Son of a Dark King
Author's Note: Thanks for all the support guys!
Chapter Two:
Son of a Dark King
The four of them thumped across the bridge in Gerudo Valley when the sun was rising. Gerudo Valley itself, Link found, had changed a lot since he had left. They came to a giant wooden gate, which was definitely new to Link. Khaz showed his membership card to the Gerudo guards and they opened the gate. Link gasped with surprise as they entered the Gerudo Fortress. It had tripled in size and so had the population, but this time it was filled with Hylian and Gerudos alike.
“Where can I find Nabooru?” asked Link, looking to Khaz for the answer.
“You know Lady Nabooru!” replied Khaz in shock. Link nodded.
“Jeez, you’ve got friends in high places buddy. Actually, I’m not sure where to find her, but for now let’s put away our horses,” said Khaz, as he went off in the direction of the stables.
Once Link got off he laid Zelda down on some crates and held her hand against his face, praying that she would be all right. Leita came up to Link and said,
“I can heal her.”
She held her hands over Zelda and closed her eyes in concentration. A blue light covered her body and the bloody bruise on the side of her head faded away. When the light had faded, Zelda opened her eyes. When she saw Link, a smile appeared on her lovely face. She sat up and looked around.
“Where am I?” she asked as her gaze came to Link.
“Gerudo’s Fortress,” replied Link as he smiled at her.
“You mean, you saved me? I’m not at the Castle?” said Zelda, tears started to spill from her eyes. Link nodded as his hand stroked her shiny hair. Zelda threw her arms around Link as more tears fell from her eyes.
“I knew you would come back. I knew you would come back and save me from him. I waited seven years just like last time and you came back. You always do,” said Zelda, crying softly while they held each other.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been gone for too long,” said Link, holding Zelda tightly in his arms.
Khaz, Malon, and Leita were a few steps back waiting by the horses to give the two privacy.
“Are those two together or what?” asked Khaz, looking to Malon for an answer.
“I-I really don’t know,” replied Malon while she watched the two hold each other.
Finally they stopped and Zelda got up. She took another look around and asked,
“What happened to Gerudo’s Fortress?”
Khaz answered her,
“Well, when the Rebellion came to Gerudo’s Fortress they had to make some installments.”
“The Rebellion! Finally I can help take back what is rightfully ours,” began Zelda. “What am I doing walking around with the Rebellion dressed like a lady?” She shook her head, and then with a flash of light became Sheik, but this time she looked different. She still had her womanly figure, but with Sheik’s clothes. And the cloth the usually hides her face was gone. You could see her short blond hair and her red eyes, but her face remained feminine.
“Uh, what just happened?” asked Khaz, who looked very confused.
“A transformation spell, impressive,” said Leita, who obviously knew her magic.
“Yes,” began Link. “But I haven’t seen this form of Sheik before.”
“Well, I got sick of walking around looking like a boy, Link. So I made some changes,” said Sheik as she smiled at him.
“Sheik?” said Malon, who looked just as confused as Khaz.
“It’s my nickname when I’m in this form,” replied Sheik.
“Let’s try to find Nabooru,” said Link, as he walked off to do so.
Sheik followed him and so did the others. Sheik slipped her hand into Link’s, Link looking over in surprise as she smiled at him. Link felt his insides tingle as she smiled. Link, who liked the feeling he was getting, smiled back. It didn’t take long for them to find Nabooru.
“Look! There she is,” said Sheik, who was the first to see her.
She was standing on top of one of the buildings that had stairs on the side leading to the top. Her red hair danced in the wind that swept across her face as she stared out into the desert. She was wearing her usual blood-red outfit. Link and Sheik ran up the stairs to greet their old friend.
“I can’t believe it. They’re running right up to Lady Nabooru” said Khaz, staring at the two of them as they ran.
Nabooru didn’t notice Link until he was right next to her. She gasped with surprise when she saw him and gave a yell.
“Oh my Gods! Link, where in Hyrule have you been?” asked Nabooru, as she hugged him tightly. Link just smiled in reply.
“It’s great to see you Nabooru,” said Sheik, as Nabooru looked up.
“Sheik, you escaped from the Castle?” she asked as she gave Sheik a hug.
“Not really. Link rescued me. He’s my hero,” replied Sheik, smiling as she leaned her head on Link’s shoulder and slipped her hand into his. Link’s heart did a back flip when Sheik did this, but he squeezed her hand in return.
“Well, he is the Hero of Time,” said Nabooru, smiling at the two.
“Link, guess who is here with me?” continued Nabooru. Link gave her a curious look.
“The Gorons and Darunia,” replied Nabooru, Link beamed at her.
“And Impa,” said Nabooru, looking at Sheik.
“Impa is here?” said Sheik, as if she could hardly believe her ears.
“Well then, let’s go see her,” said Sheik, who could hardly wait.
