The Legend of Zelda: A Clash of Ages

By: Ninmast

Chapter 2

Apparently, they made quite a site as they drove to the convention. Several times when they stopped at a light, a kid would stop and point at them, yelling to someone else. Sometimes, though, they would just stand there and stare.

At the eighth dumbstruck kid, Paul couldn't help himself anymore. He rolled down his window and yelled to the kid, "Greetings from Hyrule!"

Andi slapped him on the arm as he pulled his head back in. "Will you grow up?" She looked over as he was waving to another kid. "Oh, roll that window up, will you? You're so embarrassing. Next thing you know, you'll be signing autographs, or something."

"Can't," he said as he turned to her, grinning broadly. "I can't read Hylian."

He looked at her, and was almost fooled, himself. His costume had been a dual one, with a Zelda costume in the package, as well. Now, Andi was dressed like the Princess of Hyrule, and the similarity was striking. He almost regretted offering the idea, because she took another hour just to get ready. But when he saw how she had fluffed and curled her hair, and put on her make up, he forgot about the time. She had been worried that she wouldn't look right because she didn't know how she was supposed to look in the first place, but when Paul showed her a picture of the princess, she did a double take. She had dressed up exactly like her without even knowing it.

He jumped as the car behind them honked. He jerked his head up and looked at the light. It had turned green, and he hadn't even noticed.

* * *

The convention was crowded. They had to wait an hour to get through the line, but once they were in, Paul's eyes widened. He tried to look everywhere at once, trying to take in everything. He looks just like a kid in a candy shop, Andi thought as she watched him. There was a ton of things going on at once. In one room that Paul seemed to lead them to unerringly, hundreds of giant televisions were set up, each one hooked to a system, and each one, Paul explained to her, was playing a Zelda game. All over the place, there were hundreds of booths selling what they insisted was exclusive LoZ merchandise. One of the smaller crowds that they passed had been made of a group of girls that were arguing, as best as she could tell, about how many girls had a crush on Link. From the way some of them were swooning, she guessed that they weren't just counting characters from the video game. All around them, people were dressed as characters from the game, although there were a few that only wore a labeled hat or shirt, but those were few and far between. All day, from the speakers hidden all over the complex, music that was apparently from the games played in between announcements of events and public messages.

"Wow," Andi said, amazed at the activity. "This place is huge!"

"Yeah," Paul agreed. "It's gigantic. C'mon," he said, grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her toward a counter that he had just seen. "We need to register for the costume contest before we forget."

When they got up to the desk, the man behind it did a double take, his jaw going slack.

"You know, you should probably get that fixed," Paul said, gesturing toward the jaw. "Imagine how embarrassed you would be if you drooled on yourself."

The man shook his head and closed his mouth. "I'm sorry, it's just that you caught me by surprise. I've seen several hundred costumes, already, today, but you two are the best I've seen. For a moment, I was sure that I was looking at the real thing. Kinda silly, huh?"

"Not really," Paul smiled. "We got the same reaction on our way here. You wouldn't believe how many people stared at us as we were driving here."

"I can believe it," the man said as he pulled out the appropriate forms and handed them to them. "I'm surprised you didn't cause a catastrophe on the expressway. Read through that and sign on the bottom line, if you will." He waited as they did so, then took their forms and put it in a tray with identical papers. "Best of luck to you, and have a good day."

"Thank you," Andi said as Paul started to pull her away, already trying to go somewhere else, "and you, too."

* * *

Andi spun around, trying to see everyone in the giant ballroom. While Paul had been enveloped in one thing to do with the games after another, she had been enthralled by all of the thousands of people there. Now that the costume contest was about to start, most of those people were packing themselves into this one room. If it had been empty, she was sure she could shout across it, and someone on the other side wouldn't eve be able to hear her. Now, with so many people in it, it almost seemed too small.

"Wow, Paul! This is incredible! And look at all of the costumes! There are some really good ones!"

Paul looked around. Yes, there were definitely some good costumes. There were even a few Gerudos that were pretty convincing. In the corner sat a girl that looked like the young Malon. There were even a few people with Goron costumes on, although these weren't quite so life-like. Of course, what could you expect when you had to wear a full-body costume? He just hoped the judges took mercy on them. It would be a real disappointment to sweat in a suit all day just to lose because you couldn't mimic giants that ate rocks for food. He told his thoughts to Andi, who nodded in agreement.

"Excuse me," called a man that had just stepped in front of the microphone on the stage. "If you will all quiet down a bit, we'll get on with the results." Immediately, it was silent, and the man continued. "We have had some great costumes today, haven't we?" He waited as the room cheered. "Unfortunately, only one group can walk away with the trophy, the prize money, and the ultimate gift package!" Once again, the room erupted in cheers.

