Link woke in the morning. It was a lovely day. The rain had stopped, and the sun was out, smiling down on him. But nothing seemed as lovely as his sister. She lay on her side, one arm stretched out under her head. Her face was peaceful and happy, and a faint smile was hovering about the corners of her lips. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders and eyes, and Link thought she had never looked so fair, and he thought he had never seen anything sweeter in his life. Here was his sister, the person whom he had most longed for. He sighed contentedly and crawled over to her. He lay on his side beside her and put one arm around her and held his face a few inches from hers and gazed lovingly at her. He then kissed her on her forehead and lay back contentedly.
Link looked over at Epona who was still there. The faithful mare had stayed loyally with her friends the whole night. Link was not surprised to see that Bree had gone, leaving only a few drops of dried blood on the grass. But she wasn’t important now. But if he ever saw her again, Link thought, he would thank her, for without her, he and Xyana would never have found out that they were siblings.
Link took a deep breath of fresh morning air. As he lay there, he began to think of Zelda. He missed her. She and Xyana should meet each other, he thought. He knew they would be good friends.
Just then, Xyana woke. She yawned and stretched luxuriously, turning her head and smiling at her brother. “Hello, warrior. Are we ready to move on?” she asked. Link stroked her hair and kissed her again. “Of course we are,” he said.
Xyana flung her arms around Link’s neck and hugged him, laughing, “Link, you slept like a babe last night! I felt like a mother, singing you to sleep like that!” Link held her face in his hands and answered, “Well, you certainly could sing anyone to sleep with that voice of yours. How did you know Zelda’s Lullaby?” Xyana tugged his hair playfully. “You played it on your ocarina once, silly. And I know that you are in love with the princess!” Link blushed, pulling his sister upright. “She’s just a friend!” he said nervously. “Mmmhmm,” replied Xyana, lightly punching his arm.
“Actually, that really is what they are,” said a muffled voice from behind them. The pair turned around. Link smiled. A young Sheikah warrior was standing behind them. He had deep red eyes and blond hair that hid his face. A scarf covered his mouth and nose, and he was a fit and sinewy boy. “Hello, Hero of Time,” he said. “Hello, Sheik,” answered Link. He ran to the strange boy and hugged him. When he stepped back, he put his hand on Xyana’s shoulder.
“Xyana, this is Sheik. Sheik, this is my sister, Xyana,” he said. Sheik stuck out his hand. Xyana placed hers in his, and said, “So you’re the Sheikah warrior who helped Link save Hyrule?” “Yes,” answered Sheik. “I’m honored to meet his sister!” “Thank you. I’m honored to meet a hero in the story of the Ocarina of Time!”
There was a gleam of laughter in the boy’s eyes. He exchanged winks with Link. “Actually, Xyana,” he said, “I’m not really Sheik.” Xyana looked puzzled.
Sheik hastily pulled his scarf away. Xyana recognized the girl in disguise immediately. “Princess Zelda!” she gasped. She fell to her knees and bowed her head. Zelda pulled her back up, laughing, “No, no. Stop, Xyana. I’m sorry I have to appear this way, but I have to hide from Ganondorf. He’s trying to get all three Triforce parts again.” Xyana wrapped her arms about the princess in a powerful hug. “I can’t believe it’s you! I wasn’t allowed to go into the castle to see you, so I gave up,” she laughed. Zelda winked at her and walked over to Link. “Just friends?” she said in mock anger, “That’s not what you said last time I saw you before this adventure began!” Link began to blush and mumble protests. “Um, w-well, I wasn’t…uh, what I m-mean to say is…um…” But he was silenced as Zelda put one hand on his cheek and gave him a peck on the lips. Link blushed bright red. Xyana sniggered uncontrollably.
After Link regained his composure, he looked questionably at his sister. “How do you know Zelda?” Zelda laughed and answered for Xyana, “How? We were best friends when we were young! We were playmates! Xyana was under the care of Impa and so we grew up together!” Xyana nodded and turned to Zelda. “Link and I were about to move on. Do you have any idea where we should go next?”
Zelda then became serious. “Yes. You’re not strong enough to face Ganondorf yet.” She turned to Xyana. “Do you remember when you interpreted that prophecy I had about the Gathering of the Six?” “Yes! Is it time?” asked Xyana. “Yes,” answered Zelda solemnly. “I must go now. Good luck.”
And with that, Zelda disappeared.
Link looked at Xyana questioningly. “The Gathering of the Six?” “Yes,” answered Xyana. “I’ll explain later. Come on!” And then she added as an afterthought, “Where are your six medallions?” “In my house at Kokiri,” answered Link. “Then go get them. I have other things to do,” Xyana said grimly.
Link knew what she meant, and as he mounted Epona, he said, “Be careful.” And he suddenly stooped down and wrapped his left arm around Xyana and kissed her fully on the lips. Then he galloped off.
Xyana watched him go, giving a sigh as she felt the way a sister feels watching her brother. Her brother…it was a nice feeling.
