Time Trouble
                             by Susanne (sage_of_evil@hotmail.com)

part one: The missing Ocarina

chapter one

Zelda was digging through her wardrobe, and Link sat on the floor, half asleep. He tried to concentrate on what Zelda was saying, but he just couldn't.
"Link?" Zelda asked. "Have you seen the Ocarina of Time?"
"Of course I've seen it - it's almost a part of me."
Zelda sighed. "I mean, RECENTLY."
"Well, sure. So what?"
"It's gone, genius!"
"Gone?"

Saria sat down in front of the Forest Temple. "What do you mean, gone?"
"Exactly what I'm saying," Link told her. "The Ocarina of Time is gone."
"Really gone?"
"As gone as it can be."
The Kokiri girl frowned. "I think we have a problem here."

A ray of light fell in through a window in the Temple of Time. Link, Zelda and the six Sages stood in front of the altar.
"Listen up, guys," Link said. "The Ocarina of Time is gone. Has anyone seen it?"
The six Sages in front of him shook their heads. Saria was still frowning, and she was deep in thoughts.
"It can't be Ganondorf," she said. "He's still sealed, and we know that for sure. But are there other evil people who wants the ocarina?"
"Agariah?" Link suggested. "The Sage of Evil?"
"Isn't she dead?" Darunia wondered.
"Of course she is dead," Ruto said. "It can't be Agariah."
"What if the ocarina is just...gone?" Rauru said.
Impa sighed. "We KNOW it's gone, Rauru. We just don't know where it is."
"It could be hidden somewhere," Nabooru said.
"Or perhaps Link lost it on his last adventure," Impa said.
"Lost?" Link said. "Do you think that the ocarina is something you just lose? 'Oops, I lost the Ocarina of Time which we need to protect the Sacred Realm'? I don't THINK so."
"But it IS possible," Saria said.
"Stop accusing me all the time," Link said.
"This is getting worser and worser," Ruto sighed. "Let's just state the fact that it's gone, all right?"

chapter two

In Kakariko Village, everything was peaceful and quiet. Mauru sat under a tree and played his ocarina. The young man could finally get some vacation. Link wasn't around to tell him how bad things were, or that the princess needed another guard or something like that. Mauru was free to just hang around, talk to his friends and relax. He played the Song of Time just for fun. Usually, nothing happened when he played that song. But this time, he heard something unusual.
"They don't know what's going on, do they?" a voice said.
"No, I don't think so," another voice replied. "But they'll find out, sooner or later."
"But what if they finds out too late?"
"That's not our problem, you know."
"Probably not, but I feel a little sorry for them."
Mauru scratched his head and tried to understand what was happening. "Uhh...hello? Is anyone there?"
"What's that?" the first voice said.
"I don't know, it sounds like one of THEM."
"Oh, then we'd better be quiet."
Silence.
The now confused Mauru got on his feet. "I don't understand this," he mumbled. "Maybe Link knows what's going on."
Mauru mounted his horse and rode towards the village's exit. He talked to the guard at the entrance of Kakariko Village, and he told Mauru that he'd never reach Hyrule Castle before night.
"Oh, I think I will," Mauru said.
"But Mauru, it's not possible. It's already six o'clock, and they will close the market any minute now, and..."
"Just let me handle that, would ya?"
"You're waisting your time, Mauru!" the guard yelled after him as he left Kakariko Village behind.
"Sure, sure," Mauru muttered. He entered Hyrule Field. It was already night. Suddenly he heard the familiar sound of skeletons popping out of the ground. "I'm getting tired of you guys," he sighed and took out his ocarina. He played the Song of the Sun and smiled when he saw the skeletons disappear into the ground again. The sun showed above Death Mountain, and Mauru rode towards the market.

When he reached the castle, he found that something was wrong. All the guards, Link, princess Zelda and the six Sages were out in the garden, and they were looking for something.
"Hey, guys?" Mauru yelled. "What's up?"
Link looked up and saw his friend. "Oh, hi Mauru. We're looking for the Ocarina of Time. Zelda must have lost it."
"I have NOT!" an angry voice cried. "I'm sure it was your fault!"
"Excuuuse me, princess," Link said. "Well, Mauru, why don't you help us look for  it?"
"But I have this really weird thing to tell you about," Mauru said. "Yesterday, I played the Song of Time, and suddenly I heard two voices, speaking about you, I think."
"What did you drink last night?" Link asked.
"Errr....nothing. I mean...well, maybe a little, but...not very much."
Link sighed. "Well...try it again in front of the Sages. If we all can hear the voices, you're probably right. But otherwise, we'll consider you as drunk."
"But I KNOW I heard the voices," Mauru objected. "I wasn't drunk. I'm never drunk."
"Sure, and I'm Ganondorf."

chapter three

Mauru, Link, Zelda and the six Sages sat in the Temple of Time. Mauru took out his ocarina.
"If we don't hear those voices, you're in big trouble," Link murmured. "I'm sure they'll be very disappointed."
"I guess so," Mauru whispered. He started to play the Song of Time, but didn't finish it. "Promise that you won't hurt me if this doesn't work," he said.
"Yes, we promise," Darunia said. "Now let's hear the song."
The young man played the Song of Time, and this time he finished it. They all waited.
Nothing happened.
"I can explain, I mean-" Mauru started.
"Sssch!" Saria said.
Two voices began to talk.
"I really don't like this," the first voice said.
"What's wrong?" the other voice asked.
"I don't know, but I think someone's listening to us."
"Listening? No, no, no. You're just imagining things."
"No, I'm not. I KNOW someone's listening."
"Well, if they are, why don't you say something important instead of that nonsens?"
"All right."
Silence.
"Umm...hi?" the first voice said after a long pause.
The other voice sighed. "Was that all you had to say?"
"All right, all right! Err...hi, I'm the voice of destiny and I think..." he stopped. "Do you really think someone's listening or am I just making a fool of myself?"
The second voice giggled.
"I don't think this is funny at all!" the first voice complained. "You're always making fun of me! I'm leaving!"
"No, wait!" the second voice said. "Wait for me!"
Silence.
When the voices were gone, all the Sages, Link, Zelda and Mauru took a deep breath.
"This is amazing," Link said. "I can't believe it - Mauru is finally right."
"Thanks, buddy," Mauru snorted.

