Ocarina of Time Chapter 31

 

Chapter 31

Mirror, Mirror

It seemed forever before the blinding light of the portal began to dim. When it did, Link beheld a world spinning in a blur of dark green and brown. The ground seemed no more solid than standing on a boat caught at the mercy of a river's treacherous current. It took all Link's strength and will not to vomit.

Gradually the spinning slowed and the world gained clarity. When it did, Link found himself staring at the ivy-covered walls of the Forest Temple. Amidst the fresh earthy scent of spring growth and blossoms, the vibrant hum of life greeted him. It was a welcome relief from the blistering heat and desolation of the Fire Temple and the spring air was an absolute blessing.

The brief respite was short-lived, for no sooner had they arrived than a loud terror-filled scream pierced the meadow.

Link spun around, reflexively reaching for his sword. He spotted a Kokiri girl standing by the stairs leading up to the Forest Temple. She was pointing at the Gorons, her eyes wide.

She wasn't alone. One of the know-it-all brothers (Link couldn't tell which) and Forenz were with her, the white garments of their captivity now gone, replaced by tunics of green and brown that easily blended in amidst the trees.

Everyone seemed frozen to the spot, Forenz looking from Goron to Goron, more bewildered than afraid, and Navi was the first to move.

"It's all right!" she called as she flew over to the terrified group. "It's just us." Navi seemed to realise that the Kokiri were still goggling at the Gorons. "These are Gorons. Don't worry, they're friends."

Mori flew from Forenz's side looking thoroughly convinced that she was seeing things.

Link meanwhile realized that most of the Kokiri had probably never seen a Goron. He noticed the burly mountain dwellers were still holding their weapons and recalled just how terrified he had been when he first encountered Darunia. On the other hand, Darunia had been busily punching holes in the wall of his chambers.

"Jemite, tell the others to lower their weapons," Link whispered urgently.

Jemite nodded, and with a quick order, the other Gorons complied.

Forenz relaxed. The other two Kokiri didn't, their eyes wider than dinner plates.

"Never a dull day with you around, Link," Forenz said jestfully, his eyes darting warily between the four gorons. He pointed at Jemite. "Who are your friends?"

"They're from the mountains north of here," Link explained. "They won't be staying long."

Forenz nodded, his shock slowly melting into concern as he took in Link's appearance. "You look awful. Been getting yourself into trouble again?"

"Is that even a question?" Mori asked, apparently unamused by this latest surprise.

"It usually finds me," Link replied with a weak smile. He ignored Mori's comment.

"So... did you try and take on that dragon with your fists?" Forenz asked slowly. "Cause it sure looks like it."

"Hardly." At Forenz's meaningful look,  Link shook his head. "Long story."

The Gorons seemed unaware of Link's exchange; they were quietly talking amongst themselves, worried about getting home. Link did not know if they had ever been out of their mountains before, but judging by how they were staring at their surroundings and fidgeting with weapons, they had never been somewhere like this.

"We should send them back," Navi suggested. "Hopefully, the portal is still intact."

"We don't even know the song we needed," Link said, pointing at the dais.

"Sheik and Impa know it, remember?" Navi reminded him. "We just couldn't use it because it was guarded."

"All right, let's find Impa. I'll let Jemite know-"

At the sound of his name, the bulky Goron turned and almost whacked Link across the face, his hammer held freely in one hand.

"My apologies, Dodongo Buster," Jemite said, lowering the weapon and grinning sheepishly.

"It's fine," Link told him, keeping a healthy distance from the hammer, even though Jemite had lowered it. "You don't have to call me that you know."

"But... may I ask why?" Jemite asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. "You should be proud to have such a title."

"I'm honored... Really, I am, but I prefer Link." He shot Navi a warning glare when she started chuckling.

"Okay, I shall call you brother Link then."

For all Jemite's adoration of him, Link could have throttled the Goron. He doubted that was even possible, not to mention it wouldn't end well for him, if he were dealing with a less friendly Goron, so he drew a deep breath and smiled. "Okay, Brother Link it is."

"Brother Link and I were just discussing sending you home," Navi butted in before Jemite could respond.

Link did a double take and stared at Navi, glowering with indignation. She just grinned at him wickedly.

You are so going to pay for that later, Navi!

