CHAPTER 3
"Jier!"
Saria, Sage of the Forest Temple, whirled to face the person that had shouted. Nearly right across from her, standing on the symbol of the Shadow Medallion, was Impa, Sage of the Shadow Temple. She was kneeling, grasping her head as if in intense pain.
"Impa! What ails you?" demanded Rauru, Sage of Light. Saria turned to look at him. He was almost a comical figure, rotund with an outrageous beard. His small eyes squinted out from beneath his bald forehead. His ceremonial robes swished as he looked to Impa.
"Jier!" came the Shadow Sage's agonized reply. She was a striking figure. She was lean and muscled, dressed in tightly-fitting clothes. She appeared hard, and was cool in nature. Her hair was a natural white, but not through age's wear.
"What's happening?" asked a shocked Ruto, the Sage of Water. She was a Zora, tall and finned. For some reason, Saria had trouble getting along with her.
"Jier? Isn't he her son? And friend to Wynn?" asked Darunia, the Fire Sage. He was a Goron. He was man-shaped, but his skin seemed composed of stones. Muscles rippled as he moved to help Impa. His beard descended down from his stern chin, and his beady eyes blinked with concern.
Impa dropped to the floor before he could reach her. While Darunia was checking to see if she was all right, Nabooru, the Gerudo that was the Sage of Spirit, shivered. She was tanned, with red hair, like most Gerudos. "I sense...an evil..." She looked to Saria.
Saria was a Kokiri, destined to stay a child forever. She had light green hair, and was dressed in forest green. She nodded. Nabooru was right. There was an evil presence nearby...
Suddenly, a flash of light illuminated the Chamber of Sages. The figure of an elegant woman appeared on the central platform. The woman, of about eighteen or nineteen years, was blond, with blond hair cascading down to her ceremonial robes of office. Her blue eyes were open in concern as she looked to Impa. It was the ruler of Hyrule, and the seventh Sage, Princess Zelda.
"What has happened? I sensed the disturbance, and came as soon as I could-" she started. But before she could finish, everyone's attention was distracted by another arrival, this one much more ominous.
Above the floating island in the middle of nothingness that formed the Chamber of Sages, a dark whirlpool of energy appeared. A sound, a ripping of the fabric of reality, caused the six conscious Sages to shiver. From the whirlpool, a dark, shadowy form appeared. "Greetings, Sages. Prepare to meet your doom."
"Who are you?" demanded Zelda, over the surprised murmurs of the other Sages.
The form chuckled. "I am the thing of your nightmares. I am Hyrule's new ruler. I," he gloated, "am the one that has stolen from you your last hope."
"What ever do you mean?" asked a shocked Rauru.
"Your hero cannot reach you. He is locked behind a door, one to which I hold the only keys."
"You!" yelled Rauru, furious. "You stole the Spiritual Stones!"
"Yes," hissed the figure. "I hold them, and the Hero of Time cannot help you."
"Link!" cried Zelda, concern for Link, the Hero of Time, in her voice. "You can't keep him sealed in the past forever!"
"Of course I can." It appeared the figure was smiling.
Impa stirred, slowly waking up. She looked up to the figure, questions dancing through her mind.
"Why, one of your other heroes has already met his end." The figure waved a hand. A vision came to the seven Sages.
Seron was now on his feet, ready to finish his opponent. He raised his gloved hand, and released the shot meant to finally defeat Jier.
Jier flew at Seron, dagger aiming for the apprentice's chest.
Jier's dagger found its mark, sinking into Seron's chest.
Seron's magic found its mark, burning into Jier's chest.
The two were flung away from each other. With their last breaths, they collapsed, looking to the distant roof.
"Jier!" screamed Impa. She leaped the figure. She was stopped in her flight by a sphere of dark energy from the figure. She slammed down hard on the platform, and was out cold again in an instant.
"Now, one of your six pet heroes is dead. Soon, the others will join him. Then, no one can stop me. Not even you!" With those last words, the figure raised his arms. Another sphere of dark energy began to form. The remaining Sages began to charge their own magic to retaliate, but the figure sent his sphere down to the platform before they could attack. It exploded, sending tendrils of lightning scattering across the platform. The Sages were one by one knocked out by the attack. Saria cried out as she, the last, was hit, and darkness claimed her.
