Chapter 4
"So what are we going to do Impa?"
"Do not worry princess, I have a young friend who will help us."
"Who?"
"A young boy that's about your age…"
"Link? He's helping us?"
"No…"
"Then who?"
"You shall see…"
Link ran down the hall towards Zelda's bed chamber, sword drawn. He had found the patrol guards unconscious, and that didn't bode well. He saw the door and skidded to a halt, his momentum almost bringing him down. The door was locked, a thing that Zelda never did… who ever it was who had knocked out the guards was in this room!
Link pounded on the door, then , not waiting for an answer, came crashing through it, holding his sword up, ready to strike at whoever was attacking the princess. Zelda lay in her bed, looking up at him in shock, while another figure he did not recognize stood gazing out the window, his back turned to him.
"Who are you?…"
"It seams you still have somewhat of a heroic side to you eh Link?" said the male voice, who seamed to be around the same age as Link was. Link gritted his teeth, this wasn't time for childish games!
"You didn't answer my question! Who are you!" The figure didn't answered but merely laughed, still staring out the window.
"If I told you, would you believe me?" answered the man, a slight chuckle to his voice. Link had enough of this…
"Link don't! He's…" called Zelda, but it was too late, Link had charged towards the figure, his sword ready to strike. No sooner had he come within 3 feat of the man, he had been knocked towards the ground, for the figure had swiftly wheeled around, crouched down, and tripped him, then caught him upside the face with his elbow before he had hit the ground. Link grunted from the blow.
"Why did you do that?" asked the princess, hurrying out of her bed and towards Link's fallen body. Link was back up again, not willing to admit defeat, and started towards him again. Once again he flew back, but this time hit the wall opposite from him The figure had round-house kicked him across the face. As he hit the wall, he was knocked out cold.
"Self defense…"
Link looked out upon a small boy, clad in green, within a chamber that he knew too well. Upon the wall opposite of the boy was a mask, purple colored, and upon it a face that seamed to pierce your soul.
No… not again… The boy reached behind him into a sack that he carried, and pulled out a mask, seaming to look the exact opposite of that of the mask on the wall. The boy smiled, knowing that he would win this battle, like the many other battles he had been in before…
No… I can't do it again. Link tried forward, but seamed not able to move himself, his own body stopping his advance. No…please no… Streams of tears flowed from his eyes, knowing the horrors he would once again relive…
"NOOOO!" Link sat bolt upright from his bed, the sweet trickling down his body making the sheets stick. He swung his legs around towards the side of the bed, letting his feat touch the cold cement floor. The window was open, letting a cool breeze enter the room, keeping the cold of night.
"It was only a dream…" Link said to himself, bringing his hands up to his face, as if to catch himself.
"Only a dream…" Link kept repeating this to himself, reassurance that what he had just experienced was only memories, not the present date he was living. The words however had little effect upon his mind…
"Only a dream…" he repeated again, tears dripping from his fingers, still enclosing his face…
Saria stood at the entrance of Kakoriko village, watching the sun peak over the ridges to the east, shining it's golden light over the land. A rooster crowed far off, signaling to the people of the village that it was now day time. She stood for a moment longer, still watching, then turned back and walked up the steps leading to the village. She needed to go get her things, for she would be leaving for the castle soon.
As she walked under the archway, (which read welcome to Kakoriko upon it,) she walked towards the right to a house that stood not far from the entrance. As she came upon the door, an old man came out, smiling as he caught sight of her.
"Hello miss Saria, sleep well?" asked the man, still smiling. Saria couldn't help but smile back, for he was the resident of this house, in of which she had been staying. Actually, it was the house of Impa, the princess maid, however she hardly stayed there, and left it open for those who needed a bed and a place to stay for the night.
"No, I didn't, bad dreams." She smiled, her cheerfulness slightly disappearing. The man frowned at this news, still looking towards Saria.
"Some dreams can be like that I suppose, in what way did this dream bother you?" Asked the man, worry replacing the frown he had held.
"Nothing… nothing…" said Saria, smiling slightly, trying to look better than she felt, to no avail. "I was going to the castle, in hopes that I may have audience with the princess, so that she may try to help me with this dream, and tell me what it could mean. The man smiled at this.
"Well, all hopes that it's good news." he said with a slight chuckle, a person can never have to much of good news." The man stood there for a second, shifting his weight back and forth.
"Well… I must be off, Dampe the grave keeper needs tending, he is sick once again, and this time it might finally take him…" Saria smiled.
"Ok, well thank you for letting me stay here for the night, I hope it wasn't much of a hassle, coming in at such late hour."
"Oh no, don't worry," the man said, the smile creeping back onto his face, "this house is open to all that need stay, come here again if need be."
"I will, and thanks again." With that the man left and walked away.
Saria stood and watched the man walk off, then opened the door to the house. After getting her things together, (which was easy because she had very few,) she walked back outside. The dream she had was bothering her, not letting her keep her mind on any other subject. Hopefully the princess can help me… she thought to herself, as she started down the steps from the house. Hopefully she can shed some light onto what it all means…
Saria walked across the small bridge leading to the castle gates, for Kakoriko wasn't very far from Hyrule Castle Town, about a 10 minutes walk. The morning sun shone down upon her, already it's job of peaking into the doorways and windows of the inhabitance of Hyrule, so that it's inhabitants would be wakened.
