The Years Past

I wanted to rule this new land like I had ruled Hyrule. But I still remembered Din's warning. Should I try to take over, or not? It was a tough decision.

To pass my time I called up all of my minions. I grabbed random rodents and bats and transformed them into minions. The rats became Rats, and bats became Keese. The Keese were spies for me, for they could pass as bats.

I then combined a vulture and a beautifully plumed bird that has no name. They were turned into Kargoroks. Then, I needed something to warn travelers not to come here. I rode in the claws of three Kargoroks to fly around the world. It took me four years, but finally I found a giant bird. I showed it who the boss around here was. I tormented it until it followed me. I showed it where it would stay until its dying days. I showed it a picture of my nemesis, Link.

"If you see Link, bring him to me. I will tell you what to do with him."

I had my plans for revenge. And let me tell you, I was going to torture this boy till his eyes bled.

One day, as I looked outside on the sea, I saw this lone woman and a girl, obviously mother and daughter, sailing on a large ship. Then I saw a head poke up from the crow's nest. For a second I thought about shooting them all on the boat, but then thought better of it. I watched them intently then called out in a gruff voice, "Hoi! What d'ye want from us?"

I grimaced at the slip of tongue. Us!

"We are fearless pirates and will fight against you," yelled the mother. "I am Cap'n Salmyunna. This is my daughter, Tetra!"

The girl, Tetra, seemed to be no older than eight. I chuckled at Salmyunna's bravery.

"You are a fool. We are pirates, too, and will kill you with a single shot!"

I crooked at finger at two Moblins. They blundered up. I pointed at the ship.

"Kill them."

The Moblins hurled their spears. Salmyunna and Tetra ducked out of the way, but one of the spears Tetra through the foot, making her scream, and another hit the man in the crow's nest's shoulder.

"Next time, name your child after something other than a type of fish," I jeered. The boat sailed off.

Over the next four years I battled the pirates. I never showed my face, for they might recognize it from the old tales. There is a tale, a very old tale, the only thing that the Goddesses allowed the Hylians to remember.

"Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. It was a prosperous land blessed with green forests, tall mountains, and peace. But one day, a man of great evil found the golden power and took it for himself. With its strength at his command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, when all hope had died, and the hour of doom seemed at hand a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere. Wielding the blade of evil's bane, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until it became legend. But then, a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom. The great evil that all thought had been forever sealed away by the Hero once again crept forth from the depths of the earth, eager to resume its dark designs. The people believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them. But the Hero did not appear. Faced by an onslaught of evil, the people could do nothing but appeal to the gods. In their last hour, as doom drew nigh, they left their future in the hands of fate. What became of that kingdom...? None remain who know. The memory of the kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath. On a certain island it became customary to garb boys in green when they came of age. Clothed in the green of fields, they aspired to find heroic blades and cast down evil. The elders wished only for the youths to know courage like the hero of legend..."

"Ha! Man of great evil my eye!" I snarled, drawing one of my twin swords and ripped the parchment into shreds. It was as dead of the Hero of Time.

"Hoi, you! Cap'n Dragman!" I turned to look at the sea. There was the woman with her daughter. As she waved her cutlass, I saw something triangular and gold glint on a necklace.

"Cap'n Salmyunna, how are you, dear friend?" I called out in a chummy voice. I knew what that glint of gold was and I needed it...

"I'm not your friend," pointed out Salmyunna.

"Come now," I began in a coaxing voice, "must we fight? Come up here and have a cup of tea, please. Just you and your daughter."

"If you insist," sighed Salmyunna. "But I'm bringing my blade with me!" Salmyunna rapped out orders to her crew and one of them presented Tetra with a cutlass. Tetra clutched it in her fist and I whispered to a Bokoblin, "Open the gates. Be friendly. Put that machete away!!"

The Bokoblin swaggered out of the room, shoving his machete into his belt.

I had a feast prepared. For a while Salmyunna and I chatted about nothing in particular; I made sure that I held her attention long enough so that she couldn't get a good look around the fortress.

"It's a nice place, isn't it?" I asked when I noticed Salmyunna glancing around the room.

"Yes. It is."

"I'd give it to you..." I trailed off to watch Salmyunna's face. She was surprised at this gift, yet also suspicious. "I'd give it to you if I got something in return."

Salmyunna drew her daughter closer to her as though she thought that I wanted Tetra as a slave or something. I laughed.

"What would I do with a ten-year-old girl?" I chortled. "No. I want..." I fixed my eyes on the necklace she had, "that necklace."

I lunged out a hand and tried to rip the gold jewel, a Triforce piece, from its fine chain. Salmyunna drew her cutlass, but she didn't use the weapon. Instead, something of powerful magic stung my hand and made me retract.

"Only the rightful owner can hold this necklace," snapped Salmyunna, "and the next rightful owner will be my daughter."

"Yes," I replied silkily, "but if the rightful owner is killed, then anyone can claim it!"

I lunged forward, my swords drawn. Tetra screamed as Salmyunna drew her cutlass and ripped off her necklace. Salmyunna yelled, "Tetra, I give ye this necklace! Wear it with care! Protect it with thy life!"

Tetra threw on the necklace and fumbled for her sword.

"You are now the cap'n," continued Salmyunna, parrying my attack. "Run, Tetra, run!"

Tetra obeyed and dashed out of the door. I gutted Salmyunna and let her to die in the tower. I chased Tetra down through the fortress, yelling, "Get that girl! Kill her!"

But she escaped. I cussed loudly as she swam towards the ship, hollering, "Pull me up! Sail away! My mother is dead; she named me cap'n! Hurry!"

"Yes, Miss Tetra!" called down a man of around middle twenties.

"Hurry Gonzo!" Tetra panted, tears falling down her face to mix with the salt water. The ship sailed away.

"This isn't the end, Tetra," I leered as they disappeared from sight. "Oh, no, it's not."

I stormed back to the tower where Salmyunna lay. As I walked, I felt the rounded tip of my ear. Only Gerudos have rounded ears; true Hylians have pointed ears. Now that Hylians are gone, only those descendants of the important Hylians have long and pointed ears.

I picked up the dead body and as about to throw it into the sea when I noticed something strange about Salmyunna that I hadn't noticed before.

She had pointed ears.

I searched through my memory. So did Tetra! All of the other pirates had had rounded ears. As I flung Salmyunna out the window, I roared, "Zelda, you're MINE!!!"