The Legend of Zelda: Courage - Part Two

Chapter V

He could hear birds chirping, squirrels chittering, and leaves rustling. The ground beneath him, stained with his own blood, was lush and green, and sunlight was warming the air.

Was he dead?

He raised his head up the warm air filling his lungs and his stomach churning.
The path in front of him led to a large tree, much larger than anything he had ever seen. It's bark was deep mahogany, its leaves evergreen and covered in flowers in bloom, cradling thousands of Deku Nuts. The air was warm and smelled like fresh rain. In front of this giant tree was a moss covered stone slab, hexagonal and in its center was a hilt.

The hilt has a wide cross guard, like wings extended, a deep regal violet, and the sword it held stamped on its front was the ever present Ultimate Triforce. Link dropped to his knees, exhausted and trembling. The pain was getting to him.
A voice that was like thunder, emanated from the tree.
"I have watched over this sword for eons. Many have tried to take it. And all have failed. It awaits only one. If your heart is weak, you will fail."

Only one? A weak heart?, thought Link
Link struggled to breath.
He was weak.
Getting weaker.

On the verge of drifting to a deep sleep, he heard a whisper.

Her soft voice called to him again. A bit clearer than before. But the message was the same.
"Come back soon, Link."

The Great Deku Tree with his tired elderly voice asked, "Are you sure you are strong enough to pull that sword?"

Link opened his eyes which he didn't realize he closed, and stood up. His back was wet with blood and his chest ached, but he wasn't going to end his journey here. He grabbed the hilt with one hand.
And then his other hand.

He pulled up.
It wasn't budging.

He pulled up again. He could feel the wounds on his back begin to open and burn.

Nothing.
He stopped and gasped for air.

The Great Deku Tree said worried, "You are much too weak. Return when you are stronger."

He could hear her beg him again to return to her soon.

Link pulled again, biting down hard, his back splitting, his legs sliding against the ground, his grip locked onto the hilt.
"Unless...", whispered the Great Deku Tree.

A vessel popped in his eye.

His fingers turned white.

His arms shook.

His legs slid around on the ground but he would constantly find his footing again.
Link yelled out for strength. In one, final triumphant, incredible display of strength, he heard an almost indistinguishable sound.

Clink.

Link stopped.
Time stopped.

The sound of smooth steel was now the only thing Link heard, when he slowly pulled the Master Sword out of its pedestal. He gasped as the Sword vibrated, and began to glow bright as he held it skyward and its hardened light shone out of its tip. The Great Deku Tree took a deep breath and blew his healing wind towards Link.

His wounds were healed, his heart calmed, his mind cleared, and the fog around the area began to lift. The Master Sword he held in his hands was the most beautiful and most impressive sword he ever witnessed. It had an aura of holiness, a light blue glow and was lighter than any sword he had ever carried. The hilt fit his hand perfectly, like it was made for him.

The Great Deku Tree said proudly, "You are the Hero of Legend. May the Master Sword stay by your side forever. Go, bring peace."

The path now cleared by the Great Deku Tree, Link quickly found his way.

As Link carried the sword, swinging it to and fro, judging its weight, he could hear the mumbles of the Dark Nut. Every time he raised his sword skyward it grew bright blue. So bright it caught the attention of the Dark Nuts. They began to charge. However, this was no ordinary sword.

In one swift downward motion, the Master Sword shot out a beam of hardened sky blue light that landed on the chest of the Dark Nut. It split the armor clean and made the being hiss and fall to pieces. It was obvious.

Link didn't even have to be near his enemies anymore to strike.

Aganhim raised his head and searched across the world, feeling unwell. The armies he led stopped with him, as he tapped his staff and caused smoke to expel from it.

He felt a voice call him, and immediately said, "I shall return."

The smoke covered him in darkness and formed again in front of his King.

Ganondorf had grown roughly a foot since the last time they met, and his ambitions grew with him. He growled and said, "I have felt.....something. What is this that I'm feeling, Agahnim?"

Agahnim avoided looking him in the eyes as he tapped his staff with no other words.

The smoke began to form at their feet and congealed to form an image of the green colored Wielder, unsheathing the most powerful sword in existence.

"He found it," he muttered. "He found the Master Sword."

"Which means....he's going to find the Triforce." Ganondorf gripped his Triforce of Power and the ground began to shake. "And that means you failed me."

"Lord Ganondorf!" Agahnim said with full confidence. "If he manages to uncover the location of the Triforce, it will be much easier to take it from his hands. Remember that the triforce of Courage has been missing for decades."

Ganondorf raised his fist as Agahnim began to stumble with his word. "It's all according to— to my plan, my Lord. As soon as he finds it, the Triforce will speak to me personally....and I will take it from him before he manages to even come close to it."

Ganondorf's eyes glowed bright orange, his purple pupils turning into thin slits like a snake, and his red hair began to rise when he warned, "I am a month's travel away from Hyrule Castle, I have the most impressive army in the world, and I have the Triforce of Power. If you think you can belittle my power by using your fancy words and spells to extend your life you are sorely mistaken, Aganhim. The Triforce is begging me to join them together and nothing will stop me from achieving that. Not that boy, and especially not you. I've given you many opportunities to prove your worth to me. And I'm running out of reasons to let you stay by my side."

Agahnim cowered. "I...I respectfully understand Great King Ganondorf, your disagreements with my plan but I will ensure that the Triforce will be in your hands by the end of the month. Or you will have my head." Agahnim placed his forehead into the dirt and begged. "Trust in me and you shall have the Ultimate Triforce by the end of the fortnight."

Ganondorf had no other words except, "Find the second Triforce piece. Kill him, or I will kill you."