(ZGen/Act) The Legend of Zelda: Nayru's Wrath [G]

[Twili Knight]

Chapter 1: Hero Rising.

Link dredged up the snowy hillside, wondering whether or not if the snowstorm would ever let up. His sword felt heavy on his back, and he was horribly cold in his small traveling cloak. Link was wondering to himself... He questioned why the blasted Ocarina in his pocket didn't have something to turn the weather off. He began to think he should stop when several things happened at once.

Link was hit over the head with something very blunt. And very heavy. Before he could react and draw his sword, he was knocked over. He heard very incoherent noises similar to speech, but it was hard to determine if it was human; the ringing in his ears and the merciless wind were beating against his ears. He was being examined; he knew it. But he had to stay calm. If he moved now, they may just attack. His breathing was heavy, but it wouldn't be noticed by the attackers; from his journey he had discovered anything not two inches from you could not be defined clearly with the naked eye. His travelling cloak had been knocked off, so he was struggling with all his might to stay still in the biting cold. He was very close to shivering violently. Before he decided to get up, and attack whatever was near him, he heard the voices a bit more clearly.
"What did we hit?", he heard as he tried to discern the direction in which it was coming from. The wind was preventing him from that task, however, and Link decided that the Goddesses were making a fool of him.

Subchapter 1.1: Link's Dratted Destiny

Link had come far to this land. He was exhausted. In his childhood days, he had come to be known as a hero. A hero worthy of praise, as he had saved an entire world. Link was sure it was a different world, because he could not return to his own. His frustration was mounting the moment he had stepped into the frozen wasteland that was Hyrule Field, after his nth time of trying to return through what he had used to call his home. Link was standing at the usual attempted place, and was staring with something close to a furor at the place he had entered. It had been seven years, and he was wondering if he should just quit trying. Termina had been good to him. They had clothed him with new clothing, given him free food and drink whenever he wanted it, and they questioned him not when he went to the place of his arrival. He did hint several times at every one of his dining tables that each time he left, he may never return. As such, they never developed a close relationship with Link, though most certainly wanted to.

Link was in this place, this dratted place, the one-way entrance to this world that was doomed. A place Link had had to face fear time and time again, purely to save the ones he cared about. Link was sitting cross-legged, staring at the patch of ground where he had so suddenly appeared from that corridor that haunted his dreams. He was wondering if the Goddesses had wanted it. It seemed trouble did not find Link... Link, in reality, found trouble. Just not purposely.
Link got up, and stretched. He wanted to get this over with. He had brought a travelling cloak in case it was chilly in Hyrule; he could never figure out Terminan seasons. He wondered how Zelda was doing. Had they been worried? Link had also saved Hyrule. He knew he should be missed, if the Terminans hailed Link so much. Link sighed at the thought, and laid down on the cold, wet grass. He knew he wasn't going home. The travelling cloak in his arms would never be worn, he would never see Zelda again, and the rest of the Kokiri would never welcome him the same again. He dratted this life in Termina. Everyone looked the same as the people of Hyrule... They were very different, though. Kafei was Link's closest thing to a friend. He knew what it's like to be shoved out of your natural state. Kafei also knew he might never see Link again. But Link was probably going to quit sometime in his life and prove him wrong. Link's negative thinking had triggered a thought. What if he'd be happier if he was in Termina? What if he'd stay out of trouble, and have a good, happy life?

And he promptly landed on his face in the snow.

Chapter 1(Cont'd):
Link was not cold. No. He had passed that point. He was bone-chilled. He was nearing the point in which he would be completely frostbitten. He had to get his limbs moving, or he'd be frozen. The voices had been speaking for almost ten minutes. He had not yet identified their names, and he probably knew them; the problem was that he had been gone for several years. He thought about the situation. If it was a familiar person, they'd likely recognize him; he was wearing a fresh tunic in the same design as his old tunic, which was preserved in Termina, on display in the clock tower. He missed the familiar Kokiri tunic feel, though, and was starting to wish he had his old tunic. The white leggings were very thin, too, so his legs were starting to get cold as well. Link was making a decision: Jump up and draw my sword, or get up, and ask for help? This was very difficult. The snow was masking any humanity in the sounds.
He could make some out, still.
"No. We shoul --- o that. If that --- we --- and the --- would ---."
"May--- and the --- be so ---."
"Yes, but that --- because --- é."

