Sheik, the tale the scribes missed
Disclaimer: If I bought some shares in Nintendo, they would be part mine...but, the shares are too expensive...
OK, recap again, since we are far in. Sheik has the Minuet of Forest, Bolero of Fire, Serenade of Water, and was then captured by Ganondorf. The evil desert guy himself seemed to fall for the wicked wiles of Sheik, but he and Nabooru escaped, and Sheik then found the Requiem of Spirit and Nocturne of Shadow. Then, he went to sleep, and they've just woken up. Sheik is now making his merry little way through some more adventures.
Enjoy. And this is getting way too long...should probably start doing some proper work...nah!
~*~*~*~
I have decided that my calling was not to tame horses. Ow is all that I can think of right now. One of the new livestock kicked me in the mid chest, so I'm now confined to the farmhouse, as it would be more than difficult to climb a ladder like this. I suppose at least it takes away the excuses I've been finding not to write for the last few days. Malon was most frustrated when I told her I might not continue, since no one will see this anyway.
Perhaps she planned my injury so that I would have to...I wouldn't put it past her to be honest. But - I'm not here to lay blame on people - though if I was, then...ah, but I don't think I'll write down such things. I will just get on with the story as it stands, and hopefully finish it soon, and be back out again within a few days.
There is not much to tell to those of who know the adventures of the Hero. Which, without a doubt, the whole kingdom of Hyrule knows about. However, if even one person doesn't know what happened, what I write next will prove invaluable. After all, the adventures of the Hero don't tell of what I did whilst waiting around for him to get on with battling.
Not that I spent much time just waiting; I followed him through temples, covered his back from various monsters. Rauru berated me for my insistence to help him, but I did not listen to his warnings; consequently, my bandages were used for more than a disguise through the months between the Hero's awakening and Ganondorf's downfall.
~*~*~*~
The Hero interpreted the legend I had relayed to him in the Temple of Time well. After going to Kakariko to acquire the only other hook shot I knew of that didn't require magic, from the friendly Spirit of Dampe, he proceeded to the forest. To his old home, where he had been raised, and where his adventure had begun.
I went before him, planning to see Saria and apologise heartily for my long absence. As I walked through the eerie tunnel link from the field to the forest, I knew instinctively, something was wrong. From the bridge, the lost woods looked too quiet - deserted even. I hurried over it and through the tunnel on the other side to the village.
My ears did not pick up any sound, and I smiled as I remembered back to the first time I had come to the village.
My fond memory, was however cut short by the snapping of a humungous deku- baba on my right, and an onslaught of missiles from deku-shrubs. I raised my shield and ran back through the tunnel, wincing as a couple of projectiles hit me in the back. 'I have to warn Link', was my first thought. I then realised that that was the last thing I should do - there was not enough time. He was barely a few minutes behind me as it was, and couldn't see me in the forest. He couldn't know that I was so bent to help him.
So, I ran back into the village, dodging the barrage and creatures, weaving left and right and only pausing long enough to slice enemies from my path. Reaching the shop, I ran around to the back, and climbed onto the hovering leaf that I knew Link had been goaded into planting as a child. I stepped onto it, and almost fell straight off again at the sudden jerk as it launched itself into the air.
Still shielding myself, I looked towards the entrance to the lost woods, to which the leaf was taking me. Before it was a red deku-shrub, slumbering lightly, and I readied my knife in one hand, holding the shield in the other. When the leaf came close enough, I jumped down; the deku-shrub snapped awake, but I was ready for it. I raised my shield to block the missiles, and then jumped upon the creature, stunning it with the flat of my sword, and rushed past. I was in too much of a hurry to finish it off properly.
I made my way into the lost woods, and stopped for a moment, hands on knees, panting heavily, bent almost double. After all that, I decided that it would be much easier if I just teleported myself to the meadow. So, I played the Winged Harmonic, and found myself landing softly on the Tri- Force symbol in the centre of the meadow.
I had the feeling of timelessness that I had experienced the first time I arrived. All around me, I could now hear distinctly the voices of the forest spirits, distraught and worried. Collectively, they seemed to gasp in surprise when I appeared, and formed the woman with green hair, so much like Saria would look if she could grow.
"You? What are you doing here?" the voices said, echoing eerily.
"I'm here to help things - the Hero is coming."
"The Hero...we hope he gets here quickly - the forest is in uproar..." the woman sat down, the edges of her form looking strangely blurred. With a sigh, she exploded in a mass of sparkling light, and the spirits flew every which way, all muttering worriedly as before.
I looked around, and saw the broken steps were no worse than the last time. Having an idea, I used my hook shot to get up to it. When Link entered, I could drop down behind him, as though I had appeared from nowhere. Then, I could use a deku-nut, and teleport the short way to the tree at the entrance of the meadow.
I sat down amidst the fragrant grass of the platform, and peered over, waiting for the figure of the Hero to come into view. Soon enough, he stumbled into the meadow, shoulders slumped, and blood staining his clothing. Leaving all caution to the wind, I jumped down behind him as I had planned, but then moved toward him to try and assess the damage.
His fairy came out, and it whizzed its small form all around him; all signs of injury disappeared, and I felt foolish for forgetting the fairy in the first place. So, instead, I reached my arms behind me, and made it look as though I had merely been reaching for my lyre all along. Strangely, the only few things I can remember that I said are merely disjointed sentences. I know that I spoke of the lasting nature of friendship - but, it has been years, so I am permitted to make a few mistakes along the way.
