The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny

IV

 

Kakariko was a small village that rested in the northeast part of the kingdom. Usually, it was a lively but calm place where living was nice. The air always seemed fresh and the sky blue. Carpenters would run around the village to build new houses while old people and chicken co-habited in the grassy streets of the rural emplacement. The town was the neighbour to some forest that was supposed to be linked to the Lost Woods, the Zoras’ Domain and the Death Mountain. Also, in Kakariko, was the kingdom’s Graveyard and the Royal Family’s grave. It held the Temple of Shadows, too. It was an important, yet small, village of Hyrule when it came to strategy or diplomacy since it gave a direct access to the Gorons and the Zoras.

However, for Link who was setting foot for the first time in the usually peaceful and heavenly village, the place looked rather catastrophic; people from Castle Town – those still alive – had gathered in the village to flee the monster invasion, crowding Kakariko. Guards were running around crazily to help the citizens. The sky was dark and the wind sharp, but a stirring heat came from the volcano of Death Mountain as it seemed to be about to erupt.

In the short period of time that it took the little party to reach the village, Hyrule had been covered in dark clouds as monsters had appeared everywhere.

Link looked around and frowned. He stopped walking to stare at Sheik, but a rather pointy sword against his upper back remembered him to keep moving.

They reached a big house – the biggest of the town – near the exit towards the fiery mountain. The princess leading them pushed the door open, and quickly, Link and Sheik were hurried inside the house.

The place was rather cozy and looked comfortable, but Link’s attention was caught by a cow. Behind bars. He looked up at Sheik who stared back at him. The Hylian gave him a questioning stare and the Sheikah shrugged, closing his eyes at the same time.

They were showed some chairs, by the kitchen table, on which they were invited – with much obligation – to sit.

On the other side of the table, her back to them, Zelda stood as she prepared tea. Between her and Isca, stood Tatl who stared out a window, looking sad and worried, as the knight was guarding them, and standing with all his… height beside Link.

The small Hylian looked up at the tall and strong armoured man. Isca didn’t pay attention to him as he seemed to be staring outside as well, his face showing some mixed expression between sadness, worry and determination.

Link shifted on his chair as he looked down at his hands. He felt rather uncomfortable to be this surrounded with people he would never have met otherwise… He saw Sheik move on his right, and the dirty blond switched his stare on the Sheikah. Sheik was staring almost absently at… Something. Link followed his stare to spot, in the darkness, Olwen’s impressive shape.

Wow, Sheikahs did disappear in the shadows, didn’t they?

Zelda moved and Link directed his eyes back on her. She was pouring tea in cups before turning around and looking at her knight and Tatl. “Tea’s ready. Do take some, if you wish.” They nodded, but neither moved. The princess took her own cup and blew softly in the hot liquid to cool it down a little.

Her violet eyes seemed clouded with tiredness and worries as she looked up from her cup to set those wise and intelligent jewels on the Hylian sitting before her. Link swallowed his saliva softly. She was powerful; he could feel all that royal notoriety flow out of her skin. But as much as he hated nobility, he couldn’t bring himself to feel this way towards her. As she took a sip of her drink, a wavy strand of pale hair fell over her shoulder. No, she wasn’t snob or evil, like most of the rich. She had something… Something. There were seriously no words to express it.

Or, at least, no words Link knew of.

He jumped slightly when she put her cup down on the table with a soft “thud”, bringing him back to reality. Zelda blinked as she looked down at him still. She seemed to be analysing him. Link shifted again under her stare and looked elsewhere. He felt naked under such dwelling eyes. “So…” Her soft and yet confident voice broke the suffocating silence. Link looked up at her again. “I am glad we finally meet, Link. I’ve heard much about you. Too much.” He felt like a child about to be scolded. “I wish we would have met in better circumstances, though.” She sighed.

• 
  “Er… Me too?” Answered Link. Isca’s eyes shot down to stare at him severely. However, Zelda seemed to smile. Sourly.


• 
  “Do you know about the Legend of Time, Link?” He stared at her, tilting his head to the side.


• 
  “I know about a legend. And some time is involved… But… It also involves a lot of sex. So I don’t think that’s the one. Unless you are a little bit more open than you look.” He chuckled.


• 
  “You should hold your tongue.” Came the knight’s suggestion. Link rolled his eyes as Zelda sighed again.


• 
  “The Legend says that, there will come a time when Hyrule will fall under dark and evil hands, threatening the very lives of any citizen of our holy kingdom.”


• 
  “Sorry, I haven’t taken over your homeland, yet.” Said Link arrogantly, his eyes shimmering in malice. Isca slapped him behind the head, as Zelda casted a dark stare on the dirty blond.


• 
  “This is serious, you moron.” She said, her voice lower. Zelda rolled her eyes before staring out the window. “It is said that, when those dark times come, the Hero of Time, chosen by the Goddesses will rise to his role by finding the blade of Evil’s Bane. Along with his legendary sword, he will face countless enemies and obstacles to bring the kingdom of Hyrule back to the lights of the sacred skies.”


• 
  “Yes, and?” She stared down at him, her gaze piercing. Sheik turned to Link.


• 
  “Shut up, will you, for five minutes?” Asked the blond. Link looked at him, surprised by Sheik’s action.


