Chapter 17: The start of Chaos
The mushrooms watched in awe as another military convoy passed their houses. It was a huge noise of armoured vehicles which rode over the dusty streets. This had been going on for days and the inhabitants of the torn Mushroom Kingdom didn't seem to get any peace. They all felt devastated after the loss of their beloved ruler, Princess Peach Toadstool, who had been killed in the huge explosion, together with thousends of people. Thousends. It was world news. CNN updated the bodycount daily and president Bush had decided to send as many people to Mushroom Kingdom as he could spare. Officially to help any survivors and to help count the dead. Officially. But every mushroom in Mushroom Kingdom figured there wasn't an army necessary to count bodies. There was more going on. But no one was allowed near the location of where the explosion had started. Mushroom Kingdom was in a fog. Half of it was destroyed and the other half was trying to understand it all. It would take weeks, months even, to recover from this horrible incident. And who would rule the country? Who would rebuild it? No one knew. The news that not one, but TWO princesses had died quickly travelled around the world, reaching even Hyrule. King Harkinian was devastated as soon as he heard that his beloved daughter had been killed. He quickly found out that she had gone with Link and his anger almost toppled his grief. This Link... He had caused Zelda to die! But at the same time, the King knew that it was all his fault and not Link's. If only he had been not so stern towards his daughter... If only he had allowed Link with her... Then she wouldn't had left Hyrule and she would've been still alive. But she was gone... Gone! First his wife and now his only daughter... He suddenly realised how stern he had always been with her. He had always told her what to do and how to behave, but he had never really spent time with her in a fatherly way. The death of his wife had made him so protective about Zelda. And now that level of protectiveness had killed her. He buried his face in his hands. Some time passed before someone knocked at the door to his room. "Your Majesty. It's me, Prince Marth. Might I have a word with you?" a voice sounded. "Sure, come in." the King said with a rusty voice. Rusty from the tears he had shed because of the loss of his daughter. The door opened and Marth stepped in, closing the door right after Malon followed him as well. The King didn't protest on having a peasant girl in his room. He didn't care. What did it all matter in comparison to his daughter? "What is it?" Harkinian asked in a sigh. "Forgive me for my rudeness, Sire. But Malon and I would like you to join us to Mushroom Kingdom. To find your daughter." "Zelda is gone. Didn't you know?" Harkinian muttered angry. "No, she is not." Malon said. Harkinian sat up straight. "What are you talking about?" he asked, presuming this was a sick joke. "I dreamed about her." Malon said. "She's alive." Harkinian showed a slight smirk. "You dreamed." He stood up from his bed and walked to the window. "Zelda was a dreamer. When she was little, she used to draw little men. Knights. And they fought against a big green dragon, trying to protect a little girl. And the little girl was she. And now..." The King paused and looked down. "The dragon took my little girl." he said with utter sadness in his voice. "No, your Majesty! The knights are still fighting! I know!" Malon said as convincing as possible. "Get out of here." Harkinian said with an angry voice, not turning around. "But..." Malon tried, but Marth put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go." he said. The two reluctantly left the King's chamber and, on their way to the exit of the castle, Marth said: "I believe you, Malon. And I'm going to find Zelda. I'm taking my unit with me and I'll find her." He spoke the words determined. "Then I'm going with you, Marth." Malon said. "No." Marth simply replied. "I don't know what has happened in Mushroom Kingdom, but I've heard a large portion of the American army is en route to the place. There's more going on then people are willing to tell us, honey." Malon grabbed Marth's arm. "Yes. And that's why you need me. I know something about medical treatment, Marth. And I know how to use herbs to create powerful potions." "But..." Marth started, but he didn't got to finish it. Malon stopped him by putting her hand on his chest. "You're going to take me with you. Period." she stated. Marth sighed. He couldn't possibly deny his girlfriend. Not that he wanted to do that, but this could be dangerous. Someone... or something was behind the recent events. The Human just knew it.
General Elia Banderas kept staring at the sight in front of him. He had never seen anything like that in his nearly twenty years of military service. He kept watching it, undisturbed by the movement around the area. The movement of hundreds of soldiers, tanks, armoured cars, artillary and more of the serious military muscle America and the United Nations had been able to scramble in the short period of time. Everything in a twenty-mile radius had been shut tight. No one was allowed in or out of the area. Air traffic had been re-routed and helicopters and fighterplanes patrolled the skies above the thing which had imbued the world leaders with so much fear. Elia felt a bit uncomfortable as well in front of the object. He wanted to give the order to nuke the whole thing down and be done with it. But that wasn't allowed. The powers that be were curious about it and nuking Mushroom Kingdom a second time would not be the best idea of all times. But the thing stroke fear in Elia's heart. He had seen a lot in his life, but he kept a good distance between him and the object. The closer he got to it, the more scared he felt. He tried to catch a glimpse of what was behind the huge portal which stood in front of him. It was almost the size of a skyscraper and incredibly broad. The frame was what scared Elia most. It was decorated with tormented faces and strange looking demons in howling positions. A frightening sight. The frame encircled a strange, shimmering portal, almost resembling a pool of completely black water. Only on it's side. It pulsated and strange screams sometimes emerged from it. Elia would be glad when he would finally fight in a normal war again. "Sir." a soldier yelled as he came running to Elia. "A message from Washington, sir." the young man said as he handed over the message to his older superior. Elia read it and whistled. "It seems like half the galaxy is worried." Elia murmered with his veteran voice. "We're going to get reinforcements, kid." he said to the soldier who had just delivered the message. "From what country?" the young man asked. "Not a country." Elia said as he walked away from the portal and to the command post, followed by a surprised younger soldier.
