Hey y'all!
So, after watching this one video on YouTube and thinking about OoT's anniversary, I've come up with this idea for a fic. Listen, I know this conflicts with writing for my other fics, but I just feel like writing this. And when I have that passion to continue More than One Hero can Mend, I will return to it. But in the meantime, I have this to present to all of y'all! This is an AU fic (so be warned non-AU fic lovers), and my first attempt at something like this. As it said in the summary, what if Navi never actually made it to the Great Deku Tree, and Link was left in the dark all of his life about him being the Hero of Time. What would happen? Anyway, I have the first arc (five chapters) all written up, but a few of them still being edited by my beautiful beta. So, my plan right now is a week and a half release date, maybe even up to two weeks later on depending on our work schedules. This way I can produce a chapter that all of y'all will enjoy. However, the first five chapters I will try to release within a week of each other, with the next chapter being released in half a week. That should sate y'alls appetites... I hope.
Also, as a side note for those of you wondering who came over from the More than One can Mend fic, I'm back in Colorado now and am doing amazing. This is kind of a personal side note, but I did have some people talk to me about this and all. Having come home has really helped with my mood and my writing, and even though the UK was amazing, I feel better than ever here! So thanks to y'all wondering about me, it means a lot. And shows how great my readers really are!
Anyway, I think I've rambled on enough about all of this. But before I go, I have to give a special shoutout to DragonRing (DR), my amazing beta who has helped me adapt to the first person writing style spectacularly. So, read on my fellow LoZ fanatics! Enjoy the story, y'all!
I do not own, nor ever will own, the rights to the Legend of Zelda or any of the characters, objects, creatures, etc. Nintendo owns all rights to this franchise.
Prologue
I was 10 when they started coming to me.
Dreams of dark skies and lightning arcing across the sky while rain poured endlessly. I start this recurring nightmare looking out at a vast, empty field with nothing in it. Nothing except what's behind me.
The rattling of chains and metal catch my attention. I turn around to see what's happening. A massive stone wall comes into view, bigger than anything I had ever seen in the forest, even bigger than the ruins me and Saria played in at the Sacred Grove. An eerie light flickers back and forth from two lone torches as the drawbridge finishes lowering itself, creating a bridge across the moat that separated the wall from the field.
Before I can even think of crossing, a horse carrying a white-haired woman and a girl that looks like my age race across the bridge. As if they were running away from something.
The girl locks eyes with me for just a second. But instantly, I felt a connection with her. It's like I know her from somewhere… but I have never met her before. Seeing her face every time I have these dreams is like trying to grasp for a memory that I know is there, but I just can't remember it. Then, as soon as we make eye contact, she breaks it and throws something into the moat before she disappears from view.
Something tells me I need to go get it. Something tells me that whatever she threw into the water was meant for me.
But before I can even move, he shows up.
I feel a shot of hot air against my neck and turn around to see a tall black horse looming over me, its nostrils flaring angrily. The man riding it looks like a giant and has some sort of skull mask covering the upper part of his face. All I can see of him is the smirk he gives me and all I can hear is the evil, echoing laughter. I'm paralyzed with fear and even though I tell my body to move, it won't listen.
I'm stuck, and he just keeps laughing that horrible laugh.
Then, a ball of light forms in the palm of his hand, aimed right at me.
Fear. That's all I can feel as I hear that mocking, evil laughter again before he says, "You fool, do you think that not telling me where she is will protect her?"
Then he launches the ball of light at me, just as I finally regain control of my body. But before it hits me, I wake up in my bed in a cold sweat and convince myself it's just a dream. Then, reluctantly, I go back to sleep.
And I remember that day when I began having this recurring nightmare because it was the same day the Great Deku Tree died. No one knew how or why it happened.
I was 13 when I left Kokiri Forest.
Everyone could see it, even me. My body was changing, growing. My voice had become deeper and I knew I didn't look any bit the same as the rest of the Kokiri children.
Most of them stayed away from me, thinking I was cursed. Mido even started the rumor that it was my fault that the Great Deku Tree died all those years ago. "The forest doesn't like you stupid Hylians! That's why it killed off the Great Deku Tree, for housing someone who's not Kokiri!" or something like that.
