Legend of Zelda:
Rise of the Dark Hero
Link was changed to fight the growing with Evil with Darkness.
No longer is he the chosen champion of the eternal Light,
But of the endless Shadow...
Written By:
Perfect Psionic Soldier
Edited by:
-FernoTheMagicalFern
-PochePoke
*Note: This Fan Fiction is loosely based on the N64 game- Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the old TV series and Comic series. Since there is a mixture, some things may not make sense or have been dramatically changed. Other then that, enjoy ^_^
*Side Note: This is my first real Fan Fiction and I'm uh, real nervous, so please don't judge this story too harshly ^_^
Story Info
Quick Recap:
The story will take place after the old TV episode where a charming, prince named Facade, comes into the kingdom of Hyrule and saves the town when monsters attack it just as Link was about to kill to kill them.
This pleases Zelda and his manners and such begin to charm the princess. Links is put out and while taking a bath, he suddenly has an idea, he could also charm the princess and dresses up like a lord to impress her but fails miserably in front of the princess the prince and they laugh at him.
This upsets Link and he was going to leave but on his way down from his tower, he jumped from canvas to canvas to his horse and on his way out, he hears the princess's scream as she was being kidnapped and was currently being carried of towards the entrance to the underworld and to Ganon.
Links saves the princess, as the prince didn't want to get his clothes dirty as the monster, which looks like a merman with spike jetting out of its shoulders, was sloshing through the mud and Links comes along and saves her. Zelda is safe, prince is rejected, Link tries to get a kiss for his efforts, is slapped, and all is normal again.
But, What if...fate took a different course and something happened that would change Link's life forever?
This is how the story begins...
Epilogue
Link saw the princess land on the solid ground beside prince Facade, but his attention was completely trained on the spiked studded monster before him as he began charging up his sword. The monster lunged at him just as he finished powering up his master sword and released the charge, watching it as it slammed into the thing's face, momentarily stunning it when a cross bolt suddenly struck it in its left eye, killing it instantly as its lifeless body hit the mud, sinking into its final grave.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Link looked up and saw Façade sling his crossbow around his shoulder and then promptly assisted Zelda from the lake of mud leaving Link to slowly trudge over to them.
"Thank the gods that you are safe my Princess!" Facade pronounced with fervour and the princess smiled and nodded.
"Princess, are you alright?" Link asked with concern, as he looked her over for wounds.
"How dare you abandon the Princess! Where were you while she was in danger!?" Facade accused as he looked at Link's muddy clothes with distain.
"I didn't abandon her! I was rescuing her!"
The prince snorted and began to walk towards the castle with Zelda "You, my good sir where just probably trying to look like you where rescuing her as I did the fighting on my own. You are a worthless young boy."
Link stared open-mouthed at the prince's lies, unable to say a word.
"There! Your expression proves it! Be gone!" with that, the prince walked off with the princess, leaving Link behind.
Later that night at the Castle's courtyard...
"I will hear no more of these lies!!" Zelda screamed as she twirled around to face Link.
"But...but Zelda..." Links tried to explain but Zelda cut him off as she continued to yell. "He is ten times more then anything you are or will ever be! I will hear no more of these lies! Leave!! Never return! I do not wish too see your face ever again!!"
Link stood stunned. He had never seen Zelda react this way and it hurt him, it hurt him deep inside. He had risked his life countless times for this land and for her, all for what? So that someone could show him up and get him banished?
"Let me explain!" Link yelled as he confronted her. "He is lying I didn't abandon you!"
Link blinked in surprise as Zelda slapped him. He couldn't think of anything but what he had done and he suddenly felt very alone and cold as he comforted his stinging cheek.
"If that is what you desire Zelda, then I will comply..." Link stated, hurt beyond everything he had ever felt before.
"YES!!! Leave me!!! GO!!!!!!!!" Zelda screamed at him, pointing out towards where the Castle gates stood. "I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE!!!!!!!!!"
Link nodded dumbly and left the fuming princess alone and headed towards his room, up top where the Triforce of Wisdom was kept.
Once there, Link quickly gathered his meagre belongings and stuffed them into his magic pouch before he turned towards the Triforce of Wisdom. He wouldn't think about his actions now, he couldn't afford to, else he would begin to rationalize about what he was doing and stop. He had to act now or else he would have stayed and chanced being hurt again. He had thought about leaving before and the princess's command only showed that his original thoughts had been right.
He didn't want to get hurt again... not by the princess...
"I guess this is good-bye..." Link stated sadly, looking fondly at the floating, green glowing pyramid before him.
"Farewell Link, I sense you have already made up your mind and though you have many hardships before you, you must remain strong and vigilant, else darkness shall completely consume you and you shall be lost to us forever..." the gentle voice stated with a soft glow.
Giving the Triforce of Wisdom one last smile, Link turned his right hand over and brushed the back of his fingers against the glowing pyramid before he turned and walked away, towards the throne room were he knew the king Harkinian was presently at with Spryte.
Standing in front of the red iron doors, Links slowly entered too see that Spryte, the small fairy princess that had helped Link on many occasions but was just as annoying, was talking to the king. They both stopped talking as they saw Link enter.
"Link..." Spryte began as she saw him enter with such a serious expression.
Link stopped before the two and bowed before he began to speak. "Your highness, Spryte, I have come to bid my farewells. I'm leaving your services..." He stated calmly and quickly. He didn't want to drag this out and he didn't want to stay here and argue with those he cared for.
Taken aback, the King stared at the young man before him with a shocked expression. "What!?! But Link, why? Why so suddenly? You are the land's protector, why must you leave?"
"Princess Zelda has ordered my leave and it seems that I am no longer needed as Prince Facade is now in your service and he seems more...experienced...than I." Link said, his brow furrowing in thought as a faint but dark feeling came over him.
"But..." the king began but Link stopped his words.
"My choice is made. I relinquish my title as this land's protector and give up my sword to you." with that, Link took out the Master sword, still in its scabbard, and placed it before the throne, turned and quietly left the two shocked beings behind.
