Well, Well, Wail


Link clawed his way up the rotting timbers of the drawbridge and slipped through the crumbling remains of the Castle Town wall. He lingered at the top, his gaze sweeping over the ruins. It was hard to imagine that, at one time, these things had kept him locked out. Now nothing remained but choking dust, broken buildings, and shambling monsters.

Navi fluttered a short distance ahead, peeking around corners for signs of hostiles. She waved him forward, and he followed in silence. If there was anyone else here, there was no sense in giving their position away.

Still, as they slunk through the dusty air, the distant look in Link's eyes eventually prompted Navi to speak up.

"Are you okay, Link?"

"Hm?" Link kept his eyes on his surroundings. "I'm… fine. Just thinking." It wasn't a lie; he couldn't help but wonder how different things would have been if he hadn't tried to confront Ganondorf before. Or if he'd been a bit stronger. If he'd been able to fight the curse on his own.

"It's kind of tragic, isn't it?" Navi continued after giving Link a scrutinizing look-over. "What happened here. This used to be a bustling town. It wasn't perfect, but from what little I saw with you, people were happy." She paused and shuddered, letting out a small jingle. "Then Ganondorf killed the king and sent his army to subjugate the people and… and everything changed."

She took a deep breath. "While you were trapped in the Sacred Realm I… saw much of what happened. A lot of people died. The survivors scattered. Some remained in Kakariko, and a few temporarily took shelter with the gorons and the zora, but most fled beyond Hyrule." She looked up to the sky, where storm clouds were rolling in. "Even after we defeat Ganondorf, it might never be the same."

Link hesitated. Navi was obviously distressed, but he didn't know how to comfort her. So he spoke his mind instead. "It won't. It won't ever be the same. Things can't go back to before. We can't just undo this." He paused, his hand coming up to the resin-covered wound in his chest, and continued in a whisper. "I can't ever be the same."

Navi looked Link over again, her brown it, her gaze pensive. She took several breaths before figuring out what to say. "Even so, Link, it won't be terrible forever. The world will get better. You'll get better. It won't be easy, but the worst of this will heal. Eventually it'll be little more than a bad memory. I'm sure of it."

It sounded like Navi was reassuring herself just as much as she was trying to reassure Link. He didn't know how to process that, so he only nodded and said nothing more as they continued through the ruins.

It did not take long to spot the spires of the Temple of Time. Link adjusted his route, occasionally sneaking around shambling redeads, until he neared the dusty path leading up to the temple.

"Link, wait!" Navi's voice came out as an urgent hiss. She circled around Link and began bonking into his chest. "Hide!"

He started to ask what was wrong, but the words died in his throat. Now he saw the probl; In front of the temple, staring into its open archway, was a familiar, armored man standing with his arms crossed. Link ducked behind a pile of rubble, his old wound flaring with phantom pain.

For a moment, he waited in tense silence. But when nothing happened, he took the chance to peek out from his hiding place.

Ganondorf wasn't alone; two old, wrinkled women stood behind. him, their backs hunched and their weight supported by broomsticks. As Link focused, he realized he could hear their conversation.

"So despite all our efforts, the village still stands?" Ganondorf asked.

"Unfortunately so," said the woman on the right. "However, their numbers were thinned considerably. It shouldn't be difficult to dispatch the remaining people you want."

"No need," Ganondorf replied. "They learned their lesson. The sage is the one I'm truely after. You say she's entered the temple?"

"Yes," the woman on the left replied. "I'll work on getting some of your force in as soon as this meeting is over."

Ganondorf turned around to face them. "Good. See to it, Koume. In the meantime, Kotake," continue to monitor the desert. Make sure Nabooru keeps our people satisfied."

"Of course," Kotake replied in a sly tone. "And I will, of course, keep the temple closed."

Ganondorf nodded. "Then be off, the both of you."

At his command, both women mounted their brooms and zipped into the sky with mad cackles, leaving Ganondorf alone in front of the temple. He remained still for a while, staring at the spire caked in red dust. Then he spat at the ground and turned, stalking in the general direction of Link's hiding place.

Link ducked down and stiffened, scrunching into as small of a ball as he could while Navi ducked under his hat.

The footsteps came closer and closer. His vision went out as he tried to hide the glow of his eyes.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk… Thunk… Thunk…

The heavy steps faded away. But Link didn't dare move until there was nothing but the howling of the wind. Only then did he let his eyes flicker back and uncurl. Navi emerged when she sensed his movement.

"That was too close," Navi whispered. "What was he doing here?"

"I don't know, Link answered just as quietly. "Come on." Reaching down so that he had his hand on his sword hilt, he advanced towards the Temple, on high alert for any movement. But there was nothing.

His footsteps echoed as he entered, only slightly muffled by the dust that swirled at every step. Light filtered through filthy windows, casting colorful beams onto the checkered flooring. Link paused for a moment to take the sight in.

Was he ready to go back?

He had to be.

Tensing, he drew the sword, holding it to his side as he entered the back room and approached the pedestal.

He glanced back to Navi, forcing a weak grin. "Well, here goes nothing. I hope everything works out."

