**Okay, so in this chapter I have taken a little liberty with the legend of
how the earth was created. Please don't jump all over me for it! I tried
not to stretch it too much.**
"Link! Hello? Link? Wake up! You always were such a lazy boy! Link!" cried a tiny voice. That voice! Where had he heard that voice before? Link struggled to pull himself out of the deep sleep he had been in. He opened his eyes and quickly shut them again as blaring sunlight blinded him. He felt something tug at his sleeve and he rubbed his eyes groggily and sat up, this time opening his eyes slowly. A tiny figure buzzed in front of his face and he laughed out loud.
"Navi?" he cried, fully awake now. He watched the petite little face of hers light up in a smile. "Navi! I can't believe it! I thought that we had parted ways forever! What on earth are you doing here?" asked Link, surprised at seeing his old friend in his house. She laughed, her high- pitched voice sounding like a chorus of bells peeling in the air.
"I'm here to aid you, Link! You need me now," she stated matter-of- factly, not trying to be modest.
Link nodded slightly before asking, "How did you know?"
"Oh, Link. This is an evil force, perhaps even more malevolent than Ganon was. Ganon was power hungry, and that drive for power corrupted him. He did not start out an evil man. Unfortunately, he wanted all that he could not have, and there were many out there who were willing to help him, hoping that they would get a part of the ultimate reward. Ganon was wicked, there's no doubt about it, but he was not like the force that is slowly but surely taking over Hyrule.
"This force is older, Link. I was sent here to tell you something. The queen of the fairy world filled me in with the details, and I had a hard time believing it, but if she says that it is true, than it is true. Link, this force is an ancient evil. It comes from a time before I was born, before fairies even occupied this earth. It comes from a time before the three goddesses came to the earth and made this place fit for life. It is the first evil, and it will be most difficult to stop. Its might is greater than anything you have ever encountered. You will need all the help you can get if you plan on defeating it."
Link leaned forward, already entranced by Navi's story. "Tell me all you know, Navi. What is this 'first evil'?" Navi flicked her wings and rested herself on the top of Link's table and sighed.
"That's what I am here to do Link. All right. I must ask that you not interject. It is a long story, and if you do, I am likely to lose my train of thought, and that would not be a good thing. I ask that you hold any questions you may have until the end of my story.
"When time began, there were two beings on this earth, such as it was. They were named Etain and Irnan. Etain was a gentle being, a being that shed a holy light on the world and strived for goodness on what was then a dry, barren, rocky land. Irnan worked to counteract all that Etain had achieved. While Etain worked to make the earth a place fit for life, Irnan wanted no others to crowd what she felt was theirs alone. Irnan offered Etain many things in exchange for her loyalty, but Etain refused. Ultimately, Irnan's magic was more powerful than Etain's, and Irnan defeated her, taking her power, her courage, and her wisdom and casting them off wanting nothing to do with anything that Etain had possessed.
"Etain's power, courage, and wisdom landed in different areas of the globe, and Irnan though nothing of them for the longest time. But Etain's soul still resided in these three pieces that were left her. Her power, courage, and wisdom came back to life, creating three new goddesses, the goddesses that you know as Din, Farore, and Nayru.
"Rather than try to defeat Irnan on their own, the three goddesses created a better world. They made the earth the one that we know today, and so begins the legend that you have heard, the one that has been passed down for ages. You know that as Din, Farore, and Nayru left the world, the Triforce was left behind, containing power, courage, and wisdom. It is the power, courage, and wisdom of Etain, the original good, that is contained inside the Triforce.
"There is, however, a major piece that the legend leaves out. Before departing our earth, the three goddesses, using their power, sealed Irnan away, supposedly forever. She resided inside the earth for the longest time, and it is her fiery rage that causes the volcano on Death Mountain to erupt. Have you not noticed that the volcano has been dormant lately? Irnan is no longer there, and no longer has reason to be angry. She is back on the earth, and is here to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers."
Link sat back and ran a hand through his thick blonde hair. He heaved a deep sigh, and Navi buzzed around his head anxiously, wanting to know how he felt about the take she had just told. "Well?" she asked impatiently. He glanced up at Navi, his blue eyes wide.
"That's an incredible story, Navi," he said, still trying to take it all in.
"Tell me you believe it, Link. It's important that you believe it. Your heart will not be in it if you are chasing after something you don't believe exists," said Navi, flitting down and resting herself on Link's knee.