He did not speak, just blinked those blue orbs at me in confusement. He always did manage to look like a complete fool in one way or another whenever I saw him. "Welcome to the place of your former days. A thing that doesn't change with time is the memory of younger days. Old friends and old ties are always the ones we want to save the most..." I saw a slight fall in the corners of his mouth, and knew he must be thinking of Saria.
I was having a sneaking suspicion that she was a sage - but, not being sure, I brushed it aside to pay more attention to what I was meant to be doing. "In order to awaken the sage, and in order to come back here again, you must learn the Minuet of Forest." I raised my lyre before me, and plucked the strings to play the melody. He pulled out a small ocarina, and I almost dropped my lyre at the sight of it; the fabled Ocarina of Time - Impa had told the children in my village of it once, and how all Sheikans must know of it, so that they could protect it if the need arose. And, here it was, right before me.
Link closed his eyes, and blew through the instrument, playing it expertly - I suppose that growing up in the forest with so many of the fairy ocarinas around had given him an ear for music, as it only took two attempts for him to get it right. There was a grating sound above, which I knew to be the opening of the temple's main entrance. Then, as he turned to look upwards at the broken steps, I stepped backwards silently, and pulled out a deku-nut. Just as it hit the ground, and made that distinct cracking noise, he turned around in time to see the flash.
I reappeared in the tree at the entrance to the meadow, and looked down on him, looking bemusedly around, trying to understand what had just happened. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he looked up at the tree again, and without much thought, pulled out his hook shot and fired it into the tree on the ledge. It pulled him up, and he entered into the Forest Temple.
I followed directly behind him, padding carefully over the dry leaves on the floor so as not to make a sound. The archway between the meadow and the true entrance into the temple was dark, and I almost stumbled over a fallen bough. Then, I saw the light of the other side, and saw Link there, shield raised, and easily fending off two Wolfos. I leant against the stone wall of the arch, and watched him, making sure that his back was covered. He was a whirl of movement, and I admired the clean lines of each swipe.
Once he had disposed of the mangy creatures, he proceeded in exploration of the courtyard, as any good adventurer is wont to do. He used his hook shot to climb to a high above ledge, and when he came back down, was twirling a small key on his right index finger. I was surprised to see a smile on his face, and wondered if there really was any point in following him after the clean-cut fight I had just overseen. It didn't take much thought however, and I silently moved forwards to follow him.
Adopting the method of close shadowing, I was able to follow him at closer quarters, and swiped out at a skulltula, which wanted to sink its fangs into his back. It didn't make a sound as it died, and I carried on following the hero's green clad figure.
We entered the main hall, and I remember looking around in awe at the size of it. But, the spectacle on the main floor caught my eye very quickly, and Link's eyes followed a split-second later. The four coloured flames of the torches around an elevator cage suddenly leapt up and took on the shapes of ghosts. They dispersed, and the elevator cage sunk into the floor.
Link looked shrewdly around the hall, his sword loose in his hand, ready to attack at any moment. He seemed to see what he was looking for, and jumped over the railings of the steps to the main floor, before walking over to the other side of the room. I remained where I was to see where he was going, before following after him to the door he went through, and looking through the gap.
He seemed more than capable to take care of what creatures there were, and I decided to take my time until he found the sage destroying what dark creatures I could. The village, for example, was overrun, and if I could just rid the village of a few of them, I could perhaps find out the whereabouts of the Kokiri.
~*~*~*~
[An author note has appeared! I really don't feel as though it is essential to the story to describe the temples very well, so I'm sorry if you haven't played the game and don't know what I'm on about. I don't really myself, as I have not played it for a long time. So, that is my excuse as to why there will not be much about the temples.]
~*~*~*~
The lost woods were surprisingly quiet compared to how they had been when I entered. Walking through the maze between the sacred meadow and the woods themselves, I walked over several slashed bodies of moblins, and knew that the hero had killed them. However, I had seen more than enough such things to be perturbed by it any longer. So, I picked my way through their large carcasses, and entered the woods themselves.
Almost immediately, I was set upon by several small, green clad bodies, and knocked backwards by the sheer number of them. "Hey!" I yelled, trying to sit up, but finding my arms and legs pinned by the weight of two bodies for each limb. One figure stood over me, and I recognised the mussed red hair immediately. "Mido, it's Sheik, let go!" I urged, and after a few seconds glaring at me, he nodded to the Kokiri on my arms and legs to move.
"Are you back to protect us?" he asked bluntly. "All these creatures have taken over, and no one has seen Saria for ages!" He looked worried, as did all the others, and I felt sorry for the small people.
"Of course I'm here to protect you. It needn't be for long though - a hero has come, and he will make everything right in the forest very soon. Now, come along, let us go to somewhere a little less open." I led the Kokiri to a copse of closely growing trees, and lifted them all into the boughs of the great trees there. "Stay - I shall go out. You'll be safe here, keep your slingshots ready just in case."
With that, I left the small childlike people there, to go out and basically slash some monsters up to take out some of my building rage. The rage, I knew was mostly fuelled by an anger at myself for still being afraid of Ganondorf. I was seeing what his powers had done, what his swaying tempers had made of the land.
~*~*~*~
Link got through the temple very quickly - only two nights passed before the dark creatures began to flee from the forest, and the Kokiri were able to return to the village. None recognised Link, believing him to have died when exiting the forest, and I know that he did not try to put them right.
It is strange how many of us must hide ourselves just to make things easier. His own old friends didn't know him, and few know that I even existed at all. Such co incidence is strange - but, of course, I am not here to muse on such things.
I can see little point in relaying much of the temples to you, as all there is to know was told in the hero's words. I myself was banned from entering the temples myself by Rauru, who said the hero had to fight alone.
