Return to Hyrule
Everything was completely white. There was the echo of dripping water. Peach and Zelda floated down onto separate sapphire pillars floating in darkness. There were sapphire walls coming in and out of the light, with crystals shining everywhere.
"Zelda?" an old man's voice echoed. "Is that you?"
"Who is there?" Zelda called out. "Where are we?" Suddenly, both she and Peach reappeared on a large platform with differently colored emblems on it. A bearded old man in a large, orange robe rose out of the yellow emblem.
Zelda gasped, "A…Are….Are you?"
"Rauru, Sage of Light," he nodded.
"Then…this is…this is…"
"The Chamber of Sages, within the Temple of Light," he said for her.
"It's just like Link said!" Zelda smiled, feeling unusually giddy. "It's so beautiful!"
"May I ask who this young lady is?" Rauru asked, motioning toward Peach.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Zelda apologized. "This is my friend from the world I was lost in for a while. She is also royalty, like me."
"I see," Rauru said. "When you disappeared, I had feared the worst. But now that you are back, I'm afraid there is little to celebrate besides your return."
"Ganondorf has taken over my kingdom, hasn't he?" Zelda said, expecting such a thing. "I'll bet he's ruined the land just as he did in that alternate…"
"Nay," Rauru shook his head. "The situation is more grave than that."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid Hyrule has fallen into war once again," Rauru sighed. "It is almost exactly as it was all those years ago. Each race has betrayed the others in favor of bloody conquest, assassination attempts, and revenge. The Zoras have flooded much of the land, while the Gorons have sought to burn it all to ashes by causing Death Mountain to constantly erupt. A river of lava has already flowed to the very border of Kakariko Village."
"That's impossible," Zelda said in shock. "My father made peace with them. Darunia, King Zora, and Father are all good friends. I am personally a friend of Princess Ruto. It must be Ganondorf's doing!"
"That evil man who stole the Triforce of Power has surprisingly little to do with this," Rauru said with a heavy heart. "He has taken over Hyrule Castle Town, but little more. Of course, Hylians have fled to Kakariko Village, but the war itself is most troubling. I believe Ganondorf seeks to weaken each army by prolonging their war with one another. I say this because each of the Sages, except for you, have been imprisoned within their own temples."
"Ganondorf had said that they would be imprisoned in the Dark World," Zelda frowned.
"Some time after capturing them, they each managed to escape," Rauru explained. "Unfortunately, the Gerudo King tricked them into returning to their temples, where he ensnared them."
"…Where is Link?" Zelda asked. "Did he escape as well?"
"Yes," Rauru nodded. He seemed glad to finally have some good news to tell her. "He escaped with Impa to Kakariko. However, like everyone else in that village, he remains trapped within a barrier of shadow. It is Impa's doing, intended to protect the village from the lava flowing down Death Mountain. Unfortunately, her current state prevents her from creating an escape or an entrance. If not assisted for long, everyone in the village shall starve."
"How can I help them?" Zelda asked desperately.
"I'm afraid you'll have to free the sages one by one in order to save as many lives as possible."
"I'm listening."
"First, journey to the forest and free the Sage of Forest. With her power unlocked, the trees should be able drain some of the flood waters around Hyrule. Next, I would suggest you find the hidden entrance to Goron City within the forest and free the Fire Sage from the bowels of Death Mountain. He should be able to stop the lavaflow. With Impa free to let down her barrier, Link is to retrieve the Master Sword as soon as possible and free the Sage of Water as well as the Sage of Spirit. It is quite a task for someone such as yourself. Do you need me to repeat it?"
"No, sir," Zelda said. "Both Peach and I can handle this, right Peach?"
Peach had been listening to the conversation the entire time, but could not understand a word they were saying. It was as if they were speaking another language. She did not bother to say anything, thinking that it was just the easiest way for Zelda to talk in her native land. Then, Zelda turned to her and spoke, "Suku naisa Peach koro siya, Peach ya?"
"Excuse me?" Peach said. "I don't understand what you're trying to say. Could you speak in English, please?"