Zelda, Link, Saria and Mauru sat under a tree outside the castle. Link and Mauru faced the castle walls, while Zelda and Saria looked the other direction. It was late afternoon, and the sky was already turning red.
"Mauru, why did you play the Song of Time?" Zelda asked. "You know that Link and I are the only people allowed to play that song in the Temple of Time. What if an evil person played that song? He would be able to enter the Sacred Realm and get the Triforce."
"But that's only if that evil person gets the Master Sword, and that sword is in Link's hands right now," Mauru said. "And I was just playing it for fun. Link always tells me not to play certain songs, but he'd never mentioned the Song of Time - have you, Link?"
"No, I don't think so. I told you not to play the Bolero of Fire. Since you don't own a Goron Tunic, it'll be dangerous for you in the crater. And I told you not to play the Nocturne of Shadow. I don't want you running around in that scary temple without me. And I know I told you not to play Epona's Song. She's my horse, and that's that!"
"Tsss," Mauru said. "The Hero of Time shouldn't be greedy."
"It's not that I'm greedy!" Link objected. "I don't want anyone to mess around with my horse, that's all. You have an own horse!"
"Guys!" Zelda said. "Quit it!"
"All right, your highness," Link said.
"And don't call me that!"

chapter four

Link didn't want to go up. He felt somehow strange, in a way he'd never felt before. His body was aching and his head was heavy.
Suddenly princess Zelda rushed into his room. "Link, what are you doing? It's almost twelve o'clock! You have to get up!"
All Link managed to get out of his mouth was a weak humming sound.
"Link, what's wrong with you?" Zelda asked. She went up to his bed and put her hand on his forehead. "Holy Triforce! You're burning!"
"Eaahh," Link said.
"What in the name of Din?!" Zelda sat down on his bed. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"I...I..."
"What?"
"I feel...strange..."
"Of course you do! I'm sure you have a fever."
"I've never been sick before," Link panted.
Zelda thought about that a moment or two. "I'll get you a doctor, Link. Stay here."
She ran out of the room.
The last words weren't really necessary. Even if he'd wanted to, he hadn't been able to move his hand more than a few inches. But lucky for Link, he didn't want to move. All he wanted was to die. Now.
After a few minutes, Zelda came running with Mauru and a doctor behind her. Mauru bent over Link.
"Link! Are you sick?"
"No, I'm dying," Link replied with a tiny voice. "At least I hope so."
The doctor put his hand on Link's forehead. After a few seconds he turned to the two people standing behind him.
"Don't tell him, but I think this could be dangerous," the doctor whispered. "Din knows what has happened to the poor young man. He's burning up. His temperature is way more than it should be."
"How much more?" Zelda asked, worried about her friend.
"Well, he SHOULD be dead by now, but he's not."
"Holy Triforce," Mauru murmured. "I'll go get the Sages. Maybe they know what's going on."
"Hurry, Mauru!" Zelda said. She turned to Link again. "It's nothing serious, Link. You'll be fine."
"I don't want to be fine, I want to die."

Saria and Impa stood next to Link's bed. Darunia was on his way, and Ruto was already climbing the stairs up to the room. Nabooru couldn't leave Gerudo Valley today, but she'd promised to arrive next morning. Suddenly Rauru showed up in a bright light.
"How is he?" he asked.
"Not well," Impa said. "He's unconscious."
Saria sighed. "How did this happen?"
"I don't know," Impa said. "Maybe it's got something to do with the Ocarina of Time. Link never leaves it."
Ruto ran into the room. "Tell me he's alive!" she cried. She turned to Zelda, who was sitting on the floor next to Link's bed.
"He's alive, but I don't know how long he will stay with us," Zelda whispered. "It can be a month, a week - or one hour."

part two: The ways of destiny

chapter one

A deep darkness lay over Hyrule. It was in the middle of the night, and it was completely silent outside. Not a single leave fell to the ground. No wind blew. Even the water was silent.
Everybody waited.
In Hyrule Castle, noone slept. Except one. A Hylian boy dressed in Kokiri clothes lay on a bed. He could barely breathe, and his eyes were closed. Ten shadows were gathered around his bed. The six Sages - Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, Nabooru and Rauru - stood in a corner of the room. Mauru sat on the floor next to Sheraa and Loora, and they were holding eachothers hands. Zelda sat on a chair next to the bed, holding the boy's hand.
Saria, the Sage of the Forest, took out her ocarina. She lifted it to her lips and started to play a song. It was her song - and the boy's song. It came from the forest, from deep inside the Lost Woods, in their own secret place. The boy opened his eyes, and they were full of tears.
"Saria," he whispered softly, "am I going to die?"
"That depends on you, Link," Saria answered.
"Forgive me, Saria," Link whispered. "I lost your ocarina."
Then he closed his eyes again. Saria put her hands in front of her face and ran out of the room, crying.
"Is he...dead?" Darunia asked.
Zelda shook her head. "No, he's sleeping. Now...where did Saria go?"
"I saw she took out her ocarina when she ran away," Impa said. "Maybe she warped back to the Sacred Forest Meadow."
"Leaving Link behind?" Zelda asked, thinking hard. "What did Link say? Something about an ocarina?"
"He lost Saria's ocarina," Rauru said," when he picked up the Ocarina of Time."
"Don't remind me of that...thing," Zelda said. "We have to find it. I think Link's ill because the Ocarina of Time's gone."
"Or maybe," Impa said, "he's ill because Saria's ocarina's gone."

chapter two

Saria sat on a statue in the courtyard. The guards left her alone because they knew she was Link's friend. The Kokiri girl played her ocarina, and the guards listened to her beautiful music. She played her favorite song, the one Link had named after her. The song didn't sound half as good as it used to. But it wasn't the ocarina's fault. Saria couldn't concentrate on the music. Her thoughts was with Link.
He'd lost her ocarina. Her very special gift to him. Gone - as if it didn't mean anything to him. Gone. 'He doesn't care about me,' she thought. 'He threw my ocarina away.'
If they didn't find a way to cure Link, he would die. When Saria thought about Link, dead, tears fell from her eyes, and the song became sad. Link - her oldest friend - was ill. Seriously ill. And there was nothing she could do about it.

The sun rose above the horizon. It shone on the castle courtyard where Saria slept on the ground. One of the guards had put a blanket over her so she didn't have to freeze. Still, when she woke up, she was trembling. The warm wind felt cold.
She opened her eyes and gasped in surprise. One of the legendary Fairies, the great Fairy of Magic, stood in front of her.
"Wha...what are you doing here?" Saria asked, her teeth chattering.
"Your friend is in trouble," the fairy said. "The fairy boy from the forest. His breath is getting slower. His spirit is dying. His strenght is turning into weakness."
"I don't know what to do," Saria said, with tears flowing from her eyes. "We've done everything we can!"
The fairy raised her hand. "Search the forests. Search the water. Search the fire." She raised her other hand. "Search among dead. Search among spirits. Search in darkness. Search in light. Search in shadows."
"What are we searching for?" Saria asked.
The fairy smiled. "Search a young love. Search a lost friendship. Search a boy begging for your forgiveness." Her smile faded. "Before it's too late." A bright light surrounded the fairy, and she was gone.

