A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 21- Evil's Beginning
Hyrule Field; Day
"Let's hurry it up!" Malon demands next to Link. "We don't want to keep the Princess waiting, fairy boy!"
Running their way back to Hyrule Castle, our two heroes are about to complete their adventure. They need to meet up with Princess Zelda, and get to the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf does.
"We have all the time in the world," Link said with a smirk. "What's going to be so bad? We about to thwart Ganondorf."
"Yeah, but so, I want to get to the Princess faster! I wanna get there as fast as we- WHOA!"
Malon bumps into a red hair man in a white, running outfit, who was jogging until Malon hits him.
"Yah!" the man picks himself up from the ground, and gives her a hand. "Watch yourself, Miss."
"Sorry, Mister!" Malon stands up. "We were just… hurrying along."
"You two shouldn't be out here, with all the monsters and all."
"We're fine, sir," Link reassures. "Why are you out here?"
"Jogging. It's my hobby." the man then gives them an educational look. "Do you two know there were once rabbits living in Hyrule?"
"Rabbits? No, sir."
"In old times, I heard there were many wild rabbits in the lands of Hyrule…"
"Aw… Rabbits living in Hyrule." Malon imagines the fields hopping with rabbits. "But, why aren't there anymore?"
"Excessive hunting."
"What? Who would want to hurt a poor rabbit?"
"That was up to the ancients back then. Mostly for food, I think." the jogger sighs sadly. "I want to become a rabbit… Listen to the wind with those ears, hop across the ground with those legs… Even if I can only pretend."
"Really?" Link sees the unusual picture in his head.
"Yes. But, it's only a dream…"
"Wait." Link then looks at Malon. "Don't we have a Bunny Hood?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Malon pulls the Bunny Hood from her pack.
"This could help you pretend, Mister!" Malon shows the Bunny Hood.
"Ooo! I bet with those long ears you can hear voices…" the man observes it, his feet giddy. "Oh, these are genuine rabbit ears from the animal of legend!"
"Yep, they are! We're mask salesmen, so we're selling this mask."
"Is that so? I don't care how expensive it is! Please sell it to me!"
"Sure!" Malon gives him the Bunny Hood.
"Yes!" the man's whole body goes wild. "My long time dream! Returning to the wild life! Finally, the actor, stage, and prop have been united! Here you two go! All of my money!"
The man dumps the content of his wallet onto the ground, showering it with… with more money than they can count!
"Whoa!" Malon stares at all the money. "Are… are you sure about this?"
"Oh, I'm very sure! You have returned me to my dream! I don't care if I'm broke or not!"
Apparently, being broke didn't faze him.
"Well…" Link starts to gather all the Rupees, "let's just pay back 50 Rupees out of this…"
The jogger sighs with happiness this time. "I bet nobody is faster than I am now!" the man declares, then his face turns into worry. "But, I don't know if I should be happy or sad…"
"It all depends, mister," Malon said while she scoops up the Rupees.
"How do you suppose?"
"Well, does winning all the time make you happy?"
"I guess at first. But, when nobody can beat me, it gets boring, and then sad."
"There you go!" Malon picks up the last Rupee. "Well, good-bye, Mister! Have fun running around!"
Done with their business, they continue heading for Hyrule Castle.
"Hey, the sky…" Malon looks up, "it looks a bit cloudy today."
"Those clouds…" Link sees them, too, "that can't be good…"
Dark clouds are gathered around Hyrule Castle when they near it. It sends a chill down both of their backs. Somehow, they feel things wouldn't go the way they expected.
Night; Wolf cry
"Oh, geez." Malon sees the moon. "Why now? The drawbridge is going to be closed!"
Indeed, up ahead, the drawbridge is being pulled up, closing Hyrule Castle Town from Hyrule Field. The clouds above thunders with lightning, breaking open the sky to drop down rain.
"Great… Just great… We're going have to camp somewhere safe out here…" Malon complains.
"Don't worry, we just go up to the drawbridge and play the Sun's Song. Simple as that."
"Oh, yeah! I completely forgot about that song!"
"Well, let's hurry and get up there and- Hey, the drawbridge… It's… lowering…"
The drawbridge is lowering, unusual because the only time the drawbridge is down at night is when somebody needs to go quickly…
"What in the world…" Malon looks inside the walls. "There's… there's someone coming!"
A white horse of royalty with two riders on it starts to gallop away from Hyrule Castle Town.
