The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

By the time Link reached Ordon Village, the sun had already been up for an hour. The village lay in unnatural silence. Doors were shut tight and windows dark. The Twilight had taken its toll. Link crossed the village and approached Rusl and Uli’s house. He raised his hand to knock, but it hovered in the air. It had only been a few hours since he had taken the sword. Was he here for Uli…or for himself? Taking a breath, he knocked. The door creaked open a moment later, and Uli peered out cautiously. When she saw him, relief flooded her face. She threw the door open and wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Oh, thank the goddesses you’re safe!” she said, blinking back tears. “Are you alright?” “I’m…fine. Really. Don’t worry about me. How are you holding up?” “We’re managing…” Uli stepped aside. “Please… come inside.” Link stepped through the doorway and saw Rusl lying on the couch. His condition had worsened since Link last saw him. Each breath came short and ragged, as though he clung desperately to life. The sight weighed heavily on Link’s heart. Hang in there, Rusl. You have to pull through… “Would you like anything to drink?” Uli asked, moving toward the kitchen. “Yes… please. Thank you.” Link found himself at a loss for words. Uli poured a cup of water from a pitcher and brought it to him. He accepted it with a grateful nod and took a careful sip. The cool water soothed his dry throat, and he lingered on the sensation for a moment. Only then did he realize how thirsty he had been. Uli suddenly gasped behind him. “That sword…” Link nearly choked and glanced at the blade strapped to his back. He had completely forgotten he was carrying the Ordonian weapons. How could he have been so careless? His jaw tightened as he silently scolded himself. “They were stolen last night,” Uli said, letting out a breath of relief. “I’m glad you managed to get them back from that wretched creature.” She doesn’t know… For a brief moment, Link considered telling Uli the truth, but he stopped himself. Lying to her felt wrong – unforgivable, even – but it was for her own good. His destiny was not her burden to bear. Noticing Link’s downcast expression, Uli gently cupped his cheek. “You look exhausted, honey.” “It’s been…a rough couple of days.” “You are welcome to stay here and rest if you’d like…” Before Link could answer, Midna’s impatience cut through his thoughts, and he pushed the feeling away. I know, I know… Rest was tempting, but there was no time. He had to reach the Forest Temple and find the forbidden power before more tragedy befell Ordon Village. “Thanks, but I can’t stay. I have to get going,” Link finally said. “I understand.” After finishing his cup of water, Link approached the door and reached for the handle. He hesitated, then lowered his arm and looked back at Uli. She offered him a soft smile, and guilt struck him hard. She was trying so hard to be brave. He could not let her down. “I’ll find Colin,” Link said. “I promise.” Uli rested a hand on her stomach. “I know you will. Stay safe, okay?” “I will.” Link and his surrogate mother shared one final hug before he stepped outside. Before leaving Ordon Village, he made a point of checking in on every villager. He started with Hanch and Sera. His unexpected visit lifted Hanch’s spirits, but Sera was in terrible shape. She was so worried about Beth she had taken to her bed. Link assured them that he would bring Beth home safely before moving on. He visited Jaggle and Pergie next. They were struggling with their children’s disappearance, but they were bearing it better than Hanch and Sera. They were overjoyed to see Link and, like Uli, offered him a place to rest. He politely declined and promised that he would find their children. The last place Link visited was Bo’s house. He knocked twice, but no one answered. He said he was going to look for the children, Link thought. I hope he’s alright… Worry tugged at him, but there was nothing he could do. All he could do was hope that Bo and Fado returned home safely. Link sighed and made his way back to his house. The ladder and windows were nearly swallowed by overgrown greenery. What a mess, he thought as he climbed the ladder and pushed the door open. Inside, everything remained exactly as he had left it, though the air carried a faint musty scent. Midna appeared and glanced around the house. “This is your place, huh? Why are we here?” “I need supplies.” Link grabbed his lantern and fastened it to his belt. “Is that a problem?” “Just don’t take too long. We’ve already wasted enough time.” “Noted.” Midna seemed surprised by her companion’s blunt response. She raised a brow at him, then sank into his shadow. Link allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk and searched the house for something edible. All he found was a piece of moldy bread and a block of rancid goat cheese. I’ll have to find food on the road. Before leaving, Link paused and looked around his house. He had no idea where this journey would take him. The uncertainty was thrilling, but it also stirred doubt. Will I ever return to Ordon? He forced the doubt away, stepped outside, and closed the door on his old life. I’ll make it back. And the