Link, Sanctuary of the Goddesses

There were many things you do not do against the gods. Denying them, slandering them, forgetting them, questioning them, but most of all, as Link was learning, you do not tell them what you want.

And he had chosen to ignore the Goddess of Power, Din, and was running for his life in payment. See, Din had carved a track on the beautiful land outside the palace of the three goddesses for him to run on. Link, tired from two days of intense, stressful tasks set by Nayru and Farore, scoffed at such a menial task.

Farore, the first day, had him relive his previous boss fights, from Aquamentus to General Onox. However, as the name she gave it implied, the "boss rush" was meant to have him conquer each fight one after the other without rest. It took him hours to complete Farore's trial, but once he did, he felt a change in himself. He felt stronger, faster, and smarter, able to determine the advantages and disadvantages when fighting the bosses much quicker than he did in the real world. He was also able to gain satisfaction from beating the bosses of South Hyrule without Zelda's aid, especially Horsehead.

Nayru, the second day, tested Link's wisdom. She trapped him in a labyrinth full of puzzles and gave him one hour to escape. With each failed attempt Link made, Nayru would change the structure of the maze, saying that if he was to become the true hero, he would need to adapt to any changes at a whim. 20 attempts later, Link barely escaped in time, but came out with a mind fit to solve even the most challenging of puzzles. Nayru acknowledged his accomplishment, but unlike Farore, didn't praise him.

So he was spent between his and Zelda's patron goddesses, so when Din gave him his challenge, he scoffed loud enough for the earth to hear him, and told the Goddess of Power that he'll rather fight a horde of Wolfos than run along the track. However, he made the mistake of exciting Din that she granted him his wish. 20 laps around the track without stopping, and the Hero was defenseless against the ravenous wolves that chased him.

While he cursed Din, Link began to wonder as to why the goddesses had called him here. He was, of course, unaware of what his body was doing right now, but he felt ready to return to Hyrule. He wanted to return to Zelda most of all, already missing her presence even though she was probably with him every day. He missed the feel of the Master Sword on his back too, as it was a very important part of his being. He also missed sleeping in. He would trade 100 years of rest for Din's test.

"Almost done, idiot?" Link came around the final curve, pushing his tired body down the track and cross the finish line. As he did, the barks of the Wolfos cease, banished from sight and mind. Link collapsed on the track, panting as he heard the sarcastic claps of the Goddesses of Power. "Bravo, Link. I had doubted you'll come this far. Bet you know wish this was a simple run, huh?"

Link looked up to the laid-back Din, not going to admit that he indeed did wish he had said nothing. "You are crazy."

Din smiled, raising from her lawn chair, and eyeing the hero with curiosity. "Oh, am I?"

"Yes! You have it out for me for some reason."

"Yes, I do. You, though not you exactly, robbed me of my littlest sister because you couldn't do your job, then the you and my sister afterward failed to defeat Demise by allowing him to curse my Hyrule. A trace of him resides in the Master Sword, you know? Millions of years has passed, yet my old flame still lives."

Link's eyes widened. He had heard that the remnants of Demise were indeed taken by the sword, but it didn't faze him as much as hearing that Din had a relationship with the original Demon King. "You…and Demise?"

Din nodded. "Yes. It's a long story, but it is the reason us goddesses don't intermingle directly in the affairs of the created. Why the Triforce was created. Why the curse of Hyrule began long before the war between spirit, blood, and hatred. It is an interesting story, one long forgotten. Would you like to hear it? It might help you understand you three roles of the world, and why I am so adamantly pissed at you and Nayru's little princess. Just be happy my Ganondorf is alive now."

Link got to his feet, walked over to Din, and sat beside her. If Din was really open to telling him the unknown story of the gods, he was willing to listen, if it meant there could be a way to save the world. Though, if he was honest, knowing Ganondorf was alive dampened his mood. "Sure."

