Chapter 19- Seven Years

 

Picture credits:  https://www.deviantart.com/know-kname/art/Sage-of-Light-Rauru-264243892

Chapter 19

Seven Years

Cold.

Why was it so cold? Slowly, Link stirred. He struggled to regain some sense of clarity, as though lost amidst an endless veil of fog. He couldn't move his limbs; they felt odd, sluggish, and heavy.

What happened?

It seemed like an eternity before his brain finally kicked in. He remembered pulling the Master Sword from the pedestal, but then Ganondorf had appeared, his eyes full of triumph. Peeling back the layers of cobwebs that filled his mind, Link shivered. Something terrible had happened.

He opened his eyes, slowly breathing in and out as he beheld a dimly lit chamber. Something was digging painfully into his back, and he realised it was his scabbard. He groaned, a headache pounding through his skull. The pain told him he was still alive. Had Ganondorf spared him? Was he a prisoner? Where was Navi? Was she alive? Had Ganondorf hurt her?

The brief spasm of panic that seized him passed. He shook his head, trying to force his brain to work. Why did he feel so sluggish?

Forcing himself to stay calm, he looked up at the windows, but they offered no solace. Storm clouds churned across the sky in eerie patterns, like fingers reaching across the heavens. The storm was darker and more immense than any Link had ever seen, and it was a wonder he couldn't hear it. Lightning forked across the sky, illuminating the brooding clouds before darkness swallowed everything once more.

Thinking he was still in the Temple of Time, Link pushed himself into a sitting position and turned his head towards the archway.

It was gone. In its place was a tall wrought-iron door, complete with ornate carvings depicting medallions.

That wasn't there before.

Now he wasn't so sure he was still in the Temple of Time. It was either that or he'd taken a particularly bad fall. He surveyed the room again, noting the pedestal was missing and that Navi, who was lying on the far side of the dais, was stirring. To his relief, she seemed unharmed.

"Link?" she called, slowly picking herself up off the floor. "Ouch. I haven't felt this stiff in-"

Navi caught his gaze. The concern etched on her features melted into confusion. Then shock.

"Link! What...?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

Link frowned. "What's wrong?"

She pointed at him, her mouth open in shock.

"Navi, what is it?" he asked, completely bewildered by her reaction. That was when he first noticed something odd.

His voice was deeper.

It was as though he had opened his mouth, yet someone else had spoken. He grasped his throat, then brought his hands up to his eyes. Thick leather gauntlets covered them down to his forearms.

What in the...? Never in his life had Link felt more unnerved than he did now. As he looked down, he realised that his deeper voice and his new gauntlets weren't the only changes to his appearance.

His limbs were heavier and more muscular than when he'd pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal. The sensation that he was staring at the body of a stranger was as surreal as it was terrifying.

No, he thought. This is not real. It's a dream. I'm imagining it.

As his mind reeled with confusion, Link stood up. He was stiff and sore, but his confusion was so great that he barely noticed.

What's happened to me? Trembling, he brought a hand to his face, and his fingers brushed across the thin stubble along his chin. Then he looked down at his torso.

He was as tall as a Hylian. His limbs were longer, leaner, stronger - unmistakably those of an adult.

No. No, no, no. This isn't possible. I'm a Kokiri.

Except that Kokiri were not five and a half feet tall. He screamed in horror, his cry echoing through the chamber.

He wanted to wake up. Why couldn't he just wake up from this dream?

Even his clothing was different. He still wore a forest green tunic and trousers, but they bore no sign of wear and tear. Underneath the tunic, he wore a shirt of chainmail, the metal rings glinting in the light of a nearby brazier. His Kokiri Sword, now belted at his hip, resembled a dagger. Slowly, Link reached up and touched the soft fabric of his green hat, afraid he would find it was missing.

"L-Link? Is that really you?" Navi asked.

Those words stung, cutting deep into his heart. His own fairy was not even sure who he was.

"It's me, Navi," Link replied, keeping his voice even to hide the hurt at her doubt. "Who else do you know that wears a floppy green hat like this?"

His jest was meant to break the awkward confusion that hung between them, but it didn't make him feel any better.

Navi considered him for an instant, then zipped into the air and nearly flew straight into his face. Her eyes traced the scars across his cheek. Feeling a sudden urge to scratch them, Link ran a finger down his skin. Sure enough, the lumpy scars stopped just shy of his eye.

