DOUBLENEGATIVE;

The Legend of Zelda: The Three Swords
By: Rémi-Patryk

Chapter 2: Answers

Link stopped with Epona and the other horse in a little meadow close to the exit of the lost woods. He then brought the groggy black rider down, tied him up on a tree and put a bandage on his shoulder wound ...

He then proceeded to search the black rider's bags and stuff... The Rider's sword was surprisingly light and when Link held it he felt a warm energy rush through him like when he was holding the one and only sacred blade the Master Sword...

"This is pretty odd. How can there be a sword so similar?" Link thought to himself...

He carried on his search and he found some interesting stuff like a few books written in the old hylian language... And a letter written with Zelda's own handwriting... But it was also written in a dialect unknown to Link "What is this all about?" ... "Zelda... Could she be really dead?... Why could I not feel it? Was I too far away? How could I have let something like this happen? She did not even know...About....me." Link tried to get those dark thoughts out of his mind and with much effort succeeded... One thing Link learned over the years was to never let the darkness win... He also found a gold colored Ocarina in the bag...

As he looked in the other bag he discovered something that looked like a modified hookshot... Link could not activate it though so he put it aside. On the Rider's horse was the guy's bow and arrows. He took the bow, it was again a very light and delicately crafted piece of equipment, it was very strong and it was engraved with golden letters... Link got the same feeling as when he took the sword in his hand... "This stuff is really weird"..."but it actually doesn't give me bad feelings like evil usually does." He then examined the Rider's shield. It was a regular looking shield but again there were inscriptions that he could not read... As he went around the horse for further investigation he noticed a broad sword sheeted on the side of the saddle... when he pulled it he noticed an inscription on the blade "Schlechter Brenner"... "What in Naryu's sake can that mean..."

Link looked at the rider... "I'm going to wake this guy, I need answers."

Kyul awakened from his dark dreams when he received a shower of ice cold water on his bare chest "Ahhh...hey ...hun... where ...what...when..Why am I tied?" Kyul asked the man sitting in front of him looking deep in his own eyes..

"I just don't want you to do me any surprises," answered Link with a tone that could freeze Death Mountain over...

"Who are you ... if I may ask?" Kyul asked with an equally cold voice.

"I ask the questions around here... boy." Link was scared of how he was speaking to that mysterious Rider... He never talked to someone with that voice before ... Hell he was not even giving the man a chance to explain anything... Like why a man wearing a Sheikah outfit would kill a member of the Hyrule Royal Family... Weren't the Sheikahs the guardian protectors of the King and his family?

"When you're done staring at me, maybe I could answer those questions of yours?"

"What? ... Ah right... Well first...What's your name? .... And why do I hear you killed Princess Zelda?" Link asked unsure of himself.

"I'm not sure I would like to give you my real name.... But for now call me Schatten."

"Ok...Schatten" .... "Why do I hear very unpleasant things about you killing the Princess?"

"Well those rumors, like most of the things said about me, are untrue..."

"But why were those Bounty hunters after you...? Damn they said that the King himself put the bounty on your head."

"Ahh well see... hehehe... that would be a very long story and well..." Link cut him off.

"Then... let's get started...Right now..."

"Well, I don't think that those Hunters are going to bother us right now so why don't you look in my bags, take some food, and we could eat before I begin." Kyul said with a smile...

Link's stomach growled at the thought of food... he hadn't eaten for a long time.

"Yea I guess we could do that... Oh and by the way, my name is Link."

Kyul's eyes widened "You mean Link the Hero of Time?" As humbly as always Link replied, "Yes that would be me. Why?"

Kyul laughed, "You just simplified things for yourself a lot mister hero... but now let's eat!!"

Link nodded and he cut the ropes that were holding Kyul to the tree.

HYRULE CASTLE

"YOU FOOL.... HOW IN THE NAME OF THE THREE GODESSES COULD YOU LET THAT BOY ESCAPE?!" the king Harkinan of Hyrule raged in his most angry and intimidating voice.

"Well, you see your majesty, I had taken the liberty to hire one of my friends to help me find him, but you see his force was annihilated... save three..." colonel Abydos whispered in a very humble and tiny voice...

The King cut him off before he could finish..."What are you telling me? That you are taking help from renegades to do your own work..."

"Well, not exactly your highness."

"I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH!"

"Y...yes your royalty."

"Will you stop calling me those stupid names, Abydos, or I can guarantee this will be a worse day for you than it already IS..."

