The Legend of Zelda: Return of the Hero
The Necromancer
"At first we thought they were Stalfoes but they don't look or act the same. The Deku Sprout says they're Obani skeletons. He said the Obani used to care for the forest long before the Kokiri were born. He doesn't know why they all died out but one managed to survive. We call him the Necromancer, an evil sorcerer who uses his magic to control the dead. The Obani imprisoned him inside of a tree for his crimes sometime before they went extinct. He stayed there until someone set him free. Now he's back and wants the forest for himself. He's been killing whatever he can to help fuel his magic. We think he's trying to bring his people back but we're not sure. Saria's been fighting them and trying to drive them away from areas here and there but she can only do so much by herself. The Deku Sprout isn't strong enough to stop his influence and he doesn't want her fighting him head on. He thinks there's a darker power in play here and she can't do it alone."
The trio walked into the ancient grove cautiously. The presence of an alien magic unlike any that existed today filled the air. Instinctive fear was not unfounded as each could sense unseen eyes observing their every move. Link had learned long ago not to ignore a chill on the back of his neck. Without uttering a word the triad formed a circle with backs in the middle.
The grove was indeed old and obviously a place of former ritual. They walked in the middle of what had once been a circle of evenly spaced archways. Instead of being built curved the top each archway was sculpted into a point. Time had taken its toll on the formation and not all the black stones remained intact. Many were missing and others were severely cracked or broken. Nature had not let the open spaces go wasted and filled the gaps with moss and flourishing plants.
In the center of the grove stood a basin the width of a carriage wheel and perched on a short grooved column. Both were engraved with swirlish designs which reminded Saria of the wind. As the trio treaded closer they nodded in silent agreement before peering into the mysterious bowl. Full nearly to the rim was a liquid of deep blue. To the inattentive eye it was easy to mistake for water but upon closer inspection revealed the truth that whatever lay within was an unfathomable mystery.
Picking up a small twig from the ground, Phantom Ganon moved to test the unknown substance. Just as he was about to touch the surface a bright green hand burst forth and grasped him by the wrist before dragging him underneath. Just as he had been there one moment, he was gone the next. Link and Saria both stood in shock at the abruptness of Ganon's departure. Saria steadied her breath and slowly reached to place her hand in the bowl after him. She screamed as another hand reached out to grab her. Without taking his eyes away from the basin, Link pulled Saria back before she could be latched onto. The empty fist returned to the murky depths unaccompanied. Saria called out in a hurt whisper, "Ganon."
As if answering to her call, the ground began to shake. Stepping back, the pair watched in silent astonishment as the dark liquid began to swirl inside the basin. Picking up speed with each rotation the unknown substance funneled deeper and deeper. Link and Saria did not have an opportunity to further study the transformation. Around them the archways were slowly being rebuilt as if time were moving backward, the black stones simply appearing out of thin air and moving into place. Before their eyes the ancient circle of Obani ritual was reforming.
One arch directly behind Link and Saria stood different from the others. Instead of providing transparency to the forest behind it, the stone structure revealed a sinister vision of a parallel world between its two pillars. Finally noticing the difference, the Emerald Knight drew the attention of his companion towards it. Inside the archway he could see an identical forest to the one he was in now but one filled with a twisted darkness.
The trees were black and gnarled, the leaves slated gray, and the sky was overcast in an ominous shadow. From the oppressive forest murk pierced a pair of glimmering red eyes. The pair was followed by dozens more sprouting left and right. With each one they grew brighter until it became apparent they were moving closer toward the portal. Link took a cautionary step back as the shifting silhouettes began to take form. The keepers of the orbs materialized to reveal themselves as a horde undead Obani scrambling forth to take the realm of the living.
Meeting onslaught with onslaught, Link did not wait for the raving swarm to engage him. He chose to meet their headlong rush with one of his own. Saria was hard pressed to keep up with his radical instinct. The mass of bodies collided with the unrelenting steel of the King's Shield; permeating the unmistakable sound of smacking flesh across the precipice of the portal entrance.
