The Legend of Zelda:

HERO

Chapter One: Thieves

The sky was such a perfect, flawless blue that, with such lazy frosty clouds that it made Shane feel drowsy and peaceful. Over his head he could see the birds drifting and flapping on the thermals, their eerie cries piercing the otherwise perfect silence. The sun was setting but it was still warm on his shoulders. He turned from brushing Epona and watched the fiery orb sink beyond Death Mountain. He shivered a little. It would be dark soon, and beyond the sturdy gates of Lon Lon Ranch monsters would start to move, marauding the land and killing anything too stupid to have found shelter, including any people.

His father's horse nickered and nuzzled Shane on the shoulder, demanding attention again. Hurriedly, the teenager turned back to her, speaking softly and running the brush over her soft coat. She was old, her muzzle graying, her back beginning to sway just a little, but for the most part she was still glossy and strong and smart. He sang quietly to her. The horse was quiet then, standing perfectly still and listening to his voice. Shane was a quiet, gentle young man whom most of the horses trusted and loved. There were very few that he'd had difficulty getting to know, and they were the wild ones his father had ventured out into far lands to capture from the wild. Not like Darkness, the horse Shane had been given for his fourteenth birthday. Darkness was the one Colt Epona had birthed. He was a huge, crazed, black stallion with only a small, white star on his forehead. After months of hard work, Shane had finally broken the stallion, without assistance from anyone. He felt it was, perhaps, the bravest thing he'd ever done in his life.

Now he finished up with Epona, patting the old mare on the flanks as he tucked the brushes away and walked around her, careful not to get kicked. He went to Darkness and stroked his soft, silky nose, looked into his black eyes and whispered soothingly. The horse didn't even make a sound as Shane took his rope and led both horses into the stable. When he'd fed both Darkness and Epona, as well as the other three horses in the stable, Starlight, Wind Walker and Mudora, he turned to look out over the ranch.

Lon Lon was a large expanse of grassy meadow with a large dirt track for training the horses. There were a few cows on the far side of the ranch, lowing softly as the night came upon them. Satisfied that everything was all right, Shane went into the chicken coop to collect eggs one last time.

As soon as he was through the door, a tremendous, fearful noise greeted him, like the battle cry of the Goron warriors. It startled the young man so bad he stumbled back and almost fell into a pile of straw. His foot nudged against something soft and he spun around wildly.

Laying at his feet was a short, fat man with a bulbous nose, rosy cheeks and small tufts of white hair around his head. The top of it was shining bald. Near his left hand was a half-drained jug of milk. Shane chuckled. "Grandfather…so this is where you've been."

Shane stepped over Talon and went to check the cuckoos for eggs. He found one and turned to leave his grandfather sleeping in the hay. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement, a dark creature taking shape in the shadows. The boy clenched his fists, but he didn't feel at all qualified to actually use them.

Out of the darkness slid a tall, willowy girl, with long, straight, golden blond hair. There was a crown of flowers on her head and her long ears were adorned with gold rings. Her eyes were flawless, deep azure, like his own and her skin was silky, and white. Her lips were very full and red, pulled into a permanent smile. She was dressed in a long, white dress that was made of simple fabric and wore soft, brown leather boots on her feet. She smiled at him, flashing perfectly white teeth, giggled, "Did I scare you, Shane?"

With a sigh, Shane relaxed, sneered at her, "You? Scare me? Lily, don't joke."

His sister didn't stop smiling, but he didn't feel bothered by it. Lily was a quiet, gentle girl with firm but loving hands and a tender personality. She was only two years younger than he was, and had been his only companion ever since childhood. The pair were inseparable, even if they were as different as night and day.