"The thing is," Link said as he quickly recovered. "I don't know for sure if the other portal was damaged as we left. It might not work."

"We can manage if it's broken," Jemite assured him. "My only worry is what the others will do... they might think we are trapped in the temple. Unless..."

Jemite faltered, but Link knew what he was thinking.

"We can still send word to them," Navi suggested. "They'll go looking for survivors."

Just then a figure appeared in the doorway of the Forest Temple.

Sheik.

Wearing her ever-present bandages and cowl that veiled her face, it was very difficult to say if she was pleased to see him. Her face- the little he could see- was a mask of Sheikan impassivity.

"Sheik," Link said, both relieved to see her and unnerved by her almost icy demeanour. "It is good to see you."

"Likewise," Sheik said, still betraying little of her emotions. Her gaze shifted from him to the Gorons. "I trust your meeting with Darunia went well?"

"Sort of."

"What do you mean, sort of?" Sheik asked briskly, a slight narrowing of her eyes betraying her annoyance.

The abrupt change in tone caught Link off guard, and he nearly voiced his surprise.

"We stopped Volvagia," Link said, "but I think we may have blown up half of the Fire Temple in the process."

"How?" Sheik asked blankly. "Your task was to free it from Ganondorf's control, not leave it in ruins." 

"Well, somewhere between Darunia sealing Volvagia inside the temple and the eruption..." Link wanted to look away from those red eyes that wore boring into his own, but he pressed on. "There's not a lot left of it, not near the entrance anyway."

"It isn't Brother Link's fault," Jemite added.

Link groaned. He really could have done without Jemite calling him that in front of Sheik. It could be worse.

"I see," said Sheik, still in that quiet, emotionless voice. She gave little notice of Link's title, and her eyes fell on the medallion in his hand. "You found the Sage?"

"I did. Darunia is the sage of Fire."

"Is he..."

"He's in the Sacred Realm."

Sheik's eyes narrowed a little at Link talking over the top of her. They quickly widened again as she got a better look at him.

"You're hurt."

Thanks for noticing. Link thought. Didn't think to ask before you questioned me?

He guessed that was just what the Sheikah were like. That and their knack for being emotionless.

Link glanced down at the rather forlorn state of his tunic. Volvagia's teeth had torn the fabric, and it was smeared with dust and ash. The gash on his arm was still bleeding, and he was covered in bruises.

I must look awful.

Realizing he was still holding the fire medallion, Link slipped it onto the Belt of Sages and allowed Sheik to examine his bloodied arm.

"Just don't go practicing any fire magic this time," Navi said when she saw Link staring at the medallion.

Link grinned ruefully, remembering what happened the first time he tried to channel the Element of Fire. The second time, he'd burnt the inside of the Zora guardian deity's mouth.

"It's not serious," Sheik said with little sympathy. Given how painful it was Link was not inclined to agree. "You will want a new tunic and your injuries will treating."

Her tone grew more serious, and she turned to usher off the curious crowd of onlooking Kokiri. They slowly obeyed, but not before making Link promise to tell them what he'd been doing, and how he defeated the dragon. As they made their way out the gateway of the meadow, Link caught a glimpse of one of the forest spirits, its wooden arms folded across its chest. It noticed him staring and its mouth curved into a small smile before it turned and followed the others.

"Jemite, can you four stay here while I speak to Link?" At the sound of his name, Link turned to regard Sheik as she continued, "I will ask Lady Rin to see you safely home when I'm finished."

Link was curious then, and he couldn't help but feel a mild sense of dread. It didn't sound like she wanted to have a friendly catch up, nor would he have expected it from her.

Jemite nodded, and Sheik guided Link up the temple stairs.

"You know, Link. You'd better hope Jemite and Ruto don't meet, or they might start a Link fan club," Navi said once they were out of earshot. "Darunia would like that. He named his son after you after all."

Link glared. "Knock it off, Navi."

When Sheik's eyes fell on them, Navi's mirth faded like mist before a breeze. Sheik seemed suddenly tense, her face tight.

She turned to face him after quickly checking there were no more Kokiri to overhear them.

"You want me to go as well?" Navi asked when she saw this.

Sheik shook her head. "No, you can stay, Navi. I am glad you made it when you did. Impa meant to find you if we hadn't heard anything by tomorrow. She told me what happened after our encounter with Ganondorf and Volvagia and that you worked out who she was. There has been a complication."

