HyruleBound
Part II: The Spirit Temple
By PSIOsman

    "Hyrule…?" asked Paula, clearly puzzled. "I've never heard of that place. What country is it in?"
    "Hyrule is the only country that we know of. It is rumored that there is another country across the Sea of Mists, but no one has ever tried to go there," answered Link
    "Hey, uh…Link!" Called out Ness. "Why are you carrying that sword and shield? Is this some sort of time warp? Are we in the past?"
    "The past? No, no. This is now. Or at least I think this is now."
    There was a silence for a few moments as Link, Paula, Ness and Navi rode across the vast plain.
    "Ness…" whispered Paula, "Do you think… We're in some kind of alternate dimension? Maybe that blue vortex that we saw before had something to do with it…"
    "I think that you've been too many of Jeff's science fiction novels. I'm sure there is some logical reason for this. Well, maybe I'm not so sure, but still."
    Before Paula could reply, Navi's surprisingly loud voice cut through the air.
    "Link! Watch out!"
    Link's horse Epona turned quickly to face the new threat. An enormous ghost hovered in the air in front of them. It was holding a lantern that burned with an angry red glow. It started to maneuver around Link and Epona. Then, without warning, a blast of flame flew out from the lantern. Epona leaped over it, just barely missing getting burned. Epona then started circling the ghost quickly as Link drew his bow. Navi flew around the ghost, guiding Link's shots. Loading a glowing blue arrow onto the bow, he fired it. The arrow hit the ghost between the eyes. The blue glow surrounded the ghost, then dissipated. It had turned the ghost into ice. Link dismounted, took out a large hammer, and shattered the frozen ghost into thousands of tiny shards.
    "Stupid Poes," Link muttered as he remounted Epona.
    Through the entire spectacle, Ness and Paula remained silent with their jaws hanging open. Not even Ness, Paula, Jeff, and Poo worked together as efficiently.
    When they were finally able to talk, Paula said, "It was so… so… neat," unable to find the proper word.
    After a while, they finally reached wherever it was they were going. There was a gigantic sign over the entrance to a bustling village. Of course, Ness couldn't read it because it wasn't written in English. After they got off the horse, he turned to Link and said, "where are we?"
    "What do you mean where are we? Can't you read the--- Oh. It says Kakariko Village. I'm here to buy some arrows and potions and leave you here."
    "WHAT? You can't leave us here! We don't know anybody around here, and besides, we have to find a way to get back home!"
    "I'm sorry," said Link, "but I can't let you do that. You see, Ganondorf- my arch-nemesis- has managed to tap into some unknown source of power. He has been creating monsters much more powerful than I have ever seen before. They seem to come from another world…"
    "Ness!" Paula exclaimed. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
    "POKEY!!!" They both said in unison.
    "What? No, none of the monsters were pokey. In fact, some were incredibly fast-"
    "No, no, no," said Ness hurriedly. "We think that Pokey, our arch-nemesis is the one giving Ganon-whatever his power!"
    "Hmm…This is an interesting development. I--not again!"
    A blue light suddenly enveloped all of them and shot them all skyward.
    They reappeared on a blue platform, right in the center of a golden triple-triangle symbol. Around the platform were five people, all staring intently at them. Paula edged behind Link nervously. Directly in front of them was an old man. He began to speak.
    "Link, as you know, you have to rescue the sixth sage, who, as we speak, is being held captive in the Spirit Temple. However, you must know about these strange goings-on."
    Another one of the people began to speak. She had a childlike disposition and green hair, but her expression was serious. "Link," she said, "New magic disturbances have been detected near Ganon's castle. These are the same disturbances that were found when our young…guests arrived." This was the first time Ness and Paula were actually acknowledged by any one of them.
    Next, a big rock-faced guy started to speak. "Brother, we think that these disturbances are enhancing the energies of the Triforce of Power. However, since that power seemed to come from the same place as these two, the only way to stop is to bring them to the source of power. But we don't know what to do once you do that.
    Now a graceful, fish-like woman started to talk. "It would seem that the destinies of these two children are closely intertwined with your own. Bring them with you, they may prove useful.
    Finally, a woman wearing dark clothes and silver hair spoke. "There is one more obstacle between you and Ganon. The Spirit Temple. Beware, for there may be monsters that are beyond your comprehension within that place. It is full of the magical energy once possessed by a civilization lost long ago. Your new friends, the Gerudos may be of help."
    Now the old man spoke once again. "Link, now you know what you must do. Take these young ones to the Spirit Temple and rescue the Sage trapped there. Then save Hyrule!"
    The blue light encased them again and they were back in Kakariko Village.
    Link made a disgusted face and said something in a different language. Ness highly doubted that what he said was pleasant.
    "So now what do we do?" Asked Paula.
    "We have to go to the Spirit Temple, which is probably populated with monsters that I don't even know the name of, and I have to babysit!"
    With his usual bravado returning with the prospects of a battle, Ness whipped out his Gutsy Bat and said, "Well, what are we waiting around here for? Let's go butt-whoopin'!

Next:
Part III
really the Spirit Temple