Link started to run up the winding forest path, the Ordon boy's yells still echoing behind him. He'd wasted enough time back there, and he couldn't risk being discovered by a patrol. High above, a hawk screeched, as if sounding an alarm. That boy said he could have a hundred guards here. It was probably just bluster but still…

Link didn't know what sort of hostility there was between these people and the King of Hyrule, or why, but he wasn't about to wait around and find out. At least he had stopped the boy from blowing that horn. Link spied a doe and her fawn nibbling on tree bark just off the trail. As he jogged past, the deer started in terror and sprang off into the depths of the forest.

His mother's horn he had said. Link felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He had never known his own mother. She had left him in the care of the great Deku tree with nothing but his life. How he would cherish something to remember her by. Link pushed these thoughts from his mind as ahead of him he saw his destination. He slid to a halt in front of a simple wooden gate. It was twice as tall as himself, and sharpened stakes adorned the top. A sign by the gate read "Fairy Pond". Through the slats of the barrier Link could see still, glassy water that reflected the starry skies above.

Link looked all around for a purchase point to use his hookshot on, but saw no such place. He examined the gate more closely. The latch was of basic design and made of wood. With enough force he might be able to…

"Fuh…fin..ally…I've caught…ya now", a voice panted in his ear. Something sharp and cold pressed against his side. "Now…how's about…we go see my father, eh?"

Link spun deftly on his heel, twisting away from the knife. In one fluid motion he pulled the shield from his back and as he came round to face the assailant, bashed it hard against the boy's knife hand. The little dagger flew through the air and landed several feet away. The boy cursed, drawing back and blowing on his bruised fingers.

Link made to put his hand on the hilt of his sword. He had no intention of actually using it on the boy but he hoped the sight would send him running. However the boy saw the motion and instead of fleeing, charged Link at speed. Link raised his shield but the boy grabbed at it, pushing Link back with the strength of his stride. As they wrestled over the shield, Link was forced against the gate, his back pressed uncomfortably onto the wooden structure. The gate creaked and groaned with the strain of the two boy's struggle.

At last with a mighty yank, Rodan ripped the shield from Link's grasp. However the exertion left him off balance and, sensing an opportunity, Link gave his opponent a hard shove in the chest, sending the older boy sprawling. Despite falling hard, Rodan recovered quickly to roll away, and sprang to his feet. He charged again, this time holding Link's shield outstretched in front of him. Link attempted to sidestep the assault but - too late, and with an almighty crunch, the two combatants flew through the gate as splinters of wood rained down around them. Both boys fell headlong to land with a noisy splash in the once calm waters. Link's shield spun away and embedded in the soft sand at the edge of the pond.

Link was the first to his feet, hacking and coughing, holding his battered ribs. Then Rodan emerged, spluttering and spewing water from his mouth and nose. Their eyes locked briefly as they panted and heaved, beads dripping from their hair and clothes. Then they lunged for each other, stumbling their way through the knee-high pool. They grappled, slipping on the sand, the water sloshing and churning around them. Ravens circled overhead, croaking indignantly at the commotion.

Link was an experienced fighter but knew little of hand to hand combat. This Rodan had a longer reach and was stronger to boot. Besides which, his ribs ached terribly and Link worried they might be broken. Still they wrestled, until they were both breathing heavily and shivering from the cool night air on their sodden clothes. Anytime it seemed like Rodan was gaining the upper hand, Link would wriggle from his grasp but his tired arms were offering less and less in the way of resistance.

With a yell, Rodan suddenly twisted around and ducked forward, pulling hard on Link's arm to send him somersaulting over the boy's back to land with a heavy thump and splash in the chilly pond. The air left his lungs, and he gasped and sucked greedily but found only water to replace it. His head tolled like a church bell and every thump of his rapidly pounding heart sent shockwaves of pain arcing around his body. He lay submerged on the soft sand, too dazed to even lift his head to the surface, and watched the bubbles escaping from his mouth. His heart thudded even faster.

A voice echoed in his mind.

"Noble hero, an evil approaches".

Link felt a strong hand grip his tunic and pull him roughly into a sit.

"Looks like you don't know how to take a tumble eh? First thing they teach ya in wrestlin' here".

