The Cursed Forest
Malon had been right about the Dodongo. On the way to the Lost Woods, they had encountered deep water, and Rico was an adept swimmer. For something with only two legs in the front, it did a good job of keeping all but its riders' feet out of the water. The scattered encounters with Zoras were nothing more than a nuisance. None of them would dare get close to the sharp-toothed Dodongo. Instead, they tossed rocks from a distance. Zelda simply put up a brief shield to block the annoying projectiles.
As they neared the wooded area, the Zoras stopped showing up completely. None would follow them into the briar patch covering the entrance. As the Dodongo slowly swam through the entanglement of thorns and vines, the vines and stems around them began to move, seeming to sense animal life.
"Take it slow, Peach," Zelda said, keeping a look out. She sensed maleficent energy flowing through every plant nearby. As they moved deeper into the thicket, the afternoon sun became obscured by the overgrowth of vines and the current of the water carried them further into the foliage. It was a shadowy place with only a few streaks of light poking inside. Eventually they went through the hollowed out tunnel of an ancient fallen tree that marked the actual entrance to the forest.
"Reeeaaagh," the Dodongo grunted as they went over a small waterfall and landed in a somewhat more shallow area of water.
"Someone destroyed the bridge," Zelda said. Her anxiety was increased by the deathly silence of the forest. Saria's Song was not playing. The forest did not even mysteriously echo it as it usually did when Saria not playing. There were no owl hoots, no chirping crickets, no singing birds; only the sound of roots slowly moving earth and leaves brushing against thorns.
"There's a ladder," Peach said, pointing a short distance away. The ladder was covered in vines. The Dodongo swam up to it and prepared to burn them away, when the vines suddenly shriveled away from the ladder and into the earthen wall.
"I'll take the lead," Zelda said, climbing onto the ladder. "I've been through this forest a few times."
"How is Rico supposed to get out of here?" Peach asked, climbing onto the ladder afterward.
"I don't know," Zelda said dismissively. "And to tell the truth, I don't much care."
"Don't be so cold," Peach said. "He got us all the way here without any problems."
"And it looks like he'll get himself back the same way." The Dodongo had leapt out of the water, up the waterfall, and into the tunnel.
"Bye," Peach waved.
Zelda rolled her eyes and began to lead her through the various turns needed to reach the Sacred Forest Meadow. The only reason it was so easy was because vines rose out the ground to block the wrong turns. Every time they exited a hollowed out tunnel, briars smashed through the wood behind them to either destroy or cover the path behind them. The path to the Kokiri Forest was completely blocked off by animated vines that wiggled more when they were approached. The entire forest was dark, devoid of any mystical sparkles and pollen that usually lit the way during the day and night. There were a few bloodstains on the grass and vines, much to Peach's silent horror. It was not long before they came across bloody bones. Zelda kneeled down to inspect them.
"This is a Wolfos skull," she said. She saw Peach turn away from the remains uncomfortably. "Don't worry. This tunnel leads to the Sacred Forest Meadow. Once we free Saria, the forest will be healed." After they stepped through, the vines predictably surged into place and blocked the way.
"Arrrooooooo!" A Wolfos leapt out of the foliage and into the clearing before the maze.
"Stand back, Peach," Zelda said, taking out her sword. The slobbering, black-furred Wolfos trotted forward and slashed at her with its front claws. She blocked and counterstriked. It blocked with its own claws and back-flipped away. It came forward again slashed with a howl. Peach was somewhat disturbed by the evil glowing eyes it had. Zelda hopped back from its strike and lunged at its tail when it spun around from its big swing. The tail was lopped off and the Wolfos was consumed in purple flames, burning to ashes.
"Why did it burst into flames?" Peach asked, relieved that at least no blood was spilled.
"Only creatures possessed by Ganondorf's black magic do that," Zelda answered with disgust. "I can sense his evil." There were more howls coming from the maze and a pack of four Wolfos clambered out into the open. They surrounded Zelda and Peach.
Zelda held a small frown on her face. "A little smarter than usual."
"Can't we just run?" Peach asked.
