“Link… Wake up, Link, the chosen one…”
The light that blinded him dissipated as Link groaned and opened his eyes in the light and had to lift an arm over his eyes for a moment to adjust his sight. Soon he saw that he stood on a platform… with a lot of water around them, with more water falling on the platforms like waterfalls, and six altars in each spot of the main platform with a different symbol in each one, and with the symbol of the Triforce in the center of it. When he stopped looking around, he saw in front of him an old man with an orange and red tunic. Somehow, this man seemed familiar to him.
“Who… who are you?” Link asked, looking at him, noting how his own voice sounded strange.
“I am Rauru, one of the ancient Sages..." The old man presented himself. “Ages ago, we ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm… This is the Chamber of Sages, inside the Temple of Light. The Temple of Light, situated in the very center of the Sacred Realm, is the last stronghold against Ganondorf’s evil forces.”
Link was silent, listening to Rauru’s story as he continued. “The Master Sword, the evil-destroying sword that you pulled out of the Pedestal of Time, was the final key to the Sacred Realm.”
Now Link felt ashamed of himself when he heard that. The whole idea was to open the Door of Time and get the Triforce before Ganondorf, but it seems he allowed the evil warlock to infiltrate the Sacred Realm. All for nothing. All because he pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal.
“Link… Don’t be alarmed… Look at yourself…!” Rauru said to him.
Link raised an eyebrow and looked at himself… and he didn’t believe what he saw. Somehow he was no longer a small Kokiri. Somehow he grew up until he was as tall as an adult, and even his tunic and boots adapted to his new height, now having a white long-sleeved shirt under his tunic and white long pants, with two fingerless gloves on each hand. Even now the Hylian Shield on his back didn’t dwarf him anymore. Even the Master Sword was on his back with its own sheath.
“Wh-what?” Link asked, completely confused as he looked at his grown-up body.
“Link, you’ve become an adult! You’ve grown up!” Navi exclaimed in surprise as she flew around him.
“B-but… how is this possible?”
“The Master Sword is a sacred blade that evil ones may never touch. Only one worthy of the title of ‘Hero of Time’ can pull it from the Pedestal of Time.” Rauru explained. “However, you were too young to be the Hero of Time. Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven years.”
“Seven years?!” Link asked in shock. “I've been trapped here all this time?”
“Yes,” Rauru answered. “And now that you are old enough, the time has come for you to awaken as the Hero of Time!”
Link put a hand on his head as the world began to spin around him. He never thought he could be the Hero of Time when he left the Kokiri Forest. And less stay there trapped for seven years.
“Rauru.” Link asked. “What happened to Hyrule?”
“When Ganondorf entered the forbidden Sacred Realm and put his hands in the sacred Triforce that was sealed here, he became the King of Evil. And he ruled Hyrule with an iron fist, with the Crusaders doing his bidding around the realm.”
“The Crusaders.” Link muttered. “I can’t believe that Ganondorf found such an army in this world…”
“In fact, Link, those people aren't even from Hyrule. They’re from another land, far away from here.” Rauru answered.
“What?!” Both Link and Navi asked in surprise.
“What do you mean they’re not from here?” Link asked.
“Listen carefully, Link, because what I'm about to tell you will help you understand this enemy in question,” Rauru said, while using his magic to make him see everything that he was about to tell him.
This enemy came from another world, from another country. A country consumed by poverty and despair, caused by a war they themselves started, and which they lost. Between them, a cunning man used that despair as an instrument to rise in power and take control of the whole country. Even marked a whole race, his own people, as the enemy to justify his crimes and actions towards them. In the end, he declared a second war on the world, much more gruesome than the first one.
When he began his war, he knew that one of the countries, despite having an ocean between them, could fight back and help his enemies destroy them. Fortunately for him, he discovered that one of his allies was going to attack them from one side, so he planned in secret a surprise attack on the other side of this country. And to command this army, he sent one of his most loyal generals: Joseff Hoffmann. At the command of dozens of their armored ships, he crossed the ocean to ambush their unexpected objective. But unfortunately, a storm caught them off guard when crossing in the middle of a cursed sea. A storm like no other man could have even seen.
After this storm ended, Hoffmann found himself and his army on the shores of an unknown land for them. Our world. Trying to figure out what to do now, they wandered in our world. Knowing there was no way to return to their world, they began to act like mercenaries to the best payer, earning their nickname as the Crusaders by their symbol in their army. At the same time, many of them began to adapt to this unknown world. For example, Alexia Speidel began to get interested in the many creatures of this world.
Later, he heard stories of an ancient power capable of granting any wish to anyone who could lay their hand on it: the Triforce. In hopes of getting his hands on it, he decided to take advantage of the civil war that sparked in our realm, hoping to get closer to the sacred treasure. Fortunately, his attempt failed, and he was forced to retreat.
Eventually, Hoffmann met a singular man. A man whose power could smash everything that could get in his way to rule everything: Ganondorf. He knew that there was no possibility of returning to their home, so he couldn’t return with his leader. Surprisingly, he saw in Ganondorf somebody who could guide them to glory, and from that day, they began to work with each other in hopes of obtaining the greatest trophy: The Triforce and the whole world.
After the explanation, they were back to the Chamber of Sages. “You see, Link. This army isn’t just a group of monsters; they’re true zealots loyal to their master, and they will do anything for their goals. Fighting them will not be easy for you.”
“When they arrived in our world, they brought their own technological power, more advanced than anything we had ever seen before in Hyrule. Over time, they managed to adapt their technology to the resources our world could offer them.” Rauru said to Link. “And with the aid of Ganondorf, they might create things more terrifying than the Chimeras that they began to create before reaching our kingdom.”
“And how do you expect me to defeat Ganondorf with an army like that behind him?” Link asked.
“I know it’s a hard task, but there’s a way to stop him,” Rauru said. “A great part of his power radiated from the temples spread in Hyrule, but if you purify the evil in the temples, the sages will be reborn.
