PLEASE READ BEFORE BEGINNING!
Welcome, to my story. I must begin by saying that if you want to read this, you HAVE to read the prequel. These are basically the same story, but this one is the game, and the prequel was the year before the game, hence the name A Year to Prepare. Please go to my page and read it. Another note, I had changed my name before this story. I used to be Nagara379, like my DA, but that's gone. I say this because my author notes were discussions with Midna and Link, and I refered to myself as Nagara in those. I am the same author, just by a different name.
I do not own LoZ in any way. Direct dialogue and characters belong to Nintendo. I own any plot changes and OC's
The next day played out just as it does in the game.
Link had told me that he got the day off, and I was probably too weak to work, so I did too. I slept in that day, and was woken up by Beth. I woke up to a bratty voice screaming by my ear, "LAYLA! GET UP! ITS PAST MIDDAY!"
My first thought was to punch the source of what caused me discomfort, but I caught myself just in time. I let out a low groan as I hauled myself up out of my mat. Beth was standing there, hands on her hips. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and moaned, "Someday, and I fear no time soon, you'll understand the joys of sleeping in after working for so long."
"Yeah right. You're just sick. You haven't worked for a day. You should be grateful I let you sleep. Now hurry up and get ready. Link's still asleep too, and we have to go wake him up."
"C'mon! He works harder than me. If he doesn't get sleep, he's more likely to get sick. You want that?"
"If he has stayed healthy for as long as he has on his own without help, then he got enough sleep then. With help, he still gets enough. Now, stop complaining and hurry up!"
I was actually impressed that she didn't fall for that, but I didn't show it. I decided to act out a little more and sarcastically said, "Yes mother."
This gave me a dirty look, but I did get ready for the day faster than normal. The two of us went with the other kids to wake up Link. Talo yelled up, "Hey! Wake up Link!" Took a while, but Link did poke his head out of his window. When Link came down, looking a little more than disheveled. Talo said, "Oh Link, did'ja hear? They're selling a slingshot at the general store right now. A SLINGSHOT!"
Just like in the game, Malo muttered, "I wonder how powerful it is…I need it…I must try it…"
Beth said, "Talo, if you and Malo want it so badly, just buy it at my parents' shop!"
"Do you see any rupees in my hand? I can't afford that thing! C'mon Beth! Can't you just loan it to us for a while?" Begged Talo. The sheer desperation in his voice surprised me a little.
"You know I'd get in trouble for that! If you two want it, just save your allowances or something."
"But…our allowances are terrible…Awww. I wish I was born into a family with a slingshot instead of one with a waterwheel…" Muttered Malo. That was true. They got about ten a month for doing their own laundry. Not like this was a lot, they had only their clothes and their underclothes.
"Fine! Layla, cant you loan it to us?" Asked Talo.
I thought, "Jeez this kid is desperate for it." Instead, I said, "I'd get in more trouble than Beth would. It would be violating the store, and I'm a gust at their house." That was my reply. Beth went ahead and said I was basically her parents second daughter, not a guest, but I pointed out this didn't make much of a difference.
Link and I exchanged looks as the debate went on, and by the time it got old, we went down to the village. Hanch told us about the bees' nest, then we climbed up the vines on one of the rock formation over the pond to speak to Jaggle The conversation with him about voices carrying, teaching the kids about distances, Sera's cat staring at the creek, and the hawk grass made this the most captivating conversation both Link and I ever had with him.
I pointed out it might be nice to break down the bees nest, and Link did for the heck of it. While he did that, I jumped down to speak to Uli. Sure enough, the cradle had drifted down the river to the pond. I climbed back up the vines to tell Link, and he was dumbfounded with what do. I hit him over the back of the head, and jumped to the hawk grass on the other formation. The monkey was there holding up the cradle, but she seemed to be playing with it, instead of gloating with it. I blew the hawk grass, I summoned the hawk, and my hawk gave me the cradle. I also gave it back to Uli. She thanked me, and I took it to her house. She doesn't walk that slow in real life, no she walks at a decent speed. When we reached her house, which took a little navigation to get out of the mess of houses in the village, she gave me the fishing rod to give to Link.
I did of course, and he figured out how to catch fish fairly fast. We went to the fishing spot to practice. I tried it out, and when I got a bite, I had to use both hands just to prevent the little Greengill from pulling the rod into the water. Link, on the other hand, only had to use one hand. And sure enough, that cat stole Link's fish. Link looked at him in shock, while I laughed at the situation.
