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: Profiles for Link Masters, Princess Zelda, Gannondorf Dragmire, Vincent Dragmire, Mido Underhill, Saria Greenhill, Genis Mirkwood will be added within the week.
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Restless Spirits
Getting back Saria's stuff was one thing. Getting back to her would be another. Link kept this in mind as he slowly moved back into the armory closing the door behind him, keeping his knees bent and keeping his body out of view he moved forward. Link could see the door that would lead to the hall where Saria was being kept and was about to move forward when he heard a voice "Please forgive me. I'll sort this out!" a cowardly voice said. Link looked up and dropped down bringing his back against a small wall keeping himself out of view. The conversation was coming from the stairs.
He breathed as he reached to his side taking out the flat blade that was left from the broken Deku dagger holding up the mirror polished blade to see what was going on. The image wasn't perfect but it was good enough as Link could see an orc standing there near the bottom of the stairs "I don't need your excuses, somebody is in here and it is likely one of those rebels. We cannot afford any more delays. Whoever it is, find them and destroy them." he ordered. The reflection was that of a green clad blurb that he couldn't make out. The echoing of footsteps revealed the fact that he had retreated to the next level. Link prepared himself.
The orc stepped around the corner and Link shot out a foot just as the monster looked up and took his feet out from under him. He sent his left arm up which held the metal shard and cut into the creature's throat, he convulsed and then died. Link removed the blade and winced as the blade was threatening to cut through his leather gauntlet, the knife could not be salvaged. He breathed as he pocketed the knife and reached down taking the orc's short sword, it wasn't as good as the knife, but the Master Sword was too large to swing in closed quarters. Taking a breath he moved towards Saria's cell.
Link stepped through the door and right up to Saria's cell where he saw a pair of small hands against the small window of bars "Link! Are you alright?" she asked clearly still concerned over the Stalfos. Link breathed as he searched the keys "Yeah. Seems he had qualms about slaying a member of his former race. Give me a second and I'll get you out of there." he said as he inserted the third key and the door's lock could be heard snapping out of place. Link reached out a hand and pulled back the door and looked down lightly expecting to still be looking model Kokiri girl. He was in for a surprise.
His sapphire eyes moved up from the well developed body that they had landed upon towards the face, the green cloths remained constant on the girl but there was also leather armor in place that didn't allow him to fully see just how much she had changed. As his eyes moved up towards her head he took notice that she had clearly gotten taller and was likely to have been a lot less childish. His eyes landed on those familiar emerald eyes which were just brushed by matching hair which seemed to be unique to her alone. Other than these similarities the young girl was gone, replaced by this rebellious looking young woman.
The Deku Tree's explanation on what happens to the Kokiri when they leave the forest rang in his mind, how they would begin to age when they spent an extended amount of time away from the forest. Thus Saria possessed a much more grown up appearance since leaving the forest, despite her truly older age she was still younger physically. At this point her appearance somewhere around the age of fifteen which made him suspect that her and Mido, who had appeared the same age had obviously tried to do something when Gannondorf took over. Still he had to admit that both of them had turned out rather well, especially Mido.
Link swallowed lightly having forgotten that she had left the forest to follow him to the castle, at this point it seemed to be a very distant memory. She didn't speak as he looked into her eyes and he forced himself to break the silence "Saria...is that you?" he questioned, clearly in shock. Navi then giggled and pointed out to Link that she was just as surprised. Link stepped up and grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her, he had never really told her of his heritage and it was likely that she was in a little bit of shock. Saria shook her head and regained herself looking at him "Link?" she questioned, before throwing herself into his arms "What took you so long?!" she shouted as she gripped him tightly.
The ill-fated Link breathed in the familiar forest scent as he embraced his frightened and relieved friend who had clearly been in here a while. She coughed lightly as she gripped his neck trembling lightly, Navi looked down at the two of them and couldn't help but shed a tear, she hardly wanted to question what kind of torture they had put the poor girl through. Saria whimpered out that she had been there three months and was constantly being tormented for information on her inherited role as a sage, which she was unable to achieve. Link allowed her to regain her composure before stepping back.
She breathed and looked up at him, the different between their eyes was at least twelve inches. Link spoke as he proceeded to pulled her equipment from where he had strapped it on his back "Exactly what are they trying to do anyway? Why do they need you?" handing it to her in pieces, leaving her to expertly equip one after another. Link breathed as Saria held up the bow in her left hand the drew back the string with her right, she released it probably looking for any flaws that had developed during her imprisonment "What in the world has been happening Saria?" Saria looked up at the new and improved Link as he seemed on the verge of screaming "What happened to the forest and to the rest of the country?" he questioned her.