Navi fluttered up to him and perched on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be fine. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you to wake up."

Right, he could rely on her being here when he woke back up. He just had to have faith that everything would be okay.

He took the hilt in both hands, flexing his fingers. No more delay. Lining the tip up with the inset, he pushed it back into the pedestal. His head swam. Vaguely, he was aware of his body falling limp to the floor. Then his vision went dark.


When his vision cleared, Link was surprised to find himself not in the temple, but instead in the now-familiar Sacred Realm.

All the sages he had woken thus far were here; Ruto, Darunia, and Saria, as well as Rauru all stood on their individual pedestals. Only two spots remained. Uneasy feelings churned through his body. Why was he here? Why did everyone look so worried?

Rauru was the first to break the silence.

"Let it be known that I am unhappy with this decision, but I know it must be done. It has already been done, in fact. We are only completing the cycle of fate."

Link tilted his head. "Cycle of fate?"

"All will be clear in time." Rauru raised his hand. "Before you go, though, we need to discuss your curse."

Right. That. Link glanced down to the cracks in his bark. Unease flickered in the back of his mind. The dreams he'd had… were they important? Did Rauru or one of the others somehow know about them? Was he worrying about nothing?

"Pay attention Link!"

Rauru's command jolted him out of his thoughts. He stood straight, hands at his sides, and stared at the sage.

"Rauru, don't you think you're being a little harsh?" Ruto asked. "I know he's been in a bad state but he is still a child.

Ruto was defending him? After the conversation they'd had in the Water Temple, Link couldn't help but be surprised.

His gaze flickered to Darunia as the goron crossed his arms. "I mean, this is important, but I do agree that the tone is a bit much."

Link glanced at Saria out of the corner of his eye. She'd said nothing, but she had her hands clasped together and was nodding in agreement.

Rauru let out a long breath. "My apologies, but I really must stress how important it is for Link to understand what we're doing." He looked to each of the sages in turn, then returned his stern gaze to Link. "And with that said. Link, we are sending your spirit back to a time where your body was still cursed. Your mind should be free of the curse, able to think clearly, but your body may still want to comply with Ganondorf's orders. It will take tremendous willpower to stay in control.

"And besides that…" He hesitated. "I do not know whether the curse will be able to see your thoughts and respond in turn. It is of utmost importance that you stay focused on the mission. Do whatever you must to keep control of yourself."

Link nodded.

"You'll need to head straight for Kakariko," Darunia said. "Enter the well, and find an artifact that lets you see the hidden."

"Once you have it, return here and draw your sword," Ruto continued. "Rauru will then seal your spirit once again and allow you to return to the present."

"I know the item you seek." Rauru placed his hands behind his back and looked up. "It is a purple lense bearing the mark of the Shekiah, a gift to the royal family in times of old. Why it was left behind when the catacombs were flooded, I don't know, but it is your best hope of rescuing Impa. Do you understand? Are you ready?"

"I am," Link responded. He was not. But he refused to admit it. His fingers trembled, so he balled them into loose fists.

"Very well." Rauru raised his hand, and Link felt himself lifted off the ground. A pink tint overtook his vision. Was this the same chamber he'd been locked in after k- after the Forest Temple?

"You've got this, Brother!"

"Don't be long, kid. You have a lot of work to do."

Saria looked up at Link. Her expression was worried, but then she changed to a smile. "Good Luck, Link. I know you'll do the right thing."

His world went dark.


"Defeated so easily, what a shame."

Ganondorf's voice snapped Link back to consciousness. He didn't dare move, let alone open his eyes. A heavy boot nudged him in the side. He forced himself to remain limp and lifeless. Where was he? Why was Ganondorf here?

He heard Ganondorf scoff. "Well, whatever. He served his purpose. The sage's are dead, and a piece of the Triforce is mine. Now, just to find the other two…"

Heavy footsteps echoed on polished tile, eventually fading away. Link remained still for several minutes, until he felt certain Ganondorf was gone. Only then did his vision flicker and return.

He was laying on his side at an awkward angle, leaning on the edge of the Master Sword's pedestal. Slowly, he rolled onto his stomach, groaning, and pushed himself to a sitting position. His arms felt weak.

But this wasn't so bad. Sure, he felt exhausted, but he felt like himself. As he stood, he allowed his vision to flicker out and took a moment to relax.

In his moment of distraction, an urge came over him. His arm snapped towards the sword, Whispers in the back of his mind demanded he pull it and finish the job. It knew what Rauru would do. It could finish him this time if Link would just be a good vessel and let it.

Realization forced his mind into action. He recoiled, stumbling away from the pedestal. Step after step, he backed away. His heel backed into open air. With a startled yelp, he fell back, his shield clattering against the ground.

What are you doing, the whisper demanded. You belong to me now. You cannot disobey.

Link pressed his hands against his face, then struck his forehead with one palm. "Go away," he demanded out loud. "I don't want to listen. Leave me alone! You can't make me do anything!"

