"You did well leading the Hylian's here, seeing them flee into the sandstorm was quite...amusing." Ganondorf said with a laugh.
"Tell me, did my puppets perform well?" Veran asked as she walked over to one of the fallen black-armored Soldiers, lifting it's face-guard to reveal that it was no more than a doll made up of tree roots, the head being a large rootball with a sigil carved into it.
"I may commission you to make more." The Demon King said as he knelt down and examined one. "They were quite effective."
"How did you make them bleed as if they were human?" Bastion asked.
Veran smirked as she materialized a knife into her grip, swiftly cutting into the face of the puppet soldier before her. "The tree roots were taken from Sanguine Trees, given that name due to the resemblance their sap bears to blood." she explained. "I think it really sold the illusion."
Ganondorf snapped his fingers, the defeated Puppet Soldiers standing up and joining the remaining of the their number, the one Jakob defeated stumbling through the sandstorm shortly thereafter. "Look at them." Ganondorf said, casting his eyes over the slain Hylian Soldiers. "Their lives given for some bundles of roots." he said as he made his way towards the entrance, Veran, Koume and Kotake going in ahead of him
Bastion made to catch up only for Ganondorf to hold up a hand as he turned to face the younger man. "Did the Knight see your face?"
"No, my Lord, I concealed it quite effectively." Bastion answered.
"Good, I don't want the boy to know the true nature of your existence...when the time comes, you will reveal the truth...and you will break him." Ganon growled.
"I look forward to it, Lord Ganondorf." Bastion said.
"For now, I have a purpose for you." the Demon King stated.
"How can I be of service?" Bastion asked.
"There's a man in Castle Town who has assembled a fragment of the Mirror of Twilight, he believes he's keeping it from me, but I've known all along that he possesses it...and I've been monitoring his progress...pay him a visit and take it back for me." Ganondorf said.
"Of course, where can I find him?" Bastion asked.
"He lives in the lower levels of Castle Town, he was once the village elder of Kakariko but fled when he realized I had located him...he goes by the name Sahasrahla and he will know you're coming." Ganondorf said.
"I suppose the element of surprise is out of the question then." Bastion replied.
"Indeed, just use the gifts I've given you, overpowering him shouldn't be too difficult." Ganondorf answered.
"I will not fail you." Bastion said, quickly taking a knee.
"Do not return empty-handed." Ganondorf said as he placed a hand on Bastion's shoulder, the warrior teleporting away in a flash of orange light.
Inside the Spirit Temple
"He's relying more and more on Bastion as he gets older." Veran said, a hint of concern in her voice.
"You think he'd toss us aside? Well...maybe you, but not us." Kotake said.
"The two of you hags seem to forget I'm the one he's trusted the most up until this point." Veran snapped.
"Hags?!" Koume screeched.
"We ought to take our merged form! Let's see you insult us after being cut in half, one part frozen and the other burnt to cinders." Kotake hissed.
Veran simply laughed, the witches looking at her quizzically. "We're getting quite sick of each other, aren't we? This cramped living arrangement is growing tiresome."
"Well, how do you suggest we get out of it?" Koume growled.
"Find Demise's Gate." Veran replied quickly.
"That's what we've been trying to do for years." Kotake responded.
"The last person to use it was the Sword Spirit Ghirahim...and where is he now?" Koume asked.
"Smashed into thousands of pieces in a Temple that's long been buried." Veran answered.
"So? What's your point?" Kotake asked.
"The only place we've failed to look for it is a place that shouldn't exist any longer...the Sealed Grounds." Veran said, turning to look at the witches.
"So what you're telling us is; Demise's Gate no longer exists?" Koume hissed.
"On the contrary...the Sealed Grounds have to be here somewhere...if the information I received from Minister Blackmoore is accurate...the Royal Family knows where it is." Veran explained.
"So we pay the King a visit?" Kotake posited.
"You may find that I have Minister Blackmoore and Minister Thalmont wrapped around my finger quite tightly." Veran said with a laugh. "They'll find the information we need, then we can finally set our plans in motion." Veran responded.
"And be rid of each other." Koume and Kotake said together.
"Most assuredly." Veran said as she walked away, waiting until the witches were out of earshot. "But not in the way you think."
oOo
Link laid awake in bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling of his house, fire and the resulting scorch marks having found their way through the window during the attack. The Hero sighed, how much his life had changed in such a small amount of time, he somewhat wanted things to go back to how they were, but he knew that was impossible. He groaned quietly as he rolled onto his side, praying to the Goddesses that he may find some rest before Captain Eldrin came calling to take him from the home he knew to an unfamiliar city from which he would begin anew.
