Allright… I don't own the Legend of Zelda or any of the characters in it, but I do own Joanne and Michael, so I would greatly appreciate it if permission from me is sought before anyone using them (in the off chance that should happen, lol)…thank you. If this first chapter does not make sense to you, then you'll have to trust me that it will all come together eventually.
Michael stared in awe at the large castle floating over the deep lava pit. The last time he laid eyes on it, it was surrounded by gardens, trees, and many guards. Now, there were only ruins of once fabulous stone sculptures and Hyrule Castle Road was no more than a rugged path. Dark clouds shrouded the sky above the castle. The middle-aged man wore blue jeans and a white sleeveless shirt beneath an unbuttoned black denim jacket. Very faint traces of facial hair around his chin contrasted against his pallid skin. A strong breeze tossed about Michael's shoulder length wavy black hair. In front of him were two large stone pillars; the remains of a gate. "Well, I can't say that I like what Ganondorf has done with the place," he mused. Looking around him, he saw nothing but large boulders and pieces of the old Hylian gate which once stood in front of Hyrule Castle strewn across a fragmented path. Michael lowered his head and shook it. "I told her to leave things alone. Why couldn't she have just listened to me?"
A heavy rumble caused Michael to jump. He turned around to see the boulders trembling on the path. "Probably not good," he whispered. He felt the ground scuttle beneath his feet. A large stone boulder fell only a few feet away from Michael. With the sound of the impact, Michael took off running away from the dark castle. More boulders showered from the sky, while the ground shook even more fiercely. Michael did not make it far before the quake overwhelmed his balance. A huge tremor hurled Michael off his feet and head first into a large boulder. The collision left Michael lying on his back. Blood gushed from his forehead as his face fell on his cheek.
(Months later)
"I don't understand," The blonde woman muttered. A narrow black dress fit tightly around the woman's slim figure. Shiny straight blonde hair descended down just past her shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkled in compliment with the surrounding eye make-up. "If the people of this land consider you to be a hero, then I'd be afraid to meet a villain." She glared at a boy with long pointy ears wearing a green tunic over white undergarmets. A long green cap covered most of his blonde hair.
"What do you mean?" the boy inquired.
"Don't play stupid," ordered the woman. Gazing straight through the young man, the woman's eyes seemed to burn a hole through him. "I brought you to this house for a reason. I know what you did to him. I know that you lied to everyone and I am pissed that you lied to me. How could you do that, Link? What could he have possibly done to warrant—"She could not continue. For a brief moment, tears began to well in her eyes, but her sadness was quickly forged into anger.
"This is about Michael?" Link gasped. "Ashley? You can't be—"
"I came to Hyrule to find him. I took a vacation from my work and left my kids with my husband so I could see him for the first time in ten years. I take the time to adjust to this place and learn an entire new culture and I offer my free services to the queen, whom I don't even particularly care for in hope of finding him just to discover that my whole quest has been in vain because some stupid kid who doesn't even understand how fragile a human life is." Ashley took a few steps forward, stopping right in front of Link. Towering over Link (At 5'08" Ashley had a good four inches on Link), the cataclysm lurking behind her brown eyes drove fear into the "hero."
Link could not talk. He tried, but was only able to stutter, "I—I don't—"
Ashley did not wait for his choked up response. She raised her right hand up to her left shoulder and angrily released it, decking the boy across the face. He peered helplessly into the raging inferno in her eyes. When he gave no satisfactory response, Ashley began slapping him repeatedly until he put up his hands in front of his face. Link's wall did not hinder her at all though; she shoved him so hard that he fell down on his back. Having abandoned all rationality, Ashley hissed "If I were as foolish and violent as you, I would take you outside and drown you in the fucking lake."
"I'm sorry!" Link shouted. This cry stopped the relentless assault. Ashley stood up straight, regaining her posture. Link scrambled to his feet. "I'm—I'm sorry, I don't know—"
Ashley's voice returned to its usual tone: soft yet assertive. "How did this happen? According to Malon, he respected you. He trusted you. I can't think of any other person aside from me that he ever trusted." The former assailant broke her stare and turned to the side. She peered at the well-swept wooden ground.
"He trusted Malon. He left all of his possessions with her. Even the book!"
Ashley quickly turned back to Link. "I know. I talked to her. She told me she had everything that was his, including this house, except for the book. The funny thing is I would have never thought such a book would exist. To write down everything and carry it around, and then to not destroy the record is the last thing I would have expected from Michael. Did you ever read from the book?"
Link stared into Ashely's eyes and said, "I never got a chance." The hero blinked. "Wait, if Malon doesn't have it, then where is it?"
"Malon doesn't know. Supposedly, he left her with a hint. He said that the book was in a place that remains alien to any Hylian, and that retrieving it would require exploring a forgotten city." Ashley paused. She studied the green Hylian in front of her. "I need you to stay here for a while and wait. Eventually, tonight, I'll be able to ask you for details of exactly what happened to Michael. I came here because I needed to see his pale face. I needed to hear his sarcastic voice. If I can't find him, then I must know exactly what happened to him, sparing no details. Will you do this for me?"
Link nodded. Although this woman just attacked and insulted him, he knew that he owed her. "Are you going to try and find that book?"
"I know I shouldn't read it. As one of the main characters in it, I doubt that I can stomach that story, but if that is the only way for me to hear that voice again, then it seems I have very little choice."
"That hint he gave Malon—I have no idea what it means." Link gazed right past Ashley to the front door of the house. Against the door rested a sheathed sword and a shield.
Ashley sighed. "Neither do I."
Link's voice sunk. "I'm not sure my apology will mean anything," the hero muttered, "but I'm sorry, Joanne."
A tear streamed down the woman's cheek. For moments she could only stare at the Hylian. "Thanks," she finally choked out, "I appreciate your apology. I also appreciate your willingness to stay here with me until I am ready to talk to you, but I feel that you owe me this much. I don't even know yet if I'm big enough to forgive you."