Legend of Zelda and all characters are the property of Nintendo. All original characters are mine.
Just a slightly slanted view on the fantasy world. Stay with me...
INTERTWINED FATE
Prologue:
___________
The common misconception is that, when time is rewritten, people will forget.
Often, this is true.
But when omnipotence is held by mortals, who can only think in, at most, three dimensions, some things will remain.
The corpse of an insect slain in the future, where the mindless drone of the present will find it.
A memory of a place that a person visited in one timeline but not in the present. One simply writes it off as deja vu, or a fantasy.
And there are people who don't exist, or never did exist, and the dead finding themselves alive in the new history.
All is written off as coincidence. All as simple dreams.
"Dreams end.", the green-eyed being whispers, "Waking must become."
"Master?"
He turns, seeing the slight, ebon-skinned, skittering being at his foot, others swarming around him.
"The highers would not appreciate it as such," he sing-songs, "Or appreciate the irony nearly as much. But our war may soon come to the world of man. And who are we not to take part in a new universe's span?"
"New things?"
"Yes, my pets. New things for us to see. And to do. And new people for us to see. And to do. A place of the Triad's touch, a place where a piece of them they left."
They stack themselves, on atop each other, so one of them may meet his gaze, as a swirling cloud of light forms into a world. A world filled with magicks, ripe for plunder.
"Hyrule, this place be called.", he says, "And by magicks it is walled. Find an ally, that we will. And onto their soil our filth may spill."
"Soon?"
"A great battle was fought.", he says, "And now, we'd be for naught. So twenty five years to the rewrite we shall wait, and then open upon ourselves, the gate."
The little beings cackle, laughing, and tumbling over, spilling on the ground.
And the green eyed being smiles...and laughs.
Chapter 1:
Waiting Lives
_____________
"So, tell me how you saved the world, again."
He rolls his eyes, groaning and sitting back in the chair, tempted to kick up the table at the barkeep.
Again, he has to be reminded of this...
"I was drunk. I'd say anything when I'm drunk.", he responds, "So just drop it, alright?"
"Yeah, but it's not everyday you make a complete ass out of yourself.", the older, portly man chuckles, "Spill it, Link."
He says nothing, putting up his booted feet onto the table, staring down with his amber eyes. Same question, same response.
"No."
The bartender groans, bracing his hands on it, sliding aside a half-empty jug, stopping himself before he enters into a stare-down contest with the thirty three year old man. He knows better than to try to make someone with that much conviction doubt himself. Especially since he seems to believe it, for some ridiculous reason...
"Alright," he says, "Alright, at least tell me this: Why aren't you dating?"
"Because I don't."
"You're over thirty. You've never had sex. If what you've told me is true, you had the opportunity to nail a horse rancher, the princess of the Zora people, and, which I'm still having trouble believing, Princess Zelda. Why not?"
"Because I didn't."
He shakes his head, sighing.
"Link, Link...", he sighs, "You are nuts."
Link smirks, calmly taking his feet off the table, slowly standing up.
"Want me to prove it?", he asks.
He gets the reaction he wants.
The bartender chuckles, derisively.
"And how's that?"
"Fifty rupies. That's the bet."
The bartender folds his arms, snorting.
"And what's the bet, kid?"
"I'll get you a book from the royal library.", Link responds, placing his hands on the table, "I'll get you a book that would be no where but in the library. A history book, no magicks. They never change the layout of the castle, and I knew it by heart before they rewrote time. I'm betting Zelda knew it, to."
"And if you get caught?"
Link smirks, slightly.
"If I get caught, I'm going to jail. No way I can pay ya."
"Fine, kid. You're on."
Link smiles, reaching out and gripping the other man's hand in a firm handshake.
"Pleasure doin' business with you, Alk.", he responds, "See you tomorrow."
He turns, straightening out his emerald tunic, and strides out.
It begins near a horse ranch, miles from the actual castle town of Hyrule.
A tear in the air.
A tear in space.
A tear between dimensions.
Something begins to peak out, an ebon, three clawed paw reaching out and gripping the ground, a toned, ebon and violet arm following it...
And a growl, out of thin air, as another claw joins it, and another, and another...
In all truth, he's been planning this.
Not that he's fallen on hard times. Does the occasional adventuring, he has the kokori to fall back on if he needs to, and he's made himself a nice niche as a slightly over subsistent farmer.
But it'll be good to see what he can do.
See if he's still got the skills he had, long ago.
He was faster, stronger, more agile, and more skilled than anyone out there.
The Hero of Time, himself.
Bloody joke.
He scales the wall in under a minute and a half with the help of a rope and some thrown-together finger-claws.
