Legend of Zelda:
The Cult of Majora
This is where everyone seems to put a disclaimer so here goes: I don't own Zelda, just my storyline and OCs.
Chapter 1: Safe
Ordon Village, Hyrule
"It feels good to be home," Link thought as he and Epona herded goats. It had been a few months since Ganondorf's death and the end of the War of Twilight. Hyrule was on its way to being rebuilt, and life had returned relatively to normal. His days were spent helping out around the village, herding the goats, and with Ilia. Link smiled at the thought of his childhood best friend, remembering how happy she had been when he returned from war. How their hearts raced and how she ran into his arms as he walked into the village. Link smiled to himself; it was one of his favorite moments, seeing how happy she was. The smile disappeared slowly, the happiness leaving the Hero's cerulean eyes. The war had taken so much from Hyrule, so much from him. His innocence, his friends, even his sense of identity. It pissed him off to no end. He had been transformed into a beast and hated by those who he loved most; he had been forced to kill for people who thought him lower than dirt, and for what? Saving a kingdom he didn't matter to? Saving the woman he loved, who hated a part of him? Protecting a woman he barely knew, who had doomed them with her actions?
Despite all of that, he couldn't control the way he felt. The pride of saving Hyrule, of saving those he cared about, outweighed his anger the war had given him. And he could blame the beast inside for the… protectiveness…he felt towards a woman he barely knew. She did, after all, save his and his companion's life. But the beast couldn't be blamed for his misery and anger.
Link ran a hand through his hair, pondering to himself. Before his journey, he was positive that he was in love with Ilia, and had been working up the guts to properly court her. But now he wasn't as sure. The spark was still there, he could feel his heart speed up when she smiled him; but it seemed that the spark was dulled greatly. Was the wolf behind this? Or was it because of the innocence he lost, how he had grown up? Were Midna with him, she'd-
Link froze, slowing Epona to a stop, while the goats glared at him sourly. Midna was still a sore spot for him. She was the only one who really knew him, besides perhaps Epona. Everyone saw her as a monster, even though she was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen. Link swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat. Her parting echoed in his dreams, and it still hurt when the sun set in the west every night. She was the only reason why he wasn't rotting in a cell in Hyrule, and why the sun could even rise in this land.
His thoughts slowly turned from the Twilight Princess to a face of one in the light. Princess Zelda was an enigma to be sure. One moment she seemed as dainty and as fragile as a flower, and the next she was a fierce and skilled warrior. He had the strange desire to learn more about the strange ruler. To perhaps befriend her after all, they had fought and killed side-by-side.
A shrill scream shattered Link's thoughts, and he couldn't help but groan as he heard; "LINK! GET YOUR HORSE-ABUSING BUTT OVER HERE, RIGHT NOW!"
"What did I do this time?" Link asked himself, looking heavenward as if begging the Goddesses for mercy.
Hyrule Castle
"Are you sure that it was wise to summon the both of them, Zel?" a quiet feminine voice asked as the Princess read over requests for aid. Zelda looked up, her sapphire eyes studying the shadowed figure.
"Yes, I do," Zelda replied. "It's what my father would have expected me to do."
"Zelda, your father is dead," the voice replied, anger lacing her words. A young woman stepped out of the shadows, her face hidden by a strange looking mask that was marked with a red eye with a single tear. "You don't need to do as he wanted. You have to do what you want."
"Were it that easy," Zelda sighed, ignoring the anger in the woman's voice. She leaned back in her chair, watching the woman carefully. "I have to think of my people before I do anything. I wish I could have your freedom."
"My freedom," the woman chuckled slightly, "I wish it were that easy."
"As do I, my friend."
Telma's Bar
Telma couldn't help but grin as she mixed a customer's drink. Business was booming, Hyrule was safe, and alliances among the races were being written out. There was nothing that could possibly bring her down. As she served Rusl his usual, a pair of blue-violet eyes grabbed her attention. They seemed calm, but Telma could see the fires burning within them. The eyes belonged to a strange-looking young man. His hair was a mess of navy blue spikes, and from the way his dark green tunic hugged him, she could tell he had a fantastic build. Calling out, Telma grinned at him, "Sweetheart, want a drink?"
"Give me something stronger than what he's having," the young man nodded, gesturing at Rusl, who laughed. Telma nodded, winking at him as she grabbed the needed ingredients for his drink. A small smile graced his features as the young man sat down at the bar.
"I haven't seen you around here before," Telma commented as she placed his drink down in front of the bluenette.
"I travel a lot," he replied, taking a sip of the drink. "Termina and Holodrum mostly."
"Where're you from?"
"Here actually." Telma raised an eyebrow. Who was this guy? She couldn't place him, but he seemed familiar.
"What's your name, hun?" she pressed.
"…Zaiten."
"That name, where have I heard that name?"
"Thank you," Zaiten said calmly, as he placed a red rupee next to his drink. Standing up, he hurried out of the bar. Telma's eyes followed his retreating form, before she turned to Rusl.
"Let it alone," Rusl advised, before pushing his empty glass towards her. Telma opened her mouth to retort, only for her mouth to snap closed. That man, Zaiten, paid her double the amount the drink cost.
Ordon Village
There was only one thing Link hated more than Ganondorf, and that was dealing with the Oocca. Especially one by the name Nikko. Currently, Link was shaking a jar, trying to get the Oocca out.
"I said 'OI!'" Nikko shouted, his voice echoing inside the pot. "I'm not done!"
"Yes, you are," Link growled. What was this, the seventh time in the past hour? Why couldn't the damn bird stay away from pots?
"Link," Nikko chastised, "When I'm done raping, I'll tell you I'm done raping."