"Don't worry," Zelda said. "They're actually weaklings if you know how to fight them." The Wolfos stood still and prepared to pounce. Suddenly a circle of thorny vines burst out of the trees above. "That could be a problem, though." As she prepared to cast a barrier, the vines lunged out and grabbed the Wolfos. The animals struggled and growled but they were pulled into the forest. They could be heard whimpering and yipping as something else made more vicious growls. There was the sound of gnashing, the shredding of meat, and the snapping of bone. Then, all was quiet once again.
"Let's go, Zelda," Peach said, taking her hand fearfully. Zelda looked around and wondered why the vines had not attacked her and Peach. She kept her guard up and peeked into the maze. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the remains of slaughtered Moblins and Wolfos.
"I think we should take the upper route," Zelda said, stepping back. She transformed into Sheik. He hooked his chain up onto the cliff. He climbed up and helped Peach up.
"Whatever you do, Peach," he said grimly. "Don't look down."
"Why? It's only…"
"Don't!" Sheik said, grabbing her chin. "Promise me."
"…Okay, I promise," she said uncomfortably. He took her hand and jumped the first gap with her. Then, a Big Deku Baba sprouted out of the grass and lunged at them.
"Whoa!" Sheik said, using his dagger and sword to keep it back. Several more of the monstrous blueberry–colored monsters sprouted behind it and snapped away. The green mist that spewed out of their drooling mouths was sickening.
"They're just like Piranha Plants," Peach said, pulling, of all things, a Deku Nut, our of the ground. Suddenly, a green Piranha Planted rose out of the ground and bit off the bulb of the nearest Deku Baba and spat it out. It disappeared into the ground as quickly as it had appeared.
"That was strange," Sheik said. The ground around them began to rumble and two larger Piranha Plants, one yellow and the other red, rose out of the maze and bit away the rest of the Deku Babas before spitting them out elsewhere. Then, they turned to face Peach and Sheik, who prepared for a strike. To their surprise, the plants simply motioned for them to continue ahead. Then, they disappeared into the ground.
"They're helping us," Peach said.
"I wouldn't be so quick to trust them," Sheik said cautiously. They continued to hop across the gap as the smell of blood from below increased. Though Peach did not recognize it, she was becoming nervous as a natural reaction. She was sweating and shaking a bit. Sheik noticed that the hole leading to the Fairy Fountain had been filled with dirt. Something was not right about the way things were going so far. Once they hopped down at the end of the maze and went up the stairway, they saw a large Moblin get snatched into the treetops above by several vines. Then, a shower of midnight blue blood rained down in the spot where it had been.
Sheik could hear Peach begin to mumble to herself nervously and uncontrollably. She clasped her hands and closed her eyes, attempting to breathe slowly. "Our promise to protect you is still in effect, Peach. Just take it slow and…" A Big Skulltula swung down to strike them but was devoured by a Piranha Plant that lunged out of the ground and disappeared just as quickly.
"Blood, blood, blood…" Peach mumbled before finally placing her hand over her own mouth to silence herself.
"Just…" Sheik began before a Deku Scrub popped out of the ground and was instantly dragged underground by a vine. "Just…" A Stalfos rose out of the ground and leapt at them with a slash before it was skewered by several vines that shot out of the walls like spears and slid back in. Sheik waited a moment during the walk forward before attempting to say anything. As they neared the end of the path where the puddle of blood was, he said, "Now, just…" Two Lizalfos approached from behind and were smashed through the wall by a Piranha Plant. "Never mind."
As they stepped into the Sacred Forest Meadow, they both felt as if they had stepped through a barrier. It was actually much more unsettling here, particularly to Sheik and Zelda. Nothing but bad feelings emanated from the Forest Temple. It was a clearing with a teleportation pad in the center. There was a stump to the side, where Saria had always played her ocarina, and a tree on the other side. Behind both, there was the stony entrance to the temple up in the air with a broken stairway. It was also covered in vines, which gradually spread away. The path leading to the Sacred Forest Meadow was completely blocked by foliage. There was no way back. They sky still remained blocked out for the most part.
"There's so much powerful energy coming out," Sheik said, feeling a little unnerved. "I can barely sense Saria at all. We must hurry." He slung his chain around the branch of the tree and climbed to the entrance. Peach quickly joined him and they entered the temple.
