Chapter 11: The Shadow of Evil     Chapter 13: The Realm of Silence

Chapter 12: The Depths of the Dragon

More and more balls of black magic flew through the air, and Link’s energy began to be sapped by his constant dodging. One was heading straight for his midsection, and he swung the Master Sword in a last ditch attempt to block it.
The ball bounced off the sword and hit Shadow Ganondorf. The clone moaned and sank to the floor. Link seized his chance and bounded up, slashing down with his sword. Ganondorf was hit many times before he rose off the floor again, throwing off his injuries with a laugh.
“Yes, laugh,” Link snarled at him, “but I will kill you in the end.”
Another ball was flung at him, and he swung back. So did Ganondorf.
“Tennis,” Navi labled the new battle style.
“Baseball,” Link retorted. He and his fairy didn’t stop arguing until finally the ball hit Ganondorf again.
The Master Sword blazed as it smashed through shadow bone and ghostly muscle.
Shadow Ganondorf melted into a puddle covering the whole platform, and Link shifted his feet uneasily. It began to swirl in the centre like water in a bathtub after the plug is pulled, and then drained into nothingness.
“Stupid clone,” Ganondorf was muttering. “I’ll get you next time, stupid hero…” His voice faded out as Link stepped into the blue portal that appeared.

The green-clad youth felt and heard his boots click down onto the grey platform in the Light Temple. A green glow poured out from the emerald platform in front of him, and someone short began to appear.
Saria stood before him.
“Hooray!” she cried, giggling. “I got into the Temple this morning, but then there was a Deku Baba that almost ate me, so I climbed down a dry well and hid. I’m not too smart, am I?” She laughed again. “I didn’t know I was a Sage. I just knew I was the only Kokiri left after you left and Rana disappeared who was… um…Well, anyway, I knew it was the Forest Temple that was the problem!”
Link had gotten a cold shock. “You don’t know where Rana is?”
Saria sobered. “I haven’t seen her for two years. I think the Ironknuckles got her. I was in the forest, before the Wolfos and Babas took over, and I heard her Ocarina playing. It stopped suddenly, but I didn’t know anything bad had happened until I got there. There were two dead,” Saria shuddered, “Ironknucles and I never saw her again after that.”
“What are Ironknuckles?” asked Navi.
“They’re big, clumsy armoured guards of Ganondorf. They go everywhere, at least they used to. I haven’t seen much of them recently, though…”
“I’m forgetting!” she exclaimed, and laughed again. “I am really worried about her, but I’m so, so happy to see you alive and well. Here’s the Forest Medallion!”
An emerald green disk tumbled down from high above, and Link took it with both hands.
Impulsively, Saria ran through the shallow water to his platform just as he gave his medallions to Navi. He knelt – he was quite startled at how small she seemed – and she threw her arms around him as far as she could.
“Even though you’re grown up now, and everything’s changed so, we’ll never, ever not be friends.” Saria hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. He stroked her green hair.
“No, we’ll always be friends, even if I fall,” he murmured.
“You won’t,” Saria said.

Link floated down in the meadow of the Great Deku Tree. There was the petrified wooden colossus of the ancient tree.
There was a little green sprout growing between the largest roots of the tree, by far the most vibrant plant he had seen all day. Link bent over it curiously, a tender expression crossing his face as he studied the beautiful green of the leaves.
BOOM!
A shock wave knocked Link over sprawling on to his back. He let out a startled yell that trailed off when he realized that no one was attacking him. He picked himself up.
There was a funny little fat tree where the sprout had been. It had a face and was looking at him.
“Boy, oh boy! Thank you, Hero of Time!”
“Wha-?” Link peered at it through his blonde bangs, making him look extremely foolish. “A… plant is talking to me? I thought it was only the Great Deku Tree who could do that…”
“Stop talking to yourself,” Navi told him. “This is the new Great Deku Tree.”
“Yes, I am! I’ve been growing for seven years, but my physical growth was stunted by that evil power from the centre of the kingdom. So then you break the curse on the forest, and wake up the Sage, and boom! I grow. Properly.”
“That’s great!” Navi cheered. “We’re doing the right thing, Link! It’s working!”
“You have a long way to go, though,” said the Deku Sprout. “And… and I have something very important to tell you.”
Link sat down cross-legged to listen.
“A short time ago,” began the Deku Sprout, “about eighteen and a half years, there was a great war in Hyrule. The Gerudos, led by their king, attacked Hyrule. Many knights died. There was chaos.”
“One day, a young Hylian woman arrived in the forest with her baby son. She was mortally wounded, but begged the Great Deku Tree, my father, to take the boy. Even the cost of her own life seemed not too great to ensure her son’s safety.”
Link was silent, but his sky-blue eyes were wide.
“I suppose you know what I am talking about,” continued the Sprout. It paused. “She told the Great Deku Tree that the boy’s father, a brave young knight, was dead because of the war. She died soon afterwards. The baby was brought up by the eldest of the Kokiri.”
“That was me,” Link whispered, futilely trying to remember.