"O...of.ff.f.of course your greatness...heheu...I mean yes SIR."

"Now leave my sight at once, and find that kid - I want him here by tomorrow."

The King was exhausted ... It had only been a few days since his dear princess Zelda had gone missing... Now she was presumed dead... The boy... The black Sheikah was seen in the castle courtyard and he had knocked out three guards, killed the man engaged to the princess and blood was spilled in her chamber...

"I will get that boy....... If it's the last thing I do."

LOST WOODS

"So how 'bout this story of yours now?" Link, now full of food, eagerly asked.

"Yes, well," mumbled Kyul, his mouth still full.

"You see... First I am not an exactly a Sheikah.. I am from the now extinct Schatten -Reiter peoples. I am now their last survivor..." Link's mouth opened with his surprise... "You mean you are one of those warriors who were annihilated by the Yhlam warriors many years ago..."

Kyul was somewhat surprised that Link knew about what happened in the great slaughter of the Schatten-Reiter. "Yes, I am the lone... the lone pure survivor... For the rest of those years I have been traveling as a warrior for hire... Now to continue on my story... My real name is Kyul Schattenfeilds... Three months ago I received a message from the princess Zelda of Hyrule explaining that the great sage of light, Rauru, and herself, wanted to speak with me, but this would have to be done in secret.... She enclosed an ocarina and the notes to a song that I was to learn... I followed the instructions and then rode to the land of Hyrule to comply with the wish of the princess..."

"But what was the reason that she asked you to come?" Link eagerly asked.

"I am coming to that .. As I sneaked into the castle as she had instructed me, I was intercepted by guards... I neutralized them without bloodshed... But one escaped my... vigilance, he alarmed his superiors. I had to hide somewhere to escape capture . I climbed into an open window, knocked out one or two guards. I then proceeded to the princess's room just as she had asked me to do ...

"When I entered, I saw her dressed in an green outfit like yours Link, a sword clad to her back and her hair cut really short. She explained that it was time for her to leave Royal life to come complete her duty to the world with me and you Link." Kyul said with a smile.

"Ok me, her... and you... But why?" Link inquisited.

"Hehe patience, Link, patience... As Zelda finished explaining to me all of that, a man.. A prince, I think, entered the room with a sword which I am sure in his mind was destined for my neck! Zelda tried to explain to him that she would not marry him or something. He clearly would not hear it. He pushed her aside charging on me like a mad bull... I took my sword and defended myself from the madman without hurting him... But as I punched him to finally get rid of him, he fell down the stairs. I think it might have killed him or something...weakling... Anyways, I was too stunned about what happened that I did not notice some guard that was sneaking on me. As he was about to impale me with his dagger, Zelda knocked him cold with some kind of a club, as he fell, though, the little bastard cut my leg... Getting my blood spilled everywhere and making the King think I murdered Zelda, because after that we left by the window gravely injuring two guards in the process of leaving..."

"That is a pretty crazy story I just heard there... But I have a feeling I have to believe you. I don't know why but I think I know you... But where is Zelda now and how did you end up in these woods?" Link said.

"While we were making our way to the temple of time, a group of royal guards attacked us. I bought her time to get there but I had to run away with SchattenJager here," as he pointed his horse, "I have been running away from them and the royal guard for at least a week."

"Ok, so I guess we have to go to the temple now," a thinkfull Link said almost inaudibly... The thought of seeing Zelda again was overwhelming; he was excited..

Kyul answered laughing, "Wow, hero boy, we can't just walk into Hyrule castle like that or we will have to gallop a little further than the lost woods to escape the King's cavalry."

"Do you have any better ideas, Rider boy!" Link answered coldly

Kyul was still laughing. "As a matter of fact, yes, I do Link.." He continued on, "We will go on the west side of the castle. There is a little waterfall which evacuates the castle's..."

Kyul started laughing seeing Link's expression when he mentioned the waterfall. "You're not serious! Kyul, those are the used waters. Not a place I recommend swimming..."

Still laughing, Kyul answered, "Worry not little hero, I have plans not to swim. You will see when we get there."

Link sulked. "Ok fine, I will follow you, but only if you stop calling me names as if I was still a little kid."

"Deal!" Kyul said..

The two warriors geared up, mounted their horses, and then left for the end of the lost woods...

