Life
Sequel to The Dark Ages
Prologue
Link looked over his young son's little face. A smile came to him as he gazed upon the dreaming boy. The hero brushed the hairs out of his boy's face, and left the room.
It had been almost eight years since that day Zelda saved him of his cursed powers. Fierce Deity still lived in his head, driving him to the edge of insanity with the Coconut Song. Lucky for him, his loving queen was always able to keep him sane. Zelda and Link ruled Hyrule in a prosperous age, with a five-year-old son named Bruce.
Link still looked his younger self, only now at the age of twenty-four having his short hair silver, and blue eyes. The markings on his face, two red and one blue, remained as well. His attire in clothing, however, changed back to his favorite green tunic. His left eye, however, was cloudy blue; for this eye was blind and he could not see out of it. It was one of the side affects when his body was being taken over. (His eyes went pure white if you recall.)When Link thinks back to that day, he wanders himself how Zelda kept him alive yet freeing him of his cruse when she stabbed him. He's been able to come up with on answer; Love. Her love when she kissed him and held that sword held the true power and key to the cage he was trapped in.
Link sighed as he walked back into his and Zelda's bedroom, the sun barely peeking into their room. It was barely even dawn and he was wide-awake, ready to continue his dynasty. He looked over his wife's beautiful sleeping face. Her smooth skin was still young, and her flowing blonde hair covered her pillow. Link smiled and kissed her cheek before leaving that room as well.
The king was already ready for the news brought from Impa that early in the morning. The shekiah was waiting for him in the throne room, and he knew if he were late, she would be down his throat in a matter of minutes. However, Link always made it a second before the sun touched the opposite wall of the windows in the throne room.
Sure enough, Impa was already there, with scrolls and reports from soldiers. She had an impatient look upon her face, as if she had been up all-night and waiting for him that morning. Link, almost knowing exactly what she would say, raised his hand and repeated her speech aloud.
"I'm thirty minutes late. I could've had all of this done by now and no I did not sleep in. And yes Zel is still asleep and no we did not stay up all night having fun. I know I know, you've said this a million times before and you'll say it a million times again," Link took a deep breath. "To be a good king, I have to be on time."
Impa stared blankly at him.
"Alrighty then, what do you have for me my fair guardian?" Link asked as he sat down in the throne chair. He got in his usual position; legs crossed, one hand on an armrest, the other holding his chin up and eyes staring so cheerfully at Impa. ('Cheerfully' used in a sarcastic way.)
The older woman shook her head and didn't speak. She only handed him a scroll for him to read. Link looked at it. His expression changed from a "good morning" to a "damn it to hell!" look.
"WHY must we be tortured like this Goddesses?! Why can't you just make your minds up about our livestock?!" Link complained and looked up. The scroll reported another spring of low livestock.
"The Goddesses have good reason your majesty. What they choose is their bidding." Impa told him.
Link took a deep breath again that morning. He took another scroll and read it to himself.
'Oooh!' A squeal in his head jumped.
'Dear gods why him?!' Link shouted in his mind.
'I-I-I-I-I got a lovely bunch of coconuts! Ladeda! Here they are standing in a row!!' Fierce Deity sang.
"Impa... have you thought up any spells to remove the annoying voice in my head yet? I'm starting to get headaches from this dumbass in my brain." Link asked the sheikiah. Impa shook her head. Link sighed.
"Sorry your majesty... but I'm afraid a soul without a host is a ghost and we don't want a ghost around these parts. Especially that ghost." Impa told him, her voice jokingly matter-of-fact. Link almost glared at her snickering.
Another normal day for Link... another day without danger or evil. Link was beginning to miss his duties as a hero and most of all, kicking evil butt. Killing evil was the thing he missed the most. When all danger and villains are gone, a hero's soul begins to grow old and tired. The purpose of there being a warrior is to fight. But with the land at peace, there was no need for battle. Link's skill had become rusty and useless altogether. Now, he had a family and a kingdom to rule. His sword and other weaponry were set to the side, to collect dust. Forever.