"Will you ever return?" the king asked before Link had left, hoping to prolong Link's leaving.
Link stopped and without turning, he spoke. "Perhaps..." the dark feeling was suddenly prominent, his choice made, he walked on, ignoring the darkness that was suddenly consuming him.
"I'll take that as a promise Link!" Spryte stated as Link left the room at a steady pace. When Link had vanished from sight, she sighed and quietly sat on the throne's armrest, feeling suddenly very sad.
"It will be all right Spryte...He is strong and will survive...and so shall we..." the king stated with a sigh and looked at the door where Link had entered and left.
Once he was outside, Link mounted Epona and left through the front gates, saying his farewells to the guards that he had known for the last few years. They were sad, bidding him a farewell, luck and hope that he would visit again, soon. Many felt the loss over Link's departure and others felt the feeling of lost hope. However, many of the guards felt the need for strength and resigned themselves towards a stronger feeling. A feeling of duty as they suddenly knew that they were the only defence for the kingdom from the forces of Ganon. They would become stronger then before and make their one friend proud.
On his way out of town Link stopped by the local blacksmith and bought himself a short sword and he also stopped by the bakery, buying himself a few days worth of provisions and sweets, whereupon he promptly left the city behind.
He didn't look back, as too many memories where there and it would be too painful even if he took a glance. The darkness was ever becoming more prominent and Link couldn't help but shiver as he continued towards his intended destination.
He would go see the Great Deku Tree; it would know the answer to this dark relentless wave that coursed through him.
Riding for a few days, Link finally stood before the large Kikori forest and within its deep woods, stood a wooden opening that lead to the small Kikori village where he had lived for the early parts of his life. Leading Epona into the deep woods, Link quickly rode on through and within an hour, was passing through the wooden entrance and entered the inner forest as he suddenly found himself leading Epona by hand into the Kikori village.
"Its Link!!" one of the small girls yelled with surprise and quickly ran up to him and gave him a small hug on his left leg.
Link smiled down and he watched in amazement as a dozen small children, people he had known all his life swarmed around him and he was once again amazed at how they hadn't changed since he had left to fight the rising evil during that one fateful day when the Great Deku Tree was attacked.
All dressed in green Kikori clothes, the Kikori children wandered up to him slowly, their fairies abuzz with delight, as he hadn't visited them in a few months. Link smiled and reached into this magic satchel and brought out the sweets that he had bought days earlier and handed them out, two pieces of sweet to each Kikori and they all smiled and laughed delightedly.
Link smiled in return, his childhood friends where all so happy and he was happy as well but the dark feeling came over him again and he hastily made an excuse and left towards the Great Deku Tree as they turned their lavishing attention on Epona.
Standing in front of the Great Deku Tree, memories flooded his mind as Link once again lived the life and adventure of a small boy who wielded a small Kikori sword and wooden shield and proceeded to fight the Queen Dogma, saving the Great Deku Tree from dying and began his adventure that eventually led him to becoming the land protector of the kingdom of Hyrule.
The Great Deku Tree had survived the creature's infestation and with the three spiritual stones, Link and Zelda had used their powers to force Ganondorf back to the darkness where he had come from and the land was safe once again.
However, Ganondorf returned as Ganon, the beast king of the underworld and he had acquired the Triforce of Power however, with Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom, they together had kept the land safe for the last few years, keeping the land in partial peace as Ganon tried his best to attain the Triforce of Wisdom. At least it was this way until Facade had showed up and had Link banished under the wishes of the Princess Zelda.
Link sighed and looked up at the Great Deku Tree and was stunned at what he saw. The leaves once healthy green leaves where now all brown and wilting as if the Queen Dogma had once again infested him and was draining him of his life essence once more.
Link stood in amazement. What happened? Why didn't I hear of this sooner?
Navi fluttered around the upper branches, fretting over the Great Deku Tree's health and towards the side was Saria, sitting on the stump and looking tired, ready to cry.
"....Link...you have returned...to us at long last..." the Great Deku Tree spoke slowly and Navi fluttered down on her translucent wings and happily buzzed around Link's head, saying her greetings and compliments. Saria smiled as she sat up but Link said nothing as he stared at the Great Deku Tree.
"You have.... returned to fulfill your destiny.... because of the feeling of darkness inside you....yes?" the Great Deku Tree continued and smiled as Link looked on with surprise and shock. "Do not be surprised...my son.... the time for your awakening draws nigh.... and your destiny draws ever closer..."
"You know what I have felt, Great Deku Tree?"
"Yes Link.... the prophecy is now upon us and you are the instrument of the Triforce's destiny and power."
"But aren't Zelda and Ganon the instruments of the Triforce?" Link asked in confusion, taking a step closer to the Great Deku Tree.
"Yes.... she is the Triforce of Wisdom's chosen instrument and Ganon, the Triforce of Power's...but so are you to serve a Triforce...Link" the Great Deku Tree stated with a heavy sigh as Link's eyes widened in surprise.
"M...me? B... but how?" Link asked the Great Tree in confusion.
".... You Link are the chosen follower of the Triforce of Courage, the lost power of the warriors that once long ago sat up in the heavens with its sisters, the Triforces of Wisdom and Power.... but countless centuries have passed and with them, countless wars."
"Wars?" Link, Navi and Saria asked as one.
"In the beginning, when the world was young..."
"The three Goddesses came from the heavens and created this world, right?" Link broke in.
The Great Deku Tree smiled. "You remember well...my son...but no, that is not the whole story..."
"Whole story?" Saria asked as she looked up at the Great Deku Tree, concern in her eyes.
"Yes, my daughter.... the true story, for in the beginning, there was three Goddesses but when they created the world, filled with light and good, darkness and evil where also was created, to balance out the powers of the good and light...When the Goddesses saw this, they tried to contain the evil..."
