Author's Note: Thank you to Post Rapture, DoomRater, Mihaele Rose, Ides of Diamonds, and everybody who read and/or reviewed my first fic. This is the third and final part of my epic trilogy and I hope you all enjoy it. And I'd like to give credit to any author whose characters or excerpts from their stories that I used. I can't stress enough how much I'd like everyone to READ AND REVIEW, because I feel we may be approaching the end of something special.


Chapter 7

Link almost had his things ready. He had tied the horses outside, because they would be there a while. After having another nightmare Link knew exactly where Meyson was. The problem was that Meyson was probably already there, and he might have left by now. No one had said anything to Zelda all morning. She was obviously distraught over the possibility of what might have happened. Link was surprised that moment. He had actually found something about Princess Zelda that he could actually relate to.

Yes, Link was panicked when Meyson had chosen to invade the Forest Temple. He didn't want anything to happen to his friend, Saria. He grew up with her. She was her only friend back in the forest. Now Zelda was going through the same thing. Zelda had grown up with Impa. Impa was her nanny and Zelda loved her. Being a princess, Zelda obviously didn't have many friends and Impa may have been the only one she had. Link couldn't blame Zelda for being upset. Link knew that much like he didn't want anything to happen to Saria, Zelda wished the same for Impa.

"Well, I'm ready," Nabooru called out.

"Me too," Sodo added.

"I'm ready to go," Malon added as well.

Link walked over to the three while Zelda pulled out the Ocarina of Time.

"Good. We haven't a moment to spare," Zelda said. "Stand close, everyone. We're about to leave. I just pray that it hasn't been blocked off."

Zelda began to play a familiar tune on the ocarina. She began playing the Nocturne of Shadow. As the song ended, they were surrounded by a white light. It had worked. They were being transported to the Kakariko graveyard.


Chapter 8

When they got to the area in front of the Shadow Temple door, Link immediately noticed how dark it was. Then he noticed that a colossal door blocked the entrance to the temple.

Nabooru walked up to the door. "I think it's locked."

"How are we supposed to get in?" Malon asked.

"The same way I got in last time," Link answered. He began to dig around his bag and found a red crystal. It was Din's Fire. "Everybody stand back!" Link's party each began to step back and take cover. Link unleashed the power of Din's Fire and the torches were all lit. The ground around the door began to shake as it began to open. As soon as it opened, Zelda immediately ran in.

"IMPA!" Zelda shouted. "Where are you!"

Sodo looked concerned. "Shouldn't we go after her, Link? What if we lose her?"

Link stood calmly. "It's ok, Sodo. I don't think she'll get far."

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

That got Link panicked. He knew that Zelda would find one of the pits. But he expected her to stop in front of it, not fall into one. Link ran in and the rest of party followed closely behind. When Link got to the pit, he saw Zelda was hanging on for dear life.

"I see you found the pit," Link grinned.

"Shut up! This is serious!" Zelda yelled. "Get me out of here!"

Link casually grabbed the arms of the princess and pulled her up. Zelda got to her feet and smacked Link in the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" Link asked, holding his head.

"You could have warned me about that pit!" Zelda shouted. "I almost killed myself!"

"It's ok, princess. I'm sorry," Link apologized. "But if it make's you feel any better, I know where Impa is. And I know a shortcut."

"Well, where is she?" Zelda asked.

Link began walking. "This way. And watch your step. This place is booby trapped."

Link led everyone through a series of doors, real and fake. As he continued walking, he noticed that something began to creak. Everyone stood silent.

"W-W-What was that?" Malon asked fearfully.

Link looked above. He saw that a giant block of spikes was hanging above Malon. And he also noticed that she was stepping back, unknowingly, towards a floor switch.

"MALON, NO!!!"

Malon couldn't respond in time. She had stepped on the switch and the spikes began falling. In the blink of an eye, Link rushed towards Malon and tackled her out of harm's way just as the spiked block crashed onto the ground.

Malon had nearly turned white with fear. She was almost killed and she couldn't even see it coming. "You weren't kidding when you said this place was booby trapped."

Link dusted himself off and got to his feet. "Maybe it'd be better if we stood closer together," he said uneasily.

The five grouped together and continued on their way. When they finally entered a room with two doors, Link smiled. He walked over to the door on the right and walked in, motioning for everyone else to follow him. Link's party just looked around questioningly. There was nothing in the room. It was just a dead end.

"What's in here?" Nabooru asked. "It's just an empty room."

