Chapter Eight:
Impa's voice was calm and rhythmic as she spoke. She bayed Link to listen while she told the story of what was to be Hyrule's reprisal against the Evil King, Ganondorf. The others gathered around her, listening once again as they were all taken back to the memory of a year ago.
"Ganondorf sought his vengeance by trying to destroy the Dark Realm with his magic. All realms are connected in one way or another, and the others will feel any damage done to one. The line between them is very fine as they all play a role in the balance of existence. Ganondorf knew this, and it was not long before this realm and Hyrule's started to suffer as well. Once we discovered what was happening, it was too late and we tried to stop him, but he had grown much stronger in the past year since his defeat. No doubt his hatred and lust for revenge drove him to strengthen his powers. When he was able to create a hole into Hyrule, we and the Hero of Time stood ground at the Temple of Time to try and stop him before he entered. But the Master Sword was firmly locked behind the great stone doors of the temple and there was not enough time to retrieve it. We had so little warning to do anything. He struck as quick and as deadly as the finest Sheikah warrior, but with no honor." Impa paused for a moment, trying to let the memory come forward. "Rauru had already passed on months before the battle, and at the battle in the temple, Ruto joined him. It was a losing struggle and it seemed that in all one instant we lost the Hero of Time as well. No one was prepared for Ganondorf, even us. We retreated to the Sacred Realm and watched as he destroyed and killed almost everything in his path."
Impa paused and waited for Link to say something. Zelda watched him carefully, her heightened mental abilities receiving the turbulent emotions Link was feeling but not showing.
"Link," she said softly, "do you understand what we are telling you?" Link slowly turned his head and stared at her, but his eyes were vacant and he wasn't even aware that he was seeing anything. Slowly he nodded.
"Let…let me see," he said with quivering voice. The others glanced at one another and Zelda consented solemnly. Together they stood and as Link watched, Zelda waved her arm and the air in front of them began to shimmer and become translucent. The vague images of destroyed buildings and the scorched sky came into focus, as the scope of Hyrule field became visible. Link could only stare in amazement as the window flowed over the broken houses and flame-consumed buildings. What had once been Hyrule Market he could see was no more than a pile of burnt timber now with scattered and crushed cobblestones thrown everywhere. Horrified, Link gasped as the image came to rest on an aged skeleton partially hidden beneath the ruin, its singed red hair clinging to the scarred skull and a blackened broach lay close to its neck. Zelda continued to guide the window but Link shattered it with a wave of his hand.
"No more," he stammered. Zelda bent her head in a nod and took up her place by Impa once again. The Hero of Time wavered where he stood for a moment before returning. "I don't want to believe it," He said softly.
"As we wish we had that luxury," the Princess replied. Nabooru coughed and stepped forward and Saria met her gaze. Nabooru knew this was hard for him, but he was the Hero if Time and the story needed to be finished…they did not have much longer…
"Link," she said, trying to get a reaction out of him. "Link, you need to listen, the story isn't over yet. Even though Ganondorf was leader of the Gerudo for a time, there was something he was never told about: a group of Gerudo who left the nation around the time of his birth," Nabooru continued and Link's head shot upright in attention.
"Murieope," he whispered under his breath. Nabooru nodded.
"The Gerudo had never heard from them after they left," Nabooru paused for breath, "but it had been guessed that they settled somewhere in the far south of Hyrule. We found the village using the power of the Sacred Realm and watched over it for a time, trying to use what little power we could to keep it from him," her voice tightened and the veins in her hands swelled. "But that heartless son of a bitch found them and they shared the same fate as the rest of Hyrule."
By now Link's mind had almost completely become numb. Though he heard the words, his emotions were detached from him now.
