The Legend of Link

[Allstargamer]

(aka: What Four Swords SHOULD have been like!)

Prologue: Dark Designs.

In a secluded section of time a space, there is a void. A space shrouded in darkness so thick, anyone or anything that was unfortunate enough to find its way into this god forsaken place would have had any life squelched from them in a matter of hours, if they didn’t lose their mind first. It is a place where no light can illuminate it, and almost lo life could be born from it. The only being that was unfortunate enough to be born in such a hellish place realm had come and gone many times, never returning by choice, but always leaving in search of something more, to spread his brand of darkness into other realms, to strike at the light with all his fury, leaving his void as empty and as lifeless as it was prior to his birth, until a flash of darkness erupts from the nothingness, replicating the creature’s birth so many millennia ago, signaling his unwilling return to his own private hell hole of a realm.

“DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT!!” the being cursed to himself, having been freed from his material form that he had used in the other world, returning him to his original state as a shapeless energy being. He surges violently, emanating a dark aura as his form splurged about. “NOT AGAIN!!”

He grunts and yells for a while longer, cursing into the void with all of his might. After a while, he starts to calm down, his form becoming more and more stable, settling on a sphere like shape. However, he still angers, and begins to drone on.

“It always happens!” He grunts angrily, going over his situation in thought. “Every time I get close to claiming the power of the Triforce for my own, a gung ho little snot in a green tunic shows up and thinks they can be a hero!”

The dark aura surrounding the shapeless energy being intensified for a moment and four rings made of dark energy appeared, encircling the being, looking almost like windows.

“First was that little nothing of a blacksmith’s grandson. Lucky little punk.”

As soon as his words had been spoken, the window in front of him lit up, showing an image of a young man of fifteen living in the outskirts of a great kingdom, making a living as a blacksmith in his grandfather's old cabin workshop. He was clad in a green sleeveless tunic and was wearing a brown under shirt. He had a brown hair adorned by a green cap with a yellow brim.

“Then when I tried going back into the distant past, it was some stupid orphan. Thinks he’s so tough, traveling through time like that…”

The window to the right of the first one now sparked to life, showing a young boy of fourteen, reclining against his slumbering faithful steed in front of a burning fire, settling down for the night from a long day’s journey. He blew into a sweet potato shaped instrument, fingering the holes to create a melodious, enchanting sound that rings out into the wilderness, soothing his tired soul. He wore a green tunic with sleeves and a green cap as well.

“My third time out seemed to have gone well at first, but those Hylian gods had to screw with me and flood the entire world and scatter the Triforce pieces! By the time I was able to get them, another little **** from some back water island shows up! He was nothing, but then his royal pain in the butt intervened and ruined everything, giving that kid his chance!”

Again, the window to the right sparked up, showing an image from someplace else. This time it showed a ship sailing on an ocean, spanning as far as the eye could reach. On the furthermost point on the ship was a thirteen year old boy, watching as the ship sped along the ocean to parts unknown. Laughing with a big smile across face, eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation on what lies ahead. He wore a green sleeveless tunic with a light green undershirt. He had a black belt with a white shell buckle strapped around his waist and a green cap flapping in the breeze on top of his blond hair. To protect from the chilling breeze, he wore white leggings.

“And last time, I even tried going to an alternate timeline, but those elders banished me to the twilight realm! I’ll admit, that was actually a plus, getting that idiot, Zant to do my dirty work. But almost as soon as I return back to the real world, who should show up but another one these idiots!”

Finally, the last window shows an image of a young man of seventeen, walking along a path towards his home, his village from a tireless journey, accompanied by a his childhood friend, who was riding side saddle on top of their beloved horse. Behind them, was a horse drawn wagon, filled with children who had been away from home for what seemed like forever. All of them had had a grand adventure, and were ready to return home. He wore a short sleeved green tunic with a long sleeved white undershirt. He had gauntlets on each arms and long white leggings covering his lower half. He had a long green cap which adorned his dirty blond hair like a crown.

He looked upon these images for a while, thinking about how in all of existence that four different warriors, all of them not even old enough to drink with at a bar, could respectively bring about his defeat four different times.

“Unbelievable.” He says to himself, trying to plan his next move, dismissing the window, them evaporating into darkness. He grew tired of being handed defeat after defeat by boys who weren’t even a fraction of his true age. “Every time I try to conquer that back water realm, somebody shows up to act against me! It’s almost as if—“

But he stops in abrupt silence. If he had a face, it would have an expression of amazed realization. Then he started to chuckle, which grew into an evil, sinister laughter as a plan unfolds in his innermost workings.

“Of course!” He chided to himself with a tone of malicious intent and evil desires, abruptly stopping his laughter. “The empirical rule! It was right in front of me this whole time! It's So obvious!”

He started glowing even darker than before, preparing to leave this desolate world to implement his latest scheme.

“Yes, a ‘proactive’ approach, as it were…” He drawled to himself happily. “This will work quite well.. But first, I need to do a little Recruiting…”

And once again, his laughter rings out, as explodes, launching his energy form in all directions, exiting his dark realm, eager to start what he believes is his plan of final conquest.

Prologue: Dark Designs: End
------
So here's a LoZ fan fic that I recently started. I have it posted on one other site where it took off rather quickly. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[Allstargamer]

Chapter 1: The Hero of Legends, Part 1.

Tucked away from the rest of the world, a sleepy kingdom and its surrounding region are awakened by the rising sun. Hyrule stirs to life, as all its residents from the awesome peaks of its mountains to the majestic Lake Hyrule shake the sleep from their eyes, preparing to carry out the tasks set upon them by the day ahead. No truer is this fact then it is with the residents of Castle Town, the central hub of all of Hyrule’s commerce and trade. Under the watchful eyes of the royal family, the citizens live their lives free of fear and worry. Looking at them today, you never would have believed that three years ago, they were in the middle of their darkest hour. A great evil had descended upon them, inviting horrors beyond their wildest imagining. Just as all seemed lost, the great evil disappeared, almost without a trace.

While relieved that they had been spared from whatever dark fate that had been forced upon them, they couldn’t help but wonder what could cause it to disappear so suddenly. Hyrule’s citizens had come to assume that it was the power of Queen Zelda, who had risen to the throne in place of her father two and a half years ago, who lifted the cloak of darkness that had been suffocating the lands. While this was the commonly held belief, there was a rumor spoken in whisper of a different savior. A young boy clad in green, brandishing Hyrule’s legendary sword, had come forth to oppose the evil one and his army, doing what Hyrule’s greatest warriors could not. In a tornado of slashes, the hero cut apart the evil one, dispelling his darkness with the light of his blade, and vanished into the world, almost as if he were never there.