"...The goddess of wisdom saw that she was too weak to contain it so she left it to her sisters. The Goddess of Power was great and tried to forcefully contain it, but alas, the evil corrupted a part of her and when she left, she left that evil in her Triforce, tainting...the good within with darkness and greed as she left without it with her as she herself returned to the heavens.... It was the Goddess of Courage however, that was able to contain...the darkness by allowing her and her Triforce to consume the darkness, becoming one with it. But when the Goddess of Courage left, she had left behind her altered soul within the Triforce of Courage, sustaining peace and balance." The Great Deku Tree spoke slowly as he continued.
"However, the Triforce was separated and they were scattered throughout the land. In the following centuries...however, there have been countless battles and wars with them as the users and the chosen people of the Triforce of Power tried to take over the world. The...Triforce of Wisdom, however, has always fought against it, choosing or allowing people with good hearts to protect the land, but with its inferior powers.... it could not do it alone. It was the Triforce of Courage that had always turned away the tide of evil that is the Triforce...of power but its chosen few always died, the taint of darkness always killing the host before they could truly destroy the evil contained within the Triforce."
"In these last few centuries however, the Triforce of Courage has been lost...it also feared to chose another warrior, the fear of ...letting...more die under its use. But the Triforce of Wisdom has weakened slightly, and with that the Triforce of Power's evil had once again leaked to...the corruptible and its...terror has once again started. But the Triforce of Wisdom is.... too weak to fight its sister alone without the help of its other sister, it will inevitably lose the fight." the Great Deku Tree finished with a heavy heart. "You Link are the chosen one of the Triforce of Courage...but are you prepared to accept the power and the destiny...to die because of its use?"
Link sighed as he lowered his head in thought. He couldn't allow his friends to die when he could save them. He wasn't a man who would run away from a fight. "I am prepared, Great Deku Tree."
The Great Deku Tree seemed to nod in a sad satisfaction as he spoke. "You have.... turned into a fine young man Link.... know that I am and will always be proud of you. Navi, please go with Link and again and assist him on his quest.... for I know that deep down inside, you do not wish for him to do this alone..."
Navi's light faded for a moment as she nodded silently to the Great Deku Tree.
Saria smiled and Navi's light brightened again when suddenly, a large portal of twisting energy formed beside the Great Deku Tree and a few moblins came through and rushed Link with their swords drawn.
Link's eyes widened as he yelled at Navi and Saria to leave quickly to get to safety. They quickly left to get help and Link drew his short sword and slew the few moblins, their bodies vanishing in their fiery fire of dissipating magic, when several Iron knuckles came through, their silvery armour glinting in the afternoon sun.
A sinister laugh filled the air and Ganon, the disgustingly fat beast came out of the portal with the glowing red Triforce of Power floating over his left shoulder.
Ganon took a look at the dying Great Deku Tree, laughed and raised his left hand towards it, creating a large ball of fire. He instantly set the bark on fire and it quickly spread, destroying what was once the Great Deku Tree.
Link cried out in anguish, as his father figure was burnt alive so quickly that it didn't even have time to cry out. Then several Iron knuckles quickly surrounded him and with gauntleted fists, began to beat him into unconsciousness into the soft, warm earth.
With that, they withdrew, dragging the limp body of Link behind them and into the portal as it closed, leaving only the burnt tree and faded memories as Navi, Saria and the Kikori children arrived, gasping at the sight of the burnt tree.
"Link!!" Navi yelled and quickly flew upwards towards Epona.
"Wait Navi! Where are you going?" Saria yelled and her only response was the last lingering thought of Navi's.
"I'm going to save Link!"
Saria, unsure of what to do, slowly took out her ocarina and then began to play it, letting the sound of the sad tunes float into the winds as the Kikori children all cried over their dead father, the Great Deku Tree.
Navi flew towards Epona and quickly brought her out towards the location where a door to the underworld was and she would rescue Link or die trying.
Once there, she allowed Epona free reign to feed and such as she investigated the underworld and formed a plan to rescue Link. However, after seeing the increased defence of Ganon's home she found that she had to wait for the right moment and hoped that Link would live long enough for her to rescue him.
Link opened his eyes and let out a silent groan. His good right eye opened as he tried to look around but his vision was blurry. He couldn't even feel his left eye as he blinked with his right. Both his arms were stretched as his wrists were chained to the wall, letting him hang limp.
A moblin waddled up and released his bindings, allowing him to fall face first onto the cold stones. The scent of bread brought his head up and he saw a small, battered iron tray before him with a loaf of bread and a small cup of red tinged water. He knew what was in the water it was a small amount of healing potion that was heavily diluted. It was the healing potion of the water that was a reason he was alive.
Thoughts of not taking the potion had crossed his mind and he reeled from the memories of what had happened when he refused to drink, the pain of the thought of the memories was enough to get him to drink it.
After he had finished, he crawled to the wall were he had a piece of charcoal and placed another tally on the wall, where grouped into small groups of 14, since he was fed twice a day, he could find out how many weeks he had been here. He then counted how many weeks it had been and lowered his head with a sigh, he had been here just slightly over two and a half months. Ganon wouldn't let him die so easily, as he had thoughts for unending torture for the once proud Hyrulian protector.
Link was startled from his thoughts as a bright flash of light filled his vision, followed by the sounds of a horse whinnying.
With his downcast eyes, Link was able to avoid the brunt of the light and suddenly Navi was there, shining in her little glory as he felt two small hands atop his forehead that made him feel slightly warmer and better.
Navi then guided him to the horse and he smiled painfully as Epona snorted at him. Using what little strength he had, he pulled himself atop the horse and Navi then quickly tied a small rope around him, then she urged Epona forwards and they quickly ran up the steps, out of the dungeon and made a break for the entrance that led towards Fire Mountain, where Link could rest and recover from his ordeal.
Epona then rushed from behind a small shrub, its presence masking the underworld entrance from plain view. The sound of grunts could be heard as they vibrated through the forest, forcing Epona to speed through the forest, towards the valley where two Gorons waited by the cave entrance into Fire Mountain. A small hoard of moblins followed Epona as she made her mad dash to the cave entrance.
Daruna smiled at the fleeing horse, knowing it meant that Link was alive and he motioned for the other Gorons to throw their bombs at the following moblin. When Daruna finally got a good look at his big brother, he recoiled from horror and quickly motioned for Navi and Epona to get into the cave.
