The Golden Statue

By: Sketzer

(Based on the Legend of Zelda games)


Prologue

A shadowy figure looms over the golden statue. As the figure slowly moves forward he cocks his head back toward a noise in the distance. He takes no notice and continues toward the statue. Closer and closer he comes to the statue of Kokiri. He reaches for it and just as he breaches the dim light around it a pain bursts from his right hand. He looks down at the arrow impaling his hand. He turns and falls to the ground as another arrow punctures his side. As he feels death near he reaches for the healing potion in his pouch, suddenly his hand is driven into the soft earth by a third arrow.

"You shouldn't have tried," said a strange evil voice that of a boy. "Only I shall have this statue," and as the boy spoke the dying man felt evil fill his heart. Then he fell into blackness.


Chapter 1: Reunited

It was a sunny day on the familiar beach Link walked on as a child. Now he was entering his teen years and even had a true love, Zelda. For a time he thought about her and wondered how she would greet him this time; with a deku stick, or shurikens?

Nearing his beloved's castle, he looked at it in a new light. He had never seen it in the morning before. After centuries of growing, giant vines had reached the top of the steep walls. It also had a deep moat fed by a wide river. He never saw a building so beautiful.

As he made his way to the old majestic castle he kept his guard up. He unsheathed his sword and held it at an angle that could deflect both vertical and horizontal attacks. He listened to the rustling leaves from a small breeze flowing through the forest. He heard a horse neigh from somewhere near the castle. As he approached the home of his beloved, he noticed an enchanting aroma emanating from a large rounded rock. He took out his bow and sent a shot past the left side of the rock. As the arrow passed the rock a girl leaped out at him from over the rock.

"Link!" exclaimed Zelda, drawing him into a big hug. "I didn't expect you for another week. I'll have the cooks make us an apple crisp." They held hands as they began to walk to the castle.

"Amazingly, I didn't run into any trouble. How's your father?"

"He's better. We haven't had any trouble with Ganon since you defeated him."

"It's the least I could do, he did try to kill you after all."

When they entered the castle, Zelda had the apple crisp made and they stayed up late reminiscing about the past, and the things to come.


Chapter 2: Disappearance

The next morning was quiet, very quiet, too quiet, thought Link. As he got dressed he noticed there were no birds singing, no rushing water from the nearby mill, just the sound of his breathing and heartbeat.

As he moved to the window he muttered to himself, "Something's not right." When he opened the shutters he gasped. Before him lay a landscape of dead trees, no grass, and a chasm where the moat was. The land was barren.

This can't be Ganon's work, it's too large scale. As he moved through the castle his worst fears were realized, everyone including his beloved was gone. Link soon began to wonder why he had not disappeared along with the others. Oddly enough he found himself needing to research his predicament. He'd only been to the library once, and couldn't remember where it was. So he began wandering around the castle.

He finally found the library and immediately started looking through the Hyrulian history books. As he skimmed the pages a picture caught his eye. It was a beautiful scene filled with trees of many shapes and sizes, with vines intertwined through them. On the ground was a path of little pink flowers leading up to a large stump. It was, however, what was on the stump that intrigued Link. There was a small golden statuette shaped like a bird. Then he read the caption, "This is the only known statue of Kokiri, the bird that gave life to Hyrule." The bird must've been stolen, Link thought, and then continued researching Kokiri. But even after an entire day's work, he found nothing.


Chapter 3: The Journey Begins

The next morning Link collected his things and left the castle. Just outside the gate he remembered the horse he heard yesterday, but it too was nowhere to be found. Link finally decided to set out for the river. He knew where the Kokiri forest was; it was naught but a half-days journey. On his way to the river his feeling of being watched strengthened more and more. As he walked to the river he was on edge, and kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. Once he reached the dried up river he headed north along the riverbed toward the dense forest.

Then he heard crumbling dirt coming from the riverbed. He looked down and saw a small helmet shaped creature with a round snout, eight short tentacles, and two menacing yellow eyes. Oh great, an Octorock, if there's just one I can take it down, no problem, thought Link. Out of the riverbed popped seven more Octorocks. The Octorocks fired a volley of fist-sized rocks at Link, which he dodged by rolling behind a dead tree. As the tree began to splinter, Link thought, There are too many, and this tree won't last very long.

