The Hero Returns To Hyrule
A/N: This is my very first fic that I've ever written, so please take that into account when reading.
If I may ask, could I get some more reviews? Getting two or three per chapter isn't bad, but I would like a few more. The same goes for my new fic, "Fantasy Forever". It's good to know that there are a few people who are reading this fic and I would like to thank them for it.
I'm having trouble with the indentations being removed from my updated chapters, so I am switching to writing the first word of a new section in BOLD. Hope it helps.
As I last left off, the mysterious black rider, presumably Ganondorf, interrupted Link and Malon during a romantic event. Navi attempted to warn the hero of the impending assault, but was too late. Link watched in horror as one of his best female friends gets slain by this evil rider. And now, the moment you have been waiting for. I will reveal the identity of the victim.
Chapter 7: Pain of Loss
Two glowing triangles fill the eyes of the hero as he watches the murderer ride off towards the castle. The horse stops before entering the fortress that is Ganondorf's castle. An evil cackle fills the air as the rider disappears from Link's sight.
Monsters begin sprouting out of the ground near Link. "We should move." The girl says as the monsters begin to enclose upon the group.
Link nods his head silently. In one swift motion, the hero picks up the lifeless corpse before swinging onto the back of Epona. The surviving girl settles herself behind Link. A sharp kick sends Epona barreling through the crowd of monsters.
Zombie hands grab at Link's feet as Epona tramples the foul creatures. The hero shakes off a stubborn paw that is climbing up his leg. Link quickly swings his sword to the horse's sides, slicing as many creatures as he can. A pocket of open ground appears before the charging horse. Epona takes the opportunity to hurdle over the remaining creatures and break into the open fields.
Link guides the faithful horse towards the safety of Lon Lon Ranch. Upon seeing the hero rush towards the ranch, a few citizens hurriedly draw back the gates. Once Link passes the gates are quickly slammed shut in the faces of the approaching beasts.
The people of Hyrule follow Link as he somberly rides Epona into the corral. Gorons, Zoras, and Hylians all watch in silence as Link dismounts from Epona. A couple of Gorons quickly dig a small grave for the body to rest in. The female follows Link's lead and watches in silence behind him as he lays the body in the grave.
Tears stream down the cheeks of the hero as he kicks the dirt over the corpse of his friend. "Rest well, Navi."
"Is he still out there?" Malon asks her father.
Talon looks out at the corral. "Yup. It's been nearly three hours. He must be taking it really hard."
"Navi was his most trusted ally and an even better friend." Comments King Zora.
"Are you sure there's nothing that we can do to ease his suffering?" asks the curious young Link of the Gorons.
The four are seated by a fire that sits on the outside of the fence that surrounds the corral. Dotting the perimeter of the fence are dozens of similar fires. And in the center of the corral is Link, all by his lonesome. "I don't know. He hasn't said a word since he cursed the name of the Evil King. But, I can try talking to him."
Malon pulls herself to her feet. She walks to the entrance of the corral and takes a deep breath before entering the area. The ranch girl glides over the mist of the early morning dew. Malon stops a few steps behind the mourning hero. "You ok?" Malon asks.
Link jumps at Malon's voice. He quickly pockets something that was on the ground in front of him. Malon doesn't notice this as Link looks back at the girl that he had shared an intimate moment with only hours earlier. "It's not just Navi that I mourn for."
Malon is slightly stunned by Link's response. "Who else are you mourning for, then?"
Link lets out a sigh. "I mourn for all the people that have been killed by Ganondorf over all the years that I have opposed him. I mourn for the Kokiri that almost lost their forest. I mourn not only for Navi, but for you and Zelda. The thought of Ganondorf killing either of you along with Navi would be too much for me."
"Speaking of Zelda, isn't she supposed to be in possession of the Triforce of Wisdom, not Ganondorf?"
"That's one thing that has been troubling me since I came back to Hyrule. I was sure that I would have run into Zelda as soon as I came back. The fact that Ganondorf has the Triforce of Wisdom can mean one of three things. Ganondorf has already killed Zelda. Ganondorf has Zelda held captive somewhere in Hyrule and has stolen the Triforce from her. Or, Zelda has joined Ganondorf willingly. I don't want any of those to be true."
Malon drapes her arms over Links shoulders and rests her head on his shoulder. Link clasps Malon's hands against his chest. "I want you to know that I will be there for you if you need any help." Malon whispers into Link's ear.
"Thanks." Link remarks as he tilts his head back to kiss Malon. A couple of cheers sound from various fires as the two kiss. An icy glare from the hero silences the cheering. A giggle sounds from Malon that causes Link to stare at her. "What's so funny?" He demands.
"You just look so funny when you're embarrassed." Malon bursts out into a fit of laughter.
Link gives a big smile. "At least I don't look funny all the time." Link says jokingly only to receive a punch in the arm.
Malon pulls Link to his feet. "Come with me. The leaders want to talk to you." Malon says as she pulls the hero away from the small grave. Link looks back at Navi's grave as he is pulled along. The hero extends his hand and gives the classic Vulcan "Live Long and Prosper" sign.
Malon takes her seat at the leader fire. Link nervously stands as if waiting for an invitation to join. Malon reaches up and grabs the edge of Link's tunic, pulling him to the ground beside her.
"Thank you for joining us, Link. It is an honor to finally meet the hero that my father named me after." Link of the Gorons says as he extends his hand towards Link.
Link shakes the young Goron's hand heartily. "It's an honor for Darunia to name his son after me."
