The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link

Chapter 3: Linknapped

Link looked up at the bright blue sky, watching the birds soar above him as he stood on the bridge just outside of Castle Town. He admired the view of pure, broad nature for a few minutes before pulling out his horse call and blowing it to summon his trusty steed, Epona. Epona was a somewhat large, sturdy mare with brown fur and a white mane and tail. Her and Link had been close friends since she was a young foal in Ordon ranch, and Link raised her himself, using her as his horse of choice for herding goats when she became big enough to ride. He stepped off of the bridge and hoisted himself onto her, settling into the saddle.

He let out a mighty "Hyahh!" as he snapped the reigns; Epona whinnied and started to gallop forward. Link and Epona rode through the hot sun, down to southern Hyrule, where Ordon lay. The village was on the outskirts of the small country, considered by some to be a separate country entirely, but under the same rule.

Link heard the sound of another horse galloping somewhat nearby in the large field. He slowed Epona so he could look behind him, towards the noise. He couldn't believe what he saw farther north--Ganondorf, the greatest thief and threat to Hyrule, riding his large black horse across Hyrule Field, straight towards Link.

But that's impossible. Link plunged the Master Sword right into the Gerudo man's chest, watched him die standing on the swaying grass of Hyrule Field, just west of the Castle. Ganondorf had now survived multiple execution attempts, and for the first time in his life, Link felt a tinge of what could only be true fear. He was in the presence of not just a man, but possibly a god. Link pulled on the reins to turn Epona around and face the false king head-on. Neither of them were one to run from a fight.

"Link. We meet again. It seems your ego had led you to believe that my death at your hands had been successful; you can now see that I am not a mere mortal, and I will be continually resurrected by the goddesses." Ganondorf's voice was deep and gruff, and it sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Link knew his words were not true. He witnessed himself when the Triforce of Power, given to Ganondorf by the goddesses, had been seized from Ganondorf by the goddesses themselves in his last moments--although now it was obvious those moments were not his last. The young hero unsheathed his sword, seeming to glow a wonderful gold-white in the sunlight.

Ganondorf laughed. "You think you can stop me boy? You are sadly mistaken!" He yanked on the reins, causing his horse to rear up and whinny. This startled Epona, who then threw Link off of her back in fear.

He hit the ground with a thud, and felt all of the wind escape his lungs. He looked over at his sword, laying on the ground about five feet away. Ganondorf laughed again and dismounted his steed, then sauntered over to Link.

"Oh, you sad, little boy. No more than a child from a lonely village with the delusion he can save his world." The large man reached down and took the hero by the neck, digging his thumb up under his chin and slowly raising him in the air until his feet dangled. Link desperately clawed at his black-gloved hands, feeling much like a fish out of water. Or a Hylian out of air. He kicked his feet and struggled to escape, feeling his heart pumping harder to try to compensate for the lack of oxygen.

"Foolish boy! You think that you're the hero of legend?! That hero doesn't exist! Nobody can stop the great King Ganondorf! Especially a good-for-nothing kid that can barely even swing a sword!" Ganondorf squeezed Link's neck harder, releasing some of his rage on the petite boy.

Ganondorf watched as the life started to drain from the teen, his movements became weaker and he soon went limp. The Gerudo smiled, throwing the unconscious body over his shoulder and mounting his horse.