Chap. 8
The Forest Temple
Dawn broke over Hyrule Field, bathing the green in a pure golden light. Groggily, Starfire rubbed her eyes and pulled herself up. However, the sight of the dawn breaking woke her up almost immediately. It seemed grander somehow, then the sunrises on Earth or even Tammeran. It was as though the sun was reaching out with it's golden hands to caress the sleeping earth back into life. Awe-struck, she stared at the light breaking, until a hand went on her shoulder. "I'd almost forgotten how beautiful this is." he breathed. The two stared for a few moments, then Link clapped star's shoulder and began to prepare for the day's journey. Smiling Star got up and began to work the kinks out of her body. It was then that she noticed Gaonnondorf. He too was staring at the sunset. As always, he did it silently and apart from the others. Within moments, he had turned on his heel and walked away, but not before Star thought she heard a sigh emerge from him.
The trio quickly began moving towards the Kokiri Woods, which were marked by a large opening in the trees just south of their position. Link led them through the opeing into what seemed to be a large opening craved from a tree stump. Undaunted Link walked right through it, and after a moment, his companions followed him. The stump led to a rope bridge, which in turn went through another stump and finally spilled the group out onto the clearing that made up the Kokiri Woods. The area was simple, yards of greens, dotted with wooden huts. But strangely, it was empty. "You don't think Majora has gotten here already?" Starfire asked, as she walked a little further into the village. But suddenly, the ground reared above in front of her, knocking her down. As the alien looked up, a huge, Venus-flytrap- like plant reared and snapped its mouth towards here. But her reflexes did not fail her, as Starfire blasted it with a starbolt, knocking it back. Frantically moving back, she got to her feet and as Link helped her up, she pointed at the still-moving plant and asked, "What is that?" "It's called a Big Deku Babu." Link answered. "The last time the Temple was corrupted, they sprang up all over. This must be why the Kokiri are hiding." Gannondorf spoke then saying, "I'll deal with this." The Gerudo stepped forward, as the plant stood up on it's stalk to face him. Rasing his hands, Gannondorf cried out, "Hear me! It is I, your creator. I command you tot let us.." Sadly, he never got to finish, because the Deku Bau grabbed him in it's mouth and began to fail about, trying to force him down its stomach. "In the name of all that's holy, get me out!" Gannondorf screamed, as he flopped about like a rag doll inside its mouth. Link drew his sword and yelled to Starfire, "Hold it up!" Leaping into the air, Satrfire grabbed the Deku's head and pulled it up, causing its stem to become taunt. In one swift movement, Link ran up and slashed the stem in two, causing the head to fall to the ground and Gannondorf to spill out in pile of green juice. Grimacing, the Gerudo got up and began to brush himself off. "I was sure that would work." he muttered. "These aren't your monsters anymore." said Link. "Majora recreated them; they serve him now. You do owe us some thanks you know." He finished. Gannondorf's head snapped around, but he muttered out thanks. Nodding, Link said, "We head for the Lost Woods. The Forest Temple is at its end." He began walking towards a raised section in the back of the village, where there was another stump-door; the others followed.
Walking through the door, they emerged into a small boxed in area, with doors on three sides. "Which way?" Star asked. Link pointed to the door in front of them. Gannondorf snorted. "I know a shortcut." and walked through the door to the left. Link merely held up his hand and counted to three, and Gannondorf re-emerged form the door they had just walked through. "OK, why did that just happen?" he asked. "You never actually came to the woods, did you?" Link asked. "The Lost Woods are a maze. If you walk through the wrong portal, you'll go back to the beginning. Just follow me." This time, they walked through the front portal, and came to the next area of the Woods.
With Link guiding them, the group soon got through the woods and came to the Sacred Forest Meadows, where the Temple was located. But while the Woods had been a magical maze, the Meadows were an actual one. Seemingly sculpted out of the earth, they twisted and turned in their compact area. Upon reaching them, Link turned to Starfire and asked, "Can you carry both of us over it?" "Both of you, no. One at a time, yes." she replied. "Gannondorf, you go first. But only fly to the center of the maze, then land him on the pedestal there and come back for me. " "Why?" "You'll see when you get there." Turning to Gannondorf, Starfire hovered off the ground and flew behind him. Sighing, the Gerudo stretched out his arms. Starfire grabbed him underneath his arms, and with some effort hoisted him into the air. Slowly, they began to fly up and over the maze. Looking down, Starfire saw there were several creatures walking the length of the maze. Heavily armored, they resembled pig-men and carried long spears. "Moblins." Gannondorf said. "Big, strong, and dumb as bricks. But they'll do whatever you tell 'em until they die. I figured they'd be the best guardians." They reached the center platform quickly. Starfire set the Gerudo down, and flew back for Link, returning in an instant. "So what's so important?" Gannondorf asked. Link didn't answer; instead he drew his bow and fired three shots into the gateway ahead. There was a groan of pain, and then the ground shook for an instant. Sheathing his bow, Link began to leap across the top of the maze. After a moment, they began to follow him. Finally, they reached the stairway that lead to the Temple. As they climbed up, they were met by the sight of a giant Moblin, lying dead on the ground. Three arrows had struck him the chest, and had pushed almost clean through his back by the fall. "I'd forgotten about him." Gannondorf said. "That's why you don't get to lead." Link replied. The Gerudo scowled, but continued walking. Soon the group had reached the Forest Temple and stood at the doorway to its wonderers.