As Link curled up on his old bed, he looked at Navi.
“Do you think the king would know of my father?”
“I don’t know if the king is alive,” Navi answered hopelessly. “Go to sleep. We need to save the Gorons in the morning.”
Link smiled slightly and rolled over, breathing gently.

With a last pat to Epona’s shoulder as she was stabled in Kakariko, Link turned to the mountain path and began hiking.
The inside of Goron City was dark. Only a few lamps flickered, but there were quiet noises below. Link walked down the stairs, looking in every corner, but he couldn’t find any Gorons, even following his ears.
On the third level from the bottom, there was a quiet rumble. Link walked along, looking for the big Goron who used to roll and roll and roll along.
“Oof!” Link grunted as he was knocked down by something. Something very hard and very heavy, like a large stone, had crashed into his midsection.
“Are you all right?” Navi cried.
“Yes,” Link gasped, completely winded. He stood up and looked at what had knocked him down. It was a little Goron, curled up, trembling.
“You won’t eat me, will you?” it asked.
“Why would I do that?” Link responded, bewildered.
“Because that’s what happened to Daddy and the others, sla- oops, I mean servant of Ganondorf!”
Link chuckled a bit. “I’m not a servant of Ganondorf. I’m fighting him. Why don’t you uncurl?”
“No! You could be just saying that. I’m not even supposed to talk to strangers.”
“If you looked at me for just a second, you would see I couldn’t be a minion of a dark lord.”
“Yeah!” Navi agreed. “What redead has a fairy partner?”
The Goron uncurled a bit. Then it jumped upright. “Wow! Are you… like… the Link? With… the Navi?”
Link’s left eyebrow went up, but it was hidden by his hair. “Who told you about me?”
“Daddy did!” squeaked the Goron boy. “My Daddy is the leader of the Gorons. He is old and wise. He told me that once, seven years ago, a little boy and girl came in and blew up all the Dodongos in Dondongo’s Cavern. He said that he made the boy his Sworn Brother! He also said that the boy was dressed in green with a funny hat and a fairy called Navi with him. I met the girl and her fairy sometimes. Miss Rana came here a few times to chat. She’s my Sworn Sister. She killed a Tektite for me once. It might have eaten me! Anyway, that’s why Daddy named me after the hero.”
“Darunia… named you… after… me?” Link said slowly. The Goron nodded enthusiastically.
“I’m Link! And you’re Link! And I hope you go and rescue Daddy and the others now, because Ganondorf took them all away to the Fire Temple and is going to feed them to Volvagia once he captures me and the shopkeeper. He can’t get Big Boy, though. Big Boy is toooo fat.” Little Link giggled. Tall Link’s mouth fell open.
“They’re in trouble?” He turned to run and search for the Fire Temple.
“Wait!” cried Little Link. “I have some more things to say!”
Link turned around.
“Come to Daddy’s room,” said the Goron. “First, you, a Hylian, can’t go in Death Mountain.” He rolled down the stairs and waited for Link at the bottom. “Second, there’s a really short way to get to Death Mountain Crater from Daddy’s room.”
In Darunia’s room, Goron Link began rummaging through a drawer for something.
“This was Miss Rana’s, when she came here,” he said, handing Link a red, leathery tunic. “We made it for her. It might be a little small for you, but it will do for today.”
“What’s it for?” asked Navi. Link took off his swordbelt and pulled it on over his Kokiri Tunic. It fit fine.
‘It must have been huge on Rana,’ Link thought.
“It protects you from great heat. It’s made of Dodongo hide and Bomb Flower leaf fibres. It should also allow you to breathe well enough in the Crater. As for the passage…” He waved at the statue in the back of Darunia’s room. “If you pull this, you can go through. There’s a secret passage. I can’t open it yet, but you might…”
Link took hold of the statue’s arms, braced his feet firmly against the ground, and pulled. The statue ground against the rocky floor.
“That’s good!” Navi called. Link stopped and looked. A steady, hot wind was blowing through a dark opening. Link waved at Goron Link and walked through.