Saria ran all the way up to Link's room. She opened the door and almost fell in.
Noone was there.
With a scream, Saria ran out again. She made her way to princess Zelda's room. Empty. She searched the whole castle. She searched the castle courtyard. Nothing.
She ran to the market and searched in all the houses. No Link. Scared to death, she turned to a young woman standing in front of a house.
"Miss?" she asked. "Have you seen my friends? Princess Zelda, three girls from Gerudo...a Zora...anyone?"
The woman looked up and saw the Kokiri girl. "How ordinary. A girl from the forest. Speaking about the forest, I saw a young man earlier today, dressed in Kokiri clothes. Perhaps he's one of your friends?"
"Yes, he is," Saria said. "Where did he go?"
"Oh." The woman sighed. "I'm afraid he didn't go anywhere."
"What do you mean?"
"He was taken to the Temple of Time - in a coffin."

Chapter three

"Where's Saria?" Ruto wondered. "Have you seen her, Nabooru?"
The two young women were in Gerudo Fortress, searching for the Ocarina of Time.
"No, I haven't seen her since last night," Nabooru said. "I wonder where she is. Maybe she's in trouble?"
"Hmm," Ruto said. "Perhaps we should contact princess Zelda and ask her. Saria may be in the castle with her."
"That's a good idea," the Sage of Spirit said. She raised her hands, concentrated, and she was gone. One minute later, she came back, and she seemed confused. "Saria's not in the castle. Zelda's looking for her, but she hasn't found her yet."
"Where could she be?" Ruto asked.

Saria stood in front of the altar in the Temple of Time. The Spiritual Stones were gone. The door in front of her was closed and locked. There was no way she could enter the next room. Slowly, she sat down on the stone floor and took out her ocarina. She didn't know what to do. Without the Ocarina of Time, noone could open the door to the Sacred Realm.
She decided to at least try it. With trembling hands, she played the Song of Time. The door didn't open, but something else happened.
"Why is she so sad?" a voice said.
"Her friend is ill," another voice replied.
"The fairy boy? Has his time come?"
"Yes."
"Well, we're not allowed to change the ways of destiny. People come, people go - too bad it's his turn."
The voices faded away. Saria was alone in the temple again, and now she was crying. If she didn't find Link, and was able to forgive him, he would die.

part three: A terrible revelation

Link slept. Zelda had taken him to the Kokiri Forest so he'd be in his own bed when he woke up.
If he woke up.
Mauru, Loora, Sheraa and Impa were the only people except the princess who stayed in the house. The two Gerudo girls were singing their favorite song, "The Sun of Gerudo". Link was a special person to them, and they were afraid to lose him. Mauru, who'd known Link since he was a little boy - although the Hero of Time didn't know HIM as a kid - didn't say a word. Link was someone he looked up to, someone he admired. And he was Mauru's best friend. Mauru first saw Link when the green dressed boy went into the Skulltula house seven years ago. He was stunned by the fairy boy's courage, and made a promise that he, one day, would have the same courage. But seven years ago, he couldn't possibly know that Link owned the Triforce of Courage. He smiled when he thought about it, and tried not to see the unconscious young man in the bed.
Impa had her arms around the princess, who was asleep. Zelda had watched over Link the whole day, and she was exhausted. Impa was humming Zelda's Lullaby, just as she did when the princess was a little girl.
Suddenly, Link moved in his bed and opened his eyes. Mauru quickly got on his feet and ran towards the bed. "Link? Link!"
The princess woke up from her sleep, and found that the girls from Gerudo Fortress stood by their friend's bed. Zelda rushed up and bent over him. "Link? Can you hear me?"
Link looked up. Who was the stranger in the purple and white dress? And what in the name of Din...two girls from Gerudo Fortress?! And a Sheikah? And behind her - was that a Hylian boy?
Gerudos, Sheikahs and Hylians in the same house? Link looked around. And they were in a Kokiri house? His house?
"Link? Talk to us!" the girl dressed in purple and white said.
Link? Who was Link?
"Please, Link," one of the Gerudo girls said.
He shut his eyes and slowly opened them again. No. It wasn't a dream. The strangers were still there. The Sheikah put her hand on his forehead.
"His fever is gone!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, Link, you're all right again!" the girl in purple and white said.
Link sat up in his bed. "Who are you?" he asked. "And what are you doing in my house? Get out of here!"
"Wha...what...Link, are you...are you...?" the purple dressed girl said, taking a step back from his bed.
Link sighed. This was obviously a stupid girl. "I said - get out of my house. NOW."
"But...but...Link?" the Hylian boy stuttered.
"Just leave me alone, would ya?" Link said. "Now leave, before I'll throw you out."
"Hey, you can't do this to us!" the Hylian boy said. "We're your friends, Link!"
'Your friends'? Link smiled. He'd never seen the boy before. "I think you've made a mistake. If you're looking for your friend, uhh...Link, was that his name? Well, you must have taken a wrong turn. But it's all right. We all make mistakes."
The four people in front of him took a few steps back. The Hylian boy shook his head. "If you're not Link, then who are you?"
"Oh please," Link sighed. "Don't you think I know my own name?"
"Well, can't you tell us then?" the boy asked.
"Sure." Link smiled. "My name's Tanondorf - maybe you know my brother, Ganondorf? However - nice to meet you."

part four: A Gerudo Princess

chapter one

Zelda shook her head with pure fear. "It's not true," she whispered. She turned to Mauru. "Does he...does he really think he's Ganondorf's brother?"
"It sure looks like it," the young man replied.
Link shook his head again, as if he'd been dreaming. He closed his eyes for a while. When he opened them again, they glowed with a strange, red light. He smiled, but it was a wicked, evil smile. "Can I get you something?"
"No...no, thanks," Zelda stuttered. "We're leaving." She took Loora by her hand and pushed Sheraa towards the door. "We have to go - right now."
Mauru pushed the speachless Impa towards the exit. "Yeah, right. We...have an important meeting."
"In the castle," Zelda continued. "So we'd better go now."
"I'll see you again," Link said with a strange smile. "Yes, I really hope so..."
Loora, Sheraa and Impa quickly went out of the door, followed by Zelda. Mauru turned to Link and gave him one last look, with eyes full of confusions. Then he shook his head again and slowly walked out of the house.