Din began. "You know how the world was created. In the beginning, there was chaos, I carved the world, Nayru gave order, Farore gave life, we left the Triforce behind, Hylia was to guard it, blah blah blah. That's all true. However, there were also three gods that aided in creation of the Hyrule you would know. There was Demise, the Demon King, the only match in the heavens of my power. There was Veratis, the God of Truth, and the male equivalent and lover of Nayru. Last, there was Mors, the God of Death, the foil to Farore, as life and death are to each other. The six of us lived in harmony, watching over the world we had created. For centuries, we had peace."

Link watched as the headstrong and proud Din dropped her face. "Din?"

"That all changed the day Demise, my beloved, powerful Demise, grew resentful of the people's praising of Hylia. He demanded that we, as in me and him, return to the world, and lay waste to those that'll worship a lesser god such as Hylia and those that had made their own religion. I denied him, saying that we as the greater gods returned to the heavens and left the Triforce for a reason. Gods interfering in human affairs has never worked out in those other mythologies the pagans of the world created, and it wouldn't result in a satisfactory result. The five of us, after Demise refused to relent in his pursuit of blood, decided to banish him to the Evil Realm. We thought we had done away with him, but alas, we had just poke the bear. Demise returned with his armies, ready to soak the world in blood. Farore and Nayru, bound to the heavens as I, chose champions to take their place in the fight. Nayru selected Hylia instantly, as she loved the little goddess the most. Veratis and Mors, not bound to heaven as we were, took the fight to Demise. They fought off Demise long enough for Hylia to assemble a counterattack, but both would fall in the fight."

"What happened to them?"

"Veratis, as Nayru's lover, sought to protect her and her chosen Hylia, so upon his dying breath, he created his own people, bound to the laws of truth and had only one mission, to protect Hylia at all costs. In the language of the time, the word for truth was 'sheikah,' and from the bones of the God of Truth came the Sheikah Clan."

Link smiled. "That makes sense. Impa is truly dedicated to protecting Zelda. What about Mors

"Well, Farore had trouble selecting her warrior. As the Goddess of Courage, it was hard to select a true paramount of courage. Mors, her beloved, was fatally wounded by Demise, but able to escape the battle to a settlement far away from the war. There, as he struggled with life, he came upon a young man tending his flock. As they conversed, Mors asked the boy why he didn't join the war, the boy replying that he was willing to, but he had couldn't hold a blade to save his life. Mors, determined to find Farore a champion, saw potential in the boy, but had to be sure. He revealed himself to the shepherd and told him to kill his most prized sheep as an offering. Mors added in that he would know which sheep the boy loved the most, no matter if the boy tried to trick him or not. The boy selected his prized sheep, bringing him before Mors, once again instructed to kill the animal. The boy hesitated time and time again, unable to kill the creature. Mors, secretly impressed, threatened to kill the animal, but the shepherd stepped between god and animal, willing to risk his life to protect it. Mors then asked the boy that if he would give his life foolishly to protect an animal and stand up to a weak but still powerful god, would he do the same to protect the world against a deranged god?"

"Wow… Who was he?"

Din smiled, raising her eyebrow as if Link should've known who she was talking about. "He was Link, and like any foolish Link, besides you of course, he said yes. Mors, proud that he had accomplished his mission, awarded him two possessions that will become the mark of the hero. First, he was given the great ability to wield any weapon he picked up, especially the sword. The second, he gave the boy a green tunic to indicate to heaven and earth that Link was Farore's hero. He was the First Hero, though it'll be a while before he'll meet Hylia while being in prison."

Link was overwhelmed by his true origins explained. However, Din was leaving out a crucial detail to the story. "What about your chosen?"

Din shook her head. "I didn't choose. I am the Goddess of Power, and I was too proud of that to choose a mortal to fight my battle. Over the calamities, I've mellowed to choosing the young prince for this cataclysm. But it wouldn't have mattered. There was no way Demise could take the Triforce, he didn't have the balance…and I thought that way until Ganon did just that, turning the Sacred Realm into his image. Turns out the Triforce has a mind of its own, and not even us goddesses can influence who it can and can't choose." The Goddess stood up, gazing to the white palace she called him. "You haven't once questioned as to why you're here."