"Uh, Nikko," Link sighed, shaking his head at the Oocca, "That's not what rape is."
"Well, whatever it is, it works for me."
"Idiot," Link thought, before getting fed up with the Oocca, and pegging the jar at a wall. He closed his eyes, rubbing his temple as the jar smashed open. That was Ilia's favorite one. He had gotten it for her in Castle Town, just after the war ended. When he opened his eye, he saw the Oocca surrounded by the remains of the pot. Glaring at the sky being, Link ground out, "Why are you even here?"
"As I said before," Nikko laughed. "I grew bored of the city, so I came down here to visit you. Only, I got a little sidetracked…"
"I got that."
"And after you stopped me from doing what I love, you got sidetracked." Link cocked an eyebrow, waiting for Nikko to continue. The Oocca gave him what seemed like an amused expression. "With that girl."
"Ilia wanted me to help her with something," Link explained.
"I say, she's not as good looking as the last two."
"Last…two?"
"Your red-haired imp and the Princess," Nikko said, relishing in the confused expression on the Hero's face. Anger flashed in his eyes at the use of the word 'imp'.
"Nikko. Out. Now."
"Oi!"
The Next Day-Hyrule Castle Throne Room
Link glanced around the throne room, not bothering to hide his annoyed look. Princess Zelda had summoned him to the castle for some unknown reason. As of yet, she hadn't shown up. Across from him was a finely dressed man with cold eyes, and a blue-haired Hylian, whom one of the guards had just announced. He didn't know anything about this guy. What was his name? Dastan?
"So, peasant, why are you here?" the cold-eyed man questioned, looking at Link with disgust. Link raised an eyebrow at the question, before answering.
"I was summoned by Her Majesty," Link replied. "And it's Link."
"What in the name of Nayru would she summon you for, peasant?" Link gritted his teeth at the comment, wanting nothing more than to smack that smug look from off his face. Before he could, however, the blue-haired man spoke calmly.
"I would believe that she wishes to thank him, Onkled." The cold-eyed man glared at the bluenette, and replied snidely.
"I would suggest that you learn your place, boy. I am from an important and wealthy family, whereas you are a mere bastard child, and a halfbreed one at that. You are even lower than this pea-" Before Onkled could finish, the bluenette had kicked his legs out from under him. Link smirked slightly, although surprised that someone would even bother to defend him.
"You're Link, right?" the blue-haired man asked, facing him. Link nodded, and received a slight smile, "Zaiten. The Princess must be meeting with the Marquess of Pherae."
"How do you-" Link started, his brow furrowing in confusion. Zaiten chuckled, and began to explain.
"Pherae is a district in Lycia, a country we have an alliance with. The Royal Family often visited Lycia, and stayed with The Marquess of Pherae. I-"
"I doubt the Hero of Twilight needs a history lesson," a reply laced with amusement cut him off. Zaiten bowed, smirking slightly. Link turned towards the voice, and dropped respectfully into a bow as he noticed who stood in the doorway. Princess Zelda stood, her eyes twinkling with amusement, with an air of casualness Link had never seen her with before. It was shocking, but strangely exhilarating.
"You may leave, Duke," Zelda ordered quietly. Onkled sputtered in disagreement, but did as she ordered. Zaiten and Link exchanged smiles, causing Zelda to cock an eyebrow at them, "Get up."
"Are you sure, my sweet Princess?" the bluenette questioned. "We have disrespected you: we ought to be thrown into the dungeons."
"Zaiten," Zelda murmured, "Please."
Slowly Link and Zaiten rose, their eyes never leaving the Princess. Zelda held their gazes for a moment, before giggling quietly. Link and Zaiten exchanged confused looks, before Link spoke. "You summoned us, my Princess?"
"I would like to form treaties with the races," Zelda answered, meeting his gaze. "And offer you something in thanks for all you have done."
"The Zora will back you," Zaiten shrugged. "You know this."
"Link," Zelda said, as if Zaiten hadn't spoken. "To thank you for all that you have done, I wish to knight you, and make you the general of Hyrule's army."
"Me?" Link asked in disbelief, his eyes widening. Zaiten grinned at the reaction, while Zelda smiled knowingly. "I-I know nothing of leading an army."
"My father focused little on Hyrule's army, never thinking that we may get attacked. We were unprepared for Zant's attack," Zelda started, closing her eyes for a moment. "I will not make that same mistake. You are one of the most skilled and powerful warriors I have ever met, and I believe you could teach them much. However, if you wish not to take this burden, I shall not hold it against you. You have done so much for this land already; I do not wish to burden you."
"I-I," Link stammered, torn. One part of him wanted to do as she wished, to train and lead the Army of Hyrule. The other part wanted just to return to Ordona, to live out his days with Ilia as a man, not a hero. "Please, Your Majesty, allow me to think on this."
"I shall not begrudge you that, Link. I respect you far too much to force you into this." She smiled at him kindly, "And do call me Zelda."
"Thank you, Princess." Zaiten rolled his eyes at the respectful response.
"Zelda," Zaiten started. "What will you offer me?"
Zelda raised an eyebrow as she met his gaze, "Another time, my friend."
AN: Both Zaiten and Nikko are both OCs, which is pretty obvious to me. Nikko is based off of what my brother and I thought when we first saw Ooccoo in Twilight Princess. What could he have been doing in that pot? Zaiten is a revamped version of a character my brother wrote about maybe 6 years ago. I had to ask permission to use him in the story =/
I'm going to apologise to anyone who bothers to read this: I'm sorry about all the OCs (I have my reasons for them though!) and how horrid my writing is.