This made it even worse. Now the rest of the village didn't just treat me as different for never having a fairy, but for not being a Kokiri. They didn't just stop talking to me or playing with me. No, they went at lengths to avoid me whenever possible, or even worse, Mido would take some of them and gang up on me. I could have easily handled Mido, but I couldn't bring myself to fight the others who had been my friends. Once…
So, I started avoiding everyone else as often as possible and just played on my own in the Lost Woods or stayed in my house. Well, everyone except for Saria.
Her and her fairy, Siri, were never like the others. They didn't judge me for what I was becoming and, no matter how much the other kids hated me, she never left my side.
When they attacked me, she would be there to stop them.
When they mocked me, she would scowl at them and tell me to ignore them.
When they judged me, she would accept me with open arms and we would go play in our special place, the Sacred Grove.
And when I left, she was the only one to say goodbye.
I knew I didn't belong in the Kokiri Forest any longer. Knowing it was my time to leave, I crossed the bridge separating the only home I had ever known from the rest of the world. And Saria was right there waiting for me.
She opened her mouth, seeming like she needed to say something, but nothing came out. Instead she just hugged me. Stunned for only a moment, I hugged her back, sad that I was leaving my only friend behind. But I needed to leave. I didn't belong here anymore.
We broke apart and she placed something in my hands.
Her ocarina.
Ever since I had known Saria, she had never been without it. Whether she was playing a sad song for passing animals, or a rousing jig for some festival, Saria had always managed to bring so much life into the world with her ocarina when no one else could. How could I possibly take that away from her?
I protested against taking it, but she said it was a reminder of Kokiri Forest and her. She closed my fingers around the object and then looked me in the eyes. It was then I noticed how they shimmered more than usual. Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears, but she held them back as best as she could.
I couldn't handle it any longer and before I let myself break down in front of her, I hefted up my knapsack and left without another word. As I did, I could hear the faintest of sobs.
What I didn't know was whether they were coming from Saria, or from me.
I was 17 when they found me.
After four years of non-stop traveling throughout the vast world of Hyrule, I learned a few things:
One, never travel without company, even if that company just happens to be a flimsy bow and a dull sword. Of course, they weren't the best equipment, but they protected me from the numerous monsters that had been appearing in Hyrule Field lately. And I have to admit, I learned how to use these weapons pretty quickly. Remembering the few sword drills and slingshot competitions I participated in back in Kokiri Forest, it wasn't that hard to put them to use with their bigger counterparts. Not to brag or anything, of course… Okay, maybe a little bragging.
Two, don't push yourself too hard. I'll admit, I've done this a few times, but I don't recommend anyone else ever do it. Bandits and monsters are always skulking around Hyrule Field, especially at night. If you don't rest every now and then, they will make an easy target out of you. I've had too many close calls to count over the years – and due to my stubbornness there will probably be a lot more – but always try to take care of yourself and eat, drink, and sleep whenever you need to.
Which brings me to the third thing I've learned: never sleep in Hyrule Field.
There are plenty of villages around Hyrule that will take in a traveler for work or rupees. It's worth the whole 'security in numbers' thing, since a village isn't usually attacked, except for the occasional bandit raid or even rarer, a group of stalchildren. But again, neither happen that often. If someone is sleeping under a tree in the middle of Hyrule Field by themselves, however, then they're just asking to be attacked. Which is what happened to me…
It had been a long day after having traveled to Kakariko Village to help out Dampé at the graveyard. He may be old, but he's one of my few friends and he pays me for helping around the graveyard from time to time, and I definitely needed the money. So, after helping him out and instead of staying in Kakariko Village, I wanted to make my way to Castle Town to buy a few things at the Bazaar. Along the way, I started to get tired and saw a tree that looked like a good napping spot.
Thanks to my lazy attitude and love of sleeping, I decided to take a quick hour's nap. Instantly, I fell asleep like a hibernating bear. And woke up to a trio of Moblins wearing odd masks standing over me. Marauders, monsters who murdered and stole from anyone unlucky enough to be their victims. Great.
Skipping over the details, I fought and defeated them, risking my life too many times for it to be healthy. Unfortunately for me, they nicked me several times all across my body and cut me deep along my ribs. This left me a target for anyone or anything else looking for an easy meal ticket. And the worst part? I already felt myself losing balance and the entire field was spinning. No doubt it was due to the amount of blood I was rapidly losing.
