Hero's Duty
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. It has nothing to do with the official production of the series. I do not own any of The Legend of Zelda game titles, or anything else that pertains to the name because it all belongs to Nintendo. I do own the content of my story.
~*~Prologue~*~
The choices we make determine the paths we take for good or evil.
When duty calls, do you choose free will or do you choose to walk in a predetermined destiny?
Life's complications teach right from wrong and wrong from right. Life helps give the preparations needed to discover which path is the one to walk on. Light? Dark? Possibly, most usually, it's
the in-between path. Twilight.
----
"So, this is the fabled hero of Hyrule eh? He looks like shit."
"Please don't take his physical appearance as anything to judge by. This man saved an entire nation once upon a time."
"And destroyed it as well." There was silence as both of the two females studied the diminutive existence before her. The one with fiery red hair and sharp emerald eyes looked on in disgust while her friend, the dark-haired, dark-eyed knight looked at the fallen hero with sympathy.
"Shauna, have a heart. He's been through so much."
"As he should. How dare he abandon his people in their hour of need?" Shauna asked, "Ashei, why bring this pathetic excuse of a man to me? He hadn't the will of his own to come." Ashei looked once more at her crestfallen comrade. She soaked in his languish. The honey haired man looked at the ground unresponsively. His chilly blue eyes held no glint of life and the women's conversation didn't seem to affect him at all.
"…He's the only hope Hyrule has now," the compassionate knight stated after a few minutes of silence. Her gaze, filled with so much remorse, drifted from the young man to her friend once more. Shauna's frozen heart cracked a little from the expression.
"You're the only one who can help him. You're the Legendary Trainer of Heroes, yeah? So please?"
"… Alright Ashei. But I do it for you and you only because this thing before me was once a hero but no longer." Ashei grinned and then nodded her thankfulness. Taking one last look at Link, she settled with laying a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"See you… old friend. Get well."
"Don't baby him Ashei."
----
After Ashei departed from the tranquil mountains that housed Shauna, her two sisters, and now the broken hero, the Legendary Trainer decided to take said former hero to her home. Once there, she allowed him to sit in the grace of her favorite chair that was strategically placed in front of a window overlooking a freshly running waterfall. The running water helped to soothe Link's inner demons enough that a soft look of peace settled on his battle-worn face. Shauna took this time to openly observe him. His face was handsome, but creased from the fierceness of past battles that forever left a mark on him. His eyes were a deep blue that would normally be called beautiful if it weren't for the swirls of plagued thoughts dancing around in them. Shauna released a great sigh. Never did she have to fix a hero. She helped create them.
"Whenever you are done sulking, I'd be more than grateful for a proper introduction," she said with an authoritative voice. Link didn't seem to comprehend her words and took a greater interest in looking around the small setting. It was like a cabin. Everything was made of wood. It had a simplicity to it that created an unparalleled blissfulness.
"First of all, it is very rude to openly ignore your host. Second, it makes no difference if you introduce yourself or not because I know who you are." A small smirk creased in Link's colorless lips and he said in a raspy voice, "… I'm the remnants of a forgotten existence… A damned soul..."
"You are Link. The Champion of Hyrule," Shauna abruptly interrupted, "Or rather, former Champion of Hyrule." Link's smirk remained in tact, but it was a hallow smile.
"I don't go by that identity anymore…"
"Then what would you like for me to call you?"
"… Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, but I'm not important. It'd be of more consequence for you to introduce yourself." Shauna hesitated before saying, "I am Shauna, a trainer of heroes."
"I've never heard of you…" Shauna shrugged passively and turned her back on him to look out at the waterfall as well.
"That's understandable. You never needed to know me." Silence fell between the two and then there was a low rumbling sound. The young trainer spared a glance at her companion, who laughed sheepishly.
"It seems that you're hungry. I'll prepare something for you to eat." Before Link had the chance to protest, Shauna had already began preparing food for him.
----
"Eat this," the girl ordered. Link yearningly eyed the steaming bowl of soup. The aroma was inviting and his stomach grumbled its desire for it, but he hesitated to accept the bowl. Shauna watched him for a moment before setting the porcelain holder on the table beside him.
"You'll starve to death," she simply stated.
"It would probably be for the best…"
"Listen! You are going to have to stop this self loathing! You are in my care now which means that you are no longer free to do as you wish. You belong to me until you earn your freedom. Now, you are going to eat that. I can't have you half starved when I work you to the bone. So eat." For a moment, Link made no attempt to eat the soup, but against his better judgment, he slowly brought the bowl's edge to his chapped lips and sipped it. His weak body instantly felt rejuvenated as the liquid coursed through his esophagus to his stomach. Shauna watched him with satisfaction as he proceeded to down the contents of the bowl without as much as a breath.
"That's better. Would you like some more?" She asked after he finished. Link wiped his mouth of the residue left behind during his greedy intake of food.
"I don't suppose it matters… Even if I didn't want it I'm sure you'd make me eat more if that's what you wanted…"
"Very good. You are a fast learner. There maybe hope for you yet!" Shauna claimed as she filled the bowl to the brim. She handed it to him and he wasted no time in eating it.
----
"You'll sleep here. I will wake you early in the morning to begin your training." Link looked at the small room and was content to see that it too was simple like the rest of the small home. There was a bed, a fire place, and a small dresser. His owner handed him a thick patch-work quilt and a pillow then motioned to his bed.
"Sleep well," she said. Link watched her as she left the room, gently closing the door behind herself.
How long had it been since he was subjected to human kindness? How long was it since he was last in the presence of a woman? Not that Ashei didn't count as a woman, but she was a different kind than Link was familiar with. Shauna was also a little different than what he was to, but her unconditional kindness ignited a warm sensation in him that had long been snuffed out by the trials he had endured; consequently, she had brought him back to his painful reality, and as such, he realized how truly tired he was. The exhausted man arranged the quilt on the straw-filled mattress and snuggled beneath it. He slept and for the first time in a long time, he dreamed.