Chapter 2: The Discussion:

Terra had known Eric as long as she could remember. Today, she decided to go visit him. She and Eric sparred together many times but they were not the best of fighters. Even with her being an archer and him a swordsman, they were pretty evenly matched. She happily walked to his house hoping to find him sleeping, which was most of the time, or reading about Link. She smiled as she thought over how Eric wanted to know every single tale or legend about Link. "If Eric ever met Link," Terra thought, "I bet he would faint." She laughed to herself but as she entered his house, her laughing quickly died. She would never forget what she saw next. She saw Eric standing up crying out in pain. He was glowing a greenish aura. She watched him fall to his knees as the aura weakened. She moved forward to help him but she heard a voice that stopped her in her tracks. It said, "He will be fine. Be at peace." At this, she watched in silence, knowing there was nothing she could do to help him, and at that moment, Eric vanished before her eyes.

Eric awoke to find himself on a cold, stone floor surrounded by a starlit void. He wondered if this was just another dream. As he stood up, he felt his forehead and the backs of his hands throbbing to a painful rhythm. Suddenly, he felt a gentle warmth behind him. Turning, he saw a golden-yellow light coming towards him. The same, almost familiar voice spoke to him.

"Welcome, Eric," said the voice.

Eric replied, "Where am I?"

"You are in the Focal Chamber."

"Focal Chamber?"

"Yes. This is where your essence has been gathered so that it may coexist with that of the divine."

"So you're a god?"

"Well, yes and no. I guess I should explain a few things."

"But, who are you?" inquired Eric.

"You already know me."

"I do?"

"Of course. In fact, you know almost everything about me. For you see, I am Link."

Eric watched in awe as the figure of Link, bathed in the golden light, came forth to meet Eric. Eric, completely stunned, remained speechless. "Looks like Terra was wrong about me fainting if I ever met Link." Eric thought to himself. When he got his ability to communicate back, he began to talk with Link.

"But, you.. you died a long time ago. How can you be standing here before me?"

"I am known as Link Eternal. There is much you do not know yet. I shall tell you the story."

"As you well know, I was involved in a little thing known as the sealing of Ganon. Well, at the end of the battle, I had plunged the Master Sword into Ganon, thereby paralyzing him, allowing the sages to do their thing. But at that moment, something happened within me. I felt both a fiery hatred and a cool peace flow through me. For when I sealed Ganon with that mystical sword, both my spirit and Ganon's was drawn into the sword. When I finally sealed the sword behind the Door of Time, Both essences were immortalized. Mine, stands before you. The other, is what I revealed to you through your dream. You and the archer are the only people who are capable of destroying Ganon permanently."

"Why us? We aren't very good fighters and we've never left our village."

"I cannot reveal anymore to you now. All I can say to you now is that you have been chosen to destroy Ganon."

"So why did I have to endure such pain to be brought here?"

"Your pain was that of what the world will endure if nothing is done."

"But… alright, so what am I to do now?"

"You are to go with the archer who is waiting for your return to find the daughter of Princess Zelda. She and her mother will help you find your next destination. Now, awake young warrior; arise from your slumber! The time has come!"

At this, Eric felt himself being tugged away again. As he flowed through the void, he had a vision. He saw the old man from his previous dream. It spoke to him saying, "Do not oppose my master, else this shall be done to you." Eric watched in horror as terrible images flashed through his mind. He saw a forest turn evil, he saw a mountain people starving, and a river tribe encased in ice. The man said "Behold the fate of all who have opposed him before!" At this, the man left and Eric continued to travel through the void.

Eric awoke to find himself on the floor of his house. The pain had gone from his hands and head. He rose to one knee, blinked a couple times, and heard a soft, familiar voice.

"Eric? Is that you?"

Eric turned around to find Terra standing in the doorway looking a bit shook up.

"Yes Terra, it's me."

"What happened to you?"

Eric did not even hear Terra as he asked, "What time is it?"

"It's 8:00. Are you ok?"

Eric was still feeling a bit woozy. He looked at Terra and saw a deep concern and sense of worry in her eyes. He knew that he had to tell Terra everything. He lay down on his bed and began to tell Terra what had happened.

"I'm fine, just a lot on my mind. I guess I'll start at the beginning."
…
…
…
"… and then I returned here."

"So, you're saying that you and I are the saviors of Hyrule?"

"I guess. Weird feeling huh?"

Terra said nothing for a while and just stared out the window. A bird flew by and she looked back at Eric.

"Yes, it is." As she helped Eric stand up, she said, "You know Eric, I don't think we should openly share this fact."

"I agree. So, shall we get started?"

"I guess we have to, don't we."

Eric and Terra packed up as much food, clothing, and equipment as they could reasonably carry together, and walked to the forest gate. As the sun rose over the treetops and illuminated the forest, they took one last look at their home, and stepped over the threshold.

To be Continued…