Chapter
2
"Memories"
The tree line of the forest Link knew so well ended abruptly as he
entered Hyrule Field. He paused a moment from his running to feel the warm
sunlight upon his face and the gentle breeze flow through his golden hair. He
could have stood there all morning with his face turned toward the sun, but he
soon recalled his purpose by leaving the forest, and soon started off
again.
In you kept a good pace, you could reach the castle by nightfall, just
before the drawbridge would close. But Link was anxious, he needed to get to the castle before nightfall,
since the castle is guarded more closely from attack all until
morning.
Taking out his ocarina, Link played the melody which quickly summoned
Epona. Whinning cheerfully, she trotted over to Link and nuzzled him
gently. Link smiled and climbed
onto her broad back, giving her a good pat on the side.
Despite his convincing performance, Epona could sense Link's tension, and
neighed nervously. Link's expression turned serious and determined, and soon he
and Epona were galloping towards the castle in the morning
sun.
During the ride, Link trusted Epona with the task of staying on the
trail, and thought about what he had seen in his dream. He shuddered just
thinking about is as he recalled his helplessness against the Cold. He tried to
recall everything from his past experiences that could somewhat explain the
vision, but nothing seemed to relate at all.
As he recalled the adventures of the past (or future, as one may refer
to), Link gave a great sigh. He remembered everything, from the battle with
Ganondorf to the Temple of Time and the legendary Master Sword.
Instinctively
he looked at the back of his hand where the mark of the Triforce had once been,
but found nothing. Again, he wondered if it had really happened. Did Ganondorf
really live? Had he really traveled back and forth between his time and seven
years in the future? His young mind couldn't answer.
Again
he wished that Navi were there beside him, guiding him, telling him what to do
with her infinite wisdom. Without her assistance and heroism, Link would have no
doubt failed to save Hyrule from Ganondorf.
'If
Navi was here, I wouldn't have had to have left the forest, she could have
interpreted the dream for me...' he thought bitterly to
himself.
He bit
his lip, and reminded himself to stop living in the past. He had to focus on
what was on the horizon, threatening to take the peace from Hyrule.
Link
was suddenly snapped out of his reverie from a slight change in Epona's pace.
Squinting and shielding his eyes from the late morning sun, Link spotted the
castle far in the distance, a small speck of gray among the green of the
field.
Slightly
steering Epona off course, he lead her to a small stream where they could rest
for a bit. After Link dismounted, Epona happily trotted over to the bubbling
brook and took a long drink of the cold clear water.
Link,
on the other hand, had settled himself in the cool shade of a small tree not too
far away. Not wanting to be too far from her master, Epona galloped to him, and
gently nuzzled his shoulder until he patted her. Sensing his need to be alone,
Epona trudged away for a short distance until she found a small patch of sweet
green grass to nibble upon, all the while carefully eyeing her master, who sat
quietly with his eyes closed.
"Ahh!"
Link cried as the white ball of energy hit him hard on the chest, sending
searing pain through his body.
Ganondorf
laughed cruelly as he saw Link in pain, but wasted to no time to throw another
powerful cluster of energy into Link again.
Gathering
his wits, Link dodged as best he could as he clumsily tried to pick up the
Master Sword from where he had dropped it from the last onslaught from
Ganondorf. He wiped the blood running down his face as he brought the sword up,
with a look of sheer defiance on his face.
Angered
by Link's determination to defeat him, Ganondorf threw yet another blast towards
the Hero of Time. He sneered as it caught Link in the chest again, throwing he
against the wall savagely; causing Link to once again dropped the legendary
blade.
"You
see boy," Ganondorf began with the most unpleasant smile on his evil face, "only
one of his will live today, and I will see to it that it will be me. I will be
most pleased to watch you die, and I intend on making it as painful as
POSSIBLE!!"
As he
finished he threw a large black ball of energy into the young Hero, which
enveloped him completely. Ganondorf smiled evilly; this battle was
won.
Desperately,
Link gasped for air inside the black ball of energy. Everything cell within
Link's body was burning with brutal pain. He felt his strength fade, and his
will to live shatter like glass cast upon stone. Unable to bear the searing
pain, Link submitted to the God of Death his life was wrestling
with.
Link, a
melodic voice whispered within his consciousness, please, don't give up.
Believe in yourself, in your power as the Hero of Time! The fate of Hyrule
depends on thou, do not give in to the temptation of death! Link! Link, please!
Please, don't give up!! LINK!!
Link
drifted further and further out of reach; he felt as if he had slipped beneath
the surface of a black pool of water, and was slowly but surely sinking to the
bottom. He tried to answer the voice, to call out, but the air had been robbed
from his lungs and his mind to too weary to send out a call. He drifted out of
consciousness...
Link...
the
voice sounded again, more soothing than the last time, you must listen well
to me. If you fall, who could possibly stand against the evil of Ganondorf?
Imagine, Link, of what he would do to Hyrule once your dead and your Triforce
his. Everyone you know, love, and care for...gone. The survivors would
constantly live in fear, as they witness the destruction of their home...
Hyrule. If you cannot save Hyrule for the purpose, than... do it for me. Link, I
love Hyrule; its beauty, its people, its animals and its forests and lakes...
Please, save Hyrule for me. Only me. Save this world that I've could to
love so much, save Hyrule...!
Link's
eyes snapped open. His will to live gathered up the great strength and courage
within him, and with an explosion of rage and power, Link freed himself of his
black prison to face the bewildered Ganondorf once again.
"This,"
he yelled, "is for Zelda, the Princess of HYRULE!!"
Link
woke up from his dream to find Epona staring curiously at Link from a
distance. Rubbing the remaining
sleep from his eyes, Link mounted Epona and started off again to the castle.
Though his looked as if his mind was focused on getting to the castle, his
consciousness was swimming in the sea of the past.
~End of
Chapter 2