"It... it... it is you. But... how?" Navi struggled to make a coherent sentence, the shock still evident in her eyes.

"Of course it's me," Link said, even though his deeper voice was telling him otherwise. "What is the last thing you remember?"

Navi was silent for a moment, the shock never wavering from her face.

"Navi?" he implored her, hoping she could explain what was happening.

"It's hard to remember. Everything went white and then we were here. Ganondorf came too. He was right in front of you. I remember him slapping the Master Sword aside with his blade. Then he knocked you to the ground. I tried to stop him but then... something struck me..."

Link could not recall any of that. Feeling the weight of the Master Sword pressing against his back, he unslung the sheathed blade and held it in front of him. The sword's scabbard was intricately designed with blue leather inlaid with bands of gold. As he inspected it, Link could feel no hum of magic from the blade. It seemed just as lifeless and cold as any ordinary sword.

He clasped it back on, deciding he'd get no answers by staring at it. Just then, the door behind him opened. Half expecting Ganondorf, Link spun around, drawing the Master Sword.

The man striding into the hall wore long gold and brown robes. His face was wrinkled and haggard with age, but his orange eyes still twinkled with life. The moment he saw Link's drawn blade, he halted.

"It's all right," he said with a calming gesture, hands held outward. "I mean you no harm."

The man's voice sounded sincere. Deciding he was no immediate threat, Link relaxed and let his blade fall to his side.

"It is good to see you awake, Hero of Time. I am Rauru." There was a familiarity in the man's voice Link couldn't quite place. Rauru gestured towards the still drawn Master Sword. "I see you have already acquainted yourself with your blade. It suits you."

The man's pleasantries did nothing to soothe Link's growing anger. He was certain that this man had something to do with the drastic change in his appearance.

"What have you done to me?" he demanded angrily.

Rauru took a few more cautious steps towards the dais. Link's hand twitched. It was only a small gesture, but it was enough to warn the man not to come any closer. Rauru took heed and halted. Something in the set of Rauru's jaw told Link that things weren't going the way the Sage had hoped.

"I know this must be confusing for you, Link," Rauru said gently. "But you must believe me-"

"Confusing?" Link roared, not giving Rauru a chance to finish. He could not recall ever sounding as loud or fierce as he did now. "Is that all you can say? I'm a Kokiri! We're not supposed to age or grow up!"

Link desperately wanted to seize the old man by the shoulders and shake him. It took all his will to restrain himself. "That sword-" Link looked at the blade in his hand. Some of his fury began to melt away as he realised something.

Neither he nor Navi knew what would happen when he drew the Master Sword. Of all the possible scenarios he had conjured in his head, including being killed by the sword, this was not one he'd envisaged.

"The sword did something to me...?" Link took a few deep breaths, bidding himself to stay calm. "Didn't it?"

Though Rauru's silvery moustache twitched, he gave no other indication that Link's anger perturbed him. Instead, he looked sympathetic.

"What happened, and who are you exactly?" Link asked.

"I am the Guardian of Light, a Sage sworn to protect this realm. You once knew me as Kaepora Gaebora."

Navi gasped. "You're Kaepora... but we thought Kaepora... you were dead."

Rauru bowed his head sombrely. "Kaepora was but a disguise. One that I was quite proud of. After I had flown into the city, I attempted to return to my proper form. Alas, in my haste, I overestimated my strength, and the transformation did not go well. I reappeared as you see me now."

"Then what happened?" Link asked.

"I made it to the temple, but to my dismay, you were gone."

Link furrowed his brow, confused. "Gone where?"

Rauru spread his arms, encompassing the chamber. "Here, Link. The Chamber of Sages is the pinnacle of the Temple of Light. We stand at the heart of the Sacred Realm." The Sage's voice turned grim, a mirthless chuckle escaping his lips that sent chills down Link's spine. "This bastion is the only region in the Sacred Realm untouched by all-consuming darkness."

"What do you mean?" Navi asked. "What darkness?"

Her question seemed to trouble Rauru, as his expression darkened, and he hesitated before answering, "When you drew the Master Sword, Ganondorf followed you. Right into the Temple of Light itself."

Rauru met his gaze. In that brief pause, he seemed to age even further. He went on without pausing. "After I retrieved the Spiritual Stones, I tried to stop Ganondorf, but I was only successful in preventing him from killing you, thanks in part to the Master Sword. For a moment, I feared I was too late."

