Sub-chapter One - Into the Ice
It was almost the end of March in Hyrule, and it was still cold. The snow had been on the ground since November. Crops wouldn't grow, horses had trouble getting around, and the economy was suffering. The part that Link really hated was they cancelled the big tournament. It was a new tradition starting in Hyrule Castle Town. Fighters would duke it out in single elimination matches until a winner was declared. The winner would receive three hundred rupees and a gem encrusted sheath for their sword. Link and Knil had planned on entering, but the lack of money got it cancelled.
Link was living in the castle acting as Zelda's bodyguard.
"Man! I HATE THIS STUPID WEATHER!" Link yelled out. He was sitting in a chair in his room looking out the window. It was snowing again and Link really hated being cooped up inside for long periods of time.
"Hey Link, what's up?" Zelda walked into the room.
"Well, I've been cooped up in the castle for about, I don't know, three maybe four, MONTHS! I'M GOING CRAZY!" He got so exited that the chair he was sitting in fell over backwards.
Zelda laughed as Link rubbed his head. "If you don't like the cold, do the hero thing and find out if something's causing the strange weather. It might be fun."
Link pulled the chair upright again. "Yeah, I bet it has something to do with the ice cavern in Zora's Domain. I'll go see if Knil wants to come." Link walked to his closet and pulled out his big boots, thick green cloak, and a pair of green earmuffs. When he turned around Zelda was gone. "Hmm?" he pondered, but then he started to wonder what ponder meant and forgot about Zelda. He walked out into the hallway, but stopped before he could three steps.
"Ready." Zelda stood there wearing the purple hat Link had first seen her in, a pink cloak, and long boots.
"Zelda, you can't come with me," Link said.
"Link I'm not going with you, I'm going on my own, and as my bodyguard you have to protect me. So it is you who is doing the coming along with."
Link hated when she did that. She was right and she did it in the cutest way possible. "Okay Zelda, but you know we have to walk. Horses won't be able to get through this weather," Link said in attempt to make her stay.
"I know, and I think I need the exercise."
Knil sat in a haystack staring at the wall. He was in the hayloft of the barn, his 'bedroom'. Because of the snow, the horses couldn't go out and neither could Knil. All of the fun things he usually did outside, Malon wouldn't let him do inside. She said that was the reason he was kicked out of the forest. "I guess I'll go visit Link at the castle." They had an indoor archery course he used and not get in trouble. Knil jumped down the ladder to the bottom floor of the barn. He grabbed his black cloak with the special fireproof lining. Knil figured that if the heat couldn't get in, then it couldn't get out either. His theory supposedly kept him warmer.
He turned to knob on the door and pushed. It didn't budge. He pushed again, this time putting all his weight into it. Again it didn't move. "Great, the snow must have piled up on the door. I'm really stuck now." Knil leaned his back against the door then slid down. "Now what do I do?" He began staring at Epona. Link would know what to do if he were here, he thought to himself.
"DIN'S FIRE!"
Knil jumped up and turned to the door. It swung open and in walked Link and Zelda.
"Why are you here?" the Zora king asked.
"I am seeking the source of this everlasting winter. I believe the ice cavern may be the source. Now may I please enter?" the stranger in the red hood replied. He stood about 2 feet higher then Link and had a hooded red cloak on. His sword was the only thing you could make out. It made a bulge in the front and back of his cloak. It was a thin sword, about a two and half feet long blade.
"You may not enter. I do not know who you are. For all I know you may try to destroy our fountain and I will not take the chance."
"Well if I can't enter than perhaps my friend can enter." A small blue fairy flew out from the stranger's cloak. "She can't possibly do any harm to your fountain, I just want her to take a look. You can trust her, she said she has been in the cavern before, maybe you recognize her. Her name is Navi."
Link, Zelda and Knil stood on a ledge in front of a waterfall. Link pulled out the ocarina of Time and played Zelda's Lullaby. It opened up the passage and the three jumped inside. As soon as he entered Link was trapped in a tight embrace. "RUTO! I CAN'T BREATHE!"
She let go of Link and he fell to the floor gasping for air. "Oh my, I'm sorry Link, hey I see you brought friends, this one is cute, he looks just like you and... hello, Zelda." Ruto really hated Zelda. She thought she was trying to get Link not to marry her so Zelda would have him all for herself. Link was constantly reminding her that he had returned the spiritual stone and they wouldn't be getting married.
