Author's Note: I've managed to grab a little inspiration from a sources and will try to continue writing while giving it more of a logical stand point, such as temples being converted into forts instead of them just being filled with deadly traps.
WEBSITE: Be sure to check out the dedicated website for lots of nifty information on the story.
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Forest Temple
Sheik had appeared for as long was needed before vanishing just as fast leaving him with only a song fresh in his mind and a friend trapped within the crumbling walls of the Forest Temple. Link breathed as he looked up at the stairway that lead up from where he was had been destroyed at some point during his slumber, obviously to keep the childish Kokiri from entering. One had the bravery to confront the evil that had poisoned this once holy place and she was now somewhere inside probably hurt and scared. The thought alone made Link's blood boil as he retrieved the hook shot from his belt and aimed up at the branch of an old tree.
The an unexplainable light flowed through the small gem just above the grappling spike and a fiery red dot poised itself on the ground as he squeezed the trigger on the weapon firing off the spring loaded contraption. The hook dug into the branch and the chain retracted yanking him up sharply, releasing the trigger caused the hook to disengage and fall from the branch. He landed on what was left of the stairway as the chain snapped back into its housing. Navi followed up to Link taking refuge under his cloak which he still had with him, held at his neck by a small broach. He breathed as he checked the Master Sword and then moved forward into the temple.
The place was ancient. More than likely it was some sort of a cathedral and home to the original sage of the forest, one of seven that so long ago sealed the triforce away so that no man might ever lay hands upon it. Saria and Link used to play in the temple in better times, so he knew the place pretty well up until one reached the main hall and the gardens. Every other door was closed off by lock and chain and it was not their place to bring damage to a place so many generations older than themselves. Obviously the evil king's minions had no such respect.
The entry way had a pair of large trees growing up the ceiling which Link remembered quite well, he took notice of a number of items that had been set up such as torches and lanterns and now there was a thick scent of Moblin stink. Link knew the basic inhabitants of Gannondorf's forces as he had learned from his studies of the war which had happened nearly two decades ago. From what he had learned from his studies and from what he had witnessed at the battle of Castle Hyrule he could almost guarantee that the evil king had amassed an army from other areas.
Link crept forward into the temple knowing that this place was probably overrun, he would have to use his knowledge of the place and his stealth to get around. Navi lowered her glow as well until her feminine form could be seen perched on Link's shoulder, which was a rare occasion as normally the light was blinding. Link breathed as he slowly walked down the first hall that would lead to the wide open main hall where he and Saria had often played in his youth. He ducked down and softly closed the doors as he noticed two guards patroling, they were just about the ugliest things he had ever seen.
These disgusting little creatures at first glance were short and stubby and he could pick up their stink from where he was. Their skin was leathery and appeared to have been coated in the dirt of the earth and their own natural oils, both of which pointed out their lack of hygiene. Their eyes were beedy and seemed to sink back into their skulls just as menacing as their uneven and jagged teeth which poked along the sides of their mouths. Their faces were unique, some twisted and malformed. It was as if some amateur sculptor had molded them in the dark with quick drying clay. These smelly and filth ridden creatures were obviously of the bad lands.
"Orcs! I hate Orcs!" Navi half shouted into Link's ear at the sight of them much hated monstrosities. Link had pretty much made that guess upon first glance as they looked like they could qualify for the most filthy race of savages ever to walk Hyrule. Considering Gannondorf's taste for strength as well as numbers, it was likely the more powerful Uruk-hai were also in his employment within the forest temple. Link breathed as they walked around the round hall and eventually they moved to speak to one another "Nuts and berries again. Why can't we have some meat?" one asked the other.
The other one brutishly reached up the strike the other one upside the head "Because Lord Mirkwood told us to stay away from that village. When the Dark Sage gives an order we damn well better follow it." he said clearly having fear of this Mirkwood. Link raised an eyebrow at what they addressed him as and his mind wandered. He cast any hesitation aside knowing that he didn't have time to wonder about every little thing these inferior creatures said, because it didn't take long for them to bring up what he wanted. The hungry orc growled "Like I care? What about that prisoner they are keeping in the back of the armory. She doesn't need her legs does she?" he asked. Without warning a fist struck him from behind.
Link quickly ducked out of site as another one showed up, this one resembled the orcs, but was clearly superior to them. This creature stood taller and probably had one head up on Link, his skin was jet black and relatively cleaner. The creature's face seemed relatively better structured than his two counter parts and his body was in a great deal better shape. A large broad sword and fresh armor was present in place of the Orcs battle worn blades and leather armor. He took notice of the distinctive eyes and fangs on the monster and growled "Uruk-Hai." he breathed to Navi who nodded towards him.
