Chapter Two: A Man With A Clue
The members of the Triforce Team ran quickly to the area that the Labrynnan soldier led them, to an area of soil covered ground near to the ocean’s cold waters. There lay a body, bleeding from the throat, near to the collapsed structure of black rock that was once a tower in days long passed. Before the dead man was a figure in dark blue pants with a shirt and pointed hat similar to that of a witch about his head of the same color. On the very bottoms of his clothing there was a single stripe of red, the same color of his hair, that fell just below his eyes, which were a fierce green shade. He had a sword sheathed at his side.
“You! Stand!” Jet called out, unsheathing his sword and pointing it at the Labrynnan.
“Who are you to be giving orders to me?” the man asked.
“I am Jet, the king of Hyrule, and this is the Triforce Team,” Jet answered, glancing back at his comrades.
“Hmm…very well your highness,” the man said, standing. “My name is Ralph. After the death of Queen Ambi, I came looking for the next target, yet I found it too late. I have my suspicions, but…they cannot be right, so I will not waste my words on thoughts that hold no bearing on the future,” Ralph said.
“Hmm…so you have some clue as to who has been doing this then?” Kafei asked.
“Just a very crazy idea, and I only have that because of my friend…” Ralph answered.
“Who is your friend?” Gogetta asked.
“The Oracle of Ages, a woman named Nayru of course,” Impa answered, remembering the mission Zelda had sent her on so long ago to bring the oracle safely to Hyrule.
“Then we have to go there!” Jet said in a rushed tone.
“Why?” Ralph asked, somewhat confused at the urgency in the man’s voice.
“If this murderer is hunting out powerful figures, then your friend’ll be next,” Jet explained.
“But that man right there wasn’t of any importance to Labrynna as a whole,” Ralph argued.
“Is that a chance you’re really willing to take?” Jet asked.
“…it’s this way, but be quick, if what you say is true, then the enemy will find us and likely follow us,” Ralph said at length. The Triforce Team complied, following the Labrynnan through a man-made forest path. The team members broke aside branches while they traveled, though that was just one of the countless hazards. They were constantly tripping over roots, or brushing against thorns, and the amount of snakes in the forest was incredibly high for such a peaceful realm. At length they all came to a house in a clearing in the woods. There was a small pond next to the house, fish and frogs and even birds all around, enjoying the cool air let off by the waters. Ralph stood in front of the door, then spoke.
“I will tell the oracle of your arrival, wait here,” he instructed. The team agreed, and the Labrynnan slowly stepped into the house. After several moments he stepped back out, a woman of unmatched beauty in the realm behind him. Her hair fell to the middle of her back, and was a bright blue color. She had crystal blue eyes, and the most beautiful face that most in Labrynna had ever seen, rivaled only by Zelda. She wore a dress of blue, a cape of the same color latched around her neck.
“Oracle, there has been-,” Jet began.
“Murders as of late in Lynna City, is that what you have come to tell me?” Nayru asked.
“Yes, but-,” Jet was again cut off.
“But you also think that I may be a target?” Nayru questioned, a smile about her face.
“Yeah…” Jet answered, amazed at the woman’s knowledge.
“Mmm….I have seen it all in my dreams, and I have felt it in nature. The plants and the animals-,” Nayru was cut off.
“They are saddened…they feel energy leaving the realm from a malicious force, and they are filled with sadness and anger, because they can neither shed a tear nor help save lives,” Yoshimitsu finished for her.
“Hmmm….Yoshimitsu of the Manji clan…you are one with nature…” Nayru mused.
“Yes, ironic as a very small portion of my body is still natural,” Yoshimitsu said in a low tone.
“It matters not the size or amount as long as the use is great, and you Yoshimitsu, use your natural abilities to their full extent,” Nayru assured him.
“Now, of the matter at hand, do you have any clue who or what is committing these murders?” Jet asked.
“With the turning of Ganon and the defeat of Warrior Modeus I am left utterly clueless,” Nayru said.
“Don’t you have powers to see what is going on in this place though?” Ganondorf asked.
“There are two possibilities. The most likely is the murder is a corrupt citizen whose mind is not even powerful enough for me to sense. The second, much less likely choice would be we have an incredibly powerful being on our hands, who is able to mask its power, but with the death of evil in Hyrule died also the evil in Labrynna, so it can only be a Labrynnan,” Nayru said.
“Well…what happens when we find this guy?” Marth asked.
“I’m afraid we’re left with no choice but to eradicate the threat in all manners of the word, from physical to spiritual, to ensure no hostile presence is still drifting along the currents of time after the deed has been done,” Nayru answered.
“In other words, we do some slice n’ dice, you know, the usual,” Samson answered. The boy had grown much taller, his hair exactly the same as before, but his voice now very deep. When he spoke, people listened, now no exception.
“My favorite wouldn’t ya’ know it,” Gogetta said with a slight smirk.
“Speaking of clouded lives…I see with you one less than there should be,” Nayru said slowly.
