Thanks! Just so you guys know, I do realize that my plot in this story is about as skeletal as a Stalfos, but that's the beauty of writing. You can always revise as you go! However, it'd stall everything else if I did, and I want to finish this story up someday soon.
Anyway, on to Chapter 2!
Chapter 2
Where the Gerudo Fortress once stood, a black tower was now in its place. The Gerudos were on the top, constructing the last floors. Two witches, Koume and Kotake, flew around the tower screaming at the Gerudo. "This
tower must be completed before the full moon!" Kotake yelled at them.
"Why then?" Nabooru yelled back.
"It's none of your business Gerudo brat!" yelled Koume. She hurled an energy ball at Nabooru who broke into a run. She jumped down the scaffolds leading to the top. "Kotake, why didn't you chain her!? Get her!"
Nabooru was almost out of the valley when she attacked by a giant Peahat. Its sharp spinning spines grazed her arm but it was enough to hurt her badly. She rolled and threw a knife at its soft underside. The Peahat exploded! She sighed and started walking. She was wounded but she needed to reach Hyrule Castle as soon as possible.
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"That's a pretty sword," said Malon. She had been watching Link practice his sword techniques with his Gilded Sword.
Link shrugged and said, "Thanks. It was forged with gold dust." He had been practicing his new sword techniques including his beam attack. He sheathed his sword and looked for Epona. He decided that it was time to go see Zelda. He handed Malon his Hero's Shield and said, "Hold onto this for me. I'm going to the castle." Malon accepted the shield.
He called Epona and rode out of the ranch. He kept his eyes on his destination, the castle, not noticing that Nabooru was nearby. He rode into the rebuilt Castle Town and stopped at the Bazaar. He picked up a new Hylian Shield and the rode to the new castle. As he drew near, he saw that it was out in the middle of a lake. It was in the same place that Ganon's Tower fell seven years earlier. A guard stood at the gate. He looked behind him and saw the castle town and then looked to where Gerudo Valley was. The Black Tower was closer than in the field.
"Well bless my soul. If it isn't the great Hero of Time! It's about time you came back! Castle's beautiful, isn't it? Unfortunately, there's one thing that ruins the view around here. That blasted black tower! Oh well. I'm sure you're here to see the princess, right? Oh, the lass is in a wee bit of a dark mood right now. About a month ago, we, that is the Soldiers of Hyrule, found her father inside the Desert Colossus. He'd been tortured! Zelda o'course took control o' the kingdom until he's back on his feet. Ha! You're blushin' lad! Somethin's goin' on between you two! Oh lord I just keep talkin' and haven't let you in!" said the very chatty guard.
Link merely nodded as the gate opened. He walked past, nursing a bad headache. He then realized that at the mention of Zelda, he
had blushed. He shook his head and walked into the castle and was amazed! He hadn't expected the interior to be done this quick. He saw an exit on the far side of the entry hall. He headed for it, sure of what was on the other side. He emerged in a small courtyard. Water flowed, grass and flowers swayed in the breeze, and there were a few trees. He heard a familiar melody being hummed. He saw Zelda leaning up against a tree, humming Zelda's Lullaby.
She stopped and looked at him, "Hello Link. It's been a while, hasn't it?" She walked over to the stepping stones and hopped across them to Link.
Link looked into her eyes until he realized that he was blushing again. He quickly regained his composure and said, "It has been too long, your highness."
Zelda was thankful that he looked away before she blushed too. Something about him attracted her to him and him to her. "Link, peace has once again settled on the land. However, we need to make sure that it is kept," she said. She looked back in his eyes.
Link said, "You can always count on me Zelda. Always." He meant it too. They stared into each other's eyes for quite a while until they heard a laugh.
"I never thought I'd see the day that my little Zelda fell in love. Forgive me. My name is Harkinen Daphnes Hyrule," said Zelda's father. He was in his forties and was walking with a cane. Link saw that his left arm was in a sling.
Link bowed and said, "Your Highness. I am Link, the Hero of Time." He felt only slightly embarrassed from what the king had witnessed. He took a quick glance at Zelda, whose face was as red as a cherry. It only took him a second to realize that she wasn't embarrassed, but frustrated.
