Hyrule Castle, King's chambers
Ganondorf's eyes snapped open. He had grown accustomed to sleeping lightly; he held no shortage of enemies. He rose slowly, soundlessly, like a mummy from its tomb. Not even the sound of his breathing was heard. His sharp ears picked up no sounds of intrusion, so he swung from his bed and pushed aside the heavy curtain that encircled the sleeping platform.
The room was, of course, shrouded in darkness. With barely a flick of his hand the candles mounted on the wall burst into life as he fitted his robe around his shoulders. Striding with more alertness than those typically just rising from sleep to his desk, he reached for a flask stowed in one of its drawers. He took a long, indulgent swig before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and returning the flask.
He sighed, walking to the window. His sleep these past few months had been restless. He had often woken like this, on edge, unsure of what had roused him. He clenched his fist and stared at the back of his hand. Once again, the golden symbol there was glowing eerily in the candlelight.
Ganondorf groaned and pressed a hand against the glass, resting his forehead against his clenched fist. He took a long deep breath through his nose, trying to suppress the images that still flashed through his mind, even in wakefulness.
You are the King of Hyrule, he chastised himself, You have defeated hordes of armies, you have conquered the land of Hyrule, you have assassinated kings…you can rid yourself these ridiculous dreams.
And ridiculous they were, for nightmares had never intruded upon his sleep before. In all his years, from his childhood in the Gerudo desert to his youth of bloodshed and death…to this: being the conqueror of the great kingdom of Hyrule. His bloody rise to power had never once bothered his conscience. He had been born a warrior, and he would die one as well. Killing those that got in his way was simply necessary in order to attain his goal.
But the nightmare persisted. It brought on an emotion entirely unfamiliar to the king: fear. A dark, cold force coiling within him and tightening, twisting ever tighter until it felt like it was suffocating him. He would not allow it to beat him. He would not allow his power to be stripped away from him by someone so…insignificant.
After a few minutes of meditating, the king returned to his bed, satisfied that the nightmares that had plagued him these several nights had been suppressed. As he lay back down, a jolt of electricity shot through his hand, surprising him. He grimaced, ignoring the tingling sensation and letting sleep enfold him once more.
Little did the tyrant king know that this tingle signaled the arrival of his enemy. The one that haunted his nightmares had returned to the earthly world. The one Ganondorf feared above all others. The figure clad in green.
~oOo~
Northeast Hyrule, bank of Zora's river
Link pulled his green tunic, newly clean, from the river. He wrung it out with care before laying it on the grassy bank to dry. Next to it he'd placed his boots, gauntlets, sword and shield in a heap. Link kept on his white undershirt and tan riding pants. Even though there was no one else around, he decided to remain dressed for Navi's sake. His laundry finished, he flopped onto his back, letting the mild spring sun warm his face.
They'd been traveling for two days, and were understandably weary. They'd had to keep off the main roads, since Ganondorf's guards were everywhere. It had taken careful sleuthing to get out of Castle Town undetected. The sight of the town had shocked him, at first. It was utterly destroyed. Not a single soul was left. The market was overrun with Ganondorf's monsters. Link hadn't been able to believe his eyes.
According to Navi, much of Hyrule had met with this same fate. She assured him that Kakariko was a safe haven, though. Link sighed, allowing his eyes to drift close for a short rest. Navi was sure they'd reach Kakariko by nightfall. He was anxious to get there.
At least walking is much faster in this new body, he thought, wiggling his bare toes. It still felt strange. That's because my legs are much longer, he thought to himself, I'm taller now.
"Link?"
The teen sat up, frowning at the disturbance. Navi was diving in and out of the murky river—her version of taking a bath. The water level was much lower than he remembered. Another sign of the immense changes.
"What is it?" he asked, reaching for his sword. Being a fairy, Navi had an uncanny sense of danger, which came in handy if anyone tried to sneak up on Link.
"Are you finished? We should get going as soon as possible." Navi fluttered over, all business.
"My clothes are still drying…" Link said, wanting to go back to his nap despite his anxiousness to hurry as well.
Navi paused. "Oh. Well, why don't you practice with your sword for now then?"
Link groaned. "I practiced all the way from Castle Town! I know how to use a blade, Navi!"
Navi tsked. "You know how to use it, but you're not used to your body yet. Your muscles have to accustom themselves to your sword."
Link raised an arm and flexed his bicep, admiring his new strength. "My muscles are just fine." He laughed as Navi sighed in exasperation.