I lead him around the ledges around the village to get spare rupees. Hmm…Myabe I should explain how finding rupees in grass works.
Uli told me this old legend. Once upon a time, there was a tax collector. He had so much money, he didn't even know what to do with it. It was mainly spent on prostitutes and food. One day he saw a couple sitting in the gutter with a newborn baby. They were covered in muck and grime. They looked hungry. The man decided from then on out to use his money for good. He gave the family a lot of money, and they had enough for a long time. The Golden Goddesses saw favor in this, and gave him more money. He, with his heart changed, threw the money to the wind. And from now on, if you are ever short of money, pull up the tall grasses and mosses, for you are sure to find money. The end. Nice story huh?
Link and I got a total of sixty rupees. Afterwards, Link asked Bo where Ilia was. He said she locked herself in her room, intent on making the two of us something. I knew we each would get a horse call.
Link also got the milk in a bottle too. I didn't get any 'cause there was only one bottle. We used the gathered rupees we found around the village to finally purchase the slingshot. Link and I argued about who should buy it first, since we had thirty rupees at the same time. "You want it more than I do. I have a bow that I'm almost perfect with. I don't need another projectile weapon!" That was my reason for Link to buy it.
"It's a toy! You're younger than me, and since you're so accurate, it would make sense for you to want to show it off with something smaller!" That was Link's reason for me to buy it.
"A year! One year and are you considering me a child? And am I really that show-offy?" I lightly blew up at him. I crossed my arms and turned my back, but I was smiling. Link jumped around to apologize, but I turned my head away and raised it in a snooty manner. While Link stuttered he didn't mean it like that, I just closed my eyes. Eventually, I opened them and smirked. He face/palmed when he realized I was messing around the whole time, but whatever.
We eventually settled on him buying it, so he did. We shared the milk, and I told him to get some bee larva. Confused, he did, and I said he should catch a catfish for no reason – there's no fishing journal in the real world. He was surprised I knew where the fish was. I said I learned after swimming over there a couple times, which was technically true, since I figured it out in the game. The village fishmonger was the only one that fished, so most people didn't bother looking for fish. Besides, it was a village law that nobody could take the fish and kill them except him.
When we went to show of the slingshot to the kids, we indeed passed Rusl who said, "Ah Link, Layla, Nice to see the both of you. Ah, I see you got the fishing rod Link. I bet it works better than you thought it would. By the way Link, I fixed your wooden sword and left it in your house. Layla, yours is taking more time. It should be done by tomorrow."
"That's fine," I said, and Rusl walked away.
Link showed the kids he bought the toy, and they were fascinated with it. The conversation was exactly the same as in the game. Talo said, "Link has the slingshot. Wow!"
Beth said, "You had enough money to buy it Link?"
I tried it out a couple times and hit a couple targets, and Link did too. We impressed the kids, who also got a couple tries with it. It was actually fun. I pointed out the skullwattula on Link's ladder, and he killed it with a well-placed shot. The thing shriveled up, but it didn't go poof. I just kicked it into the tall grass, never to be seen again, hopefully.
After all the targets were hit, Talo said, "Wow, you two really are amazing!"
I crouched at his level and said, "Your just as." This made him blush a little.
"By the way Link, did you expect Colin's dad to bring you something? 'Cause he did." Beth reported.
"Oh yeah! That's right…what was that anyway?" Asked Talo.
At a normal volume, Malo said, "I command you to tell us."
Of course it was the wooden sword. I volunteered to get it for Link. It wasn't in a chest; it was just propped up next to the door. I grabbed it, and showed the kids. The three of them went, "WOW!"
They made Link show off the moves on a scarecrow, and then they made me. Talo tried to get me to go get my sword, which I by the way I had named Heaven's Mercy, because it would destroy evil in the most horrible way possible. In other words: mercifully. Anyway, Talo wanted me to get my sword, so I did, figuring I might as well satisfy him, and I would need it right after anyway. I did all the moves Link did, and then the monkey appeared. The three went chasing after her, and Link and I grabbed our horses to get them back.