Xyana began making her way to Gerudo Valley. She had a feeling that there would be an easier way to cross now that the Gerudo knew they had been infiltrated. They probably had patrols and sentries now. Xyana smiled grimly. Revenge could start now.
Xyana had guessed correctly. At that moment, Ganondorf sat in his throne room at his palace. It had been built at the highest point of the fortress and wasn’t as grand as his castle had once been in Hyrule. But it was still a grand spectacle with spiked turrets and towers and statues decorating the archways.
Ganondorf was fuming. News had been brought to him of the attack and the escape of one of his prisoners. It was the pirate girl, Bree. He cursed inwardly. He had hoped to use her in his army, brainwashing her and forcing her to work for him as a warrior. She was the equal of at least ten Gerudo warriors.
Ganondorf’s wife, a young Gerudo girl named Avari, sat beside the great warrior, silent and respectful. She knew not to bother her husband while he was angry. He would become violent.
Ganondorf turned to the two messengers standing before him, snarling, “And how many were slain?”
The first Gerudo was shaking as she replied, “A score, sire.”
Ganondorf thumped his fist down on the arm of his throne, grunting in anger as he asked the next question, “And how many attacking warriors were there? There must have been at least a dozen.”
The second messenger swallowed hard as she said falteringly, “N-no, sire. T-there were only…two…”
Ganondorf leapt from his seat, grabbing the two women around their necks and bashing their heads together as he thundered, “Two?! Only two?! How can only two sniveling Hylians defeat a score of my best warriors?! How?!”
The two guards were squealing with terror as they were swung back and forth. Ganondorf threw them from him, growling out in a rage, “Get out of my sight!” The two guards didn’t need a second bidding.
Avari rose from her seat, going to her husband’s side and placing a hand on his shoulder. She spoke in a measured voice, “You should not trouble yourself with these things. A more pressing matter urges. The parchment has been found.”
Ganondorf turned his head to his wife, his eyes blazing, “What?”
Avari backed away, saying quickly, “Two of our people know where it is!”
Ganondorf composed himself and said in a lower voice, “Where?”
Avari answered, “It is in the middle of the Haunted Wasteland, near the Desert Colossus. It is guarded by the ghost guide of the desert, the one only the Eye can see.”
Ganondorf nodded approvingly, going to his wife. He stroked her arm and bent down, kissing her mouth. Avari went stiff, trying to keep her skin from crawling.
Ganondorf gave his orders, “Tell my warriors to send out two score to retrieve the parchment. I want them to send it to me immediately.”
Avari bowed, fleeing from the room, glad to be away from the mad ruler of the Gerudos.
Xyana waited for Ganondorf to leave the room. She then lowered herself down from the ceiling, wincing as she rubbed the life back into her limbs. She had been clinging to the rafters, hidden by one of the arches. She had heard every word of the conversation. She smiled, congratulating herself. She had managed to cross the bridge by using a strange pulley system the Gerudos had made to get patrol parties across the gap. Then she had slain a Gerudo and had worn the purple cloak and the hood to hide her face. Then, before anyone had entered the throne room, she had scaled up to the ceiling to conceal herself in the wall.
Xyana wrapped herself in the cloak once more, glad she had kept her self control. When Ganondorf had entered the room, it took all her strength not to leap down and slay him. However, he was too powerful and she would not have been able to fight him. She had to wait.
As Xyana moved out into the fortress, she covered her face, trying to keep her identity concealed. Suddenly, she accidentally bumped into a Gerudo who had rounded the corner suddenly. Xyana, startled, dropped the cloak from her mouth, revealing her face. The Gerudo’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to yell a warning.
Xyana acted swiftly. Grabbing the Gerudo by the neck, Xyana gave a quick flick of her wrist, snapping the Gerudo’s neck. She let the body slide down and dragged it behind one of the buildings and then continued on her way. She made it out without anything untoward. She returned across the gap and made her way out into Hyrule Field, feeling accomplished. She now knew she had to find Link and tell him what she had heard. They would have to return to Gerudo Valley so they could make it to the Haunted Wasteland.
Suddenly, Xyana doubled over in pain. She felt like a dagger had pierced her side, but as she stood up, the pain disappeared. Then she doubled over again, this time with the feeling of something striking her hard on the head. She fell to one knee, and suddenly began to mentally call out, “Link! Link! Where are you? It’s Xyana!”
Then, quite suddenly, the pain stopped. Xyana then heard in her head a soft, faint voice answering, “Here…”
Link had gone back to his house in Kokiri and had retrieved his medallions, so he began the journey back. He walked quickly through the trees, swinging a satchel in which the medallions lay. He was about to take out his ocarina to call Epona when he heard a noise. He froze. He strained his ears but only heard the forest birds chirping and an occasional squawk from a Deku Shrub. He relaxed and carried on.
