Chapter Seven: Riddle Me This, Part 2
Link looked at the purple sun hovering over Hyrule. It was the same as in the vision Maren gave him. The sun wasn't actually purple, but Ganondorf did something to the atmosphere that made it look purple. Turning away from it, he looked out towards the Kokiri Forest. His home was in there, but he didn't know what to expect from it. He would have to endure it anyway. He started towards it.
In his early years, the trek between the Hyrule Castle, Talon's Ranch, and the Kokiri Forest always seemed long and dangerous. Now, it only took him a few minutes, but it seemed just as dangerous. The bones of deceased animals and Hyrulians laid scattered across Hyrule Field. Ganondorf's work. He remembered how it took him a long time to find him, but it was almost worth it. He didn't come back to Hyrule like he originally thought. He had appeared in a place farther from Hyrule that had suffered the same fate. It was a long adventure there.
Link walked down the path that had turned into part of the forest, heading towards the Kokiri Kids home. Instead of a home of peace and prosperity, he saw a town of devastation. He saw the corpses of more animals, but no Kokiris. He hoped that their eternal life saved them from the purple energy of Ganondorf.
"That evil son of a Wolfos," he muttered under his breath. Despite the fact it was now an evil place, the purple sun gave it a nice look. Link walked on towards the dead Great Deku Tree. From him came the beginnings of another Great Deku Tree. He hoped it wasn't touched by any of Ganondorf's power.
Link's hope was shattered though, seeing that nothing of the sapling was left from what looked like a fire. Even the original Great Deku Tree was gone, leaving only burned roots and a big hole. Link turned away and walked back from the site.
"It wasn't as bad as you think," said Maren's ghostly voice. Link saw that there was now a beautiful village with Kokiris walking and talking with their fairies.
"How so?" asked Link, seeing Mido walk past him. He knew that Mido never liked him, even more so when the Great Deku Tree called Link instead of him. He went up to Saria, who was talking with the twin. They were arguing over who Saria liked the best after Link and Mido. She blushed, but answered sweetly, anyway.
"I like everyone the same, but more of my love goes to Link. He is everything we Kokiris should be. Strong, handsome, wise, and heroic."
"That's a bunch of bull," said Mido, kicking a stone at the left twin. He jumped back and into his brother, and they both fell over. Saria held back a laugh to yell at Mido.
"Why did you do that? That wasn't very nice you know?"
"If Link is so great, where is he? He left us, knowing full well that something was going to happen. That spells out weak, dumb, and hopeless!"
"You forgot one for handsome, you over-bloated wind bag," said one of the twins, helping his brother up, and they walked off. Mido glared at them, but didn't reply to their comment. His face was a little flushed. The twins never spoke to him like that before. He noticed Saria staring back at him.
"Do you have anything to add?" he asked, crossing his arms and staring back.
"Nothing except that you are a bad egg. You think nothing more than acting tough. You couldn't last one day in the actual forest." Mido was shocked to hear those words. His expression changed quickly as he turned bright red and stormed off to his house. His fairy raced behind him in a hurry, reluctant to leave Saria's. Saria stared after Mido knowing he would never change. As he finally got into his house, a purple light shot through the top, destroying most of his home. Link looked up to see that Ganondorf was where he was when he had the vision at Talon's Ranch.
"How is this not as bad?"
"The Baby Deku Tree gave up his life to save the remaining Kokiris while Saria was called back as a Sage. Only Mido and one other Kokiri were killed in this attack. More would have been taken, but the Ice Climbers had distracted Ganondorf long enough for it to happen."
"So, the Baby Deku Tree isn't dead?"
"He had to use all of his life-force to make the transaction. There will no longer, or ever will be, another Great Deku Tree." Link felt horrible, seeing the Kokiris' houses fall, burning with the purple energy. The Kokiri that owned the shop was the second one to die. The other that sat on the roof had already gotten away. Link turned away from the village and ran towards the great Deku Tree.
He was still there, but he was glowing a bright orange. In an explosive sound, he disappeared with what Link saw missing before hand. This time, a force pulled Link back to the village and he saw the Kokiris disappear within it. Saria, however was running towards the Lost Woods.
Link knew that they led straight to the Forest Temple. The Temple?