Shaking from the eruption of the impact, Link could not hold his ground as the sheer numbers thrust him back. Letting loose with his blade the heinous abominations cried and roared as their flesh and limbs tore. Saria leapt into the air and unfurled her thorn-vine whips upon the walking dead to further drive them back. With unnatural delay she slowly fell back to earth, utilizing every second from her gifted abilities to rend and sunder the screaming corpses.
The swarm was not one to be oppressed lightly and soon began jumping off the backs of one another with uncanny reflexes to position themselves behind Link and Saria. Although surround by half a dozen the Forest Knight could not afford to turn his back on the formidable legion in front of him. Landing beside her companion, Saria quickly turned to face this new threat.
Moving with unfettered grace, the six undead bodies all pounced simultaneously while screaming in rage filled frenzy. Striking low and high, the Forest Maiden brought one down with a sweep to the ankle and caught another around the throat. Jerking him forward, she let the whip do its work as the thorns severed the weak flesh and broke through the moldering bones.
Link disoriented the zombie Obani in front of him with a bash from his shield and impaled another to his left. He quickly hacked away at one making a dash for his throat, chopping off both extended arms at the same time before turning to the original he smashed and honoring him with a vicious gash across his abdomen. Spinning to face the others, the Hero of Time brought his gifted armor to bear and charged forward knowing Saria would let nothing harm him from behind. His lifelong friend lashed out with a brutal thrash to the four Obani encroaching on her personal space. Undeterred the four cadavers lunged in unison.
The Forest Sage wasted no time and wrapped an Obani with each whip as they charged. The two entwined fell as their legs were forcibly locked in mid stride. As the other two reached arms length Saria flipped over their heads. While arching through the air, the timeworn Kokiri unleashed a flurry of razor sharp leaves in her wake which hacked and diced the savages below. Landing with the grace of a jungle cat, no sound was made by the Forest Guardian or the Obani as they fell to pieces.
Struck by the stench of burning flesh, Saria turned to see Link's blade afire as if doused with oil. Each walking dead he struck ignited with the fury of a Goron's wrath. Pulling the handles of her thorn-vine whips, she thrust the green cables back, searing through the still bound captives like butter and ran to aid Link with twin tails trailing behind her. The horde showed no fear as their numbers dwindled and, if anything only encouraged their lightning bounds to dodge attacks.
The survivors seemed to become more agile and nimble with each one of their brothers that fell. Soon the Obani corpses forewent bipedal movement and began leaping and crawling on all fours as their bounds became little more than blurs streaking from one spot to the next. Like dogs they growled but as lions they roared when pouncing to attack. Dashing across shreds, limbs, and charred lumps, Saria reached Link in time to lash at a flying savage about to land on the Hylian as he struck and ignited another.
The Hero of Time did not hesitate crossing the portal as the remaining five fell back to avoid the inferno of his blade. Saria tried following him but the mystical opening disappeared the moment he stepped through. Feeling eyes on her once more, the Forest Maiden turned around to see the Necromancer now standing in the basin. His feet lay firmly planted on the blue liquid as if it were solid ground. Saria clenched her teeth as she realized that the attack had been a distraction.
In the realm of black and grey, Link finally slew the last of the Obani that attacked him. As he withdrew his blade from the final zombie he noticed in the distance the glow of red eyes appearing all around him. Looking behind, Link saw that the portal had been closed. Gritting his teeth, the Emerald Knight encompassed himself in a flurry of rage for allowing himself to fall into such a predicament. From his rage Link felt the back of his left hand illuminate with power as the glittering rubies grew in size and number. He couldn't help but smile.
The Forest Sage grew tense as undead hands began bursting forth from the earth. They were of a pale and unhealthy color of green. Soon the rest followed and before her eyes stood a dozen Obani corpses. Each wore decrepit armor of a forgotten era and weapons of fine craft steel; swords, shields, spears, axes, and bows. The Necromancer himself carried the trident staff of Phantom Ganon.
Making the first move, the two undead warriors with bows fired and in the blink of an eye Saria was spinning through the air with unnatural grace. Ready on a hair triggers notice, the remaining warriors charged with bloodcurdling screams. The Forest Maiden soon found herself in a storm of steel and rotting flesh. As Saria dodged and weaved for her life, the Necromancer stepped off of the basin and began focusing on his own priorities. He was close, so very close to bringing his lost people back to life and there would be nothing to stop him. Reaching into his bright silk robes, the Necromancer pulled out the stolen Kokiri's Emerald, his dark brown eyes pausing to stare at the marvelous wonder which would bring the Obani back from extinction.