The mentally older girl gave a light sigh before touching Link on the shoulder gripping lightly as if taking in assurance that he wasn't an illusion "Seven years ago there was some sort of an uprising outside of the forest and a man called Gannondorf took a tyrannical rule of this country. He has been trying to extend his rule to the point he can completely govern every area of Hyrule, he intends to do this by taking control of the seven seals." Link crossed his arms requesting she tell him more. "The seven seals are what maintains the balance of the world, each of them are now calling out for a new sage to take control of their power. Gannondorf has sent his own to usurp the power of the seals, in this he will be able to control the way the balance flows." she explained.
Link shrugged his shoulders "It doesn't explain what you are doing here, Saria. Its dangerous here." Saria breathed before she crossed her arms "Certain rules apply to taking control of a seal. One must truly understand the kind of power the seal regulates and they must also be of the area's dominant race which rely on the seal for their way of life." Link narrowed his eyes at this revelation "So this Mirkwood is a Kokiri. Wonderful." he growled not liking the thought of a Kokiri turning on his own like this.
Saria looked up as she finished strapping the sword, shield, knife and quiver to her body and continued to explain "The seal of the forest is located in the Inner Sanctum of the temple, but the way is blocked by the four guardians of this temple. They must be defeated before one can unlock the way to the Inner Sanctum. Mirkwood has had no luck and neither have I, the best course of action right now is to kill him before he can usurp the seal." she said outlining a rather simple plan of finding him and taking him out of the picture "You have no reluctance in destroying one of your own?" he questioned.
Saria looked back at him with an angry glare "Mirkwood plans to give control of the forest to Gannondorf, the very man responcible for the death of the Great Deku Tree. You told me incase you don't remember." she said. Link nodded his head and gave a sigh. The years had changed Saria into a warrior as she was forced to stand up to the forceful rule that Gannondorf had invoked upon the land. Rauru suspected that she was the one being called to be a sage, but with such a vengeful darkness shrouding her, would the seal accept her as its sage. Link breathed before he looked to her "Lead the way Saria." she moved away from the prison.
Saria moved out of the prison and into the armory and looked towards the stairwell that was at the other side where Mirkwood had been before Link got her out "Mirkwood is probably in the south east corner of the second floor, he has been reading over the history of the sages. It was when I first confronted him." she explained running a hand up her arm where her sleeve was slashed. Link looked at her as she spoke "He is much more powerful than you would expect and uses a powerful powder on his blade that invokes sleep. Follow my lead." she said before moving up the stairs.
They moved up to the second level of the armory where they found five Uruk-hai arguing about something that involved Mirkwood and his refusal to let them invade the village just to the south. Saria narrowed her eyes as they slobbered over the thought of Kokiri meat and raised her bow releasing a bolt from the compact weapon, it flew through the air and struck one in the back of its head tearing right through. They turned around just as Link drew his sword and brought it back challenging them, the remaining four rushed Link with their blades. One jumped up and was quickly taken down another arrow, Link took advantage of another surprise and ran him through.
Link drew his blade back and swung up to take off the head of another sending it rolling across the chamber, his sword then came back to stab behind him into the abdomen of another Uruk-hai. It grunted convulsing before another arrow was sent through its skull, Link twisted and struck it to the ground no sooner than its life faded. Link breathed as the Master Sword burned the blood from its blade and was returned to its sheath, Saria approached slipping another arrow onto the bow string "Your pretty handy with that thing." Link commented.
Saria nodded to him with a smile as she stepped forward and looked towards a door that was right before her she spoke "The winding hall is one of the temple trickier defenses, the weak minded quickly succumb to the illusions their eyes are forced to see. It doesn't work on Kokiri, but your kind are another story." she said as she pushed open the door. Saria then reached out and grabbed Link's hand holding it firmly in her own "I don't know what would be seen by your eyes, so just follow me and whatever you do, don't open them." she said. Link didn't know what was going on, but squeezed his eyes shut "Alright. Lead the way." he requested. Saria walked on and Link followed.
Link didn't know what could possibly be so scary about a hallway, but he knew that the temple was built as a haven to a Kokiri Sage. He trusted Saria and wasn't going to question what she felt was the best course of action as she had already been in the temple and knew her way through the temple. His feet moved on solid wooden floors from what he could tell and the urge to take a peek was heavy on his shoulders, he didn't though heeding Saria's warning. Her grasp was tight and demanding and he could feel the roughened surface of her palm, she had obviously been through a lot since Gannondorf's forces began occupying the forest.