Link choked out a heaving gasp, water dribbling down his chin. The night air had never tasted so sweet. As Link hacked and spluttered, Rodan sat down heavily.

"Still, they must be teaching ya somethin' in Hyrule. That was some fight, lil knight".

"Wh..why…di..d..", Link manages between coughs.

"Why did I help ya? Well that's easy, can't answer nothin' with a belly full of water now can ya? And I reckon my Da will have a few questions need answerin'".

Rodan wobbled to his feet. His lip was swollen and bleeding slightly, and one of his eyes was a nasty shade of purple. He splashed his way over to Link and took the sword from his back. Link was too weak to protest.

Rodan held up the weapon to admire it in the pale moonlight. He let out a low whistle. The edges were razor sharp and the gold-gilded blade shone like fire despite the wan light. On the fuller, close to the ornate hilt, he could make out the engraving; "Zubora Gabora".

Don't see many weapons like this around here and no mistake. This just gets weirder 'n' weirder.

As Rodan examined the sword, his eyes wandered past the blade to the smashed gate that once secured this holy place. His blood froze. In the splintered ruins, a tall, black figure sat atop a monstrous horse. His face was shadowed by a black hood, but from the impenetrable darkness protruded a pair of skeletal horns, and beneath that, the flickering, yellow glow of two malicious eyes. The red-maned horse stamped at the earth, it's eyes burning with the same hatred as it's rider.

Rodan was rooted to the spot. He could not even tremble, so paralysed was he by the crushing aura of malevolence that emanated from this mounted figure. Link's sword hung limply at his side, his numb fingers not even registering when it slipped from his grasp.

The figure dismounted, landing with a heavy thud on the sand and turned, fixing Rodan with it's evil glare. It advanced slowly, deliberately, each footstep clanking with the sounds of heavy armour, unseen beneath the black robes. All life in the forest seemed to have been snuffed out. No birds called, no deer stirred, even the babbling of the water flowing into the pond appeared to have been silenced. For Rodan, it seemed as if nothing at all existed except for the booming footsteps, the demented whinnying of the horse, and him standing all alone - prey waiting to be devoured.

The dark figure reached the edge of the pond and paused. For a brief moment, hope sparked in Rodan's heart. The magic of the fairies, surely they would protect him! But to his horror, the black phantom merely crossed his arms and began to laugh. A cruel, booming laugh that reverberated through the trees. There was no joy in that laugh, just utter contempt. The figure's robes billowed and whipped around his feet, and as Rodan screamed and shrank back in terror, the phantom rose into the air and, still laughing, glided menacingly across the pond, heading straight for Rodan.

For the second time that night, an arrow whistled past Rodan's head. There was a snarl of pain as the arrow sped into the darkness beneath the black cowl and one of the yellow eyes blinked out. The flame-haired horse roared as if it too had been shot. Link stepped forward to Rodan's side, another arrow notched and his bow drawn taught. His eyes were focused on the black phantom as it checked it's flight and rose up into the sky.

"Run", Link said through gritted teeth. He unleashed another arrow at the barely perceptible shape, black against the black night. This time though the phantom batted the arrow away with a swirl of his cloak. With a chilling battle-cry it swooped at the two young boys, passing over the moon like a monstrous shadow, blotting out all light. Rodan and Link dived for safety but with a crackle of lightning and a clap like thunder the phantom smote the ground with a great mailed fist. The shockwave sent the boy's hurtling in opposite directions and kicked up clouds of sand and mist from the pond.

Rodan lay in a heap on the water's edge, half buried in sand. His ears were ringing and he tasted blood in his mouth. His jumbled thoughts drifted listlessly through his head like a lazy catfish bobbing in a lake. But he felt warm and the sand was soft against his weary body. He closed his eyes. If I could just rest a while, then I'd feel better. Then I'll go home.

"Rodan. Rodan!"

His mother's voice. She'd probably come to find him. It wouldn't be the first time he'd fallen asleep on the comfortable sands by the fairy pool. She would scold him for making her worry, but then they could go home and she'd make him a delicious pumpkin pie.

"Rodan, you must wake up. You must find your father"

His father. His face would be stern, but then he'd probably laugh and tussle his hair. He might even tell a story over the dinner table, of some mischievous thing he and his friends got up to when he was a boy, and how angry it made granddad.