It was awfully dark inside, though there were some plants that had a glow to them. The foul energy was stifling. It even put Sheik on edge as could be told from him looking around everywhere agitatedly. The walls were literally covered in vines and the ground was grassy and mossy. They followed the stone path to the doorway, where a wooden door lay on the ground after presumably being knocked down. They went through the short hallway and out another broken doorway. It was another room covered in vines. The next doorway had a few bloodstains, red and blue, smeared on it.
Sheik readied his sword and cautiously approached. Suddenly, a vine poked out and beckoned them to enter. When they did enter, they saw a massive Piranha Plant hanging from the ceiling. It seemed to be the source of all the vines and thorns since it still appeared to be growing.
"How did something like this get here?" Sheik asked aloud.
The Piranha Plant turned toward them and smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know."
"…Did that thing just talk?" Sheik asked.
"Uh huh," Peach nodded. "Not that it's…totally unusual or anything. They just prefer to use their mouths for eating rather than talking."
"That's right," the flower spoke. "That little girl with the green hair has been waiting."
"Are you the one holding her here?" Sheik asked.
"Nope," it replied. "I've been growing here ever since she got out of that dark place."
"The Dark World," Peach spoke.
"Yeah, I think that was it. She told me to help you get inside. I guess it's a good thing she knows how make me grow so fast, though I've gotta' say, we weren't expecting to wait this long. Just take that elevator in the center there."
Sheik and Zelda cautiously made their way to the chamber in the center of the square of lit torches. Each torch had a differently colored flame. There was green, blue, orange, and purple. Each gave off the feeling of mischief and loneliness. Sheik and Peach couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
"So, you feel it too," the Piranha Plant nodded. "Just get rid of that Phantom Ganon guy and you won't have to worry about it anymore. Maybe the kid will be able to help…" The elevator sunk into a circular chamber. It looked almost as if the room would be able to spin. An arrow had been scarred into the floor, pointing towards bars that had been bent open. Sheik and Peach went through the hole and encountered a strangely patterned teal and gold chest.
Sheik opened the chest and a light shined out as he retrieved a large golden key with a jewel on it.
"That's the Boss Key, isn't it?" Peach guessed.
"How did you know?"
"After being held captive in so many fortresses and castles over the years," Peach smiled weakly, "it's not hard to tell the difference between a regular key and a Boss Key." They looked at the large, chained golden door. "Though the key usually isn't so close to the door."
"I think our friend up there put it down here," Sheik said, glancing up. "There's certainly been plenty of time to do so. I'm somewhat surprised as to why it simply didn't free Saria, since it said it was working for her. Don't be surprised if we find out the Piranha Plant is the real culprit." He inserted the key into the lock and it turned by itself, breaking the chains and opening the door.
It was so dark inside the circular room, that it was hard to see anything. There was a chain fence surrounding the center of the room, with each sharp post as tall as an adult. Sheik and Peach strolled around the outer part of the room, looking into the identically eerie paintings of a dirt path leading through a dark forest and up to an ominous castle. There was a sudden glow as Zelda took Sheik's place and lit a flame in her palm.
"I remember what Link said about this place," she said grimly. "Keep an eye on the paintings." They passed through the gate and, predictably, spiked posts shot up through the floor behind them, blocking them from going back.
"I guess you didn't get the hint, did you?" Ganondorf's voice said. "Oh, well. I'll get that Triforce piece out of you yet!" His figure appeared atop a black stallion floating in the air above Zelda and Peach. All that was different from the real Ganondorf was the horned-skull he had for a head.
"Phantom Ganon," Zelda said. "You're at a disadvantage. There are two of us."
"Your friend may look like the Wanderer," the phantom said, "but I doubt she has the same power or skill. Link may have defeated me in another time, but you're not Link and neither is your friend. Ha!" With a snap, his horse charged into one of the paintings and ran up the dark path, with Phantom Ganon cackling the whole way until they disappeared into the castle.
"Peach, tell me which painting he comes from if I don't see it!" Zelda said, charging her Shining Ray. They stood back to back.
"There!" Peach pointed to the left. Ganon was riding down the hill and he began to emerge from the painting. He was struck by the blast of light and retreated back into the painting.
"Good job!" Zelda said, readying another blast. She spotted Ganon running through a painting in front of her and began to charge once again.
"Over here!" Peach called out, pointing ahead.
