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.
Welcome to another chapter of The Hero Returns To Hyrule. If anyone has any advice for proper formatting please send me an e-mail.
Link has arrived at Kakiriko Village, Zelda and Ganondorf have formed an alliance of sorts, and Malon is following Link. What horrors await the hero? Find out next time on... Sorry, wrong end of the story.
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Chapter 8: Village of the Dead
A horrid stench greeted the hero as he and Epona climbed the last stair. The smell was that of decaying flesh. He had smelled this smell before. Link looked around at the once proud village. A faint green mist hovered above the ground, hiding the countless tombstones that dotted the land.
Link jumped from Epona's back and led her to the archway of the town. The wood was nearly at the point of falling apart from all of the termites. "Wait here for me." Link whispered to Epona as he tied her to the post.
A shrill scream echoed through the town causing Epona to rear up and break the post she was attached to. Link watched helplessly as Epona bolted down the staircase and back towards Lon Lon Ranch. "This is going to be one of those days." Link muttered to himself as he proceeded towards the solitary tree ahead of him.
It was nearly impossible to see anything around him. The shadows blended in with the green mist and the darkened sky. For all Link knew, he could be surrounded. With sword drawn, Link tip-toed his way towards a nearby building. The sound of stumbling footsteps could be heard through the concrete walls.
There was a door in front of him. With an outstretched hand he pulled open the door. The nest thing he knew, hands were grasped around his neck, choking the life out of him. The hollow face of a Re-dead lifelessly stares into Link's eyes as the world around him began to darken even more.
The Re-dead forced Link to fall to his knees. His face began turning purple as his lungs emptied of air, struggling for more. The next thing he knew he blacked out.
"How you doing, Link? Head hurt any less?" A voice greets Link as his eyes flutter open. Link finds himself laying on a small cot inside of a building somewhere.
"Ugh..." Link mutters as he rubs the back of his head. He knew the voice from somewhere, but he couldn't place where from. He looks around the room as he raises his head and spots the source of the voice. Sitting in the corner is a hooded man, his face only briefly illuminated by the red glow of his pipe.
"You are quite lucky that I found you. You were just laying unconscious out in the middle of town, completely helpless." The hooded man admits.
"What happened?" Link asks groggily.
"Don't know. Whoever or whatever attacked you didn't finish the job. My guess is that someone anonymously came to your rescue."
"Who are you?" Link inquired as he raised himself into a sitting position.
"Hehehe... I see you are confused as to who I am. You may not remember me, but I remember you. I remember that day long ago when you got me that mask from the Happy Mask Shop." The hooded man says as he points to a mask hanging on the wall above him.
His head was feeling a lot better now. The pain and throbbing had gone away for the moment. "You must be that kid from the graveyard, am I right?"
"Yup. Bingo. The name's Strider." The man says as he extends a hand to Link.
Link reaches out and grasps the man's hand, but quickly pulls back in horror as soon as he touches the man's hand. Jutting out of the sleeve is a skeletal mass dripping with chunks of flesh. Strider notices Link's reaction and explains, "Sorry about that. Keep forgetting about this little bugger."
"Oh..." is all that Link says.
"Let me explain things to you. This town has always served as the home of the graveyard for most of Hyrule. After this new series of terrible events, the town became over-run by tombs and graves. The town was abandoned, and I ended up being the only one left.
I put myself in charge of calming the souls of the restless deceased. Every day I patrol the town and defeat any of the undead that wander. One day, during a fight, I tripped letting my hand fall into the well. Within seconds my hand looked like this."
Link nods, not taking his eyes off of the bony fingers. "Why did you stay if everyone else left?"
"Part of me wanted to go, but the other part ended up being stronger. Ever since I began taking after Dampe I've had this strange connection with the dead. I know it sounds weird, but that's just the way I am. That probably is why the sages chose me to guard the entrance to the Shadow Temple."
Link immediately jumped to his feet. "You know where the entrance to the Shadow Temple is? Can you take me there?"
"Of course. But, don't you think you should rest a bit more?" Strider asks.
"Nah. I'll be fine. I've been hurt a lot worse than this. A little bump isn't going to stop me from getting revenge against Ganondorf." Link boasts. He picks up his equipment and beckons for Strider to lead the way.
"Suit yourself." Strider says as he opens the door with his bony hand.
"Watch your head." Strider calls back to Link, but not before a solid thud and curses erupt from behind him.
"You could have warned me earlier." Link mutters as he clutches his second head wound of the day. He stares at the hooded figure skillfully make his way through the marsh like surface of the town. Strider wasn't lying, he knew this place just as well as Dampe had years ago.
The pair had made their way to the Royal Families tombstone. A large tunnel had been dug, clearly an excavation project underway. Strider climbs into the hole and slides further than Link can see. "Don't worry, there aren't any undead down here, 'cept me!" Striders voice calls from the depths of the earth. Link shrugs his shoulders and jumps in.
The chamber had been left intact, for the most part. Parts of the wall were crumbling, revealing dirt that was mostly white from all the bones scattered in it. Foul green gas ruptured from the cracks in the ground. Even the water was still that puke green color. Speaking of puke, Link did so once the smell reached him.
Strider led Link up to the ancient tablet that way back when had taught Link the "Suns Song." "Wait there for a second." Strider instructed as he pulls out a small flute. Except for the extra notes, this song matched the Nocturne of Shadow perfectly..
In response the tablet began to glow the familiar blue of the sage's portals. Link bowed his head and whispered a short prayer to avenge Navi. With head held high, Link entered the magic portal. Unfortunately, his held was held too high and he received yet another bump to match the other two from earlier.
Strider was heading back through the town. As he passed the building where he had found Link earlier he noticed a note attached to the door. He walked over and read the note:
Link, you owe me one for that Re-dead. Big hero thinks he is the only one who can save Hyrule. I'll prove to you that I can do just as good as you. I went ahead to the Fire Temple in case you were worried. I'll be waiting with the Master Sword shard by the time you wake up. Get well soon, Malon.
It starts as a gag. Then it turns to a chuckle. The next thing he knows, Strider is doubled over in laughter. "You'll be waiting for a long time, girl. Link isn't coming back from the Shadow Temple. Not after I'm done with him."
Strider draws his sword and stares at the gleaming metal held amid bony digits. He reaches up to a clasp near his neck and undoes it. The cloak falls away, revealing the mysterious man. Pointy ears, blond hair, Hylian shield, a tunic and tights. A black aura surrounds this mirror image of Link. "Dark Link has been reborn! And now that I have a shard of the Master Sword, Link doesn't stand a chance!"
A/N: Wow... Bet you didn't see that coming. I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but since the next one is a temple, expect it to be a long one. Please review and Tint out.