Chapter 11 - What Lies Within Hyrule

Link quietly strolled into Kokiri Forest. It seemed VERY quiet, and as many would say, too quiet. What else was weird was that no one was around. At least not outside...Maybe they all decided to stay inside...but WHY?

Link's first instinct was to go to Saria's home. So, he did. Link quietly walked into her house.

"Saria! Hey, Saria!"

No answer

"Saria! Are you in here? It's me, Link."

Still, no answer.

Link walked outside and ran over to the Kokiri store. Being open all day and all night, someone was bound to be in there. Unfortunately, there was a large board covering the entrance and a sign was in front of it. It read:

Welcome to the Kokiri Shop!

We are currently closed for renovations and improvements.

We are working as fast as we can and we should be finished within

the next couple of months. Sorry for any inconvenience.

The nearest shop is the Bazaar in Hyrule Castle Market.

-The Management

Link continued to look around, he even went into his own house. No sign of anyone. But then, Link had an idea. Link ran over the the Great Deku Tree. The monstrous tree still lay in its dead, dormant state from when Link had defeated Queen Gohma many years before. On the other hand, the Deku Tree Sprout whom Link had met after attaining the Forest Medallion had somewhat grown.

"Link! Is that you?" said the sprout.

"Yes, it's me. Long time, no see."

"Wow! It sure is great to see you? How was Termina?"

"Rather interesting...how has the forest been for you?"

"Oh, never better!"

There was a brief silence.

"Hey, sprout, I just came in to the forest. Where is everybody?"

"They are gone."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't you know, Link? Ever since you defeated Ganondorf, they actually all began to grow up. Before that, Kokiri were kids all their lives, but after the curse was broken, the kids began gradually aging, but not as fast as other people."

"Well, where did they go, and are they coming back?"

"They come back every now and then. I know Saria got a job at Gerudo Fortress so she is there alot of the time, and poor ol' Mido is now the professor's assistant at Lake Hylia."

"Well, don't you ever get lonely?"

"I'm fine. I get many visitors, depite what most people think."

"Oh. Well, I'm gonna go, nice talking to you."

"Take care, Link."

Ganondorf lay quietly in the abstract Sacred Realm. The entire area was empty and white, and Ganondorf subtly hovered above the imaginary ground.

"I have got to get out of here," Ganondorf said to himself.

"You can't," said a voice in his head.

"SHUT UP! I can do whatever I want! I have the Triforce of Power!"

Ganondorf illuminated the triforce and emitted millions of lightning bolts in every direction, and the beams continued on into infinity. The bolts were completely ineffective.

"When I get out of this prison, Link, Zelda, and the six sages will pay a price they thought they would never have to pay!"

"But...you can't get out of here! The realm is unbreakable!" said the unknown voice.

"You don't know anything!" screamed Ganondorf.

Ganondorf's ear-shattering scream shook the realm, yet he heard no echo.

"The only way you can get out of the realm is if someone opens it from the outside. And not just anyone, but the Hero of Time!" said the voice.

"Link is the only one who can open the realm?"

"Yes. And Link as well as the entire kingdom of Hyrule want to get the Triforce of Power back!"

"Excellent, when they attempt to retrieve it, I will make my way out of this purgatory!"

"It's not as easy as it sounds!"

"Nothing is hard for me!"

The unknown voice stopped responding. Ganondorf continued to hopelessly shoot energy balls in every direction, but that did nothing...except made a lot of noise...

It actually became so loud, it could be heard from outside the realm.

"What was that?" yelled Zelda in the castle.

"What?" asked the king.

"I just heard a loud thunder-like noise, coming from the Temple of Time. It he...escaping?"

"No...those are just the sounds of unknown sources coming from hidden portals in the Temple and beyond. When no one is around them is when they make the most noise."

"Funny...I did not know that."

"Understandable."

Link entered the room.

"Hey, Zelda."

"Hi, Link."

"And your majesty," said Link, "hey, Zelda, I was just in the forest. No one is there."

"Really, why not?"

"According to the Deku Tree Sprout, they all have begun to grow up and are exploring."

"That's great!"

"Any news on Ganondorf?"

"No, we're just laying low for a little bit."

"Oh...I was just coming to check up...see you around."

"Bye, Link."

Link exited and ran out into the front pasture. He randomly noticed the portal to the Great Fairy's fountain, and curiosity led him in there.

"It has been so long since I saw the Hyrule Castle Great Fairy. I wonder how she's been."

Link entered the fountain, and ran up to the Triforce and played Zelda's Lullaby. The melody was very soothing. Link had not heard the sacred melody since he left Hyrule. It was mesmerizing to hear it again.

Although Link played the tune, the Great Fairy did not appear. Instead, a hole opened, and a bright light eminated from the hole. Link was almost hypnotized by the hole and mindlessly walked over to it, and fell through. Link was falling.

Falling.

Falling.

Falling.

Link continued to fall and fall.

Some time later, Link awakened on a light grass. The atmosphere was still very white. Luckily, Link saw a sign in the distance. He had to read it.

You're probably wondering where you are.

You are in the land between dimensions, the gateway to

the world and far beyond.

WARNING:

Some of the portals to other worlds have no exit or extreme consequences.

Be extremely careful.

THE EXIT BACK TO HYRULE CAN BE FOUND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.

Link was wondering how many places the portals led to. The white atmosphere began to clear up, and it turned out Link was just in a room. (Similar to the "infinity" room of the Water Temple where Link battled Dark Link)

There were about 50 portals total, and each door had a glowing white light. Link ran up to the first one. The sign read:

TO THE LAND OF TERMINA

South Clock Town

Link continued to walk, and he saw more and more signs:

TO THE CHAMBER OF THE SAGES

Notice: Uninvited/unrecognized guests not allowed

TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SHADOW TEMPLE

EXTREME DANGER: No exit. Chamber of the evil souls of Hyrule. Anyone who enters will regret it.

TO THE UNKNOWN GROTTO

Grotto impossible to find in open parts of Hyrule. Entrance not recommended

TO THE GREAT FAIRY DOMAIN

Fairies or guests of fairies only

Finally, Link came upon a sign that really stood out.

TO THE SACRED REALM

Warning: Resting place of Ganondorf. Only members of the Royal Family can manipulate this realm.

DANGER: NO EXIT! ENTRANCE GREATLY DISCOURAGED!

Link could not control himself, he began to walk toward the portal. Something was pulling him in.

"Link! NO!" yelled a nearby voice.

Link snapped out of it and ran from the portal to the middle of the room. Who was in there with him? Link looked around, frightened, and came upon a short, green figure.

It was Saria.

END OF CHAPTER 11