Chapter Four
Link cringed when he heard the sword slam into something, but was surprised when he didn't feel the cold steel of Ganondorf's blade. He opened his eyes, only to see a slender green rod in his hands, stopping the Gerudo's swing. Link pushed back with the stick and Ganondorf stumbled back.
Link jumped up, looking at the stick. He traced the markings on the side as his brain quickly translated the writing: Nevara.
Nevara! The Staff of legends! Every Hylina had heard the story of the weapon so powerful that it could be willed to become anything that the wielder desired it to be. In a flash, this stick could become a sword, ready for combat, and a moment later become a shield that blocked almost every blow. Link laughed at his luck.
"What, are you banking on some sort of stick to save you?" Ganondorf taunted.
"It's not a stick!" Link shouted back. "It's a staff!"
Ganondorf laughed. "What's the difference?"
Link held the Staff out, concentrating on an image of the Master Sword. He opened his eyes to see the Staff shifting its shape to that of the Master Sword's. "Sticks can't do that."
"Well, let's see how your staff stands up to me!" Ganondorf charged.
Link blocked Ganondorf's blow and landed one of his own. Trying to remember every fighting move he could, Link stepped into a series of combination attacks, each fitted together in perfection, and each finding a way to slip under Ganondorf's guard. After quite a few attacks, Ganondorf stumbled and fell to the ground.
Link stood above him, the Master Sword at his throat. "Give it up, Ganondorf."
"Never," was the reply as Ganondorf quite literally vanished.
Link stepped back, startled. He glanced at his staff and concentrated on what it had been. The Staff returned to normal.
He turned toward where Malon and Marin were. The bird was calm, but was glaring at Link with a fire in its eyes. Link thought for a moment about what he could use to take down the bird.
As he thought, an image of a bow and a set of arrows flashed into his mind. He could remember himself shooting arrows at thousands of Keese that were swarming him, but he could not place the location. However, as he struggled to remember where it had happened, he felt the Staff of Nevara shift in his hand.
He opened his eyes to see a bow in his hands, an arrow already strung. Link drew back the arrow and aimed it at the giant bird. He let fly the arrow and watched as it flew through the air and sailed into and through the bird's wing.
The bird screeched in pain and took to the air. Link noticed that somehow, there was another arrow ready to fire. He shrugged and aimed once again at the bird. The second arrow flew true and stuck into the bird's belly.
Malon and Marin rushed over to Link. "I knew you'd come and save us!" Malon exclaimed, hugging Link. He returned the hug and concentrated on the Staff, turning it back to normal. Malon looked at it.
"Is that..?"
Link nodded, twirling the Staff in the air. "Yes, it is. It's the Staff of Nevara."
It was right then that Marin ran up to Link. "Thank you!" She hugged him quickly and walked to the edge of Mount Tamaranch. "We might be able to get your sword back, you know."
"Lead the way," Link said.
Marin nodded and she and Tarin walked down the mountain, stopping at a small area about two thirds of the way down. Tarin jumped over some rocks and dug around for a minute. He jumped back over the rocks and handed Link his sword back.
"Thank you," Link said.
"Glad to help," Tarin replied. "After all, you just saved Marin from whatever that thing was."
Link glanced up at the sky. It was quickly becoming covered with clouds, which sent a mysterious shudder down Link's spine.
"Another storm," Marin said, sighing. "It's been like this for a month or so now."
"Come on, you all. Let's get back to the house," Tarin recommended as the rain started falling.
Link and Malon hastily agreed.