His arms trembled with effort as the curse tried to make him bring them down. But he refused to be controlled any longer. Several minutes passed as he struggled to stand up and stumble away from the pedestal, step by faltering step.

This isn't over, the voice hissed in his ear. Then his movements became easier. For the moment, he had won, gaining control of his body. But he had the feeling the battle wasn't over; he'd have to remain vigilant for as long as he was in the past.

"...Link?"

He tilted his head up as he exited the room with the sword. A jingling sounded, then Navi appeared from behind a pillar. She stopped a distance away, watching warily. He stood still, saying nothing.

"Link, is that really you? Please say something."

"It's me," Link croaked. "I'm fine." For now, he thought ruefully. "I… Ganondorf did something funny to me. B-but I'm okay for now!"

Navi gave him a skeptical look, so he held his hands up in a defensive position. "L-look, I can try to explain on the way, but we need to go back to Kakariko. It's important."

Still looking unconvinced, Navi took a few cautious wingbeats closer. "You were acting so different before… And then… You wouldn't listen. You attacked me!"

"I did?" Link's eyes flickered with alarm and he shrank back. Then he forced himself to stand straight. No, he couldn't cower and feel sorry for himself, as much as he wanted to. He had a task to accomplish. He uneasily looked away, rubbing at his elbow. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I wasn't in control of myself. That's… it's not really an excuse, but it's all I can say."

He looked up again. "But I can't dwell on it right now. I have to go to Kakariko and find something there. It's a long story, but I'll try to explain on the way. Please, Navi, will you come with me?"

Several seconds of silence passed between them, Navi staring. Then, after a long sigh, she nodded. "Okay. I'm going to trust you. But I'm going to need the story - the whole of it - on the way there, okay?"

Link nodded. He could do that.


It didn't take long for Link to realize he no longer had a sword.

Outside the temple, he elected to slink down dark alleys and side streets. A brief look around suggested a commotion was going on in the square, with several residents milling about, speaking in uneasy tones. The last thing he wanted was to be seen and suspected of causing trouble. He didn't have the time to be stopped.

But he needed a weapon, something deadlier than a slingshot and a boomerang.

He didn't know whether to consider it luck or misfortune when they came across the slouched body of a guard in one of the alleyways.

Navi was strangely silent when Link paused, looking over the body. Something about it made him feel melancholic – more so than usual. Death wasn't bad, necessarily. It was just the way the world worked. All died; some got a second chance as spirits. There was no need to think about it further. And yet, when he looked at this man, he felt sad. And like there was something he was forgetting.

Despite that, he felt no remorse taking the Man's spear. It wasn't like he was using it. Though the spear was a little long and unwieldy for him, it would do as a weapon. After a moment of consideration, he held the spear diagonally and slammed a foot on the shaft, snapping it down to a more manageable length.

"Let's go, Navi."


"Wow that's… A lot to take in. Are you sure about all this, Link?"

"Positive. I wish I was making it up."

After quietly slipping out of the Castle Town gates, Link and Navi traveled across Hyrule field and back towards Kakariko, continuing even after sunset. The moon was near its zenith in a cloudless sky by the time they arrived, providing just enough light to allow them safe passage in the dark. Still, Link walked close enough to brush his hand against stone as they continued, making their path easy to track.

It was quiet as they reached town. There was a single man near the entrance, resting against a tree. Link remembered being spooked by him the first time he came here. But this time he gave the man a wide berth.

Before long, he found the well. A rusty metal ladder descended into darkness. He couldn't see the surface of the water, but after tossing a small stone inside, the sploosh of water confirmed that the well was full.

Leaning with his hands against the stone rim of the well, Link stared into the depths for a moment until the sound of nearby music distracted him. A cursory glance revealed a man sitting a distance way, turning the crank on a box connected to a strange brass instrument.

"If I understand correctly," Link mumbled, reaching for his ocarina, "then I just need to play the song here." To his surprise the ocarina he pulled out was still the Ocarina of Time, not the one that Saria had given him before.

Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised; he didn't have it when he woke up, so why would he have it now?

But still, the discovery hurt. How could he lose such a precious item when he'd already lost so much.

Forcing the thoughts out of his head, he blew a note experimentally. Then another. The music from nearby stopped, and he got the feeling he was being watched. He ignored the feeling, playing the song Sheik had taught him.

Nothing happened. A wispy cloud briefly scuttled across the moon.

Did he get it wrong? He played the song again.

There was a distant roll of thunder, but still, the well did not change. A light breeze made his hat flutter.

"Third time's the charm?" Navi suggested.

He complied.

The wind whipped around them, forcing Navi to cling to Link's tunic just to avoid being blown away. Link held an arm up to protect his face from bits of flying debris. A loud creaking sounded in the distance. When Link turned his head, he saw the blades of a windmill whipped up into a frenzy, only allowing brief glimpses of the moon behind it.

The wind died away. A gurgling sound came from below. Link turned his attention back to the well, leaning over the stone to peer into its depths. Then he reached down and picked up another stone, tossing it into the well. THere was a long silence. Then he heard an echoing, wet splat.

"What did you do?"