"Get out of the way!" Link warns.
Malon and Link split on their spot to let the riders through. Link focuses on the riders, both of them looking surprising familiar…
"It's Princess Zelda! With Impa!" Link said to Malon.
"What are they doing just riding out of here!"
"I don't know!"
He sees Zelda toss something blue and round back towards them. It goes far enough to land in the moat behind them.
"What was that!" Malon notices the item landing inside the moat.
"I… I don't know!"
"What in the world is going on!"
"I just don't know… Something's wrong… Something's horribly wrong here…"
NEIGH!
They both turn around, meeting a sight that sends screams through their bodies. A male Gerudo in black armor, riding a black horse, standing there looking around Hyrule Field…
"Malon…" Link whispers to her, "get behind me."
She quickly and quietly does so, terrified at the man. His presence seems to horrify anything around him. And it's bad enough his horse seems to reflect his personality, down to the basic pitch-black color. Its eyes tell it's not of a normal horse, either. It snorts with the same power as its rider. How different is the evil world to Malon and Link now.
"Is…" Malon couldn't seem to catch her breath, "Is that…"
"Ganondorf…" Link completes her sentence. This is the second time Link has laid his eyes on the one they have gone so far to stop. But he feels like he has known him like the back of his hand.
Ganondorf scans the horizon once more.
"Arrrrgh!" he yells in outrage, the air shakes before his might. "I lost her!"
He then notices Malon and Link.
"You two, over there! Little kids!"
Now, Link could feel Malon's heavy, rapid breaths on his neck. Even Link breathes like her, fear carried by his breath. But, he dares not show fear. Courage is the key. Never show fear to your enemy…
"You must have seen the white horse gallop past just now… Which way did it go!" Ganondorf's voice echoes madly. It feels like the world trembles beneath his words. Malon and Link dare not respond; the fate of Hyrule may depend on it.
"Answer me!" his demand sends invisible spasms of shock.
Malon feels Link walking backwards, so she proceeds to walking back the same pace until Link stops.
"So, you two think you can protect them from me…" Ganondorf notices their tiny retreat. "You two have guts."
Suddenly, Link feels a surge of hatred and courage through his body. He draws his Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield.
"Link, what are you doing?" Malon quietly whispers into his ear.
"Heh heh heh…" Ganondorf chuckles. "You want a piece of me?"
"Yeah?" Link speaks up for the first time against Ganondorf, his tone contradicts miles from what's going through his head. "And what are you gonna do about it?"
"Very funny! I like your attitude!"
"Well, we don't!" Malon steps out behind him, somehow having the same feeling as Link. "You think this is very funny? You're a jerk! A jerk who's following innocent people!"
"You better shut your trap, little girl." Ganondorf doesn't orders, he threatens.
"Yeah? Like he said, what are you gonna do about it?"
"I'm going to make you regret those words, girl."
Ganondorf puts up his hand. A dark energy gathers toward it, turning itself into a spell. It shines with white, and, before Malon knows it, is heading toward her. Link dives in front of her and takes the sickening blow. The spell blows him backwards, sending both Malon and Link to the ground. Ganondorf simply chuckles at them.
"Pathetic little fools! Do you realize who you two are dealing with!"
Neither of them answers.
"I am Ganondorf! And soon, I will rule the world!"
With a loud urge, Ganondorf pulls on the rein, and gallops off into the horizon. Malon and Link stand up and look after him, fear of what might happen if he manages to find Zelda and Impa.
"Are you two okay!" Navi flies out.
"I'm okay," Malon assures. "But… Link…"
"I'm fine." Link shakes his head. "It wasn't that painful. He just wanted you to fly backwards. He was more aiming to scare us than hurting."
"Oh, boy…" Malon sighs. "What now? Zelda is being chased!"
"I know… We were this close to stopping Ganondorf, and he just did this!"
"Ugh." Malon then remembers. "Hey, didn't Zelda toss something?"
"Yeah, she did. Whatever it is, it landed in the moat."
Link looks down at the water to find the blue object. Quickly, he dives in and picks it up.
"What is it, fairy boy?"
"It's… I… I can't believe it! Zelda actually toss this to US?"
"It looks like a blue Ocarina to me."
"I… I think this is the Ocarina of Time… The Royal Family's hidden treasure. This is the fourth and final piece needed to open the way to the Sacred Realm."