"Rodan please, wake up!"

The scrape of steel clashing with steel woke him from his stupor. He sat up, only to throw himself back down, shielding his face as a sizzling ball of energy fizzed by him to smash into a rock, blowing it into tiny shards.

He looked up and saw Link, locked in combat with the hulking phantom. He'd retrieved his sword and shining shield and was hacking at his enemy with deft swordstrokes, though most of his strikes seemed to be dinting of it's armour. The phantom countered with a powerful punch which Link caught on his shield, sending him sliding backwards several feet. As he strained to keep his foe at bay, he caught Rodan's glance.

"Run!", he repeated. Rodan staggered to his feet. The fierce battle was raging between him and the gate, blocking his exit, but…ah! He remembered a secret tunnel, hidden behind overgrown moss and ivy. It should be…there! Rodan dropped to his hands and knees and forced his way past the foliage and into the narrow crawl space just as another explosion rocked the forest, briefly turning night into day, before he was swallowed by the gloom.

Rodan crawled through the dark tunnel for what felt like an age as the sounds of battle faded behind him, replaced by an oppressive silence. All he could hear was his own laboured breathing. The weight of the earth above him bore down on his back and cobwebs clung to his hair and face. Just a little farther.

He and his friends had stumbled on this secret tunnel one day while playing in the forest just on the edge of the village. They would use it to sneak into the fairy pool to paddle and have picnics on warm summer afternoons. That was after his father had ordered the entrance be barred, and all visits to the pond were banned. After Ma' disappeared.

Had he really heard his mother's voice back there? No, he told himself firmly. Ma's been dead seven years. She ain't comin' back. You were knocked silly and yer brain played a trick on ya. That's all. Still, the voice in his head that had sounded like his mother's was right, he had to find his father. He only hoped the Hylian could hold out until then.

Why should I care what happens to that kid? He's just some Hylian spy. That black rider an' him are prolly workin' together.

No, that couldn't be right, that battle they were having was real enough. But what hope could a little boy like that have against such a terrifying creature?

And you ran away, leavin' him to face that thing alone. A boy no bigger than Geral's lil brother, and here's you, the future chief, fleein' like a cuccoo.

But there was no turning back now. Even if he wanted to, the cramped passage wouldn't allow it. So he quickened his pace, crawling as fast as was possible, towards the dim light at the end.

Blood and sweat mingled, dripping down Link's forehead and stinging his eyes. Again the phantom attacked, unleashing strike after ferocious strike. Link weaved and dodged and parried, but every action took a heavy toll on his remaining energy reserves. His breath was shallow and ragged. Every inhale brought fresh waves of agony to his cracked ribs and every exhale fogged his brain and sapped his strength. He had to end this quickly.

At least the Ordondian had gotten away. If this black figure was who he suspected - and really, Link couldn't mistake the laugh that had haunted his dreams for years - then he was relieved that at least no one would die on his account. Assuming he could defeat this apparition. Who knew what havoc he would wreak on the nearby village if he did not.

Ganondorf. How did he find me? Come to think of it, how does THIS Ganondorf even know who I am? His brain churned with questions, and he tried - as he had so many times before - to make sense of his convoluted past. Jumping back and forth through time as often as he had tended to make one's chronology a little hazy. When he had left Hyrule and began his journey to search for Navi, Ganondorf was in the custody of the Royal family, imprisoned in the dungeon of Hyrule castle. Had he somehow escaped?

An incoming ball of energy pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind as he reacted purely on instinct to flip backwards a pace, then swipe at the magical projectile. The missile careened back the way it came but the robed figure spun away in air and it sailed harmlessly past. For the briefest moment however, the light of the projectile illuminated the monster underneath the hood and Link caught a glimpse of a snarling skull, one eye socket cracked and oozing green blood.

Link recognised the creature as not Ganondorf himself but his puppet, Phantom Ganon - a creation of his black magic. Still, puppet or not, it fought almost as fiercely as the real thing. And I don't have the Master Sword this time.

Another hail-storm of brutally strong punches. Phantom Ganon was almost directly above him and Link had to put his full body weight behind his shield to stem the avalanche of blows. He felt the shield dent and buckle under the unrelenting force that pushed him to his knees. Every muscle in his body screamed at the effort. With a screech of rending metal, the steel gauntleted fists of the phantom broke through Link's shield and he was plunged into the cold pool once more.

