ShiningwingX: Greetings everyone! It's been a while since I've released anything of merit, but I'm pleased to say that I'm definitely back in the swing of things. I've felt much better since my recent move and have been able to focus more on my writing. I began writing this prologue less than a month ago, and from that timestamp, those of you who have been with me from the beginning can agree that this is a much better pace than the 2-3 months per chapter the last story started having. :)
For those of you who are new, I'll explain. I originally began writing the story under the title Trials of the Heart: Divinus Minae. This version of the story was meant to be a sequel to Ocarina of Time. It was more successful than I could have hoped, but for a very long time I was unable to work on it for various reasons. During this time, my aspirations for the story grew to something beyond mere fanfiction and therefore, I decided to rewrite it.
Now armed with a couple more years of writing experience, and a more solid plotline in mind, I've begun that process. This new version, Trials of the Heart: Angel's Call is going to deviate away from the sequel-story crutch I was using before. Eventually, I plan to convert this story into an original work and publish it, but I plan to finish it in fanfiction format first, so you don't need to worry about me suddenly pulling the brake on it here.
That said, I hope the old fans enjoy this new rendition of the story, and that new readers will find a lot to enjoy as well. So without further ado, let's get started.
Theme music:
Chrono Trigger: At the End of All Things – Abadoss (OC Remix)
Final Fantasy XIII: Promised Eternity – Masashi Hamauzu (Final Fantasy XIII Soundtrack)
Tales of Vesperia: Serenity – (Tales of Vesperia Soundtrack)
Final Fantasy IX: Melodies of Life Rearranged – McVaffe (OC Remix)
Trials of the Heart: Angel's Call
Prologue – Through the Eyes of the Past
Alvaï…
A voice… A silent whisper that rouses my unconscious mind, causing my eyes to open.
A vast, white expanse that surrounds me – an achromatic veil that comes from everywhere and nowhere at once. The brightness envelops everything in its pristine embrace, covering it like a thick blanket as bright as Sàlenòtenrie above. My vision strains against the glare as I attempt to keep myself from shutting out the brightness that envelops my vision. My gaze travels this way and that, curiosity and trepidation filling my being, as I try in vain to locate any other presence within the brightness that surrounds me as my mind steadily becomes more aware.
Talfë cyrim…?
The voice again… my voice. I wish I could answer it. Where indeed? It is as if a thick haze fills my mind, obscuring the aspects of memory and recognition from my thoughts. This is not right… this is not where I am supposed to be. I barely remember anything at all, but that much is certain… for why would anyone wish to be in a place like this… a place filled with naught but emptiness.
And yet… a strange sense of emotion claws at my spirit – emotions that I have no reason to feel – attempting to gain the attention of my addled mind. It is as if they are being transferred to me from elsewhere, though I cannot fathom from where. I focus on these… attempting to discern what they are and what they mean… and perhaps, through this, where they come from.
I feel… contentment? Relief? Joy?
It is as if my mind and spirit are as water in a pool – shifting form to that of whatever container is transmitting these feelings to me – yet lapping at the edges, trying to regain their true form. Why do I feel this way? From where do these emotions come, and why am I so receptive to it? These questions flood my mind like a torrent fallen from the heavens above as I try in vain to focus my thoughts… to remember what brought me here. This answer does not come… but the slow, steady awakening of my unconscious mind soon reveals something else.
I have no form… no shape or body. I am as nothing.
No… that is not right. If I were nothing, I would not be here. I would have no thoughts, no presence, no name.
Name…? What is my name? Do I have one?
Is it true then, that I am indeed nothing? That I am no different from the pallid emptiness surrounding me, but for a few echoing thoughts or emotions that may not even be my own? No… that cannot be true. I feel it… I know it… I am more than nothing. But what am I? Who am I?
Vèid… Sità…?
As if in response to my desire for clarity, the ivory pall slowly begins to recede, giving way to new hues and shapes that it had once concealed beneath its colorless embrace. A vivid curtain of lapis lazuli is the first to break through the blinding prison. Within this more vibrant but equally vast expanse, a number of streaming silver lights dart about, their color similar to that which blanketed my vision before, yet these are far less intense. The lights continue to dance through the air, veiled by the slowly fading curtain of white. Some swirl about in elegant patterns in the distance, others passing near enough that I might have reached out and touched them.
Ulné hirós… elni sità-
My thoughts are interrupted as the brightness continues to fade, revealing more of my surroundings. More of the azure expanse is unveiled, and with it, more of the whirling streams. However… there is something else here as well. The vague silhouette of a figure stands before me – an elegant image hidden just beyond the fading veil of achromatic light. The figure is unlike that of the thin, swift-moving rays which continue to dance around us… and much different than my own formless presence. This figure is more solid. More… whole.
Two long, slender limbs extend from the shoulders of an equally delicate looking body. The vaguely egg-like shape of a head, decidedly feminine in aspect, rests upon the figure's shoulders. The silhouetted images of the figure's hair dance in the pleasant breeze which wafts through this strange, calming place.
