Chapter 1:
Redo-I mean, New Beginnings
The Legend of Zelda Series is owned by Nintendo, and Fairy Tail is owned by Funimation.
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
"Demon/deity speech"
Line Break
Deep in the woods of Ordon, there is a forest seeping with ancient magic. A forest that not even the rays of the sun can properly penetrate. A place that very few beings can comfortably call home. One of those beings, a child-like imp, was currently resting on a tree branch, his red straw and leaf hat covering his face. A rustling in the bushes below him caused a lazy hand to lift the hat up, as he looked down through tired eyes, which immediately alighted with mischief at what he saw.
Three figures emerged from the shrubbery, a young man with red hair gazing intently at a map, a young woman with black hair casually picking at a crossbow, and an older man in hooded robes. Yes, the mischievous imp knew exactly who these three were, and he delighted in tormenting them as they traveled.
The woman looked over to the young man, "Face it Shad, you read the map wrong. Now why don't we just follow the sun and head back to Ordon, yeah?"
The older man nodded his head, "Ashei is right, we have been traveling for a few hours now with little success, it would be wise to rest up and start again tomorrow".
Shad shook his head in frustration; "No!" he then flinched and rubbed the back of his head as the two stared at him, "Er, I mean, the map has to be right. We found the ruins before, remember?"
Ashei nodded, "We did, and now we can't find them again, yeah".
The old man gave Shad a comforting pat on the shoulder, "Perhaps, in your excitement, you labeled the map wrong once we found the ruins".
Shad slumped his shoulders, "But…I know I didn't make a mistake".
The imp knew that Shad was correct; his notes had been completely accurate. That's why, when the group rested for the night one day, he stole the notes and replaced them with fake replicas. The imp began to shake in mirth as he collected berries; it was fun messing with people.
Of course, the imp mused, he might have been taking things too far. After all, the ruins they sought were not as 'important' as they once were. The evil that threatened to consume the land had passed, and with it, the need to protect the ruins that housed the Blade of Evil's Bane. He then shrugged, resuming his collecting, it's not his fault he can't kick old habits.
The group continued onward, unaware of the figure silently following them from the treetops, stopping in a clearing to rest their legs. The imp grinned; the three were in perfect pranking position. He reached into his pockets, and pulled out a large brown seed with a yellow nut inside. He gave it a close inspection, and then, when satisfied, chucked it into a tree across the clearing.
The effect was instantaneous. The birds that had been sleeping in the tree woke up in an instant, zeroing on the perceived threat, that is to say, the three startled explorers.
"Ahh!" Shad yelled as he and his group were bombarded by birds, "What's going on?"
"I think," the old man ducked as a trio of birds zoomed past his head, "They were startled by a Deku Nut releasing its spores".
"Well," Ashei whirled around, "Then we should probably leave before things get even uglier, yeah?"
The trio nodded, and began to run out of the forest, a flock of agitated birds pecking at them every step. Only when he couldn't hear the indignant squawks of the birds did the imp burst into a high-pitched laughter, "HAHAHAHAHA!" he swung down the branch, hanging by his legs, "Man, those guys are just too easy". He stayed there for a few minutes, letting his glee out through intermittent bouts of laughter. With a content sigh, he swung upwards, jumping from branch to branch, deeper into the forest.
Line Break
Lying under the shade of a tall tree was a figure in old, ornate armor. Closer inspection reveals it to be a skeleton, with a scar going across its right eye. The knight (for what else would wear such an ensemble) lifted his head at the sound of birds irritably screeching. He let out a deep, guttural sigh, shaking his head.
A groan sounded from his lap, and looking down with a lone red eye, he saw two orbs of light (one white, on a dark purple) with dainty, transparent wings slowly flapping in the air. The purple one, a boy, yawned, "Wha-what is that?"
His sister smacked her lips, "Give you three guesses".
The knight chuckled, "Yes, Skull Kid always finds a way to wake us up doesn't he?" The two fairies grumbled in response.
After a short wait, the Skull Kid hopped down from a nearby branch, "Hey all!" he grinned. That grin faltered as he noticed the deadpan stares the three in front of him were giving him. He sheepishly reached into his pockets, "Uhh, berries?" He let out an internal sigh of relief when the two fairies hovered over and grabbed a couple.
"Don't look so happy," the white one mumbled as she took a bite, "I'm still grumpy".
The purple one sighed, "You're always grumpy".
His sister froze, then whirled on her brother, a red tinge on her glowing form, "Am not!"
Her brother just turned around, still eating, "I'm too tired for this Tatl".