"What happened after that?" Link asked. A part of him didn't want to know the answer.

"Ganondorf claimed the Triforce. In doing so, he spread a vile taint through the realm, turning its denizens into unimaginable horrors. This realm is the source of the Flow of Magic, and so, like a poisoned spring, Ganondorf's corruption seeped out into Hyrule."

"Meaning?" Link asked. He didn't like where this was going. 

Rauru paused, drew another deep breath, and then said softly, "When he returned to Hyrule, Ganondorf conquered it. There is no easy way to put this to you, Link. Hyrule has fallen."

Link didn't need Navi's horrified gasp to understand the gravity of what Rauru had just told him. He could scarcely breathe, let alone hear through the ringing in his ears. His limbs felt like jelly, trembling until they could barely support his weight.

Hyrule has fallen.

Those last words were like blades slicing through his heart.

Fallen.

All because of him.

It was like standing before the Great Deku Tree all over again, reliving the moment he discovered that the forest guardian was going to die. Only this was worse, far worse. He was too numb to cry, and here there was no Saria to comfort him.

Saria. 

Was she alive? Or had he failed her and the rest of the Kokiri too?

Letting the Master Sword clatter to the ground, he fell to his knees, looking helplessly at his hands.

No. What have I done?

Rauru's eyes held deep compassion. "Link?" he said gently.

"I... I don't understand," Link blurted out, almost too dazed to form coherent speech. "I... the last thing I remember was picking up the Master Sword and Ganondorf laughing. Why can't I remember anything after that?"

Rauru sighed. "Ganondorf almost killed you. With some help from the spirit in the Master Sword and some of the other spirits that call this realm home, I was able to banish him from the Sacred Realm. With the key on the inside-" Rauru gestured to the Master Sword "-Ganondorf was unable to return and finish me."

"Why can't I remember anything?" Link asked, his mind still reeling at Rauru's words.

"The price of your survival," Rauru said. "I could not risk further damage to your mind, given what you endured. The Master Sword's spirit sealed you away here until your body was ready."

"Since when does a sword have a spirit?" Navi asked incredulously.

Rauru's gaze turned distant. "Long ago," he began, "a spirit chose to bind itself to the Blade of Evil's Bane, sacrificing its own form. In doing so, it became forever entwined with the sword."

Link felt Rauru's eyes on him, but he didn't meet the man's gaze. He was too busy coming to terms with the fact that Ganondorf had conquered Hyrule. Some rational part of him doubted that Ganondorf could manage it within a few days. The thought left an icy feeling in his stomach as he wondered how long he had been in the Sacred Realm.

"How long..." Finding his voice, he felt a rush of anger but was too weak to shout. He stood up so that he was level with Rauru's face. "Tell me. How long have I been here?"

"I am sorry, Link, but there is no easy way to say this," Rauru said calmly.

"How long?" Link repeated.

"Seven years." Rauru's voice was almost a whisper.

Seven years?

Link's ears rang. He swayed slightly, almost drunkenly, as his mind reeled at the words.

He shut his eyes, clasping his hands to his face.

"Link," Rauru's voice broke through his misery, "do not despair. There is still hope for Hyrule."

Hope?

That word irked Link more than it should have, especially since Navi had repeatedly told him the same thing.

"What hope?" Link spat, drawing his hands away from his eyes. "You just told me I gave it to Ganondorf!"

"It's not too late, Link," Rauru said. "You can still defeat him. It is always darkest before the dawn, but with the help of the other Sages, you can help herald the morning."

"What other Sages?" Link asked, far more quietly.

"The Sages are reborn at the end of each Age with the turning of Time's Wheel," Rauru explained. "The Second Sages built the Temple of Time after a great and terrible war killed most of their predecessors. They vowed never to let such a catastrophe occur again and put measures in place to protect both the Sacred Realm and the Triforce. Hyrule's temples serve as founts that harness the Flow from the Sacred Realm. It was, and remains, the duty of the Sages to protect those temples."

"And exactly how do I find them?"

"There is someone who can help you find their successors," Rauru continued, heedless of how little Link was absorbing this barrage of information. In truth, Link was barely keeping up at all, but still, the man went on. "Their predecessors - the Second Sages - are lost to us. I will use my power to send you back to the Temple of Time. Sheik will wait for you there."