After the entered safely, Daruna nodded and the Gorons threw bombs into the cave's entrance and within a few seconds, a large explosion erupted, causing the entrance and the first cavern to collapse in on itself, sealing the three inside so that even Ganon would have trouble reaching them.
Wishing them luck, Daruna motioned for his people to fall back to their home and safety. Looking back one last time, Daruna truly hoped that Link would live, as he was a great friend to all of the Gorons.
Inside the mountain, Epona continued her mad dash across the wooden bridges and towards the other end of the cavern, towards a portal that lead deeper into the volcano, where it was surprisingly cooler. Above the spacious room flew Volvagia, the fire dragon that was awakened by Ganon.
As Epona reached the final stretch, Volvagia saw the fleeing trio and attacked, breathing out jets of flame and spitting out balls of liquid fire, trying desperately to kill them.
The now smoking Epona reached the end as Navi opened the portal that had taken weeks worth of mana gathering and they went in, allowing the portal to close as a large ball of liquid fire splashed into the ground where they had stood, melting the very earth as a jet of intense flame flew overhead. Enraged, Volvagia flew around, trying to find out where the three had went to.
Navi sighed in relief as the portal closed, cutting off the intense heat that was searing them and Navi was very relieved to have escaped the dragon's attacks. However, when Navi finally took a good look at Link she cried out in horror.
Link was a mass of bruises, welts, cuts and scabs with multiple new wounds that intertwined with those that were still healing.
Even his torn tunic was covered in blood and his breeches no different. She looked at Link's hands and feet and couldn't help but sob, they where all so puffed up with welt, bruises and blood that they where ugly and oversized.
Navi cried at the sight, she should have helped Link earlier she thought but all of the preparations too get here took months to do and she couldn't have rescued Link any quicker then she already without more deaths on her hands. So many magical creatures had given their lives up in exchange of gathering the large amounts of mana that Navi had used to rescue her friend.
Navi then looked around the room they where in. The place was large and spacious, with two large fresh water pools near the centre and a smaller one where Epona was currently in, cooling off herself from the heat of the volcano and singed fur. Near the sides of the cavern was a small stack of supplies that she had acquired to feed her, Epona and Link as he recovered. The room itself was layered in grey marble, Navi thought it was odd that it was there but she didn't care, she had found a place where Link could rest in peace without fear of Ganon's intrusion.
Navi thought a while more when a light suddenly intruded and startled her. She looked up and saw a glowing pyramid move her way. It glew a golden light but had tendrils of black flashing through it and Navi stared at it with awe, it was the Triforce of Courage.
"The Chosen one, I do not wish to do this too you but the balance has shifted much within these last centuries..." it spoke in a serene female voice."But you are too weak to wield my powers, you shall not survive the rebirth..."
"Rebirth?" Navi asked as she stared at Link with concern.
"Yes...since the time I had taken the darkness within me, all of my wielders must be reborn, so that they may use my powers. The powerful darkness has grown within me to balance the growth of evil that have transpired throughout these countless years." the Triforce stopped for a moment to consider something and continued "It was not like this before, when the chosen came, the darkness was released unto them, and when the evil was defeated, they died and the darkness with them and once again would the darkness gather within myself, continuing the endless circle of good and evil. However, I have not been used in centuries and the darkness within me is greater then ever before, should the chosen wield me, he shall truly be powerful. But my chosen vessel is too weak to survive the Rebirth."
"Can I help?" Navi asked quietly, when Epona nickered, she wanted to help too.
"........" the Triforce was silent for a second before it continued. "Yes...you may, you both may also obtain some of my powers and assist the chosen in carrying the darkness but it is a great burden as the darkness is great..."
"It doesn't matter, I will help link in whatever way I can!" Navi stated with Epona's nickering behind her statement.
"Very well, receive my power! And when you awaken, you shall see the power of the Triforce of Courage!" the Triforce spoke as it brightened, its golden light covered everything with an odd blanket of warmth and coldness dragging darkness with it as it entered the three bodies that where basked within its golden light.
Epona yelled in pain, mingling with Navi's own screams.
There screams where quickly drowned as Link cried out in pain, his body twitched violently, but Navi felt his presence within her, drawing the darkness into himself, soon Epona's crying stopped into heavy breathing like her own but Link continued to scream as he had taken even more of the shattering darkness into himself, trying to save the beings he cared for as he was ruthlessly changed.
The pain became unbearable as everything shrouded into darkness.
Then everything settled and Links cries stopped as the Triforce began to glitter, small lines began to appear on the back of Link's right hand. Soon the Triforce turned into a golden light, laced with the ever-present black tendrils, it shrank as it embedded itself on the backhand within a small tattoo.
Looking at the tattoo wearily, Navi saw the golden Triforce tattooed below an empty triangle and to the left of another, making the design looking like a large triangle made up of smaller ones.
Link himself was now sleeping peacefully as the ordeal was over and most of his wounds had lessened. Bruises where smaller and cuts half healed and when Navi tuned her gaze to Epona, she gasped. The gentle brown roan was changed! Epona was no longer a light brown but a darker brown and she felt deep down that Epona would still change.
Wondering what she herself looked like, Navi wanted to fly to the water and see her reflection but she was simply too tired and soon found herself snuggling into what was left of Link's green torn tunic, falling into a deep, deep sleep.
Author's Corner: Gahahahahah! My Prologue is finished! (") And it took who knows how long... (of course not working on it for long periods of time didn't help either...)
This is also my first real attempt at Fan Fiction and uh, its fun... so once again, don't judge me too harshly ^_^
This is all cool stuff, at least I think so and I hope you readers will too.
Ummm...guess I have nothing else to say but to ask you what you thought of this story? Loved it? Hated it? Confused? Question? Comments? Praise?...
You can reach me at [email protected]
And my ICQ # (for those that care) 69774152
And if you for some odd reason did send me an email and I don't reply back in a few days, resend, because I might have accidentally lost your email...