The last traces of the blinding glare that had enveloped me before slowly fade into nothingness, unveiling the figure at last. Soft, milky skin replaces the vague semblance thereof that pervaded my vision but an instant before. Eyes as blue as the sapphirine plane that surrounds us gaze into mine, sparkling with youth… and something more – joy. Long strands of fair hair shimmer in countless shades of gold, kissed by an imperceptible light.
It is… a woman.
Ferà…
Long strands of golden silk hang freely from her head, groomed to perfect straightness but for two small, majestically curved tresses which frame her delicate face. Eyes bluer than all the oceans gaze forward, occasionally disappearing only for an instant behind blinking eyelids. Delicate, rosy lips are curved into a beautiful, genuine smile, filling my heart with the warmth of her joy. Two pointed ears extend from either side of her head, and were it not for these I might have mistaken her for a goddess rather than the Hylian she is. Indeed, such a vision of beauty could only have been sculpted by the Gods themselves.
Her fair porcelain skin is covered in fine garments – elegant raiment the likes of which I have never before seen. A silken bodice of soft magenta covers her chest and abdomen and beneath this, a sleeveless v-necked shirt of purest white, secured by a button-strap, which slightly hides the skin of her long, slender neck. Two long, white gloves dress her arms and hands ending just before her shoulders. An equally white skirt conceals her legs, hiding both them and her feet from view, the only color it bears being two straight trails of magenta fabric, one larger than the other, which line bottom of the dress.
Even grander than her clothing is the fine jewelry which adorns her already exquisite form. Two golden spaulders emblazoned with complex, swirling embroideries rest upon her shoulders supporting a golden crest which stretches across her upper chest, baring the image of a great aquiline creature, holding three triangle-like objects aloft in its powerful wings. An aureate cincture encircles her waist and from it hangs a mantle of deep indigo baring many complex images including that of the three golden prisms and their avian barer while two earrings baring similarly cuneate shapes hang from her pointed ears. Upon her head, circling it like an auric halo is a beautiful circlet, its shape like that of a holy creature, and its center set with large, tear shaped ruby.
My mind and heart are filled a strange sense of familiarity. This woman – this beautiful creature that now stands before me, unmasked in the absence of the white expanse from before… is someone that I have held a connection with since time immemorial. One who has existed within my heart and mind since the moment of my birth… and perhaps, before. A person whom I know.
…A person whom I have never met before.
Hers is not the only presence that I sense here however. I sense another… a body much closer to me than hers, and yet for all my efforts I cannot see where this person is. The golden haired maiden continues to gaze forward, and it is then that I realize… she looks not at me, invisible and formless within this world as I am. Though her eyes stare directly into my own, it is not mine that meet her gaze. A gasp escapes from my insubstantial lips as I realize what this must mean.
"Thank you, Link…" She says, her voice as melodious as a siren's song.
Link… Link… Yes, that is my name. That is who I am. I am a Hylian too, like her, though I was not raised among them. The memories flood back into my mind like an undammed river spilling into a parched lake. A response forms within my mind. The response, a question, for I know not what she is thanking me for.
"Zelda…" I feel an unseen mouth move of its own accord, forming that single word without my permission. So it is true.
Hanàsil… hanàsil…!
A dream… this must be. How else could I be without form, and yet exist within the body of another? A body, which I've no control over? I continue to focus on this fact, trying in vain to gain some semblance of control over this vision – A motion of the arm… a step forward… a twitch of the fingers… anything to reveal these strange happenings as the dream I know they must be. Lucidity however, does not come. This avatar I inhabit does not even sense my presence as he continues to gaze forward, into the eyes of the beautiful woman opposite him.
Elphirim… Idrë ceró?
It seems that despite my efforts I am merely a watcher, observing the events to come from within a body that is both mine, and that of another. I cease my attempts to gain control of this strange vision for I know that it is a fruitless endeavor. Rather this is a dream, or something more it will not relinquish its control to me, and I suspect any attempts to 'awaken' myself will only yield similar results. So I watch… gazing through the eyes of this young man who is both me, and not as the events continue to enact themselves before me like a perfectly scripted play.
The smiling visage of the young woman before me widens, an aura of joy surrounding her very being. My heart begins to swell in response to this; a reaction that I am certain is not borne of my own thoughts or feelings. No… they must be his. It seems that I share much more than just this young man's name. Joy… relief… contentment… and more, mingle with my own thoughts of confusion and wonder, resulting in a complex battle for dominance within my heart. The slight texture of fabric… the faint breeze in the air… things that I, as no more than a formless consciousness should not feel, caress my senses with their telling presence. It is his emotions, his senses, that I have been experiencing from the beginning.
"Because of your efforts, Ganondorf Dragmire has been sealed within the Evil Realm." The porcelain skinned woman continues, breaking me from my thoughts. "Thus, his dark influence shall soon fade, and the people of this land will once again be blessed with a time of peace."
