Chapter 4

Link could see Hyrule Castle in the distance, even from the hill top it appeared serene, with the sunset framing the castle.

It had been a week since the incident at the Nayru's Temple. Link nudged Epona; she broke into a fast trot down the sandy path, thick green grass framing it. At the Southern entrance to the Market he dismounted, running his hand down his faithful steed's smooth, shiny golden palomino neck before taking her reins and leading her over the bridge. Her shod hooves made a steady, rhythmic pattern on the wood and stone.

At the center of Castle Town he noticed an aura coming from the royal palace itself. Everyone around him seemed oblivious to it, even the knights passing through. Link walked faster, something had gone wrong. Very wrong.

The large gate to Hyrule Castle was unguarded and hanging open several feet. Link paused, before leading Epona inside the gate, which slammed shut behind them, spooking her. Epona reared up, Link barely caught the reins before she broke into a gallop. As he was being drug around the garden Link swung his leg up, catching the saddle. He pulled himself into a vertical position as Epona slowly began to calm, and noticed the mangled corpses strewn about the garden.

He slowly dismounted, and saw the blood that spattered Epona's clean white stockings and the underside of her stomach, as well as his own clothes. He tied her reins to an elaborate stone bench before walking up to the white marble palace.

Following the being who'd come before him was simple; all that was required was to follow a bloody, body strewn path. The pointless slaughter sickened him.

When he came to the kitchens on the first floor he saw the King Bublin, gnawing on a large Cucoo leg, beside him was a half finished bomb. Link paused as Bulbin saw him - And jumped back to avoid the club.

He glanced at the small bomb. It would be enough.

Link knelt behind a cabinet, out of sight, as he opened the side of his Lantern and poked a wooden arrow inside. It ignited. Link drew back the drawstring on his Bow as he stood, and released. The Moblin realized what happened only a moment before it did, the bomb exploded.

He jumped over the unconscious Moblin and continued through the Castle, searching for some sign of life. When he came to the secondary, smaller garden meant for the royal family alone, Link saw someone lying on the ground, yet there was no blood.

Perhaps they'd missed someone.

A fairy floated in front of Link as he walked toward where the girl lay. A Kokiri girl, if he was correct. "Please help! I cannot get her to wake!" the tiny fairy exclaimed, frantic.

Link walked to her, the only visible physical wound he could see was a small gash across her forearm. He felt for a pulse, placing his fingers at the base of her neck. It was strong.

"She should be alright," Link said and picked up the soft bandage the fairy had made. As he was wrapping the flesh wound he listened to his surroundings, not wishing to be caught off guard.

Once Link was finished he sat back on his heels. "Kokiri Forest burned in a fire when I was young …. How is it that she survived … ?"

"… We are not from this time … And she recently had a dream, rather prophetic, that told her to search for another young man by the name of 'Link,'" the fairy mused.

"Pardon?"

"Link," the fairy repeated. "Are you acquainted to him?"

"We've found the chosen one," a whisper came from the girl.

"Saria! Are you alright?" the fairy asked, still immensely concerned. She nodded as she pulled herself into a sitting position.

"Link, the Princess needs your assistance," Saria informed him, Link jumped to his feet as Saria got up. "Before you go … Take this," she said softly, handing Link a pale green emerald talisman. It was a small sphere on a silver chain, which Link quickly placed around his neck. The talisman hung just above the chain mail that peeped out of his tunic.

"Might I ask what it is?" Link inquired, edging towards the palace.

"The Forest Element, you now may control Wood and Wind. Go, please. Aid our Princess," Saria pleaded. Link broke into a run. He did not need to be asked.

It did not require much time for Link to reach the throne room, although it was on the top floor of the castle.

The blue and gold velvet path up to the throne was spattered with blood in several places, as well as the cream-white marble.

Shadow was dueling Zelda.

They were to far away for Link's regular abilities to be of any use. "I hope this works …" Link muttered and held out both hands, in-between them an ivy seed levitated.

It began to glow with a pale green aura as it grew at warp-speed, snaking towards Shadow like a whip.

The vine caught his counterpart in the waist; he slid across the floor from the unexpected assault as Link could no longer hold the overlarge plant. "Unruly. Give ivy an inch and it takes a mile," Link said, shaking his head. Zelda jumped to avoid a miss-leaded vine.