Death Mountain Crater was dark. The darkness came from great clouds of dust and noxious gases spouting from two tall cones in a lake of lava. Link looked up and saw blue sky. He walked forward along a ledge until he came to a broken, wooden bridge. Link looked at the gap. He pulled out his Hookshot.
He aimed at the far side of the bridge. The weapon yanked him off his feet, and he landed on his stomach on the rough wood. He sat up and rubbed his nose.
“Look out, Link!” Navi called. Link jumped up and moved quickly, and then turned.
Sheik landed with a thump where he had been sprawled.
“Quick,” he gasped in a muffled voice. “Get your Ocarina out. I’ve gotta teach you the song before I inhale or get heat prostration.” Link grabbed his ceramic flute. Sheik had his harp out already.
“It’s called the Bolero of Fire,” he said, and launched into it. It sounded like a march based on a minor triad, then a diminished triad, then minor again. It was difficult, but Link and his magic Ocarina played it first time.
The eerie strings were back, along with percussion.
Link looked at his Ocarina. He distinctly remembered missing at least one note… how had the music come?
“See you at the Temple of Time,” Sheik called, already back at the ledge. “I’ve got to get out of here. Good luck.”
“Thank you!” shouted Link and Navi; Sheik was already off, bounding from boulder to crag to exit from the tunnel at the top of the mountain. A thin silver chain flicked out rather like Link’s Hookshot, wrapping around a rock and pulling him up.
Link watched him go, and then looked for his destination. Ahead, there was a carved cave opening. He headed over to it and in, and found a ladder, which he naturally climbed down as quickly as he could.
The ladder seemed to never end, even with his hurry. The dim light failed, but Link could see more below him. Navi flitted about nervously.
Finally, he was down, far below the crater, and entering the Temple under the lake of lava above.

The entrance was quite grand. A great staircase led up to a wonderfully carved wall, with strange smiling faces on it, lit up by many torches. A door led left, and another led right. Link chose the left one.
Platforms sticking out of the molten rock pooled on the floor were scattered, seemingly randomly around the room. There was a particularly wide one across from him, and a great door. And there…
“Darunia!” Link shouted. The old Goron turned.
“What?! Can my eyes deceive me? Is that really you, my Sworn Brother?”
“It’s me,” Link said, normal volume now.
“Pardon? Speak up, youngster,” Darunia bellowed testily. Link jumped as close as he could, until he was almost at Darunia’s platform, but he could not go any further.
“It’s me,” repeated the Hylian. “Are you unhurt? What’s going on? Little Link said something about…” he thought. “Ganondorf eating everybody…”
Darunia laughed. “My son! Ah hah hah! He would say that. No, there’s a great dragon named Volvagia. It is recorded in our history, but now Ganondorf has revived it. It is said that a Goron hero with the Megaton Hammer killed it and then stored the hammer somewhere in the Fire Temple. I searched, but I couldn’t find it. I am going to go and face the dragon anyway. Would you go and look for it? I didn’t look very well. I was afraid for my people. They will be eaten by the dragon soon if I don’t go in.”
“I will look for it,” Link promised. Darunia grinned and opened the door.
“Wait!” the Goron leader exclaimed, turning back. He tossed Link a map and a magical compass. “You’ll want these.” He took a deep breath and walked in. Link set his teeth and turned away reluctantly.
When Link returned after exploring the Temple from the highest cone to the lowest crevace, he had the massive, heavy Megaton Hammer with him. Navi carried it for him most of the time, so it wouldn’t slow him down or tire him out. He also found a way to traverse the lava to the last platform.
He took a deep breath the way Darunia had done, and entered the door.
A vast circular chamber awaited. There was a round ‘stage’, or really big rock, in the centre. A couple of rocks poked out of a raging sea of lava, sloshing around the base of the platform. Link jumped onto one and then onto the middle.
A large brown boulder sat up. “Link!” cried Darunia. “Do you have the hammer?”
“Yes, do you want it?” Link asked, running to him.
“Look out!” Darunia pushed the Hylian down. A roar and a hot fiery blast passed over him. Darunia bellowed.
Link rolled and stood up. A long fiery serpent was attacking Darunia, who had curled up again just in time. He noticed for the first time long gashes in the thick rocky hide of the Goron’s back.
The dragon gave up and turned away. It flew in a circle around the ceiling. Link nodded to Navi, and she gave him the heavy hammer. Volvagia saw him and dove.
Link jumped sideways out of the way, and Volvagia plunged headfirst into the ground. The young man went to the side of the arena, beside Darunia.
“Do you want it?” he repeated.
Darunia shook his head. “I saw that just now. You’re doing far better than I am, youngster. Keep at it!” Volvagia’s head came out of a hole in the ground close to them.
Link swung the hammer with both hands and brought it crashing down on the fire-dragon’s head. Volvagia roared, pulled back underground, and exploded out, sending rocks flying everywhere. Navi yelled and Link ducked.

