Chapter 1: Beginnings Split
Waking up to loud applause, Khaman was quite confused. He usually did not wake up and find people cheering, especially for him. He got off the ground and everything came rushing back to him. The crowd wasn't cheering for him, they were cheering for the small kid that had just bested him. He glanced at the kid, as if glancing at a demon, for that was surely what the kid was! No one could beat him in swordplay, and especially not some snot-nosed brat! He had even knocked him out, and no kid could do that! Not one!
Link took a bow to enormous applause. He had just defeated the greatest warrior in the city, and, surprisingly, the townspeople didn't mind. Link guessed that they had just enjoyed the show. It hadn't been all that hard, to be honest, he had just blocked Khaman's sword once, parried, and swiped at his feet. Unfortunately for Khaman, he jumped, landed on a rock, tripped, and fell, dropping his sword as he hit the ground. Reacting quickly, he had sprung to his feet and dodged Link's sword, running for his. Very unluckily, he had dived for it and overshot. Link had expected a blow and had rushed forward, trodding on Khaman. In a flurry of struggling limbs, Khaman (who was not having a good day) hit his head on the same rock, falling unconscious. Link had untangled himself from Khaman, to find the warrior unconscious on the ground. Bewildered, he turned to the crowd that had gathered and was now cheering. Guessing that he must be lucky, he went up to the commander, Regund, and asked, "Is there no one that I haven't beaten? Especially one not clumsy?"
Regund grunted in reply, obviously angry at the youngling. "Damn it if I don't fight you myself!" he said. "Damn kid thinks he has it all...." he muttered, just within earshot of Link.
Link frowned. He hated being insulted. He'd show this old guy who was boss.
They took their places on either side of the grass field. The crowd went deathly quiet. Here and there a man coughed, or muttered a bet to his friend. Link observed the surrounding area for anything that could give him a quick advantage. He saw some boulders to the left that he could climb on, hitting but not being hit. To his left, a low hanging branch on a tree. He could go under there, and not be followed. However, before he could see any other ways to bring the win his way, Regund yelled out, "No rules apply, but one: no killing your opponent."
Link nodded, understanding. Then he sprang forward, attacking. He slashed at Regund, side-stepped a blow, then, seeing Regund's rear unguarded, slashed at his back. Regund leaped forward, twisting in the air to slash at Link, who ducked, the blade hissing as it sped over Link's head. Link was near the boulder now, so he ran for it, rolling to pick up speed.
He reached the rocks, jumping onto the first one, and hopping up to the taller rock. Regund had caught up, and, seeing he couldn't reach Link, grabbed dirt of the ground and threw it in Link's face.
"That's cheating!" yelled Link.
"Ain't killed you, have I? Then I haven't broken no damn rules!" Regund retorted, scrabbling up the side of the rock while Link was recovering.
The crowd gathered around the rocks. Link blocked a blow to the chest, then jumped into the air, kicking Regund in the ribs.
Regund stumbled, and seeing his chance, Link swung his sword at the exposed neck. He halted an inch away, then stood there. Both Link and Regund panted, then Link offered a hand to pull Regund up. He took the hand, getting to his feet. The crowd broke into applause, but here and there were a few muttered curses and passing of coins.
Entering Regund's office, Link, Khaman, and Regund thanked the guards and closed the doors. Grabbing some beer and two mugs, Regund said, "What would you have to drink, Link? Unless in your city beer is allowed at a younger age."
"I'll have Lon Lon milk, if you have it," Link said.
Puzzled, the commander looked at Link. "Lon Lon milk?"
"Just water, thank you," Link said.
Khaman looked at Link with admiration now, not frustration. That was a brilliant fight!" he said.
Accepting his water from Regund, Link said, "Thanks, Khaman!"
"Never have I battled a swordsman of your skill!" said Regund. "You have no need of my training." He handed a mug of beer to Khaman, then drank from his own. "I must ask. Would you like to join the Army of Fistlandus? We'd be honored to have you."
Link looked as if he'd been asked this question before, and he gave the answer he gave to all the other askers, "Sorry, Commander, but I can't. I'm working on another task."
Regund, not giving up, responded, "Maybe we can assist you, and when you see how we fight, you'll change your mind!"
Link just shook his head. "Sorry, sir, but this trip is personal. Please, just let me stay here tonight."
"All right," Regund said, "but at least let me provide you with food for your journey."
"Thank you, sir!" Link said, grateful. He was walking for the door when something strange happened. He turned toward Regund, who should have been right behind him, but the commander was sitting at his desk, talking to Link, who was in a chair, drinking water. But Link had just finished that water, and was leaving the room!
"What's going on?" Link tried to say, but what came out was, "nah gneeog staw?" He was speaking backwards! Time was in reverse! In fact, the phantom Link was walking backwards through the doorway! Link followed, until they arrived back on the rocks. He heard a noise that sounded like, "elbarenluv seeh!" and noticed that phantom Link was swinging at Regund's neck. But something different was happening! A hand, coming out of a dark portal in midair, pushing Link's arm further than intended by the one whose arm was being pushed! The sword cut into the neck, deeper, deeper, and then Link found himself holding the sword that was being forced to kill the man! "I must have been put back into time," Link thought, but then noticed Regund's eyes. As life departed from them, a look of confusion and doubt appeared on his face. Link gasped. He'd just killed an admirable man, and sent an army into chaos, because of their commander's death, and he hadn't any idea how!
As time settled into its regular flow, he heard the crowd around the boulder gasp. He stood still, not moving a muscle. He waited for the crowd's reaction to the murder he hadn't committed.
A rock hit his face, and he flinched in pain. Another hit his arm, knocking his sword from his hand. He moved fluidly now, reacting calmly to his instincts. He was surrounded by enemies he didn't want to kill, so he had to flee. He reached down, ignoring most of the rocks pelting his form now, and picked up his sword, then ran. He sprinted to the forest, many still chasing him and pelting him with whatever was in their hands, and tried to ignore the jeers that stung his ego.
He could never explain that he hadn't killed Regund to the townsfolk, so he'd escaped, losing his pursuers in the forest, then sat on a stump to wonder at what had happened. This was the work of some evil Mage, surely, who had a grudge against the commander. There couldn't be a mage after him; he'd killed anything after his blood. Anything except for... He shivered, hoping that Ganondorf hadn't broken the seal. No, this was the work of some other being. Ganondorf never had others do his dirty work, especially not Link.
Link looked up, hearing thunder. He found a tree to sleep under, and settled down to think about what had happened in the morning.