“We will, but first I want you to meet someone,” began Nabooru. “Hey Blaze, come out here for second,” Nabooru what appeared to be a through the doorway behind her.
The man called Blaze, came out from the doorway. His sleeveless black shirt held tightly to his well developed muscles, he had the usual baggy Gerudo pants that were black which hung slightly over his matching boots, and his trench coat, that had no sleeves with red bordering down the sides, swirled in the warm desert wind. His tan skin told Link that he was a Gerudo. He had an air of confidence about him, but those red eyes were a little too familiar for Link.
“You’re a Gerudo, but how is that possible? A male Gerudo is only born every hundred years,” said Sheik not believing her eyes.
“Well, my mother was a Hylian. I guess that had something to do with,” replied the red headed man.
“You see the gene that makes the Gerudos female only exists on the mother’s side of the family,” explained Nabooru.
“Well, if his mother was a Hylian then his father would have had to have been….” But Sheik didn’t finish. She was now staring wide eyed at the red haired man.
“Ganondorf, the Gerudo King,” finished Nabooru, who was now looking at Link.
“Link, this is Blaze. Ganondorf’s son,” said Nabooru, and then waited to see what Link thought of this.
Link stared at the son of a man who had once brought much pain to the land of Hyrule. The son of a man that Link himself had sealed away forever into the Dark Realm. Link could do nothing, but stare at him for all words were lost.
“Link, I know very well about what my father did, and I don’t blame you for your actions. You did what you were destined to do and I plan to make up for my father’s mistakes,” said Blaze, who now offered his hand to Link.
“Friends?”
Link looked into Blaze’s red eyes and found there was neither greed nor selfishness in them. Only confidence. Link shook his hand. Blaze smiled until he felt someone clinging to him.
“Well, hi Trisa,” said Blaze, as he pulled out someone from behind him.
It was a young girl about the age of fourteen. She had short red hair that stuck out at odd angles and her golden eyes held much innocence within them. She wore tight black pants that seemed to blend in with her tight black shirt that sleeves reach out into a point that connects to her middle finger. Her black boots were smudged with the desert sand, and her blood red traveling cloak blew in the wind behind her.
“Oh, I would like you to meet my daughter. Her name is Trisa,” said Nabooru, smiling at her young daughter.
“You’re a mother?” said Link, very surprised since she never said anything before. Nabooru nodded while Sheik looked down at the girl.
“Hello, my name is Zelda, but you can call me Sheik,” she said to the young teenager.
“Hello Sheik,” said Trisa, who was staring back at her curiously.
“Link, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” asked Nabooru, looking behind Link at the three who were waiting patiently.
“This is Malon, her father used to own Lon Lon ranch and this is Khaz and Leita,” said Link, turning to look at them.
“Right, Khaz and Leita Spiritwood, the two who thought they could kill Nottuu,” said Nabooru, as she shook her head with disbelief.
“Oh yeah, how about that?” said Khaz, as he nervously rubbed the back of his head.
“Well, now that we’re all introduced let’s go see Darunia and Impa,” said Nabooru as she headed down the steps of the building.
The group followed Nabooru down the steps and onto the ground. They followed her until they came to what appeared to be the training grounds of the Rebellion. There were many groups of Hylians and young Gerudos being trained by the older, more experienced Gerudos. As they walked into the training ground Link noticed how much the Hylian race had in seven years turned from being peaceful people to a warrior race. Again, Link had been absent those seven years to help the people of Hyrule through terrible times. Not only the people he didn’t know, but his friends, too. They had needed him so much and again he abandoned them to suffer for seven years. I should have never left, thought Link, looking around the training ground.
“Link, are you okay?” asked Sheik, awakening Link from his troubled thoughts.
Link just nodded and continued to stare around the training ground until he saw Darunia and Impa, who were practicing shooting arrows.
“Hey, Darunia! Impa! Guess who finally came home,” called Nabooru.
Darunia and Impa looked up. They didn’t appear to have changed one bit since Link had left. Darunia still looked big and strong, and Impa clever and serious. When Darunia saw Link he ran over, shook the ground as he did so, and gave Link a huge hug that almost broke his spine.
“Brother! Where have you been these seven years?” exclaimed Darunia, while he squeezed Link.
“Darunia, I need air!” gasped Link, who could hardly breathe.
“Oh, right. Sorry brother,” said Darunia, as he let Link drop. Link stood up gasping for air.
“Impa!” called Sheik, who again had tears in her eyes.
Impa looked over then dropped her bow. Sheik ran up and almost knocked Impa over as she hugged her long lost caretaker.
“He didn’t hurt you did he?” asked Impa urgently, looking Sheik in the eye after their long hug.
“No, but Link, he saved me from him,” replied Sheik, looking over at Link, who by this time could, again, breathe.
Link, noticing her looking at him, walked over to them. Link smiled at Impa in greeting, who too smiled back.