The monster spoke in a gruff and clearly superior voice "I don't care what you think of him, whatever Mirkwood says is absolute. Lord Gannondorf brought him here himself so obviously he is somebody who has earned the king's respect. You anger him and it will be on your own heads." the monster demanded before dropping them both on their posteriors, on which they moved back. The Uruk-hai then pointed to the west room that had once been locked "When you two morons are done with your patrol go and clean up the armory. If you want meat so bad go hunt down a few of those wolves that are roaming around this place." he said before stepping back through the west door.
Link breathed as he looked to Navi and motioned towards the small shrine structure in the middle of the room where four different torches were, none of them were lit however. Navi nodded and took off flaring up her light, she buzzed past on just as it passed by Link's hiding place and it looked following Navi's light as she headed to his partner. Link took his chance removing his cloak and drapped it quickly over the first villians head pulling him down. The orc flailed with its arms unable to get screams through the thick cloak, Link reacted by pounding his cranium into the wall sending him into a forced sleep.
The other followed Navi's light mesmerized until he heard a pounding sound from behind and looked back to see his partner slumped over with a cloak covering him. He rushed up to him shaking him "What happened?! Get up!" he shoute. Link looked from his place against one of the torches which had effectively hid him. He breathed as he drew the spike shaped deku knife from his belt the old runes shining lightly as he moved forward and reached out. The orc was forcefully grabbed around the neck and tried to move when he noticed a knife was brought to his throat, he froze raising his hands.
Link pressed the razor knife to the monster's windpipe as a warning before speaking keeping his voice low "Where is Saria? The girl who you mentioned earlier." the monster swallowed raising one hand to point to the west door. He gasped out in his haggard voice the holding cell was through a door in the armory and that it over looked the garden. Link looked up at the door and spoke a thanks before taking the knife away, but before the monster could call out or go for his blade Link attacked. His right hand shot up grabbing him around the jaw before hurling him back towards the ground where his head cracked hard against the stone floor. It they weren't dead they were unconscious.
The young warrior feeling the burn from adrenalin took the time to drag them back to the corner of one of the short stairways and put out a few of the torches casting the area in shadow. Taking a small ring of keys from one of them he moved up into the armory. He entered the door slowly keeping the knife in his right hand and his left ready to go for his sword, he didn't want extra weight as he tried to move around. He looked around holding up the straight bladed deku knife which the Kokiri called a sacred artifact, it had been battered by his travels already and he needed a new one. Sadly, most the weapons in the armory were used and worn and the only weapons in good shape were sized up for the moblins.
Link stepped over looking through the random weapons that were placed on tables and along the wall, just there to be grabbed whenever they were needed. There was a staircase that lead to the second floor, but Link wasn't about to proceed so soon. While he wanted to get in and get out as quickly as possible he knew that he couldn't afford to move ahead without knowing of Saria's safty. Knowing she had to come first he moved towards the only other door in the armory, the one that would apparently lead to the small dungeon of the old palace. He tread softly taking the Deku Knife from its leather sheath once again, he didn't want to use the Master Sword. They might end up sensing its light.
Link opened the door and moved through it quickly his feet gliding over the floor before he forced himself back into a small alcove where a cell was located. He looked inside and didn't see anything. Suddenly voices spoke up "How much longer do we have to keep feeding her?" the voice of an Uruk-Hai could be heard just down the hall obviously he spoke of Saria. Not wanting to be caught he pulled the loose cell door open and moved inside slowly finding that there was no lock on it, he watched the hall through the small line of bars in the heavy oak door. A gruff voice spoke obviously coming from a much larger creature "Until Mirkwood has broken the seal of this place and taken the girl's place she cannot die, luckily the Phantom guards the seal so we have no need to watch her closely."
Link could see the shadow of the angered Uruk-hai from the torch light "Screw that! We've been going on stale bread, nuts and barries for the last six weeks. I want meat! I want kokiri meat!" he said before giving a battle cry. Link's eyes went wide as there was a sound of metal striking flesh and then the crack of bone, followed by the gargling of blood. Link then instinctively stepped back as the frame of the Uruk-hai was hurled down the hall smashing against the wall before falling against the wall near the door, barely alive. Link breathed as he watched something step forward which made him back up a step.
This moblin was clearly a step up from the dull witted creatures he had encountered in the meadow, this thing stood just as tall and wielded a large club of solid metal and stone. The Uruk-hai screamed as the monster raised his club and then brought it down crushing the creature who had gone foolish with hunger. The monster hefted up his club and then began to move back to the end of the hallway, Link knew that he had to make his move before it was too late and jumped from the cell brandishing the ancient dagger.
The monster turned around as he heard Link's feet and swung his sword down at the floor, Link jumped up kicking off the wall as it passed and tackled the monster's head sending him slamming back into the ground. The monster groaned as Link jumped up and it attempted to stand and shout out something, Link moved hard turning and plunging down his knife at the monster's windpipe. The blade just barely managed to pierce through the leathery flesh of the moblin's neck cutting of his shouts. A hand flew up to remove the knife, but Link held it in as long as he could before he was roughly pushed away.
