Ocarina of Time Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Hyrule Field

Zelda couldn't remember ever being this bored. She was stuck in a carriage as it meandered between the rugged hills that marked the border of Eldin Province. As was her father's custom, he had spent the last two weeks visiting one of the six forts that bordered the kingdom, conducting business and seeing to any concerns that were brought to his attention. In previous years, Zelda had remained at Castletown, but now her father believed she was old enough to become more acquainted with Hyrule's provinces and the business of running a kingdom. Remembering all the different ranks, titles, and names? That was the easy part.

For now, there was little for Zelda to do, except to peer at the passing countryside or to watch the rest of her father's entourage. It was no small group: the king rode in a second carriage and two columns of Hyrulean Royal guards clustered around the carriages in a protective formation. Added to that were her father's attendants, her own attendants, the men looking after the horse teams, and everyone else who saw to the party's needs. In her father's estimation, this was only a tiny company.

Zelda watched the guards mounted upon their fine steeds as they kept a steady pace beside the carriage. She recognized many of the men and women, for they had been in her father's service for as long as she could remember.

She longed to be outside, riding upon one of the majestic steeds the guards rode. There were few things that Zelda disliked as much as being confined. She had longed to be free of the castle and to explore the fascinating hive of activity that was Castletown. This, of course, was a foolish thing to hope; her attendants wouldn't allow it. They already disliked her habit of slipping away from them, along with anyone else that was watching her. Sometimes, Zelda enjoyed playing in the palace grounds or mucking around in the stables. Except for her attendants, most of the castle staff were used to this. Zelda's maids could often be found madly searching for her, before dragging her back to her chambers with as much dignity as they could maintain, where they would exclaim wildly at her dirt-smeared dress and then proclaim that she was expected to behave in a manner appropriate to her station. Zelda's stepmother encouraged her play, but Zelda's father was a different story. He would often lecture her about the proper etiquette she must observe as his daughter and Hyrule's future monarch.

As for Impa, Zelda was sure she found her antics amusing. Sometimes, she'd even let Zelda practice swordplay with her young half-brother, Prince Ewan, under her watchful eye. That was, of course, whenever Ewan wasn't trying to play a game of 'rescue the princess'. He loved plays, and these were his favorite kind. They were just something her brother made up. He would play the part of a gallant hero, and Zelda would be the damsel in distress. Zelda hated that part; she wasn't fond of Ewan calling her the distressed damsel. Their games always ended the same way: Ewan would rescue the princess from the tower, the dragon, or whatever other misfortune had befallen her. Really, why couldn't he be the one in distress for once?

"You seem bored, princess."

Startled, Zelda turned to see Impa regarding her from over the top of a book. The Sheikah's red eyes and stern gaze had a tendency to unnerve people, but Zelda wasn't bothered by it.

"I'm not bored," Zelda countered.

"Hmm..." Impa did not appear convinced. "Truly, Zelda, you complained about not getting out of the castle for months. I suggest you enjoy it while you can."

"This is hardly outside," Zelda pointed out, gesturing at the carriage seat with its plush cushions.

"No..." Impa conceded. "I suppose not, but if you need something to do, you can help me with some of these scrolls." She gestured to her satchel, and Zelda was sure she could see the barest hint of a wry smile. The scrolls were in Sheikah script, and Zelda doubted they were light reading. They were probably writings about herb lore or the origins of the Flow of Magic and the denizens of the Sacred Realm.

"Can't I just ride for a bit? Silver must be getting lonely," Zelda asked, skirting past Impa's question and earning herself a very faint scowl.

Silver, Impa's horse, was a white mare who was very tolerant of Zelda riding in her saddle. Zelda liked the animal; she wasn't as flighty as some of the other horses in Stablemaster Belon's care.

"Silver has an entire team of stable hands to attend to her needs," Impa said, though her mouth twitched in a smile. "She will be quite content, I assure you."

"Can't I just ride her for a short while?" Zelda looked at Impa with pleading eyes. "I won't go far, and nobody in their right mind would attack us with all these guards watching, and you could stop them easily."

Impa regarded her for a moment, one eyebrow raised in a questioning arch. "You know I cannot allow it, Zelda, and I have raised you to aspire to far greater wisdom than what you've just displayed." Zelda had the decency to look ashamed, her blossoming enthusiasm about being outside wilting as Impa's tone became severe.

"I know," Zelda said. Well, it had been worth a try, and she was pretty certain that nothing short of the demons of legends could best her in a fight. She had seen Impa train with the guards, and despite their best efforts, none of them could match the prowess of the Sheikan warrior. Zelda sank back into her seat in a huff, idly fiddling with a cushion tassel.