Despite what the truth of three years ago was, a new age had begun for the region. The memory of the dark one was like a distant nightmare, banished into oblivion by the cleansing light of day. All is as it should be for Hyrule and for Castle Town, but more so for a secluded cabin in the middle of Hyrule field outside of Castle Town’s southern gate. As the sun peaks over the over the stone walls, it bathes the field, along with the cabin, in its radiance, signaling the call for all to awaken and greet the day. Up until a year ago, the light cast upon the lone wooden structure would mean nothing. Before the darkness came, it was a home to a blacksmith and his beloved grandson. When the evil one had begun to tighten its grip, the blacksmith left the cabin, taking up arms to defend the land and the house that had cradled him, his departed son, and his grandson. The grandson left the cabin out of worry for his grandfather, leaving the cabin to wait for their return.

On any other day, people who passed by the empty cabin on their way to and from Castle town would often stop and stare at the cabin looking at it expectantly. Some say that there was a strange presence about the old wooden structure. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it. It was made out of fine Hyrulian cedar from the great forest, just like all trustworthy cabins would have been. It was only common sense. The base and cellar of the cabin was constructed of Goronite imported from Death Mountain, to ensure that it remain strong throughout the decades. With a brick fire place and chimney, it was an exceptionally above average cabin. But for two years, it would seem to have a sad, almost lonely air that seemed to loft about it to the people who passed it by, but on the eve of the third year, the air of sorrow that had clung to it had lifted.

The grandson that had left two years prior had returned, after seeing the wide, expansive world beyond Hyrule, eager to pick up the trade that his grandfather left behind, and just like the hero whispered of in hushed conversation, dispelled the veil of loneliness. And as the sun greeted the cabin, as it had for the past year, it also greeted the young man as the light peered into the second story window. Tucked away in a bed, was the grandson. The light fills the window, streams through the bedroom and hits him square in the face, causing him to stir from his slumber.

“Go away sun.” The youth pleaded, unwilling to heed the call of the morn. He turned onto his side away from the sunlight as he pulled the comforter over his head to block out the light further in an effort to resume his slumber. “It’s too early to be morning…”

As the sound of sleep resumes, a shadow is cast from the window over the lad. Perched inside the frame, a cucco gazed into the bed room. It sits there for but a moment, starring at the youth in silence. Then with a flutter of its wings, it hops from the window to the desk, to the table, to the chair, and finally, to the night stand situated next to the bed, it looked at the young man for a moment longer as looking as if he were contemplating something. But with a nod of its head, it arches its back, and inhales deeply, taking in as much air as its small body allows, puffing out its chest. Next, a loud screeching voice screamed out, filling the room with a shrill of a voice!

“CUUUUUCUCUCOCOOOOOOOOO”

“WHOWHATWHENWHERE?!?” The youth shouted in surprised response to the abrupt and unwelcome noise. He panicked, arms flailing about his bed. He got tangled in his sheets, and rolled over the side, landing with a dull THUD! Groaning slightly, he untangled himself sluggishly, reaching up to the bed and pulled himself up, peeking over the edge towards the other side of the room only to see that his unwelcome and unseen visitor had already departed. He scowled in displeasure, wishing that this ritual that had been going on for the last year would come to an end. “One of these days, that poor excuse for an entrée’s luck is gonna run out. And when that happens, I have a pretty good feeling what dinner that night will be.”

Realizing that any chance of returning to bed had escaped him, he begrudgingly trotted over to his dresser. He threw open the doors and took out his favorite clothes, pulling a brown long sleeved under shirt over his messy, un-kept blond hair, followed by a green tunic, tied off at the sides. Next, he pulled up a pair of knee length brown shorts, and slipping his feet into them soon after. Finally, he pulled his favorite green cap which hung on a hook by the door and slipped it on to his head. After looking at himself in the mirror, giving himself the once over, he looks over to a portrait on the side of the wall, an image of an old man immortalized in its dried oils. The youth stared at it moment, and smiled slightly, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“Well grandpa, I’m off!” He said happily as he exited the room, waving back at the mural. He trotted down the stairs into walked into the main dining room, where, after a breakfast of bread and cheese, retrieved his saddle bag and rupee pouch, and immediately rushed out the door, heading north to Castle Town.

Inside the gates, after showing a permit to the guards standing watch, He strolls about the town, watching the people of the region go about their lives, listening in on various conversations here and there, trying to figure out what the latest on the developments are. It’s difficult to keep up with the times when you live by yourself in a cabin in the fields.

“I’m telling you! It wasn’t the Queen who saved Hyrule!” A young lad off in a side alley yelled loudly in argument, causing the blond haired youth’s pointy ears to perk up and pay attention. He stopped in his tracks just behind the wall of a shop, just out of sight as he listened in on the conversation the boy was having with his friends. “I tell you, it was this guy, covered head to two in green cloth!”

“Oh please! You know that’s just a rumor!” One boy remarked in a scoff.

“You’re always tricking people into believing crazy things. If you try to trick us, you should at least try something a little more believable!” The other said in dismissal.

“I’m telling you…” the first boy persuaded, but that is all that the blond haired lad had heard, as he continued on his way with a smile on his face, snickering to himself. So, after three years, they’re still talking about it. If Hyrule only knew…

“Link!” A feminine voice called out from behind, snapping Link to attention. He turned around to see a girl, a little shorter than himself standing behind him, smirking slightly. “It’s dangerous to just walk around town and not pay any attention to what’s going on! Get your head in the game!”

“Oh, hey there Melody.” The blond haired youth greeted rather casually. Melody was the fifteen year old daughter of Brigadier, a retired soldier who runs a street grill and goods vendor in castle town, and is considered by many in town to be the fairest maiden in all of Hyrule. At least, the fairest maiden outside the castle that is. Beautiful, kind, and feminine in every sense of the word, and yet at the same time strong willed and would often not tolerate injustice, much like the Queen. And like the queen, Melody was considered to be an unreachable beauty, but for reasons entirely different, for while the queen was protected by the walls of her castle and her hordes of guards, Melody has her father, a beast of a man, who has become more and more protective of his child as she began blossoming into a woman, and the rumors of his strength has been enough to drive of most suitors. Of course, the rumors and gossip surrounding the pair meant little to Link, who had only been acquainted with the young woman since his return the year before, meeting through Brigadier, who was an old friend of Link’s grandfather.

Melody had long bright red hair tied into a pony tail reaching down to her mid waist, with her bangs parted neatly down the middle, framing her hazel eyes perfectly. There were slight dimples on each cheek, adding to the allure that made her so popular amongst the town. She was of medium build, with slender but strong arms and legs, toned from her daily tasks from around the town. She wore a dark red leather button up vest with short sleeves, which was lined with a very refined cotton for comfort, along with a white under shirt to hide her medium sized bust, and a long dark red skirt that went down to about four inches above her ankles. She wore a pair of leather lace tie up work boots with a three inch and a half heel which fit snuggly upon her feet, being fashionable enough for a young girl to wear while still being strong and durable enough for prolonged labor. She held a big wicker basket filled with assorted vegetables and fruits in her hands.