Alarmed by the unfamiliar voice, Link spun around. The man he'd seen earlier was right behind him, staring in horror. "What kind of magic was that? What have you done to the well?"

Navi poked up from behind Link's shoulder.

"L-listen, it's not as bad as it looks…" But the man was already backing away, staring intently. Then he spun around, calling up an alarm.

"I think that's our cue to go, Link," Navi said, hovering over the well. Link nodded in response, clamoring over the stone and grabbing hold of the old ladder. As quickly as his legs would allow, he descended into darkness. Before long, there was nothing but the light from Navi and the light from his eyes to guide them. A small disk of light shone above from the well opening, but the light could not penetrate this deep.

It felt like he'd been climbing down for ages. About halfway down, the ladder had become slick and slimy, giving a vague idea of how deep the water normally was. Deeper still he descended, until his feet met damp stone. He held tight to the ladder long enough to make sure he had his footing, then let go and turned.

He was in a small, round chamber. Ahead of him was the only path forward – a tunnel only about his arm span across that sloped gently upwards. The ground here was primarily stone, with cracks here and there that had eroded with age. Link moved to one slimy, cold wall, keeping one hand on it, then began to slowly trek up the incline, careful to keep his footing.

He traveled in the darkness for some time, his destination unclear. The wall never curved away on either side, as far as he could tell. A light trickle of water splashed under his feet. Would the well slowly fill back up? Was he on a time limit?

His questions went unspoken and unanswered. Neither he nor Navi felt comfortable talking in the darkness, the silence only filled by the rustling and clatter of equipment, quiet footsteps, and the slightest jingles from Navi.

Eventually, the corridor came to an end at a brick wall. Link slowed to a stop, walking across to the other side of the passage. The wall seemed solid, until he noticed a small hole, just large enough to crawl through. When he got down onto his knees, he could see the thin stream of water trickling through. It was too dark to see the other side.

He hesitated at the entrance.

"If it would make you feel better, I could fly ahead," Navi offered.

Link nodded, prompting her to zip into the hole. With her light leading the way, he could tell where the small tunnel opened up. Tucking his limbs in so that he didn't scrape his shield in the narrow space, he crawled through.

Climbing to his feet on the other side, his foot clattered against something. He looked down, only to jolt and spring backwards, banging painfully into the wall. Several bones – human, by the look of the skull – lay scattered about the room. They were clean, no signs of decomposing matter still clinging to them. The skeleton had probably been down here for a long time.

Shaking his head, Link pulled his attention away. It wasn't a stalfos, and there was nothing he could do for whatever poor soul had perished down here, so he might as well focus on what he came here for.

As he looked about the room, he realized that he was in a small space, and walled in on all sides. And unlike before, he could not find a crawlspace to go through.

"This can't be a dead-end, right?" He mumbled. "There's nowhere else to go, but there's nothing here?" Nothing but the skeleton, of course.

"There's got to be some sort of trick to it," Navi agreed. "Something we're not seeing."

Uneasy, Link pulled the spear from his back, poking the tip at the ground. It clinked against the stone. He knocked it against one of the bones next, and heard a slight splash as it clattered through the shallow water.

"Hold on a second," Navi said. "There's something strange about that. Look." She fluttered down to the ground, and gestured for Link to stoop.

He could see the water rolling around the bone, flowing downwards towards the hole he'd come from. He followed the incline to the wall and looked up. It seemed like the water wasn't coming from anywhere. It just appeared at the wall. A poke at the base of the wall indicated it wasn't coming up from anywhere.

"Hm, maybe…" Link trailed off, then lifted the spear to poke at the wall. But he met no resistance. The wall seemed to swallow up the spear tip.

"It's not real," Navi said. "At least… not there. Stay for just a second." She turned and fluttered towards the wall, disappearing just above where he held his spear. After a moment, her voice sounded again. "Come on, there's plenty of space."

Right, no problem. He just had to walk into the wall. Nothing uncomfortable about that. Bracing himself for impact, Link lowered the spear, let his vision flicker out, then walked towards the wall.

He felt nothing.

A moment passed before he regained vision. He was in a chamber, larger than the last, with two claustrophobic halls branching out from either side. As he stepped forward, shallow water splattered his boots. And in the distance there was an echoing drip of water. The narrow passages seemed to call out, heralding him into the darkness.

"Which way first?" Link asked out loud, despite speaking mostly to himself.

"I don't think it matters much," Navi replied in a whisper. "We may have to check both eventually. But keep your voice down. We don't know what's waiting for us."

Link nodded, holding the spear in front of him, gripped tightly in both hands as he stepped forward. He looked to the right, then the left, before turning to follow the right path.

They walked in silence for some time, neither willing to speak up for fear of attracting danger. Link kept his head up, tense as he moved about. But his mind was distracted by the fear of losing control. Some little sensation in the back of his mind told him he needed to stay alert, stay vigilant. Occasionally, they came across rotting timbers or other debris of unknown origin, scattered about the area. And all the while, the echoing tinkling of water seemed to grow louder.