He's dressed completely in black, his long, amber hair tied into a ponytail and hidden under his collar, a black hood over his head so he can't be identified.
The guards always take the same positions.
Always the same patterns.
Always the same blind spot every couple of minutes that lets him sneak through with a swift, silent dash.
He enters into the castle through a carelessly unlocked window, working his way silently to the massive, spacious, almost opulent library.
He opens the massive, double doors, standing on the balconey above, connected to the main floor by a pair of winding staircases to his left and right...and smiles.
Thousands of books, collected over the ages. Editions unique to this place alone...and also very unguarded.
After all, who actually steals books?
He silently walks down the stairs, remembering the way around from his last time here.
Twenty years ago, yes...but a photographic memory does wonders.
He skips along the ornate, carpetted floor, easing out a rare, valued collection of Hyrulian mythos, and sliding it into his backpack.
Job's done. Those fifty rupies are his.
And he also has a career to consider as a professional thief.
Hefting up his backpack, he considers singing a little ditty as he walks to the stairs...when he hears something.
He hears someone crying.
It's moments like these where he hates the more selfless aspects of his nature, as he turns to the direction of the crying, walking over.
Coming from one of the chairs in the library, one of the tables.
He sets down the backpack, peaking over...
And sees a young, blonde haired girl.
No more than four, five years old.
Sitting there, weeping.
She turns to him, seeing him.
He's expecting her to scream, or to gasp...but she doesn't give him any reaction. Just continues crying.
"Up late, aren't you?", he asks.
She says nothing, just sitting there.
"Isn't it past your bedtime?"
She turns to him, her face completely neutral except for the tracts the tears are leaving.
"My momma told me not to talkta strangers.", she says, and continues crying.
Which is when he recognizes the kid.
The princess.
Cute kid.
Shame that he has to hate her because of her parents.
"Fine," he says, "G'night."
He turns, to walk out...only to be met by a gauntleted fist slamming into his chest, knocking the wind out of him and knocking him off his feet, onto the floor.
He flips back up, assuming a fighting stance, seeing the slightly tall, armored man bearing towards him, swinging a long, metal-plated half-stave.
Which would hurt like hell if it connected.
He rolls to the side, the staff bouncing off the carpet, Link skipping forward and slamming his foot into the stomach armor, pushing the attacker back.
Which proves to be a massive mistake.
The staff slams into his head, throwing him off his feet and rolling over the table next to the princess's, taking down two of the chairs with him as he collapses onto the floor.
He holds his head, groaning, his natural toughness and particularly thick head the only thing keeping him conscious at this point.
He was right. It did hurt like hell...
He climbs to his feet, shakily, reaching into one of the pouches on his belt.
He backs away, slowly, not taking his eyes off the armored man, pulling out a small, crimson red rod.
He snaps it out into a boomerang, tossing it as he bolts for the bag.
The weapon flies across with unnatural speed, homing in on the target, slamming into the staff and yanking it out of the attacker's hands.
Link snickers to himself, grabbing the bag, bolting up the stairs...
And met by his own boomerang looping around and twisting about his ankles, sending him careening down the stairs...and at the feet of the armored man.
"Crap.", he mutters.
The armored man reaches down, grabbing him by the collar, pulling him onto his feet and tossing him into one of the bookcases, several large, heavy volumes falling off the shelves and onto his head, Link groaning, and falling onto his seat.
The armored man walks over to the backpack, opening it, pulling out the stolen book and flipping it open.
He sees the attacker tilting his head, confused on why someone would invade the library to steal something as petty as a mythology collection...
Which is when he acts.
He leaps off the balls of his feet, tackling his attacker, pushing him back as he pivots, spins, and slams his right heel into the faceplate.
He strikes with the palms of his hands, on the weak points of the hyrulian armor, dazing the soldier and pushing him back.
He aims for the helmet, throwing his fist forward...and is met by a block from the armored man, the soldier twisting his arm, pushing him against the wall, pinning him.
He kicks out, making him loose his balance before twisting the soldier's arm, kicking him in the side and sending him careening back into one of the book cases, collapsing onto his seat, and groaning...
With a female voice.
He walks over, his brow furrowed under his hood, reaching for the helmet, to see who's really there...
And is met by a fist to his chin, sending him back, dazed, the armored woman moving with amazing speed.
She pushes him against the wall, grabbing the hood and pulling it back...and gasps, stepping back.
Giving Link all the opening he needs.
He spins, falling onto his hands and sweeping out her legs, sending her to the ground.
