Symphony of Darkness

Prologue

"Thank you again for the goats, kind sir," the merchant said as he waved farewell.

"No problem!" the young blonde man waved back as he headed in the opposite direction. He pulled down on his green cap and adjusted the leather belt of his tunic. His deep blue eyes glistened with life as a small smile crossed his lips. "I better stop by Telma's and say 'hi'. It's been awhile…."

The sky began to color itself a fiery orange with flecks of pink as the sun began its fall. The blonde headed down the small alley and descended the small flight of stairs and made his way to the entrance of Telma's Bar.

"Well I'll be! If it isn't Link!" Telma leaned over the counter and smiled. "Get over here kid!"

Link grinned and walked over. "Hi Telma."

The woman walked around the counter and embraced the youth. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

"It hasn't been that long."

"It's been a year, sweetheart!"

He blinked. "Well…I guess it has."

Telma went back around the counter. "Have a seat! Relax and let's chat." Link nodded and pulled up a stool to the counter. "So, when's your eighteenth birthday?"

"It just passed actually."

"What? Damn, you should've stopped by!"

"Everyone in Ordon kept me busy that day. They threw me a surprise party. It was a lot of fun…" He glanced around at the crowded bar. "Busy today?"

"Yeah. Everyone's had a busy work day."

"Me too. Actually, I came to the market today to sell some Ordon Goats."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. I've been trying to get back into the swing of being a farm hand after everything…" His gazed traveled down to the hard wood of the counter. "…After everything…" The face of a dear old friend came to his mind. "…Midna…"

"Link?" He looked up at her, startled. "You-"

"Hey Telma! Can we get some more meat over here?" shouted a man sitting at a table with three beautiful women.

"Yeah, I'll be right there." She turned her attention back to Link. "You just relax, you hear me?" She disappeared into the back room.

"Sure thing." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The door to the bar suddenly slammed opened, disturbing Link's peace.

"Of all the rotten luck!! Dammit!!"

He turned his head and his eyes landed at a young woman standing at the door. Her face was absolutely red with fury. She flew past him in her rage and plopped down in the stool next to him. He quickly looked away, not wanting to catch her attention and ending up on the receiving end of her rage.

The blue haired girl took off a wooden box that hung from her back and dropped it to the ground. She folded her arms on the counter and laid her head on them. "Telma!!" There was no response, which caused the girl to put her head back up and glare. "TELLLLMAAA!!" she yelled as she slapped her hand on the table. "SERRRVICCCCEEE!!"

Even though Link had traveled from Ordon to the Castle Market many times, and even though he spent quite some time in Castle Market, "city people" still baffled him. He was so much different from them, as he was from the country, and he couldn't help but snicker at this riotous girl's behavior.

The girl, hearing Link's quiet laughter, turned to him. Her crimson eyes screamed anger. "What's so funny Blondie?!"

He blinked. "Uh, nothing at all…"

She checked him up and down. "Figures. That get-up you have on practically screams 'Hick from Ordon'."

"H-Hey, just wait a-"

"TELMA!!" she shouted once more.

City folk also got on Link's nerves. They were always running about, never having time to stop and relax until the day was practically over and they were incredibly rude. They were immensely different from him.

"By the gods, I'm coming!" Telma rushed out of the backroom, but suddenly stopped. "Oh! It's you hun! Just let me get this guy his meat and I'll be right with you." She walked over to the man with the three women on his arms and then hurried back behind the counter. "You don't look happy."

"I'm not! That bastard of a doctor in this market is stealing all of my customers!"

"Now, now-"

"I shouldn't have to sneeze on the produce carts everyday when no one's looking just to make people sick so they can come to me for treatment!!" the blue haired girl shouted.

Link's jaw dropped, as he remembered the apple he had bought earlier in the day. He had devoured the apple in a minute. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

Telma sighed. "I thought I told you to stop doing that."

"I'm on the verge of being poor Telma! Money makes the world go round! It's always about money!"

Link didn't like this girl's personality. She seemed too materialistic and she seemed like the type that had a bad temper. "Women…" he mumbled.