“As you can see, here are six symbols." Rauru showed the symbols around Link. “Each one represents one of the six sages, me being one of them. If you awaken the remaining sages, with our power, we can seal Ganondorf in this realm’s void, out of Hyrule.”
Link closed his eyes, looking down.
“I'm sorry to have to impose this task on you, Link, but as the Hero of Time, this is your destiny,” Rauru said to him.
“It’s fine.” Link said as he opened his eyes, looking at Rauru. “Now that I have the chance to defeat Ganondorf, I won’t fail.” He took the Master Sword from his back. “If this sword has chosen me, if I’m suited to be a hero, I will fight. “I'm going to stop Ganondorf and Hoffmann once and for all! And this time for sure… I will protect Zelda!”
Rauru gave a nod to him, and everything turned white around Link, everything disappearing around him.
“Find the other sages and save Hyrule!”
When the brightness around him faded, he was back in the Temple of Time, just as if he never left the place.
Link was silent for a long moment until the fairy spoke.
“Link… we’re back in the Temple of Time… But have seven years really passed?” Navi asked.
Link turned around to the chamber’s exit. “There’s only a way to find it.”
Link left the Temple of Time, and the first thing he saw turned his face white. The whole city, which was originally a bustling city, was completely abandoned, and its buildings looked partially destroyed, surely by the siege and battle in the castle seven years ago. But the damage could possibly be by monsters that had nothing better to do there. At least he could be grateful that the population evacuated the city in time, or things could have been worse there.
“Seven years.” Link muttered. “All this in only seven years…”
Link looked around until he heard some noises coming from the city’s market plaza, soon running toward it.
In the abandoned market plaza, a Hylurian soldier was fighting a Chimera Orc and two Stalfos in the city, holding them off as best he could.
“Damn monsters!” Exclaimed the soldier as he slashed around, bringing down the Orc with his sword. “Do you think I’ll let any of you monsters do as you please!”
He kept fighting the remaining monster in front of him, while a Crusader soldier simply looked with his arms crossed.
“I admit you have guts coming here on your own.” The Crusader said with a smirk. “But you should have gotten the hint when your beloved rebel army was wiped out.”
“I don’t care! I’ll fight for Hyrule until giving my last breath!” The soldier exclaimed.
He was able to destroy one of the Stalfos, but unfortunately the other Stalfos slashed him in the shoulder, forcing him to drop the sword and put a hand on the wound, stepping away until he hit his back against a wall.
“It’s a shame; people like you might be pretty valuable for us.” The Crusader said as he walked at the monster’s side, taking a gun with his hand, aiming at the soldier. “But unfortunately for you, the only place where traitors and rebels will go is to hell!”
The man looked at the Crusader as he pulled the trigger, shooting at him. But just before it happened, a shadow got between them, hearing the noise of metal being hit. The soldier looked at the back of the person who had just saved him.
“What the?” The Crusader asked, confused, seeing the person with his shield forward.
“The ones going to hell, are you guys…” Link said as he looked over the shield.
The Stalfos attacked him, but with a quick slash, he cut down the Stalfos without much effort.
“With only a slash?” The Crusader asked, soon looking at the sword in Link’s hands. “Wait, that blade…” Suddenly he stepped back. “The Master Sword?! That means that you’re… the Hero of Time?!”
Link looked at the Crusader in front of him, soon recognizing him. “You again, huh?”
“Again? We met before, boy? Who are you?” The Crusader asked. Then he looked at Link’s green clothes and face, remembering him immediately as the Kokiri who gave him so many problems twice in the past. “It can’t be! You’re the stubborn louse of the forest! You were supposed to be gone all this time!”
“Then this ‘stubborn louse’ is back. And you’re not going to leave so easily,” Link said to him.
“You impudent little-!” The Crusader aimed his weapon at Link.
“Link, be careful!” Navi warned Link as he prepared for battle.
He shot at Link with his weapon, but Link used his shield to block the bullet and rushed quickly at him, blocking another shot from him. Before the Crusader could react, Link executed a fast slash with his sword, stopping behind him. He waved his sword down, blood suddenly gushing from the Crusader’s torso as he began to fall on his back.
“That little shrimp was the… Hero of Time?!” The Crusader exclaimed as he was falling. “Impossi…ble…” The Crusader then fell dead to the ground, not moving anymore.
Link stood up and looked at the Crusader’s corpse with a frown. “That’s for enslaving Volvagia and Irana…” He muttered.
“Th-thanks a lot. You saved me.” Said the soldier, looking at Link. “You’re… you’re that boy that was in the castle during the attack, right? You’ve become a wonderful hero.”
Link looked at the soldier, soon recognizing him. “Wait. You’re the soldier from before! The one who saved me from that Crusader!” Link said as he remembered what happened in the castle.
“I’m glad you remember me, boy.” The soldier said with a small laugh.
“Tell me, what’s happening in Hyrule now?” Link asked the soldier.
“It’s Ganondorf.” The soldier began to talk. “That man, along with that bastard Hoffmann, has taken control of the kingdom. Their men and monsters are everywhere. And right now, they’re looking for the princess everywhere.”
“Princess Zelda! Where is she?!” Link asked him.
“I don’t know. Ever since she escaped with Mistress Impa, her whereabouts have been unknown…” The soldier answered. “We tried to reunite all the loyal soldiers that still could fight, but all of them but me were decimated by one of his monsters. All while he sat in the castle…”
“The castle?!” Link asked. “I’ll go and check it out.” He said as he began to walk away.
“Be careful! This town is full of nothing but Ganondorf’s and Hoffmann’s underlings!” The soldier warned him.
Link wandered into the abandoned city, remembering how everything was before. He eventually reached the area where the castle was before, but instead of the old castle, he found something much different.
Floating over a chasm on the ground filled with lava, where the old Hyrule Castle stood before, there was now a massive dark fortress standing on a large rock, floating away from anybody going on foot.