Unease pricked at Link's spine the deeper they explored. The damp, lifeless air, the lack of sound, the oppressive, narrow halls, all contributed to a feeling that he didn't belong here. To a desire to turn back. There had been no signs of any artifacts amongst the debris. Was it really here? Maybe there was nothing. Maybe this was a waste of time. He needed to turn back.

Turn back.

Turn back.

Turn back.

For a second, he froze. Then one hand darted into his bag, reaching for the Ocarina of Time. He clutched it tightly to his chest like a lifeline against the intrusive thoughts. He ached to reach out to Saria, but he feared doing so. The world spun around him. His ears rang, drawing out all other sounds. Please. Please, he couldn't lose himself here. Not now.

Turn back.

"No!"

The one word echoed around him as he focused, forcing himself forward one step at a time. His feet felt heavy, each step a struggle. But he marched on regardless.

Slowly, as he moved further and further down the tunnel, the force began to fade. His vision and hearing returned to normal, save for a quiet ringing. And as it returned, he became aware of Navi's frantic words.

"Link. Link answer me. Please. You can fight this. You're stronger than it."

Link slowed to a stop, his hands trembling. "I… I'm fine now, I think. I just… Need a moment." His voice shook as he sank to his knees, supporting himself with the spear. For several minutes, he remained still in the crouched position. Only once he was comfortable that the curse wouldn't strike again, and his energy had returned, did he rise. Still, even as he waved Navi towards him and continued deeper into the tunnels, he still felt the sensation of something roiling in his chest, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


It seemed like there was no end to the catacombs. The halls turned this way and that, intersecting occasionally. The ground was built at a slight slant, water trickling down the pathways in shallow channels. Link had a feeling that, when the water level was normal, the halls would be flooded. If they did, he didn't want to be around to find out.

"Link, wait. I think I found something."

Turning his attention from yet another dark hall, Link saw Navi illuminating an inconspicuous crawl space a few feet away.

"I'll go ahead and see if there's anything interesting. Wait right here."

She disappeared into the hole, leaving Link alone in the darkness. He shifted from foot to foot, unease making him restless. He'd lost track of how long they'd been down here; and he swore the water was starting to drip a little bit faster. Hopefully, it was just his imagination.

He reached a hand into his bag and ran it across the ocarina once again. Perhaps he should check in on Saria; he longed to hear her voice again. But he ached at the thought that now, she was still alive.

He pulled his hand away.

"Hey, um, Link? You should come see this." Navi's voice was muffled by distance, but Link could still detect the unease that sent shivers down his back.

Securing the spear again, dropped to his hands and knees and crawled through the hole. This crawlspace went deeper than the last. Partway through, the stone gave way to mud. The hole was less uniform, as well. Almost as if it wasn't meant to be here. That, combined with Navi's tone, pushed him forward.

He emerged in a small, dark room, his hand clattering against something on the ground. Only because of his natural light could he see what it was: more bones. Not just from one skeleton, this time, but several, spread across the ground. And while he couldn't see the entire room, he got the feeling that they covered the entire floor.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, grabbing hold of the spear once again. He swore he saw the shadow of… something waving in the near darkness. On the other side of the room, a small bright spot revealed the location of Navi.

"I think I found it," Navi said, gesturing to something beside her. When it caught her light, it glinted. "I can't pick it up by myself. But be careful and hurry, please! I think there's something else in here."

Link didn't need to be told twice. He took two careful steps on the bone pile, then stumbled forward. The jumbled, brittle pieces cracked and clattered underfoot. How long had they been here? And where had they come from to begin with?

"Look out!"

Navi's alarm call came just as he caught slithering movement out of the corner of his eye. Something snapped forward. He held his spear up to block it. A hand grabbed hold of the shaft and began to pull. Its grip was strong, but it didn't have strength behind the pull. Link grabbed hold of the spear with both hands and began pulling.

"Link! Link behind you!" Navi's voice grew shrill with alarm.

Just as he pulled the spear free, he felt something cold and clammy latch onto his ankle with enough force that he feared it would crack. He turned his head to see another hand. But just as he looked away, the one that had grabbed his spear shot out again, this time latching to his face. He screamed, trying to pull away. But he could feel more hands grabbing hold of him, each just as strong as the last.

He heard bones clatter from a corner of the room. Then heard Navi scream. Panic surged through him, enough to finally wrest free his arm and thrust the spear into the one holding his face. The hand recoiled.

Once his head was free, he turned towards the sound of something squelching, coming from the direction of the clattering bones.

He wished he hadn't looked.

A ghoulish creature shambled towards him, sending bones tumbling about. It had no legs. Its bulbous, bloated body was white with splotches of color where its rotting skin split open.

More hands grabbed at Link, but he was already frozen in fear. He couldn't take his eyes away from those soulless sockets, or the arms that ended in black, rotting stumps. It was coming closer.

It was coming closer.

Closer.

The monster raised its serpentine neck in the air. It stared down at Link and let out a hungry, moaning cry.

And Link could do nothing but stare into its empty eyes.

Someone was screaming. Was it him? Was it Navi? He tried to wrench his arm free, but the cold clammy grip refused to let him.