• 
  “… Yeah…” Zelda looked at the Sheikah.


• 
  “I should honour you for this.” Sheik chuckled. “Anyways, what I am trying to make you understand, Link, is that those dark times are upon us.” Link looked up at her again.


• 
  “Fine, but why telling me this?” She smiled.


• 
  “Can you show me the sword you found at the Temple of Time a few days ago?” He blinked, but obeyed. Slowly, he unsheathed the Master Sword and offered it to the princess’ open hands. She took the blade and stared down on it as the weapon seemed to… glow? “Link, do you know what is this weapon?” The Hylian blinked again, looking at her questioningly.


• 
  “A sword?” Isca rolled his eyes.


• 
  “Yes, but what I want you to know, is that this sword’s name is the Master Sword.”


• 
  “Why ‘Master’? It has disciples?” The princess smiled against her will at the bad joke.


• 
  “You should ask it yourself, someday.” She looked at him. “The Master Sword is the legendary blade of Evil’s Bane, meant to be held by the Hero of Time, and only him.” Link nodded as Sheik’s eyes widened slightly. He looked over at Link, blinking.


• 
  “Ah, I see. You can take it and give it to whoever that guy is. I wish him good luck.” A heavy silence installed itself upon the house as everyone stared at Link. He looked over at the party, wondering what he did wrong. Again. “What…?”


• 
  “Are you really this thick?” Sheik asked. Link blinked at him.


• 
  “Sure, wanna see?” As the Hylian brought his hand to his pants. Sheik slapped him across the head.


• 
  “Link.” Interrupted Zelda. He looked back at her. “The sword was in the Temple of Time, in a pedestal and no one could pull it out. Not even Isca.” The knight nodded slightly. “The fact that you, of all people, succeeded to take it out means that you are the sole and only Hero of Time.”

The silence that followed was heavier than any silence Link had ever heard. He blinked in what seemed to be slow-motion. He casted his eyes on the princess who stared down at him, waiting for a reaction, or something like this. He then looked over at the rest of the crew; they all stared at him in a similar way, waiting for him to say something. Do something. So, he swallowed. “What?” There was a massive sigh.

• 
  “You are going to become a legendary Hero, Link; Master Sword plus you equals you being the Hero of Time. Sometimes, I wonder if your head is of use for something...” Said Sheik, rubbing his forehead. Link blinked again before his face took a very pale color. He sharply looked up at the princess.


• 
  “No, wait… What?! Me, a going-to-be Hero?!” Zelda nodded. Link laughed. “Ok, look, that’s a nice joke, but you scared me. So, when do I get in jail, dungeon or get hanged?” The princess shook her head lightly.


• 
  “Link, you are the Hero of Time.”


• 
  “You’re mistaking.”


• 
  “He is right, for once.” Said Isca. Link looked up at him.


• 
  “Hey, doggie, am busy with your sexy boss. Shut it, ‘kay?” Isca blinked as he casted his stare down at him.


• 
  “Watch your language, fool, if you do not want to taste my blade.” Link snorted.


• 
  “Enough.” Said Zelda. It was enough to stop the two men. For the time being.

Isca and Link stared at each other before tearing their eyes away from the other man. The hatred was very, very clear in their attitude and the tension could almost be cut with a knife as soon as they interacted together. They finally sat their eyes on Zelda who looked at them, feeling discouraged; both men were impossible to deal with, but in different ways. She sighed again. “Anyways, you- she was looking at Link, and Sheik has been brought here because I have a proposition for you.” The two men looked at each other before staring back at the princess.

• 
  “We are listening.” Said Sheik as he crossed his arms over his chest. Zelda smirked.


• 
  “You see…” She sat down on the table, in front of Link. He followed her curves with his eyes and smiled. “You are both wanted and Link should be executed, while you, Sheik, would spend a lot of time behind bars.” Sheik nodded as Link seemed to focus more on her hips than on her speech. She grabbed the Hylian’s chin and forced it up so he would stare at her eyes and not her ass. “I can make sure that you are both free as the wind. No master. No obligations. Nothing. Free.” Something in Link’s eyes lighten up.


• 
  “Free?” He asked. She nodded.


• 
  “You won’t be wanted anymore and will be free to go wherever you want around the kingdom and outside of our borders.” The dirty blond blinked. “Therefore, you would be able to live the life that you want.” She let go of Link’s chin as she had now his complete attention. “And I will make sure that you will never be in need of rupees anymore.” Link swallowed.


• 
  “What must we do?” The princess smiled almost evilly.


• 
  “Rise to the challenge of becoming the Hero of Time and save the holy kingdom of Hyrule.”


• 
  “Fair trade.” Said Sheik. Link snapped at him.


• 
  “No! It’s not fair! Not at all! I don’t wanna be a Hero!” Sheik turned to him.


• 
  “You either are executed, die in action or succeed and see a dream come true. I think the deal is fair.” The Hylian blinked, and then sighed. He returned his stare to the princess.


• 
  “So, in the end, I have a lot of chances of dying and thus, getting you rid of my presence in the kingdom?” She nodded.


• 
  “Or become a Hero and change your destiny dramatically.” They stared at each other a moment before Link looked down. “Have you taken your decision, yet?”


• 
  “I shall… Accept.” He whispered. Zelda laughed softly.


