The Legend of Zelda
Blades of Creation
The rivers of time flow, ever onwards. Those cast into the rapids are carried – unending and mercilessly – towards the conclusion of their lives. People live and die in the rivers of time. However... a stone cast into this river will have immediate repercussions... and lasting effects as it's ripples spread down the current. And where does this ripple end? At what point does a ripple once more become a wave?
-The Kingdom of Hyrule. Year Twenty Three of the Fifth King's Rule; 5K23-
Gentle, lithe footsteps clack down the tile floor, a pair of lithe legs carry a figure down a darkened hallway, her steps sure and long; her posture straight and proper. Though she wears a mask of content calm, worry alights her sapphire eyes... blue pools as pure as a cloudless sky dart from one dark corner to another, the dim torchlight dying in the stiff breeze within the castle. Worry casts a dark shadow across her heart, and she must speak with it before it is too late. Her father does not perceive the danger... how can he? When he is too busy with diplomacy and affairs of the court. It is strange... he worries so for his kingdom, yet he cannot see the danger that is lying under his very nose. Spectacle Rock trembles with fury even now... and Death Mountain is not too far behind.
Dainty fingers push a heavy door open, the oak barrier creaking open with no shortage of force from the woman's end. Her extravagant pink dress flutters chaotically in the stagnant air that rushes to escape from the once-sealed chamber, her blonde hair snapping about her face. She looks inside, a gentle gold glow emanating from the three interlinked triangles which rest on the cushioned platform in the room before her. She draws a slow breath in and takes a step forward. Only the court wizard would be allowed to commune with it... but times were desperate, and if her father cannot perceive the threat... then measures must be taken. As if anticipating her presences, the heavy doors slowly shut behind her as she enters, her sapphire eyes plastered – her gaze locked – on the golden triangles before her. The closer she gets to them, the more lustrous their shine becomes... and with one step, the artifact begins to rise from it's platform.
Who...
A voice echoes in her head. Gathering her expensive dress, she drops to her knees and bows her head in reverence to the artifact before her. She says nothing at first, simply showing the artifact her people diefy the respect it requires.
Who art thee?
The voice forms a question in her head, causing the woman's gaze to rise to meet the now-floating artifact. She draws one final breath in – feeling as though she has not been breathing since entering – and answers as she was always taught when talking to people of great import. "Great Triforce..." Her words are honeyed and clarion as she addresses the artifact – the Triforce. "I am afeared that a powerful darkness has taken hold of the kingdom..." She pauses, her brain thinking of how best to form her sentences. "My father the King does not perceive this danger, as his gaze is turned across the sea... however, I have heard the words of travelers... rumblings from the south, from Spectacle Rock. The Southern Mountains heave and shudder... I fear that there is foul magic at play..." She pauses, bowing her head to the Triforce. "Please... Great Triforce. Show me the path to grant my father the sight to perceive this threat... and the wisdom to know how best to handle it... I beg of you..." She does not look up from her bowed head, her hands planted firmly upon the carpeted floor. Surely, t'would be a sight to see, a princess groveling before an ancient and powerful magic.
Ahh... thou art Zelda, yes?
"Yes, Great Triforce."
I, too, hath sensed this growing darkness. I am not surprised one such as thee hath felt it. Know that I cannot grant thy wish. Thy father is a figurehead. In the coming age of darkness, it be not by the will of kings the world shall live... but by the deeds of heroes. Thou needst not a king, but a hero.
"Then please... Great Triforce... help me search for a hero!"
I knowest of two, though there is little to be done for the first. Go thee to the town of Ruto, and seek thee a young lad – dressed in green and a heart to rival even mine own golden shimmer. Go there not as Princess, but pauper. Ask the lad to accompany thee back to thy home. Gift him a sword and shield, and beg with him as thou hast begged with me. Pleade with he to save thy kigndom.
"I will, Great Triforce! I will! I will go to Ruto and do this thing you ask of me... but... please... what of the other you spoke of? What shall become of them?" A ruby tongue slides quickly across dried lips, the lump in her throat melting at the heartening words the Triforce fills her mind with.
The other is beyond the ken of mortal men. No message, no plead shall reach beyond the veil... it shalt only fall upon deafened ears. I shall summon thy second champion, though I pretend not to know how thy champion shall react to such... methods.