Link had thought about it but figured the reason would soon make itself apparent. "No, I haven't. Why am I here?"

"Because Vaati has done the one thing you, Ganon, and Zelda have been unable to. He almost broke the curse of Demise, first by killing Queen Zelda to end the bloodline of Hylia, then almost ended the heroes had you died, and as for Ganon..." Din turned away, biting her lips. "If he destroys the curse, he wins. We goddesses sought to work around it, by making spirit, blood, and hatred find a common enemy that they'll have no choice but to fight as one. But Vaati's interference in South Hyrule by capturing Ganondorf delayed that. That set everyone on different paths, all converging at the Temple of Time. Yet, we still failed, and the devil has two Triforces. The other Link is dead, and that brings more trouble."

"Wait," Link interjected. "Shade is dead?"

"Sacrificed himself to protect the animals from the god." Din turned to Link, looking straight into his pupils. "Link, I have my issues with you, but I have little hope in Zelda's power. I do not think it'll be enough. I have a feeling that the ramifications of the battle of Rauru and what will happen in Darunia will either prolong the war or…end the world as we know it. So, to prevent such a thing, I convened with my sisters and decided that, in case Zelda failed to protect Wisdom or her Light Force before we send you back, and should Ganondorf fall again, you would be ready with our blessing."

Link raised an eyebrow at this. The goddesses didn't have much faith in Zelda or (surprisingly) Ganondorf but given how the circumstances have changed in a month, he could understand. But Link knew they were strong and could hold out. "What is the blessing?"

"The Master Sword is the most powerful sword there is, but at one time, it had a competitor. It was once called the Picori Blade, and it was used to seal off evil in the early Kingdom of Hyrule, gifted to the people by the mysterious Minish. However, in his bid for the Light Force, Vaati broke the blade, but the Link of the era, using the elements of fire, wind, water, and earth, reformed the Picori Blade into the mythical Four Sword. By doing so, the Hero of the Minish was able to split into four beings, temporarily in his time, but the Hero of the Four Sword was able to maintain being split into four beings his entire journey. However, that was a long time ago, when the Master Sword itself was pure myth. The sword was destroyed by Vaati when he finally found it again. The Master Sword is capable to finish off the evil, but the Four Sword is what Vaati fears, and wielding it will give you power over him. With our blessing, you can have it."

"And we are pressed for time." Nayru and Farore joined the eldest Goddess and the hero, a serious air coming with them. The Goddess of Wisdom looked to her sister, lowering her brow. "The Imperials have invaded Darunia, and the Princess is there. We have three days before Vaati makes his move, and the time has long started."

Din stood up. "Three days? Just like… Are you two sure he's ready?"

Farore nodded. "Our blessing is needed, whether he's ready or not. I do think he is." Nayru silently agreed. Din turned to Link, now standing over them, and took his left hand.

"Fine. To craft the Four Sword, you'll need the elements. You'll need something to represent fire, earth, air, and water, and bring it here. We have prepared four trials for you, one for each element. Once you are done, you will be awarded the Four Sword."

"And hopefully there's a Hyrule left to save. We're placing all our bets on you, Link. You cannot fail now.

Link could understand the goddesses' worry but had a hard time accepting that Zelda and Ganondorf would fail before he returned. Vaati did beat the three of them single-handedly, when they have the Triforce on their side, and when neither side had it. Now that he has two pieces, he'll be stronger than Zelda and Ganondorf combined. If the goddesses are putting so much faith in this Four Sword, then he'll have to trust them.

"What is my first trial?"

"With me." Link turned around, gasping as he spotted the last person he'll expect to see in the realm of the goddesses. Standing with a blade in his right hand, shield strapped to his left, wearing the traditional green of the hero, was none other than the Hero of Hyrule.


