Well, you all should know what's going on by now. Don't forget my little cameo contest!
The Switch
Chapter 25
Day Nine: Late Night
Lon Lon Ranch
The shadow known as Dark Link had vowed revenge on his solid form, Link. When Link had created a brother, it not only revived him and allowed him to escape the Water Temple, but it created the perfect opportunity for revenge. When Link stepped outside because Epona was conveniently making noise, Dark Link slipped into his shadow. Link returned to the house and went to sleep. Dark Link went to work and slipped the Hero's Mask out of his pack. No matter how hard he searched, however, he could not find the Brother's Mask. He slipped into the shadows and emerged at Hyrule Castle.
As soon as Dark Link got to the castle, he retrieved the Brother's Mask. He slipped the Hero's Mask on Tael's face. It was funny how much Tael looked like he wasn't wearing a mask. Dark Link slipped back into the shadows and back to Lon Lon Ranch. He forced Link to don the Brother's Mask, and it was as if he was in two places at once. He saw the brothers begin to glow. Their surroundings began to shimmer and switch. Link's clothes became black, and Tael's became green. It was done. A new switch had been made.
Day Ten: Morning
Hyrule Castle
Link woke up in a familiar, yet wrong surrounding. "Good morning, Link. Did you sleep well?" Link was shocked to hear Zelda's voice from behind him. He was in the castle! Link darted out of bed, barely noticing his clothes, and dug into his pack. All of his masks were there except for the Hero's Mask. In its place were two letters, one black and one gold. He opened the black one first.
Link,
Think of this as revenge for what you did to me in the Water Temple. I've also done something else, but you'll never make it to Lon Lon Ranch in time to stop it. In fact, it's happening right about... now. Too bad. Have a nice life.
The letter was unsigned, but Link knew exactly who wrote it. As Link read the word 'now', he heard a loud, out of place crack of thunder. He turned his attention to the golden letter.
Dear Link,
We first wish to offer our condolences about Talon. I know you loved him like a father. It will be difficult, but you will pull through. Now, you must move as quickly as possible to the Spirit Temple. You must defeat Ganondorf soon. We can not reverse the effects of that accursed gauntlet, so this is the only way for you. Even in a world where you are supposed to have a brother, you were not meant to live each other's lives. It is important to Hyrule that you resume the title of Hero of Time.
We have created a sword identical to the Master Sword. You may use the Mirror Sword just as you would the Master Sword, and if you insert it into the Pedestal of Light in the Temple of Time, you may still travel seven years into the past, although it is not advisable to do so. When you have removed your masks, the Mirror Sword will go to your brother. We shall be watching over you.
/\
/\/\
What? 'our condolences about Talon'? Did that mean? Dark Link would pay. Zelda was looking at Link strangely. "Link, what's going on? Why are you acting so strange? And why did you get a letter from...the...Goddesses, no. You and Tael didn't put those masks on, did you?"
"Last night, Dark Link put the Brother's Mask on me and the Hero's Mask on Tael. And he's just killed my father-in-law, Talon."
"This is probably the worst thing I could possibly be thinking at a time like this, but does that mean that I'm Tael's girlfriend, and you're married to Malon? What? How did this get back here?" The Triforce necklace had materialized around Zelda's neck. "At least I know what things are supposed to be like, now. Link, we have to get to the ranch. Hurry up and get dressed!"
Lon Lon Ranch
Tael woke up with no idea where he was. "Tael, hurry up and get out of bed! We have to get ready!" He heard Malon's voice, but he had no idea what she was talking about. He realized that he was in Link's house at the ranch, but he had no idea how he got here. Link had explained the importance of that mask yesterday, and the previous switch, but Tael had no idea it would affect them so early. He searched his pack, but the Brother's Mask was gone. He opened a golden letter, from the goddesses if he remembered Link's story, and read it.
Dear Tael,
You and your brother must move as quickly as possible to the Spirit Temple. You must defeat Ganondorf soon. We can not reverse the effects of that accursed gauntlet, so this is the only way for you. Even in a world where you are supposed to exist, you were not meant to live each other's lives. It is important to Hyrule that Link resumes the title of Hero of Time.
We have created a sword identical to the Master Sword. Link may use the Mirror Sword just as he would the Master Sword, and if he inserts it into the Pedestal of Light in the Temple of Time, he may still travel seven years into the past, although it is not advisable to do so. When you have removed your masks, the Mirror Sword will go to you. We shall be watching over you.