"We once again had to stand by and watch Ganondorf slaughter innocent people," Impa started again before Link had a moment to ask questions. "But there was something odd about one person that fell to his sword, a young girl. She stood over the body of her injured brother as Ganondorf heartlessly plunged his sword into her flesh. Her blood splattered onto his already bloodstained armor and skin, but as it did he shrank back in pain. Her blood seared his skin as if it were acid, and for a moment we noticed, made him become weak. The girl did not survive her injuries and everyone in the village was killed." Impa now stopped and waited for a response from Link.
Link was dazed and unable to speak. That couldn't be what the future held for Hyrule, could it? Everyone he knew and loved dead, even he himself did not exist in this future. He could only stare blankly at Impa, whose vacant eyes stared out as blankly as his own could. He felt Saria's small hands wrap around his and held them there as she tried to comfort him.
"Loraefin…?" He managed to force out it a whisper. Saria squeezed his hand again.
"Yes," Zelda answered him. "She's what will save Hyrule from Ganondorf. We believe that her blood is the only thing that can kill him." Link stared at her in shock.
"No, no you must have gotten it wrong," Link said in a bit of a panic. "She has no connection with Ganondorf, by the Goddesses she never would have even left the valley if I didn't---" He paused suddenly as it all came to him. "It was you who sent me that dream! It was wasn't it? You told me to go and find her and---"
"Yes, it was us Brother," Darunia spoke solemnly. "We needed you to find her so that she may save Hyrule from its fate in the future, to save everyone's future."
"We sent messages, the dreams you spoke of, back into the past to you, telling of a girl that would be the one to save you. By 'you' we meant all of Hyrule." Zelda spoke up, seating herself next to Impa and across from Link. "But sending messages back in time is tricky, and we were not sure if it would work."
"It did," Link said, still dazed. Zelda for the first time smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Then if it worked, Hyrule is saved."
Link got up and paced around the room for a moment.
"It isn't that simple!" He said with anger resonating in his voice. "I can't ask Loraefin to die! That is not up to me!"
"You don't have to ask her, it is a matter of fate," Impa said sternly.
"How can you say that? If it was fate why didn't she appear the first time around huh?!"
"Sometimes fate needs a little help," Zelda whispered, sensing Link's fear and anger at the same time. "She has to understand that she is the only one who can save us, if not for us, than her family as well, they were not spared the first time either."
This statement struck Link speechless. The truthfulness and honesty of it rendered any words that he would say useless against it. It was fact, and fact was not arguable.
"That can't be true…" Link moaned and put his hands up to his forehead. "She's my friend…I don't want to lose her."
"Link," Zelda got up and went to him, "it's the only way. If she doesn't, she and all the others will be lost anyhow." Her voice was firm and all knowing as she spoke and Link could only stare at her. Her beautiful blue eyes had lost their spark and had become dull and placid. The golden hair that was once allowed to fly free had been restrained in a bun on her head, a few listless strands refusing to be imprisoned framed her face. Her voice quieted down and compassion spewed forth. "Sacrifices have to be made Link, and don't think I have no feelings of sorrow over this, believe me, I do, but I would choose one lost life over hundreds in any situation and I know you would too."
Link pushed his shoulders back and stood up as straight and tall as his physique would manage. Everyone was silent, waiting for him to say something. He took a few steps before pausing again and opening his mouth, but the words took a few moments to work their way out.
"So this is Hyrule's future huh? Death and destruction. Certainly not much to look forward to is it?" Link said under his breath. "Damn fate and its twisted sense of humor."
"Link, you must pay attention to me now, I need to give you instructions about Ganondorf's return. You'll need to be prepared, or else this will all happen over again." Zelda's voice was calmer now. "In one year, Ganondorf will break free of the Dark Realm and try to re-enter Hyrule. He must be stopped at the Temple of Time, before he is allowed to cause any damage. The girl, she will need----"
"Her name is Loraefin," Link retorted. He didn't mean to be harsh, not in the slightest bit, but he could not help it. Zelda understood what he was going through, indeed she had gone through it a year ago. She studied his face, the way he bit his bottom lip when he was upset and angry and how his eyebrows gathered together above the bridge of his nose, she knew that he understood what he must do.
