AN: Sorry this took so long. Blame homework. No, blame me. I didn't feel like writing this chapter until I had the idea of how to start it. That took a while...
"Lord Ganon."
Ganondorf slowly turned around from the window he had been staring out. A red-armoured Darknut was kneeling before him, trying to keep a respectful distance despite the small size of the room. It was just a lookout tower after all. Ganondorf waved at him briefly, giving him permission to speak.
"We have pulled out of the Forsaken Fortress entirely, as you requested. Ships are patrolling the seas but are staying passive. No unnecessary attacks are being made. Everything is as you commanded." He told him.
"Good. Dismissed." Ganondorf replied shortly.
"Yes sir. Umm… what about... Link?"
"That does not concern you." Ganondorf replied in an icy voice. The very room darkened and a frigid wind began to blow, causing his cape to billow about menacingly. The Darknut retreated in a hurry.
He turned back to the window, which faced the vast landscape behind his castle. It was a beautiful land, green grass and trees and even buried beneath all this water it was bright. Nonetheless, it was a ghost land. All because of the supposedly benevolent goddesses… How could they do that? Take it all away from him? What gave them the right? Patience… he would have it yet. Link might even help him bring it back; it couldn't be hard to deceive him. Or maybe he wouldn't have to. Link could remain a powerful ally.
He spun suddenly and left the tower, heading down the stairs. He strode into the basement and into a room right below the tower. It was dark, with a single beam of light illuminating a large, shiny blue stone as big as Ganondorf himself. It was set into the wall like a mirror, although Ganondorf knew better. It was the main gossip stone, the one all the others were linked to. He raised his hand to it, and commanded in a loud, clear voice, "Show me."
The stone lit up, and an image materialized in it. It linked with the gossip stone Link had, and showed him what they were doing. He saw they were in front of a Korok, who was playing the fiddle. Naito had the Wind Waker and was conducting him furiously. Link seemed to be playing along on the Ocarina. As soon as the image was crystal clear, he began to hear them as well; upbeat, catchy music.
The Korok slumped back as the song ended. He didn't have far to fall, and he didn't stay down for long. A mere minute after he lost consciousness he came to, and sat up slowly.
He looked at both Links, and then spoke. "I saw him… my ancestor, the sage. Fado. I see now what I am truly meant to do. Please, take me to the Wind Temple."
Link nodded. Without another word, the trio exited the cave with a quick leap through a thin waterfall, and Ganondorf watched until they entered their boat before cutting the image off with a hand wave. They were coming along nicely. Now, one of two things would happen. They would die in the temple, and the triforce would be his for the taking. Or they would get through, and empower that cursed sword. If that happened… well, he knew what he would do. With a small, satisfied chuckle, he swept out of the room.
"That's the island, right ahead." Link called back to Makar and Naito from the front of the boat. They had been sailing for a long time, and it was nice to finally see their destination.
They brought the boat in slowly, and dragged it up onto the sandy shore. They sat down for a brief rest, drinking some water from a small freshwater pool on the island. Link quickly filled Makar in on the sort of things they might find, and instructed him to stay out of the way when possible. When they felt ready to carry on, they walked over the rubble of the fan they had found here that Link had smashed and into the cave where they met the spirit of Fado. The giant stone blocking further progression was still there, but they knew what to do.
Naito began, waving his baton and instructing the invisible choir to sing six notes before Makar jumped in. Link began a while later, and again they were playing in harmony. After a solid two minutes of this odd looking performance, the door crumbled and revealed the well lit entrance to the temple.
It was another circular well like before, but there was lots of light at the bottom and Link could see it wasn't a far drop. Naito went first, followed by Makar, followed by Link. They were in a short hallway with a high, shadowy ceiling and a door on the far side. The walls were yellow stone, and the floor was dirt with short, light grass.
"This doesn't look as dangerous as the last temple." Naito commented, breaking the silence.
"That's what you're supposed to think. Don't let your guard down." Link warned him, remembering the well-lit, spacious water temple. That had seemed inviting too… he shuddered as he remembered the almost two days he had spent in there, cold, hungry, and lost.
"I'm pretty sure your reading into this too much. Not every room is full of traps, or puzzles, or something hell-bent on tearing you apart." Naito said confidently, striding down the hall.
Link sighed as a large, black bird that had been previously hidden above them swooped down and smacked Naito with a staff it was holding, knocking him to his knees. It was a creature Link had never seen before; it looked like on oversized crow with a toucan's beak, and a golden helmet. Its wings had little claws, like a bat. It was holding the short staff in its right claw.
It spun for another approach, but Link nailed it in the chest with an arrow. It jerked back awkwardly, ripping the arrow out with an angry squawk. It twirled and vanished in a small sprinkling of green blood. Link put his bow away and took a step toward Naito, who was getting back to his feet. The bird spun into existence again, surprising Link with a burst of ice. Link leaped back and it hit the ground in front of him, spreading quickly. It caught both of his feet, rooting him to the spot. His momentum pushed him over backward and he fell onto his back, cracking his head. He lay dazed, staring stupidly into space.
Naito got to his feet as the bird sent a burst of fire at him. He back flipped clean out of its reach, going for his bow. Just as he got it the bird swooped at him and clipped the bow out of his hands, sending it spinning off toward where they had first dropped into the hall. He tried to run for it but a second swoop knocked him down again. He rolled onto his back, drawing his sword. It came down at him again, but pulled up just as he swung and hurled a ball of ice at him. He rolled to the side up against the wall, barely avoiding it. He got to his feet quickly, but the bird was out of reach again.
He heard a shrill battle cry. Makar, who had been completely forgotten, was flying above the bird with his little leaf propeller. He dropped onto its back, tore off its helmet, and began beating it over the head with it. The bird squawked and pitched forward, dive bombing toward the ground. Makar leapt free and it hit the ground with a SMACK sound. Naito prepared to finish it, but didn't have to. Link, free from the ice, was already in the air even as it hit the ground, and came down on it with his sword planted. He stabbed it again and again and yet it still lived, desperately trying to crawl away. Link didn't let up for a second; he continued at it with a scary, primeval gleam in his eye. Finally, it let out a loud shriek, and collapsed into a heap of feathers matted with green blood. Link grunted, and sheathed his sword.
Naito watched with wide eyes. He thought Link seemed like a pretty docile, calm, kind person normally. This was a new side of Link, one he now believed Link was always trying to hide from everyone, even himself. This other side was cold, vicious, and merciless. Naito had just witnessed it rise to the surface, and he wasn't sure he liked it. He tried to put it out of his mind however, as he grabbed his bow and joined Makar and Link at the other side of the hall.
"If you would just listen to me for once, we can avoid things getting the drop on us like that. I've done this many times and I know what to look for." Link chastised him. Nonetheless, his eyes were once again soft and calming, and Naito didn't really mind.
"Sorry. You can lead, if you like. Let's just hurry up and get this done." Naito said, and Link nodded slowly before opening the door and entering the next chamber.
AN: Sorry it's so short; I really don't want to continue here. I'll try and make the next one extra long. For now, please review!