Hyrule Castle-The Age of Twilight
A large amount of Hyrule's populace had made their way to the capital city when news reached all corners of the country that their beloved matriarch and revered religious figure, Queen Zelda Harkinian Hyrule was on her death bed. The higher Nobles filled the Castle while the lesser ones flowed into the courtyard, the common people lining the streets with the newcomers amassing outside the City's walls, even the Zora, Goron, Deku and even the recently returned Gerudo people had sent delegations, their rulers being present within the Castle.
Zelda turned her head, looking bleary-eyed at her children, grandchildren, Chief Kragor, son of Chief Darbus, an aged King Ralis of the Zora Kingdom, the Deku King, the Gerudo Ruler Rahksha, various Nobles and a handful of Priests, all gazing upon her with an air of wonder, undoubtedly they had heard stories of the Princess of Destiny, as she was called, since they were children and had never dreamed they'd share a lifetime, let alone interact with her, most thought her to be immortal, which in a sense, was true, her soul would go on but her body aged just like the rest.
The Queen smiled as she thought back to her first meeting with Link in this life before memories of their struggle with Ganondorf shot through her head...that had been eighty years ago when the two of them were only seventeen...children they were.
"Mother, is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable?" the Prince asked, the man and his siblings having a perfect mix of Link and Zelda's features.
"No...I don't have long now..." Zelda said, feebly reaching out and placing a hand on her eldest son's shoulder.
"You'll be with father again, soon." her daughter replied tearfully.
"Link." Zelda breathed, a smile flashing briefly across her face. The Hero of Legend had preceded her in death by twelve years, being eighty-five when he passed away, the Kingdom coming together in much the same fashion.
"We love you and we will miss you." the Prince replied as he placed his hand on Zelda's head, tears coming to his eyes.
"And I you...all of you." Zelda said, her Triforce of Wisdom glowing as she drew upon it's Power to stay alive just a little longer, just so she could look upon her family one last time...and with that she died, her spirit passing on as the Triforce mark on her hand faded, the Queen going still as her family succumbed to their tears, the gathered delegates and Nobles taking a knee to her one last time as they paid their respects.
oOo
Eighty-two years later-the outskirts of Lanayru Province
A small crypt stood among the trees, surrounded by a high wall composed of Goron steel that took up most of the clearing, at the gates two Soldiers stood guard, the men at least being able to enjoy the warmth of the Summer's night during an otherwise boring and quite unremarkable shift.
"Have you seen the playwright Antony's latest work?" one guard asked.
"Why would you even ask that? You know I haven't the money." the other replied.
"Oh...well I have." the first Guard answered.
"With what? We don't get paid enough rupees for something like that." the second responded.
"I may have..." the first guard said before hesitating. "Sold my sword."
"You've done what?" the second guard asked incredulously.
"Relax, relax!" the first guard replied. "I've got another one."
"How'd you get another after purchasing entry into one of Antony's plays?" the second Guard pressed.
"Well...you see...I've been keeping the weapons of the Bokoblins we've had to kill..." the first Guard began.
"Oh for the love of the Goddesses." the second guard breathed as he placed a palm over his face.
"What? It's still a sword." the first Guard argued.
"Let me see it." the second Guard said.
"Now I don't think..." the first began.
"Oh come on, it can't be that..." the second guard said, trailing off as his comrade begrudgingly handed him the blade. "Good Goddesses it looks like it was forged by...well...a Bokoblin."
"Aye, well that might be true at least I can use it." the first Guard answered as he took it back.
"If you say so. Captain Richter's literally going to kill you if he finds out you sold your sword and substituted this." the second Guard replied. "I hope you got a good seat at least."
"Worry not, my positioning was perfect, not too far back but far enough that I couldn't spot any errors in the illusions cast by the Sorcerer...when the tusk went through the Hero's chest it looked real...that must've been what it was like to actually see it." the first answered.
"The Hero's Tragedy." the second Guard began. "Hard to believe they actually made a play based on it, I doubt Link would like that."
"On a first name basis with the Hero of Legend are we?" the first began.
"What? You think saying his name will summon him like some kind of mischievous Spirit?" the second Guard asked.
The first made to reply when a sudden rustle in the forest caught the attention of both men. "Eh? What the hell was that?"
"Probably rabbit's humping in the bushes...you think you hear something then you go over to check it out and you just see two rabbits going at it in a shrubbery." the second replied.
"You've actually seen that?" the first asked as he drew his poorly crafted blade.
"You haven't?" the second asked as they approached the bush, weapons at the ready.