It wasn't so much an overly busy mind or physical energy that kept him awake, it was more so the Captain's words, he had wondered about the triangle on the back of his hand his entire life, for the most part assuming his parents had it etched onto his hand as a way of finding him good luck and protection, but according to the Captain it was a mark from the Goddesses, a sign that he was destined for something greater...at least that would explain the dreams. He turned his hand over, looking at the mark, in terms of visibility, it came and went, most of the time, he himself could barely make it out, this being the reason none of his friends had seemed to notice it, but now, now he could see it clearly, the mark was slowly turning gold in color, a slight glow building around it at times. Link closed his eyes as he thought about the Princess from his dreams, her ethereal beauty never failing to capture his imagination and entrance him in a way nothing else could, she was the reason he failed to return the affection shown to him by any of those who had shown an interest, Zinnia included.
Every time he thought of this Princess, however, the green-skinned, almost Demonic looking man was never far behind, all thoughts and dreams of the Princess lead into thoughts and dreams of him, a total and complete stranger Link had come to hate, even though he was sure this man was just a fabrication of his subconscious...until now that is. This Princess could be out there, that man could be out there and that was what motivated him to go along with Eldrin's plan, to find these two and finally have answers to questions that have plagued him for the majority of his life. Link closed his eyes tightly, a vision coming to life in his head, he rode on the back of a horse, sword drawn, the Princess behind him, she was different in this life, taller, older and her hair darker, but it was most assuredly her. Together they took on the man from his dreams, the Princess carefully aiming a bow composed entirely of light energy while he readied himself, every time she made her mark he would ride by and knock the man from his horse until, inevitably, he and the man would dismount and engage in one final duel, Zelda being forced to watch from the outside as-
"Zelda?" Link whispered as he sat bolt upright. "Her name...Zelda." he said quietly, as if one small memory had just trickled through the massive wall that held back the rest. The Hero laid back down, trying to recall more as he ignored the light tapping against the window on the far side of the room. Link began to become lost in thought when suddenly a small bird, constructed completely from magical energy flew through the room, doing a loop around Link, it's wings sometimes failing to move as it flickered in and out of existence...Link only knew one Sorcerer with such shoddy skill.
The Hero rose from his bed in an irritated manner, briskly making his way over to the window before wrenching it open, the 'bird' flying through it before dematerializing.
"There you are." Dahlian said quietly as he rose up from below the window. "For a second I thought we had the wrong window."
"We wouldn't have known it was you if you hadn't sat up for a second." Viktor added.
"Seriously thought we had Jek for a moment." Dahlian laughed.
"What do you two want, over than to wake me up with a magical construct of a bird?" Link asked, glaring at Viktor.
"Calm down, calm down." Dahlian said, taking a look around. "We're here to rescue you." he said with a smirk, the smirk growing into a grin as he began to laugh.
"Quiet, we don't want to wake anyone up." Viktor said in an alarmed tone.
"I know, I know...it just sounded a bit ridiculous when said that way." Dahliam admitted.
"That it did...I seriously need to get some sleep now, Captain Eldrin will be here in the morning." Link responded as he began to shut his window.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Dahlian said, running over and placing his hand on the window sill.
"If you think that's going to stop me from closing the window, you'd be wrong." Link cautioned.
"Listen, I know you're in a...strange place...but hear me out." Dahlian said, Viktor nodding behind him. "We've been friends since childhood and we don't want to lose you to whatever the Captain is planning."
"I mean, do you really want go off with the Captain like that?" Viktor asked.
Link lowered his gaze, his desire to go with the Captain Eldrin had grown, the Hero seeing this as a way of discovering the true nature of his dreams and maybe find out what was really going on. It had begun to dawn on him, though, if he were enlisted in the army, he wouldn't have the time or freedom to look into such things. "Alright, so what's the plan, then?" Link asked.
"Yes! I told you he would come around!" Dahlian said.
"That you did." Viktor agreed.
"We're going now, when no one will see us." Dahlian answered.
"What about the night Guards?" Link asked.
"Don't worry, I have that covered." Dahlian said.
"I'll meet you around front." Link said.
"Got it." Dahlian said as he and Viktor went on their way.
