I do not own any Legend of Zelda characters or concept. Although, I would like an ocarina of my own very much, come to think of it…Constructive criticism is welcome, but I beseech you to keep it gentle…
Scent of Fate
"Link…?" Navi does not finish her sentence-question nor does she need to and disappears in his hood. Laconic, Link merely sits on a rock lodged into a dead log that nature strangely yet strategically placed between a trickling creek and deep forest. The sun has started to set and there is still much to do. Despite the rush for time, he pulls out the ocarina and looks at it thoughtfully.
It smells like jasmine.
For some reason the ocarina carried the scent of jasmine; he figured that the reason was psychological, magical, or both. Perhaps something even deeper than the two combined. He came to the conclusion that his mind associated the scent of jasmine with the ocarina because it was something she gave him (for she carried the scent as well. It suited her: humble, graceful, and beautiful.) or maybe it was because he had followed her scent through the castle…yet he also rationalized that since the stream of time was a corkscrew of insanity for him it still retained its characteristics from years ago...or perhaps…
Eventually after studying the ocarina his gaze falls to the hand on which it rests. It is rough and calloused, dry, dirtied, and bloodied from battles that should have ended ages ago but incessantly return.
Terrible condition. Unfit, unworthy.
Just then – a searing stinging sensation at the back of his hand: it burns. Wincing he rushes to the nearby creek to soothe the pain. He does not know what it is – not yet – all he knows is that this burning sensation has been occurring more frequently during increasingly inconvenient times. But almost immediately as his hand enters the liquid mirror his muscles relax. The pain is gone.
The sudden realization of the absurdities of his life slam into his brain. In an adolescent way allows his body to collapse on to the ground. He has left his hand in the water but does not care – that is until he notices his reflection…along with the years, the memories, the friends he missed.
No…
His face is under the same conditions as his hands. Truly unworthy to even glance upon her! Cruelty!
The burden is too heavy.
He is weeping now but he knows that it will do nothing to end his nightmare.
He wipes his tears.
In a frantic and sudden charge of anger he shoves his hands into his pockets looking for the ocarina, the jasmine scented symbol of time's lunacy, and upon finding it, hurls it with all his might and fury.
It is not over. The thought compels him.
It must be done. The thought drives him.
He finds himself running toward the hurled object, which was consequently thrown higher than it was farther. The instrument lay peacefully on soft grass – perfect, unscathed.
He is close to it now; he reaches for it but his heightened ears sense another presence.
Automatically he unsheathes his blade as soon as Navi wiggles free from his cap.
"Come forth!" He demands the forest. "Show yourself!"
A low rumble of a laugh echoes from the deeper forest. Birds flutter and flee from the canopy and a shadowy figure, another bird seemingly at first, grows bigger…no…it is hurtling down…down…and lands so heavily the earth quakes beneath the hero's feet but he is still. The bulky yet scrawny enemy has distracted him from what is most important.
Burning sensation at the back of his hand again-he hides it; Navi is unaware.
"Ok, Link. You know how Stalfos are. Go for it!"
The adventure continues.