They walked up the stairs leading to the king's room. They stopped as they reached the top. Link continued up to the platform used to talk to the king. He noticed the man in the red cloak, but didn't think much of him, assuming he was a friend of the king. "Excuse me your highness, is it okay if my friends and I enter the ice cavern to look around?"
The king looked at Link with a weird look on his face. "Link, do know the boy in red to your right? He too has asked for my permission to enter the ice cavern."
Link looked at the stranger. "No I don't know him. But he doesn't seem like a bad guy to me. Why didn't you let him in?
"I did not think he had good intentions. But, if you go with him, I suppose you may both enter."
"Well, what do you think, want to come with us?" Link asked the stranger.
"Yeah," he replied removing his hood, "I think I will." He had short orange hair spiked up, his eyes were brown with a red tint, and had a small scar next to his right eye. "My name is Zak, it's a pleasure to meet the great Hero of Time." Zak held out his hand.
Link shook it.
"Hey," Zelda said. "How do you know about that?" she said stepping forward.
"Well I believe the answer to that should be flying in any second." He pointed to above the king's head. The small blue fairy flew in.
"Zak, I didn't find anything different from. the.. Last..."
Link and the fairy looked at each other.
"Navi," Link said.
"Link," she replied. It flew down to Link.
"Navi, it is you. Where have you been? I went looking for you and everything." Link held out his hand and Navi landed on it.
"I left the temple that day and was captured. It was a band of fairy hunters. One day I was rescued by Zak. I had been moved to another land known as Jesterpool. I have been his partner ever since. But now, I have found you again."
Link filled Navi in on his adventures in Termina and how he had met Knil as they entered the fountain. They jumped from ice block to ice block until they entered the cavern. Things seemed to be like they were when Link had entered in the alternate timeline.
"Keep your eyes open everybody, investigate anything that looks like it has a secret, and everything that doesn't," Zak gave out orders. He took the lead and the others followed.
They followed the icy trail for quite some time. They finally arrived at the final room. The chest containing the iron boots were still there. Link wouldn't obtain these for another 6 years. Knil walked over and reached for the chest.
"Knil, don't. The sages told me not to do anything to mess with the temples or anything else I needed when I broke the curses on them. I might need them again if anything happens."
Knil withdrew his hand. "Sorry," he said. "So I guess the thing we're looking for isn't here. Is there any other place we can check ... Watch out!" he yelled pulling out his sword.
Link and Zak turned around. Five Wolfos lunged at them. Zak jumped back, Link grabbed Zelda and jumped to the side. He put Zelda down and drew his gilded sword and the new shield Zelda had given him. Zak drew his Samurai sword and jumped forward, Knil followed.
Knil swung at the Wolfo, it held up his hands and blocked. He swung again, it blocked again. "You are really annoying me," Knil yelled as he began swinging like crazy. The Wolfo blocked every shot and swung at Knil. It put a cut into Knil's right arm. Knil held his cut for a minute but it didn't seem to bother much though. He got up and charged. The Wolfo held up his arms to block but Knil leaped over him. As he flew over his back he threw his sword down and it went straight through the beast.
Link Stood in front of the Wolfo. It lunged at him. Link jumped to the left and slashed at the Wolfo's shoulder. The blood splattered onto Link's boot. Link gave it no time to recover. He ran in and began hacking at the beast. It finally fell in a pool of its own blood. Link sheathed his sword and looked at Zak. He had three Wolfos on him. He simply swung his sword and took out all three in one swipe. Then as swiftly as he killed the Wolfos, he sheathed his sword and turned to the other two.
Knil had pulled his sword from the dead wolf and cleaned the blood off in the snow. He sheathed it and walked to the rest of the group. "Well, that was fun," he said, "Next time let me take on all five."
"So, I guess we should go then. Doesn't seem to be anything here," Link said.
The four began walking towards the exit. The ground began shaking though.
"Hang on," Link said grabbing Zelda. Snow fell from the ceiling in different sized plops. A large one fell above Zak. He easily jumped away though. The giant snow ball rolled towards the exit and got wedged in. Another giant snowball fell above the underwater exit, sealing that up too.