“Hey yourself, stranger.” She chuckled, rather amused at the spaced blond youth. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you looked to be a thousand miles away! What’cha thinking about?”

“J-just thinking about some smithing techniques that I read about in my grandpa’s notes.” He croaked while being caught off guard as he avoided eye contact with for a moment as he scratched his cheek, blushing slightly. Then he started rubbing the back of his head, gave her a big nervous grin, and let out a forced chuckled. “I’m still learning a lot on how to be a blacksmith, so if I ever want to be as good as grandpa, I have to study new techniques all the time!”

“I see…” she breathed, a knowing smile across her beautiful face, tapping the toe of her left boot on the limestone road. She loved how nervous he can get whenever she caught Link off guard. She thought it was rather endearing. “So, what brings you into town?”

“Same thing as always.” He answered rather plainly, thrusting his thumb in the direction of the castle. “I’m going to the grand hall to see if there are any requests that I can take. And what are you up too?”

“Just delivering these goods to father.” She answered. “Can’t run a shop slash grill without the proper products, right?”

“How about I walk with you? I got some time to kill.” He asked, after taking a quick glance at his shadow. One of the first lessons his grandfather ever taught him was how to tell time by the position of his shadow, which, currently indicated that it was somewhere into the days eighth hour.

“I’d like that. Truly I would.” She replied rather timidly as she looked down rather nervously, her face, for a moment, almost as red as her hair, which had gone unnoticed by the youth in green. They started along the path, chatting together happily, Link oblivious to the many stares of jealousy being cast his way by the young men of the town, too intimidated by Melody’s father to even approach her. Ten minutes along their trek through the town, Melody asked Link a question. “Hey, have you ever thought of moving into town? I’d think it’d be much easier for you to get materials and customers if you were.”

“Well…” Link drawled, holding his hands with fingers laced behind his head as he walked. “I had thought of that, but it’s so expensive to rent in the city. I just don’t have the money to set up shop.”

“That all?” She said in amazement. “My father has a spare space to lease. I’m sure he’d be willing to make some sort of deal with you.”

“Even so, I don’t think I’d move want to move out of the cabin anyways…” He stated with crossed arms.

“Huh?” Melody huffed with a raised brow, trying not to show her disappointment. “And why not?”

“Well for starters, it’s fully stocked with everything I need to be a blacksmith. No need to pay for new tools, furnace, anvil, or any of the essentials needed.” He replied, counting off his fingers with his fingers. “It is a strong, well built structure, capable of holding up to some of Hyrule’s harshest weather.”

“Uh huh…” The scarlet haired maiden mumbled, following along her compatriot closely.

“And I guess there is also some sentimental value too…” Link drawled in a hushed voice, a soft, even wistful look in his eye as he glanced off to the side. “It’s the cabin that I was born in. Just like my father. And grandfather too. It’s been like that since grandpa’s dad built it with his father. That cabin isn’t just a pile of wood, stone, and mortar. It’s been a home for me and my family for decades. “

He turned towards Melody, eyes wide with that knowing, thoughtful look that she loved so much and a soft smile upon his soft, yet strong visage. She felt as if her heart had skipped a beat as she looked into Link’s sky Hazel eyes.

“In fact, it’s more than a home to me. It’s a member of my family. We’ve always taken care of the cabin, and the cabin has always taken care of us. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what a family is?’

“Wow… I never even considered anything like that.” She said in awe. “I never thought that your cabin had such sentimental value. I’m really, very sorry that I even asked.”

“Ah, don’t apologize!” Link chuckled with a smirk and a wink. “My family’s personal history isn’t exactly something one would find recorded in a history scrolls! I can’t expect you to know something like that about me!”

“True!” She chirped happily, giving her one million rupee smile. “I guess it really doesn’t matter if you live in town or outside of it in the end.”

“And in the end, even if I wanted to move into town, I don’t think I’d be able to…” Link drawled, suddenly going off on a tangent.

“Huh, what do you mean?”

“Well, like I said, I’m still learning. I don’t know how to make very many tools yet. The only thing I know how to make are swords!” Link grumbled, his brow furrowed, grinding his teeth in annoyance. “I’m practically living off of royal commissions. Even with the deal you mentioned earlier, there’s no way I’d be able to pay the rent along with buying food and the materials needed for my trade. Not to mention that living in Castle Town would distract me from studying.”

“But why do you need to study?” Melody inquired earnestly. They had become so immersed in their conversation, everything else seemed to have faded into the background. “Isn’t that what smithing is? Making swords?”

“That is a surprisingly common misconception.” Link corrected knowingly. “Blacksmiths don’t just make swords. They also make a wide assortment of tools. Things like cutlery, hammers, chains, pots, pans, just to name a few. Each one demands a different type of technique. Sword making is just the most basic form of smithing. It can be very technical at times.”

“I bet…”

“And the thing is, I don’t want to make swords.” Link grumbled. “If I were willing to just make swords, I’d be fine. But that’s not me. I want to make something else. Something… more. For that reason, I need to study in a place where there are no distractions.”

“I see…” Melody said with a note of playfulness in her voice. “And tell me, mister big studier, what exactly do you want to make that requires so much scroll learning?”

Link had fallen silent. He gazed down at his feet as he walked, thinking deeply as he walked. Having fallen behind in pace, Melody stared at his right profile of his face with adamancy.

“Well, I guess what I really want to make are tools for living.” The young man stated.

“Tools for living?” she repeated in confusion, puzzled by his odd phrasing. Link stopped in his tracks, dead center in the middle of the street, arms crossed as he nodded his head slightly. “Is something wrong?”

“Swords have a long and rich history in Hyrule and the world beyond.” Link breathed calmly. He stood there in the middle of the streets with closed eyes, as solemn and still as a statue. “They often are associated with royalty, power, and honor.”

Melody just stood in the middle of the street, a puzzled look upon her face.

“They are used to represent many things, but in the end they’re just tools. Tools that are reached for to slay a King’s enemies. Tools that are reached for to flaunt unearned power. Tools that are reached for to polish a tarnished honor in pointless duals.”

His arms unfolded and slumped down, hanging in the air. A slight smirk came across his face, a snide chuckle escaped his lips.

“As much as swords represent all of these seemingly unrelated things, they are all joined together by the same retched thread!” He barked furiously, gnashing and grinding his teeth violently, his fists clenched tightly out of anger, his finger nails digging into his skin, his fists trembling with animosity. “Swords are tools used to kill! No matter how you dress it up, swords are for killing!”