Like every day, his son would run in at a certain moment. The cheerful, young and innocent face brought joy to Link. Link was so happy when the Goddesses granted him his wish of having a child without the horrifying powers he has. Bruce would never have to go through what Link went through five years ago.
His son came running in with a wooden small sword, shouting 'charge!' at his father.
Link would always hold his hand out to stop Bruce by the head, keeping him at a good arm's-length distance. While his son kicked and threw his arms about, trying to play-attack his father, Link would read more scrolls until Zelda came in laughing.
"Mom! Daddy won't let me hurt him again!" Bruce would cry out to his mother.
"Now Link, you know better than to not let yourself get hurt." Zelda smiled.
"Aw, but getting hurt hurts so badly" Link whined. Zelda gave him that look of 'you know better.' Link gave in and allowed his son to pounce him and playfully hit his chest.
When the rascal was done beating his father for no reason, Link looked through more scrolls. Zelda sat beside him, playing with Bruce on her lap.
Around noon, Impa would leave to run errands. Lunch would be served during that time.
Today would be different for our king. Instead of eating with his family, Link walked outside to the castle courtyard. He gazed upon the big blue sky. His mind drifted away into his own world. The grass waved in the wind with the sun kissing his cheeks warmly. He lay there in the grass, half asleep. He started daydreaming.
Link could hear the laughter of his wife and child in his bedroom. He smiled as he opened the doors. The warm sun poured in, giving a warm feeling. There, on the bed was his wife and child. Zelda tickled Bruce playfully, not noticing her husband walking in. Link smiled even more and gave a chuckle.
As he approached the two, the warm light started to dim. When the softness of the light was gone and only a cold darkness shined upon the room, Link's smiled faded. He began to panic for the laughter stopped. The cheerfulness was replaced by a horrifying scream, painful and deafening. The king reached out and felt nothing but cold air. The screaming of his wife echoed in his ears. When her painful cry died down, his son's began. The screeching of the child's voice was louder.
Link tried finding where they were, but his eyes could not see. He was having trouble deciding if they were trapped in or not in this darkness. The screaming and crying stopped abruptly. Link fell to his knees, feeling the ground beneath him start to give in. His instincts tried kicking in, but it seemed the floor was swallowing him. As the floor reached his face, the hero saw what was his loving Zelda's body, motionless and cold now. Link growled and struggled.
Laughter filled his ears. A laughter worse than that of Gannon's. Link's head was consumed in the floor now. A sharp voice yelled at him.
Link threw himself up; his heart racing and his eyes wide. He breathed heavily, looking around franticly.
'Kid! You were having a nightmare! I yelled like ten times just to wake you up!' Said Fierce Deity's voice.
'Gods... what the hell was that...?' Link asked his other voice.
'I don't know, but I didn't like it. You haven't had a nightmare in so long...' Fierce Deity replied. Link slowly began to relax. He closed his eyes and laid back down in the grass.
He only had a moment to relax when Zelda's voice called for him. Link sat up quickly and looked in the general direction of her voice.
"I'm here my queen!" Link called back. Zelda came into his view, almost running toward him. A smile was on her face as she came closer. Link smiled, glad to see she was still there. But his smile faded as the thought of something else happening, and this just being another nightmare within a dream. But, he shook his head, standing up and greeting his wife.
"I've been looking all over for you, Honey. Why were you not at lunch with us?" Zelda asked as she hugged him.
"Sorry my love, I was thinking here in the courtyard." Link replied, stroking her smooth hair.
"Bruce is with his master now." Zelda told him.
"He's actually going to learn from someone else instead of us?" Link looked at her.
"Yes." Zelda nodded.
"Well, this is a change." Link blinked.
Bruce never wanted to be taught by another person. Instead, his mother would teach him his education. Even being at such a young age, the young prince was required to learn such things as math and philosophy. Impa, as she taught Zelda, was his teacher.
