Diamond spent the rest of the night and most of the morning, digging. He had said no to Daruka and Forge when they asked him if he wanted help, so they just stood back and talked while they watched Diamond bury his fellow villagers. After finding his mother lying in her room with her throat cut, he buried his parents last.
As Diamond shoveled the last plot of dirt onto his father's grave the sun reached the peak of the day, noon. He unsheathed his normal sword and stared at the blade. Just then, a memory flash through his mind and he saw all the people of the village gathered in celebration but his memory quickly faded and he came back to the real world and saw the graves of the people he was thinking about.
"Mom. Dad. Sorry I was late." Diamond said before he stuck the sword at the top of his parents' graves.
Diamond tossed the shovel to the side and cleaned his face off. He picked his trench coat off the ground and shook it off before putting it on.
"So." Forge said as Diamond sat down next to him and Daruka. "You ok?"
"No." Diamond answered glumly.
"Well get used to it." Daruka said. "From what the old has told me, I can tell you're going to have to deal with something like this again."
"I don't want to believe that." Diamond said. "But I guess you're right."
"So where are we off to?" Daruka asked.
"You're really coming with us?" Forge asked.
"Well. I've heard a lot about these palaces that you're looking for and I've heard a lot about the things inside those palaces." Daruka said. "And if what I've heard is true. Then you're going to need as much help as you can get."
Diamond stood up and stared Daruka in the eyes. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"Jameson Stalkwell is the General of the Second Wing of Ganondorf." Daruka said. "My sole purpose for even carrying a sword is to bring that man down. I swear on my ten years as the Moblin Slayer, I will not bring harm to you or any other person in which you are affiliated."
"Alright." Diamond said as he began to walk off. "Welcome to the fun."
"Where are you going?" Forge said. "Do you know our next route?"
"Nope." Diamond answered. "But I know somebody who does."
"Who?" Forge asked.
"Deku Tree!" Diamond called out as he, Forge, and Daruka walked into the Deku Tree's Sanctuary.
"D-Diamond." The Deku Tree stuttered.
"Yeah." Diamond answered. "What happened to you?"
"Well" The Deku Tree began.
Flashback:
Stalkwell signaled for his group to attack the unsuspecting village, and all the Moblins answered by thundering up Corporal Hill and running down the other side, into the village.
Back in the village Ramsey was sitting at the kitchen table with his wife.
"The Founder's Day Festival is tomorrow." Marie said. "Diamond should be back tomorrow as well."
"Yes I do believe he will." Ramsey replied.
All of the sudden, a rumble began to stir in the distance. Ramsey stood up and walked out the front door to see what was going on. He saw Moblins.
"Marie, hide somewhere." Ramsey said as he hurried back inside and grabbed his swords that were hanging on the wall.
"What's going on Ramsey?" Marie asked.
"I don't know." Ramsey answered as he walked up and hugged his wife. "Now go hide, I'll be back."
Marie ran into the nearby closet and shut the door behind her. Ramsey walked outside to see several houses already engulfed in flames. He ran for the north side of town while hearing the blood curdling screams of other people from nearby houses. He ran to the nearest one to see two Moblins stabbing a man repeatedly with their spears.
Ramsey ran up behind one and stabbed it in the back. The Moblin fell down and the other Moblin grunted in surprise. Before the Moblin could react, Ramsey stabbed him easily.
Jameson stood atop the hill with Ganondorf and watched the chaos flow across the village.
"What's this?" Ganondorf said as he caught sight of the two fallen Moblins with Ramsey standing over them. "Someone's taking his stand."
"Finally" Jameson replied. "Fun for me. I love it when they fight back."
Ganondorf gave a smirk as he watched Jameson pop his knuckles and walk down the hill. "You have your fun Jameson." Ganondorf said as he looked off to the Deku Tree's Sanctuary. "I have to end a battle of my own."
Ganondorf started walking down the hill and onto the trail that led to the Deku Tree's Sanctuary. At the threshold of the forest, Ganondorf stopped.
"You're finished." Ganondorf said s he began to walk again. He stopped again, but not by himself. Giant roots rose out of the ground and blocked the dark wizard's entrance.
"You may not enter!" The Deku Tree yelled.
"Fool." Ganondorf said. "Just like me you've grown old. But unlike me, your power has faded." Ganondorf let out a roar before unleashing his Warlock Punch. In an instant, the roots disappeared. "And you've weakened." Ganondorf continued down the trail and into the sanctuary.
"What do you want Ganon?" The Deku Tree asked as he saw Ganondorf enter the area.
"What else do I want?" Ganondorf answered. "Dominion."
"You tried that before." The Deku Tree said. "And just like then, you'll fail."