Link was getting furious. He inhaled sharply, pausing in pain when the cold air stung his nose and lungs, and jumped, yelling as he drew his sword. What he saw horrified him.

He saw Malon and Talon having a pleasant dinner in the back of the milk wagon.

With a wild, reckless abandon of anything he considered even slightly noble, he leapt into the wagon and shoved one of the steaks into his mouth, rolled over, and lost conciousness.
Before he totally lost it, he heard a faint voice, "... Told you I saw something green."

~Chapter end~

[Twili Knight]

Chapter 2: Pleasant Reunions.

Link awoke, still tasting the meat he had so rudely stuffed in his mouth. His eyes were closed, and he was warm, on something that had to be a bed. He thought of Malon. Did she really recognize him? Most could not have mistaken him for anyone less than the Hero of Time. Which is probably why he was in this warm comfy... Bed? Link didn't care at the moment. He rubbed temples in thought, eyes still closed. He felt an outline on his face. Link opened his eyes, and was greeted with a dimly lit room. There were a few candles lit, and he was in a bed, as he had thought. The stars were helping him see. He felt the bed, and found it surprisingly lumpy. The bed could have been a cow. Link never knew what to expect in his life anymore. For all he knew he could be laying on a cow, staring at a mirror in the opposite side of the room. He hopped from bed. Someone had put his cloak on a chair which had previously been facing the bed he was laying in. He looked at the cloak fondly. He had thought he would never wear it. Even though the cloak had not served him well at all, he considered the cloak something he loved from his previous home. He was in Hyrule. He had made it.

Link approached the mirror, still wearing the tunic that had previously sheltered him, however poorly, from the cold. He was glad that whoever gave him a bed was so kind as to remove some of the extra equipment from his person, though. The Sword he had recieved from the Great Fairy herself was sitting innocently on the same chair his cloak was draped over. He was content at this moment. His many masks were still stored in his tunic, though, and they were getting uncomfortable, so he removed a couple and tossed them onto the bed. Among them, he dislodged the Fierce Deity Mask. It stared, emotionless, at the ceiling. Link stared a bit at the mask, as if staring at it would help him better understand what the thing was. Its seemingly emotionless glare was as mysterious as the thing that had given it to him. He broke his gaze from the mask and stared at the mirror. Even in the dim light, he could see the previous presence of a very heavy something. Link felt his face again. the outline was still there. How long had he been out? He examined the imprint more closely. The odd shape jolted Link's memory. The Stone Mask! In all the confusion and numbing cold he did not notice that the wagon hitting him had knocked the Stone Mask onto his face! Of course... It all fit... That's why they didn't help sooner... That's why they saw him when he jumped in... The mask must've fallen off! Link searched furiously for the mask; it was possibly one of the most useful masks in his possession. When he found nothing, he searched the room. There was nothing. The dresser yielded women's clothing, so Link completely dropped the idea of searching it again.