“Where have you been, Hero of Time?” asked Impa.
“I heard you went off to save other worlds,” said Nabooru, who like everyone else was looking at Link.
“Yes, I did, but I should have realized this world was the one that needed saving the most,” said Link, gazing around the training ground looking at the Hylian race, which he could barely recognize because they wielded weapons.
Everyone was silent.
“Hey, Link!” called a voice from across the training ground.
Link looked up and could hardly believe his eyes. Link ran over to a group of three people. Two of them were women and the other you couldn’t tell because he was hidden under a black traveling cloak, but Link already knew who it was.
One of the women had very short, brown hair and dark blue eyes. She wore so much dark blue armor that she looked like a knight, her gray traveling cloak was draped over her clanking armor, and you could see the hilt of her sword peeking over her shoulder.
The other had jet-black hair that was done up in a bun and her eyes were a light green. Her blood-red tunic hung over her short, black skirt with slits on the sides, black gauntlets held tightly to her arms and all the way to her elbows. Two long, slender swords were strapped to her back.
“What are you guys doing here?” asked Link, when he had finally got over to them.
“Followed you, of course,” said the one in the red tunic.
“We had to make sure you didn’t get into any trouble,” said the one in blue armor.
“Link, aren’t you going to introduce us?” asked Sheik, with the others standing behind her looking curiously at the three.
“Everyone, this is Kira,” said Link, gesturing to the one in the blue, “Tila,” Link pointed to the one in the red, “and this is Rontu.” Link finished with the one in the black cloak.
“Kira, Tila, Rontu. This is Nabooru, Darunia, Zelda, Impa, Malon, Blaze, Khaz, Leita, and Trisa,” said Link, finally finishing all the introductions.
“Can we see Rontu?” asked Nabooru, staring curiously at the hooded stranger.
“… I think it would be best if we were inside for that,” replied Link, getting a curious stare from the group.
“Well all right, let’s go inside for some breakfast then,” said Nabooru.
“How’s Sheinron?” asked Link, as he looked over to Kira, who looked a little startled by this question.
“Well, you know. He continues to rule over the Dark Elves,” replied Kira, as they followed Nabooru into the vast Fortress.
They all were seated down at a large table, except for Rontu, who was staring through a window across the room from them. The two groups talked only to the people from their own worlds, until Kira called over to Rontu,
“Hey, come over here and eat something, Rontu.”
The dark figure hesitated, but came over and sat down between Link and Kira. Rontu removed his cloak and showed himself. Rontu was a Dark Elf, his long, white hair was pulled back in a tie, and his eyes were a shimmering gold. Under his cloak he wore a large, black trench coat, a black shirt, and black pants.
Those who didn’t know Rontu, gasped in surprise. There was tense silence now that Rontu was sitting down at the table. This appeared to annoy Rontu as the silence continued….
“I’ve had enough of this!” said Rontu angrily as he stood up from the table.
“No, Rontu, stay,” said Kira as she pulled on his trench coat.
“I wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable!” said Rontu, with great bitterness in his voice.
“No, please stay,” began Zelda, who was not in her Sheik form for breakfast “We’ve been terribly rude. It’s just you don’t know what we’ve been through-”
“No, I know exactly what you’ve been through. This is not the only world were Dark Elves are despised and hated. So don’t give me that ****,” said Rontu, cutting her off. However, he sat down.
“So … how do you know Link?” Malon asked Kira.
“He helped our land of Ranelu against the Dark Elves in the war they had declared on us. I do believe he took down a dragon,” replied Kira.
“Not the only time either,” began Darunia “He killed Volvogia and saved my entire race.”
As their subject turned to Link, he began to feel an uncomfortable tingle along his spine. Whenever someone started to talk about the things Link had done in his life; Link always felt uncomfortable and self-conscious. Link stared down at his plate as he felt his cheeks burn, his appetite no longer there. Link felt Zelda’s hand slip onto his. Link looked up to find Zelda’s beautiful face smiling at him as she squeezed his hand. Link smiled back no longer remembering what the others were talking about. All he could think about was Zelda’s hand caressing his.
“Hey Link?” said Khaz, bring Link back to the conversation.
“Why does everyone call you the ‘Hero of Time?’”
“Yeah,” began Malon “you never told me anything about being a Hero of Time.”
“Yeah, what’s that about?” asked Kira, looking down the table at him.
“I want to know too,” added Tila, who was also looking at Link.
Link shifted uncomfortably in his chair until Zelda brought her gaze to him. All she had to do was squeeze his hand and he would feel…. Link didn’t know how to explain it but he didn’t feel self-conscious anymore. He felt like nothing could bother him as long as Zelda kept holding his hand.
“Link,” began Zelda “these are your friends and they deserve to know what you’ve done in your life.”
Link just nodded as he smiled at her.
“I’ll tell the story,” she said to Link and everyone there.
