Chapter 32: The Burning of Kakariko Village

"Well, I hope Malon had better luck than we did." Talon scratched the back of his neck. "She'll be ready to hang us from the barn roof if we don't find that boy soon."

"Yes, sir." Ingo shuffled nervously as they stood by the well at the heart of the village.

"And quit acting like I'm about to stick a pitchfork in your behind." Talon muttered to himself, "Much as I might like to."

Before long, they spotted Malon's red hair weaving towards them from the western quarter of the village. Though alone, she was not empty-handed.

"What in tarnation?" Talon frowned at the object in his daughter's hand.

"I found this." Malon held out the Lens of Truth.

Talon exchanged a glance with Ingo. "What the heck is it?"

Still reeling from her encounter with the old man from the potion shop, Malon shrugged. "I'm not really sure."

Talon cleared his throat. "Hon, I thought you were after Link."

"I am," she said distractedly. "He said this would help."

"Who did?"

"The man that gave me this."

A tremor, subtle but noticeable, shook the ground they were standing on. From the bottom of the well rose a sound like the droning of hornets. Talon peered into the dark shaft.

Blink three times, and the Lens will work its magic. Malon stood beside her father, blinking and feeling a bit ridiculous for it.

"Got something in your eye?"

She shook her head. "Don't ask me right now, dad."

The ground shook, harder this time.

"I know I don't have much say anymore," Ingo said, tentatively, "but I say we best be getting out of here."

Malon gasped. "It's a hand. There's a hand down there!"

She began to sweat. She knew they wouldn't believe her if she tried to explain what it was she was seeing—she wasn't sure she believed it herself. The minute she had blinked three times, like the old man had said, her vision turned red as if the lens had covered her eyes, and she could see things at the bottom of the well the others couldn't see.

Like the hand, black and scaly, with traces of blue and violet in the skin of its palm: the colors of twilight. For a moment, she was fascinated by this new ability, but in the next moment she was running away from the well, leaving Ingo and her father to puzzle over her actions.

Talon grabbed Ingo by the shoulders and jumped down the staircase in front of the well just in time to escape Malon's phantom as it left its confines. Behind them, they heard the same sound of hornets, this time outside the well.

Only Malon could see it, and she dared not turn around for another glimpse.

Link knew something was wrong long before he saw the smoke on the horizon. He had returned from the Sacred Realm to find the ice in Zora's Domain melted and Lake Hylia's waters full once more, now that Morpha's curse had been lifted. But he took no pleasure in the shouts of joy and the gratitude of King Zora and his people, because he knew what he would find when he reached the next temple.

Ganon had surely struck there, too. He was always a step ahead, because he'd had seven years to do what he wanted with Hyrule and its inhabitants.

He knows the prophecy of the Sages. Link hunched over as Epona cantered from the mouth of Zora's River. But he doesn't know who they are. He's letting me wake them so he can kill us all at once.

He wondered if Navi had reached the same conclusion, but before he could ask, her voice rang out, "It's burning!"

He squinted, still adjusting to the light of the wider world after a night in the Water Temple. At last, he saw the black smoke curling in the sky to the west, above Kakariko Village.

With a shout, he kicked Epona into a gallop.

Sheik stared into the well as the village burned around him, ravaged by the touch of the shadow beast. He had stood there motionless ever since the beast had withdrawn. Though he knew there were families with babes and young children gathered behind him—many watching their homes burn to the ground—he had no time to address their needs just yet.

Seven dead. Only five wounded. Could it not have destroyed everything?

He stirred as a horse neighed nearby, somewhere in the village, but he kept his eyes fixed on the well until he could sense the rider at his heels, on the stairway. "Get back, Link."

Link, dismounted, drew his sword. "What happened here?"

In answer, the beast flew from the well, shattering wood and stone. Still invisible, it lifted Sheik in the air, jerking his limbs and spinning him about like chaff in a whirlwind. Link threw down his sword and ran to catch the boy as he fell from fifteen feet up. The two of them collapsed to the ground in a heap.

The beast sailed around them, invisible to the naked eye except for a blur in the air.

"What was that?" Navi hovered close, her concern and bewilderment equally obvious.

Though they could still hear the beast, a few brave villagers, figuring the danger had passed for now, rushed to offer their assistance. Link felt someone grab him by his wounded shoulder and yank him to his feet.

"You. You left without saying goodbye!"

Malon! Link didn't bother turning around. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "The letter…"

"I saw your letter, and…" Malon stopped, as if aware her outburst might seem selfish under the present circumstances. "I did give you permission to take Epona, but you should've at least let me know you were taking her."

"I'm sorry. There wasn't time."

Talon, gently pulling his daughter's hand from Link's shoulder, knelt to examine the other young man beside Link. "Better keep an eye out in case it comes back…whatever it is."

After eyeing the steady rise and fall of Sheik's chest, he nodded. "Reckon he'll be okay."

"Listen," Navi said.

They listened. The beast had gotten louder again. Soon, they heard screams, an explosion, the breaking of glass, and other signs of its passing. Then Malon saw it coming out of the smoke, and unless the Lens of Truth was feeding her a lie, it had two hands this time.

"Everybody run!"

Talon, picking up Sheik in his arms, turned and fled, followed by Ingo. Malon tried to drag Link away by his armpits, but he shook her off.

