Forest Temple

"This is Kokiri Forest. I grew up here." Link said as they entered the tiny village. Glacia looked around and saw monsters wandering everywhere. "The kids must be in their houses." Link said as they walked through the basically empty town.

Glacia stopped by the outside of one of the houses and looked around. Everything seemed destroyed. She couldn't fathom why the kids would stay here. "I thought the Kokiri was ageless children?" She asked Link as they crossed little stepping stones to the store.

"They are." He answered as he checked the sign in front of the store.

"Then how did you 'grow up' here if you're a Kokiri?" She cocked her head at him. He turned to look at her.

He had sadness in his eyes that she understood, "My mother was killed when I was baby. She asked the Great Deku Tree to take me in and he did. I lived here until my journey began." He said as he turned away from her.

Glacia looked down at the ground and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She understood that look in his eyes because she has seen it on herself in the giant mirror inside her bedchamber. "I lost my mother too when I was young." She told him. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her. He didn't speak but just watched her. She sighed and continued, "My mother was wrongfully accused of stealing and the men in the castle took her away. They held a trail but she was convicted anyway." She blinked fast to stop the tears forming in her eyes. "They hung her right in front of me and the rest of Castle Town."

"Oh my," Navi said. She flew over to Glacia and touched her cheek. "I'm so sorry." The little blue girl said.

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Link said.

"Yeah, me too." She sighed. She followed Link into the store and saw tiny children with fairies sitting around and a kid hopping behind the counter.

"Have any of you seen Saria?" Link asked around. They didn't seem to remember him as the Link they grew up with. A little girl named Fado spoke up.

"She went to the Lost Woods. I don't remember what she said she was doing, just that it was important." She smiled. "I'm sorry we haven't been of a help Mister!" She apologized and Link smiled at her.

"You're really pretty!" One of the other girls said to Glacia.

Glacia turned bright pink and her jaw dropped. "Wha—" she gasped.

"Let's go." Link laughed at her shocked expression and they headed outside. "The Lost Woods are over here." Link said as the climbed a ledge behind one of the house. "You seemed surprised when that girl called you pretty." He laughed again as they climbed up the vines.

"That's not important." Glacia grunted as she pulled herself up over the second ledge.

"It wasn't a lie." Link shrugged as he led the way through a hollow tree into the Lost Woods.

"What does that mean?" she asked sarcastically but Link shushed her.

"Do you hear that?" He asked her as he walked to one of the four hollow tree pathways. There was melody playing loudly from one of them. "That's Saria's song." He whispered.

"It's coming from this one." She led the way through one the trees. "We should follow the sound. That might lead us to the temple." She suggested.

"I know where the temple is. I've been there before." Link said as he took the lead. She rolled her eyes at him and followed behind him. It seemed like they wandered forever and she was getting bored.

"How much longer?" Glacia groaned. She didn't think looking for a temple would be this boring or take this long. She was getting impatient.

"It's right through here." He smiled at her as they went through the last hollow tree and saw a maze in front of them. The entrance was blocked off with bars.

"How are we going to get past those?" She asked she walked up to them.

"LOOK OUT!" She heard Navi yell. A loud howl came and she turned to see a Wolfos charging her. She went to grab her bow but the animal knocked her down. She winched as the Wolfos dug his claws into her chest. It all happened so fast but before she knew it, Link had driven his sword into its back.

She shoved the animal off her and grabbed her chest. Link knelt down beside her and went to touch it. She slapped his hand away, "Glacia, I need to look at it. I need to see how bad it is." He told her and she just stared at him for a moment before relenting.

He frowned at the wound and she just stared at him. "I'm fine. Just got caught off guard now can we go?" She asked him.

"I get caught off guard all the time." He said as he pulled out a bottle with a red liquid inside it. "Drink this. I go in Kakariko from some hag."

She took the bottle and smelled it. It smelled horrible and she gagged at it. The witches Koume and Kotake could do way better in her eyes. But she wasn't about to tell him that. She could've had Dante come out and heal her considering he was a healing fairy but she didn't want to talk about how she acquired a fairy. Reluctantly, she swallowed the potion and her wounds scabbed over. She was still hurting but felt better. "Thanks." She said sideways at Link. No need to start showing gratitude.

"Are you ready to get going? After I killed that Wolfos the bars went down." He gestured towards the entrance. "There is actually a fairy fountain around here. They'll heal you up better than that potion." He grabbed her hand and helped her up.

Glacia looked around and could hear grunting she went ahead of Link and looked around the corner. There were Moblins walking the passageways. "Link," she waved him over. He came to her side and peaked around the corner beside her. "Where those here the last time you were here?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"No," He bit his lip. "I think we can take them out with your arrows or my hookshot. Either one." He turned and leaned against the wall in front of her.