When the last Sage collapsed, the figure chuckled as he surveyed his work. The chuckle slowly evolved into mad laughter. Soon, the figure was gone, leaving behind only echoes of his chilling laugh.
Hyrule was in danger.
******
Fami watched with baited breath as Wynn emerged from the hole in the ground, where a gravestone had once stood. She, and the others, looked to him with expectation. He slowly shook his head, his face despairing.
"There's no sign of either of them. I searched the place up and down, found a few things I wish I hadn't," he sighed as he clutched his arm, which sported cuts from the short battle with a ReDead in the tomb, "but no Jier or Seron."
"Any signs of them?" came the deep voice of Baro.
Wynn slowly nodded, the look in his eyes speaking volumes. "There was signs of Seron's magic...and..." he choked, unable to go on. "And blood."
Fami gasped, covering her mouth. "No! Jier can't be dead!" roared Tane.
Nerah lowered her head. Shezarah's face seemed chiseled from stone, but her eyes spoke of her true pain. Wynn sagged. "I...I don't know..."
Before anyone could say something else, a flash of light blinded them. A bedraggled Princess Zelda appeared. She looked around, and spotted Wynn. She paused.
"Wynn, I'm sorry-"
"Princess!" Before she could finish, Baro cried out, dropping to one knee. His wife did the same, showing her respect for the royal.
"Uncle Baro? Aunt Veia?" The Princess seemed shocked. "But...I thought you were..."
"Aunt and Uncle?" asked a shocked Wynn.
The Princess turned to him, a smile coming to her face. "Yes, that is what I call them. Before my father...before Ganon came, they were like family to me. I was really young, and you always stayed home with your mother at the farm. But, then, the dark times..." Zelda frowned as memories came to her unbidden.
"I'm sorry to hear what happened to your father. I was on my way to protect him, when I was captured." Baro grimaced. "When I was betrayed."
Zelda's head lowered. "Thanks, Baro. But, know, we have other worries." She raised her head, and in her eyes were desperation. "A new evil threatens Hyrule, and we need your help!"
Wynn sighed. "We would help, but Jier..."
Zelda turned away. "Jier...He was like a brother to me. Impa was my caretaker during the dark times, and I saw much of him. But now..." She, too, sighed. "Jier is dead."
Wynn closed his eyes, fighting a wave of despair. "How-"
"How do I know? Impa. Her connection with him was strong...she was the first to know."
Wynn nodded. "He will be missed. And," a look of rage entered his eyes, "he will be avenged. Seron-"
"Is dead, with Jier. They killed each other. Jier was fighting to protect Hyrule from that menace, and succeeded in an undeniable manner. He died honorably."
Wynn nodded again. "But, now, Hyrule is under the shadow of another menace. If it isn't stopped, then Jier will have died in vain," the princess continued.
"What? The marauders are disbanded, Icarnos is no more, Seron is dead..."
"I don't know. Whatever it is, it is more powerful than even the Sages. Only one can stop it, and that is the Hero of Time. But even he is out of our reach. The Spiritual Stones have been stolen."
"And you need us to retrieve them," Tane guessed.
"Yes. I am able to sense their power, and know where they have been taken. However, I and the Sages are powerless to get them ourselves."
"That's where we come in, right?" asked Fami.
"Yes. You will need to split up for this task. Two of you shall have to go to Kokiri, the location of the Spiritual Stone of Forest."
"Oh! Wynn and I will go for that one," volunteered Fami.
"I'm afraid not. Your skills will be needed elsewhere. Instead, Tane and Shezarah shall go that way." Zelda said. "Next, the Water Temple, where the Spiritual Stone of Water is being held. Wynn, that's your goal."
The hero nodded. "Yes, Princess."
"Last, Dodongo's cavern. I believe that Fami and Nerah shall be enough to handle this one."
The two looked to each other. "Her?" they asked simultaneously.
"Yes. Together, you shall defeat the monster that guards the stone."
"What? I'm not going anywhere with this over-grown sardine!" Fami snorted.
"Why should I go anywhere with this ditz?" demanded Nerah.
"Nerah! Fami!" yelled a shocked Wynn.