Link was in the middle of looking under the bed, being very uncomfortable in the small gap between the floor and the mattress, when he heard the door open. Link froze, but he had had enough of freezing, so he relaxed, and assumed it was Talon, or Malon. The latter being more likely, he tried to get out from under the bed clumsily, scratching himself on the edge of the bed. He got up, brushed himself off, and cleared his throat. He saw Malon, so much like Cremia, standing before him. He's seen Malon as an adult before as well, so he was not surprised at her as an adult. He had seen the older Cremia, too, and knew what Malon would look like as well. Not much difference, as it had always been.
"... Link...", she spoke, "We all had thought you had disappeared forever. You were sleeping restlessly..."
Link was expecting this. He thought he had left forever. He explained some of the situation to her; just not the disturbing similarites of the residents, he thought she might think of him as askew from his trip, as most of it was very frightening, even in description. "Hmm... Well, I guess that means you're back for a while, then. We know you're not used to this kind of cold; the seasons are all confused! This kind of cold isn't due for another month!" She looked away from his gaze, "It's been very... Wrong since you left. Everything. Oh, and sorry for hitting you with the milk wagon; it's a bumpy road out there... We just stopped to let the horses rest. You were sleeping for half an hour though. Are you sure you shouldn't rest?" Link declined, then forgave her, sorry for this unfortunate event, and asked where Talon was. She directed him to the other room, where Talon was sleeping soundly, though Link noticed bags under his eyes; he hadn't been sleeping soundly like this for a while. Link asked if Malon knew where the Stone Mask was, to which she replied, "We went straight back to the ranch after you passed out. I didn't see a mask."

Link got up, gathered his items, and travelling cloak, thanked Malon, and asked for a heavier cloak. He got a thick woolen cloak, and left. He then remembered he did not bring Epona. Though it would be better for her, Epona was still in Termina. Link felt very lonely without his beloved horse. He trudged on toward Hyrule Castle, thinking of the fate of the Stone Mask. He would go back and get it when he could see the ground properly. Or if Zelda was so kind to help him out, he could even get the Hylian guards to help him search for it, Link thought optimistically. He would just have to find out when he got there.

~Chapter End~

[Twili Knight]

Chapter 3: For Old Time's Sake

Link was nearing the castle; the snow let up a little allowing his view to broaden a bit more. He felt the crunch of the snow under his feet and wondered what everyone in Termina would think once they discovered Link was gone. Link sighed. He had to say goodbye to a home before, but last time, they knew he was going. This time, they were probably worried. He could see the familiar entrance from afar, which he had seen first in a dream. He then saw the dream in reality, and the image was clear in his mind. Not much had changed, except they added another tower into the castle, and the bridge was made of new wood. He could smell faintly the aroma of cooking food from the chimneys of the town's residents. He looked longingly at the castle. He broke into a run, careful to keep his of his cloak's hood over his face, and the rest of the cloak on his body. Even his boots may trigger someone's memory. He wanted to continue, unabated to Hyrule Castle. Had the Hylian Royal Family known about Termina as well? Had they known Link may have stumbled upon a world of no clear escape? Link had never heard of anyone entering Termina, not even in the Kokiri Forest, where the Lost Woods were clear knowledge. Perhaps the Kokiri had kept it a secret from Link as well? Link got to the gate, and entered Castle Town. Castle Town was emptier than he had left it, but it was still crowded. People in thick cloaks, or small children in more clothing than usual running around chasing the dogs running around the street. There seemed to be a few cats, too. The snow seemed to be a small obstacle for regular life in Hyrule. Link thought in regret about Zora's Domain, still frozen even after the ordeal. The effects of Zelda's spell didn't do much for major changes. Saria, his close friend, still became a sage and left the Kokiri Forest. Gerudo continued thieving, however, not from the poor, but steadily increasing with such thievery since the loss of Nabooru, who had become a sage, but Link having no status in the tribe, could do nothing to prevent them from stealing. Ruto again was afflicted with a fascination with Link, still becoming a sage. Though Zora's Domain froze randomly; no-one knew what caused it. Other than small outbursts of wrongdoing, or odd events, Hyrule had remained peaceful.

Link walked through the bustle of the town, unnoticed in the sales, chatter, and general noise of a busy town. Link basked in the noise. He missed Hyrule Castle Town's liveliness. It was something not in trouble. Something that did not to be saved because Link knew it was something that perservered. He approached the gates of Hyrule Castle from the entrance south of the castle. A guard stopped him at the gates.
"This is the entrance to the Castle of the noble Family of Hyrule's loyalty. If you wish to be in auidence of royalty, you must have good reason." Link knew this guard. He had seen him many times on his regular visits to Zelda, sometimes sneaking by him just for fun. Link laughed at the thought.
"Do you find their nobility humourous? Reveal your intentions and your self to me and I may let you pass."
Link knew what to do. If this guard was truly the man he thought he was, he'd know the right thing to do as well. Link warned the man not to tell, under any circumstances, who he was or that he was here. "I cannot guarantee that, but if you are deemed important enough, you may have your privacy." Link lifted his hood, and the guard stood rigid on the spot. "Very well," the guard said, rather emotionally, "You may see the Princess." He struck the ground with his spear, and the gate slowly slid open. Link walked silently up to the castle, with his hood back up. The guards saluted him, and Link entered the castle.