"You flatter me, Princess." I – or rather, the I whose body I currently inhabit – reply humbly. "I did only that which I was destined for. Anyone in the same situation would have done so."
"There is no need for humility, Link…" The young princess admonishes softly. "As with all things, there is always a choice. No one – not myself, the Hyrulean people, or even the Gods – could deny you that right. 'Destiny' as we call it, is merely one outcome out of many and its power is nothing to that of free will. You chose to fight… to become our savior, and for that you deserve my thanks."
I can feel my counterpart's mind relax as the princess' gentle declaration puts his heart at ease. "It is small wonder that you were chosen as the barer of the Wisdom Force, Zelda… but if I may, it was only through your guidance that I was able to achieve such a victory. I do not wish to think of how my journey across time might have ended without your aid."
I would have imagined this young man's words might have brought an even brighter smile from her rosen lips but instead, it seems to have an opposite effect. The princess' sapphire eyes fall, the smile fading from her lips, and she turns her gaze away from both me and the young man she speaks to. A shadow falls upon the once glowing princess, as an expression of sorrow and regret replaces the joy she radiated with only moments before. With it, a weight seems to press against my shoulders like the trunk of the eldest tree… a weight which I am certain my avatar can feel as well.
"Zelda? Are you well?" The young man says, his gentle voice laced with a concern that proves my assumption correct.
The hero – for what better word to describe the one she had called a savior – steps forward, and for the first time I catch a glimpse of the body I share. The young man raises his left hand, and my empathic concern for the woman whom he called 'Zelda' is overpowered by an emotion of my own; shock. For upon the hero's hand, hovering just above a fingerless gauntlet of leather, golden metal, and crimson gemstone is the glowing image of three triangles identical to the images I'd seen on the princess' attire. Two of the glowing prisms are dim, but the third shines brightly upon my avatar's hand.
He takes another step, and then a third before taking the princess' hand within his own, his fingers closing around her palm in a strong, but gentle grip. I cast my gaze upon the hand that he holds, and once more am I met with the same image of three triangles, but for one small difference. Like that of a mirrored reflection both hand and glowing shape are opposite that of the hero's. Where for him, the bottom right segment is that which glows, on hers it is the bottom left.
I can feel the now mirthless girl tense slightly as my avatar grips her hand. She turns her eyes even further from our collective gazes in response, hiding their beauty behind the thin veils of her closed eyelids.
"Zelda… won't you tell me what troubles you?" He coaxes gently once more.
"I… all of the tragedy that has befallen Hyrule for these past seven years was my doing…" This time she responds and though her eyes remain hidden, the sorrow within her voice is obvious to us both. "I was so young… I could not foresee the disastrous consequences of trying to control the Sacred Realm. If I'd only know, I never would have allowed this to happen… and you would not have suffered so because of my mistakes."
The young princess' regretful words tug at my heart, and the hero seems to feel the same as he grips her hand tighter, trying in vain to comfort the lamenting girl.
"I was a fool to believe that by obtaining the Triforce we could defeat Ganondorf and prevent his dark ambitions from coming to fruition… Instead, I only succeeded in bringing about those same ambitions." Eyes still shut, Zelda continues her woeful tale and I catch a small glimpse of unshed tears forming behind her eyelids. "I have wronged my people… and I have wronged you as well. I took an innocent little boy from his home – the only world he knew – and placed upon him a burden that he should never have been made to bear."
Oua yashnó… Sità jiko vidàn ienori Hyliàni…
I can feel the movement from the hero's other arm as he drapes it around the princess' slender waist, clutching her hand more firmly. "Zelda… you mustn't blame yourself. I-"
"And why not?" She interrupts before pausing, and I can see her body twitching slightly as silent sobs force their way to the surface. "I stole your innocence from you, Link. Not once did I consider how you must have felt. I simply took your words at their own worth without even considering what you were truly thinking. I would not blame you if you despised me for all I've done."
Zelda's words pierce my own heart like daggers, and though I do not know exactly of what she speaks, I am certain my avatar does… and that that knowledge must make it even more painful for him. His body shudders – an almost imperceptible reaction that I am sure I only feel because I share it. Then his eyes close, sealing me in darkness though I can still feel the warmth of the princess' body through his… and her tears seeping into the fabric of his clothing.
My window into the strange plane does not remain sealed for long however, for a moment later he reopens his eyes. I can feel his emotions shifting, the empathetic melancholy and concern for his princess melding with something else. He removes his right arm from her waist and takes a step back, though his left remains in hers. A sense of conviction fills him, a strong desire which forces away his distress, and mine in turn. My own shapeless breast is filled with a sense of admiration that I know is my own. This man wishes so strongly to quell the forlorn girl's guilt that he would push his own feelings aside for a time in order to make this happen.
Essa kiràn…
"Zelda… look at me." He says, his voice poised but gentle.
