Hymn of the Forgotten

A/N: This chapter was a little hard to write for some reason, but I got through it. I wanted it to be a little bit longer than the previous two, but it turned out to be about the same. ::sigh:: Oh well...

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda or any of its characters.

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Chapter Three: Destroyer

Link was a little more than disturbed to see the skies still blackened as he began to cross Hyrule Field.

He was completely unarmed. His sword and other useless items were left at the ranch, while his shield, he had suddenly realized, was still at Ganon's Castle.

What good would it do? he thought. Nothing I do can save Hyrule now.

Navi twittered around his head, annoyed. "Link! What are you thinking? Go back to the ranch and get your sword! You're going to die out here!"

Link tried to swat the fairy away. "What does it matter anymore? I completely have no idea what to do. I have nothing to go after. Ganondorf's dead, yet... Yet there wasn't anyone there to send his spirit to the Evil Realm." He looked down and clenched his hands into fists. "Why did Zelda leave? Of all the times to get frightened and run off..." He gritted his teeth and began to walk, although his legs were like jelly and he knew they'd give up on him at any minute.

"Where are you going?" Navi asked, exasperated.

Link looked out ahead of him, blue eyes vacant. "Away, Navi. Far away from all of this."

Navi let out a frustrated breath before she turned to fly back to the ranch, muttering to herself along the way.

Malon stood in front of the bed, looking down at the powerful weapon.

She knew what happened before when she was at the ruins. She would not dare to touch the blade agin, at least not directly.

"I must bring this back to him," she said to himself as she untied the yellow bandana around her neck. She wrapped the cloth around the sword's hilt and lifted it.

It seemed a lot heavier than before, but then again Malon wasn't thinking about its weight when she held it last.

She had just stepped out of the house when she heard a familiar voice. "Hey, Rancher Girl!" The little voice called out.

Malon turned her head. "Navi?" She half-expected to see Link, but the fairy was alone. "Where's Link?" She asked, perturbed to see Navi without him.

"He's not far." Navi was speaking rapidly. "You have his sword? Good. Bring it to him. There's no time to ready a horse. Oh, I have a bad feeling about this."

"It's okay Navi, calm down. Just lead me to him and everything will be okay."

Navi sped off and Malon found herself sprinting to keep up.

Link traced his fingers along the cold stone wall at the far end of the gate to the Market. He didn't know how he ended up there, and didn't seem to care either.

What is this? Link's hand brushed up against something rough. He looked at the stone brick and noticed that it was covered with dirt and grime. His fingers brushed it away, and he looked at the brick closely. There were symbols carved in the stone that look sort of like...music notes. Another song? Link wondered as he took out his ocarina, which was something he would never be able to part with. He brought the instrument to his lips and began playing the notes inscribed on the wall. The pitch rose and fell intricately, creating a deep, haunting melody.

Tears began forming in Link's eyes as his fingers flew along the ocarina and the music soared about him and throughout the land.

Malon stopped running as the music reached her. "That song," she said quietly. "I've heard that song before."

Navi turned to her. "Link's just over there. Can you see him?"

Of course Malon saw him. He was just ahead of them standing by the small stream and the wall. The instrument that he called the Ocarina of Time was in his hands. He's the one creating the music, Malon realized. Her eyebrows furrowed. Why was it so familiar? She shifted the sword to her other hand and continued running towards him.

The song ended abruptly, and Link brought the ocarina down.

You have learned the Destroyer's Descend,a voice whispered through his ears.

Destroyer's Descend, huh, Link thought as he put his ocarina away. Sounds about right for whatever it was I played.

Off in the distance he heard a sudden scream. Link turned around and found himself staring into the eyes of a hideous giant reptile.

Its scales were a dark blue, almost black color, and when the beast unfurled its wings, its body gave off a brilliant green light.

It's protected by something, Link thought. He reached for his sword but instead he grabbed a handful of air.

That was when Link felt true panic for the first time.

He backed up slowly until his back hit the wall. The dragon tossed its long neck into the air and screeched.

"Oh no, oh no," Malon wasn't able to say anything else. She glanced down at Link's sword and back up at the dragon. Link can't see me. Neither can the dragon. I must...I must...

"Use the sword!" Navi screamed to her, speaking Malon's thoughts out loud.

Malon felt everything drain away from her as a new feeling of cold washed through. The dragon's tail whipped out from behind, nearly missing the girl and fairy.

"Between the wings!" Navi was saying. "Attack it there!"

Malon gulped as she looked at the dragon's massive body. How am I supposed to get up there? Climb his back? Just then the beast reared the front of his body into the air, and Malon saw her chance.

In blind determination she gripped the Master Sword in both hands and charged at the dragon. She was sure Link saw her as she raised the weapon over her head. She was positive that he saw her when the blade met mist, and she fell through the dragon and down to the hard ground.

An apparition.

Link crawled over to her and held her, yes, he held her close to his body. Malon felt his heart beat faster and faster as his hold on her grew tighter.

Then Malon heard what he saw. Laughter. Cold, brittle, it seeped into her bones and made her shiver. She turned her head as Link said, with a little uncertainty, "Zelda?"

She seemed no more than an apparition herself, for the black mist that lingered around her passed through her body and continued back around. Her garments were black save for the golden Triforce symbol on her skirt and the blood-red crown that rested on top of her golden head.

"Such fire," Zelda said, pointing a slender finger at Malon. "You would no doubt be useful on the battlefield." Her pale hand reached out to her. "Come girl, kneel before your queen and give me that sword."

Malon began moving involuntarily away from Link, who was staring at the both of them in numb shock. Her legs buckled in front of the dark lady, but the arm holding the sword was still clenched to her side.

"Give in, girl, and I will knight you during this glorious moment."

It took all of Malon's strength to move her mouth and use her voice. "Link!" She gasped. "Get this sword away from me! Take it out of my hands!"

Link scrambled towards her and pushed Malon away from Zelda's grasp while yanking the sword from her tight grip. He stood up and positioned the sword in front of him. "Get away from us," he told the dark form. "And bring the real Zelda back."

The woman began laughing again. "How much more real do you need?" Her grin was fierce and unnerving. "You need to accept what you see in front of you Link, my love." The mist rose over her and she vanished completely.

Link and Malon stared at the dissipating mist in complete silence.

:::And to the reviewers:::

The Arc: A good solid plot line? I hope.... just kidding, I've got a pretty good idea where this story is heading...I think... :p

DarkShadow001: I will! Thanks for reviewing

chel bel: I'm glad you like it. It feels nice to know that people are enjoying what I write.

Anathe: Hehe. Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you're liking it.

Sasha: Thanks!! :D

Continue the nice reviews!