“L-link?” Melody stuttered, worried about her friend, who had suddenly seemed to be holding in an enormous amount of anger. Link took in a deep breath, and his fists stopped trembling violently. His voice returned to its solemn, monotone state from before.

“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate swords. In fact, I have had to use one more than once myself.” He breathed calmly, his knowing smile having returned to his face. He almost had the look of an old monk, like the wisdom of the ancients about him for the briefest of moments. “It’s just that I can’t stand to be associated with something that can be used to kill so easily. The sooner that I’m able to expand my trade, the sooner I can stop making them. I can start making tools that never held the purpose to kill, but too make the lives of everyone in Hyrule better.”

His fist had unclenched, and he turned around, looking deep into Melody’s deep brown eyes with a slight smile, and chuckled

“Better to be a Merchant of Life than one of Death, wouldn’t you say?”

Melody’s face went red. Her heart raced like a zora swimming downstream at top speed. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Her ears twitched slightly out of excitement from this warmth that had welled up from the inside of her that his image seemed to invoke.. He’s just so cool!

“But I digress, I think we got way off topic. What where we talking about again?” He asked laughing nervously, snapping Melody out of her dazed state.

“I-I think we were talking about your cabin…” Melody stammered, looking up the street to compose herself. As her eyes scanned the upper street, they fell upon a certain shop slash street side grill. “But it doesn’t really matter anymore, because father is right there! Come on Link!!”

She grabbed Link by the wrist and pulled him along up the street, giggling all the way.

“H-hey! Don’t pull! There’s no rush, is there?!?” Link stammered as he quickly kept the pace, the two of them racing up the street.

Chapter 1: The Hero of Legends, Part 1:End
----
Part two comming next chapter.

[Diaz]

Wow Allstar!! This is really good!! I cant wait till you post the next chapter!!!!

[Allstargamer]

^Hopefully it'll be soon. I've been working on it in bits and pieces because for one reason or another, somehtings been keeping me from concentrating. >_<

[Diaz]

Originally Posted by Allstargamer

^Hopefully it'll be soon. I've been working on it in bits and pieces because for one reason or another, somehtings been keeping me from concentrating. >_<

Oh, well best of luck!

[Allstargamer]

Damn... There are a lot of fics titled "Legend of Link," isn't there? Makes me wished I would've gone with something a little more original.

[Diaz]

Originally Posted by Allstargamer

Damn... There are a lot of fics titled "Legend of Link," isn't there? Makes me wished I would've gone with something a little more original.

Yup there are... Maybe you can change the title to something else; something like
The Legend of Link: The Return of the Black soul... I know, I know it sounds silly!! I'm just not good with titles.

[Allstargamer]

It was the only thing I thought was appropriate, considering what I have planned.

[Allstargamer]

Finally, here's chapter 2!
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Chapter 2: The Hero of Legends, Part 2

“Daddy, I’m back with the produce you asked for!” Melody chirped cheerfully as she came to a halt in front of the vendor stand. Manning the grill behind the counter, serving up various roasted and grilled Hyrulian delights, was a huge mountain of a man, easily towering seven feet in height, and built his body was built like a goron warrior, as he had the same large muscular arms that appeared capable to punch holes through castle walls and the same rotund belly, hanging bellow a set of defined pectoral muscles. His black colored beard was finely trimmed, the very end of which was cut to a ninety degree angle, creating an edge that pointed straight down the centerline of his body. The area just under his mouth was shaved, save for one little patch of hair reaching up and touching just the edge of his upper lip. His sideburns connected his beard and straight shoulder length black hair into one unified mane neatly and cleanly, giving him an almost regal look and feel about him. He looked up with dark green eyes, bags carved by a long life filled with trial after trial into under them. He smiled as he watched the red haired young woman come into the stand and set the basket under the counter as he handed his latest customer their order of grilled cuckoo wings.

“And it’s only an hour until the midday rush. Thank the goddesses for ye, my little songbird!” He hollered happily with a big, wide grin on his face. He reached up with his gargantuan arms and patted Melody on top of her head in appreciation, ruffling her hair slightly.

“DADDY!!” She snapped in annoyance, jolting backwards. Melody quickly jumped back out of his reach and began running her fingers through her hair to straighten it back out. She glared at the gargantuan man and huffed slightly. “Honestly! I wish you’d stop doing that! I’m not a little girl anymore! And It’s so embarrassing, especially when you do it in front of--“

Melody froze mid sentence, her eyes frozen wide open, looking as if a Poe had materialized out of the very nothingness itself. A shade of red appeared across her face as she turned her head around and peeked over her shoulder to see Link standing on the other side of the counter, a nervous smirk on his face.

“Ah ha, ha, ha…” the crimson haired young maiden chuckled nervously, trying to laugh away her embarrassment.

“Ah, Link! How’ve you been Lad?” The behemoth of a man laughed joyfully reaching over the counter to offer the blond youth his hand in welcome.

“I’m doing well as I can be Brigadier, sir. It’s been a while.” Link replied, shaking Brigadier’s gargantuan hand. Link, having noticed how much larger Brigadier’s hand is compared to his, couldn’t help but gulp nervously. It’s been longer than I thought, apparently. I had forgotten just how HUGE he is! His bear paw of a hand looks almost as if he could crush my skull between his thumb and index finger!

“That it has, that it has.” Brigadier lamented, stroking his beard. Melody sat silently aside, smiling to herself as she watched the two of them converse with for several minutes on. For reasons unbeknownst to her, Link was one of the only young men in castle town and it’s vicinity that her father didn’t actively try to intimidate and generally scare the living hell out of. It made her happy that they could be so civil with each other, even if it seemed a bit unusual, compared to her father’s usual behavior with the other male youth, but she just figured it had something to do with Link’s father and grandfather. While knowing neither personally, she had often heard from her father how close friends they were to him, even if the children of others he had similar bonds with were met with animosity. But none of this was crossing her mind, as she watched the two with a contented look. Then Brigadier decided to take the conversation into a new direction. “So, Link. What brings ya to venture inside the walls of Castle town?”

“Well, you know me, just running a few errands. Just picking up requests at the castle grand hall, browsing through scrolls, ordering new materials, the usual.” Link stated plainly, holding his hand behind his head. “I ran into Mel while I was wandering the town, and we got to talking and decided to walk together.”

He thrust his thumb in Melody’s direction.

“Along the way, she kept giving me grief about not moving inside the walls.” Link teased playfully with a smirk.

“What! No I wasn’t!” She snapped in protest, huffing angrily, thrusting her arms down. “I was merely making a suggestion!”

“Now Melody, ye should know better than to interfere in a man’s studies. Leave the lad be.” He said snidely with a note of mischievousness in his voice, a devilish smirk upon his aged, bearded face.

