[ZGen]The Journey Home(T)

Alright, so this is my first time writing a fan fiction for Zelda. And it's very much a rough draft. I haven't even gone back to check for spelling and grammar errors. I'll obviously do that when I have more time. But this was something I just put together in an hour. It drags on at parts and others are not explored deep enough. But whatever. It's good enough for something put together at 5ish-6 in the morning.

I don't really like it so far. But it's something I could work on and expand a bit.

And I wasn't sure what to rate it.. So I gave it a T.. just in case. hah

-The Journey Home-

Heading back into the forest, Link wondered if he would ever see Hyrule again.. Or at least the Hyrule he remembered. The world he just saved was stitched together by faces and places which seemed to remind him of that beautiful kingdom he once lived in. Was he asleep.. was he dreaming? Was any of this real?

Link slept every night, seeing the same approaching doom wearing the face of a menacing monster. Beneath it, a rotten child taunts him. It had to be real. How could he possibly dream about a dream...

The woods seemed to have no end. Day after day of traveling. It was enough to drive him crazy. That is, if he hadn't already lost his mind.

Link used to appreciate every tree, plant and rock. Seeing each one differently from the next. But here in these woods, after days and days of travel, every tree starts to look like the last. When does it end? When can he finally go home and sleep within his own bed....

Link's friend and only companion, Epona, grows tired and lazy. Every morning, Link must convince the tired horse to get up and continue on... promising her they'll reach home soon.

"We're going home girl.. we're going home. It's just a few steps away..."

It reached the point in which Link could no longer ride Epona, for Epona could no longer hold Link's weight. They were running low on food, and the water out in these woods could no longer be sipped from. It was dirty and carried no life.

"I can feel it Epona. Home is so close.. I can feel it."

Link was of course lying. For he hardly felt anything at all. And even Epona herself showed no reaction to Link's comforting words. It seemed hopeless to even bother trying to comfort eachother.

Night started to creep across the woods. Link rests against a rock and begins to close his eyes. Soon after, a beautiful Princess stands before him.. She gently grabs his arm and leads him to a balcony overlooking Hyrule field.

"It's just as much yours, as it is mine. Remember that."

Link's eyes meets with the girl's.

"Never forget Link.. this is your home. These are your people. This is where you belong."

Suddenly the vision goes black and Link finds himself walking the streets of Castle town. He looks into the eyes of the people. They only look back... and then continue to go about their usual business. He tries to speak with a shop owner, yet the man only tells Link to run along back to his parents. Crowds push around the streets.. people nearly running Link over.

The voice of the Princess creeps out from the back of his head once more.

"You are already leaving this land of Hyrule, aren't you?"

Epona notices tears streaming down a sleeping Link's face. She slowly begins to stand.

Link continues to see himself wandering Castle Town. He is so small, so lost. Yet even in the crowd of busy and seemingly uncaring people, he felt a sense of comfort. Comfort of a different sort. It was his home. What he was used to.

And then, to his surprise, his drained body is charged with a wave of warm energy. A feeling much different from the one he felt in Castle Town. A comfort he felt before his trip back into the woods. He opens his eyes to find Epona resting beside him.. her head placed on his chest.

The quest had indeed sucked the life out of them both. But Link was glad to have Epona with him. She was his greatest friend.

Link closes his eyes once more.. as a smile grows on his face.

The morning sun wakes Link. The day seems brighter than the others. He could actually hear birds and other animals from within the woods. He couldn't help but to feel they were almost home.

"Wake up Epona.. We're close.. We're so close! Wake up!"

Epona's eyes slowly open. She shows no reaction to Link's words.

"Epona! We've done it! I can really feel it this time! Listen, do you hear it?! The birds.. the animals.. We're almost home!"

Epona doesn't move.

"What's wrong girl? Why aren't you moving? Get up."

Link begins to feel a strange pull on his body. It at first felt like some sort of magic... He struggled to get up. Epona's head slides off of his chest and rests on the rock. Link began realize it wasn't magic at all. His spirit felt as though it was being pulled out of his body.

"Epona.. get up... Get up Epona.. please."

The horse refuses to move. Link felt he was losing her. Once more, his eyes begin to fill with tears. His hands wrap around Epona's head.

"Epona, please.. I love you.. Get up.. We're almost done. Get up. Think about the Ranch.. Think about how you used to gallop about with the other horses.. Think about home, Epona!"

Epona just looks up at Link.. Her eyelids growing heavy.

"Epona! Listen to me! Listen to me, please! You can't stop now! You can't give up... I love you, please... Please, you're my friend... I can't leave you here..."

Epona lets out a soft neigh before closing her eyes. Link no longer felt the pull on his body. Epona was gone.

All was silent. He could no longer hear the animals. The day seemed dull, just like the others. Seconds turned to minutes.. and finally minutes turned into an hour. Link remained next to Epona's cold body.

He couldn't figure out why this was happening. Why he was trapped in this Hell. Why he couldn't go home... And then, it happened.

"It's time Link.. Time to go home... Time to sleep with the rest of your friends."

He turns to look behind him. A beautiful woman, dressed in a silver gown, stands before him. Her golden hair blowing in a nonexistent wind. Her skin seemed to glow.

"H..h...home?"
"Yes, Link. Home. Where you belong."
"Who.. who are you?"
"A friend...."

Suddenly the forest seems to grow darker. Particles begin to float up into the air. He begins to feel a slight vibration around him.

"A friend? But who.. Tell me... Who are you?"

The trees begin to shake violently... Particles flying about in a rapid fast motion. The ground begins to crack. The woods around him begin to slide into the cracks.

"I'm begging you to tell me! Who are you!"

The woman smiles at Link before leaning down and meeting him face to face.

"A little faerie doesn't stay little forever..."

The woman kisses Link gently on the cheek. A beautiful blueish glow radiates out of her hands and into Link.. warming his spirit.

"Go home Link.. go home."

Link begins to slide into the cracks. His thoughts and memories begin soaring wildly through his head. He found it hard to concentrate on anything at all. Suddenly, the voice of a girl he once knew entered his head...

"Even though it was only a short time, I feel like I've known you forever.."

Everything grows brighter.. Link no longer feels the pull of gravity...

"I'll never forget the days we spent together in Hyrule..."

The air is clear.. Everything feels so right.. so perfect.

"And I believe in my heart that a day will come when I shall meet you again..."

And with that, it goes dark again... Link's mouth and nose fills with water. Yet he remains happy. Floating in an ocean of memories.. He could hear Epona in the distance... feel the heat from Death Mountain... Feel the cool water from Zora's Domain.. hear the little children of the forest laugh and play... and in the end, feel Zelda's touch.

Floating... floating...

His eyes begin to close... And the last of the light fades, as his lifeless body starts to sink.... forever.

The End.