As he got out his bow Link knew he had to make each shot count, as there were only twelve arrows left in his quiver. He set an arrow onto the bow and drew it back slightly. Link then waited for the next volley of rocks. He drew his bow completely, spun around, aimed, and fired. His shot hit an Octorock right between the eyes. With haste he retreated to his dead tree sanctuary and repeated his tactic for another kill.

The Octorocks' last volley had just about knocked the tree down. Link decided it was time to move to a different tree. There was a larger one a little closer to the vile beasts. Link dashed behind it as soon as the next volley was fired, which knocked over the tree he had been behind. Once he was in a safer position he drew his bow to try for another kill. When he came out the Octorocks were moving very fast from side to side. In despair he shot aimlessly into the group hoping for a lucky hit, but to no avail.

Link put away his bow and drew his sword, waited for the next volley, then struck out at the Octorocks. He hit two with one swing and turned toward the last four. They fired a volley at him. He rolled out of the way and stabbed one dead center. Those remaining surrounded him and fired. He ducked and kicked off the ground to spin and hit the last three. He surveyed the damage done and confirmed his kills.

Then he began again his journey toward Kokiri forest. After taking two steps he realized that he was very parched. He checked his water pouch, but its contents were empty. The statue of Kokiri had taken the people, the beauty, and all the water from Hyrule. His thoughts turned to why he had not disappeared with the others. Perhaps it is my heritage of enchanted knights meant for protecting Hyrule. Yes, it must be a spell. His thoughts went back to water; I can do without it for a day or two.


Chapter 4: Kokiri Forest

After the encounter with the Octorocks it took Link an entire day to reach the Kokiri forest. He made camp at the edge of the forest. The forest gave off an eerie aura as he stared into the dense trees, all of which are dead. As he started his fire his thoughts were of everything he had helped Zelda through. Lost in thought he forgot to tend the fire and the embers nearly died out. Once he had rekindled the fire, he got out a small blue flute called an ocarina. As he practiced a sad melody a foul smell permeated the air. It was a pungent odor he knew all too well. He reached to his sword and took it out.

"Come out, Ganon!" yelled Link; with a force he did not think he had. "Link," said Ganon's deep amused voice, "how did you know? Did I make a sound?"

"You stole Kokiri's statue," accused Link. Ganon laughed a deep laugh, "Always jumping to conclusions, maybe you should listen to what I have to say with those pointy ears of yours."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you don't, I won't help you kill that, which really stole the statue."

"What are you talking about, and get straight to the point," Link said through his clenched teeth, as he became more irritated.

"Very well, I created an evil version of yourself to help me kill you. But he broke free of my control and took the statue, which I never meant to happen."

"So why do you need my help?"

"Because his power equals yours, and seeing as I have not killed you, I've decided that our techniques and prowess could defeat him."

"How can I trust you?"

"Link, I want to enslave Hyrule, not destroy it. Do you think I am lying about this simple fact?" Link took a few moments to think about his statement, and decided on an answer. "If he is as powerful as me then I will need help. We can work together, but if you attack me at anytime then I will not hesitate to kill you. Is that understood?"

"Whatever." They decided to sleep on opposite sides of the fire. After they settled in, Link asked a question. "Ganon, how did you not disappear with everything else?"

"I am not from Hyrule, and don't ask me anymore questions of my past."


Chapter 5: The Search for Dark Link

Link awoke to a hazy morning and the sky looked ready to rain. He remembered what had transpired the day before and saw Ganon as a temporary ally. Since they had a common enemy, Link felt he should be a little more patient with his new "ally".

Ganon, now also awake, drew up a plan for finding what they now call Dark Link. The plan involved a small crystal Ganon had that showed him the way to Dark Link. "What will we do when we find my imposter?" asked Link.

"You will keep him busy while I perform the incantation to unsummon him."

"Where is he from here?" Ganon made a few quick movements and then replied, "I didn't expect him to be so far away. He's just west of Lake Hylia."

"What? That's three days from here!"

"Yes, I know and we have to get there as soon as possible."

Link thought back to the last time he went to Lake Hylia. He had used his ocarina to save a child from a burning building by making it rain with the Song of Storms. "Ganon, I could use my ocarina to warp us back to the Water Temple near Lake Hylia. It would bring us very close and we would have the element of surprise."

"That solves our problem. Now let us go kill Dark Link."

Link and Ganon waste no time in collecting their things. "Put your hands on my shoulders." Ganon does as commanded and Link takes out his ocarina. He plays the Serenade of Water. As he ended a bright light envelops the two warriors. "Lake Hylia, it's empty," said Link in a sad quiet voice. "Indeed," Ganon replied as he looked at the crystal, "and he is still heading west." Link's sadness dissipated and was replaced with determination. "Then let's get moving."