“Ugh, not you too!” She growled in annoyance through an angry pout. Link and Brigadier couldn’t help but chuckle at how easily they could press her buttons at times. Then abruptly and unexpectedly, a faint chime cut through the air, catching the attention of all three. Melody reached into her pocket and pulled out a golden watch engraved with the crest of the holy bird and clicked it open, looking in the contents. “Oh! I promised Mrs. Andria that I would help her at her tailor’s shop in fifteen minutes! I’ve got to get going!”

“Wow, a real golden watch.” Link whistled in slight awe. He leaned forward a little over the counter to get a better look. “You don’t see too many of those these days!”

“Yeah, it was a memento of Mama.” She lilted softly, a look of longing upon her face. She stared at the watch with almost sad eyes for a moment longer. Then with a sigh she snapped it shut and returned it to her pocket. Link had fallen silent after hearing that the watch was an heirloom. Never knowing Melody’s mother personally, but he did know that she was killed three years ago by moblins during the time that people still refer to as ‘The Darkness.’ He looked back and forth from Melody, to Brigadier, who had a profound look of sadness, making him look much older beyond his years. It didn’t take Link long to figure out just how much she was loved. It made him wish that he knew his mother, who had succumbed to sickness while he was still an infant. He could never understand the pain that this father and daughter pair felt, the pain of losing a beloved wife and a treasured mother. But what he did understand is the agony of losing the person that you care for more than anything else in the world. He watched solemnly as Melody exited the vendors stand. She turned around to face the two. “Well, I guess I’d better be going. I’ll see you later Link. Love you Daddy.”

“All right, I’ll see you around. Take care of yourself!” Link replied with a smile.

“Aye. You be careful now Melody.” Brigadier instructed with a bit of concern in his voice. Melody just smiled and tilted her head slightly before turning around to head down the street. She walked a few steps before coming to a stop once more.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” She said to herself. She slowly turned around towards Link and held her hands behind her back, her face looked to be shaded crimson slightly across the bridge of her nose as she looked down and to the left, fighting between trying to establish eye contact and avoiding it out of shyness. “Link, There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

“Huh? Is something the matter?” Link inquired with a note of concern, puzzled as to what kind of question Melody would have. “Is there a problem?”

“N-N-No! No problem at all!” She stuttered in a gasp as she jumped to attention and gazed straight ahead, hands now held together politely down around her waist. She looked almost as if she were in a panic. “I-It’s just that I was wondering, that is if you don’t mind, that maybe if I-“

Melody trailed of a bit and stuttered nervously as she began to play with her fingers. Brigadier, who had been preoccupying his time with various tasks, came to an abrupt halt in movement. His gaze, which was locked onto the loaf of bread that he was cutting when he became as motionless as a statue, was as sharp as a dagger. Melody, in an effort to regain her composer, took in a quick, deep breath. Once again calm, she looked Link straight in the, her crimson shading still spread across her visage.

“That maybe I could come over every once in a while and, you know, cook something for you?” She asked with a nervous lilt, her voice cracking slightly. Her statement startled Link slightly, catching him completely off guard.

“W-why would you want to do that?” He asked as he scratched the back of his head through his thick shoulder length blond hair. “Why put yourself through the trouble?”

“You mentioned earlier today that you’ve been basically living off of bread, cheese, and milk from that new ranch out in the fields.” Melody replied with concern both on her face and in her voice. She hugged her left arm to her side with her right. “That’s not healthy. I’m worried about you.”

“W-well, that is true.” Link replied with a cracked voice. “But I still wouldn’t want you to go through all the trouble just for me.”

This time, it was Brigadier who sat back and watched with a knowing smile, watching the two argue out of concern for the other. Both of them were truly caring individuals, and watching them filled Brigadier with the most sincere hope for the days to come. While the sight of the two pleased him, he thought that it would be best to end the dispute now.

“Link!” Brigadier interjected loudly and with authority. Both of the teens standing in front of his booth stopped arguing almost immediately and turned towards the bearded elder with eyes wide from surprise and shock. He looked at both of them and let out a slight sigh. “I be telling you now boy to just let her have her way. When she really sets her mind set on somethin’, then that be it. You can be arguin’ with her ‘til ye face be bluer than a zora’s rear, and ye will never change her mind.”

Link then returned his gaze to Melody, who had a look of absolute certainty upon her face. Link, having realized that there really was no way to change her mind, just gave a sigh and smiled. “Then in that case, I would be honored.”

“Yay! You won’t regret it Link! I’ll come by tonight and I’ll make you something that is truly out of this world!” Melody chirped cheerfully with a clap of her hands and a slight bounce. With a smile, she turned happily on her heel and waved back at Link and her father. “Thanks Daddy! See you tonight Link!”

The two of them smiled as they watched Melody cheerfully skip her way down the street. Link was thoroughly captivated by everything about the young woman. He was so engrossed that he couldn’t help but say in a quiet, almost whisper of voice: “Amazing.”

“Aye. That she is.” Brigadier remarked with pride in his voice, having overheard Link’s statement. “She’s got a lot of her mother in her.”

“She must have been an amazing woman.” Link said with a sigh as he leaned against the counter propping himself on one arm. “If how the two of you get whenever she’s mentioned is any indication.”

“We both loved her very much.” Brigadier drawled with a sigh and a hint of sorrow in his deep, aged voice. He looked as if he were almost to the verge of tears. “When she passed away, may the Goddesses hold her and protect her always, it left a hole in both of our lives leaving nothing but a whole lot of hurt.”

“Died? But I thought she was killed by moblins?” Link asked, rather puzzled. “In fact, I was surprised when I had heard that you weren’t a part of the brigade that combed Hyrule to drive out the remaining monsters from the lands after Gan… Err, I mean, after the age of darkness ended? Most of them were of villagers and townsfolk who had something of a grudge against one beast or another.”

Brigadier sat for a moment with his eyes closed, stroking his beard as if he were an old Hyrulian scholar.

“Link, lad, do ye mind if I ask ye a hypothetical question?”

“Hmm?” Link hummed, looking a bit unnerved all of the sudden. “Yeah, go right ahead.”

“Suppose you’re a farmer out in the plains who makes a living herdin’ and shavin’ sheep. Then one night, a wolf comes along and gobbles up your prized lamb. Tell me, would you blame the wolf for its actions?”

“Well, I’d be upset about it for sure, but…” Link answered with his arms crossed. “I guess I really can’t blame an animal for acting on instinct.”

“Aye, ye are a sensible lad.” Brigadier praised with a hint of pride. “Now answer me this. Would you hate the sword that slew a loved one?”

“What? No way! I’d be sure to hold the bastard holding it responsible!”

“Ha! I would too lad! I would too!” Brigadier hollered in amusement. “That’s how I feel about moblins and other beasties. Most of them were just acting on instinct. And rumor has it that all of them were just tools being used by a much more sinister force responsible for them.”