children will be with me. * The sky had grown increasingly overcast by the time Link reached the cave leading to the old bog. The gate was sealed once again with chains and a heavy padlock – an unsurprising precaution from Coro after everything that had happened. Link turned and walked toward the lantern salesman’s shack. Coro sat beside a small fire outside, humming to himself while roasting a rat on a spit. Spotting Link from the corner of his eye, he lifted his gaze from the meal. “Hey, it’s the Ordonian! Long time no see! What’s with the new outfit?” Link shrugged. “It’s a long story. How are you holding up?” “Not great. Monsters have been crawling out of the woodwork lately. There were these… bugs.” Coro shivered. “Horrible things. What’s going on around here?” “That’s what I’m trying to find out. I need to get to Deep Faron. Can you open the gate?” Coro glanced toward the gate, his face going pale. “You want to go into Deep Faron? Right now? Are you crazy?” I’m starting to wonder… “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” “…If ya say so. But for the record, I think this is a terrible idea.” Coro pulled the gate key from his pocket and handed it to Link. He slipped it into one of the leather pouches on his belt. “You look like you’re running a little light on supplies, guy,” Coro said. “Uh…yeah.” Link rubbed the back of his neck. “Didn’t really have time to pack.” Coro chuckled. “Well, if you’re going to save the woods from those monsters, the least I can do is make sure you’ve got something to eat. Come on.” Link followed Coro into the shack and waited quietly by the door while the salesman gathered provisions in the kitchen. Though the place was still somewhat dishevelled, it had improved greatly since Link’s last visit. The furniture had been restored to its proper places in the living area, and the mess left by the Shadow Insect had been cleaned away. The greatest change, however, was the smell. The air carried a faint mustiness, but it was nothing like the scent of fear that had once clung to the shack. Coro filled a small leather pouch with bread and a bottle of lantern oil, then handed it to Link. “That should keep you fed until you get back. And don’t be shy about using your lantern. You’re going to need it.” “Got it.” Link fastened the pouch to his belt. “Thanks for the help.” “Anytime, buddy. Stay safe out there, alright?” “You too.” Link shook Coro’s hand and headed out. At the gate, he slid the key into the padlock and unlocked it. The rusty chains clattered softly as he pulled them free and pushed the gate open. From within his shadow, Midna’s eye appeared, glancing up at him. “That took forever,” she whispered irritably. “You light dwellers sure love your small talk.” Link rolled his eyes and shook his head. The urge to retort crossed his mind, but he pushed it aside. Focus on finding the temple. That’s all that matters. With that thought, he lit his lantern and entered the cave. A few moments later he emerged into the desiccated bog beyond. What he saw made him stop short. A plume of misty violet fog hung over the area, blanketing everything beyond the old wharf ahead. Link approached cautiously and halted at its edge. What is this? A rabbit lay unconscious near the wharf, and it was not alone. Dozens of small creatures lay scattered beneath the strange fog. It must have appeared without warning. Are the effects permanent? The idea of falling into an endless slumber sent a chill through Link. “How do I get to the other side?” Link muttered. “How should I know?” Midna replied. “Just don’t get stuck in that stuff.” Link stepped forward, and the fog before him thinned. He tilted his head as a thought struck him. It’s the light… He extended his lantern, and the violet mist shrank back. Okay…that solves that problem…I think… With a steady breath, Link stepped into the marsh. The lantern’s glow pushed the fog aside, carving a small circle of safety around him as he moved. In a patch of tall grass, he found an unconscious animal. It was a monkey – the same one Talo had chased into the woods. The red flower above her ear still clung there, though it had begun to wither. Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up with a soft, confused coo. She looks okay. I guess the fog only affects you if you stand in it, Link thought. The moment he glanced back down the path, the monkey snatched the lantern from his hand and sprang to her feet. “Hey…!” Link yelped. “You idiot,” Midna hissed. “Quit staring off into dreamland!” Link bit his tongue and ignored her as the monkey waved for him to follow. Then she turned and disappeared into the fog. With a frustrated sigh, Link hurried after her. This day just keeps getting weirder. The monkey led Link through the bog, darting between the trees. A Baba Plant burst from a patch of weeds and snapped at her, but Link rushed in. With a quick slash he severed the plant’s head and crushed it beneath his boot. The monkey clapped her hands happily before scampering ahead again. Midna scoffed. “I think she likes you.” Link grunted under his breath and chased after the monkey. Moments later they reached the cave network leading to the giant oak tree. Relieved to be free of the strange fog, Link exhaled deeply. The monkey returned