Suddenly two bright flashes lit up the clearing, both men falling to the ground after twin bolts of energy cut straight through them. Their attacker, clad in a black cloak that blended with the night made a quick turn, raising her hand and pushing it forward, summoning a gust of wind to blow out the torches around the perimeter of the crypt. She quickly levitated over the walls, raising a shield around herself as she touched down, the defensive spells within the wall activating, sigils lighting up and spewing forth fire while spikes of steel erupted from the ground and shot towards her. The Sorceress raised a hand before dropping to one knee and slamming her palm into the cobblestones, green sigils shooting out from underneath her hand and spreading across every inch of the crypt and it's walls, negating all the spells in an instant, the spikes of steel retracting back into the ground while the fire died down, leaving only smoke in it's wake.
"Well this has been easier than expected." she said amusedly.
With one mighty swing she heaved the door open, quickly leaping back as an Armos Knight charged out at her, the Sorceress dodging an attack from it before darting around to it's backside only to hear the telltale sound of two Beamos activating.
"Damn it." she swore as she turning to see the two beams of energy shoot out from the doorway, the Sorceress reflecting them back to their sources only to be knocked onto her back by the Armos Knight. "Looks like I'll have to exert myself somewhat." she said as she backflipped away from the sentry. As soon as he feet touched the ground she tripled in size, bringing her fist up and smashing it down upon the Armos Knight, shattering it to pieces. "Back to work." she said as she shrank back down to her normal size.
She made her way into the crypt, pausing briefly as she realized just how long the tomb had gone undisturbed. Just to be sure, she cast another spell to deactivate any other traps that may await her, this was, in fact, the resting place of the most dangerous thing in all of Hyrule. The Sorceress quickly descended the stairs, finding herself in front of a pool of murky black water. "Rise." she whispered as she raised hand, a black sarcophagus emerging from the water, the Sorceress levitating it onto the edge of the pool. She approached it carefully, dark energy running over her index finger as she traced it along the lid, neutralizing the myriad of protection spells keeping the object closed. She was lucky she'd been growing her power for centuries, or else she'd have to ask for help dealing with the spells, no doubt cast by the last incarnation of Princess Zelda herself.
The woman took a step back as the lid lifted, a puff of dust exiting as it unsealed. She approached carefully, looking inside to find a large amount of ash collected inside of it. "There you are." she said as she ran her hand over it, the latent magic within confirming that it was what she was looking for. "Not to worry, we'll have you back in one piece soon enough...Lord Ganondorf." Veran said.
oOo
Koume and Kotake waited, having resumed their elderly witch forms in favor of keeping a low profile as their Twinrova form wasn't exactly discreet.
"Do you think she's coming?" Koume asked.
"I would hope so, she knows the stakes." Kotake said with an amused inflection.
"Veran didn't seem to enjoy her stay in the Dark World." Koume laughed, the two going quiet as they looked up at the moon, the Celestial body nearing it's zenith point.
"If she doesn't hurry up we'll have to wait another fifteen years." Kotake growled.
"Relax." a voice called out, the witches looking around in a startled manner, the word sounding like a whisper carried on the wind. Suddenly a burst a blue flame bathed the clearing in a soft glow before Veran stepped out, levitating Ganondorf's sarcophagus in the air behind her. "Didn't mean to startle you."
"Don't think that just because we're in this...these forms we're weaker than you." Koume snapped.
"Of course not." the Sorceress answered.
"We are still more powerful than you could ever be." Kotake remarked.
"In your Twinrova form, yes, you are." Veran said, a slight smirk finding it's way onto her face.
"You think too highly of yourself." Koume replied, a blue aura forming around her.
"Calm yourselves, can't a little sister give her siblings a hard time every now and again?" Veran asked.
"It makes us doubt your loyalty." the witches said in unison.
"You needn't feel that way." Veran began. "You summoned me back from the Dark World when the everyone else, Ganondorf included, had forgotten about me."
"Well, fine then, but don't taunt is if you don't have to." Koume said.
"It's already bad enough being stuck in forms such as ours, just be glad you got to keep yours." Kotake added.
Veran nodded in agreement before heading after the witches, truth be told that's not what they were, the same being true for her. At the very beginning when Demise, Majora and Mahlik first declared war on all of the Goddesses' creations, two Great Fairies fell to his side, Twinrova, Great Fairy of Fire and Ice and Veran herself, the Great Fairy of Shadow, after all was said and done Twinrova was split into two smaller and weaker beings by the Goddesses, their hideous and non-human appearance being a cruel punishment for the fairy who was once thought to be the most beautiful. In the end, all three managed to escape, Koume and Kotake awaiting Demise's return while Veran escaped to a far off land called Labrynna, manipulating the ruler, Queen Ambi and building a Black Tower to collect the latent magic found throughout the land, using it to control time, only for Link, champion of the Goddesses to arrive and defeat her.
