CHAPTER 13- INTO THE CASTLE


Two days later, Link, Malon, Impa, Nabooru and Jin arrived at the gates to Hyrule Castle Town. Link and Epona stopped just before they stepped on
the bridge. "What's wrong?" Malon asked them.

"Epona won't go in there." Link said simply.

"Why not?" Malon was confused. Usually you couldn't separate the two
and Epona wouldn't follow her master into a little town?

"I could never figure it out but there are a few places that she absolutely refuses to go and this is one of them." Link answered her.

"Alright. What are you going to do with her?" the ranch girl asked.

"Let her roam around like I usually do." he led the mare over to the water. "Here you go girl. Thanks for your help, we shouldn't be long." After a moment, he walked into the town with everyone following. When they passed through the town to the tree just before the first set of gates to the castle, he stopped again.

"Now what?" Malon said looking at him in mock aggravation.

"Now I won't go any farther." Link set his mouth in a firm line.

"And why not?" Impa asked. If they didn't hurry, they might be too late to save the princess. They just had to get in there.

"Think about it. If we go in there all together we stand a greater risk of getting captured by Ganondorf. We'll have to split up." he thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, wait. This is what we'll do. Jin and I will go the secret way into the castle while you three go the regular way. We'll meet up inside at the inner garden with the fountain. You know which one I'm talking about, right Impa?"

"Yes, the one where you first met Princess Zelda." The Shadow Sage said.

"Yup, that's the one. Now, if you see Ganondorf, avoid him. And if there's any trouble, get out as soon as possible, you understand?" The other three nodded in agreement. He pulled Nabooru to the side. "If there is any danger, I trust you to watch out for Malon as I would."

"Of course I will protect her." Nabooru smiled. Link nodded a silent thanks. They walked back over to the rest of their group.

"Well, are we ready?" He asked them.

"Yeah!" They all said at the same time.

"Alright, come on Jin." And he and the boy walked over to the vines and started to climb, Link in the lead.

"Ah, so that's how he got in." Impa said with a smile. Then she led Malon and Nabooru toward the castle.

Link helped Jin up the ledge and they jogged lightly over the white stone that was the first gate to the castle and waved to the other three as they continued on. "Let's go visit the Great Fairy first, I want to see if she can help us in our upcoming battle."

"Sure! I'd love to see the Great Fairy!" Jin exclaimed. Only those who found the Fairy and knew the Song of the Royal Family could actually receive its gift. Quickly, they ran over to the opening that was the entrance to the Great Fairy's Fountain. Link went over to the symbol of the Triforce and played Zelda's Lullaby. With a scream, the Great Fairy appeared before them. Jin stared in awe at the creature before him. So this was a Great Fairy.

"Link, again you have returned to me but you have no wounds for me to heal. What have you come for?" she asked kindly.

"Did you know that Ganondorf is at the castle?" Link said.

"Yes, I knew that the Evil King was here to again befoul our land. That is why you've come I presume. I am pleased to say that I do have something that can help you fight him."

Link looked up sharply. "You do?"

"Of course. Naviti!" She cried. Suddenly thought the entrance to the fountain, Navi the fairy flew in and circled around Link.

"Navi! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!" Link said happily.

"Naviti is Navi's name to us Great Fairies." she smiled at the reunited boy and fairy.

"Thank you. I looked for her for seven years and couldn't find her. I missed you Navi."

Navi bounced up and down happily. "I missed you too Link!"

"You have a fairy?" Jin asked in wonder. This was almost too much for him.

"Oh, yes. Navi was with me when I beat Ganondorf the first time." The hero answered him.

"Well, I must leave you know. Our blessings go with you!" The Great Fairy said as she again disappeared into the fountain.

Link, Jin and Navi exited the fountain and looked around. The others were already through the main gates and heading through the huge twin doors into the castle. Quickly, the two Hylians and the fairy ran over to the rock wall dodging all the guards in the process. Finally Link jumped into the castle moat with Jin following behind. Navi zoomed underneath Link's hat. They swam over to the ledge and climbed up. Link looked around. "It seems they finally moved the milk crates." Silently he pushed the crates into place and jumped over to the hole. "Me and Zelda had to widen this hole so I could still crawl through." Link explained as they crawled through the hole. Finally they reached the inside of the castle. Dodging even more guards, they ran into the garden where they were to meet Malon and the others.

"No one's here." Jin said as they looked around. Eventually they sat at the steps by the window. "They're not going to be here are they?"

"It doesn't look like it." Suddenly, something caught Link's eye. Peering through the window, he gasped. There, in the hands of Stalfos, were their other party members. "Oh, no." he whispered. Ganondorf was talking to them though he couldn't hear what he was saying. Then, someone stepped out from behind the King of Evil. Zelda. "No, Zelda." She was dressed in black and wearing an evil grin. So their fears were justified, she was evil. Link stepped back.

"What are you doing?" Jin asked him.

"Saving my friends." Link said as he jumped through the window.

Ganondorf looked stunned for a moment, then covered the silence with a laugh. "So good of you to join us, Hero of Time!" he mocked.

"Let them go, Ganondorf. Your fight is with me. Leave them out of it." Link snapped.

That made the Gerudo laugh even harder. "I don't think I will, Link." he said his name like a curse.

"Link! Run! Get out of here!" Malon cried desperately.

"Shut her up, will you?" Ganondorf asked. A Moblin stepped out of the curtains and aimed an arrow at Link. "One more word and your lover boy will meet his end." Malon went pale.

"That's not fair! You can't do that to her!" Link yelled.

"All's fair in love and war, kid. Now, where were we?" Ganondorf smiled.

"Aww, take him out!" Zelda pleaded. "He deserves to die."

"Is that your wish, milady? Very well. Shoot him." The Gerudo commanded. The Moblin pulled back the arrow and let it fly. It hit flesh with a sickening thud.


A/N- ooo, cliffhanger! Sorry, but I'll write more soon!