“Th-the castle… Hyrule Castle is… gone?!” Link asked in shock. “What in the world…”
“Link… I feel an unbelievable amount of evil energy… I’m scared!” Navi said as she hid behind Link’s head.
“Hey, you moron!”
Link looked to one of the castle’s windows, soon finding a Crusader soldier with a long weapon in his hand.
“This is Ganon’s Castle! This is a restricted area, and civilians are not allowed here! So get out of here!” The Crusader called and used his weapon to shoot at Link’s feet a few times.
Link stepped back, avoiding the shots, and soon ran away from the castle until getting to a safe place away from the guard.
“Damn… and I can’t do anything from here!” Link exclaimed.
“Link… we can’t do anything here,” Navi said. “We should leave this place and find any clue of the sages.”
“Good idea…” Link said, soon leaving the place behind.
Link walked away from the desolate place, while a shadowed figure in one of the windows watched him.
When Link abandoned the ruinous Hyrule Castle Town, he saw that everything looked the same, despite having passed seven years. He began to walk around, but after a while he sat on a trunk in the field.
“Damn, walking around without having a clue… just like when we got out of the forest the first time.” Link said.
“Yeah, but at least Ganalia was with us,” Navi said.
“Speaking of her, what could have happened to her?” Link asked. “I hope she’s okay.”
“Taking into account she was a thief, surely she’s fine,” Navi said. “What worries me is the Lynel beast. I fear that she might have joined Ganondorf’s forces in your absence.”
“Stop joking around, Navi! I don’t believe she would do that!” Link said.
“As you said, we don't know what happened to them in these seven years,” Navi said.
“I know!” Link stretched his arms as he stood up. “But we will never find out if we stay here. First we must find who these sages might be.”
“But Link, do you have any idea where to begin looking?” Navi asked.
“You have a good point…” Link began to think.
Soon they heard the noise of something approaching them, alerting Link and Navi. Eventually they saw a large steel cart with black tires covered by a large tarp that wasn’t pulled by horses but by a small steel box in front of the steel cart.
“Are you lost, pal?” Asked the man driving the vehicle, wearing the Crusaders’ uniform and with the cap covering his face.
Link took a couple of steps back as a precaution, while Navi hid inside his cap.
“Oh, don’t worry!” The man said, taking his cap off, revealing himself to be a Hylian. “I'm a fellow countryman like you!”
Link was surprised to see a Hylian driving a Crusader vehicle, though at least that calmed him down a little.
“We're heading to the ranch right now. Want a ride?” The Hylian asked.
‘He means Lon Lon Ranch?’ Link thought for a moment before answering. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Okay, climb up!” The Hylian said.
Link began to look at the vehicle, wondering how to climb on it or get inside. The Hylian began to laugh at this.
“It's always the same when one sees it!” The Hylian said after laughing, while Link blushed ashamed and puffed out his cheeks.
With a little help from the Hylian, Link climbed into the vehicle, finding it all very strange, while Navi peeked shyly out from under his cap.
“Uh, what is this thing?” Link asked
“They call it ‘truck’. And I must admit, it is a most amazing vehicle.” The Hylian said.
“And how does it move without horses or any other animal?” Link asked.
“Oh, this moves thanks to something called an 'engine' inside the metal box up there, under the hood.” The Hylian replied, signaling the frontal part of the truck.
“And doesn't it need to eat?” Link asked.
“I don't know about eating, but drinking? You can't even imagine! They have to feed it with a strange black liquid that they extract from beneath the Gerudo Desert.” The Hylian said.
Link looked forward for a moment before looking back at the man. “And… Why are you working for the Crusaders?”
“Well, I admit those people know how to pay well.” He shrugged. “At least they don't involve me in military operations or anything like that. Just transportation.”
“And how many Hylians are working for them?” Link asked.
“Why? You want to work with them too?” He asked, with Link shrugging. “I think there are four cats, give or take. The people still haven't forgiven them for taking the kingdom by force, but needs are needs.”
“I suppose.” Link said.
This could change many things for Link. He knew he would have to face the Crusaders, but the idea of having to kill Hylians who had joined them troubled him more than one could imagine. He doubted whether he had what it took to do it if the situation arose.
“Well, we’re here.” The Hylian said.
Link looked forward, recognizing the small hill where the ranch was located, eventually climbing the pathway to it.
“Okay, at last we’re here.” Link said, looking outside. “At last at… Ingo Ranch?!”
Link was in shock. What he remembered as Lon Lon Ranch somehow was renamed Ingo Ranch. He just wondered what had happened here in the seven years that he was away.
But he couldn’t think further about it, because a loud noise startled him, making him fall forward, pushing the door and falling to the ground face on, with the small fairy flying in circles over his head. All while the Hylian laughed loudly.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” He said, after having used the vehicle’s horn. “But everyone I met that sees this vehicle for the first time has the same reaction when I use the horn!”
Link narrowed his eyes, grumbling as Navi flew in circles over his head.
“Ah, you’re here!”
Link looked up as he heard that voice, seeing Ingo coming there. But instead of the work clothes he usually wore, he was dressed like an aristocrat or something similar.
“Yeah, I came for the usual.” The Hylian said.
“Good.” He said before looking at Link as he stood up. “A new soldier?”
“No, a traveler who got lost.” The man said.
That’s all we needed…” Ingo grumbled before looking to the side. “Malon!”
Link’s eyes widened, and he looked to the side, seeing somebody get out of a nearby building. He quickly recognized Malon at that moment, but was shocked to see how she was. She was a towering, muscular woman, with a white short shirt barely holding her massive bust, and a purple long skirt with a lower apron tied with a belt that barely reached to her knees for her size, and still wearing the yellow scarf. A pair of details odder than her appearance were the two bull-like horns on her head, the cow ears instead of usual pointy ears, and the cow tail peeking under her skirt
Link was amazed to see the current form of the girl he had met before.
“Yes, Ingo?” Malon asked, showing a normal feminine voice despite her appearance.