"Girls, Hyrule's fate rests on this. Without you, we are all doomed. Now, you shall work together, or else." Zelda said, fire in her eyes.
"O.K..." mumbled an upset Fami. Nerah merely glared at the other, and nodded grudgingly.
"Now, go. Baro and Veia, come with me to the Chamber of Sages. There is much we need to discuss."
Baro nodded. "Sorry that I must leave before we could talk, son, but this is necessary. We shall be able to discuss what we have missed after this foe has been beaten."
"Yes, father." Wynn gave Baro a stoic smile.
"It is good to see you again, son. Be careful," Wynn's mom instructed him, giving him a hug.
"Yes, mother. I will not lose," Wynn said.
"Farewell, heroes, and good luck. You shall save us all." Zelda concentrated, and she, Baro, and Veia disappeared.
"Farewell." Wynn turned, and nodded to his remaining friends.
"Wynn, we will meet up again, after we have completed our tasks. Then, maybe, we will know peace," Tane said, offering his partner his hand.
Wynn vigorously shook it. "Yes, Tane. And I hope that day will be soon."
******
Red eyes looked around in a familiar chamber. Here, he had been defeated. Here, he had fallen to the sword of a hero. But never again.
The eyes looked up to the Spiritual Stone hovering above him. This time, it was another hero he must face. This time, he would survive.
This time, Shadow would win.
******
Tane stepped into the town square of Kakariko, looking about. The normally bustling town seemed lifeless, its spirit joining that of its greatest protector. Tane sighed. Fitting.
"Tane, look! It's Greer!" said Shezarah from beside him. Tane whirled. There indeed was the gruff man, walking towards them. Tane looked forward, to where Wynn was exiting the town. It looked like it would have to be Tane that told everyone of Jier's defeat and death.
"Greer..."
"Tane, where is Jier? Someone needs to see him," Greer said, more an order than a question.
"Greer..." Tane paused. How could he tell everyone if he couldn't even tell Greer?
"Jier is dead. We have to tell everyone," Shezarah announced.
Greer paused. He then sighed. "A pity. He was a fine warrior. But, I cannot allow you to tell anyone else."
"What? Why?" demanded Tane?
"The Cucco Lady was seriously injured during Seron's attack on this town. She will not be able to handle such news."
Tane frowned. He had forgotten the Cucco Lady.
"When I think everyone is ready, I shall announce it," Greer said, a tone of sadness to his voice.
Shezarah turned to Tane. "Come on, Tane. We can trust him."
Tane nodded slowly. "Farewell, Greer. We shall return."
Then, the two walked away, out of the town. Greer watched them go.
******
Solan looked down to Hyrule Field from his vantage point at the summit of Death Mountain. From here, he could see everything. But, the thing he was looking for he couldn't find.
He sighed as he lowered the looking glass he had been using to search the field. It was hopeless. He should just give up-
He stopped the thought as he noticed movement in the field far below. He raised the glass. Could it be? It was! There was Wynn!
He started to descend the cliff in front of him, noting the direction Wynn was heading. Now, he had to catch him...
"Halt!" came a deep booming voice from behind him. Solan whirled.
"Silver Knuckle. I see that you have regained your identity. Too bad," said the shadowy figure.
"Who are you?"
"I am your new master. Give in to me!"
Solan raised his ax. "I am my own master."
The figure responded with a laugh. "You are foolish. You cannot stop me, no one can." The figure calmly raised an arm. Solan ran at him, pulling his ax back in preparation to slice him in half. A bolt of dark energy struck Solan, paralyzing him. He futily struggled as a small dark whirlpool appeared over his head.
"Give up your free will! You will serve me!"
"Never!" screamed Solan.
The figure roared in rage, and again shot Solan with the dark magic. Solan screamed in pain, and was still.
He finally stood. His eyes were burning with hatred, but not of the one standing in front of him. He then fell to one knee.
"Silver Knuckle is at your service, master."
******
Tane and Shezarah marched soundlessly into Hyrule Field. They walked on and on toward Kokiri Forest, even as the sun set behind them. Both were thinking of the death of their friend, and of their new quest. Both knew that there was a chance that one of their other friends, or even themselves, could join Jier in his slumber.