The man pulled out a sheet of paper and looked it over. "Now, if I call your group's name, will you please come up on stage? This year, we have two honorable mentions. Our first one is a threesome of desert bandits, consisting of a Gerudo Guard, a Gerudo Shop owner, and a Gerudo Cell Guard. Rista Cambell, Tanya Connor, and Lana Norway, will you please come up here?"

There was a burst of cheers as the Gerudos that Paul had noticed earlier jumped for joy and ran for the stage. He handed each of them a ribbon, then directed them to stand behind him.

"Next, we have a small family of humble ranch owners, producers of the finest milk and horses in all of Hyrule. These two really are related! John Rogers and his daughter Christy, or should I say, Talon and Malon, the owners of Lon Lon Ranch, the finest ranch in all of Hyrule!"

The room applauded as the girl stood up from the wall and walked up to the stage beside a round man that must be her father, her face lit up brightly with an elated smile. The man gave them ribbons, as well, and directed them to stand behind him.

"Now, folks, the top three contest winners!" The room erupted in cheers again, and he waited for them to die down before continuing. "I have to tell you guys, I have great respect for these next participants. They have been spending the entire day in hot, sweaty costumes, and for that, I'm glad they made this." Paul and Andi's eyes met, and they smiled at each other, anticipating the call. "Hailing from the deadly Death Mountain, an active volcano that looms forbiddingly over the humble Kakiriko Village, Big Boss Darunia, and his brothers, the Gorons!" He didn't need to call out the names this time. They were the only ones there dressed like Gorons, and they marched like it, tall, proud, and wide, their arms swinging beside them as they paraded up to the stage.

The man congratulated each of them with a handshake, and was jokingly afraid to give it to the one dressed like Darunia. Unfortunately for him, the guy was really into the part, and when he did shake the announcer's hand, the man almost doubled over in pain, struggling to keep a smile on his face.

"Coming in second," the man said as he turned back toward the mike, gingerly flexing his hand, "the generous creators of Hyrule. The Goddesses that watch over it, and guide it, and provided it with the mighty Triforce as a focal point for the lives of all who live in Hyrule. The three Goddesses, Din, Farore, and Nayru!"

Promptly, three young women that Paul hadn't noticed on the other side of the room stood up and walked up to the stage. They were dressed according to the Oracle games, and it was plain that at least the hair on Nayru was a wig.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the question that you all have been waiting for! Who will be the number one, grand prize first place winner? Well, let's find out! Sound board, drum roll, please." He reached behind his back to pull an envelope from his pocket as the sound of drums echoed through the silent room. He opened it slowly, then read it over to himself. He took his time putting it back into the envelope and setting it down on the podium, letting the suspense build in the room until the very air started to crackle.

Paul looked down in surprise as his hand brushed Andi's and a spark passed between them. So it wasn't the suspense, after all. The air really was electric. He shook his head. Weird. He tried to ignore it as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He told himself that it must just be from so many people being in the same room and turned his attention back to the stand.

"Protectors of the Triforce, these two and their descendants have fought for centuries against the tyranny of the evil Ganondorf. Our first place winners this year are none other than the Hero of Time and the Sage of Time, themselves, Link and Princess Zelda! Paul Joseph and Andi Johnson, come on up here, and congratulations!"

Before he could think, Paul picked Andi up, twirling her around as the room exploded in applause. He set her back down, then grabbed her by the hand and practically drug her up there as they ran for the stage.

The announcer pulled a trophy out from under the podium. It was two feet tall and gold. It had a pillar in the center. On either side stood Link and Zelda, and at the top sat a miniature three-piece Triforce. "Congratulations, you two. I can see why you won. I almost did a double take! Judging by the look on their faces, the other contestants were a little shocked, too!"

Paul turned around to look, and, sure enough, the Gerudos and the Gorons both had strange looks on their faces. He turned back around as the announcer continued.

"Say, how about you two give us a pose, huh? Since you can dress like them, I'm sure you can do a pretty good impression."

Paul looked over at Andi, but her face was red, and she turned it away slightly. He turned back to the announcer. "How about I just do it? She's a little shy, especially in front of a crowd like this."

The announcer smiled wide and said that that would be okay. He stepped off to the side to let Paul up in front.

Paul stepped up confidently as he pulled his shield and sword off of his back in one smooth movement, the light glistening off of the sword's blade. He stood there for a moment, staring at the crowd daringly. Then, as if the sword was as light as a feather, he swung horizontally, slashed vertically, then stabbed straight out, then held it without even the slightest sign of shaking in his hand. The crowd went wild. Paul's face broke into a smile, and he couldn't help but show off a little more. Quickly, he jumped backwards, then jumped toward the crowd again as high as he could, bringing the sword down level with the ground as he went down on one knee.