“It started when the Great Deku tree summoned Link to him and…”
Link began to think about Zelda, admiring her beautiful face, how she always moved around with grace. Soon Link could hear nothing of what was being said, only thing he could focus on was Zelda and how she kept her hand on his and how her finger kept sliding along his hand. When Link came to he found Zelda was already half way through the story.
“Then Link, after defeating the creature in the Water Temple, returned the water to Lake Hylia….”
He was again swept off to gaze at her beautiful lips as she spoke. So smooth, so perfect … he began to wonder what it would be like to kiss those marvelous lips…. The warmest feeling buzzed in his heart when that thought came into his mind. Link didn’t understand why these thoughts came into his head; Zelda never made him feel this way before…
“Then after we sealed Ganondorf away, I sent Link back to his original time when he was just a boy. Only the sages and Link know what had happened, because we had gone back to our original time when none of this happened. That’s how Link got his title as The Hero of Time.” Zelda had finally finished the story.
Everyone was silent … until,
“That’s your father!” said Khaz with disbelief, to Blaze who almost choked on his food. Once Blaze had got his food down replied,
“Yes…. Do you doubt my loyalty to the Rebellion?” Blaze stared down the table at Khaz.
“N-no … it’s just an interesting fact,” Khaz stuttered as he stared down at his food.
There it was again … the uncomfortable silence as they all stared at Blaze, the son of the King of Evil. Rontu smirked as he leaned back in his chair. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that Blaze was now the cause of everyone’s discomfort.
“Oh! I just remembered,” said Nabooru, bring everyone out of the silence.
“Finally,” Blaze murmured under his breath.
“I have an assignment that I need taken care of for the Rebellion,” continued Nabooru as she stared around the table.
“What is it?” asked Zelda.
“Well, there’s a group of rebels hiding out in Kokiri Forest and I want them to join us here in the desert. But I need a group to go out there and convince them to come,” said Nabooru as she continued she stared hopefully around the table.
Link looked up and smiled. He would be able to see Saria. Zelda who seemed to know what was on his mind said,
“Link and I will go.”
“I’m going anywhere Link goes,” said Malon as she stood up from the table in confidence.
“I’ll follow the Hero of Time anywhere,” stated Khaz as his sister nodded in agreement.
“And me,” said Kira who also stood up.
“I’m in,” said Tila smiling.
Kira looked hopefully up at Rontu, who grunted in reply. This must have meant he was coming, because Kira gave a yell and hugged Rontu, who in disgust, tried to push her off.
“Well, if everyone is going … I might as well go,” said Blaze, who has finally gotten over the uncomfortable silence.
“I’ll come too!” piped up Trisa.
“No, you are not,” replied her mother, Trisa sighed and went back to poking her food.
Zelda looked to Impa, who just nodded in return.
“Okay then,” began Nabooru “You’ll leave tomorrow and since you all will be staying a while let me show you to your rooms.”
Nabooru stood up from the table and everyone followed her out the door. They went through a few corridors until she led them through a door and into a large room. The room looked fit for royalty for it had red, blue, green, and purple silk lounge chairs and sofas. There was a gold coffee table and a balcony across the room that had purple drapes and the carpet was an emerald green. On the right side of the room there were ten doors, and on the left side of the room there was a one door in the bottom corner of the room.
“Wow ….” said Khaz, who pretty much said what was on everybody’s mind.
“Well, you can use the rest of your day to get to know each other better. Well, me and Darunia need to talk over some plans so, see you tomorrow,” said Nabooru as everyone walked into the amazing room. Nabooru, Darunia, and Trisa left the group alone.
They all made themselves comfortable in the lounge room except for Rontu, who went to sit on the balcony. Link sat down on a sofa next to Zelda, but only for a moment. He then went over to the balcony were Rontu sat staring out into the desert sand.
“So this is the land where you grew up,” said Rontu not turning his head to see who it was.
“No, the land I grew up in was free. The land I grew up in was peaceful,” replied Link staring at the young Dark Elf.
“… You’re lucky to have grown up in a land like that ….”
“Hey you two, come over here and be social,” Kira called from inside.
Link turned to go inside, but stopped and waited for Rontu, who gave one final glance at the desert and came inside with Link. When they had returned to the room they had found the conversation had turned to relationships.
“So, Khaz how many women have you been with?” asked Blaze, who had just finished a story that had made the room burst out with laughter.
“Well, a good few—” but Khaz didn’t finish for Leita, who said a little too loudly, interrupted him with,
“Like half of Gerudo’s Fortress.” This made the room explode with laughter again.
“Leita!” Khaz exclaimed as his cheeks burned red. Malon giggled as she said,
“You’re so cute when you’re upset.”
Khaz looked over and smiled, as he looked her up and down. His grin widened as he replied,
“Know what else is cute?”
“What?”