Link quietly packed up a small assortment of clothing he wished to bring with him before heading for the the door, the Hero stopping and looking back. "I might need this." he thought as he knelt down and reached into to his nightstand, pulling forth a large cimeter knife he used to filet his catches. The Hero crept into the hall, slowly making his way out into the house's main room, pausing as he thought of leaving a letter for Jek, a twinge of guilt in his stomach for abandoning him so late at night, especially without saying anything. Link snuffed out this feelings, however, making his way into the living the room and towards the front door when the room was suddenly illuminated, Link turning to find Jek sitting in one of the chairs, oil lamp on the table next to him.
"Leaving so soon?" Jek asked.
"I know how this looks..." Link began.
"Looks like you were going to just walk out without letting me know." Jek answered.
"Maybe this is what it looks like...but I...I knew you'd try to stop me." Link said.
Jek sighed and stood up, approaching Link and placing his hands on his shoulders. "Link, you may not be my flesh and blood but you've always been my son regardless, which is why I'm letting you go."
"But, Jek I...wait...did you say...?" Link asked.
"Ever since I took you in as a boy I noticed how you grew, the knowledge that came to you despite never being taught and of course theres the mark on your hand, it all made sense to me...I knew you'd have to take your own path eventually, I just didn't know when." Jek explained.
"You knew what this meant?" Link asked, looking down at the Triforce mark.
"I knew it meant you were destined for more than this." Jek replied, giving Link a heartfelt smile.
"Well...this isn't goodbye, I will be back." Link said.
"I know...you be safe out there, Son." Jek responded.
"I will." Link answered as he stepped forward, he and Jek grabbing hold of each other's hands before going in for a one-armed hug.
"Don't forget about us out here." Jek said as they broke from the embrace.
"I'll return before you know it." Link said as he headed for the door.
"Wait." Jek called, Link turning back to him.
"It's dangerous to go alone, take this." he said, reaching over to the table behind him and producing a broad sword.
"Is that...?" Link began.
"It's the sword that belonged to one of those Mercenaries you took down, there aren't any symbols or Coat of Arms that could be used to determine an owner, so the Captain returned it to me...I think he intended it for you." Jek explained.
"Thank you...I don't know what to say." Link said.
"Go out there and do us proud." Jek said with a nod, Link returning the gesture as he headed out the door.
"About time." Dahlian said as he craned his neck around the corner of the house.
"Sorry, Jek was still awake." Link said.
"Did you have to sneak past him?" Viktor asked.
"No, actually...he let me go." Link answered.
"Probably afraid of you after that thing with those Mercenaries." Dahlian joked.
"He just let you walk out at this time of night?" Viktor asked.
"He said he always thought I was 'destined for more'." Link answered as he and his friends worked their way to the fence.
"I can see where he's coming from." Dahlian answered. "I wonder what he's going to tell Eldrin once he shows up in the morning."
Link, Dahlian and Viktor shared a quiet laugh before making it past one last house, the tall wooden fence that surrounded their village lying ahead of them.
Zinnina spied the trio as they made their way out from behind a nearby house, quickly running over to them. "Where have you been? The guards are patrolling the walls now, I've had to hide five times." she hissed.
"Good on you for not getting caught." Dahlian replied as he made his way along the fence.
"I apologize, Jek caught me." Link answered.
"He caught you? And you were still able to come with us?" Zinnia said.
"Turns out he's okay with it...he was waiting up to see me out." Link answered.
"I wish my parents felt the same way." Zinnia said, feeling guilt for running away from them.
"Come on, don't focus on that, we're going to see Castle Town itself!" Dahlian said as he continued along the wall, knocking until a hollow sound greeted him. "Ha! Here it is!" he said, the boy pulling a section of the fence away, revealing a gap through which they could pass.
"After you." Viktor said, gesturing towards Link.
The Hero took a step forward, stopping as Zinnia gasped behind him.
"Link...is that a...sword?" she asked.
"Goddesses! It is!" Viktor replied.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on!" Dahlian replied as he swiftly walked over to them and ducked behind Link. "Damn, Jek wanted to make sure you were ready." he said.
"It's no big deal, really." Link said
"Says you, where did you even get that?" Dahlian asked.
"Captain Eldrin returned it to Jek and he gave it to me, belonged to one of those Mercenaries." Link answered.
"Are you sure it's alright to keep that?" Zinnia asked.
"The Captain's already inspected it, he wouldn't have wanted to give to me if it weren't safe." Link replied.
"Good point...should we have something like that too?" Viktor asked. "There are Bokoblins, Bulblins and Wolfos out there...maybe even Lizalfos...or Stalfos."
"Viktor." Dahlian said derisively as he looked over at him. "Lizalfos and Stalfos are just myths."