"Perhaps we can practice your Gerudic?" Impa suggested mildly. "The Gerudo emissary will arrive soon and to speak their tongue would be seen as a sign of respect... Zelda, I heard that."

Zelda hadn't meant to groan.

"Can I do it later?" she pleaded. "I won't forget to attend my lessons this time. I promise."

She was meant to be learning Gerudic, but their script and tongue seemed so strange and difficult to master. She was supposed to greet their king in Gerudic, a man she'd only met once. He gave her major creepy vibes, and there had been something cold in the way he and Impa traded stares.

Hopefully, Ewan wouldn't accidentally insult him like he had the Zora king. Her brother, always the annoying one, had blurted out that the Zora king was fat, loud enough for all nearby to hear. Fortunately, the Zoran monarch had laughed off the insult and praised the boy for speaking his mind.

"Very well," Impa continued, breaking Zelda from her thoughts. "If you do not attend your lessons, there will be consequences. In the meantime, why don't you try sleeping for a bit?" Impa suggested in a milder tone. "We'll be home before you know it."

Zelda was tired. Odd. She hadn't felt tired a few moments ago. She almost cast Impa an accusatory glare, as if she was somehow responsible for the sudden rush of fatigue. Zelda yawned.

"Fine," she said, grabbing a cushion and trying to make herself comfortable. "Maybe I will."

"Good," Impa said soothingly. "I'll wake you when we arrive."

As she lay back into her cushion, Zelda watched the smoke curling from the chimney of a nearby homestead. Several children stood by the stone wall that encircled the dwelling, one small child hoisted upon the shoulders of an older boy. They all gawked in wonder as the entourage rode by, unphased by the sight of the grim-faced guards.

For a time, Zelda listened to the rhythmic clop clop clop of the horse team that drove the carriage. Her eyelids heavy, she felt herself nodding off to sleep...

A violent jolt rocked the carriage as it came to a sudden halt. Zelda was flung from her seat and into the wall opposite. She hit it with a squeal of fright.

Zelda was in half a mind to yell something at the driver, but Impa wouldn't be pleased if she did. She scrambled back into her seat, puzzled that her nurse had said nothing. She turned to see what Impa was doing, but to her shock, the seat was empty.

Impa was no longer there.

Zelda had neither heard the door open nor notice Impa move. Impa was good at slipping away unnoticed (she was Sheikah), but Zelda was sure she wasn't that good.

Confused, Zelda turned to the door and gasped when she saw thick storm clouds rolling in from all directions, moving far too quickly to be natural. They blotted out the sun, cloaking Zelda's surroundings in near darkness. With a trembling hand, she grabbed the carriage door and pushed it open. Quickly stepping out of the carriage, her feet landed on brown, withered grass.

Zelda stared.

Only minutes ago, she had been looking upon a sea of lush green grass. Now it crunched beneath her feet like dry kindling.

Zelda's confusion mounted as she turned back to the carriage.

It was no longer there, and neither was her father's entourage. The attendants, the soldiers, and the servants were all gone. She glanced back up the road, but the cozy homesteads she'd seen earlier were nothing more than crumbling ruins.

She looked back towards the woods, sensing something odd. It was like listening to the rhythmic thump of a distant drum, growing steadily louder. An odd black mist- Zelda was certain it wasn't smoke- emerged from the trees, black tendrils extending and creeping towards the road like thousands of writhing black serpents, tongues flickering, mouths gaping wide to swallow earth and sky.

Zelda wondered if it was some kind of magic. Her tutors had schooled her on the dangers of Shadow magic, a power feared and reviled by all for its role in Hyrule's recent wars and the collapse of Ancient Hyrule long ago. Nothing in those lessons had ever mentioned anything like this.

Thunder growled in the distance and the strange mist reached Zelda, engulfing her instantly, wrapping her in its embrace like oily black smoke, choking the world in a plume of dark ash. Twisting pyres of angry red flames flashed and burned, appearing and vanishing like the brief flashes of a storm.

Zelda could hear voices whispering in a strange and guttural tongue, coming from all directions, terrifying her. She hauled herself off the ground and ran. What had seemed like the mere fantasy of child's play was coming to life around her, and this time, there was no young prince to come dashing to the rescue.

The whispers followed her, and Zelda cried out, her foot striking something unseen in the black mist. Tumbling, she shrieked, falling amidst dry grass that crunched beneath her like dry parchment.

