It Was Meant To Be

Chapter 1

The sound of her cries was unbearable. Link ran through this goddess forsaken place, franticly searching for his best friend. He lost track of how long they had been going on. Was it only this morning that he found out who he truly was? That couldn't be. But it was.

He and Zelda had been sitting by Lake Hylia in their special place. No one else could get to it. He had never questioned it as much as Zelda. He was content to believe that no one else was as observant. This was partially true. No one had Link's keen eyes or Zelda's intellect.

She was reading to him, while he was leaning back against a grand Deku tree; eyes closed imagining the scenes she described to him. Her voice full of wisdom and authority, yet kind. Whenever she spoke you felt compelled to listen. But when she told a story it was twice as captivating. This story was about the heroes of old. One of Link's favorites.

"No one knew why the heroes acted as they did. Just that they are glad they did and . . . and wished they thanked them while they had the chance. For every one of them disappeared, never to be heard from again, until a new threat arises. That is just how it's meant to be." said the princess closing her book. The boy looked up as she sat in silence.

"Don't stop now!" He whined, "read the part about how the brave hero" he stood up brandishing a stick like a sword, "never gave up no matter what he faced!" swinging his stick at an imaginary villain, then falling flat on his back as if he was struck. A small smile formed on Zelda's pink lips, but disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. Link pushed himself into a sitting position and looked at his friends face.

"Are you okay? You've been really weird all mornin'." Link said and made his way next to her. Zelda smiled at her friend's concern.

"Yes . . ." she hoped it would suffice like it does when anyone else asked this, but like always, Link didn't buy it for a second. His eyes narrowed the moment he saw her smile never reached her ocean blue eyes. "Well . . . no. To be true full, I've felt apprehensive since the previous night. I have had visions that leave me quite at unease. I sense something is commencing . . . does that make any sense?" Link's gaze never left her face. He nodded and they sat in silence watching the beauty of land around them.

"You are correct young princess." A majestic voice spoke after a few moments of stillness. Link was on his feet in an instant, sword in his experienced hand.

"Show yourself." Link sharply stated, his eyes taking in everything around him. The sunlight made all his scars, he accumulated over the years, shine. Making him seem much older than 12.

"Who are you?" Zelda asked in a much more diplomatic tone. She place her right hand on Link's left and she felt him relax a little. Not too much though. A different voice made a sound similar to a chuckle.

"Calm yourself young hero. You have no reason to be fearful of us." This voice was innocent and young, unlike the first one which was older, wiser and commanded attention. But both searing with power and beauty. Link lowered the tip of his sword to the ground. He felt safer when this one spoke. "We are only here to . . . give you a hand." If a voice could roll its eye Link would have sworn the first one did when it next spoke.

"Partially here. It is much too difficult to explain, nor do we have the time. The paths have been laid before you. Now you must make the first choice of many to come." The voice faded as it reached the end of its speech. Link would have sworn the second one whispered 'Good luck' but could not be sure.

Link looked around suddenly feeling that this place wasn't as safe as it had been moments ago. Zelda still stood next to him, her mind whirling with all the information she had absorbed. Calculating, planning, and making theories, her face scrunch in concentration. They both jumped when a black bird screeched in a tree next to them and flew across the glistening lake.

"Well," Link said, "that was just a tad anticlimactic." He was about to suggest leaving, when a golden light surrounded them. Or more specifically, their hands. Zelda jumped away from Link and tried to flick it off at first, while Link looked at it with fascination, examining his hand. Both of theirs added a different color to the golden glow. His forest green, while hers light blue. Zelda's eyes glowed, but not from the light but of realization. Eventually the light died down and just as she suspected, a faint golden triangle was there and an identical one on Link's, his face full of awe and confusion.

"What the . . ." his voice quiet. Zelda smiled and grabbed his hand to gain his attention. Which she would have had anyway.

"Think back to the stories I read, Link, what do you imagine is occurring?" her voice soft and patient.

"I-I don't . . ." slowly understanding crossed his face. "Then does . . . does that mean? Then that-that was . . ." she slowly nodded as his sky blue eyes grew wide. "Wow." He said as he fell back on the soft grass. He ran his hand through his shaggy golden hair, taking his trademark hat off.

"It's a lot to take in." her soft voice said as she sat next to him.

". . . You didn't already know about this, did you?"

"No, certainly not."

"Why aren't you as freaked out as me?"

"I am but what's more I'm better at masking it." He looked over and sure enough her ever calm demeanor was present but her eyes looked as he felt. They talked quietly like this for some time, until silence soon engulfed them. Link calmed down and quietly stood up with a determined face on, the one he gets whenever someone needs help. Zelda stood up next to him.

"Now what?" he asked as a gentle breeze pulled at their clothes and hair.

Link pushed the memory away as he came to a large pair of double doors that held the owner of the agonizing screams.