Legends Of the Waker: Remnants Of Old
Chapter V: Encounters
(Fado)
I crashed though the door into the large, cleared out room beyond. I'd been struggling through our former home, now called the Forbidden Forest for two days, all in search of this room. The place where Mido had died. The room brought back many painful memories but I shrugged them off and pulled out my Deku Leaf. The room was largely empty except for a log stump house lying lonely in the middle. But I couldn't tell whose. The whole place was horribly turned around, and it was only by a strange, inner sense that I knew I was in the right place.
Being a sage was paying off now, at least.
I took a deep breath and, grinning widely, leapt for the edge of the 'cliff' I'd been standing on. I let myself fall for a moment then pulled out my Leaf and went up for a second before landing lightly in the grass. I immediately began searching for the Kokiri blade but suddenly a grating voice shot across the vast room, just as I spotted the sword, too the right of the house.
"So the pathetic forest people return at last. I thought I'd seen the last of you delightful fairy folk." The voice spit out the last words and I was reminded painfully of the day our fairies had left us. I shook away the bad memories and looked to the source of the voice.
A small, flowerlike bulb sat to the left of the house, waving dozens of green tentacles in the air. I couldn't imagine how I'd missed it. "I am Kalle Demos, and I am going to eat you," the voice said in a harsh, high-pitched voice. Before I could react, vines wrapped around my leg and hoisted me high into the air. Chuckling, Demos began to lower me towards the bulb at its center. I took a quick stock of what weapons I had as the creature, gloating and sure, lowered me slowly.
A Deku stick, two Deku nuts, and my Leaf.
I wiggled a hand into my pocket and hurled one of the nuts. A blinding flash burst out and my vision swirled as I was dropped to the ground. I recovered as fast as I could and pulled out the stick, and swiped it back then forward. The blinded Kalle Demos wrapped its tentacles around the stick and then I heaved it away with all my strength. I then threw the last Deku nut and the blinded, confused plant lost me completely. I whipped out the Deku Leaf and leapt into the air, flapping it as I went so that I was propelled towards the Sword.
Smiling, I swept it up, quickly digging through old layers of debris, realizing I'd been able to see it through a half-foot of dirt. It was a foot long and had a bronze hilt, and I could see my teeth as I grinned into the steel blade. Waving it before me, I instantly got a feel for it, and turned to face Kalle Demos.
A good test subject for the Last Kokiri's first battle, I decided.
I ran forward yelling wordlessly and, holding my sword tilted toward Demos and up, I ran in a circle around it, cutting off all its tentacles.
Screaming in rage, the creature waved stumpy tentacles and empty threats in the air as I turned back to where I'd found the sword, and soon spotted the belt and scabbard that went with it. I threw both around my shoulder Hero style and prepared to live when I something felt wrong.
It was the hate I felt first. A deep hatred so profound I felt I might drown in the waves of it. So profound I felt it within me, I wanted to hurt, to cause pain, to lash out, to kill. I turned slowly to see a man of green skin dressed in ragged clothing. A voice whispered in my head.
Ganondorf.
So this was the man so many feared. I was instantly disgusted with him, but I felt no fear. Fear was something that happened to other people. I grinned at him, and still he didn't speak, and then.
"I see you've claimed the old blade. It's a pity you won't have the strength to wield it as it's former masters. You're nothing but a grinning dolt, and I'm going to rid the world of one more sage. The Seven couldn't stop me on my return and you'll not stop me now, boy."
"The only thing scary about you is that vomit colored skin. Go take your pathetic hatred somewhere else. This Kokiri's not buying." I drew the Kokiri Sword and it swung from it's scabbard as though fresh from the forge, rather than over three hundred years old.
Ganondorf drew long, twin swords from behind his cloak, which spoke of far more riches than his clothing. He lunged forward with a wordless cry of rage and I moved in smiling hugely, swinging between the two blades, back and forth, always trying to take a step ahead of him, but he always turned my sword away, as it clanked back and forth between his two much larger swords.
I refused to let his longer reach give him an advantage, and used my new powers to leap onto the wall of the room, kick off his chest, and knock a sword from his hand with one blow.
I landed and both of us stared breathlessly at each other, and the fight was about to presume again when suddenly a voice came so loud, so piercing that we both stepped backward, hands to our ears.
"HALT!"
I felt the warm trickle of blood on my palm as the voice resumed again, this time a little quieter.