Khaz leaned over, now every close to Malon. He brought his hand up and placed it very gently on her cheek
“This face,” he replied and Malon’s face turned bright red.
“I can’t count how many times he’s used that one,” said Leita, breaking the silence that had filled the room.
Khaz’s cheeks again turned even redder than before, as he removed his hand from Malon’s face. As the laughter calmed down, Zelda’s hand went up and played with Link’s ponytail.
“So you’ve decided to grow out your hair have you?” asked Zelda as she twirled his golden hair in her fingers.
“Actually, I haven’t had the time to cut it because I’ve been busy with my travels,” replied Link, as his eyes gaze from her hand up to her ocean blue eyes.
Zelda smiled her beautiful smile that Link couldn’t take his eyes off of. Link smiled back too as they both continued to stare at one and other. He now more than ever wanted to kiss those gorgeous lips….
“Wow … I’ve never seen Link look at a girl like that before,” stated Kira, knocking Link out of his trance to realize that everyone was watching them.
Link saw Zelda blush and then noticed that he was blushing too. His gaze dropped to his knees. He didn’t understand why he was blushing…. Giggles and smirks swept across the room. There was silence for a time until Khaz spoke.
“What was that suppose to mean anyway?”
Kira giggled for a moment, and then said, “For as long as I’ve known Link, girls have hit on him every where. And Link has never had a clue.”
“When?” asked Link, looking up from his lap.
“You know the girls with hair?” replied Kira, waving a hand over her head as if it would show it to him.
“Yeah … oh,” said Link as his cheeks again turned a crimson red.
The whole group again exploded. Link even started to laugh too until he felt a sharp pain stabbing him in the side. Link gasped as his hand went down to touch it, which caused even more pain that made Link flinch.
“Link, what’s the matter?” asked Zelda, who immediately noticed that something was wrong.
“I think I hurt something when I fell through the wall,” replied Link as pressed his hand to his side.
“You fell through a wall?” gasped Zelda, as her eyes got wide.
“More like smashed,” added Khaz.
“Let me see it,” requested Zelda, as she leaned in closer to Link.
Zelda leaned her head slightly on his chest as she began to inspect the injury. The smell of her hair drifts up to Link, which caused his heart to thump in his chest and his mind to become dazed and hazy.
“Link, when did you smash through a wall?” asked Zelda as she poked and prodded his right side.
“When, I was fighting Nottuu. You were unconscious then,” replied Link, still a little hazy from the smell of her hair.
“You have a broken rib,” stated Zelda as she sat back up from Link. Leita quickly got up and healed Link with a flash of blue light.
“Excuse me, but I’m curious about this Nottuu. If he had the ability to knock Link through a wall then what kind of enemy are we dealing with?” asked Rontu as he stared around for the answer.
“… His power far exceeds Ganon’s …” began Link, but he just stared off, remembering their battle.
“Zelda, you have lived with his man for seven years,” began Impa. “Tell us what we are dealing with.”
“Link is right, his power goes far beyond anything of Ganondorf’s,” replied Zelda, who looked very worried.
“I’m curious of why Nottuu leads the Empire and not Sheinron. Sheinron is the Dark Elf King,” stated Tila, looking around at the others.
“Actually, I think I’ve known of Nottuu before,” said Kira.
“What? How could you have known him?” asked Blaze; who was now looking at Kira along with the rest of the group.
“Well, I happen to have had a close relationship with Sheinron,” began Kira, but then Tila said,
“A very close relationship.”
A smirk spread across Rontu’s face; his golden eyes gaze over to Kira who wasn’t amused. The corners of Link’s mouth twitched for a smile wanted to form, but Link repressed this grin. Tila beamed at Kira waiting to see her reaction. However the far too familiar silence took its place.
“Close relationship? What does that mean?” Khaz finally asked.
“It means that me and Sheinron were something of an item, but when he declared war on my people I was forced to break it off,” replied Kira, her gaze went to the balcony as she stared outside to hide her discomfort.
“Forced?” said Malon curiously.
“I would prefer not to talk about it,” said Kira quickly, as her gaze came back to the room.
“Anyway, you were talking about Nottuu,” said Blaze to bring the subject away from Sheinron.
“Right, I do believe Nottuu and Sheinron started as partners of invasion. They would travel into different lands and take over its inhabitance. First it started out that both Sheinron and Nottuu were equals, but then Nottuu began to slowly show that he has far more power than Sheinron, and before he knew it Nottuu had Sheinron right under his thumb,” Kira told the group; all were silent.
“Funny, Sheinron wouldn’t strike me as the person to be under anyone’s thumb,” said Rontu, gazing over at Kira in question.
“Well, according to Sheinron, he could care less. He’s just happy that he has some sort of power over the Dark Elves,” replied Kira, looking over to Rontu.
“What I find most troubling is that if they were just traveling to different lands in their own world they must have taken over their entire world,” began Blaze, but then Kira said,
“Yes, except for Ranelu.”