"Who?" Link asked, his mind racing to catch up. If he had harboured any doubts that Kaepora really was Rauru, the man's relentless onslaught was all the assurance he needed. It was enough to make him grit his teeth until his jaw ached.

"A Sheikah by the name of Sheik," Rauru replied. "I must warn you, the Hyrule you are about to return to is not the realm you knew."

Link swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded; he dreaded the moment he would find out exactly what Rauru meant.

"If it is of any consolation, Ganondorf acted earlier than anticipated. By cursing the Great Deku Tree and attempting to steal the Spiritual Stone, he forced you to begin your journey far earlier than was intended. It would appear he knew that the hero had been reborn. My guess is the creature within the soul mask, Ganon, told him. Knowing that if he waited too long, the Hero would become a threat, Ganondorf made his move. He was certain that by doing so, he would secure his hold on Hyrule. However, things did not go according to his plan."

Rauru's words made it sound like he was a piece in a game that he did not understand - a puppet dancing upon the strings of an unseen puppeteer.

"What do you mean?" he asked harshly.

"You survived," Rauru replied. "That means we still have a chance of setting the future on a better path. The Sheikah once believed it was their duty to interpret dreams, and to determine how one's actions might lead the world to a better future."

"I don't see what good that did them," Link said savagely. "They wiped each other out, didn't they?"

Rauru grimaced ever so slightly. "Only because they chose to misuse their powers. Some sought to guide the world onto a path that would best serve only themselves. But that is not something to dwell upon now, and I doubt that Impa will thank me for telling you."

"Wait..." Link realised something that he hadn't noticed before. It had been so completely obvious, he should have noticed by now. "You were one of Impa's spies?"

"I was," Rauru affirmed with a twitch of his moustache. He directed his gaze to Navi. "I'm surprised you didn't work it out."

"Oh, I had my suspicions," Navi said pointedly. "Nobody would suspect that an owl was spying on them."

"That was what I'd hoped," Rauru said with a note of pride.

"And what about Zelda? And Impa?" Link asked.

"They are alive." That was all Rauru seemed prepared to say. "Now, there is one last thing I must give you." Rauru dug into a pocket of his long robes.

He held out what appeared to be a belt: six polished silver rings linked by short lengths of chain. Five were empty. The sixth held a yellow medallion that gleamed in Navi's light.

"What is that?" Link asked, taking the belt in his hands.

"It's the Belt of Sages. Each ring on that belt holds a medallion once borne by the Sages. While you wear it, you can draw on our power. The other medallions can be found in the temples." He frowned as Link inspected the belt. "Promise me you will be careful when using it? You must not try to channel any of the elements except Light."

"What happens if I try to use the other Elements?" Link asked curiously, looking up.

"The taint will kill you," Rauru answered bluntly. "Now go pick up the Master Sword, and I will send you back. And Link - do not leave the Temple of Time before Sheik reaches you. The wards protecting it are failing, and they will not repel all of Ganondorf's minions. So long as you stay within the temple, you should be safe long enough for Sheik to reach you."

"As long as Ganondorf doesn't stick his head in the door," Navi added. 

Link couldn't help flinching at that remark, but didn't say anything when Navi looked at him apologetically. Instead, he fastened the belt around his waist, adjusting it until the six silver rings rested comfortably against his hips.

"Ganondorf believes his minions are sufficient to guard the city," Rauru assured them. 

"Why can't you come with us?" Navi persisted.

Rauru shook his head gravely. "I must remain to protect the Sacred Realm and aid the other Sages when you awaken them. As I am now, I will not be of much use to you."

"How will I know it's really Sheik?" With so much having gone wrong, Link wasn't eager to trust the first person he came across. He wasn't even entirely sure that he trusted Rauru. What if he turned out to be some deranged mage?

"Ask her to touch the Master Sword's hilt," Rauru said, sounding pleased with Link's caution.

Deciding that asking Rauru if his sanity was still intact was a very bad idea, Link stooped to pick up his sword and then straightened, wincing as his stiff muscles complained.

Rauru instructed him to stand on the dais, then retreated halfway toward the door. Link stood in place, feeling stupid.

What am I supposed to do? he wondered.

Then, before he could ask, light exploded around him, turning the platform into a blazing beacon of azure light. Navi yelled in fright and flew into the air as the light intensified.

Rauru shouted something. "Wait for-" 

But Link could no longer hear him.