Link blinked again. 'Today sure was different', he often thought that afternoon. Link noticed Impa didn't have much to report to him. In fact, this morning's meeting was all she had to say. The sheikiah was mostly teaching Bruce his lessons. Though she was his teacher, Impa was not his guardian. Instead, Mila was his nurse and caretaker. Mila would be waiting for him every afternoon so they could go walking through the guardians while Zelda was busy with helping Link.
Mila's once determined and fiery temper had slowed down. She was now a calm young woman with a husband of her own. Her husband is one of the castle guards. She settled down, now pregnant. Every now and then, Mila would provide Zelda some help and advise. The maid had become a trusted, loyal friend of the royal family.
It didn't take very long for night to come around. All day, that little nightmare was stuck in Link's head. It had a purpose. There had to be a reason why he had it.
The king looked at his sleeping wife in their bed. He smiled. She was too cute for him. Even with only being able to see out one eye, he could still get a perfect picture of her. Every time Link looked at Zelda, he got a very good feeling. Even with eight years of seeing her in bed like this, he still felt like he was new with this whole mess of love. As he gazed at her mesmerizing beauty, Link slowly crawled up next to her. Without him even knowing it, his hands reached out for her.
She was too perfect. Zelda, his love, his queen and his soulmate always stunned him with her heart. Link pulled Zelda's sleeping form close to him and snuggled her neck. She smiled and slowly stirred awake.
"Link..." she muttered. Her voice was intoxicating his ears now.
"Hmm... Shush, my queen" he hushed her. Link snuggled closer to her, his mind drifting away from the day's worry. "You are so beautiful Zelda..." Link whispered in her ear.
She smiled. "And you, my Lord, are very handsome" she whispered back. Zelda loved feeling his strong arms around her. She loved feeling his breath along her neck. The queen loved being this close to her king.
Link slowly stirred awake. He rubbed his face with his hands and felt a very light extra-weight on him. Smiling, he kept his eyes close, already knowing who it was. Link rubbed his hands up Zelda's spine, making her shift a little. Her golden hair spread behind her as he now stroked it.
"Morning Link...' She whispered softly.
"Morning my lovely queen" Link whispered back, his mind forgetting the day before completely.
"How did you sleep last night?" Zel asked, kissing his chest.
"Peacefully and warm with you by my side..." He paused for a moment. "Actually, with you cuddled up on me."
Zelda chuckled. She smiled and kissed his lips. "Impa is going to be mad if you're late again" she reminded him.
"Bah, she can wait another hour or so" Link looked at his wife and pulled the covers over their heads.
Impa was already there, again. Link sat down in his chair, the shekiah's speech coming in one ear and going out the other. Once she was finished, she handed him a scroll and started giving suggestions on how to fix the problem.
"And one more thing," She started again. "The Hylian Masquerade Ball is tonight your majesty."
"It's tonight?" Link asked dumbfounded. He stared at her with shocked eyes.
"Yes. All the Sages and people invited will be here around sunset" Impa told him.
"Okay..." Link blinked. He sat there, looking rather stupid for a few minutes. "Where's my son? He's usually in here by now to try and-" Link was stopped in mid sentence when a yell of attack from behind came aloud. Bruce pounced his father and held onto his neck.
Impa burst out laughing as Link walked around, being hit on the head by Bruce, who sat on his shoulders. Link cried out for Zelda's help, laughing at the same time.
"Sorry Link. I can't help you" Zelda told him, smiling.
The rest of the day was generally calm. Unless you want to count being in a hurry to get the ballroom in order, and decorated by the end of the day. By the time the guests started coming, the ballroom was decorated with light pastel colors. Flowers were set everywhere. A huge buffet table was set to the east side of the room.
The people came in many different outfits, all having masks and smiles. People danced to the music set, waltzing gracefully. People from all over Hyrule and other kingdoms had come. Malon the ranch girl was set to prepare foods and keep the buffet under order. (She became the castle's best cook.) Everyone was here but the six Sages.
