-- CHAPTER 3: The Map Master --

Exhausted, Link finally reached the top of the stairs. Catching his breath he glanced at the back of his hand, the Triforce was no longer even visible, just a light scar where the mark had been. No matter how this final battle played out, it was all over for him before sun up. Determination glazed over his eyes, it was time to end this.

"Ganon! This ends tonight!"

Ganon, unflinched by the challenge continued to stare out the window, hands resting on the window sill, a sinister grin across his face.

Link knew he was hopelessly outmatched. He took advantage of his opponent's disinterest. This was no time for nobility, such a thing could only be selfish considering what was at stake. Link quickly fitted his bow with an arrow. His shot was true, it would pierce his enemy dead-center thru the neck. Link sighed. Finally, it was all over. Suddenly. There he stood facing Link, grinning wildly, a fist clenched around the mid-section of the arrow. Impossible! How could this be?! How could he move so fast?!

"Hahahahaha! If you insist little boy...we end this tonight!"

Link unsheathed his sword and charged.

"Don't you understand Link? I possess the powers of the Triforce entire! I am God!"

"No! You do not yet harness its complete power! You are not yet God! You are not yet invinc..."

There was a horrible bright flash of blue. Link felt himself flying backwards thru the air. Then the back of his head hit the wall and all went black.

"Close enough."

- - - - -

Link awoke in a cold sweat. His sheets thrashed about and drenched in sweat. Link's father sat there in the darkness watching him. He had awoken a while back from the piercing cries of his son from the nightmare. Reassurance of his son's destiny he knew this to be, however, reassuring it was not. He watched Link lie awake for hours before his son finally fell back asleep. Then, reluctantly, he too finally shut his eyes. They both slept peacefully till morning.

- - - - -

Link blinked opened his eyes and quickly shut them to the bright sun staring back at him thru the window. He smelt eggs before he noticed the sizzling of them frying and crackling of the fire. He was so happy, today just felt like a perfect day. He turned his head to the side and opened his eyes again to see the frail figure of his father slumped over the kitchen table barely holding himself up. Link jumped out of bed. The early morning surreal quickly wore off as reality began to set in.

"Dad! Here, let me get that! You go back over to your chair. You need your rest!"

Jaber turned his head to the side to face Link "-cough- I've got it son. -cough-cough- I'm going to need -cough- to need to -cough- need to learn to take care of -cough-cough- of myself once your gone. -cough- You're the one who needs the -cough- rest. -cough- You have a big day ahead of you. -cough-cough-" Jaber smiled an empty smile.

Link's heart sunk. He had completely forgotten. What had filled him with excitement and determination just yesterday filled him with fear of a foreboding doom this morning. He did not know why for he did not remember his dream.

"You've -cough-cough- You've been serving me so -cough- so faithfully over these past weeks -cough-cough- and now it's my -cough- my chance to re -cough- return the favor -cough-cough- Sir Link CI (101), descendant of time -cough-cough-"

Link looked up at him confused "I thought we lost track of what number descendant we were many generations ago?"

Jaber continued, "Yes -cough- but legend has foretold of -cough- of the 100th descendant of Sir Link I -cough-cough- as the savior of the Hylian race. -cough- I am now confident that you are the 100th descendant. -cough-cough-" Jaber was making all this up off the top of his head, but, after seeing the newfound reluctance in his son's eyes, he knew he had to find some way to build up Link's confidence. It didn't seem to do much. Link's expression stayed the same.

"Link, before -cough-cough- before you go I want you to find -cough-cough-cough- the Map Master. He -cough- he dwells deep within the forest, -cough-cough- but if you find him, he should -cough- be able to help you out. -cough-cough-"

"The Map Master?"

"-cough-cough- Well, that's what he calls himself. -cough- He's a rather peculiar man actually -cough-cough- ...thinks he's and elf!"

"Ridiculous! Everybody knows elves no longer exist!"

"Like I said, -cough- he's an odd character. -cough- Besides, -cough- all things considering, -cough- this story was originally a game concept after all -cough-cough- it only makes sense that your mission starts -cough- starts off with a ­fetch quest. -cough-cough-cough-"

"What was that?"