A few moments of frightened panic later, eyes stinging, Zelda realized what she'd tripped over. It was her father's banner, emblazoned with the Triforce set above the soaring red wings of a phoenix. The fabric was charred and torn, both the phoenix and the Sacred Triforce barely recognizable upon the blackened fabric. A second standard lay nearby, bearing an emblem of a red lion running upon a blue field- the banner of House Harkinian- the royal house of Zelda's mother.

Zelda cried out and ran, the acrid stench of smoke filling her nose, her eyes watering. She could taste it in her mouth. Zelda shouted for Impa, her father. or anyone else to save her.

Only the whispers answered.

She wouldn't have complained if Ewan jumped in front of her and laughed, exclaiming that this was just an elaborate trick.

Unable to breathe, her lungs burning from the smoke, Zelda collapsed. She had to get out of here. Keeping low, she scrambled across the barren earth, trying to get away from the whispers. Zelda had almost resigned any hope of aid when the ground rumbled. Bright, radiant light of dazzling green  erupted all around her, becoming a beacon in the darkness.

The black mist seemed to tremble like a living thing, and then it recoiled, fleeing in all directions. Zelda looked up, her eyes still watering, and glimpsed a figure beneath the bright plume of emerald light. A boy stood holding an emerald wrapped in a golden wreath. He was wearing the most unusual attire- a green tunic and a funnel-shaped hat. A fairy hovered beside him, and Zelda guessed that this boy was a Kokiri.

Impa had read her stories about the elusive forest children when Zelda was younger. She even claimed she'd seen them before, but that was impossible; the Kokiri never let anyone see them. Not even a Sheikah, some of whom could traverse the woods for a brief amount of time, would dare intrude upon their realm for fear of succumbing to madness.

The light faded, and the storm clouds rapidly dispersed. Zelda hardly noticed this; she was still staring at the boy as he walked towards her.

"Who are you?" she demanded, almost wincing at her tone; she hadn't meant to sound that forceful.

"Link," the boy replied before introducing the fairy flying beside him. "The Great Deku Tree told us to find you."

Great Deku Tree?

That name sounded familiar, but Zelda wasn't sure why.

Then everything was cloaked in darkness, as though someone had thrown a blindfold over her eyes. She gasped, stumbling backward, and brought her hands to her face. She fell, plunging into endless darkness. Her stomach dropped, and she screamed, falling deeper and deeper into that void. Then she felt something tugging at her mind, urging her to go back.

Go back where?

That pull came again, tugging at her urgently. Abruptly, she yielded to it.

She awoke to Impa shaking her by the shoulders. The red-eyed woman was staring at her with grave concern.

"Impa," Zelda said, disorientated. "Where are we?"

"We're home," Impa replied gently.

A polite cough from somewhere beside her caught her attention. A man was holding the carriage door open, a hand held out to assist her. Zelda ignored him, taking in the familiar surroundings of Hyrule Castle to reassure herself that she was safe. Steeling herself, she tried to shake off the dizzy spell that threatened to make her retch. The last thing she wanted to do was make a spectacle of herself by vomiting in front of everyone.

No. She would maintain her decorum.

"You are dreadfully pale, Zelda," Impa observed, looking at the princess worriedly. "Are you feeling ill?"

"No, I am fine," Zelda lied. "It was just a nightmare."

Impa stepped out of the carriage and Zelda accepted her attendant's offer of help as she alighted from the carriage. Her wobbly legs made it difficult to stand, but she steadied herself. She didn't want half the castle staff to think she was ill. As always happened in a castle of such grandeur, every living thing in several miles would know Zelda wasn't feeling well if she made a fuss. Nothing in her life was ever private.

Impa came to stand by her side, exchanging a few words with the attendant standing beside the carriage, who bowed and left.

"Come, princess," Impa said, offering Zelda a hand, which she accepted gratefully. She barely noticed Impa quietly ordering someone to fetch her physician while someone else suggested some hot tea and herbs. They, at least, would be quiet, knowing they would face Impa's wrath if they weren't.

Zelda didn't protest as Impa steered her to the palace's gilded front doors. She was still dwelling upon that peculiar dream. One thing she was certain of- it hadn't been an ordinary nightmare.

For as long as she could remember, Zelda had experienced strange but simple premonitions. Yet, whenever she had explained these to her father, he had just dismissed them as simple coincidence. Only Impa seemed to think that she might possess an ability once thought to be unique to the Sheikah. If her dream had been a premonition, it hadn't been a very good one; it didn't make a lot of sense... except for one thing.

Something terrible was about to happen, and that boy, whoever he was, stood at the heart of it all.