Next to the door, was another statue. Dressed in armor that resembled forest leaves, this knight held an axe and like Brett, was also a bat. In fact, it bore a strong resemblance to Brett, save for the long hair on it's head, and the scar that ran down it's left eye. "The Forester." said Link. "Knight of the Forest." They stood in admiration of the statue for a moment. Finally, Link opened the door. It creaked open and they walked inside. But instead of finding a room of monsters, they found a strange marking on the ground. In the center was a small, heart-shaped face, with eyes in its center. The face was surrounded by wavy lines that curved in all directions. "Did you put that here before?" Starfire asked Gannondorf, as she knelt to down to take a closer look. "No." he replied. "What do you think, kid?" he sneeringly asked Link. The Hero ignored the remark and answered, "Majora's added his own touches. He had these placed in all the Temples he corrupted in Termina. They were direct links to the demons there, if I had passed through the dungeon. But, I wonder…" Just then, there was a rumble that shook the Temple. The pedestal began to glow green. "Just as I thought." Link muttered. "Since I've already beaten this demon, it's been activated. It should take us right to the demon." "You mean you had to fight them twice in Termina?" Starfire asked. "Sometimes." Link said. With that, he stepped onto the platform and vanished. "This Majora is a fool." Gannondorf sneered. "At least I gave him a challenge." Perhaps Majora is overconfident?" Star ventured. "You think?" the Gerudo replied, as he too vanished. Star looked around a moment longer, then stepped onto the platform, and vanished as well.
When Star could see again, she Link, and Gannondorf were in a large circular room. It was surrounded on all aides by a roped fence and there was a painting on each wall. However, each one showed the same image; a dark road in the middle of the night. Below the paintings was a spiked floor. "What is this?" Star asked. "The demon chamber." Link replied. "This where the demon lurks." "Where is he then?" she asked. "There!" Gannondorf yelled, pointing at the paintings. Link and Star whipped around to see the figure of a dark rider coming down the road. The problem was, he was in every painting at once. Link quickly drew out his bow and notched an arrow. "Is that him?" he asked Gannondorf. The Gerudo nodded. "Starfire, he's going to come out of that painting. When he does, you and I have to hit him. Get ready." But Star was already prepared; a starbolt glowed in each hand. Suddenly, all the riders turned away, except the one in the painting Gannondorf had pointed to. The rider and horse blasted out in a wave of dark magic, but Starfire and Link fired as one, scoring direct hits on the creature. It immediately turned back into the painting and disappeared. Link notched another arrow and yelled, "Where now?" just as the riders appeared again. "12' o clock!" Gannondorf yelled. Link and Star shifted to that position and once again sent the demon back into the painting. But this time, the horse disappeared and the demon remained, floating in mid-air, a huge battle staff in it's hand. It was then that Starfire saw that save its face, which was encased in a horned mask, the creature was an exact double of Gannondorf. She had no time to contemplate this, as the Phantom let loose a magical bolt right at her. Link quickly stepped in front of the alien and used his sword to bat the bolt right back at the demon. Nevertheless, the creature sent it right back, causing a battle of fast draws as the bolt bounced between them. Finally, the creature proved too slow and fell to the floor, crippled by its own magic. Starfire quickly began to attack, as Gannondorf blasted the demon with black magic. The Phantom was weakened, but it shrugged off the attacks and returned to the air. The attacks continued like this, until after Link brought down for he third time. This time, it swung its staff around in the air, throwing bolts left and right. Link hid behind his shield and Gannondorf used his cloak but before Starfire could seek shelter with either of them, a bolt hit and threw her back over the gated rail. Stunned, she would have fallen to her death on the spikes, had not a strong hand grabbed her vets and held her up. Looking up, she saw the dark form of Gannondorf, slowly pulling her up with one hand. With the other, he let loose a powerful blast of dark energy, cutting through the Phantom's defenses and rendering it helpless. As it fell to the ground, Link leapt forward and drove his sword straight through the demons chest. Pulling it out, he watched as it writhed in pain. Blue fire began to consume it, and within minutes, it had disappeared. Gannondorf pulled Starfire up and let her down gently on the floor. "Thank you." She gushingly said. "Yeah, well, we needed you to kill that think anyway." The Gerudo replied.
Before anyone could say anything more, a green glow began to spread from the floor and the ghostly image of a Kokiri girl appeared. Turning to Link, she spoke, "Well done, my friend." "Thank you Saria." Link answered, bowing slightly. "There is great hope from all of you. Even Gannondorf." The girl continued. "Thank you, but who are you?" Starfire asked. Smiling, the girl answered, "I am Saria, Sage of the Forest Temple. I owe you much thanks in freeing my Temple. I know now that the others will do the same. You are the equals of the Elementals." "I wonder what the bat would say to that." Gannondorf sneered. Saria turned to him then. "Changes swirl around you, Gerudo King." She said. "You are on a course to change yourself, though you will not recognize now." "I seek to change this land, not myself girl." The Gerudo replied. "You will not do it alone." Saria continued, unperturbed. Then, in a whisper that only Gannondorf could hear, she said, "You will be given the choice of her or the night. You will hold the blade in your hands and you will decide." Turning back to the others, she said, "You must journey to the Temple of Time, where the others will meet you at the conclusion of their quests. Good luck to you all." With that, she disappeared in a halo of green light, leaving them to ponder the next step of their journeys, both on the road and in their souls.