Suddenly, an unknown attacker crashed down onto his back. He lay stunned on the ground, but he recovered quickly, kicking upwards as a Gerudo warrior dove at his unprotected front. The Gerudo lay winded, and Link rolled to one side and leaped to his feet. Another Gerudo flew at him, but Link ducked and whirled around. He was surrounded!
They closed in on him. He was desperately outnumbered. The Gerudos slashed at him and struck him heavy blows. When they thought he was dead, they deserted the forest, leaving Link lying badly injured. He lay on the forest floor, blood staining his tunic. He had slashes across his chest and forehead, and he knew he might bleed to death if he didn’t get help soon. Suddenly, in his head, he heard Xyana’s voice calling to him.
“Link! Link, where are you? It’s Xyana!” came her voice. With all his strength, he answered back, “Here…” And his world went black.
Link’s head was spinning as he pushed the dark shades of his fevered dreams aside and opened his eyes. With a great effort, he turned his neck in order to see his surroundings. He was still in the forest, but in a part he did not know. He began pushing himself up, but he was so weak from the pain and loss of blood he was only able to support himself with his elbows. He paused to regain his strength, and was about to try to get to his feet when he heard a dark sneer issuing from behind him, dripping with scorn and hatred. Link forgot his pain and leaped to his feet, turning in alarm to face the unknown creature from which the voice had issued.
Link drew in a sharp breath. Two gleaming red eyes glared from the shadows of the trees at him. The silence was broken by an unearthly cackle that sent a chill rippling down Link’s spine. The dark figure stepped out from the shadows and stood before him, it’s arms folded across its chest in triumph. Link instantly knew who this foe was. It was Dark Link, a servant of Ganondorf and an equally matched opponent for Link. His hand flew instinctively to his sword, but with a start he realized that his foe must have taken ht from him. Dark Link smirked with wicked glee and unsheathed a fearsome sword, the blade black with evil.
“This is going to be better than I thought!” the shadow said, his red eyes narrowed with sadistic delight. He bared his fangs as he began moving forward, his evil mind most likely contriving a brutal end for Link.
Link’s eyes darted to and fro. He saw the Master Sword lying beside the base of an old tree. He brought his eyes back to his opponent. Dark Link lunged at him, his sword held poised over his head, ready to strike. Link somersaulted over his enemy’s back and dove forward, snatching up his sword and whirling back around, his sword brandished before him. He then went at his enemy with a barrage of swift, fierce slashes. He at last caught the dark shadow off guard and kicked outwards with his boot, sending Dark Link stumbling back a few paces, clutching his stomach in agony and trying to regain his breath. Link ran forward and leaped on top of his stunned adversary, bowling him over. He raised his sword to strike, then stopped in panic. Dark Link flashed his sword up and under Link’s blade. Then Dark Link began pushing upwards, driving Link off of him and onto his knees. Dark Link’s eyes blazed red with evil laughter as he drew a dagger from his belt.
Suddenly, Link heard the sharp noise of an arrow singing through the air. Dark Link let out a piercing howl and fell back, clutching wildly at his shoulder. A shaft fletched with blue feathers was protruding from his shoulder.
Link swung his gaze from his enemy. There, standing in the full moonlight, was Xyana the Arrow. Her face was grim, and another arrow was notched to her bow. She stared at Dark Link in pure hatred. But Dark Link moved quickly in spite of his wound. Ripping the arrow from his shoulder, he ran forward and grabbed Link around the neck, shoving him in front of him as a shield. “Shoot and he’s dead!” he snarled. Xyana faltered. She lowered her bow.
Dark Link cackled insanely and bounded forward, dragging Link behind him. He seized Xyana by the wrist and hauled her into the light where he could see her face. His eyes gleamed wickedly.
“My, what a lovely catch!” he smirked, winking a red eye roguishly at her. “It must be my lucky day!” He let go of Xyana and drew his dagger, positioning it an inch from Link’s neck. “If you agree to come back with me with no tricks, your friend will be safe, for the moment,” he snarled. Then he added, “But if you don’t, he’s as good as Guay food!” He took something from his belt and jabbed Link, leaving a red mark on his skin. “You see that? With a single word, I can activate this magical poison to spread through his blood. It’s a painful death. Oh, you don’t believe me? I’ll prove it.”
Dark Link quickly found a Guay roosting nearby. With great skill, he felled it with a stone, enough to daze it. Taking it and shaking it back to consciousness, he jabbed it and then spoke a strange word. The Guay began convulsing violently, giving out strange squawks as blood and foam dripped from its beak, and then went still. It was dead. Dark Link smiled cruelly, “Unfortunately it only works on the creature I’m intending it to work on. But I can always direct it at our friend Link.”
Xyana’s eyes raged, and Link could see foam forming at the corners of her mouth, but she bit back her anger and gritted out through clenched teeth, “Agreed, dark one.” Link shook his head vigorously and cried out, “No, Xyana! Don’t-,” but Dark Link silenced him with a blow to his skull. Link’s vision began to grow hazy, and the last thing he saw was Dark Link sweeping Xyana up into his arms and carrying her off into the dark depths of the forest.