~ 0 ~

By midday, after hours of jogging along the winding road, Link's gleeful wonder at the open vista of Hyrule Field was wearing off. The path meandered between an endless sea of rocky hills swathed in golden grass. Sweat trickled down Link's blisteringly hot face, and his limbs ached from exhaustion. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd asked Navi how much further they had to go. Eventually, she tired of his persistent questions and distracted him by teaching him Hylian.

Navi tried simple phrases, and then introductions, but she didn't get further than that. In the end, attempting to say, "My name is Link and I am a Kokiri," in Hylian somehow turned into "My name is Link and I am a pumpkin."

"You're lying," Link protested when Navi corrected him. "I didn't say that!"

"You did."

Navi's chagrin quickly dissolved into a fit of laughter. It was a wonder she managed to keep herself aloft and not fall out of the air.

"Oh dear," she gasped. "The look on your face... I..."

She struggled to form words through her laughter. "That... Just... Try not to say that in front of Zelda."

"Yeah," Link muttered dryly, not sharing her amusement. "I'm sure she'd be really impressed."

Navi quietened down, her mirth quickly fading as she remembered just how far they had to go. Castletown was a long way, and it would take at least three days to get there.

That's what Navi estimated.

At the top of a small rise, Link paused to take a gulp from his waterskin. He noticed the position of the sun, wondering how much further they would get before nightfall. They'd have to find shelter then, but he wasn't sure where they'd spend the night, except for some rocky outcrop.

"Lon Lon isn't much further," Navi assured him as if reading his thoughts. "There should be somewhere we can stay there. I'm not sure what to do about rupees, though. We will need some."

"Where can we get rupees?" Link asked her, not even quite sure what rupees were. They sounded familiar. Had Saria mentioned them before?

Navi laughed, noticing his confusion. "We can't just get some. Hylians use them in exchange for goods or some kind of service. You get them by working, you know, like Mido gets the others to do."

Link fell quiet at the mention of Mido's name. No doubt the boy had woken up by now, and Link wondered just what he was doing, aside from nursing a headache.

"I'm sorry," Navi said, noticing his crestfallen demeanor. "I shouldn't have brought that up."

"It's okay," Link said with a sigh.

They kept walking in silence. After another hour of this, Link spotted a single lone tree close to the roadside. Its thick broad canopy offered ample shade. Eager for a quick respite, Link trotted over and sank down against its trunk. The shade seemed wonderfully cool, and he shut his eyes for a second, letting the cool wind brush against him. Unfortunately, Navi was determined to make sure they did something productive. Such as planning ahead.

"I've been thinking," Navi started as Link stared at her out of one eye, wishing she'd just give him a second to rest.

She didn't.

"The Great Deku Tree never mentioned how we were going to see Princess Zelda," Navi pondered. "I have seen Hyrule Castle before. It's well protected. Not to mention enormous-" Half listening, Link withdrew his waterskin, taking a few more gulps of water.

"There are guards everywhere," Navi went on. "We won't be able to just walk up to the front door and ask for her. Especially if you call yourself a pumpkin again."

Link choked, spraying a mouthful of water over himself. He almost drenched Navi too, but she darted away with a squeak. That might have amused Link if he hadn't been so busy coughing and spluttering.

"Thanks, Navi," he gasped when he could finally speak.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Still spluttering and wiping his now runny nose on his sleeve, Link nodded.

"What were you saying?" he asked at last.

"The princess. We need to get an audience with her... somehow," Navi reminded him.

"What if I tell the guards we're on an urgent quest to save Hyrule?" Link asked, one hand still clasped to his throat. "I could show them the stone."

Navi's chuckle irritated him.

"I don't think that would work," she said.

"Why not?"

Navi sighed and smacked a hand against her forehead. This wasn't the response Link had been expecting. He frowned, which didn't escape Navi's notice.

"I keep forgetting how much you don't know," she explained.

Link felt a stab of hurt at this. It wasn't his fault he didn't understand. The anger must have shown on his face, because Navi hastily added, "They would probably think the stone was a nicely made replica. Besides, you're a child."

"So?"

Another frustrated sigh.

"The Hylians aren't about to take the words of a ten-year-old boy seriously," Navi said with poorly disguised annoyance. "That's probably why the Great Deku Tree did not tell us to go straight to the king."

"How do we get to Zelda then?"

Navi looked thoughtful as she zipped in front of him. "Maybe," she said at last, "We can take a look around when we get there. Hyrule Castle is ancient. The kings that ruled during Hyrule's wars were bound to have some way of getting out of the castle. You know, in case something happened to it. Maybe we can find a hidden tunnel?"

"How are we going to find a hidden tunnel?" Link felt a rising sense of exasperation.