Link saw the familiar red carpet and Royal Family Crest inside the spacious castle. Link had run through this place many times, trying to dodge the many guards dotting the castle. However, when they found out a seven-year-old child could easily break through their security straight to Zelda, they boosted the security up severely. If Link had his Stone Mask, it'd be easier. But Link felt like a bit of adventure again. For old time's sake. He saw some people who obviously spotted him, some reading books, but he was cloaked. He was safe as long as he didn't stay still. He went out of the castle again and found the drain blocked. He grinned at the sight. Ah, the days which he could fit in it. Wet tunics are horribly uncomfortable, -The hat's a nightmare to keep on-, but Link had a solution. He used the door to the right of it on one of the towers. Link was really surprised that no-one ever guarded it. He didn't know where it lead, but he knew it was an idirect way into the castle. Link would have to surprise Zelda. He crawled inside, and what he found surprised him. It was a large chamber-like room with cauldrons bubbling away. Link smelled red potion, so he took out his bottles. He looked inside them and was displeased to find they had dried milk in them, and he was horribly aware of the fact these bottles had stored many an insect over the years. The thought made his stomach feel strange. Link simply scooped some into his mouth, first taking off his gloves. He felt the familiar fiery feeling in the liquid, and was rejuvenated, full of energy. Link felt great. He stretched, and put his gloves back on. He traveled through a dark corridor, looking for any ways of getting to the room directly left of him. He tested walls with his sword, but then thought better of it- It would make too much noise-, and began looking for gaps in the walls. He fiddled with the rocky, dungeon-like walls, and found a weakness, leading to the very point the drain had lead to. There were three guards, as usual. Link stared at them. He started to see one doze off. "Hey," one of the guards spoke, "Don't go falling asleep, you know what happened last time."
"Yeah," the guard said, "But we could really use a hero crawling past us right now."

Link grinned at the thought, happy his timing lead him to hear that. Maybe it was the Goddesses. Link's gap was behind the shelf that fed the drain, and a gap in the wall would be noticed. He stopped there, and walked through the corridor, timing his paces to see how far it would be until he was behind a hedge, as he had snuck past them many a time before. He thought he had found a nice place mostly devoid of guards, and took out his Hookshot. Using it as something close to a pickaxe, he chipped away at the loose rock walls. He broke through, so a tiny peekhole was formed. He looked inside, and the guards were exchanging pleasantries. In the midst of their chat, Link could easily get past to a hiding place. Link had to hurry though; who knew how long they'd be talking?

Link continued to chip away at the rock; the place of exit was behind a hedge, so he had enough time. When one one of the guards laughed looudly, and the other guard joined him while animatedly speaking, Link shoved himself through the hole. Link cut himself on one of the rocks, but it was a small wound. He wouldn't be bothered by it; the red potion was fresh in his veins. He dove behind the hedge, and the guards paused a bit, then the other guard made a joke and they continued laughing. Link took advantage of this and snuck to the next section of the garden. There were more hedges, and even a climbable platform; they obviously had not learned their lesson completely. He swerved through the guards, and made it to the final patch of the garden, where he saw Zelda picking flowers.