Chapter 11: The Shadow of Evil     Chapter 13: The Realm of Silence

Chapter 10: Horse     Chapter 12: The Depths of the Dragon

Chapter 11: The Shadow of Evil

    After stopping at Kakariko, where he remet Lauri, who fed him, and where he learnt a new magical song called the Song of Storms which abruptly drenched him, and where clues Sheik left behind led him to a shiny new weapon called the hookshot which was a sort of spring-loaded grappling hook, Link returned to the ranch with Talon following him dazedly. He had found the ranch owner napping dejectedly in an inn.
    Ingo was awake again, but it seemed Malon had been correct – the strange necklace had been controlling him, for now he was irritatingly cheerful and subservient. The girl was overjoyed to see her father, and they invited Link to sleep there that night.
    The next day, Malon officially gave Epona to Link. “She obviously likes you just as much as she likes me, for some reason… and you’ll need her for your saving-of-the-world. So no arguing, got it?”
    “All right,” Link said, laughing. “Don’t panic. Epona will be safe with me. But can you teach me how to really ride the next time I come along? I need to go to the forest now and see if Saria and Rana are there.”
    “Do that! Now!” Malon grinned as she said it, eager as he was to see her friend again.
    So Link rode to Kokiri Forest. When he got there, he dismounted and led Epona among the trees on foot.
    Abruptly, the pleasant mood of the forest was shattered as a huge Deku Baba, about as big as Link himself, attacked him. Epona reared and screamed, and Link swept his sword out to attack it. Fortunately, bigger did not also mean tougher, just meaner and toothier, and it soon fell in little pieces at his feet.
    They were almost at the village, and it did not look promising. His heart sank. He had lived in the forest all his life; a sick forest made him feel sick to his stomach. Nothing was really the same. He ran into the nearest house he could find, that being the Wise Brothers’. They all jumped up, startled.
    “Hi, everyone,” said Link. “Is everybody safe?”
    “Who are you, mister?” asked the eldest brother. “You’re not allowed in Kokiri Forest, even if you’re wearing the same stuff. Hey! Where did you get a fairy?”
    “I’m Navi, remember?” said Navi indignantly. “And this is Link!”
    “Yeah, whatever,” said the middle brother, not convinced. “Everybody’s safe, because they’re inside, out of the way of the monsters.”
    “Saria?”
    “She’s in the Sacred Forest Meadow. She went there when the monsters started showing up.”
    “Rana’s been missing, too,” added the eldest. “She started growing up, though, for some reason.”
    “I don’t think she’s Kokiri,” whispered the youngest brother ominously.
    “Where was the last place- When was the last time you saw her?”
    “Don’t know. Hope she’s all right, even if she’s not Kokiri. Maybe the forest is keeping her out, but it let you…and that beast… in.”
    “That’s my horse. I understand why you don’t recognize me,” said Link. “Thank you for telling me where Saria is. Honestly, I still don’t recognize myself. I’m getting used to it, though.” The brothers stared at each other. “Never mind, then. I’ll go clean out the monsters.
    “Strange guy,” said one of the Wise Brothers.