The monster lashed out, its movement only visible by the glow of Link's eyes. Teeth clamped around his right shoulder with enough strength to crack the protective layer of bark. Pain blossomed from the wound, and for just a second, Link's vision went white.

And yet, he focused through the pain. With a loud scream, he strained and struggled and wrenched his arm free of the grasping hands. Then he thrust his spear into the monster's torso.

There was a muffled, unearthly scheech. Then the monster jerked, pulling itself free and letting go. The hands spasmed, giving Link the chance to escape. He yanked his spear away and scrambled back, putting distance between himself and the monster. His shoulder throbbed with pain, but he did his best to ignore it.

From the hole in the monster's torso, Link saw a shadowy haze escaping, a dark mist against the monster's pale skin. The stench of sulfur and rotting meat filled the air. A moan escaped the monster's unhinged jaw, then hands shot up and, then pulled it back into the bone pile.

Link's gaze whipped around, scanning the bone pile around him for signs of the monster. But there was little he could see in the darkness. Little, save for Navi, and the glint of her light against the lens. The lens they had come here for.

With no regard for the hands any more, he dashed across the room, knocking the hands back whenever he noticed them strike. Some managed to grab his clothes, but he turned back to whack them with his spear.

He stumbled to a stop at the edge of the room, trembling as he heard clattering behind him. With a panicked cry, he whipped around, and jabbed his spear in the darkness, only to strike against empty air. Where were they?

Something grabbed his boot and yanked. He stumbled, nearly losing his balance, and screamed.

More hands were slithering out of the bone pile, twitching, jerking, trembling. Link kicked at the one holding him, then jabbed at it, then scrambled backwards.

His hand bumped against something. He recoiled at first, then realized it was just the lens.

"Link!" Navi's voice came from somewhere nearby. Then she was in front of him, waving her hands frantically. "Link, use the lens!"

"How?" he choked out, his eyes still staring at the monster writing mass of arms.

"You don't know?" Panic tinged the fairy's voice. "No one told you?"

Link shook his head, but his gaze didn't leave the pile.

"We gotta think of something! Maybe just hold it up!" She fluttered high into the air to escape the grasp of a hand that had reached up for her. "It's worth a shot!"

She was right, of course. He had to do something. His grip tightened around the handle. He passed it to his non-dominant arm, then held the lens in front of his face.

Only to immediately drop it. Horror froze him in place. Beneath the bone pile was a tangled mass of arms. And at the very center was the main body, crouching low. Creeping closer. Waiting for its prey to be immobilized again...

And just beneath him…

Before he could react, dozens of long, noodly arms shot up under him. Hands grabbed hold of his legs, his tunic, his torso, anywhere they could find purchase, and yanked, trying to pull him off his feet. He tried to pull free, stabbing one arm with his spear. But a half dozen more took its place. Nearby, the tell-tale clatter of bones signaled that the monster had reemerged.

"Link! Link you have to pull free! Hurry!" Navi's panicked cries came from somewhere nearby, but he couldn't see her. Not through all the hands. Not with the fingers wrapped around his limbs. Fingers in his eye sockets. Fingers in his mouth, grabbing, pulling, yanking. And those eyes. Those eyes. Those burning eyes looming closer. Jaws wide and unhinged.

His arm twitched. He felt the spear shaft, still held tight.

The monster moaned and lunged.

Link screamed. His vision flickered out as he turned his head and, with all the strength he could muster, yanked his spear hand free and thrust it forward.

There was a resistance. A choked, garbling noise. The arms convulsed and suddenly Link fell back onto the bones.

The monster still loomed over him. The spear was embedded deep within its throat, the tip poking out the other side. A thick, black ichor oozed around the entrance wound, slowly rolling down the monster's body and the spear shaft.

Gasping in a panic, Link reached up with jerking, uncoordinated movements and grabbed the staff. He propped one boot against the monster's squishy body and tugged. But the spear was stuck.

Gargled noises escaped the monster's unhinged maw. And when Link lost his grip on the spear, the monster fell back on top of the pile of bones. It continued to twitch and convulse for well over a minute, then fell still.

It was over.

Carefully, Link scooted backwards until his back was against the wall. Then he looked at his hands. They were trembling violently. It was over, but the fear still lingered.

"Link?"

Hearing Navi's voice was a mild relief. She was okay. He would be okay with a bit of time.

The next few minutes passed in a blur. Link wasn't sure how he got out of the room. But soon, he was back in the winding catacombs, lens in one hand and ocarina in the other.

He stared at the instrument for several minutes before making up his mind. He needed comfort.

As soon as his hands stopped shaking enough for him to focus, he brought the ocarina to his mouth and played the simple, familiar melody that he hadn't played in so long.

A short period of silence passed before he heard the familiar voice.

"Link?" Saria asked.

"Yeah, it's me," Link answered.

"Your voice is shaking. Is everything okay?"

No. "I'll be fine. I just… fought something scary, is all."

He heard lighthearted laughter fill his head. "What could scare you, the skull kid that fought the monster in the Deku Tree and that eats skulltulas for breakfast?"