She looked around. She didn't want to waste arrows on such a nuisance. She could feel Dante wiggling in his pouch and she knew he wanted out to stretch his wings. She knew he needed to come out and stretch. "Link," she took a step back in the direction of the exit. "I have to go do something. I'll meet you in the temple." She went to leave but he stopped her.

"Look you wanted to help me with my mission. Now you're not gonna do anything?" He asked in annoyance. He had crossed his arms and was glaring at her.

"I do want to help but I have something to take care of." She sighed. "Just go. I'll meet you in the temple, damn."

"Fine." She could tell he was frustrated but she just rolled her eyes. She watched as he took out his hookshot and started making his way.

"You can come out now." She whispered and Dante came from his pouch.

"I swear, I know I love that pouch and I love sleeping but I couldn't stand to be in there a minute longer." Dante complained as he frantically flew around in circles. She laughed at him and his little comedy show. "So, what are we doing? Where are we going?" He asked.

"Well, I can't necessarily help Link in the Forest Temple." She sighed. "Father has sent a phantom to the temple and that's who Link will battle in the final round of this place."

"Oh, I see." Dante bounced. "And you're afraid that he'll say something that'll make Link question you." He stated the obvious.

She nodded and turned back to the entrance. She could hear Link making his way through the maze and she wanted to stay close in case he needed her. She knew father was all about talking about his plans before they had a chance to be fulfilled. It would cause major issues if she was in that room during the showdown.

She grabbed a piece of rope from her bag and tied it to an arrow. Aiming for the ledge just above the entrance she let it fly. She climbed up the little ridge and put the rope back in her bag and her arrow back in the quiver. She looked over the top of the maze and saw Link had done a good enough job of clearing it. She jumped along the top and then down before the stairs. She started up them slowly but stopped when she heard voices. Who in the hell is he talking to? She thought as she peaked into the area just before the temple. She saw another man talking to Link. She didn't recognize him but something was off about him.

"The flow of time is always cruel… its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it… A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days." The stranger said. She could only see the back of the new person but she could tell Link knew him. "In order to come here again, play the Minuet of Forest." She watched silently as the stranger taught Link a song. It sounded beautiful and made the lights around them dance. Once it was done the stranger remarked on how he would see Link again before disappearing in a flash of light.

"Who was that?" Glacia asked as she walked over to stand in front of Link. He gave her a look and she rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "I told you I'd meet you at the temple. I didn't lie." She sighed.

"That was Sheik. He said he'll help me with my journey but he just shows up and teaches me the songs for each temple I come to." Link said as he took a seat on the stump in front of the broken stairs.

"So he helps you find the sages?" She asked as she sat on the ground in front of him.

"Yeah," He shook his head. "He said the Forest Sage would be someone I knew. I think I know who it is. I might be wrong though."

She leaned back on her hands and crossed her ankles, "Who do you think it is?"

"This girl named Saria. She was my best friend when I lived here. All of the other kids thought I was different because I didn't have a fairy. Saria was the only one who treated me with any respect which only made that kid Mido hate me even more." He said with a saddened face.

"But you have a fairy." She pointed to the blue ball of light floating around them.

"Navi didn't come to me until the Great Deku Tree sent her. She said she came to 'aid in my quest'. Even after she came, they still ostracized me. Everything got worse when the Great Deku Tree passed. Mido blamed me and got everyone else to blame me as well. Saria stood up for me." He looked around the Meadow and sighed again. "This was her 'secret place' and she came here a lot to play her ocarina and dance. She said she could hear the spirits and she see them too."

"It seems like everyone plays the Ocarina." Glacia laughed. "I have one as well." She pulled her purple ocarina from her bag and held it up to show him. She smiled at her instrument and let her hands fall in lap while holding it. "I understand how it must have felt to be an outcast." She hated to admit that she felt like an outcast must of her life in the Gerudo Valley. Even if she was the princess, that didn't mean she was free from bullying. She was a fair skinned girl who loved music and was scared of horses surrounded by dark skinned kids who loved to fight and train on horseback. She was often teased for the fact she was part Hylian. They still worshiped her though. That was what they were supposed to do. When the crown came on then heads when down.

"How do you understand?" He smirked at her.

She let out a long breath and rolled her head back to look at the sky. She was coming up with the best possible way to tell him without mentioning where she was from, "My father once was a nice man who liked to tell me stories and my mother would sing me songs," she started off with some truth, "but I was different than the other kids in my town. They would talk about how I looked different and how I was always wanting a different life than what I was given." So far she was sticking to the truth and it felt good to not be completely lying.

"What life were you given?" He asked with genuine curiosity.

"I wanted a life with danger and adventure. Not one where," she paused and rummaged her brain. She was getting off track and felt she was about to give too much away, "where I was ordered around. I wanted a world where I could make my own rules." She finished and he smiled at her.