“They're here. Start loading things onto that thing. And quickly! You have a lot of work to do!” Ingo ordered her, walking away.
Malon gave a defeated sigh and went back inside the building, soon coming back with a large box, taking it to the back of the truck. She was having some problems placing the box into the truck when a pair of hands helped her.
“Do you need a hand?” Link asked her as he helped her, getting a surprised glare from the girl.
“O-oh, thanks, but don’t worry… I can do it myself.” Malon said to him.
“Don’t worry, I can he-eeeeeeeeeeeeh!” Link exclaimed as he was pulled forward by the surprising weight of one of the boxes held by Malon, the box falling to the ground and he landing over it.
The hit on the ground shook the soil a little, startling both the transporter and Ingo, who turned to see what happened, seeing Link dizzy after the accident over the box, with Navi flying in circles over his head.
Half an hour of hard work later, the truck was full with boxes of milk, meat, and eggs.
“Okay, here’s the payment.” The Hylian said as he gave a bag full of rupees to Ingo.
“It's a pleasure doing business with you.” Said Ingo.
The truck began to move away, leaving the ranch behind.
“Tell your general that if he wants anything special, he should let us know immediately so we can prepare it for him!” Ingo called with a smile and waved his hand.
Just when the truck disappeared, Ingo recovered his arrogant face and looked at Malon.
“Okay, back to work! You have a lot to do!” Ingo ordered Malon.
“Hi, hi!” Malon said as she began to move to do her job.
He was to leave until he spotted Link. “And what do you want, boy?”
“Well, I may ask to rest here?” Link asked carefully.
“Are you serious?” Ingo asked him. “This is a ranch, not an inn! But if you want to stay, know that I don't accept slackers here. You'll have to earn your place here by the sweat of your brow. Understood?”
Link quickly nodded to him.
“Fine, then… Move it already! Ask Malon for jobs to do before I run out of patience!” Ingo exclaimed, startling Link before walking away, grumbling.
Link didn't take long to start working with Malon on the ranch, without saying anything, lest Ingo hear him.
After finishing his workday, as night fell, Link lay down on a pile of straw in the stable that he could use as a bed to rest.
“My Goddess, what a way to work. I don't think I've ever put in so much effort in my life.” Link said as he rested on the straw pile.
“Well, that's what adults usually do to earn a living; they can't spend their time as you did in the forest,” Navi said.
“Maybe you’re right. My, how I miss the Kokiri Forest already!” Link said.
“Don’t tell me that you were a slog there?” Navi asked.
Link was about to reply to the fairy when he heard a voice. A voice singing. Link stood up and walked out of the stable, following the voice. Eventually he reached the horse corral, where she spotted Malon in the centre of it, singing Epona’s Song if he remembered right.
Despite her appearance, Malon’s song sounded beautiful but melancholic under the night, with no one around her to hear her voice. Until she heard the sound of an instrument playing at the same pace as her song. She stopped singing and turned around, spotting Link using the Ocarina of Time to play the same song she sang while approaching her, until he stopped playing it.
“How do you know that song?” Malon asked him, confused. He had just met that man who helped her today, so how could he know that song? Then she began to examine how he was clothed, the ocarina he had, and eventually the small fairy around him.
“Wait… green clothes, an ocarina, and a fairy?” She described each part. Her eyes widened when she recognized it. “Wait, you’re the fairy boy!” She exclaimed as she leaned toward him with a happy expression, startling Link. “Wow! You really grew a lot!”
Link laughed weakly at her reaction, blushing at the sight of her massive bust in front of his face. “My name’s Link. And she’s Navi.” He presented both of them to her.
“Link, uh? Nice name!” Malon said, smiling.
Link then began to look around. “What exactly happened here? When did this place change from Lon Lon Ranch to Ingo Ranch? And where’s your father? I haven't seen him all day.” Then he looked at her. “And what just happened to you?!”
Malon’s smile faded at that question, placing her hands behind her as she stood still. “That was long ago. When Ganondorf turned into the ruler of Hyrule, Ingo took the chance to get control of the ranch. And when he turned into the owner, he kicked my father away. As far as I know, he’s living now in Kakariko Village.”
“And if Ingo kicked Talon away, why are you still working here?” Navi asked.
“Good question. You looked like a slave here.” Link commented. “And with that form of yours, you could easily overpower him.”
Malon walked away while looking down. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m forced to work for Ingo. He said that if I disobey him, he will hurt the horses.”
“What a bully!” Link exclaimed, clenching his fist, but then he looked at her. “But still didn’t answer why you look like a half-breed of a cow and a Hylian.”
Malon looked down at that question. “A while back, I had a pretty serious run-in with the Crusaders. They injected me with something, and soon after, I ended up like this.”
“At least we can give him one point in his favor. The ranch hasn't performed better in its history.” Malon continued, sighing. “It's a shame that one of Ingo's best customers is those brutes from the Crusaders. And I don't want to talk about their monsters!”
“I understand. I don’t like these things either.” Link said, but then remembered something he noted in the time he was there. “By the way, where’s Epona? I haven't seen her around here either, even though it's hard not to spot her among the horses.”
Malon gave a loud sigh and looked to the sky with a sad face. “The Crusaders, led by that woman who fancies herself an alchemist, took some of the farm animals years ago, as a tribute paid by Into to take control of the ranch. Unfortunately, Epona was among those they took, simply because that woman noticed something special about her.”
“Damn it!” Link cursed. How did they dare to take not only the animals of this ranch? And just Epona between them? He now really wanted to have some words with them right now. After sighing, he asked. “And you know what happened to her?”
Malon looked down at that question, having a memory sound in her mind.
“Epona! What are you doing to her?!”
“That's none of your business! And you shouldn't even be here!”
“Please, stop what you are doing to her!”
“Forget it. She’s an invaluable subject for me. And I don’t want to see you here again. Guards! Take her away!”
“No! Let me go! Let me go, you barbarians!”