• 
  “I knew you were a little wiser than you look.”

***

Sheik was meditating, in his bedroom that Zelda had gently assigned him, on the second story of house. After that rather revealing conversation, the princess had dismissed everyone, but recommended strongly for Link and Sheik to stay in the house.

Or Isca would hunt them down.

Against all odds, Link had obeyed; in facts, he seemed too discouraged and worried to defy the kingdom’s ruler’s wise and imperative words. So, the Hylian had disappeared in his own bedroom. And he was quiet.

Eyes closed, the Sheikah was counting. He reached zero as Link pushed his bedroom door open and closed it behind his presence. Sheik looked up at him as the dirty blond sat down, heavily, on his friend’s – almost brother – bed. He sighed just as heavily as he sat down.

Sometimes, Link existed just as much as an elephant.

He looked down at his hands, then at Sheik. The blond merely stared back, waiting. “I don’t feel like being alone.” Whispered Link softly, looking back down at his hands. The Sheikah chuckled softly and smiled.

• 
  “I guessed so much.” He stared at his long-time friend.


• 
  “I’m not a Hero, Sheik.” Link ended up saying, after a moment of silence. “I’m… Nothing.” Sheik closed his eyes and shook his head lightly.


• 
  “You’re not. You can be a great man.” The Hylian chuckled.


• 
  “Yeah, right.”


• 
  “Indeed, I am right.” Link looked over at Sheik.


• 
  “… I don’t trust myself.”


• 
  “But I trust you.”

An emotion, a strong one, passed into Link’s pale eyes as his lips curved upwards. He stared at Sheik, before looking away, snorting softy. He then looked back at the blond sitting on the ground. “Sheik…”

• 
  “Yes?”


• 
  “Thank you.” The Sheikah chuckled softly.


• 
  “Thank me when you’ll be as free as a bird.”

***

                Isca stood in the kitchen, in the door way. He was looking out in the night, looking at the people as they tried to get a place to stay, or something to eat.

Castle Town was ruined. His hometown was ruined.

He sighed heavily as the wind caressed his face. He shifted. He felt strangely naked when he was not wearing his heavy armour.

Castle Town was the city in which he was born and raised to become a knight. A good man. A man of principles, values and justice. He was still quite young – 21 years old – but he had offered much of his life already to protect and serve the splendid kingdom of Hyrule, and mostly, the crowded town that held the sumptuous castle and the legendary Temple of Time.

Yes, he had given much of his teenage years to defend that land against people like Link. Against people who ruined the peace and spread darkness over the golden land.

And here he was, about to go on an adventure with the man he despised with all his might.

Soft footsteps echoed behind him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder. Zelda was walking to him. He smiled tiredly as she joined him in the doorway. He chuckled as he watched her squeeze herself to get some room in there; Isca was quite big and taking much of the space… He finally moved so she could breathe. She chuckled softly as well. “The night is beautiful, even if the sky is dark…” Zelda pointed, softly. Isca nodded.

• 
  “Yes.” She looked up at him. Isca was a normally talkative man. It was rare for him to answer simply and shut up right after.


• 
  “Something on your mind, perhaps?” He looked down at her.


• 
  “Maybe.” She rolled her eyes.


• 
  “Iscaaa…” He chuckled lowly.


• 
  “I am only worried.”


• 
  “For the kingdom’s safety and future?”


• 
  “Am I this easy to read?” They both laughed.


• 
  “Yes.”

They stood together in silence for a short period of time as they both stared at the chaos that was going on in the small village. He sighed softly and Zelda looked up at her captain, smiling as she understood his feeling. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. He looked down at her again, and smiled. “I’ll go join Tatl.” He announced. She nodded.

• 
  “Yes. Good night.” He nodded.


• 
  “Good night to you too, princess.”

Zelda stood quietly in the doorway, looking at Isca’s back as he got up the stairs to join Tatl. She then looked down at the ground, her smile fading slightly. Sometimes, she would have loved to be in Tatl’s place…

Isca reached his and Tatl’s bedroom, and he pushed the door open, softly. She was sitting on the bed, looking out the window, at the sky. Tatl turned to look at him, and she smiled. Isca smiled back, her presence making him feel much better instantly. He walked to the bed and sat down beside his fluorescent love interest. “You look tired.” Tatl said as she rested her hand on Isca’s forearm. He nodded.

• 
  “I am.” Yet, he smiled softly to her. Her smile grew. He was adorable.


• 
  “Maybe you should sleep?” He nodded.


• 
  “Yes, in a short while.” Isca turned to face Tatl. “But before, I…” He chocked over the words again as his dark blue eyes met her luminous pinkish ones. “I wanted to finish this conversation we had, a few hours ago…” Tatl giggled.


• 
  “Of course, Isca.” He chuckled softly.


• 
  “Tatl, I love you.” He seemed much more confident than before. Her eyes got a little teary. “And I would love it if…” He sighed softly to relax. “I would love it if you and me, we could be more than friends…” The Twili laughed happily before hugging her knight.


• 
  “Of course, Isca!” He smiled widely as he held her against him. It felt so right.

Tatl closed her eyes as she buried her face in his chest. She smiled. She felt so very safe in those strong arms. He then let go of her and she felt him move. Opening her shiny eyes, Tatl looked up. Isca was staring down at her. Softly, he brought his hand to her face and caressed her cheek. She chuckled softly and happily, resting her own hand on his. He chuckled back before locking eyes with her. They stared at each other a moment, before he leaned forward. She helped him close the distance.