“I guess that makes sense…” Link croaked with a nervous chuckle, forcing a smile to cover his brief moment of panic. Guess Queenie didn't cover things up as much as I thought she did…

“Anyways, it’s a waste of time and energy obsessing about such matters.” Brigadier drawled in a sigh. He reclined back into his chair, his huge arms folded. “Things that I be having less and less of with each passing day.”

“Now don’t start acting like an old man Brigs on me!” Link chirped excitedly. He flexed his right arm and patted it’s bicep with his left, giving a playful smile. “I’m sure you got lots of years left!”

“Heh, settle down boy. I’m older than I seem. These days, all me energy seems to be gobbled up by this stand and dealing with community matters. Makes me glad I never had to deal with any boys showing an interest in my little songbird.”

“Well, when you think about the rumors, it makes a lot of sense.” Link muttered, recalling a certain rumor he had once been told. “Tell me, you didn’t really…”

“Hang a boy what made a remark against my girl by his dekus from Hyrule Bridge with nothing but fishing line and a rusty hook?” The large man said with a mischievous, slightly evil sneer. He hid the amusement he had felt from seeing Link wince from slight pain while clenching his legs slightly. “Link, tell me. Do ye fancy my little songbird?”

Link jumped across the street in a panic instantaneously, sheer terror plastered across his face. Color drained from his cheeks as he hugged the stone wall opposite of the stand. Brigadier roared in hearty laughter, scaring the passer byes and sent them scurrying away.

“I guess I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ Calm down lad! I’d never do that!” Brigadier chuckled as he waved Link over, beckoning him to come closer. The young fifteen year old hero inched his way back towards the stand cautiously. “Heck, I’m the one who started the rumor. Others like it too. Nothing keeps the undesirables away like some good heart stopping gossip!”

“Well that’s good, I guess…” Link croaked in relief, still a little nervous in Brigadier’s rather naturally imposing presence. “But isn’t that going over board? Why would you go so far as to damage your public image?”

“If I gave a rat’s ass about public image lad, I wouldn’t be using the same shirts I have ten years ago!” He retorted, pulling up his left sleeve up with his left thumb. “And if you think I’m a bit too overprotective now, you should have seen how I was four years ago. I wouldn’t let any boy even touch her. The hell I gave those kids…”

Are you telling me that you actually made good on those rumors you’d spread? Thought Link, his eye twitching slightly.

“Okay, so what made you change?”Link inquired out of curiosity.

Brigadier went as still for a moment. His aged eyes closed, as if he were pondering the mysteries of the universe.

“Link, before I answer your question, I need to you to answer mine. Honestly.” He stated coldly as he leaned forward on the counter, a look of dire seriousness on his face as he brandished his cutting knife, scrutinizing its blade. “Do you like my daughter?”

Link gave pause for a second, hesitant of how to reply. Then he simply just shrugged his shoulders, sighed, and started scratching his head. “Is it really that obvious?”

Brigadier, laughed under his breath as he hung his head for a moment. When he looked back up, Link saw one of the softest smiles the youth clad in green had ever seen on the man. “My eye sight may be on the way out, but I can still see many things, boy.”

Now it was Link’s turn to chuckle silently, giving an insubstantial grin. “I have to admit, it’s easy to like her. The obvious beauty aside, there’s something about her that just pulls you in. When she’s around, I just can’t help but feel happy. It makes me wonder if she could ever feel the way for me like I do for her.”

Brigadier stared at Link incredulously, an eyebrow raised in slight amazement and pity. Link, you’re an intelligent, sensible lad, but ye are denser than a dodo go’s hide.

“In any case…” he hummed with a sigh and a smile. “It’s obvious that ye care for her. You have my blessing, if ye want it.”

“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!” Link blurted out of astonishment, taken back slightly. “I appreciate the vote of confidence and all, but why make me the only exception? There are plenty of others every bit as willing!”

“But not capable.” The elder giant retorted. “Link, if there’s one thing the war has ever done for me, it’s that it has given me the ability to size anyone up just by looking them in the eye. Guess looking into a man’s eyes as they die does that to a guy. Their thoughts, feelings, achievements, their high points and low points, they just seem to flow into you. I don’t know if they see their life flash before their eyes, but I definitely had a front row seat to it more times than I care to count or remember.”

“A heh, a heh, heh.” Link croak in forced chuckle, smirking uneasily.

“I can take not but a look at any of them and I’ll know what their intentions are, and if they be capable of taking care of my little songbird. Lord knows someone has to sooner or later.”

“I think I’m starting to see where this is going.”

“Aye.” Brigadier affirmed. “When her mother died, I realized that I’m not gonna be around forever. When I’m gone, I’ll need somebody to be there, to protect her and keep her safe.”

“And you want me to be that ‘somebody?’”

“Well, yes.” Brigadier state plainly, thrown for a bit of a loop by Link’s sudden forwardness. “Can I count on you? Will you protect her for me, when I’m gone?”

Link pondered it for a bit, thinking in what way would be best to respond. Then, he simply spoke plainly in response.

“Sorry old man. No dice.”

“WHAT?” Snapped Brigadier just as he pounded the palms of his hands against the counter top, causing everything on it to give a little hop. He looked ready to tear down the walls of Hyrule brick by brick.

“You don’t seem to realize that your ‘little songbird’ isn’t so little anymore.” Link mused coyly, a smirk on his face. “She’s not weak either. In fact, she’s one of the strongest people I have ever met in my life.”

Brigadier remained silent as he listened to Link continue on, confidence ringing out from his voice.

“Do you honestly think she needs to be cradled? Get with it old man! One day, enlightened times will come around, where people won’t be judged or justified by who they’re married to or what relationships they have. They’ll be defined by who they are. Everyone will eventually be able to leave their own marks on this world, and Melody is already ahead of the curb!”

The old soldier flopped back into his chair with a loud thud as he began to rub his aged brow.

“She already does so much around here. People are already relying on her strength. The last thing she needs is my protection. ” Lectured Link, clearly having more faith in Brigadier’s daughter than even he did. The old man couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed. “I can’t promise to protect her. She doesn’t need me for it. But what I can promise…”

Brigadier cocked his brow, interest aroused by the youth’s last statement.

“Is that I’ll walk beside her always, and if she ever falls, I’ll be there to catch her.” Link smiled. Brigadier realized that this boy understood his daughter in a way that he never could. He smiled softly, knowing that as long as Link was around, Melody’s future would be bright.

“And in the end, that’s all I truly want.” Brigadier beamed with a big tooth showing grin, which Link returned in kind. He reached over the counter and patted Link upon his cap. “Thank you, lad.”

Link smiled with his right eye closed, scratching just above with his index finger. He chuckled with content, understanding why Brigadier was so protective.

BONG! BONG! BONG!