    Link climbed up to the Lost Woods entrance and began to traverse the maze. By the Zora pool, there was a very short boy blocking the way.
    “Mido!” cried Link. “Believe it or not, I’m glad to see you alive.”
    “What?” asked Mido, completely confused. “I’ve never seen you before in my life. You’re not allowed through here. Saria told me not to let anyone go to the Meadow.”
    “Mido,” said Navi impatiently, “This is Link. Is he that grown up that you can’t recognize him?”
    “Yeah, sure, it’s Link!” said Mido sarcastically. “I’m not stupid.”
    “Will Saria’s Song convince you otherwise?” Navi chirped.
    Mido’s face was a study in confusion, but he stepped aside. “Um… Well… I still don’t believe you, so there! But… If you see Link… The real one… looks just like you, only he’s much smaller, with a different sword and shield… would you tell him… I’m sorry I was so mean to him years ago.”
    Link nodded. “I’ll tell him.” And he left him.
    “That’s nice of him,” said Navi.”
    “Yes.”
    They arrived at the meadow. Link heard strange grunting noises and drew his sword cautiously. He peered around the bend – and came face to face with a large, grotesque head. The troll-like Moblin growled and charged with its spear. Link brought up his shield, but was ploughed into a muddy pool. The monster peered at him for a couple of minutes and then turned away stupidly. Link felt behind his back for the sharp thing he had fallen on and touched the Hookshot. He came up on one knee and fired it.
    The thing worked just as he wanted it to, and the Moblin died. As Link continued, he peered around each bend carefully, hiding behind trees; the first Moblin had knocked the wind out of him and he didn’t want that to happen again. However, he was still startled again several times.
    “I hate these things,” said Navi. “They’re going to give you a heart attack.
    Link trotted into the Sacred Forest Meadow.
    Saria’s stump was empty. Link walked close to it, rather sadly, remembering when he had last seen her there. Abruptly he turned around.
    Sheik was there, watching him.
    “You have come,” he said in his lilting voice. “The passage of time…” noting Link’s glance towards the empty stump, “it must be unsettling… Especially in these dark places…”
    “Where is she?” asked the Hero.
    “I don’t know. I believe she is inside the Temple.”
    “I’m starting to guess she’s the second Sage after Rauru.”
    “You met Rauru already?” Sheik sounded delighted. “Excellent; then you do know what’s going on.” Sheik reached behind his back and pulled out a curved harp from somewhere. “My job here is to teach you the song that will bring you to this spot whenever you need to.” He played a lilting tune in 3/4 time. Link played it back on his Ocarina. The octave was a bit difficult; to lift all four fingers without dropping the tiny instrument. His hands were bigger.
    Out of nowhere, the eerie sound of stringed instruments melded with the harp and ocarina. The tune danced and sparkled through the air.
    “That is the Minuet of the Forest,” Sheik told him when they had finished.
    “It’s very pretty,” commented Navi. Sheik seemed to smile behind his high floppy collar.
    “You have… red eyes?” exclaimed Link suddenly. Sheik shrugged.
    “What of it? I’ll see you around, preferably when you finish. Have a good time, now, solving puzzles.” Another flash of light, and Sheik disappeared.
    Link grinned to himself. He liked this other young man. He brought out his hookshot and aimed it at a tree limb above the broken staircase. His feet were yanked off the ground and he dangled for a moment before disconnecting and landing firmly on the landing. He walked inside for the first time.