The liquid in the basin began to swirl in a vortex once more and after it had reached its maximum cyclone fathom, the banished sorcerer let go of the green stone over the bowl. Instead of plummeting in the depths, the jewel hovered over the tornado of blue and began to change color. The emerald shifted to thousands of different shades and hues in seconds as the magic within was activated. Saria barely had time to notice the grove changing around her. Sidestepping a spear thrust, she grabbed the shaft and pulled it close to bring the owner within reach of a vicious backhand.
In the corner of her eye she could see the transformation. The sky had grown black and the sun was now red. The Necromancer continued to stand in front of the basin, moving his arms and hands weirdly but with obvious foul intent. He almost seemed like a conductor as he channeled his dark magic in a long forgotten ritual forbidden by his people. Saria could not see it but felt it inside of her, the spirits of the long dead Obani were gathering inside the basin. The cries and moans of their disturbed peace filled the air.
Saria could only express her rage and horror for which the Kokiri's Emerald had been stolen by snapping the neck of an Obani who had the misfortune of being caught from behind. With renewed strength that can only be born of hate the Forest Sage began tearing through the Obani warriors. Her thorn-vine whips shattering weapons and armor like rocks against twigs. Limbs and torsos filled the air as the rotting corpses failed to match her divine fury. Saria's expression alone would have sent any sensible man in flight but these mindless slaves could do nothing against the ravaging Forest Storm except fall to pieces in her wake. With a single lash of her whip she cut the last two opponents in half at the waist. Like piles of dead weight they fell.
The Necromancer continued his dark conduction without pause. The loss of his minions did not remain unnoticed but it did not discourage his actions. Saria turned to face him in combat and was struck by an explosion of energy from behind. Throbbing from shell shocked pain the Forest Sage struggled to pick herself up. As her hazy vision cleared, the outline of an advancing figure became someone familiar. With inhuman glittering red eyes, Phantom Ganon treaded steadily to her fallen form with trident staff in hand. On each wrist he bore large iron shackles inscribed in ancient Obani symbols. Each symbol emanated light the same color as his eyes. Undeterred at having to face a friend, Saria knew that evil would always fight as dastardly as possible.
Artfully spinning the staff each hand, Ganon ended his display of battle finesse by sinking to a single knee with the trident extended toward Saria. His demonstration however was not for show as a burst of black electricity fired from the bladed prongs. Dodging like a panther, the Kokiri rolled and leapt away from the magical storm just in time. Landing gracefully, she retaliated by wrapping a whip around Ganon's weapon and pulling it forth from his grasp. Whatever semblance of personality he had before had been washed away by the dominating shackles. Recklessly and with terrifying speed, Phantom Ganon charged at Saria unarmed. Roaring in primal fury his hands ignited in arctic blue flames as he vaulted menacingly in the air.
The Green Haired Lady barely disappeared as torrent of fluttering leaves from the crashing fist in time. The earth shook and shattered from the impact while the sorcerer clone searched for his prey. Feeling an overwhelming sense of danger, Phantom Ganon spun around quickly and faced the basin. His demonic red eyes grew large in shock as they revealed Saria standing behind the Necromancer, strangling him with one of her thorny whips like a garrote.
Driven by an unearthly compulsion, Ganon fired a blazing flare of bright blue flame from his hand as he charged forward. Keen on her senses, the Forest Maiden shifted her weight and fell to the ground backward with the Necromancer in tow. With nothing in the way, the Kokiri's Emerald hovering over the swirling vortex was struck.
The combination of conflicting magical energies proved disastrous for the ceremony. Upon contact with the flame, The Kokiri's Emerald released a small explosion of energy and was knocked away from its place above the basin. The stone, sky, and sun reverted back to their original colors. The pointed archways began acting as portals, randomly shifting and alternating between dimensions at will. Realms of untold wonder and horror came and went in the blink of an eye.