“Well, if he has done that then he must have found out how to travel to different worlds,” said Blaze, who was staring seriously around the room.
“What are you getting at?” asked Zelda.
“What I’m getting at is that if this doesn’t stop here and now in Hyrule, then all the other worlds are doomed as well,” finished Blaze, leaving silence in his wake but only for a moment….
“That’s right, and if his power is far greater then Ganondorf’s was, then how do we plan to kill him?” asked Tila, who like the rest of the room was infested with worry. Silence again screamed in the room, not only silence was there but also a terrible feeling of a waiting doom, spreading its stench in the air….
“Well, we are not totally lost,” said Link, who appeared to be the calmest in the room.
“What do you mean we’re not totally lost? We’re done for!” exclaimed Khaz, who was definitely feeling despondent.
“Nottuu’s power maybe greater than Ganon’s, but … so is mine,” replied Link, as he looked around the group.
“Wait a moment!” piped Malon, who seemed to have a light come on in her head.
“Link, when you were fighting Nottuu you weren’t the only one to go flying through a wall. You hit Nottuu right through a wall so that we could make our escape!” Malon must have been very excited because her eyes got very big and the smile on her face never left.
“Who else better to save this land than the Hero of Time himself,” stated Blaze, who too was smiling at Link with confidence.
“Wait a moment, you don’t want to put too much pressure on Link,” said Tila, frowning.
“Well, there really is no one else other than Link that even has a chance,” said Zelda.
“The fact of the matter is that all the pressure is on his shoulders whether or not he wants it to be. The real question is; Link, can you handle having the weight of entire worlds resting on your shoulders?” said Rontu, looking at Link waiting for an answer. Everyone was now looking at Link, waiting for his response. Link sighed and said,
“I have had the weight of this world on my shoulders without even knowing it before; when I was only a boy, and seeing as I didn’t even know it, I let it fall. This allowed Ganon to obtain the Triforce. When I was older and realized that had been on my shoulders and still was on my shoulders, but only in pieces, I picked up those pieces and became what you all know as the Hero of Time. When I returned to my time I again forgot that I was still responsible for whatever happened to this world. Since I forgot this and left to save other worlds I again let all that I had fought so hard for be destroyed, and again now that I am older I have realized that this world is still my responsibility. All I have to do now is pick up the pieces and if I don’t pick up the pieces other worlds will fall to the same fate. So I must and I will carry the weight … I will not let it fall again … I will not forget my responsibility…. I have an apology to make…. I should have never left, I should have never forgotten what my responsibility to this world was… this is really … all my fault and … I’m … sorry. I know; a simple apology can’t make up for all the damage that I have caused.”
A terrible feeling overwhelmed him, making his heart twist and turn along with the rest of his insides. He leaned his forehead on the palm of his hand, squeezed his eyes shut and as his eyes began to burn as he grinded his teeth. Link has never felt so disgusting; he has however felt appalled with himself before…. That had been when Link awoke after seven years to find he had let down all of his friends, Hylians, Zoras, Gorons, Kokiri, the Deku Tree who gave his life to protect this beautiful and how did Link repay him? By allowing the Deku Tree’s death to be in vain….
“Link,”
Link looked up to find everyone was watching him. He looked over to Zelda, who, by the look on her face, was worried.
“Link, it wasn’t your fault this happened. Nor was it your fault that Ganondorf got the Triforce,” said Zelda as she leaned closer to him.
“…” Link could say nothing for he knew she would not understand.
“By the way, why hasn’t the Rebellion attacked Hyrule Castle yet? It looks to me that they have the power to do it,” asked Malon.
“Well, Nabooru as decided to slowly take back the smaller cities and gain control of them and then attack Hyrule Castle. She definitely wants to free the slaves at Lon Lon Ranch first. How? I do not know,” replied Blaze, who would have more insight of what Nabooru’s plans are.
“How did the Gorons get here? No one had any idea were they went,” said Link, this question as been bothering him for sometime.
“Well, when the Gorons found out that Hyrule Castle had been attacked Darunia knew that their only hope would be the Gerudos, so they packed up and left Death Mountain before the Dark Elves got Kakariko. Both Nabooru and Darunia have plans to convince the Zoras to help too,” said Blaze.
“The Zoras Help? That’s a laugh,” said Zelda in disbelief.
“Why is that?” asked Khaz.
“The Zoras don’t believe in war. They are a peaceful race. The only time they had been involved was in the war seventeen years ago, but only because they had too. All they have been doing these seven years is hiding out in their Domain,” replied Zelda.
“What?” began Link, who appeared to not believe her. “But they serve the Royal Family. They have to fight.”
“I think that is not only because they don’t believe in war but because they are scared. They haven’t been in a war for seventeen years. I don’t think they even remember how to fight,” said Zelda as a gloom set on her face.
“Well, that’s going to change,” said Blaze.