The next great step was the saving of the Ranch from Ingo. I went before Link - I had known Malon was there, but not of the terror she was living in...
~*~*~*~
I made my way to the Ranch as the dark creatures began their flight from the forest, knowing that I had to at least try to get into it, despite the magic all around. To my great surprise, and relief, I found that the dark magic had not been enforced, and in many places, was barely even tangible in the air. I carried on hurriedly, praying to the goddesses that I would not even find Malon there - that she had escaped years ago.
However, my prayers were not answered, as the first thing I saw as I entered the Ranch was a young woman with fiery hair, carrying two boxes which were far too heavy for her. Not seeing the man Ingo anywhere, I crept up to her, and lifted the boxes from her arms. She looked up at me in surprise; "Bandy?" she asked, looking unsure, and I nodded silently. "Oh, you should go. If Ingo comes back to find you here..."
"He will not - come, I'm taking you away from this - I would have before I was summoned to the sacred realm, had it not been for the magic." I dropped the boxes and took her arm, attempting to pull her from the Ranch. But, she wouldn't move.
"I can't," she said in a broken voice. "If I do, he'll hurt the horses!" she looked desperately at me, and I knew that I would never be able to persuade her. I dropped her arm, picked up the boxes, and asked,
"Where must these be put then?"
"You don't need to..."
"I want to," I said firmly, and she submitted to let me help her until the return of Ingo, where she ushered me into the barn, then out of the Ranch at night. I didn't want to leave, and lingered outside that night, sleeping in the tree by the entrance.
Waking the next day, I immediately spotted a green-clad figure running through the gates, and jumped down to follow Link. Ingo obviously didn't recognise him, and offered him a ride on the horses. Link accepted, and rode around on a brown horse before Ingo called time. Then, he challenged Link to a race, and Link pulled out his Ocarina, blowing a soft tune into it - Epona cantered over to him, and the race began.
Link won by two lengths, and Ingo, obviously panicking, challenged him to another race, in which, if Link won, he could keep the horse. So, they raced again, and Link won again. Ingo, anger more than apparent, locked the gates, in an attempt to trap Link. In amazement, I watched as Link and Epona raced to the back wall, and flew over it.
Ingo whirled in frustration, looking around for something on which to take his anger out on. I could see when his eyes fell on Malon, and he scowled cruelly, advancing upon her. My anger got the best of me, and I dropped down, unsheathing my double knives and beginning to walk towards him from the stable at the far end of the field.
Before I had advanced even two paces, the sound of heavy hoof beats reached my ears, and I moved back to the safety of the stable door. Looking around, I saw that Link had already returned, with Talon in tow on the back of Epona. I realised that he must have had Talon wait outside for him, and wondered how I had not spotted him. I however, did not have a long time to think about it, as after a brief exchange of words, Ingo's whole stance changed, and he became submissive in posture, seeming to beg Talon for forgiveness.
Smiling happily, I made my way over the outside fence just as Link had on Epona, and then warped to Death Mountain to wait for the hero there.
~*~*~*~
[Another author note, oh dear! But, I'm not going to bother with the rest of the temples, as we all know what happened in them. I'm just going to do what happened in the final days before Ganondorf's fall and everything. The final battle will be fun!]
~*~*~*~
Link had awakened all the sages, and was making his way to the Temple of Time. I had become acquainted with the princess, who had returned to the land of Hyrule only hours before. Together, she and I had devised a scheme by which the hero would be able to end all his adventures after he rid the land of Ganondorf. We did not voice the terror that he would not be able to - each knew that if we did, we may well loose our courage altogether.
So, we awaited the great hero in the Temple of Time, she holding a deku nut in her fist, with which to take my place at the right moment.
He entered, and breathing deeply, I dropped down mysteriously behind him for the last time. All too soon, it would be as though I had never existed, and I savoured those last few moments as a real person. As such, it is not a surprise that I remember almost all that I said - not all, but almost.
"Link, the Hero of Time," I began, to get his attention. He turned around, a dark red cut on his cheek standing out even in the dim light of the Temple. "You knew that one day you would have all the medallions - soon, you shall face the dark lord, Ganondorf himself." Even then, I shuddered at the name.
"Before that...I have things I want to tell only to you." The speech had been rehearsed, the setting was perfect - but I still felt that I did want it to be over so soon. However, I knew I had to; I could not let him speak, or the plan would go awry. "The Tri-Force separated into three parts. Only the Tri-Force of Power remained in Ganondorf's hands. The strength of the Tri-Force of Power enabled him to become a mighty, evil king, but his dark ambitions were not satisfied.
"To gain complete mastery of the world, Ganondorf started looking for those chosen by destiny to hold the other two Tri-Force parts.
"The one who holds the Tri-Force of Courage is...you, Link.
"And the other, who holds the Tri-Force of Wisdom...is the seventh Sage, who is destined to be the leader of them all..." I held up my hand, concentrating on making a fake triangle appear upon it. Link's mouth dropped open, and I threw my deku nut there and then. Zelda did the same, and we switched places. Looking down, I watched as the surprise spread across the hero's face.
"I apologise for meeting you in disguise, but it was necessary to hide from the king of Evil. Please forgive me," was the small part that Zelda had to say, and my existence was destroyed in those few words. I felt deflated somehow - as though all that I had done, all I had been through, had merely been the dream of some great entity. However, I also knew at the same time that it was a necessary action to be taken.
"The six Sages will open the sealed door and lure Ganondorf back into the Sacred Realm. I will then seal the door to the Sacred Realm from this world. Link...in order to do this, I need your courage again. Please protect me while I do my part."