"Please, Great Triforce... if there is even a chance, I shall take it. I thank you... for gifting me with the wisdom I sought."
The path was always in thy heart, Princess. I simply illuminated it for thee. Go now. You hath no time to waste.
Doing as instructed, the woman gave one final thanking bow to the artifact and stood. Collecting her dress from around her legs, she sprinted from the treasury, spiriting herself away towards her chambers to redress for her ordeal. If she were lucky, and none of the palace guard spotted her, she should be able to catch a carriage to Ruto, and arrive before sunset.
-The Town of Ruto; That Evening-
The sun was falling behind the mountains by the time the woman reached her destination. She had changed from pristine pink robes to a grungy, sand-blasted cloak over light rags. Unflattering, but only a true hero would hear the plea of a pauper. The streets were reasonably busy, business in the market was winding down as the sun was slowly reaching it's day's end. Her sapphire eyes – perhaps the only thing that remained pristine on her otherwise grubby exterior – scanning the crowd for the 'lad dressed in green'. Many people rushed by her, yet none were dressed in any shade of green.
Home after home, street after street she covered, praying that her search would not be in vain. Where, oh where, could this hero be the Triforce spoke of? It could not have been wrong. Simply nursing the notion the Triforce was wrong was a wholly inconceivable notion for the woman, and it was simply not a thought she would allow to cloud her judgment. No, she was simply not searching hard enough. She turned down an alley to cut across to another street, when she found her path blocked by two men – one rather bulky, and the second rather lanky – looking at her as a starving man may gaze upon food.
"Well, well, well... what do we have here? Gettin' awefully late to wander the streets, don'cha think?" The lanky man spoke, his rugged exterior belying his otherwise unimpressive frame. His dirty green eyes smoldered with ill-intent, and a single look from them sent shivers down her back. How he spun that knife about his fingers... how he glared... She turned to flee the way she came, but found herself surrounded by three more men who were looking at her with the same lecherous stare.
"Yeah... night time can be awefully dangerous, darlin'. You... you should stay with us." One of the new assailents began.
"Yeah..." Another echoed. "We'll treat'cha real good."
"S-stay away from me...!" She tried to muster her courage, to stare this threat in the eyes and emerge victorious... yet the more they gazed, the more she felt her courage faulter.
"Aww, there's no need'a be scared. We'll be... real gentle." All was lost. She had come to this city searching for a hero... and here she would die, being used by a gang of thugs. Perhaps... perhaps it was possible for the Triforce to be wrong...?
"You know..." A new voice came, interrupting the scene that was about to play out. The lanky man with dirty green eyes looked up to spot a young man, perched upon the roof of a house, his green tunic barely visible in the low light. "You... really shouldn't be picking on your betters. We had this discussion last week, Daarius. Did nothing I said get through that thick skull of yours?" He slapped his head gently, his blonde hair flapping sweetly in the wind. "Ah, what am I saying? Of course it didn't. Leave the poor wretch alone, would you? I'm sure there are dirtier holes you can be sticking your-"
"Piss off, urchin! I found'er first!"
"'Found her'? Daarius, she's a woman, not a prize. Do you need me to kick your ass again? Over this? Fine, but this time, I'm going to make you clean up the streets with your face."
"Leave the bitch! Let's teach this hero not to be stickin'is nose in bid'ness that ain't his!" The three men that closed in from behind pushed past the woman and advanced on the young man.
"One moment." The young man held a finger up, and reached into a small satchel at his side. From within, he withdrew a matching hat, it's long, pointed form looking like it belonged upon the head of a gnome more then a man. He gently fitted the hat on his head and then took a solid hold of a hand wagon's handle, and with a swift kick, broke it off into an impromptu weapon. "Alright, let's go."
Daarius struck first, swinging his knife wildly, which the young man managed to expertly dodge, twisting his body in just the right way where each slash of the blade found only air, not even shredding a thread of his tunic. Another man – bulky and muscular – advanced to attack, but his wild punch only connected with the wooden building, causing him to yelp in pain. "Bad big ugly!" The young man spoke simply, whacking the hulking mass with the wooden staff on the back of his right leg, bringing him down. "No breakfast!" He finished, bashing his head with the stick to knock him out. The other two hulks met similar fates, one attempting to charge the young man only to run full-speed into a wooden wall, and the second was tripped and knocked out with a solid kick to his face. The last goon – the original behemoth that was with the lankier Daarius shuffled his way out of the fight, after the other three goons were rendered useless.