Link felt torn in two directions. One part of him was somehow...afraid. That part was buried deep inside him, trying to get out. The other half of him wanted something very badly. Something golden and shiny. Something he knew that he could get.
The Triforce.
He didn't know why he wanted it so much, but he HAD to get it somehow. Even if he had to kill people to get it.
The strangers who were in his house before seemed familiar. The part of him that was buried inside his mind knew them very well, but the other part of him denied his connection to them. What if he had to kill them? He felt how something inside him screamed. But something else smiled at the thoughts. A dark, scary presence in his head.
YES. KILL THEM.
"Well," he murmured to himself, "I have to see if they're hiding something from me. Maybe they have some connection with the Triforce. And the best way would be...to follow them." Filled with a new strength, he went out of the house, with an evil grin in his face.

chapter two

It was almost midnight, and Zelda sat on the altar in the Temple of Time. She looked at the place where the three Spiritual Stones used to be. They were gone. It was too dangerous to have them there now.
The day Link became ill, Zelda had taken them from the altar. In a dream, she'd seen how Link, dressed as a Gerudo, had opened the door to the Sacred Realm. With an evil laugh, he'd put his hands on the Triforce and stealen it. Then he'd imprisoned her in a dark room.
She shook her head, unwilling to believe what had happened to Link.
"Are you all right?" a voice said softly.
Quickly, Zelda looked up, only to find a girl her age looking at her. The girl took a step back.
"I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done that." The girl took another step back. "I was just wondering why...why a girl like you were crying. I didn't mean to disturb you. What a silly girl I am!" She turned around and started to run towards the temple door.
"Wait!" Zelda cried.
The girl stopped and slowly turned to face her. Her hair was red like blood, and her big, green eyes looked suspiciously at the princess. She wore purple clothes and held a candle with one hand - in the other hand she carried a sword.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Zelda asked.
"I could ask you the same thing," the girl said. "Who are you, anyway?"
Zelda jumped down from the altar. "My name is Zelda. And who might you be?"
"Princess Zelda?" the girl gasped. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry for disturbing you! Please forgive me!"
"Forgiveness received," Zelda smiled.
"My name is Dani I live in Hyrule Castle Town I have two sisters who are younger than me and I don't know who my father is..." she began.
"Wait, wait!" Zelda laughed. "I don't know if I got that...your name is Dani, you live in the castle town and you have two younger sisters. But what was that last thing you said?"
"I don't know my father's name," Dani murmured.
"Is he dead?"
"No idea, your highness," Dani sighed. "My mother says that he was a tall, handsome man. But before my birth, he left my mother."
"Who is your mother? Does she live here in the town?"
"Yes, she does. She and my little sisters live in the back alleys."
Zelda took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. Since she had nothing to do, she decided to find out who this girl was. "Can I follow you home? I'd like to see your family." She paused. "And please don't call me 'your highness', right? From now on, I'm just an ordinary girl from Kakariko Village."
"OK, Zelda," Dani grinned. "Why don't we leave, then?"
Zelda nodded and followed Dani to the door. Then she saw the sword the girl was carrying. She raised her eyebrows. "What are you doing with a big sword like that?"
"Nothing, really," Dani answered in a normal voice, but Zelda saw that she was scared.
"You can tell me," Zelda said. "I'm not dangerous."
"I don't know, but I had this weird dream about a man in Gerudo clothes who attacked the Temple of Time and abducted the princess. And he took the Triforce, too. So I thought it would be a good idea to check the temple, and...here I am."
The princess of Hyrule gasped. "Wha...what...how?"
"Is something wrong?" Dani asked.
"Well, it's just that...I had the same dream." Zelda took a closer look at the girl. "Who are you - I mean, REALLY?"

chapter three

Saria was sitting in the Chamber of the Sages, and she was crying. She couldn't find Link anywhere. She couldn't find princess Zelda or the other Sages, either. Even Mauru, Loora and Sheraa were gone. She had to save Link, or else he would die. That was what the Voices of Destiny said, right? Or was it?
They said that "his time had come." But they didn't say that he would die, did they? No...they never said that. Saria felt how a ray of hope was lit inside her. Maybe, if the destiny was fair, he wouldn't die. And what could possibly be worse than his death?

Zelda and Dani stood outside the Temple of Time. Dani dropped her sword, and a tear fell from her eye.
"All right," she whispered. "My name is Danigan, and I'm called Dani, but..."
"You're not from town?" Zelda guessed. "And you don't have two younger sisters here?"
"True," Dani said. "I'm from Gerudo Fortress. My mother died when I was a kid, and my father...I was told never to tell anyone his name."
"Why?" Zelda asked. "What can be revealed by telling a name?"
"They said I might get killed if anyone knew who my father is."
"And who is he? You can trust me."
"He's from Gerudo Fortress."
Zelda was stunned. "A man from Gerudo?! Then...then he must be..."
"Yes, he's king of the Gerudos - so I'm a princess. For my own sake, my father told me to go to Hyrule Castle Town and live here. People want to kill me. He's the only one I've ever trusted...before you. And I can't believe how stupid I am! Of course I had to trust my father's worst enemy."
"And...your...your father's name is...?" Zelda swallowed.
"Ganondorf, king of the Gerudos."

part five: Alone in the desert

chapter one

Mauru, Loora and Sheraa were on their way to Hyrule Castle. It rained outside, and the clouds were darker than usual. When they reached Hyrule Castle Town, they noticed that noone was outside, except a girl standing in front of the Temple of Time. She wore purple clothes, and she was shivering. Mauru put his hand on her shoulder and she turned around with a scream.
"Take it easy!" Mauru said. "I'm not dangerous!"
The girl sobbed. "She's gone! She's gone!"
"Who's gone?" Mauru asked in a soft voice.
"The princess! A blond young man in Gerudo clothes abducted her."

Zelda sat behind the Gerudo man she knew as Link on his horse. He wasn't riding Epona, strange enough. He always complained when other people except Malon even touched his beloved horse, and now he didn't even touch her himself. Instead, he rode a black stallion.
Link turned right when he reached Lon Lon Ranch. Uh-oh. He wasn't going to Kokiri Forest, as she'd expected.
"Where are you taking me?" Zelda asked. She was scared.
"To Gerudo Fortress," Link asked in a voice she'd never heard before. "I won't let you go until you tell me the secrets of the Triforce."
"Please...I don't know anything," Zelda said. "I swear, I don't know anything about this...Triforce."
Link ignored her. "I saw you with that Gerudo girl before, outside the Temple of Time. I've never seen her, but she must be my niece. I'll take her to the fortress tomorrow. Ganondorf told me that he wanted his daughter to live with him."
"When did you talk to Ganondorf?" Zelda asked.
"This morning. He's waiting for you - his future wife - in Gerudo Fortress."

