Chapter 7: Kidnapping

After Majora's Serpent was slaughtered, Ganondorf/Majora was furious.

"Grrrr! With every sage he awakens, the boy gets stronger!" Ganondorf growled.

"Don't forget it isn't over till it IS over!" Majora said as though they had ALL the time in the world. Ganondorf scoffed.

"A lot to say from an evil arts and crafts creation." Ganondorf snapped. Ganondorf had obviously went too far. Because Majora sent a bolt of electricity through the king of evil's body. When it cleared, Majora spoke.

"SILENCE!" He shouted, "The next sage is the Sage of Shadow. I'll send a servant to head them off."

A glow of his bright eyes sent another monster to a cliff just outside the graveyard.

Link, Saria, and Ruto went back to Death Mountain to meet Darunia. Darunia met all of them with a good hug, but when he came to Link, he virtually broke his sworn brother in half.

When Link was released, he asked, "Wait. How come they get a gentle squeeze and I end up with my spine virtually broken?"

Darunia shrugged and said, "Women are delicate. What can I say?"

Link had the 'That's the dumbest thing I ever heard' look on his face. Link put his vertebrae back into place (again) and they all headed back down the mountain.

When they got to the graveyard, they saw Impa standing near a grave. Ruto looked VERY uncomfortable in this place, because of the same reason you do in a cemetery. After Link pried her fingers off his shoulder, there were red marks on it. Link went up to Impa and tapped her on the shoulder. Zelda's attendant looked a little surprised.

"Link! You startled me." She said, her hand over her chest.

"Sorry about that. What are you doing here?" Link asked with a look around. After all, the only person who lived here was fairly creepy.

Impa looked back at the grave and answered, "THIS is my husband's grave."

Link looked a little shocked. He never really thought Impa was once married. But he guessed that some people had to get married sooner or later.

Then, something struck him. "Wait. If you had a husband, why didn't you have a kid of your own?"

Impa remained quiet for a while.

She then answered, in a very quiet tone, "We tried. But…" She sniffled, but held back the tears. "I couldn't have children. I was completely sterile."

Link felt so bad for her. He now knew why Zelda was so important to her. He pitied the Sheikah survivor.

Link finally came back to reality and rummaged for the Light Medallion.

"I need to do this." Link began as he just pulled it out.

But before he could get the chance, a giant, multicolored, lizard-like creature sprang from the cliff to the graveyard. It had six legs, a horn on its nose, sharp teeth and claws, and a blade on its tail like a scorpion stinger. It looked at Link, growled, and then turned its attention to Impa before leaping after her. Link tried to get in the way, but the reptile was too quick and trampled the hero. It grabbed Impa in its jaws and sprinted into the Shadow Temple, leaving Link with a mouthful of dust and a large imprint in his front. The monster got away and there wasn't much he could do now.

"HAHAHAHAHA! How does Majora's Sauros add to your tastes?" Ganondorf/Majora asked.

Link drew his sword and stood to face him. That only made Ganondorf/Majora laugh harder.

"You never cease to surprise me, boy. The only way for you to get her is to go through the trials of the dead. But don't worry. When my pet's through with Impa, you're next." With a snap of their fingers, they vanished into thin air.

Link kicked a tombstone through rage, but regretted it after he felt the searing pain in his big toe.

"What do they mean by 'Trials of the Dead?'" Darunia asked.

Link just shrugged.

"I don't know and I DON'T want to find out!" Ruto replied in fear.

"You got me. I haven't been out of the forest for most of my life." Saria also replied.

Zelda remained silent. Link stood staring at Zelda, puzzled.

"Zelda?" Link asked as he reached for her.

"Not now, Link. I'm thinking." She quickly said and she also smacked Link's hand. It wasn't harmful, but Link could take a hint.

He scoffed and said, "Sages."

After a minute or two, Zelda finally understood.

"Link, I've heard of The Trials of the Dead. Impa said they were a shortcut to the Shadow Temple underground." She said in triumph.

Link nodded and called everyone.

"Everyone, I need all of you to move a tombstone. If you find the one we're looking for, give a signal."

"EW! You want us to virtually go grave digging?" Ruto asked as she stuck her tongue out.

Link then countered by saying, "You actually WANT Ganondorf and his less-than-amusing partner to rule Hyrule?"

Ruto winced at the thought and immediately got to work.

Darunia moved a stone, nada. Ruto moved a stone, zilch. Zelda moved a stone, nix. Link moved one only to find a blue rupee. He quickly pocketed it and moved on. Unfortunately, someone did find the right one and it would lead to the ultimate test of courage.

Saria moved a tombstone and found a surprise. She screamed in terror as a skeletal hand reached out, grabbed her leg, and began to drag her down into the tomb. She began clawing at the ground, but only succeeded in prying up dirt. Darunia heard her cry and grabbed her outstretched hand. He pulled with every ounce of goron muscle, but it wasn't enough. The hand was much stronger than it looked and the goron boss ended up going down the grave she fell in. Link heard the cries for help and peered down the hole.

"SARIA! DARUNIA! Are you down there?!" He called, but no answer came.

Link decided that he would go down there and rescue his friends from dire peril. He was about to jump when he felt a hand grip his shoulder. He turned around to see Zelda with a look of worry on her face.

"Link, please don't." She pleaded.

Link took her hand in his and had a look of encouragement on his face.

"I'll find them. Relax. If I don't come out until tomorrow, get yourself to safety!" The hero of time told her.

Before he left, Zelda kissed him on the cheek. After that, he plunged into the hole in the ground. Who knows what danger his friends were in?