The sound of an opening door broke his thoughts and Saria told him it was okay as the door was closed slowly. Link opened his eyes and found himself in another chamber that didn't appear to be occupied, it was completely barren aside from a table that was in the center which appeared to have a strange pentagram carved into it. Link brushed a hand over it and looked at the dust that was left behind "Does this mean anything to you Saria?" he questioned. Saria looked at it and narrowed her eyes "It is a summoning circle. Mirkwood was probably trying to find a way to call out the spirits that guard the inner sanctum." Link breathed as he sat back on the stone slab.
Link took a breath "Guardians?" he questioned her "A group of four restless spirits that attempted to divide the power of the seal, the power destroyed them and they are condemned to haunt the temple as the guardians of the seal." Link nodded his head as he decided to remember this fact, but then suddenly the torches that lit up the room went out and both of them stood to attention. A voice chuckled from an unseen direction "Always with the answers arn't you Saria. But do you honestly believe that the sisters are pleased with being the eternal guardians of this place?" Saria drew her bow and turned to the back corner of the room.
Link narrowed his eyes at the teenage Kokiri that was obviously now infamous Mirkwood, otherwise called the Dark Sage. He appeared to be around the physical age of thirteen and stood around the same height as Saria and Mido. He possessed dark green hair that was cropped off near his forehead and left in a spiky pattern, his eyes were also green and his cloths were darker than the standard Kokiri garb. His flesh was slightly pale, probably caused by all the time he had been spent attempting to find the seal. He had a rather elaborate looking knife on the left side of his belt which was sheathed and ready to be put to use and he didn't seem the least bit threatened by Saria's tense aim.
Saria narrowed her eyes "Genis Mirkwood. What have you been doing here?" she demanded to know her aim trembling lightly. The devious Kokiri chuckled as he stepped up to the pentagram "Sorry Saria, but you are mistaken. This little circle only allow me to communicate with the spirits that haunt the hallowed walls, with the Triforce in his possession there is little that Gannondorf cannot give. Freedom is to the utmost importance to these four. Either you defeat them for me or they agree to lead me to the seal. I win either way." he said. Saria growled as she released and arrow and it flew through the air.
Mirkwood's hand shot up and snatched the arrow out of the air and his thumb moved to snap off the tip of it as the room grew dark and there was a haggard cackled behind the next door "Happy hunting." he said before he raised a deku nut. Link shielded his eyes as it went off and he heard the door slam shut just as Saria embedded another arrow into it on reflex "You won't get away from me!" Saria screamed before she ran through the door. Link followed kicking it open on his way.
The next room was just as dark and a few stairs were inside leading down slightly to the next level, but Saria had stopped and had her bow primed. She breathed as she stood there and Link felt that they were not alone "Be careful Link. We are not alone." Navi announced as he dim light kept the darkness away. Link scanned the area as Saria looked towards the stairwell where she felt the presence. Link looked up as he saw a shadow move and a sillouette appear as if from the wall, he didn't ask questions however "Saria! Your left!" he shouted. The Kokiri twisted hard to her left and fired off the arrow which was prepared in her bow.
The arrow struck the shadow and the shadow screeched as it moved away from the two of them heading downstairs a strange torch holding a colored flame going with it, Saria recovered herself and chased after it. Link gave chase drawing out his sword. He moved down one set of stairs and then jumped the next coming up behind Saria as whatever they were fighting lashed out at her. Link moved to the side avoiding the attack as well and looked at the creature they were up against, it appeared to be a Poe which was a standard fiend in the world but it was different. It held a torch instead of a lantern and it appeared to be green in color.
It cackled as it swung its flaming weapon at Saria "Die! Die! Die!!!" she screamed as if the years had truly destroyed her mind. Saria however didn't hesitate to pull back another arrow and fire, the monster however spun and the arrow was slapped away. She then spun around and smashed her torch into Saria's shoulder knocking her to the ground "Now die!" the creature shouted. Link however jumped into action and swung the Master Sword which made a clean cut in the monster's back. It screeched before backing away, smoking rising from what appeared to be a wound in its back.
Saria grunted as he hand shot out to take the bow and prepare another arrow, she fired as the ghostly sister turned to face them and received the arrow right in its pitch face. As it made contact the ghost screamed loudly as light tore from the wound and the creature suddenly exploded into a fadding flash of light. The torch fell to the ground and Saria breathed in a few breaths confident that the foul creature was dead. The flames rose from the torch and hovered over to a standing torch where they rested. Link looked at the torch "Where have I seen that before?" he questioned lightly. He helped Saria to her feet, she was sucking in breaths at a rapid pace.