"AS LONG AS THE GREAT DEKU TREE HOLDS POWER, THERE WILL BE NO FIGHTING HERE! TOO LONG HAS THE FOREST STOOD BY." As he spoke, Everything began to grow bleary, and wondered giddily for a moment if the loud voice was doing it, then more critically if my eyes were going bad. The blurriness grew worse and worse, till everything looked smeared beyond recognition.
Everything but Ganondorf and I.
The colors soon began to regain shape, and all the while, Ganondorf stood with his hands over his ears. When everything had stopped moving, we were back before the Great Deku Tree.
"GANON. NOT YET DO YOU HOLD SWAY OVER MY FOREST OR MY CHILDREN. I BANISH YOU."
And with that, he was gone. Nothing left to signify he'd ever been there, as the sword, which had come with us, was also gone.
"Where'd he go?" I asked, wondering where the Tree could have sent him.
"I neither know nor care. Far away, and that's all that matters. Now. I had something to say to you. You must go north to Gale Isle, where the Wind Temple rests. The Master Sword must be protected from Ganon. He will weaken it if he can, making it little more than a normal blade. At the temple you play a song that will protect it. You will make a cello from one of my leaves and then set off at once. Do you understand?
Once again, I could only nod.
Chapter VI: Deeper Still
(Laruto)
The cold press of the ocean water calmed me and made a little of the terror of everything that had happened seem to wash away. I had a long way to go and used the time to think, but I was continually dragged back to the nightmare images of my family and friends, my whole people, being wiped out. And the one who'd done it. Ganondorf. I'd heard many stories about him, and couldn't understand why he'd chosen to poison us. He'd always been interested in ruling as much as destroying, and now thousands could not be ruled.
I was brought instantly from my musing by a suckered tentacle around my left leg. I pulled a sharp fishing knife from my boot, much like the ones most Zora over six winters carried, but far more important as it had belonged to my father. He'd given it to me before he died, telling me the job of saving our people was in my hands. I'd failed, obviously.
The octorok soon yielded and floated away under the frustrated jabs of my knife. But my anger took control and I flew after it, using a bit of magic to fry it with electricity, something very few Zoras were capable of, but I was descended from Mikau, a Zora hero from another world.
I did several spins in the water and swerved for the deep in the way only a Zora can, enjoying the water despite everything, to happy to return after all that had happened the past week.
When I reached the doorway into the storeroom, I was only slightly winded,but glad of the change. To move the door, I had to knock a strange, diamond shaped switch, which turned colors when activated. To keep out intruders, it was hidden behind a door that only electricity could open.
I swam past the portcullis and surfaced in a small pool at the end of a low, very dark hallway. I lit the nearby torches but refrained from grabbing one, wanting nothing to do with the flame for fear of drying up.
The hall had only two doors. One was powered by electricity and led to the upper levels of the mountain, but was rusted shut with disuse. The other was of a light metal and covered with strange designs, all centering on three golden triangles my parents had assured me were very important.
This door I went to and opened, it squeaked with rust of decades and made a soft tearing as thick spider webs tore apart. The room beyond was equally neglected, and now free of money, as we'd spent all ours on finding a cure. A stockpile of weapons lay in one corner, swords, shields, hookshots, and boomerangs. Separated from these were two pedestals my parents had pointed out when first they'd brought me here. On one sat a truly massive sword, at least as big as me. On the other, a beautiful golden harp, with red fasteners on both sides and silver strings running between. A lion was emblazoned into the gold, and seemed ready to lunge out and tear me apart.
I reached for the harp and gently, carefully, pulled it from it's pillar.
"The queen Zora preoccupied with music now, when her people need her the most?" A sneering, oily voice called out as I tightened my grip. I turned, holding the harp in two hands.
A strange, green skinned man in opulent robes stood before me. I'd been told some history about the old land of Hyrule. About the lay of the land, the War, and the kings, and it was one of those kings before me. Somehow, I knew it.
Ganondorf.A king of evil, only.
The very name sent an unexplained shiver up my back and I felt real fear for the first time. Before me was one who's hatred was so great, so powerful, an entire kingdom had been trapped in his iron fist.
"You."
"Yes, me," Ganondorf said, grinning strangely, as though it were some joke and he was suppressing greater laughter.
I didn't know what to do. I was a sage, but what did that mean? Did I have powers I could use against him? I wished Jabun had told me more. Then I realized there was nothing holding me to this room anymore. I dashed outside, and Ganondorf drew two strange swords and followed.