The Skull Kid, and even the knight, grinned as Tatl's form grew redder and redder, "Tael! Tael, get back here" The two flew around the clearing, Tatl all the while yelling at her brother. After a bit, Tael made a sharp turn, causing Tatl to fumble and hit a branch. Tael laughed, until he slammed into a branch as well. After falling to the ground, all four laughed at the situation that had unfolded.
The knight's booming laughter was the first to quiet down, "So, now that you have had something to eat, what is on the today's schedule?"
The Skull Kid titled his head, humming in thought. He then snapped his fingers, "How about tag?"
Tael responded with a tired groan, "We did that practically all day yesterday…How about Hide-and Seek".
Tatl snorted, "Please, with wolfy," the knight grumbled at the nickname, "and his super nose, the game will be over in a snap".
The four entered silence once more, until the knight pounded one armored fist into the other, "I know, Skull Kid, do you have any cloth?" The imp, confused, nodded his head, pulling out a plain white cloth, "Good, now, mash the berries all over it, don't leave a spot untouched". Shrugging the imp did just that. After he was down, he sent an inquisitive glance to the knight. In response, the knight flashed a bright yellow, and in his place was a golden wolf with a piercing red eye. The wolf-knight then trotted over and sniffed the berry-soaked cloth, sneezed, then stuck his nose in it once more. A wave of understanding hit the imp, and he quickly tied the cloth to the beast's snout.
Clapping his hands, he started to hop in place, "Great! Now, you know the rules, give us a minute…Go!" At that, the imp and the fairies burst into action, going off deeper into the woods. Shaking his head in mirth, the wolf began to count. After a minute passed, he moved forward, and then paused as a spasm wracked through its entire body. The beast writhed at the sensation, but, eventually, it passed. After taking a moment to collect himself, the wolf sprinted forward, eager to find his friends.
Line Break
The sibling fairies and the imp dissolved into laughter as the golden wolf shook his body, shaking off his dizziness from having run into a tree, again: who knew canines relied so much on their sense of smell?
Tatl composed herself faster than the others, "Haaa…That was funny…Hey, its getting dark".
The other two (the wolf was currently pawing at the cloth tied to his face) looked at the sky. Her brother replied, "Huh, guess we played longer than we thought".
The imp nodded his head, "Yeah…might as well sleep. None of the villagers ever go into the woods at night anyway".
The wolf, which had torn the cloth to shreds, shook his head at the imp. He then gave a short bark, leading the three to a large tree.
The wolf curled up next to the tree, Tatl and Tael floating down and resting on his neck. The imp grinned, and started to sprint to the wolf. A piercing red eye and low growl stopped it in its tracks however; with a grumble, the imp marched over, resting its head on the beast's flank, sleep soon overtaking it.
The wolf looked over at his three oldest (living) friends, and let out a content sigh, before resting his own head in his paws, shutting his red eye.
Line Break
A faint crack of a twig made the wolf's ears perk up. Sniffing the air, he growled as a faint, somewhat recognizable, largely unfamiliar scent assaulted its nostrils. With a quick bark, the imp awoke and looked over at the beast. After hearing the crinkle of leaves, the imp understood, scooping up the two fairies and leaping high into the trees.
The wolf then hunched over, hackles raised to an almost perpendicular angle. He howled, a deep, menacing sound that had sent even the bravest of men running home, yet this unknown entity did not falter; if anything, the sudden noise made it quicken its steps towards the beast.
The wolf was baring his teeth now, ready to pounce. Now that the being was closer, the smell was getting clearer. Whatever it was, the beast mused, it was powerful, but that was of no matter, for the beast had killed a great many creatures more powerful than itself.
The figure appeared through the brush, and what the beast saw caused him to stop growling, titling his head at the sight. It was a woman, young, no older than perhaps thirty years. She had the classic Hylian features; Long, pointed ears, porcelain skin. What threw the beast for a loop however, was her hair. It was set into two small buns on the back of her head, but that wasn't the strange part. The hair…it was green, green as grass. The beast had not seen such a vibrant green atop a person's head since…well, since his childhood. Her eyes were another interesting feature as well. They too, were green, a duller shade, like the leaves on an old and weathered tree, but they held much experience in them, as well as power.
The woman looked at the wolf, its head titled in that universal sign of confusion, and smiled, "Ah, there you are my child…I have been looking for you".
The wolf (and three figures in the tree) blinked at her words. Slowly, the wolf trotted over to her, sniffing heavily. As he was circling her, she smiled, and reached down to pet him. Before he could object, she stroked his fur, and great, natural energy flowed through the beast. It was…soothing, familiar. It filled his heart with courage, and strength.