"Childhood memories are grand, but this place is grander. Where a friend was called, and where a friend was reclaimed," said Maren, appearing for the second time. She stared out towards the Lost Woods, as if she longed to go there.
"Are you okay?" asked Link, trying to place a hand on her, but it went through her. She turned to him.
"Take this ocarina and play the Minuet of the Forest. You will need to be careful though, the enemy you're about to face is new, but dangerous. Remember, he is only a clone." In a bright flash, Maren disappeared and Link saw that everything was as it was when he got there. Devastation.
"Home, sweet home," he said, as he placed his lips to the ocarina and started the Minuet of the Forest. From the ocarina came greenish vapors of music and they surrounded him. In a flash, Link disappeared and reappeared at the Forest Temple, right on top of Saria.
"Oomph!" cried Saria, as Link got off of her.
"Saria, I'm so sorry, are you all right?" Link asked her, dropping the ocarina. He didn't notice the shadowed figure standing behind him.
"Swordsman, behind you," Saria whispered, making sure Roy didn't see or hear her. Link knew not to question this. In the second he heard these words, he pulled out his sword and made a challenge to Roy Clone. Roy excepted it.
"Come on!" he cried, jumping at Link. The Hyrulian Hero jumped over him and kicked back, missing. Roy jumped over Saria and landed on the other side. Link smiled, this was a worthy opponent.
"So, who are you?" asked Link, walking around the Emblem. Roy Clone did the same. Saria was caught in the middle of it, but she knew that Link wouldn't let anything happen to her. She hoped.
"My name is Roy, that is all that you need to know," he said, jumping past Saria and to Link. Link was ready, holding up his shield. Roy's sword bounced off, leaving the smallest scratch. Link brought his sword forward and into Roy's left arm. Not as worthy as Link thought.
"Tough little fellow," said Link, watching Roy Clone ignore the wound. The clone smiled, but it was empty, without full emotion. Link had seen this before, but he didn't know where. Roy attacked again, but he met the same fate on his other arm. This, time however, he lost the entire arm.
"Grr," growled the clone, his eyes glowing blue. Link didn't wait for an attack, he charged up his spin blade attack and cut off the clones head. He fell over dead.
"Hmm," said Ganondorf, opening his eyes after being in a trance. the small boy that was with him stared.
"Yes?" he said, walking into the light. He looked like a smaller version of Link, except he had more of a childish charm.
"Well, it seems that Link has killed your friend. So, I want you to go out there and kill him and Saria. You got that, Link?"
"Yes, sir!" he cried, running back into the shadows. Ganondorf stood up and followed.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" cried Saria, hugging Link around the neck. Link was losing oxygen, but he held his composure.
"It's all right, Saria, it's all right. Please let go now!"
"I'm afraid to." There was a strangeness in her voice. It was shaky and harsh. She was afraid.
"Don't be, I'm here," but Link knew better. He slowly slipped his shield off and handed it to her.
"He's here," she said, looking around.
"Use the shield to protect yourself. I'll deal with whoever this is." Link looked around, but didn't see anything. Saria watched too, hoping that it was just a mistake.
"See anything?" she asked, turning from Link to the temple. Link grunted a no and took some more steps away from the Forest Emblem. He thought he heard breathing. It was probably a Keese or Bubble, but he wasn't sure. He then saw the glint of a sword in the bushes. He acted as though he didn't see it, so he wouldn't reveal his knowledge of where the person was.
"Link?" said Saria, holding the shield a little further from her body. An fiery arrow shot past Link and into Saria's chest.
"No!" cried Link, rushing the hidden foe. He jumped out, slashing at him with a small sword. The Kokiri sword. Link was shocked as he saw himself as a little kid.
"Hello, me," said the Young Link, charging up a Spin Blade attack.
Who are you?" asked Link, knowing the answer already.
"I'm you as a little kid."
"More like a clone," said Saria, glowing a bright green. She held out the arrow that she was hit with and through it at Young Link. It hit his shield and went straight through and into his arm.
"What the?" he said, losing the magic for his attack. Taking his chance, Link charged up one of his own and hit the little kid. He barely blocked with a laser shield that went almost completely out.