"Amongst the thousends of casualties also the deaths of he princesses of Hyrule and Mushroom Kingdom have been reported. The military is currently investigating this strange catastophic event and is bound to have further information as we speak. Does this event has a lot of effect on the international stock exchange? We ask..." Andy hit the red button on the remote control of his television and the newsreader was silent as the image disappeared. Andy was in thought. Princess Zelda was dead. And there was a big chance Terry was as well. He had travelled all the way with the princess and the odds were pretty big that he had been caught in the explosion as well. Andy sighed and bit his underlip. "He's probably still alive, Andy." Mai said softly. She sat next to him on the couch. "I don't know." Andy murmered. "Terry can be an insensitive asshole at times. And I hope he was now as well. And that he left before... But Zelda is dead. And presumably Link, Impa and Fox as well. I don't know about Terry and Kyo. I hope they're still alive, but..." "Relax, Andy." Mai sighed. "How can I possibly relax when I don't know whether my brother is still alive or not?" "Then perhaps we should go to Mushroom Kingdom and find out." Mai suggested. Andy looked at her. "Good idea." he said after a short period of silence.
Several miles from the restricted area in Mushroom Kingdom, three strange travellers wandered in the direction of the portal. One was a large grey wolf, the second was a large wolf-like dog, who was smaller than the wolf and the third was sitting on the back of the wolf: A gracious hawk. They had walked all the way from the coasts of Hyrule to Mushroom Kingdom. And the smart animals were thinking of a way to get past the border of the 'no- go-zone'. They had lived in Hyrule for nearly a year now, no chance of returning to Japan. They were sad about the losses of their masters and now something was luring them to Mushroom Kingdom. They walked slow, tired of the long journey. But they couldn't stop. For something was telling them to go to the portal. To receive what would come. To die.
The mushrooms watched in awe as another military convoy passed their houses. It was a huge noise of armoured vehicles which rode over the dusty streets. This had been going on for days and the inhabitants of the torn Mushroom Kingdom didn't seem to get any peace. They all felt devastated after the loss of their beloved ruler, Princess Peach Toadstool, who had been killed in the huge explosion, together with thousends of people. Thousends. It was world news. CNN updated the bodycount daily and president Bush had decided to send as many people to Mushroom Kingdom as he could spare. Officially to help any survivors and to help count the dead. Officially. But every mushroom in Mushroom Kingdom figured there wasn't an army necessary to count bodies. There was more going on. But no one was allowed near the location of where the explosion had started. Mushroom Kingdom was in a fog. Half of it was destroyed and the other half was trying to understand it all. It would take weeks, months even, to recover from this horrible incident. And who would rule the country? Who would rebuild it? No one knew. The news that not one, but TWO princesses had died quickly travelled around the world, reaching even Hyrule. King Harkinian was devastated as soon as he heard that his beloved daughter had been killed. He quickly found out that she had gone with Link and his anger almost toppled his grief. This Link... He had caused Zelda to die! But at the same time, the King knew that it was all his fault and not Link's. If only he had been not so stern towards his daughter... If only he had allowed Link with her... Then she wouldn't had left Hyrule and she would've been still alive. But she was gone... Gone! First his wife and now his only daughter... He suddenly realised how stern he had always been with her. He had always told her what to do and how to behave, but he had never really spent time with her in a fatherly way. The death of his wife had made him so protective about Zelda. And now that level of protectiveness had killed her. He buried his face in his hands. Some time passed before someone knocked at the door to his room. "Your Majesty. It's me, Prince Marth. Might I have a word with you?" a voice sounded. "Sure, come in." the King said with a rusty voice. Rusty from the tears he had shed because of the loss of his daughter. The door opened and Marth stepped in, closing the door right after Malon followed him as well. The King didn't protest on having a peasant girl in his room. He didn't care. What did it all matter in comparison to his daughter? "What is it?" Harkinian asked in a sigh. "Forgive me for my rudeness, Sire. But Malon and I would like you to join us to Mushroom Kingdom. To find your daughter." "Zelda is gone. Didn't you know?" Harkinian muttered angry. "No, she is not." Malon said. Harkinian sat up straight. "What are you talking about?" he asked, presuming this was a sick joke. "I dreamed about her." Malon said. "She's alive." Harkinian showed a slight smirk. "You dreamed." He stood up from his bed and walked to the window. "Zelda was a dreamer. When she was little, she used to draw little men. Knights. And they fought against a big green dragon, trying to protect a little girl. And the little girl was she. And now..." The King paused and looked down. "The dragon took my little girl." he said with utter sadness in his voice. "No, your Majesty! The knights are still fighting! I know!" Malon said as convincing as possible. "Get out of here." Harkinian said with an angry voice, not turning around. "But..." Malon tried, but Marth put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go." he said. The two reluctantly left the King's chamber and, on their way to the exit of the castle, Marth said: "I believe you, Malon. And I'm going to find Zelda. I'm taking my unit with me and I'll find her." He spoke the words determined. "Then I'm going with you, Marth." Malon said. "No." Marth simply replied. "I don't know what has happened in Mushroom Kingdom, but I've heard a large portion of the American army is en route to the place. There's more going on then people are willing to tell us, honey." Malon grabbed Marth's arm. "Yes. And that's why you need me. I know something about medical treatment, Marth. And I know how to use herbs to create powerful potions." "But..." Marth started, but he didn't got to finish it. Malon stopped him by putting her hand on his chest. "You're going to take me with you. Period." she stated. Marth sighed. He couldn't possibly deny his girlfriend. Not that he wanted to do that, but this could be dangerous. Someone... or something was behind the recent events. The Human just knew it.
