Link's Story
Chapter 2
It didn't take me long to figure out the first leg of my quest. After my meeting with the Princess, I went to the mountains, where I found a strange race of people called the Gorons. They were starving to death, because there were monsters lurking in their rock mine. The Gorons ate stones, which I found odd but amusing. In return for saving them, I was given the Goron's Ruby. It was nice looking, but I couldn't imagine what use it would be to me.
After that, I went to Zora's Domain. It was a place hidden behind the falls of Zora's river. At the King's insistence, I ventured into the belly of a large fish to save his daughter, Princess Ruto. If I had ever thought Navi was bad, Ruto was 100 times worse. She was one of the most annoying and arrogant creatures I had ever met. She forced me to carry her all throughout that stinking fish, and then she had the nerve to insult me as I did so. But I, without words, said nothing, and she took it as a sign of valiance. After I rescued her, she decided that she liked me, and said that she would marry me someday. Marriage? To a fish woman? No way! I was too young to think about marriage in the first place.
In great haste I took her gift of the Zora's Sapphire and left. I was more than happy to get away from her. I was going to see Zelda, and tell her of my ventures, when I came to the entrance of the town. Strangely, all was gloomy, and it began to rain. It was nightmarish, almost like something out of one of my dreams... The drawbridge lowered. Out came the white horse, with Zelda and Impa astride. Zelda gave me a frightened look, and threw something into the moat. I watched them disappear into the unnatural night. Then, I heard the sound.
I turned. To my horror, there before my eyes was the evil man, the Gerudo King, Ganondorf Dragmire. He asked me in a stern voice where Zelda had gone. I gave him no reply, and simply glared back. He chuckled and held up his palm. Out of his hand shot a jolt of lightening, and I was thrown back to the cold, soggy ground. My chest felt like it had cracked in two. I just knew I would die. My eyes slowly closed. All I saw was darkness. When I opened them again, the rain had stopped, and the sun had come out again. To my surprise, I was not dead. Unscathed, in fact, and not even sore. It was the oddest thing.
I ran over to the moat, and peered into the water. There was a blue object in the clearness. I reached down and pulled it out. Zelda's voice came to me. She told me to place the jewels I had acquired into the altar in the Temple of Time and play on the object she had left me. Her voice slowly faded. I tried to call out her name, but once again my voice failed me. I grew angry and tried to scream. It was to no avail. I hated being mute. I hated the ones who had made me so. Most of all I hated living. I was just a little Kokiri boy. I would never grow up, never have a real chance. What else could I do? Reluctantly, I gathered my self and headed for the temple.
It was a cold and dreary place. The last place I would ever want to spend an extended period of time in. I slowly walked up to the altar and pulled out my ocarina. I played the song Zelda had taught me, and turned to place the stones where they belonged. To my astonishment, the stones levitated and took their places without my aid. The sight sent chills through my spine. I wished I had a mother to run to then. There was a loud scraping sound. Behind the altar, the wall slid back, and a secret room was revealed. I stood and went to check it out.
Before me was a room with high windows, which boast a pedestal in the center. Cobwebs hung from the most magnificent sword I had ever seen. "Link, it's the Sword of Evil's Bane!" Navi exclaimed. I gave her a confused look. "The Master Sword, dummy!" I nodded. (I had no idea what bane was.) The hilt seemed to call to me, drawing my hand in like a magnet. I went to it, and grasped the cold, hard hilt in my hand. The sword began to vibrate, and the world grew still and eerily dark. I seemed to hang in the center of, of, I don't know what. Then, out of nowhere, there quickly came a sound.
"Hero of Time, awaken." The voice was distant, yet oh so near. I opened my eyes to the blurry world about me. My vision cleared, and I saw a portly old man in a robe. "Finally, your time has come." he intoned. My time? Finally? What was he talking about? Was I dreaming? How long had I been out in the first place? "You have many questions, yet no words to bring them into existence." I merely stared back in my confusion. "Look upon yourself." he commanded. I looked down, and gasped. I was tall, thick, adult. But I was a Kokiri! It wasn't possible!
"You have been in slumber for seven years. You are 17, a man. It is up to you to help save Hyrule. The power of the Sages is weakened against the dark forces, and only you can bring about this land's redemption." I frowned. He continued. "When you entered the realm, Ganondorf, that evil man, took hold of the sacred Triforce, but it split thrice, and now he rules the land with terror. When you leave the sanctity of this hallowed place, you will see a changed world." I pointed at my throat. All I wanted was my voice. If this guy was so powerful, maybe he could give me my words back. He shook his head, sending a pang of sharp disappointment through my soul.
"What is done is done. I cannot change what has befallen you in the past. Your voice is not to be." I glared at him, but he didn't seem to notice. "Take this medallion with you. It will help you in your quest." A large, yellow coin appeared in my outstretched palm. "Now go in peace. The fate of Hyrule rests on your shoulders." The room disappeared, and I was once again in the chamber with the sword I had pulled seven long years ago. I turned and headed for the exit. I heard a noise. Whirling around, a strange sight met my eyes. A boy, my age stood by the pedestal.
"The world is a different place." he said. His voice was a tad feminine, but it didn't bother me. "How so?" I meant to say, but alas, no words came forth. The boy seemed to sense this about me. "Ganondorf has taken over in every aspect, and his minions are everywhere. There is no place safe from his crushing grip." He took a step toward me. "I am Sheik, one of the few remaining Sheikahs. I am one of the sparse amount that have the strength to fight against the ever- present evil.
"Time has passed to you like minutes, but to the rest of the world, freedom was an eternity ago. When you leave this place, you will see some old friends, and enemies, that you knew before, and have been changed. Yet you will also not find some that you seek, for their fates were sealed long before you were set to emerge. Take heart, and do not despair at the sight of such things. They are as they are." I looked upon Sheik desperately.
"I know, you do not wish to do what is besought of you, but it must be done. For the better of me and of you. Do not reject your fate." I threw my gaze to the floor.
"Do not hate me or think me ill for my words, for they are truth, and truth can be blamed upon no one. I am merely the messenger." He straightened himself. "Now, there are a few things you need to know. There are five regions which you must save. One of forest, one of fire, one of water, that of death, and that of sand. The remaining sages dwell within, and they cannot respond to the calls of the goddesses.
" It is up to you, Link, the Hero of Time, to release them, and bring them hither, to shatter the reign of Ganondorf. Hyrule holds its breath until you return in victory." He turned and looked out one of the windows at the sky for a moment. It was as if he were searching for a lost thought. He thus, then turned back, and continued. Your first quest lie in a familiar place. The Forest beckons. Now heed its call." He crossed his arms and stood still as a pillar. I turned, slowly, then feeling a sudden urge, burst from the cold Temple that had been my prison for seven long years.