AN: Hey, everyone! Yes, this is a new story, but no, I am not abandoning 'Death's Mistake'. I've just run into writer's block for Chapter Thirteen, and I'm hoping that this will help give me motivation. During all of the Legend of Zelda games, I always wondered why Ganondorf, Demise, whoever the villain was in that particular game focused on Zelda. Sure she's the princess in most and most of the time has the Triforce of Wisdom, but if they focused on Link... So that's what this story revolves around.
Also, this story focuses on the manga found in the back of Hyrule Historia, but some things I will change to better fit this particular story. I wish it was recognized as canon...
Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda. If I did, Ocarina of Time would've ended differently, Midna wouldn't have smashed the Mirror of Twilight, and Link and Zelda would always for certain get together. Oh, and get rid of the stamina bar.
Chapter One
Depp in his prison, centuries after he had been sealed, the Demon King Demise growled in displeasure. Despite his power, which was more than damned Hylia's, he could not break free. Only tendrils of his essence could manage to escape, and they were so pitiful, it wasn't even funny. Demise's blood craved destruction, and it infuriated him that he was contained, unable to carry out the beauty of destruction and death.
But then...
There was a shift, a trembling in the earth. Demise's entire being thrummed, and that was when he knew. The time had come, the time for his release! The seal weakened!
Of course, Demise knew that Hylia would have a plan. A goddess such as her would have a backup plan in mind in case the seal failed, and she couldn't afford it to. Not for her precious Surface! Of course, Demise... grudgingly... admitted that he didn't know all of Hylia's plan.
One part of her plan was obvious, however. A goddess such as her and her cursed sisters could not wield the Triforce's power, so she would let herself be reborn as a lowly, fragile human. But alas, Hylia would still have to rely on others to fight for her.
She would have a Chosen Hero. And he would be the most dangerous obstacle Demise needed to eliminate.
Of course, the thought of the green-garbed flea that had challenged him before his sealing crossed the Demon King's mind. But Demise knew that that man had died long ago, due to the wound he had inflicted. Then again, Hylia might have blessed him, letting his spirit if not his body be reborn once more. Goddesses were known to do that to some mortals they favored.
Ghirahim, Demise commanded.
The spirit of his sword instantly appeared before the Demon King's seal and knelt, his white hair covering one black eye.
"What do you wish of me, my Master?" he purred, his long tongue snaking out.
The time has come. This damned seal finally weakens. Hylia has surely been reborn as a mortal human, but do not go after her just yet. Search for Hylia's Chosen Hero. If we remove him, sacrificing the goddess reborn will be that much easier.
Ghirahim bowed, his nose nearly touching the ground. "As you wish, my Master. I will not rest until the Hero is bound and before you."
Demise laughed long and loud, the unholy sound echoing in his prison and escaping ontu the Surface and beyond.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Link woke with a start. The evil laughter had invaded his sleep again, but the feeling of being in danger didn't fade as it usually did. He flopped back down on his bed, panting. His pulse eventually slowed to a semblance of normal, but it couldn't slow completely. Not when today was the Wing Ceremony.
When Link glanced outside, he saw that it was still ridiculously early, at least for him. He sighed, then remembered that he had promised Zelda to meet her at the Goddess Statue before the ceremony. If he didn't get up soon, she'd probably send her Loftwing to wake him.
Stifling a groan, Link got up, stretched, then got dressed in his usual outfit: olive-green pants tucked into knee-high brown boots, a long-sleeved tan shirt decorated with light blue designs, and a large red belt. But then he paused before going out the door. With his hand on the door, Link felt an itching sense in the back of his mind. A sense that something wasn't right, that he wasn't right.
Link shook his head. He couldn't think about that right now; he had something more important to do.
He passed Fledge in the hallway, struggling to even get a good grip on one of the three or four large barrels. Link paused, briefly wondering if he should tell his friend of what was bothering him, but decided against it. Even though Fledge was a good friend, Link knew that he wouldn't be able to help. The blond walked on, stopping when he saw Pipit near the door leading outside.
"Pipit!" Link called. Pipit turned, spotted Link, and smiled slightly. "Hello, Link," Pipit said as Link stopped in front of him. "The Goddess must be smiling upon us: I should sing my blessings, for I will never see you up this early again," he joked. Link grimaced. Everyone in the Knight Academy knew Link loved sleeping and could sleep all day if Zelda didn't wake him, but did they have to constantly tease him about it?
"Ha ha, very funny," Link said dryly. "I'm so impressed by your wit. Anyway, Pipit, I need your help with something."
The upperclassman instantly straightened. If his friend needed help with something, then by the Goddess, he was going to do everything he could to help! "Of course,Link," he said. "What is wrong?"
Hesitating only a moment, Link explained about the nightmares he's been having lately. Pipit grew concerned, especially at the mention of Zelda being hunted by this evil, and when his younger friend was finished, Pipit thumped his chest with a fist. "Thank you for telling me, Link, and I promise upon my knighthood that I will keep my eyes and ears open! If I find anything suspicious, you will be the first to know! Now go meet Zelda and beat Groose and his cronies in the Wing Ceremony!"
