Chapter 9: Warnings

Galford walked towards the small ferry that would take him to China. Away from the island called Japan. Away from Nakoruru. He sighed. He found it a decision difficult to make. Once he would leave, he would not come back. It was better this way. "Come, poppy." he said to his friend. The dog followed him, though he was sad. His ears lay flat on his hanging head and he almost dragged his fluffy tail over the ground. When he was about to enter the ferry, he heard his name. "Galford! Don't go!" He turned around and saw Nakoruru's little sister running at him, her ice-crystal followed her obediently. "Don't leave us." Rimururu said panting as soon as she reached Galford. "Rimu, I don't want to be a problem for your sister. I'm only an obstacle for her and it is best if I leave."

"Come on, Galford. Don't be such a child!" Rimururu said. The differences between her and her older sister were pretty obvious. "Nakoruru likes you very much, Galford. She won't survive your departure."

"That's bullcrap, Rimu." Galford said, sounding angry. "And if you like her so much, then why do you leave?" Rimururu continued. "Because it's best for her."

"I thought you wanted to protect her?"

"There's no need to protect her from something which is already defeated."

"Is that so? There are more dangers than Zankurou, you know? Protecting nature is a difficult task, Galford. One which Nakoruru can't manage on her own."

"She has you, Rimu."

"Yes, she has me. But how many friends and allies has Nakoruru got besides you and me?"

"Well..."

"I respect my sister. She's great with the sword, but she can be impossible at times. Please, Galford. Stay with us. Help my sister perform her duty."

"I'm sorry, Rimu. But I've got feelings as well and Nako can take care of herself."

"If it wasn't for you, she would've been killed by Zankurou."

"I didn't do a thing, Rimu. He just disappeared before I could even hit him." Rimururu grabbed Galford's arm. "Come, Galford. Please stay." Poppy barked. He wanted to stay as well. Nakoruru was good with animals and so with Poppy. "But she's driving me nuts!" Galford suddenly yelled. "So what?" Rimururu said. "You're a ninja for crying out loud! You're supposed to be able to take harsh conditions as you perform your duties. And now your duty is to protect my sister!" The harsh tone of the fourteen-year-old surprised Galford. "Galford." Rimururu said, calming down. "My sister is in danger. I had dreams about it the last couple of days. If she isn't protected, she will surely die."

"You want me to stay because of a couple of dreams you had?"

"I just have this horrible feeling that something bad will happen to her." The two were silent for a moment. "Okay." Galford suddenly spoke. "I'll stick around for a few more days."

"You will? That's great!" Rimururu said, after which she hugged Galford tightly. "I just know that you'll save my sister's life!"

That night, something strange happened. Something which could be explained as an omen. A very dark omen. One which would predict death, destruction, chaos, hatred and, above all, war. A furious, terrible war. Galford was looking at Nakoruru, who slept peacefully in her bed. He studied her from the entrance to her room. Nakoruru was wearing her nightgown and slept with her face towards Galford. The American was tired, but if Rimururu was right, there would be no time for sleep. He walked into her room and sat on the chair which stood next to her bed, placing the sheath of his sword next to him. He stared at the sleeping girl in front of him. Darn. The fascination he held for her... His hand reached out to touch her cheek, but he pulled back at the last moment. He leaned back in his uncomfortable chair and looked out of the window at the stars above. He heard the nightlife of the forest. A wolf howled to the full moon. The light of the moon cast strange shadows over the forest, making it look alive. Galford shivered. It was cold, but that wasn't the cause. The forest was giving him the creeps. "Darn." he said. "And I'm supposed to be a fearless ninja?" He looked back at Nakoruru, but notice that her silent slumber had changed. She was twisting and turning in her bed and her eyes moved rapidly behind her eyelids. She was having a nightmare. A pretty bad one. Galford stood up and grabbed her shoulder, trying to wake her up. "Hey, Nako." he said. It was of no use. She didn't wake up. "No... Get away..." she murmered. "Nako!" Galford said, a little louder this time. He grabbed both her shoulders and desperately tried to wake her up. It still didn't wake her up. "What the hell is going on here? Nako!" Nakoruru started to make even wilder movements and her voice got louder. "No!" she suddenly yelled and she shot forward, her eyes wide open, drenched in sweat, but awake. She was shaking terribly. When she saw Galford, she just clung on to him. "Oh, Galford." she said with a shaking voice. "It was horrible." she said, her eyes shut tightly. Galford carefully hugged Nakoruru. He could feel her shaking. This wasn't normal.

Zelda wondered where she was as she stood on the top of some sort of mountain upon which she could oversee a barren wasteland. The ground was dark and warm. Geysers brought in a strange fog and the skies were shrouded with dark clouds. There was some wind which blew her hair around, making some strands stick to her face. "Where am I?" the blonde Hylian asked herself. Her voice echoed through the desolate valley. She felt something at her leg. When she looked down, she saw a small cat looking at her with begging eyes. "Hi there, little fellow." Zelda said as she picked the cat up and caressed his head. "Do you know where we are?" A strange question to ask a cat. Much to Zelda's surprise, the cat answered with a soft, purring voice. "Thou art in danger, Zelda. Everyone is in danger. The apocalypse is nigh."

"W... what?" Zelda said, surprised over the fact that the cat was talking and that he was saying this. "The apocalyps is nigh and thou shalt make a stance. Gather many friends, for thou shalt need them. Thou shalt encounter a group of worthy allies, leaded by a man with golden hair and the heart of a dragon and a man with brown hair and a heart of fire. Thou shalt also encounter a warrior with a noble spirit and a sharp blade and a priestess with hair as black as the night, but with heart as white as snow. Helped them wherever thou can, since they shalt help thy. Remembered, the apocalyps comes." The cat kept repeating the last sentence as everything around Zelda faded away, including the cat at the end. Everything turned black and when Zelda opened her eyes, she lay in her bed in the tree-house, looking at a surprised Link. "Apocalypse?" was the first thing he said.