It was approaching midnight when they arrived in Kokiri. The village was silent, not a soul moving. They walked straight through to the center of the town.
"Where do we go now?" whispered Shezarah. It seemed the oppressive atmosphere of the night sucked up her words, almost before Tane could hear them.
"Well...I don't know..."
Suddenly, a roar erupted from somewhere nearby.
"But offhand, I would guess that way."
Shezarah nodded grimly, and drew her scimitar. Sword in hand, Tane followed her towards the place from where the roar had erupted.
"You know, since we are about to go headlong into battle, again," Tane gave her a roguish grin, "how's about a kiss for luck?"
"Don't get your hopes up, servant."
Tane grimaced, at both the reminder of the fact that he technically was still her servant, as she had captured him during the first Icarnos quest, and the fact she had turned him down.
The two walked into a narrow passage lined with trees. Soon, they came to a large clearing. In the center of the clearing was an immense tree, a quarter as large in width than the village of Kokiri. The tree had been dead for more than seven years, but still stood as a reminder of better times.
"Hey, isn't that little sprout supposed to be here?" inquired Tane. Indeed, where the Deku Sprout had been, there was only a miniature sprout instead of the small tree.
"Something's wrong. The Deku Sprout is the protector of the forest. If it has been defeated, then..."
Before she could elaborate, another roar sounded. The two jumped back, holding their weapons aloft. The sound...it was coming from directly in front of them! Tane grimaced. There, in the bark of the Deku Tree, was an enormous tear. He could see through to an open space, the hollowed-out inside of the tree.
"Guess that is where our little monster is hidden, huh?"
Shezarah merely nodded. Together, they entered the Deku Tree.
Tane whistled softly as he looked around at the interior of the tree. It was huge! Platforms went up three floors, and the floor had what appeared to have been an opening to lower floors, but that opening had been sealed.
Suddenly, an immense creature slammed to the ground right in front of Tane and Shezarah. It was an enormous insect. Its exoskeleton was thick and armored. Two claws grasped the floor. A tail, wider than Tane, waved in the air. A single yellow eye glared at the two heroes. Tane yelled out, recognizing the monster: it was a Gohma!
"Oh, great, a big bug. Want to squash it, or shall I?" kidded Tane.
The Gohma obviously didn't find it funny. It roared, and charged at the two.
Tane jumped out of its way. "Calm down, buggy. Give us the stone, and we'll leave."
The monster whirled facing him. It charged again. "Guess that's a no." Tane slashed at the monster, but his sword merely bounced off. The monster's tail rose into the air, and pointed down to him. A geyser of fire flew at him, and he narrowly dodged.
Whoa, never seen one do that before, he thought. "Cool down, hot-head," he yelled.
Shezarah pulled out her bow and arrows. Now, while Tane had it distracted...She let her arrow fly.
The beast roared in pain as the arrow entered its sole eye. It shook its head, sending the arrow flying away, and charged at Shezarah. She moved to run, but it stopped. It raised itself into the air on its tail, and swung its mammoth claws at her. She cried out in pain as she was knocked into a wall.
"O.K., now I'm mad!" yelled a furious Tane. He ran at the monster. It whirled on its tail to face him, claws swinging. The hero flew into the air, and buried his sword in the eye. The monster screamed, knocking Tane and his sword flying before collapsing.
Shezarah stood, looking at a crumpled Tane, who had smashed into a wall. "Not bad," she commented.
"Thanks," he groaned. He picked himself up as a dark figure appeared.
"You...you destroyed my monster. Surrender now, and you shall live," the dark figure snarled.
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," Tane said, cockily.
"Insolent cur! You shall pay!"
"You want to fight? Let's take it outside."
The figure responded by waving a hand. Dark fire surrounded the dead Gohma. As the three watched, it stood. It slowly changed, growing a pair of legs. Its claws became arms, hanging to its knees. The tail fell away, replaced by a sleeker one, tipped by a lethal blade. The eye grew, becoming red. The previously armored shell grew thicker.
"Now, you will face my Gohmanyte. I have more important matters to oversee, so I'm afraid I cannot wait here to see you die. A pity. Farewell!" Tane frowned as the figure disappeared.