~Chapter End~

[Twili Knight]

Chapter 4: The threat is unveiled

Zelda was crouched down, picking at the flowers on the ground, being very un-Zelda-like, as the Zelda he knew was a tomboy at heart, and never resorted to girlish things unless she wished something of her father. Link had to admit these plots to gain something were very unresistably adorable, and Link found himself laughing whenever he saw one of these events; they were priceless. He stared for a second, then realized someone was approaching from behind. At this time, there was an earshattering noise, and Link reacted by trying to dive into the small stream of water that surrounded this patch of the garden Zelda spent time in, and wasn't pleased when he saw it wasn't even six inches deep. He tripped, fell over, and splashed around helplessly in his confusion. He then heard a, "Sorry! Bomb storage had an accident. No damage, just a few less bombs than before..." The person behind him wasn't a person at all; it was a cat that wandered onto the grounds somehow, and Zelda was staring wide-eyed at Link. "So. Going to complain about your hat again?" She said with a broad smile. "I've been waiting for you; it's been forever." She still smiled, and walked over to Link and offered a hand. Link lay there, utterly bewildered. Yes, his hat was feeling heavy, and his white leggings unholily uncomfortable. But he was confused as to why she was greeting him as such. When he inquired so, she smiled ever wider, in a basking glow previously unseen in Hyrule history. "I had dreams of you. It just seems so... Humorous. These prophecies of mine come in handy. We were all worried, but I knew..." Her smile faltered a little, "I predicted that nasty hit on your head. Are you OK?" Link said he was fine. "I'm glad you're back," she said, then balled her hand into a fist, and punched Link over the head. "But you put yourself in too much trouble!" She still smiled at him, regardless. Link was rubbing the pain off the back of his head; she had hit where the wagon hit him. "Yes, I even knew where the wagon would hit you. I'm just glad you're back. We've had a lot of trouble without you. Things are out of order. But don't read too much into it; it's just a bit chilly."

Link was wondering if she had even been outside. Link got up out of the water with Zelda's assistance; the water was cold, and his limbs felt slow. Zelda began to speak, "I sense something sinister approaching. The feeling's really vague; it's a bad feeling. Link. You may have come back for a reason. We need to know if that's true or not." Link sighed. Had the Goddesses sent him yet again to save a land? Would he never regain his precious peace? "I've sent some of the Hylian guards to look upon the subject. If they return safely, then I believe we have nothing to fear. However, if they don't return, or return with bad news, the King may have to make you help us, lest you be an outcast of Hyrule. I should have never told him of my dreams of your return. He's getting desperate." Zelda's smile had vanished. "We don't want to force you to; you're just the most valuable warrior of this world. If you decline, I can help you escape, or hide yourself, but I fear you may have to." She sighed. "I guess you can't escape your fate, then." Link absentmindedly touched the back of his left hand. He got up, and walked to the window looking into the castle. He saw the throne, empty for the moment, sitting there with the Triforce on its back. He sighed deeply, still wet, and cold in his cloak that yet again failed to properly protect him from many things he encountered. He started trying to wring it out. Zelda watched with concern. "What was it like? This... Termina place? What really happened there?" Link was silent for a few more seconds of wringing his cloak a bit more, and looked Zelda in the eyes. She was genuinely concerned, and Link knew it. He took a deep breath and related the adventure to Zelda. Not skimping on some of the facts such as the resident's strange likeness to everyone from Hyrule, and the places he went through. He told her of Kafei and Anju, and of the Windmill man's counterpart, and the wonderful masks, and of Skull Kid, and the frustration he felt of when he tried to return. She was a good listener, not making any emotional signs, but showing the eyes of concern. He told her of the Fierce Deity Mask, and of Majora, and the strange transformations these masks produced, and the unfortunate souls that produced them. He told her of the moon, of the field inside it, of the children that were so disturbingly peaceful in a moon that was so evil. He told her the awful things he experienced, and she gave no hint she did not believe him.