Saria returned to the Temple of Time using her powers. She had to find Link - she knew that he was alive - and forgive him. 'A piece of cake,' she thought with a smile. 'I'll just play my ocarina and he'll recognize our special song.'
She sat down on the Pedestal of Time and took out her ocarina. As she felt the familiar instrument against her lips, she automatically started to play Saria's Song.

chapter two

Link and Zelda had reached the bridge which led to the fortress. It was dark outside, and they could barely be seen. A pretty Gerudo guard dressed in white stood in front of the bridge. "Halt! Who's there?"
"Don't worry, Taniia," Link said. "It's just me, Tanondorf. And princess Zelda."
"Oh, prince Tanondorf. Welcome back. Your brother's waiting for you."
"All right, Taniia," Link said. "I'll talk to you later."
"I'd be honored, your highness," Taniia answered and stepped out of the way.
Link urged on his black stallion, and it galopped over the bridge.
As they reached the fortress, Zelda saw the man she hated more than anything else, Ganondorf, waiting for them outside a door. This time, Link wouldn't rescue her.
"My dear brother, you've finally returned," Ganondorf smiled.
Zelda couldn't tell if he really believed that Link was his brother or if he was pretending. But he looked quite serious. And another question was: how did he break the seal? Her brain worked hard to figure out what was going on.
"And you brought princess Zelda, as I told you to?" Ganondorf asked.
Instead of answering the question, Link pushed Zelda down from the horse. She fell on her knees. When she raised her eyes, she saw Ganondorf, who bent over her.
"Well well, isn't it my dear princess?" Ganondorf laughed. "I was really disappointed when you gave me the brushoff. I hope you've changed your mind, my sweet."
"Never," Zelda snorted.
"We can't stay here all day," Ganondorf established. "Let's go inside." He pulled the princess on her feet again and pushed her into a doorway. Link followed him.

Just to make things clear to you: Ganondorf believed that Link was his brother. Don't ask me how, but when Link broke the seal and called him back to Hyrule (yes, Link was the one who did that in his dreams), something strange happened. Despite the fact that they should hate eachother, no such feelings came over them. Instead, Link found that he liked this man. And somehow, they believed they were brothers.
But deep inside him, Link felt how this man was evil. That part of him wasn't available right now, though. It was buried somewhere in his mind. And Ganondorf felt how this young man was a threat to him, somehow, but he didn't know how. Link was younger than him, and not half as strong. He decided not to care about it.

chapter three

Rauru, Impa, Nabooru, Ruto and Darunia were gathered in the Sacred Realm. They discussed Saria's whereabouts, and stated the fact that noone had seen her since she ran out of Link's room two days ago. They were worried about her, but they didn't know what to do.
"I think she's back in the Sacred Forest Meadow," Nabooru said. "Isn't that her favorite place?"
"Yes," Darunia said, "but I don't think she's there. She would have told us if she went home."
"It's easy to find out," Impa said. "I'll go look for her. Wait a minute."
She was surrounded by a purple light and disappeared from the chamber.
"I really hope she's there," Rauru sighed.
"So do I," Ruto said. "But if she's not, then where could she be?"
"I have no idea," Darunia said.
A few minutes later, Impa returned. "No sign of Saria," she sighed.
"Where is she?" Darunia asked, and now he was really worried.

Saria warped to the Sacred Forest Meadow using her ocarina. She ran down the stairs, climbed the ladder and jumped into the hole in front of her that Link'd blown up when he was young. She came to a Fairy's Fountain. No Link. She stepped back into the light and came back up.
Where could he be? She ran through the maze and entered the Lost Woods. She searched all the rooms, but Link couldn't be found anywhere. Not ready to give up yet, she entered the first room at her left and saw the familiar Skull Kid dancing there.
"Have you seen Link?" she asked.
"The young man with the ocarina?" the Skull Kid wondered.
"Yes, that's him," Saria said. "Do you know if he's around?"
The Skull Kid laughed. "Around? He's everywhere!" He whirled around the room, laughing and playing his flute.
"Please," Saria said. "Be serious. Have you seen him?"
"I saw a young man..." the Skull Kid giggled.
"Yes?" Saria said, and she started to lose her patience.
"But he was dressed in strange clothes," the Skull Kid said, dancing around her.
"What clothes?" Saria asked.
The Skull Kid stopped. "Clothes from the desert. And he was different. He called himself Tanondorf....something."
"Oh no," Saria gasped.

chapter four

Link and Ganondorf sat outside the room where Zelda slept. They watched the sun rise, and Link yawned. "My legs hurt."
"Why don't you take a walk, then?" Ganondorf said. "I can watch the house alone for a while. And by the way - why don't you go ask Taniia if she wants to take a walk too?"
"Really?" Link said with a smile. "If you say so..."
"Go have some fun, brother," Ganondorf laughed.

Taniia guarded the bridge, and she looked quite bored. When she saw Link arrive from the fortress, her face was lit up by a smile. "Prince Tanondorf! I'm so glad to see you! You have no idea how boring it is to be a guard."
"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Link asked. "I have a mission to complete, and..."
"I'd love it!" Taniia said. "Let's leave this place right away!"

Princess Zelda woke up finding Ganondorf standing in the doorway. She closed her eyes again and turned around in the bed.
"You can't fool me, princess," he said. "I know you're awake."
"Just leave me alone," Zelda said in a cold voice. "Get your slimy face out of here."
"No."
"What do you mean with 'no'?"
"I'm not leaving."
Zelda sighed. "Hand me my clothes then, will you?"
Ganondorf went into the room and picked up her clothes from the floor. He gave them to her. "Tell me when you're ready to go."
"Go where?"
"You'll see."
He went out of the room, laughing. Zelda sighed again, but deeper this time, and put her clothes on. "I'm not going anywhere," she said to herself. "And certainly not with you." A tear fell from her eye. "Oh, Link. Where are you when I need you the most?"

part six: The daughter of Ganondorf

chapter one

Dani shivered in her dress. A chilly wind blew outside the Temple of Time, and the sunshines weren't able to penetrate the clouds above them. Mauru saw how cold she was, and he took off his blue cloak and handed it to her. "Here. Wrap this around you."
She smiled gratefully and did as he said. "Thanks."
"So, where are you from?" he asked.
"Gerudo Fortress."
"Strange," Loora said. "I haven't seen you before, and I'm also from the fortress."
"What's your name?" Sheraa asked. "And how old are you?"
Dani wondered whether she should tell them her name or not. After all, the two girls in front of her came from the fortress. Maybe they'd heard something about Ganondorf's lost daughter. But they looked very nice, so she decided to give them the truth. "My name is Dani. I'm fifteen years old."
"I'm Loora, and this is Sheraa," Loora said. "We're both sixteen."
Thank Nayru. If they were so young, they couldn't possibly know who she was. She only met her father twice - once when she was a newborn, and once when she left the fortress at the age of four.
"I guess I should introduce myself as well," Mauru said. "I'm Mauru. And I think the young man who abducted princess Zelda..." He sighed. "...was my friend."
"Your friend?" Dani asked. "Who is he?"
"Well...actually he's a nice young man named Link. But right now - he thinks he's Ganondorf's brother."
"My fath...Ganondorf's brother?" Dani gasped. "That's impossible! Only one Gerudo male is born every 100th years."
"Yes, but..." Mauru said. "What did you say?"
Dani swallowed. "Nothing."
"Yes, you did. You said something about Ganondorf."
"I did?"
Mauru's eyes grew wide. "You called him father, didn't you?"