"A bigger bug. Where's a spider when you need one?" Tane said sarcastically.
Shezarah sighed, glancing at Tane with lessening patience.
The Gohmanyte roared in challenge. It ran at Tane, surprisingly agile for its size, claws reaching for him. Tane scrambled out of the way, but the monster nearly caught him.
"Tane! Watch out!" yelled Shezarah, her bow singing as it sent an arrow toward the monster. The Gohmanyte faced her, its eye glowing. It sent a beam of power her way, burning into the thick bark of the tree behind her as she dove to the floor.
"Watch out yourself," Tane grunted, picking himself off the floor. He slashed at the monster, again with no effect. The monster answered his attack by sending its tail at him. Tane yelled as the lethal point barely missed him in a swipe that would have cut him in half.
Another of Shezarah's arrows hurtled at the monster, but it caught it in mid-air, crushing it with a claw. It faced her, charging another blast.
Got to act fast, thought Tane. He quickly pulled out his ax, and swung it with deadly aim. It sliced the tail of the monster off, dropping to the floor. The monster roared in pain, facing Tane. As it turned, Shezarah's bow sang, and an arrow finally hit the eye. The monster froze, paralyzed momentarily by the attack.
Tane and Shezarah came together, attacking as a team, but to no avail. The monster's hide was impenetrable. It finally recovered its senses, and attacking, swiping with its claws. Tane was knocked away, and the monster picked Shezarah up, lifting her into the air, squeezing her until she dropped her bow.
"Shezarah!" Tane yelled. The monster was charging its magic, aiming right for the hapless Shezarah.
"Over here, Skulltula-bait!" Tane yelled, desperately trying to get the monsters attention. It looked to him, eye glowing.
"Blast me if you can!"
The surge of power chased Tane as he dashed away, heading for where Shezarah's bow lay. He picked it up without stopping, and faced the monster when the beam stopped.
"Here's looking at you!" yelled Tane, letting the arrow fly. It arced upward, heading for the eye...and bounced of the armored shell.
Tane slapped himself in the forehead. "Tane, after we get out of this, we really need to work on your aim!" said Shezarah. The monster started at Tane, its free claw at ready to kill the hero.
"Here goes..." muttered Tane, sending another arrow into the air. The monster tried to stop its flight by using Shezarah as a sheild, holding her in front of its face, but to no avail. The arrow firmly implanted itself in the beast's eye, and it again froze.
"Time to finish this!" yelled Shezarah, drawing her scimitar. Now that she was held right in front of the monster's face...
The monster screamed as she planted the blade right in its eye. It floundered about, tossing Shezarah away. She flew through the air, flipped, and landed easily on her feet.
Tane smirked at her. "Show-off." She responded by giving him a smug smile.
The monster collapsed, giving a final howl. The energy it had been using to blast at Tane and Shezarah now had nowhere to go, and exploded from the body of the monster, eliminating it totally.
A green glow suddenly enveloped the heroes. Descending from the roof was a green glowing jewel. It hovered at chest level, and the two heroes went up to it. It was a pure green, an emerald. Tane laughed aloud. They had recovered the Spiritual Stone of Forest, the Kokiri's Emerald.
Good job, Tane and Shezarah, came the voice of Princess Zelda, seemingly inside their heads. The emerald disappeared with a flash of light. One of the stones has been recovered. I thank you.
"What do we do know, Princess?" inquired Shezarah.
That is for you to decide. I would suggest Gerudo's Fortress, to regain your strength.
"Aww, do we have to?" moaned Tane.
Shezarah nodded. "Yes, Princess. We shall await your next commands for us," she said, and turned to Tane. "Come on, big guy. We have to go home."
"Hey! Can I please go somewhere else...maybe Kakariko? I would prefer to have to swim in Death Mountain than go back to the fort..."
Shezarah's eyes narrowed as they exited the tree together. "Is that so?"
The two walked off, oblivious to everything but each other. Behind them, the Deku Sprout was slowly returning to his former state, now that the monster had been defeated. Had he been able to catch the two, he would have warned them of the looming danger that threatened them, the information he had heard from the dark figure before they had arrived, when he had been turned back into a tiny sprout.
But, they were gone. It was too late.