She did not ask for proof of these transformations, of this Fierce Deity Mask, of the awesome powers it contained, and his inability to use it without great danger near him. When he completed his tale, she merely nodded and stood up. "You have had your share of hardships as well. I apologize for scolding you." The cat behind them was licking its paws. Zelda clapped her hands together, and spoke. "Well, guess you need shelter tonight. I have some places in the castle; they're well hidden and insulated." Link pondered the thought. More adventure, or settle down hiding from it all? He'd had enough moments like these. It always ended up as him continuing through the trouble. He told Zelda so, and she nodded. "I expected nothing less from you, Link. You're more of a person than most of us in this world." Link was used to praise like this, but from Zelda, it seemed to have more meaning than the rest of them. He felt cold in his tunic, so he agreed to rest in one of the rooms, though. Zelda lead him to a comfy room with a dresser, straw mattress bed, a fireplace, a basin of water, and a carpeted floor. It did feel warmer. Zelda spoke when he turned to close the door. "Link. I'm really happy you're back." She hugged him, and left down the corridor. Link felt a warm feeling inside, and he looked at the fireplace. He looked in the drawer, and found a red tunic outfit. It wasn't made in the same design, but it would have to do. Link changed into the red tunic outfit, and set his green tunic up in the fireplace to dry with his cloak. Link laid on the bed, and started to doze off. The last thing he saw before falling into unconsciousness was his cloak. There was an odd eye-like pattern on the back. Link couldn't care less. He had already started dreaming.

. . .

Link awoke to find his tunic dry, as well as his cloak. He stretched, and changed into his green tunic, feeling fresh in his apparently washed and dried tunic. He looked to the water basin. He took out his bottles, with their stains and past occupiers. He tried to wash them, but couldn't; they were pretty old stains. When he was guest to the many people of Termina at the dinner table, they insisted he use their clean cups. This had lead to the neglect of his previous drink storage. He hadn't used them for years. Link would just have to clean them later. Link got up, strapped his sword to his back, and chose to wear his Hylian shield. His Mirror Shield was a bit disturbing to some. He adjusted his belt, made sure his hat was on straight,and walked in the direction of the King's throne room. When Link was within visible range, the King upstarted. He jumped in his chair, and peered in Link's direction, as if it was all just a joke, and he was seeing someone else in green. Even Link's silhouette was unmistakable; the Hero of Time had returned. The King whispered something to the guards beside him, and they approached Link, bowing before confronting him, and they tried to get his sword from him.

Link started, and struggled to prevent them from taking his beloved defenses. Zelda was also next to the King, and Link looked imploringly at her. They locked eyes, and she nodded. Link understood, and stopped struggling. They took the Great Fairy's Sword and his Hylian Shield away from Link. Link felt bare now. Almost naked without the familiar weight of his precious items against his back. Link was determined to keep a proud face, though, and walked up to the King. Link wasn't in the mood for kneeling, so he just looked the King in the eye, as if to ask, "Well?". The King cleared his throat; he obviously was intimidated by the glare. He spoke, "Link. You have served Hyrule most loyally in the past, and we know you've been through hardships. Zelda has told me of what you were experiencing in that world from the dreams she has had. Trusting she was being truthful, I was ecstatic to hear that she said you were going to return in the near future. We have also faced hard times, and we suspect it is because of a malevolent being. In the past, you had aided us because it seemed you were protecting the well being of your Forest, and the people you cared for. Even in this new land Zelda had described to me, you were protecting those you cared for from the immediate danger. We have to assure you will heed our pleas. This is a hard time, but getting rid of this odd pattern in which our daily lives happen is more of a luxury than saving the world." Link nodded. It was true he merely wanted to protect the residents of Hyrule, but saving them from bad weather seemed unimportant. "We understand that you would probably like a nice peaceful life, but this threatens our well being. The townsfolk don't know it, but,", he paused, "We found this in an unexplored cavern." He nodded to the guard on his right, and he ran out of the room, returning with three other guards, who were carrying something very heavy. It was under a large cloth. They set it down. "This may mean nothing, but it may mean everything." He grabbed the cloth, and pulled. Link was unphased; it was a block he had seen so many of from the many temples he has explored, Gerudo symbol and all. "Yes, this may seem unsurprising, but there is another reason this block is a sign of danger. He nodded to the guards again, and they hurried over to the block, picked it up, and turned it to the other side.

On that side, there was the clear symbol of Majora.

~Chapter End~