Chapter 15: Evil Unveiled
It was mid-day, but you couldn't tell because of the dark clouds looming blocking the sun. Rain was pouring out of the sky, causing the streets of Hyrule Market Place to flood.
Link had been spending the last few days in the market, buying supplies, and waiting for a new shield to be made for him; a standard Hylian Shield, with a blue background, and a Triforce Symbol.
Link had paid the salesman his rupees, and quickly headed back for Hyrule Castle.
"This is strange," thought Link. "It's mid-day, but this weather is making it look like evening. This is like the weather before-"
Suddenly, Link burst into a sprint powered by his Pegasus Shoes. Link had to get back to Zelda before it was too late.
Link had bursts into the castle, blade at the ready. He bolted for Zelda's room, high in a tower.
Link arrived at Zelda's door, to find the Butler knocked unconscious.
"Hey, wake up," said Link, slapping the Butler's face.
"Hmm, oh," moaned the Butler. "You have to get out of here, they're in there waiting for you…it's a trap."
Link, ignoring the Butler's warning, burst through the door. The room was well lit, but there was no Zelda to be found.
Link looked all around the room, before he walked up to a window. He peered out the window, looking to see if someone was leaving the castle, possibly carrying a bag that could have Zelda.
The room grew dark, candles blowing out. Link turned around to see three silhouettes, shaped like Rick, Jason and Brick.
"Ah, we know who you're looking for Link," said Rick, walking closer to Link so he could see his face. "And I'm afraid the Queen is a little…tied up right now."
"In chains," added Brick.
"Where is she?" demanded Link. "Where do you have her?"
"That's a stupid question to ask," insulted Jason. "You know where we have her. In the only place in Hyrule you wouldn't dare to go."
"Our leader said, that you would try to get the Gorons to help you," said Rick. "That's why we told them if they refused you, we would grant them freedom. Little do they know that we lied to them, just to lure them into a false sense of security."
"That's a stupid move on your part to tell me," spat Link. "What makes you think I won't tell them?"
"The fact that they can't speak with the dead," shot Jason.
"Brick and Jason have failed in killing you," commented Rick. "But I won't fail."
Rick charged at Link, and punched Link in the stomach, sending him crashing through the window behind him.
Thinking quickly, Link pulled out his hookshot and fired it at the window sill he fell out of. It caught, pulling him up back to Zelda's room.
He entered the room, expecting another attack, but saw the room was once again bright. The Dark Trio was gone, expecting Link would have died in the fall.
"Now what am I gonna do?" thought Link, looking down at his feet. "They have Zelda, and I'm all alone in a fight against an army."
"I wouldn't exactly say you're all alone," chimed Rauru.
Link looked up to see Rauru. "What are you doing here?"
"I sensed evil, and decided I should come inspect it," replied Rauru. "And you have more allies than you know."
"Who are my allies?" asked Link.
"You have the Royal Guard, and Zelda has also been forming a small militia of Hylians. And I've been talking with the Great Deku Tree a lot about something."
"And what might that something be?" asked Link, raising an eye brow.
"As we know, the Kokiri cannot leave the forest, but what if they brought the forest with them?"
"Go on," answered Link, intrigued.
"For the past few days, the Kokiri Girls have been making armor out of Deku Leaves, for the Kokiri Boys. And we need you to bring some swords over there and put them through a crash course lesson in sword tactics."
"Hehehe, you want to have a group of Hylians, and a bunch of kids fight one-thousand eight-hundred monsters?" asked Link in astonishment. "We couldn't even make a dent in them!"
"There are at least two-hundred Hylian Soldiers and thirty Kokiri Soldiers. There is no one else to call," said Rauru. "The Gorons were bought off."
"Do the Kokiri really want to do this?" asked Link, in a depressed tone.
"Yes, they've been practicing with Deku Sticks, but….they are not skilled enough," replied Rauru. "You need to teach them."
"I refuse to teach them a skill they'll lose in battle," retorted Link. "Bring them swords if you will, but I will not be the one to send them into battle. I'll fight with them, but I refuse to put them in that situation. So you teach them."
"I know nothing of the art of war!" shot Rauru. "And in a way, you are putting them in this situation-"
"Don't you use my mistake against me old man! We're too far into this to cry about the past! By the look of things, the future is what we should be whining about! We can't change what I did!"
Rauru let out a long sigh, "You're right. Perhaps I'll have a talk with the Gorons. I know we can't change the past, but like the Hero of Time…we can change the future."
"You do that," said Link. "But I doubt you'll have much more luck than me. If you tell them that they were lied to, they probably won't believe you."
"I have my ways," replied Rauru.
The room was dark, and musty. Stone walls surrounded her. She was tied down by chains attached to her neck, arms, and legs, her dress, torn with her blood staining the fabric. Zelda was in the depths of the Gerudo Fortress.
"Don't be frightened Zelda," said the same Sinister Being behind all of this chaos. "Once we have the last piece of the puzzle, all will be well."
"Wh-who are you?" stammered Zelda.
"Honestly, you haven't figured out who I am yet?" asked the Dark Being. "Why, I am the epitome of evil in everyone's eyes…I was once a king of this land. But now, I am fighting to regain that title. I am, Ganondorf."
"But…Ganondorf was turned to stone-" Ganondorf cut her off.
"Yes, but the sword was removed when a foolish old man pulled it out when he was fishing, thus, breaking the curse."
"This land hasn't been under water for thousands of years," remarked Zelda. "Why wait all this time before you made a move?"
"All those years with that sword in me had drained my power," replied Ganondorf. "It has taken me all this time to regain that power and build an army. And now…now that Hyrule has no more hope in their hero, I will strike."
"Not all of the hope is gone!" retorted Zelda.
"Oh but it is," replied Ganondorf smiling. "Tomorrow, Link along with some Hylians and a pathetic bunch of Kokiries will meet my army on Hyrule Field. That will be the turning point for Hyrule."
"And what if the Gorons decided to help us?" asked Zelda.
"Then I would have had a problem," replied Ganondorf. "But shortly after Link liberated them, I gave them a visit, telling them if they refused to help you in the future….I'd grant them their freedom. I was lucky that they refused him to begin with."
"How long have you been watching us?" asked Zelda, with a frown.
"Long enough to know you are now…pregnant," replied Ganondorf. "I'm sorry to say you won't be able to see your child. But your child will be in good hands…at my side."
"I-I'm pregnant?" stammered Zelda, bewildered.
"Yes, you and Link have been rather close I guess. I'll make sure that Rick tells him that I have your child or something to that effect."
Zelda couldn't reply. That night was confusing. She wasn't planning at getting pregnant, not at a time like this. And the worst thing that could happen is what appears to be the future. Her child will be raised to be evil, and might even protect this monster, the man who seems immortal.