The small explosion caused the pillar holding the basin to crack jaggedly in half and the bowl of unknown liquid seemed to tip over in slow motion. Upon striking the earth, the blue substance did not spill but instead began to swirl with the force of a hurricane, drawing everything inside of it. Leaves, twigs, Obani remains, and rocks all began lifting off the forest floor and into the basin. Saria, Phantom Ganon, and the Necromancer could feel the powerful wind on the opposite side of the bowl that threatened to draw them in if not careful.
From the lottery of changing portals emerged Link. He was not alone as other creatures from other realms began entering through the same archway. None were by choice as the magical vortex was strong enough to pull them from the other side of the portal as it switched between realms. Those unfortunate enough to be next to the archway on their end of the gate were drawn in.
Saria gasped as she saw Link flail through the air uncontrollably alongside a dozen other monsters, beasts, and creatures towards the basin. The Hero of Time was not so inexperienced when it came to unforeseeable doom. Whilst flipping head over heels he managed to draw his sword and plant it firmly in the ground, anchoring himself with steel and fingertip strength. Saria knew he could not hold for very long. She turned behind her and saw Ganon on top of the Necromancer with his hands around the Obani's throat. The mystical shackles lay beside them broken from the explosion of magical energy after the Kokiri's Emerald was struck.
Saria had not heard the commotion the two were causing due to the hurling wind. She got as close to the back of the basin as she dared and searched for a way to reach Link before he let go. Obani zombies and other creatures of unknown origins continued to be pulled through the portals and into the basin vortex. Many nearly hit Link and others tried grabbing him in a desperate attempt to save themselves. The Hylian's grasp finally gave and one by one his fingers slipped from the hilt. Reacting without thought Saria thrust her hands quickly toward the ground.
If the Hero of Time screamed it was lost in the deafening current. The overwhelming pain in his hands was all that kept him alive. As he felt himself loosen and let go Link came to peace as he often did in the moments when the end was certain. To his surprise he did not have an opportunity for his life to flash before his eyes. The serenity of helpless freefall was disrupted by an agonizing jerk to his ankle. Link found his foot tightly wrapped by a thick vine planted in the ground. It was all Saria could do to keep the fragile plant from snapping against the hurricane.
Phantom Ganon, satisfied with the unnatural stillness of the Necromancer, lifted him off the ground and carried him to the basin before unceremoniously throwing him into the unforgiving vortex. Finally noticing the precarious situation of Link and Saria he began searching furiously around him. He at last spotted the Kokiri's Emerald which had luckily avoided falling into the twister. Grasping it within his hands he could feel the magical energy simply pulsating from it like a heartbeat.
Saria screamed, "Ganon!"
His brief moment of surrealism was broken as Link's vine had snapped. The Hero of Time was nearly gone in the blink of an eye. Using the emerald to amplify his own magical energy, Ganon began muttering incantations in the dead language of the Gerudo ancestors. Link closed his eyes before entering the void and then there was silence. He could no longer feel himself floating in the air but instead resting on a soft grassy surface. Drops of water hitting his face finally caused him to open his eyes. Looking over him was a beaming Saria with tears flowing freely down her face. Before he could even try and sit up her arms were wrapped around him. Link couldn't help but smile and the only thing he could do was embrace her back.
After a few moments Saria helped Link to his feet and he shook Phantom Ganon's hand in gratitude. Link couldn't see behind the horned skull mask but the Forest Knight could tell he was smiling underneath. Their moment of peace was broken by Navi's scream,
"Look!"
Everyone's attention focused on the armored Obani skeleton which had appeared behind them. It spoke in a deep otherworldly voice,
"I now know why I was imprisoned for so long. It was so that I may awaken and return my people from extinction. It is my destiny to be their savior, their hero, and their king. The Obani shall rise again and reclaim this forest! Death can not stop me Hero of Time. Even if I must wait a thousand generations, I shall have my revenge."
With his grim message delivered, the Obani warrior turned to walk away. With every step his body slowly turned to ash and faded away by a gentle breeze. Phantom Ganon turned and handed Link the Kokiri's Emerald. Looking into the sacred gem, he knew at least for now the forest was safe.