“Crud! The noon bell!” Shrieked Link with slight dread in his voice. He looked toward the castle where the toll originated. “The Grand Hall is opening! The crowd’s gonna be hell! I’ve got to get going!”

“Take Care Lad!” Brigadier hollered after Link, his voice disappearing into the background as Link made a mad dash toward the castle. Once every few weeks, Hyrule Castle opens its doors to hold something of a trade fare for people seeking work and for those seeking to give work. Craftsmen, mercenaries, farmers, all of them swarm at the castle around noon time in the prospects of earning their next satchel of rupees. They never tend to last longer than a half hour though, as most workers have a tendency to take on multiple requests, leaving little behind for the stragglers who might have wandered in late. Link sprints with all his might towards the castle, making a mad dash through the town.

Please, just let there be something left! He prayed to himself as he ran. Soon enough, the castle came into view, along with the huge crowd in front of the gates “CRAP!”

Link stopped to a halt in front of the crowd of men in their twenties and thirties. He tried to look over the towering figures in front of him, but his small stature prevented him from looking over the crowds. Link took a deep breath, and began forcing his way into the crowd.

WHAK!

“OW!”

BOP!

“HEY!”

SHOVE!

“Watch it pal!”

Eventually, Link managed to fight his way into the castle and continued his way to the bulletin board where the majority of the job requests were posted during the grand hall’s opening. The crowd didn’t thin out any as he continued towards his goal. “I. AM. ALMOST—“

There was one last group in front of him. With one last effort, he pried his hands between two individuals, and forced his way to the front, victory shining in his eyes with a confident smile emblazed across his face. “THERE! Now let’s see what’s—“

Link stared at board that had been picked clean, all but a few slips of paper detailing the jobs none of the others would take. He stood silently as the crowd dispersed, the same victorious look frozen on his face, but its meaning having left. After everyone had all but left, a few stragglers remaining to discuss various business ventures, Link left out a heavy sigh, his look of victory turning to one of depression and dejection. He reached up to the board and pulled one of remaining requests off the board. “Three thousand rupees for a request of ten barrels, huh? I guess I could use the carpentry practice…”

“Oh, how the mighty hath fallen.” Quipped a familiar voice that caused Link’s pointy ears to twitch and stand to attention. He turned his head to the right, to see a girl roughly his age and height. She wore a blue cotton scarf wrapped around her head creating a hood, hiding her hair color. Her eyes were hidden by eye glasses with tinted lenses. Her dress was a short sleeved light blue silk one piece that went to her knees, and she had on a skin tight white undershirt with sleeves reaching down to her forearms. She wore plain black slip on shoes, and had a side bag tied around her waist, creating something of a belt. She smirked deviously as she stood with her hands on her hips. “It wasn’t all that long ago when you saved these people. They should be praising the very ground you walk on, and here you are, fighting them for the chance to perform some menial labor.”

“Hey!” Link shouted in amazement, surprise and shock flashing onto his face. “Long time no see! What are you doing here Queenie?”

“SHHHHH! Quiet you idiot!” the mysterious girl demanded in a hiss, clamping her hand over Link’s mouth. “If the guards find out I’m here, they’ll never leave me alone again!”

“You mean you sneak out of the castle?” Link whispered, forcing the girl’s hand away from his mouth.

“Of course! I’d go crazy if I stayed here all the time, with none to myself!” she instantly snapped back. She darted her head around, seeing if anybody had noticed Link’s commotion. Once seeing that the coast was clear, she pointed with her thumb towards the door. “Let’s go. There’s a tea house close by where we can talk.”

Several minutes later, the two of them were seated together at the tea house a few blocks away from the castle under the shade of Hyrulian pines. After their order of Termina tea, promptly ordered by the mysterious new girl, arrived, Link’s mysterious new acquaintance sighed with relief, looking as if she were finally beginning to relax.

“So, Z…” Link drawled with a snicker as he leaned against the table. “It’s been a while since we last chatted. Has it gotten so bad in the castle that you can’t even take a walk by yourself?”

“You don’t know the half of it!” She sighed tiredly as she reclined into her chair. “Ever since that business with Ganon, they have given me no peace! Guards, everywhere! At my bedroom, when I’m in the library, even when I’m in the bath! It’s getting to be too much!”

“I can’t say I honestly blame them.” Link stated understandingly. He picked up his cup of tea and blew away the steam a few times before taking a sip. As he lowered the cup, he chuckled under his breath. “They’re eager to redeem themselves, after the entire Hyrulian army failed to do something that one lone boy did all on his lonesome. It really is- OW!!”

“Don’t get cocky, you!” She lectured after striking link’s ankle with her heel. She abruptly took a sip of her tea. Link continued to laugh as he rubbed his leg. “You have no right to act like you know what’s what!”

“Anyways Zelda, what brings you outside the castle?” Inquired the smiling, green clothed young man. The girl silently returned her tea cup to the plate with a clink.

“It has long been a tradition of my family…” Zelda articulated softly, lowering her glasses to look Link directly in the eyes, her sea blue irises shimmering in the sun light. “To walk amongst our people, to keep in touch with their needs, their thoughts, their rhythm, their motions and meanings. It’s been our way for centuries.”

“And lords know you don’t want to break tradition!” Link teased, eyeing Zelda coyly, which she responded with another sharp kick. “OW!!”

“Make light of it if you must.” She huffed angrily in an annoyed pout. “But a leader of Hyrule must always keep in tune with the people they serve, or otherwise they’re no better than a dictator.”

“Of course.”

“But enough about me…” She playfully quipped. He rested her chin upon her interlaced fingers, her elbows propped against the table. “Tell me Link, how’s life as an up and coming smithy?”

“No comment.” Link grunted in annoyance, quickly taking another sip of tea, attempting to avoid eye contact.

“‘No Comment’ indeed.” The young queen giggled. She took another sip if her tea before continuing on. “Link, you’re a gifted, talented young man. You could do so much good for Hyrule, but you seem insistent on wasting your time and effort on developing a skill you obviously have no inherent talent for.”

Link didn’t respond, instead he just stared at his tea as he twirled it about his tea cup.

“My offer is still good, you know.” Informed her royal highness, reclining once again in her chair, holding her cup into the air with her right hand. “I can make you a delegate, a diplomat. You have a natural talent for diplomacy. You could create peace for Hyrule with other lands, open up trade routes, maybe even strike a lasting alliance with Hyrule’s other races.”

Again Link didn’t respond. He took another long sip from his cup.

“Link, I implore you.” Zelda begged in earnest, reaching out her hand to grasp Link’s, which had been resting upon the table. “Quit wasting your time. You saved Hyrule once. With your help, you and I could save it for all time.”

Link thought for a while longer, staring at his cup as he rested his head upon his left palm. Finally, he firmly grasped the handle and swigged down the rest of the tea, and returned the cup to the plate with a loud clack! He looked at Zelda, and smiled brightly.