They were about to leave, when I felt an ominous rumbling, and a chill run through my spine. I peered over the parapet on which I was sitting, and saw Zelda imprisoned within a rosy crystal. Ganondorf's very voice boomed from all around. "If you want to rescue Zelda, come to my castle!" The crystal flew high above, and Link's eyes followed it, before he sprinted from the Temple.
I transported myself down onto the Tri-Force symbol below, and made my way to follow him through the doors, when the voice sounded again. "And another reveals themselves from the woodwork." I turned slowly around, feeling the blood leave my face. He had grown taller since the last I had seen of him, if it were possible. Even though I was standing on the platform, I still had to look up at him. "Hello...Sheik," he smirked, and I knew no more.
*
I awoke within a dark cell, chained to the wall, and heard a rumbling sound. Stones shook themselves free from the ceiling, and I could hear the very walls begin to crumble. Great chunks of rock began to fall all around me, and I tried to free myself, to break loose from the heavy chains, which bound me, but it was impossible.
Looking up to the high ceiling above, I could see large cracks appearing, and knew it was only a matter of time before the whole thing caved in on me. Not only was I a person that had never existed, but also now I was about to be squashed by many tonnes of rock. I broke - I yelled obscenities about the unfairness of it all, my throat soon becoming raw from it, and hung limp in the chains, seeing no point in making an effort to free myself.
The rocks finally fell down, and I turned my face down so that I did not have to see my doom. Clenching my eyes shut, I braced myself. When I felt nothing, I opened them again, and was surprised to find myself outside. My wrists were bloody, and I could feel bruises begin to form all over - but I was alive! I curled up, rolled over, and used the arm with the most strength left to prop myself up and try to look around.
Again, an ominous rumble sounded, and from the slight rise on which I sat, I could see the figures of the Princess and Hero looking around bemusedly. A body arose from the rubble - Ganondorf again. I almost despaired of his destruction when he used his Tri-Force piece to turn into a powerful creature of darkness. He knocked the master sword from Link's hands, and surrounded the battle arena with energy to keep out outside interference.
All both Zelda and I could do was watch as the brave hero circled the monster, eventually hitting its tail with another of his great array of weaponry. The energy field stuttered, and Link was able to retrieve the master sword. He returned to battle, fighting with the master sword, and the master sword only.
Ganondorf however, seemed to have grown more nimble than before, and Link was having difficulty landing blows. He was caught by the great lashing tail, and sent flying. But, he got up again, almost as though he hadn't even felt it, and laid enough blows to weaken the monster enough to allow Zelda's magic through the energy field.
She summoned her reserves, and pinned Ganondorf in place. Seeing that she was not strong enough to hold him for long, I leant my own magic also. The final blow was dealt, and the sages sealed the Evil King's spirit away. Link fell, exhausted, and Zelda rushed to his side. I collapsed onto the hard ground, one thought running joyously through my head. 'It's over...' then I believe I blacked out, as the next thing I knew, daylight had faded, and both Link and Zelda had disappeared, leaving only the charred battle ground and ruins of the castle as evidence as to what had happened.
With a few last pieces of strength and magic, I was able to make my way to the Ranch, where Malon saw me, and immediately took me into her care, nursing me back to a relatively good health. Over the next few days, news of disappearing dark creatures, and reappearing people filtered in, and I knew that it truly was over - and, I was free, apart from the duty to never be seen by the hero, nor known. Perhaps this account shall make me known - if it is ever read by others that is.
~*~*~*~
Well, that is the entire story that I can tell you of the dark times. There is no more that is worth the telling, unless people wish to hear that I have been at the Ranch all this time. That I have been watching quietly as the world returns to normal, knowing that I never can. I do not exist - how can anyone make a normal life on that basis? I am merely a disguise that was used and then discarded by the great Princess of Destiny.
However - I do have the chance to go and see the outside world on this very day - for it is today that the princess marries. Still, no one has found out whom it is that she loves. I am more than a little curious to see whom in all Hyrule it could be, since it is not Link. That still surprises me - all of us thought that they would wed like the perfect fairytale, but I suppose it goes to show you should never count your eggs before they're chickens...or something like that.
I shall be going - perhaps I am to write more later, perhaps I shall not. But, looking back at what I have written, I know that my story is at least told, be it only to a piece of parchment. I have done it, it is written down and completed, and there is no more that I can do, except to go, and hope one day I can get away, and start anew.
Now, I have a wedding to go to. I feel naked without my facemask, but I suppose people won't recognise me anyway - not many have seen me without it after all. And Malon dug out an old suit of her father's, so I think I at least look presentable.
Farewell - lest I do not write again, I am glad to have told...
~*~*~*~
Again, please don't kill me! I'm too lazy to do all the temple stuff, and I had to get this finished because I'm tired and cranky right now! Most of the speech in the Temple of Time was from the game, but some I had to make up cos I couldn't remember it all. Well what the hell, it's only a fanfic after all!
It's ever so long isn't it? I suppose I really shouldn't have made it so long, but I couldn't help myself! Anyway, there might be a prologue coming up...then again, there might not be. I might just decide to start telling the tale from a different point of view - or make up a totally new one. I don't know - I have to see how my schedule goes. I might not even do another fanfic for ages, so this is your supplement for now people.
Goodbye, and thanks for being crazy enough to stay tuned into this crazily long story. I appreciate your dedication, and the fact that you all have too much spare time.
And, as Sheik would say, farewell [I may see you again - then again, I may not. We shall see...we shall see...]