I ran to the electrically operated door and began focusing all my magic into it. A far greater burst than I'd ever thought possible flew out from around me and sent the door flying upward to bang into its holdings. I flew up the stairs beyond as fast as my legs carry me, pausing only to make sure the door came back down to block the evil man's way. Somehow, I didn't think it would stop him.
I found myself in the lowest corridors of Greatfish Isle. This far down, everything was storerooms. My footsteps echoed as I walked through the enormouse halls, clutching the harp tightly. I'd come down here many times before with my friends to get some raw Treiilst Fish, an odd fish that caused a stimulus in Zora, used for making Zora drinks of many kinds. The raw kind, needless to say, was far more powerful. We'd found more natural ways to get in trouble, however, and stopped coming, but I still knew the way to the stairs, and was soon among the lower living quarters. There was an immediate change between the two levels. Through the doorway into the former homes of deceased Zora, I could see massive window bubbles, giving unparalleled views of the ocean. I was getting ready to climb to the next floor when I heard a voice call out to me.
"Help! Whoever's out there, please help me!"
Chapter VII: The Power of the Waker
(Link)
The echoing clash of identical swords rang across the deck. For a time we fought, back and forth, but I was strangely aware of the fact that if this battle continued, everyone on board these two ships would die. I had to get away, but how? And in a way that left everyone safe?
My hand ached in a strange, painless way, and I saw a glint of gold as the Triforce of Courage rose from my hand. It floated there, no more than a quarter-inch above my hand. The battle stopped. Ganondorf's eyes glowed with greed as our faces were lit by the golden triangle. Then there was a sudden flash and a boom and everything was torn away.
A dirty taste filled my mouth, and I came awake, sputtering sand. The sun lashed violently into my eyes as I opened them, and I had no clue where I was. I did a quick check of things, and seeing they were all intact, and the Triforce symbol still rode on my hand, I began to look around.
I soon realized I'd come to on an island. A high, wooden tower stood on the edge of the beach, and a small village nestled by the beach capped the slightly mountainous feel of the island. Three houses. People lived here, but not many. It reminded me very strongly of Roc's Island and I felt a sudden pang of homesickness, and wondered what Meena was up to.
"Hello, Link! How are you!" The deep, slightly gruff voice came from behind and startled me so badly I fell into the sand. I came up with my sword in hand, and found myself facing a lion. No, not a lion, I saw, but a boat. I gave the boat a wary look and backed up a step. The boat was small and red, with yellow trim, and a tall white sail.
"What's the matter? Never talked to a talking boat before? Get used to it. I'm your guide now."
"Guide…you…what for?" I asked, still confused and on guard. "What good can a boat be as a guide?
"All the Heroes of Time past, and I get the idiot. What do you think? I'm a boat. I sail about. What better guide? Anyways, you need to stop Ganon. He's been slowed down by that little trick of yours, but not defeated. And you nee-
"You know of what happened? Is Zelda okay?"
"To my knowledge, yes. Now don't interrupt. As I was saying, you need the Master Sword to stop Ganon, and to get it you must prove yourself. But that'll be taken care of later. You're task now is to claim the Waker. Look over to those houses. Do you see anyone?"
I looked, and indeed saw something. A family celebrating. An old man and woman, a young couple smiling happily, and in the arms of the young woman, a baby boy with a shock of blond hair that reminded me strongly of my own.
"Yes. I see them. Why'd you point them out?"
"Because the old man is the last Waker of Winds. The men in that particular family passed down an instrument, a conductor's baton, known as the Wind Waker. But that man, the baby's grandfather, decided to hide it for safekeeping high in the upper reaches of the island. The Waker was made by the King of Hyrule many centuries ago to guide the sages in their battle against Ganon. A young Shiekah was entrusted with it after they fell. He brought his family here when the rains came. It has now come into the hands of an evil being that will use it to kill everyone on this island. You must go and liberate the wand before it can be used for evil."
I nodded and left. It wasn't necessary to hear anymore. People needed my help, and I would give it. There was no questioning. Although I felt strange at being called the Hero of Time. But it fit, in an odd way.
"Wait, Link! I have one more thing to tell you! In the darkness, bring the light."
"…Okay." I turned, too puzzled to think of anything to say.