That was when it happened. The static in the room suddenly flew to fever pitch. Strands of even Andi's long, heavy hair was drifting up. Suddenly, an invisible force pushed everyone out of the middle of the room with enough force to slam them into the walls. Paul could feel the hairs on his body drift in that direction, as if all of the charge in the air was focusing in that place.

The entire room stared on as a tiny ball of dark light appeared in midair. As it got bigger, it seemed to spin, drawing in the energy around it until it was the size of a large doorway. A great concussion of air spread out as the energy was rent wider, and a dark-skinned man walked through. He was tall and commanding, but his hair was like fire, and his eyes were piercing black. He stepped in as if he owned the place, looking around as if already familiar with everything there. He looked down as a young man walked up to him, dressed in a horrid mockery of his black armor.

"Hey, awesome entrance, dude! Cool costume, too! But you missed the contest," he said, gesturing to the stands. "They just announced the winners."

The man's black eyes flashed for a moment as they landed on Andi and Paul, but then he saw how they cringed, and he looked away, almost disappointed. "Then they didn't make it. Too bad."

The boy, however, misunderstood completely. "Hey, don't be bummed out, man! There's always next year! Besides, we both know one thing! The bad guys rule!" He held up his hand, expecting a high five, but he wilted back as the dark man scowled back at him.

"I am not one of you filthy commoners here to dress up and play pretend, boy."

The boy apparently reminded himself that this had to be all fake, and he reached up to slap the man on the back. "Come on, you don't have to take it that hard! Cheer up!"

"Don't touch me!" the dark man shouted, knocking the boy's arm away with enough force to send him back against a table, which broke under the blow. He held his arm up and turned his palm out to face the boy. "I told you, I am not one of you pathetic fools. And, now, I will prove it to you!" Orange energy formed in the palm of his hand as sheer terror spread across the boy's face. The man's face turned to a scowl as the ball reached full power. "Now, die!"

The next instant, the blast flew from his hand, and a cloud of dust lifted up. When it settled, the entire room shrank back in horror. There was nothing left of the boy but a charred, black skeleton, bits of melted plastic cooling and hardening in ugly bubbles on the remains.

The dark man grinned satisfactorily, then turned around, spreading his arms wide as he addressed the room. "Witness my power, and tremble in fear," he boomed. "I am Ganondorf, and your world is now mine!" He looked around at the thousands of white faces, frozen in place, paralyzed with fear. He smiled widely, then stuck his head out with a loud, "BOO!" He threw his head back and laughed as they all screamed, breaking into a stampede for the door, except for those who were on stage, who couldn't get off for the tide of people below them.

"That poor boy," Andi moaned, her eyes riveted on the skeleton as if she couldn't turn away. "What could he have done to deserve that?"

Paul's eyes, however, were locked on Ganondorf, his grip on the sword tightening so much that it was shaking. "Nothing, Andi. That's just it. He did absolutely nothing. But this man doesn't care. The more chaos, destruction, and horror that he can spread, the better. That's how he gets his thrills."

The floor was almost completely empty now, and Ganondorf looked up at them as he started to move toward them. He looked down at Paul's hand, and his face broke into a grin again. "Did my actions disturb you, boy? Did I make you angry? I'll bet you want to tear me limb from limb for it, don't you, boy?"

Paul took a step forward, but Ganondorf raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The next moment, someone had grabbed him from behind. He started to struggle, but before he could, he felt the cold brush of a dagger across his neck.

"Now, don't go doing something that you're going to regret, handsome," a female voice drifted from behind him. "We wouldn't want to lose a pretty boy like you, would we?"

Paul looked down and saw the woman's billowy, white pants. "You … you're one of the Gerudos that got Honorary Mention!"

"Hmph! You're a sharp one! We should have gotten higher, but that's okay. We were where we needed to be. The problem with you people is that you don't recognize the real deal when you see it. I mean, come on! You people don't even have real ears!" She flipped the rounded tip of his ear playfully to emphasize her point.

Ganondorf walked up to him, then gestured with his finger for him to bend down toward him. Before Paul could respond, the Gerudo behind him forced him down on his knees and bent his head down to his chest. "You will bow to your king, like a respectful subject," the Gerudo ordered behind him.

Ganondorf scowled for a moment. "Let me see his face." Suddenly, his head was yanked back up by his hair, and he found his eyes staring into the piercing, black points of the most evil man alive. Ganondorf smiled slightly. "You know, boy, you look surprisingly like him. Yes, the resemblance is definitely there. Although," he continued as his face broke into a focused, thoughtful look. He reached up and ripped the hat off of his head and threw it across the room, grinning maliciously. Then he reached up and ruffled his brown hair. "No, not quite. Close, but not close enough." He laughed as he turned away. "Lock him up somewhere, along with the rest of them! They might be helpful to me later."

Paul bristled with anger as the Gerudo yanked him back up on his feet. "And if we refuse?" he shouted at the evil man's back.