/\
/\/\
Tael went downstairs. He had to tell Malon about this. If anyone would understand, it would be her. Malon and Talon were eating breakfast. Tael noticed that Talon's drink was casting an extra large shadow, but he didn't think much of it. He was just about to speak when Talon took a drink, and a strange clap of thunder could be heard. Talon's eyes got wide, and Dark Link's poison killed him quickly and painlessly. "Dad! Dad!" Malon rushed to her father's side as fast as she could. "Dad, no!!! How could this happen? He was as healthy as a horse!"
"Dark Link decided to get revenge on me." Link had just stepped in the door. "Last night, he put the Hero's and Brother's Masks on mine and Tael's faces, then he poisoned Talon." Malon's necklace appeared around her neck, and a look of anger crossed her face.
"Get him. That monster killed my father, and I want him dead." Link was scared. Malon was never a mean or hateful person, but she had just lost her father because of a shadow demon.
"Tael. Get your ocarina and follow me." The brothers played the Requiem of Spirit and were off.
"I guess they're in the same boat we were in," said Malon.
"I'm afraid it's much worse than that. Tael's the Hero of Time now. If they can't switch back, Tael will have to defeat Ganondorf, and he hasn't had as much fighting experience as Link. He's going to have to learn everything in the Spirit Temple."
"We could be in big trouble."
"All of Hyrule could be in big trouble."
"Goddesses help us."
Yes, this chapter was a bit darker (and longer!) than the rest, but I had to do it. I knew all along that Link and 'Tael' were going to switch at some point, that's been my plan since a bit before Zelda and Malon switched back. The masks provided for that. Then, I needed a way to get the masks on their faces. Dark Link worked perfect. I also needed a way to get Talon off the ranch. I really wanted Malon and Link to live alone on the ranch. I'm sorry that I had to kill him off to do it, but things just fell into place that way. It really didn't seem as sad when Link was reading about it as it did when it happened. This thing's going to wrap itself up soon, but that little 'nice surprise' the mask man spoke of will allow me to extend this. Don't worry, it's a good thing. It's not like some little demon or something. It's good, and it might write Saria into the fic. Remember, come up with a better name than Tael, win a cameo! Does that not interest anyone? I'm giving away a cameo, I mean, come on! Is it that hard to think of a name? Well, actually it was... But I know that there are people that can come up with better names more easily than I can. Well, that's it. Go home now. Come back tomorrow.
The Switch
Chapter 25
Day Nine: Late Night
Lon Lon Ranch
The shadow known as Dark Link had vowed revenge on his solid form, Link. When Link had created a brother, it not only revived him and allowed him to escape the Water Temple, but it created the perfect opportunity for revenge. When Link stepped outside because Epona was conveniently making noise, Dark Link slipped into his shadow. Link returned to the house and went to sleep. Dark Link went to work and slipped the Hero's Mask out of his pack. No matter how hard he searched, however, he could not find the Brother's Mask. He slipped into the shadows and emerged at Hyrule Castle.
As soon as Dark Link got to the castle, he retrieved the Brother's Mask. He slipped the Hero's Mask on Tael's face. It was funny how much Tael looked like he wasn't wearing a mask. Dark Link slipped back into the shadows and back to Lon Lon Ranch. He forced Link to don the Brother's Mask, and it was as if he was in two places at once. He saw the brothers begin to glow. Their surroundings began to shimmer and switch. Link's clothes became black, and Tael's became green. It was done. A new switch had been made.
Day Ten: Morning
Hyrule Castle
Link woke up in a familiar, yet wrong surrounding. "Good morning, Link. Did you sleep well?" Link was shocked to hear Zelda's voice from behind him. He was in the castle! Link darted out of bed, barely noticing his clothes, and dug into his pack. All of his masks were there except for the Hero's Mask. In its place were two letters, one black and one gold. He opened the black one first.
Link,
Think of this as revenge for what you did to me in the Water Temple. I've also done something else, but you'll never make it to Lon Lon Ranch in time to stop it. In fact, it's happening right about... now. Too bad. Have a nice life.
The letter was unsigned, but Link knew exactly who wrote it. As Link read the word 'now', he heard a loud, out of place crack of thunder. He turned his attention to the golden letter.
Dear Link,
We first wish to offer our condolences about Talon. I know you loved him like a father. It will be difficult, but you will pull through. Now, you must move as quickly as possible to the Spirit Temple. You must defeat Ganondorf soon. We can not reverse the effects of that accursed gauntlet, so this is the only way for you. Even in a world where you are supposed to have a brother, you were not meant to live each other's lives. It is important to Hyrule that you resume the title of Hero of Time.