Saria was in her own house in Kokiri Forest. "It can't be," she whispered over and over again. She'd heard the two voices of destiny talk, and they'd said that Link's time had come. First, she'd thought that he was going to die. Then she suddenly knew that she was wrong. Link lived. She remembered asking herself what was worse than death.
Now she knew.
With her eyes full of tears, she left Kokiri Forest and entered Hyrule Field. Her only hope was to find Link before he caused any trouble.

chapter two

Princess Zelda was alone in the room. She looked around. A bed, a small table, two chairs, a carpet - it was beautiful - and a vase of flowers and an organ. That was all.
An organ? Was she supposed to play it? Without thinking closer about it, Zelda giggled. She could sing, and she could play the ocarina, the flute and the harp. But an organ? She imagined herself playing it, and laughed.
At that moment, Ganondorf entered the room. "Nice to find you in such a good temper," he said.
"Until you came," she said. But she was still laughing, so her words sounded more like a giggle.
"Tssss," Ganondorf said with a reproaching voice. But inside, he was smiling. He'd put her under a spell - and it seemed like it worked. The princess didn't hate him anymore.

Dani's eyes were full of tears, and she moaned weakly. Mauru held her arm in an iron grip, and he wasn't releasing her, whatever she did.
"Tell us the truth," he said. "Is Ganondorf your father?"
She sobbed, but she didn't say anything.
"Tell us!" Mauru said and his grip around her arm became tighter.
That was too much. Dani buried her head in her hands and started to cry. Mauru's face softened. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
The girl didn't stop crying. "I'm sorry," he said, and put his arms on her shoulders. "It's okay. I'll never do that again."
Dani threw her arms around his neck and cried. She couldn't stop. Mauru buried his head in her coppery hair. "It's okay," he murmured.
After a few minutes, she had no tears left. Mauru looked at her and smiled. Her eyes were red, and her face was all wet. "Here, take this," he said and handed her the blue handkerchief that he always kept in his pocket as a memory of his mother. "Looks like you need it."
Dani gave him a weak smile and took he handkerchief from his hand. She dried her tears and turned to the three silent youths again.
"My father...is Ganondorf," she sobbed. "He told me to...leave the fortress when I was a little girl. He said that people wanted to kill me. And...he loved me. He is the only person who'd cared about me - ever."
"That's not true," Mauru said. "I care."
"Really?" Dani whispered.
"Of course. And I think you should talk to Nabooru. She can help you."
"The great Nabooru won't care about me - and much less about you. Not to be rude, but she's a Gerudo leader, and you're just a man."
Mauru grinned. "Oh, that's no problem. She's actually a friend of mine."

chapter three

Nabooru was back in the desert. She sat outside the Spirit Temple and combed her hair when she heard something. She turned around and saw Mauru a few meters away.
"Mauru," she smiled, "what brings you here?"
"Uhhmm...a girl," Mauru answered. His face was a little red.
The Sage looked at him. "I see. What kind of girl?"
"A Gerudo."
Nabooru nodded symphatetic. "A Gerudo girl. Now what exactly do you want from me?"
Mauru smiled. "I think you might want to see her."

Dani stood in front of the altar in the Temple of Time. She talked with Loora and Sheraa, and suddenly they heard how the door was opened. Mauru entered the room, and the great Nabooru was behind him. The Gerudo woman was beautiful, and she looked nice. Dani let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't going to die, after all.
When Dani turned around, Nabooru stopped. Her eyes grew wide, and she turned to Mauru. "Who's that girl?" she whispered.
The young man from Kakariko Village smiled. "Dani, this is Nabooru, the Sage of Spirit." He turned to the Sage. "Nabooru, this is Ganondorf's daughter."
Nabooru's mouth fell open, but she managed to close it after a while. "Princess Danigan..."

Impa, Darunia, Rauru and Ruto sat in Link's room in Hyrule Castle. They were talking quietly, when Nabooru opened the door. "My friends," she said, "I have some news for you." She entered the room. "I've found her."
"Who?" Impa said. "Princess Zelda?"
"No," Nabooru said, smiling. "Another princess." She gently pushed Dani into the room. "Ganondorf's daughter."

part seven: The King of Evil

chapter one

In Link's room, there was absolute silence. The four Sages who sat around the table - Impa, Ruto, Rauru and Darunia - couldn't speak. Finally, Rauru slowly moved his chair away from the table, got on his feet and walked towards Nabooru.
"Is this," he pointed at Dani, "the girl we've been searching for?"
The Sage of Spirit nodded. "Yes, this is the true Gerudo princess. And she's the only one who can help us find Ganondorf."
Dani took one step forward. "He's my father," she said in a sad voice, "but he's also a very evil man. You're going to seal him again, are you?"
Nabooru sighed. "I'm afraid we have to, Dani. He's a threat to us."
"I understand," Dani said. She tried to keep her voice calm. "But...but can I see him first? Just once?"
"Of course," Darunia said. His hearted ached for this young girl. "Why don't you take us to him?"
"All right," Dani said. "I'll do it."

Link and Taniia rode towards Kokiri Forest. Actually, they were on their way to the Temple of Time, but Link had suggested that they should follow the river instead of taking the shorter way to the left of Lon Lon Ranch. Taniia had agreed, and here they were. As they galopped past a clump of trees, Link suddenly stopped his horse.
"What is it?" Taniia asked.
Link didn't answer. He stared at someone. Taniia stopped her horse and turned around. A girl, maybe nine or ten years old, stood in front of prince Tanondorf. Tears fell from her eyes, and she held something in her hand. Taniia loked closer. It was an instrument of some kind, maybe a flute.
"Link?" the girl whispered. "Can you forgive me?"
A ray of light revived inside Link and scattered the dark clouds from his memories. He jumped off his horse. "Saria? Is that you?"
The Sage didn't answer. She ran towards him and threw herself into his arms. "Link, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
"Whatever you've done, I'll forgive you," Link said.
Saria dried the tears from her eyes, and gave Link the object she held in her hands. "Here. I found your old ocarina in the moat."
Link took the ocarina from her hand, and suddenly a loud roar could be heard from far away behind them. Link turned around. "Ganondorf!"