"The time has almost come." Koume said excitedly as they trekked through the woods, finally coming upon the ruins of a centuries old Temple, it's once well-crafted and maintained stone facade having fallen to vines and roots, the few colors that ran along it's walls having long since washed off.
"The plant life enveloping this building is probably the only thing keeping it upright." Veran said.
"Your point being?" Kotake replied pointedly.
"Let's hope Ganondorf doesn't find his return to the living world too jarring." Veran answered.
As soon as the three entered a group of hooded Priests greeted them, Veran transferring the Sarcophagus to their hands before the men took it down the stairs and placed in the center of the room, a makeshift altar set up for it.
"So you think this will really work?" Veran asked.
"Absolutely." Koume answered as she drew a vial of blood from her robes.
"Is that...?" Veran began.
"Blood of Lord Ganondorf taken from the Sword of the Sages itself." the witch replied.
"Very well, let's get on with this." the Sorceress said.
The trio made their way down to the altar, the hooded men dropping to their knees and chanting in old Hylian. Veran stood directly in front of the sarcophagus and outstretched her arms. Crimson electricity leapt from her hands and arced over the coffin as the Sorceress began calling out old Hylian verses over the quiet choir of the Priests, Koume and Kotake outstretching a hand each, green tendrils of energy flowing over the Sarcophagus, merging with Veran's crimson electricity.
"Now!" Kotake called out. "As the moon reaches it's peak and the veil between the Spiritual and the physical world reaches it's thinnest, I call upon the spirit of Ganondorf to return to his mortal body!"
"Let his blood be the path for him to follow!" Koume continued.
Veran lifted her arms, the lid of the Sarcophagus flying off and landing being them with a clang. Koume pulled the stopper our of the vial, telekinetically mixing the blood with the ashes contained within.
"Rise from your rest and claim your vengeance!" Veran called out.
Above them, the moon reached it's zenith, a bolt of crimson lightning shooting up through the hole in the ceiling towards the celestial body, lighting it a blood red, the occupants of the room waiting for a moment before a beam of red light returned from the room, the slight breeze outside turning into powerful gusts that tore trees from the ground while black clouds swirled around the moon's position in the sky, crimson lightning crackling within.
"Return to us, Lord Ganondorf!" Koume shouted.
"Return to us, reincarnation of Demise!" Kotake continued.
Suddenly the red column of energy from the moon dissipated, the wind outside dying down and clouds dissolving away.
"Did we...did we do something wrong?" Kotake asked.
"No...look!" Veran called out as she and the witches levitated onto the balcony above them.
Ganondorf's ashes swept up into the air, mixing with his blood as red electricity and green energy began to encircle the remains. Before they could react everyone in the room were thrown onto their backs as alternating green and red flashes lit the room, shadow energy rising into the night sky above them as the ashes and blood began to come together, solidifying and merging into one mass, first building into a skeleton before the muscles and tendons started to grow around it, green skin growing over the exposed flesh, Ganondorf raising his head within the maelstrom of energy as his red hair cascaded over his shoulders.
"He's back." Veran breathed.
Ganondorf let out a cry, the entire room shaking as waves of dark energy shot out from him.
"You were right, he's going to shake this place to pieces." Koume said, glancing at the Veran, the Sorceress too captivated by the spectacle to care.
Ganondorf leapt from his place on the altar, grabbing a priest by the neck before tossing him into a nearby column, a couple of Priests behind him attempting to calm the Demon King, Ganondorf lurching forward and grabbing their heads before smashing them together. The other hooded figures tried to run, Ganondorf turning towards them and unleashing a torrent of green flame, incinerating the men.
"My Lord, we are not your enermies!" Veran called as she flew down from the balcony.
Ganondorf turned to her, his feral gaze meeting her own. He gave an enraged cry and turned his green blast of flame onto her, the Sorceress raising a shield to block it, only for Ganondorf to charge at her, shattering it with his fist and diving for her, Veran only being saved by the timely intervention of Twinrova.
"Calm yourself, our Son!" the fusion of the witches called out as she launched twin blasts of frost and fire at the Demon King to hold him back.