"Get back'ere ya galoot!" Daarius shouted to the hulking, fleeing mass.
"Aaah, look'it that, Daarius. Looks like women aren't the only thing your ugly mug repulses. It's been fun, really it has but.. I'm late for dinner." Spinning, the young man kicked the knife out of his hand with one leg, then delivered a powerful kick to the side of his head with the other, knocking the man down and out. Taking a deep breath, he held the wooden dowel out sideways and – his impromptu weapon having served it's purpose – dropped it on Daarius' head. "And done." He turned to the woman and smiled. "Are you alright, m'lady?"
"Y-yes... yes, I'm quite alright, thanks to you, sir... may I get your name?"
"I'd love to sit and chat, but I've got somewhere to be. Get yourself indoors, alright? Daarius here isn't the only degenerate to wander the streets."
"Sir!" She shouted after him, the young man turning. "I... I must insist you come with me. Please... the fate of the kingdom may verily be at hand..." The young man paused, blinking.
"Fate'a the kingdom, eh? Sounds serious..." He cupped his chin in a hand and thought. "Okay so... let's pretend you're serious-"
"I am, sir. Very."
"Let's pretend." He repeated. "...who exactly are you to be in possession of that kind of information?"
"I cannot tell you right now. I only ask that you come with me... please. I will explain everything once we return to the c-" She paused. "My home." The man thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Well, you don't look insane... and you've got a certain firmness to your tone... alright! I'll bite. Where are we going?" The woman sighed happily.
"I shall show you soon enough, sir."
"Please... call me Link." He corrected with a wink.
-Orlando, Florida. January 18th, 2012-
The young girl sprinted away from the blaring alarm of the convenience store she had just stolen from. It had become an almost daily thing for her – not necessarily from this one store – for her to be running away from some kind of legal ramification. Her name no one knew, nor cared to... she was just another 'gutter snipe' in an otherwise pristine city. Sure, maybe Orlando wasn't as big a city as say New York or Boston... but that doesn't mean it didn't have it's share of problems. Hauling her thin frame over a fence, she dropped to the other side – her heart hammering in her chest and her lungs working over time to replace all the oxygen she had used running – and looked into her bag at what she had managed to make off with. Five bottles of water, a four pack of cheap toilet paper, a new pair of socks to replace the ones she was wearing holes into, a rather large supply of snack crackers that would have to suffice as food for the day, twelve newspapers rolled up and ready for burning, and a cheap-ass umbrella... just in case the summer rain picks up again. She put her head against the fence and tried to slow her breathing and heart rate. The lazy cops were going to chase her probably for the rest of the day, but after that, they'd call the search off.
That's how things worked in this world. She made off with a grand total of no more then fifteen dollars worth of stuff, so she wasn't high on the priority list. Of course, the news was going to blow this whole thing out of proportion as it always did. It would be another 'armed robbery' they report on, where the suspect walked in, armed with more weapons then a video game protagonist, and made off with millions of dollars in cash. Pheh... if they only knew the truth. Twisting the caps off one of the bottles of water, she slugged it down to re-hydrate, looking about her surroundings. It was a place she came to often, the only real refuge she had. Sure, by all rights she wasn't homeless, she had a home to go to, but the other people who lived there – who despite caring for her about as much one might care for the plastic wrapping of a candy bar – insisted on making her call them her 'parents' – ha! There was a joke! She went back to that house every other day just to see what was happening, and in the off chance some alien body-snatchers invaded and replaced her 'parents' with a pair of people who actually gave a flying fuck about the fifteen year old vagrant who was living in the abandoned house two blocks down, and who stole for all her necessities.
Stop kidding yourself, Lyn. That's never going to happen, and you know it. Hell, the only reason they haven't called the police to help them find her, is because she's not been gone long enough to make the whole thing into a dramatic fiasco. They can't make any money off her disappearance yet, so why should they care?