"-cough-cough- Hmm? -cough- Did I just say something."

"You were rambling on about some game concept business."

"Dear me, I -cough-cough- I must be loosing my head!"

Link stood just outside the forest staring at the thick tree trunks in front of him. He had never gone into the woods alone, and even the few times he went in with somebody else, he had ever been "deep" into the woods. Why was this such a good idea yesterday? What made me think that me, of all people, a 12-year-old boy, could handle such a task? As he stood there, mind racing, he was reminded of tossing the lifeless body of Granny Smith into a hole he had just dug, and shoveling the dirt back on top of her. Then he imagined doing the same to his father. This wasn't about himself; it was about his father, about everybody here in Koriki, and, Link suddenly had a sinking feeling in his gut, quite possibly all of Hyrule. He stepped into the forest.

Link, forced his way deeper into the forest. He had thought the forest looked creepy on the outside... These trees were ten times as thick as the ones on the outskirts of the forest, and they towered high above, disappearing into a fog. And the vines and roots that scattered the forest floor, Link could have sworn he saw them move. He had lost count have many times he had tripped over them. It was as if the roots and vines were purposely trying to hinder him. Why would anyone choose permanent residence in a place like this? Link Wondered, Even Draiden didn't usually stay in the woods for much longer than a day. Although, Link had to admit, nobody besides himself had seen Draiden since Granny Smith died.

Without warning a large plant resembling a flower sprung up in front of him. It opened up its petals to show a mouth full of hundreds of tiny, sharp teeth. It almost appeared to be smiling. Link had learned about these creatures in school; it was called a Deku Baba, they were supposed to be extinct. The Deku Baba lunged at Link, mouth open. Link dodged to the side just in time to see the plant's mouth snap shut where he had just been standing. He was nearly swallowed whole! The Deku Baba swung its head around and lunged at Link again. This time when Link dodged the attack he hooked his arm around and grabbed the Deku Baba by its stem and pulled himself around to the back of its head. He grabbed the stem with his other hand, pulled the section of the stem between his two hands taught, and sunk his teeth into it. He ripped out a nice chunk and spit it out. A thick black substance gushed out of the plants wound. Pulling with all his might he tore the stem in half at the bite.

There was a nasty after taste in the back of his throat. He spit, habitually, in attempt to remove the taste. Doing so he found his spit swirled with black and red. He wiped his mouth with the tips of his fingers and brought them up to eye level. Coating his fingers dripped the same black substance from the plant...as well as his own blood. Poison! Link concluded, his eyes beginning to water. He started to feel very dreary. Link shuffled his foot backward to catch his balance when his legs gave way and he nearly collapsed to the ground. His vision became clouded and blurred. It was all he could do to hold himself up. I'm dying, Link thought, I've already failed. He noticed a glow of light off ahead of him. So this is what it's like...This what happens when you die... The glimmering ball of light crept closer to him getting bigger and bigger until finally, it was right in front of Link's nose and he could feel a slight warmth emitting from it's glow. It bobbled up and down a couple times before Link closed his eyes and fell to the ground.

- - - - -

Link's eyes shot open. He saw a weird looking shrub with a face looking back down at him. The shrub shrieked and jumped off Link's chest. Link turned his head to the side to watch the creature scurry off.

"Hey! That's mine!" He shrieked, referring to the red rupee the thing was grasping in his hands

Link quickly got to his feet, but it was too late, the strange thief had buried itself underground. That was to pay for the map! Link couldn't believe what had just happened. I hope the Map Master understands...

Link looked down toward the ground where he had just lain and saw a tiny twitching body with fluttering clear wings spazing on the ground. He cupped it up with both his hands and brought it close to his face. He blinked his eyes when a flash of bright light emitted from its body. It flickered a couple of times until it was in a constant glow. The tiny creature lifted off from Link's hands and flew off in the distance, dipping and bringing itself back up as if it were having trouble. It bumped into a tree, backed up, and flew around it. Link watched the spectacle in awe as the tiny being disappeared into the fog. That must have been a Forest Fairy! Link exclaimed inside his head. He remembered stories his dad had told him about how when Koriki was first founded they used to use Fairy dust to heal their sick. But Fairies hadn't been seen for generations!