Veran watched as Ganondorf caught both streams of elemental energy telekinetically, gathering them before hurling the blasts back at Twinrova, knocking the Dark Fairy to the ground. "Fine, if you won't remember us then maybe you'll remember..." Veran began, her form morphing and twisting until she resembled the Hero of Time himself. "Me."
Ganondorf started towards Twinrova when he was suddenly struck by an arrow, the object merely bouncing off of his skin. He turned towards the source of the projectile, his eyes going wide and filling with not just rage but recognition. "You!" he cried out.
Veran braced herself as Ganondorf gripped her by the neck and slammed her into the wall behind.
"Not this time, boy! Things will be different!" he shouted.
"I killed you, don't you remember?" Veran, as Link, asked.
Ganondorf looked down at his chest, running his fingers over the spot in which the wound from the Sword of the Sages occupied. "This...this isn't right." he said, dropping Veran.
The Sorceress resumed her usual form, running a hand over her neck. "I'm sorry I had to jog your memory like that, but someone had to bring you back to reality."
"You...I remember you." Ganondorf said as he locked eyes with the Sorceress. "The Hero killed you long ago...are we in the Dark World?"
"We were." Veran answered. "But not anymore."
"Our King!" Twinrova said as she made her way over. "We're overjoyed to have to back!" she continued before separating back into Koume and Kotake.
"It would seem I owe the three of you a great debt, my time in the Dark World grows more...uncomfortable with every visit." Ganondorf said as he summoned a traditional Gerudo outfit complete with a cape over his body. "Tell me, these men I killed, who were they?" he asked, looking at the charred and broken corpses of the Priests.
"Former worshippers of the Goddesses, a few tricks here and there and they were sure of our divinity." Kotake said, she and Koume laughing at the thought.
"Tell me, the boy and the Princess, have they found each other yet? Ganondorf asked.
Veran exchanged glances with the witches before starting forward. "They haven't been born yet."
"What do you mean they haven't been born yet?" Ganondorf asked, gripping Veran, Koume and Kotake by their throats telekinetically. "Every time I rise they are there to stop me and you had have me believe they do not currently exist in this world...I need their parts of the Triforce." he growled.
"This way...you won't have any opposition." Veran said, struggling to breathe.
Ganondorf stepped back, releasing the three before looking down at his hands. "I...didn't mean to do that to you."
"It's quite alright, my Son." both witches said in unison.
Veran closed her eyes and tilted her head forward, she knew that Ganondorf's mania worsened with every non-natural resurrection, the only way to be sure he was of sound mind was being born naturally, but she didn't count on him lashing out to this extent.
"So what's next?" Koume asked.
"The Twili." Ganondorf answered. "That damned Midna not only proved instrumental in my defeat at the Hero's hands but also physically harmed me herself."
"My Lord, it's been over a century since your death, could she actually still be alive?" Veran said.
"Time isn't relative between our two worlds, ten years here being equivalent to one year in the Twilight Realm. During my last life I found the Mirror of Twilight had the power to synchronize the passage of time in our respective worlds, but now it is gone...well...for Midna it's only been a matter of years." Ganondorf explained.
"But with the Mirror gone how will we get there?" Kotake asked.
"For me..." Ganondorf began, summoning a shard of the mirror between his thumb and index finger. "Nothing is ever truly gone." he said, the shard beginning to glow.
oOo
Twenty-Three Years Later
Link found himself in the dark, the only light visible to him being far away and only getting further. He began to bound toward it, not being driven by fear or curiosity, but a sense of need, an urgent and undeniable need for it. At first it drifted away slowly but as Link drew closer the light began to lessen it's pace until Link easily caught it, the void he found himself in now being a filled with the golden light the object gave off.
Link approached it slowly, shielding his eyes with one hand as he grew nearer and nearer, finally finding her within the light, the Princess as he had come to call her, due to her regal attire and appearance. He barely had to time to speak before she turned moving away slowly, Link trying to follow but no matter how fast he ran he stayed in place, watching her get further and further away before her light faded altogether, an echo of her voice quietly ringing through the darkness. "Find me."
Link closed his eyes, visions of the Princess filling everything as he felt his body and surroundings dissolve, first he saw her looking at him with admiration, lying in a grassy field as the wind blew by before it changed to a scene with her in wedding garb, his gaze meeting hers, next though, things took a darker turn, she stood outside a wall of flame, crying out to him as he stood opposite a massive beast, the vision transitioning to he and the Princess on horseback, charging at a very large and imposing man atop a massive black horse. Link felt her arms close around his midsection as he started forward when suddenly two hands closed around his shoulders.
