Silent Hero: a tribute to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda

by Christine E. Schulze

Chapter 8

  The House of Many Links

  After a good night’s sleep, it was back to the forests on Termina’s southern borders.

  When they journeyed hardly a day and the forest’s fringes loomed in sight, Link realized how small a world Termina must be. Hyrule itself was not huge though diverse, but in comparison, Termina seemed like a little doll house replica.

  Link and Midna combed the forest in silence, listening carefully for any hint of an ocarina. Midna voiced that it might be easier to hear than see the spirit of the first Link because they didn’t know what form he would appear in or how well he might blend in with his surroundings. Music, however, was not so easily hidden.

  After a long search, and as they began to settle down for a much-needed break, Link’s ears perked at the sound of something. At first, he excused it on a bird’s call and a delirious desire for it to be more. But then, the call solidified into a complex melody with tones Link was far too familiar with to call them anything but that of an ocarina. The next moment, Midna tugged on his shoulder and whispered, “Look.”

  The two stopped short, and Link peered through the thick branches of the trees. Between the green, a tall figure could be seen. The foliage and its shadows concealed much of his image, but Link caught sight of the old green tunic and hat, as well as a glimmer of blue eyes. Meeting Link’s gaze to ascertain he’d been seen, the Spirit Link turned and danced away into the trees, leading Midna and Link like children after the pied piper.

  The spirit moved quickly, and Midna and Link tried to hurry through the tangled wood, keeping the music in check and catching a glimpse of the moving figure every now and then.

  After a while, the music began to fade. Midna and Link picked up pace, but regardless, the music waned until settling into a complete hush—

  Just as they stumbled into a little clearing, where the mouth of a cave loomed.

  Link glanced at Midna with question. She shrugged. What else was there to do? Together, they started forth into the cave.

  For a while, their path lay completely swathed in darkness. Link felt carefully along with his feet, gripping Midna’s hand tight in case she suddenly lost her footing.

  Gradually, a faint orangish light glimmered in the distance. Emerging from the wide corridor, Midna released a small cry, and Link felt more than thankful he held her hand as she teetered on the edge of a great abyss. Pulling her back, he gazed solemnly into the black, depthless expanse which nearly swallowed her whole. Then, he looked up.

  Far beyond the abyss, another ledge awaited them, jutting from the cave’s opposite wall far beyond. The ledge led to a small door. On the walls, a few torches flickered, granting little light, but enough to see by.

  “Well, how do you suppose we’re to get across that?”

  Link’s mind and eyes already roamed though. His gaze rested upon something hanging between two of the torches, and he knew at once the riddle of this cave. The thing on the wall was a mask. Round, wooden, sporting a green hat. It represented one of the Deku, the tree people of old. It also represented one of the forms which the first Link shape-shifted into during his Termina quest.

  “The mask!” Midna breathed, spotting it too. “Link—your hookshot!”

  With a nod, Link unlatched it, aimed, and soon, the mask flew into his hands. He held it admiringly; it felt nearly weightless, insignificant as air. Yet he knew the strong power it had wielded over the Hero, and soon, over him....

  “Link, wait—are you sure that’s—?”

  Midna’s question was drowned in a loud cry as Link donned the mask and instantly felt his body begin to change. For a brief but horrifying moment, he burned all over as if engulfed in unending flame. Then, his limbs began to shrink; this wasn’t painful, though uncomfortable because of the intense pressure. Finally, he stood before her as a dwarfish creature, body no longer covered with skin but soft bark, a tuft of golden hair peeking beneath the green cap.

  “Awe,” Midna crooned, eyes gleaming half with delight and half with mischief. “Aren’t you adorable? We should keep you this way the rest of the quest, don’t you think?”

  Link furrowed his eyebrows—or hoped he did; he felt stiff and unlearned in this temporary body. He quickly shook it aside though. This was no time for silly squabbles. The next matter of business was figuring out why he was in this body to begin with. He scanned the room again....

  And, so low to the ground, his eyes quickly espied a large, pale pink blossom he didn’t notice before. Knowing again what to do from the legends of old, he hopped on the flower which sucked him in like a Venus fly trap—though painlessly—then released him.

  Up into the air he soared and did not fall back down. In his hands, a broad petal which acted as a glider of sorts. He leaned forward and soared across the gap, dropping the petal to land safely on the ledge beyond.

  “I think this may be one part of the quest you have to do on your own!” Midna called across. “That’s okay though—I can wait right here!”

  Link frowned—or felt like it at least—and pondered. Indeed, even if he took off the mask, how to send it over to Midna?

  Then, his eyes strayed to a small, square tile slightly raised—a switch. Smiling—or however Deku express happiness—he hopped on, pressed the switch—

  He and Midna both jumped back as something large fell from the ceiling, landing with a heavy BOOM! A land bridge connected both sides of the room. With a proud grin at Link, Midna rushed across.

  “Really,” she said, “we should keep you this way. You’re quite useful….”

  Link shook his head. Yet, in trying to pull the mask off, he found it wouldn’t budge. Nor could he even tell where its edges began so that he could pull it off.