The four were stuck. Link used his Din's Fire attack but it only revealed the snowballs were really snow covered boulders. Too large for the four to move. They bombed the boulders but they were too strong. Link used his Deku Sticks to start a fire. They sat around it, wondering what to do.
Sub-chapter Two - Holy Frozen Guacamole
Zelda sat shivering. Navi was flying around trying to stay warm. The fire was beginning to die down and Link was out of Deku Sticks. They decided to use arrows to fuel the fire as a last result. Link stood up and placed his cloak on Zelda. Zak and Knil were walking around trying to find a way out.
"I don't know Zak, it seems we're kind of stuck in here. None of our weapons will be able to break these rocks or these walls. Have you got anything?" Knil said.
Zak walked to the fire and sat down. "I may be able to get us help." He crossed his legs and folded his hands together. His body began to glow red.
"He's using mental telepathy," Zelda said, "I think I can help him." She folded her legs and folded her hands. She began to glow pink.
"I'll help too." Navi flew over and sat on Zac's head.
Link and Knil sat next to each other. Knil waved his hand over Zak's face. He didn't flinch. "Awesome," Knil said. He pulled out a quill and bottle of ink. After a minute of work, Zak had a mustache, goatee, and glasses. The two were cracking up laughing.
"What's so funny?" Zelda asked, "Oh. I see." Zelda was laughing now too. Zak had a smirk on his face. Knil thought he'd be angry. He turned to Link to see he was now pointing at Knil. His eyebrow went up. He rubbed his finger on his face. There was ink on it. Zak's face was spotless.
"How the hell did you do that?"
Zak simply walked to the wall and leaned against it. His hood went back over his head. "Help will be here in about an hour. Try not to freeze to death." He fell asleep.
"Seriously, how did he do that?" Knil asked.
"He just snapped his fingers and the ink appeared on your face. I think it was magic," Link responded. The three began to throw arrows into the fire. It would have to last an hour.
"So," Link said, "how are things going at the raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan..." Link was thrown back. Knil and Zelda soon followed.
"What the hell was that?" Knil asked.
"It's a Freezard, a really big Freezard."
The Freezard was 10 feet tall and carried a large sword of ice. Unlike normal Freezards, it had legs and arms and could move his limbs around. They looked to Zak. He was frozen.
"Zelda, stay back, me and Knil will take him. Just try to stay safe," Link said drawing his sword. Knil took out his slingshot. The Freezard fired a blast of his icy breath. Link and Knil jumped away. Knil began firing seeds at the Freezard's head. It was ineffective. Link charged and slashed at its leg. His sword went in halfway and became stuck. The Freezard swung its leg and Link went flying into the wall.
Zelda ran over to him and helped him up. "Are you okay?" she asked. Link didn't answer. He looked at the Freezard and saw his sword still wedged in his leg.
Knil chucked a bomb at the beast. It exploded and its shoulder melted a bit. The Freezard fired his ice breath. Link tried to move but wasn't quick enough. His foot was frozen. "Great" he said. Link ran in and grabbed Knil before he got by another ice breath blast. He placed Him next to Zak then ran back to Zelda.
"Zelda, do you have any magic spells that will thaw them out?"
Zelda nodded. Link grabbed her and jumped back to avoid the Freezard foot from stomping on them.
Link dropped Zelda by Knil. "If he comes after you, use this." Link handed Zelda a small crystal with a blue orb in the center. He then turned around and charged at the Freezard. "HYAH!" Link jumped in the air and kicked the monster in the stomach. The Freezard was knocked back a few steps but held his ground. "Yah." Link threw a Deku Nut at the Freezard, blinding it. As the beast rubbed its eyes it heard music playing. When it got its sight back it saw something simply amazing. The boy in green had more friends now. A Goron, a Zora, and a Deku Scrub were standing with him. But none of them were doing anything. It felt the sword being pulled from its leg and turned around.
Link had fired his long shot and it hooked on the Freezard's chest. He flew up and used the moment to jump to the monster's head. SWING! Link chopped its head off. He got the extra strength from the adrenaline rush. The monster fell and smashed through the wall, opening the passageway. Link fell and rolled forward and sheathed his sword. He was breathing heavily. Zelda ran over to him. She was halfway down thawing Zak out. "Are you okay?" she asked as Knil also came over. "I... think... I'll... Live... Just... Give me... A minute," he said panting.