"Link! If you can get this evil creature to touch the sacred water, then I might be able to aid you in your fight".

The voice swirled around him as if carried on the eddies and currents. Link splashed to his feet. He hoped this voice was right, and not some figment of his exhausted mind. He was running out of options. Above him, Phantom Ganon hovered menacingly, just out of reach of his sword, cackling pitilessly.

Link looked around wildly, desperately trying to formulate a battle-plan. He caught the smoldering embers of the black horse's eyes…no wait…eye. The horse only had one glowing eye. It's right one, like the phantom's eye that Link had hit with his arrow, was an empty socket oozing pus. Link remembered the terrible noise it had made as the arrow struck it's master. Could the two, horse and rider, be connected somehow? Perhaps both creatures were but one creation of Ganondorf. In which case…

Link swiftly drew his bow and knocked an arrow, aimed it at the stallion's heaving flank. He had to act quickly, before Phantom Ganon swooped on him again but - the horse pawed the ground and brayed nervously. Link lowered his bow. Demon horse or not, this felt wrong. Epona. Before I rescued her, she was intended as a gift to Ganondorf wasn't she? Is this what would have become of her if I hadn't…?

Just in time Link rolled to avoid a steel-capped boot aimed at his head. The hem of the phantom's cloak stirred the surface of the water as he dived. Link stabbed at the demon with the arrow in his hand, but he only succeeded in making a ragged slash through it's cape, as the Phantom flew out of reach again.

Okay, time for a new plan.

Link rushed forward, heading straight for the stallion. He heard crackling energy from above him. Using the reflection of the glowing attacks in the water below to guide him, he bobbed and weaved, left and right. One missile landed so close to him that he felt his hair singe from the intense heat but still he pressed on. He reached the horse which reared on his hind legs with a bellow, lashing out with it's hooves. Those kicks would do just as much damage as any punch from the phantom. I just hope he won't be able to fire at me from here, or risk hitting his horse!

Link dropped to the ground, ducking and rolling under the flailing hooves that pounded the earth inches from his head. He sprang to his feet at the rear of the horse, but quickly had to bend over backwards as the horse kicked back with two feet. This end's as dangerous as the front! Link saw Phantom Ganon gliding dangerously closer, his arms crossed, laughing mirthlessly at Link's desperate attempts.

Come on. Just a little closer…now!

Link took out his hookshot and fired. The heavy metal tip sunk deep into the phantom's chest and the chain went taught. Horse and rider roared in pain and rage. Deftly, Link tangled the handle of the grappling device in the leather straps of the saddle on the black horse's back. In a flash, he clicked the button to retract the chain and with all his might, slapped the rump of the great horse. It reared again and bolted forward. One of it's flailing legs connected with Link's stomach, knocking him to the floor, and the breath from his lungs.

As the horse galloped wildly into the centre of the fairy pool, the hookshot dragged Phantom Ganon down, twisting madly in the air, to land with a heavy splash in the water. He rose, dripping, his orange eye burning with malice. But suddenly a golden light emanating from the pool encircled the horse and phantom. From where he lay, Link watched as the rippling water of the pool slowed and solidified. Phantom Ganon cast about and roared an otherworldly howl. Horse and rider struggled, making towards the shore but the water glooped and clung to them in great blobs like honey. Every movement ensnared them more, sucking at their legs and pulling them downward like quicksand.

"Hero, now's your chance!", said the voice in his head.

Link forced himself to his feet, sword in hand.

"Drop yer weapon"

"Don't you be tryin' anythin' now boy"

Two sharp points stuck into his back. He felt another cold object prick at his throat. Three very large men stepped into his view. Two of them pointed crude spears at him. The other, bearded and muscle-bound, held a great-sword in his hand, though it was rested against his shoulder.

"You're a long way from home Hylian, and no mistake" he said.

"Please..the pool…just look, I have to…", Link could barely get the words out.

There was a flash of light and a crackle of electricity from the fairy pool, then a thunderous boom. All the men gasped and turned in awe to look at the commotion, but all that they saw was the gently rippling pool, bathed in the afterglow of golden light, and fading swirls of purple mist.