"Ah yes. You're the lad who saved my daughter and my kingdom from Ganondorf. You have my eternal gratitude," he said.
"Father, you should be in bed!" Zelda said, her voice betraying her exasperation. She called two aides to help him back to bed. "The doctors said that you should stay in bed for a while longer."
He smiled and let the aides lead him. Link looked at Zelda and said, "You love him very much, don't you?"
Zelda smiled and replied, "Of course I do. It's just that, he's the king and he doesn't like being confined to bed. He's restless. So am I, I guess." She sighed and sat down. She gazed up at the sky. Link sat beside her, sure that he should say something, but not sure what. Then he heard footsteps behind them.
"Your Highness, we caught this Gerudo trying to sneak into the castle," said a guard. At his side, he held Nabooru. She looked terrible. Her right arm was drenched in blood.
"Nabooru?!" said Link. The last time he had seen her was when he was defeating Ganon.
"Release her. She can be trusted," said Zelda. The guard left immediately. "Nabooru, what are you doing here?" Zelda asked.
"I was captured by Koume and Kotake. They're responsible for the black tower. They...they've enslaved the Gerudo. They've enslaved my
people!" Nabooru replied, almost shouting the last syllable.
"Why?"
"I don't know. All I do know is that it's supposed to be finished before the full moon in a week. It's almost done." She sat down on the ground.
Zelda called the guard back in. "Take her to the doctors at once!" she commanded. The guard complied. She then turned to Link. Link seemed to be staring off into space. Then he started walking toward the exit. "Link? Where are you going?" She called after him. He didn't respond. He left the castle with Zelda trailing behind him.
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Link and Zelda entered the Temple of Time. Zelda looked at Link as he walked toward the Door of Time. He stopped at the altar and turned to Zelda. "I need you to play the Song of Time," he said.
Zelda started to protest but saw the urgency in Link's eyes. Zelda pulled out the Ocarina of Time and played the Song of Time. To her astonishment, the Door of Time opened. Link jumped over the altar and walked towards the chamber where the Master Sword slept. Then, in a bright flash, Link was thrown back. He flew over the altar and landed on the Triforce symbol.
Zelda rushed to his side. "Link, are you all right? Say something!"
His eyes fluttered open and he said, "Ouch." He sat up and looked toward the Master Sword's chamber. "Why can't I get in?" he wondered aloud. Zelda shrugged and helped him to his feet. Then, in another flash of light, the Temple of Time dissolved around them. They appeared in the Temple of Light.
Rauru appeared. "You should know the answer to that question."
Ruto appeared. "Don't tell me you're that thick-headed Link?"
Impa appeared. "It's not that difficult."
Saria appeared. "Just open your mind."
Darunia appeared. "Just think brother."
Link couldn't give voice to the answer. Rauru did though, "I’ll tell you. The Master Sword has rejected you. You must prove your worth by collecting three Pendants of Power. They are hidden within the Fire, Water, and Forest Temples."
Zelda said, "Why has it rejected him?"
Link answered, "I haven't held it for seven years. So, is Ganondorf going to return?"
"Unless you move quickly to stop Twinrova, yes. Good luck," Rauru said.
"Take care of him Zelda," Impa said. Then they were back in the Temple of Time. Nabooru was there.
"Link, to get into the tower, you'll need to get the keys from the Earth and Wind Temples. You will have to have the Master Sword in order to defeat the beasts guarding them. Good luck kid," she said. Link and Zelda stood in silence when she left for the Temple of Light. They then rushed for the castle.
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The tower was complete. The powers of evil only waited for the full moon. "Until then, there must be no foul-ups!" yelled Ganondorf across a small dimensional gap. "Don't fail me or no form of magic will bring you back from where I will send you!"
"Of course my lord," the witches said fearfully.
"Link will never get the tower keys," Koume said.
"We put powerful creatures in the temples," Kotake stated.
Ganondorf laughed maniacally. When the moon was full, he would have his revenge on Hyrule.