Their lips met for the first time. She pushed her body against his as his hands went to her waist, pulling her closer and thus, helping her in her task. She circled his neck with her arms and deepened the kiss, making it more passionate.

He broke the kiss to look down at her. “Let’s sleep for the time being…” He caressed her cheek again. “Tomorrow is going to be a hard day.” She nodded before resting her head on his shoulder.

• 
  “Yes.”

***

                Link rolled on his side, growling lowly as he hid under Sheik’s blanket. The blond stood by the window, smirking lightly as he was still holding the curtain that he’d just pulled. The Hylian shifted again, under the covers. Sheik sighed. “Link. I know you won’t fall back asleep. Now, get up.”

• 
  “My head hurts… Leave me alone…” The covered man replied with a low, tired voice. The Sheikah sighed again.


• 
  “Your head always hurt because it’s empty.”


• 
  “Fuck you…” Sheik chuckled.


• 
  “Up.” He walked to the bed, pulling on the blanket to reveal a half-naked Link. The Hylian looked up sharply, first surprised, and then he grinned.


• 
  “Hey, you wanna join?” Link chuckled. Sheik rolled his eyes.


• 
  “No.” The Sheikah made his way to the bedroom door, opening it before looking above his shoulder at Link in a casual and slightly arrogant way. “I’d suggest that you get ready, and quickly, before your favourite knight simply pulls you out of bed.” The dark blond snorted.


• 
  “As if I’d let him touch me.” Smirking, Sheik shook his head lightly before exiting the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Downstairs, everyone was reunited in the kitchen – like the evening before – as they ate breakfast Olwen had prepared. Sheik looked up at him, still slightly ashamed, but he was too proud to really show anything like that. Olwen stared back, not showing any kind of emotions, before going back at his food-preparing session.

Zelda sat down at the table in a simple and yet beautiful lilac dress and she drank tea, staring out the window, at the gray sky. She looked sad and worried as she witnessed the distress of her own people.

Isca was nearby, sitting at the table as well, looking really drowsy as he stared down at the empty plate before him. He wasn’t necessarily a morning person and his hair was still undone and messy.

And just beside him, Tatl wasn’t exactly more awake than her knight in shiny armour as she rested her head against his shoulder, eyes closed.

Sheik merely walked into the crowded room to find a spot in the darkness, behind Olwen and under the stairs, where he sat down. And where he had a nice view on the butler. Looking around the room, he spotted, sitting on a window’s edge, a small and blue… shining bug? It looked like a very big firefly. He stared at it a moment, not yet understanding what this creature was. It moved slightly, once in a while. That shiny thing was merely waiting for something. Apparently.

After a few minutes, heavy footsteps resonated through the entire house as the stairs creaked under the lightness of Link’s weight. The man appeared to the rest of the team – as they stared up at him – growling lightly. He wasn’t naked alas, as he wore his usual black and roguish suit. He ran a hand in his messy morning hair to arrange them. It was useless.

He always had that messy morning haircut, anyways.

Scratching his crotch in a very un-classy way, he sat down right beside Zelda, putting a hand on her thigh. She jumped in surprise and slapped his hand away. Link chuckled as the princess glared daggers at him. Isca was just too sleepy to realise what was going on right now. “You’re gorgeous this mornin’, milady.” Zelda rolled her eyes, pulling her chair away from his.

• 
  “Thank you. Now, please refrain yourself from touching me.” He pouted.


• 
  “But… You are a very attractive blond…” He chuckled. “Speaking of that, are you really blond everywhere?” He grinned as her jaws dropped. But he was interrupted when Olwen put down a plate before him. A plate full of yummy food. Link looked up at the butler.


• 
  “If I were you, I would shut up and eat.” He mentioned with his low, calm voice before walking away, smirking.


• 
  “Wise words, Olwen.” Said Zelda as she looked away, acting snobbishly.

Before Link could reply something irrelevant, Zelda got up and clapped her hands together. Isca jumped awake as he stared at her as if he had never fallen asleep. Tatl growled as she cracked an eye open. “Good morning, everyone”, started the Hylian princess. Link smirked. She had a very sexy and pointy accent of nobility. First time he ever liked that kind of blood mark. Zelda started to walk around the kitchen. Olwen faced them, resting his back against a wall, arms crossed over his chest. “Today is the big day.” She looked with determination at the group. “We are going to save Hyrule!”

There was merely a heavy silence into the room. Zelda looked around. Link raised his hand. “Heum… Princess… I don’t think we’ll do that in just one big and sexy day.” He nodded. “We’d pretty much need a few months.”

• 
  “Agreed.” Replied Olwen before chuckling softly. Zelda rolled her eyes before glaring at the butler.


• 
  “Olwen, please, don’t motivate him.” Link grinned. “Anyhow, I didn’t mean it that way, and you all know it. I mean that today we are starting this quest.” Link crossed his arms over his chest, smiling evilly.


• 
  “So, you’re coming?” She looked down at him.


• 
  “…No.”


• 
  “But you impliedeveryone would come.” She sighed violently.


• 
  “Are you done pestering me?” He laughed.