Unlike Lily, who was frail and fair and soft and beautiful in every way, Shane was tall, sturdily built with lean muscle all throughout his arms, legs and chest. His face was chiseled perfectly manly, and his eyes were dark, dark blue. His lips were full like his sisters, but not as red, his hair was long, well kept, and dark like the night sky, a trait neither of his parents showed. He had one earring through his pointed ear and was, for the day, dressed in a short, rough, blue tunic, his tanned legs exposed. But their appearance wasn't all that separated the two teenagers. Lily was strong and bold, fearless, with little or no bad temper. She was compliant with the wishes of their parents, although defiant when she knew she had to do what was right, and she was brave. She'd been the first to ride one of the wild horses their father had tamed, and only after she'd proven it could be done did Shane try it.

Shane was different. He was not as bold as his sister, and not as strong in spirit. He had many fears: fears of darkness, fears of battle and of monsters that his father had told stories about. He felt ashamed of his fears, knowing what a courageous, and powerful man his father was, but he couldn't help the fear that was so strong inside of him; it was his most basic instinct. People knew it.

Oh, he'd heard them all talk. Whenever he and his father rode the long trip to the Hyrule Castle market people stared, he'd heard them whisper. They all knew who Shane's father was—the great Hero of Time. That same Hero of Time who'd drawn the Master Sword-the Sword of Evil's Bane-and had freed all six sages from their dark imprisonment. He was the Hero of Time who'd met Princess Zelda, now the Queen of Hyrule, and who'd slain Ganondorf when it seemed no one ever would. He was the Hero of Time who'd traveled far from home, taking only, Epona, the Ocarina of Time, and a small sword, who'd gone into the strange land of Termina to release it from the powers of evil there. He'd been raised as a fairy child and had become something much greater than all of the heroes and all of the sages and all of the monsters before him. He was a legend in his own time. The people celebrated him often.

But Shane didn't have the courage his father had. He didn't have that sense of justice and that yearning to make things right. He was a horse boy, contented to stay on the ranch for the rest of his life, just like his grandfather before him. Maybe not sleep so much, but he would stay safe in Lon Lon. He didn't desire any adventures.

Of course, no one was going to forget who he was or who his father was. They knew his heritage too well, and they weren't going to let it go. They would worship this Link forever, never mind his coward of a son.

In only a few weeks would be the annual Festival of the Hero, a huge parade in honor of Link to commemorate the day he'd defeated Ganondorf. The whole family would pack up, get on their horses, and ride the half-day journey to Hyrule Castle to be greeted and honored by Her Majesty. Shane was apprehensive about the venture, but he was a little hopeful at seeing and even meeting Princess Jennifer. They'd met at the last thirteen festivals, and it was always a pleasure to see her.

Lily drew Shane out of his thoughts, "Let's just leave Grandfather where he is, shall we? Mother will wake him up." She smiled at her shy, gentle brother and took the egg from him. "Before you break it." She explained. She turned from him, long, golden hair shimmering in the light.

Grinning, Shane followed. The siblings left the coop, and their sleeping grandfather, and made their way toward the house. There was a light burning in the kitchen window and Shane could hear his mother singing: her beautiful, melodious voice filling the air as the darkness came across the sky.

"Are you ready for the festival?" Lily asked, sweet voice capturing his attention again.

Shane shrugged, "I'd rather not go, you know that."

His sister turned to him, "Oh yes, I know, you'd rather stay here with your beautiful horses and never think about anything, least of all who you are." Her voice was teasing, but he detected some scorn in it. Lily knew his fears, and although she never said anything, he knew she disapproved of her brother's behavior.

"I'm proud of father," Shane protested, "no one is prouder of him than I am, but…it's just," he looked away, "I'm his son; people naturally expect me to do what he did, to be a hero. I'm not like that Lily. You're the strong one."

Gently, Lily touched his hand, "You're strong too, Shane, I see it inside of you. I know there's a fighter in there. Besides, in a world like ours, it's not so bad to be a kind person, is it?"

He shrugged, muttered, "If only I were braver."

"Never mind. Let's not worry about it now. Maybe some day you'll have to prove yourself, Shane, but until then, just be glad that our father has made everything peaceful."

The boy managed to smile at her. "You're right. I worry too much, I guess. It's-"

He didn't get to finish his thought because his father's mild voice came to them at that instant and the siblings turned to see him standing in the door way. "Dinner's ready." He called. "Come in and get washed up, your mother's setting the table." He disappeared inside.