He'd felt when Link received the ocarina from Saria. And in that moment, he knew who Link really was. Not his brother. Not his best friend. But his worst enemy.
Ganondorf's eyes glowed red, and he let out a scream of hate. Princess Zelda, who stood behind him, felt how something inside her broke free, and she gasped. "What am I doing here?" She took a few steps back. "And you...YOU!"
"Silence!" Ganondorf roared. "I'm not finished with you yet!" He took her left arm in a tight grip and walked towards his horse with the princess. "Get up!" He didn't wait for Zelda to climb up. He almost threw her up. Then he sat down behind her and urged on the horse. Its red eyes didn't glow, but Ganondorf's eyes shot bolts. "Take me to Link."
The horse galopped away.

chapter two

In Hyrule Castle Town, the people talked about the strange people they'd seen. Two Gerudos, a Goron, a Zora, an old priest or something, and a legendary Sheikah just rode through the market. And if that wasn't strange enough, two other Gerudos and a Kakarikan boy just pased above their heads on a flying carpet!
The people they talked about was, of course, all the Sages, except Saria and Zelda, and Dani, who were on their way to Gerudo Fortress, and Mauru, Sheraa and Loora, who headed for Kokiri Forest to try to find Link.
A young woman watched the horses. She was the one who told Saria that Link was taken to the Temple of Time in a coffin. There was something odd about her, and the people in Hyrule Castle Town avoided her. People saw her long, black hair, her beautiful face and her green eyes. But none of them looked closer - if they had, they would have seen that her teeth were sharper than normal teeth were, and that her fingernails were a little bit to sharp. The woman was evil personified, and she wanted death.
The death of Saria.
With a smile, she went into her house to get her flute. She knew where they were going, and she intended to follow them. Her fingers flew over the flute as she played the Requiem of Spirit.

High up in the sky on the magic carpet, Mauru saw how they approached Kokiri Forest. Something caught his eye. "Stop the carpet!" he cried in Loora's ear.
Loora almost fell off the carpet, and glared at him. "All right, all right! I'm not deaf! At least I wasn't." She stopped the carpet, and Mauru moved to one of the corners of it. Carefully, he looked down. Now he saw what caught his eyes earlier. A big grin showed in his face.
"I've found Link! And Saria's with him!"

Link heard a sound from above. He looked up and saw a flying carpet circling far up in the sky. A face looked down at him and smiled. Link pointed at the face. "Saria, look! It's Mauru!"
The Sage's eyes shone. "I see him! And that must be Loora and Sheraa with him."
Two other faces and two hands waved at them.
"We're coming down!" Mauru yelled. "Don't move!"
Taniia, who stood a few feet away, watched the scene with growing anxiety. Something was going on, and she didn't like it.
"Prince Tanondorf?" She turned to Link. "What's happening? And who is that girl?" She pointed at Saria. "And that carpet? I know it. It's a Gerudo carpet."
Link turned to her. "Don't you ever call me that again!"
"What?" Taniia asked, confused.
"I'm not prince Tanondorf, and I'll never be. In fact, I'm going to fight your king, and hopefully I'll kill the bastard."
Taniia gasped. "You're a traitor!" Her hands searched for her sword, and when she found it, she turned to Link. "I'll stop you - even if I have to kill you."
Suddenly, she fell to the ground, and Saria stood behind her with a branch in her hand. "Maybe you should check your back next time."
Then the flying carpet landed on the ground, and Mauru jumped off. "Link? Are you...are you all right? I mean, are you..."
"I'm fine, Mauru," Link said. "And I DO remember you. I've even missed you."
The two young men grinned at each other. Link sighed. "Well, let's go then. I have an evil king to fight."
Mauru, Link and Saria joined the two girls on the carpet, and Loora took it high up in the air again. "Take us to Gerudo Fortress," she ordered the carpet. "Find Ganondorf."

chapter three

Rauru, Impa, Darunia, Ruto and Dani stood in front of the bridge. A Gerudo guard blocked their way, holding her spear with one hand and a dagger with the other.
"I'm not letting anyone in," she hissed. "I have orders from king Ganondorf."
Suddenly Nabooru came walking. She'd been talking to someone in Hyrule Field, so she was a little late. "What's this all about?" she asked the guard.
"Oh, great Nabooru," the guard said. "Can you tell the strangers here that I'm not going to let them in?"
"No, dear," Nabooru said. "You'll let us all in - now - or you'll experience something unpleasant."
"But..." the guard started.
"No buts, dear. Step out of our way."
The guard's eyes glowed angrily, but she moved aside and was about to let them pass.
"No!" a voice roared.
The Sages and Dani turned around. King Ganondorf sat there on his black stallion, with an unconscious princess Zelda in front of him in the saddle. Zelda's hands were tied to the saddle. Ganondorf's eyes still shot bolts, and an evil grin showed on his lips. He raised his hands and prepared to deliver an energy ball.
"Father!" Dani said.
Ganondorf lowered his hands. "Dani?" He jumped off his horse.
Dani ran towards him and threw herself in his arms. "Father!"
The king of evil smiled down at his daughter. He was much taller than her. "I've been waiting for you, dear," he said. "You're the only one who can help me. Don't listen to what the Sages says. They want me to die. You don't want me to die, Dani, do you?"
"I..." Dani started. Her eyes were full of tears. "No, I don't."
Darunia took one step forward. "Don't listen to him, Dani! He'll put you under a spell! He'll do anything to save himself, even kill you!"
"That's not true, Dani," Ganondorf said. "I'd never kill you. You're my only daughter, and I love you."
"You...you are dangerous," Dani whispered.
Her father let out a laugh. "Dangerous? Who gave you that idea?" He glared at the Sages. "Did they say that?"
Dani shivered. "No...no, I said it."
"You did?" Ganondorf murmured. His voice was hypnotic and made her sleepy. "Did you really say that?"
"No," Dani said. Her eyes were empty. "No, I didn't."
"Dani, don't listen to him!" Impa said. "Don't..."
But it was too late. Dani fell to the ground, unconscious. Ganondorf bent over her and gently stroke her hair. "Sleep, Dani. Sleep." He turned to the Sages. "And what can you do? You're not gathered. I have Zelda, and Saria..." He smiled. "A friend of mine will take care of her."

part eight: The final battle

chapter one

Saria was near. She could feel it. And see it.
The young woman sat in a tree in Hyrule Field outside the Gerudos land. She watched the flying carpet land on the ground next to a big boulder. The woman smiled. Her teeth became even sharper. Her fingers turned into claws, and her body changed form. She wasn't a woman anymore. She was a panther.