"What?" Zelda said, confused. She saw Ganons running through both paintings. "He's trying to trick us. Put your guard up." Zelda backed herself against the wall to keep both paintings in sight. To her surprise, both Ganons turned around and ran back up the path.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Phantom Ganon laughed, riding out of the painting behind her. He spun his lance and blasted Zelda with his magic.
"Ah!" she screamed as she was knocked down by the burning electrical charge.
"Zelda!"
"I'm okay," she said, standing up. "Let's try that again." She took her place behind Peach and kept watch. There was a Ganon riding down the path in all three paintings in her sight.
"I see three over here," Peach said nervously.
"Tell me the moment you see one break through," Zelda said, preparing her ray.
"All of them!" Peach said.
"Same here!" Zelda said, bringing up her shield. As the Ganons burst through, they all sent their energy blasts into the shield, shattering it. The phantoms laughed as they phased through each other and rode into different paintings. "We need a better plan! This wasn't supposed to happen this way."
"I'll see what I can do," Peach said, raising her arms. "I'll try to seal each painting one by one with my Mute spell." She sent a balloon to one of the paintings where a Ganon was riding. As he emerged, the balloon was knocked away and deflated ineffectually.
"I guess we can forget that plan," Zelda said, putting up her shield once again. It was shattered once again, but Zelda felt the pain more directly in her hands. She angrily shot a Shining Ray into one of the paintings. The ray merged into the painting and knocked the Ganon off his horse.
"Try that again," Peach said.
Zelda chose the adjacent painting and blasted into it, striking the Ganon far up the path. She shot into the next painting, striking down another phantom. She caught another one just as it began to emerge from another painting. "It's working."
"Two more!" Peach reminded her. She turned around and snagged one as it flew above her. She dived to avoid the blast of the other, while Peach simply jumped and floated above the ground briefly. The grounded electrical blast range was surprisingly large.
"One to go!" Zelda said, as the last Phantom Ganon hopped off his horse, which disappeared, and he floated in the air.
"You insolent mortals!" the phantom yelled. "How dare you defy me! You've nearly relinquished your hope of escaping alive."
"Not so strong all alone, are you?" Zelda panted confidently, charging up the last bit of her magic.
"I'm strong enough to get rid of you!" he shouted, spinning his lance as he charged energy. As he slashed the energy ball down to her, she blasted her energy up to him. The beam clashed against the ball and it came down to a power struggle.
Peach stared up at the light show in awe. Then, something on the ceiling drew her attention. She could see a giant white bud sticking out of the ceiling. It seemed to be moving a little. Then, she noticed tiny cracks spreading from the bud down the walls, behind the paintings, and into the floor. Her attention returned to Zelda, who appeared to be giving way from overuse of her Shining Ray. Peach quickly uprooted another Deku Nut and tossed it at Phantom Ganon's head, throwing off his concentration just enough for him to be overtaken by the Ray.
"Uaaagh!" he cried, floating to the ground limply. Smoke rose off him and there was a dim yellow glow emanating from him. Zelda took out her sword and aimed for his head, but he suddenly hopped back into the air and laughed. "Nice try! But it'll take more than that to defeat me! And now that you're out of energy…"
"I don't need magic to destroy you," Zelda said, holding up her sword.
"Zelda, look," Peach said, tapping her shoulder.
"Not now, Peach," Zelda said, shrugging her away.
Peach saw the cracks becoming more numerous on the walls, but Zelda was too focused on Phantom Ganon to notice. Ganon charged his energy and Zelda prepared to knock it back with her sword. Suddenly, ropy, thorny vines burst through each painting and wrapped around Phantom Ganon's wrists, ankles, face, and waist. He was powerless as they pulled him tight.
"What in the name of Din?" Zelda exclaimed, stepping back.
"I tried to tell you," Peach said. "I think it came from that." She pointed to the bud sticking out of the ceiling. The bud's stem began to descend from the ceiling, lowering the bud until it touched the ground and turned upright. It gracefully unfolded and there stood Saria. Though her Kokiri shirt, sweater, and shorts were somewhat tattered and she was barefoot, her skin did not have a scratch and her hair looked untouched. Her skin looked unusually pale from a lack of sunlight and there was a glint in her eye. Her eyes were dark as if she had not slept at all in the past few months. She had a blank look on her face until she saw Zelda and made a small smile.
"Saria? Is that you?"
"Zelda… I've been waiting so long…for you to come back…"