The brother and sister walked a little faster toward the house, "Lily," Shane whispered, "does it ever seem strange to you that the Hero of Time became a family man?"

"A little I guess. He always seems so lonely, not unhappy, but just like he's waiting for something to happen. I think he wants to feel needed, maybe that's why he married and had children."

Shane nodded, musing over the idea, walked into the house. It smelled warm and comforting, the scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread filled the tiny room with an aromatic pleasantness that hurled him back through the years to his childhood.

Malon, his mother, was standing at the head of the table, surveying her children with Shane's same blue eyes, her red hair looked darker in the evening light. She smiled, at her son, "How were the horses, Shane?"

For a greeting he hugged her and said, "They were good. Mudora's foal will be born any day now. You'll have to ride Wind Walker to the festival next week. That's about when Mudora will be birthing." Shane couldn't help feeling a little over-inflated. If there was anything he knew about it was horses.

Malon looked worriedly at her husband, "Well Fairy Boy," she said softly, "will it really be all right for me to leave Mudora here while she births? Perhaps I should stay behind."

Link shook his head, smiling at his wife's familiar, old affection, "No, that's all right. I'm sure your father and Ingo will take good care of her."

For the first time since he'd entered the house, Shane looked up at his father. Link was a tall, strong man, built a lot like his son, but with the same fair hair and complexion and eyes his daughter had. He had aged considerably since his quests, but he still looked young and handsome and composed, and he'd still drop everything to help a stranger.

Shane remembered one of his first visits to Hyrule Castle as a child. He and his father had happened across an old man with a large donkey cart. The wooden wheel had run over a sharp rock in the road and broken, preventing the man and his cart to go any further. It had taken hours to repair the wheel, but Link had stopped to help any way, and because some of the milk went sour in the sun, he'd lost money, but to Shane, only a small child at the time, it was the first day he'd really seen his father as the hero he was. He'd never forget what the old man had said as his cart had moved slowly away: "You're a hero, my boy, and not because you killed the King of Evil or rescued our queen, but because you've got it in your heart to be so. You've got the strength of a thousand men in your soul."

For a long time Shane had wondered about that old man and the things he'd said. He had finally decided that the strength he'd mentioned was what set him apart from his famous father. It was something he lacked.

Now the family sat down at the table, plates piled high with meat and vegetables. Fresh milk was set out and there was a loaf of bread at the center of the table. "Mother," Lily said, "Grandfather is out in the coop sleeping, we decided to let him sleep."

Malon nodded, "You couldn't have waked him if you tried."

"He'll eat later," Link added, "now let's pray."

The family linked hands and bowed their heads. Link began, "Oh, goddesses, Nayru, Faore and Din, we thank you for your blessings of health and companionship and we ask that as another day passes and our children grow older you protect us all and continue your provision so that we may-"

Outside a rumbling shook the ground, growing louder and louder, until at last it drowned Link's voice out. The family looked up, Lily ran to the window and looked out.

"It sounds like a stampede!" Shane shouted over the noise.

"Father!" Lily cried, "There are Gerudos outside!"

Link rushed to her side, "How many!"

"It looks like thirty…or forty—a lot."

The Hero of Time turned to his wife, "Malon, you and Lily stay here, Shane, come out with me and we'll see what they want." He reached over and grabbed a knife, hooked it under his belt. "If it's a fight they want they'll get it."

Shane was frozen to the floor, staring at his father with wide eyes, he could feel the color draining from his face, his hands were shaking, "Me? Come out with you to fight?"

Link returned his gaze coolly, "I suppose I could do it alone."

Horrified, Lily stepped forward, "No Father! You'll be killed! I'll go with you."

He shook his head, "Daughter, you know better. You'd be more likely to die than I would, and Shane is stronger than you anyway." Link looked one last time at his son and walked outside.

"Physically," the girl muttered, struck her brother hard on the shoulder, "don't just stand there looking stupid! Help him!"