"Your physical attacks do not hurt me, you clone. Run, before I call the awesome power of the sages. All eight of them." Young Link, catching the hint, took off.
"Saria?" asked Link, looking at her. She looked back, but the power she had revealed wasn't there in her. It was a hoax.
"Link, get Zelda, she's at...at Ganondorf's castle at Fire Temple. Go to her, don't die...." Saria fell back, lifeless. Link, knowing that feeling sad wasn't the best thing to do right now. He left her there and grabbed the ocarina next to the Forest Emblem and played the Bolero of Fire. Like before, he was surrounded in music vapor and transported to Fire Temple.
In the shadows, Ganondorf watched, smiling.
Zelda saw that only a single Stalfos Knight was standing guard at her door. She knew Ganondorf was gone, so this would be the perfect time to escape. She took her hand and passed it down her body. As she did, she started to change into the fast and stealthy Sheik.
"What's all the noise," bellowed the guard, hearing the twinkle of the magic.
"Nothing," Zelda said in a deeper and mysterious voice. The Stalfos Knight knew that wasn't her voice, so he started to come in. Sheik looked pleased, knowing the oaf wouldn't be hard to beat. She teleported right behind him and grabbed his sword. Before he knew what was going on, he was several pieces on the floor, staring up at the transformed woman.
"Like I said, 'nothing,'" said Sheik, walking past him. There were no other guards in the castle, so getting out was a breeze. As she did, she noticed that something was happening at the Fire Emblem. It was almost destroyed when Ganondorf made the Fire Temple his new castle. Zelda had used some of her magic to keep it operable, because she knew Link would arrive on it.
He did, shocked to see Sheik already to go. However, that didn't' make it any easier.
"Well, is Ganondorf dead?" she asked, knowing he wasn't.
"No, and I'll never be," said the evil one, flying towards them. Link pulled out his sword and reached for his shield. His shield was still back at the Forest Temple, lying next to Saria.
"Oh, no," muttered Link, knowing it would be hard to defeat Ganondorf without it.
"I guess this means our little game of riddles is over so soon," said Ganondorf, smiling. It was the same as Roy's, emotionless, except for a little bit of evil. This wouldn't hinder Link, though.
"I made my move, Ganondorf, let's see yours." They both longed for each other. Ganondorf, however, being the sneaky and treacherous man, took a side step and got Link in the ribs with a small, but powerful jab. Link did a flip and landed on his back, in terrible pain. His purple energy had been inside the punch. It was going to eat him alive. Suddenly, a bright white light started around him and got rid of the light. Then, two kids in strange blue and pink clothing appeared wielding hammers. The Ice Climbers.
"Did we get here in time?" asked the blue one.
"Or is the party over?" asked the pink one.
"Popo and Nana, how nice of you two to show up. I thought you taking a vacation in Master Hand's hellish pit of doom," said Ganondorf, starting brim with his purple energy. The pink one, Nana, shot an ice cube at him, knocking him off balance. He fell down, flinching at them pain. This gave Sheik enough time to produce several magic needles, which she shot at the evil man. They stuck hard and fats, causing pain for him.
"Here's a little something on the side," said the blue one named Popo, hitting Ganondorf in the back of the head with his hammer. Ganondorf fell forward. Before they could assault him again, though, he rose up and shot down a beam of light, which turned into a spiral vortex. From it came eight people, four copies of Nana and Popo.
"Man, I thought we got rid of them all," said Nana, spinning her hammer, Popo did the same.
"This is going to be easy," he said, walking up to the first Clone. It swung at him before he did, knocking him back.
"Prepare to die, you fools!" called Ganondorf, starting to laugh. Sheik, Link, and the Ice Climbers looked at him.
"Grim said this guy was off his rockers, but he didn't say how much," said Popo, preparing to fight the clones. Nana, Sheik, and the refreshed Link did the same. They attacked.
----------------------------------------------
"So, some one is messing in my affairs," said Master Hand, still circling Ness.
"Shall I take care of it?" asked some one in the darkness. A new voice.
"No, it's nothing you could handle. Besides, I only know that some one is messing around, but I don't know who they are or where they reside. We'll have to be patient. Oh, did you send those two off to the pokémon world?"
"Yes, they are already there, waiting your orders to attack.