"Would you mind finishing defrosting me. I feel like a fish stick."
Zelda went back to Zak and started her heat spell again.
Link began looking at the hole he had made. It was definitely large enough for them to get through, heck Medi-Goron could get through it if he crawled. "I think we can get out now guyeeeeeeees!"
Link was kicked against the wall again. The Freezard rose to its feet.
"Great," Knil said. He drew his sword and charged. The Freezard kicked him across the room.
"Phoenix fist!" Zak yelled. The Freezard melted and Zak appeared behind where the beast stood, his hand smoking.
"That was an amazing attack," Link said.
"I'll tell you about it later. Right now we need to evacuate before more rocks start falling down"
The four ran out of the room. As they hurried towards the exit, a man dressed In yellow got in their way. Zak told him they had had gotten out safely and they didn't need his help any longer.
They entered another chamber. Three normal Freezards were there. Link, Knil and Zak drew their swords and easily killed them. Finally they reached the exit.
"Look, guys," Zelda said, "It isn't snowing anymore."
She was right. It wasn't snowing any more. The sun had come out and felt warmer then when they had entered.
"Hey, guys," Link said. "I think we have to rebuild that wall."
"Why?" Knil asked.
Link turned to face the entrance of the cavern. "When I went into the ice cavern in the alternate timeline, it wasn't damaged, almost like nobody had been there for years. The sages told me not to do anything that could affect the way things turn out in the future. I think this is one of those things." He turned to the man in yellow. "I'm sorry if I'm confusing you with any of this."
The man in yellow was very tall. His hair was white slicked back. His eyes were green and had a small patch of hair on his chin. He did not wear a cloak, just a mustard yellow shirt tucked into bright yellow pants. He showed no sign of a weapon on him. Link figured he was a wizard. "Don't worry. I don't understand the alternate timeline stuff, but I do understand this place is important to you, and I can help fix it. Just stand back."
Everyone hoped off the ledge onto a block of ice.
He began to draw a picture in the snow on the wall of the cavern. It ended up being two a circle inside a bigger circle and a square intercrossing them. He placed his hands on the circle and sparks began coming out. The entire cavern began to glow a yellow light. "There, all fixed," he said removing his hands and turning around.
"What did you do?" Knil asked.
"He used alchemy, it's a special kind of science. You can transform anything into anything else as long as they are both equal. This rule is called equivalent exchange," Zak explained, "In this case, he exchanged rubble for a cavern that's as good as new "
"Sounds useful," Zelda said.
"I don't really understand, but as long as the cavern is fixed, I'm happy," Link said.
Sub-chapter Three - Rauru's Gift
Link sat on the stone steps of Zora's Fountain. When it was cold Lord Jabu Jabu hibernated in a hidden cave. Next to Link was Zelda, resting her head on Link's shoulder. Knil was sitting behind them a few steps up. Zak stood near Link, his eyes closed and his hood on. He apparently became tired when he was doing nothing but was always fast as lightning when it was time to fight. The man in yellow, who had identified himself as Aloc, was studying Links gilded sword and the other equipment he used. Aloc told Link he may be able to combine his sword with another item to make it stronger. His bow, Deku Sticks, bombs, Eye of Truth, and Bomchus were rejected. He had an idea for his boomerang though. "Got anything else?" he asked.
Link searched his pockets and finally pulled out his three magic gems. "I got these from the great fairies," he said handing them to Aloc.
"Perfect," he said.
Aloc pulled out a piece of chalk and drew another circle on the floor. The gilded sword, the boomerang, and the three gems were placed on it. Aloc placed his hands on the circle and it began to spark and glow like the cavern did. When he removed his hands, there was only the sword. And the boomerang.
"There," he said, "If I did the transmutation right, your sword should have magical powers."
Link picked it up and looked at it. The blade was the same except the three magic gems were now embedded in the base. "What about the boomerang?" Link asked.
"I didn't actually transmute the boomerang itself, just its ability to return. Try throwing it."
Link picked up the boomerang and threw it out over the water. It fell down with a splash.
"I thought boomerangs were supposed to come back," Zelda said.
"They are," Link said.