As I left the long, sandy beach behind and walked towards the houses, the people there began to stare at me, looking completely on guard. I saw the young man leave and figured he'd gone to get a weapon and wait in case I was threatening them.
"Greetings, stranger. What brings a young warrior to our humble island?" The old man called out, as the two women took the young child inside.
"Greetings, elder. I am Link. I have come seeking the Waker."
"Rygo." He extended his hand, I took it and we shook. "That's quite an item to be searching for. May I ask why?" He peered deep into my eyes, as if his suspicions could be answered one way or another within them.
"It is in the hands of a terrible evil. The place where you have hidden it was not safe."
"How do you know this?" His tone was openly accusing.
"I am the Hero of Time." At this I held up my right hand was rewarded with a startled gasp. "I have my sources."
"The legendary Hero! I will guide you at dawn tomorrow. It grows late and the upper reaches of Outset can be very dangerous at night.
I was soon introduced to his family. His wife, as well as his son, Knilino and daughter-in-law, Lyrt. And the baby, who hadn't been named. Although when I gave Lyrt my name she looked at me thoughtfully and said very softly, "Link…that's a beautiful name…"
Not a word was spoken, at my request, about my true identity as Hero. I slept fitfully in a small outdoor hammock, waking early and doing some exercises with my sword and boomerang. Soon after I got up, Rygo came bearing two things.
"You should leave now, before the others awake. I brought you some of my wife's soup, in a bottle, and a tunic."
He held up the tunic, it was thick and green, with a belt. "On our island our sons wear the clothing of the Hero on their coming of age. This was my son's and meant for the boy…but you, the Hero, need it. My wife can make another.
I didn't see how I could refuse, and took it, leaving behind my fisherman's clothes, and putting the bottle in one of the strangely cavernous pockets of the tunic, I set off with a farewell for the top of the small mountain.
I stood before a small hole in the ground. I'd searched everywhere around the little forest, and seen no other place it could be. Something about the hole was wrong, it seemed to echo of a strange deadly evil. It didn't matter, though. I was going to go in no matter if cuccos popped out and starting eating me. Without a backward glance, I flew into the air and descended into the pit.
I was soon in a room made of shadow. All I could see in all directions was darkness, but for some reason, I still retained my sight. I could see myself clearly, and the horrible being that stood two-dozen feet away.
Shadow against shadow, it had a pillar like body that went straight into the ground. It got broader nearer the top, and two huge arms stretched from its shoulders. The head was larger still, with four massive, tusk-like teeth. Two curving horns stretched from the head, and the red of it's blazing eyes and cavernous mouth were the only color it possessed.
"Look out, Hero!"
I turned, heartbeat leaping up a notch, and saw someone in his massive fist.
The great fairy Nemos
Stealinx- Ganon's Shadow"He has the Waker! Be careful!" Nemos called out. I smiled grimly. This was where I belonged. In battle. I swept out my sword and leapt spinning in the air.
Stealinx let out a dry chuckle. And just as I reached them, pointed a small wand in my face. For a moment I hung there. Then a blast of wind struck me and I landed twenty feet away, sliding on the 'ground'. I hopped to my feet again and this time ran, pushing against the torrent of wind. I reached him and the wind stopped so suddenly I fell forward. I slashed downward with my sword to no effect and the creature began to laugh hoarsely again. "A sword of my owner's make is of no use here. Nor would any sword be a match for me. The tactics of your father's won't avail you, boy!"
Suddenly the creature became a swirling vortex and I was sinking deep into the black void, losing all hope.
I will fail. I am no match for this one.
In the darkness, bring the light.
Somehow the words brought strength and I flew away from within Stealinx.
I knew there was only one thing to do.
In the light, there is no doubt.
I leapt high into the air, ignoring all pain and focusing fully.
In doubtlessness, there is conviction
The shadow pointed the wand at me again, but it meant nothing now.
In conviction, there is fortitude
I landed before him and he let go of Nemos to concentrate on me.
In fortitude, there is strength
Exactly what I'd needed. Now the fairy would be safe from what I was about to do.
In strength, there is victory!
The Triforce flew above my palm as before and I was surrounded by a sphere of brilliant, blinding luminosity. A solid beam of iridescent light shot into the shadow of Ganon and it vanished. I fell weary to the floor of what was now again the fairy's fountain and the Wind Waker clattered to the ground beside me. I reached over and picked it up. Floating over the pool of water before me, Nemos hung. Then she spoke.
"You are weary. I will heal you."