The tiny fairy flew over, cocking a hip and looking down at him with slight disapproval. "You'll only improve through practice. Right now, you're still a scrawny forest kid with a shiny new toy. You have a long way to go."
"I am not scrawny!" Link protested.
Navi sighed again and landed on Link's shoulder. "Don't worry, Link. For Hyrule it may have been seven years, but for you, you've gone from being a Kokiri to the Hero of Time overnight. This is going to take some getting used to…your body has grown up, but your mind is still in the past."
Link's shoulders slumped as he realized she was right. He might look like an adult, but he still thought like a boy. "Okay, Navi. Let's practice, then."
Navi clapped her hands, jumping off Link's shoulder. "Good then! All right, let's start with the basics, shall we?"
Link trained for what felt like hours, Navi supervising and giving bits of advice where she could. The Master Sword still felt foreign in his hands, but the more he practiced, the more familiar it became. Even his newfound muscles, as disconcerting as they were, began to feel like his own rather than those of a stranger's. He felt like a caterpillar that had been transformed into a butterfly in an instant, instead of weaving a protective cocoon and changing gradually. He hadn't been given time to react to the shock of his altered form.
Link finished another series of moves for Navi. She praised him, noting his improvement. Link leaned on the hilt of the blade, catching his breath. This adult body was certainly better equipped to handle the momentous job of saving Hyrule. But even now, he felt the seeds of doubt planting themselves in his mind. Was he ready to be the Hero of Time?
He'd told Rauru that he understood his destiny. He wasn't certain that he did, though. What did it mean to be the Hero of Time? The words of his guardian, the Great Deku Tree, floated into his mind.
Thou must never allow the desert man to lay his hands on the sacred Triforce…That evil man who cast the death curse upon me…
Link flinched at the memory. He had failed him. Ganondorf had seized the Triforce and used its power to destroy Hyrule. How was he supposed to save Hyrule when he was responsible for its current state?
"Are you all right, Link?" Navi asked, floating over to him, concern written on her tiny fairy features.
"Yes. I'm fine. Let's keep practicing." Link quickly straightened, not wanting to let Navi know of his fears.
The odd pair practiced for an hour more before Link retrieved his tunic and they began walking towards the northeast once again. The sun was low on the horizon when Link and his fairy companion reached Kakariko village. Excitedly, Link rushed towards the town gate. It, at least, had not changed in the least.
The village was one of Hyrule's oldest. It had been built even before Castle Town. As Impa had told him, it was the village where she was born and raised, and it was rumored that the entire Sheikah clan had once resided there. As far as anyone knew, however, the modest village no longer had any Sheikah residents.
Link was not surprised to see the town hadn't changed much. It had grown in size considerably, due to the amount of townspeople whose homes had been destroyed seeking refuge in Kakariko. Castle Town had become a ghost town in a literal sense. Poes floated through the desecrated cemeteries, and ReDeads roamed every dark alley, their chilling moans echoing from every street. Shocked and horrified, Link and Navi had managed to evade the creatures, escaping through the non-existent town gate.
Reeling from the dramatic change, Link had agreed with Navi's guess that the townspeople, if any had survived, had likely fled to Kakariko. Now that they had arrived, this theory proved correct.
"I wonder if there's an inn we can stay at?" Navi wondered aloud, hiding safely in Link's hat.
Link walked past house after house, searching for an inn or a place to stay. As the sun set, villagers moved inside, the lights inside their homes alighting and making the street seem less cold and empty. Few people walked the streets with the young man. Link found himself frowning as he passed by a lit window. Inside he could see a family sitting down for dinner. His heart contracted as he remembered his own tree house in Kokiri forest and his own warm, safe bed.
Navi sensed his stillness. "Link?" she peeked out from under his hat.
"Stay hidden," he murmured, eyeing the strangers on the street corners. "I know a place we can stay."
Navi ducked back under a lock of blonde hair, staying quiet as Link broke into a jog. He followed streets that he recognized, managing to make his way to the northeast corner of the town. To his right, the rock wall stretched straight up, meeting the starry night sky. In front of him loomed the shadowy figure of the windmill. Kakariko was nestled in an enclosed valley at the foot of Death Mountain. There were only three ways in or out. One was the rocky incline Link and Navi had come in by, the second was the treacherous Death Mountain pass. The third was the open plains behind the windmill. Link had never explored that particular area of Hyrule, but he had always wished to see what was out there.