"Well who is here to stop me?" Ganondorf said. "Your hero is locked away. And he'll stay there until I say otherwise!"
"That is not true and you know it." The Deku Tree said. "One of your Ultimate Gems is already out of your reach."
"What!?" Ganondorf yelled.
"Yes." Deku Tree continued. "The Silver Moon is no longer yours."
"What did you do you withered old tree!?" Ganondorf demanded. "Who did you send out this time!?"
"Do you really think I would tell you that?" Deku Tree asked back.
Ganondorf closed his eyes and gave a short chuckle. "Doesn't matter. You just sent another innocent boy to his death."
"I don't see why it wouldn't matter to you." Deku Tree said. "The last time I sent a 'boy' out on a quest, he defeated your General. Xorac wasn't he?"
"Not wasn't, still is. Xorac is still very much alive." Ganondorf answered. "Besides, that was a hundred and fifty years ago. And I killed that makeshift hero of yours right in front of you, remember?"
"Unfortunately." Deku Tree said. "I may have been wrong about Dice, but my newest of warriors is not going to fail. He will unlock the Hero of Time. And when he is free, Link will destroy you."
"Silence!" Ganondorf yelled as his Triforce of Power began to shine. "I've heard just about enough out of you! Time to end your saga, old friend!"
Ganondorf drove his fists in the ground and surged an enormous ball of power into the earth. The orb of dark energy crawled underground until it came just under the Deku Tree.
"And what better way to do so than the same way I killed your ancestor, one thousand years ago!" Ganondorf yelled before shooting up from the ground and raising his hands above his head.
The ball exploded under the Deku Tree and made a bright but dark glare. When it cleared, Ganon was back on the ground and the Deku Tree still stood.
"The...Death Curse." Deku Tree stuttered. "Indeed it is." Ganondorf said. "You'll die in a couple of days, and I'll finally be rid of you!"
End Flashback
"And that is what happened to me Diamond." The Deku Tree said faintly. "Ganondorf left the village soon after, and after putting an end to your father, Jameson would have his way with the village. I wish I could have done something."
"So where is Stalkwell now?" Daruka asked.
"You. I've heard of you Daruka." Deku Tree said. "The Legendary Moblin Slayer."
"Yeah what about it?" Daruka asked.
"I'm glad you're at Diamond's side in this fight." The Deku Tree said. "As for Stalkwell, he headed west. Which will also be your next direction. If you travel two days west, you will come up to Desaria, the Desert Country. Travel into the desert and you will cross the capital of Desaria, the city call Crisis. There you will find the Golden Falcon Palace, in which is the Golden Sun."
"Thanks Deku Tree." Diamond said.
"Now I'm afraid, we must part ways. I can feel that Death Curse beginning to take effect." Deku Tree said. "Now do as your father told you. Prove. Him. Wrong..."
When he was finished, the Deku Tree began to wither away. He turned a dark grayish color and his leaves turned brown. The Deku Tree was dead.
"Goodbye Deku Tree." Diamond said as he stepped back and turned to the village. "Come on. One more thing to do and were out of here."
Diamond led Daruka and Forge back to the training ground behind his house. He grabbed a handle on the floor and opened a trap door. He jamp down the hole and Daruka followed him.
"I'll just hang around out here then." Forge said.
"So what's down here?" Daruka asked as he stood in the dark room.
Diamond latched the Silver Moon into his Elemental Sword and the room lit up. "Weapons. Every thing from daggers to Great Swords."
Daruka looked at the armory of swords, bombs, knives, and armor. "Looks like your old man was quite the collector. Good thing the Moblins didn't find this."
"Help yourself to anything you want." Diamond said as he grabbed a Chain Mail shirt out of a box.
"Cool. I could use a new long sword." Daruka said as he plucked a long blade sword off the wall. "I broke my last one on the side of a building. You got any Nitromite, I'm almost out."
"Explosives are over there." Diamond said as he put his sleeveless shirt on over his chain mail.
"Kick ass dude." Daruka said as he started loading the sticks of explosives into a sack.
Diamond grabbed a new sword for his empty sheath and two knives with ankle holsters before grabbing a pair of gloves. "So. You ready?"
"Yep." Daruka said. "Lets go."
When they were finished, Diamond and Daruka exited the Armory and locked the door. They stood on top of the hill that led out of the village and took one last look.
"So. Let's hit that desert." Forge said as he walked down the hill.
"Wait for me old man." Daruka said.
"Are you going to call me that forever?" Forge said. "I have a name you know."
Diamond took one last look at the village that he grew up in. His home was destroyed and his family was killed, but that was not going to stop him from succeeding. "This was a hard hit Ganondorf. But it's going to take a lot more than this to take me down. I'll be seeing you sooner or later. Ready or not, here I come."