A soft thrum of magic enveloped him as it rippled through the air. It grew louder and louder until his ears were ringing like the resonating hum of a bell after striking the hour. Only there was nothing pleasant about this. Then he was spinning. Then he opened his eyes to find himself standing back in the Temple of Time, or rather, what was left of it.

The stained glass windows were shattered, an icy breeze howling through their broken frames, revealing a sky bathed in dark storm clouds. A layer of ash and grime coated the once pristine walls, making their elaborate murals almost black.

Of Sheik, there was no sign.

"Maybe she's late?" Navi suggested apprehensively. "Rauru said she wouldn't be far."

"Maybe," Link murmured. He turned from the dais and strode toward the central chamber of the Temple of Time. Glass crunched under his boots as he stepped down from the dais and into the main hall. Covered in soot, dust, and glass, it was in no better shape than the inner sanctum. The wooden doors on either side of the archway were gone, replaced by enormous mounds of rubble and stone.

What bothered Link most was the silence. Aside from the breeze, his breathing, and the crunch of glass and debris beneath his boots, there was not so much as a whisper of life in or outside the temple.

Seven years... Has it really been that long?

Link hesitated, dreading what he would find beyond those wrought-iron doors at the far end of the hall. It did not feel like that long ago since he and Navi had been running for their lives through the streets of Castletown.

"Maybe we should wait for Sheik," Navi suggested shakily. She was huddled on his shoulder, trembling ever so slightly. He'd rarely seen her do that, and that unsettled him even more.

"No," he decided. "This place is giving me the creeps. Let's get out of here. We don't know how long Sheik will be, and we can't stay here forever."

There was no murmur of agreement, but given what Link knew of wards, he didn't dare wait. Rauru might trust this sanctuary, but Link knew better. If the Great Deku Tree's magic could be broken, stone walls were no haven. 

Caught in a moment of indecision, it seemed a long time before either dared speak again.

"I can sense dark magic close by. It's stronger than the curses I sensed in the Barinade or Gohma," Navi said, her eyes never leaving the open doors. "Let's hope nothing noticed us using the portal."

At that unpleasant thought, Link drew his sword, half-expecting something to charge through the temple entrance.

"Can you tell what's out there?" Link asked.

"No," Navi replied.

I guess there is only one way to find out. Link gritted his teeth. That exact line of thinking had landed him in trouble before. Knowing that didn't make him feel any better.

Navi seemed to be thinking the same thing, for she was looking back the way they had come, before nervously flying around his head.

"I'm not sure about this," she urged him. "Sheik can't be far away. Rauru wouldn't have sent us back otherwise. Link... wait!"

But a prickling sensation crept over Link, an unnerving awareness that something was watching him. Perhaps it was just the power Navi had sensed, but as he became aware of it, he knew they had to get out. Wards had failed before. How could Rauru possibly think this was safe?

He finally came to the doors of the Temple of Time. Taking a deep breath, he opened them slowly, fearing to make the slightest noise. When he stepped outside, a landscape of total devastation awaited him. 

Link had seen what fire could do to a building before. Never did he imagine the same fate befalling an entire city. Before him lay a charred wasteland - a blackened mess of scorched brick, mortar, and timber. Here and there, chimneys rose into the sky like burnt trees. An icy wind whipped across his face, reeking of decay, and Link was sure he might freeze to the spot if he stayed here too long.

"Link... it's..." Navi stammered in a feeble whisper. "It's horrible."

Link stared wordlessly at the scene, unable to think of anything to say. The bitter wind howled in mournful agony, and Link longed to get away. A layer of ash now clung to his boots, turning the brown leather grey. Atop the hill where Hyrule Castle once stood, a tall, black monolith stretched high into the sky. Spiky protrusions decorated the edges of each of the tower's three tiers, giving it a sinister and uninviting appearance. The crumbling remains of Hyrule Castle's wall still clung to the hillside. Much of it had collapsed, but the tall archway of the gate remained, leaning drunkenly to one side. Link could almost picture the road leading to the Silver Mare thronged with street vendors and performers, the air alive with music and the clamour of people. There was none of that now. All of it was gone, as gone as the castle that once stood atop the hill.

For centuries, Hyrule Castle had stood as a proud testament to the realm it governed. Now, like those people who once called Hyrule home, it was gone. Every record of Hyrule's history stored within those walls had been erased. 