“How is it the Dark Elves are unable to invade Kokiri Forest,” asked Link, this was another question that has been swimming around in his head, but Zelda answered him this time.
“Well, Nottuu is having trouble entering the Forest; apparently there is some sort spell on it that doesn’t allow them to enter.”
“Then how are we going to get in?” asked Kira frowning.
“Well, I guess I could try and break whatever spell it is. I’ll have to see what I can do when we get there,” replied Zelda.
Silence fell again in the group.
“So, Rontu tell us a little about yourself,” said Leita, attempting to make conversation.
This however had the opposite effect on Rontu. He simply glared at her and walked away toward the balcony. Leita frowned.
“Try not to take anything Rontu does personally,” said Kira, who seemed to understand what Leita was thinking.
“I was just trying to be friendly. I don’t understand him,” said Leita, and for some reason this started to bother her.
Why? Why does he act like that, wondered Leita as she stared out at the balcony where Rontu stood gazing out into the desert at the sunset.
“Well, that’s Rontu. His most popular reactions to almost anything anyone does are anger, disgust, and dominance. Probably because that’s the only thing his father ever showed for him,” said Kira, staring off at the ceiling.
“What?” asked Leita curiously for there was been no mention of his father before.
“Oh! Sorry, I said too much. Forget I said it,” said Kira very quickly, trying to repair the damage that was too late to fix.
“No, wait. I really want to know more about him. He really doesn’t say much about himself,” pleaded Leita.
“Well then, I’m really not the right person you should be talking to,” replied Kira.
Kira pointed toward the balcony, silently saying what she meant. Leita looked over at Rontu. She really wanted to ask him about himself, but the truth was she was scared to. She was afraid he would push her away. Besides it was rude; she just met him only a few hours ago. It’s rude to ask such personal questions so she will hide her curiosity.
“By the way Link, these travels you speak of…what would that entail?” asked Zelda, with the entire group’s stare that fell upon him. Link again sighed.
“… All right, I’ll tell you. Well, after I left Hyrule I had been traveling for month when I was attacked by two fairies and an imp known as Skull kid who wore what is called Majora’s Mask….” Link continued his story that went through the time he had met Kira, Tila, and Rontu in a war he helped them win that too had been in a different world. Link finished his story at the time he had saved Zelda and Malon.
“Wow! Link you’re amazing! The things you’ve done in your life…. How do you do it?” exclaimed Khaz, who was as impressed as everyone else in the room.
“It’s … really not that great. The things I’ve done are amazing and at the same time … not,” said Link, who turned his gaze to stare outside.
“What?” said Khaz, not understanding what he meant.
“… Nothing, forget it,” replied Link as he continued to stare out of the balcony.
Zelda didn’t like the look in his eyes when he said that nor did she understand it. His eyes were so sad. Why would he feel despair for the many great things he has done. Why do you say things like that Link? wondered Zelda.
“Hey, Zelda?” asked Malon snapping her out of her trance.
“Yes?”
“Uh, I was just curious, but it’s true that Nottuu has no soul?” said Malon, getting the attention of everyone else in the room.
“Well,” began Zelda. “I think so, I’ve never once seen the man have an expression.”
“Creepy,” said Malon in awe.
“Actually, I feel sorry for him and yet I hate him for it too,” said Zelda, surprising them.
“What! How can you feel sorry for him?” asked Khaz, who was completely appalled at the idea.
“Well, isn’t it sad that he is not capable of emotion? Not being able to feel the beautiful things in life,” replied Zelda, leaving a thoughtful silence behind her.
“Well, it must be great not to be able to feel the horrors of it,” said Rontu, his voice echoing from the balcony. This however made everyone give him a weird look.
“Well … come on! Don’t tell me that if you had a chance to stop feeling the terrible things in life that you wouldn’t do it. Fear, pain, depression, hate; don’t tell me that you like those emotions,” said Rontu, who too, left a silence in his wake.
“I guess I hate him for it,” began Zelda bring everyone out of the silence “because he can do so many terrible things to people without thinking anything of it. It’s almost like he does it to see their emotions. It fascinates him because he doesn’t have it. He really is a very pitiful person.”
There was the silence again but it is shortly interrupted.
“I think I’ll go for a walk,” said Blaze as he stood up from his chair to stretch.
“I think I’ll come to,” said Tila after letting out a huge yawn.
The two left for a walk around the fortress, gazing at the beautiful sunset in the desert.
“Wow, I can’t believe we were talking for that long,” said Tila as she gazed around the fortress.
“Yeah, it was morning when we started talking,” said Blaze, who looked over at Tila.
He gazed her slim figure up and down. The sun was setting right behind her gave her figure an orange outline. Her face was covered with the warm glow of the sun. Blaze never noticed before just how beautiful she was. A smile crept up on to his tan face as Tila looked over at and said,
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Well, you know in this light, man you look … disgusting.”