Zelda tilted her head and said, "Huh? Chobi naku hyup, Peach." She stared at Peach, seeming to expect an answer. "…Yuse morinoi… Waka mata, Peach!"
"What?"
"I don't think she can understand you," Rauru said.
"I don't understand what she's trying to say either," Zelda said. "This never happened in the her world…It's as if a language barrier suddenly appeared when we crossed over."
"And you say you could understand one another in her world?"
"Yes."
"Hmm… Then, this should be temporary. Something caused the Hylian tongue to mix with her language when you crossed over, creating a single language. Hopefully, it will occur here in time as well."
"Come to think of it," Zelda said thoughtfully, "I was unconscious for a while when I first arrived."
"Nani?" Peach asked. "Wakarimasen, ne?"
"Perhaps I should write my recommendations down?" Rauru suggested.
"She wouldn't understand Hylian," Zelda rolled her eyes. "I didn't understand their writing. I'll just explain things later, when we'll be able to talk to one another."
"Very well. I shall send you to the Temple of Time. Beware of Ganondorf's evil, for it had pierced nearly every location. He will undoubtedly be on the look out for you."
Zelda and Peach were covered with whiteness once more before finding themselves in the Temple of Time in the chamber behind the Door of Time. The first thing that drew Zelda's eyes was the Master Sword in its pedestal.
"Link…" Zelda said sorrowfully. Her eyes turned to those of determination and she looked at Peach. "Peach, syet." Peach watched as she materialized a harp in her hands and played a sweet minuet.
"That's wonderful," Peach smiled. To her surprise, green sparkles gathered around them and seemed to pull on them. Soon, though, the sparkles faded away.
Zelda got a frustrated look on her face and muttered, "Oma friate…Ganondorf." Then, she began to walk through the passageway into the main temple. She looked back at Peach, who was still looking around. "Come on."
Peach immediately followed, realizing that she was beginning to understand her again.
"Hey, Zelda!" Peach called out. "Sore wa wakarimashite!"
Zelda nodded. It seemed that they would fully understand one another soon. They cautiously exited the Temple of Time and found the surrounding area decimated. The sky was filled with grey and black clouds, casting a shadow over everything. Zelda looked into the horizon and saw red-hot lava pouring down Death Mountain. Since the clouds blocked the sun almost completely, the lava had an eerie glow. Most startling to Zelda was the absence of the smoke ring that had always floated around the crater.
When they walked into the marketplace, they found everything in shambles. Buildings had been shattered, flattened stands were in dying flames, and bodies littered the ground. It was in a sad state that was similar to what Link had described the alternate future as. Zelda was somewhat saddened by the image, but Peach seemed to be taking it even harder. She was speechless and her eyes were wide open as she stumbled backwards, whispering something to herself in disbelief.
"Peach, what's wrong? You've seen death and destruction before. Now's no different…What is it?"
"Blood!" Peach screamed in horror. "Blood, blood, blood!"
Zelda's eyes widened and she looked at the bloody mess before her. She finally realized what had been so wrong during the battles in the Mushroom World. There had been absolutely no spilled blood. Even the soldier she had seen sliced in half in Sarasaland had not bled a drop. It was no wonder Peach was having a panic attack.
"Peach, Peach!" Zelda said, grabbing her shoulders and making Peach face her. "Look at me. You have to calm down. We'll be in a lot of trouble if we're spotted here."
"Blood!" Peach whimpered. "Doushite! Why is it here!"
"Shhhh! I'm sorry, but it's just the way my world works. When someone is hurt, they bleed. It's natural for any living thing. Nothing to get too worked up over."
"Ooouuuuuoooouuuum…" a haunting moan came from amongst their surroundings. Others joined it all around.
"No," Zelda cringed. "Not Redeads; not now." The reddish clay-colored zombies rose from the debris and came from the alleys. Their eye sockets had no eyes and their gaping mouths hung open like black holes.
"Noroi! Noroi!" Peach shuddered in fear as the Redeads surrounded them.