The Ocarina of Time glows with a mysterious light in Link's hands.
"The Royal Family's hidden treasure…" Malon gazes at it. "Wow…"
Suddenly, a whiteout clears their visions. A voice then pierces through the air.
"Link… Malon… can you hear me?" it said. "It's me, Zelda…"
"Zelda?" Link's voice strikes through the white. "Where are you?"
"Princess Zelda…" Malon's voice accompanies his a while later. "It's an honor to meet you, even though I can't see you here…"
"Yes, as it is to meet you, Malon, the daughter of Talon of Lon Lon Ranch… But, please listen…"
Malon and Link withhold their voices.
"Link… when you hold this Ocarina in your hands… I… I won't be around anymore…"
"What are you saying…?" Link's voice asks.
"You… You won't see me anymore, Link… I'm sorry… I… I wanted to wait for both of you, but I couldn't delay any longer… Ganondorf… He… He betrayed my father, the King. He's trying to find me…"
"Zelda… we… we need your help… to get into the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf does…"
"I know… That's why… I left you this Ocarina… and this melody… Please, learn this melody… This song opens the Door of Time…"
A mystical melody fills the air, making Link and Malon's sense of time… go beyond… Link and Malon repeats after Zelda, the sound of a heavenly Ocarina and a pure voice echoing through the air…
"Now, Link." Zelda's voice fills the void after the song ends. "Play this melody with the Ocarina of Time, in front of the altar in the Temple of Time."
"I will."
"Link, Malon… Protect the Triforce!"
That is all Zelda's said for the last time, before the whiteout fades. Link and Malon are standing in front of the drawbridge, surprisingly. Their duty has gotten even more important. Navi begins to fly around them like crazy.
"Link…" Malon said his name. "Am I… am I part of this destiny, too? Something about Zelda made me think of that. Like… I'm really important."
"Yes. We share a same destiny. To save Hyrule."
"Well, if we're gonna do that, I'm gonna have to lower this drawbridge."
Malon sings the Sun's Song, her voice carrying across the field.
Day; Cucco crow
In a moment, the sun comes up, chasing the moon away. This is amusing enough to make Malon giggle despite the situation at hand.
"It's so fun to make it day or night whenever I want to!" Malon looks at the sunrise.
"Let's get inside, quick!" Link's voice carries in the air as they head inside Hyrule Castle Town.
Market
If they ever believed that the Market is noisy and confusing, they haven't seen anything yet. Not only is everybody confused that it's now sunup, but they also saw Princess Zelda riding out of Hyrule Castle desperately followed by Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves. News of betrayal of the King fills the air. Nobody has the slightest idea of what's going on.
"We've got to get to the Temple of Time, quick!" Malon runs towards the large building just outside of town.
"Hold on, Malon! We've got to prepare a bit. Who knows what's going to happen?"
"Well… yeah, maybe. Let's get things sorted here, then."
Happy Mask Shop
Hopefully, this should be the last time they would ever like to visit the place.
"Oh, great! You sold it!" the owner goes happier than his current state. "Please pay me back 50 Rupees for the Bunny Hood now."
"Here you go." Link pulls out the amount. "50 Rupees."
"Oh yeah!" the owner laughs. "Very well done! All the masks are sold out! I knew I could trust you two!"
"It was… okay…" Malon said, "to sell these masks."
"You are too humble! As a reward… I will lend you this special mask."
The owner hands Link the long-awaited mask, the one with the Sheikah symbol on it, just like the Gossip Stones.
"This is the Mask of Truth," the owner explains. "It is a mysterious mask passed down by the Sheikah."
"I knew it," Link said as he stares into the mask's eye. "It belongs to the Sheikahs."
"With this mask you can see into other people's mind… Useful, but scary!"
"Why?" Malon asks.
"You may find out as you grow older and discover the true meaning of life… Ho ho ho!"
The owner points at the other masks on the shelves that Malon and Link didn't see before when they were selling the old masks.
"From now on you can borrow any masks you want, including these new ones I have in stock," the owner authorizes gleefully. "Just have faith…"
Why does he keep saying that? Malon thought.
Not that much of a variety that's new. A Goron Mask, a Zora Mask, and a Gerudo Mask. Being another species is not popular right now.
Hyrule Castle
"Why are we here?" Malon asks.
"Don't you remember? That Great Fairy on Death Mountain said something about a friend around here. I think that dead end over there isn't really a dead end."