"I took this ability from the boomerang and added it to your sword," Aloc said taking the sword. He chucked it as far out as possible.
"Why did you do that?" Knil asked.
"Haven't you been listening? Link hold up your hand and call your sword," Aloc ordered him.
Link followed the orders. His hand went in the air. "Gilded sword," he said. Nothing happened.
"Two problems, one you didn't say it loud enough. Two, it isn't the gilded sword anymore. It has the power of the three goddesses in it now. It needs to be called by a new name."
"What's its new name?" Link asked.
"I don't know, just do what feels right and keep trying."
Link thought for a moment. What do you call a sword with the strength of the goddesses? "GODDESS SWORD!" he called out. The sword shot out of the water and straight into Link's hand. He sheathed his sword behind his back and turned to Aloc. "Thanks, this will probably help me a lot."
Aloc didn't respond. He didn't move at all. He wasn't even breathing. Link turned to Knil and Zak. They were the same. Only he and Zelda were moving.
"Link, what's happening?" she asked.
"Link!" a voice said. "Can you hear me?"
Link looked around. "Um, yeah, I can hear you, um whoever you are," Link responded.
"Link, it is I, Rauru, the Sage of Light. I have an important message for you Link."
"Okay, but first can you tell me how you froze time like that?" Link asked.
"Stay focused Link. This a grave situation. There is a group of Ganondorf followers who were not affected by the memory spell we placed on all of Hyrule. They know that Ganondorf once existed and they are trying to bring him back. They plan to destroy any entrance into the temples, so you can't break the curses in 6 years. The giant Freezard you faced was one of their creations. They know of a secret entrance to the Temple of Time in the ice cavern. It was their intention to destroy it.
"Link, it is now your mission to stop this group and prevent them from reviving Ganondorf. In total there are seven of them. They will do anything to revive him, even kill the sages themselves. It is important that you protect them as well. I know this is a very difficult task, and it may be hard to travel to the many temples. So I will give you a gift Link." A necklace appeared around Link's neck. It was a basic black string. A small glass orb was on the end. "That orb serves many purposes. It will light up if a temple is in danger, according to the temple that's in danger. Its second ability will teleport you anywhere you want. As long as it's not blocked by magic, you can travel anywhere in Hyrule, or any other land you have traveled to. The third thing it does is multiply. You can use blue fire to make copies of that. Then you can use those copies to communicate."
"Wow," Link said. "This thing is pretty cool. Does it come in green?"
"Link," Rauru said in an annoyed tone, "Stay focused. I have one more piece of advice for you. I would assemble a team of warriors to fight by your side, ones that you trust, and only ones you trust. Knil does seem to be a fine choice. As well as Zak and Aloc. They are indeed good allies, I can sense the goodness in them."
"Thanks Rauru," Zelda said. "We'll do everything possible to stop them."
"Hey, Zelda, who's Rauru?"
"Yeah, who are you trying to stop?" Aloc added.
"Um?" Zelda explained what had happened while time had stopped. Of course only she and Link knew that time had stopped.
"There's something I don't understand," Link said. "Why is sealing up the temples going to bring Ganondorf back?"
"Well you see, in six years you have to break the curses again," Zelda answered.
Link's jaw dropped. "I have to do them all over again?"
Zelda nodded. "If you don't, Ganondorf will be freed."
Link plopped down on the stairs. "Just peachy."
Link was sitting in his favorite chair again. He had used blue fire to create a second orb and gave it to Knil. They were talking through them. Link could see Knil's face in the orb and vice-versa.
"I just heard the big tournament was rescheduled for next month, we can still fight in it. Zak says he's going to compete," Link said.
"When did he tell you that?" Knil replied.
"He lives in Kakariko, moved there about a month ago from that place Navi was at, I think it's called Jesterpool. Anyways Zelda sent me to give the carpenters a message and we talked."
Link could hear Malon's voice over the orb. She was calling Knil.
"Sorry, Link," Knil said, "I have to go. Seeya." Knil's face disappeared.
Link leaned back in his chair and looked outside. The snow was almost completely gone. It was going to be a nice spring. A really short spring, but a nice one. Link shot up. The orb was lighten up. The light was green. The Forest Temple was in trouble. "Great." Link jumped off his chair and ran out the door.