He pins her, straddling her, and reaches for the helmet, yanking it off...and sees the burning red, enraged face of Princess Zelda Hyrule staring back at him.
Chapter 2:
Just One of those Days...
______________________
Golden hands touch silver hands touch platinum hands.
Three minds as one, three souls as one.
Love, Courage, and Justice as one.
One being.
One Entity.
One God.
The Triad, the Three Who are One, whisper among themselves.
Something has come to Their world.
Something dark.
Something evil.
Something familiar...
And to stop it...They need Their allies.
Their friends.
Their Heroes.
Golden hands move away from silver hands move away from platinum hands.
The being Who is Justice bids Her allies farewell, and in a heartbeat, returns to the mortal world....
It takes a second for the two to get over the mutual shock.
Zelda's shock is that the intruder was the man who saved her life...saved her entire world...a good twenty five years ago.
Link's shock is that the person who was beating the crap out of him was the same woman who, in all honesty, he's been having fantasies about for the past few years.
Given, some of the fantasies involved her on the floor and him straddling her, but didn't involve her beating the holy hell out of him beforehand.
"Link," she growls, in the same aristocratic, beautiful voice he remembers so well, "Get. Off. Of. Me."
"Not until you promise not to hurt me."
He feels her struggling, trying to free her wrists from under his hands, her eyes showing whole loads of anger and rage...all directed right at him...and something else.
A plan.
He rolls off of her, just as she brings up the knee that was meant for his crotch, rolling onto his feet as she climbs to hers.
"Alright," he says, "Are we back to square one, here?"
"Why are you here," she says, "And why, in the Triad's name, are you risking your life to steal a book?"
"Honest answer or smart-ass answer?"
"Honest."
He straightens up, as does she, the two relaxing their fighting stances as he dusts off his clothes.
"I'm trying to win a bet.", he says, "I'm trying to prove to someone that what I said happened, happened."
"A bet?", she asks, "All this was about a bet?"
"I've never been to the castle.", he responds, "At least, not since that whole thing back when...well, I've never been here. But if I knew the castle well enough to know how to avoid all the guards, sneak into the library, and lift a book without anyone seeing me, that means I was here, and what I said during the one and only time I was ever drunk was true. And it nets me fifty rupies."
"Fifty rupies?", she demands, walking over, Link backing up until he's against the wall, "You risked your life over fifties rupies? Are you that desperate?"
"Hell, no. I'm self-sufficient, Your Highness. Wish I could say the same for you."
She grabs his collar, pinning him against the wall, her eyes already bloodshot from what he can tell is a lack of sleep.
"What does that mean?!", she demands.
He grabs her hands, a simple touch to her pressure points forcing her to release him as he holds her hands in front of her.
"I can get on by myself.", he growls, "I don't need to be knocking boots with some self-important noble to feel good about myself."
He regrets the words the moment he says them, Zelda backing away, throwing off his hands.
She looks down, turning away, wrapping her gauntleted arms around herself and walking away from him.
"Get out.", she whispers.
"Princess...-"
"Take your book," she growls, "And get out!"
He backs away, sensing the venom in her voice, the sheer anger.
He calmly walks over to the backpack, tossing in the book, and ascends the stairs, giving her one last look before hurrying out.
She stumbles over to one of the tables, collapsing into the chair, shuddering as tears flow from her bloodshot eyes.
"Momma?"
She turns, seeing the child walking over, climbing onto the chair next to her.
"Nina, baby," Zelda says, scooping up the child in her arms, "What are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep. I heard Daddy."
"Me too, Nina. Me too.", she responds, "Let's get you to bed, sweetie."
She stands up, carrying her daughter, and walks up the stairs, out of the library.
He stopped by his home for a few hours sleep, and it was close to noon before he walked into the bar, changed back into his casual clothes, a pair of brown slacks and a grey tunic, and walks up to the bartender, a sack underneath his right arm.
He unlatches the sack, turning it upside down, and shakes it, the volume toppling out and slamming onto the bar.
Everyone else in the bar looks up at the noise, not noticing a hooded, sackcloth-garbed person walking in.
"Mythos of Hyrule," Link says, "First edition. Only two copies are still in existence. One is in the personal, private library of the King of Hyrule. The second is in the Royal Library. Guess which one I had the balls to lift."
He watches as Alk opens the book, flipping through the pages.
He looks up, looking Link in the eye, before swallowing, and closing the book.
"You're insane.", he says.
"I'm taking the book back tonight.", Link responds, "And don't act like I'm some master thief. I nearly got the crap beaten outta me last night."
"By who?"
"Guard. I was lucky.", Link says, and leans over the counter, "And by the way..."