The music stopped with the waltz. A man with a loud, deep voice spoke over the whispers of chattering mouths. "Presenting his Majesty and His lovely Queen, Lord Link and Queen Zelda" he spoke aloud. A tug at his shirt made him look down. Bruce. "And, Prince Bruce."
Link held Zelda's hand, holding a scepter with three triangles, the triforce symbol. He wore a fancy green tunic as usual. (Link never wore anything but a green tunic, even as a king.) A white mask, designed with emeralds, and purple and green feathers, covered his eyes and nose.
'Can't we ever wear something different than GREEN?!' Fierce Deity asked in disgust.
'Hey, green is a good color, don't diss it.' Link replied.
Fierce Deity sulked back to the corner of Link's mind, grumbling to himself.
'I can still hear you...' Link thought.
'Bah, you old nag.'
'Hey, you're older than me by what- a thousand years? So who's the old nag now?!' Link told him. No comment. Link nodded and put on a victory smile while walking down the stairs with his Queen. People bowed before them as the got to the dance floor, losing track of where their little devil ran off to.
Zelda was wearing a beautiful white gown, which sparkled at the ends and top, near the chest, in a beautiful design. On her face was a silvery, sparkling mask with white feathers. She resembled a gorgeous angel; almost too perfect to be an angel, but something more, for Link.
"You look wonderful Zel..." Link whispered in her ear as they begun to dance.
"Thank you Link... you look just as stunning tonight" Zelda told him. She smiled.
"Ah, but your glowing light -or maybe it's just the dress- shines like the true goddesses" Link smiled. She giggled at his comment of the dress.
"Do you not like it?" She asked.
"Ah, I do. It's absolutely perfect. But it looks better on you."
"Thank you My Lord" Zelda smiled.
The song ended, and other waltzers joined in. Zelda curtsied before Link and he bowed. They went off to discuss a few things with friends.
When Link turned around he was greeted by a small, ten year old girl. She smiled brightly, wearing a green jewel-covered mask with the forest symbol. Link smiled. It was his old friend Saira. She giggled and hugged him.
"Well your grace, you sure haven't changed much" she said, after breaking from the hug.
"Neither have you, Sage of the Forest." Link replied. Saria stuck her tongue out at him and lifted her mask. Her green eyes shined cheerfully and with innocence. Link pulled his up and looked down at her with one eye.
"I'm still sorry about your eye Link... I wish there was something we Sages could do about it" she said, more serious now.
"Bah, don't worry about it, Sar. I can see just fine" Link replied, turning around and bumping into Darunia, the Fire Sage.
Darunia pounded Link's shoulder with a hard pat, as usually his greeting. Link fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
Zelda was with the Zora Queen and Water Sage, Ruto, and the Spirit Sage, Nabooru. They talked about the many issues with their kingdoms and clans. Ruto's being the shortage of water supply once again and Nabroou's Gerudos women were having trouble with the desert heat. The three women tried to sort these matters out, having difficulty agreeing what should be done.
While Bruce's parents were busy discussing things with the Sages, he was running about poking people. Impa and Mila chased after him, getting caught in a crowd of dancers however. Bruce tripped, but was grabbed in time by a stranger. The young boy looked up at his catcher and gasped. It was a broad man wearing a dark green shirt and dark pants. His brown hair was untidy and very curly to a point. He stared at the boy with deep hazel eyes.
"You might want to be careful, little prince." His voice was deep and rough-sounding. Bruce only nodded and stared at the man.
"Leon, are you being mean to little kids again?" came a voice behind the man. A younger man, much smaller in size, walked up with a wide grin. His blonde hair parted down the middle, and he looked through glasses. His eyes were a deep green.
"Eh, no, I just tried to keep the kid from falling was all" Leon answered.
"Ah, well, we best be going, we have to talk with his majesty. Good day, young prince" the smaller man bowed to Bruce and walked away with the broad guy.
Impa and Mila finally got to Bruce.