Link wondered what had become of the rest of Hyrule, of his home. Still, in the back of his mind, a small voice blamed him for the destruction that lay before him. Despite Link's efforts to block it out, the voice only became more determined.

Some hero. Did Rauru really call you the Hero of Time? Link laughed nervously at that thought.

Navi gave him an odd look. She opened her mouth to say something before thinking twice about it. Instead, she let the heavy silence fall between them.

Link tried to tell himself that the ruined city was not his fault; it had already been under siege well before he and Navi had reached the Temple of Time. Link shook his head.

Focus, he thought. Find a way back to the woods and find out what's happening there.

He hoped that Saria and the others were all right. Why hadn't Rauru thought to tell him more?

"We should go, Link, before-"

Something nearby moaned, its pitiful cry like that of a dying beast. Then he saw a tall figure standing in the shadow of a nearby building. It looked human enough, but its tormented animal noise made the hair on the back of Link's neck stand on end. Something wasn't right. The way it moved, the way it hunched over, uncurling itself slowly as he approached. It seemed stiff... unnatural... 

Link stepped down the stone stairs away from the Temple of Time, not realising that Navi was not following. 

"Link, wait... I don't think that's-"

A blood-freezing shriek shattered the silence. The figure turned, and as Link looked into its face, every muscle in his body went rigid. He couldn't move. The beast moved into the dim light. It was little more than a hulk of gaunt, pale, rotting flesh. Link stared into the eyeless pits of its skull, wanting more than anything to scream.

No sound came out. He couldn't move his jaw. As it approached, the creature opened its maw, revealing a row of yellowing teeth. Around Link, more figures were stirring. Another scream cut through the air, followed by a third and then a fourth.

Navi quickly darted in front of Link, and the first creature was distracted for a split second. It clawed at the fairy flying in its face, but its limbs were slow, and Navi dodged its repeated attempts to swipe at her. Once the creature broke eye contact, Link was able to move.

"It's a ReDead!" Navi screamed. "Don't look it in the eyes!"

What's left of them...

No sooner had the thought entered his mind than Link turned back to the temple, only to find three creatures emerging onto the path from behind. He could hear more moans now as even more creatures emerged from the ruins, some of them quite small.

As the rotting cadavers lumbered towards him, Link ran. Not towards the temple, but towards the only gap he could see. And it was entirely the wrong way. 

Navi zipped after him while Link kept his face down, desperate to avoid eye contact with the moaning creatures lumbering through the debris. Their screams followed him as he stepped into what had once been the southern market. The only recognisable feature was the remains of the fountain. No water cascaded into that dry and cracked basin now.

"Link, I think we set off a trap! Stalfos are appearing everywhere," Navi yelled, flying higher into the air to get a better look.

She was right. More creatures were emerging from the ruins now. Among them were the same skeletal creatures Link had seen when Castletown burned. As one of the Stalfos charged, he swung the Master Sword, striking off the creature's shield arm. The Stalfos leapt at him, Link's sword connecting with its own in a ringing crash of steel. His next swing took the creature's head off. Link grabbed its fallen shield and bashed a second Stalfos in the face with it.

His sword twirled through the air again, lopping through the neck of another Stalfos. It was then that he noticed some of the Stalfos were wearing the armour of Hylian guards, though any resemblance to the men they had once been was long gone. The thought that these things had once been people filled Link with revulsion, and he hacked away with renewed vigour, Master Sword cleaving through fetid bone and strings of sinew.

An arrow struck Link's shield. He killed one of the reanimated guards only to realise the skeletons were reassembling themselves once he slew them. Once they regained all their missing bones, the amber glow in their eye sockets returned, and the undead guards lunged at him with single-minded determination. Some grabbed weapons. One even attempted to snatch a bone from a fallen undead, only to realise its owner was still alive and very angry.

I can't win this, Link thought, desperately looking for an escape.

By now, the creatures had surrounded him, and more blood-chilling screams tore through the darkness.

More ReDeads.

I have to get out of here.

He was cut off from the temple. Far from completely mindless, the undead had pushed him away from the only haven. If he could somehow push through their ranks, he might be able to get back to the entrance. All he had to do was hold the door and wait...

Wait. Like you were supposed to...

"Try using the medallion!" Navi yelled, flying above the battling skeletons who were entirely focused on Link and so far ignoring her.

"How?" Link spun around to behead several more Stalfos. One thrust a spear into his shield. It stuck fast, forcing Link to abandon the battered frame.