“And tell your boss there's no need to send you here to do deliveries anymore! We'll send someone else to pick them up. And if I catch snooping around again, I will turn you into another subject of my experiments, little girl.”
“No! Epona! Epona!”
“Wait! On second thought, bring her here!”
“Hey! What are you doing? What’s that?”
“I'm just going to punish you for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.”
“No! No!”
Back into reality, Malon shook her head with her eyes closed. “Sorry, I have no idea.”
Then she turned to Link with a smile. “Tell me, what have you been doing all these years?”
“Well, it’s a long and weird story.” Link said, rubbing the back of his head. “All I can say is that now I have to locate the Sages. Who knows who they are.”
“Sages? Funny. My mother told me a tale about them when I was younger,” Malon said.
“The thing is, we have no idea where to look,” Navi said.
Link nodded with a worried face, but then he looked at how Malon reacted to something behind him, and immediately he drew the Master Sword and his shield as he turned around, facing whoever was there.
On the top of the sign over the corral’s entrance, he spotted a man in a blue and black bodysuit with white bandages on his forearms, chest, and head, whose only visible spots of his face were his red eyes and part of his hair, with the Sheikah symbol on his chest. Link was defensive about the presence of the man, but Malon simply smiled.
“Mr. Sheik. You shouldn’t scare people like that!” Malon commented, looking at the man.
Link looked at both Malon and the man, confused.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Hero of Time…” Said the man to Link, getting back his attention.
“Hero of Time?” Malon asked, confused, looking at both the man and Link.
“When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages to dwell in the five temples.”
One in a deep forest…
One on a high mountain…
One under a vast lake…
One within the house of the dead…
One inside a goddess of the sand…
“Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world… This is the legend of the temples passed down by my people, the Sheikah.” He said, jumping from the sign and landing on the ground.
“So, that’s where the temples are,” Navi said. “It means that’s where we might find the Sages.”
“But who are you?” Link asked him.
“I am Sheik, survivor of the Sheikah. And servant of Master Impa.” Replied Sheik, glaring at Link. “As I see you standing there holding the mythical Master Sword, you really do look like the legendary Hero of Time.”
Link glared at the Master Sword held in his hand before looking back at Sheik, while Malon tried to understand what was happening.
“If you believe the legend, you have no choice. You must look for the five temples and awaken the five Sages.” Sheik crossed his arms. “One Sage is waiting for the time of awakening in the Forest Temple. The Sage is a girl I am sure you know. Because of the evil power in the temple, she cannot hear the awakening call from the Sacred Realm.”
A girl he knows in the Forest Temple? There are only two girls that would fit that description: Saria and Nyrava. If one of them is supposed to be the sage, who?
“Unfortunately, equipped as you currently are, you cannot even enter the temple,” Sheik said, getting his attention. “But if you believe what I’m saying, you should head to Kakariko Village. There, you might find something that will help you get there. And maybe… one clue of what happened to the two that remained behind when you left: the thief, and the Lynel.”
Link turned to Malon as the two were confused at what he said, but when he turned to look at Sheik, there was no trace of him.
“Where has he gone?” Link asked, looking around, but he didn’t see any trace of the Sheikah there. He then turned to Malon. “Malon, you know that man?”
“Yeah, he's a servant of Impa. They have helped people around Hyrule from the time Ganondorf turned into the Evil King.” Malon explained.
“I see.” Link said, then began to run. “Now that I know where to go, I must return to Kokiri Forest right now!” Link said, but then stopped on his tracks. “But wait! If what he said was right, I need to get something from Kakariko Village, so I need to go there first!” He was about to walk again, but then began to ruff his head hysterically. “Argh! But I need to know if Saria and the others are fine, but still I will take a lot to get anywhere on foot! Damn it! Damn it!”
“Well, what a Hero of Time you are!” Navi exclaimed, looking at Link.
“Uhm, I think I can help you,” Malon said, getting Link’s attention. “But could you do me a favor?”
“A favor? Right Now?” Link asked her.
“Yeah…” Malon said, crossing her arms under her massive boobs with a face of tiredness, bouncing them up and down. “They're pretty full right now! It’s the only thing I hate about all this…”
Link stared at Malon with a confused and nervous expression.
Later, after helping Malon with her problem, Link was mounted on a brown horse that Malon brought from the horses’ stable.
“Are you sure Ingo won’t mind it?” Link asked Malon from the top of the horse.
“Don’t worry, he’s a rental horse. He’s trained to return here after finishing the job and take the client where he wants to go.” Malon said.
“Good to hear that! And don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him. He’ll be back in no time.” Link said.
Link immediately began to ride the horse out of the ranch.
“Come back another day if you need something!” Malon called as she waved her hand to him, until he disappeared from her view.
In his room, Ingo was grumbling on his bed, staring at the roof angrily. “This girl and her obsession with helping people for free… Didn’t she learn anything when they turned her into a cow girl?”
After a long ride from the ranch through Hyrule Field, Link finally reached Kakariko Village when day arrived. When he dismounted the horse, the animal quickly turned around and began to run back to the ranch. At least he was closer to the forest after he finished his business there.
Walking through the village, he noted how large it had become since the last time he was there. Surely by the fact that the majority of the people living there came from Hyrule Castle Town when it was destroyed seven years ago. That memory still haunted him, feeling completely useless to do something against Ganondorf and the Crusaders. But now he felt bad that the people had to live under Ganondorf’s oppression for these seven years.
“Okay, now to look for whatever clue we can get from-” Link was talking when suddenly a dagger flew past close to his cheek.
He then spotted a figure jumping over him with a sword, and he quickly took the Master Sword and the shield, ready to meet the attacker.
“One of Ganondorf’s minions?!” Link exclaimed as he blocked the incoming attack.
Unfortunately, the force of the attack pushed him and made him fall to the ground. And before he could do anything, he saw the blade of the attacker aimed at his neck, but both were stunned, facing each other. The attacker when it saw the Master Sword, and Link, when he saw the attacker closer.
“That sword…” The attacker said with a female voice.