TEMPLE OF TIME

The princess Zelda was worried... Not for her own safety, there was no way that anyone could find her where she was... She was hidden in the master sword room with the door of time sealed behind her...She was able to open the door of time with the help of Rauru the sage of light. Without him or Link it was impossible to open since Link has in his possession the three spiritual stones required to open the door and the ocarina of time. No, she was worried for Kyul and Link, she knew that Link was fine, on his way from distant lands right now... She could feel him... But Kyul's origins being a Schatten Reiter... She was unable to feel him and it made her uneasy...

"What bothers you dear princess?" A man dressed in a very large robe colored gold asked.

"I...I ..I am worried for Kyul. He was all alone against those Hunters. If they killed him, I will never forgive myself .." Zelda said, almost crying.

"Worry no more princess, the Hero of light will not be killed by those mere barbarians... he is too powerful for that," the man answered.

"You're right, Rauru... His destiny will not permit his death... Just like it did for Link," Zelda said standing up..

HYRULE FIELD

Two riders ..One clad in black the other... In green... Were stealthily approaching the outer walls of Hyrule Castle.

"So what's your super plan to climb up there Kyul?" a disgusted Link asked, covering his face from the horrible human waste smell with the cloak Kyul had provided him .

Kyul answered with his usual grin. "Well.. first we are going to fire ice arrows to freeze the thing over and then fire a hookshot on the ice, climb up the walls, and then jump the fence, hehe."

"Ok, assuming that we can even freeze the shitfall AND climb up without fainting, what's the plan once we are up there?" Link said slowly turning into the color of his tunic...

Kyul simply said, "I like to improvise," as he was letting the first arrow fly...

Link whispered, "oh god," as he too was loading his bow shooting towards the ominous looking water...

It took around five or six arrows from each of them to completely freeze the water, but they were successful... As Link approached the wall, he told Kyul that there was no way in hell that any longshot he knew could reach that far up...

"But mine is special," Kyul answered with the usual grin, as he pulled it from his belt.

Link sulked, "Every time you smile like that, I always end up regretting my comment."

"Hehe... Just hold on to my belt and pray," Kyul said... Link complied...

Kyul fired his Longshot, and in the place of a chain there was a golden beam of light. It gripped to the ice and pulled them almost to the top. Kyul took an arrow and stabbed it into the ice and hauled the combined weight of himself and Link over the stone wall and fell on the roof of the sewage control room...

Now it was Link's turn to do his job... He signaled Kyul not to talk as they made their way to the exit... Sword in hand, the two infiltrators sneaked through the corridors of the sewage building... As they finally exited close to the temple of time, Link noticed that there were guards all over the place... It would be impossible to go in without being seen by the guards...

Link kneeled down and said, "Ok Kyul, no one is going to get hurt... you do diversion and I will open the door of time... then run inside and I'll close it behind you, ok?" Link was proud that for once Kyul had a serious face on... Kyul Nodded.

Link smiled.. "Then let's get this show on the road..."

Link dashed for the door of the temple.. Kyul towards the market..

Once he arrived in the market place, Kyul looked around and yelled, "HELLO, I'M HERE!" But the guards were too sleepy to notice, no one had ever entered the castle at night without sounding the alarm. Waiting for something to happen Kyul thought, "Ok.. you want it like that?" He then grabbed a small bomb from his belt and threw it in a bush near the guards' cabin. When it exploded, all hell broke loose...

As half of the Hyrule royal guard were converging on the market, Link entered the temple of time, and with the help of the three spiritual stones he had kept from his adventure six years ago and the ocarina of time, he opened the door of time, that revealed a battle-ready Zelda... "ZEL!" Link cried out. Zelda noticed who was there and she answered by a cry of joy. "LINK!" They ran to each other and hugged...."Wait not now. We have to wait for Kyul," Link said with a grave look on his face...

As the guards were centering on him, once again with his eyes half closed, Kyul pointed his sword to the sky, grabbed one of the medallions hanging from his neck and whispered, "Blitzschlag." A golden blinding lightning bolt struck Kyul's sword. As this happened, he let out a cry of pain and stabbed the ground... The energy from the lightning transferred to the ground into a invisible shockwave of power. As the wave of energy hit the guards, it flattened them to the ground... they were still alive, but they would be out cold for a while...

Kyul, exhausted by the energy it took to perform that spell, limped back to the Temple of time, supporting himself on his sword...

"Hey guys, I am back," Kyul said as he was limping into the temple...

