The Temple of Shadows
Link stood on a grassy ledge outside the entrance to a cavern that cut deep into the hillside above an old, gloomy cemetery. The cracked and eroded steps before him delved deep and disappeared into the inky darkness. Why did the princess want me to go to the Shadow Temple? There's nothing down there. Impa used her magic to seal the doorway to the temple a long time ago.
He peered into the gloom, clasped the hilt and unsheathed his sword as he descended the cracked steps that delved beneath the ground. It's been a while since I was last here. I hope the doorway to the temple is still sealed. He paused halfway and stared into the antechamber. The circle of iron torches arrayed around the pedestal were lit, and the massive megalithic door, adorned with the symbol of Truth, was opened. Who has opened the door...and Why? He sheathed his sword, strolled up to the pedestal and stared at it. Was it the hooded figure that the princess had warned me about? No...it couldn't have been. The only person with the power to unlock the door has died. So who could it have been? Is there another Shiekah that I didn't know about? Was Impa the last Shiekah or not? He gaped at the hole on top of the pedestal. Why's there a hole in the pedestal? It wasn't there before. He turned away. I should inform Zelda of what I've found. He slowly made his way back towards the steps.
"Leaving so soon." A voice uttered from the dark recesses of the large doorway of the shadow temple.
Link paused...grasped the hilt and spun around. A tall figure clad in a black hooded robe emerged from out of the gloom and prowled towards him. In his pale hand, he carried a wooden staff. "Who are you?"
The hooded figure paused and glared at Link. "I've been waiting for you...hero of time."
Link stared at the hooded figure as he clasped the hilt in both hands and readied his sword. Who is this person...and why has he been waiting for me? What was the hooded figure going to do to him? Would Link be able to protect himself if the figure decided to attack him? No...even with the Master Sword in his grasp, he wouldn't stand a chance. He needed to escape and warn Zelda about the hooded figure.
"The Master Sword is powerless down here." The hooded figure sneered.
Link stepped back from the pedestal. "Who are you?"
The hooded figure eyed Link up. "You can call me Vortan."
"How did you unlock the door?" Link growled while he kept his distance from him. "Only the Shiekahs have the power to unlock the door, and they've all passed away."
"Their magic was weak." Vortan laughed.
Link stared at Vortan while he eyed up the staff in his hand. Did the Shiekah's magic weaken after Impa passed away? No...Impa was a powerful sage. Her magic was more powerful than the other sages. She wouldn't have left the temple unprotected. She would have chosen someone to guard the temple, but who was it? Could it have been Zelda? Or could it have been...Vortan? It has to be him. "Have you come to kill me?"
"Killing you would be far too easy." Vortan sneered again. As he balled his hand into a fist, a golden triangle appeared on the top of his hand. "I'm going to banish you from the kingdom."
Link paused, eyeing up the triangle on Vortan's hand. How does he possess the triforce of power? Only one man had that type of power. He was imprisoned in the evil realm. Did Vortan steal it from him... or is he working for him?
"You have something I want." Vortan slammed the bottom of his staff onto the ground.
Link backed away. The sigils carved into the ground around the pedestal turned red and began to glow. What was it that I got that he wanted? It couldn't be the Master Sword. So, what was it? No...It couldn't be...does he want the Triforce of Courage does he? He glanced up at Vortan. "You're not having the Triforce of Courage."
Vortan pointed his hand at him. "Like you have the power to stop me."
Link glared at Vortan. His fingers trembled while he clutched his sword in both hands. How is Vortan going to banish me? Does he have enough magic to open a portal to another world? No...even if he did possess the Triforce of Power, he wouldn't have enough power to create a portal. So, what did he find inside the temple that he would use to banish me...was it the staff? He readied his weapon, keeping his distance from Vortan. Could he defeat him? He had to. The fate of Hyrule depended on him.
Vortan tapped his staff on the ground. The ground shuddered in front of the pedestal as a vortex of thick black smoke swirled out of it. He clasped the wooden rod with both hands and pointed it at Link. The dark crystal on the end lit up.
Link raised his sword. Lightning blasted from the crystal and headed in his direction. What would happen if the lightning hit him? Would it kill him? No, he wasn't going to let that happen. As the lighting was about to hit him, he blocked the attack. The blade cracked and snapped below the unsharpened length of the blade before he fell back into the vortex. The antechamber slowly faded away as Link was dragged through the portal...
