Chapter 4: Mirage of the Desert
Ganondorf walked up to the entrance of Lon Lon Ranch. He was planning to go to the Greudo fortress, but something was nagging him. He wanted to investigate the evil aura that was resonating over the ranch. Even Ganondorf was nervous. There were several dead horses and cows scattered across the field. But he was more interested in what was in the middle of the field. The dragon's corpse.
"Who or what could of done this?" Ganondorf asked himself. There was no trace of a holy aura, and thus Ganondorf dismissed the very thought of Link doing it.
"Ganondorf…" A voice howled like the wind. Quickly reacting Ganondorf turned around, to see a very evil aura.
"Who are you?" Ganondorf asked shocked.
"We are from the Master Sword… Sealed inside of it to repel the very thing we are… Evil!" it spoke. "We now need a host body…"
Ganondorf just walked away and grabbed the dragon's head. "Sorry but the only thing I'm interested in is revenge on Master Hand!"
"We can help you do that!" It replied. "We need a host to survive, and in return you gain our powers!"
Ganondorf smiled. "I'll accept your offer…" Slowly the evil aura went towards Ganondorf, who absorbed it. "Such power!" Slowly Ganondorf floated up off of the ground. He grabbed the head and flew off towards the ruins of Death Mountain.
There a single Goron was working on a sword. This Goron was at least 10 times bigger than your average Goron. "Sword smith!" Ganondorf said in a threatening tone. "Make me a sword using this!" He threw down the dragon head.
"NO!" The Goron shouted.
"Not even if I offer you Ten Million Rubies?" The Goron looked up, he was in shock. "Yes that seems like a fair price… I want it done in two days! Now then get working!"
Ganondorf took of to the sky again. This time he headed to the Gerudo fortress, located in the desert.
Link was now at his home in the Koriki forest. "Don't feel depressed Link!" Zelda had said, to him. "The sages will fix the sword!"
Link just stared at his gantlets. "Its not that…" He cried softly. "Its just… Majora… I felt a rage build up inside of me to the point that it blinded me… and then Majora took over… Majora, Ganondorf, and even you have been taken over by this Master… he wants the Tri-Force of courage… It seems that the only way he will leave me alone is if he gets it… Or if I die… Or if I kill him!"
"Link… You best rest now!" Zelda said placing her hand on Link's shoulder. "Your exhausted. You fought a whole army off, Ganondorf, me, and a giant Dragon all in the same day! Even you need rest!"
"I can't rest!" Link said. There was an incredibly long pause. Link just looked down at the ground. "The sages are trying to restore the Master Sword, meanwhile… They are still under the Master's control! I can't trust them…"
Zelda nodded her head. "I see…" There was a sudden flapping of wings that interrupted Zelda's and Link's conversation. Zelda ran outside and Link tried to follow, but Zelda turned back and shot a look at Link. "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" She hissed.
Link slowly backed up to the Kokiri bed. It was half the size of Link, and was very uncomfortable. He sat down and looked out of the door. There he could see Zelda standing in front of a big owl. Kaepora Gaebora was an old and wise owl. "Zelda I'm so glad you are safe!" It said.
"I'm safe… Link on the other hand is a bit traumatized…"
"I just came back from a long trek across the desert. Greudo forces are moving slowly inwards towards the spirit temple! I think Link should check it out!"
Link walked out of the house. "I'm on it…" Link said.
Zelda looked at Link. She felt like stopping him but there was nothing she could do. No one else knew the desert like the Greudo's and Link held the Lens of truth, which could help him pierce through the mirage of the desert.
"Take me desert!" Link ordered. Kaepora Gaebora spread his wings and Link got on his back. Slowly he took flight and began to fly towards the desert. They were at the Greudo fortress in 10 minutes.
"This is where I leave you!" Kaepora Gaebora said, flying away. Link entered the fortress.
There was no sign of Greudo thieves. "Link!" an all to familiar voice said from behind him. Link turned around to see Ganondorf, in broad daylight, all though most of his body was hidden behind a cloak, and Majora's Mask. Surprised Link jumped back and drew the Biggoron sword.
"Relax!" Ganondorf said. "If you are looking for the Greudos you are wasting your time… they evacuated into the desert quite a while ago…"
Link began to walk towards the desert. "Then I'm going to the desert!"