"Link!" a shout came.
The Hero shot up in his bed, looking from side to side for a moment before falling onto the floor and throwing himself onto his back, finding his foster father, Jek, looking down at home. "What's going on?" Link asked, blinking away the bleariness in his eyes.
"It's time to get up and go, the fish aren't going to catch and deliver themselves to us." Jek answered.
Link looked up at the man in confusion, a quick look out the window assuring him it was much earlier than they usually set out. "What time is it?" Link questioned, stepping over to the counter to get himself a glass of water.
"Around four in the morning." Jek replied in a nonchalant manner.
"Four? In the morning?" Link repeated. "We usually don't get started until six."
"Well, that was before the fishermen in East Lake Village began to get out and start the day at five." Jek said as he readied their gear.
Link released an audible sigh as he helped Jek ready the net and set the lines, stopping to look out the window for a moment, the only other light emanating from the Guard House at the entrance to their village.
Lake Hylia, once a small body of water with two residents on it's shores, had grown immensely over the centuries, the spring that fed it eventually growing the lake to such a size that it met with the estuaries created by the Zora and Squabble rivers, Lake Hylia eventually creating the Hylia River. Due to it's growth in size the fish population, especially the Hylian Loach, boomed, growing to sizes that easily broke previous records year after year. Naturally, this attracted fishermen from all over the land, stories of bountiful catches bringing in even more people who hoped to make their fortunes. With a large and sudden growth in population, more industries were attracted to the lake, as the workers there needed food, clothing, transportation, equipment and more often not, those who could repair broken equipment. The shores of Lake Hylia were soon surrounded by an immense city suitably named "Lake Hylia Township" which is separated into the North Lake, South Lake, East Lake and West Lake districts, each housing many residents, necessitating posting two Guards at every entrance. Link's foster father Jek had been one of the first to arrive at Lake Hylia and made for himself a house very close to shore, taking Link in after his parents were killed during one of the Bulblin Raids that took place place when the village was first being established.
"Come on, boy, we don't have long!" Jek called as he pushed open the door with his shoulder, his arms holding a questionably fastened set of fishing rods.
Link caught up quickly heading out the door and running to the docks behind his foster father, the man quickly tossing their equipment into the boat before undoing the mooring lines.
"Out early, I see." a voice called.
"Captain Eldrin, didn't expect to see you making your rounds until six." Link called.
"Well, I heard there might be some suspicious activity near the docks, so why not look into it myself." he laughed.
"Oh come on, Captain." Jek said. "It isn't strange we're out his early, back in the village I was raised in farmers were out and about at this time every day."
"Aye, well you two be safe out there." the Captain said before moving on.
"Be safe he says." Jek said while shaking his head. "Just because it's dark doesn't mean there are monsters in these waters."
"Who knows." Link replied. "Maybe this is the day the fish decide they've had enough and it's time to fight back."
Jek gave Link a strange look before both shared a short laugh, climbing into the boat and heading out onto the Lake.
The two set their nets and positioned multiples rods, each fastened to the side of the boat.
"There we go...we beat those bastards this time." Jek said victoriously, looking towards the East Lake Village.
"Yes, we sure did." Link remarked, following the statement with a yawn.
Jek suddenly went quiet, turning towards Link with a more serious expression. "I was thinking we should start earlier and go later...more rupees that way." Jek said.
"What do we need more rupees for, we're doing just fine?" Link asked, a concerned tone in his voice.
"To get out of here." Jek answered, looking off into the distance.
Link was taken aback for a moment, unable to find words. "But...why?" he began. "We're doing well here, you were one of the first to build a homestead in this area...this has been my entire life."
"I didn't want to say it back there." Jek said, gesturing towards the village. "But the merchants who come to village tell tales of a Sorcerer in the desert, apparently he's amassing quite a number of followers and has become strong enough that the military has been hesitant to confront him...people are already leaving and...and maybe we should too."
Link felt a deep pit open in his stomach, a strong feeling of foreboding hitting him along with a strange sense of familiarity...like this had happened to him before, but that was impossible, he was only sixteen and had lived in Lake Hylia Township his entire life. "You think that's going to have an effect on our life here?"
"Boy, if our own King is afraid of this man then it's going to effect life everywhere." Jek answered.
"Then where did you want to go?" Link asked.
"Termina, maybe Gamelon." his foster father answered.
Link turned away, grabbing hold of a fishing rod and focusing on the water before him, Jek's plans were jarring and unexpected but it was this feeling that really got to him, the feeling that this had happened to him before.