As Diamond shoveled the last plot of dirt onto his father's grave the sun reached the peak of the day, noon. He unsheathed his normal sword and stared at the blade. Just then, a memory flash through his mind and he saw all the people of the village gathered in celebration but his memory quickly faded and he came back to the real world and saw the graves of the people he was thinking about.
"Mom. Dad. Sorry I was late." Diamond said before he stuck the sword at the top of his parents' graves.
Diamond tossed the shovel to the side and cleaned his face off. He picked his trench coat off the ground and shook it off before putting it on.
"So." Forge said as Diamond sat down next to him and Daruka. "You ok?"
"No." Diamond answered glumly.
"Well get used to it." Daruka said. "From what the old has told me, I can tell you're going to have to deal with something like this again."
"I don't want to believe that." Diamond said. "But I guess you're right."
"So where are we off to?" Daruka asked.
"You're really coming with us?" Forge asked.
"Well. I've heard a lot about these palaces that you're looking for and I've heard a lot about the things inside those palaces." Daruka said. "And if what I've heard is true. Then you're going to need as much help as you can get."
Diamond stood up and stared Daruka in the eyes. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"Jameson Stalkwell is the General of the Second Wing of Ganondorf." Daruka said. "My sole purpose for even carrying a sword is to bring that man down. I swear on my ten years as the Moblin Slayer, I will not bring harm to you or any other person in which you are affiliated."
"Alright." Diamond said as he began to walk off. "Welcome to the fun."
"Where are you going?" Forge said. "Do you know our next route?"
"Nope." Diamond answered. "But I know somebody who does."
"Who?" Forge asked.
"Deku Tree!" Diamond called out as he, Forge, and Daruka walked into the Deku Tree's Sanctuary.
"D-Diamond." The Deku Tree stuttered.
"Yeah." Diamond answered. "What happened to you?"
"Well" The Deku Tree began.
Flashback:
Stalkwell signaled for his group to attack the unsuspecting village, and all the Moblins answered by thundering up Corporal Hill and running down the other side, into the village.
Back in the village Ramsey was sitting at the kitchen table with his wife.
"The Founder's Day Festival is tomorrow." Marie said. "Diamond should be back tomorrow as well."
"Yes I do believe he will." Ramsey replied.
All of the sudden, a rumble began to stir in the distance. Ramsey stood up and walked out the front door to see what was going on. He saw Moblins.
"Marie, hide somewhere." Ramsey said as he hurried back inside and grabbed his swords that were hanging on the wall.
"What's going on Ramsey?" Marie asked.
"I don't know." Ramsey answered as he walked up and hugged his wife. "Now go hide, I'll be back."
Marie ran into the nearby closet and shut the door behind her. Ramsey walked outside to see several houses already engulfed in flames. He ran for the north side of town while hearing the blood curdling screams of other people from nearby houses. He ran to the nearest one to see two Moblins stabbing a man repeatedly with their spears.
Ramsey ran up behind one and stabbed it in the back. The Moblin fell down and the other Moblin grunted in surprise. Before the Moblin could react, Ramsey stabbed him easily.
Jameson stood atop the hill with Ganondorf and watched the chaos flow across the village.
"What's this?" Ganondorf said as he caught sight of the two fallen Moblins with Ramsey standing over them. "Someone's taking his stand."
"Finally" Jameson replied. "Fun for me. I love it when they fight back."
Ganondorf gave a smirk as he watched Jameson pop his knuckles and walk down the hill. "You have your fun Jameson." Ganondorf said as he looked off to the Deku Tree's Sanctuary. "I have to end a battle of my own."
Ganondorf started walking down the hill and onto the trail that led to the Deku Tree's Sanctuary. At the threshold of the forest, Ganondorf stopped.
"You're finished." Ganondorf said s he began to walk again. He stopped again, but not by himself. Giant roots rose out of the ground and blocked the dark wizard's entrance.
"You may not enter!" The Deku Tree yelled.
"Fool." Ganondorf said. "Just like me you've grown old. But unlike me, your power has faded." Ganondorf let out a roar before unleashing his Warlock Punch. In an instant, the roots disappeared. "And you've weakened." Ganondorf continued down the trail and into the sanctuary.
"What do you want Ganon?" The Deku Tree asked as he saw Ganondorf enter the area.
"What else do I want?" Ganondorf answered. "Dominion."
"You tried that before." The Deku Tree said. "And just like then, you'll fail."
"Well who is here to stop me?" Ganondorf said. "Your hero is locked away. And he'll stay there until I say otherwise!"