"Tell them everything is a go."
Link looked at the purple sun hovering over Hyrule. It was the same as in the vision Maren gave him. The sun wasn't actually purple, but Ganondorf did something to the atmosphere that made it look purple. Turning away from it, he looked out towards the Kokiri Forest. His home was in there, but he didn't know what to expect from it. He would have to endure it anyway. He started towards it.
In his early years, the trek between the Hyrule Castle, Talon's Ranch, and the Kokiri Forest always seemed long and dangerous. Now, it only took him a few minutes, but it seemed just as dangerous. The bones of deceased animals and Hyrulians laid scattered across Hyrule Field. Ganondorf's work. He remembered how it took him a long time to find him, but it was almost worth it. He didn't come back to Hyrule like he originally thought. He had appeared in a place farther from Hyrule that had suffered the same fate. It was a long adventure there.
Link walked down the path that had turned into part of the forest, heading towards the Kokiri Kids home. Instead of a home of peace and prosperity, he saw a town of devastation. He saw the corpses of more animals, but no Kokiris. He hoped that their eternal life saved them from the purple energy of Ganondorf.
"That evil son of a Wolfos," he muttered under his breath. Despite the fact it was now an evil place, the purple sun gave it a nice look. Link walked on towards the dead Great Deku Tree. From him came the beginnings of another Great Deku Tree. He hoped it wasn't touched by any of Ganondorf's power.
Link's hope was shattered though, seeing that nothing of the sapling was left from what looked like a fire. Even the original Great Deku Tree was gone, leaving only burned roots and a big hole. Link turned away and walked back from the site.
"It wasn't as bad as you think," said Maren's ghostly voice. Link saw that there was now a beautiful village with Kokiris walking and talking with their fairies.
"How so?" asked Link, seeing Mido walk past him. He knew that Mido never liked him, even more so when the Great Deku Tree called Link instead of him. He went up to Saria, who was talking with the twin. They were arguing over who Saria liked the best after Link and Mido. She blushed, but answered sweetly, anyway.
"I like everyone the same, but more of my love goes to Link. He is everything we Kokiris should be. Strong, handsome, wise, and heroic."
"That's a bunch of bull," said Mido, kicking a stone at the left twin. He jumped back and into his brother, and they both fell over. Saria held back a laugh to yell at Mido.
"Why did you do that? That wasn't very nice you know?"
"If Link is so great, where is he? He left us, knowing full well that something was going to happen. That spells out weak, dumb, and hopeless!"
"You forgot one for handsome, you over-bloated wind bag," said one of the twins, helping his brother up, and they walked off. Mido glared at them, but didn't reply to their comment. His face was a little flushed. The twins never spoke to him like that before. He noticed Saria staring back at him.
"Do you have anything to add?" he asked, crossing his arms and staring back.
"Nothing except that you are a bad egg. You think nothing more than acting tough. You couldn't last one day in the actual forest." Mido was shocked to hear those words. His expression changed quickly as he turned bright red and stormed off to his house. His fairy raced behind him in a hurry, reluctant to leave Saria's. Saria stared after Mido knowing he would never change. As he finally got into his house, a purple light shot through the top, destroying most of his home. Link looked up to see that Ganondorf was where he was when he had the vision at Talon's Ranch.
"How is this not as bad?"
"The Baby Deku Tree gave up his life to save the remaining Kokiris while Saria was called back as a Sage. Only Mido and one other Kokiri were killed in this attack. More would have been taken, but the Ice Climbers had distracted Ganondorf long enough for it to happen."
"So, the Baby Deku Tree isn't dead?"
"He had to use all of his life-force to make the transaction. There will no longer, or ever will be, another Great Deku Tree." Link felt horrible, seeing the Kokiris' houses fall, burning with the purple energy. The Kokiri that owned the shop was the second one to die. The other that sat on the roof had already gotten away. Link turned away from the village and ran towards the great Deku Tree.
He was still there, but he was glowing a bright orange. In an explosive sound, he disappeared with what Link saw missing before hand. This time, a force pulled Link back to the village and he saw the Kokiris disappear within it. Saria, however was running towards the Lost Woods.
Link knew that they led straight to the Forest Temple. The Temple?