It took a while, but we reached the cave that lead to Faron Woods. We had a lantern already: mine. But Link still got the free one from Coro. I was stupefied when Link decided to try some of Coro's Nasty Soup. Link drank it, and I commend him for putting on a brave face, but he ran to the side of Coro's shack and threw it back up. It smelled like manure and cows at the same time, which I'm sure you can imagine smelled gross. It took a lot of willpower for me not to look at it, 'cause I might've gotten sick as well.
~~X~~
I lead Link around the Forest, which was more dangerous now than last time we both were in here. The forest was extremely large compared to the game. Ordon Forest is the size of a regular forest back home, and Faron's Forest is even bigger. I sometimes hunted there, so I knew the way around, and let me say it took a lot longer than I thought it would.
The Deku Baba plants shriveled up, but the whole plant was still there, and the Keese were the same as the Bokoblins, but they took one slice or three hits to kill.
It took a long time to kill the Bokoblin's. Link alone took several hits and slices. I alone took less time, but it was a lot longer in comparison to the game, even with the Master Sword. When the Bokoblins died, they didn't go poof in a little explosion. The ones Link hit to death just laid motionless. The ones I sliced to death lay there dead and bleeding, and boy did they bleed. The first one I killed, I got splashed with a good amount of blood, and even could identify which gut was what. But the only injury I sustained was a bruise on my arm.
Due to all the blood, I threw up. When I got up I just stood there staring at the body of the monster, in shock that I did that. I heard Link yell, "Layla! Hey Layla, c'mon, stop with the hide and seek, we need to get Talo." I heard him, but I didn't react. Link found me and said, "Jeez what the hell were you…?...Oh…" He walked over to me and stared at the body too.
Right as I a couple stray tears found their way out of my eyes, Link put his arm around my shoulder and lead me away. He found a little stream, and washed the blood off of my face and shirt. When he finished, we sat on the bank of the stream for a couple minutes. I soon chocked out, "Am I a monster for mutilating another monster?"
I kept my eyes on my knees the whole time, so I didn't see it, but I felt Link wrap his arms around me. I buried my face in his shirt, and he said, "You were defending yourself. The Bokoblin would've attacked you, and could've hurt you if you didn't kill it. And by killing it, you prevented travelers from getting attacked"
Regaining my previous attitude for a second, I smirked and said, "You didn't answer my question."
Link sighed and said, "Why do you think you're a monster? Which you aren't, but why?
I started to cry, and said, "Because I blindly attacked it. I actually enjoyed killing it, until I saw what I had done to it."
Link put his hand on my head and whispered, "This was your fist experience using what you've learned. I'm sure that rush caused you to change, and not really think about what you were doing,"
This actually angered me. "I don't need you to rationalize my actions. What's done is done, but does this mean that there's more to me than I thought before. Does this make me a monster?" I said with a raised voice, but I was still crying.
Link sighed again and said, "You don't feel proud in killing it, so you aren't a monster." He then lead me up, to find a small wet stain from the tears on his shirt. I mumbled sorry and we moved on. Eventually I calmed down, but only after I got used to seeing all the blood. But still, to this day, I will occasionally throw up at the sight of death, particularly at my own hand.
Y'know that little side cave with the key to the Forest Temple, and if you light the podium's, you get a piece of heart? That was fake! The key was real, but not the piece of heart. There was this fairy though. It was a yellow ball of light with butterfly wings, not dragonfly like the others. The fairy said in a high, squeaky, female voice, "He he he, thank you for freeing me! I'm just a little fairy, but I can take care of myself! But those horrible monsters trapped my brothers and sisters in these chests. If you let us out, we'll help you get stronger. Release five, and you get very strong! Then there're the other fairies that'll heal your wounds. All of us are fairily rare, but you'll be able to tell the difference between us~!"
I asked, "What's the difference between your siblings and the others?" I quickly figured it was the wings, but I had to ask, otherwise it would have given away I knew too much.
"He he he! My cousins have dragonfly wings. My siblings have butterfly wings. My mamma the Great Fairy doesn't like her children flying around though, so if you see fairies with dragonfly wings, she doesn't care about them. They'll fly around while I have to go back home…But thanks again for freeing me!" She spiraled around us, and I felt refreshed, and a little of my stamina was restored. Not for resting, but right after the fairy flew away.
Link looked at me a little dumbfounded, so I said, "Four more and we get very strong!" I said "very strong" while imitating the fairy. Link just shrugged and we left the cave.