A lump growing in his throat, Shane stared at her, "Lily…I-I…you know me, I'm not a good fighter. I would be of no use to him—I'd only get in the way."

"Coward." Lily snorted, taking a knife of her own and following her father. Desperately Malon tried to grab her.

"Lily! Come back!" Shane wanted to run after her and stop her, he truly wanted to go out and stand beside his father, fight the Gerudos, but his feet were frozen in place. He could only stare in horror as his sister left his side.

But it was too late, the girl had stepped out of the house and was standing bravely beside her father as he confronted the Gerudo leader. The women looked down at them from horse back and sneered. "Well, well, Link. We meet at last. I was five when you killed my mother, now at last you'll pay."

Link's voice remained cool, "Tell me what you want or leave my home. We live here in peace and we don't appreciate you changing that."

"Want? You think I want something other than to visit the legendary Hero of Time? Tell me, Link, I hear you have a son. I see your daughter, but where is the boy? Did he send his sister to fight? Rumor has it he's no more than a young coward, a goat herder."

Shane's cheeks burned as he heard the words but he remained inside the house, staring out the window in terror. He couldn't believe this was happening. What were the female thieves doing here, at his house? Why were they asking about him?"

"What do you want with my son?"

"It's that time of year again, Hero," she sneered, "our Goddess demands the sacrifice of a young virgin. Males are the gender that please Our Lady of the Sand, hand him over and we might not burn your lovely home to the ground."

Link looked sharply over his shoulder at Shane, "You won't take my son to your goddess."

The leader smiled sweetly, "But I've heard that he's so pretty. Are you sure we can't have him, Hero?"

"One last time, leave now, or I'll kill all of you."

"So that's how it is?" The leader circled around him on her horse, her masked face filled with glee, her eyes twinkling in the dying light. "Very well, if you will not offer up your son, my Hero, we will take you lovely daughter." With a sudden viciousness she lashed out at Link, silver blade on fire in the sunset.

Link managed to dodge and went at her with his knife, stabbing at her leg. She kicked him in the face, knocking him to the ground and reared up on her horse, almost crushing him before he rolled away.

Furious at the treatment of her father, Lily flung herself at the closest Gerudo, knocking her off her horse and killing her with the knife. Blood splattered her clothes, but she ran at the next one, attacking viciously.

Shane could only stare in horror as his father and sister fought the Gerudos. Malon nudged him harshly, "What are you doing, Son? Help them or they'll die!"

He found he could do nothing but stare at her. He willed himself to move, he tried to lift a foot but discovered that his knees were shaking and he couldn't go a step. What is wrong with me? Why am I so afraid? Why does my sister fight and I dare not?

The battle went on for several minutes, several Gerudos died, others ran away, terrified to finally be fighting the legendary Hero of Time. Blood stained the grass, the gentle lowing of the cows turned to frightened blatting.

Out in the yard, Lily cried out. A particularly large Gerudo woman had swung her up into the saddle of a fallen rider and in spite of the wounds the girl inflicted, took the reigns of the horse and rode away toward the gate. Shane almost started out the door, stared after his sister as she was bundled away. He could feel the rage building up within him, threatening to come to the surface. Still he could not find it in himself to join the fight.

"Lily!" Link screamed, charging after her.

The girl cried back, "Father! Help me!" She vanished beyond the gate.

Quickly, the Gerudo leader followed after them, shouting, and laughing, "If you ever want to see your daughter again, Hero, you'll bring your son to the Temple of the Rebel Thieves! Our Goddess will be very pleased to meet the young coward!" In a cloud of dust she too had disappeared.

Link shouted at his son, "Shane! What are you doing? Get the horses and help me!" He jumped into the saddle of a Gerudo and started galloping toward the gate. One of the remaining thieves charged him and slammed against his side, their horses biting and nipping at each other. Link slashed with his knife and cut into the woman's arm but she didn't back off. Instead she shoved the horse he was on into the wall, it tripped over a wooden bench and fell on its side, throwing its rider off onto the ground. Link didn't move.