Soda
R+R, for old time's sake!
Disclaimer: If I bought some shares in Nintendo, they would be part mine...but, the shares are too expensive...
OK, recap again, since we are far in. Sheik has the Minuet of Forest, Bolero of Fire, Serenade of Water, and was then captured by Ganondorf. The evil desert guy himself seemed to fall for the wicked wiles of Sheik, but he and Nabooru escaped, and Sheik then found the Requiem of Spirit and Nocturne of Shadow. Then, he went to sleep, and they've just woken up. Sheik is now making his merry little way through some more adventures.
Enjoy. And this is getting way too long...should probably start doing some proper work...nah!
~*~*~*~
I have decided that my calling was not to tame horses. Ow is all that I can think of right now. One of the new livestock kicked me in the mid chest, so I'm now confined to the farmhouse, as it would be more than difficult to climb a ladder like this. I suppose at least it takes away the excuses I've been finding not to write for the last few days. Malon was most frustrated when I told her I might not continue, since no one will see this anyway.
Perhaps she planned my injury so that I would have to...I wouldn't put it past her to be honest. But - I'm not here to lay blame on people - though if I was, then...ah, but I don't think I'll write down such things. I will just get on with the story as it stands, and hopefully finish it soon, and be back out again within a few days.
There is not much to tell to those of who know the adventures of the Hero. Which, without a doubt, the whole kingdom of Hyrule knows about. However, if even one person doesn't know what happened, what I write next will prove invaluable. After all, the adventures of the Hero don't tell of what I did whilst waiting around for him to get on with battling.
Not that I spent much time just waiting; I followed him through temples, covered his back from various monsters. Rauru berated me for my insistence to help him, but I did not listen to his warnings; consequently, my bandages were used for more than a disguise through the months between the Hero's awakening and Ganondorf's downfall.
~*~*~*~
The Hero interpreted the legend I had relayed to him in the Temple of Time well. After going to Kakariko to acquire the only other hook shot I knew of that didn't require magic, from the friendly Spirit of Dampe, he proceeded to the forest. To his old home, where he had been raised, and where his adventure had begun.
I went before him, planning to see Saria and apologise heartily for my long absence. As I walked through the eerie tunnel link from the field to the forest, I knew instinctively, something was wrong. From the bridge, the lost woods looked too quiet - deserted even. I hurried over it and through the tunnel on the other side to the village.
My ears did not pick up any sound, and I smiled as I remembered back to the first time I had come to the village.
My fond memory, was however cut short by the snapping of a humungous deku- baba on my right, and an onslaught of missiles from deku-shrubs. I raised my shield and ran back through the tunnel, wincing as a couple of projectiles hit me in the back. 'I have to warn Link', was my first thought. I then realised that that was the last thing I should do - there was not enough time. He was barely a few minutes behind me as it was, and couldn't see me in the forest. He couldn't know that I was so bent to help him.
So, I ran back into the village, dodging the barrage and creatures, weaving left and right and only pausing long enough to slice enemies from my path. Reaching the shop, I ran around to the back, and climbed onto the hovering leaf that I knew Link had been goaded into planting as a child. I stepped onto it, and almost fell straight off again at the sudden jerk as it launched itself into the air.
Still shielding myself, I looked towards the entrance to the lost woods, to which the leaf was taking me. Before it was a red deku-shrub, slumbering lightly, and I readied my knife in one hand, holding the shield in the other. When the leaf came close enough, I jumped down; the deku-shrub snapped awake, but I was ready for it. I raised my shield to block the missiles, and then jumped upon the creature, stunning it with the flat of my sword, and rushed past. I was in too much of a hurry to finish it off properly.
I made my way into the lost woods, and stopped for a moment, hands on knees, panting heavily, bent almost double. After all that, I decided that it would be much easier if I just teleported myself to the meadow. So, I played the Winged Harmonic, and found myself landing softly on the Tri- Force symbol in the centre of the meadow.
I had the feeling of timelessness that I had experienced the first time I arrived. All around me, I could now hear distinctly the voices of the forest spirits, distraught and worried. Collectively, they seemed to gasp in surprise when I appeared, and formed the woman with green hair, so much like Saria would look if she could grow.
"You? What are you doing here?" the voices said, echoing eerily.
"I'm here to help things - the Hero is coming."
"The Hero...we hope he gets here quickly - the forest is in uproar..." the woman sat down, the edges of her form looking strangely blurred. With a sigh, she exploded in a mass of sparkling light, and the spirits flew every which way, all muttering worriedly as before.
I looked around, and saw the broken steps were no worse than the last time. Having an idea, I used my hook shot to get up to it. When Link entered, I could drop down behind him, as though I had appeared from nowhere. Then, I could use a deku-nut, and teleport the short way to the tree at the entrance of the meadow.
I sat down amidst the fragrant grass of the platform, and peered over, waiting for the figure of the Hero to come into view. Soon enough, he stumbled into the meadow, shoulders slumped, and blood staining his clothing. Leaving all caution to the wind, I jumped down behind him as I had planned, but then moved toward him to try and assess the damage.
His fairy came out, and it whizzed its small form all around him; all signs of injury disappeared, and I felt foolish for forgetting the fairy in the first place. So, instead, I reached my arms behind me, and made it look as though I had merely been reaching for my lyre all along. Strangely, the only few things I can remember that I said are merely disjointed sentences. I know that I spoke of the lasting nature of friendship - but, it has been years, so I am permitted to make a few mistakes along the way.