"No, I believe you, it's just so much to take in. Why does no one speak of Etain or Irnan today? Why was that part of the legend always left out? It seems rather important to me." Link stared intently at Navi waiting for an answer. She gazed deep into his eyes, trying to decide if he did believe her, or if he was still trying to convince himself of the story's validity. She saw trust in his eyes, and this satisfied her.
"The priests wished not to frighten people with stories of a malicious force residing in Death Mountain. Fools would travel to the top and try to destroy it, but they would not succeed. No one could ever succeed. Irnan may have been sealed away, but her power was great. There are only two things that can defeat Irnan." Navi flew closer to Link's face to see if he understood. He shook his head.
"What?" he asked.
"The Master Sword, and light arrows. The Master Sword is the sword of evil's bane, as I'm sure you have heard countless times. Light arrows were created using the power that Etain had. She was the one that tried to shed a holy light on the world, and it is that holy light that resides in the tip of light arrows. That's why they hurt Ganon; they used his own acquired power against him. Since you cannot get the Master Sword back, you'll have to fall back on the power in those arrows."
Link stood up, not believing his ears. "Navi! That's suicidal! You expect me to get rid of this malevolent force using only light arrows?" Link asked, raising his voice. Navi tried to control her temper.
"Link! It's the only way! Think of the Zoras, and the Gorons, and Malon and all of Hyrule. Think of Saria, Link. You want to protect her don't you? I know how much you care for her. I have seen the way you look at her. Do this for her. You told me once that you would do anything to protect her, even if it meant risking your life. Saria's life is in danger, Link. If you won't do this for anyone else, do it for her." Link knew that Navi was right. "You are the Hero of Time, Link, and like it or not, a rather large responsibility rests on your shoulders. You'll be expected to guard Hyrule for the rest of your life. I know that you love this land. You don't want to see it ruined. Irnan would ruin it, Link. She thinks of nothing but herself."
"All right, Navi. You are right, as usual. Light arrows it is then. But I'm going to need a larger quiver. I'll never defeat this 'first evil' with only thirty arrows."
"True, true, but before we can defeat Irnan, we'll need to help the people that have been touched by Irnan's irate hand. Then we can seek her out. For now, let's take a trip to a Great Fairy's Fountain to get you a larger quiver and more magic power," said Navi as she tugged on Link's sleeve. Link sighed and went with her.
"Link! Hello? Link? Wake up! You always were such a lazy boy! Link!" cried a tiny voice. That voice! Where had he heard that voice before? Link struggled to pull himself out of the deep sleep he had been in. He opened his eyes and quickly shut them again as blaring sunlight blinded him. He felt something tug at his sleeve and he rubbed his eyes groggily and sat up, this time opening his eyes slowly. A tiny figure buzzed in front of his face and he laughed out loud.
"Navi?" he cried, fully awake now. He watched the petite little face of hers light up in a smile. "Navi! I can't believe it! I thought that we had parted ways forever! What on earth are you doing here?" asked Link, surprised at seeing his old friend in his house. She laughed, her high- pitched voice sounding like a chorus of bells peeling in the air.
"I'm here to aid you, Link! You need me now," she stated matter-of- factly, not trying to be modest.
Link nodded slightly before asking, "How did you know?"
"Oh, Link. This is an evil force, perhaps even more malevolent than Ganon was. Ganon was power hungry, and that drive for power corrupted him. He did not start out an evil man. Unfortunately, he wanted all that he could not have, and there were many out there who were willing to help him, hoping that they would get a part of the ultimate reward. Ganon was wicked, there's no doubt about it, but he was not like the force that is slowly but surely taking over Hyrule.
"This force is older, Link. I was sent here to tell you something. The queen of the fairy world filled me in with the details, and I had a hard time believing it, but if she says that it is true, than it is true. Link, this force is an ancient evil. It comes from a time before I was born, before fairies even occupied this earth. It comes from a time before the three goddesses came to the earth and made this place fit for life. It is the first evil, and it will be most difficult to stop. Its might is greater than anything you have ever encountered. You will need all the help you can get if you plan on defeating it."
Link leaned forward, already entranced by Navi's story. "Tell me all you know, Navi. What is this 'first evil'?" Navi flicked her wings and rested herself on the top of Link's table and sighed.
"That's what I am here to do Link. All right. I must ask that you not interject. It is a long story, and if you do, I am likely to lose my train of thought, and that would not be a good thing. I ask that you hold any questions you may have until the end of my story.
