"…And that is our situation. I told my people that I came here to ask your advice, which is partly true, but more importantly, I came because I felt these events to be much more than coincidental."
Queen Ruto finished her tale. She, along with Zelda and all the other Sages present, sat at the large circular table in the palace war room. Zelda had been hesitant to have the council in this room; it hadn't been used since she was born. However, it seemed morbidly appropriate.
"Thank you, Ruto," she replied. "We will all do whatever we can to help. And you're right; this Church of Ganon movement and the appearance of this dragon are much more than isolated events. I have been searching for a pattern in what has happened, from my father's illness to the Zora problem to the recent attack on Link. I just need more pieces of the puzzle in order to see the bigger picture. I'm hoping the rest of you can help."
Nabooru leaned forward in her chair. "Of course princess. Though it has been many years since we have all met at the same time, our goals and causes have always been strongest when united. It's just a shame that Saria could not be present. We could use her thoughts on this."
"Indeed," Impa agreed. "Unfortunately, it is impossible for us to get a messenger to her, for the Kokiri Village is well hidden. And even if we could, she would not be able to leave for fear of arousing suspicion in the other Kokiri."
"We will have to go on without her," Zelda looked back to Nabooru. "What can you tell us of this Church, Nabooru?"
The tall woman shrugged her powerful shoulders. "I don't know much on how it works or how it was formed. All I know is that it seemed to pop out of nowhere just over two months ago. There was no sign of it coming, none whatsoever, and many of my people, the fanatics who believed in the prophecy of one male birth every hundred years mostly, but also some of the more ruthless, have joined it. The Gerudo are crumbling from within, and I fear the rift may turn to violence."
"That is what our spies hear, and our network is second to none," Ruto said. "Usually with cults like this you can see them slowly gain strength over a course of many months. This one exploded onto the scene, with hundreds of followers in a matter of days. Something magical is happening, but I have not the means to sense it."
"No people of mine have joined," spoke Chief Darunia, "And none of Ruto's either. Ganon never was too friendly to non-Hylians, and my people are too loyal and intelligent to turn their backs on the goddesses. I want to know more of this army they are amassing to the south."
Zelda spoke again. "According to our latest reports, the number of men, Lizaflos, and Staflos gathering at what was once Barsmill is well over a thousand, and growing daily. There are also at least ten Iron Knuckles, with more being made. It seems as if every mercenary in Hyrule and the border countries has joined. I cannot see, however, how they made it within our borders without anyone knowing. The only places I can figure are that they came through the south, where our guard is most slack, or from the west, through the desert. The northern mountains and the river are too heavily guarded, and nothing comes through the forest alive."
Nabooru nodded her agreement. "It is possible that many were smuggled out of Putnia into our lands through the canyon."
Darunia frowned. "But that would mean that there would've had to have been spies in the Gerudo camp even then, and the mercs would have had to be amassing in Putnia for some time. Meaning that this whole uprising has been in motion for more than two months."
Impa nodded as well. "Finding all the mercenaries discreetly would take close to a year at the least."
"Then it would seem that the Church of Ganon already held sway in the border countries before it came here," Zelda concluded. "Meaning that Rolondrof and Skorn must have had help. Is it possible that Ganon is exerting some influence from his imprisonment in the Sacred Realm? That he could somehow be guiding and providing aid to his 'brothers'?"
None had an answer. "Rauru would know," Ruto observed. "But I do not see how we can contact him. He cannot leave the Temple of Light, which is itself hidden in the Sacred Realm."
Zelda frowned and nodded her agreement. "We will have to make do without both him and Saria. We have come far though. We can now guess at how all this managed to happen without our respective people knowing, and I unfortunately believe that we can assume that Ganon is somehow helping Rolondrof and Skorn. We can work with this. Now all that remains is the why; why is Ganon making a move now, and why is he going through all the effort."
"Revenge." Impa said. "Rolondrof himself said that Ganon would strike at Link and Zelda. The king's illness is proof of that. However, we still cannot see Link's role in all this."
"It would appear that he is striking at all of us," Darunia said, his voice breaking. It was the first time Zelda had ever heard him lose his composure. "He is striking where it will hurt us most. Nabooru, who has tried for eight long years to bring unity to her people, is on the brink of a civil war. The Zoras, a heavily religious people, have lost their representative to the goddesses. Impa is faced with the possibility that she will not be able to save those she cares for. And I…my people…"
"What, Darunia?" Zelda asked gently. "What have they done?"
"My son," he replied after a moment. "My son and my people have fallen ill. Many have already died. Our doctors are among the sick, thus we have no clue as to the cure. My own son…my son is dying. And there is nothing I can do!" He pounded his fist on the table, taking out a piece of the thick stone that made it.
None of them said anything for a long while, each of them lamenting their problems and the problems of the others, knowing that there was nothing they could do. It was Zelda who spoke first. "We must find Link," she said. "He must be warned that they're coming for him. I fear what will happen to Hyrule if they manage to catch him."
* * *
"Wow. I can't believe that I, Malon Lon, am now a 'friend of the Zoras'. It's amazing."
"I'm glad you had a good time. I'm going to be cleaning dragon blood off my sword all night. The stuff is like glue."