"Listen, I know you're upset, but it's for the best." Jek answered.
Link nodded, immersing himself into the job as the quiet and calm night transformed into dawn the sounds of the township beginning to fill the air as the residents began going about their days, Link and Jek finding themselves on their way back to shore as the sun hung high in the sky, their catch filling a good portion of the boat.
"Don't stress yourself about what I said earlier, it's only a thought right now, nothing's set in stone." Jek said.
"I know...and I know you're doing for our own good." Link replied as the two began unloading the boat.
"We better hurry and get these to the ice box." Jek said as he threw a net over his shoulder.
"You finally done?" a voice called.
Link looked up with a grin to find his friend Dahlian standing at the beginning of the dock eyeing Link. "Some of us actually have to work, you know." the boy answered.
Dahlian clutched his chest in mock insult before letting out a short laugh. "Hey, don't hate me because my father runs this place."
"Your father doesn't run this place...he...just...owns a lot of it." Jek stammered.
Dahlian lifted and eyebrow at Jek before turning back to Link. "Viktor learned some new spells and wants to show us some, you in?"
"I don't know." Link said, glancing back at he and Jek's catch.
"You did well today, go on ahead." Jek said.
"Are you really sure?" Link asked
"Yeah, the house is right there, I can just throw 'em in the ice box myself before Ehren shows up to collect them." Jek answered.
"Thank you, I promise I'll work even harder tomorrow!" Link said before heading toward Dahlian.
"I'll hold you to that." Jek replied.
"Who's Ehren?" Dahlian asked.
"The owner of the Kakariko Inn, he usually buys most if not all of our catch, Jek has a deal with him or something." Link answered.
"I feel like I should know that by now." Dahlian said with a laugh.
"So what's Viktor want to show us?" Link asked.
"Says his instructor has finally started to teaching him pyromancy, wants to show off a bit." Dahlian answered.
"Sounds somewhat entertaining...at least." Link replied.
"Hey, you can't fool me." Dahlian began. "Whenever traveling Magicians would come here you'd always be the first in line."
"I wasn't saying I don't appreciate magic, I just don't think Viktor is very good at it."
"You're just mad you can't do it." Dahlian teased.
"At least I know how to work." Link said, Dahlian once again reacting in mock insult before he and Link broke into laughter.
"What's so funny?" a feminine voice rang out.
"Ah, Zinnia, done for the day?" Link asked.
"What's so funny is that he just likes to point out that I'm 'wealthy and spoiled'." Dahlian replied.
"I never said that." Link replied derisively.
"So where are you two headed?" Zinnia asked.
"Over to Viktor's, said he's learned some new spells." Link responded.
"Link says he's not very good at magic." Dahlian chimed in.
"Well he's not." Zinnia replied.
"Told you." Link laughed.
"I hear there are Sorcerers in Castle Town who can make dragons appear from thin air and bring people back from the dead." Zinnia answered.
"Those are just rumors." Dahlian said dismissively.
"Speaking of rumors, have you hear anything about a Dark Sorcerer in the desert?" Link asked.
"Don't ask me, I'm just the baker's daughter." Zinnia said, looking at Link strangely.
"I might have heard something." Dahlian began. "My father has a lot of connections with other villages and cities and they've shared rumors about a strong Sorcerer amassing an army in the Desert, they say he plans to invade...but my father says it's horse-shite and we shan't listen to it."
"It's just...Jek mentioned it earlier, has him worried, says he wants to leave." Link explained.
"Well that's some horse-shite right there, he can't take my best friend away." Dahlian said, giving Link a slap on the shoulder.
"If he does move away and you'd like to stay behind I can talk to my father about giving you a job." Zinnia offered.
"I might just take you up on that." Link said.
The sun had slipped over the horizon quite a while ago, Link and his friends standing in a circle around Viktor, a boy their age as he struggled to read from a tome and maintain a ball of flame in his other hand at the same time.
"And with this." he said shakily. "I will summon a fearsome serpent!" he shouted, muttering a verse in old Hylian, the ball morphing into a crooked line before collapsing into a shower of sparks. The group half-heartedly clapped as Viktor let out a nervous laugh.
"Don't worry, happens to every one at some point." Dahlian called out, the group laughing at his remark.
"Be nice, he's trying." Zinnia said.
"If I didn't know better I'd say you like him." Link teased.
"More like feel sorry for him." Zinnia said with a small smile while Viktor had turned to levitating objects to win the crowd back.
"I'm ready to head back." Dahlian said as the crowd began to disperse.