Link and Zelda helped him into the master sword chamber. As they did this, Kyul's sword started to glow a golden aura. "That's odd," Link thought as he looked at Kyul's sword... Link laid Kyul down on the pedestal that held the Master sword altar, as Zelda closed the door of time...

The old sage Rauru appeared out of pure light and said, "Now that you are all here we can begin... Link, pull the master sword from the altar, I will see you later.." With those words, he disappeared in a flash...

"I guess I could do that," Link said... And then thought, "I've always hated the way they disappear like that."

Link remembered the first time he took the master sword out of its old resting place... Let's just say it was a...weird experience to say the least..

Link stepped on the platform, placed his hands on the legendary blade's guard and pulled. It came out with so much ease, just as if he had pulled it from thin air. "Just as I remembered it," thought Link, as the blue light engulfed the three of them...

Being transported to the sacred realm was, to make it sound easy, a very interesting experience... Once you arrived, the shadow energy of the Triforce submerged you with the feeling of power represented by strength, courage, represented by a feeling of self-confidence, and wisdom, represented by a feeling of truth...

The three of them were standing in the temple of light, Link in the center, Kyul who was all healed from his attack with the power of the Triforce, was to the right of Link, and Zelda, with her battle attire and short hair, was to the left of Link...

Rauru, the sage of light, was standing in front of them. And started talking..."I know you all ask yourselves the same questions... They will be answered when the time comes. But for now, I want you, Kyul, to explain the origins of your people. This needs to be understood."

Kyul was surprised by this request from Rauru, but agreed. "A long time ago... When Hyrule was founded, the Sheikahs people pledged allegiance to the King of Hyrule and his family. They then became the sworn protectors of the Royal family and of the Triforce. But when the wars ended, the protection duty of the Sheikahs, who are also known as the shadow people, ended... Some stayed, but a big majority became renegade adventurers who are known as the Schatten Reiters.. Those words in our dialect mean Shadow Riders... But years ago, we were attacked by surprise by fighters of unknown allegiance named the Ylham warriors, and though we gave a good fight, the last descendents of the Sheikahs were annihilated... Those were my people. I am the descendent of the Sheikah heroes and the sole survivor of the Shatten Reiters... Though I have most of their magic skill, magic is not my area of competence... "

Rauru stopped Link from asking a question as he said, "All questions can be answered later...But now we have limited time. I have grave things to announce to you. The three of you have been chosen by us sages to carry the essence of the holy triforce...To learn how to control it's powers and use it to protect itself and the world." As the sage pronounced those words Link, Kyul and Zelda were astonished...

Link, still in shock, asked, "But is it not safer too keep the Triforce here in the sacred realm? "

Rauru answered with a light smile, "An adventure you lived Link, showed us that it is safer out there than in here.. " He continued, "The triforce will split in nine parts so that each of you have a complete piece of the triforce, combining Power, Courage and wisdom... " As he pronounced those words, a flash of light blinded them for a second and when they could see again, the triforce was hovering on top of them...

Two other sages had appeared with the triforce.. One with a shining blue robe and the other one had the same robe, but it was of a bright silver color... The first one started to talk... " I, the sage of knowledge, Ishkay, choose you, Princess Zelda, for you are one of the three people in the world who can truly hold the triforce in the name of light. The two others are standing besides you. I therefore give you one of the three holy swords. The one with the blue blade named Wahrheit... And three pieces of the triforce...You are now the Hero of peace and freedom." Zelda answered with respect, "I respectfully accept these gifts in the name of justice and freedom."

The second sage then spoke in a deep powerful voice, "I, Isylahn, Sage of time, have chosen you, Link, for reasons I need not explain, to be the Hero of Time. I will give you only the three pieces of the triforce.. Since you already hold the second holy sword.. The silver-bladed Master sword... " Link answered, not sure what to say, not having had the same diplomacy lessons Zelda did... "I... respectfully accept these gifts."

Then Rauru spoke with his deep wise voice, "Kyul... I, Rauru, Sage of light, choose you to be the Hero of light for your talent, background, and heart, made of pure light... I therefore give you what you deserve... The three pieces of the triforce ... Since you already carry the third sacred blade, the golden sword of light, I need not give you a weapon. May the goddesses be with you." Kyul, not believing what was happening, answered, "I accept your gift for the glory of light... "

The sages then spoke in a united voice. "We will now send you back to your own realm. May light be on your side."

<< Previous | Next >>