"If I fly into the castle, I can locate the tunnel and guide you to it," Navi said. "It might take a little while, but we'll find a way."

Link did not like this idea. Why would someone build a secret tunnel and then not keep it under a tight guard?

Just then, something large and heavy landed in the branches of their tree with a loud crunch, showering both fairy and boy in leaves and twigs.

The source of the disturbance was an enormous eagle owl. It was busily peering at him with keen interest and was far bigger than any bird Link had ever seen. It was bigger than he was!

The owl kept staring, and Link wondered if it was just curious, or if it was contemplating Kokiri for lunch. One hand settled on his bag, ready to draw his slingshot, another sought out a rock. He looked at Navi. To his surprise, she was not alarmed. In fact, she was scowling at the owl.

"Kaepora," Navi said, not sounding at all pleased, "nice to see you."

Nice was not a word Link would have used to describe Navi's frosty tone. He relaxed, one hand still grasping a small stone.

"It's Kaepora Gabora," the owl replied in Kokiri.

Link gasped.

"Navi, it can talk!" he exclaimed. Had he somehow come to possess Saria's gift? That didn't seem possible.

"Surely, you have heard of me?" the owl asked, tilting its head and scrutinizing him.

"I don't think I have," Link said, shifting his feet as the owl continued its unflinching stare.

"Kaepora knew the Great Deku Tree," Navi quickly explained.

"I did. It was he who asked me to keep an eye out for you," Kaepora said as he tilted his head the other way. "Now you have started out on your journey that must mean what I feared has come to pass. The Great Deku Tree is dead?"

Link's voice caught in his throat as a wave of sadness swept over him. He nodded mutely, to which the owl responded with a feeble hoot.

"No wonder the Lost Woods was so quiet this morning," Kaepora said sadly. "The fate of the woods, and indeed the fate of the world, seems undecided. No man can perceive the turning of Time's Wheel, nor the threads it weaves."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Link didn't understand a word of what was said. It sounded strange and foreboding.

"Ah, I do not expect you to understand the intricacies of time, but you will someday. And I dare say that day is coming sooner than you think."

"Kaepora, can you stop confusing him?" Navi asked irritably. "What are you even doing here?"

"I came because I know you have the emerald. I can sense its power, even now. Keep it close," Kaepora said. "For those who seek it will not be far."

"Do you know if the other stones the Great Deku Tree mentioned are safe?" Navi asked.

"They are safe, but it is only a matter of time before the Desert Man claims them. Only the watchful eyes of the Sheikah has stopped him so far. There are many amongst their number who will help you, and in time, I can guide you to them."

"The who?" Link asked, looking between fairy and bird. Was anybody going to explain anything to him?

"I will explain later," Navi said, her voice not unkind. "I'm always delighted to talk with you, Keapora, but we're in a hurry."

There was a clear note of dismissal in Navi's voice.

"Very well. If you hurry, you will make it to the hamlet of Lon Lon before dusk," Kaepora turned his head around until it was upside down. Link watched the bizarre movement, and then the owl turned his head the right way up. "I will return to see that you have made it safely, but I won't approach the town if I can help it. Some farmers don't take kindly to large birds flying low over their herds."

With that, Kaepora stretched his wings and took flight, causing another shower of twigs and leaves to rain down on Link's head. The owl hooted, flying off toward the distant horizon. Soon he was little more than a faint speck fading into the distant sky.

"Who are the Sheikah?" Link asked.

"Sorcerers," Navi answered. "They live in clans, and some of those clans controlled a kingdom once, but that was a long time ago."

"Clans?"

Apparently sensing that she was about to get bombarded with an avalanche of questions again, Navi smiled. "That will take some explaining, and I'm not an expert. Have something to eat first, and let's get moving."

Accepting this, Link quickly wolfed down some food from his bag and then returned to the road, heading deeper into the unknown.

~ 0 ~

As the sun dipped low in the western sky, Link gasped for breath, exhaustion dragging at his limbs once again. The hill he was climbing was not making him feel any better, but when he got to the top, his first glimpse of Castletown swept all thoughts of fatigue aside.

The city itself was nestled within the nook of a valley. A twisting river yawned widely as it approached the metropolis, threading along the city's western and southern side, and then meandering off into the distant hills. The warm glow of the setting sun cast the city awash in light, further adding to the splendor of Hyrule's sprawling capital.

When he thought of all the nooks and crannies he could explore, Link felt a giddy elation.

"Look," said Navi, pointing to a tall structure at the center of the city. "That's Hyrule Castle."