Rise of the Dark Hero
Link was changed to fight the growing with Evil with Darkness.
No longer is he the chosen champion of the eternal Light,
But of the endless Shadow...
Written By:
Perfect Psionic Soldier
Edited by:
-FernoTheMagicalFern
-PochePoke
*Note: This Fan Fiction is loosely based on the N64 game- Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the old TV series and Comic series. Since there is a mixture, some things may not make sense or have been dramatically changed. Other then that, enjoy ^_^
*Side Note: This is my first real Fan Fiction and I'm uh, real nervous, so please don't judge this story too harshly ^_^
Story Info
Quick Recap:
The story will take place after the old TV episode where a charming, prince named Facade, comes into the kingdom of Hyrule and saves the town when monsters attack it just as Link was about to kill to kill them.
This pleases Zelda and his manners and such begin to charm the princess. Links is put out and while taking a bath, he suddenly has an idea, he could also charm the princess and dresses up like a lord to impress her but fails miserably in front of the princess the prince and they laugh at him.
This upsets Link and he was going to leave but on his way down from his tower, he jumped from canvas to canvas to his horse and on his way out, he hears the princess's scream as she was being kidnapped and was currently being carried of towards the entrance to the underworld and to Ganon.
Links saves the princess, as the prince didn't want to get his clothes dirty as the monster, which looks like a merman with spike jetting out of its shoulders, was sloshing through the mud and Links comes along and saves her. Zelda is safe, prince is rejected, Link tries to get a kiss for his efforts, is slapped, and all is normal again.
But, What if...fate took a different course and something happened that would change Link's life forever?
This is how the story begins...
Epilogue
Link saw the princess land on the solid ground beside prince Facade, but his attention was completely trained on the spiked studded monster before him as he began charging up his sword. The monster lunged at him just as he finished powering up his master sword and released the charge, watching it as it slammed into the thing's face, momentarily stunning it when a cross bolt suddenly struck it in its left eye, killing it instantly as its lifeless body hit the mud, sinking into its final grave.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Link looked up and saw Façade sling his crossbow around his shoulder and then promptly assisted Zelda from the lake of mud leaving Link to slowly trudge over to them.
"Thank the gods that you are safe my Princess!" Facade pronounced with fervour and the princess smiled and nodded.
"Princess, are you alright?" Link asked with concern, as he looked her over for wounds.
"How dare you abandon the Princess! Where were you while she was in danger!?" Facade accused as he looked at Link's muddy clothes with distain.
"I didn't abandon her! I was rescuing her!"
The prince snorted and began to walk towards the castle with Zelda "You, my good sir where just probably trying to look like you where rescuing her as I did the fighting on my own. You are a worthless young boy."
Link stared open-mouthed at the prince's lies, unable to say a word.
"There! Your expression proves it! Be gone!" with that, the prince walked off with the princess, leaving Link behind.
Later that night at the Castle's courtyard...
"I will hear no more of these lies!!" Zelda screamed as she twirled around to face Link.
"But...but Zelda..." Links tried to explain but Zelda cut him off as she continued to yell. "He is ten times more then anything you are or will ever be! I will hear no more of these lies! Leave!! Never return! I do not wish too see your face ever again!!"
Link stood stunned. He had never seen Zelda react this way and it hurt him, it hurt him deep inside. He had risked his life countless times for this land and for her, all for what? So that someone could show him up and get him banished?
"Let me explain!" Link yelled as he confronted her. "He is lying I didn't abandon you!"
Link blinked in surprise as Zelda slapped him. He couldn't think of anything but what he had done and he suddenly felt very alone and cold as he comforted his stinging cheek.
"If that is what you desire Zelda, then I will comply..." Link stated, hurt beyond everything he had ever felt before.
"YES!!! Leave me!!! GO!!!!!!!!" Zelda screamed at him, pointing out towards where the Castle gates stood. "I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE!!!!!!!!!"
Link nodded dumbly and left the fuming princess alone and headed towards his room, up top where the Triforce of Wisdom was kept.
Once there, Link quickly gathered his meagre belongings and stuffed them into his magic pouch before he turned towards the Triforce of Wisdom. He wouldn't think about his actions now, he couldn't afford to, else he would begin to rationalize about what he was doing and stop. He had to act now or else he would have stayed and chanced being hurt again. He had thought about leaving before and the princess's command only showed that his original thoughts had been right.
He didn't want to get hurt again... not by the princess...
"I guess this is good-bye..." Link stated sadly, looking fondly at the floating, green glowing pyramid before him.
"Farewell Link, I sense you have already made up your mind and though you have many hardships before you, you must remain strong and vigilant, else darkness shall completely consume you and you shall be lost to us forever..." the gentle voice stated with a soft glow.
Giving the Triforce of Wisdom one last smile, Link turned his right hand over and brushed the back of his fingers against the glowing pyramid before he turned and walked away, towards the throne room were he knew the king Harkinian was presently at with Spryte.
Standing in front of the red iron doors, Links slowly entered too see that Spryte, the small fairy princess that had helped Link on many occasions but was just as annoying, was talking to the king. They both stopped talking as they saw Link enter.
"Link..." Spryte began as she saw him enter with such a serious expression.
Link stopped before the two and bowed before he began to speak. "Your highness, Spryte, I have come to bid my farewells. I'm leaving your services..." He stated calmly and quickly. He didn't want to drag this out and he didn't want to stay here and argue with those he cared for.
Taken aback, the King stared at the young man before him with a shocked expression. "What!?! But Link, why? Why so suddenly? You are the land's protector, why must you leave?"
"Princess Zelda has ordered my leave and it seems that I am no longer needed as Prince Facade is now in your service and he seems more...experienced...than I." Link said, his brow furrowing in thought as a faint but dark feeling came over him.
"But..." the king began but Link stopped his words.
"My choice is made. I relinquish my title as this land's protector and give up my sword to you." with that, Link took out the Master sword, still in its scabbard, and placed it before the throne, turned and quietly left the two shocked beings behind.