Ganondorf laughed. "You won't have a chance to find them! They burned down the flags!" The flags that Ganondorf was referring to were tall wooden poles that had a red fabric tied to the top. It allowed others, such as Hyliens to find their way in the desert.
"Then guide me to the outpost!" Link said. The outpost was a small stone building in the middle of the desert. Strange aura's surrounded the place, and several Greudos believed that it was a gate way to another dimension.
"I can't do that Link" Ganondorf just smiled. "You have to do it yourself!"
Link smiled. He gripped the handle of the Biggoron sword. "Your going to help me whether you like it or not!"
Ganondorf began to walk away. "I don't have time for this…"
Link began to walk into the desert. The scorching heat came down upon him. It wasn't the first time that Link crossed the desert, nor would it be the last, yet this was the first time he did so with out something to guide him. No flags or a ghost. Not even Kaepora Gaebora to guide him from the sky.
From what Link had heard, very few people ever tried to cross the desert. Even the greudos would avoid it if necessary. And only Nabooru the sage of the Sprit Temple located in the Desert Colossus, regularly traveled through the desert.
Master Hand stared at a mirror. He was using it to watch Link. "What do you hope to accomplish in the desert?" He asked intrigued. "But now it is time to plan my assault on Ripple star!" Master Hand looked at the mirror again but this time there was a crystal located within a giant chamber. "I don't know how… but the Seal of Smash is weakening… I need the crystal to return it to its full strength!"
Link continued to walk. With every step he felt as though his body was about to collapse. Sand buffeted against his body hurting him. "How much longer can I go on like this?" he asked himself. Slowly Link fell forwards. He could see the outpost in front of him. The Seal of Smash came out the sky and placed it self on the top of the outpost. A crimson barrier seemed to appear on top of the outpost.
A wind began to pick up and suck everything towards the barrier. Link unable to resist flew towards the barrier, where he was thrown through. He landed on the stone surface and looked around. He was on a giant stone surface, and on the middle of the surface was what appeared to be a sword. Or at least half of one. It was just the hilt and a chunk of the blade. Slowly Link walked over to the blade and picked it up.
"Fuse me!" It said.
"What?" Link said shocked this had been the first time he had heard a sword talk. "I'm dreaming… I just hit my head very hard!"
"You are not dreaming Link!" the sword talked. "I am part of the NES sword! However age has corroded most of my body… the sword on your back place me on it!"
"Ok…" Link said still believing that this was a dream. He unsheathed the Biggoron sword from his back and laid it on the ground. Then he grabbed the NES sword, and placed the blade on the blade of the Biggoron sword. A blue light shimmered from the NES Sword and when Link looked down the sword was whole. It was the same length as the Biggoron's sword yet it was a lot lighter and able to be wielded in one hand. "Amazing…" He said. Link looked around and saw the barrier that he was trapped in. "Now lets test out its power…" Link held the NES Sword up high and then sent it down towards the Seal of Smash on the ground. The Barrier disappeared and Link stood on top of the outpost.
The sand storm had died down and Link began to walk towards the Greudo fortress. Night had now fallen and the place was deserted, there was no sign of Ganondorf. Slowly Link walked out of the Greudo fortress. It was eerie to see it abandoned. Hyrule field was just ahead. Link grabbed his ocarina and played Epona's song. The horse galloped towards Link and he got on.
Link had returned to the Lost woods, only to find that the bridge was knocked down. Link pulled out his Longshot and flew across the gap at the bridge normally filled. This was odd to Link. The Koriki children would only do that if they were in great danger, and needed time to evacuate. Link walked through the giant hollow wooden log. But stopped mid way. He could feel 2 other forces waiting for him on the other end. He drew the NES sword and slowly walked forwards.
The Koriki village came into view and Link was glad to see that it wasn't in flames. He smiled and walked through the end of the log. But he was immediately ambushed by two Koriki children. Link just put up his new sword to protect him from their attacks. Zelda then appeared in front of Link.
"Zelda what happened to the bridge?" Link asked.
Zelda looked at Link. "Ganondorf was coming here… The koriki didn't know what else to do! They feared that he would come here and… well he went into the lost woods instead!"
"Why the lost woods?" Link asked.
"We don't know…"
Link looked at the entrance to the lost woods. "He must be going to Termina… Majora probably told him where it was…" He paused for a second and thought. "I'm going in after him…" Link said eventually. "Even though we are fighting up against a common enemy I still don't trust him!"