He did not speak, just blinked those blue orbs at me in confusement. He always did manage to look like a complete fool in one way or another whenever I saw him. "Welcome to the place of your former days. A thing that doesn't change with time is the memory of younger days. Old friends and old ties are always the ones we want to save the most..." I saw a slight fall in the corners of his mouth, and knew he must be thinking of Saria.
I was having a sneaking suspicion that she was a sage - but, not being sure, I brushed it aside to pay more attention to what I was meant to be doing. "In order to awaken the sage, and in order to come back here again, you must learn the Minuet of Forest." I raised my lyre before me, and plucked the strings to play the melody. He pulled out a small ocarina, and I almost dropped my lyre at the sight of it; the fabled Ocarina of Time - Impa had told the children in my village of it once, and how all Sheikans must know of it, so that they could protect it if the need arose. And, here it was, right before me.
Link closed his eyes, and blew through the instrument, playing it expertly - I suppose that growing up in the forest with so many of the fairy ocarinas around had given him an ear for music, as it only took two attempts for him to get it right. There was a grating sound above, which I knew to be the opening of the temple's main entrance. Then, as he turned to look upwards at the broken steps, I stepped backwards silently, and pulled out a deku-nut. Just as it hit the ground, and made that distinct cracking noise, he turned around in time to see the flash.
I reappeared in the tree at the entrance to the meadow, and looked down on him, looking bemusedly around, trying to understand what had just happened. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he looked up at the tree again, and without much thought, pulled out his hook shot and fired it into the tree on the ledge. It pulled him up, and he entered into the Forest Temple.
I followed directly behind him, padding carefully over the dry leaves on the floor so as not to make a sound. The archway between the meadow and the true entrance into the temple was dark, and I almost stumbled over a fallen bough. Then, I saw the light of the other side, and saw Link there, shield raised, and easily fending off two Wolfos. I leant against the stone wall of the arch, and watched him, making sure that his back was covered. He was a whirl of movement, and I admired the clean lines of each swipe.
Once he had disposed of the mangy creatures, he proceeded in exploration of the courtyard, as any good adventurer is wont to do. He used his hook shot to climb to a high above ledge, and when he came back down, was twirling a small key on his right index finger. I was surprised to see a smile on his face, and wondered if there really was any point in following him after the clean-cut fight I had just overseen. It didn't take much thought however, and I silently moved forwards to follow him.
Adopting the method of close shadowing, I was able to follow him at closer quarters, and swiped out at a skulltula, which wanted to sink its fangs into his back. It didn't make a sound as it died, and I carried on following the hero's green clad figure.
We entered the main hall, and I remember looking around in awe at the size of it. But, the spectacle on the main floor caught my eye very quickly, and Link's eyes followed a split-second later. The four coloured flames of the torches around an elevator cage suddenly leapt up and took on the shapes of ghosts. They dispersed, and the elevator cage sunk into the floor.
Link looked shrewdly around the hall, his sword loose in his hand, ready to attack at any moment. He seemed to see what he was looking for, and jumped over the railings of the steps to the main floor, before walking over to the other side of the room. I remained where I was to see where he was going, before following after him to the door he went through, and looking through the gap.
He seemed more than capable to take care of what creatures there were, and I decided to take my time until he found the sage destroying what dark creatures I could. The village, for example, was overrun, and if I could just rid the village of a few of them, I could perhaps find out the whereabouts of the Kokiri.
~*~*~*~
[An author note has appeared! I really don't feel as though it is essential to the story to describe the temples very well, so I'm sorry if you haven't played the game and don't know what I'm on about. I don't really myself, as I have not played it for a long time. So, that is my excuse as to why there will not be much about the temples.]
~*~*~*~
The lost woods were surprisingly quiet compared to how they had been when I entered. Walking through the maze between the sacred meadow and the woods themselves, I walked over several slashed bodies of moblins, and knew that the hero had killed them. However, I had seen more than enough such things to be perturbed by it any longer. So, I picked my way through their large carcasses, and entered the woods themselves.
Almost immediately, I was set upon by several small, green clad bodies, and knocked backwards by the sheer number of them. "Hey!" I yelled, trying to sit up, but finding my arms and legs pinned by the weight of two bodies for each limb. One figure stood over me, and I recognised the mussed red hair immediately. "Mido, it's Sheik, let go!" I urged, and after a few seconds glaring at me, he nodded to the Kokiri on my arms and legs to move.
"Are you back to protect us?" he asked bluntly. "All these creatures have taken over, and no one has seen Saria for ages!" He looked worried, as did all the others, and I felt sorry for the small people.
"Of course I'm here to protect you. It needn't be for long though - a hero has come, and he will make everything right in the forest very soon. Now, come along, let us go to somewhere a little less open." I led the Kokiri to a copse of closely growing trees, and lifted them all into the boughs of the great trees there. "Stay - I shall go out. You'll be safe here, keep your slingshots ready just in case."
With that, I left the small childlike people there, to go out and basically slash some monsters up to take out some of my building rage. The rage, I knew was mostly fuelled by an anger at myself for still being afraid of Ganondorf. I was seeing what his powers had done, what his swaying tempers had made of the land.
~*~*~*~
Link got through the temple very quickly - only two nights passed before the dark creatures began to flee from the forest, and the Kokiri were able to return to the village. None recognised Link, believing him to have died when exiting the forest, and I know that he did not try to put them right.
It is strange how many of us must hide ourselves just to make things easier. His own old friends didn't know him, and few know that I even existed at all. Such co incidence is strange - but, of course, I am not here to muse on such things.
I can see little point in relaying much of the temples to you, as all there is to know was told in the hero's words. I myself was banned from entering the temples myself by Rauru, who said the hero had to fight alone.