"What?" Link asked in growing alarm. "Has something happened?"

"Ganondorf knows that we're trying to awaken the Sages. It was only a matter of time," Sheik said. "My spies tell me he has found an artifact beneath the Temple of Time and that he is attempting to activate it."

"A Gate of Time?" Link asked, remembering Halvard's words.

Sheik jerked, she almost looked surprised. "How did you know that?"

"A man in Kakariko Village told us." Link said. "A man named Halvard."

For a brief instant, Sheik's eyes went wide. This time, she did look surprised.

"I take it you know him?" Navi asked.

"Yes," Sheik's response was hesitant, guarded even.

"Who is he exactly?" Navi asked. "He wasn't very open to answering a lot of our questions."

Link didn't blame her for not trusting the man; he was rather unnerving.

"I do not know much about him. I suspect Impa knows more than she lets on," Sheik replied. "He is a Sheikah, a man of many names and faces. What did he tell you?"

"He said Ganondorf was trying to make a portal back in time," Link told Sheik. "Something to do with going back in time to destroy the Goddesses."

"That's impossible," Sheik said flatly. "Nobody can go back that far in time or kill the Goddesses, and it's likely the portal didn't exist in that period."

"Well, in that case, it seems Ganondorf has gotten a little too ambitious lately," Navi said dryly.

Sheik didn't seem to be listening as she quietly mused to herself, "If he can go back that far in time ... Did Halvard tell you how he knew this?"

Link shook his head, "He didn't. Only that Ganondorf needs a magical artifact to allow him to go that far back."

"The Triforce," Sheik murmured. She studied the wall nearest them, frowning. "Though I doubt Ganondorf can kill the Goddesses, if he can go back in time the far and rewrite history, he can erase us all from time. He wouldn't even have to go that far back,

Link almost winced at the implication. Ganondorf would only have to go back a few years to ensure he emerged victorious, and he wouldn't have to do much.

"We're safe as long as Ganondorf doesn't find the other keys, right? We can still stop whatever he is planning," Navi said as optimistically as she could manage.

"We can't just hope he never finds them," Link pointed out. "We still have to find the remaining Sages." He gave a vexed sigh. "And I don't even know where they might be."

"I might," Sheik said. "The Zora are sending an emissary here. I am hoping they will let us venture into their temple in Lake Hylia, under escort, and we may be able to cleanse it."

"How did they get into the woods?" Navi asked.

"The Elder Tree agreed to let the Zora enter this grove. They should be here by tomorrow morning."

"Did the Zora say who they were sending?" Link asked.

"No," Sheik answered. "Ever since Ganondorf attacked their domain, they have become far more elusive. I was fortunate that at least Queen Ruto listened when I mentioned you."

Queen? Zora's Domain attacked? Link's head was suddenly spinning.

"Most of the Zora managed to flee north, but some remained behind so the others could escape," Sheik explained.

"Is Zora's Domain all right?" Link asked. It was probably a stupid question. If Ganondorf had attacked the Zora, their home would not have fared well, and nor would Jabu Jabu. There was no way the Zora could have relocated a creature that size.

"No," Sheik said solemnly. "I'm afraid the Zoran guardian deity did not survive the attack and Zora's Domain is now abandoned. It was claimed by a terrible and unnatural frost."

Sheik gave Link no time to ponder on her words. "I need to discuss this news about Ganondorf's plans with Impa. Though I knew he intended to travel back in time, I did not believe he could go back so far. No doubt Impa will want to speak to you too."

"There was one other thing," Navi said suddenly. "Halvard said someone was trying to break the seal on the Shadow Temple, to release whatever was inside."

Sheik's face grew dark. "I should have expected as much. It may mean I will have to travel to Kakariko and leave you to journey with the Zora."

Link almost considered protesting, wondering whether he could go back to Kakariko too, but he shook off the thought; Impa and Sheik could handle themselves. His job was to find the Sages. Sheik meanwhile strode to the doorway and looked at Link expectantly as though imploring him to follow her. Only Link wanted to be alone now.

"I'll join you soon," Link told her. "Where's Impa?"

"Back in the village," Sheik answered. "Whatever you are doing, don't take long."