"I understand…" Zelda said.
Link began to run into the lost woods, when he was repelled by a barrier, sending him flying back.
"A barrier is stopping us from entering!" The NES sword said.
"No duh!" Link shouted. "Now how do we cut through the barrier?" Link got up and placed his hand on the barrier. Slowly he walked back and reached for his bow and arrows. Loading his bow he pulled back the arrow and turned the arrow into a Light arrow.
He released the arrow and it pierced through the barrier, and it shattered. "The barrier is down!" The NES sword once again stated the obvious.
"You know I believe there is a good reason why swords don't talk!"
"Well just be glad that your hat doesn't talk, it would be complaining about head lice!"
Link held tightly onto his sword and sheathed it. He slowly walked into the lost woods. Slowly going to the gate to Termina. Ganondorf was in front of the gate just staring at it. "Why are you here Link?" Ganondorf asked.
"To know why you were going into Termina!" Link replied.
"It doesn't matter… Time stands still there… in Termina…" Ganondorf said, with a disappointed tone in his voice. He placed his hand on the gate. His fingers feeling the texture of the engraved wood. "But I got what I wanted…"
"And what would that be?" Link asked, drawing a light arrow and aiming it Ganondorf. A smile crossed Ganondorf's face.
"Fire your arrow!" Ganondorf said in a strong voice, not in the least afraid.
Link didn't give it a second thought, he released the arrow and it went flying towards Ganondorf, it then hit his flesh and all of the light seemed to be repelled, and the arrow bounced off uselessly. Link was shocked. "What?" he asked puzzled.
"I absorbed the Mirror shield of Termina!" Ganondorf laughed. "My body is now a natural mirror shield! It can reflect your magic at my will!"
"There has to be another reason than just reflecting my Light arrows!" Link said a little shocked. Ganondorf just walked away.
"That would be only one reason… I have a few others…" Ganondorf laughed. "You are familiar with the Chuchus right?"
Link nodded. "Ya… they are monsters that are made out of jelly… I encountered them in Termina"
Ganondorf drew one of his swords and cut off his arm. It then regenerated. "I needed the mirror shield for this… The black chuchu… it is able to regenerate but… it can't be exposed to sunlight otherwise it turns to stone!" Ganondorf smiled, as he was quite impressed with his new abilities. "I will defeat Master hand alone, I don't need you, or any one else!"
"Ganondorf your new abilities are making you arrogant!" Link said, drawing the NES sword. "As you're about to learn!"
Ganondorf just walked away. "Link… rest, for once I am done with Master Hand I will be going after you, with an intention to kill!" soon Ganondorf was gone, leaving Link alone in the Lost woods.
Link walked out of the lost woods and into the Koriki forest. He sighed and looked at the village. He then turned back and went into the lost woods, venturing towards the Fairy fountain. Where his physical wounds would be healed.
Link awoke to the sounds of the cries of the Sages. Slowly he got out of the small Koriki house that he lived in and saw the sages down on the ground. It had been 3 days since Link's encounter with Ganondorf in the Lost Woods. Since then he had recovered his physical and mental wounds fully, and he was now prepared for what ever may happen in the upcoming battle.
Jumping down the 6 foot ladder, he landed on the ground. In front of him were the sages, and in Seria's hands was a sacred cloth.
The sages looked at Link, and Seria handed him the sacred cloth. Underneath it was the Master Sword. "We have done the best we can… there are some runes in it to protect you from small bits of evil…" Seria said. "We need the medallions to further our work…"
"And there is one more part…" Nabooru gulped. "It turns out that the dragon wasn't fully slain! And the Master Sword will be unable to return to its true power until the final piece of the dragon is destroyed!"
Link looked at the sages, and nodded. "I'm going to the Master's fortress!"
The sages looked at each other knowing that they should stop him. Yet they did nothing, and just watched as Link walked away towards Hyrule's castle.
Ganondorf landed in the ruins of Death Mountain. There lied the new sword. "There is your sword…" The goron said. "Evil it is…"
"Take your money then!" Ganondorf threw down the 10 million rupies, "Now I want revenge…" Ganondorf unsheathed his sword, and pointed it at Hyrule Castle, the strong hold of Master hand. An intense amount of energy flowed out of the sword and rushed to the castle, however was stopped by a barrier. "A barrier…" Ganondorf then slowly began to venture to Hyrule castle.
To be continued…