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m just a simple country boy. I’m not trying to go out and save the world. It’s just not my way.” He chirped cheerfully as he stood up from the table. He took a few rupees from his pouch and placed them onto the table. He chuckled happily as he started walking away. “But if you ever need to be saved again, you know who to call!”

“You’re making a mistake!” She hollered after him. But all Link did was wave her back as he walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

The rest of Link’s day was rather uneventful. He explored the town, talked with its people, watched on as the great parade of life marched on throughout the day. As the sun began to near the mountains, the streets began to thin out, and Link began his walk back to his cabin. Ten minutes later, he stood in the shadow of his cabin, and smiled. He walked up to the stone chimney and placed his hand on it, caressing it lovingly. Sorry Z, but I really can’t help you. I just can’t bear to give this up.

“CUUUUUCUCUCOCOOOOOOOOO”

“Gah!” Link jumped and clung onto the chimney. He panted heavily out of shock of the unexpected caw. He looked around and spotted a wild cucco bird staring at Link from his right. “Oh, it’s YOU. Why the HELL did you do that? It’s not even sunrise?!?”

The farm fowl showed no sign of response, and simply sat and preened its feathers.

“Oh, the strong, silent type eh?” Link growled angrily as he lowered himself from the chimney. He grasped a nearby walking staff, wielding it as if it were a sword. “Fine, then don’t do anything. It makes it easier to dish out the payback for interrupting my sleep every day for the last year and a half!”

Link rushed the fowl, staff raised over his left side and poised to strike. He swung it in a downward diagonal swipe towards the bird. The cucco however, simply dodged with a few flaps of its wings, taking to the air and landing on Link’s green cap. It dug into the fabric with its claws and began flapping as furiously as he could, taking to the air.

“Hey! Wait! No! That’s my favorite cap!” Link panicked, grasping the cap as hard as he could as he fought to keep it on top of his head. The bird flapped left and right, leading link along all the way. Finally, the bird flapped his way off of the edge of the six for plateau the cabin rested upon, quickly followed by Link, who tumbled down and landed with a resounding boom on top of his head at the bottom of the plateau, merely a few feet away from the stairs leading up to the top, still clutched onto his green cap. “I hate that bird…”

“What are you doing?” A female voice asked innocently. Link peeked through his eye lids to see Melody kneeling down in front of him, smiling with her a fist in front of her lips as she giggled. Hanging from her right arm was a basket of assorted foods. Link’s brow couldn’t help but twitch when he thought of what kind of scene he had made in front of the object of his ‘secret’ affections. I really, really hate that bird!

Despite his momentary setback, Link managed to push on. The evening waned and gave way to the night. Melody cooked the promised dinner with Link’s assistance. Link showed her around the cabin. The two talked and laughed together long after the dark of night settled in. Although she wished it wouldn’t end, Melody brought it to a close with a sad sigh and a lilt in her voice. “Guess it’s time for me to go.”

“Already?” Link asked in disappointment. “But it seems like you only got here! I can walk you back to Castle Town if you like?”

“No, I should be fine.” She responded confidently as Link walked her to the door. “Thanks for a wonderful time! I had fun tonight!”

“I should be the one thanking you.” Link humbly retorted in earnest. “I can’t even remember when the last time I had a decent meal was!”

Out of nowhere, sharp pains started to run down link’s left arm to his hand, concentrating on its back. Link did all he could to resist yelling out in pain. He grasped his left arm with his right, and starred down at it, sweat dripping out of every pore and crevice. Melody temporarily managed to catch a glimpse of Link’s pain before he could mask it. “Is anything wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine! Just a little tired!” Link croaked cheerfully with a forced laugh, in an effort to put the red headed girl’s mind at ease. He quickly put his left hand behind his back and grasped the door with his right, pulling it open. “You’d better hurry now. Brigs is probably gonna get worried!”

Oh! You’re right! I should probably—WHAT IS THAT!?!” Melody shrieked in astonishment when she turned her gaze out the door. Link joined his line of sight with hers to spot what had given Melody such a start, only to see something that he had never laid eyes on before. A sphere of glowing blue light hovered in the air right outside the door. It shimmered like a star in the night, and the two young ones could feel themselves being mesmerized by its beauty, unable to look away. Then, when Link thought things couldn’t get any stranger, a voice surpassing the sphere’s beauty rung out in his mind.

“Link, the Hero of Legends, of the chosen who bear my markings, your power is needed once more.”

“Wh-who are—“ Link attempted to demand, but before he could finish, the sphere of blue light started to grow brighter and brighter. So bright, that both of them had to shield their eyes, as the light lighted up the night sky, illuminating the surrounding fields, casting away all shadows. Finally, and with a flicker, it went out as quickly as it had come.

And if anybody besides a mischievous cucco who had made it’s nest in the tall grass nearby were there to see it, they would have saw that when the light faded and their eyesight returned, the young couple that had been standing just inside the door way were gone, leaving a door wide open. They would have felt the air of sadness descend once more upon the cabin. The feelings of love and happiness that clung to it only moments before turned into an unbearable sorrow. The sorrow that only an empty house filled with so many memories of so many amazing people could know. The sadness of a cabin waiting for its treasured master, whisked away by the hands of fate, to return home once more, it no longer suffering in silence, but its hinges crying out in pain into the wind.

Chapter 2: The Hero of Legends, Part 2: End

------

This is the longest chapter I have EVER done! I'm fairly proud of myself!

Anyways, if you have any questions that aren't spoilers, I'll be glad to answer them, but if you want to know what Brigadier means when he uses the word "Dekus," then I'm afraid you're on your own for that.

[Allstargamer]

Sorry, for some reason this didn't go up to the top of the page on my screen, and I wanted to make sure it took.

[Diaz]

*Jaw drops in awe*

Wow that was a really good chapter!! I cant wait to read more!! I just hope more people start reading your stories, they are really good!

[Allstargamer]

Chapter 3: The Hero of Time

Hyrule, an isolated kingdom in the far north, its lands surrounded by a thick fog created by the great forest marsh that surrounds it, cutting it off from the outside world. There is only one road in and out of the region, its inhabitants to afraid to venture forth into the face of the unknown. Those who were brave enough to have made the journey down this road never set foot in the region again, keeping the rest of the superstitious lambs inside their naturally formed pen of forest and mountain, too frightened to venture forth and expand.

Almost half a world over though, away from the kingdom, that won’t experience any outside contact for many years yet, we come to a wild expansion of wilderness and untamed land, one lone stretch of dirt road stretching as far as the eye can see in either direction. Dawn breaks into the sky, spreading the morn across the wilds of the expansion. Coming to light is a small campground nestled off to the side of the road. The make shift camp pit in the middle was long cold, littered with ash and burnt w