"Childhood memories are grand, but this place is grander. Where a friend was called, and where a friend was reclaimed," said Maren, appearing for the second time. She stared out towards the Lost Woods, as if she longed to go there.
"Are you okay?" asked Link, trying to place a hand on her, but it went through her. She turned to him.
"Take this ocarina and play the Minuet of the Forest. You will need to be careful though, the enemy you're about to face is new, but dangerous. Remember, he is only a clone." In a bright flash, Maren disappeared and Link saw that everything was as it was when he got there. Devastation.
"Home, sweet home," he said, as he placed his lips to the ocarina and started the Minuet of the Forest. From the ocarina came greenish vapors of music and they surrounded him. In a flash, Link disappeared and reappeared at the Forest Temple, right on top of Saria.
"Oomph!" cried Saria, as Link got off of her.
"Saria, I'm so sorry, are you all right?" Link asked her, dropping the ocarina. He didn't notice the shadowed figure standing behind him.
"Swordsman, behind you," Saria whispered, making sure Roy didn't see or hear her. Link knew not to question this. In the second he heard these words, he pulled out his sword and made a challenge to Roy Clone. Roy excepted it.
"Come on!" he cried, jumping at Link. The Hyrulian Hero jumped over him and kicked back, missing. Roy jumped over Saria and landed on the other side. Link smiled, this was a worthy opponent.
"So, who are you?" asked Link, walking around the Emblem. Roy Clone did the same. Saria was caught in the middle of it, but she knew that Link wouldn't let anything happen to her. She hoped.
"My name is Roy, that is all that you need to know," he said, jumping past Saria and to Link. Link was ready, holding up his shield. Roy's sword bounced off, leaving the smallest scratch. Link brought his sword forward and into Roy's left arm. Not as worthy as Link thought.
"Tough little fellow," said Link, watching Roy Clone ignore the wound. The clone smiled, but it was empty, without full emotion. Link had seen this before, but he didn't know where. Roy attacked again, but he met the same fate on his other arm. This, time however, he lost the entire arm.
"Grr," growled the clone, his eyes glowing blue. Link didn't wait for an attack, he charged up his spin blade attack and cut off the clones head. He fell over dead.
"Hmm," said Ganondorf, opening his eyes after being in a trance. the small boy that was with him stared.
"Yes?" he said, walking into the light. He looked like a smaller version of Link, except he had more of a childish charm.
"Well, it seems that Link has killed your friend. So, I want you to go out there and kill him and Saria. You got that, Link?"
"Yes, sir!" he cried, running back into the shadows. Ganondorf stood up and followed.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" cried Saria, hugging Link around the neck. Link was losing oxygen, but he held his composure.
"It's all right, Saria, it's all right. Please let go now!"
"I'm afraid to." There was a strangeness in her voice. It was shaky and harsh. She was afraid.
"Don't be, I'm here," but Link knew better. He slowly slipped his shield off and handed it to her.
"He's here," she said, looking around.
"Use the shield to protect yourself. I'll deal with whoever this is." Link looked around, but didn't see anything. Saria watched too, hoping that it was just a mistake.
"See anything?" she asked, turning from Link to the temple. Link grunted a no and took some more steps away from the Forest Emblem. He thought he heard breathing. It was probably a Keese or Bubble, but he wasn't sure. He then saw the glint of a sword in the bushes. He acted as though he didn't see it, so he wouldn't reveal his knowledge of where the person was.
"Link?" said Saria, holding the shield a little further from her body. An fiery arrow shot past Link and into Saria's chest.
"No!" cried Link, rushing the hidden foe. He jumped out, slashing at him with a small sword. The Kokiri sword. Link was shocked as he saw himself as a little kid.
"Hello, me," said the Young Link, charging up a Spin Blade attack.
Who are you?" asked Link, knowing the answer already.
"I'm you as a little kid."
"More like a clone," said Saria, glowing a bright green. She held out the arrow that she was hit with and through it at Young Link. It hit his shield and went straight through and into his arm.
"What the?" he said, losing the magic for his attack. Taking his chance, Link charged up one of his own and hit the little kid. He barely blocked with a laser shield that went almost completely out.
"Your physical attacks do not hurt me, you clone. Run, before I call the awesome power of the sages. All eight of them." Young Link, catching the hint, took off.