The majestic keep's tall towers stretched into the sky like enormous stone trees, tiny flags rippling from their spires. All Link could do for a time was gawk, so enraptured by the magnificent city he gave no heed to his surroundings.

"How am I going to find Zelda in that?" he asked, looking from the palace to the city. How was he even going to get into the palace in the first place? Navi didn't answer him.

Another sight caught his attention. Not far away, the path they'd been traveling along for most of their journey reached a crossroad. One road led directly to the city, a second road meandered off to the east, and a third wide trail wove its way beyond the village and into the west. A wall of gray stone wreathed its way around the nearby town. About halfway between Link and the snug little settlement, a cart was rolling along the road.

"Is that Lon Lon?" Link asked, pointing to the town and hoping it was. His feet were sore, as was the rest of him. How he longed for a hot meal and a good night's sleep. The very thought made his stomach growl.

Something made him frown; Navi still hadn't answered him. Link glanced around, but to his surprise, she was no longer beside him.

"Navi?" he asked, bewildered.

He looked up. Navi hovered high above him, her attention fixed on the nearby hills.

Before Link could call out to her, she quickly returned to his side, making a hurried shushing motion.

"What are you-" Link started to speak, but then he saw the fear on Navi's face.

Before he could ask what the matter was, a bone-chilling howl pierced the air. A second call answered it and then a third.

Wolves? he thought.

"Link, listen carefully," Navi said in a sharp whisper. Her urgent and frightened tone unsettled him even more than the howling. "We're being followed," she continued. "I counted at least three wolfos and two bulblins."

"Wolfos?" Link asked uncertainly. "What are they?"

"Cursed wolves. They do not regard Kokiri as a pack," Navi said, her voice hushed. "They're not like other wolves. You won't be able to take them on by yourself. Not all of them. Just do as I say and run. Okay?"

His mouth dry, heart suddenly pounding, Link nodded again and tried to swallow. Three shapes were moving in the long grass by the road, close enough that they would catch his scent if the wind changed direction. That was if they didn't already have his scent. A few feet behind the wolfos, two taller creatures prowled through the tall grass. They picked up the pace as the wolfos howled again, the wind carrying their excited chatter.

They were hunting for him.

He could see Navi was desperately thinking of a plan; her eyes darted this way and that and she zipped around his head anxiously, keeping low enough to avoid attracting attention.

"He must know we're here," she said, the terror in her voice doing nothing to calm Link. "There's no time to work out how. Quickly, run towards the town!"

Not stopping to ask who she meant, Link broke into a mad run towards Lon Lon. Legs pumping, he ran as fast as he could. The cart trundling along the road ahead of him was too far away to be of any help. Besides, calling out to whoever was driving it would only endanger their lives too.

Link sprinted through the grass, jumping over rocks and nearly stumbling as he ran.

Behind him, the three wolfos started barking in a mad frenzy.

"They've found us!" Navi shouted. "Run!"

Link didn't need telling twice. Navi hid in his pocket, still hoping to avoid giving him away. Link sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, dashing towards the safety of the town, but it never seemed to get any closer.

Too far, Link thought, gasping for breath. It's too far.

He kept running. Behind him, a wolfos panted as it tore through the grass.

They were getting close.

Link glanced frantically about for somewhere to hide or take shelter, but there was nothing. No tall trees, or a rocky nook in which to hide. There were rocky outcrops jutting out of the hills in the distance and rugged gullies, but he wouldn't reach them in time.

Bushes rustled and cracked as the three hounds trampled through them, and the grass whispered with their frenzied padding. The whispers grew louder, a pounding that filled Link's ears.

Link drew his sword and grabbed his shield, ready to defend himself as he continued his mad sprint towards the village.

He wasn't going to make it. He knew it, and so did his pursuers. The wolfos were right behind him, their growls rising to a hellish crescendo. He'd have to fight.

Navi peered out of his pocket and saw something.

"Link!" she screamed.

Link whirled around. A wolfos burst through the grass in a terrifying blur of teeth and fur. It jumped towards his chest, barking as it crashed into him with one frightful bound of its powerful limbs. Link rolled, mercifully keeping hold of his sword and shield. The wolfos's hot breath washed over him, and Link thrust his shield up just in time to avoid those sharp teeth sinking into his flesh. The beast snarled, barking, and scratching at the shield, tearing strips of wood from its surface.

"Link, hang on!" he heard Navi scream. "I can get help!"

Link swung his sword wildly. The wolfos tried to bite the blade and sliced open its jaw. Blood splattered Link's face. He tried to throw the monster off, but it was far too heavy. The cursed hound shook its wounded muzzle and growled. Finally, it jumped off of him, allowing Link to spring awkwardly back onto his feet. Seeing his prey unharmed, the wolfos curled its lips in a frightful snarl and charged.