The next great step was the saving of the Ranch from Ingo. I went before Link - I had known Malon was there, but not of the terror she was living in...
~*~*~*~
I made my way to the Ranch as the dark creatures began their flight from the forest, knowing that I had to at least try to get into it, despite the magic all around. To my great surprise, and relief, I found that the dark magic had not been enforced, and in many places, was barely even tangible in the air. I carried on hurriedly, praying to the goddesses that I would not even find Malon there - that she had escaped years ago.
However, my prayers were not answered, as the first thing I saw as I entered the Ranch was a young woman with fiery hair, carrying two boxes which were far too heavy for her. Not seeing the man Ingo anywhere, I crept up to her, and lifted the boxes from her arms. She looked up at me in surprise; "Bandy?" she asked, looking unsure, and I nodded silently. "Oh, you should go. If Ingo comes back to find you here..."
"He will not - come, I'm taking you away from this - I would have before I was summoned to the sacred realm, had it not been for the magic." I dropped the boxes and took her arm, attempting to pull her from the Ranch. But, she wouldn't move.
"I can't," she said in a broken voice. "If I do, he'll hurt the horses!" she looked desperately at me, and I knew that I would never be able to persuade her. I dropped her arm, picked up the boxes, and asked,
"Where must these be put then?"
"You don't need to..."
"I want to," I said firmly, and she submitted to let me help her until the return of Ingo, where she ushered me into the barn, then out of the Ranch at night. I didn't want to leave, and lingered outside that night, sleeping in the tree by the entrance.
Waking the next day, I immediately spotted a green-clad figure running through the gates, and jumped down to follow Link. Ingo obviously didn't recognise him, and offered him a ride on the horses. Link accepted, and rode around on a brown horse before Ingo called time. Then, he challenged Link to a race, and Link pulled out his Ocarina, blowing a soft tune into it - Epona cantered over to him, and the race began.
Link won by two lengths, and Ingo, obviously panicking, challenged him to another race, in which, if Link won, he could keep the horse. So, they raced again, and Link won again. Ingo, anger more than apparent, locked the gates, in an attempt to trap Link. In amazement, I watched as Link and Epona raced to the back wall, and flew over it.
Ingo whirled in frustration, looking around for something on which to take his anger out on. I could see when his eyes fell on Malon, and he scowled cruelly, advancing upon her. My anger got the best of me, and I dropped down, unsheathing my double knives and beginning to walk towards him from the stable at the far end of the field.
Before I had advanced even two paces, the sound of heavy hoof beats reached my ears, and I moved back to the safety of the stable door. Looking around, I saw that Link had already returned, with Talon in tow on the back of Epona. I realised that he must have had Talon wait outside for him, and wondered how I had not spotted him. I however, did not have a long time to think about it, as after a brief exchange of words, Ingo's whole stance changed, and he became submissive in posture, seeming to beg Talon for forgiveness.
Smiling happily, I made my way over the outside fence just as Link had on Epona, and then warped to Death Mountain to wait for the hero there.
~*~*~*~
[Another author note, oh dear! But, I'm not going to bother with the rest of the temples, as we all know what happened in them. I'm just going to do what happened in the final days before Ganondorf's fall and everything. The final battle will be fun!]
~*~*~*~
Link had awakened all the sages, and was making his way to the Temple of Time. I had become acquainted with the princess, who had returned to the land of Hyrule only hours before. Together, she and I had devised a scheme by which the hero would be able to end all his adventures after he rid the land of Ganondorf. We did not voice the terror that he would not be able to - each knew that if we did, we may well loose our courage altogether.
So, we awaited the great hero in the Temple of Time, she holding a deku nut in her fist, with which to take my place at the right moment.
He entered, and breathing deeply, I dropped down mysteriously behind him for the last time. All too soon, it would be as though I had never existed, and I savoured those last few moments as a real person. As such, it is not a surprise that I remember almost all that I said - not all, but almost.
"Link, the Hero of Time," I began, to get his attention. He turned around, a dark red cut on his cheek standing out even in the dim light of the Temple. "You knew that one day you would have all the medallions - soon, you shall face the dark lord, Ganondorf himself." Even then, I shuddered at the name.
"Before that...I have things I want to tell only to you." The speech had been rehearsed, the setting was perfect - but I still felt that I did want it to be over so soon. However, I knew I had to; I could not let him speak, or the plan would go awry. "The Tri-Force separated into three parts. Only the Tri-Force of Power remained in Ganondorf's hands. The strength of the Tri-Force of Power enabled him to become a mighty, evil king, but his dark ambitions were not satisfied.
"To gain complete mastery of the world, Ganondorf started looking for those chosen by destiny to hold the other two Tri-Force parts.
"The one who holds the Tri-Force of Courage is...you, Link.
"And the other, who holds the Tri-Force of Wisdom...is the seventh Sage, who is destined to be the leader of them all..." I held up my hand, concentrating on making a fake triangle appear upon it. Link's mouth dropped open, and I threw my deku nut there and then. Zelda did the same, and we switched places. Looking down, I watched as the surprise spread across the hero's face.
"I apologise for meeting you in disguise, but it was necessary to hide from the king of Evil. Please forgive me," was the small part that Zelda had to say, and my existence was destroyed in those few words. I felt deflated somehow - as though all that I had done, all I had been through, had merely been the dream of some great entity. However, I also knew at the same time that it was a necessary action to be taken.
"The six Sages will open the sealed door and lure Ganondorf back into the Sacred Realm. I will then seal the door to the Sacred Realm from this world. Link...in order to do this, I need your courage again. Please protect me while I do my part."
