Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series or the Characters.
Hello, everyone! This is a new fanfiction. It takes place after Twilight Princess, but it is VERY different from "The War with Nikitre." So just to let you know to not mix the two up. :) Link is very famous now that he has defeated Gannon and saved Hyrule. He's even dating Zelda! :DDDD Things are going great for our favorite hero in green, but when life changes, what will happen to him?
The Legend of Zelda: Cries in the Dark
Chapter 1: Fame
I remember it all vividly like it had happened yesterday. Wait! It did happen yesterday! I was in the middle of the Market, and there was a gathering taking place. It was the day after I had defeated Gannon and saved Hyrule. The King was there making a speech to the common-folk. "Hyrule…what a beautiful country we live in! We are so blessed to be standing on such hallowed ground!" He briefly looked around at the crowd of cheering, smiling faces. "We are gathered here today to recognize one of your fellow countrymen…as the hero he has proven himself to be." He paused as the crowd roared. "His bravery, his stamina, and his determination are qualities that will surely inspire us all." He looked around with a huge grin on his face and continued with a speech about heroism. I was behind stage, nervous as all get out because I knew in a moment's notice I'd have to come out from behind the curtain of security. I took a deep breath, if only to seem like I were gaining composure. I was so thankful for this occasion, I mean, how often do people like me defy the European Feudal System? Virtually never!
After running my hands through my dirty blonde hair, I braced myself for the big moment. I wasn't used to being recognized like this. The King spoke again. "This certain man, through the act of saving us all from Gannon's tyranny has certainly earned the name of Hero of Time!" The crowd could barely control themselves at this point. People were throwing their hats into the air, screaming, throwing other various items around and lifting each other into the air. "Without further ado, I give you Link Connorman!" I walked out and was received by deafening screams fueled by jubilee. Men were shouting, women were swooning, and kids were trying to get onstage. I waved to the crowd and smiled, and two women in the front row fainted. I was pleasantly embarrassed, for everyone was beside themselves with excitement. I looked around me and smiled again, thinking to myself, "is this really all for me?" I couldn't believe it! "Embrace the cheers and excitement!" The King shouted happily. "You deserve it, after fighting for the sake of justice and Hyrule! And for that, I am honored to knight you today surrounded by all these witnesses." The crowd exalted once again.
"Thank you, sir." I said.
"Now, if you'll bow down in front of me please." He said to me. I bowed down in front of him. He gently placed a sword on my shoulder. "I hereby dub thee as Sir Link Connorman, member of the royal army. You may stand. I stood up as everyone cheered again.
A man a few rows back started to yell at the top of his lungs, "speech! Give a speech, Sir Link!" Soon the whole group was chanting the word in a repetitive, hypnotic manner. "Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!" Everything went blurry around me as nervousness sank deeper into my veins. It started to feel as if their screams and chants were becoming slurred, and then everything went black.
Shortly after I woke up and realized I had fainted. I agreed to give a speech without preparation. I went up to the podium. "Thank you all, I'm amazed beyond words with the amount of enthusiasm I see here. I-I'm a shy person, so it's a little awkward for me giving a speech up here, and I hope I'm doing alright—"
"You sound wonderful, Sir Link!" A young woman said; batting her eyes.
I blushed and cleared my throat. "I'm humbled, and I never thought I'd be standing where I am today. I promise to serve you all with dedication and respect so long as I shall live." They all cheered again. "Thank you for the cheering and adulation. I feel special. I'm sure that today will go well! I'm looking forward to serving you all as a knight!" I flashed a grin, turning red again as the King made an announcement. "Today we shall have a parade, and then a feast with the royal family for our young hero!" And shortly after that the parade began. One could clearly see the animation in the crowd. That lasted a couple of hours, and then it was time for dinner.
I was sitting in the castle around the table with the King, the Queen, Zelda, and a bunch of knights. I was living the dream, but something was bothering me…
The King raised his glass. "To the current Hero of Time. It is an honor to have you in our presence."
"To the hero!" They all shouted with a raise of their glasses.
All the chatting, cheering, and merriment occurring around me began to sound muffled as I could hear the pulse in my head with more intensity. Zelda could notice that something was bothering me. "Link, what's the matter?"
I took a deep breath to regain composure. "I guess I'm just not used to these fancy things, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at all the attention. But it's a good feeling, and I appreciate it very much."