"I won't," Link assured her. He noticed Sheik's brow crinkle in worry for a heartbeat before she started down the steps. Then, halfway down, she paused as she thought of something and turned back around. "I don't know how much of the Forest Temple you explored last time you were here... It would appear Ganondorf decided to add his own taste to the decor. I haven't finished helping Impa clear out the western or northern wing. I suggest you avoid them."

"What's in them?" Link asked.

"I do not know, which is why I suggest you avoid them."

She turned again and left Link and Navi pondering her last words.

~ 0 ~

Despite Sheik's warning, Link wandered aimlessly through the winding corridors of the Forest Temple, shrouded with twisting vines and lichen-smeared stone. Not paying attention to where he was going, he quickly lost all sense of direction. He had explored little of the temple on his last visit, and the twisting corridors were a maze. He avoided the central gardens, where the Elder Tree stood. The memory of what happened there still too raw. There were two terraced gardens, both overgrown with weeds, a well marking their centre.

Navi followed him quietly, leaving him to his meanderings as they found themselves in a deserted area of the temple. Cool rays of afternoon light filtered through the window slits that were overrun with brambles and vines. Busy pondering as they were, neither Navi or Link noticed the obvious signs that this area of the temple hadn't been inhabited recently. Cobwebs ran thick along the cornices of the floor and ceiling, a tiny skultulla scuttled away from him, and a little deku scrub peered its head around one corner before running off. He needed somewhere to sit, somewhere where there were no Sheikah or anyone else to bother him. His mind raced with thoughts about how Ganondorf seemed to be one step ahead of him.

Still, he walked, heedless to where his steps were taking him.

It was the sound of a deku scrub's squeak that began to unnerve Navi.

"Uhh... Link?"

Still contemplating what Sheik had told him, he didn't heed her.

"Link? Sheik said to avoid the western side of the Temple," Navi said, darting in front of him. "This area looks deserted."

Link halted, realizing she was right. He gave her a reproachful look. "I thought you were keeping track of where we were."

"I thought you were. I was too busy thinking about what Sheik said," Navi retorted, irate.

When Link looked around at the stone walls, he realized this part of the temple was definitely not familiar. They were completely lost.

Great, he thought, feeling a simmering and irrational anger towards Navi. That was when the hair on his neck prickled, and he was left with the unnerving sense that someone was watching him.

He turned around as his skin itched. Navi noticed his sudden alarm and was instantly alert.

"What is it?" she asked quietly, zipping close to his ear.

"I'm not sure." Link glanced around at the nearby archways, looking for anything unusual. Still his spine itched with that unsettling sensation that told him they weren't alone. Nothing stirred, but the silence that settled over them did not feel natural.

"Maybe we should turn back... Impa and Sheik can come and look at-" Navi began.

Something drew Link towards the doorway in front of him. As he entered the next room, enchanted torches burst into life, making him even more uneasy, goosebumps crawling up his skin. It was as though the room was responding to their presence.

"Link?" Navi sounded afraid now. "We shouldn't be in here."

The sputtering torches cast an eerie dance of light and shadow across the walls. Something about the room bothered him. One look at his surroundings revealed three tall rectangular standing mirrors that adorned the far wall, the emblem of the Sheikah engraved into the golden frames.

Odd. What is the Sheikah emblem doing here?

Was this part of the decor Sheik mentioned? Why were there mirrors in here anyway?

A peek into the crumbling remains of the chamber beyond revealed yet more mirrors, these ones silver and oddly immaculate for something that had been buried for Goddesses knew how long. In the final room beyond this one, before a wall of rubble barred their way, there were four sleeping pallets. Crumbling sheets of tattered vellum lay scattered near the pallets, along with an assortment of bags and cookware that were covered in grime. There was not much left of the bags, or their remaining contents. Something had torn the sacks to shreds and devoured anything that was edible.

Four pallets, Link thought, recognising the significance and feeling deeply unsettled.

"What's with all the mirrors?" Navi wondered aloud. Seeing that Link wasn't listening, she turned to notice him walking back to the first room. "Link... I'm not sure I like this. Link?"

Link wasn't listening, his attention once more drawn by the three largest mirrors, their frames more ornate than the others, all of them stretching higher than Link was tall.