After I killed the Bokoblin behind the gate that leads to the Forest Temple, I realized Talo would see the body and the blood, along with the others we killed. When I pointed this out to Link, he and I carried the body to a secluded part of the forest, and kicked dust over the blood. We did this to the other monsters we killed, and burned the bodies. I mentally mapped out the route we would take to get out so that Talo wouldn't see or smell anything.
~~X~~
We managed to reach Talo, and everything played out just like in the game, except I was there. To hide the violence from Talo, I hit the cage with the pommel of my sword while Link killed the Bokoblins. When they both died, he threw the bodies down the cliff. We both hope that Talo didn't see anything, for his own good.
When Rusl came by, he invited me to go to Hyrule Castle with Link. I said sure. I knew that Link wouldn't be going, so it didn't really matter. After everything was over, maybe I would do it with Link, but that's a long time off. After I accepted Rusl continued to speak as in the game. When he laughed at the Princess Zelda comment, Link turned beet red. I laughed too, which, obviously, turned him even redder.
~~X~~
I snuck away that night, but only to try and get all my feelings out at once. I was thinking kinda milky, so my efforts didn't work that much.
Usually I walk to Faron Spring, but this time I ran on the balls of my feat to get to the forest. After that I walked the rest of the way. When I got there, I sang Monster by Skillet.
The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
My secret side I keep hid under lock and key
I keep it caged but I can't control it
'Cause if I let him out he'll tear me up, break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
It's hiding in the dark, it's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart
No one can hear me scream, maybe it's just a dream
Maybe it's inside of me, stop this monster
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I've gotta lose control, he something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
After I got that out, my mind cleared up drastically, and I fell to my knees and cried. I was trying to get out my feelings, both about the Bokoblins and Link. I felt like a murderer and well…I just wish my feelings for him would leave. Admitting you have a problem is supposedly the first step to healing, but if that was true, then I want to know why there was even more turbulence inside me.
I apparently cried myself to sleep because I woke up at the spring, but it was still night. I pick myself up and walked back to my house
~~X~~
Next day, Link volunteered to herd the goats alone. I think he saw how tired I looked, and was just trying to help. I wanted to pull my own weight, but whatever. I sat in front of the barn and sang Courageous by Casting Crowns. It was what Link and I were going through and will go through.
We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous
We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away
Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall
We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Seek justice
Love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
In the war of the mind
I will make my stand
In the battle of the heart
And the battle of the hand
We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight
The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous
We were made to be courageous
Lord, make us courageous
We were made to be courageous
Lord make us courageous
The goats took notice and drew closer, while I ushered them into the barn. Link took notice of the song, and I think it made him think, he gave me a look like, "Does that song have a meaning?" To me it had a really important meaning. I was doing three things at once while singing: drawing in the goats, motivating myself to be courageous, and asking God for courage.
Singing something positive like that gave me new energy, and I felt much better from the previous night.
After we were done, I anticipated for Ilia to take Epona away from Link to heal her. This was a moment I had played out in my mind multiple times. I had to be on the ledge, hidden, if I didn't want King Bulbin to take me along with Colin and Ilia.
I would have been amused when Ilia yells at Link, but there was a wound on Sapphira too, so I got yelled at. Those funny shocked faces that Link and Bo make as Ilia walks away? I made one too. Link and I ran to his house, where he gave up his wooden sword to Talo. Heaven's Mercy was inside my house, where I hoped it wouldn't be touched. I made Link get the purple rupee that was in his basement too.
Colin's little speech about being like Link broke my heart a little. He will be like Link, but that comes with getting run over by a gigantic boar being ridden by the King Bulblin. I had played out scenarios in my head where I push him after he pushes Beth, but would he learn the same lesson? I'm sure he would. I didn't want him to have that physical pain that I could take in his place.
When we reached the gate, Ilia said, "If you two are here for your horses back, you can FORGET it! Why don't you both think about what you've done for a change? I wont open the gate unless you two change your attitude."
"Ilia…you don't know what happened yesterday…Link, Layla, listen, I don't know if shell listen to me, but let me try to explain about Talo and the monkey. Ok? You guys crawl in here through the tunnel while I do," said Colin. Link used the tunnel. I climbed over the ledge, and sat there, hidden behind some tall grass.