"Adventure isn't for everyone." Link laughed, "Trust me."

"I like it. I get to see the world. I had never really ventured far from home." She lost her smile and wished she could take that back.

"Where's home for you?" He asked.

"That is a story for later." She rubbed her neck. Enough sharing. They needed to move forward. "I think it's time we head inside." She stood and looked at the broken stairs. "Which I don't know how we are going to do that."

Link laughed and walked over to her, "With this." He held up his hookshot. "Come here."

He grabbed her around the waist and aimed the hookshot for the tree above the stairs. "Watch where you put those hands!" She yelled at him when they landed on the ledge just in front of the doors.

"I swear, every chance you get you yell at me for trying to help you." He rolled his eyes.

"It's my way of reminding you I'm not a damsel in distress." She smiled and they continued into the temple. Through the first door they came to another area where two Wolfos appeared. "I'll take the one on the right." Glacia said as she drew her bow. Link nodded and went for the one the left.

After they were done with them Glacia walked over to the defeated Wolfos and pulled the three arrows she fired at him out of the beast. She wiped them on her tights and put them back in her quiver. "Three hits and they're down. Seems too easy for the first monsters in this place." Link remarked.

"Yeah," she agreed. "Plus the door is locked. There must be a key somewhere around here." She looked around. There were two trees on either side of door. "Can you climb up there and look?" She asked Link as she pointed to trees.

He looked up and nodded. "Yeah, there are vines over here." He said as he started climbing up the right wall. She waited by the door and watched as he climbed on top of the tree and hookshot himself over to the other tree. "Got it!" He called. He looked over the ledge and tossed her the key before jumping down.

Glacia unlocked the door and they enter. Once they came to the main room they saw the four lights go out and four Poes fly off. "Link, let's split up." She turned to him.

He looked at her hard before nodding, "I'll go left." He sighed before heading off.

It didn't take long before she rounded up two of the Poe sisters. They recognized her as Ganon's daughter and went without much of a fight. That's one thing she could count on, the monsters knowing her instead of people. She sat on the stairs and waited for Link to finish up. She decided to play her lullaby and let Dante fly around. After what felt like hours she cupped Dante in her hands.

"Dante," she said without looking at him. She was searching for any sign of Link. "Can you go find Link and tell me if he's okay?" She asked with a worried expression.

"Why are you so worried about this boy? Isn't the whole point of this mission for him to end up dead?" Dante asked. She sighed and bowed her head.

"I know but I can't help it. I just worry about him." She said. Dante flew off and she crossed her arms. She didn't know why but she was feeling weird. She wasn't feeling the normal way she usually would when she was sent off to kill. She remembered when her father took over the castle and she helped him round up as many civilians as she could. Those who surrendered would serve him. Those who didn't, Glacia would get to have target practice with. It made her feel alive when she got the opportunity to kill. Sometimes she felt that killing was the only way to feel alive. Being the great Ganondorf's daughter was enough to make anyone feel unappreciated and dead inside.

She wished life could go back to how it was when her mom was alive. She would wear matching dresses with her mom and go to dances. Her mom was all about living life to the fullest. Ganon used to be like that. After Layla, her mother, died Ganon paid Glacia less attention. Her nursemaid became her only form of human interaction as her father pursued his dream of overthrowing Hyrule. The dresses got fancier and her father never sang anymore or danced with her. He became a tyrant.

"Hey, Glacia?" She was pulled from her thoughts when Dante came back.

"Dante!" She smiled, "Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, Link's fine. He's actually on his way back up here." Right when he said that the final poe's light came on the elevator lifted to allow them access.

"I guess that's our cue to get out of here so we don't have to help with Phantom Ganon." She sighed. She wasn't going to let Dante know how grateful she was that Link was okay. She didn't even want to admit it to herself. She started for the door but stopped. Some part of her wanted to stay and make sure he would be all right when he faced the ghost of her father. Another part of her knew that she really shouldn't risk her father losing his temper. Even if it was just a phantom. She hid in a corner of the room to wait for Link to get in the elevator. She would jump down the cavern after him and enter the boss room undetected. She wanted to be sure he would come out on top of this.

"Glacia?" she saw Link enter the main room and call her. He looked around and called her name several times before Navi interrupted.

"Do you think she's all right?" the floating ball of light asked.

"We should go look for her." Link said as he drew his sword. He wanted to make sure Glacia was okay and not knocked out somewhere.

"Link we don't have time. The entrance to the boss is open and you have the key. We can look for her afterwards. She's not going anywhere." Navi told him. She could tell that Link didn't want to agree but he had to. She didn't blame him. She would've continued as well.

"Fine," but the second we get out of that chamber I'm gonna go look for her. I don't like the idea that a Stalfos may have got her." He said as he stepped onto the elevator.