Link stepped to the side, and just as the wolfos landed, he thrust his sword as hard as he could into the hound's neck. The wolfos yelped pitifully and collapsed onto its side, crashing into Link as it did so. The sudden impact sent Link toppling over. Quickly, he got back to his feet, wrenching his sword free from the dead animal.

Link's relief at killing the hound died in an instant as he spotted the other two flanking him. Both of them charged and Link whirled his blade, the fading light glinting upon its surface. He felt resistance as the sword connected with the animal's head, cutting across its muzzle. The wolfos yelped, shrinking back into the deepening shadows as Link went to strike again.

He never got the chance.

The third wolfos came from the right, slamming into him, crushing the air from his lungs, jarring his senses. He hit the earth, ribs crunching on impact, felt claws slash across his face, barely missing his eye. Then, there was a sudden tight pressure on his right arm, squeezing tight enough to crush bone. Pain followed a heartbeat later, and Link realized the wolfos had him in its jaws. Link screamed, trying to wrench his arm free, squirming and kicking as he did so. The beast's fangs tore through flesh and muscle, hot blood splashing onto its muzzle.

Link felt something against his free hand. Realizing it was the pommel of his sword, he quickly snatched up the fallen blade and drove it straight into the mutt's skull, the weapon's tip punching through bone. The animal released him, its body falling bonelessly to the grass.

Just one more.

The final wolfos howled at seeing its companion fall and anger flared like fire in its eyes. It curled its lips back in a feral snarl and circled him. Link got to his feet, his wounded arm hanging useless, blood now dripping down his face and even into his mouth.

The wolfos prowled around him once more. Link tried to clasp his fingers around the hilt of his sword, but his arm felt leaden and useless. The wolfos pounced, dodging Link's sluggish attack, one paw slamming into Link's face, the claws tearing bloody strips, barely missing his eye. Link tried to kick, but then the hound clamped its teeth into his leg. He screamed as the beast shook its head vigorously, its teeth ripping through muscle, sinew, and bone. Before he knew what was happening, Link found himself being dragged across the ground.

With cold and terrifying clarity, Link knew he was going to die.

Distantly, someone called out. Link felt a faint shimmer of relief as the wolfos withdrew. Too weak to cry out again, he gazed down at his leg to see the wound the wolfos had inflicted. At first, he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing, as if his mind was in a state of denial, but when he did see his injury for what it was, it nearly made him faint. His leg, mangled and bloody, resembled a macerated meat bone, entire chunks of flesh ripped away.

His head swam, making the world around him sway and dance. He wanted to move, but his limbs were wooden, and he was too tired. At least the pain wasn't quite so bad now. He was just thirsty. Vaguely, Link realized the two bulblins that had been chasing him were approaching. Their similarity to a person ended with their hideous green skin, potato-shaped heads, and their bulbous nose.

One of them looked at him and said in harsh and unnatural sounding Kokiri, "The stone... give stone!"

Link opened his mouth a crack, and a tired groan escaped his lips. He barely understood what they were saying. What stone?

The bulblin gave Link a sharp kick in the ribs. He moaned weakly, unable to move, bones groaning under the force of the blow.

"The stone!" the bulblin growled again.

He had no idea why it wanted a rock. His mind was clouded and spent beyond any ability to think. Whatever it was, he wouldn't tell them. Navi would be back soon.

"Navi," he rasped weakly in a futile attempt to call for help. Where was she?

The other bulblin pointed at him and said something with a shake of its head. Its companion grunted in reply and knelt beside Link. It patted his pockets and then ran its hands across his belt. It found his bag, pulled it free, and rummaged through the sack before taking out an emerald stone. Something inside of Link clicked, and he realized what was happening.

The emerald!

All he could do was watch helplessly as the two beasts snatched the Kokiri Emerald from him. Apparently satisfied with its quarry, the bulblin chortled and walked off. The distant sound of more shouts and running feet made the beast look back towards the village. Its eyes widened and, with a quick word to its companion, it took off at a run. The final wolfos glared hungrily at Link's motionless form. Flecks of blood painted its muzzle and for a horrible moment, Link was sure it was going to kill him.

It paused, regarding him for an instant. Then, with an angry growl, the monster bolted after its masters.

Cold...

Link shivered. Why was it so cold? A chill crept into him, gnawing at his bones. He gazed up at the somber twilight sky, wishing he was home. Wishing Saria was with him. She'd been by his side when he'd been ill. Her comforting presence had always assured him he was safe and that everything would be all right.