"You aren't lost, are you Link?" Malon said, with an irritated tone.

"How many times do I have to tell you people to trust me?" Link asked. "I know exactly what I'm doing." As if on cue, Link walked towards the end of the room and fell in a false floor screaming.

The rest of Link's party rushed towards the spot Link had fallen.

Sodo stuck his head in the false floor. "Well, how about that? A floor that's not really a floor."

Nabooru reached down through the floor and grabbed what appeared to be chained ladder. "I guess we can climb down with this."

Link saw everyone begin to climb down. When they climbed down, Malon rushed to his side.

"Link? Are you ok?" she asked.

"I'm…fine. It's just my spine," Link said. "I'll be ok." Link got to his feet and pointed towards a huge ferryboat. "There. That's where we go next."

They all walked over to the ferryboat. They stopped and waited for anything to happen, but the boat stood idly floating in the air.

"Well? How do we get this thing moving?" Nabooru asked.

Link pointed down towards the Triforce symbol. "This is the crest of the Royal Family." He nodded at Zelda. "I think we both know what needs to be done here?"

Zelda pulled out the Ocarina of Time. "Indeed we do." She began to play Zelda's Lullaby, which got the boat's bells ringing.

The boat began to float over towards another part of the temple. As it moved, Sodo began to cough violently. He rushed over to the edge of the boat and vomited over the edge.

"What's with him?" Nabooru asked curiously. "Is he seasick? Or in this case, airsick?"

Sodo grabbed a bottle of red potion and drank until the bottle was empty. "No, just the disease. But I'm fine now."

The boat finally reached its destination. Then it began to shake.

"Everybody JUMP!" Link shouted. All five of them jumped off the ship as it sank into the darkness below. "I always hated that part." Link pointed towards a door on the far side. "She's in there. Let's go."

They made their way into the door. The five each jumped a series of platforms until they reached another door. When Link opened this door, he saw a huge pit in the center. He jumped in, followed by the rest of his party. When Link landed, he saw that Impa was chained up and unconscious.


Chapter 9

Link looked on at the chained Sheikah. Zelda nearly lost it right there.

"Impa, NO!" Zelda shouted. She ran up to her old nanny and started shaking her. "Impa, please wake up! Please!" Impa regained consciousness and Zelda embraced her.

"Princess," Impa said in surprise. "You're here. I wasn't expecting you to be here. I thought you were in Hyrule Field."

Link stood astonished. How did she know that? Before he could ask, Nabooru answered her question.

"Still got those contacts, do you Impa? They're a lot more reliable than the Gerudo, that's for sure."

"I realize that, Nabooru," Impa smiled. "Imagine my surprise when I heard that you had joined the Hero of Time. And imagine my utter shock when I found out that it was YOU who made up the legend of Titanos."

Nabooru shook her head. "I'm starting to regret ever thinking that up."

"I assume Meyson's been here, then?" Link pointed out.

"Indeed he has," Impa said, now loose of the chains. "He came to the temple disguised as Princess Zelda, but I saw right through his charade. But as soon as I was about to make my move, I was nailed by that brutish Iron Knuckle."

"What did he want?" Zelda asked.

"He came here with a crystal necklace," Impa responded. "He put it around his neck and began chanting somewhere in this room. When he was done, he had army of hundreds released. Hundreds of ReDead, Gibdo, Floormasters, and Stalfos knights were all out and ready to do his bidding."

"A crystal necklace?" Malon asked.

"Yes, but it wasn't an ordinary crystal," Impa said. "He used the crystal to store the army he had created. I'm guessing it's the source of their power."

Link knew what question he wanted to ask next. "Impa, did he have Saria with him?"

"Yes, he did have young Saria with him," the Sheikah answered.

Sodo was wide-eyed. "Was she ok? Was she hurt?"

"She was fine, as far as I could see," Impa said. "I asked him what he wanted with her and he didn't answer me. It's anybody's guess what he could have in store for her."

"Did he tell you where he was going next?" Link asked.

"He only said that he was going back to regroup," Impa answered.

"Translation: He's getting ready for the big fight," Nabooru clarified. "Being a thief, I know those words well. He's getting ready to put his final plan into action."

"Yes, time is short," Impa conceded. "But night has fallen. I think you five should get some sleep and go back to the castle. Meyson may be getting ready for an assault."

Link agreed. Sleep sounded good. "Ok, where do we sleep?"

