Chapter one: The Aftermath
Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda or Ocarina of Time, both are owned by Nintendo.
At first, he wasn't sure if he had heard anything from the small musical instrument in her hand, but as more time passed and he had seen her play again and again on the Ocarina of Time, but to no avail. It was odd that she could not get this done, but he could feel himself being placed into different times other than the one he was in. Like he was being placed in times before that time and after that time that he was in now, one warrior stretched out across the sands of time as if his journey would never be over. Yet it was not a thought of despair that made him think of the many time in the past that he had fought, but it was the knowledge that he would always be there to stop evil that helped calm his being. Of course, he wouldn't be facing the same Zelda as he did before, but he was certain that she would always be there for his spirit and the thought made him feel very good inside, better than he ever felt before. Deep inside that most treasure chest known as his heart, he kept his most prize emotion, his love for her, the love that had grown for so many years and months, he no longer saw her with just those child eyes that could only define something as pretty. Now he had new words to his vocabulary like beautiful, awe-inspiring, magnificent, perfect, and divine, all words that he used at the same time to describe how Zelda looked to him. He found so many things different about her from when he was just a naïve child trying to find out what lied beyond his happy village in the Kokiri Forest.
"I….couldn't do anything to help you," cried Zelda as she dropped on her knees in sorrow and Link rushed to her to put his arms around her and comfort her at her emotional low. Link couldn't bare the watch her cry like that so he had to comfort her until she didn't hurt anymore. "You've done so much for me, but I have done nothing for you. I feel so helpless for not being able to help you."
"You have helped me, in a bigger way than one," replied Link a he put his hand on her shoulder and helped her to her feet with his gentle blue eyes looking at her. "Nothing has given me greater strength to carry on the fight after I thought there was nothing that I could do for this world to keep it safe, to bring back to light in these dark times that had plagued it for seven years, save for your name. It was my thoughts of you that kept me going when I needed it and your name in the back of my head gave me all the courage I needed to save this land. I may have saved this land, but it would mean nothing if the one person I had on my head was the one person I couldn't save. I did this all for you and the thing I want the most is to always be by your side if you will let me be next to the woman I love for the rest of my life."
"Oh Link, I will grant that wish at least, since I love you so much and I know no other way to repay you than to love you," replied Zelda as she let herself fall into the embrace of his arms to feel how safe she could feel in his strong arms that held her so close to his warm and hard chest. "But these times ahead will be dark to restore everything as it was before Ganondorf ruled over these lands. Shadow has taken the place of the calm that was over these lands and I don't know how we are going to restore this Kingdom."
"My dear Zelda, I would never let you endure these times alone, not without me to help you," said Link as he held her close to him, not wanting to let her go for fear that something would appear and take her away from him. "I hope to rebuild this land with you, to give it back what it had before all of this started and soon we will have our perfect kingdom to bring happiness to our people. I was wondering if you would like to be my bride, if I can ask of such a thing."
"I'm sorry Link, as much as I want to I cannot until my kingdom is rebuilt and my people are once again in their homes," replied Zelda sadly as she turned her eyes away from Link's, not wanting to see any disappointment that might be there, but he titled her chin up to see only a smile on his face.
"I understand that the happiness of the people must come before our romance," said Link as he started to move his face closer, but then stopped as he knew it would be wrong for him to do it.
"Our romance doesn't have to be on pause just because my Kingdom's renovation is just starting," said Zelda as she leaned forward and touched his lips with her own, their first kiss and a very promising one at that.
The rain poured down over the small village that was settled in the vast Hyrule Field for construction workers who were rebuilding the castle, but it also held refugees, merchants, and travelers who needed a night to stay. The town had many inns and taverns for many people and was not without its own underworld as some merchants tried to control certain trade routes and had resorted to violence that was hard for the small band of new Hyrule knights to contend with since they had been small in numbers and were trying to get volunteers for it. Through this sense of darkness that ran through the hearts of men he was able to thrive in his environment while he waited for the right moment to strike at the Hero of Time. Link was his counterpart, his lighter side that he wished to defeat since he was the complete opposite of the hero and Dark Link, as he had called himself not finding another name, was against everything that Link stood for out of his birth, especially the fights with the other Links. (Apparently Minish Cap and Four Swords was the oldest games so they might just pre date Ocarina of Time.) Those fights and the fight against the recent Link had left him tired to the bone and barely able to support himself if not for the dark energy that lied within the hearts of men, but hopefully he could break that necessity with the help of a new found ally.