The dejected girl shrinks slightly at his words, either misunderstanding his tone or not having conviction enough of her own to comply. The young man does not yield however, his determination only burning brighter in response to her reaction. He removes his hand from hers before raising it to her face. His fingers gently guide her head forward to face him, revealing once more her vision of beauty, marred by a number of dark streaks left behind by her tears. The golden haired princess slowly, reluctantly, opens her eyes, once more allowing their beautiful depths to shine forth. She gazes unblinkingly into the hero's own eyes, and once again I feel my empathetic connection with the young man take over as her sad expression pierces my heart along with his. He does not waver however, his eyes never leaving hers even for an instant.
"You mustn't blame yourself… please." He repeats, his voice soft and comforting. "I understand your guilt, for that same regret consumes my heart as well, Zelda. Had I only been stronger that day, I might have succeeded in preventing Ganondorf's dark ambitions but alas, I was too weak. I was powerless to stop him – powerless to protect Hyrule… powerless to protect you. Not a day has gone by that I have not wished that I could go back, and undo that, which has been done."
He pauses, his eyes closing once more. The darkness enveloping my vision embodies the shadow that falls over the hero's spirit. And yet, once more it lasts only an instant before both sight and solace return to me once more. My physical counterpart returns his gaze to the princess'. The remorseful girl sniffs slightly, but continues to hold his gaze. I can feel the muscles of his own face tense and relax slightly, the telling signs of a smile.
"But I know that no good will arise from allowing these feelings to consume us." He continues, truth ringing from his voice like the whistling wind. "As much as we wish it were not so, what was done has been done, and this we cannot deny. We should consider instead what we might do to atone for these sins, and put both our spirits, and the spirits of the people at rest."
The princess lowers her gaze once more, and for a moment I cannot be sure what is going through her mind after hearing the hero's words. "Atonement…?"
"Yes."
"I… understand."
The princess' words are both simple and ominous in their utterance. No reassurance or peace of mind is reflected in them, as her eyes remain turned from the heroes' own and my own presence beyond them. I am certain he can feel this too as the emotion he radiates mirrors my own. What does the princess know that neither he, nor I am privy to? Her eyes remain turned away, and she folds her arms before her, as if a sudden chill that only she can feel has suddenly come upon her.
"I'd hoped it would not come to this…. But after hearing your words, Link I know there is no other way."
Her words are little more than a meek whisper as they escape her throat, only barely audible despite the silence which surrounds us. I only feel the hero's renewed concern an instant before he acts, quickly taking her in his arms and pulling her to him. Her body is warm, and yet to anyone else she might have appeared to be freezing from the shivers that ring throughout her body and into his. He whispers gentle words of solace into her ear – small utterances spoken in a tongue I cannot understand – as he strokes her back softly, attempting to massage away her distress with both word and touch.
"I… I am frightened, Link…" She says after a moment, curling her gloved hands into the still-damp clothing that covers the hero's torso.
"Why, Zelda?" His words are soft, his question both inquiring and comforting at the same time.
"Do you know what this place is?" The golden haired beauty answers his question with another of her own and though I sense a small inkling of curiosity within the young man's emotions, he says nothing, instead waiting for her to continue. "This is the Nexus of Time... This is the realm where all periods in time – from the first moment of its birth, to the final hour before its demise – intersect. This is where these fragments connect and shift, change, and reform in accordance with Elvaloriel's Great Law."
"Then… why are we here?" The voice of the hero is as filled with confusion as his spirit. Even I am at a loss for what to think about this revelation. "And… how?"
Lin syldrë, sità kahl im galimése nel…?
"Is it not obvious?" Zelda asks, though not condescendingly. "Our actions over the ages have caused an imbalance in the flow of time. This imbalance must be reconciled, and we – those who have bathed within the currents of time – must be the ones to do this.
"But how are we meant to accomplish such a thing? I do not understand." The hero inquires as my own curiosity continues to grow.
"We must choose." The princess answers, her voice soft as she continues to cling to his body. "We exist in two worlds, Link… but only one can be true."
"I… see." Revelation dawns upon the hero once more. It seems that he understands the princess' cryptic words better than I.
"Should we choose to remain as we are, this history will become the permanent. The people will know that a great evil has been defeated, and they will rejoice in this fact. And we… we will remain as we are." Though the maiden's words are sweet, the tone in which they are spoken fills me with a sense of unease. "However… the sorrow and despair that pervaded the land during the evil one's reign will not be soon forgotten. Hyrule will remain in shambles, and families will be forever forced to grieve the loss of their loved ones. This scar… will never heal."
"And… what of the other option?" The hero's words reflect his anxiety, and after hearing the princess' ominous explanation it is not difficult to understand why.
