Alright, I just wanted to take this time to apologize to the general public for my misdemeanors. I, Bondo Sheetmetal, would like to apologize for the tardiness of my third chapter. This chapter is weeks out of schedule and it is all my fault, with a combination of weekend vacations, vicious bouts of writer's block, and plain, simple, laziness on my part. I am truly sorry for my transgressions, I hope that all the members of this glorious site are forgiving. So please feast upon this third chapter and know that chapter four is underway.
Rejection is bitter
Link awoke from his dreamless slumber, the first he has had in a long time, and felt better than he had in weeks. After sliding down the ladder, he made his way to the kitchen for some much needed breakfast. Two sunny side up eggs, some fried fish and Ordon goat cheese later, he was sliding down the ladder to the basement. Turning on his lamp, the only thing besides the wooden sword that he would carry, made his way to the chest in the middle of the room.
He pulled out the Hero's Clothes first, the forest green tunic accompanied by a white undershirt, leggings, and a chain shirt. Then he pulled out his trusted Hylian shield and set it down on top of the clothes, and lastly he pulled out the scabbard for the Ordon sword. Sliding on the Hero's Clothes he stopped to marvel how they seemed to fit even after a few months of hard ranching and farm work. Next he checked the pockets, those impossibly deep pockets that seemed to be able to carry everything he needed. The only clue as to how they worked was the writing on the inside of the pockets saying the phrase "Handy Haversack". Finally he slid the scabbard onto the sword belt and hooked his shield on as well.
With all his gear now in its proper place he exited the basement via the ladder. Upon reaching the main floor of his house he found where he placed the Ordon sword last night. Slowly he inspected the blade for excess ware or a dull edge, upon concluding its condition was satisfactory he slid it into its scabbard. Now that he had all of his things he made for the door, but as his hand closed around the handle he had a thought. Uncertainly he let go of the door and made his way back up to the bed platform, slowly he picked up the small folded piece of paper. Following a long second of self-debating he finally decided to take it with him and slid it into his pocket. After once again sliding down this ladder he opened the front door of his house. Bright morning light shone down upon him as he took in a deep breathe, today was a good day to leave.
Knowing that Faron woods weren't very far at all he decided that he would walk. With one final wave good bye to the village, he began his short trek to the Sacred Grove. He missed the smell of the forest, the feeling of being free and exploring, it brought back memories of good times. He walked through the forest in peaceful silence, even the usual Deku Baba were gone from this area. A long morning of walking later, he finally he arrived at the Forest temple.
Ah the forest temple,he thought fondly remembering all the fun he had while exploring and battling creatures. He couldn't help but feel nostalgia just by wandering by this place, but he had other business to attend to so he pressed on. It wasn't much longer when he arrived at the chasms that separated him from the Sacred Grove. Just as he was about to start looking for the golden chicken that would fly him across, long, flat, wooden beams fell into place across the chasm's many outcroppings. Surprised by the sudden convenience he made his way across before someone changed their mind.
Upon entering the sacred grove's many circular passages he drew his sword and waited. He stood waiting for ten minutes, when nothing arrived to attack him he finally slid his sword back into its scabbard. He wandered through the passages until he made it all the way to the pedestal of time. Upon walking into the small clearing where the master sword lay in its proper resting place, he expected to find the Skull Kid. He was once again disappointed when he saw no one there. Throwing up his arms in defeat Link decided to head home, willing to play off the whole event of last night as a dream. Once he turned around he came face to face with the Skull Kid, who was much too close for comfort.
Link sprang into action and drew his blade ready for the battle with the puppets to happen. But all he got was an incredulous look from the Skull Kid. With a shake of his head he floated over to the area in front of the sword of evil's bane and sat down. Link slowly sheathed the blade he carried with a confused look on his face and followed suit, sitting down in the grass waiting for the Skull Kid to speak.
"Seriously, I ask you to come meet me and you pull a sword on me? How rude of you Link, I thought growing up in a rural background would have made you kinder and humbler," the chuckling spirit of the grove said once Link had taken his seat.
"Yea sure blame the man who you attacked with puppets, twice, just for entering this place," Link thought and rolled his eyes.
"Hey, you can't blame me for following protocol! Just be glad I attacked you with puppets, I've used far worse things to threaten other people's lives," the puppet master retorted.
"Oh like what, a... wait, how is it you hear what I'm thinking?" Link paused as he realized the Skull Kid had, in fact, replied to his thoughts.
"Believe me, when you have lived for as long as I have... telepathy is as easy as breathing. But we are not here to discuss how old as I am. We are here to discuss the recent happenings of this world and that of the Twilight Realm."
"The Twilight Realm? he thought utterly surprised, How do you know something is happening in the twilight realm? It's completely sealed away!"
"Oh the door is closed, but tell me, how often do you see light shining from under a door? Even if sealed, there are always cracks around the door that you can see through. What I saw was a land yet to know of the peril it would soon feel and what I felt, was something that I never thought I would ever feel again. It was the influence of a power that drove me to madness. That is the sole reason I came to you Link." he said and slowly stood, his hands reaching up to grasp the side of his head. After a brief moment of nothing, he suddenly pulled and the mask that was his face fell to the ground.