"I'm sorry," she continued. "Loraefin, she will need to give her life here. It must be lifeblood Link, we've already tried every other way, only that will do it. It is a noble and brave death Link; she will be remembered throughout Hyrule's history as one of its greatest saviors. She will understand what she must do."
"She'll have no choice, either scenario she'll be dead," Link replied.
"Stop being so snippy Kid," Nabooru said hotly. "We don't want this anymore than you do! But you're going to have to accept the fact that she is going to have to die. There is no question, there is nothing to argue about, her blood is the only thing that can stop him."
"Link, you must take her blood and retrieve the Master Sword before the battle starts. Cover the blade with it, and plunge it directly into Ganondorf's black heart. Do this, and the Evil King will be no more."
"How do you know that for sure? What if it doesn't work and Loraefin dies a pointless death?" Link tried to quiet himself.
"It will work Kid, we have seen it," replied Nabooru. "There is no other way. Accept it."
Perhaps it was the bluntness that caused this statement to act like a slap in the face. Either way, Link stumbled from the blow of it. Nabooru realized the harshness of her words, but thought it would do Link the better good if they were said. Emotional attachments had to be discarded if this horrible future was to ever be erased. Link wavered where he stood for a moment, letting it all sink in.
"What day will it be, in a year I mean?" Link asked solemnly, giving in.
"The first new moon of the summer," Zelda replied. "And Link, you mustn't tell us in the past of what we have told you here, or else history will be completely different, perhaps for the worst, we cannot risk that. We know this will work, if you've ever trusted me, trust me now, for Hyrule's sake." She watched him until his vacant eyes were too much for her and whispered, "Link, I'm so sorry."
He couldn't manage a smile, he tried, but there was nothing there. They gathered around him, and Link began to feel heavy again. Before everything went dark again he heard Nabooru's voice say to him: "Good luck Kid." And then total darkness.
Impa's voice was calm and rhythmic as she spoke. She bayed Link to listen while she told the story of what was to be Hyrule's reprisal against the Evil King, Ganondorf. The others gathered around her, listening once again as they were all taken back to the memory of a year ago.
"Ganondorf sought his vengeance by trying to destroy the Dark Realm with his magic. All realms are connected in one way or another, and the others will feel any damage done to one. The line between them is very fine as they all play a role in the balance of existence. Ganondorf knew this, and it was not long before this realm and Hyrule's started to suffer as well. Once we discovered what was happening, it was too late and we tried to stop him, but he had grown much stronger in the past year since his defeat. No doubt his hatred and lust for revenge drove him to strengthen his powers. When he was able to create a hole into Hyrule, we and the Hero of Time stood ground at the Temple of Time to try and stop him before he entered. But the Master Sword was firmly locked behind the great stone doors of the temple and there was not enough time to retrieve it. We had so little warning to do anything. He struck as quick and as deadly as the finest Sheikah warrior, but with no honor." Impa paused for a moment, trying to let the memory come forward. "Rauru had already passed on months before the battle, and at the battle in the temple, Ruto joined him. It was a losing struggle and it seemed that in all one instant we lost the Hero of Time as well. No one was prepared for Ganondorf, even us. We retreated to the Sacred Realm and watched as he destroyed and killed almost everything in his path."
Impa paused and waited for Link to say something. Zelda watched him carefully, her heightened mental abilities receiving the turbulent emotions Link was feeling but not showing.
"Link," she said softly, "do you understand what we are telling you?" Link slowly turned his head and stared at her, but his eyes were vacant and he wasn't even aware that he was seeing anything. Slowly he nodded.