"Father!" Shane screamed, running at last from the house.

Before he could reach Link two Gerudos had come up on either side of him and were grabbing at his arms, trying to lift him away into their saddles. He shouted and lashed out at them with the first real feeling of rage he'd ever had in his life. He knocked one off her horse and she was trampled. From there it was easy to wrench away from the second, smaller woman, and then knock her down as well. Her horse ran out the gate, rider caught in the stirrups.

Shane knelt beside Link and Malon rushed from the house, crying. Link was writhing in pain, holding his left arm and wincing. The arm was twisted in a strange direction, blood oozing from a cut where the bone had broken through his flesh. "Lily!" he snarled, saliva oozing from his mouth. Shane tried to hold him down in vein.

"No, Father! You can't go after her! Your arm—that's your sword arm!"

"Fool!" Link shoved his son away, "Why didn't you help us? It's your fault they took her! Now get out of my way!" Staggering from the pain, Link stood up, moved slowly toward the gate.

His son caught his arm, "I won't let you!"

"Get away, Shane! Lily should have been my son, she's always been braver than you!"

Shane stared at him. In all his life he'd never heard his father speak so harshly, he'd guessed that Link might be ashamed of him, but he'd never seen any evidence of it. Was it actually possible that Link was just as embarrassed as everyone else. "I'm sorry." Shane whispered.

Link turned from him, head down, shoulders shaking.

Malon embraced him, "Don't be so hard on the boy, my Love, it was a fierce battle, and he's never been made to fight like you. He's right about one thing, with your sword arm not working there's nothing you can do."

"But Lily… how will we get her back?"

The woman shook her head, "I'm not sure. Perhaps the queen can help."

"I can't ride to the Queen with my arm like this."

"Then I'll go." Malon said it forcefully, but Shane could see that she was afraid to travel alone.

"Not alone, Malon, I could never forgive myself if something happened to you."

The woman looked at her son, "I'll take Shane with me."

Link shook his head, "It's too dangerous for you, Malon… you're only a woman, and it's soon to be night."

"Well what else can we do? Our daughter will be killed."

Finally, Link turned to Shane, his blue eyes full of sadness, "He'll go."

"What?" Malon gasped.

"Me?" Shane stuttered. "Father, I can't go…you were right. Everyone was right. Even the Gerudos know it: I'm a coward. I can't go to the Queen."

"Listen to me boy," Link said roughly, "your sister has been taken in your place, I'd go for her myself but look at the shape I'm in. Your mother can't go. You are Lily's only hope. Do you understand that, Shane? You. No one else can help her."

"But…I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what? Of the darkness? Shane I've long wondered when you would stop being a child and become the man you're supposed to be. I was your age when I killed Ganondorf, I did many things at your age, I'm a hero because of them."

"You had the triforce." Shane scoffed, "you couldn't be afraid." Suddenly he was angry. "You don't know what it's like to be afraid!"

"That's not true, I do know. I've been afraid many times, Shane. I was afraid the night you were born—my first child, my greatest responsibility. But listen to me, Son," Link put a gentle hand on his son's shoulder, said softly, "having courage doesn't mean you're not afraid…it means you are afraid. It means you're terrified of what's coming. But the thing with courage is, that even when you're afraid you do what you've got to do. You do what it takes to win, even if it seems like you cannot."

"I'm not strong like you."

Link looked at him somberly, "Do you remember what the old man with the cart said to me? You were only seven years old, but I know you remember it."

Shane fought to find the words, his mouth was dry, "He said that you, Father, are a hero because you've got it in your heart to be one…you've got the strength in your soul to do what's right."

Smiling, Link touched his bloodied hand to his son's face, "I never asked for the task I was given, Son, it came to me, that's just how it is. Now maybe, at last, a task has come to you, something only you can do. I believe that you've got what it takes to be a hero, if not up here," he touched Shane's forehead, "then maybe it's down here." He touched the same finger to the boy's chest.