Link stepped towards the mirror but didn't touch it, not trusting something that had the Sheikah emblem on it. Despite how much grime and dust had collected in the temple over the years, the surface of these mirrors were strangely pristine. Either some magic was preventing the dirt from marring them or somebody had used these mirrors recently.

No fingerprints. Nothing to indicate someone tried to clean it, Link thought.

He gazed at his reflection and saw he really did look the worse for wear. Cuts and bruises bloomed across his arms and legs, barely visible under a thick coat of ash, dust and sweat.

"Link?"

Link jumped, almost stumbling as he whirled around to see who it was.

"I didn't mean to startle you," Forenz said, raising his hands reflexively. "Mori and I were worried about you two. Sheik said we weren't allowed in here. He-" Forenz blushed slightly at his mistake- "She said something about needing to clean out the temple... Are you alright? You really do look awful."

"I'm fine," Link said. "Thanks for asking."

Before they could say anything else, Link felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up once more. His skin prickled, and he tensed. Something was wrong.

"Wow... someone must've really liked their own reflection," Forenz remarked, glancing around at the decor. When Link didn't respond, he turned and frowned. "Link?"

Forenz opened his mouth to say something else, but Link heard nothing. At that moment, Link felt a presence in his mind, and the belt clasped around his waist grew warm.

"Link?" The voice belonged to Saria. What was Saria doing in his head?

"Some kind of dark magic has penetrated the forest wards. I'm not sure what it is, but it's close to you. Be careful."

Navi landed on Link's shoulder, tensing. There was only one thing that could do that.

Ganondorf.

Link's eyes darted towards the door, half expecting to see the Gerudo king come bursting into the room with that hideous white mask adorning his face.

"Link? What-" Forenz froze mid-speech, his eyes going wide. The color drained from his face, and Mori gasped.

"The mirror," Navi whispered.

Link spun on his heels, Master Sword sweeping from its sheath. His reflection gazed back at him, but Forenz's reflection, and those of either fairy, were gone.

I'm going mad.

Only Forenz had noticed. No, he was not going crazy.

"They just vanished, right as I was looking at them," Forenz said, sounding bewildered. "Have you ever heard of magic that can do that?"

"No," Link answered grimly.

Before Link could say more, the mirror glass in front of him rippled like a surface of a pond. His reflection changed, his tunic becoming a smoky black. It didn't end there. His reflection was now completely black, except for the eyes. Red irises glared at Link with a look of pure hatred.

What magic is this?

Instinct told him to run; this was a magic far beyond his understanding. The mirrors on either side rippled, his reflection taking on the same appearance as the figure in the center mirror. Before Link could do anything, his reflection stepped forward... right out of the mirror frame itself.

Navi took charge of the situation. "Forenz, Mori! Run! Get help!"

Link was rigid, in utter shock that his reflection was moving on its own accord. Forenz took a step back, torn between running and staying.

"Hey! Snap out of it!" Navi yelled, but Link wasn't quite sure who she meant.

He got his answer a moment later when the being in front of him swept its sword towards his chest.

Link leapt into action, moving to block the incoming blade. The Master Sword clashed against solid steel that was almost identical to the sacred blade. The next blow connected hard with Link's shield, and a third slashed low, forcing Link to jump back. He moved to put himself between the creature and Forenz, completely on the defensive as he tried to make sense of this new foe.

"FORENZ, RUN!" Navi screamed. Out of the corner of one eye, Link saw him flee, Mori flying after him.

Link blocked another blow, watching as his other two reflections stepped out of the mirror and walked towards him, blood-red eyes staring with cold malice.

"What are you?" Link demanded of the first, avoiding a swing that nearly tore a line across his torso.

"I am your death!" the creature hissed.

The other two creatures closed faster, forcing Link to step back. Again and again, Link tried to strike, tried to slip his sword through an opening, but the creatures thwarted his every effort.

"The light medallion!" Navi exclaimed, her voice coming from far away.

Link was too distracted to concentrate on wielding magic. His attackers knew using magic in close quarters was dangerous, and if he stumbled, there would be no time to recover. The red eyes of Link's reflections made flesh were unwavering as they bore into his soul, their teeth bared in a snarl. Link continued to lead them in a circle, attempting to back into one of the corridors where they'd be forced to fight him one on one. Unfortunately, they kept trying to drive him away from the doorway, knowing full well what he intended.