Link tore his gaze from the quietly creaking windmill. He tried opening the wrought-iron gate in front of him, but the lock had rusted over from disuse and wouldn't budge. Confused, Link turned and hopped over the fence, entering Kakariko graveyard.
"You can come out, Navi," Link whispered. "No one's here."
Navi obliged, buzzing out of his hat to survey her surroundings. She froze, rounding on Link. "Link! What are we doing in the graveyard!?"
Link kept walking along one of the small dirt pathways that criss-crossed the entire yard. The place was completely deserted, much to his surprise. None of the lanterns had been lit, and the grave keeper's house was suspiciously dark as well.
Navi continued to talk as Link explored. "You're not…you're not intending to sleep here, are you? In the graveyard?"
Link let out a low chuckle. "Of course not, Navi! We can sleep at Dampé's house, I'm sure he won't mind…"
Navi flew in front of Link's face, stopping him in his tracks. "The grave keeper's house? Link…what if he doesn't recognize you? It's been seven years."
Link paused. He hadn't thought of that. "Well…it's worth a try."
They trudged on towards the tiny shack that Link's friend called home. The old grave keeper had chosen to live in the tool shed rather than live in a house in the village. The villagers were wary of him at best, and feared or were disgusted by him at worst. Because of a childhood accident, Dampé's face had been hideously disfigured. The man was a gentle soul though, cheerful and caring. Link simply couldn't believe the grounds Dampé had cared for so tenderly had become so overgrown.
Weeds had overtaken the grass, snagging at Link's boots. Moss and lichen encroached upon the carefully crafted headstones, trailing into cracks and fissures that hadn't been present in the stone before. The pathways between graves had become bumpy and rocky, the small fences that lined them were rotted and falling apart. Not a single headstone was accompanied by a bouquet of flowers, brought by a visitor for their loved ones. It appeared as if no one had visited the grave yard in some time.
Navi said the question on both their minds aloud. "What happened here?"
Link had reached the door to Dampé's shack. He tried knocking. When no one answered, he tried again, louder. Finally, he tried the door knob and was surprised to find it was unlocked. Navi floated warily behind him as he stepped into the tiny one-room shed. The place was empty. Judging by the cobwebs and dust that decorated every corner and every shelf, it had been for a long time.
"Dampé?" Link called, even though he could see there was no one.
No answer.
Navi floated over to the grave keeper's desk, the only possession Dampé owned aside from his bed, a wooden chair and a small, lopsided bookcase. She dusted off a lantern that stood on the desk and then used a small amount of her magic to light the candle inside.
"Maybe he finally moved into the village," Link said, mostly to himself.
Navi didn't say what was on her mind, and Link didn't ask. Seeing Navi struggling to lift the lantern that was much too heavy for her, Link picked it up and set it down next to the vacant bed. Silently, he pulled off his boots, followed by his shield, sword, gauntlets and tunic. He stowed all of his possessions under the bed, leaving his hat next to the lumpy old pillow for Navi to curl up in.
Navi watched as Link bolted the door closed, a frown creasing her delicate face. She snuggled into Link's hat, her wings folding over her. Link crawled under the threadbare blanket, brushing a curious spider away as he laid his head on the pillow.
For several minutes, neither one spoke. The lantern light cast flickering shadows on the wall. Link rolled on to his side, tossing the pillow aside and using his arm to cradle his head instead.
"Goodnight, Link," Navi whispered, reaching out a small hand and placing it on Link's blonde head. He was turned away from her, so she couldn't see his face.
Link was quiet for several moments. "Goodnight, Navi."
Eventually, the lantern light faded and winked out. Darkness settled in once again. The spiders returned to their cobwebs. Outside, a wolf was howling, the haunting noise drifting down into the valley and disturbing Kakariko's peaceful rest.
~oOo~
Kakariko village, Bowyer Street
The village of Kakariko was fairly peaceful. Relatively free of crime, even as Ganondorf's allies grew in number, spreading evil throughout Hyrule. All of Hyrule was under the tyrant's control. Kakariko remained blessedly ignored by, if not free of, Ganondorf. The false king had better things to do than terrorize the citizens of the town. Still, his eyes were everywhere.