Her breath having slowed to a normal rate, and her heart no longer doing circles, the young woman zipped up her bag once more and crawled towards the makeshift shelter she had constructed in the backyard of a house that hasn't had an owner in almost twenty years. Everyone around knew someone was living here... it's just no one cared. Once under the somewhat protection of her tarp tent, she opened up her bag once more and took out one of the newspapers, ripping pages out and balling them into light spheres, placing them in the small fireplace she had made. She'd have to steal another box of matches pretty soon... but thankfully that wasn't something that was dire quite yet. Could probably go another week on the handful she had, as long as she was careful with their use. She'd gotten quite good at lighting a fire and keeping it going for a while, her little tent was shielded in almost every direction from the wind, and it was well-vented to prevent smoke build up. Even at fifteen, she was quite the little survivalist. Her little tent had a tarp floor, situated on a patch of dirt that was somewhat flat – a hole cut in the tarp and edged with stones for a fire pit. One match and a few seconds later, she had a nice little fire going to warm her in the chilly Florida winter.
With a sigh, she grabbed the back of her collar and pulled her shirt off over her head, hanging it on the rack she had built over the fire to dry her clothes. All this running and made her build up quite a sweat. She kicked her shoes off and discarded them – along with her torn socks – into a corner so she could find them later, then slipped out of her torn pants. Looks like she'd have to make another risky trip to the Walmart up the road and get some more pants... stealing from a big chain like that was always as risky as it was rewarding, and she had already done it multiple times... the trick was to sneak by in a large crowd... the damn greeter had a memory like an elephant, and had kicked her out once already. Larceny is hard.
She sat – naked as the day she was born – in her tent, legs pulled up to her chest as the comforting heat of the meager fire washed over her skin. This was her life, such as it was. Parents that didn't care for her, a society that shunned what she had to do to live, and being cursed with too much self-respect to commit suicide and get it the fuck over with. No, if the World wanted Lyndrys Pyre dead... it would have to earn it.
She didn't like stealing. It was the last thing she wanted to do. They were honest people trying to make a living, and the sad fact that she had to ruin their lives little by little just so she could survive tore her up inside... but deep down, humans will always strive to take care of Number One first. She'd repay them back some day... she just knew that one day, her life would turn around. She didn't want to be rich, she didn't want to be famous... she just... wanted to have a chance, and to give some other little boy or girl the chance she never had. On the inside, Lyndrys was a good girl at heart... a good girl in a bad situation.
A love for your fellow man, I do see in thy heart, girl. A vagabond you are in thy life... none shall miss thee.
Strange words entered her head as she sat dozing in place. She snapped awake and looked around, her guard raised as though someone had discovered her. After a thorough search, she discovered that... no... she was still alone in her little camp. Had she... imagined that voice? Was this it, then? The last shavings of sanity finally falling by the wayside, letting the insanity that she'd always harbored into her heart? Quick, check! She picked her head up and tried to think of some insane thought.
"I have a loving family!" She blurted out. Insane yes... but she didn't believe it. "...yeah right..." As she returned to her tent just as a gust of cold wind washed over her, extinguishing her little camp fire. She shivered against the cold, and as though the sun had been snuffed out, everything around her was ensorcelled in darkness.
-The Kingdom of Hyrule; The North Palace; Later that Night-
Link was surprised when the 'home' the woman spoke of was not a hovel on a dirt street, but instead the palace of the king. It, of course, didn't take him long to put two-and-two together to figure out that the woman he had saved on the streets was of some import. "You do not look surprised." The woman spoke to him as they entered the castle's guest chambers.
"Yeah... I don't look it, but I am..."
"First..." The woman spoke, dropping her hood. "I would introduce myself... I am Princess Zelda." Now he looked surprised.
"Princess, I do apologize-" He started to bow, but a single hand from Zelda stopped him.
"No! Please, Link... I would have you treat me as an equal... for the task I must shoulder upon you is great. I was instructed by the Great Triforce to search for a hero who can save our lands from an encroaching darkness... It bid me search for a lad in green with a heart of shimmering gold... and it lead me to you." She strode over to the mantle over the fireplace. It was why she chose this room in particular. Reaching up, she removed the sword mounted above the fireplace. It was a fine blade, a straight edge of pure steel, and a hilt of interwoven silver and gold – red and green jewels set in the handle. She held it to Link. "This... was my Grandfather's sword. He left it to me with express instructions that I am to gift it to one who I believe can lead our kingdom to greatness..."
"Then, should it not go to your father, the king?"
"My father can show us the way... but he cannot create the path. I believe that you can create that path for us to follow... you have already shown that you have the heart of a hero... I would wish you to become that hero." Link reached a hand out towards the sword, but retracted it, uncertain.