"Want it as cash or credit?"
"Cash. I don't drink much."
Alk mutters under his breath, taking a sack from under the counter and placing it in front of Link.
"Fifty rupees.", he says, "Fine. You win."
Link nods, smiling widely, grabbing the bag...when a waitress walks up to him, placing a drink in front of him.
"I...didn't order this.", he says.
"Lady by the corner.", she responds.
He rolls his eyes, picking up the drink and the book, and walks from the bar.
He sees the sackcloth-garbed stranger, walking over to the table and placing the book down.
"I don't drink.", he says.
"You said you got drunk once.", Zelda responds, pulling back the hood slightly, "I thought it was a frequent thing."
Link sighs, sitting down, placing the the drink by the side.
"You shouldn't be here.", he whispers, "This isn't the best place in town."
"You come here often enough."
"Yeah, but I can defend myself. Do you have any idea how many times people've tried to mug me in the past three months?"
She nods, sighing, intertwining her delicate hands as she looks up, biting her lip.
"Something's wrong.", he says, "What is it?"
She looks down, closing her eyes, her forehead tight. Like she's concentrating, trying to find the words to say something...
"Not here. Can I come by, later?"
"Where?"
"Your house."
He groans, pressing his forehead against his palm.
"First you beat the crap out of me, then you want to go to my place? We've got a weird relationship going."
She looks up, her green eyes boring into him with a vengeance.
"Damn it, this is neither the time or place...well?"
He nods.
"Fine...I'll escort you out.", he says, standing, waiting for her to rise to her feet, to, before escorting her out...
They hide in the trees, avoiding the daylight that burns like fire.
Creatures of the night they are, and by night they plan, for their master.
Only nine, for this phase. Three times three. Three is all, as for their enemy.
They see one of the humans, many of their servant-beasts.
Tonight, they inspect.
The night after, they feed.
He gets some work done that night, since the harvest season is starting.
He decided to set aside a section of the garden behind his house for potatoes, this year. Thankfully, they're growing in rather nicely.
He's checked the tomato crop, the lettuce crop, and his mint leaves. Doesn't use those much, but they sell nicely.
Often, Link's wondered just how he became a farmer. The kokori got their supplies directly from the Deku trees. What they didn't get from the trees, they trapped and hunted. He generally just buys what he can't grow from the shops.
After his crops are checked, and he's picked and washed what he's needed, he simply sits on the porch to his modest log house, watching the sun set off into the distance, tying back his hair as he wipes off his forehead.
"You've lost the hat."
He looks up, seeing her walking down the dirt path, her sackcloth robe replaced with an elegant, emerald silk robe and hood.
"I like the look.", she continues, pulling back the hood, revealing her loosely tied back, golden hair framing her aristocratic face, "You're looking well, Link."
"And you're looking like someone who's keeping a secret.", he responds, "I'm about to make dinner. Want to join me?"
"If I say no, will you stay outside and talk with me?"
He rises to his feet, dusting off his clothes.
"No.", he responds, turning and walking through the open door.
She sighs, shaking her head, climbing the stairs to the porch and walking through the door.
She looks around, seeing the well-kept, furnished interior, the couch by the fireplace, the table near the center, the bed at the far right corner, and the makeshift kitchen at the far left.
It's ordered, neat and clean. He keeps his house in this condition on a constant basis. She's both relieved and a bit offended that he didn't clean it on account of her visit...but she decides not to say anything...she shouldn't be here in the first place.
"I'll admit one thing," Link says, already slicing a few tomatoes on a wooden board, using a small, edged sword like a cutlery master, "You two made a cute kid."
"You mean Nina?"
"Yeah.", he responds, "So...how's everyone at the castle? Your father, your husband...?"
"My father's doing well.", she says, walking across the house, over to his kitchen, "I think it will be many years before I have to succeed him."
He nods, smiling faintly.
"Good...that's good to hear, Your Highness."
He finishes dicing the tomatoes, scooping them up and tossing them into the salad bowl before turning to his stove and a pot on it.
"You live alone?", she asks.
"I get along. I farm here. What I don't use, I sell. I make a good living off of this place."
She watches him work on the slab of meat in the pot, slicing it into managable pieces before turning it over to the head, turning back to the vegetables in front of him.
She watches in silence, not sitting, or speaking, for risk of offending him in his home. She's often wondered if he would do the same in her castle...
"How old is she?", he finally asks.
"Who?", she asks, looking back up at him.
"Nina."
"She's four and a half.", she responds, "We started late."
He nods, tossing the salad, pulling out a chair and sitting on it, picking a piece of lettuce from it and chewing on it.