"Let…let me see," he said with quivering voice. The others glanced at one another and Zelda consented solemnly. Together they stood and as Link watched, Zelda waved her arm and the air in front of them began to shimmer and become translucent. The vague images of destroyed buildings and the scorched sky came into focus, as the scope of Hyrule field became visible. Link could only stare in amazement as the window flowed over the broken houses and flame-consumed buildings. What had once been Hyrule Market he could see was no more than a pile of burnt timber now with scattered and crushed cobblestones thrown everywhere. Horrified, Link gasped as the image came to rest on an aged skeleton partially hidden beneath the ruin, its singed red hair clinging to the scarred skull and a blackened broach lay close to its neck. Zelda continued to guide the window but Link shattered it with a wave of his hand.
"No more," he stammered. Zelda bent her head in a nod and took up her place by Impa once again. The Hero of Time wavered where he stood for a moment before returning. "I don't want to believe it," He said softly.
"As we wish we had that luxury," the Princess replied. Nabooru coughed and stepped forward and Saria met her gaze. Nabooru knew this was hard for him, but he was the Hero if Time and the story needed to be finished…they did not have much longer…
"Link," she said, trying to get a reaction out of him. "Link, you need to listen, the story isn't over yet. Even though Ganondorf was leader of the Gerudo for a time, there was something he was never told about: a group of Gerudo who left the nation around the time of his birth," Nabooru continued and Link's head shot upright in attention.
"Murieope," he whispered under his breath. Nabooru nodded.
"The Gerudo had never heard from them after they left," Nabooru paused for breath, "but it had been guessed that they settled somewhere in the far south of Hyrule. We found the village using the power of the Sacred Realm and watched over it for a time, trying to use what little power we could to keep it from him," her voice tightened and the veins in her hands swelled. "But that heartless son of a bitch found them and they shared the same fate as the rest of Hyrule."
By now Link's mind had almost completely become numb. Though he heard the words, his emotions were detached from him now.
"We once again had to stand by and watch Ganondorf slaughter innocent people," Impa started again before Link had a moment to ask questions. "But there was something odd about one person that fell to his sword, a young girl. She stood over the body of her injured brother as Ganondorf heartlessly plunged his sword into her flesh. Her blood splattered onto his already bloodstained armor and skin, but as it did he shrank back in pain. Her blood seared his skin as if it were acid, and for a moment we noticed, made him become weak. The girl did not survive her injuries and everyone in the village was killed." Impa now stopped and waited for a response from Link.
Link was dazed and unable to speak. That couldn't be what the future held for Hyrule, could it? Everyone he knew and loved dead, even he himself did not exist in this future. He could only stare blankly at Impa, whose vacant eyes stared out as blankly as his own could. He felt Saria's small hands wrap around his and held them there as she tried to comfort him.
"Loraefin…?" He managed to force out it a whisper. Saria squeezed his hand again.
"Yes," Zelda answered him. "She's what will save Hyrule from Ganondorf. We believe that her blood is the only thing that can kill him." Link stared at her in shock.
"No, no you must have gotten it wrong," Link said in a bit of a panic. "She has no connection with Ganondorf, by the Goddesses she never would have even left the valley if I didn't---" He paused suddenly as it all came to him. "It was you who sent me that dream! It was wasn't it? You told me to go and find her and---"
"Yes, it was us Brother," Darunia spoke solemnly. "We needed you to find her so that she may save Hyrule from its fate in the future, to save everyone's future."
"We sent messages, the dreams you spoke of, back into the past to you, telling of a girl that would be the one to save you. By 'you' we meant all of Hyrule." Zelda spoke up, seating herself next to Impa and across from Link. "But sending messages back in time is tricky, and we were not sure if it would work."
"It did," Link said, still dazed. Zelda for the first time smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Then if it worked, Hyrule is saved."
Link got up and paced around the room for a moment.
"It isn't that simple!" He said with anger resonating in his voice. "I can't ask Loraefin to die! That is not up to me!"
"You don't have to ask her, it is a matter of fate," Impa said sternly.
"How can you say that? If it was fate why didn't she appear the first time around huh?!"