"Will you ever return?" the king asked before Link had left, hoping to prolong Link's leaving.
Link stopped and without turning, he spoke. "Perhaps..." the dark feeling was suddenly prominent, his choice made, he walked on, ignoring the darkness that was suddenly consuming him.
"I'll take that as a promise Link!" Spryte stated as Link left the room at a steady pace. When Link had vanished from sight, she sighed and quietly sat on the throne's armrest, feeling suddenly very sad.
"It will be all right Spryte...He is strong and will survive...and so shall we..." the king stated with a sigh and looked at the door where Link had entered and left.
Once he was outside, Link mounted Epona and left through the front gates, saying his farewells to the guards that he had known for the last few years. They were sad, bidding him a farewell, luck and hope that he would visit again, soon. Many felt the loss over Link's departure and others felt the feeling of lost hope. However, many of the guards felt the need for strength and resigned themselves towards a stronger feeling. A feeling of duty as they suddenly knew that they were the only defence for the kingdom from the forces of Ganon. They would become stronger then before and make their one friend proud.
On his way out of town Link stopped by the local blacksmith and bought himself a short sword and he also stopped by the bakery, buying himself a few days worth of provisions and sweets, whereupon he promptly left the city behind.
He didn't look back, as too many memories where there and it would be too painful even if he took a glance. The darkness was ever becoming more prominent and Link couldn't help but shiver as he continued towards his intended destination.
He would go see the Great Deku Tree; it would know the answer to this dark relentless wave that coursed through him.
Riding for a few days, Link finally stood before the large Kikori forest and within its deep woods, stood a wooden opening that lead to the small Kikori village where he had lived for the early parts of his life. Leading Epona into the deep woods, Link quickly rode on through and within an hour, was passing through the wooden entrance and entered the inner forest as he suddenly found himself leading Epona by hand into the Kikori village.
"Its Link!!" one of the small girls yelled with surprise and quickly ran up to him and gave him a small hug on his left leg.
Link smiled down and he watched in amazement as a dozen small children, people he had known all his life swarmed around him and he was once again amazed at how they hadn't changed since he had left to fight the rising evil during that one fateful day when the Great Deku Tree was attacked.
All dressed in green Kikori clothes, the Kikori children wandered up to him slowly, their fairies abuzz with delight, as he hadn't visited them in a few months. Link smiled and reached into this magic satchel and brought out the sweets that he had bought days earlier and handed them out, two pieces of sweet to each Kikori and they all smiled and laughed delightedly.
Link smiled in return, his childhood friends where all so happy and he was happy as well but the dark feeling came over him again and he hastily made an excuse and left towards the Great Deku Tree as they turned their lavishing attention on Epona.
Standing in front of the Great Deku Tree, memories flooded his mind as Link once again lived the life and adventure of a small boy who wielded a small Kikori sword and wooden shield and proceeded to fight the Queen Dogma, saving the Great Deku Tree from dying and began his adventure that eventually led him to becoming the land protector of the kingdom of Hyrule.
The Great Deku Tree had survived the creature's infestation and with the three spiritual stones, Link and Zelda had used their powers to force Ganondorf back to the darkness where he had come from and the land was safe once again.
However, Ganondorf returned as Ganon, the beast king of the underworld and he had acquired the Triforce of Power however, with Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom, they together had kept the land safe for the last few years, keeping the land in partial peace as Ganon tried his best to attain the Triforce of Wisdom. At least it was this way until Facade had showed up and had Link banished under the wishes of the Princess Zelda.
Link sighed and looked up at the Great Deku Tree and was stunned at what he saw. The leaves once healthy green leaves where now all brown and wilting as if the Queen Dogma had once again infested him and was draining him of his life essence once more.
Link stood in amazement. What happened? Why didn't I hear of this sooner?
Navi fluttered around the upper branches, fretting over the Great Deku Tree's health and towards the side was Saria, sitting on the stump and looking tired, ready to cry.
"....Link...you have returned...to us at long last..." the Great Deku Tree spoke slowly and Navi fluttered down on her translucent wings and happily buzzed around Link's head, saying her greetings and compliments. Saria smiled as she sat up but Link said nothing as he stared at the Great Deku Tree.
"You have.... returned to fulfill your destiny.... because of the feeling of darkness inside you....yes?" the Great Deku Tree continued and smiled as Link looked on with surprise and shock. "Do not be surprised...my son.... the time for your awakening draws nigh.... and your destiny draws ever closer..."
"You know what I have felt, Great Deku Tree?"
"Yes Link.... the prophecy is now upon us and you are the instrument of the Triforce's destiny and power."
"But aren't Zelda and Ganon the instruments of the Triforce?" Link asked in confusion, taking a step closer to the Great Deku Tree.
"Yes.... she is the Triforce of Wisdom's chosen instrument and Ganon, the Triforce of Power's...but so are you to serve a Triforce...Link" the Great Deku Tree stated with a heavy sigh as Link's eyes widened in surprise.
"M...me? B... but how?" Link asked the Great Tree in confusion.
".... You Link are the chosen follower of the Triforce of Courage, the lost power of the warriors that once long ago sat up in the heavens with its sisters, the Triforces of Wisdom and Power.... but countless centuries have passed and with them, countless wars."
"Wars?" Link, Navi and Saria asked as one.
"In the beginning, when the world was young..."
"The three Goddesses came from the heavens and created this world, right?" Link broke in.
The Great Deku Tree smiled. "You remember well...my son...but no, that is not the whole story..."
"Whole story?" Saria asked as she looked up at the Great Deku Tree, concern in her eyes.
"Yes, my daughter.... the true story, for in the beginning, there was three Goddesses but when they created the world, filled with light and good, darkness and evil where also was created, to balance out the powers of the good and light...When the Goddesses saw this, they tried to contain the evil..."