She came upon the outer walls of the town, the drawbridge already lowered for the day, for not many people actually lived in the town, mostly travelers came from Kakoriko and other neighboring towns to sell and bye merchandise. Hyrule Market town wasn't really that big, it was more of a commercial place that featured the Castle of Hyrule in the back.
As she walked into the town, it was already bustling with the merchants, already trying for their bid in the many different merchandises that the town held. It was a happy town, a place where people, even if they had no business, came to be, just to enjoy themselves. However, Saria remembered a very different town, the way it looked during the time of Ganondorf's rule. It was deserted, besides the many re-deads that stayed in the town in hopes that some traveler might accidentally stumble into the town, and become their newest meal…
Suddenly the memory was gone, and the people within the town came back into view, pure joy adorning their faces. It made her smile, these people had been given a second chance, even if they didn't know it, all because of Link…. He was another mystery that needed solving…even if he didn't want t be solved…
Link stood within the outside fighting grounds of Hyrule Castle, waiting for one of the Hylian guards to step up and challenge him. They were all good warriors, but none up to par with Link's abilities, even if they were twice his age. He had just humiliated his last foe, by defeating him before he could make his first move, knocking his sword out of his hand, then making him try again, who after his second defeat, walked away cursing to himself.
Still no one appeared to Link's challenge, however, some of the guards decided to start placing bets. He stood with 6 wins, and no losses, something that might not have been that big of a deal, however, Link had been literally untouched by any of his foes, a first for any unknown challenger. Quite a crowd had gathered around the area where the fights were taking place, the onlookers townspeople and guards who were to chicken to try and fight him.
Finally after 10 minute's time of no challenges, Link became inpatient. All he wanted was a good sparing partner, someone that he could actually fight against, not someone he could take down within 3 moves or less. He had no care for the crowd of onlookers that admired him.
"Does any one answer my challenge? I am ready for anyone who may accept." He asked, his impatience winning out and making him speak. "I must speak with the princess soon, and I have only enough time for one more fight, if it's quick." With that several people started laughing, because obviously his last comment was funny, even if Link couldn't find why.
A young warrior appeared from the crowd, looking to be roughly the same age as Link. Link knew this person well, for he had just fought him and been defeated by him twice the night before. His usual cap was gone, replaced by a long strip of cloth he had tied to his forehead, flowing with the wind that blew past.
"I accept your challenge." said the figure, his red eyes gleaming from the sun shining upon them. "If you don't mind being beaten by me again…" With that the onlookers gasped and started whispering to each other, wondering who this man was who had challenge the mighty Link. The figure held a smile on his face, however, his face never wavering from Link's own.
"I don't know who you are, and why you are dress like Zelda, (which started once again the whisperings,) but I will fight you… and I will win." answered Link, his eyes, also not wavering from his foe's.
"So confident are you?" said the figure, a slight smile creeping onto his face. "Your confidence will be your undoing, your recklessness being your major flaw, that is why I wish to fight you, so that I may teach you a lesson, as well as have a little fun…"
The crowd watched as Link unsheathed his sword, as well as slipping his arm through the loop that strapped his shield to his arm. Then their eyes moved towards the second figure, waiting to see what weapon he would draw, however he remained unwavering.
"Draw your weapon." called Link, also watching the figure closely, but for hidden weapons that he may have. The figure however merely chuckled, still staring at Link, as if studying him.
"Link, you are the Hero of Time, you have passed many trials and tribulations on your quests, you have overcome great enemies, and by most likely fluke accident, overcame Ganondorf himself. For so much that you have done, so little have you learned…"
"I SAID DRAW YOUR WEAPON!" Link roared, making the crowd jump. This guy was more than a mere foe, he had dishonored him, and kneaded to be taught a lesson, and something else he had said had struck a chord in his mind, he had to pay…
"I need no weapon to defeat un unarmed foe…" said the figure, his smile disappearing, and serious, hardened eyes staring at Link's own, and what he saw displeased him. "I'm not trying to anger you Link, as much as it may seam, I'm trying to help you."
"Yeah sure!" With that Link charged towards the figure, holding his weapon upwards, ready for a downward slash. The figure stood, watching this charge, a frown on his face, and with a deep sigh, he moved. The slash missed the figure, who had nimbly dodged the blow, however, Link brought the sword sideways, slashing towards the opponent's upper body. Once again, the figure dodged it, bending back so that it passed within inches of his body. As Link slashed his sword at the figure, the fiery rage burning within him, the figure spoke.
"You are too aggressive Link, too sloppy. You must be quick minded before your sword will be quick in your hands, anticipate what your foe will do next, so you can counter it." Link stopped swinging madly, bringing the sword's blade down towards the ground.
"Shut up and fight me!"
"I am not fighting you Link, you are fighting yourself." Link swung the sword downwards, but the figure flipped up and over him, landing behind. Shifting his weight, he swung his sword around, hoping to catch the figure, but he seamed to have disappeared again. Suddenly, from below, the figure flipped his legs up, knocking the sword out of link's hands, and also sending the surprised Link back onto the ground.
Link didn't get a chance to get up, for he felt the coldness of his sword blade touch his throat. The figure stood there, holding Link's own weapon, against him, a slight smile on his face. On Link's face however, was hatred and anger, his eyes glaring at the other's.
"You are not ready for the trials that await you Link, your skills have either degraded, or were never good in the first place. So, I am willing to help you wipe the slate clean, I will be your teacher from now on." Link's face was stricken with astonishment and anger at the same time. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You need not call me master Link, call me by my name, which I believe you already know."
"Sheik…"