• 
  “No.” Zelda rolled her eyes.


• 
  “Whatever.” She answered as she seemed to push the tension down with her hands. “Now, the point is you’re going out into dangerous temples and leave me alone as you’ll be killing yourself or saving this land.” She stared at everyone, her stare severe. “Any objections?” No one spoke. “Anyhow, I have someone to introduce to you.” She turned towards the window.

They followed her stare. The shining blue bug that Sheik had spotted earlier flew up from the window to hover beside Zelda. The creature seemed to look around the room before starting to shine in a much, much brighter way. The rays of light coming out of it spread into the room until they filled a certain area around her. The light fitted the proportions of a very small human. The light then died, slowly.

To reveal a small girl.

She opened big green and shy eyes to look around the room. She blushed lightly, which contrasted with her blue, short and slightly wavy hair. She wore a light green suit that remembered pretty much everyone of the forest. Small bluish wings beat the air behind her, which permitted her small shape to hover above the ground. Link blinked as he stared at her. She looked down at him. “I-I am Nami… The messenger of the Deku Tree and… And… “ She swallowed. “I will come a-along with you to… To help in your quest.” Then, Nami nodded.

They all stared at her, and then stared at each other. Zelda smiled softly to the small fairy girl. “Welcome, Nami.” The blue-haired girl nodded.

***

 

Isca finished putting his armour on just as Zelda reappeared in the kitchen again. Smiling softly, she wished them all a nice trip. Link snorted, in the back, as he finished wrapping himself in his cape. Sheik glared at him lightly.

Sitting in the stairs, right behind Isca, Tatl smiled at his back softly. She would miss him. As if he could hear her thoughts, Isca turned around to look down at her. He smiled back. “I will miss you…” Her smile grew.

• 
  “Me too.”


• 
  “Er… Wait, she ain’t comin’?” Link was now, very suddenly, standing right beside Isca. The knight and his princess both glared at him. The smaller man stared at Tatl, looking perplexed. “No, but I mean, she fights like one hell of a beast! T’would be a shame not to have her with us.” Isca gave a disdainful stare at the other Hylian.


• 
  “It would also be dangerous for her.” He answered, his tone slightly arrogant. Link stared up at him.


• 
  “And? We kinda all risk our lives, here, ‘kay?” He looked back at Tatl, visibly annoyed – irritated – by the knight’s presence. “Hurry, we gotta leave.” He said… Softly. The fluorescent beauty glared darkly at him.


• 
  “Who do you think you are to give me orders?!” The dark blond tilted his head to the side.


• 
  “Er… The guy who’s supposed to save this kingdom. But that’s not the point. I mean… You look like a strong woman, able to take decisions by herself…”


• 
  “She is.” Interposed Isca. “But it’s not safe.” Link rolled his eyes.


• 
  “Will you just shut up, dog?” It was Zelda’s turn to roll her eyes as she made her way between the two men.


• 
  “Now, that’s enough.” The wise woman looked over at Tatl. “You should decide quickly.” Isca looked at his new girlfriend.


• 
  “I’d prefer if you stayed here. But I won’t force you.” Link’s head popped up beside Zelda’s.


• 
  “And I’d prefer if you’d come along.” He grinned in a seducing way. Isca growled. Taking a snobbish attitude, Tatl crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head in the opposite direction, closing her eyes.


• 
  “I will come along, but surely not because you ask!” She looked at Isca. “I just want to stay near you…” He smiled. Tatl then looked out the window. “And it sounds thrilling.” Link clapped his hands together.


• 
  “It’s settled! Let’s go!”

And quickly enough, they disappeared into the crowded city, under the worried but hopeful stare of Zelda.

***

The forest temple was a very phantasmagorical sight; it was some kind of big shrine, at the end of a labyrinth, that didn’t seem very big. From the outside. Between three walls of gray stone and above a stair, the small group stood, looking at the elevated entrance of the temple. Before them stood a dead tree and a pentagonal-shaped crest on the ground on which the triforce was engraved.

Under the greyish sky and the humid atmosphere of the forest, the walls had, years after years, welcomed a nice and greenish moss. To join that, plants have climbed those walls. Above the group, and between them, fairies as well as luminous bugs and entities floated in the air and wind softly.

The place seemed magical.

Link looked around, mouth slightly open in awe. Sheik smiled softly to him, even though he stood behind him. It was heart-warming to see his friend act to naïvely. So… Childishly.  The Hylian walked around the small place in which they stood, looking around at anything and everything. He seemed to be particularly interested in the triforce crest on the ground.

Link turned around to face the rest of the group. “Hey, that must be the temple. Else, no shrine would be there.” Sheik rolled his eyes.

• 
  “Great guess…” Whispered Isca as he sighed, slightly exasperated, as he looked up at the entrance to the temple. Olwen glared softly at the knight’s back.


• 
  “Anyhow, how the hell d’we get in?” The butler looked at Link.


• 
  “Maybe you should do something about that tree.” The dark blond looked at him, then at the tree.


• 
  “What d’ya mean?” Nami flew out of Link’s collar. He jumped. “When did you get in?!”


• 
  “Link… Y-you… Should use the hookshot…” She said, ignoring his question. He stared at her.


• 
  “Hey, good idea!”