By nightfall the crystal told them that Dark Link was close and had stopped moving. They silently approached the area indicated by the crystal and found him propped up against a tree asleep. "Time to strike," whispered Ganon.


Chapter 6: The Battle

Link slowly moved toward the sleeping Dark Link. About ten yards from his enemy Link took out his sword, carefully keeping its sound of metal on metal quiet, and with his sword up, Link took several long steps closer to his imposter. From seven yards away he looked back at Ganon who was starting his spell. Two yards closer Link could see Dark Link gripping its sword. He hoped that he could hit Dark Link hard enough to cripple him. At three feet distance Link was close enough to strike. He raised his sword and swung, but Dark Link vanished. Link desperately looked around for him in all directions, but saw nothing.

A voice. He heard a voice, but did not catch what it said. Again it spoke, "You shouldn't have come. I am more powerful than you think. I, Link, of Dark World will destroy this beautiful world," as he appeared directly in front of Link. "You'll have to go through me to destroy Hyrule," replied Link.

Link hardened his grip on the hilt of his sword. Dark Link paused, thought for a moment, and then took out his sword. The sword had a long thin blade the color of coal. "Then you will die," as Dark Link resounded with a cry of evil, and then swung at Link. Link parried and cut into one of his enemy's bags. Dark Link back flipped, jumped off a tree, and came back down at Link. He tried to dodge the attack, but he was too slow. Dark Link's blade hit him blunt on the shoulder, making a cracking sound from his collarbone. "Ha! Now I will kill you," and Dark Link raised his sword high. As he did his sword burst into flame.

At that moment Ganon released his spell sending Dark Link back to Dark World. "No one will kill Link, but me!" Then he walked up behind Link. "I'll be okay, I think he just cracked my collarbone. Could you… uh… reach in my pouch and get one of my healing potions?" asked Link still cradling his arm. "No. Goodbye Link." Then Ganon shot Link with a fireball and left him to die.


The Final Chapter: The Fairy and the Stump

Link saw a white light. He started to move toward the light, but was stopped by a small female voice. "Link…Link wake up. You have to put things right, Link. WAKE UP!" "What?" asked a very dazed and confused Link. "Finally you're awake."

"Who are you?"

"I am a fairy called Selestie. I healed you."

"Thanks, but what's going on?"

"I watched you fight. You're very brave. I saw that bad man hit you in the back with a fireball."

"I remember now, Ganon said he would use Dark Link to help him kill me. Ganon planned it all. He used Dark Link to steal the statue, and then pulled me into a trap by becoming my "ally." He then carried out the plan that we had set up, and once it was pulled off and I was weak he left me to die. How clever."

"I foiled his plan didn't I?"

"You sure did, and thank you." There was a short moment of silence where Link's belly rumbled. The fairy laughed, and then became serious.

"The man who broke your shoulder dropped something when you were fighting," as she pointed to a small golden statue shaped like a bird. Link looked down, "Kokiri's statue! Thank you! I have to take this back to where it belongs." He picked up the statue and put it in a pouch. "Thank you, and goodbye Selestie."

"Wait! Can I come with you?"

"If you want to."

"Yippee!"

Link remembered why he was on his quest. "Selestie, why didn't you disappear with everyone else?"

"Because fairies have enchantments that protect us from such happenings."

"Oh, ok."

After three days of telling riddles and stories, Link was really in need of water. Fortunately they had arrived at Kokiri forest. Selestie knew the place where the statue needed to go, so she led the way. Once there, Link proceeded to set the statue back in its rightful place. "If everything was alive it would look just like the picture," thought Link. When he set the statue on the stump in the middle of the clearing, a stream of light came out of it. The trees became green, the birds sang, and little pink flowers made a path away from the stump. The forest sang once again with the song of life. Link and Selestie went to the river where Link downed a full stomach of water. They returned to the castle where they were welcomed with open arms. Link told everyone what had happened. Zelda told him that she and her people had been stuck in a magical darkness.

Link vowed to stop Ganon's next plan, whatever it may be.


Author's Notes:

Before people start sending me e-mails about how much I screwed up The Legend of Zelda games' storylines. I just want to say that I was trying to combine many elements of the games to add my style of writing to the story. By the way this is an original story based on characters owned by Nintendo.

Thanks to my dad for editing.