Impa smiled. "Come this way. I'll lead to the door."


Chapter 10

Saria was back in the grave. But she was being held in the corner of the grave, being guarded by the Lizalfos, COMBAT. Meyson stood in front of his army of hundreds of ReDead, Gibdo, Floormasters, and Stalfos knights.

Meyson prepared to address them all. "My followers, our time of glory is almost at hand. After everything we have struggled for, our ultimate goal will finally be reached. We are about to complete the one objective left to me by my master, the great Ganondorf. And that objective is to free him from the prison in which he lies!"

The monsters cheered. Saria and the Lizalfos only looked on.

"We will free him from the prison he was thrown in by scum like this," Meyson said pointing at Saria. "Everyone who helped imprison him: This Kokiri, the Princess of Hyrule, and especially the Hero of Time will all be crushed at my master's hand. And he will do what he originally set out to do. Ganondorf shall rule the world!"

The monsters again raised an arm, or in the case of the Floormasters, a fist, and cheered.

"Tomorrow, is the day of glory," Meyson continued. "You will all stand outside the drawbridge. You will stand by there, with Titanos as your commander. Meanwhile, I and my reptilian cohorts will infiltrate Hyrule Castle Town and make our way towards the Temple of Time. There, we shall release the great Ganondorf. Once he is released, you will all make your move. You will all invade Hyrule Castle Town, destroying anything that stands in your way. Once you have made your way through the town, you will infiltrate Hyrule Castle, itself, and destroy it. Thereby, marking the beginning of a new era for Hyrule. An era in which Hyrule will live under the rule of the great Ganondorf once more!"

The monsters cheered. Saria looked next to her and saw that the Lizalfos were just standing by silent.

"You guys aren't really going to help him, are you?" Saria pleaded.

"So what if we do?" Kreature asked.

"Yeah," Krash added. "We'd only be giving the Hylians exactly what they've given us for years."

"But guys, two wrongs don't make a right," Saria said sadly. "Don't you guys want to do the right thing?"

"We've never done the right thing before," Kreature said coldly.

"So why should we start now?" Krash added.

"We're screw-ups. Meyson tells us we can't do anything right," Og said.

"Please guys…" Saria began.

"Sorry, shrimp," Kreature said. "But we've made our choice and we're standing by it."

"Besides," Og said. "Don't think we aren't getting anything out of this. Meyson's rewarding us handsomely for our part."

Saria hung her head down. It seemed hopeless. She only wished she could find a way to convince them that they didn't have to do this. She wished she could convince them to do the right thing.

Meyson held out his crystal and called back his army. He then walked up to his three reptilian cohorts. "Are you ready for the final phase of my plan, boys?"

They all shouted affirmatively.

"Good," Meyson smiled evilly. "Then go wait for me outside." The three lizards walked out of the grave. Meyson then looked at Saria. "Well, the time for you to serve your purpose is almost here."

Saria had an idea. If she got the answers she was looking for, then she might have something. "And what are you going to do once you get Ganondorf out?"

Meyson laughed evilly. "It seems we haven't been paying attention. Once the great Ganondorf is released, he will take his revenge on those who imprisoned him. He will destroy Hyrule Castle and create a new castle for himself. And he will rule Hyrule with me at his side."

Saria almost had the answers she needed. "With you? And what about COMBAT? Your loyal lizards? What happens to them?"

"Those idiots?" Meyson chuckled. "They've done a lot of stupid things. But the stupidest thing they've ever done was to believe any promise I've ever told them. Those three wastes of oxygen will be disposed of."

There was one more thing Saria had to know. "And what about me? I still don't know why you've taken me."

Meyson grinned. "I do believe you're right. I think it finally IS time I told you the purpose you are to serve."


Chapter 11

Link was ready to turn in for the night. But he still felt frustrated. He had learned a lot more about Meyson and his purpose in the Shadow Temple but it still wasn't enough for him. After all this, Link still didn't know why Meyson was holding Saria prisoner. That ate him up inside. He could have anything in store for him.

Link also felt nervous. It was true. The time was coming. It was almost time for Meyson to initiate his plan to release Ganondorf and Link still had no idea how he would go about doing that. Meyson didn't have the three Spiritual Stones or the Ocarina of Time. How could he possibly get Ganondorf out? Link also felt nervous about the huge army Meyson had created. There were hundreds of monsters out there. But would they be used against him, or against the people of Hyrule? Link didn't want to think about it.

