The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link

Chapter 7: The Monsters' Return

Zelda followed Rusl into his small house, with Tristam following behind.

"I originally crafted this sword to give to the royal family; funny how it ended up in the same hands but to serve a different purpose. The hilt is made with strong Ordon goat horns; the blade is forged from the finest steel Hyrulean land has to offer. I entrust you with this blade on your journey, queen." Rusl handed the sword to Zelda who then carefully took it. She watched the sunlight coming in from the small windows glint off of the sword, admired the smoothness of the blade and the intricate carvings in the handle and hilt.

"I am very thankful for this gift, Rusl." Zelda looked at him, at the happiness in his eyes.

"Now, why don't you stay for dinner, and then I can teach you some swordplay tips and tricks I've learned over the years?"

Zelda was a bit surprised at his request. "It would be my pleasure."

"Great. I will go let my wife and son know, and we can all sit down to dinner soon."

* * *

"So, Zelda," Uli said as she fed her child with a careful, motherly hand. Her son, Colin, who was about eight years of age, sat to the other side of her and looked up at Zelda with big, curious eyes. "If I remember correctly, you and your father visited a long time ago, when I was only a teenager, and you were a young child."

"Yes, my father took me here when I was the age of five because he wanted to show me the goats--we don't have goats in the castle. It was such a wonderful experience, I asked to come back here over and over again. But it wasn't until now that I return."

"Well, I'm very glad that you have returned, even if it's for the reasons involved." Uli smiled greatly at the queen.

"Hold on," Rusl paused and tilted his head slightly. "Do you hear that?"

The group stopped and listened quietly. Zelda heard nothing but the keese cawing in the distance, their bird calls reaching all the way from Hyrule Field. But, after a few seconds of silence, she could just hear the sound of hooves stomping on the ground, and a boar squeal. She gasped, and Rusl bolted from his seat.

"Not again!" He yelled through clenched teeth. Zelda, Uli, and Colin jumped from their seats as Rusl took his steel and goat horn sword from its resting place on the wall; It felt as if time was slowling down and their heartbeats quickened. Rusl pushed through the front door of the house and closed it behind him, while Uli ducked behind the couch and ushered the queen to join her.

But Zelda did not wish to join her. She was quickly overcome with the need to protect this small, innocent family from the terrors outside that door. Without so much as a word, she picked up the sword that Rusl had handed to her earlier from it's resting place on the couch, and pushed through the door. "Zelda!" Tristam called out to her, frantically flying through the air above her head. Zelda closed the door behind her and the fairy.

"Here, sit inside of this pouch. You will be safer in there." Zelda quickly opened a drawstring pouch on her belt and Tristam flew inside.

She noticed Rusl running towards the entrance of the small village, and she followed suit, ripping the sword out of its sheath and tossing it behind her. She could pick that up later.

Rusl disappeared around the corner ahead, unaware that the queen was following him until she turned the corner as well.

"Zelda!" Rusl called as he looked behind him. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he wanted to tell her to stay back in the village, but he knew he couldn't handle the beasts himself. "Be careful," he said. "These creatures are ruthless; they won't hesistate to risk themselves in order to kill others."

"I understa--" Zelda was unable to finish her statement before a huge, blue, armored boar appeared in the small clearing, carrying a large, green, horrific moster with two broken horns and a shield on each arm. The boar halted and shuddered, while the monster looked over the two fearful Hylians standing before him.

"You." The monster turned his gaze to Zelda. "You are princess Zelda." He said in a deep, gruff voice.

"Yes." Zelda straightened, despite her fear. "I am Zelda, Queen of Hyrule." The word 'queen' still sounded a bit strange in her mouth. After all, she was princess for 18 years but she had only been queen for 2 weeks,

"Then you come with me."

"I am sorry sir, but I am on a very important journey. I am afraid I cannot accept your invitation."

The monster let out a groan, and without a word, he snapped on the reins of his boar.

The boar squealed, and Zelda and Rusl tried to move before they were trampled by the boar, but it was impossibly fast, and knocked them both down to the ground. Zelda felt all air escape her lungs as she slammed into the dirt, and stars danced around the edge of her vision. She struggled to move, her muscles refusing to cooperate, but it was futile as she felt herself slip into unconsciousness a few moments later.