"You are late," said Dark Link as he steady himself in his chair, his ally must have chosen this time because he knew that Dark link would be very vulnerable and very agreeing so long as he could find a means to sustain himself again. "I thought you would be here on time with the way you were talking and the excitement you got when I told you of a way to revive Ganondorf so why now is it that you seem to have lost your flare for wanting to know about my methods of power. That worries me to an endless degree, Vaati."
"I'm sorry, those damn Hyrulian guards make it too hard for me to get anywhere on time," replied the infamous wizard as he sat down in front of Dark Link with his very pale, lavender skin and white hair that made him look so much like his Piccori ancestor. "Every single step they plagued me with their check points for cargo and random searches and special required passes. I had to constantly put all my weapons in another dimension and then recall them back to me only to have to put them away again in a never ending cycle that ended horribly for one guard."
"Yes they can be very tireless with that old bit of caution that never works it just only annoys us and reminds us to destroy certain guards," said Dark Link as he took a sip of his mug of Gerudo ale that had various spices that he needed to survive on. "I have certain spies of the underground and people in working for me to hear the ends and outs of everything and when I heard about your own exploits I figured we could both help each other. You know magic that will give me back my own strength permanently instead of having to thrive off these imbeciles and pathetic degenerates who have found no other way to make a living than working as hired thugs for greedy, sleazy merchants. I shouldn't have to feed off them if not for that green little twerp, how I'd love to get revenge on him and I think you would to, for that green little twerp is most undoubtedly the reincarnation of the one who defeated your ancestor and prevented you from gaining all of that power."
"Yes I am listening very intently at everything that you have to offer me for my talents," said Vaati as he listened to the words that were spoken from the hero of darkness's mouth.
"Well as you and I both know, Ganondorf and Ganon are both stuck underneath that seal created by the Seven Sages to keep them trapped until such a time as that Master Sword is unleashed. This does however, not include the loopholes that are involved in it, plus the use of other dimensions such as the Twilight Realm and the other realm of complete darkness. The Twilight Realm does have its usefulness but it cannot help us like the realm of true darkness that has the one item that I have never removed. Much to great fortune for me, for in that realm, just like I am the darker version of the Hero who can pull the Master Sword, the Master Sword has a dark counterpart that if I pull, I may not be able to unleash Ganondorf, but I can weaken the seal enough for us to be able to perform a ritual to bring back Ganondorf. I have spies, assassins, and a supply of wealth to fund many campaigns. You have the Moblin King, the octorocks, and the ability of summoning things. Add in that knight of yours, and you have a very formidable ally plus with my help, no one will be able to stop us unless all of Hyrule managed to get back into the fighting spirit, but that was all used up on Ganondorf so now this our time."
"I whole heartedly agree with you and now, before I cast my healing spell on you, I guess all I have to ask is when should we attack?"
"First we go after Link with my assassins then I want you to have the Moblins increase hostilities towards the settlers who will find themselves under harsh times. Keep all of them busy, I'll make sure Link doesn't see it all coming and it will only take two days before we control mostly everything and force the guards and knights of Hyrule to move out across this land. Hahahahaha, this will be our time."
"I look forward to seeing the look on the Princess's face when she sees that she is forced to be in captivity for I believe it is best we capture her, to decrease morale and the resistence."
"I couldn't agree with you more," said Dark Link as Vaati performed his magic on him making him feel alive again. "The timing is perfect for tomorrow Link will be going to Kokiri forest and I can send many to attack. If he survives he will have to go through vast stretches of land to stop us and face all of our forces."