"How 'bout a drink, hun? It's on the house," Telma suggested.

"Then get me some ale, beer, whiskey, wine, some of that imported sake stuff, and a hops and mix it all in a huge mug! I'm drinking my troubles away tonight!"

Link was shocked. He never met a woman that drank before, and even more shocking was the fact that this girl was not old enough to drink. The legal drinking age in Hyrule was eighteen and she still looked like a teenager!

"Sorry, no can do hun, you know the law," Telma answered.

"But Telma, you know I'm hooked on that stuff."

"No, I don't. Since when have you liked alcohol?"

"Two years ago. A friend of mine let me drink some of his ale and I've been a lover of alcohol since then."

"Hun, that stuff'll kill you in the end."

"I don't care! I'm too depressed to care about anything." She rubbed her temples. "Please Telma? After everything we've been through together, you'll deny me my one joy? Would you rather have me be miserable?"

It was Telma's turn to rub her temples. "Alright, fine! I'll give you some beer, BUT I'm mixing it with plenty of water!"

"Whatever. I don't hold my alcohol very well, so I'll still get wasted anyways…" she whispered.

Telma looked at Link. "Can I get you anything Link?"

"Uh, some milk would be nice."

"Alright." She turned her back and began making the drinks.

"What a wuss!" the girl laughed. Link looked at her. "Milk? Does baby want it in a bottle too?" He glared at her.

"Oh stop hassling Link!" Telma hissed when she put the mugs down in front of the two patrons.

"Link?" the girl asked. She grabbed the mug and downed the whole thing in one fell gulp. "What kind of name is that?" She burped.

"You're not very lady-like, are you?" Link asked angrily.

"I'm more man than you'll ever be," she spat back.

"Stop it Symphony!" Telma scolded.

"Symphony?" Link whispered.

"Great, now this weirdo knows my name." Symphony looked down at her mug. "Another round of 'beer-water' please." Telma rolled her eyes and took the mug to refill it.

"And for your information, Symphony, I don't drink," Link hissed.

"I don't care, nor will I ever, Blondie."

"Don't call me that!"

"Honestly Symphony!" Telma set the mug down. "Anyways, Link, this is Symphony. I'm sorry you couldn't have met her in more pleasant terms."

"Oh, I can be very pleasant," Symphony mocked.

"Unfortunately, she happens to be my wayward adopted daughter."

"What?! No way!" Link shouted. "How come I've never seen her before?"

"Because she's always gone. One day she'll be here and the next day she'll be gone. And then weeks later she'll send a letter saying that she's in another land! Besides, you and I met last year, and she was out on one of her adventures. She never knew anything about the evils plaguing out land."

"Yes I did. I heard it from merchants. And for your information, mother, the whole, 'leaving out of the blue' thing only happened once!"

"And we won't have another 'Kasuto Episode' ever again, right?"

"I guarantee nothing!" She took a big gulp of her drink.

Link rolled his eyes, but he could clearly see that these two had a powerful bond. "When did you adopt her?"

"Oh, I don't remember how old she was, but it was years ago. She was just a little thing back then. You see, I found her and…" She glanced at Symphony, who was suddenly quiet. Link looked at her as well. Symphony's demeanor completely changed. She was so sad looking, so hurt. Telma shook her head. "Well, the important thing is I found her and raised her as my own."

Symphony, feeling the effects of the watered down beer, squeezed the mug. "…Why are you telling him this?"

"Symphony, I-"

"He's a Hylian! He doesn't need to know! He doesn't care!!"

"Not here Symphony!" Telma quickly hissed.

Link looked at the two, confused. Within that moment something happened between them. Something that he did not understand or know about. Something that hurt them both.

XXXX

"Whoooo! Can I drink or can I drink?!" Symphony shouted. She examined her wrist, looking at an imaginary watch. "Would you look at the time? It's late 'o clock!" She rose from her stool.

"Uh…" Link began.

"I was hoping that this wouldn't happen," Telma sighed. "Symphony, you somehow managed to get drunk, so why don't you stay here tonight?"