"Bokoblins, Bulblins and Wolfos aren't." Zinnia said.
"Don't tell me you all are having second thoughts now." Dahlian huffed.
"I'm not." Link said as he headed for the gap in the fence, his friends watching as he went through.
"Well, are you coming with us or staying here?" Dahlian asked. "Make your decision fast." he added as the light from a guards lantern gleamed in the distance.
"Come on, let's go." Zinnia said, she and Viktor ducking through the fence as Dahlian held the gap open, swiftly closing it and pulling it flush with the fence once he was through.
The four of them ran down the hillside, dodging trees as they went, Zinnia, Dahlian and Viktor laughing in excitement as Link lead the charge downhill.
"So what's with the Captain's hurry to get you out of the Lake Hylia Township?" Dahlian asked.
"He was afraid the Mercenaries would come back, I guess in taking me to Castle Town he thought I'd be safer there...said he wanted to wait until my birthday but doubted we had the time." Link answered.
Zinnia, Viktor and Dahlian exchanged glances. "But isn't that only in a few days?" Zinnia asked.
oOo
Zelda walked along the shelves, her footsteps echoing through the Royal Library, no one else other than the Guards and the caretaker in there with her. The Princess was on the the hunt for books detailing the past incarnations of the Hero and Princess, the curiosity from her dreams driving her.
"Well, this is an interesting sight, I don't think I've ever seen you here, Princess." Minister Blackmoore said as he rounded a shelf.
"Oh, Minister, I didn't hear you come in." Zelda said, an uneasy feeling coming over her.
"It's quite alright, few notice my presence when not in council meetings." the man answered.
"I doubt that, your quite high-born." Zelda said as she continued to scan the shelves.
"Even so." the Minister began. "They just never seemed to notice I was around." he continued as he plucked a book off the shelf near her. "What is this, now?" he asked.
"I'm just doing some research." Zelda said, trying hard to make it look as if she were absorbed in the books in front of her.
"The Lost Era." Lord Blackmoore said, cracking the book. "I've read through this one before, the beginnings of Hyrule, it's said to be. Must have been a wondrous time if all these claims of floating landmasses, Demons and giant beasts are to be true."
"Ah, yes, indeed." Zelda said, continuing to the next shelf.
Minister Blackmoore quickly shut the book and haphazardly returned it to it's place. "Is there something I can help you find, Princess? I know this library well."
"No, I am merely...browsing." Zelda said.
"Really?" Lord Blackmoore asked as he traced her steps, looking over the shelves. "It would seem your looking through tomes that chronicle the lives of the Hero...I mean, you wouldn't be the first...but you seem to have quite an interest."
"I'm just curious is all." the Princess answered.
"If you're looking for the story of the Twilight Invasion, you'll want to look on that shelf on the fair side of the room, but if it's the Era of the Hero of Time you're interested in, you'll want to check the five shelves down from here...unless it's the story of the Oracle of Ages you're wanting to look into...that will be right here." he said, pointing up at the top shelf.
"Minister...have you...read all of those books?" Zelda asked.
"Indeed, they may not be light reading...but to know of Hyrule's past is an invaluable asset." the Minister replied. "There are significant events which do not involve the Hero, such as the War of the Bound Chest...but for the most part he's always there somewhere."
"So...if I had some questions...would you be able to answer them?" Zelda questioned.
"Most likely." Lord Blackmoore replied.
"It's just...promise not to tell my father...or Jakob." she started.
Minister Blackwood took on a concerned look, glancing around at the shelves, making sure there was no one nearby. "Of course."
"As of late...I've been having these dreams...dreams of a man who matches what the Hero is said to look like...dreams that depict events the Hero is said to have taken part in...and I'm there too, as if I am the actual Princess Zelda...my namesake."
"That certainly is interesting." the Minister began. "There are definitely stories of individuals who began living the past events while they slept, with some, they were early signs of special abilities...but sometimes it's more." the Minister replied.
"What do you think it is?" the Princess asked.
"I'm not sure, but we could investigate further in my study." he responded.
"Somehow I don't think the King would approve." a voice called.
Minister Blackmoore made a startled sound as he took a step back, Impa looking down at him from atop a book case. "I had no ill intentions." he snapped.
"Oh, I'm sure of it." Impa said, glaring at the Minister.
"Well then, Princess, it looks as if we have to cut our meeting short, have nice day." Lord Blackmoore said as he headed towards the library's exit.
"I don't like him, I get a creeping feeling in my skin when he's around." Zelda said.