General Elia Banderas kept staring at the sight in front of him. He had never seen anything like that in his nearly twenty years of military service. He kept watching it, undisturbed by the movement around the area. The movement of hundreds of soldiers, tanks, armoured cars, artillary and more of the serious military muscle America and the United Nations had been able to scramble in the short period of time. Everything in a twenty-mile radius had been shut tight. No one was allowed in or out of the area. Air traffic had been re-routed and helicopters and fighterplanes patrolled the skies above the thing which had imbued the world leaders with so much fear. Elia felt a bit uncomfortable as well in front of the object. He wanted to give the order to nuke the whole thing down and be done with it. But that wasn't allowed. The powers that be were curious about it and nuking Mushroom Kingdom a second time would not be the best idea of all times. But the thing stroke fear in Elia's heart. He had seen a lot in his life, but he kept a good distance between him and the object. The closer he got to it, the more scared he felt. He tried to catch a glimpse of what was behind the huge portal which stood in front of him. It was almost the size of a skyscraper and incredibly broad. The frame was what scared Elia most. It was decorated with tormented faces and strange looking demons in howling positions. A frightening sight. The frame encircled a strange, shimmering portal, almost resembling a pool of completely black water. Only on it's side. It pulsated and strange screams sometimes emerged from it. Elia would be glad when he would finally fight in a normal war again. "Sir." a soldier yelled as he came running to Elia. "A message from Washington, sir." the young man said as he handed over the message to his older superior. Elia read it and whistled. "It seems like half the galaxy is worried." Elia murmered with his veteran voice. "We're going to get reinforcements, kid." he said to the soldier who had just delivered the message. "From what country?" the young man asked. "Not a country." Elia said as he walked away from the portal and to the command post, followed by a surprised younger soldier.
"Amongst the thousends of casualties also the deaths of he princesses of Hyrule and Mushroom Kingdom have been reported. The military is currently investigating this strange catastophic event and is bound to have further information as we speak. Does this event has a lot of effect on the international stock exchange? We ask..." Andy hit the red button on the remote control of his television and the newsreader was silent as the image disappeared. Andy was in thought. Princess Zelda was dead. And there was a big chance Terry was as well. He had travelled all the way with the princess and the odds were pretty big that he had been caught in the explosion as well. Andy sighed and bit his underlip. "He's probably still alive, Andy." Mai said softly. She sat next to him on the couch. "I don't know." Andy murmered. "Terry can be an insensitive asshole at times. And I hope he was now as well. And that he left before... But Zelda is dead. And presumably Link, Impa and Fox as well. I don't know about Terry and Kyo. I hope they're still alive, but..." "Relax, Andy." Mai sighed. "How can I possibly relax when I don't know whether my brother is still alive or not?" "Then perhaps we should go to Mushroom Kingdom and find out." Mai suggested. Andy looked at her. "Good idea." he said after a short period of silence.
Several miles from the restricted area in Mushroom Kingdom, three strange travellers wandered in the direction of the portal. One was a large grey wolf, the second was a large wolf-like dog, who was smaller than the wolf and the third was sitting on the back of the wolf: A gracious hawk. They had walked all the way from the coasts of Hyrule to Mushroom Kingdom. And the smart animals were thinking of a way to get past the border of the 'no- go-zone'. They had lived in Hyrule for nearly a year now, no chance of returning to Japan. They were sad about the losses of their masters and now something was luring them to Mushroom Kingdom. They walked slow, tired of the long journey. But they couldn't stop. For something was telling them to go to the portal. To receive what would come. To die.