"I'm glad you appreciate it, Link." She smiled.
My heart melted seeing her smile. I looked at her beautiful azure eyes and was at a loss of words.
More celebrations ensued that evening, complete with dancing and fine-dining. A couple of guards had gotten absolutely hammered over the wine, and they weren't making any sense.
"Cyan ai heeavva nudda grass?" One of them slurred.
"eeeeeaaaaeeee for Rink!" The other hiccupped. "Baht Ai tink ui ad enahf whine."
"Ohkeh." The first one slurred once more. A slow waltz started to play from the orchestra. "Mei ai half dis dahnsa?"
"Surtinlee." The hiccupping one replied.
I laughed at the sight of them dancing together clumsily in the ballroom. Zelda looked at me as I took my attention off of them and looked at her. "They're funny." She giggled. "Note to self," she said, moving her hands in the air pretending that she's writing "don't have too much wine!" She and I laughed together. We finished laughing and there was a moment of silence. "Say, Link…" She said quietly.
"Yeah?" I said back.
"Would you like to dance?"
I blushed. "Sure, princess." She just giggled again. She held my hand as we went to the middle of the room and began to waltz. Nothing could ruin this moment as we twirled around the room. After all that I've been through these past 19 years of my life; losing my mother and my father at a young age, my friend Adam dying of a tumor at 10, and fighting for the sake of my life and for the sake of all in Hyrule against evil, it feels like it's all paying off. For every failure and bump in the road, "there is a light at the end of the tunnel." There is success. That evening after all the dancing was over, we gathered together to socialize. It was me, the royal family, the guards, and about 300 other guests. I sat down in a chair, mesmerized by the pile of gifts in front of me.
"These are all for you, Link." The King grinned.
"Thank you so much." I said humbly. They watched as I opened gift after gift for what felt like hours. I received some armor, shields, swords, boots, bows and quivers, candies, baked goods; so many different things. I felt so lucky; being showered with praises like this…it felt good. I thanked everyone for the gifts and we all stayed for a few more hours, talking and playing games into the night. When the guests had all gone home it was around midnight.
Zelda walked over to me as I was sitting on a chair in the ballroom. "I want to talk to you about something, Link."
"Okay." I said to her.
She and I stood up and walked over to one of the tall windows in the room. She started to look out of the window. "I have been thinking…"
"Is something bothering you, Zelda?" I asked her.
"No." She said as her eyes glanced downward and to the side. "I've talked to my father about you. And…I have a question for you…" She looked really nervous as she twiddled her thumbs. I looked at her. "Do you want us to date?" She said the sentence very quickly.
I went red in the face. "I would really like to date you, princess. So…" I looked at her beautiful face. "Your father is ok with us dating?"
"Yes." She said. "He thinks that you'd be a fine suitor." She said happily.
I couldn't believe it! Her father thinks that I'm a fine suitor! I was so elated! "When do you want to go on a date?" I asked her.
"Whenever you want to." She beamed. "I think it would be good to go out tomorrow." I nodded. "How does 5:30 sound? We could meet up together right here in the ballroom and go out to eat."
"Thanks sounds great, Princess!" I said to her with a smirk.
She came closer and kissed me on the cheek. "I'm looking forward to our date." She said. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I said as I watched her walk out of the ballroom. I went to my new bedroom in the knight's quarters. The knight's quarters consisted of a hallway and a bunch of bedrooms in a lower level of Hyrule Castle. It felt weird at first, staying in such a nice bedroom. The queen bed was certainly bigger than the twin one I had back home at Ordon Village. I put my bags down on the floor and plopped onto the bed. "The sheets are definitely made of fine silks and linens!" I said to myself as my head sank into the pillow. I rolled over so my face was looking up at the ceiling.
I got up with a jolt when another knight was knocking at my door. I stood up and opened the door for him. "Hello, Sir Link. Getting accustomed to the knight's quarters, I see."
"Yes." I said to him.
"I'm glad." He said, giving me a smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Sir Jacob Plowman, the leader of the knights." He shook hands with me. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." I beamed.
"Training starts in two days at 5am. Don't be late!" I nodded. "Have a good night." He started to head out of the room.
"You have a good night too, Sir Jacob Plowman." I said. I shut the door and went back to bed. I drifted off to sleep shortly after.