Tila tried to look appalled, but her smile kept flashing on her face.
“So Blaze, tell a little about yourself. What is like to grow up around all these women?” Tila asked as her smile fade from her face.
“Hmmm … once a month this place becomes a snake pit for men,” replied Blaze thoughtfully. Tila broke out into a fit of giggles. Blaze narrowed his eyes at her and said,
“You think that’s funny, do you? Well, it wasn’t funny for me; I had to hide out in my room to avoid getting my head bitten off.”
This however didn’t help Tila’s giggles fit because she broke out into fits of laughter. Blaze gave a smile; he liked when she laughed.
“Those were times when I could have used a father,” said Blaze, staring off at the sunset thinking of the father he never knew.
“You did meet him, didn’t you?” asked Tila curiously.
“Yes, I did, but I barely even saw him around. Probably because he was so busy and probably because he didn’t want see me,” replied Blaze.
“What? He didn’t want to see you? Why?” asked Tila as she frowned.
“Well, I guess you could say I was an accident. My father didn’t want to get my mother pregnant, but you now how it is. Moments of passion,” said Blaze simply; it didn’t seem to bother him that his father never wanted him around.
“So, you were an unwanted child?”
“Yep,” his answer was as simple as the one before.
“Speaking of moments of passion,” began Tila. “Have you … been with a woman before?” she finished with a little smirk on her face.
“Let’s see … a fortress filled with women and me being the only male Gerudo. Yes, many times. Did you not hear the story I told inside?” said Blaze with a smirk now on his face.
“I did, but the story did not tell whether or not you had been with a woman,” replied Tila.
“So, have you had…?” said Blaze, giving Tila a sideways glance.
“Yes, I have,” answered Tila as her cheeks turned a light pink.
They started to head back when a group of Gerudos called down to Blaze from another balcony.
“Hey there Blaze!” said one.
“Looking good, hot stuff,” shouted another.
“Hey Blaze, when are you going to show us a good time!” called one with short spiky hair.
“We love you Blaze,” yelled the one next to her.
“You keep this up girls and I won’t respect you any more,” answered Blaze as they passed.
“We don’t want you respect us, we want you to disrespect us!” They chanted in unison. Blaze chuckled and said,
“These kids today.”
Blaze looked over to find Tila was giving him an unusual stare.
“What? Is there something on my face?”
“You are a total slut!” exclaimed Tile with a huge smirk on her face.
“What? I am not!” said Blaze, who looked disgruntled by this comment.
“Then tell me, have you ever been in only one relationship at a time?” asked Tila as they reached the door to the lounge room.
“Uhmmm … I,”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” said Tila with a smile of victory on her face. She was about to open the door when Blaze put his arm in front of her to block her way. She looked up at him in question. Blaze just gives a mischievous smile.
“I’m not going to let you get away with that,” he said as he leaned closer to her.
“Oh really,” she said giving him a sleigh smile back.
“Yep.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“Do you really want to know?” asked Blaze as he came ever so closer to her face, his insides with tingling with excitement and something else. Something he has never felt before that went trickling down his back.
“Yes,” replied Tila, who too was leaning closer to him.
As Blaze leaned in closer to her face he could hear her breath catch in her chest and a tingle, again, went down his spine. Their lips were just barely touching when the door opened and the two looked up to find Kira staring back at them.
“Well, there you two are,” said Kira as if she hadn’t seen what was about to happen.
“Hi, Kira,” said Blaze with a big smile on his face that was saying the exact opposite of his feelings toward Kira at the moment.
“I was worried, it’s getting late you know,” said Kira, not looking worried at all.
“You’re right, I think I’ll go to bed,” said Tila, her cheeks slightly pink.
Tila went through the door and into the lounge room; Blaze was about to follow her when Kira stepped out into the hall and closed the door.
“What? Am I not allowed in the lounge room?” asked Blaze, raising an eyebrow.
“No, I just need to talk to you about Tila,” replied Kira, folding her arms across her chest.
“Okay, what about her?”
“Well, I’m not responsible for her actions, nor am I responsible for your actions, but I just thought you should know her heart belongs to someone else,” replied Kira, looking at Blaze seriously.
“What?” said Blaze, not wanting to believe his ears.
“She is in love with a man from my world and currently involved with him,” said Kira as she turned to open the door.
“I just thought you should know,” said Kira as she opened the door.
“Wait,” said Blaze, Kira stopped.
“What’s his name?”
“Rai,” she replied and went through the door.
Blaze leaned against the wall of the corridor and sighed. Involved. Involved she said. Blaze had met a girl that for the first time in his life made him feel … nervous. Blaze had always been confident with girls and just about everything else in his life and for the first time in his life a woman made him feel nervous. But, he liked it. Involved. She was involved with another man. Blaze shook his head and said,
“Perfect, just perfect,” and walked through the door.