Once Link had finally gotten over what he had just seen, he came to the realization that he had no idea where he was. His eyes darted around his immediate area, he eventually came across the head of the Deku Baba he had just killed, it's stem lying a couple of feet to the side of it. Link walked over. So I'm still in the same place...I just don't remember which way is which. Link bent down and examined the stem – it had hardened into a wooden staff. Link picked it up, not wanting to face another enemy without a weapon. He studied his surroundings and eventually just picked a random direction and headed that way.

Link hadn't been wandering for more than ten minutes before he heard a loud growl behind him. I hate this forest.

Link turned around to see a Wolfos charging at him. At least I've seen one of these before... The Wolfos jumped up and lunged for Links throat. Link quickly brought the Deku stick up, holding it sideways across his body, and jammed it into the Wolfos' open mouth. The Wolfos bit down, breaking the stick in two, and, knocking Link down, landed on his stomach. Using the momentum from the fall Link continued to somersault backwards. Bringing his feet up and over his body, he kicked the creature off his stomach.

The Wolfos yelped as it landed on its side but it quickly got to its feet and made a second charge for Link. This time when the Wolfos leapt at him, Link took the half-stick in his right hand and jammed the splintered end up the underside of the thing's snout. Then with his left hand he stabbed the other half into the back of its neck.

Pushing his foot against the limp body for resistance, Link pulled each half stick out of the Wolfos. I definitely don't understand how my mom apparently took a liking to these monsters. Dad said it was a long story and that I'd probably find boring anyway. Link hadn't even caught his breath yet when he heard several growls in front of him. He watched as half a dozen more Wolfos slowly prowled out from behind the trees. The pack of Wolfos circle around Link until he was surrounded on all sides. Obviously, Link was horrified.

The one right in front of Link was the first to make the dash. But almost instantly after it began running it fell to the ground on its side, a dart protruding from its neck.

"Draiden!" Link exclaimed

He didn't have much time to savor the moment though as he heard the sound of the Wolfo's foot pushing against the grass right behind him as he lunged at Link's back. Link turned around just in time to see a figure fall from the above, feet landing directly on the Wolfos in mid-jump.

"Draiden!" Link exclaimed yet again as if he were confirming something he found hard to believe.

Keeping his back to Link, Draiden didn't answer. He simply wielded a thorned staff in a defensive position diagonally across his body waiting for the next attack. Link, wielding half a Deku stick in each hand, turned back around so that they were standing back to back.

Apparently, such a defensive wasn't necessary. Either the other four Wolfos ran away because they watched two of their pack die and saw another of their kind lying dead not too far off, or they were simply afraid of Draiden. Link determined the later to be more likely. When he turned around to face Draiden, he found him a couple of yards off staring at a poodle on the ground. Draiden's entire body was cloaked in a dark green tunic, including a hood that draped over his head.

"Draiden! You saved my life!"

No answer.

Link walked over to Draiden who quickly kicked at the puddle and shuffled his glance to the side so Link couldn't see the reflection.

"You want to find the Map Master, am I right?" Draiden snapped

"... Draiden... is... is everything alright?"

"...No..." the sharpness in his voice was gone, "but you have more pressing matters. Follow me, I'll take you to Tingle."

"Who?"

"Tingle ... the Map Master ... now hurry, follow me"

With Draiden as the guide it didn't take long to find the Map Master's dwelling place. It was a fairly small tree house about a hundred feet off the ground using the biggest tree in the immediate area as its base. A rope latter dangled from the top to the ground.

"It's up there." Draiden stated, and then he was gone.

Link cautiously went up to the rope latter, it didn't look very stable. Surveying it for a couple of minutes he decided that it probably wasn't, but he had to go up it anyway. When he reached the top he pulled himself up onto the deck and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said a throaty-squeak of a voice, "Oh do come in, Tingle's been waiting!"

-- WRAP UP --

Well, that one was quite a bit longer than the others, and it definitely had a lot more action. Too much action maybe, did it start to get boring? Please tell me what you think...anybody?