A/N: What's that, my lovelies? You say I have other stories I need to work on?
...You must be experiencing a memory lapse. I recall no other stories.
Which leads us to this! This here 100 Themes Chalenge was created by cleverun of DA. Check her out; she's cool. An'ways, I'm picking these out via luck of the draw-that's right; I've got a hat with numbers 1-100 here. This dictates the theme, except in special cases (including, but not limited to, the following: wrong music is playing; I don't freakin' wanna do that theme right now; ooh, I'm inspired about this theme.) And well...the very first theme is an exception. Awesome.
Universe of the oneshot: Ocarina of Time (the aftermath)
o0o
100 Battles
Understand
Sometimes, he stares off into the distance, and his eyes are sad and old, the way no ten-year old's should ever be.
Of course, he tells her exactly what happened to give his eyes that far-off look; after all, she was as involved in the events as he was (beyond that, she commands the Triforce of Wisdom, and soon, the kingdom of Hyrule. Denying her answers isn't wise.) And though she doesn't remember the tale as he does, she believes him, because she always has.
She knows this.
o0o
He tells her about the guide who stepped in his shadow. How the words and the songs gave him courage, light. How the Sheikah had saved his life and vice-versa.
And she, after that story, receives a pang of nostalgia when she glances at her nursemaid, Impa; sees crimson eyes and dirty bandages in her dreams. Simple melodies, played on a harp, waft in from every dark space in the castle, playing for her and him, and her and him alone.
She finds the harp in the dusty annals of her tower later, and she remembers.
o0o
In a few short days, he finds the end of the story. By the time, his eyes seem as ancient as the Triforce itself, and she can see jagged scars everywhere.
Some of them aren't even on his body.
He tells his legend with a clear, strong voice, though, a voice much like himself. And he never allows himself to cry, though above others, he surely deserves it most.
But still, he needs to leave.
He says he owes his life to his little companion, and he, Hylian in body, but Kokiri at heart, cannot imagine existence without her-not after waiting so long to find her.
She's his friend, his guardian, the mother he never had sent from the father he never had. Her sudden departure is some heavy shroud of guilt and grief.
His adventure is his motivation's, too.
So when the hero drops his head, voice breaking, the princess doesn't have to say anything; she merely lays her hand on top of his and averts her gaze away from the tears rolling down his cheeks.
He doesn't react, but he knows she understands.
o0o
A/N: And so it begins.