"...The goddess of wisdom saw that she was too weak to contain it so she left it to her sisters. The Goddess of Power was great and tried to forcefully contain it, but alas, the evil corrupted a part of her and when she left, she left that evil in her Triforce, tainting...the good within with darkness and greed as she left without it with her as she herself returned to the heavens.... It was the Goddess of Courage however, that was able to contain...the darkness by allowing her and her Triforce to consume the darkness, becoming one with it. But when the Goddess of Courage left, she had left behind her altered soul within the Triforce of Courage, sustaining peace and balance." The Great Deku Tree spoke slowly as he continued.
"However, the Triforce was separated and they were scattered throughout the land. In the following centuries...however, there have been countless battles and wars with them as the users and the chosen people of the Triforce of Power tried to take over the world. The...Triforce of Wisdom, however, has always fought against it, choosing or allowing people with good hearts to protect the land, but with its inferior powers.... it could not do it alone. It was the Triforce of Courage that had always turned away the tide of evil that is the Triforce...of power but its chosen few always died, the taint of darkness always killing the host before they could truly destroy the evil contained within the Triforce."
"In these last few centuries however, the Triforce of Courage has been lost...it also feared to chose another warrior, the fear of ...letting...more die under its use. But the Triforce of Wisdom has weakened slightly, and with that the Triforce of Power's evil had once again leaked to...the corruptible and its...terror has once again started. But the Triforce of Wisdom is.... too weak to fight its sister alone without the help of its other sister, it will inevitably lose the fight." the Great Deku Tree finished with a heavy heart. "You Link are the chosen one of the Triforce of Courage...but are you prepared to accept the power and the destiny...to die because of its use?"
Link sighed as he lowered his head in thought. He couldn't allow his friends to die when he could save them. He wasn't a man who would run away from a fight. "I am prepared, Great Deku Tree."
The Great Deku Tree seemed to nod in a sad satisfaction as he spoke. "You have.... turned into a fine young man Link.... know that I am and will always be proud of you. Navi, please go with Link and again and assist him on his quest.... for I know that deep down inside, you do not wish for him to do this alone..."
Navi's light faded for a moment as she nodded silently to the Great Deku Tree.
Saria smiled and Navi's light brightened again when suddenly, a large portal of twisting energy formed beside the Great Deku Tree and a few moblins came through and rushed Link with their swords drawn.
Link's eyes widened as he yelled at Navi and Saria to leave quickly to get to safety. They quickly left to get help and Link drew his short sword and slew the few moblins, their bodies vanishing in their fiery fire of dissipating magic, when several Iron knuckles came through, their silvery armour glinting in the afternoon sun.
A sinister laugh filled the air and Ganon, the disgustingly fat beast came out of the portal with the glowing red Triforce of Power floating over his left shoulder.
Ganon took a look at the dying Great Deku Tree, laughed and raised his left hand towards it, creating a large ball of fire. He instantly set the bark on fire and it quickly spread, destroying what was once the Great Deku Tree.
Link cried out in anguish, as his father figure was burnt alive so quickly that it didn't even have time to cry out. Then several Iron knuckles quickly surrounded him and with gauntleted fists, began to beat him into unconsciousness into the soft, warm earth.
With that, they withdrew, dragging the limp body of Link behind them and into the portal as it closed, leaving only the burnt tree and faded memories as Navi, Saria and the Kikori children arrived, gasping at the sight of the burnt tree.
"Link!!" Navi yelled and quickly flew upwards towards Epona.
"Wait Navi! Where are you going?" Saria yelled and her only response was the last lingering thought of Navi's.
"I'm going to save Link!"
Saria, unsure of what to do, slowly took out her ocarina and then began to play it, letting the sound of the sad tunes float into the winds as the Kikori children all cried over their dead father, the Great Deku Tree.
Navi flew towards Epona and quickly brought her out towards the location where a door to the underworld was and she would rescue Link or die trying.
Once there, she allowed Epona free reign to feed and such as she investigated the underworld and formed a plan to rescue Link. However, after seeing the increased defence of Ganon's home she found that she had to wait for the right moment and hoped that Link would live long enough for her to rescue him.
Link opened his eyes and let out a silent groan. His good right eye opened as he tried to look around but his vision was blurry. He couldn't even feel his left eye as he blinked with his right. Both his arms were stretched as his wrists were chained to the wall, letting him hang limp.
A moblin waddled up and released his bindings, allowing him to fall face first onto the cold stones. The scent of bread brought his head up and he saw a small, battered iron tray before him with a loaf of bread and a small cup of red tinged water. He knew what was in the water it was a small amount of healing potion that was heavily diluted. It was the healing potion of the water that was a reason he was alive.
Thoughts of not taking the potion had crossed his mind and he reeled from the memories of what had happened when he refused to drink, the pain of the thought of the memories was enough to get him to drink it.
After he had finished, he crawled to the wall were he had a piece of charcoal and placed another tally on the wall, where grouped into small groups of 14, since he was fed twice a day, he could find out how many weeks he had been here. He then counted how many weeks it had been and lowered his head with a sigh, he had been here just slightly over two and a half months. Ganon wouldn't let him die so easily, as he had thoughts for unending torture for the once proud Hyrulian protector.
Link was startled from his thoughts as a bright flash of light filled his vision, followed by the sounds of a horse whinnying.
With his downcast eyes, Link was able to avoid the brunt of the light and suddenly Navi was there, shining in her little glory as he felt two small hands atop his forehead that made him feel slightly warmer and better.
Navi then guided him to the horse and he smiled painfully as Epona snorted at him. Using what little strength he had, he pulled himself atop the horse and Navi then quickly tied a small rope around him, then she urged Epona forwards and they quickly ran up the steps, out of the dungeon and made a break for the entrance that led towards Fire Mountain, where Link could rest and recover from his ordeal.
Epona then rushed from behind a small shrub, its presence masking the underworld entrance from plain view. The sound of grunts could be heard as they vibrated through the forest, forcing Epona to speed through the forest, towards the valley where two Gorons waited by the cave entrance into Fire Mountain. A small hoard of moblins followed Epona as she made her mad dash to the cave entrance.
Daruna smiled at the fleeing horse, knowing it meant that Link was alive and he motioned for the other Gorons to throw their bombs at the following moblin. When Daruna finally got a good look at his big brother, he recoiled from horror and quickly motioned for Navi and Epona to get into the cave.