Great Fairy's Fountain
Blowing up the dead end and crawling into the hole behind the rock, they find that friend's place. Hearing Zelda's Lullaby, the Great Fairy comes out and greets them.
"Welcome, young ones! I am the Great Fairy of Magic! I will grant you a magic spell."
Like the last Great Fairy they met, this one summons an orb. But instead of green, it's red. Again, Link feels the weight of something in his hands. The object is now a red orb encased in a diamond.
"This is Din's Fire," the Great Fairy explains. "This great spell was once used by Din herself to incinerate whatever she chooses. Its fireball will engulf everything. Remember, child, you can not only harm your enemies with this spell, but you can also burn things."
"Thank you."
"When battle has made you weary, please come back to see me."
Market
"Are we done now?" Malon asks.
"Yeah… We're ready."
"Hey, I know what Din's Fire does, but what does this Mask of Truth do?" Malon said as they both head for the Temple of Time. "The guy said it can read people's mind, but I highly doubt that."
"Maybe these Gossip Stones." Link sees four in front of him. "Gossip Stone, Mask of Truth, Sheikah, that seems too coincidental to me."
Link puts on the mask and walks over to a Gossip Stone. With both of them looking at each other with the same eye, it might do something…
"I overheard this…" a strange voice from the Gossip Stone said.
"Did you hear that, Malon?"
"Yeah…" Malon walks up next to Link. "Okay, this is just weird how the Sheikahs do it."
"They say that it is against the rules to use glasses at Treasure Chest Shop in Hyrule Castle Town Market," is all what the stone said.
Malon and Link both stand there, blinking.
"This Gossip Stone knows too much," Malon comments.
"Well, let's check out the others."
"They say that Gerudos sometimes come to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends," another said.
"Wow, I never knew they actually did that…" Malon comments on that one.
"They say that Malon set the original record in the obstacle course of Lon Lon Ranch," the third one said.
"Really?" Link said. "What record did you set back home, Malon?"
"I can't believe this stupid Gossip Stone actually knows that." Malon sighs, then thinks for a moment. "Yeah, I rode Epona through the obstacle course around the corral. I set the record to… 50 seconds in two laps."
"And you did this at this age?"
"Yep. I'm that good at horseback riding, and Epona's really fast!"
"Wow. That's cool."
"I know. But, having no one beat my record isn't that fun, I guess…"
"Let's see what this Gossip Stone has to say."
"I overheard this…" the last stone said. "They say that Malon of Lon Lon Ranch hopes a knight in shining armor will come and sweep her off her feet someday."
Silence brews as Link slowly turns around to the already blushing Malon. He then proceeds to gradually take off the Mask of Truth.
"Is this true… Malon?"
"I… Well, you know… It's… a dream… like when you wanted to become a hero…"
"I know that, but mine came true… This is yours?"
"Yeah… I… wanted to dream of this… I always daydream that… a knight will come… for me… and make me… happy."
"Oh… well, I hope he comes for you."
"He… did…" Malon walks up to Link, her eyes gazing softly into his. "And… he makes me very happy…"
"Oh… I… Uh…"
"My dream came true… like yours, fairy boy…"
"I… I…"
"You stutter too much when it comes to things like this, fairy boy." Malon then wraps her hand around Link's. "Or, should I say, my knight in shining armor?"
"Um… well… this knight in shining armor must save Hyrule, you know."
"That's right. A knight must save the world. And I'm going to drag you over to the Temple of Time if you don't hurry up."
"What?"
By the time Link registers this, Malon's pulling him to this great cathedral standing on the edge of town.
Temple of Time
The inside is lined with marbles, making the place shine with magnificent luster. Light from the windows pour in, making beautiful pictures on the ground. A carpet is on the floor, leading from the entrance to a stone platform on the ground, similar to the one found in the Sacred Forest Meadow. An altar is at the back of the room. A strange, stone door, with an unknown symbol on it, is built into the back. And the symbol of the Triforce stands above it all.
"So… holy in here…" Malon comments.
"Right there!" Link points. "The altar!"
The altar contains three hollows and an inscription,
'Ye who owns 3 Spiritual Stones
Stand with the Ocarina of Time
And play the Song of Time'
"This is it, then," Link said as he pulls out the Ocarina.