"Sa?" he croaked, forcing what little strength he could into his voice. "Sa!"

"Link!"

Link opened his eyes, not aware of having closed them. A small ball of light flew over him and froze as it reached his face. Navi's face was etched with horror as she took in the extent of his injuries.

"Oh, Link... Please-" His eyes felt so heavy, and he could barely hear her. "Stay awake! I've got help."

"Navi," Link whispered feebly. "The bulblins..." it took all his strength to speak. "They have the emerald. They took it."

"What? The Emerald-" Navi looked towards the fleeing bulblins before spinning back around to face him. "Hang in there, Link. I'll be back in a moment." She flew off without another word.

Link tried to call out to her.

Come back.

Black lines threaded their way across his vision. Somewhere, Link heard the loud screech of an owl. Its wings beat in the air, close, but he never saw it. His thoughts turned to his home, and one of the last things the Great Deku Tree had told him.

"Years ago, one Kokiri left, but he was unprepared for what he faced. Though I sent the forest guardians to retrieve him, they arrived too late to save him."

I failed. He had not been prepared, even with Forenz's training. I'm sorry.

The face of a red-haired girl came into view. She looked aghast at the sight of Link's bloody and battered body, but she hesitated only a moment before calling over her shoulder. Another figure, a man over twice Link's height, came into view. He lifted Link into his firm embrace, and the boy moaned feebly.

The man shouted something over his shoulder, but Link could not make out the words.

So tired...

He closed his eyes. Darkness rushed to claim him, enshrouding him in its icy embrace.

Next Chapter

Reviews

Barbacar chapter 6 . Oct 11, 2016 I remember this moment from the game, and I think you translated it to prose very well.

SunPraiser31 chapter 6 . Aug 31, 2016 I really like the opening from Zelda's perspective. It adds in a more fresh take on what's happening, and I enjoyed it. I'm interested to see how her dynamic with Link develops. Gonna be honest, the word "wolfos" made me think of "doggo." As a consequence, I ended up picturing them a lot more adorable than they're supposed to be lol. I love how sarcastically you described the way you find rupees in the game. It never made sense from anything but a gameplay perspective, so I found that bit amusing. Good work, as always.

acctdisabled chapter 6 . Jun 23, 2016 Congrats on finishing up this story! Must be a great feeling after all the hard work you’ve put in. I really enjoyed Zelda’s characterization. You made it clear from the get go she’s more of a tomboy and the callback of the ‘damsel in distress’ was a nice way to show the roles that those around Zelda are trying to force her to play. I got a good laugh out of ‘why couldn’t he be the once in distress for once?’ As much as I love the games, Zelda is too often put into the damsel in distress trope. The vision sequence was well done and thought invoked understandable terror on Zelda’s end. It was written realistically to where it was totally believable it was happening in real life. The suggestion I have for that scene is to increase the imagery at the ending (i.e., Everything faded to blacknesss…). That way, you can further show Zelda’s fears and confusion when all of a sudden her vision goes black. I like the modifications you’ve made to Hyrule Field- it captures the expansiveness that the game tried to. That’s interesting that Kokiri and Hylians have different languages, and I’m curious to see how that plays out when Link meets Zelda in the near future. The grass, rolling at trees, and pottery comments by Navi was a nice nod to previous games. The interactions between Navi and Link are very enjoyable to read- Link shows his naivety a bit, but Navi finds a way to try and infuse humor along with her wisdom into their travels. By the way, I loved that Navi wasn’t too fond of Kaepora Gabora- that might be though because I found the owl to be highly irritating at times. I do suggest for the line ‘As the sun dipped low….Link gasped for breath’ to be the start of a new scene. Was not expecting the Bulblin to take the Kokiri Emerald, which certainly is a game changer. Felt very bad for Link- those were some gruesome injuries and I’d imagine he would have to rest a bit before heading to Hyrule Castle. The fight with the Wolfos was well done- I could imagine each bit of the scene unfolding as it happened. As a general note, there were a few places where I noticed some dropped commas [The Sheikah’s red eyes and stern gaze had a tendency to unnerve people (insert comma) but Zelda wasn’t bothered by it], so I would suggest going through and seeing where commas, semicolons, etc., can enhance the flow. Nice work!

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 6 . Jul 23, 2014 Poor link. Sorry buddy, story's over. The end. J/k I figure you're far from done. Good job here with the descriptions and the fight with the Wolfos. A joy of stories like making Link instabadass but really he is just a 10 year old forest kid with skilled a lot of luck at this point.