"There's nothing you can do!" she screamed.

Ignoring her, Link stumbled around until he thought he was facing the direction the thing would be coming from.

The blow came from behind, throwing him high over the roof of a nearby house. After that, all was confusion and chaos while the beast batted him between its hands once, twice, three times, never letting him fall below the roofline.

"Let go!" Navi followed the beast around in circles, feebly attempting to pull Link away, but the beast would not be thwarted. With a final heave, it dashed Link's body against the house and fled north towards the graveyard, leaving a trail of grief and destruction in its wake.

Link woke to the pitter-patter of rain. The fires had died out, and the villagers were digging through the wreckage of their homes and shops.

A hand touched him on the back of the neck, tilting his head up for a drink of water. "Thanks," he gasped, enjoying the wetness in his throat as much as he enjoyed the soothing rain.

"It is fortunate the shadow beast had no interest in killing you."

Link glanced at his benefactor. "I thought you were unconscious, too."

Sheik gave him another drink. "I have recovered."

"Obviously." Link sat with a grunt, his back against a tree. "You're not leaving again?"

"I must," Sheik said quietly. "As always, I have risked much in staying this long."

"But why is it so dangerous?"

Sheik didn't seem to hear him. "Link…something terrible has happened."

"What was that thing?"

Sheik turned to face north, the direction of the well and the graveyard. "The shadow beast is a consequence of the many evils committed in Hyrule these last years."

"I don't understand."

"You know the world is touched by powers that are spiritual as well as physical. Death, blood, and the grief these things bring please the demonic hosts that often trouble Hyrule. This particular spirit has existed since the beginning of the Fierce War."

Link frowned and rubbed his shoulders. "That was the war my mother…died in."

"Yes. It began with the King of Hyrule."

Link flinched. "Princess Zelda's father?"

"No." Sheik's eyes flickered. "The King that ruled before Daphnes Nohansen was a despot who coveted the power of the Triforce so much that he sought every rumor about it that existed, even if it meant robbing other races of their sacred texts and relics. That was what began the Fierce War. The bloodshed of that conflict opened a door to the spirit realm, and for a time, the shadow beast was allowed to sow chaos in Hyrule."

Navi shivered. "It was stopped, right?"

Sheik nodded. "My people were able to contain the beast at the bottom of the well. Until Ganondorf's triumph seven years ago, that seal remained strong."

At the mention of Sheik's people, a sudden thought occurred to Link. "Where is Impa?"

Before answering, Sheik retrieved his golden harp. "She has gone to the Shadow Temple to pursue the beast, but you will not be able to follow her on foot. Only the Nocturne of Shadow can lead you there."

Link fingered the Ocarina of Time. "Teach me, then."

An unexpected terror of being trapped in darkness seized Link so that he couldn't play the notes. All he could do was listen until the Nocturne seemed like part of the air he breathed. By the time the last note faded, he felt as if the song had left a colossal void in his heart.

Sheik lowered the harp. "Yes, it is a dreary melody."

Link shuddered. "Don't leave me alone this time. Stay and help me finish this."

"I am sorry."

"No!" Link grabbed at the boy's arm, but he had already slipped away.

"You're never alone, Link." Navi rested on his shoulder. "Please don't forget that."

Before either one of them could say anything else, a shout reminded them that they were still in the middle of the village. "Link!"

Navi perked at the voice. "Oh no. Is she still here?"

Link struggled to his feet to meet Malon, Talon, Ingo, and Epona returning from another part of the village.

"It's about time you woke up," Malon said. "That boy said he wanted to talk to you alone."

"He had to leave," said Navi. "So do we."

"Well, at least you didn't escape without saying goodbye this time."

Link smiled. "I'm sorry I took Epona. Sheik came to me last night and told me there was someone in danger who is very important to Hyrule. I didn't have time to wake any of you."

Malon stamped her foot. "But why do you have to keep putting yourself in danger?"

"I'm sorry. I don't have time to explain."

"Hon…" Talon pinched himself. "If you gave him the horse and he needs her that bad, let him explain himself later. He helped us, so I think he's earned the right to be a little strange if he wants to. Let it be and come home."

"Dad." Malon hesitated. "I love you…but I won't be left behind this time."

"What are you saying?"

She turned to Link. "I'm coming with you."

"Oh no you aren't," Navi said. "You'll just be in our way!"

Malon stared them both down, unyielding. "I have something you need."

Navi flew within inches of the young woman's face. "Give it to him then, and go away!"

"Leave her alone, Navi." Link held out his left hand to Malon. "Let me see it first."

Malon wavered before digging the Lens of Truth from the folds of her dress and handing it over.

Link stared at the glass in the middle. "What does it do?"

Malon shrugged. "If you blink three times, it shows you things that are invisible. Like that monster."

"Thank you." Link nodded and stowed the Lens away, trading it for the Ocarina of Time. As he began to play the Nocturne of Shadow, a high-pitched whine filled the air, and a streak of purple light shot down from the sky, straight towards him.

"No!" Malon broke away from her father and leapt forward. Talon yelled after her, but it was too late. She grabbed Link by the arm just as the light hit his body, and the two of them, sucked up in the strange power of the Nocturne, vanished together with Navi.

Into the darkness. Into the Shadow Temple.