"We may choose to return to a time before all of this tragedy began. This will spare Hyrule from its current fate." She continues to explain, the same anxiety accompanying her words as before. "The people will remain ignorant of what transpired here, and they will be able to live their lives peacefully. Their loved ones will be saved, and the kingdom will prosper once more. However…"
"We may forget as well…" The hero finishes for her, his grip tightening around her waist slightly. "The needs of the few or the needs of the many? Blissful ignorance or enlightenment laced with suffering? A cruel choice indeed…"
Rahlónte Illin? Sadón…
My mind spins with the tale unfolding before me. Just what sort of ruined world did these two poor souls exist in? What sort of trials and hardships did they face which ultimately lead them to this final grim choice. And… are these two mysterious individuals truly able to control the flow of time? Questions swirl through my mind, clawing and fighting against one another for dominance. And yet, as I watch the princess cling to the hero's body as his own arms hold her protectively against his frame, I cannot help but feel for them in their plight. Rather through my empathetic connection with the hero, or through my feelings alone, I find myself caring for these two in a way that goes beyond that of a witness to their tragic tale.
"I know what must be done…" Zelda says finally. "But even still… I'm frightened."
"I know, Zelda… I know." The young man says gently, stroking her back. "There is no way of knowing what might happen to us… but I agree that it is for the best that this tragedy had never occurred."
The princess turns her gaze upward, meeting the hero's with her beautiful cerulean eyes, an expression of shock shaping the curves of her face. "You knew?"
The vision of the princess shifts as the hero gives one single, slow nod. "I do not understand why… but I knew which choice you would make from the first word you spoke. Perhaps it is the connection we share due to the influence of the Triforce aspects, or perhaps something else, but it matters not. And… as much as it pains me to say, I agree. Whatever desires we may hold is not worth the suffering of thousands. Yet…" He pauses for a moment, and simply stares into her eyes before continuing. "I find myself hesitating… I too, hold that same foolish, selfish desire… even though I know what must be done."
"Our choice remains clear… as painful as it may be."
I feel the princess reluctantly loosening her grasp upon the hero's clothing, allowing it to fall back into place upon his body. An uncomfortable feeling of emptiness that I am certain must be shared by my avatar fills my being from the renewed lack of contact. The young royal slowly steps backward, distancing herself from him, a forlorn expression marring her visage with the taint of sorrow. She raises a single gloved hand, palm open as if in offering though her fingers tremble with the weight of an invisible burden.
"This ritual will require both of us, Link." I can tell she is holding back another stream of tears from the quiver in her angelic voice. "You must give the Ocarina to me, that I might use its power one final time. I will play the melody that will direct the currents of time into your blade. Once done, you will use this power to open the way for us… to undo all of the sorrow Ganondorf and his dark designs have wrought."
The reluctant hero's eyes turn away from the princess once more, lowering their gaze to focus on the mark glowing softly upon his left hand. It is almost as if he draws strength from it, as I feel him slowly forcing his trepidation aside. His eyes follow his covered palm as he raises it before him, concentrating – envisioning something.
A few seconds pass before a faint white light appears within his hand. It pulses and ebbs, growing and enveloping his palm within its soft radiance. The alabaster orb is there for but a moment before it bursts into a number of tiny particles, like a bubble pierced by a fine needle. In its place rests a small instrument of azure hue, formed of a strange crystalline substance. I immediately recognize it as an Ocarina... though it is much finer than the ones that I am familiar with. Its sapphire like surface is crafted into a perfectly ovate shape, and appears to glow softly with a less than natural light. The mouthpiece is trimmed with a lustrous argentine metal, etched with strange, flowing symbols that I cannot understand.
The hero's eyes rest upon the exquisite instrument for a moment before slowly placing it within the princess' outstretched palm. He does not let it go immediately, instead allowing his hand to linger where it is, obviously conflicted within his mind and heart. His eyes continue to linger upon where their hands meet, and it almost feels that the strange but beautiful instrument is the only thing that keeps her from drifting away from him.
It is only when she gently rests her other hand upon his that he finally breaks from this trance. His eyes travel to hers once more, and I can clearly see the pain that this other Link feels reflected upon her face. The two ill-fated companions continue to gaze into each other's eyes, neither uttering a word – as if to do so would spell the end for them both. And once more I feel the odd sense of conflicting emotions battling within my being as both sympathy and empathy fight for dominance within my own heart.
"When this is done, and peace returns to Hyrule… it may be time for us to say goodbye." It is the princess who breaks the silence, her voice soft as if straining to find substance through her grief. "Perhaps… it will be better that way."
"No…" Before I am even able to ruminate upon the princess' words, the voice of my avatar rings out once more. He shakes his head, distorting the golden haired maiden's image before me. "I won't, Zelda… I won't say it."
His voice is clear, despite his obvious grief. The princess' words had stricken a cord within him… but it was not dismay or anger that they triggered. She gazes into his eyes, her forlorn expression replaced by one of confusion at his words, and surprise at his tone. He stares unblinkingly back, as if attempting to convey with his eyes what words alone cannot.
