Chapter 2 – Return of a Hero

Link rode through the ever-quiet Lost Woods. He even passed the exact spot where he was mauled by the Skull Kid. There was a sign he saw that stood straight ahead.

Straight Ahead:
THE LAND OF HYRULE

You are now leaving TERMINA

Link had never felt this feeling before. He felt a sensational home feeling as he overlooked the forest from the Lost Woods. He continued to walk forward and down a small dirt path.

He looked around and discovered he was in the Sacred Forest Meadow. He was home!

In the distance, Link spotted an old dungeon, the Forest Temple. He noticed that there

was now a staircase leading up to it, and saw that it was now a safe place where some of the

Kokiri went in their spare time. Link continued and rode out of the forest and into Hyrule Field.

Hyrule Field looked very different from last time he was there. There were an abundant number

of tall trees. Who planted them? Link acknowledged the absence of the Peahats other annoying

pests of Hyrule Field. Finally, Link came upon the drawbridge of Hyrule Castle. He dismounted

Epona. Epona ran off into the field.

Link began to walk into Hyrule Castle Market. The market had not changed at all. It was still all

happy music and people running around happily. How optimistic! Link took a quick look at the

sacred Temple of Time. He noticed a fence guarding the stairs to go up there. He walked over

there and found a sign.

The Temple of Time – Sanctuary of the Master Sword. NO

ADMITTANCE unless authorized by the Royal Family.

Link wondered why the temple was all of the sudden off limits to the public, but simply ignored

that and continued to head to Hyrule Castle. He got in and looked around. Where are the

guards? Not one guard was around. Was it apathy or was there simply nothing to worry about?

Link ran up to the door and knocked. No answer. He knocked again. No answer. Link was

confused.

"Hmm, maybe I should take the way I took the first time I came here," Link said to himself.

Backtracking to Link's very first visit to the castle, guards were present, so he had to sneak

through the waterway and then through the courtyard. Link ran over to the waterway and

jumped in, and crawled through. Link was back in the Hyrule Castle Courtyard, except this

time, there were no guards! That makes it a whole lot easier.

Link ran all the way through the long courtyard until he reached Zelda's area. There she

was, again, peeking through her window.


"Hi, Zelda!" Link said.

"Link?" said Zelda, "...LINK! YOU'RE BACK!"

"I'm back."

"Oh, my Gosh, it's seemed like so long! How was Termina?"

"It was a really nice land, however I had to save it from a falling moon."

"Falling moon?"

"Some child referred to as 'the Skull Kid' stole a powerful, yet evil mask from the Happy Mask Salesman and wore it, and it gave him superior powers. He then decided to try and make the moon fall, just to commit a mischievous act."

"Wow, sounds pretty harsh."

"Yeah, well I guess that makes me a two-time hero."

Zelda laughs.

"Well, it's good to have you back," said Zelda.

"It's good to be back...has anything changed?" asked Link.

"Has anything changed? Well to me I think EVERYTHING has changed!"

"Like what?"

"Well, Kakariko Village has rapidly grown, Death Mountain erupted, Gerudo Fortress has become a huge training camp, Lake Hylia is all of the sudden full of swimmers and fishers, and the Forest Temple has become the Kokiri's most popular hangout!"

"Wow, that's a lot."

"Sure is."

"Anything else new?"

"As a matter of fact, there's much more."

"Don't bother in telling me...it'd be more interesting to find out for myself."

Zelda laughs.

"Okay, Link, you have fun now."

Link ran out of the castle and rode over to Lake Hylia. As he entered, he looked around to see

a bunch of boats out in the water, not to mention a giant school of Zora.

Link then noticed that Pierre, his scarecrow was no longer in his usual spot. Probably

went off to explore Hyrule or something... Link discovered a new hut by the lake. It was a

boat rental hut- titled 'Hylia Marina.'


"Hey, green tunic boy!" yelled a voice.

"Huh?" said Link.

"How'd ya like ta rent one o' our boats? Only 50 rupees for a day!" said the marina worker.

"No thanks."

"All right then, you come back soon now."

Link continued to walk across the bridge to the warp point.

"Link?" called a voice.

It was Darunia! But what was he doing out at the lake?

"Darunia!" said Link.

"Long time no see! It's good to see Hyrule's hero again!"

Link chuckled. "Thanks, brother...anyway, what are you doing out here at the lake? I thought gorons couldn't swim."

"We can't; I just enjoy coming over here every once in a while to enjoy the lake weather...it can get pretty hot up in Death Mountain."

"Wow, that's a pretty long traveling distance."

"No, not really...gorons can go pretty fast when rolling."

"Oh yeah...I rolled around all the time when I was a goron."

"When were you a goron?"

Link shows Darunia his Goron Mask.

"These are the remnants of the legendary Termina goron, Darmani. He gave this to me," Link said.

"Darmani? I knew him! He actually used to live here in Hyrule, but that was probably before you were even born, Link."

"Wow, didn't know that."

"Yeah, he had to move to Termina though, all his family lived there and they wanted him to come live with them."

"Hmm," said Link, "So, how are the other gorons doing?"

"They're doing great. A lot of them are all of the sudden going to the Fire Temple to get certain rocks, because they got tired of going to Dodongo's Cavern every time."

"Wow, seems like every temple is turning into a hangout."

"Yeah, so is the water temple for the Zoras. You should go check it out, since it's right under us. I would go, but I'd sink the second I hit the water."

"No, I'll go some other time. I think I should be heading back to the forest now. Nice seeing you again."

"Take care, brother!"

Link got on Epona and rode back to Kokiri Forest. He entered the forest to greet his lifelong

friend, and the Forest Sage, Saria.

END OF CHAPTER 2