"Enough of the pleasantries." Interrupts Talon. "We need to act fast before Ganondorf fortifies the Temples and makes them impregnable. Here's my plan." Talon takes out a large piece of parchment and lays it on the ground before Link.
The hero looks over the map of Hyrule with great interest. The land of Hyrule has changed quite a bit since Link's last adventure. Marked on the map are the locations of the six temples. King Zora picks up a stick lying nearby and points to the map. "As you already know, the Forest Temple is located inside of the Great Deku Tree. The Fire Temple was located in Goron City, but after that got destroyed we were forced to have the protector of the entrance move deep within the crater of Death Mountain. To get there you need to get through Kakiriko Village, and then climb the mountain. Think you can do it?"
Link nods his head, "Of course I can. When do I get started?"
"Right now." Talon mentions as he whistles for Epona. Within seconds Epona is happily trotting towards the leaders. "Be careful once you reach Kakiriko. It is not as it used to be." Talon instructs Link as he climbs onto Epona's back.
With a short nod Link starts towards the entrance. After a few paces, the hero feels a tug at his side. He looks over into Malon's glittering eyes. "Let me come with you." Malon asks.
"I can't. It is too dangerous out there for you. I don't want you to get hurt or worse…" Link trails off as he glances at Navi's gravesite.
"But…"
"No buts. Stay here and train a bit. Once you can prove to me that you can handle your own out there, then I will let you come with me." With this statement Link rides off into the fields of Hyrule.
Malon watches the hero vanish into the night for a few seconds. In anger, Malon pulls a knife out from its sheath and buries it deep into a tree trunk. She turns and whistles towards the stables. The door of the building swings open and out bursts a shimmering silver horse. After reclaiming her knife, Malon swings onto the back of the silver horse and takes off after Link.
Link looks at the castle that sits smugly behind the walls of Hyrule Market. A black mist covers the top tower of the castle. As Link watches, the mist begins to spread across the sky, plunging the world into darkness. "Yeah, I hate you too Ganondorf." Link mutters as he pulls Epona to a stop.
The hero proceeds to pull out a piece of parchment and ties it to an arrow. He fits the arrow to the bowstring and pulls the bow tight. Link lines up a glowing window of the castle and fires the arrow through the darkened sky and into the window.
A smile crosses the hero's lips as he locates the glow of Death Mountain. He spurs Epona across the small bridge and up the giant staircase that leads into Kakiriko Village. The sight that greets the hero takes his breath away.
The sound of rushed footsteps echo through the halls of the castle. A small goblin bursts into the throne room, clutching his arm. Imbedded in the goblin's arm is Link's arrow. The goblin nervously approaches the throne and drops to one knee. He clears his throat, "Master Ganondorf! I have a message from your enemy!"
Ganondorf appears bored as he sits on the large throne. In one hand he swirls a large glass of wine. Ganondorf takes a sip of wine and beckons the goblin to come closer. The goblin complies and inches forward.
The Dark Prince grasps the arrow and violently yanks the arrow loose. The goblin gives a slight yelp of pain as blood spurts from the wound. Ganondorf slowly looks down at his cape, which is covered in the goblin's blood. "You bled on my cape." Ganondorf says coolly.
"I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to. It was an accident." The goblin stammers as he backs away towards the door.
"What did I teach you?" Ganondorf yells at the cowering creature as he gets to his feet. "You never are to apologize to anybody. You are part of my army, and my army never is sorry."
With one quick motion, Ganondorf grasps the poor creature by the neck and lifts him into the air. Then, the Evil King walks over to a window. Ganondorf looks out over Hyrule Field. "So, Link is out there somewhere. Why don't you join him?" Glass shatters as the goblin flies through the window. A sickening thud sounds as the creature hits the ground far below.
"It's a shame. I just had that window replaced." Mutters a voice from the shadows by the throne.
Ganondorf turns around to see a woman dressed entirely in black sit in the throne. "Princess Zelda. It is a surprise to see you. I wasn't expecting to run into you until Link got here."
Zelda laughs at Link's name. "Link!?! Why would I be helping that useless little boy?"
Ganondorf scratches his head in confusion. "May I ask why you are here then, if you aren't helping Link?"
"Simple. If you remember correctly, Link and I had defeated you and sealed you in the Shadow Realm."
"Yes, that's right. You stripped me of my power and the pieces of the Triforce that I had collected." Ganondorf says, hatred dripping off the words.
"Good times, good times. You know of the terror the people are living through? You are probably very confused about who's doing it." Zelda says proudly as she holds up her right hand and shows the two parts of the Triforce.
"Are you saying that you are the one doing all of this?" The Dark Prince says in disbelief.
Zelda nods her head. "I've been framing you this whole time. I've made sure that Link hates you even more than he did the last time you fought. His hatred will be his downfall, and your victory."
"And you intend to claim the Triforce of Courage once I defeat Link, making you the unstoppable force in the world. What's in it for me?" Ganondorf asks.
"A share of the power and bragging rights for being the first to defeat Link." Zelda replies.
Ganondorf appears interested by the offer. "I can handle that, as long as I don't have to call you Master."
Zelda laughs as she extends her hand. "Zelda is fine." She says as Ganondorf grasps her hand and shakes it. The two rulers stare into each others eyes, distrust burning deeply. "I must take my leave now, Ganondorf. I bid thee farewell." A cloud of smoke appears as the Princess vanishes from the room.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ganondorf mutters as he reclaims his chair.
A/N: So what do you think? Don't hate me because I killed Navi or make Zelda evil. In the end it will all make sense and work out. Thanks for reading and please review. Tint out.