I saw the scene unfold in front of me. Of course, Ilia asked me to come down, but once she did, the Bulbins and their mounts busted through the gate. I hid as best as I could behind the grass. I didn't dare to look. Only after I heard the horn blow, and the Bulbins run off that I dared to come down. Link was laying there, unconscious. I jumped down, and woke him up. We both took off for the Shadow Wall, but I got there first. The run from the spring to the bridge, and the length of the bridge was about the same as in the game. The Shadow Wall was like the representation in the game, but it was blacker than black, and the Twili markings were a stunning gold/platinum white color.
When Link reached the wall, he was in shock. I wasn't though; I had see this all before. I held his left had as tight as I could in my right. I looked at him and said, "We're going in there together."
He looked at me, eyes full of determination, and said, "Of course." Just then, a hand pulled Link, and by extension me, into the shadow. I'm surprised that I screamed; I expected it after all. I may have been screaming in the realization that I was officially a part of the Twilight Princess adventure. But if that was true, I would have been screaming in joy, not fear.
Well, the Twili beasts are much, much scarier when they're holding your best friend by the throat. But since our marks were together, the holy energies were much stronger, and Link was thrown off farther than we did alone in the game. I had let go, so I was a decent distance away from him too. I could feel the pain surging through me. It felt like I was turning inside out. Link was no better. His skin was flushed red, and not just his face; it was his whole body, making him look almost sun burnt. We caught eyes, and crawled over to each other. He held me in his arms while the pain pulsed through us, coming from our marks. When our eyes met; he had nothing but anger and pain. I assume I was portraying fear and pain, but I don't know.
He sort of threw me away from him, and I landed on my arms. I looked back at him, and then I saw him transform. It was drastic, hearing him scream in so much pain, seeing the fur penetrate his skin, and his body's shape change into a wolf. I screamed due to the pain too, and then I went unconscious. I didn't feel anything except pain. No fur, no physical structure changes, it was just pain.
~~X~~
I was the first to wake up between us. Link and I were chained to the same weight, so he was lying there next to me. The wolf was beautiful. Most say he's black and gray, but its really black and a deep silver color. Most would say it's too dark to be silver, but it was to me. His collar fur was long and feathery. And he was large. I've seen a wolf/dog hybrid before, and Link was a lot bigger than that. Or it could've been I was smaller. In fact, I was about the size of a house cat. (A.N: This is true. Despite common belief that red foxes are the size of medium dogs, the average adult is 15'' from foot to shoulder. Take out a ruler and find out how small they are, and how small all foxes are if the red is the largest. I did not look at wikipedia for that info, I got it off of The OzFoxes FoxWeb. I read the site, seems legit (yah, that's what everybody says for the stuff that isn't legit, but I'm serious))
Taking a good look at myself, I was white and russet. I turned into a red fox. Figured. I used to play around with my friends as being canines, and I was a RED fox – but my legs weren't black…..maybe I was representing fox perfection, and Link wolf perfection? -. It would've looked more visually balanced if I was an arctic fox. Me white and Link black, but whatever. Even a golden jackal would've looked better. Me brownish gold he silver. At least I wasn't a cat. A wild cat would've been cool, but I liked the idea of being a fox better.
I inspected my new form while I let Link sleep. My collar fur fanned out around me about as much as a regular fox, but my tail fur was a lot thicker than normal. It actually weighed quite a bit.
After nuzzling Link awake, he looked at himself, and looked at me. We just stared at each other for a while. I was staring at him while admiring his eyes. For the first time, I noticed the deep blue hue of his eyes. Near his pupils it was a deep sapphire color, but along the edges it was a lighter cobalt shade. I bet he was staring at me because of how small I was, and the fact we were canines.
I caught myself and stopped staring at him. I whined to him, "Link…..remember the first time we met? I said, 'I know things about Hyrule I shouldn't know'?"
Link let out a low growl that said, "I recall that."
"I know the future. From a specific point too a specific point. Things in the middle could change, but I know the definite course of some events. It started the day I got sick, or more accurately that evening."
Link gave me a wolfish look of disbelief. He growled, "Why in the name of hell should I believe that?"
I ducked my head and whined, "Because there should be an imp appearing very soon." Just then, both our ears perked up, and there was Midna, in all her impish glory.
This chapter was stupidly long! UGH! 5000+ words, unbelievable. Thanks for taking the time to read this