Link looked at her "She was one of the guardians wasn't she?" he questioned. She nodded "The restless spirits of the Forest Temple. So Mirkwood wasn't lying when he said that he had brought them over to his side. This isn't good." she breathed as she recovered herself. Link watched as she moved towards the next room, pushing on despite her obvious pain. He didn't say anything however knowing that her determination was burning more furiously than the flames of Death Mountain. He was just going to have to face the facts that there was no stopping her, and that he would just have to stay out of her way.
Link rushed into the next room to find Saria down on her knees grasping a cut in her wrist, her strength quickly leaving her. Mirkwood stood in front of her holding his dagger upside down, the blade pointing to the floor. A yellowish liquid could be seen on the blade and it was clearly the cause of Saria's sudden weakness "You should have left while you had the chance little girl." Mirkwood said to the physically older Kokiri. Saria growled as she attempted to draw back the arrow on her bow, but lacked the strength to do even that "How many more times must I defeat you before you will stop trying?" he questioned.
Link drew the Master Sword and held the point out towards Mirkwood "Silence yourself and step away from her." he demanded. Mirkwood looked up and chuckled before looking back at Saria "Who is he? Have our kind lost so much pride they would request help from an outsider? I expected better Saria." Saria growled at him announcing that Link wasn't the one that attempted to defy the Deku Tree, this earned her a swift kick to the ribs which sent her to the ground "You stuck up little bitch." he snapped. Link narrowed his eyes.
"Get away from her!" he screamed before he jumped into action bringing up and holy blade and then rushing towards the traitorous Kokiri. Mirkwood didn't move as the physically superior Hylian brought his sword down ready to draw him in half, he had something in his reserve the angered warrior would have never counted on. Without warning another weapon which possessed multiple bladed spiked on one end was brought down to slap the Master Sword out of the way, then the was a flash of light as a blast of solid energy was slammed right into the center of Link's chest. He dropped the Master Sword as he flew back and slammed against the far wall.
Link felt his ribs move as he fell to the floor on his chest and then struggled to get up, coughing up a drop of blood as he forced himself up on his knees. He reached back to his hookshot expecting that he was being confronted with another Uruk-hai or Moblin, but a horribly familiar laugh tore any such possibility away. His eyes went wide as he looked up to see a sight that rivaled even the worse of nightmares, standing above his best friend was the arch rival he was seeking to destroy. The great evil king, Gannondorf Dragmire standing there with a dark smirk across his face.
He expected that the Gerudo Tyrant would call him out and end his life right then and there, instead he looked at Mirkwood who questioned him "I'll take it from your presence that the sisters are prepared to open the inner sanctum for us?" the giant man simply nodded to his childish looking general. He then looked back to the man he had just slapped away his eyes were vacant of pupils and showed no amount of human emotion, not even the darker ones. Something was very wrong with this picture and Link was dead to rights either way.
Mirkwood paced lightly around the quickly fading Saria "I fear that we might need a bargaining chip in the event that any more of her kind or outsiders attempt to crash the party. Take her to the inner sanctum and await me there. I should have all that is needed within the hour." Gannondorf nodded and stood over Saria raising his monstrous spear to touch her shoulder. Shadow then moved to wash over them and they began to vanish into the floor "Saria! No!" Link shouted as Saria attempted to get away but Gannondorf's boot came down on her back keeping her from moving. He locked eyes with Link as they both vanished, all before anything could be done to prevent it.
Link growled as Mirkwood stepped towards the door on the other end of the room, Link moved over to grab the Master Sword "Don't you run away from me, coward!" he snarled with acid in his voice. Mirkwood looked back towards Link and shook his head "You really shouldn't be messing in affairs that do not concern you, Hylian. Your kind can live anywhere on this forsaken world. What is this one little forest to you?" Mirkwood questioned, as if taking pleasure in belittling his own home. He opened the door "Leave this place. You will not get another chance." he said before slamming the door behind him.
Link growled as he got to his feet and leaned back feeling his back pop in a few places and stumbled over to where Saria's bow and quiver rested. He breathed as he picked them up and pulled the strap of the quiver over his shoulder and then checked the bow. He knew how one was used but had never used a real one, and the size of the weapon left something to be desired. With his size it felt as if he might accidently break it. He drew out and arrow and pulled it back into the string and then fired across the room hitting the door, it wasn't that complicated. He stood to his feet and placed the bow on the hook that was on the quiver "Hold on Saria, I'm coming for you." he breathed.
Next Chapter: Traitors and Spirits
Link continues to seek out the Dark Sage and in the process continues to slay the ghostly guardians of the inner sanctum. Upon confronting Mirkwood more and more is brought to his attention such as the empty promises the Gannondorf has been making before his rule went sour. Saria being used as a bargaining chip pushes Link over his edge of mercy and he takes up his childhood friend's objective of defeating Mirkwood.