    The antechamber of the Temple was dark and covered in brown, withered ivy. As he ventured further, he discovered both dark, cavernous halls where he could barely see where he was going, and bright, sunny courtyards that would normally have been extremely beautiful if they had not been so dry… and if the giant sized Babas hadn’t been everywhere.
    And it was very quiet. It seemed the whole Temple was silent, except, in a duel with two hulking skeletons, for Link’s shouts of exertion and Stalfos grunts. One of them fell in pieces, the Master Sword piercing its collarbone. The other one crouched behind its shield. Its sword swung out. Link jumped back just in time. There was no time to think; the other Stalfos fought fiercely. Duck, hop, swing sword, and hope not to get cleaved in half in the meantime.
    Finally the thing died, but the other one had somehow put itself back together. It was still missing a leg, so he dispatched it easily. The bones vanished and Link took a deep breath of relief, wiping his forehead.
    Navi applauded. “That was so amazing I can’t believe it. You’re even more super at this age!” Link grinned, running his hand awkwardly through his hair before turning to the treasure chest at the back of the room. He drew out a bow, and his face lit up the way a small boy’s does on Christmas morning. He pulled out a quiver and strapped it on his back next to his sword sheath.
    “You’re happy,” commented Navi.
    “Yes, I am! This is beautiful and very useful. Since all my stuff fell out when I was in the time warp, I didn’t really have a ranged weapon.”
    “I know. I wonder where your stuff went.”
    “Maybe we can ask Shiek, later.”
    “Yes, let’s get out of here.”
    After wandering for a very long time, discovering odd little rooms and strange and vicious new monsters, they found themselves in an octagonal room with… handles.
    “Where could Saria be? We haven’t seen any hint of her.”
    “No,” said Link, pushing one of the handles and turning the room sideways.
    “I hope no one’s kidnapped her.”
    “Yes,” answered Link, jumping on a switch.
    “What’s the matter with you?” asked Navi impatiently. “Why are you acting funny all of a sudden?”
    “I’m worried, that’s all. If Saria is dead, then… then I’ll kill every last monster in Hyrule. No, I would do that anyway.”
    “I have no suggestions,” Navi told him.
    The last room in the Temple was a round room, up circular stairs to a circular platform ringed by a red velvet cord. Spooky moonlit paintings of a woodland path were hung around the walls, each identical to the next.
    As Link passed to the centre of the ring, nothing happened. Saria certainly was not there either. He turned back to leave.
    The entrance was now blocked by spikes.
    A rolling baritone laugh echoed, bouncing off the paintings. Link whirled and looked up, in time to see a black horse and a strange looking Ganondorf leap over his head and gallop into a painting and down the path.
    Navi called shrilly to be heard over the deafening hoofbeats that filled the room: “It’s only a shadow of Ganondorf! It’s not the real Ganondorf.”
    “That makes me feel a lot better, Navi,” Link said half-jokingly, half-sincerely. He spun, watching all the pictures. He caught a glimpse of the horse, and nocked an arrow. A warp portal appeared, and the horse galloped through it; at least until Link’s bow twanged and sent the arrow deep into the horse’s chest.
    The phantom horse screamed and spun, disappearing into the painting.
    Link’s eyes darted back and forth, watching for the next attack.
    He heard warp whirl from behind him and jumped around. His arrow missed in his hurry, and he flung himself to the side to avoid being trampled.
    His next try hit the shade. He caught sight of his opponent almost immediately, and watched him ride towards him.
    Warp whirl whined from behind him.
    “What!? Where!?” Link demanded of Navi, rolling to the side.
    “Oh, there must be more than one in the pictures, but they’re not real! I’m sorry!”
    “Never mind it,” Link assured her, adjusting his stance. He saw several Ganondorfs galloping through woodland and turned constantly, trying to keep them all in view.
    “Here!” called Navi, hovering next to one. His arrow was true this time. The horse burnt up in a blue flame.
    “Gah,” grunted the fake Ganondorf. His voice was much deeper than the real Ganondorf.
    The real Ganondorf, who was watching from his tower, though Link didn’t know it, shouted at the hero.
    “All right, kid, you killed the horse. See if you can beat… this!” The fake Ganondorf twirled its staff and a ball of dark energy appeared. He threw it at Link, who jumped aside. He remembered how much it had hurt when he had gotten hit before, just after he held his silence to protect Zelda. That was to hurt. This, here, was to kill.

Chapter 10: Horse     Chapter 12: The Depths of the Dragon