"I won't say it…" He repeats, softer this time. "…because to do so would be to forsake what hope remains to despair. I will not forget… so I will not say goodbye."
"Do you mean to say… that you wish to remember?" She asks softly. "You would forsake the mercy of ignorance for the pain of remembrance?"
"Without question." The young hero replies, his words holding no hesitation whatsoever.
"But… why?"
"Memories are precious things, Zelda. They exist so that we might keep the past alive through fond reminiscence, or else learn from our mistakes." The hero explains. "Many people forget that. They would sooner have a painful memory stripped from their mind then to bear the burden and live with it. I… do not wish to be one of those people. Moreover…" He pauses for a moment, and I sense the smile which slowly spreads across his lips. "…there are many facets to every rupee. What else would I give up, along with the hardship we've faced? This journey has not been an endless road of sorrow and despair… there also exists fonder memories from it… memories that I would not sacrifice, no matter the cost."
"Such as…?" The princess asks in her soft voice, as if pleading with the hero to share with her the reservoir of strength from which he drinks.
"Many things…" The hero begins fondly. "The rays of shimmering light which pierced the black skies each time the darkness was lifted from another part of the kingdom. The faces of men, women, and children alike when they finally remembered what it is to hope. Laying beneath the cloudless skies at night, bathed within the soft light of Falmina and the stars above, dreaming of the days of peace I knew would one day come." He pauses for a moment, and I feel his heart swelling as he seems to reminisce upon a particularly fond memory. "The way I felt… when I finally saw you again after so long."
"Link…" The princess' words are little more than a whisper on her lips in response to his heartfelt declaration.
"I have no desire to lose any of this, Zelda… no matter the price." He finishes gently, a feeling of genuine contentment filling his very being.
"But… how is it then, that you can be so certain? So… confident?" The golden haired princess inquires. "Especially when you know as well as I what may happen to us…"
"Because, Zelda…" He pauses, moving his unoccupied hand to hers and gently lifting it from his left. There, the image of the three golden prisms continues to glow warmly – a light reflecting the feelings in his heart. "As the barer of the Triforce of Courage… that is my wish."
Such simple words, yet it is clear from the princess' reaction that naught else could have done more to ease her heart and mind. Her lips curl into a tiny smile – a gentle expression of gratitude that conveys her feelings more than any words of thanks could. My physical counterpart's own smile widens in response to this, and I feel the final traces of dismay and uncertainty leave him completely. The fingers of her left hand enlace themselves with his right, emitting a warmth that I'm not entirely sure is from mere bodily heat.
"Your words ring true, Link… I understand now." There is no further doubt in the maiden's words. Her voice, though soft, is clear – free of the uncertainty which consumed her only moments before. "I share the same feelings, Link… that desire never to forget, no matter what else that may bring."
"Then let us make that happen…" The hero begins gently. "Play for me, Zelda… Let us leave this place, and return home to where we belong."
"Yes… Let us finally put an end to this accursed nightmare once and for all."
Zelda gives a single nod of her head, and begins to step away as my avatar finally releases his grasp upon the beautiful crystalline ocarina. The golden haired princess lifts the precious instrument to her chest and closes her eyes, as a tranquil smile spreads across her rose lips. I watch through the eyes of the hero as she slowly raises the ocarina to these same lips, preparing to play the melody that she had spoken of… a melody that could command the currents of time itself.
The hero follow suit, moving his left hand around his body, and for the first time since finding myself within his solid form, I am made aware of the blade that rests upon his back, as his fingers close around the grip. A slight, almost musical ring echoes forth as he frees the weapon from its scabbard, and for a moment, the silvery trails streaking about overhead seem to dance in response.
It is an exquisite weapon, to be sure. The blade is long, and forged from a metal of pure white, and yet the weapon feels as light as down feathers within the young man's grip. The mirrored edge curves into a thin, sharp point at its apex, whilst the blade's base curves inward into a thinner section which bares the brand's only engraving – that recurring image of three triangles fused as one. The cross-guard's shape is that of a pair of unfurled wings, and the entirety of the hilt appears to be made of a similar material to that of the ocarina the princess now holds… as if both weapon and instrument were crafted within the same divine forge.
Sword in hand, my avatar lowers himself to one knee as he brings the sword before him, grasping the hilt with both hands and balancing the tip upon the invisible surface that he and the princess stand upon. He turns his eyes upward for a moment, gazing at the form of Zelda as she stands above him, her hair and clothes fluttering in the gentle breeze. Her eyes are closed, that same beautiful smile gracing her lips, and he knows that she holds no fear. Then, his eyes lower, turning away from her elegant form, all his focus concentrated upon his role in this ritual. Darkness fills my vision as his lids close, yet this time I feel none of the haunting pain that accompanied this before.
Then, she plays.