She walked over to the center of the main room and looked into the hole where the elevator was. She peered down and saw Link had to solve a puzzle to get to the boss door. Dante flew down into the hole and watched them. When they made their way in he let Glacia know. She hung her legs over the ledge into the hole and slid down. Keeping her knees bent, she landed just in time to see Link enter the big door. She ran up just behind him and hid just below the platform.

She heard a familiar laugh that could only belong to her father. She tried to remind herself that it was just a phantom. Not her real dad. She got to where she could watch but not seen. Phantom Ganon was hiding in the paintings and Link has having to shoot him out with a bow. He was doing well but he missed and Phantom Ganon launched a ball of electricity at Link and knocked him down. She closed her eyes and turned away at Link's screams. When she looked back he was getting the idea of reflecting the phantoms attacks back at him.

Link had gotten hit about three more times before Glacia couldn't take the screams anymore. She jumped up at platform and shot an arrow straight into the Phantoms heart. Before he fell he launched a ball of electricity straight at her. She tried to dodge it but Link jumped in the way and took the hit. He screamed and fell onto Glacia. The phantom said somethings about how he underestimated Link before disappearing. Glacia didn't hear him because she was too concerned with the hurt Link in her arms.

"Dude, are you okay?" She asked. "Dante!" She called her blue fairy to his side.

"What the hell? How do you have a fairy?" Link asked as he tried to sit up.

"That doesn't matter." She told him quickly, "Dante, do you think you could help him?" She asked her friend. Dante was a healing fairy. That was the sole reason her father kidnapped him for her.

"Yeah, hold on." He chimed as he flew circles around Link and his wounds went away. "All done!" He cheered as he flew back beside Glacia.

"Thanks." Link smiled. "I'm not even gonna ask why you have a healing fairy considering that he just helped me." He smiled and stood up. There was a blue portal opening up and Link stopped just in front of it. "This will take up to Chamber of Sages. You coming?" He asked her.

She stood and rubbed her arm while looking at the ground. She didn't want to say it but she had to this time, "Link," she sighed, "thank you for jumping in front of that ball and taking the hit for me."

He smirked and raised an eyebrow at her, "So how's that 'I'm not a damsel in distress' thing coming along?" He joked and she groaned.

"This is our relationship now huh?" She half smiled, "Slight insults and saving each other's ass?"

"I'm a hero for Hyrule, and a pain in the ass to you." He laughed. "Anyways, you coming?" he gestured towards the portal.

She stared at the blue light and thought. There's a chance the Sage of Time would know me as the Gerudo Princess. I can't risk that. She frowned. "No, I'll just wait for you in the Meadow. Okay?"

He nodded, "Okay." He stepped into the light and disappeared. She sighed and walked outside of the Forest Temple and sat on the stump in the Meadow that Link sat on earlier. She started playing her lullaby on her ocarina and watched Dante dance around in the air. The lullaby wasn't a joyful tune but Dante would dance to the sound of the rain if he had a chance.

"Do you think I can fly around with you guys now that I've helped Link?" Dante flew over and landed in her lap. He liked being held and resting in her lap.

"Yeah, yeah you can." She smiled at him. A light shown and Link appeared on the Triforce symbol in the middle of the Meadow. "Hey." She smiled as he walked over to her.

"It's night or I was suggest we get going to the next temple." He sighed and plopped down on the ground in front of her.

"I'm kind of tired. We should get some sleep." She yawned as he lay back on the grass.

"So were you right?" She asked him.

"About what?" He rested his head on his hand and rolled on his side to look at her.

"Was your friend the sage?" She slid off the stump and lay beside him.

He rolled back on his back and sighed, "Yep."

They lied there in silence and watched the stars. Navi and Dante floated around them playing a game of some sorts. She remembered how her mother would take her outside and they'd stargaze all night and point out shooting stars. She'd always tell her to make a wish and Glacia would wish for an exciting adventure. She sighed, looks like she got her wish. She rolled her head over to look at Link. He was passed out asleep and snoring with Navi resting beside him. She sat up and saw Dante still flying around.

"What are you doing, little dude?" She whispered, so not to wake Link.

He flew over to her and she cupped him in her hands. "Just getting rid of this excess energy from being cooped up for two days.

"I'm sorry," she laughed. She let him fly off and she lied on her side and stared at Link. She was starting to think about things other than her mission and it made her angry. She was hoping this wouldn't take long. If she started developing feelings for him she'd have to leave and take her punishment from her father. Actually, she'd probably die before facing her father after failing him.

He father always knew how to punish people. Just look what he did to Hyrule after the Castle Town Guards murdered Layla.

/The reviews have been wonderful and I'm so happy you guys like this. I'll try to update again here soon and the next chapter will have some more secrets being revealed!/