He slipped. A Stalfos slammed its shield into his head. His cheek struck stone, and lights danced in front of his eyes. The Stalfos took aim, raising its sword to bring it down across his throat. Link rolled and came up into a crouch, a rusty axe whistling past his shoulder.

Then-

BANG!

A bright light stabbed his vision. Link cursed and spun to face his second attacker. Only the Stalfos was nothing more than a pile of smouldering bones. There was another crackling bang, and a second blast of lightning flashed across Link's periphery. It struck a nearby ReDead, and the creature burst into flames, its shrieks rising to a wild cacophony.

A blade came within inches of Link's throat. He knocked his attacker back and reached out with his mind to the elements of magic, just as he had practised long ago. Unlike last time, when he'd channelled fire, he could only sense one of the elements: Light. The medallion on his belt grew warm as he channelled its power. Link twirled the blade in an arc; the Master Sword glowed, a light gleaming in the deepening shadows.

He came out of his spin and braced himself. He'd only managed to take out two Stalfos, followed by a third, which parted ways with its head. Link exchanged a flurry of blows with a fourth skeleton, and sacred steel met bone with an unpleasant crunch. Link spared a glance back at the fallen Stalfos, expecting them to rise and attack him. Only they never stirred.

It had worked. The Light had stopped them.

The relief that followed this revelation was short-lived. He was tiring quickly, his flourishes becoming clumsy and wide. His limbs had not weakened in his enchanted seven-year sleep, but he still could not take on an entire army of Stalfos.

I have to run.

So he did, running towards the still-standing wall at the southern end of town, striking down any Stalfos that came near him. The ReDead had surrounded the central square, their voices crooning in unison.

I'm going to die here.

Another plume of light struck through their ranks, and Link spotted a tall figure at the far end of the square.

"Hero of Time!"

The woman crouched with her arms raised. Blast after blast of light magic leapt from her palms and crashed into the undead. She was dressed in blue clothing, her stance that of a wary cat. Link recognised the white sash across her chest, with an emblem of a weeping eye, the symbol of the Sheikah.

What Link found unusual was the assortment of white bandages the woman wore over her clothing and head. Aside from a tuft of blonde hair, only her eyes remained visible beneath the wrappings.

Sheik, he thought. Her spells carved a path through the undead, opening a narrow route back towards the temple. 

Just as Sheik killed the last of the undead surrounding them, she called out.

"Run, hero, towards the temple. I'll be right behind you!"

Not bothering to chastise Sheik for calling him a hero, Link looked behind to see not just a few Stalfos, but an entire sea of skeletons, some clattering their swords against shields in an ungodly racket.

"Link, you heard her. Run!" Navi yelled, flying over to his side as he snatched up a fallen shield. 

Another spell crashed into the Stalfos nearest Link, shattering its legs. The rest of the creature crawled along the ground in a pathetic attempt to chase after him.

Link turned to deflect another blow, pushing away a sword that scraped off his shield, barely missing his midriff. He turned to run and yelped when he realised the legless Stalfos had him by the ankle. Its white, bony hands clawed into his flesh, leaving bloody rivulets. With a yell of pain and a frantic kick, Link shook it off.

He turned and distinctly heard the angry Stalfos yell, "Come back here, and I'll bite your legs off!"

Sprinting faster than he had ever run in his life, Link bolted back up the path that had been cleared of undead. Suddenly, there was a sensation of being punched hard in the arm. Then there was a terrible, mind-numbing pain. He could feel flesh tearing as he clutched his arm and tried not to stumble.

Still running despite the pain, he chanced a look at the bloodied arrow shaft now sticking into his arm. It had punched all the way through, making movement nearly impossible.

He hadn't heard Navi's cry, but Sheik did. She found Link's attacker and sent a bolt of lightning flying in their direction. She missed. The lightning struck the stone near the archer, whose next shot went wide. The next arc of lightning didn't miss. Clenching his teeth in agony, Link went to grab the arrow, not entirely sure how to get it out, but he had to do something; the pain was too blinding to fight properly.

"Don't pull it!" Navi's warning made him hesitate. Navi called to Sheik for help, and the woman whistled to someone beyond Link's sight. Then she ran to his side just as a shrill neigh rose above the ghoulish cries of the dead.