The magic carpet landed, and they all jumped off. Loora waited until the carpet was as small as a handkerchief, and then she put it in her pocket. They all began to walk towards the entrance to the Gerudos land. Except Saria. She stood frozen next to the spot where they'd landed, and her eyes were focused on something.
"Saria?" Link said. "We're leaving."
A loud shriek suddenly came from Saria's mouth, and she ran towards him. "In the tree! Oh, in the tree!"
Link looked around and tried to understand what she was talking about. Then his eyes fell on a large tree just a few feet away, and he gasped. An enormous, black cat sat in it. The cat jumped down from the tree and showed its sharp, white teeth. A pale Mauru took out his sword and placed himself behind Link.
"Link, have you ever seen such a big cat?" he asked with a trembling voice.
"No, never," Link murmured. "Uh-oh. I think it's going to fight us."
The black cat came closer, and its eyes glowed.
"It's definitely going to fight us," Mauru swallowed.
"What are we going to do?" Link asked.
"I have an idea," Mauru said.
They looked at each other.
"Run!" Link screamed.
The two young men turned around and ran towards the girls. Loora, Sheraa and Saria jumped back on the magic carpet as soon as it was big enough to carry them. They all made their way towards Gerudo Fortress, flying and running.
When they were gone, the cat transformed into a woman again. "That was too easy." She grinned. "Now they will run straight into Ganondorf's arms."

chapter two

Dani was surrounded by darkness. She saw things, almost as in a dream, but deeper. She saw a flying carpet land in Hyrule Field. Link, Mauru and three girls jumped off it. She saw a black cat, and she saw how the five youths escaped it. Link and Mauru ran straight towards her. Suddenly, they reached the bridge where she was, and she sat up with a scream. "Noo!" Then she fainted.
Ganondorf turned around and saw her - and he also saw Link and Mauru. Link tried to free Zelda from the rope, and he succeeded. Zelda fell to the ground, and Link lifted her up and held her in his arms.
"Link," Ganondorf sighed, "what an unpleasant surprise."
Mauru put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Link, I can take care of the princess. You go fight that green creep."
"All right." Link handed princess Zelda to Mauru and walked towards Ganondorf, now with the Master Sword in his hands.
Ganondorf laughed. He raised his hands and gathered energy. A green energy ball formed in his hands, and he threw it against Link. But the Hero of time used the Master Sword to reflect the ball at Ganondorf. The king of evil wasn't prepared, and the energy ball hit him in the chest. He stumbled backwards and fell.
"How dare you?" he roared. He quickly got on his feet again and shot a purple bolt at Link.
Link didn't know how to reflect it, so he held up his Mirror Shield. But the bolt went straight through it and hit him. Now it was his turn to fall backwards.
"I've been training," Ganondorf laughed. He shot another bolt of the same kind, and Link hadn't a chance. It hit him hard in the chest, and he groaned with pain.
Ganondorf continued to fire bolts, and after the fifth purple bolt, Link fainted. The king of evil laughed and prepared to fire a final bolt, but suddenly heard a voice.
"No!"
It was Dani. She'd seen the battle in her head, and when Link was hit by the last bolt, she managed to gather her thoughts, and she woke up. She got on her feet and ran towards the unconscious young man on the ground. She placed herself in front of him. "Don't kill him," she said.
"Dani," Ganondorf sighed, "get out of my way."
"Never. You'll have to kill me."
Her father sighed. "Dani, now." His voice was hypnotic, but Dani shook her head.
"No. I won't listen to you."
Ganondorf's eyes shot bolts, and he took one step forward. "As you wish," he murmured. He gathered more energy than before, and created a red fireball. With a sigh, he turned to Gani. "Dani, get out of my way!!" His daughter didn't move. "All right. Then face your destiny." He released the fireball, and it hit Dani in the chest. She let out a scream, but she still didn't move. Ganondorf shot a blue bolt at Dani, and she screamed again, but she stood still.
"I won't move," she whispered. "I won't let you kill him."
"I wasn't the one who said that," Ganondorf roared. This time, he gathered more energy than ever before, and released an enormous, black fireball. It hit Dani, and this time, she fell on her knees. "Don't make me kill you," her father said.
Dani didn't say anything. She was still in front of Link.
Ganondorf sighed and released another fireball. It hit Dani, and she couldn't reflect it, so she fell to the ground. The battle was over.

chapter three

Mauru got on his feet. "No!" He took out his sword and turned to Ganondorf. "You killed her!"
"Mauru, don't," a voice behind him said. It was princess Zelda, and she stood up.
Ganondorf sighed. "Well, well. Isn't it the princess, back from her inside trip. But as long as Saria's missing, you Sages can do nothing."
"But if I'm happening to be here?" a voice said behind him.
The Gerudo king turned around and saw Saria and two girls on a flying carpet. "You!" he gasped. "I thought you were..."
"Dead?" Saria said with a smile. "Then I have to disappoint you. I'm still alive, as you can see." She took one step forward. "It's time for me to do my part."
Princess Zelda raised her hands. "Sages!"
The seven Sages gathered around Ganondorf. He stood frozen in the middle of the circle.
"The power of light!" Rauru said and raised his hands to the sky.
"The power of forest!" Saria said and raised her hands.
Darunia raised his hands. "The power of fire!"
Ruto raised her hands. "The power of water!"
"The power of shadow!" Impa said, raising her hands.
"The power of spirit!" Nabooru said and raised her hands.
Zelda was the last one. She raised her hands. "The power of love!"
Around the Sages, a golden light appeared. The Triforce mark on Zelda's hand disappeared, and so it did from the unconscious Link's hand. He woke up and opened his eyes. Ganondorf looked at his hand, where the Triforce mark faded away.
"Noo!" he cried.
The Triforce pieces gathered above Ganondorf in the middle of the circle.
"By the power of the Triforce, I command you to return where you came from!" princess Zelda said, pointing at Ganondorf. "Back to the Evil Realm!"
With a yell of despair, Ganondorf faded away, and the golden light disappeared.
It was over. The Sages lowered their hands. Princess Zelda turned around and saw Link, who stood and watched the scene. His eyes were dark, but he smiled when he looked into Zelda's eyes. "It's over."
Zelda smiled, but suddenly she saw something behind Link. "Oh no!" she murmured.

chapter four

Mauru sat on the ground with Dani in his arms. Tears fell from his eyes, and he gently stroke her hair. Link turned around and looked at him, but Mauru refused to look up.
"Is she...?" Link asked.
Mauru nodded. "She's dead." He sighed. "And I never told her that I liked her. But maybe it's better this way. After all, she was Ganondorf's daughter."
"But she saved my life," Link said.
Suddenly Nabooru was behind him. "There's still hope." She walked by him and sat down next to Mauru. "Do you want her back?"
"More than anything," Mauru whispered. "But what can you do?"
"I'm the Sage of Spirit, Mauru. I can talk to the spirits, and even get them back. But only if they want to."
Nabooru put a hand on Dani's forehead. After a while, she sighed. "Dani's afraid that noone wants her here because she's Ganondorf's daughter. She doesn't want to come back."
"Tell her that I love her," Mauru whispered.
Nabooru concentrated, and she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had a smile on her face.
"She says she loves you too, and she wants to live here with you."
Suddenly Dani's eyes opened again, and she looked at Mauru. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "Welcome back."

Zelda and Link were in Zelda's room in Hyrule Castle. Zelda sat down on her bed, but suddenly she let out a scream. "Yyyaaaoh!" She jumped on her feet and looked at the bed. "There's something sharp there!" She lifted the sheets and picked up something. "Ooops." She smiled.
"What is it?" Link wondered.
"It's the Ocarina of Time."

The End