Link could tell the lighthearted teasing was an attempt to help him feel better. He wished it was working. "Something like I've never seen," he answered. He began to describe the horrible, many-handed monster, and how it had come to attack him.

Then he talked about some of the things he'd been through since they last talked. Watching Zelda flee, encountering Ganondorf. He left out the part about his curse, though. His spirit ached to tell Saria about all of his worries, about all he had been through. But something held him back. Something told him it was a bad idea.

At the end of his story, he went quiet. His walk slowed to a stop. Navi looked at him, worried.

"I wish none of this had happened. I wish I was back in the forest with you guys."

Saria didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was quiet, though firm. "I wish you were here, too," she admitted. "But you being here wouldn't make things better. You'd just be here, watching things slowly go wrong with us, not knowing what to do."

"But at least I'd be with you guys," he responded, his voice stiff. "Not…" He didn't want to say alone. He wasn't alone. Right now, he had Navi. And in the future, he had Skully. But they couldn't understand what he was going through, only sympathize. This journey was, ultimately, his own.

"It's not fair, is it?" Saria asked. "It's awful that you have to do this. But you're not alone. Even if we're not there in person, we're with you in spirit. You're strong. You've gotten this far. And I know you have the heart to see things through." She paused. "And when this is all over, we can be together again, enjoying the sun and the forest breeze."

But could they, really? In the future, Saria was dead, her spirit residing in the Sacred Ream and attending to her sage duties. Remaining here would only bring chaos. And besides…

"I'm not sure I can ever go back to the way things were before."

"But that's the thing," Saria urged. "Things aren't the way they were before. But that's okay. Things don't have to stay the same. But you'll still have our support. You'll still have your friends. And despite all the hardships, we'll be here for you."

"She's right," Navi chimed in. "We're here for you. You don't have to bear this burden alone."

Link didn't know how to reply at first. The sentiment was appreciated, even if he struggled to believe it with all he knew. She did have a point. Even through everything, he'd always been able to trust her. And he could always rely on Skully to be there for him. And Navi, even if she got on his nerves sometimes, only wished the best for him. Even when his courage on its own failed him, he had the three of them to rely on. To push him forward.

"You're right," he finally said. A smile crept onto his face. "Thanks."

Saria giggled. "No need to thank me. I'm just telling the truth. Just doing what I would as your friend."

Link began to walk again. "How have things been over there?"

"The same as they were before," Saria answered with a sigh. "Or close enough. There's still rumblings of trouble in the Lost Woods but nothing has changed. Except…"

"Except?"

"Well…" Saria's voice was uncertain. "Last night I had a strange dream. It's probably nothing, but… but with everything else going on, I thought it strange."

"How so?" Link asked. Worry began gnawing its way into his wood again, and he couldn't help but slow his pace.

"I dreamt I was in the Lost Woods," Saria began. "I wasn't sure what part of it, but I knew it was the woods. I heard a voice from somewhere far away. I… think it might have been the spirit of the forest. I couldn't understand what it was saying, but I knew it was calling to me, telling me to follow it."

The unease only worsened. He remembered talking to Saria what felt like a long time ago. Discussing the forest temple, and why she'd gone there. Remembering that she'd said he told her to go there.

Was this when he told her?

If it was… maybe he could prevent her death. All he had to do was tell her to ignore the voice, pretend it was all a dream. She'd stay away from the temple, and she'd still be alive. Everything would be okay.

Wouldn't it?

It won't.

Link froze. He felt a tightening in his chest.

It will fix nothing.

The curse was talking to him.

You will have to tell her, the voice in his mind went on. It has already been fated.

You're just saying that to make me kill her!

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. But you cannot change what has already happened.

But it hasn't happened yet, Link argued. And even if it had, it made me closer to my goal. Not yours. Why would you tell me to do this unless it helps you.

The voice was silent for a moment. In the darkness, he swore he saw the faint outline of an identical skull kid staring him down.

With his free hand, he grabbed the Lense of Truth and held it up.

There was nothing there.

Slowly he put the lens away.

"Link, are you okay?" Navi asked.

"Fine," Link answered. "I'm just fine."

You are right, in a sense, the voice said. But… Pain blossomed from Link's chest. His free hand involuntarily seized up. It's much easier to control you when you despair.

Link felt numbness starting to creep through his body. Panicked, he tensed, his hands trembling.

No! He couldn't let this happen. Not now. Never. He steeled his mind against the influence, pushing back. Then the voice began to fade, and the control ebbed.

As he got his body back under control, he became aware of both Navi's and Saria's voices calling out to him.

"Link!" Navi cried. "Keep fighting through it!"

"Link," Saria said, her tone urgent. "Link, are you okay? What's going on?"

"F-fine," he stuttered. His hands still trembled. It was a bold lie, but he didn't want to make Saria worry. "I-I'll be fine in just a moment."

She said something more but he didn't answer it, focusing on getting the shaking under control. He was fine. He would be fine. Only a bit longer and he could go back to a time when his curse was under control.

But it would take him back to a time where Saria was dead.

"Saria?"