Link's gaze turned to the still-standing ruins. Several riders were now charging up the debris-strewn road, their grey mares galloping hard towards the pair. One horse was riderless, and it came to a halt next to Sheik, who snatched its reins and motioned Link forward.

"Get on!" Sheik urged him. "You were meant to wait at the temple! If Rin's agents hadn't been ordered to come to my aid at the first sign of trouble..." She broke off, watching the advancing Stalfos. "Just get on."

Link would have mounted, but he was getting dizzy. His arm was burning as though a fire was spreading through his veins. He reached the mare's saddle, almost sagging from exhaustion. Pain and sickness pulled at him, threatening to tear his feet from under him.

Sickness? There was no denying the rush of dizziness that assailed him.

Poisoned. The arrow was poisoned. He shouldn't have run. Not that there had been much choice.

"Link!" Navi yelled. He did not reply immediately. His head was spinning as the burning pain lanced further along his arm and into his chest.

"The arrow," he gasped, wincing at the pain. "Navi, I think it's poisoned."

He knew he should have been terrified, but exhaustion and the spreading poison had left him strangely numb.

"What?" Then Navi saw his face. "Oh, no."

One of the other riders dismounted - a man in a hooded cloak. He ran towards Sheik as the other riders, three women in Gerudo attire, kept watch.

"Sheik? I thought you said you were sneaking, not rousing an entire bloody army!" one of the women said. "What happened?"

"A Wizzrobe scouting the temple's perimeter noticed the portal activate. I had to intercept him before he could alert the tower." The voice was Sheik's. "I expected someone to wait inside the wards as instructed, not walk out and trigger a ReDead nest. Did the Gerudo see you?"

"No, but it won't be long," Sheik's companion replied, jabbing a finger at Link and Navi. "Even with their camps on the other side of the city, they're bound to have heard the racket."

"We're heading back to the temple," Sheik said. "The portal is our only way out."

Link could barely make sense of the conversation. What was happening? His vision swam, and his knees buckled. If the mare hadn't stood still so that he could stand, he would have fallen. He was losing consciousness again.

Sheik grabbed his good arm; someone else stepped alongside him, a man with his face set in a hard grimace.

"Hang on, kid," he said. "This is going to hurt."

That was Link's only warning. Somebody grabbed his injured arm and snapped the shaft of the arrow. The pain was blinding, and he hardly noticed as someone got him onto the back of Sheik's horse. Sheik swung herself into the saddle next. Then her steed broke into a gallop, trampling startled Stalfos and making a break for the temple.

Once they reached the temple grounds, all became a blur. The horses thundered through the temple doors and across the ruined hall, heading straight for the central dais. Sheik dismounted before playing an instrument Link didn't recognise. Then the world was awash in blue fire, a ringing filled Link's ears, and then darkness swallowed him.

Next Chapter

Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 19 . Nov 26, 2016 Darkest Hour... no kidding. The hits just keep on coming. You can't help but feel for Link, being just a kid and thrust into the middle of all of this. But there's still an awful lot of story left, and he's not going home any time soon. Now it's up to time travel shenanigans to save the day!

Cyan Quartz chapter 19 . Sep 21, 2015 I wish I could bookmark chapters, have literally no idea where I left off.

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 19 . Sep 11, 2014 Sheik seems familiar for some reason... *Hums Zeldas Lullaby while he things about it* Great chapter, you did a good job explaining how confusing the whole situation is. And as I said before, I life the fact Link isn't insta-badass. Yiyve made him the awkward boy o.j. a man's body he's supposed to be.

D.J. Scales chapter 19 . Jan 30, 2011 Nice story. Even though I'm not that familiar with the Ocarina of Time. I still found that you did a very good job. Perhaps you could do a story based on the Wind Waker next?

fatal whisper chapter 19 . Mar 25, 2007 Amazing work. It's inspired me a bit for my own you for writing this!

Link chapter 19 . Feb 17, 2007 that was beautiful a tribute to zelda that certainly was

BladeMaster16 chapter 19 . Jul 17, 2006 that was a really good novelization!

harper wren chapter 19 . Jul 16, 2006 Wow. That story/ novelization was the best thing i've ever read! please write more novelizations of zelda games!

HealingPasts chapter 19 . Jul 16, 2006 And the story ends. This one of the heartbreaking chapters I've ever read. Of course though, I see wonderful potental. I think you're a natural born writer, unlike myself. Great story, please keep on writing. I admire your talent and pieces.