"I can say the same." Impa answered. "Why was it you spoke to him for so long? You needn't feel in danger inside the Castle, the guards and the Caretaker are here...he knows what would happen if he lay a hand on the Princess without your consent."
"He knew things...things I needed to know." Zelda said, thinking back to her dreams of the Hero and the other man, a man who's name is almost always omitted from the books.
"Zelda, if you have questions, I can answer them for you, you could even ask your father...there's no reason to give so much time to that man." Impa said, glancing up at the shelves.
"Do you know of the events of the Twilight Invasion? Or the Era of the Hero of Time?" Zelda asked in a slightly aggressive tone.
Impa glanced away, while her knowledge of the Twilight Invasion was limited, she was intimately familiar with the Hero of Time's era, the Sheikah woman wishing she could reveal why to the Princess, but she and Rauru knew such a thing was against the Godesses' wishes. "I know enough." Impa said as she and Zelda left the Royal Library.
"Did you hear what I said to the Minister?" the Princess asked,
"I heard enough." Impa responded.
"Then you know about my dreams?" Zelda inquired.
"I do, I don't think it's anything to be worried for and it's certainly nothing to consult Blackmoore about." Impa answered.
"I just want to know why I'm having them...and if they'll ever go away." Zelda answered.
Impa cast her eyes downwards, this was a scene that had played out many times for her, and like usual, all she could do was let it take it's course.
oOo
"Well?" Lord Thalmont asked as Blackmoore entered his study, an agitated look on his face.
"That damned Sheikah caught me." he hissed.
"You should have known she's always around, it is her job." Thalmont replied.
"I couldn't see her at first...I suppose they're called 'Shadow People' for a reason." Blackmoore admitted.
"In any case, did you get what you needed?" Thalmont inquired.
"She's beginning to remember...slowly, mostly through dreams, but she's remembering." Blackmoore said.
"This isn't supposed to be happening just yet." Thalmont responded.
"I realize this!" Blackmoore snapped. "That's the reason I spoke to her in the first place."
"Should we inform Lady Veran?" Thalmont asked, picking up a violet Seer's Stone.
"Yes, but be warned, she won't be too happy we weren't able to lure the Princess back here." Blackmoore explained.
"What did she need us to do that for anyhow?" Thalmont questioned.
Lord Blackmoore lifted a hand, purple electricity dancing across his fingertips. "I suppose you don't know yet." Lord Blackmoore said as he turned to face his fellow Minister. "I've always been fairly gifted with magic...but I was born with ability to read minds and probe memories...perhaps that's the reason I'm a Minister...but Lady Veran had a much different purpose for me today...I had to breach the wall that holds back her memories and find where the Sealed Grounds exist in the present day and wipe the Princess' memory right after...an almost impossible feat, but it would cement our place in the new order of things."
Suddenly a knock came at the door, a guard in the hall calling to Lord Blackmoore. "Minister! Sir Jakob Lirien has returned! The King has ordered a meeting!"
oOo
Zelda took her place at her father's side, her mother doing the same as the Ministers filed into the room behind them and took their seats while across the room, Captain Yotin entered with a host of higher ranking military officials.
"What do you bring for us?" King Gustaf asked, looking down from his throne.
Jakob glanced at Zelda before producing a piece of cloth, holding it high. "I retrieved this from the body of one of the enemy Soldiers after I slew him, my King."
The King leaned forward, examining the cloth. "The crest of Clock Town, the capital of Termina." he said.
"Yes, my King, there is no Sorcerer in the desert, but there is a new enemy." Jakob replied.
oOo
Well, this is by far my longest chapter yet for this story, I just wanted to get things rolling and hopefully I've accomplished that.
GerudoSpirit: I'm glad you're finding the Lore interesting! I'm trying to tie it into exisiting Lore, as you may have noticed! As for Rauru and Impa, I figured I should bring them in since they were so heavily featured in The World at War and claimed it wasn't the first time they'd been reincarnated with Link and Zelda! I hope you enjoyed the interaction between, Ganondorf, Veran, the Witches and 'Bastion' in this chapter. When it comes to my vision for Dark Link, I wasn't sure what people would think, so I'm excited you were into it! I hope his origin story makes sense as well as I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for the review!
Ultimate Blazer: Dark Link is indeed back, but it's not the same one as before! I'm glad you found it interesting and I hope you found this chapter interesting, too! Thank you for the review!
Lastly, I'd like to give thanks to all of those who hit follow and favorite on my profile and my story!
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
-Prometheus17