Ganondorf turned slowly back around. "Well, then, my brave boy, if you won't help me, then I suppose you would have lived out your usefulness, then, wouldn't you? Take them away!"

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the Gerudos reach for the one dressed like Darunia. When she did, however, his arms shot out and grabbed her by the shoulders, and he picked her up and hurled her across the room. "You dare touch Darunia, Big Boss of the Gorons, and the Sage of Fire?"

Paul's jaw went slack, as well as everyone else's. The face had changed! It wasn't a costume!

Ganondorf whirled around. "Darunia? No, it can't be! Slit his throat and let's see the blood flow! Then we'll see just how much of a Goron this actor really is!"

The Gerudo that had been tying up the girl dressed like Malon and her father jumped up immediately, grabbing a sickle that was lying beside her. She ran toward him and swung hard, but he just caught it with the blade toward him, his large hand covering the entire weapon, as well as the woman's whole hand as he laughed almost merrily. "Your little toys can't hurt me!" He gave her a quizzical look. "Do you not believe I am who I say? Here, let me prove it to you!" He effortlessly picked her up off of her feet by the weapon, then reached around and plucked her off with his free hand, dropping her rudely on the ground. He took the weapon in between his finger and thumb on each hand and snapped it in two like a toothpick. The Gerudo didn't waste any time. She turned tail and ran out the door.

Ganondorf, however, paid her little heed. "Pathetic coward," he muttered before turning his gaze back to Darunia. "So you really are here, then, aren't you? No matter. I know how to deal with your kind." He raised his hand again, this time toward Darunia, as another orange ball grew in its center.

Darunia didn't even flinch. He merely stared right back at him, as if daring him to strike.

Ganondorf just laughed. "Don't be ridiculous, Darunia. I wouldn't waste my energy. For a race of blockheads, you Gorons have an amazingly thick hide." He swung his arm to aim toward Andi. "The girl, however, …"

"No!" Paul screamed. Before he knew what he was doing, he slammed his head back into the Gerudo that was holding him, stunning her. He threw her arms off of him and tackled Andi, sending them both off of the stage just as the blast fired. White fire raced across his back just as they went off, and he screamed in agony.

Ganondorf laughed as he walked over to them. "You're a brave one, boy, if not a bit stupid," he said as Paul struggled to get off of Andi, grimacing at the fire that still raced over his back. Paul struggled up to his knees, but Ganondorf slammed his hand onto the burn on his back, rubbing his hand around in it. Paul screamed again as the pain exploded in his back again. He bent down to him, his hand still pressed against the burn. "You still want a piece of me, boy? Because I just took a fine chunk out of you!"

Paul struggled to force himself back up to his hands and knees. "You are no man, Ganondorf! You're a monster! We haven't done anything to you. Why? Why are you so intent on destroying us?"

Ganondorf burst out laughing again as he stood up. "Because you're in my way, boy! That, and I like to hear you scream. Blame your looks, if anything. To torture you is almost like torturing him." His boot came down on his back, digging in to the burn. "Now, scream!" Paul bit his tongue until it bled, but he refused to give in. After a few moments, Ganondorf let up, perplexed. "Why don't you scream, boy? Why do you hold it in? You know it will only make it worse, and I will only keep going until you do." When Paul didn't respond, he bent down and grabbed hold of his face with his hand, forcing him to look at him. "Answer me, boy!" Paul spit the blood from his mouth out on his hand, and Ganondorf threw his head back down. "Fine! Have it your way! You seem to care for the girl, so I'll just torture her, instead! After all, there's so much more you can do to females. Don't worry, I'll let you watch the entire thing!"

Paul groaned as he forced himself up. His hand fell on the sword, and he gripped it instinctively. "Over my dead body!"

Ganondorf looked up, slightly surprised, then grinned evilly. "As you wish. Over your dead body, it is! Or rather, over that stupid boy's dead body!" He threw his hand toward the black skeleton, his entire body glowing darkly. "Creature that I have slayed with my own hand, in death, you shall be my servant! Rise up now, I command you!"

Paul and Andi looked on in horror as the boy's skeleton stirred. It tried to get up, but the plastic from the costume held it to the table. It leaned back, then yanked forward, and the remnants of the table gave way as the part it was stuck to burst into splinters.

"Very good," Ganondorf said. "Now, arm yourself, and rid my presence of this annoying boy!"

It looked at its hands for a moment, then looked around. Finally, it bent over and picked up a leg from the table. Slowly, yet deliberately, it started to walk toward Paul, its empty sockets focused on him. He could smell it before it even came close. It smelled of burnt flesh, bones, and plastic. Worst of all, though, was another smell that lay beneath those. Death. Yes, if such a thing had a scent, it was coming off of the monster before him now. Paul didn't have a choice. He raised the sword in front of him, praying that there was some way to kill something that was already dead.

* * *