Well, hello there! Welcome to chapter eleven! It looks like the story should conclude after fifteen chapters, as I have too many more things in store; it would be impossible for me to make chapter twelve the final one without making it ridiculously long and detailed.
Reminder: Link and Zelda, after switching bodies for a time, are now back in their own bodies. They have also discovered that because of that switch, they can now communicate telepathically.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Legend of Zelda series.
As he watched the sun set over Hyrule, Link, to his dismay, realized that he must stay the night in town. He'd traveled through the kingdom at night more times than he could count, but he knew he was too tired to stay safe now. Being by himself, he didn't want to risk letting his guard down because of his exhaustion. In his early days protecting Hyrule, he would've struck out at night without a second thought, but he knew better now.
Link made arrangements with the innkeeper, who handed him a key to a room on the second floor. Link trudged upstairs, found his room, and unlocked the door. Going inside and closing it behind him, he dropped his things into the corner and slumped into a chair, overwhelmed with exhaustion. He somehow managed to remove his boots and tunic and crawl into the bed.
Despite his lack of energy, Link could not seem to fall asleep, as his thoughts kept returning to Zelda. Unable to take it anymore, he attempted to contact her telepathically, at first to no avail. Wondering if he should just give up, he decided to give it one last try, and was ecstatic when he at last succeeded.
Zelda, my love, are you awake?
Zelda awoke with a start, feeling Link's thoughts enter her mind. I'm here, Link.
I'm sorry to wake you, but I am so worried about you that I can't sleep. I just want to make sure you're okay.
I'm doing quite well, considering the circumstances. I'm a little chilly, but there's some straw I've been using for a bed, so I'm managing. And Dark Link has pretty much left me alone.
Good, because if he dare to lay a hand on you...
Worry not, my love. I can take care of myself, remember?
Of course, silly me, Link thought, actually mustering a smile. I'm glad to know you're doing okay.
Are you ready to try to go to sleep now?
Yes, Zelda.
Then good night, my love.
Good night, and please, be wary. Dark Link is not one to just leave a prisoner completely unharmed. I fear what he will do to you should I not make haste to the castle.
I will be fine, Link. Please, do not rush if it puts you at risk. It will do you no good to get here sooner if it means being harmed along the way or finding yourself too exhausted to defeat Dark Link once and for all.
You're right, my dear. I love you.
I love you, too, Link. Good-bye.
Link awoke with the dawn, feeling re-energized despite a restless night. He quickly gathered his things and made his way downstairs for a meal before continuing his journey. By the time he decided to stop for lunch, he was on the outskirts of Nabooru. He made his way to town to restore his health and magic and eat a hearty meal.
As Link sat in the tavern, he heard two men gossiping about the fate of Kasuto, a town to the south near the Hidden Palace. The whole town had been ransacked by Ganon's minions, forcing its residents to flee to the forest. Rumor held that the only remaining resident was a wise man with the key to surviving in the Great Palace.
Link listened carefully and realized that it would be in his best interest to visit Kasuto and talk to that wise man before he attempted to rescue Zelda. He finished his meal and left town in a hurry, crossing the plains as he made his way south.
As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, Link reached the River Devil, a huge arachnid blocking the path over the river and down through the mountains to Southeastern Hyrule. Recalling the advice given him by a woman in Nabooru, he removed a magical flute from his pocket. It had been handed down Zelda's bloodline for several generations, and the king had bestowed it upon him before he left on his journey to rescue the princess.
Link calmly put the flute to his lips and played a song taught to him by Impa. Strong winds began to sweep in from all directions, swirling into a vortex around the River Devil. Then suddenly, the vortex vanished, taking the creature with it.
With dusk settling over the land, Link secured the flute back in his tunic and made his way across the river. He found himself walking a narrow path between the mountains, the tangled weeds indicating its infrequent use. Two high fences sat at the base of the mountains, one on each side.
Link walked along quickly, wondering why it was so quiet. Then he heard a hissing sound, like evil laughter. He looked up, and his eyes met with several pairs belonging to reptilian creatures peering over the fence at him, devilish grins on their faces. Red Lizard Warriors.
As quickly as they appeared, the warriors, some of Ganon's most devoted followers, began to cast stones at him. He began to run down the path, dodging them as best he could while attempting not to stumble over the weeds. Suddenly an orange one appeared in front of him, making him stop dead in his tracks.
Thinking quickly, Link jumped as if attempting to vault over the creature, narrowly missing being hit by many stones. At the height of his jump, he made a downward thrust with his sword, stabbing the top of the creature's head and knocking it away from him. He landed behind it and saw that it had slowed down. Deciding not to waste time by killing it, he continued running and dodging the stones being hurled at him.
Link continued down the path for what seemed like several hours, only slowing in between portions of the fence. Deciding to completely forego sleep for the time, he managed to evade the Lizard Warriors, some Moas, and a Basilisk along the way. He made it out of the mountains and finally found a spot to rest just before a bridge.
Link slept for only a couple hours before again arising at dawn. He crossed the bridge and journeyed through the forest and desert, killing several tough enemies on the way, before coming to another bridge. Consulting his map, he realized that Kasuto, or what was left of it, anyway, was on the other side.
He crossed the bridge carefully, dodging or killing more enemies, before making his way to the town. As he finally entered it, he felt pain shoot through him, as if attacked by some invisible force. A thought occurred to him, and he took out a cross. Instantly, he could see that he was surrounded by Moas. Disposing of them quickly, he walked through town, shocked by the devastation.
Houses and other buildings that once stood were now only smoldering ruins. Some had a couple of walls still standing, but most of them were completely destroyed. About midway through, Link came to an open doorway that seemed to be emitting a little bit of candlelight.
"This must be the place," he muttered to himself, taking a deep breath.
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