CHAPTER 9: GANONDORF RETURNS
Once they left the forest, Serenity was looking at the two Pieces of the Staff. The first Piece was gently glowing yellow, and the newest Piece was gently glowing green. She cocked her head sideways, “Odd...” Link was startled at this, “Hu? What’s odd?” Serenity looked up at him, “Well, look at these, they’re both glowing. I wonder what would happen if…” she touched the two ends together and a giant flash of light and wind erupted, scaring the horses slightly. Link got them calmed and turned back to Serenity, “What happened…” His eyes grew wide as he looked at the staff: the two Pieces had fused together and the green light and yellow light were swirling around together. Serenity whispered, “Link, I can feel the power inside me growing with each piece we find. I’m a little scared…” Link walked over to her, “Serenity, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Trust the goddesses. They know what they’re doing,” he put his arms around her and she embraced him tightly. He continued, “Don’t worry; I won’t let anything happen to you.” She nodded in agreement. Suddenly, the two of them started glowing again, and a voice began to speak, "You are doing well, chosen ones. We are proud of you. This next journey will require extra equipment. You shall meet with an old friend and he will be able to help you out. Be brave, and all will be as it needs to be. Watch for the darkness, it draws nearer. We the goddesses will protect you the best we know how. If thou needest our help, just give the word…"
“Din, goddess of Power.” Serenity murmured quietly. Link looked down in amazement, “How the hell do you know the difference? That simply amazes me.” Serenity smiled and quickly kissed Link’s cheek. His face turned pink right away and he said, “Thanks.” Navi and Serenity giggled and the two riders mounted their faithful steeds again. “Well, I believe I know where we need to go now.” Link was looking toward a tall, menacing mountain with clouds swirling around it.
“Don’t tell me, we have to go there.” Serenity said in a small voice. He nodded his head. “Yep, that’s…”
“…Death Mountain,” Navi finished, shuddering, “I hate that place. It’s so hot!”
“Yeah, unbearably hot,” Link continued, “wait! That’s it! That’s what Din was talking about. It’s going to be so hot in there, we won’t be able to physically stand it. We need to go to Goron City.”
“Why?” Serenity and Navi both asked at the same time. Link reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a maroon tunic, “because Serenity’s going to need one of these. This is a Goron Tunic; its power protects the wearer from the harsh heat of the Death Mountain Crater. I’ll bet Darunia can help us out.”
“How long will it take us to get there? It looks quite a long way away.” Serenity asked as she gazed at the mountain. Link sighed, “I don’t think we’ll make it there by sundown, but I know a safe place next to the river where we can camp for the night. Come on, let’s get going.” With that, they started off into the field.
After about an hour of riding, they came to a flat area next to the river. Here they stopped and dismounted. “Well, it won’t be the most comfortable place in the world, but it will do I guess,” Link said as he gathered some sticks to make a fire. Serenity nodded, “It’s actually quite nice.” Link looked at the pile of sticks, “We don’t have anything to make a fire with, do we?” Serenity smiled, “Sure we do: me!” As she said this, she formed a small glowing ball in her hand. She then blew it onto the pile of sticks, and they ignited quickly. Link laughed, “Well, I guess that works too, hu?” She laughed and turned to the horses, who were grazing nearby. Serenity’s stomach grumbled it’s displeasure about not eating since breakfast, and Link laughed again, “I guess someone’s hungry, here,” he handed her an apple and a loaf of bread, “sorry it’s not much, but it should fill you up.” She smiled, “Thank you, but what about you?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to this kind of thing.” Serenity finished her bread and apple, and then looked up at the night sky, “Wow, it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen so many stars.” Link sat down next to her, “I almost forget just how beautiful this place is…” he stopped short at a sight over the castle, “What the hell is that? It’s like some kind of vortex.” Serenity sighed, “Ganondorf?” The two looked at each other; they both knew she was right.
“We don’t have much time. We have to find those other Pieces.” Link said matter-of-factly. Serenity shivered, “He sounds so evil, Link. I’m afraid that when we face him I won’t have the courage you have.” He gently turned her chin up so they were eye to eye, “Hey, don’t worry about that right now, Serenity. I know that when the time comes, you’ll have more strength than you ever could imagine. I believe in you. I will be there to guide you, okay?” She nodded, blinking away a tear. Link reached over and brushed it away gently, “With the two of us together, nothing can stop us; not even Ganondorf.” He smiled to reassure her, then leaned over and kissed her gently, “We should get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.” Again Serenity nodded and stood up. Star Streak had wondered over by the fire now and was lying down for the night. She curled up next to him for warmth and pulled a blanket over herself. Link smiled as the two fell asleep almost instantly. "Goddesses, protect her," he said to himself, "I couldn’t stand for anything to happen to her." He laid down himself, Epona resting nearby. Navi flew over and landed on his chest, “You like her, hu?” Link smiled and glanced at Serenity, “Yeah, Navi, I think I do. She so much different from any other girl that I’ve met in all of my traveling. I don’t know what it is about her, but I feel a connection with her,” he sighed, “but what its worth, I don’t know. She probably doesn’t even like me back.” Navi almost fell over backwards, “Are you crazy? Listen, of COURSE she likes you! You mean to tell me that you can’t tell that? It’s as obvious as the day is long!” Link had to laugh at this, “Okay, okay, maybe you’re right. I just don’t think I have the courage to tell her, that’s all.”
“You will, someday soon,” Navi said, reassuring him, “I know you will.” With that comment, the two fell fast asleep.