his lantern and babbled at him frantically, pointing into the cave before climbing onto his shoulder. I guess she wants me to go in there. Link fastened the lantern to his belt and stepped inside. Almost immediately, the rancid smell of decaying flesh hit him. Ugh…did something die in here? With every step the stench grew stronger, until it became so bad that Link gagged and covered his nose. Rounding a bend, Link found the path blocked by a thick wall of webbing. This wasn’t here before. He approached cautiously, pinching his nose shut. The rotting carcasses of rats, bats, and rope snakes hung tangled in the webbing. “What’s the holdup?” Midna asked impatiently. Before Link could answer, something moved in the corner of his vision. Slowly, he turned his head to the left and froze. Eight green eyes gleamed in the darkness. The Skulltula crawled out from a side tunnel, revealing itself to be one of the larger variants. It stood nearly as tall as Link and easily outweighed him twofold. The thick armour plating on its abdomen formed the shape of a grinning skull. The monkey on Link’s shoulder shrieked as he hacked desperately at the webbing with his sword. The Skulltula crept closer, venom dripping from its long fangs. At last the final strands of webbing snapped, and Link broke into a sprint. Behind him, the Skulltula gave chase, its long legs carrying it forward with frightening speed. “This is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into,” Midna grumbled. Light appeared at the end of the tunnel, and Link forced his tired legs to run faster. I’m almost there…! Suddenly something snagged his calf and yanked him down. He hit the ground hard, his sword clattering away as the monkey scrambled off. Rolling over, Link saw the webbing wrapped around his leg. The Skulltula was dragging him closer. Link stretched for his sword, but it lay just out of reach. No! Come on! The Skulltula jabbed at Link with its fangs, and he raised his shield to fend it off. Each failed strike only made the creature more vicious. Link cried out as his arm began to throb under the strain. Just as he reached his breaking point, Midna rose from his shadow and flung his sword toward him with a flick of her hand. Link snatched it from the air and thrust the blade into one of the Skulltula’s bulbous green eyes. The creature shrieked and recoiled. Link rolled backward and sprang to his feet, putting distance between them. Realizing its prey was escaping, the Skulltula lunged forward. Link sidestepped its outstretched limbs and drove his sword into its head. The creature writhed in agony as he forced the blade deeper, until it collapsed with a heavy thud. Even after he pulled the sword free, the corpse continued to twitch. Spiders… I hate spiders… Nothing good ever came from them. Panting, Link wiped his bloodstained sword against the cave wall before sliding it back into the scabbard. The monkey reappeared and waved urgently for Link to follow before racing toward the cave exit. She came back for me… Why is she so desperate? Whatever the reason, it had to be important. Maybe it was connected to the forbidden power. Link followed the monkey and emerged into the clearing beyond the cave. He stopped briefly to catch his breath as Midna’s shadowy form peeled away from his shadow. She planted her hands on her hips and glared. “You’re going to get me killed one of these days.” “Sorry… Thanks for the help back there.” Midna dismissed his gratitude with a wave. “Let’s keep moving. We’ve wasted enough time already.” Link nodded, and she slipped back into the shadows at his feet. She was confusing. Cold and distant most of the time, yet she had saved his life more than once. Maybe he was more than the slave she wanted him to believe he was. Link hurried after the monkey, who was already approaching the giant oak tree. When he reached the ravine, he stopped short. A golden wolf blocked the path ahead. The creature sat upright at the edge of the boardwalk, watching him silently. Its fur shimmered with brilliant light, and its single eye burned a deep, menacing red. When the wolf began to growl, Link drew his weapons. The creature suddenly pounced, and he was too slow to react. He barely had time to raise his shield before the creature crashed down on him. In the next instant, his vision vanished into a blinding white void. * Link awoke to the sensation of cold water on his cheek and slowly sat up. As the fog in his mind cleared, he found himself surrounded by a vast white expanse. The landscape was empty, save for the giant oak tree standing in the distant mist. Snow drifted silently from the sky, yet the air carried no chill. Link held out his hand and watched in quiet disbelief as snowflakes landed on his palm and melted away. What is this place? The sound of panting behind Link made the hairs on his neck stand on end. He slowly turned and locked eyes with the golden wolf, forcing down his unease as his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. The wolf raised its head and howled. Its body twisted and stretched, rising into a towering bipedal form clad in rusted armour. The battered plates were scarred by countless battles, and thick green moss clung to its right pauldron. Beneath the helmet waited a