The hookshot seemed to appear in his hands as he aimed at the dead tree’s upper branch. Everyone stared at him as he shot right in it. He pressed on the button which would bring him upward.

And suddenly, he had a bad feeling.

He stiffened as his feet rose from the ground and a scream of fear escaped his throat. Link closed his eyes as he received the branch right in the stomach. He gasped for air as he tried to get a grip on the tree. Panicking slightly, he looked down.

He was pretty high, now.

Link growled as he finally got a good grip on that damned branch. Quickly, but not so easily, he pulled himself on it and steadied his weight on the dead plant. When he felt he was secure on the tree, he finally jumped on the platform that lead to the real entrance to the temple.

Smiling proudly, he looked down. “Heh, succeeded!”

• 
  “You call that succeeding?” Tatl was looking up at him, a hand on her hip, still with that snobbish and arrogant attitude. Slightly surprised, Link stared down at her. “It was a rather catastrophic success.” She giggled in a slightly bitchy way. Isca smirked as Sheik glared at their back.


• 
  “Just get your ass here alone, Miss Princess, then!” Defied Link, his stare icy.


• 
  “Fine.” Suddenly, she disappeared… In the floor. They all stared around, surprised. Olwen merely chuckled.

Busy staring down, Link didn’t see the curvy and delightful lady appearing out of his shadow. She smirked and cleared her throat. He spun around and gasped. “The hell?!” She chuckled, smirking.

• 
  “Twili power. I can use shadows to move around.” He blinked.


• 
  “That’s… Awesome!” She giggled.


• 
  “I’m aware.” Tatl looked down at the rest of the group. “Let’s go!”

***

Climbing the tree was the hardest part of the temple, up until now; they had been through various rooms, had gotten keys, a map and a compass that Link seemed to like as he played with the thing while they navigated through the rooms.

Except for four very weird ghosts, there weren’t that much enemies; bats and skulls, things that Isca could really easily slash – or smash - with his bastard sword. They had to fight some fierce skeleton warriors, which gave Link a bow and arrows.

But there was really no challenge up to now.

The four ghosts weren’t much harder to find. It was logical, in the end. One room gives you access to another one; that gives you a key that opens a door; that leads to an enemy that; leads to something good… It was always the same.

So, when the ghosts were down and the fires all back to their pedestal, an elevator appeared in the middle of the room. The party stared at it. “Let’s use that elevator.” Said Tatl. Link crossed his arms over his chest.

• 
  “Wait. That’s not an elevator.” Everybody looked at him.


• 
  “Then… What might it be?” Asked Olwen. The much smaller man looked up at him.


• 
  “It can’t be an elevator because it doesn’t go up. It’s only purpose is to go down.” Tatl stared at him, blinking.


• 
  “Wait, are we really discussing this?” She asked, unbelieving what was going on. Very seriously, Link looked at her.


• 
  “Of course. It’s important to define the things that surround us.” He nodded. “And I don’t think that the term “elevator” is well-used here.” He walked up to the object of interest and rested his hand on it. “Things are defined by their purpose, right?”


• 
  “… Right.” She admitted.


• 
  “Then, this thing’s purpose ain’t to go up, but to bring us down. Therefore, we can’t qualify it as an elevator. It doesn’t elevate.”


• 
  “It will when we’re going to get back here.” She put her fists on her hips. He nodded.


• 
  “Yeah, but is bringin’ us up here its purpose?” She sighed softly.


• 
  “No.” He grinned widely.


• 
  “Then, it’s not an elevator.” Tatl rolled her eyes.


• 
  “Okay! Then, let’s call it…” She stared at the “elevator” a moment. “The effortlessor!” Olwen chuckled in the back of the room. Link did the same, smiling victoriously to her.


• 
  “I accept that.”


• 
  “Then, let’s move on!”

The room under that one was round. Like… Most of the rooms in that dungeon. However, that one was made of walls that seemed to move when pushed. Quickly enough, the men gathered their strength and sent Link to push those walls. He grumbled, but succeeded well enough alone.

And a few pushes later, a big door locked with heavy chains appeared before them.

The group stood before it, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Link shifted lightly as he looked at the big key he held. Sheik stared at him and nodded. The Hylian swallowed his saliva and sighed lightly as he pushed the key in the lock.

The chains fell heavily and the door rose slowly.

The group gathered their courage as they pressed inside the huge room… Pulling Link with them as he tried to attach himself to the doorframe.

The room in which they stood was humongous. It was separated in two; a large floor and a smaller pond of weird purple coloured water. But more importantly, there was a really, really big flower above that pond.

It was a big and red beautiful rose. Her petals were closed up. Beside her, on the right and left walls, were two smaller roses. They were blue instead of red and their petals were opened.

The whole place felt a little weird, as if something was about to happen. Anxiety rose in the air.

Link stared around the room as he tried to find a way to exit it. Sadly, the door had closed itself behind them and there were no windows.

They were locked in.

Isca slowly unsheathed his sword and he held it loosely as he walked around, looking at the flowers as he tried to understand what had to be done. Tatl stayed close to him, not liking the feeling this whole situation gave her, even if the plants were more than magnificent.

Sheik stood beside Link, checking on his friend as the Hylian seemed desperate to get out. Olwen was near enough them as well.