The blade dragged in the monster's throat before getting snarred between a pair of bones which resulted in the blade snapping off. Link breathed as he jumped up and slammed his palm into the knife's broken blade forcing it in more. Blood sprayed across Link's tunic as he forced it in, the moblin's arm reached towards the ceiling as he choked and then went limp his hand falling to the ground. Link breathed as he stood up and reached down yanking the blade of the broken deku knife from the monster's wind pipe. "Mido isn't gonna like this." he breathed knowing he had just damaged one of the Kokiri's treasures.
"Who? Who's there?" a voice asked from the back of the room. Link looked up as he heard the voice, it was almost exactly as he remembered it though there wasn't a time he could remember that fear had actually effected it as such. He looked up to the only door in the back room which the armored moblin had obviously been guarding, there was no light from the inside which worried him knowing that the Kokiri lost their strength when disconnected from nature. He rushed up throwing his body hard against the door of the cell "Saria! Are you alright?" Link breathed moving one hand through the barred window of the door. "L-Link?!" the voice responded and Link felt a small hand reach to rest against his fingers which gripped one of the bars "Link? It can't be you...You were supposed to have been killed at the battle of Castle Hyrule. For the sake of the Deku Tree, where have you been all these years?" she questioned her soft hand gripping his tightly. Link tried to see through the bars but found that there was not nearly enough light to see inside.
Link spoke with his head against the door, his voice torn with sorrow "Saria, I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. So much has happened and I have no clue what has been happening these last seven years. I wanted to save this world from that Gerudo bastard, I almost did but then...its too much to explain right now Saria. Get away from the door." her hands left his and she got back and Link slammed his shoulder hard into the heavy oak door.
Link came back holding his shoulder in pain as the door refused to give way, he stepped back and gave the door a sharp kick in the center but it refused to move. He breathed before placing his body against the door admitting that he wouldn't be able to break down the door through force alone. Saria's voice came from the cell "Your going to have to get the keys from one of the monster's in this place. He is called Merik and should be guarding the treasure shrine at the back of the main hall. Be careful he is a very crafted swordsman and a Stalfos." Link cursed his luck lightly.
He had encountered the small skeletons that littered the fields, had fought past two of them to win the Kokiri Sword and had defeated Shackle with Darien's assistance, but he wasn't sure how he was going to fight another one of them. It was likely that one in this area would be a former knight in his past life and probably a lot more skilled. The fact that it was under the possession of Gannondorf's dark magic didn't help either. Saria spoke to him, trying her best to help "If you can take off the head you should be able to finish it off without much trouble. Listen, they disarmed me when they caught me, I need you to get my stuff back from the treasure shrine so I can help you." she said. He nodded and moved off.
Link crept back into the main hall to find that the same Uruk-Hai who had threatened the two orcan guards had returned and was shouting for them to report, he slowly drew his sword and stepped closer. He just managed to get through the center precipace with the four unlit torches when he was spotted by the wary monster "Hey! Who in the blazes are you?!" it shouted before Link drew out his sword and rushed at the monster. The quickly raised the much broader sword in its possession and swung at Link who sliced up in turn as hard as he could, without a shield it was all he could do that didn't involve taking the blow or retreating.
The Master Sword moved through the air as light and swift as a reed, a pale blue aura following his blade before it seemed to empower the holy blade as it connected with the sound of clashing metal. Link looked up and his eyes were wide as blood was on his blade and the floor. The monster's rusty blade dropped from the hilt and the monster fell over, bisected at its chest by the almighty Master Sword. Blood sprayed from the large cut out section and cooled upon the floor at Link's feet. The Hylian's eyes fell to his new blade as it glowed and the blood was slowly evaporated from it, it was as if the very blood of the evil creature was unable to bear the Master Sword's light. He breathed as he looked north and charged towards the door knowing that stealth wasn't going to last with blood all over the place.
Link stopped himself right as he made his way through the door that would lead him to the Treasure Shrine where this jail keeper should have been on guard duty. He moved down the short hall pushing open another door before holding up the Master Sword which had called back the aura along its blade. There was no sign of any kind of a guard present, but when Saria had called this place a treasure shrine she had no been exaggerating about it. The walls were lined with several ancient tapestries all made with cut and sewn rupees, there was also a few chests filled with delicacies of the forest. There was a large chest in the back left corner filled with raw gold and rupees and another in the corner filled with flora and fauna of the Deku Tree.