"Sometimes fate needs a little help," Zelda whispered, sensing Link's fear and anger at the same time. "She has to understand that she is the only one who can save us, if not for us, than her family as well, they were not spared the first time either."
This statement struck Link speechless. The truthfulness and honesty of it rendered any words that he would say useless against it. It was fact, and fact was not arguable.
"That can't be true…" Link moaned and put his hands up to his forehead. "She's my friend…I don't want to lose her."
"Link," Zelda got up and went to him, "it's the only way. If she doesn't, she and all the others will be lost anyhow." Her voice was firm and all knowing as she spoke and Link could only stare at her. Her beautiful blue eyes had lost their spark and had become dull and placid. The golden hair that was once allowed to fly free had been restrained in a bun on her head, a few listless strands refusing to be imprisoned framed her face. Her voice quieted down and compassion spewed forth. "Sacrifices have to be made Link, and don't think I have no feelings of sorrow over this, believe me, I do, but I would choose one lost life over hundreds in any situation and I know you would too."
Link pushed his shoulders back and stood up as straight and tall as his physique would manage. Everyone was silent, waiting for him to say something. He took a few steps before pausing again and opening his mouth, but the words took a few moments to work their way out.
"So this is Hyrule's future huh? Death and destruction. Certainly not much to look forward to is it?" Link said under his breath. "Damn fate and its twisted sense of humor."
"Link, you must pay attention to me now, I need to give you instructions about Ganondorf's return. You'll need to be prepared, or else this will all happen over again." Zelda's voice was calmer now. "In one year, Ganondorf will break free of the Dark Realm and try to re-enter Hyrule. He must be stopped at the Temple of Time, before he is allowed to cause any damage. The girl, she will need----"
"Her name is Loraefin," Link retorted. He didn't mean to be harsh, not in the slightest bit, but he could not help it. Zelda understood what he was going through, indeed she had gone through it a year ago. She studied his face, the way he bit his bottom lip when he was upset and angry and how his eyebrows gathered together above the bridge of his nose, she knew that he understood what he must do.
"I'm sorry," she continued. "Loraefin, she will need to give her life here. It must be lifeblood Link, we've already tried every other way, only that will do it. It is a noble and brave death Link; she will be remembered throughout Hyrule's history as one of its greatest saviors. She will understand what she must do."
"She'll have no choice, either scenario she'll be dead," Link replied.
"Stop being so snippy Kid," Nabooru said hotly. "We don't want this anymore than you do! But you're going to have to accept the fact that she is going to have to die. There is no question, there is nothing to argue about, her blood is the only thing that can stop him."
"Link, you must take her blood and retrieve the Master Sword before the battle starts. Cover the blade with it, and plunge it directly into Ganondorf's black heart. Do this, and the Evil King will be no more."
"How do you know that for sure? What if it doesn't work and Loraefin dies a pointless death?" Link tried to quiet himself.
"It will work Kid, we have seen it," replied Nabooru. "There is no other way. Accept it."
Perhaps it was the bluntness that caused this statement to act like a slap in the face. Either way, Link stumbled from the blow of it. Nabooru realized the harshness of her words, but thought it would do Link the better good if they were said. Emotional attachments had to be discarded if this horrible future was to ever be erased. Link wavered where he stood for a moment, letting it all sink in.
"What day will it be, in a year I mean?" Link asked solemnly, giving in.
"The first new moon of the summer," Zelda replied. "And Link, you mustn't tell us in the past of what we have told you here, or else history will be completely different, perhaps for the worst, we cannot risk that. We know this will work, if you've ever trusted me, trust me now, for Hyrule's sake." She watched him until his vacant eyes were too much for her and whispered, "Link, I'm so sorry."
He couldn't manage a smile, he tried, but there was nothing there. They gathered around him, and Link began to feel heavy again. Before everything went dark again he heard Nabooru's voice say to him: "Good luck Kid." And then total darkness.