Nami flew out of Link’s cape to go take a look around the room, at the flowers. In her fairy shape, she was rather careful while approaching those plants. She came back to fly between Link and Sheik. “She is asleep.” Nami told them. “W-we probably will have to wake her u-up.” Sheik nodded, looking at Link.

• 
  “Link, have you heard?” He looked at Sheik.


• 
  “Huh?” The Sheikah sighed softly. His friend was panicking slightly, visibly.


• 
  “You have to wake the flower.”


• 
  “No!” Link took a step back, shaking his head. “No freakin’ way!”

Isca rolled his eyes, leaning down to get his hand on a rock. He looked up at the red flower. “And you call that a hero…” He whispered as he threw the stone at the scarlet beauty before him. Link gasped softly, afraid.

But the flower didn’t flinch.

Isca growled softly as the stone he threw fell down at his feet. Almost bored, he kicked the rock and it flew right into the pond with a soft “sploush”. The surface of the purple water rippled towards the exterior softly. The group stared at the plant, hoping or fearing a reaction.

The scarlet flower seemed to stir softly as vines attached to it started to appear from the water. Eight long lianas with spikes all over them. On the wall to their sides, the blue flowers made a strange noise that remembered of an evil and childish giggle.

In their center, a red and reptilian eye appeared.

Link stepped back until he reached the wall behind him. Sheik looked at him slightly as he prepared needles, quickly. Olwen was already moving around the room, evaluating the situation, needles in hands, also.

On his side, Isca was ready, sword in hands, to fight what would come to him. Tatl stood beside him, a ball of dark energy in her hands.

From the water, the lianas appeared and started to attack the party vigorously. Sheik and Olwen dodged easily the attacks while Isca was barely affected due to his armour. As for Tatl, she seemed to almost dance between the vines, using a magic shield when she couldn’t dodge.

Link stared at her as he tried to fusion with the wall. She impressed him a lot; not only was she a woman, but she fought an enormous and dangerous creature with courage while she was, visibly, scared. Like him, she was inexperienced. Like him, she was scared.

And yet, she fought.

However, he was pulled out of his thoughts as the blue flower at his right shook violently. In a matter of seconds, a rain of deadly, small and sharp petals flew at them. Sheik dodged skilfully as Olwen seemed to sidestep.

Tatl used a shield to cover herself, but she looked tired as she did so. Isca covered himself like he could, but he growled lowly in pain as the razor-sharp and beautiful petals cut his cheek and ears.

The blue flower seemed to be tired as it fell down softly. Nami appeared sharply before Link. “Use your bow!” She cried. He stared up at her, unsure. She shook a little impatiently. “Now!” Link stared up at her a second longer before taking a more determinate expression. He walked away from the wall quickly, taking his bow in hand and charging it with an arrow. He aimed at the reptilian eye. The flower looked up.

“Link, watch out!”

A liana fell down on him, intending to kill the Hylian. Link looked up at it, eyes wide.

But it didn’t reach him. Olwen merely spun around with incredible speed – for someone with such a shape – and slashed at the vine with his dagger. He cut it nicely and the big red flower seemed to screech in pain as one of her lianas died on the ground, at Link’s feet.

Link looked up at the butler. The silver-haired man nodded at him before going back to the fight.

The right blue flower shook and sent another rain of dangerous petals.  They successfully dodged, but Tatl received a nice and deep cut on her arm. Isca looked at her to make sure she was okay. She nodded to him as she prepared an energy orb and threw it at the tired reptilian eye.

The flower didn’t flinch.

“It’s immune to magic!” Explained Nami as she kept flying around. Tatl turned to look at the fairy. But she stopped in her way as an arrow brushed her hair.

Link had finally fired at the blue flower that had just attacked them.  The arrow planted itself neatly in the lizard-like eye. The blue flower screeched loudly before drying and ultimately, falling down to the ground, dead.

Sheik turned and nodded at Link, proudly. The Hylian smiled back at him, happy to see his friend being proud of him.

But the remaining blue flower shook once again. Link turned around in time to cover himself with his cape, but it wasn’t enough as the bluish blades cut through his clothes and skin easily. He held a scream of pain as he let his knee hit the ground. As soon as the attack was over, Sheik was before him, ready to protect his brother. “Are you okay?” The blond asked, looking slightly above his shoulder at his kneeled friend. Link looked up at him, blood dripping from his forehead and cheek.

• 
  “I’ll survive this.” He got up, groaning.

Sheik nodded and looked at Link as he prepared his bow. Inspecting him quickly, he remarked that the Hylian had cuts pretty much everywhere…

Link winced as he raised his bow. He aimed at the reptilian eye who stared right at him with a chilling icy and poisonous stare. Swallowing, he fired his arrow.

And he sentenced the exquisite but deadly last blue flower to death.

He smiled victoriously and turned around just in time to see Isca cut down one of the remaining four vines. The last three seemed to become wilder as they started to whip the air in the room randomly.

The scarlet flower screeched, but it stayed closed.

With his armour, Isca had no reason to fear those vines, so he stayed close enough to the pond to get the flower’s attention. He felt how the lianas hit hardly his armour and he could already count how many bruises he would have. But still, by sacrificing this little part of his health, the others were okay.

So he chopped down another liana.

Quickly enough, Olwen, Sheik and Isca took care of the remaining vines. The room went quiet a moment and everyone held their breath.