A lovely melody echoes forth from the ocarina, her breath and fingers summoning forth the angelic sound concealed within the instrument's crystalline frame. Three tones repeating three times before rising into a crescendo and falling once again… On it goes, growing ever more complex as she continues to play, and yet each note seems to etch itself into my mind and I know that I will never forget them. The hero too, allows the music to wash over him and for a moment, it almost feels as if mine is the only presence within his body, his own mind and spirit focusing on nothing but her music, and his sword.
Kalinësà…
The beautiful song finally reaches its end, and it is only then that the hero once more opens his eyes. As the notes fade into the distance, the thin streams of light answer its call, darting downward toward the hero, as his unwavering focus remains fixed upon the blade he holds. The lights swirl around his body, streaking across my line of sight like a swarm of fireflies engaged in one of their elegant dances before disappearing into the blade's achromatic surface. The weapon's beautiful edges glow with argentine light as the last of the streams penetrates its brand, infusing it with their power. The hero rises to his feet once more, gazing in awe at the radiance emanating from his sword.
"It is done… now, there is but one final step." Zelda speaks calmly, causing my avatar to turn his attention to her once more.
"What must I do?"
"As a key opens the lock upon a door or chest, so too does your blade serve as the key to the gates of time itself." Zelda explains sagely. "Use it as such, and these gates shall open."
"The hero turns his eyes back to the shimmering blade and nods, raising the blade before him, he turns himself away from the princess. His eyes focus on the luminous steel, the glowing radiance filling his sight and mine in turn, before he thrusts the blade forward with a swift, precise lunge. As if passing through an invisible wall, the shimmering brand pierces the surrounding void, disappearing into the azure nothingness that surrounds us. A faint light steams out from rift created by the sword, dancing and flashing with myriad hues all at once.
S-sadon…!
I feel my avatar's sword arm twitch a split second before he twists his wrist, causing the blade to rotate like… a key to a lock. So that is what the princess meant when she explained his role. With a deft tug of his arm, the hero pulls the blade free from the breach he created, causing even more of the iridescent light to steam from the opening. A sound like that of splintering ice assaults my ears as the area surrounding the rift splits and cracks with uniform precision, creating a web of light within the empyrean expanse.
A deafening shatter heralds the collapse of this web. Fragments of reality – for what little existed within this place – fall and shatter, dispersing into a cloud of glowing dust before vanishing completely. In their place is a massive fissure several times taller, and many times wider than either the hero or princess. Its body ripples like water caressed by a gentle breeze, and vague shapes flash in and out of view upon its crystal clear surface, appearing and disappearing before I can identify them.
"Elvaloriel's final gift to us…" The hero says in awe, gazing at the rippling portal before him as he returns his blade to its scabbard.
"A chance to start anew… to create a better future than the one we know." Zelda appends.
The two turn their eyes away from the gateway before them, and focus instead on each other. Her lips once more shape themselves into a beautiful smile, and I feel the hero do the same as he moves his hand forward, taking her fingers gently within his own. He exhales softly, a small inkling of melancholy glancing at his spirit before he forces it away once more.
"I suppose it is time, then…" He says.
"Yes…"
A single word… her only reply before she falls silent once more. She gazes into his eyes, revealing her own to me beyond them as he grips her hand a little more in his. His other hand moves to her face, and I feel the delicate softness of her skin as my avatar's fingers gently caress her cheek. She does not flinch, nor does she turn away from this, though her eyes seem to flutter in apprehension as her fingers tighten around his. A warm sensation feels the hero's heart and mine in turn as he draws her face closer to his, guiding her toward him gently.
"Please… not now."
Her voice is little more than a whisper, but it serves to bring my avatar back to reality regardless. He recoils slightly, as if only now becoming aware of his actions. His grip upon her hand loosens, and he removes his fingers from her cheek. A sense of dejection fills his being as a heaviness falls upon our conjoined hearts.
"I… forgive me." He says contritely. "I… did not mean to presume."
"No, you must understand…" She retorts hastily, gripping his hand a little more firmly in hers. "I know what you feel… because like you, the same feelings exist within my own heart. Yet… it is the strength that you have granted to me that is sustaining me in these final moments, and enabling me to do what I now must." She pauses for a moment, her cheeks taking on a faint turquoise hue. "If… if you were to kiss me now, I know that even that strength would not be enough. I would lose my resolve, Link and despite how we both feel… I cannot allow that."
The hero's heart seems to swell at her sincere words, and I cannot help but sigh inwardly – indeed, if I could smile, I would. "I understand."
The princess smiles in response, a genuine expression which shows both her gratitude, and her deepest affection for the young man before her. "There will be other chances… I feel it."
"How do you know?" My avatar inquires gently, though in his words I can sense that he already knows the answer.
The princess' smile widens, and she slips her hand from his, placing it gently against her heart. Upon the back of her palm, the golden emblem shines brightly – a testament to her renewed hope. "Because… that is my wish."
"And a beautiful wish at that…" The hero replies warmly before turning his eyes back to the undulating portal before them. "Then let us return, Zelda… a new future awaits us."