  “It’s okay,” Midna said, placing a hand on his shoulder, all signs of playfulness vanished from her eyes and replaced by sincere kindness. “Maybe we’ll need it for the next room. Let’s see....”

  As they stepped through the door, they were indeed met with a very similar room. Two ledges, a wide expanse between them, a door beyond, torches on the walls. The one difference was that a ramp of jutted out of the ledge they stood on, aimed towards the abyss. Link’s eyes found the mask on the wall, and he began hopping and pointing enthusiastically.

  Midna granted him a sweet smile, though mischief crept back into her eyes, just a little, as if she truly contemplated keeping him like that. But then she nodded, and Link soon had aimed the hookshot and brought the mask flying to him.

  Donning the brown face, he transformed into a creature representing a much bigger race of people—the rock-eating Gorons. After some uncomfortable swelling and stretching, he stood nearly Midna’s height, broad-shouldered, intensely muscular. Dark eyes twinkled from a round, bald head. Protective plates covered his dusty-colored back, arms, and legs.

  Almost like the instincts an animal might possess, Link jumped to the ground, curling into a tight ball, armadillo-like. Then, he began rolling across the floor, practicing for a bit before surging towards the ramp, rebounding off its edge, and somersaulting through the air at an amazing height and speed.

  He landed beyond, on the opposite ledge and atop a switch which sent another land bridge crashing down. As he jumped up into standing position, heart pumping with adrenaline, Midna rushed across, grabbed his hand, and shouted, “That was pretty amazing! C’mon—let’s see what’s in the next room!”

  He ambled after her only to find a much different sort of room. A small lake, crystal clear so that they could see it was only a few feet deep. Set into one wall below the surface was a tunnel which all the water rushed rapidly into. On the wall above hung the torches and mask. Link aimed, shot, and drew the mask to him, placing it carefully upon his face, only to transform into—

  “Mikau,” Midna breathed in awe, wonder flashing in her eyes as the story replayed in her mind. The story of Mikau and Lulu. A love story which, as a woman studying ancient Hyrule and Termina tales, Midna certainly knew well, even before Asher had shared
what he knew.

  Link examined the fins curving so gracefully from his arms. They were beautiful but sharp; he could feel it as he sliced the air. He looked much like the Zorita with his aqua skin, blue eyes, angular facial features, and tall lithe body. The greatest difference was that, as a Zora, he bore no wings or hair.

  Looking over at Midna, he found her examining the water in confusion and concern.

  “Okay, how am I to get across that? Because I can’t just hold my breath forever if you get lost down there, you know....”

  Link nodded slowly, only half-hearing her. He knew how it worked in the legends. If they got sucked down the wrong passage, they should be returned to this room, where she could get air. He supposed Midna could go back through the cave and wait for him, provided the land bridges remained. Glancing over his shoulder though, he found the door they’d passed through no longer existed and subtly glanced away, wanting to give her no reason to panic.

  They would just have to chance it and hope the goddesses remained on their side.

  Link swooped Midna tightly in one arm, then dove beneath the rapidly rushing water, her screams stifled as she took a deep breath and was plunged under.

  The current carried them with unparallel swiftness, bumping them against the walls and floor of the tunnel. How they could even see down there was a mystery; a soft, blue-white light seemed to illuminate everything yet shone from nowhere.

  It seemed ridiculous that anyone should be expected to navigate such currents. But then he remembered he wasn’t just anyone. He was a Zora. Holding Midna tight in one arm, he began to kick his legs and maneuver his long body to make it more easily stream-lined. Soon, he glided with the currents instead of being controlled by them. As the tunnel branched to the left and right, he chose right. Several more branches cropped up, all of his choices random as he hoped for the journey to last soon, for Midna’s sake—

  It all stopped. So abruptly, that Link hovered in the water, stunned for a moment. Then, realizing, he kicked swiftly to the surface, jumping up with all the skill of a dolphin and landing on the ledge above the water.

  Midna gasped a huge breath, coughing and sputtering, “Oh, this had so better be a different ledge than the one we just left behind....”

  Glancing up, Link noted the door which meant it was—thank the goddesses—indeed a different ledge. Link helped Midna her to her feet, and they scrambled into the next room—

  And were met immediately with a wide, endless abyss.

  Midna sighed. “At least I can understand this one. No risk of you nearly drowning me here….”

  Link wasted no time in drawing the new mask to him. A large, plain, ugly, grey thing. As he donned it, he felt his body stretching into its new form. Even as the slight pain and discomfort faded, he continued to grow and grow and grow....

  Until his head nearly touched the ceiling. Studying arms and legs, he surmised he was back to his old self, save much, much huger.

  Link bent down, gently scooped Midna in one hand, and effortlessly bridged the abyss in one step.

  “Okay, because that would have been really helpful back at Ikana; why are these things always done out of order…?”

  Link smiled softly as he set Midna down. Then, making certain both feet stood on one side, he removed the mask and shrunk back to his rightful size.

  It was only after this that he realized his amazement at being able to take it off at all—and then, poof! With this thought, it vanished from his hands.

  He and Midna shared a curious look, and then faced their final door.

