Chapter 9: Snowhead, Part 2: The Eye of Truth

Author's Note: Well, with unnecessary exposition out of the way, onward with the plot.

Dawn of the Third Day

24 Hours Remain

It was cold. Very cold. Link was practically freezing to death.

"Oh…brr…"Link said, struggling to keep warm.

"Why are you wearing a heat-resistant tunic?" questioned Tatl.

"Good point…"

The two made their way back to the Mountain Smithy and Link changed back into the Kokiri Tunic he was originally wearing.

They made their way to the road leading to the Goron Village. Link attempted to run across the bridges, but ended up wasting precious time killing a few White Wolfos. Finally, he reached the Goron Village.

He made his way around the path circling the large structure in the center of the village, only to find a familiar face.

"Hoo-Hoot! We meet again, Hero of Time! Have my stone statues been of help?" exclaimed Kaepora Gaebora.

"Yes," replied Link.

"Well, it seems you may have the strength to change the fate of this land as I had expected. But the road ahead is even more challenging. Many trials await you. Please watch over these Gorons around you. Their land is doomed to be smothered in snow and ice forever. It will become a land where no living thing can survive. Without courage and determination, you surely will collapse from the extreme conditions..."

"I can survive."

"But if that courage and determination burns bright within you, then that's another story... So, will you proceed?"

Link nodded.

"Hoo-Hoot! You are a child of many strengths! Well, perhaps you do have enough strength to change the fate of this mountain after all. I shall take to the air now, flying toward that shrine across the way, so follow behind me. Do not be daunted by appearances. Instead, let your feelings guide you, and the true path shall open before you. Are you ready? Follow behind me!" Kaepora Gaebora took flight, flying towards the aforementioned shrine. Feathers fell from him and landed in midair.

Link hopped across these feathers and made his way to the shrine.

"Hoo-Hoot! I have certainly been assured of your courage and determination. From here on, you must not be fooled by appearances. You must rely on your feelings... Now, enter the shrine. Something that will aid you in your quest lies within. Use that item when returning from here," informed Kaepora.

"But…are you leaving me for good?" questioned Link.

"No, my boy…We will meet again, and soon at that. There is something else inside there…and you have a challenge to overcome. Are you prepared?"

"Yes, I am," responded Link.

"Then proceed into the shrine."

Link complied, and found a treasure chest. He opened it to find the Lens of Truth. Suddenly, a door shut, trapping him inside the shrine. The floor opened up, and he plummeted downward onto a giant drum.

"Not again," he sighed.

A mysterious pair of hands and a disembodied torso appeared. The body disappeared, but the hands began to play the drums.

PHANTOM SHADOW BEAST

Bongo-Bongo

"Not you again," Link sighed.

He grabbed his bow and equipped the Lens of Truth. The body of Bongo-Bongo became visible, and he took aim at one of the hands. He fired an arrow at it, then fired one at the other.

Bongo-Bongo screeched, and attempted to charge at him. Link promptly shot an arrow in his eye, causing him to collapse to the ground. Link rushed over and repeatedly stabbed him with his Razor Sword.

Bongo-Bongo's hands promptly vanished as well, receding into the darkness. Three different kinds of monstrous hands fell from the ceiling: Wallmasters, Keymasters, and Floormasters. Three each. Link had never seen a Key Master before.
"Be careful, Link! See that purple hand thing? That's a Key Master! They will steal any keys you have, and will also throw you around a bit! Watch out!" warned Tatl.

"Wow, Tatl, thanks for some legitimately helpful advice for once," praised Link.

"You know the Floormaster, right? If you don't do something about its pieces before they can reunite..."she said, referring to the hands crawling around the drum.

"It's a Wallmaster! Keep an eye out for it by watching for its shadow on the floor. Get it before it goes back up to the ceiling," she stated, referring to the hands floating in midair around the drum.

"These aren't going very far up for a Wallmaster," remarked Link.

"I know, it's weird," pointed out Tatl.

"I didn't know Bongo-Bongo could even summon these things."

"You've dealt with this guy before?"

"Yep."

Link drew his bow and took aim at the Key Masters. He was able to quickly dispatch them, and shifted to the Floormasters. He shot each of them, taking them out easily as well. He lured the Wallmasters down then killed them as well.

Suddenly, a large hand dropped down. It crawled around briefly, before rearing back to attack. A single eye was in the palm of its hand. It was protected by heavy armor.

ARMORED DISEMBODIED EXTREMITY

Knucklemaster

"What-what is that thing?!" panicked Tatl.

"It looks like a Wallmaster crossed with an Iron Knuckle…" remarked Link, shuddering. "How does that even exist?!"

"I don't know, and I don't want to know," replied Tatl.

The Knucklemaster clenched into a fist and punched towards Link. Link dodged, and the Knucklemaster slammed into the wall, dazed. Its hand opened, and Link began to stab its eye repeatedly. This cycle continued until finally the Knucklemaster let out a ghostly scream, then outright exploded.

Finally, Bongo-Bongo returned to the battlefield.

It began to play its drum again.

Once again, Link shot two arrows then stabbed its eye repeatedly. Bongo-Bongo couldn't stand it anymore. It began to play rapidly, then stopped. It then dissolved into pure shadows.

In its place materialized a chest. Link opened the chest and pulled out a rather heavy Ball and Chain.

"Ugh…I can't use this as a teenager…I need to be an adult…" He set it down, then donned the Adult Link Mask. He placed the Ball and Chain in his bag, then took off the mask.

"Aren't you going to use it?" questioned Tatl.

"Not right now….I just needed to be able to put it in my bag," Link said, smiling.

The floor rose back up, and the door that had trapped them inside was gone.

"Whew. That was close," commented Tatl.

Then they realized something: They were in a completely different room, not outside.

Author's Note: Yes, this chapter is almost all expansions on the original story. I wanted to include Bongo-Bongo but with a twist. The Knucklemaster boss subtitle was made by thepaperwarrior from GameFAQs's GameFAQs Contests board. Thanks, dude. The Key Masters were just a little something I threw in. Kaepora DID say there would be challenges inside the Shrine. The next few chapters might focus on the Shrine, which is far more expanded than in the original game. It's kind of like the Gerudo Training Grounds in this version.