The princess says nothing, but in her eyes both the hero and I can tell that she agrees. Hand in hand the two approach the fluent portal, pausing briefly at its entrance before stepping into the rippling surface. A swift, powerful current washes over them the moment they enter, pulling them away from the vortex's entrance as it swiftly closes behind them. A myriad images flash by in an instant – brief, vague instances of time, swimming along the current like silver fish darting through a river. The princess and hero turn toward one another one last time, as the stream carries them along. Their eyes lock, her expression, and his spirit reflecting the same feelings.
Mine as well.
As the currents of time carry the two along its flow, I cannot help but wonder if another presence watches from behind those beautiful blue eyes of hers… If another formless spirit stares from those twin orbs, and into his, feeling the emotions and experiences from her as I had from him. And I wonder, perhaps… if that person now gazes upon the body of the hero from behind her eyes, and wonders the same. As I muse on this, I watch as the form of the golden haired princess slowly begins to fade, her body vanishing into the currents as they continue to pull the two of them along time's flow.
But when she finally disappears completely, there is no dejection, or sorrow within the hero's spirit. His mind is calm… content in their shared belief that they will one day meet again. His eyes turn to his left hand as it, and the mark it bears slowly begin to fade along with rest of his body, just as the princess had done only seconds before. Tranquility fills his soul, and he allows his head to lull back, closing his eyes as he allows the currents to take him. The images, and swirling lights fade from my sight as I feel my connection to the young man begin to gradually dissolve along with his body. Yet I can still hear his final words as he gives himself over to the temporal river's embrace, before the bond is finally severed.
"I promise, I will return to you, Zelda. My princess… My friend… My love."
ShiningwingX: Ah, the old prologue. Brings back memories. Fans of Ocarina of Time can clearly see this is based off of the ending of the game, and fans of the old TotH: DM would clearly remember this as an altered version of the prologue from the old story. I deviated even further from canon this time around, and this time the narrator is a different Link, though he's looking through the eyes of the Hero of Time right now. I tried writing in a different style to make the story seem more 'bookish' but it seems fanfiction doesn't like my formatting... so it's back to the old structure for now. Oh well, my girlfriend brought up that the 'wall of text' structure books use is a bit of an eyesore and I agree. I'll have to fix it up like that later on, but not for a while so it's fine like this.
I really like the way this came out though. At first I wasn't sure if the whole 'first person as third person' concept would work that well, but I really got into it after a while. I think it makes the chapter seem a lot more surreal and mysterious without being mind-bendingly strange. Moreover, once the first chapter is released, this will seem more like an actual PROLOGUE than the one in DM. The way I did that one always felt like it was better suited for a 'Chapter I'. Hmm…
Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this new beginning to the book!
And now for everyone's favorite part of these author's note thingies (As in, I'm assuming because I don't know if anyone even READS these): Key points!
1. No, I didn't consume any mind altering substances when adding the "speaking" quotes from Link-narrator :P. He's actually speaking Kokirian. Why is he speaking in this language, yet the narration is in English (or Hyrulean, if you want to be technical about it)? Two reasons. One, it would be far too difficult to write seven-thousand plus words in Kokirian, and two, no one but me would be able to understand it. Moreover, the narration is his thought processes, not his actual VOICE, so I can get away with it. Translations are on the Ismirrian Chronicles (the story's loresite), so you can visit there if you want to know what he's saying.
2. What do you all think of the connection between Link-Narrator and the Hero of Time? I wanted to make it seem less like the narrator was simply a third wheel in all this, but without playing the rather cliché 'mind reader' card. I figured an empathetic connection was more appropriate.
3. Elvaloriel is the Goddess of Time in this world. In the last story I gave props to a DeviantArtist (Kearra who is still awesome by the way.) for many of the divines in this world. Given the more original direction the story is taking, I can't really do that anymore. However, I am still taking inspiration from these so people might notice some similarities if you're familiar with her.
4. I always found it odd that the Hero of Time, one who has been traveling back and forth through it over the course of the game had no apparent role to play in the events at the very end, though Zelda somehow miraculously gained the ability to do so. So I made the 'return to the past' thing a collective effort between them. Makes a bit more sense.
5. I feel like I made the physical Link and Zelda more consistent this time around. In the original version of the story, they seemed a little… indecisive. And for the wrong reasons. I had more freedom this time around to do what I wanted with them though, and I think it shows.
All in all, I think this is a good start on this new road I'm taking. I hope you all have enjoyed this prologue because there's more to come. In the next chapter, our narrator Link will finally get center stage. :)
If you want to look up translations, or anything else related to the story, check this site out. www trialsoftheheartdm webs com (Replaces the spaces with periods. Fanfiction doesn't like links, it seems. I'll fix it up more to suit the new direction of this story too, I promise).
Also, anyone who has read the old version of the story knows how much I love reviews. *wink wink, nudge nudge*