They were about to leave, when I felt an ominous rumbling, and a chill run through my spine. I peered over the parapet on which I was sitting, and saw Zelda imprisoned within a rosy crystal. Ganondorf's very voice boomed from all around. "If you want to rescue Zelda, come to my castle!" The crystal flew high above, and Link's eyes followed it, before he sprinted from the Temple.
I transported myself down onto the Tri-Force symbol below, and made my way to follow him through the doors, when the voice sounded again. "And another reveals themselves from the woodwork." I turned slowly around, feeling the blood leave my face. He had grown taller since the last I had seen of him, if it were possible. Even though I was standing on the platform, I still had to look up at him. "Hello...Sheik," he smirked, and I knew no more.
*
I awoke within a dark cell, chained to the wall, and heard a rumbling sound. Stones shook themselves free from the ceiling, and I could hear the very walls begin to crumble. Great chunks of rock began to fall all around me, and I tried to free myself, to break loose from the heavy chains, which bound me, but it was impossible.
Looking up to the high ceiling above, I could see large cracks appearing, and knew it was only a matter of time before the whole thing caved in on me. Not only was I a person that had never existed, but also now I was about to be squashed by many tonnes of rock. I broke - I yelled obscenities about the unfairness of it all, my throat soon becoming raw from it, and hung limp in the chains, seeing no point in making an effort to free myself.
The rocks finally fell down, and I turned my face down so that I did not have to see my doom. Clenching my eyes shut, I braced myself. When I felt nothing, I opened them again, and was surprised to find myself outside. My wrists were bloody, and I could feel bruises begin to form all over - but I was alive! I curled up, rolled over, and used the arm with the most strength left to prop myself up and try to look around.
Again, an ominous rumble sounded, and from the slight rise on which I sat, I could see the figures of the Princess and Hero looking around bemusedly. A body arose from the rubble - Ganondorf again. I almost despaired of his destruction when he used his Tri-Force piece to turn into a powerful creature of darkness. He knocked the master sword from Link's hands, and surrounded the battle arena with energy to keep out outside interference.
All both Zelda and I could do was watch as the brave hero circled the monster, eventually hitting its tail with another of his great array of weaponry. The energy field stuttered, and Link was able to retrieve the master sword. He returned to battle, fighting with the master sword, and the master sword only.
Ganondorf however, seemed to have grown more nimble than before, and Link was having difficulty landing blows. He was caught by the great lashing tail, and sent flying. But, he got up again, almost as though he hadn't even felt it, and laid enough blows to weaken the monster enough to allow Zelda's magic through the energy field.
She summoned her reserves, and pinned Ganondorf in place. Seeing that she was not strong enough to hold him for long, I leant my own magic also. The final blow was dealt, and the sages sealed the Evil King's spirit away. Link fell, exhausted, and Zelda rushed to his side. I collapsed onto the hard ground, one thought running joyously through my head. 'It's over...' then I believe I blacked out, as the next thing I knew, daylight had faded, and both Link and Zelda had disappeared, leaving only the charred battle ground and ruins of the castle as evidence as to what had happened.
With a few last pieces of strength and magic, I was able to make my way to the Ranch, where Malon saw me, and immediately took me into her care, nursing me back to a relatively good health. Over the next few days, news of disappearing dark creatures, and reappearing people filtered in, and I knew that it truly was over - and, I was free, apart from the duty to never be seen by the hero, nor known. Perhaps this account shall make me known - if it is ever read by others that is.
~*~*~*~
Well, that is the entire story that I can tell you of the dark times. There is no more that is worth the telling, unless people wish to hear that I have been at the Ranch all this time. That I have been watching quietly as the world returns to normal, knowing that I never can. I do not exist - how can anyone make a normal life on that basis? I am merely a disguise that was used and then discarded by the great Princess of Destiny.
However - I do have the chance to go and see the outside world on this very day - for it is today that the princess marries. Still, no one has found out whom it is that she loves. I am more than a little curious to see whom in all Hyrule it could be, since it is not Link. That still surprises me - all of us thought that they would wed like the perfect fairytale, but I suppose it goes to show you should never count your eggs before they're chickens...or something like that.
I shall be going - perhaps I am to write more later, perhaps I shall not. But, looking back at what I have written, I know that my story is at least told, be it only to a piece of parchment. I have done it, it is written down and completed, and there is no more that I can do, except to go, and hope one day I can get away, and start anew.
Now, I have a wedding to go to. I feel naked without my facemask, but I suppose people won't recognise me anyway - not many have seen me without it after all. And Malon dug out an old suit of her father's, so I think I at least look presentable.
Farewell - lest I do not write again, I am glad to have told...
~*~*~*~
Again, please don't kill me! I'm too lazy to do all the temple stuff, and I had to get this finished because I'm tired and cranky right now! Most of the speech in the Temple of Time was from the game, but some I had to make up cos I couldn't remember it all. Well what the hell, it's only a fanfic after all!
It's ever so long isn't it? I suppose I really shouldn't have made it so long, but I couldn't help myself! Anyway, there might be a prologue coming up...then again, there might not be. I might just decide to start telling the tale from a different point of view - or make up a totally new one. I don't know - I have to see how my schedule goes. I might not even do another fanfic for ages, so this is your supplement for now people.
Goodbye, and thanks for being crazy enough to stay tuned into this crazily long story. I appreciate your dedication, and the fact that you all have too much spare time.
And, as Sheik would say, farewell [I may see you again - then again, I may not. We shall see...we shall see...]
Soda
R+R, for old time's sake!