Damn it, Link thought. They're not stupid.

Link tried to alternate between a flurry of sword stances and parries. Twice he was struck across the arm, barely avoiding a worse injury, and a third blade slashed his calf. Link knew he was bleeding, and some of the cuts from his fight with Volvagia opened anew. If he didn't end this quickly, the creatures would try and bleed him out instead.

Apparently bored with the slow dance of blades, the middle shadow charged. To the side, one sent a blast of fire towards Link and the other also dived forward, nearly making Link back straight into the mirror behind him. Impa's ring protected him from the inferno but not from the explosion of glass as the fireball struck the mirror.

A deadly hail of tiny blades slashed Link, piercing him everywhere that was not protected by the chain mail. Navi flew upwards to evade the shower of mirror shards pelting towards her, but the explosion sent her spinning in the air with a scream of pain before she thumped to the ground.

No. No, that didn't just happen. NAVI!

Link could not have said if he screamed then. He slipped, his boots sliding on the glass fragments. The three shadows leapt towards him, their eyes widening in glee as they beheld their wounded foe. Link backed away, careful to avoid Navi's listless form.

No. She isn't dead, she is still alive, Link tried to assure himself as he confronted his attackers. They pressed forward, blades locked in a deadly foray. They used their shields, blocking almost every stroke Link made. He considered running, but the shadows were now between him and the doorway.

"Link," Saria's voice was back in his head. "I can still sense Navi. Impa and Sheik are coming, you just need to hang on."

"I'm trying!" Link thought back snappishly.

Link renewed his attempts to slip a blow into his shadowy reflections. A sword arced through the air, and Link found an opening, cutting the Master Sword through the shoulder of the shadow in front of him. It hissed in pain, black ichor falling to the ground.

It can be hurt. Link realized. If it could be hurt, he could kill it. Only he was getting dizzy. Dimly aware of the warmth running down his arms from dozens of cuts where the glass had ripped across flesh, Link knew he was fighting a losing battle. The doppelgangers noticed too and attacked with renewed vigour.

One knocked his shield aside, and Link slid on the glass shards again, falling backward into the wall behind. The Master Sword was knocked aside, and then one of the shadows dropped its blade, leaping forward to grasp Link by the collar of his tunic. It was almost too fast for Link to react, let alone comprehend what was happening. His shield fell as he was thrust into the air. The doppelganger began to squeeze its fingers into his throat, and Link struggled to breathe. He tried drawing Light, but the demon realized what he was doing and slammed him bodily against the wall, smacking his skull into the stone so hard his vision went red. Dazed, Link felt the currents of magic slip from his fingertips. He could only watch as the demon that held him reached into his bag and removed the ocarina.

"Give that back!" Link rasped, barely able to draw breath. The sight of the ocarina sent a flicker of energy through him, but it wasn't enough.

The shadow smirked, putting the ocarina in a pocket of its own tunic.

"Ganondorf sends his regards, Hero of Time," the shadow hissed. It pulled its sword back, ready to thrust it between Link's ribs. Link's kick found its mark, causing his shadow's stance to falter. Another kick connected with the Shadow's jaw, snapping its head back, and the creature released him.

Coughing, falling against the wall, he ducked beneath a sword meant for his neck, rolled away and clenched his fingers around his own blade. Coming to his feet, Link smashed the sword pommel straight into the demon's eye socket, sending the creature reeling. He almost fell to his knees then, each breath like inhaling hot ash. Before Link could attack again, there was a rumble of footsteps, and Dark Link turned in time to see a Goron swinging Darunia's hammer straight towards his skull. The other two were already at the door. With a speed Link didn't think possible, the Goron's intended victim dodged the attack. Seeing two more Goron rapidly approaching, the demon with the ocarina started running.

Impa and Sheik appeared in the doorway next. Impa was favouring a large broadsword, Sheik two shorter daggers. After quickly assessing the situation, they moved to intercept the nearest demon- the one with the ocarina. Despite their speed, the demon parried both attackers, widening a gap between itself and the door. Sheik was distracted by the second demon aiming a thrust at her side, leaving Jemite and Link to contend with the third.