We have created a sword identical to the Master Sword. You may use the Mirror Sword just as you would the Master Sword, and if you insert it into the Pedestal of Light in the Temple of Time, you may still travel seven years into the past, although it is not advisable to do so. When you have removed your masks, the Mirror Sword will go to your brother. We shall be watching over you.
/\
/\/\
What? 'our condolences about Talon'? Did that mean? Dark Link would pay. Zelda was looking at Link strangely. "Link, what's going on? Why are you acting so strange? And why did you get a letter from...the...Goddesses, no. You and Tael didn't put those masks on, did you?"
"Last night, Dark Link put the Brother's Mask on me and the Hero's Mask on Tael. And he's just killed my father-in-law, Talon."
"This is probably the worst thing I could possibly be thinking at a time like this, but does that mean that I'm Tael's girlfriend, and you're married to Malon? What? How did this get back here?" The Triforce necklace had materialized around Zelda's neck. "At least I know what things are supposed to be like, now. Link, we have to get to the ranch. Hurry up and get dressed!"
Lon Lon Ranch
Tael woke up with no idea where he was. "Tael, hurry up and get out of bed! We have to get ready!" He heard Malon's voice, but he had no idea what she was talking about. He realized that he was in Link's house at the ranch, but he had no idea how he got here. Link had explained the importance of that mask yesterday, and the previous switch, but Tael had no idea it would affect them so early. He searched his pack, but the Brother's Mask was gone. He opened a golden letter, from the goddesses if he remembered Link's story, and read it.
Dear Tael,
You and your brother must move as quickly as possible to the Spirit Temple. You must defeat Ganondorf soon. We can not reverse the effects of that accursed gauntlet, so this is the only way for you. Even in a world where you are supposed to exist, you were not meant to live each other's lives. It is important to Hyrule that Link resumes the title of Hero of Time.
We have created a sword identical to the Master Sword. Link may use the Mirror Sword just as he would the Master Sword, and if he inserts it into the Pedestal of Light in the Temple of Time, he may still travel seven years into the past, although it is not advisable to do so. When you have removed your masks, the Mirror Sword will go to you. We shall be watching over you.
/\
/\/\
Tael went downstairs. He had to tell Malon about this. If anyone would understand, it would be her. Malon and Talon were eating breakfast. Tael noticed that Talon's drink was casting an extra large shadow, but he didn't think much of it. He was just about to speak when Talon took a drink, and a strange clap of thunder could be heard. Talon's eyes got wide, and Dark Link's poison killed him quickly and painlessly. "Dad! Dad!" Malon rushed to her father's side as fast as she could. "Dad, no!!! How could this happen? He was as healthy as a horse!"
"Dark Link decided to get revenge on me." Link had just stepped in the door. "Last night, he put the Hero's and Brother's Masks on mine and Tael's faces, then he poisoned Talon." Malon's necklace appeared around her neck, and a look of anger crossed her face.
"Get him. That monster killed my father, and I want him dead." Link was scared. Malon was never a mean or hateful person, but she had just lost her father because of a shadow demon.
"Tael. Get your ocarina and follow me." The brothers played the Requiem of Spirit and were off.
"I guess they're in the same boat we were in," said Malon.
"I'm afraid it's much worse than that. Tael's the Hero of Time now. If they can't switch back, Tael will have to defeat Ganondorf, and he hasn't had as much fighting experience as Link. He's going to have to learn everything in the Spirit Temple."
"We could be in big trouble."
"All of Hyrule could be in big trouble."
"Goddesses help us."
Yes, this chapter was a bit darker (and longer!) than the rest, but I had to do it. I knew all along that Link and 'Tael' were going to switch at some point, that's been my plan since a bit before Zelda and Malon switched back. The masks provided for that. Then, I needed a way to get the masks on their faces. Dark Link worked perfect. I also needed a way to get Talon off the ranch. I really wanted Malon and Link to live alone on the ranch. I'm sorry that I had to kill him off to do it, but things just fell into place that way. It really didn't seem as sad when Link was reading about it as it did when it happened. This thing's going to wrap itself up soon, but that little 'nice surprise' the mask man spoke of will allow me to extend this. Don't worry, it's a good thing. It's not like some little demon or something. It's good, and it might write Saria into the fic. Remember, come up with a better name than Tael, win a cameo! Does that not interest anyone? I'm giving away a cameo, I mean, come on! Is it that hard to think of a name? Well, actually it was... But I know that there are people that can come up with better names more easily than I can. Well, that's it. Go home now. Come back tomorrow.