"Without saying goodbye." Viktor said as he ran up to them. "You could at least let me walk you home." he said, eyeing Zinnia, the girl rolling her eyes and looking over at Link.
"I think I'm good." she said, grabbing ahold of Link's arm and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Oh...you two are...right." he said awkwardly.
"So...uh...good show." Dahlian said.
"You don't have to lie...the serpent thing really killed the mood." Viktor answered.
As the four neared the North Village Link and Zinnia broke off from Dahlian and Viktor, saying their goodbyes as they headed in the opposite direction.
"So." Link began. "This was just to throw Viktor off your trail, right?" he asked, nodding towards the arm Zinnia held onto.
"Maybe, maybe not." she said as she stopped, looking Link in the eyes. "When are we going to stop dancing around this, you've known me longer than anyone and yet...I never thought of you as a sibling...I always thought of us like this." she said.
Link didn't know how to answer, part of him tingled with excitement but the majority was telling him to pull away, to tell her didn't feel the same way. "Like what?" he asked.
"You know, like this." she said, closing her eyes and moving her face closer to his.
Link froze, he didn't know what, but something stopped him from reciprocating, he felt like he shouldn't, like he couldn't, like...there was someone else.
Just then the ground shook beneath them, a loud boom being heard in the distance as fire rained down upon the village.
"That was at the Northern Gate." Zinnia gasped.
"No...Jek!" Link shouted dashing off towards the explosion.
"Wait!" Zinnia called, watching with worry as Link ran off.
oOo
"We're only going to say it once, we're looking for a young blonde boy, from ages twelve to seventeen with mark that looks like this on the back of his hand." a black armored Mercenary said as another man standing near him showed a depiction of the Triforce to the lined up villagers.
The man sighed before waking over to Captain Eldrin and placing a palm opposite his face, a bolt of energy charging over it. "If I don't get an answer within ten seconds his head's going the way of your houses."
"Just do it." Captain Eldrin spat, blood trailing down his chin.
"For a grizzeld old warrior you sure didn't amount to much." the other black armored Mercenary said.
"Fine! Have it your way!" the first Mercenary shouted, about to loose the energy collected in his palm.
"Wait!" a voice called.
"This better be good." the first Mercenary said. "Who are you?"
"Don't you dare." Jek growled.
"My name is Ehren...this man is sheltering that boy...I told you what you want, please let us go." the man whimpered.
"Bastard!" Jek shouted as he leapt onto Ehren.
"Separate them." the first Mercenary said as his comrade dashed in and pulled Jek off of Ehren.
"You may go." the first Mercenary said.
"Really?" Ehren asked.
"Yes." the Mercenary answered as he raised his hand, shooting a bolt of energy straight through his chest, the crowd crying out in shock.
"Hey, we need to hurry this up, it's not long before some other Guards get here." the second Mercenary called.
"Right." the first said as he stepped over to Jek, telekinetically lifting the man. "Where's the boy?" he growled.
"Sod off." Jek hissed.
"Maybe this will convince you to drop the attitude and tell me." the Mercenary said as he tightened his telekinetic grip on Jek's throat."
Jek fought against his grasp, his eyes flicking over to a nearby alley before they went wide, the man finding Link hiding in the shadows watching.
"Hm...what are you-?" the man began, going quiet as he spotted Link. "There!" he shouted.
The second Mercenary charged at Link, the boy pretending to run only to kick off the side of a house and pull himself up onto the roof, the Mercenary looking up trying to spot him only for Link to jump down directly onto the man, knocking him to the ground.
"Screw this." the first Mercenary said, tossing Jek away before sending a blast of energy at Link, only for it to collide with something else. "What?!" he exclaimed, turning to the side to see two boys looking at him.
"I told you I could do it." Viktor said with a gulp.
"Leave our friend alone." Dahlian said, taking a step forward. "Once my father hears of this-" he began, the Mercenary telekinetically tossing him away.
Link heard his friend's voice as he dodged sword strikes from the second Mercenary with agility and skill he didn't know he had. "Stand still you little worm." the man growled.
"Calm down, Halkkon, we're supposed to take him alive!" the first Mercenary shouted.
"Link!" Jek called. "Run!"
"Shut up!" the first Mercenary said, turning towards Jek and firing an energy bolt his way, sending he man flying.
Link paused for a moment, feeling something rise inside of him, an energy the likes of which he had never felt flowing through his veins. "No!" Link shouted, turning to face the second Mercenary, dodging to the side of his vertical downwards slash and gripping his wrist before throwing a kick over his arm, taking the man to the ground where Link wrested his sword from his grip.