The wolf's eyes widened as the feeling reminded of a holy artifact he wielded once before, in a time long since passed. He looked up at the woman in awe, one question lingering in his mind. She nodded. He immediately hopped backwards, and in a flash of light, changed to his skeletal form, bent low on his knees.
Skull Kid, still in the trees, was very perplexed by the situation, "So…I take it we're not going to chase her away".
The knight looked sharply into the canopy, "Watch your tongue fool! This is Lady Farore".
"Wait, one of the three Golden Goddesses?" Tatl and Tael chimed in shock.
Farore chuckled, "The same, now come down, I don't bite".
Looking over at his friends, the Skull Kid jumped down, then pulled his hat off of his head, playing with the fringe, "Err, sorry for being so rude Lady Farore".
His three friends looked looked over at the Skull Kid in shock. Tatl whispered their shared question, "Wh-why are you being polite?"
The imp sent a deadpan look to her, "Cause even I know not to mess with someone that could blow me up with her pinky!" he hissed back.
Farore laughed, "Oh, silly Skull Kid, worry not, there is little you could do to incur my wrath. Him on the other hand," she narrowed her eyes at the knight, who balked.
He stood, pointing to himself, "M-me? What have I done?"
Farore walked forward, poking his breastplate with her finger, "You, Link, should not be here".
Link gulped, "M-milady, I am a creature of the woods, a cursed being, in these woods is where I shall spend eternity".
"You're curse was broken the moment your descendent learnt the final skill. You have been free to move on for weeks!" Her eyes softened, and she lowered her voice, "Please, I do not wish to see you suffer any longer".
Link looked down, "I do not know what you are talking about".
"Do not lie to me child!" Link fell back, not expecting her to shout; "Even now you feel the ancient magic at work, slowly twisting your mind until it will know naught but rage and destruction".
Link grew silent, but perked up as Tael said, "Is that why, for the past few days, you started to shake like crazy?"
Link sharply turned his head, "You know-"
"Link," the Skull Kid interrupted him, "We're at least as old as you are, we're not stupid".
Link looked at his friends' faces, then sighed, "Yes it is true, I have been feeling the pull of madness," he picked himself up, looking at Farore, "But I can fight it".
She shook her head sadly, "No, you can't. Perhaps if you bore my mark, but you do not, and are fated to waste away, unless you pass on".
Another sigh, "I…I cannot".
"Why?" Tatl asked, "Why won't you go? You're great-whatever grandkid already saved the world, what else is there".
Farore gave the three a sad smile, "…He stays for you".
The trio blinked, "What?"
Link sighed looking them over with a sad glint in his eye, "It is true".
The imp voiced their bewilderment, "Why the heck would you do that?"
Link looked up to the moon, "…Many years ago, I swore that, no matter what, we would always be friends, that we would stick together," he grunted, "And yet, I did not keep that for years until we met by chance".
Tatl snorted, "So you made a promise, and in order to make up for not keeping it in its entirety, you risked going insane, great!" She then continued in a soft, sad voice, "Just move on, please".
Link growled, "NO! I refuse to leave you alone like I did ages ago".
"It will help no one if you lose yourself to insanity".
Link sent Farore a pleading look, "Surely there is something you can do?"
Farore sighed, "…You will not leave them?"
He shook his head, after which a deku seed hit his helmet. He turned around, and was rewarded a dozen more seeds in his face, "Ah! Guh! Skull Kid, blah, what are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just a crappy friend aren't I," he sent Link a watery frown, "You should just go, not like we need some old coot cramping our style, right guys" Tatl and Tael, preoccupied with holding each other in sadness, only bobbed slightly in the air, "See" the imp's voice cracked, "We don't need you, so just go!"
He shot more seeds at Link, who just walked forward. Eventually, he ran out, and was silently crying as Link held him close, "Silly imp," he gently chided, "You are one of my oldest, and closest friends, I could never abandon you," he held a hand up for the fairies, who landed on it, "Any of you, ever again".
Tael sniffed, "But what about you're other friends, the ones that are already dead and waiting?"
Link gave a hollow chuckle, "I am sure they can wait a few more years".
"So, you really won't leave them will you?" Link looked back, gently shaking his head.
Farore brought her fist to her mouth, thinking hard. This was not going the way it needed to go. And she would not allow (one of) her chosen to rot away as a monster. Yet…
She looked over at the four beings, a strange sight to be sure, an imp and two fairies crying in the gentle embrace of a skeletal knight. "…Oh I am going to get in so much trouble for this," she muttered.
Link lifted his head up, "What was that milady?"