Link laughed and nodded, heading out the door while waving to his friend.
Heaving a sigh, Link brushed his long sidelocks out of his face. The breeze on Skyloft never quit, so he ignored the ticklish sensation and started jogging down the dirt path. Fortunately, the Statue of the Goddess was always easily visible from any part of Skyloft, and that was where Zelda would be. Link greeted the few people who were awake at this hour, ignoring the amazement on their faces at his presence this early in the morning.
Finally, though, Link walked up the wooden steps and entered the courtyard, following the wonderful notes of music that floated before him in the air.
Zelda stood in the middle of the circle, in her usual outfit of a red dress, brown boots, and blue cloth bearing the Goddess's symbol tied around her waist. Her hair shown brightly, almost golden, and in her hands was a magnificent instrument. Zelda strummed the delicate strings and sang the ancient Ballad of the Goddess, using the translated words instead of the ancient dialect it was first sung in. "Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess... Unite earth and sky... Bring light to the land..." Then the music stopped, as Zelda realized that she had company.
She turned, a brilliant smile coming to her lips as she recognized Link. "Hey! Good morning, Link!" she said, turning and moving her hand away from the instrument. Link smiled, "Good morning, Zelda."
"I'm so glad you could meet me here today like you promised, Link," Zelda said. "I was afraid you might oversleep, and I was planning on sending my Loftwing to wake you up soon."
Link laughed, shaking his head. But then he noticed the new addition to Zelda's outfit: a pure white cloth, with the Goddess's emblem sewed on the back, was wrapped around her shoulders and tied in a knot in the back. "What's with the wrap, Zel?" he asked curiously. Zelda simply smiled secretively.
"Do you like it? I made it myself, and we get to use it in today's ceremony!" Link raised an eyebrow. That sounded intriguing, but since he could tell his best friend wasn't going to tell him anything more, he instead asked about the instrument. It seemed so familiar, and Link couldn't remember why. "And the instrument?"
Zelda's smile turned fonder, almost nostalgic for a minute. But then Link blinked and it was gone. "Father loaned it to me! He said it's called a harp, and many people say it's similar to the one the Goddess Herself had in the old legends! And it makes the most beautiful music!"
Something bothered Link about what Zelda said, but Link couldn't tell exactly what it was, so the teen mentally shrugged and promised himself to think about it later. Link held out his hand. "May I?"
Zelda's eyes widened in shock as she realized what, exactly, Link was asking her, and her fingers relinquished their hold on the golden harp eagerly. Link held it instead now, carrying it like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. And when Link's fingers began to move, when his mouth opened to finally, after all these years, to sing, Zelda felt a part of herself cry.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
They met when they were young, but Zelda had always felt like she'd known him forever. But one thing that always surprised and delighted her about Link was that he loved to sing. The sandy-blond boy was always humming and smiling, singing like he'd never stop. But then, when Link's father's death became too much to bear and Groose began to bully Link, the boy quit.
Everyone on Skyloft missed the boy's songs, the ones that lifted their spirits and made them feel brave. Of course, Zelda would've pummeled Groose and his stupid, idiotic morons that he calls friends, but Link settled her ire with a sad smile and a soft-spoken, "Don't, Zel. I'm... I'm gonna be fine. Promise." To this day, Zelda has never forgotten what Groose did and promised herself that she'd make sure that he would regret it.
Pulling herself back to the present, Zelda watches with tears forming in her eyes as Link plays the exact same song she had just minutes earlier, but in the ancient dialect. His voice is warm and comforting, even better than when they were kids since his voice deepened, and it curls around Zelda's heart and settles there. She could die right now and feel totally content with her life and how she'd lived it.
When Link finished, lifting his fingers off the strings with a slight flourish, he blushes a little at the look on Zelda's face and hands the harp back to her, ruffling the back of his hair nervously. "Sorry about that. You probably want to practice with it as much as you can..." Zelda shook her head. "I don't mind, Link," she said honestly. "I can only hope that my voice sounds half as lovely as yours when I sing."
They stand there looking at each other and smiling for a few moments before Zelda remembered why she wanted Link to meet her here in the first place. She jerked in place before grabbing Link's hand, pulling him behind her. "Come on, Link! You need to get some practicing in with Alina before the Wing Ceremony!" Link laughs, letting his best friend drag him along.
When Link gets to the diving platform, he takes the initiative and jumps instead of waiting for Zelda to push him off like usual. He whistles for his Crimson Loftwing, Alina, and when her feathery body catches him, he lets out a whoop. They soar off together, not waiting for Zelda and her Loftwing, Fidelis to catch up. Together, they are free.
Hey, Jewel08 again. In case you were wondering, the name for Zelda's Loftwing, Fidelis, actually comes from angelofthelightanddark's fanfiction story A Wind through the Reeds, a wonderful story that I hope gets updated soon. If the author reads this, I want them to know that this is to honor their story, not to copy them. Alina, Link's Loftwing's name, is one that I made up on the fly. I'm not sure how often the two Loftwings will show up in this story, but at least once more for Alina.
I hope you like my story; please review and Favorite to let me know how my newest story is!