“Y-you’re…” Link began to say as he recognized her. “Impa!”
Impa, whom he hadn’t seen after seven years, was standing in front of him, with a smile.
“It’s been seven years, Link. You finally obtained that sword, did you?” Impa said with a smile.
Later, Impa took Link to her house in the town, where she gave him food and water, which he began to devour, while he was observed by Impa.
“I want to say, ‘you’ve come along nicely’, but what is with that carelessness of yours?!” Impa said to him. “Do you have any idea of the people that rule Hyrule? Do you know what might have happened if one of their patrols had found you? You're lucky they haven't put up wanted posters all over the city!”
Link stopped eating, placing the water glass on the table while looking sad.
“I’m sorry.” Link said, looking down, then turning to Impa. “I can’t forgive Ganondorf… or that general… I want to defeat them. But, can I really win against them as I am now? Besides, I saw what they did to the capital and what happened to Lon Lon Ranch. Also, I saw what they did with Malon. I fear what more they have done everywhere else.”
Impa closed her eyes after hearing him.
“Thanks for the food and water…” Link said as he stood up. “Now I have to find something and-” Suddenly he was pushed back to the chair. “Hey!”
“Sorry, Link. I see you have spirit. But as far as I can see, your body isn’t in tune with your spirit.” Impa said. “What you need is some training with the Master Sword. I'll make sure you can use it properly. You’re not leaving the town until you’re in perfect tune with the Master Sword.”
“What?!” Link asked, standing up. “I can’t do that! If you don’t know, I’m in a hurry! My friends need me in the Kokiri Forest! I must get there as soon as possible, and for that I-”
“You will be unable to help anybody if you’re killed mid-way.” Impa interrupted. “How do you plan to help them if you can’t help yourself? You need to understand how to use the Master Sword properly. You’re not a small child of the forest anymore.”
Link clenches his fist at her words, closing his eyes in frustration.
“They have waited for you for seven long years,” Impa said, smiling. “I doubt anything will happen if they wait a couple more days.”
After thinking for a while, Link took a deep breath, opening his eyes and looking at her.
“Alright then.” Link replied to her.
In the next few days, the sound of swords clashing together echoed through Kakariko Village, as Impa trained Link in the correct use of the sword, allowing him to learn a few sword techniques of his own. He also learned some tips on swordsmanship that he was unaware of seven years ago, as well as some useful uses for the shield to block enemy projectiles. Also, he learned that Talon, after being kicked off from Lon Lon Ranch, was allowed to rest in Kakariko Village all this time. Also, at the same time, he learned that Impa got information about the Crusaders’ Chimeras, with their names and forms, which Link and Navi studied for when he had to fight them in the future.
After a hard training session, Link was resting on the chair in Impa’s house with his top clothes off, recovering from Impa’s hard training.
“I must admit it. You've become very good with the sword in just a few days.” Impa said, looking at him.
“What can I say? I'm pretty motivated.” Link replied as he breathed deeply.
“I can see that. But you should know that there is a big difference between training and a real fight. The enemy will not forgive any mistake on your part.” Impa said.
“Yes, I know.” Link said, looking up with his eyes closed. Eventually he opened them and looked at Epona. “Impa, you know where Princess Zelda is right now? You know, don’t you?”
Impa looked at him with a worried expression about answering that question, but then she changed her mind.
“The princess is…”
Suddenly, a great commotion began to be heard outside the house, catching the attention of everyone inside.
“Something’s happening outside,” Navi said.
“Damn, I forgot what day it is today…” Impa muttered, narrowing her eyes.
In the center of town, people were gathering to see what was happening.
“Alright, everyone! Today's the day! Start preparing things as soon as possible!”
A Crusader exclaimed, as he was accompanied by a large group of Chimera Orcs and some werewolf-like monsters, with an Orc Chief leading them.
“Come on, let's go! It's for today!” The Crusader exclaimed.
“Hey, Talon, what’s going on here?” Link asked Talon, who was looking from behind the people.
“What's going on?” Talon asked as he turned around, seeing Link there, but his jaw dropped with his eyes narrowed as he saw he was practically shirtless. “What’s going on with you? Don't you know how cold it is out here at this hour?”
“Come on, hurry up, we don't have all day!” The Crusader exclaimed at the people, who looked at them in defeat.
“What are they doing here?” Link asked Impa as she passed nearby.
“A tithe troop,” Impa said. “Every month, the Crusaders come here to collect tribute for Ganondorf and Hoffmann, be it in rupees, valuable objects, or even food.”
“Yeah, and it looks like this time they sent Chimeras to do the job,” Talon said.
“So they come every month to extort people, right?” Link asked, narrowing his eyes.
“You've hit the nail on the head,” Impa said.
“What a pack of bullies!” Navi said.
“No matter how much time passes, these people have no guts.” The Orc Chief said.
“You’re right. After we destroyed their beloved Hyrule Castle Town and eradicated their royal guard, these people have lost the will to fight. And that's for the best; that way they'll learn their place in the world.” The Crusader said, beginning to laugh loudly.
Without any warning, Link stepped forward and delivered a powerful punch to his face that knocked him unconscious to the ground. Everyone was shocked when this happened, horrified by what was about to happen.
“Hey, kid! What are you doing?! Don’t enrage them!” A townsperson called Link after that.
“You damned scoundrel. I couldn't hold back. To treat people like that…” Link said as he cleaned his hands after punching the Crusader.
“Did you really have to do that?! Look at the mess you've made! They’re pissed off with you now!” Navi exclaimed as she tried to hide behind Impa.
As the fairy said, the Chimeras were angry, looking at Link.
“Damn brat. You have no idea of the mess you got!” The Orc Chief said. “You and the village will pay for that!”
“Are you sure?” Link asked, turning to the talking Chimera, hitting his fist against his hand. “Believe me, I'm really keen to get back at you for what you did to Hyrule seven years ago.”
The Orc Chief growled before giving the order. “Kill him! Skin that fool alive!”