"You'll give that back if you know what's good for-" the man said, Link hitting him in the forehead with the hilt of the blade before he could finish his sentence.
"So you have remembered." the Mercenary said, squaring up with Link.
Link looked over at Viktor, and Dahlian, the two lending their aid to Jek. "Remember what?" Link growled.
"Hm, I guess it just comes naturally." the Mercenary laughed. "Isn't it strange for you? How calm you are in the face of danger...how skilled you are despite having no experience in combat...you've had questions all your life...and I have the answers, come with me and I'll tell you anything you'd like to know."
Link regarded the man, his mind screaming hundreds of questions at once, almost convincing him to take the offer, but the sight of Jek, injured and unconscious brought him back to the situation at hand. "You can take your offer and shove it up your-" Link began, the Mercenary cutting him off.
"You can stop there...allow me to introduce myself, I am Bastion Arkhan, right hand of the Dark Lord...and you are coming with me, you have no choice."
"You talk too much!" Link cried out as he charged forward, holding the other Mercenary's sword aloft.
Bastion grinned as he launched a volley of blasts of the boy, Link deflecting them all with the blade, Bastion leaping to the side to avoid them. "What the-?!" the Mercenary shouted.
"Did you just see that?" Dahlian asked.
"How did he do that?" Viktor added.
Link ran forward, blocking a bolt of energy from Bastion before cutting through a blast of flame, the fire dissipating as he charged through it. The Mercenary drew his blade as they closed in on each other, locking it with Link's. Bastion quickly broke from their struggle, diving at Link with a stab, the boy avoiding it and slashing at him, the Mercenary blocking it before performing a jump attack, Link fading to the side as Bastion rushed him, unleashing various slashes and stabs, Link blocking the first few before they became too fast, the boy falling backwards as a Bastions sword made contact, slicing through the skin on Link's chest, the boy crying out as he fell to the ground, clutching at his wound.
"Maybe now you'll agree to come with me." Bastion said, readying an energy bolt in his hand. "Don't worry, this one will only stun you."
Link gripped the sword tighter as Bastion raising his hand, the boy calling on all the strength he had to rise as quickly as he could deflecting the energy bolt the moment his adversary let it go.
Bastion cried out as it struck him, the Mercenary falling to one knee before charging at Link. The boy readied himself when something occurred to him, it was like a memory, one he didn't even know he had. Link focused on it, recalling it over and over until the move felt familiar. Bastion made it into range just as Link unleashed it, the boy performing a spin attack, cleaving through Bastion's knee, severing his lower leg completely.
The Mercenary screamed in pain as he fell into his back, letting out a gasp as he looked down at his leg. "I...impossible." he stammered. "You...you will die for this." he said as he disappeared in a flash of green flame, Link turning towards the alley to find the other Mercenary had vanished too.
"Link!" Dahlian called, Viktor and Zinnia in tow. "How the hell did you do that?"
"I...I don't know." the boy answered.
"I do." a voice called.
Link turned to find Captain Eldrin standing behind him, leaning on his sword. "It's time we talked." the man said.
oOo
"My King!" a man called as he ran up the stairs of Hyrule Castle, approaching the King's study.
"Out of my way, I have news for the King." Jakob said.
"I'm sorry, Sir Lirien, the King is not seeing anyone right now." one of the guards answered.
"This is urgent." the Knight replied.
Suddenly the doors opened, the King making his way into the hall. "What's going on out here?" he asked sternly.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, my King." Jakob said, dropping to one knee. "But there's been another attack."
"Where?" the King asked.
"Lake Hylia, the northern Village." Jakob answered.
"Very well, thank you for informing me, Sir Lirien, I'll handle it from here." the King said as he closed the doors to his study, the Guards resuming their posts.
Jakob sighed deeply as he walked away, descending the stairs until a voice called out to him.
"You know, I could have just ordered the Guards to stand down." the girl said.
"I know, but I need them to recognize my authority, there's a war brewing and if I'm to be the one to lead it, I must have their respect. That Sorcerer of the Desert gets bolder and bolder every day." Jakob replied.
"Will we be okay?" the girl asked.
"Of course, my dearest Zelda."
oOo
I don't think I've ever written this fast in my life, but this was my first prequel so I was excited, this chapter is considerably longer than the first chapter of 'The World at War', so I hope you guys were okay with that.
Anyway, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it as well as I hope you find this to be a suitable beginning.
Thanks again!
-Prometheus17