Just then, Malon walked up to Link. "Are you ok?"

"I'm just thinking," Link answered. "Just thinking about what we're going to do next."

"Any ideas?" she asked.

"Not a clue," Link responded. "I guess we go back to the castle and warn the Hylian army, but from there I have no idea what to do. I…just don't know."

"I think there's only one thing we can do," Malon said. "We can only wait."

"I guess," Link conceded. "I guess I'll just try and sleep now."

Malon put her arm around Link. "Link, don't worry. We'll find her. You heard Impa. Saria's fine."

"I guess," Link said. "Thanks, Malon. Good night."

Malon walked off to sleep. Link decided to turn in as well.

Link looked around. It was a vast place that Link didn't recognize. But he soon figured out that he was in Hyrule Field. He then turned around to see the drawbridge leading to Hyrule Castle.

"It has ended!"

Link turned around again. This time, he saw Meyson. And he was surrounded by his army of hundreds of monsters. Meyson began to transform, and he transformed into Saria.

"You couldn't see what he wanted me for, until it was too late. Some hero you are!"

Meyson changed his form into Nabooru.

"And now it's over. You lost!"

Then Meyson changed into Princess Zelda.

"Hyrule is doomed. It will never be the same again!"

And then Meyson shifted into the form of Ganondorf.

"Because I am back in Hyrule now, Hero of Time. And this time, I'm here to stay!"

Meyson changed back into his original form. Link was seething. Frustration was getting the better of him.

"Well, WHAT DID YOU WANT WITH SARIA?!" Link shouted. "WHY DID YOU TAKE HER? WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?"

Meyson only laughed evilly. "That's your problem, Link. You can't see that the Forest Sage was the key to my plan the whole time. You couldn't see the purpose she served in releasing my master. You didn't see it…UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE!!!"

Darkness began to overtake the sky. Lightning shot down from the sky. And out of the drawbridge emerged Ganondorf.

"The end is here! You are too late! Now I RULE THE WORLD!" Ganondorf laughed evilly and shot a ball of energy that completely overtook Link.

Link fell. It was the last thing he saw before fading to black.

Link woke up in a cold sweat. He was ready to scream. This was quickly becoming a tired part of his routine.

He couldn't believe what he saw. He was extremely frustrated. Was he supposed to know what Saria was being used for? Was the answer in front of his face and he hadn't seen it? Link could only make out one thing about the latest nightmare. Time was short.

Link looked over to see Princess Zelda. She was still asleep. Apparently, she wasn't seeing the same thing Link saw. Whatever nightmare Link had, he alone had it. It wasn't a nightmare he shared with Princess Zelda.

Link got up and decided to walk outside. The torches were still lit and going on strong. He walked over to the end of the gate and looked out towards the graveyard. He began to ponder his situation. He didn't know what was going to happen next. And he didn't know where Meyson would go next. He could only assume that his next target had something to do with the area outside of Hyrule Castle. And it had something to do with Saria. She was a pawn in all this. Link desperately wished for a clue. He wished for some kind of lead.

That's when a ray of light shot down next to Link. He jumped out of the way as the ray of light landed on the ground near Link. Link saw a circle of light on the ground. He didn't know what to make of it. It looked familiar though. It was a lot like the circles of light that Link would see at the end of his journeys through each temple.

"Link," a voice called from the light. "Step into the light."

Link looked on confused. He had no idea what to make of this.

"Come on, Link," the voice called. "Step into the light. It's urgent."

Link still stood frozen. He couldn't understand what was going on.

"Link, step into the light," the voice called again. "The future of Hyrule depends on it. Step into the light. If not for me, then do it for Hyrule. Do it for your friends. Do it for Saria. Do it for Malon."

Link didn't know how this voice knew Saria or Malon. But he made sense. The lives of his friends and everyone in Hyrule were on the line. He had no other idea what else to do. Link stepped into the light and was being transported.

Link felt like he had to be in the light for a good number of minutes, but finally Link reached his destination. He looked around to see where he was. He saw six platforms that looked exactly like the medallions held by each of the sages. Link knew exactly where he was now. He was in the Chamber of Sages.

"It is good that you are finally here, Hero of Time," the same voice called.

Link looked around again. He finally found the voice. He walked in and stepped on one of the medallion platforms. Link recognized who it was. It was Rauru, the Sage of Light.

"I'm glad I've finally been able to contact you," the old Light Sage said. "Because there isn't much time left."


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