Terry stood in an abandoned graveyard. Mists made the dark place even more colourful and the trees looked as if they hadn't had any water in the last hundred years. It was dark, though Terry couldn't see whether it was night or not. He saw a couple of bat racing past his head and he heard a wolf howl. "Creepy place." Terry murmered. He started to walk around for the lack of better things to do. Then he saw a man standing at a grave. It was a tall, muscled man with short, dark-blond hair and casual clothes. Terry could barely believe his eyes when he saw the man, who turned around to him. A smile appeared on his weary face as soon as he saw Terry. "Son!" he said with a low, raspy voice. It was Jeff Bogard, Terry's father. "Dad!" Terry said, recognising the man as he started to run to him. They hugged each other shortly than backed away. "I can't believe it's you! I thought you were dead." Terry said enthusiastic to his old man. "Alas, Terry. I am." Jeff said. "I got permission to visit you in your dream." Terry's expression revealed disappointment. "A dream..." he murmered. "Dad..." he said, looking at his father. "Before we go on, I want to know something." Terry spoke in a calm voice. "What the hell is going on here?" he asked with the same calm voice. "I think I'm losing my mind. There's this crazy guy who robbed a bank and..."

"I know, Terry. I know." Jeff said, interrupting his son. "It's all part of a big scheme. My assasination was also part of it and even time is being disturbed."

"What!? But why?"

"It's all part of an apocalyptic battle and you were chosen before you were even born to fight in it."

"Me? But, dad. I can't..."

"Son, when I look at you I see twice the man I had ever been. Life has strengthened you. You had to fight to survive. And you may be our only hope."

"Dad, this is all vague, but if you say so... What do I need to do?" Terry asked his father with a confident look in his eyes. His father had never lied to him or treated him badly. And this was a strange dream. It almost felt real. And if that wasn't enough to convince him that there was something going on, than Ganondorf most certainly did. Jeff smiled. "Okay, Terry. You need to see Princess Zelda of Hyrule. She..."

"Zelda? This guy who robbed the bank told me to see her as well!"

"Ganondorf." Jeff murmered. "That man is torn by hatred for the Princess. Beware of him. He is strong and also part of the scheme."

"I had the idea." Terry answered. "You've got to take Mary with you. She is one of the Chosen Ones as well, though it was not fate which brought you together." Jeff's face turned darker. "Son, take good care of Mary. Don't let her come to harm."

"I won't, dad. You can count on me."

"Also, Andy and Kyo will join you. Look after your younger brother. He isn't as strong as you are."

"I will, dad. Don't worry." Terry answered softly. Jeff put a hand on Terry's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son. Go see Princess Zelda and her boyfriend and all will be answered in time. Join them where ever they go." Jeff turned around and started to walk away, leaving Terry behind. "Oh, one last thing." Jeff said, turning around again. "Beware of Athena. She is not to be trusted. And good luck, son. It's all I can give you." Terry saluted his father with a simple gesture of the hand before Jeff started to walk away again and everything turned black. When Terry opened his eyes, he noticed himself lying on an old matrass in a poor room in New York. It was Mary's room. He noticed her sitting next to him, wearing her cheap pajamas. "Goodmorning, handsome." she said after Terry sat up straight. "You were talking in your sleep." she said. Terry looked at her. "I saw my father." he murmered. He stood up. And quickly put on his jeans which had been lying on the floor. With the same speed he grabbed his white t-shirt and put it on, as well as his shoes, jacket and cap. "Quickly, get dressed. There's not a moment to lose." he said. "Wait a second!" Mary said. "Terry, what's going on here? Yesterday we met your brother and you insisted on sleeping at my place and now you're rushing into something and you actually want me to follow you?"

"Yes." Terry said, having no explanation for the fact that he had wanted to sleep at Mary's place. This all had to do something with this dream he had that night. Terry had met Andy when he had exited the prison. He had told his younger brother to go home, but why? His mind was so foggy, it was as if he had been drunk. And that had not been the case. Something had controlled him. Something had made him tell his brother to go home. Something had made him spend the night at Mary's. And for what purpose? Terry wanted answers. And he knew he could find them in Hyrule. "Mary, trust me. We've got to go to Hyrule."

"Hyrule!? That's not exactly around the corner!"

"I know, but it is imperative that we go there. There's something big coming and it's in Hyrule. My dad told me to..."

"You're doing all this because of a dream?"

"It wasn't a dream. It was too real. Mary, come with me or you'll die."

"Is that a threat?" Mary asked, backing away a little. "No, my dad asked me to protect you. And I gave him my word I would. And besides, what have you got to lose?" Mary looked around the room. A room which wasn't even hers. There was nothing of value. She had never had anything of real value. Perhaps traveling with Terry was the way to get out of her blasted life. And she had to admit it, Terry was kind of cute... "Okay." she said as soon as she turned back to Terry. "I've got nothing to leave behind. No family, friends, nothing. I'm coming with you." Mary Ryan's life had been peaceful. She had been living with her parents until the age of twelve. Then, one of the local gang-bosses, a sinister man by the name of Geese Howard, captivated Mary. She never got to see her parents again. The years of imprisonment were hell for the young Mary, but she survived and knew to escape. Up till now, she had been alone, but capable of handling herself. She walked to her clothes which lay at the end of her humble bed. She picked them up and looked at Terry, who stood impatiently with one hand in his side and the other one against the wall of the room, waiting for Mary to finish. "Would you mind?" she asked with a clear irritation in her voice. "Oh, yeah. Sorry." Terry excused before leaving Mary's room and closing the door behind him.