"What was that song Link said he used?" Zelda asked herself, taking out her harp. She could not remember how to play the Sun Song, a tune whose magic would immobilize the lurching beings. She accidentally caught the stare of one and was instantly paralyzed with fear. She knew she would have to look away to break the curse, but it was getting too close.
"Uuuuuuaaaa…" a new type of moan came. One of the dead bodies that had been lying on the ground slowly rose and stood limply. It lurched toward Zelda at a slightly faster pace and soon got in front of the approaching Redead. Just when it seemed it would strike her, it turned around and stood in the way of the Redead. Zelda was able to break free, yet they were still surrounded. More moaning corpses rose from the debris and wreckage, coming to join the zombified Hylian. Soon, there were enough to block all of the Redeads' gazes.
"Ruuun," one moaned, looking at Zelda. "Ruuuuuun."
Several Hylian zombies grabbed onto several Redeads and held them back, providing a way for Zelda and Peach to escape. After hesitating for a moment, Zelda grabbed Peach's hand and pulled her out of the marketplace and to the drawbridge. Peach was whimpering and holding back tears the entire way. They found many puddles as they continued along and finally encountered the drawbridge, which was up.
"Time for a quick change," Zelda said, transforming into Sheik. He took out his chain and spun it a few times before flinging it over the wall. "Hold on to me, Peach." She clung to him as he climbed the chain until he reached the top of the wall. He was shocked at what he found upon reaching the top. The river had flooded to the point that the water was nearly halfway up the length of the raised bridge. In the distance, he could see Lon Lon Ranch appearing to be on an island rather than a hill. He could see several clouds of smoke even farther into the distance. The water looked relatively empty, except for the occasional tree, log, or Peahat. However, if what Rauru said was true, Sheik knew the water was the Zoras' territory. Swimming was out of the question, considering the now hostile nature of the Zoras as well as the distance they would have to cover. There was a log a relatively short distance away, but it would still require them to get in the water and swim. He transformed back into Zelda.
"What's wrong?" Peach asked, pulling herself together. "Where are we going?"
"To the forest," Zelda answered. "Are you able to understand everything I'm saying?"
"Yes, I think so," Peach nodded.
"Good," Zelda said, beginning to concentrate. She focused on the log and attempted to pull it closer so that they could jump onto it. Unfortunately, it didn't budge after several moments. "Blast it…"
"What are you trying to do?"
"We can't risk swimming in these dangerous waters…I'm trying to bring that log closer so that we can use it as a makeshift raft. But it seems that my telekinesis isn't strong enough."
Peach mentally judged the distance from their position to the log. "…Zelda?"
"Yes?" Zelda said, beginning to concentrate again.
"How much do you weigh?"
Zelda blushed and snapped, "What business is that of yours? And what does that have to do with our current situation?"
"If you aren't too heavy, I should be able to carry you to the log," Peach explained. She demonstrated by lifting her feet off the ground and floating for a moment.
Zelda stared at her for a moment, feeling stupid. Then, she grudgingly muttered, "Fifty-six kilograms."
Peach's plan worked perfectly, though her slight difficulty with carrying Zelda did nothing for the Hylian's self-esteem. Zelda looked toward her destination and saw brambles and briars growing around the entrance to the forest. It would take an entire day to get there, so she decided that it was best to stop at Lon Lon Ranch for the night. Peach used Zelda's sword as a paddle, while Zelda herself slowly moved the log with her telekinesis, knowing that she could certainly use the practice. As they floated through the empty waters, Zelda told Peach everything Rauru had said. Though they did encounter some aquatic wildlife, they were able to avoid more threatening varieties such as the flying, manta ray-like Stingers.
When they finally washed up onto shore by nightfall, Zelda looked back at how far they had gone. Even at night, the capital city of Hyrule was darker than most of the rest of Hyrule. The only thing darker was the blackish-purple energy that enshrouded all of Kakariko. Then, she faced the entrance to Lon Lon Ranch, which had two torches hanging on the sides of the entryway. A few boats and other logs were also beached.
"Do you hear that, Peach?"
"It sounds like music."
"Something isn't right about this," Zelda said suspiciously. "Let's be careful."