Farore scowled at Link, pointing her finger at him, "You…!" she huffed, taking a calming breath. She then smiled at them, "Rise my children, wipe your tears," they did as commanded. "Now," she raised her arms, "Repeat after me".
She started to sing. It was a slow melody, almost haunting, but not sinister, no, it was more…peaceful. It struck a chord in the four beings, and immediately Link turned into a wolf, and the Skull Kid pulled out his trumpet. After completing the verse, she started again, a melancholy howl and somber trumpet following in tune. Even Tatl and Tael twirled above them, sparkling bits of light floating all around them.
Their song echoed across the land, all its denizens having heard it. None knew where it originated, how it was able to spread, or even what it meant, all but one. One lone man, who had taken to wandering in order to experience all that the world had to offer, recognized the song. He looked up at the night sky, basking in the memories of his adventure, letting the painful memories ebb away in favor of the pleasant ones.
After what seemed to be countless hours, the three stopped their harmony. A light enveloped the imp and the wolf, forcing Tatl and Tael to look away, though Farore looked on in joy.
As the light subsided, Tatl and Tael were in shock, "Wow…You-you're-"
"Hylians," her brother finished.
The two of them looked at their bodies in awe, the former imp more so, for he could not remember a time before he was a Skull Kid. He looked down at his arms, no longer dull brown bark, but pale white skin. He pulled on it, and let out a shaky laugh as he could feel his flesh move. "I, I have skin," he brought his hands, shakily, towards his face, patting it down, "I-I have a face" he started to laugh, "I have a face! Link, look, a nose, and actual nose," he pinched his mouth, "anh lhihs, ah dun haff a bek ahnemo".
Link, who was staring at his own body in amazement, merely nodded, "Yes…" he looked at Farore, a bemused smile on his face, "Thank you milady, but how does this help?"
Her smile widened, "Excellent question," she then clapped her hands together, and a whirlpool of blue and white energy appeared behind her, "Through this portal lies a land where you can live out the rest of your days until you finally pass on, properly this time".
Link was still confused, "Another world? Why not stay in this one".
Farore gave a sheepish laugh, "Well, I'm already breaking some rules by giving you two bodies, letting you just wander these lands would inevitably lead to trouble. At least this way no one can complain and say you are messing with the natural order".
The former imp raised an eyebrow (something he immensely enjoyed), "What about that world's gods".
"Not my problem!" The goddess's honesty shocked the four.
Link then shifted his gaze over at the fairies, "What about Tatl and Tael, they can still potentially outlive us both".
Farore waved a hand, "Don't worry, when the time comes I shall collect them myself, dropping them off in the afterlife".
The four looked at each other, then shrugged, "Whatever works I suppose".
Tatl nodded, "Right, besides," she flew into Link's hat, "Now I have a comfortable place to sleep whenever I want".
"Hey! Leave some room for me," he brother disappeared into the hat as well.
The three left chuckled at the display. "Thank you my lady," Link bowed, "This gift you have bestowed upon us means so much".
The former Skull Kid nodded fervently, still poking various parts of his body "Yeah, this is so cool!"
Farore laughed, "I'm so glad you like it. Oh! One other thing," She snapped her fingers, and two satchels appeared in her hands, "These are similar to the pack you would carry in your youth".
Link cocked a brow, "What makes them different?"
"They're bigger," Link grinned, thanking Farore once more, and secured the satchels on his waist. "There are a few things in there already, a going-away present as it were".
Link nodded, "Thank you again. C'mon…well, we can't call you 'Skull Kid' or 'imp' anymore now can we…well, maybe we can keep latter".
The 'imp' nodded, "Oh yeah, I need a name…Ooh! How about Blazing McBrisket!"
"…We'll work on that later". Link turned to Farore once more, "Farewell my Lady".
"Yeah," the former imp waved, "Bye".
"Farewell my children! Be safe!" She waved, only stopping after they passed through the portal. She sighed, and waved her hand, making the portal disappear. She was about to teleport away, when a cough caught her attention.
Slowly turning her head, she could see her sisters: Din, leaning on a tree, casually looking at her nails, and Nayru, tapping her foot, alternating between glaring at the spot where to portal was, and Farore.
Farore let out a nervous chuckle, "Um, I can explain".
A/N: So, I decided to try my hand at redoing this story. One thing that I can say, for certain, is that this will not actually go into the Anime/Manga. I plan on finishing this story a few months before Lucy joins up in-universe, that way I won't freak myself out over canoness and subplots (mostly, still have to worry about plots that start up from before the actual source material, but it'll be less aggravating than the actual story arcs). Be sure to leave a review. Later.