Playing the Song of Time, the room is filled with its notes, affecting time around it. Then, the three Spiritual Stones appear above their heads, and each hover down to a hollow on the altar. The symbol of the Triforce lights up, showing a clear representation of the mystical object itself. It brightens the room with its golden light, then fades down to a glow of the three sacred, golden triangles. Finally, the Door of Time, as they assume, slowly split open and slides into the wall for them to pass.
"Link…" Malon is breathing heavily. "I… I can't believe we're actually… entering the Sacred Realm…"
"I know. Don't be afraid, I say. Let's go in…"
Passing through the door, they find themselves in a room with a heavenly light in it. In the middle is a platform, with more unknown symbols on it. And on top, in a pedestal, is a sword… A sword that doesn't seem to reflect light, but absorbs it, and gives off a mysterious glow of its own.
"Link, isn't that…?" Navi flies out for a better look.
"I… I think it is, Navi…" Link looks more closely. "That sword of the Sacred Realm… That sword of evil's bane…"
Navi flies over to the sword, examining it.
"It… it is, Link… It's that legendary blade…"
"What sword are you two talking about?" Malon asks, clueless to these names.
"It's…" Link starts, "it's that sword that no evil can touch. A legendary sword that controls time for whoever wields it…"
"A sword like that?"
"Yes." Link turns to gaze at Malon. "The Master Sword."
Malon blinks once, slowly. "Amazing…"
Link slowly walks up the platform, the Master Sword growing larger to each step. As each step progress, he feels his sense of time being imaginative, as if the sword itself really does control all of time. Link feels distorted from this, losing his step. He falls down onto the platform, his head next to the pedestal.
"Link!" Link hears Malon's voice and footsteps.
Breathing heavily, Link stands up, shaking his head for what seems like countless times. He regains his grip on his own sense of time, holding it to make sure the Master Sword doesn't affect it again.
"I'm… I'm okay…" Link reassures.
"Are you sure?" at least Malon's carefulness and will doesn't let herself falter like Link just did.
"I've got to wield the Master Sword…"
"We could just let someone else do it."
"No…" Link pauses, backing away from the mythical blade. "I… I… just realized something… There was a legend that a Hero of Time will appear when Hyrule is in its darkest hour. He alone can only wield the Master Sword to save the land."
"What are you saying?"
"Don't you get it?" Link looks at her. "I'm… I'm the… I'm the Hero of Time…"
"But… that doesn't mean you should get yourself in danger!"
"I have to, Heroine of Time…"
Malon blinks at this.
"Me?"
Link exhales. "Yeah. I forgot to mention about the Heroine of Time… I'm just too focused on the Master Sword."
"Don't tell me… She accompanies the Hero of Time to save Hyrule, right?"
"Of course, what else?"
Malon returns with a giggle. "Well, just pull the sword, already!"
"Well, I was going to, until my best friend here interrupted me."
"Fine, I'm rude, whatever. But, you are, too!"
Rude or not, Link chuckles. Confident restored, Link treads up to the pedestal. He stands on top of it, the Master Sword in front of him. "Hey, uh, hold… hold onto me, will you?" he asks Malon.
"Sure."
Malon wraps her arms around Link's left one.
"You ready?" Link said.
"Aren't I always?"
Link grabs the Master Sword, then, with all his might, pulls it out of the pedestal. A blue light surrounds the two, engulfing them in brightness. Their bodies couldn't move once after all this. But, that doesn't matter. All is going to be fine… or so they thought.
"Geh heh heh!" Ganondorf's voice breaks the air. "Excellent work! As I thought, you two held the keys to the Door of Time!"
What hope and relief both Link and Malon had before are now being replaced by horrible realization and dread. They opened the Door of Time, but they forgot Ganondorf could enter it! But, then again, there was no way to shut the door…
"You have led me to the gates of the Sacred Realm…" Ganondorf explains.
How Ganondorf had managed to figure out about them and that they can open the way to the Sacred Realm… No idea. Maybe Ganondorf has a sixth sense, too? No matter, they were followed, Link and Malon know that, secretly followed. And Ganondorf knew they could open the door. And now, instead of good prevailing like everybody hoped, evil shall now spread where good would touch.
Sometimes, working for the forces of good is too damn hard.
"Yes, I owe it all to the both of you!" Ganondorf thanks in the worst of ways.
Ganondorf's voice laughs evilly as it fades away.
That is all Malon and Link ever heard… before darkness flies over their minds…