The empty eye sockets of the mask stared up at Link and unnerved him, but the sight of the Skull Kid's face left him with the most unnerving feeling of all... recognition. The wooden features, the beak, the entire face was so familiar that it nearly drove him mad. He remembered an open field and this Skull Kid talking about a fairy boy who taught him a song. He remembered a battle between him and this Skull Kid on top of a clock tower. Finally he remembered a mask, an evil enchanted mask that took over the Skull Kid's mind. He remembered that it grew more powerful and then, abandoned its host to fly up to the moon.
Link looked at the Skull Kid with a shocked look upon his face; those memories were not his own... they were the memories of the Hero of Time. But how had he seen them? How could he feel what his ancestor had felt so long ago? The Skull Kid approached Link and placed his hands on his shoulders and spoke comfortingly to him.
"It's all going to be alright Link, as hero of the goddesses you are connected to all the past incarnations of the hero. Although it doesn't happen often sometimes memories do transmit over from the other hero's life times." he said knowingly.
"How do you know all this? Being centuries old is one thing, but this vast knowledge is something else." Link thought confusedly trying to figure everything out.
"I am the guardian of the Master sword and the Temple of Time presently, where else did I get this knowledge? The goddesses sent me a messenger to appoint me with this job, so I asked them some questions in return." he said with a dismissive tone, "but that aside we need to focus on the task at hand, not letting that power destroy both of our worlds. It is imperative that it be stopped as soon as possible."
"But if it is in the twilight realm, how am I to travel there and stop it. It's not like I can use the mirror of twilight anymore." Link replied knowingly pointing out the obvious.
"Unfortunately I do not know this answer, but I might know who will. He is impossible to find when he doesn't want to be found, so do not go looking for him. Instead you should look for three hidden items scattered around this world. They were items that the hero of time left in my care just before he passed from this world." the Skull Kid said with a sombre expression across his face.
"I have been all over Hyrule, I have collected items from every temple, I have searched this country from top to bottom. Where in this world would three hidden items be?" He stated pointedly.
"You may have searched what you could see but what of the places you couldn't? In the Temple of Time, Arbiter's Grounds and Death Mountain there are forgotten halls of great importance, their entrances are hidden from normal eyes." he said with a smile and reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small purple magnifying glass with three red crystals lining its upper frame. "This is the Lens of Truth it allows one to see things others would not. Unfortunately you do not have the skill of magic that the hero of time had but do not worry. Its energy will recharge in places of power like the springs of the light spirits." he handed it to Link carefully and smiled.
After Link examined the Lens of Truth he opened one of his bags and gently set it inside. With a short bow of thanks he began walking towards the Master Sword. He was ready to take up the sword of evil's bane and bring down the power that runs wild in the twilight realm. He stood in front of the blade and basked in its glory for a brief second then reached out to take the blade.
Link awoke with a splitting head ache and an aching back, looking straight up he looked upon the Skull Kid who was shaking his head. He slowly sat up and looked towards the pedestal and saw that the Master Sword remained where it sat. Link realized that the sword of evil's bane had rejected him.
"The sword rejected me?! Why, how? Skull Kid you are the guardian, why would it reject me? Doesn't it know that there is an evil that is causing chaos and destruction in both of our worlds?" Link's mind was doing flips and grasping at straws. To his knowledge the master sword never rejected the holder of the Triforce of Courage. So why would it start now?
"I know not why it would choose to reject you, it could be that it cannot fight two great evils in such a short time, maybe it can only be used against an evil that was recognized by the goddesses… or maybe this evil should have never been revived and its return is unprecedented." he said with his voice full of uncertainty.
"Looks like I will have nothing but my Ordon sword as protection. But thank you anyway Skull Kid I shall remember your kindness and aid." He replied to the Skull Kid but he knew he needed to get going so he stood. But as he looked back at the skull kid one last time he noticed that he was in deep thought and was muttering to himself.
"Something bothering you Skull Kid? You look like you forgot something important." He projected his concern to the troubled guardian. As if shaken out of sleep the Skull Kid looked surprisingly up at Link and then shook his head quickly.
"No, no… it's nothing… just return to me when you have collected the three items. I cannot say more at the moment; go you must be on your way." He then leaped into the air and vanished, the only thing marking that he had been here was the mask lying in the grass in front of Link.
Link strode out of the Sacred Grove with determination on his face; he decided that he might as well head over to the Arbiter's Grounds first, to get the one with the most difficult memories out of the way. Upon entering into Hyrule field he couldn't help but feel a tingle on the back of his neck. His senses picked up on something that he hadn't noticed, or something he couldn't see. He reached into his pocket and found the Lens of Truth within seconds. As soon as he lifted it to eye level he felt a powerful force come over him and he felt his eyes close. When he opened them again the world was tinted in an odd reddish color, and standing literally inches from his face was a short gaunt man with a large toothy grin.