It was indeed evening, and Link and Malon were floating on a raft down the Zora River towards Kakariko. They had foregone the festivities of the celebration of 'Link, Dragon Slaying Hero of the Water' at Link's insistence, saying that he had immediate business in Kakariko. The Zoras would mourn Lord Jabu-Jabu's death for some time, but at least now they could do so without fear that they might be next.
Link hadn't said what his 'business' was, but Malon could guess. She knew he was close friends with the Gorons, and he wanted to make sure that nothing had happened to them. She didn't know who he thought would do something, though. She had met several Gorons, and she knew they weren't the best people to antagonize.
She rubbed her bare arms; she was still in the sleeveless Zora tunic, as she had left her blouse at Lake Hylia, and Epona had all their gear. Link looked over and saw her discomfort. He clenched his fist, and when he opened it again, a ball of fire was in it. He dropped it, but instead of hitting the wooden bottom of the raft, it stopped short, and floated in mid air. Malon drew closer to its warmth in amazement. "How'd you do that?"
"Magic," Link replied. "It's called Din's Fire. A fairy taught it to me a long time ago."
"So you can control fire?"
"Only the fire that I make." Despite his grumbling, he cleaned the last of the bloodstains from his sword and sheathed it. He too shuffled closer to the fire. "It comes in handy, occasionally, for practical things like warmth."
Malon nodded. "What other magic do you know?"
"Well," he started, "I've learned a bunch of little stuff over the years, mostly just tricks you see in the average carnival. There are two other ones though, pretty big ones, that other fairies taught me. Farore's Wind lets me create what I call a warp point, some place I can warp to if things get too out of hand. It's only good for about a hundred yards though, then it doesn't work. The other is called Nayru's Love. It creates sort of a force field around me, protecting for a little while."
"Wow," Malon said again. They stayed quiet after that, a comfortable silence though. After a while, Malon plucked up the courage to ask what was on her mind. "Link, who's Ganon? Why'd that stupid cult freak you and Epona out so much?"
He was unprepared for this question, as she could tell from his expression. He didn't answer at first but after a while he said, "Ganon is another name for Ganondorf Dragmire, the former King of Gerudos. The first time I left the forest was because of something he did to the Kokiri, and also what he was going to do to Hyrule. He was pure and absolute evil, the only pure thing I've ever met in this world. He came close to destroying Hyrule, but Zelda, some others, and me managed to stop him before he could complete his plans. We banished him…far away, so he could never come back. Epona was with me when it happened, and she's smart enough to recognize the name."
"But how could Epona know? She never even left the ranch until you came and got her a couple months after we met."
Link looked as if he was about to explain, but he kept his mouth shut. Malon exhaled in frustration. "Link, you have to trust me. I know something bad happened to you eight years ago, but you'll never feel any better about it if you don't talk to people."
"I do trust you Malon," he said. "It's just…it's complicated. Even if I could explain, I don't know where I'd start." He saw the crestfallen look on her face. "When all this is over, I promise to tell you."
She looked up, a little more hopeful. "Promise?"
"Promise."
With a satisfied nod, Malon turned her attention back to the fire. "Link," she said after a while, "What do you know about the royal family?"
Link didn't understand what she was getting at. "How do you mean?"
"I mean, did Zelda ever tell you about her mother, or how her dad won the War of Unification?"
Link shook his head, suddenly feeling strangely uncomfortable at where this conversation was heading, though he couldn't tell why. "She's never told me much, but I've read the histories."
Malon swallowed and went on. "When you were off fighting the dragon, Miza let me look at the Zora records. I was reading, and…"
She paused and looked away, as if searching for the words, and Link wasn't sure if he wanted her to go on or not. Hesitantly, slowly, he asked, "What did you find out Malon?"
She looked up at him, light from the fire dancing across her face, which was deathly serious.
"I think King Jax is your father."
* * *
"Everything is going according to plan, Rolondrof?"
"Yes brother. The peoples of Hyrule are in disarray, and your army is growing by the hour."
"And the faithful? Is everything prepared for the sacrifice?"
"Even now, they are camped outside the town. They await your command, and their 'reward'."
"Yesssss. Everything is proceeding nicely. Within the week I'll have returned, and all Hyrule will tremble at my power. But what of the boy?"
"We found his horse at the entrance to Kakiriko, like you anticipated, and took what we needed from it. As to his current whereabouts, none of our spies can tell. If he survived the dragon, it is safe to assume he is making his way to the Gorons, also as you anticipated."
"Of course. I know the boy better than he knows himself. He thinks his connection is only with Zelda, but we are all bound by the powers of the Triforce within us. He cannot hide from me."
"Are you well, brother? The magic you lent me must be putting a tremendous strain on even you. After all, no one has ever been able to reach through the Sacred Realm to our world."
"I have more power than anyone before me. I am a god, Rolondrof. Do not forget that. Before I forget, is all well on the other front?"
"Yes brother. It was conquered weeks ago. It will be ready for when you return."
"Excellent. Zelda and the Sages have no idea what I am planning and are struggling to hold their kingdoms together. My army is ready to strike. And best of all, the boy is confused and lost, cut off from Zelda, not knowing what to expect. That will make my return all the sweeter. Now, Rolondrof, you must wait. My next orders will come at any moment, and you must be prepared to carry them out at the drop of a hat. Have Skorn control the masses while you remain in constant mediation. We are fast approaching the final act. Prepare yourself for what comes next."