“If you’re talking about my dad…then he was killed several years ago by the Dark Sage of the Forest,” Link II said, stepping forward. He wore Kokiri boots, his father’s red mail still about him, red saiya-jin training pants and a long sleeved shirt of the same color and fabric about him. He wore a red hat just like his dad’s, and had a pair of silver gauntlets about his wrists, the magical sword of Hylian lore sheathed behind his back. He had grown into what was near enough to an exact twin of his father, and he took pride in his heritage.
“Link….” Nayru said in disbelief, covering her face as tears slowly fell to the ground.
“You knew him?” Goku asked.
“Of course she did! He was the Hero of Time! The fabled man of Hylian legend! He came here and destroyed Veran the Sorceress of Shadows, freeing the Oracle of Ages and then destroying the scourge of the world Ganon!” Ralph said angrily.
“Scourge….?” Ganondorf asked.
“Yes! I cannot believe you are even with this group of people after all you’ve done! I only pity the fact you are now on this team because it takes away my ability to strike you down myself!” Ralph answered. Ganondorf stepped back, a hurt and thoughtful look on his face.
“Stifle yourself! You don’t think he regrets what he did?!” Akullodorf asked, stepping forward.
“Regret does not give people lives! It doesn’t give hope to families! If it wasn’t for Ganon none of this would have happened, and Link would still be alive!” Ralph yelled.
“You weren’t there! Ganon had nothing to do with the release of the Dark Sages, it was all an act of my grandpa!” Link II yelled, suddenly joining into the argument.
“But it was Ganon who aided in the battle, am I right? Of course I am. Without even being there I know what happened,” Ralph said.
“You know nothing! You know not what it is to lose!” Kazuya yelled, angered.
“Ha, and I believe you Kazuya Mishima?! We have heard of you, and you have little room to talk, Hell Lord,” Ralph said.
“How dare you speak to my father that way!” Jin yelled.
“Jin, calm down, he can handle himself,” Samson said.
“Shut up, don’t but into things,” Jin yelled.
“And don’t talk to him like that!” Gogetta yelled.
“You can shut up too!” Jin yelled.
“Fuck you!” Gogetta said, angered.
“Don’t swear, especially not in a place like this!” Jet yelled.
“He probably it from you,” Zelda said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jet asked.
“That you talk like a sailor,” Goku said.
“Well jee, that means a lot coming from you, who can’t even drive a car!” Jet yelled.
“What does driving a car mean when you can fly?” Goku asked.
“I can drive!” Trunks piped in.
“Shut up!” Goku and Jet both yelled in unison. Nayru slowly sat down upon the stairs of her porch watching all of this. She put her head in her hands and did the only thing she could think to do: sob. The Hero of Time was one of her greatest allies, and he was gone. Not only that, but the entire group of people before her were fighting, one of the things she hated more than anything.
“Ugh, all of you shut up,” Akullodorf said. No one listened.
“All of you shut up!!!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, so loud that the birds ascended from the trees in fright. In this moment all looked at Nayru, tears streaming from her face. The icon of hope and faith in Labrynna, reduced to tears. Akullodorf sat next to her slowly, patting her on the back and speaking.
“It’s okay. We all took his passing hard, but as long as we hold onto his beliefs, and what he fought for, then all is fine,” Akullodorf said in as caring a tone as he could muster. Nayru looked up at him slowly, her gaze meeting his, and for a second, Akullodorf’s world seemed to disappear. He couldn’t say it was a good feeling, but it was what he felt. He looked away quickly, then stood.
“Akullodorf…you have the Master sword,” Nayru said slowly.
“Yes, I also have the Triforce of Courage. These tools I took to uphold the Hero of Time’s legacy,” Akullodorf answered.
“Now…what are we gonna do about these mur-,” Jet began.
“Shh! Quiet!” Ralph ordered. All were silent, but heard not a thing. With lightning fast speed Ralph unsheathed his blade and held it in front of Nayru, but it was too late. The arrow he had heard from miles away had gone faster than he, and his blade caught not the shaft of the weapon, but air. Eyes focused on the ground he slowly turned around, almost terrified to see what he knew he would. He slowly looked to Nayru, and was then shocked.
On either side of the Oracle of Ages was one half of an arrow, and in front of her was a long blade with a blue streak running up the metal, a hand guard of the same color on the hilt.
“Perhaps I am not as helpless as you would like to think Ralph?” Nayru asked, smiling brightly.
“Perhaps…not,” Ralph said, amazed.
“On any count, it’s a safe bet to assume that whoever is committing these murders made that attempt, and due to the failure, they’ll try again,” Jet said.
“What do you propose we do then your highness?” Nayru asked.
“I think we should leave the forest as quickly as possible and pick a course of action from there,” Jet answered.
“Very well, lead the way,” Nayru said.
“Oh, and for the record, you and Ralph are on the team, at least until this is all over. You’ve got incredible skills,” Jet said with a smile the duo nodded, and the team slowly headed out of the forest.