Bomberd Keynes was one of the few who went out at night nowadays. Well, aside from that depressing kid with the punk hairstyle who rambled on about how disgusting the world was whenever anyone tried to talk to him. Nobody wanted to risk annoying one of Ganondorf's guards and be sent to the castle. Anyone who was sent there never came back. This particular night, Bomberd had a good reason to be out after dusk though. If insomnia could be counted as a good excuse among the king's guard patrols.
Keynes was a thin man, with dark hair and a small moustache. He didn't look like much, but he'd been in his fair share of fights and was confident in his hidden strength. He liked to tell himself if the guards ever caught him out when he shouldn't be that he could fight them all. In reality, whenever a patrol passed by, he hid and waited anxiously for them to pass. Prowling the streets at night had become so much less fun since Ganondorf had arrived.
The world really is gloomy tonight…maybe that punk freak is right…
Bomberd stopped as he heard the booted footsteps of the patrol approaching. Fighting back a shriek of terror, he vaulted over a fence and ducked behind a nearby rock. The truth was, Keynes was skittish and cowardly by nature.
I wish I was brave…he thought, Maybe then people would believe I was that silly masked person who jumps around attacking the guards at night. The rumors are growing. I wonder who it is?
He was also a fan of telling tall tales; mostly ones that exaggerated his nightly strolls into grand adventures that depicted him as a courageous and noble hero.
Bomberd breathed a sigh of relief as the patrol passed his hiding place without stopping. He stood up from behind the rock. It turned out not to be a rock at all, but a headstone. Keynes only swallowed his second scream of the night because he had a fear of ghosts.
Keynes turned towards the graveyard's iron gate, his fear beginning to subside. What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks and his fear skyrocket. The pale, disfigured silhouette of Dampé the grave keeper stood—no, floated—mere feet from Bomberd. The ghost grinned, making his face seem even more terrifying. Bomberd failed to suppress the scream that now burst out of his mouth.
"G-g-ghost!" He was so paralyzed with fear the man could do nothing then but pass out.
Before unconsciousness claimed him, he had a moment to wonder what it was the grave keeper's ghost held in its spectral hand, and to plead with the gods that it wouldn't possess him.
~oOo~
Kakariko Graveyard
When Link awoke the following morning, it took him a moment to remember where he was. Somehow he managed to get up and re-light the lantern without opening his eyes. When he did, the memory of the previous evening came flooding back to him.
"Oh," was all he said, a pang of grief for his friend seizing him.
Link dressed, leaving his sword and shield on the bed as he bent down next to the small oven in the corner. He reached an arm up and opened the flue of the chimney, then rummaged in his pack for something to eat.
Navi stirred in his hat, which still lay on the bed. "Link?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Here," he called. "Just making breakfast."
Navi flew over to him, resting on his right shoulder as he built a fire in the oven. Gently, she laid a hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry about Dampé, I know he was your friend."
Link nodded. "It's all right."
Navi paused. "We should head back to the forest, then."
"Not yet."
Navi was surprised. "Why not?"
"Sheik told me there was something in the village that I need to enter the Forest Temple. I have to stay here until I find it," Link explained.
"Oh, of course," Navi said, remembering the mysterious Sheikah's words.
"Also, there's one more thing I have to do," Link added.
"What's that?" the fairy asked him.
A fire was now roaring in the small stone oven. Link pulled several strips of meat from his pack and set them on the metal cooking rack. He then walked over to the grave keeper's bed, reaching underneath for the man's tools.
Shovel and other implements in hand, Link headed for the door. "I'm going to honor his memory," Link replied.
The entire day Link worked in the graveyard, pulling up weeds, clearing away bracken from the grave plots and cleaning the headstones. He worked over the pathways, smoothing them out, and he repaired all the broken fences. He cut the grass, trimmed the overgrown bushes, and planted flowers. He only stopped to eat or catch his breath.
By the time the sun started to set, the graveyard was a far cry from the gloomy, depressing ghost haunt it had been. It was clean, tidy…serene. It looked as if Dampé himself had come back from the dead.
Navi hovered near Link's left ear as he washed his dirty hands in the water basin. "The graveyard looks amazing, Link. Dampé would be pleased with your work."
Link wiped his brow with a wet cloth. "I hope so," he said, looking over his efforts.
"Come on," Navi urged, tugging on his ear. "You've earned a break and a hot meal. Let's go into town and look for an inn."
Link obliged, stowing his sword in the grave keeper's house and locking the door behind him. He carried only his pack with him, pulling out the few rupees he had with him and heading into the town center.