The Chimera Orcs and Werewolves jumped at Link, who simply ran between them, avoiding their attacks. In the moment they stopped, and Link got behind them, two Orcs felt how they missed a sword and a shield respectively, opening and closing their now free hand in confusion.
“Hey!” Link called, making the Chimeras turn at him. “Looking for something?” He asked, showing the sword and shield he stole from them.
He didn’t have the Master Sword and the shield with him. But with these monsters, he didn’t need them.
The Chimeras were getting angrier by the moment, looking at Link.
“Get me his head so I can impale it in the middle of this stupid hick town!” The Orc Chief ordered.
“Okay, let’s dance!” Link said as he prepared with the stolen sword and shield.
The Chimeras lunged at Link again, but he quickly blocked the first attack of one with the shield and pushed it away, quickly cutting it with his blade and bringing it down. Soon three Orcs rushed at him with their shields raised to block his attacks, but he jumped to the side, avoiding the attack of one of them, rolling behind them after landing, and with a spinning slash he took down the three Orcs at once.
He quickly jumped to the side when he saw one of the Werewolves jump toward him, avoiding its claws. When the Chimera turned to him to keep attacking, it was met by Link’s blade that beheaded it with a swift move. More Chimeras rushed against him, yet he held the sword with his hands and jumped toward them, slashing repeatedly with the weapon and taking down some of them, soon hitting the ground hard and pushing the rest of them away with the impact’s shockwave.
The Orc Chief was next to attack him with its weapon, raising it over its head with bloody intentions, although Link struck him with the shield before it could attack him. Immediately, he jumped over it while slicing his head vertically, breaking its helmet in the process, and in the moment he landed, he slashed the Chimera’s back with the sword, immediately killing it.
The Crusader began to recover consciousness, wondering what just happened, when he saw how the remaining Chimeras surrounded Link, jumping over him. Yet, he held the sword tightly, and when they were close enough, he finished them with a wide spinning attack with the weapon, taking down and eliminating the remaining Chimeras with one swift attack.
After this attack, Link smiled. “This is all?” He then dropped the shield to the ground while looking at the Chimera corpses around him. “This might be a lesson for you.”
Everyone was staring at Link, speechless, surprised at how he was able to defeat a whole squad of Chimeras with such ease. Never expected that, in these long seven years, such a thing was ever possible.
“Incredible…” Navi commented in awe.
“Not bad,” Impa said with her arms crossed and with a smile on her face. “I had my doubts, but at this level, these enemies will not be a threat to you.”
The Crusader, sitting on the ground, was looking around confused, turning his head to the corpses of the Chimeras he was in charge of, unable to understand what had just happened.
“What? What? What?” Was the only thing the Crusader was able to murmur while looking around.
Link quickly turned his glare to the Crusader, and before he could do anything, Link executed a spinning slash with the weapon, aiming at him, barely stopping at mere inches of his neck, his mouth open and eyes widened in fear.
“It would be very easy to finish you off now.” Link said, pulling the sword away. “But I think you have much bigger problems right now.”
The Crusader wondered what he said until he turned to the town’s inhabitants, who were looking at him angrily. If glares could kill, theirs would have killed him a dozen times already. His face was turning paler every second, fearing what they were going to do. He immediately got up from the ground and ran towards the village exit like a bat out of hell, screaming like a terrified little girl and kicking up dust wherever he went because of how fast he was going.
After a moment of silence, everyone started cheering and celebrating that Link had taught the Crusaders a lesson. Something that hadn't happened in those seven long years.
“I must admit it. You've improved more than I imagined.” Impa said as she walked to him.
“Thank you, but I doubt I would have done it without your training. Now I feel capable of taking on anyone.” Link said with a smile.
“That's good. But you still need to improve a lot more if you ever want to face Ganondorf. And who knows what they might send against you.” Impa warned him.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Link nodded to her.
“I'd love to celebrate with everyone. But I think we should leave before they come back seeking revenge.” Navi said to him as she flew at his side.
“You’re right.” Link said. “But still I have no idea what Sheik wanted us to find here.”
“Sheik?” Impa asked, looking at them. “You already met him?”
“Yeah, in the ranch. He told us that I would need something from here to enter the temple in the forest.” Link explained.
“Something? From here?” Impa asked thoughtfully.
“Hey, aren't you referring to the treasure of Dampe?” One of the townspeople asked another.
“Yeah, that could be it.” The other replied.
“Ah, yes, that would make perfect sense,” Impa commented.
“Dampe?” Link asked.
“He was the town's gravedigger. It is said that during his work he found a strange object that obsessed him to such an extent that he was buried with it.” Talon said.
“I've heard that whoever enters his tomb can challenge him to a race. They say that if someone wins, they get to keep the treasure they found.” A kid said.
“Really? Then I’m going there right now!” Link said.
“Well, I've heard that someone already entered his tomb and took the object.” One of them said.
“What?! No way!” Link exclaimed, getting depressed.
“It's true! I saw it! That strange girl went in there the other day and came out with the object!” One of them said.
“What strange girl?” Link asked the one who spoke.
“Yes, that kind of thief who looks like a Gerudo because of her dark skin. Wild, disheveled red hair and a halberd.” The man said.
“Thief? Dark skin? Red hair? A halberd?” Link began to ask. Eventually he joined all the dots and turned to Navi.
“Ganalia!” Both he and the fairy exclaimed at the same time.
“So she was the one who got hold of Dampe's artifact? I'm not surprised at all.” Impa said.
Link was happy to know that at least Ganalia was able to survive up to this day. And now he needed to find her to be able to get to the forest’s temple, if what Sheik was right.
“Please! Anybody know where I can find her?” Link asked the people.
“Sometimes when I leave the village, I think I've seen her near the river. In the small lake between the entrance to the Zora River and the Lost Woods.” One man said.
“Between the entrance to Zora River and the Lost Woods. Understood!” Link said and began to run to the town’s exit.