"When time began, there were two beings on this earth, such as it was. They were named Etain and Irnan. Etain was a gentle being, a being that shed a holy light on the world and strived for goodness on what was then a dry, barren, rocky land. Irnan worked to counteract all that Etain had achieved. While Etain worked to make the earth a place fit for life, Irnan wanted no others to crowd what she felt was theirs alone. Irnan offered Etain many things in exchange for her loyalty, but Etain refused. Ultimately, Irnan's magic was more powerful than Etain's, and Irnan defeated her, taking her power, her courage, and her wisdom and casting them off wanting nothing to do with anything that Etain had possessed.
"Etain's power, courage, and wisdom landed in different areas of the globe, and Irnan though nothing of them for the longest time. But Etain's soul still resided in these three pieces that were left her. Her power, courage, and wisdom came back to life, creating three new goddesses, the goddesses that you know as Din, Farore, and Nayru.
"Rather than try to defeat Irnan on their own, the three goddesses created a better world. They made the earth the one that we know today, and so begins the legend that you have heard, the one that has been passed down for ages. You know that as Din, Farore, and Nayru left the world, the Triforce was left behind, containing power, courage, and wisdom. It is the power, courage, and wisdom of Etain, the original good, that is contained inside the Triforce.
"There is, however, a major piece that the legend leaves out. Before departing our earth, the three goddesses, using their power, sealed Irnan away, supposedly forever. She resided inside the earth for the longest time, and it is her fiery rage that causes the volcano on Death Mountain to erupt. Have you not noticed that the volcano has been dormant lately? Irnan is no longer there, and no longer has reason to be angry. She is back on the earth, and is here to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers."
Link sat back and ran a hand through his thick blonde hair. He heaved a deep sigh, and Navi buzzed around his head anxiously, wanting to know how he felt about the take she had just told. "Well?" she asked impatiently. He glanced up at Navi, his blue eyes wide.
"That's an incredible story, Navi," he said, still trying to take it all in.
"Tell me you believe it, Link. It's important that you believe it. Your heart will not be in it if you are chasing after something you don't believe exists," said Navi, flitting down and resting herself on Link's knee.
"No, I believe you, it's just so much to take in. Why does no one speak of Etain or Irnan today? Why was that part of the legend always left out? It seems rather important to me." Link stared intently at Navi waiting for an answer. She gazed deep into his eyes, trying to decide if he did believe her, or if he was still trying to convince himself of the story's validity. She saw trust in his eyes, and this satisfied her.
"The priests wished not to frighten people with stories of a malicious force residing in Death Mountain. Fools would travel to the top and try to destroy it, but they would not succeed. No one could ever succeed. Irnan may have been sealed away, but her power was great. There are only two things that can defeat Irnan." Navi flew closer to Link's face to see if he understood. He shook his head.
"What?" he asked.
"The Master Sword, and light arrows. The Master Sword is the sword of evil's bane, as I'm sure you have heard countless times. Light arrows were created using the power that Etain had. She was the one that tried to shed a holy light on the world, and it is that holy light that resides in the tip of light arrows. That's why they hurt Ganon; they used his own acquired power against him. Since you cannot get the Master Sword back, you'll have to fall back on the power in those arrows."
Link stood up, not believing his ears. "Navi! That's suicidal! You expect me to get rid of this malevolent force using only light arrows?" Link asked, raising his voice. Navi tried to control her temper.
"Link! It's the only way! Think of the Zoras, and the Gorons, and Malon and all of Hyrule. Think of Saria, Link. You want to protect her don't you? I know how much you care for her. I have seen the way you look at her. Do this for her. You told me once that you would do anything to protect her, even if it meant risking your life. Saria's life is in danger, Link. If you won't do this for anyone else, do it for her." Link knew that Navi was right. "You are the Hero of Time, Link, and like it or not, a rather large responsibility rests on your shoulders. You'll be expected to guard Hyrule for the rest of your life. I know that you love this land. You don't want to see it ruined. Irnan would ruin it, Link. She thinks of nothing but herself."
"All right, Navi. You are right, as usual. Light arrows it is then. But I'm going to need a larger quiver. I'll never defeat this 'first evil' with only thirty arrows."
"True, true, but before we can defeat Irnan, we'll need to help the people that have been touched by Irnan's irate hand. Then we can seek her out. For now, let's take a trip to a Great Fairy's Fountain to get you a larger quiver and more magic power," said Navi as she tugged on Link's sleeve. Link sighed and went with her.