I had very little time and nothing to patch me up. The only way I could survive was if I managed to make it to Castle Town or some other village soon. But after taking just one step, I immediately collapsed onto the ground.
As I closed my eyes for what I thought was the last time, I heard panicked voices approaching along with hurried steps on grass. Before I could even see who it was, the blackness around my vision finally took over as I passed out from my wounds.
Next thing I remember was the feeling of warmth and being wrapped up in something soft and comfortable. I could hear people mumbling softly from across the room and the crackling of a fire. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see where I was, what had happened to me. The first thing I saw was this red-headed girl looking at me with curious blue eyes and a kind smile.
My first instinct was to run, as it had always been. So I tried to get up quickly and escape, but a strong stinging sensation in my side forced me to rethink that. The men across the room had taken notice of me, looking ready to jump in if the situation got any more aggressive.
Before everything got out of hand, the red head girl put a comforting hand on my chest and gently pushed me back down to lie on the bed they had put me in. One thing I noticed, as I looked back up to her, wanting to ask what had happened, was that her smile never left her face.
That's how I met Malon and found a new home after all those years of wandering by myself. After I recovered from my injuries, her and her father, Talon, convinced me to stay at their ranch as a ranch hand. I couldn't deny that having a job, food, as well as place to sleep didn't sound like a bad idea.
So, I stayed.
I was 20 when I started…
…drowning.
Drowning?
Drowning?! I've never drowned before in my life! Let alone swim! So what the hell… is… happening?!
"AGHHH! Wha- who, huh?!"
In a panic from my dream of drowning, I abruptly woke up from the pile of hay I had fallen asleep on in the stables. The shock quickly wore off as I became more awake... realizing that I was soaking wet, just like the pile of hay that I now sat on.
Immediately, a red, wooden ceiling came into my view, breaking me completely from my dreams. The familiar smell of hay and animal dung also flew into my nose, somehow managing to help wake me up. I could hear the familiar noises the various animals were making in their stables, as well as a small giggle coming from the side. Looking over, I saw a familiar red-headed girl with a mischievous smirk on her face and an empty bucket in her hands. All the pieces of the puzzle were coming together now. Of course it would be her…
"Mornin', sleepy head," Malon said in her slight twangy accent that she had picked up from her father. "Thought you'd need a little bit of a wake-up call. After all, we still have some work to do before the day's done." She giggled again as she sat the bucket down next to my pile of hay.
"Yeah, well, couldn't you have just nudged me awake, or something?" I replied, rising from my makeshift bed completely wet. You could say I was more than a little irritated by the rude awakening.
"Don't you think I tried that? After all, I knew it would take more than just a friendly nudge to wake ya from one of your legendary naps, Link." She giggled again as I continued to glare at her and try not to smirk myself. Failing miserably. "See? Even you think it's funny. So I win, ya can't be mad at me."
"Yeah, you're right," I shrugged nonchalantly. "Besides, you know how good I am when it comes to payback." Malon shrugged off the comment herself, knowing exactly what my tricks were after the three years I'd been working on Lon Lon Ranch with her.
"We'll see 'bout that, but good luck, I know what to look for." She gave a victorious grin and put her hands on her hips in triumph. "Now hurry up and get back to work before my dad catches you slackin', or worse, Ingo."
Ignoring the last part of that 'threat', I stretched one last time and brushed off some of the hay that clung to my sleeveless crème colored shirt and green pants, finishing it off by removing my green cap and running my hands vigorously through my dark blond hair, ridding it off any stray hay. This, coupled with my drowsy eyes, no doubt painted me as the picture of a very lazy ranch hand. Or at least from Malon's soft laughs, I assumed so.
"Come on, let's get back to it and the faster ya finish, the faster we get to celebrate today." Walking towards the door, she flashed me a smile as I followed, perplexed by what she had just said.
"Today? What's so special about today?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned to me with a look of disbelief on her face. "You really don't remember?"
I shook my head. "Oh come on, Fairy Boy," a smile back on her face, "it's the anniversary of the day ya first came to Lon Lon!"