  Passing through, they appeared to have entered a perfectly ordinary square room. Not very large, a dusty stone color, with torches illuminating three of the walls, and on the fourth, a mask. A mask which looked like Link’s face drawn into a fierce, determined stare. Intensely furrowed brows lingered beneath the white tufts of hair protruding from a silver-black cap. Red and blue paint streaked his cheeks and forehead.

  When Link placed this final mask upon his face, not only did he begin to grow in height, but muscles pulsed vibrantly in his every limb. A new power surged through him, and with it, a before unknown adrenalin. When he at last stood in his new form, a head above Midna and wielding a massive blade constructed of two sharp, iron beams twisted together, forming a lethal point at the end, Midna gazed up with awe and reverence, as if beholding a demi-god.

  Clad in silver-black tunic, silver-blue gauntlets and tights, and thick leather boots, Link hardly knew how to contain the energy flowing through his veins. He turned away from Midna so she would be safe as he swung the blade in a much-needed release—

  Metal sang as the blow was blocked by another individual who fell swiftly and silently from the ceiling, which seemed suddenly not to exist, save in an endless black expanse. Link looked up in surprise at the person mirroring his exact image. Then, as they both drew back their swords, the fight was on.

  Both Links maintained a feisty, challenging grin, but no malice existed in either. Instead, they almost seemed to play rather than fight—the play was fierce, but Link reveled in leaping, twirling, spinning his blade to artfully block another of his rival’s blows. When they battled for a good ten minutes or so, keeping Midna watching in clear amusement, the other Link leapt back, held up a hand, and shouted, “Halt!”

  Link stopped. The other Link threw something which exploded in a flash of blinding light. Then, as the light faded, Link saw he stood back in his original form. The other Link created the same brilliant light next to himself—

  Spirit Link stood before Link, almost his twin, save in height, his semi-transparency, and the fact he wore the long, green cap which served as his trademark amongst legends and the paintings accompanying them.

  He grinned wide, bowing at them, and they returned the gesture.

  “Forgive me. Time has enabled me to master many skills, including that of illusion. In truth, the cave is really my house; all this elaboration I made up just for your test. If you walk out that door there, you’ll be back in the woods, right where you started.”

  As he pointed, a door materialized in one wall, and the walls themselves morphed into simple wooden slabs. A fireplace roared in one wall, while a comfy arm chair cropped up from the floor like a new tree. Though sparsely decorated, it seemed a homey enough dwelling for the spirit of an ancient Hero.

  “No forgiveness is needed,” Midna assured. “We are truly most honored to meet you, great Hero of old.”

  “And honored am I to meet my successor and his princess. For only the true heir could have obtained the tool which allowed him to obtain the masks. The masks would have correctly fit only the one who bears my blood in his veins. And, I dare say, only a descendant of mine could match my own Fierce Deity with such art, skill, yet grace as well.”

  Link grinned broadly, bowing in thanks.

  “Well,” Spirit Link said, “I would bid you stay longer and share much with you, save I know the importance of timely quests—and all quests are timely, if some more than others….”

  He smirked in amusement, as if recalling how his Hylian ventures had spanned seven years, while he was forced to save Termina in only three days.

  “Thus, without further ado...”

  He revealed a cloud-blue ocarina, its smooth surface gleaming like new. Midna took out her flute, Link his ocarina. Together, they played until all mastered the new part of Midna’s Requiem. Even as his fingers rippled over the notes, Link felt a warmth on the back of his hand; there, a new Triforce Shard solidified within the Triforce symbol. Two down, with only one left to find. He looked up at the Spirit Link who gave him a playful wink, and Link remembered: just like the Goddess of Time, this Link was also a spirit; he could easily pass his bit of the Triforce onto the living, without suffering harm.

  When they ceased playing and put away their instruments, Spirit Link nodded to the fireplace. The fire within morphed into a brilliant blue, and Link soon realized it was no longer fire but a warping crystal.

 
; “This will take you back to your own world,” Spirit Link said. “And I must return to mine….”

  In his hands, the Zora mask rested. He cradled it gently, stroking its smooth, worn, but much-loved and cared-for surface.

  “How I do miss the Zora. But now, my part here is over, and I can return to my place amongst the Zorita. Do you think they will find room for a bass guitarist in their new band?”

  Midna laughed lightly, “I think they will,” while Link gave a strong, enthusiastic nod and wink.

  Then, the two of them backed into the warp crystal whose sapphire rays immediately began knitting close around them. Before the light entirely blocked their view, Link caught a glimpse of the Spirit, transformed already into a Zora and plucking a few, proud notes on a skeleton guitar.

  The blue light enclosed them, and when it faded a few moments later, they stood in the Kokiri Wood. Midna’s mirror stood nearby.

  “Come on,” Midna said, eyes gleaming with a new wakefulness and excitement. “I’m having far too much fun exploring different worlds with you to stop now. Let’s make for Twilight and find the last bit of song straight away!”

  She danced up the steps leading to the Mirror, and Link followed. Pausing before the portal, she cast him a radiant smile and held out one of her long, delicate hands.

  Link took the outstretched hand. With a playful whoop and laugh, Midna danced into the swirling black and aqua designs of the portal, pulling Link along with her.