The scarlet rose stirred again as her petals started to open. One after one, to reveal an incredibly sweet perfume and, under all those bloody layers of vegetal beauty, another reptilian eye appeared.

But it was much, much bigger. And much, much creepier.

The yellow eye stared wildly at the group as it seemed to settle its stare on Link. The dark blond shifted lightly, feeling the oppressing intensity of that single, evil eye.

It screeched again loudly as it shook its humongous petals.

One after one, the giant, red and deadly razor-sharp petals left the center of the magnificent flower, directing themselves at Link. Yelping, he turned around to run.

Isca, being too heavy to really run around, stood where he was, sword in hand, and cut down the petals that reached him. Tatl threw energy orbs at the one going near her as the Sheikahs slashed with their daggers through the vegetal blades.

Link reached a wall.

He turned around in time to see two humongous petals arriving at him, quickly. Screaming in fear, he took the Master Sword in hand and sliced at them in a random and panicking way.

Hopefully, he cut them down.

The flower screeched again violently as it started to grow petals again. Nami flew in circles above Link’s head. “Shoot her, now!” Shaking, the Hylian took his bow in hands again and aimed at the flower.

The arrow planted itself a feet under the monster. Tatl looked over at Link. “What are you doing!?” He gave her an almost traumatised stare, as he kept shaking. Sheik looked at Tatl.

• 
  “Leave him alone, he is doing what he can.” The fluorescent woman stared at him, slightly surprised at the blond’s comment, but she then looked back at Link. He did look shaky…

The scarlet flower shook once more.

Tatl ran near Link and put up a magic shield just in time to stop about five giant petals. Link stared down at her. “T-Thanks.” She nodded, not looking at him.

• 
  “Now, kill that thing!” He blinked, then nodded before running right before the flower.

Its tired eye stared wildly at Link as it started to grow deadly petals again, but he felt steadier now, more confident. Aiming carefully, he shot his arrow.

The scarlet beauty that was the flower screeched in agony as her petals fell numb around her. Yet, it didn’t die. Link looked up at Nami. “Why won’t it die?!”

• 
  “You have to kill it with the Master Sword.” She pointed.


• 
  “But it’s high on the wall! How am I supposed to do that?!”


• 
  “You have to get there, Link.”

They all stared at him, then at the flower as it started to come back to itself. Tatl gasped in tiredness and despair behind as her voice seemed to echo everyone’s feeling about the situation.

The eye seemed to be more and more alive, shaking as the petals became more vigorous again.

Isca placed himself before Tatl, ready to defend her until death. The Sheikahs closed the distance between them as Nami flew softly above Link’s head.

He looked around at his companions; they all looked tired and desperate. Link looked up at the flower.

And he took the hookshot out and aimed at the flower’s eye.

Sheik watched in shock as Link reached the flower, screaming, and sword forward. However, as soon as he got close enough to the vegetal, she closed her razor-sharp petals around him, swallowing him.

Sheik took a step forward as the room became silent. Olwen stopped him from advancing further by resting his hand on the smaller Sheikah’s shoulder. The blond stared at the flower in shock. “By the Goddesses…” Whispered Isca as Tatl pulled herself closer to him, staring at the scarlet plant as well, eyes wide.

• 
  “Is he…?” She asked.


• 
  “…Possibly.” Answered the knight.

But there was a massive and collective gasp of terror as the flower shook violently one last time. Isca and the Sheikahs raised their blades, more or less ready for another attack. The flower opened itself violently.

And Link fell from it, right into the purple pond as the scarlet and beautiful flower showed her dead eye one last time before drying and dying.

Sheik sheathed his dagger and ran to the pond. He got down on his knees, grabbing Link by his shoulders and pulling him to the “shore”. The Hylian laid on his thighs as Sheik slapped his cheeks softly. “Link, wake up.” He murmured, but the dark blond didn’t flinch.

The Sheikah shook him. “Link!” Olwen stood behind them, looking down at the scene with a worried expression as Isca seemed to look almost sorry for Link’s situation. Tatl just stared down with wide eyes, not really knowing what to do, nor to think.

Sheik stopped shaking him when Link wouldn’t answer. He blinked, staring down at his brother. He was silent as he merely held him in his arms. The atmosphere grew heavy quickly enough.

But it was broken quite harshly when Link’s eyes shot open and he sat up to cough violently. Surprised, but relieved, Sheik sighed. “You idiot.” He said. Link looked at him, when he was done chocking.

• 
  “Fuck you.” Sheik chuckled, much emotions passing through his eyes as he stared at the soaked Hylian.

In the middle of the room, a green flash of light appeared to reveal the form of a small girl clothed in green, with hair of the same color. Everybody stared at her.

Her ghostly shape hovered above the ground as she smiled softly. “I am Saria, sage of this temple.” She giggled, looking happy. “I thank you for rescuing this sacred temple and awakening me as the sage who shall protect this area from now on.” She created something in her hand. Something green and brilliant that flew to Link. “Take this with you. It is proof of your courage.” She giggled again before disappearing.

Link closed his hand around the medallion, looking at Sheik.

The door opened itself again.

Sheik looked down at Link, smiling under the cowl. “Let’s go take care of you, now.”

Link nodded. And they left the first dungeon.