"No, no, I don't want to intrude. I have my own life. And my own place. Pretty good for a sixteen year old, right?" She slung her wooden box on her back and danced to the door. "Well, you all are such lovely people, but it is time for me to go!" With a well placed kick, the door flew open. "Oh would you look at that." Rain poured out in the dark alley. "Don't mind me Telma. I don't need an umbrella. I love the rain!" She ran out into the rain, leaving the door open.

Telma pinched the area between her eyebrows. "Link, can you do me a huge favor?"

"Sure, what is it?" Link responded, pushing around the empty mug between his hands.

"Can you walk Symphony home?"

"Um, I don't really think that-"

"Please Link? I'm really worried about that girl. She's as gentle as a kitten. She'd never hurt anyone."

"I…Okay." He stood up. "Thanks again Telma."

"No problem. And take care."

He nodded and was out the door. "Now where did she get to?"

"Ahahaha…"

"Hmm?" He saw someone turn a corner and leave through the south gate. "That must be her!" He followed her out, but stopped when he couldn't see her. "Hey! Symphony! Where'd you go?!"

"KYAAAHHH!!"

Link's heart skipped a beat. He ran down the stairs, but suddenly froze when he saw the situation. Symphony was slung over the shoulder of a shadowy enemy. The foe turned to Link, glowing blood red eyes meeting his sapphire ones. His lungs suddenly seemed to stop working. Everything felt so heavy. He was chocking from lack of air! Just who was this dark foe?!

"Let me go right now!!" Symphony screamed.

Link was suddenly knocked out of his trance when the foe ran off with the young girl. He shook his head, then reached for his trusty whistle. He blew on it, and Epona appeared out of the shadows, racing towards him. He jumped on her back and was off. "That thing moves pretty fast! Just what is that thing?!" He followed the sound of Symphony's cries through Hyrule's fields. "Where is it taking her?!" He soon got his answer. He had just crossed the border into the Faron Province.

"Somebody help!!"

The rain soon grew into a downpour.

Link pulled on Epona's reigns to pull her to a quick halt when he saw the foe take Symphony into the cave leading towards the Forest Temple. "What does it want with her?!" He jumped off Epona, searched through one of her saddlebags, and pulled out a lantern. Igniting it quickly, he ran into the cave.

"AIIEEE!!"

He forced his legs to go faster and was soon out of the cave. "Whoa!!" He planted his heels into the ground and came to a sliding stop. "Symphony!" She was on her back, head turned to the side, lying in the mud. He knelt down next to her. "Hey?" No response. "Hey!" Silence. There was no sign of injury, no blood. So Link came to the conclusion that she was passed out. He pulled her against his chest and looked around, remembering that there was still that foe lurking about somewhere. A black figure suddenly darted up one of the trees and disappeared into the night. A sense of safety overcame Link as he stood up, holding the blue haired girl in his arms. Her make up was running down her face, making her look as if she was crying blue tears. He saw the white markings under both of her eyes and touched them, discovering that they were not make up, but in fact tattoos. He winced of the thought of being branded with a tattoo on the sensitive flesh under his lower eyes lids.

A shiver ran through his body.

He ran back to Epona, the lantern swinging from his waist. He knew that he had to get out of the rain or both he and Symphony would get sick. He put the girl on Epona first, then climbed on. "Go Epona! To Ordon!" And she galloped off, wondering about the stranger on her back. They quickly arrived at Link's home and Epona trotted under a tree in hopes of escaping from the rain. Link got down, then eased the unconscious female down into his arms. He gently picked her up and put her over his shoulder so he could maneuver his way up the ladder and into his home. When he was into his home safely, he laid down the girl on the cushioned wooden couch and started a fire in the hearth.

Link threw off his wet clothes and put on his sleeping clothes. He hung his wet clothes near the fire in hopes of drying them. His attention then came to Symphony. "She needs to get out of those wet clothes or she'll catch a cold…but…" His face began to redden. Just how was he supposed to undress her? He gathered up his nerve and walked over to her. He put his hands on her sash with the strange and frightening looking eye on it. "Here goes…"