During the day, the market was quite busy. With Navi hiding in his hat, Link walked through the main streets, navigating through the throng of townspeople. He passed by several inns and various eateries without going in. The price lists on display in the windows proved to be too daunting for his limited cash supply.
Link passed by a fruit stand and his stomach rumbled, reminding him of another reason he needed money. "I guess we'll have to stock up on food before we leave town. Where am I going to get the money, though?" Link wondered aloud.
"Maybe you can find a job somewhere?" Navi wondered, her voice muffled inside his hat.
Link raised his eyebrows even though Navi couldn't see his face. "Who would hire me? It's not like anyone's going to pay me for taking care of the graveyard."
Navi snuck a peek out from under Link's hat. "There's a notice board over there! Maybe there are some job postings."
Link hurried over to the sign she pointed out. There were several community notice boards throughout the town. Employers could post job offerings and shops could post ads and notices of sales, among other things. There were only three posters pinned to the board at the moment. Two were notices of new shops opening up in the coming week, and the third was a notice from the town's captain of the guard. Link examined the poster more closely.
It read: WANTED, Masked Night Prowler, REWARD 1000 rps.
"Who's the Masked Night Prowler?" Link asked the fairy hiding under his hat.
An old man reading the board next to Link scoffed at his question. "The Night Prowler? Nobody knows. He's some idiot who runs around at night and sabotages the King's guard patrols."
"The guard patrol…" Link mused. "Nobody knows who he is? Where does he live?"
The old man guffawed and slapped Link on the shoulder. "He's nobody, young man. Although that moron, Keynes, certainly fancies himself the fiend."
He continued to laugh as Link pressed, "Keynes? Do you know where I can find him?"
"Bomberd Keynes. He frequents the bar right down there." He pointed a finger down the adjacent alley. "Wouldn't trust his latest stories, though. The more he drinks the taller the tales get."
With that, the old man shuffled off to continue his shopping. Link turned and darted down the side street he had indicated. A small nondescript bar stood on the next street corner. A weathered wooden sign hung over the black door with the words The Angry Deku Scrub written in red lettering.
Cautiously, Link pushed the door open and peered inside. It was mostly empty. The only patrons were a group of men laughing rather uproariously in the far corner. Link remained awkwardly in the doorway. He'd never been in a bar before. Of course, now he was old enough so he was technically permitted…
"Can I help you, young man?"
Link started when he realized the man tending bar was talking to him. He took a seat at the counter, and the man waited expectantly for him to order.
"I'll have a…" Link froze, realizing he had no idea what to say. "Ale," he finished lamely.
The bartender cocked an eyebrow but said nothing. He reached under the counter and grabbed a mug, filling it with amber liquid and sliding it over to Link.
He took it, bringing it to his face to sniff it before he took a sip. "Um, do you know a Bomberd Keynes?" Link asked hopefully.
The bartender chuckled and pointed to the group of men in the corner. "He's over there."
Link slid off the bar stool and approached the group of men, catching snippets of the conversation.
"I'm telling you, I saw him! I saw the man's ghost!" A moustached man in the center of the group was gesturing emphatically. The rest were laughing uproariously at his claims.
"Hah! That's one I've never heard before, Bomberd."
"How much have you been drinking, Keynes!?"
The man named Keynes continued to protest. "He was see-through! For Din's sake, he was floating above his grave! Dampé the grave keeper's ghost, I swear to you!"
Link edged closer, his interest piqued upon hearing Dampé's name mentioned.
"Dampé? Bomberd, the man's been dead for years!" exclaimed one of the patrons, chuckling as he took a swig of beer.
Keynes seemed unperturbed by the laughing, he was mostly just anxious. "He wanted me to follow him…into the grave." Keynes shuddered at the memory.
"He wanted you to follow him?" Link asked, eyebrow raised.
Keynes zeroed in on Link, meeting his eyes. Keynes's eyes were bloodshot, like he hadn't slept last night. "Yes…it looked like he was holding some kind of treasure!"
Keynes never did manage to convince any of The Deku Scrub's patrons that his story was true. But he never forgot his traumatic ghost encounter. It occurred to him later that evening that the young man with the blonde hair who'd rushed out the door after hearing about Dampé's treasure might be in trouble. Maybe the grave keeper's ghost would possess him? With a shake of his head and a sip of his drink, he turned back to his fellow patrons, joining in the laughter as they ridiculed the latest drunken tale.