"That is not true and you know it." The Deku Tree said. "One of your Ultimate Gems is already out of your reach."
"What!?" Ganondorf yelled.
"Yes." Deku Tree continued. "The Silver Moon is no longer yours."
"What did you do you withered old tree!?" Ganondorf demanded. "Who did you send out this time!?"
"Do you really think I would tell you that?" Deku Tree asked back.
Ganondorf closed his eyes and gave a short chuckle. "Doesn't matter. You just sent another innocent boy to his death."
"I don't see why it wouldn't matter to you." Deku Tree said. "The last time I sent a 'boy' out on a quest, he defeated your General. Xorac wasn't he?"
"Not wasn't, still is. Xorac is still very much alive." Ganondorf answered. "Besides, that was a hundred and fifty years ago. And I killed that makeshift hero of yours right in front of you, remember?"
"Unfortunately." Deku Tree said. "I may have been wrong about Dice, but my newest of warriors is not going to fail. He will unlock the Hero of Time. And when he is free, Link will destroy you."
"Silence!" Ganondorf yelled as his Triforce of Power began to shine. "I've heard just about enough out of you! Time to end your saga, old friend!"
Ganondorf drove his fists in the ground and surged an enormous ball of power into the earth. The orb of dark energy crawled underground until it came just under the Deku Tree.
"And what better way to do so than the same way I killed your ancestor, one thousand years ago!" Ganondorf yelled before shooting up from the ground and raising his hands above his head.
The ball exploded under the Deku Tree and made a bright but dark glare. When it cleared, Ganon was back on the ground and the Deku Tree still stood.
"The...Death Curse." Deku Tree stuttered. "Indeed it is." Ganondorf said. "You'll die in a couple of days, and I'll finally be rid of you!"
End Flashback
"And that is what happened to me Diamond." The Deku Tree said faintly. "Ganondorf left the village soon after, and after putting an end to your father, Jameson would have his way with the village. I wish I could have done something."
"So where is Stalkwell now?" Daruka asked.
"You. I've heard of you Daruka." Deku Tree said. "The Legendary Moblin Slayer."
"Yeah what about it?" Daruka asked.
"I'm glad you're at Diamond's side in this fight." The Deku Tree said. "As for Stalkwell, he headed west. Which will also be your next direction. If you travel two days west, you will come up to Desaria, the Desert Country. Travel into the desert and you will cross the capital of Desaria, the city call Crisis. There you will find the Golden Falcon Palace, in which is the Golden Sun."
"Thanks Deku Tree." Diamond said.
"Now I'm afraid, we must part ways. I can feel that Death Curse beginning to take effect." Deku Tree said. "Now do as your father told you. Prove. Him. Wrong..."
When he was finished, the Deku Tree began to wither away. He turned a dark grayish color and his leaves turned brown. The Deku Tree was dead.
"Goodbye Deku Tree." Diamond said as he stepped back and turned to the village. "Come on. One more thing to do and were out of here."
Diamond led Daruka and Forge back to the training ground behind his house. He grabbed a handle on the floor and opened a trap door. He jamp down the hole and Daruka followed him.
"I'll just hang around out here then." Forge said.
"So what's down here?" Daruka asked as he stood in the dark room.
Diamond latched the Silver Moon into his Elemental Sword and the room lit up. "Weapons. Every thing from daggers to Great Swords."
Daruka looked at the armory of swords, bombs, knives, and armor. "Looks like your old man was quite the collector. Good thing the Moblins didn't find this."
"Help yourself to anything you want." Diamond said as he grabbed a Chain Mail shirt out of a box.
"Cool. I could use a new long sword." Daruka said as he plucked a long blade sword off the wall. "I broke my last one on the side of a building. You got any Nitromite, I'm almost out."
"Explosives are over there." Diamond said as he put his sleeveless shirt on over his chain mail.
"Kick ass dude." Daruka said as he started loading the sticks of explosives into a sack.
Diamond grabbed a new sword for his empty sheath and two knives with ankle holsters before grabbing a pair of gloves. "So. You ready?"
"Yep." Daruka said. "Lets go."
When they were finished, Diamond and Daruka exited the Armory and locked the door. They stood on top of the hill that led out of the village and took one last look.
"So. Let's hit that desert." Forge said as he walked down the hill.
"Wait for me old man." Daruka said.
"Are you going to call me that forever?" Forge said. "I have a name you know."
Diamond took one last look at the village that he grew up in. His home was destroyed and his family was killed, but that was not going to stop him from succeeding. "This was a hard hit Ganondorf. But it's going to take a lot more than this to take me down. I'll be seeing you sooner or later. Ready or not, here I come."