"Saria?" asked Link, looking at her. She looked back, but the power she had revealed wasn't there in her. It was a hoax.
"Link, get Zelda, she's at...at Ganondorf's castle at Fire Temple. Go to her, don't die...." Saria fell back, lifeless. Link, knowing that feeling sad wasn't the best thing to do right now. He left her there and grabbed the ocarina next to the Forest Emblem and played the Bolero of Fire. Like before, he was surrounded in music vapor and transported to Fire Temple.
In the shadows, Ganondorf watched, smiling.
Zelda saw that only a single Stalfos Knight was standing guard at her door. She knew Ganondorf was gone, so this would be the perfect time to escape. She took her hand and passed it down her body. As she did, she started to change into the fast and stealthy Sheik.
"What's all the noise," bellowed the guard, hearing the twinkle of the magic.
"Nothing," Zelda said in a deeper and mysterious voice. The Stalfos Knight knew that wasn't her voice, so he started to come in. Sheik looked pleased, knowing the oaf wouldn't be hard to beat. She teleported right behind him and grabbed his sword. Before he knew what was going on, he was several pieces on the floor, staring up at the transformed woman.
"Like I said, 'nothing,'" said Sheik, walking past him. There were no other guards in the castle, so getting out was a breeze. As she did, she noticed that something was happening at the Fire Emblem. It was almost destroyed when Ganondorf made the Fire Temple his new castle. Zelda had used some of her magic to keep it operable, because she knew Link would arrive on it.
He did, shocked to see Sheik already to go. However, that didn't' make it any easier.
"Well, is Ganondorf dead?" she asked, knowing he wasn't.
"No, and I'll never be," said the evil one, flying towards them. Link pulled out his sword and reached for his shield. His shield was still back at the Forest Temple, lying next to Saria.
"Oh, no," muttered Link, knowing it would be hard to defeat Ganondorf without it.
"I guess this means our little game of riddles is over so soon," said Ganondorf, smiling. It was the same as Roy's, emotionless, except for a little bit of evil. This wouldn't hinder Link, though.
"I made my move, Ganondorf, let's see yours." They both longed for each other. Ganondorf, however, being the sneaky and treacherous man, took a side step and got Link in the ribs with a small, but powerful jab. Link did a flip and landed on his back, in terrible pain. His purple energy had been inside the punch. It was going to eat him alive. Suddenly, a bright white light started around him and got rid of the light. Then, two kids in strange blue and pink clothing appeared wielding hammers. The Ice Climbers.
"Did we get here in time?" asked the blue one.
"Or is the party over?" asked the pink one.
"Popo and Nana, how nice of you two to show up. I thought you taking a vacation in Master Hand's hellish pit of doom," said Ganondorf, starting brim with his purple energy. The pink one, Nana, shot an ice cube at him, knocking him off balance. He fell down, flinching at them pain. This gave Sheik enough time to produce several magic needles, which she shot at the evil man. They stuck hard and fats, causing pain for him.
"Here's a little something on the side," said the blue one named Popo, hitting Ganondorf in the back of the head with his hammer. Ganondorf fell forward. Before they could assault him again, though, he rose up and shot down a beam of light, which turned into a spiral vortex. From it came eight people, four copies of Nana and Popo.
"Man, I thought we got rid of them all," said Nana, spinning her hammer, Popo did the same.
"This is going to be easy," he said, walking up to the first Clone. It swung at him before he did, knocking him back.
"Prepare to die, you fools!" called Ganondorf, starting to laugh. Sheik, Link, and the Ice Climbers looked at him.
"Grim said this guy was off his rockers, but he didn't say how much," said Popo, preparing to fight the clones. Nana, Sheik, and the refreshed Link did the same. They attacked.
----------------------------------------------
"So, some one is messing in my affairs," said Master Hand, still circling Ness.
"Shall I take care of it?" asked some one in the darkness. A new voice.
"No, it's nothing you could handle. Besides, I only know that some one is messing around, but I don't know who they are or where they reside. We'll have to be patient. Oh, did you send those two off to the pokémon world?"
"Yes, they are already there, waiting your orders to attack.
"Tell them everything is a go."