Link breathed as he noticed a pair of chests in the back corner of the room which appeared to be locked, he guessed that one was probably Saria's equipment she had brought with her. He checked the lock and saw that it also needed a key and couldn't just be broken. Navi watched as Link attempted to slip the blade of the broken knife inside when something caught her attention from the corner. She made quick her actions to fly up flashing a bloody red. Before she could sound the warning Link had jumped up rolling to the side as a blade cut down into the chest's surface. Link stood to his feet grabbing his sword and raising his right arm which still had the cheap metal bracer attached to it.
Splintering the center of the chest's lid was a large broad sword and attached to it was a rather sizeable Stalfos knight. Clearly once a Hyrulian royal knight from examination of the armor, he had probably wandered into the forest years ago and become lost. His corpse reanimated by the pyreflies it was likely that he had possessed a furious rage upon the time of his death, likely for the Hyrulian King for sending him to such a forsaken place. The aura of the spirits that preserved his life could be seen hovering behind his still present eyes which clashed with the ivory white of the skull. Link narrowed his eyes "What are those things?" he breathed seeing the strange lights flying around the monster. Navi spoke "The negative pyreflies that haunt Hyrule. Vengeful spirits is what remains of a person's inner darkness upon their death, when one cannot release the tension of their lives upon such a time their anger will forbid them from reaching paradise. They become envious to the living, sometimes even hateful. They are the very reason Hyrule has such a monster problem."
Link always knew that wild monsters and fiends roamed the country sides and wildlands of Hyrule, and he had seen those strange lights flying around the forest but they were white and yellow light while these things were clearly black and purple, like a slice of darkness. The living created their own misery with their pointless conflict, it explained why several monsters could never be whipped out. The Stalfos looked at both of them and did the most surprising thing, he gave a sigh. The monster spoke clearly "Hylian! Leave this place at once! I have no wish to fight one of my own, and the great Gannondorf's wrath isn't something to take lightly!" Link narrowed his eyes before going on the attack slamming the metal plated bracer into the monster's sword and then following up with his blade "Then get out of my way!" he shouted.
The skeletal monster having given his warning, roared as he lashed out with his shield getting Link to back off as the Master Sword nicked one of his shoulders trying to get to the neck. Link grunted as he ducked and the sword flew over his head and he then attempted to get his blade to the undefended spinal column. The shield came down right in time to stop the sword, he heard a haggard laugh before he was smashed across the face by the shield and then the Stalfos moved to him. Link tried to move from the wall and was to his feet when suddenly the rusty blade pierced into his shoulder. The mythril mail caught the blade but did little to shield the blow, after seven years it was probably beginning to experience wear and tear.
The Stalfos laughed again as it raised its blade with both arms "Link! Move!" Navi screamed as the monster brought the blade down. Link saw his opening and sprung to this feet holding his right arm to shield himself, he slammed himself into the monsters meatless abdomen bowing him over which sent his sword to shatter on the stone ground. Link then pulled up his own blade from his position which straddled the monsters missing stomach and slammed the Master Sword's point into the monster's skull. It roared and convulsed before shattering, the bones fell away from one another, completely lifeless.
Navi flew around Link's head as he slowly sheathed his sword and looked down at the metal plated gauntlet Sheik had given him, it was beaten up and was hardly useful anymore which prompted him to toss it away allowing it to clatter against the floor. He reached down to the bones taking a small ring of six small silver keys and looked back towards the chest trying two before getting the right one. He forced open the chest and was a little surprised by what he found inside, it was beginning to come clear that she was still around and had made sure that at least one of his friends would be able to defend herself.
From the chest he pulled out the Kokiri Calibur and the blue Kokiri Shield both of which had been left with Zelda seven years ago, obviously she had at some point returned them to the forest. Reaching deeper he retrieved something that he never expected to see in the hands of a Kokiri, he thought that the Deku Tree had banned the creation of such weaponry. In his hands he held a short range, compact version of the Fairy Bow. He knew that after the war ended most of them were burned to prevent stupid actions, still it appeared that Saria had kept hold of at least one of these well crafted weapons.
Link also removed a well decorated quiver of around thirty arrows, another Deku dagger which was clearly the one Zelda had been using, and the familiar wind piece that was Saria's ocarina. Finding nothing more that looked useful in the chest, Link closed it and stepped over the other one which also bore a lock which used to same key. Opening the small oak chest Link looked inside finding something that looked like a rope and grappling hook set, while the hook shot was one thing he figured this might come in handy later on. Feeling better prepared he moved back to free Saria and get to the bottom of what was happening.
Next Chapter: Restless Spirits
Upon freeing his long time friend, Link is told exactly what has been going on within the Forest Temple sense Gannondorf reinforced his search for the Triforce. Four restless spirits hold the key to the inner sanctum where the chosen must go. In this case it would be her, but the Evil King has sent an interloper to take her place as a Sage, a fallen Kokiri known as Mirkwood.