Link looked around the room now that Saria and Darunia had gone to talk with the other Sages. The king was forced to watch the dancers on the floor with his son running around under them. He sighed. Apparently he escaped Impa and Mila's grasp again.
"He's too much like you" came Zelda's voice from behind.
"Huh...? Oh. What do you mean?" Link looked at her and smiled.
"Can't stay put for too long" she told him.
Link stared at her blankly.
"I know the look on your face every morning. I know the look in your eye when you sit upon the throne, bored. You miss the battlefield my King" The Queen spoke. Link stood there silently. He felt her soft warm hands on his back. Then, she placed her forehead against it. "I'm sorry Link... you are a warrior with excellent skills but you can never use them again..." Her voice was soft and saddening.
"Zelda. I'm perfectly happy being with you and our son. I am a King now and I must set aside my personal happiness for the sake of others. These people need a King... you need a husband... he..." Link paused. He looked at his son. The blonde-haired boy running in circles, laughing and sticking his tongue out at Impa. "He needs a father."
Zelda stood behind him, her head and hands on his back.
"This is where I belong. Not on the battlefield" Link finished his statement.
Zelda smiled. Even after eight years of living and being together, she still had trouble getting used to him saying that. The Queen understood perfectly well that Link knew where he belonged. She just had a hard time coping with seeing his restless soul in such a calm place.
'Ohhh! Food!' Fierce Deity shouted.
'Oh boy.' Link sighed.
"Your Majesty!" came that voice Bruce heard earlier. Link turned around and saw the broad man and skinny man. The small man had a wide grin on his face and eyes of great wisdom. They bowed before me. "Forgive us if we are disturbing you, My Lord, but we wish to speak to you... in private."
"Raise. We will speak in the Grand Hall" Link said as he walked with them out of the huge bronze doors.
Link stood before the two young men in question. "First, your names please, gentlemen."
"I am Sir Jr. Ruby. This is my fellow partner, Leon" the one named Jr introduced them.
Leon simply bowed before Link, then rose.
"Welcome to the palace. What is it you needed to talk to me about?" Link asked, rather not wanting to stand there with greetings all night.
"Well, your grace. It seems to Leon and me that there has been a dramatic change in Hyrule's natural resources, as has been reported to you by fair Impa. But, we believe there may not be much natural to the problem. I fear it may be something much more..." Jr. paused, as if trying to find the right word to finish.
"Unnatural." Leon said, leaning against a wall.
"Thank you, Leon. Your Majesty, There may be something interfering with the balance of nature and magic that is causing these problems. I believe that something sinister has caused the balance to go out of wack and-" Jr. was interrupted by Link raising his hand.
"You need say no more. It has occurred to me in dreams. I'm not too sure about the balance of nature and magic, but I do know from a warrior's sense of danger that there is something sinister coming. What it is... I don't know." Link shook his head. It was true. After that dream he had (now remembering it again) he had a bad feeling of something evil.
"Ah, so he does have the feeling as well." Jr. spoke, almost in an inquiring tone.
"Lemme guess, you're the brains and he's the brawn?" Link looked at the two more closely.
"Yeah, kind of. Leon doesn't speak much Hylian. Though he was born here in Hyrule, he was taught a much different language by a very strange couple. Say something in that language Leon" Jr. looked at the muscular man.
Leon grunted before speaking. "Jeng sais pas..."
Both Link and Jr. stared at the man with dumb blank looks on their faces. Leon grunted again, closing his eyes, arms crossed against his chest.
Jr. shook his head. "Uh. Anyways. Your Majesty, what do you suggest we do?" he asked the King.
"Wait it out... for now, there is nothing we can do till we see a better sign or anything sinister. Until then, I would like to keep in contact with you two" Link said.
"Agreeable." Jr nodded.
"Prepare for the worst..." Link told them.
"Yes..." Leon bowed and started walking away. Jr. followed behind, hurryingly.
Link watched the two leave, his face full of twists and sorrow. Zelda came out to talk to him.