Chapter 3

"Aryll, I have a few more boxes to move and then we'll leave," her brother called out. Aryll sighed as she stood underneath the canopy covering the shop entrance. It was raining heavily and had been for hours. She wondered if it would ever stop.

It didn't seem that long ago when they were both children. The days of Outset now seemed distant. Link was her guardian and she was now a teenager. Since Grandma had passed away they had moved to the mainland and made a fresh start. He had been taking odd jobs here and there, refusing to leave his sister. She was growing bored of it and hated what little money they were getting. She mended clothing for rupees but it still wasn't a lot.

She waved at her brother as he went back into the tavern. She sat on the cold floor and watched as the rain continued to thunder downwards. They would have to brave the weather to get home and she wasn't looking forward to it. She closed her eyes and listened silently to the raindrops. The sound was soothing to her as she smiled. She began to doze.

The large pirate ship sailed through the oceans at a breath taking speed. Dark grinned as he stood on deck. He had thrown the pirates overboard as soon as the castle had been out of sight. The night had passed and now this day was passing as well. He leant against the wheel, telescope to his eye. He noticed the outskirts of the mainland on the horizon as the sun was starting to set.

"We're almost there," he called out, turning his head and staring at the bundled cloaks. The prisoner weakly gazed up at him, her teeth chattering from the cold. Pathetic he thought to himself as he walked away from the wheel and glanced out at the ocean. The waves made him feel sick. He wished the ship would go faster.

The girl sat up abruptly. Dark noticed the immediate fear in her eyes. He charged towards the ships edge and felt his stomach knot. He hadn't expected them to give chase so quickly. Boats were speeding towards the grand vessel, canons being loaded, minions chanting and laughing.

"If you value your lives you will flee," Dark boomed out to the ships. Surely his reputation had not already fathomed.

"You have betrayed our king," one of the monsters cried out, "Hope the waters will take your life before we do!"

Aryll was woken from her trance by a loud crash that echoed around the town. She immediately got to her feet, her eyes scanning the area as others popped their heads out of windows and looked towards the sea. Plumes of thick smoke were thrown upward and into the sky.

She darted out from beneath the shelter and towards the smoke. She had no idea what would be there but curiosity was getting the better of her. As she approached the sea the smoke became thicker. She ran to the cliff side and peered across the waves. In the distance was the black silhouette of a ship. She could faintly make out flames coming from the deck.

"What did I tell you about wondering off?" Link called out from behind her as he marched towards her. She didn't hear her brother, her attention fully on the burning ship.

"Link, look over there," she ignored her worried brother's remarks. He ran forward, staring at the great ship that was in the distance.

"Stay there and I mean stay there," Link told her as he raced down the path and headed for the pier. Aryll would normally have protested at her brother's over-protective behaviour but she held her tongue. Even she was scared.

At the edge of the pier was a boat tied loosely. He barged past the people that gawked at the sight as he tugged at the rope.

His memories of his childhood flooded back as he pulled up the sail and headed out towards the large ship. The wind was strong and fierce, propelling the boat towards the ship. The rain darted into his face making it difficult to see. As he got closer, he noticed smaller boats surrounding it. Perhaps they had come to rescue those on board.

His boat was only moments away when he felt a thud of strong wave's crash into his side. He turned to stare as a second canon was launched into his direction, plummeting into the ocean and sending another set of crashing waves towards him. He struggled to hold onto the sail. Who was attacking him?

He stared back at the ship, its wood set alight. He noticed monsters aboard the ship, monsters he remembered from his past. It couldn't be, it wasn't possible. Why were Ganondorf's monsters still about?

He pulled the sail down as he got close to the ship. A lifeboat hung from one rope at the side, part of it cracked and painted with blood. He jumped for the boat and made his way to the rope. He grabbed it and climbed his way up frantically. If anyone was left on there he refused to leave them.

As he pulled himself onto the deck, covering his mouth and trying not to inhale the smoke, he noticed a bombardment of demons. They turned and snarled at him.

Link gasped in horror. He had no weapons on him. He didn't even have a shield.

One of the moblins raised its spear at Link and charged towards him. He leapt to one side, narrowly missing the steel. Other monsters began to charge towards him. Link scanned the ship for a weapon but he could not find one. He desperately tried to dodge their blows but there were too many. He fell to the floor and gazed up at the old time monsters.

From the corner of his eye he could see a shadow emerge from below the decks. He tried to stand but fell to his knees. He wasn't as fit as he had been in the past. There hadn't been a need for him to fight.

He watched as a moblin raised its spear high into the air. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact. Instead he heard it cry out. He opened his eyes and noticed an arrow pierced through monster's chest. It cried out and backed off, falling on its side. Link gazed through the thick smoke to see a dark shadow with crimson eyes. In its hand was a bow as it stared at Link.

The dark figure looked very similar to Link's own shadow. He shivered as the demon pulled the arrow taunt within the bow, always staring at Link. Link struggled to get up. The ship was starting to fall apart from underneath him, the flames licking at his soles. He had never witnessed this demon. Was it one of Ganon's as well?

Link span round as a bokoblin raced towards him. The shadow turned his attention to the monster and let the arrow go. It shot into the monster's head and it fell on the spot.

"Take us off this ship," the shadow called out the Link. Link trembled, unsure if this creature was fair or villainous. The heat began to pour upwards. He had little time to consider. Link ran to the rope while the shadow continued to fire shots into the surrounding enemies. Link turned back to stare at the dark denom.

"Move it!" the dark link called out. Link nodded and hastily climbed down the rope.

"Is anyone else onboard?" Link called out as he heard more shrill roars from above. He couldn't see the strange shadow nor the monsters from his position.

"Dead," the black figure responded as it leapt from the ship, his cloak covering his front. He landed in the water below before pulling himself onto the boat. Link swung and landed in the boat next to him, pulling the sail up as quickly as he could. He veered the boat round, hoping there would be enough tailwind to get the boat moving at a reasonable speed.

He heard the wood groaning from behind. He stared back as the ship snapped in two, the flames bursting out and licking at all of the ship. He heard the remaining monsters cry out as the ship fell apart and into the sea. The dark demon stood on the boat, pulling his bow taunt and firing at the remaining crowd. He couldn't allow any of them to report back to the king.

Link turned back, gasping and wheezing from the smoke and the shock. He hadn't expected there to be monsters, especially during these peaceful times.

The boat tilted to one side as the dark shadow sat at the edge. Link glanced down at the demon with the crimson eyes. Everything about the figure exerted evil and malice. Link shuddered. Surely he was another of Ganondorf's creations.

The dark figure paid no heed to Link as he ran his hand over his cloak. From underneath the cloth, Link noticed a pale hand and a dark triangle embedded on its skin. He remembered the demon's words, Take us off this ship. Who else was with them?