Part 8: ChainofTermina
Link burst out of the tent and grabbed his pack
“Hey, What hap-“ Balor started to say, but was interrupted.
“Sorry, but we gotta go!” exclaimed Link, grabbing his arm and pulling him north.
“What!?” shouted Balor, “but we’ve been at it all day! Don’t you want to rest for a while?”
“No time!” said Link. “I gotta get to Hurrog as fast as possible!”
They were running through the darkness and Gabriella’s tent was fading into the distance. Balor grumbled. “Its something that fortune teller told him isn’t it? Well no matter, I suppose I can go on for another hour”
When the tent was completely out of sight and Lon Lon Ranch was just over the horizon, Balor stopped.
“What now?” asked an annoyed Link, halting as well.
“Do plan to stop at all before morning or we get to a town?” asked Balor.
“No.”
Balor stared for a moment, and said “Well then, I guess I’m going to do this the hard way. I was going to do it in your sleep, but I guess that’s not going to happen.” He pulled out the sword he made for Link.
“Wha-What are you doing?” asked Link alerted. Why hadn’t he taken that back from Balor?
“Do you honestly believe that I, Balor, One the greatest swordsmiths in Hyrule would need help to simply cross Hyrule Field? Before I woke up, I had a dream, or rather a vision. The Imposter who stole your identity told me that if I brought you to him, he would pay me 2 million rupees! Look, you’re a nice guy, I don’t have anything against you personally, but I’m not stupid. With that money, I would be set for life! And since the Imposter didn’t specify whether he wanted you dead or alive, I guess dead would be more convenient for me. Have a nice afterlife!” and he lunged.
Dark Heart, or The Imposter Link as he was pretending to be, walked through the halls of Hyrule Castle. He stopped by a full size mirror mounted on the wall. Dark Heart really couldn’t see what Link had seen in that plain old green tunic. Links body, or rather Dark Heart’s body now, looked much better in his own garb of a dark blue tunic with gold trimming, black boots and gauntlets, a deep red, flowing cape, and a silver helm. That hat had looked absolutely ridiculous; it was the first thing Dark Heart had gotten rid of.
After admiring his look for a few more seconds, Dark Heart continued on his errand. Zelda had summoned him to her quarters.
“You called, princess?” said Dark Heart as he entered the room.
Zelda was standing right there and immediately kissed him. She held her position, her lips probing his, when she finally stopped and pulled away. Dark Heart would have fully enjoyed that, if Zelda hadn’t seemed so…suspicious. Zelda scowled at him, whispered, “I knew it” and slapped him.
“Princess, whatever is the matter?” asked Dark Heart, bewildered. Had she found him out?
Zelda pointed at him and fumed. “You’re not Link! I suspected you the moment you changed your clothes! Link always wears those clothes! And he would never get rid of that hat! He loved it! He loved his hat and he also loved me! And that kiss had none of the love Link and I share! Who are you and how DARE you trick me into imprisoning the man I love! I should have you imprisoned, or, no, better yet, executed. You-”
“Princess”, said Dark Heart, calmly. He was chilled enough to continue the charade when Zelda knew perfectly well he was not Link. “If I were you, I would not tell another living soul what you have found out about me. If you do, then I swear upon the grave of Lord Ganon himself that you, your family, and everyone you care about will wake up with slit throats! He said this with such fierceness that Zelda completely believed his every word. “In fact,” continued Dark Heart, “you should consider yourself imprisoned. If you so much as step out of this room, you shall be punished beyond your darkest nightmares.”
Zelda gulped, and sat down on her bed.
“Very good”, sneered Dark Heart, and he left the room.
Link dodged Balor and got a safe distance away.
“So,” said Link “even though you know I’m innocent, you’re going to kill me? Just for money?”
“Its not just money,” argued Balor, “it’s all the money in the world!” He slashed at Link again.
“You’re a greedy, selfish old man,” muttered Link. Balor scowled and thrust the sword at him. Link sidestepped, grabbed the man’s head, and snapped his neck. He fell to the ground, dead. No mere swordsmith could hope to last more than a few seconds in a fight with the legendary Hero of Time. Link scavenged the corpse’s weapon. “Thanks again for the sword.” He said.
Link walked a little ways away, and leaned against a tree. He pulled up his right sleeve and stared at the faintly glowing spot on his arm. He knew that he should be going to Hurrog, but… he didn’t know anymore. All the recent betrayals had left him uneasy. First it was Zelda, then the Hyrule guards, now Balor. Was all of Hyrule going to turn against him? No, he thought, the Kokiri and the Skull Kids still like me. Maybe there’s still hope. Thinking of the forest reminded him he still had Saria’s ocarina. He pulled it out and started to play it. He played all of his old favorites. In the middle of his favorite equestrian songs, he was interrupted.
“Link?”
Link stopped and looked up. Holding up a lantern, sitting on a horse, was Malon.
“Malon!” said Link, “am I glad to see you! Or am I? Please don’t tell me you want to turn me in for the reward!” Link had noticed the bow and quiver on her back.
“Well,” said Malon, “I had thought you were the Imposter on all the wanted posters and I was going to shoot you, but then you started playing Epona’s song. You’re the only one I ever taught that to, so you must be the real Link.”
Link was so relieved. “I am!” he shouted, “listen, Malon, I think I know of a way to beat him. But I have to go to the desert wasteland of Hurrog, so, could I borrow that bow, quiver and horse? I promise to take good care of her, or him.”
Malon thought about it, then nodded. “Yeah you can borrow him. I wouldn’t want you going off to the desert without a horse. His name’s Rex”
Malon got off Rex and handed Link the bow and quiver. “Where’s your shield?” asked Malon, noticing he didn’t have one. “And where’d you get that sword?”
“Long story”, said Link, mounting Rex, “Malon, I’ll be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, can you try and talk to Zelda? Try to talk some sense into her.”
“I’ll try,” said Malon
“Thank you and see you later.” And with that, Link turned Rex and galloped off towards the desert.
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