“Hold on!” Impa called him. He stopped midway and turned to her. “Shirt and weapons?” Impa asked, signaling at him.
“Whoa!” Link said as he looked at his torso, remembering he was shirtless and that he had his belongings in Impa's house.
Later, after leaving the village, Link and Navi followed the river’s course up to its origin, close to the access to the Zora’s River, eventually finding that close to the access there was a fork that divided the river into two directions, and they walked in the direction of the secondary river, following the old road connected to the Kokiri Forest.
“Link, do you really think we'll be able to find Ganalia?” Navi asked as they walked through the path.
“I hope so. If we don't, we'll clearly have a lot of problems. She has the only thing we need to reach this forest temple.” Link said.
“Wouldn't it be better to go there and see if we really need that gadget?” Navi suggested.
“It's not a bad idea, but I'd prefer to be sure we don't have to backtrack all the way to find it.” Link said as he began to turn to the fairy. “Besides-”
Link’s foot slipped when turning around; with a sudden yelp, he fell to the ground, beginning to roll down the small rise until falling into the small lake there. Link gasped for air as he was sitting on the bottom of the lake’s water-covered border.
“Are you okay?” Navi asked when she flew at his side. “You should look better where you step.”
Link rolled his eyes at the fairy’s comment, but then he heard a splash close to him. Focusing on the source, eventually spotted what caused it: A slender yet curvaceous young woman of dark skin with long red hair giving her back to him, and from his position he could easily see her exposed rear.
Link gulped, his face flushing, seeing the nude woman, figuring that she could be a Gerudo. He then got nervous as she turned around, looking at him, her soaked hair covering her modest, large breasts, staring at him with her amber eyes, pointy ears peeking out from under the wet hair.
“I hope you like the view, because it's not going to be free.” The woman said with a mix of a stern and seductive voice.
Link laughed weakly at the woman’s words. But then she raised an eyebrow and approached him, giving an observing glare at him. He was nervous as she looked at him and the fairy like that.
But then she smiled, and suddenly began to laugh loudly, facing up, with a hand on her face. “By all the goddesses! Link, it's you!” She exclaimed amid laughter.
Link blinked in confusion as she laughed in front of him.
“Do we know each other?” Link asked, looking at her.
“Link, can't you connect the dots? Where do you think we are?” Navi asked Link.
Link began to think about the indications he was given, and his eyes widened out of the sudden, staring at the woman.
“Ganalia?!” Link asked, surprised.
Ganalia stopped laughing and looked at him with a smile, hands on her hips. “In the flesh!”
“My, you really changed…” Link commented, eyeing Ganalia’s adult body up and down.
“Well, you changed too. Still, you look the same.” She said.
“Still, how did you recognize me?” Link asked to her.
“Oh, maybe you still wear those green clothes and that fairy. But even so, no matter how much you change, you still have that goofy face.” Ganalia explained to him.
“Seriously?” Link narrowed his eyes, looking at her.
“Come on, let me tease you a little. After all, it's been seven years.” She said, facing to the side.
Link did not respond, but he had to admit that Ganalia's body had developed very well, as she no longer resembled the little thief girl she once was. Even he felt flushed by her natural beauty, his eyes now fixated on her large bosom from the side view.
“Link, her eyes aren’t there,” Navi said to him when she saw where he was looking.
Ganalia eyed him after hearing the fairy, smiling. “You like the view?”
Link rolled his eyes to the side, blushing.
Inside Ganon’s Castle, Ganondorf and General Hoffmann were standing in the throne room in front of the Crusader soldier who returned from Kakariko Village.
“Are you saying that the entire tithing unit has been wiped out?” Hoffmann asked the soldier.
“Yes, General!” The soldier replied.
“And how many people have been responsible for this?” He asked again.
“Just one person, my General.” The Soldier answered.
“What? One person?” Hoffmann asked, infuriated enough to make the soldier step back in fear.
Ganondorf looked at the soldier with a calm face. “And how did he do it? He used a special weapon for it?”
“No, Mein Herr.” The soldier shook his head. “He stole weapons from two of the Orcs, and used them to wipe out the entire detachment.”
“With stolen weapons, uh?” Ganondorf wondered.
Hoffmann looked at Ganondorf for a while before looking back at the soldier, beginning to take a paper from his trench coat.
“Does that person in question... happen to resemble this one here?” Hoffmann asked, showing a picture of the young Link his men took long ago.
“Argh! Yes, it is!” The soldier exclaimed, looking at the image and signaling at it with his hands. “It's exactly like this one, but in adult form! There is no doubt!”
Ganondorf began to move to one side as Hoffmann put the paper in his trench coat, looking at him.
“Mein Herr. First one of the units in the city ruins, and now the tithe unit that was sent to Kakariko.” Hoffmann began to say. “I know you ordered a passive approach to keep an eye on him in case the princess decided to show herself in front of him. But if the boy is as skilled as he seems, he could become a serious problem. If he truly is the Hero of Time, it's clear he'll go to the temples. Probably the one in the forest first.”
Ganondorf stopped in front of one of the windows and began to look outside, his hands on his back.
“Mein Herr, although your power is undeniable, we must acknowledge the problems that this old Sage in the Sacred Realm is causing us. If the boy manages to awaken all the Sages, we'll surely have serious problems. At the very least, we must prevent the Sages from awakening.” Hoffmann explained.
“You’re right, Joseff,” Ganondorf said. “We must prevent the Sages from awakening. Their combined power could be more than enough to undo everything we have achieved to this day.”
“In that case, I will inform the units located in both the Lost Woods and the Forest Temple,” Hoffmann said.
“Yes, and besides that…” Ganondorf said. Suddenly, from his shadow emerged a horned figure similar to him, startling Hoffmann and the soldier who fell on his butt. “The Hero of Time is heading to the Forest Temple. Go there before him. And make sure he doesn't awaken the Forest Sage, no matter what.”
At his orders, the ghostly figure created a spectral horse. He climbed on it and rode it out of the castle to follow his orders.