"Princess, are you alright?" Link asked as Shadow sank through a void, starting to walk to her. She turned, her cream colored gown flaring out. From waist up her gown was lavender, with an upside down V missing from it, replacing the lavender with cream cloth. Her decorative gold armor was studded with aquamarines, and there was a large aquamarine shard placed in the golden leaves of her tiara, directly in the center, as well.

"Yes ... Thank you, Link," Zelda said softly. A shadow appeared behind her. A dagger was suddenly pressed against Zelda's throat.

"Surrender, or I shall slit your precious Princess's throat," Veran threatened as she finished forming.

As her eyes were on Link, she did not notice the changes of her blade. Zelda suppressed a smile as she felt the sharp alloy change to a flower petal. "Do not surrender, Link. My death means naught …" the Princess said, her tone quite convincing.

"Veran, Princess Zelda is telling you to dispose of her," Link said, attempting not to laugh out loud, for that would reveal the Forest Element's secondary powers.

"I am astonished at your choice, simply allowing me to kill your loved one," Veran scoffed.

Zelda looked at Link curiously; she hadn't known how he felt until now, and that was only for a foe's interference. "I do not go against my Princess's wishes," Link replied solemnly, ignoring the odd gaze he was receiving from Zelda.

"Very well, say farewell," Veran said and slid her dagger across Zelda's throat and released her, stepping over the Princess's limp form as her weapon disappeared.

Link had to admire Zelda's performance, he could hardly tell the difference. "If you are so obedient; surrender," Veran commanded.

"I do not follow the wishes of anyone but Princess Zelda of the late," Link said as he drew his sword. "If you wish me to surrender … Force it," he challenged.

Veran smiled as a silver Scepter appeared, the black stone sphere atop it appeared to be lodestone. A shadowed bolt came from the center of the stone as Veran pointed the black, reverse symbol of Nayru at him. Link's blade began to glow with a golden Light as he swung his sword. The bolt was redirected but narrowly missed its mark.

"You shall have to do better than that," Veran taunted, smirking, unaware that Zelda was fitting her bow with a Light arrow. As Link waited for her to take aim he dodged another attack and jumped, the Great Spin proving useful.

Veran was disarmed and nearly lost her left hand as Zelda released. The Light arrow hit Veran in the upper back. Yet a mere arrow and blood loss would not be enough to deter her.

Veran morphed into an overlarge, bluish purple moth.

Link jumped and pulled out his Clawshot, aiming for the chandelier in the middle of the throne room, as to evade Veran's new attack. As he hung there Link saw that the attack had burnt through the ivy, as well as that Zelda had converted the Scepter for Light uses.

"I don't think so, you little wretch," Veran snarled, peeved that she hadn't disposed of Zelda, and attacked. Nayru's Love came into effect and backfired Veran's projectile, damaging one her wings.

Link could breathe easy again now that he knew Zelda wasn't injured, although he did not appreciate Veran's comment.

Link released his Clawshot entirely and attempted to succeed Veran with the Ending Blow. When his sword slashed through two of her wings Veran morphed again, back to her original form.

Link attempted yet again, making Veran fed up with him. She lashed out with her whip. It caught him in the chest. He hit a pillar across the room, hard.

"Link!" Zelda cried out as he fell to the ground, leaving a crack in the pillar. She took a deep breath, attempting to quell her rage, as Veran turned. "Scepter of Light -" she began, Veran formed a shadow sphere and threw it.

Zelda held up the Scepter, a golden prism-like shield appeared, but was shattered. As the Princess hit the floor the Scepter flew across the room, bouncing off the pillar and landing next to where Link lay.

Zelda quick-changed to Shiek and glared at Veran before bounding across the room in two flips, landing in a kneeling position next to Link, her hand on his dropped Master Sword.

As Veran lunged Sheik wrapped her fingers around the hilt and turned, piercing Veran's chest. Black blood seeped out around the blade, Veran's corpse collapsed as Shiek withdrew the blade and turned back to Link.

Her alter-ego faded as her Ocarina appeared and began Farore's, no, Link's song …

As the last note faded away into silence Zelda's eyes began to water, Link hadn't stirred for the song that was to heal him. "Link … please … You cannot be dead," Zelda whispered, trembling.

End Chapter 4