"You're her godfather.", she finally says.
She allows herself a brief bit of satisfaction when he chokes on the lettuce piece, falling back, with the chair, onto the floor.
She waits, watching him climb back onto his feet, pushing the chair back under the table, staring across the table at her, a look of supreme shock evident on his face.
"It wasn't an easy decision to get across.", she responds, "My father and my husband both never heard of you. They suggested other people, insisted on other people, but I kept my ground. They eventually caved in. And prayed nothing would ever happen to me..."
He runs his hands through his hair, nodding, grumbling under his breath as she stands there, stock-still, silently waiting for him to say something.
"She should have been my daughter, Zelda.", he finally says, "Our daughter."
"But she wasn't.", she responds, "It. Couldn't. Happen."
"You could have left that one little detail, Princess!", he snaps, circling around the table to her, "You didn't have to erase that one memory!"
"Which one?"
"You know damn well which one!", he responds, exasperated, "I was a Hero! And you made everyone forget it!"
"We had to set things straight.", she says, shaking her head, "We couldn't leave anything...I am sorry, I really am."
"And yet you didn't say anything about it.", he responds, smirking slightly, "When I tell that whole story, I'm a nutcase. A delusional farm-boy who has a crush on the Princess. If you told it-"
"Nina believes me, at least."
He stops, in mid-sentence, his grin disappearing in an instant.
"You told her about me?", he asks.
"I told her the story.", she responds, "I told her everything, about the battles, about the legend. She practically worships you, Link. Do you want me to tell her about how you bravely snuck into the castle, and-"
"She was there. I hope I didn't kill too many delusions of hers."
"No. I didn't tell her who you were.", she says, her face absolutely calm, "Do you want me to? Maybe I should tell the chief of the guards while I'm at it."
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you."
"But it suits you fine. So does resentment.", she spats, "Tell me, Link, how long have you harbored this...obsession?"
"Since puberty. Most men do.", he responds, turning from her, walking back to the stove.
He smiles to himself, not facing her, as he hears her give off a cry of frustration. He turns, seeing her standing where he left her, her arms folded, her eyes boring into him once again.
"You," she says, "Are a self-righteous bastard. Do you know that?"
"True, since I never knew my father.", he responds, "But I don't know about the self-righteous thing."
"You think I would have just fallen in love with a farmer?"
"You could do worse.", he responds, flashing a brief smile, "Tell me, honestly, that you never considered it."
"That's not important...what were you planning, first of all?"
"Planning?"
"Have you ever followed me?", she asks, "Do you have paintings, drawings..."
"Princess, I'm many things. But I'm not sick.", he responds, "Alright, tell me this: What are you doing here in the first place?"
"What am I-"
"I live in the middle of nowhere for a reason.", he says, "I have my life, and I go into town during the day. Your husband's probably worried."
She shudders, slightly.
"No. No, he's not."
She's praying, to herself, that he didn't just notice the chill that ran down her spine.
"I...see.", he responds, "Has he been unfaithful?"
"No."
"Abusive?"
"No.", she growls, "No. We loved each other, dearly. I bore his child. That's not something I do lightly."
"Mm...hm. I'm not convinced.", he responds, "Great. Marital problems, right?"
"No!", she snaps, "No, it's not that...Link, I'm sorry. I shouldn't tell you this...but he was a good man. A better man than you, actually...he was kind, generous. Courageous. Handsome, mature, intelligent...he was everything I ever wanted in a lover, in a friend. He made me feel safer than I ever did, during our time..."
He nods, expressionless, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he folds his hands together.
"Zelda?", he asks.
"Yes?"
"You said you two loved each other dearly.", he responds, "Past tense. I'm considerably smarter than when we last met."
She nods, closing her eyes, tears beginning to form.
"I....", she whispers, her voice cracked, "I can't very well love a corpse."
He looks up, his mouth silently opening.
"He's dead.", she says, barely a whisper, "He died...by chance. A stray arrow from a dying moblin...he died when I never expected it..."
"I...Zelda, I'm sorry."
She nods, folding her arms around herself, clenching her eyes tight, her body shuddering like it's in pain.
"We never fought," she sobs, "We never argued, we always put each other before our work...I don't even have the courage to announce it, yet...he's only five days dead, and...and I still can't believe it..."
He walks over, pulling her to him, letting her bury her face in his shoulder.
He closes his eyes, instantly regretting every remark about the 'self-righteous noble', his hand untying her hair, running his fingers through it.
"I'm here, Princess.", he says, his other hand on hers, "I'm here..."
And they simply stand there, together, for much of the night....