"Yes, Link?"

He hesitated. "What would you do… if you were in a situation where you had to make a difficult decision, where one choice hurts someone you care about, but helps save so many others. But the other choice could save the person you care about, but could cost the lives of all those other people?"

Saria was quiet for a moment. "Where is this coming from, Link?"

"Nowhere specific," he lied. "Just… with everything that's happened so far, it's something that's been on my mind.

"That's… a difficult question," she said after a moment. "There's no real easy answer. No right or wrong answer, either. If it were me… I think, I'd follow my heart. Sometimes, a hero has to make these kind of difficult decisions, so that they can help people."

A hero has to make difficult decisions, so that they can help people…

"Thank you, Saria." Link looked up. They were coming to the end of the catacombs. "I should probably get going."

"I understand." There was a hint of sadness in Saria's voice. Had she guessed? "Take care of yourself, till I see you again."

"Oh, and one more thing," Link said. His vision flickered out. "About your dream… I can't tell you what it means, but I think you should follow your heart, too. The voice is there for a reason… Follow it when things seem like they can't get any worse. Maybe try that old temple in the lost woods."

Saria didn't answer right away. The feeling of dread and betrayal made Link feel sick. "Thank you, Link. Stay safe." And then she was gone.

Link was silent for the rest of the walk, until he reached the crawlspace. He stood there for several seconds, staring at the floor. Then he screamed and slammed a fist against the wall.

He did the heroic thing, right? Saved many in exchange for one life. But he didn't feel like a hero. He felt like a discarded carcas.

"Link? Link, what's wrong?"

A few seconds passed before he became aware of Navi's presence again. He slammed his other fist against the wall before resting his forehead against it. "I hate this," he said in a quiet tone. "I don't want to do this any more. I just want it all to be over already." His vision flickered back, and he stared at the wall. "But I can't just stop. I have to finish."

"Oh, Link…" Navi fluttered down to land on his shoulder. Her tiny hand gave him a reassuring pat. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"I didn't want to worry Saria. And…" He sighed, letting his hands slip down the stone to hang at his sides. "I just… There's so much I know that I can't say. So much that's never going to go away…"

He took a step back. "Let's just go. Let's get out of this… dumb well."

Dropping to his knees, he crept back through the crawlspace in silence. Navi remained situated on his shoulder.

"You're very brave," she said as they emerged back into the tunnel. "I know it's tough. And I wish you hadn't had to go through… well, any of this. The fact that you have just shows how courageous you are. Most people would be distressed by now. But…" She turned her head to look directly at Link. "You know you don't have to do this alone, right? You have me. And you have Skull Kid and Saria. We all care about you. Support you."

No I don't, Link thought to himself. In the future, I only had Skully, and I only just got you back. But he didn't want to worry Navi any more than he had. So he forced a smile and nodded, but said nothing more.

He could tell from the way Navi flitted about him that she wasn't convinced by his act. But she didn't push him either. Maybe, she, too, was thinking about the truth of his words, with everything he'd told her.

And yet… maybe she did have a point – at least, partially. He did still have people that cared. And there was nothing wrong with him being stressed. He just needed to find the courage to get through it.

He reached the end of the tunnel, returning to the main part of the well. Above him, a small disk of weak light shone. He felt around in the darkness until he found the old, rusty ladder, and began the long climb.

The further he went, the more his resolve returned to him. Yes. Yes, he was right. He had to do this. And he could do this. No matter what other terrible things happened, he would make it. He'd find the last two sages. He'd stop Ganondorf's plans.

His foot slipped.

For one, horrible second, he yelped and flailed, trying to keep his grip. Then pain flared from his shoulder, and he fell. The disk of light, which had been so close, receded, getting smaller and smaller. Navi screamed his name, diving after him as if there was something she could do.

No. He couldn't fail now. Not like this.

Gathering his mental strength, he reached deep into his magic, calling forth the wind. He imagined himself back up on that ladder, emerging into daylight - no - standing just outside the well. He could do this. He had to do this.

The air seemed to warp around him…

And then he hit the ground with a light thud. The sky was nearly clear, only a few puffy clouds scuttling across. Grass brushed against his bark, calling him to simpler times. His chest protested, his limbs tingling as the curse tried to punish him for using magic…

But it couldn't do anything more that annoyed him.

Slowly, he sat up, vision unfocused. He was okay. He was out of the well, unharmed and in control.

"Link!" Navi's voice echoed from the well. A moment later, she emerged. Visibly sagging with relief when she saw Link, she dashed over to meet him. "Oh, thank the goddesses you're alright."

"I am…" Link said, his voice quiet. He looked to her, then back to the sky. "I think you were right… It's going to be tough, but I'll be alright."

For a while, he was content to sit there, sitting with his back to the well, watching the clouds scoot by. Then the gravity of the situation hit him again, and he stood up, dusting off his tunic. "Well… the world isn't going to save itself." He shot Navi a toothy grin. "What do you say we get going?"

She fluttered down to land on his shoulder. Then, together, the two of them left Kakariko behind and set their sights once again on Castle Town.