After the entered safely, Daruna nodded and the Gorons threw bombs into the cave's entrance and within a few seconds, a large explosion erupted, causing the entrance and the first cavern to collapse in on itself, sealing the three inside so that even Ganon would have trouble reaching them.
Wishing them luck, Daruna motioned for his people to fall back to their home and safety. Looking back one last time, Daruna truly hoped that Link would live, as he was a great friend to all of the Gorons.
Inside the mountain, Epona continued her mad dash across the wooden bridges and towards the other end of the cavern, towards a portal that lead deeper into the volcano, where it was surprisingly cooler. Above the spacious room flew Volvagia, the fire dragon that was awakened by Ganon.
As Epona reached the final stretch, Volvagia saw the fleeing trio and attacked, breathing out jets of flame and spitting out balls of liquid fire, trying desperately to kill them.
The now smoking Epona reached the end as Navi opened the portal that had taken weeks worth of mana gathering and they went in, allowing the portal to close as a large ball of liquid fire splashed into the ground where they had stood, melting the very earth as a jet of intense flame flew overhead. Enraged, Volvagia flew around, trying to find out where the three had went to.
Navi sighed in relief as the portal closed, cutting off the intense heat that was searing them and Navi was very relieved to have escaped the dragon's attacks. However, when Navi finally took a good look at Link she cried out in horror.
Link was a mass of bruises, welts, cuts and scabs with multiple new wounds that intertwined with those that were still healing.
Even his torn tunic was covered in blood and his breeches no different. She looked at Link's hands and feet and couldn't help but sob, they where all so puffed up with welt, bruises and blood that they where ugly and oversized.
Navi cried at the sight, she should have helped Link earlier she thought but all of the preparations too get here took months to do and she couldn't have rescued Link any quicker then she already without more deaths on her hands. So many magical creatures had given their lives up in exchange of gathering the large amounts of mana that Navi had used to rescue her friend.
Navi then looked around the room they where in. The place was large and spacious, with two large fresh water pools near the centre and a smaller one where Epona was currently in, cooling off herself from the heat of the volcano and singed fur. Near the sides of the cavern was a small stack of supplies that she had acquired to feed her, Epona and Link as he recovered. The room itself was layered in grey marble, Navi thought it was odd that it was there but she didn't care, she had found a place where Link could rest in peace without fear of Ganon's intrusion.
Navi thought a while more when a light suddenly intruded and startled her. She looked up and saw a glowing pyramid move her way. It glew a golden light but had tendrils of black flashing through it and Navi stared at it with awe, it was the Triforce of Courage.
"The Chosen one, I do not wish to do this too you but the balance has shifted much within these last centuries..." it spoke in a serene female voice."But you are too weak to wield my powers, you shall not survive the rebirth..."
"Rebirth?" Navi asked as she stared at Link with concern.
"Yes...since the time I had taken the darkness within me, all of my wielders must be reborn, so that they may use my powers. The powerful darkness has grown within me to balance the growth of evil that have transpired throughout these countless years." the Triforce stopped for a moment to consider something and continued "It was not like this before, when the chosen came, the darkness was released unto them, and when the evil was defeated, they died and the darkness with them and once again would the darkness gather within myself, continuing the endless circle of good and evil. However, I have not been used in centuries and the darkness within me is greater then ever before, should the chosen wield me, he shall truly be powerful. But my chosen vessel is too weak to survive the Rebirth."
"Can I help?" Navi asked quietly, when Epona nickered, she wanted to help too.
"........" the Triforce was silent for a second before it continued. "Yes...you may, you both may also obtain some of my powers and assist the chosen in carrying the darkness but it is a great burden as the darkness is great..."
"It doesn't matter, I will help link in whatever way I can!" Navi stated with Epona's nickering behind her statement.
"Very well, receive my power! And when you awaken, you shall see the power of the Triforce of Courage!" the Triforce spoke as it brightened, its golden light covered everything with an odd blanket of warmth and coldness dragging darkness with it as it entered the three bodies that where basked within its golden light.
Epona yelled in pain, mingling with Navi's own screams.
There screams where quickly drowned as Link cried out in pain, his body twitched violently, but Navi felt his presence within her, drawing the darkness into himself, soon Epona's crying stopped into heavy breathing like her own but Link continued to scream as he had taken even more of the shattering darkness into himself, trying to save the beings he cared for as he was ruthlessly changed.
The pain became unbearable as everything shrouded into darkness.
Then everything settled and Links cries stopped as the Triforce began to glitter, small lines began to appear on the back of Link's right hand. Soon the Triforce turned into a golden light, laced with the ever-present black tendrils, it shrank as it embedded itself on the backhand within a small tattoo.
Looking at the tattoo wearily, Navi saw the golden Triforce tattooed below an empty triangle and to the left of another, making the design looking like a large triangle made up of smaller ones.
Link himself was now sleeping peacefully as the ordeal was over and most of his wounds had lessened. Bruises where smaller and cuts half healed and when Navi tuned her gaze to Epona, she gasped. The gentle brown roan was changed! Epona was no longer a light brown but a darker brown and she felt deep down that Epona would still change.
Wondering what she herself looked like, Navi wanted to fly to the water and see her reflection but she was simply too tired and soon found herself snuggling into what was left of Link's green torn tunic, falling into a deep, deep sleep.
Author's Corner: Gahahahahah! My Prologue is finished! (") And it took who knows how long... (of course not working on it for long periods of time didn't help either...)
This is also my first real attempt at Fan Fiction and uh, its fun... so once again, don't judge me too harshly ^_^
This is all cool stuff, at least I think so and I hope you readers will too.
Ummm...guess I have nothing else to say but to ask you what you thought of this story? Loved it? Hated it? Confused? Question? Comments? Praise?...
You can reach me at [email protected]
And my ICQ # (for those that care) 69774152
And if you for some odd reason did send me an email and I don't reply back in a few days, resend, because I might have accidentally lost your email...