Riju, Mido Town

"Get up, you squirming Moldorm." Riju winced from her perch above the training grounds as Buliara insulted one of her trainees. The chief's bodyguard, with some argument, was instructed to teach the civilians of Mido who had no combat experience to fight well enough to defend themselves against the monsters. Training began effectively the day after she returned from Rauru Town, and besides the day of Ganondorf's funeral, the preparations for the Imperials has not ceased.

Riju commission the leader of her army, Teake, to prepare her troops for combat and to gather intelligence. She asked Telma and Rova to take care of possible escape routes to the north or east and to manage their supplies for possible evacuation. Buliara, as stated, trained the civilians for active duty.

Managing her people for war stressed the young chief out, but it was of her own foolishness not to been prepared before. She should've started the day she succeeded her mother, or the day Ganondorf returned. Had the Imperials gone out with their initial attack, Mido wouldn't exist, and the Gerudo race extinguished.

"Attention!" The scared civilians stood like stone at Buliara's order, and Riju felt quite sorry for them. She was trained her by the woman, with equal harassment though she was a child. Seeing these poor adults cower in fear didn't help the bodyguard's reputation as a stick in the mud. Riju, however, had no plans to intervene. The Gerudo was once a proud warrior race, and while the Daemon sect kept that tradition of having their entire population ready to fight, the Sage Gerudo laxed in that department. If the warriors fell, however, her people would meet a swift demise.

Buliara drew out her claymore, holding it with ease in one hand. "Let's get down to business to defeat those heathens. Did the chief ask me to train Hylian men instead of Gerudo women? All of you are the saddest excuses of Gerudo I have ever met, I might as well train Zoras too. But I will make fine Gerudo warriors out of you." The stern captain looked up, spotting her leader above. Riju mouthed a few words which the captain understood, sighing as she turned back to the assembly. "You want to become better?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Tranquil as an oasis, with a Moluga within." Buliara swung her blade smoothly despite its weight, twirling it like a baton before I'm planting it in the sand. "Once you find yourself, certainly you can win. So every member of this pathetic lot, look up, your leader is here. Train harder Gerudo that the Imperials can also hear."

Riju walked down to Buliara, gesturing her to the side as she faced the recruits. The other recruit groups, lead by other officials, were progressing fine, but they were already experienced combatants outside of military duty. Buliara's group had never touched a weapon in their life. But the lack of progress wasn't due to lack of skill, but motivation and inspiration. Soldiers are trained for war, to give their lives in battle, but even that takes months to teach. These women were given more than a week, and that comes with the uncertainty of when the Imperials will strike. Each passing second could be that second their lives are changed. They were afraid, and Riju could sympathize.

"Ladies, the foul stench of fear is very strong in this room. Fear of my captain, fear of death, fear of the Imperials. I get that because I'm just as afraid if not more. I am responsible for everything that can happen to us. Not my mother, not my aunt, not King Malladus, not Ganondorf, but me. If our people are to survive, that is my call. And my choice is that we're going to fight, and I will lead you into battle. I'll be the first Gerudo they meet, and the last to leave their corpses. But to do that ladies means that I need everyone behind me. Not just the soldiers, but every Gerudo who can fight and you can fight! We are Gerudo! Remember that we were once the most feared race in Hyrule that the others wanted us out. Remember that we came from the ancient Sage of Spirit and the King of Thieves before his fall. Remember that it is us who brave the smelting heat of the day and the chills of night. You want those pathetic Hylians, right now in Darunia, who got us in this mess to get the glory, or do you want to remind them that Farore and Nayru might favor them, but we are Din's children? That wisdom and courage are fine traits to have, but what wins is power! Those who wish that, hold your weapon up!"

One by one, the trainees raise their weapon until not a single one was lowered. Riju smiled as she could see they were now inspired. She nodded, then turned to Buliara. "Make Gerudo out of them."

If Ganondorf was alive, she was sure he'll be proud of her.