fleshless skeletal face, its single red eye burning as it fixed its gaze on Link. For a long, tense moment, the ghostly Shade did not move. Then it slowly drew a broadsword and a round metal shield. Link forced himself to stand his ground and ready his own weapons, even as every instinct urged him to flee. Remember your training… Link counted to three in his head. Then he attacked. His blade flashed toward the Shade’s chest, but the strike was deflected effortlessly by its shield. The impact threw Link off balance. In the next instant, the Shade drove a brutal kick into his gut and sent him crashing to the ground. He landed hard on his back, the air driven from his lungs as he stared up at the sky. Jaw clenched, Link waited for his fate. “A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.” The raspy male voice made Link shift his gaze downward. The Shade stood above him, his sword sheathed and one hand extended. Link hesitated only a moment before taking it. With the Shade’s help, he rose to his feet. “You may be destined to become the hero of legend, but your current abilities would disgrace the proud green of the hero’s tunic you wear.” The Shade crossed his arms. “You must seek power through courage…and find it you shall. Only then will you become the hero for whom this world despairs.” Link frowned. “I don’t understand.” “Do you wish to find true courage and save this land from the darkness that threatens to consume it?” Link did not know who the ancient warrior was, but one thing was clear. The Shade was not his enemy. That made him an ally, and right now, Link needed all the help he could get. He hesitated only a moment before answering. “Yes…” “If that is true, you are worthy to receive the secrets I hold.” The Shade drew his blade, his eye flaring with anticipation. A strange energy emanated from his ghostly form. It was almost as if he were excited. “We shall begin right away with a technique I used frequently in my time,” the Shade said. “Certain foes you will face during your journey won’t allow you to defeat them with simple attacks, as I demonstrated earlier. To counter this, you must strike swiftly…and decisively.” The warrior leapt into the air and drove his blade into the ground with tremendous force. The blow would have been fatal to any foe beneath it. Pulling his sword free, the Shade turned to Link. “First knock your enemy to the ground before performing this technique. Now, show me what you can do.” “You want me to attack you?” Link asked, raising an eyebrow. “Worry not about me. I am not in any danger.” “If you say so…” Link bent his knees and raised his shield, settling into a ready stance. His blade flashed twice across the Shade’s chest, sending the warrior to the ground. In one motion, Link leapt into the air and drove his sword down into the Shade’s abdomen. He pulled the blade free and stepped back, allowing the ancient warrior to rise once more. He gave a curt nod of approval. “I am impressed. It’s not easy to land a pinpoint strike like that on your first try,” he said. “You are now on the path to becoming the one true hero, but your training is far from complete. You must test your courage and polish your skills daily. Do not fall victim to complacency.” “I won’t. Thank you,” Link said as he sheathed his sword. “When you are ready to meet me again, search for the stone that howls with the sound of the wind.” As the ethereal plain faded away, the Shade spoke one final time. “A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. Remember those words. Farewell.” * “Hey, are you just gonna lie there all day? Get up!” Midna snapped. Link blinked awake to find her hovering above him. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced around the forest. He was lying in the exact spot where he had encountered the Shade, and it was still late morning. Not a moment had passed. “What was that all about?” Midna asked coldly. “You just dropped dead out of nowhere.” I wish I knew… Link searched the clearing again but found no sign of the golden wolf. The Shade had vanished…if he had ever truly been there. Was it all just my imagination? “Where’s the wolf?” Midna frowned. “What wolf? Have you lost it?” She never saw him… Link thought back to his brief encounter with the Shade, then shook his head. Maybe I did imagine it. Rising to his feet, he brushed the dirt from his tunic. “I’m fine. Forget I said anything.” Dissatisfied with Link’s response, Midna glowered at him as he turned away. Realizing she would get no answers, she slipped back into his shadow and fell silent. Light dwellers were strange creatures. Link advanced along the boardwalk toward the monkey, who waited beside the cavernous entrance of the giant oak tree. She gestured for him to follow, then vanished into the darkness of the tunnel. She’s been leading me here the whole time, Link thought. I wonder if she knows about the forbidden power. “Finally, we’ve made it. That took forever,” Midna said from within the shadows. Link hesitated as he peered into the darkness, but only for a moment. He lit his lantern and followed the monkey into the giant oak. Somewhere deep within the ancient tree, the forbidden power waited. He would claim it, and with it, take one step closer to saving the children…