Link finally saw an opening in the closest shadow's attack. He pushed the Master Sword through the gap, plunging it into the demon's chest. It screamed, a cry identical to his own, and fell to the floor.

Sheik and Impa heard the creature's death cry, and apparently thinking it was Link, they both turned, and for a heartbeat, they were distracted. Only a single heartbeat, but that was all the one in possession of the ocarina needed. It fled, leaving the others behind.

Link cried out a warning, "He's got the ocarina!"

Impa was already in pursuit. Sheik finally sunk a dagger into her attacker's throat, causing it to stagger backwards. Link ran forward and thrust his sword through its abdomen.

It went down bonelessly, its body dissolving into black ichor. Sheik and Link stared at it for the briefest instant and then both turned to the door.

Link hesitated, seeing Navi's form still lying amidst the mirror's shattered wreckage. So still. He couldn't just leave her, despite the urgency of retrieving the ocarina. Sheik noticed him hesitate.

"Link!" she said urgently. "You know what we have to do."

She would tell you to come back for her, he told himself.

It was Jemite who broke him from his thoughts.

"I'll stay and guard her," the Goron offered. "A friend of Brother Link is a friend of ours. I'll send for help."

With a nod, and a thanks, Link turned and charged back down the twisting corridors with Sheik leading the way. Running as fast as he could Link turned down one corridor and the next, almost tripping several times in the near-total darkness. Up ahead, he could see Impa running, her sword clasped behind her.

As they approached the entrance, Link heard the faint notes of the ocarina. He cursed. He couldn't recognise the song; the demon was too far away.

Impa seemed to double her pace, a short dagger appearing in one hand.

They reached the entrance, and then Link's heart nearly stopped when he saw the demon standing on the dais, blue fire surrounding it.

Impa let her dagger fly. A bright flash of light exploded from the portal, forcing Link to shield his eyes, and then all was quiet. Blinking furiously as the light faded, he lowered his hand to find Impa standing at the top of the stairs, her eyes on the portal, which still hummed with a barely discernible magic. Impa's knife struck the portal and skittered across the stone.

Sheik swore.

"Did you hear the song it played?" Sheik asked urgently.

"No," Impa answered solemnly, "But if I were to guess where it was headed, most likely it was going to the Temple of Time."

"Ganondorf's tower," Link added quietly.

The demon was gone, taking the ocarina with it.

Next Chapter

Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 32 . Feb 1, 2017 Link and his curiosity getting him into trouble again... Dark Link is really going to throw a wrench in things, especially since he stole the Ocarina... and Navi's injury is really gonna screw things up. Even if they win, Navi can't stay with Link outside the forest... hopefully they find a way to break it. Wondering when "Sheik" is gonna share some more about herself too... Soon

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 32 . Nov 30, 2014 Ruto is crazy no matter how ya go about it. And that doesn't make Sheik happy lol would love to see their conversation once Rito realizes the big secret.

echo009 chapter 32 . Nov 19, 2014 Excellent story! As soon as I started I couldn't stop reading. I like the character depth you give link making him how he should be , a scared 10 year old in over his head. I also like his relationship with navi because in the game she was his only companion, but she always gets such a bad rep. And finally I like how you connect all the games together and generally the direction the story is taking. Keep up the good work and update soon!

Guest chapter 32 . Nov 19, 2014 Hi! I forgot to sign my "name" on the last comment about majoras mask. Nice chapter though! You also going to do 70 chapters? Good luck! T

R. Recollect chapter 32 . Nov 17, 2014 All this talk of a flood is so fun. If it weren't fun, it'd be painfully obvious as to what it alludes to. Thankfully, that's only one possible outcome. Or is it? Assuming you've read the Hyrule Historia, The world of "Seven Years Later" that Adult Link saves is the timeline that gets flooded later. Link didn't travel through time: He entered another universe entirely. Or rather, the act of pulling the Master Sword and entering the Temple of Light created another Universe entirely. Because Link was in possession of the Triforce of Courage as well as Time-Related Artifacts, he doesn't have to contend with any of the MAJOR consequences concerning Time, which will not be named for the sake of not giving anyone here a really bad case of Migraines and Confusion. Seriously, don't think about it. Anyways, I'm sure we'll see Dark Link again in the Water Temple, and when we do you'll add your magic to all of this. Until next chapter, without wax, R