"I... I don't know if I'm the kind of person you're looking for, Princess..."
"Nay... I know you are. Please... be the kingdom's guiding light." A vigor returning to his frame, Link took hold of the sword's handle and held it up.
"It's... heavier then it looks..."
"But it's weight suits you." She held her hand out, the blade's scabbard extended to him. "Come... I must commune once more with the Triforce... and I would have you at my side." Affixing the scabbard to his belt, he sheathed the blade and took her hand, following her to the castle's inner sanctum.
The light from the torches danced once more, seemingly brighter then when she was hear earlier in the afternoon, long shadows swaying from corner to corner, the hallway fluctuating between darkness and light in some strange duality that was both terrifying and beautiful all at once. Pushing open the doors once more, she and Link advanced upon the illustirous golden triangles once more. "They look... just like the legend says..." Link adjusted his hat. "I shouldn't be here..."
"Pray... stay. If you are to be the hero I know you are... you belong here more then I." The pair found their knees once more before the artifact, the object glowing a brilliant amber gold.
Thou hast found thy first Champion.
A voice echoed in both of their heads. Zelda nodded meekly. "I have, Great Triforce. He aided me when others would flee. His heart is of the purest gold known to man... I could ask for no better champion."
Pure heart or no, by his strength alone darkness cannot be vanquished. The Blades of Creation – the mightiest swords that can vanquish thy foes evermore – cannot alone be wielded by one of this realm. Even their child, the Master Sword, pales in comparison to the Blades. I hath found thy second Champion. Ready thy cloak, Princess, for she arrives anon.
"She?" Zelda managed out. The Triforce rose from the pedestal it sat upon and glowed brighter and brighter. As the glow reached an apex, a figure could be seen within the shimmering blindness. Raising a hand to shield his eyes, Link was unable to look away. It took Zelda no time at all to see that the girl arrived with no clothes on her back. Unclasping her cloak, Zelda prepared to dress the girl in something. The light died as the figure slowly sunk to the ground, the Princess wrapping her up in a warm cloak.
Seek ye the Blades of Creation – The Obsidian Destroyer's Blade, and the Alabaster Architect's Blade. They – and they alone – possess the power to vanquish the King of Darkness from your realm forever. Waste no time... thou hast little of it as is. Even now, the darkness grows from Spectacle Rock... I fear that we shall be ever too late already...
As these words entered their heads, the triangles returned to their pedastal and dimmed.
I have one final gift for thee, and thy champions. To you – Hyrule's Chosen – I bequeath my Soul. May it ever give thee the Courage to face thy enemies head-on. To you – young Princess – I bequeath my Mind. May it e'r provide the Wisdom thou needst to face thy demons. And to our Guest – The Champion of the Veil – I bequeath my Body... so that e'r she hath the Power to crush Hyrule's enemies.
The Triforce glowed one more time, and when the glow faded, it was gone, a slight burning sensation had brought their attentions down to their left hand, on each was a visage of the Triforce, each with a different side glowing. Princess Zelda nodded and bowed once more. "Thank you, Great Triforce. I promise to use this gift to further only Hyrule's prosperity. You have my word." Zelda looked down at the unconscious woman in her arms. "...you have my word."
-The Kingdom of Hyrule; The North Palace-
Night fell across Hyrule, darkness claiming the realm and ushering all who called it home into a deep slumber. Princess Zelda had returned to her chambers to rest after the ordeal in Ruto, and Link had been granted a guest room, right next door to their guest. However... as one may expect... a certain party had woken late into the night... and confusion was forefront in her mind.
Bright amber eyes snapped awake in the otherwise pitch darkness, her vision slowly adapting to the lack of light as she scanned her surroundings. Sitting up, her short brown hair frizzed defiantly in the dry atmosphere. She rubbed her eyes and groaned. "I think... I drank too fast... did I have a heat stroke?" She pressed her hand to her forehead, then shook her head. "Fuck, I could never figure out how that works..." She throws the sheets off her body and plants her feet on cold stone. "EeeeeyyyyyyAAAAA!" She shrieks, her feet curling under her in protest. "Cold! And... is this stone?" Once more, she braves the naked floor and puts all her weight down. "S-s-shit..." She shivers in the cold wind. "It's fuggin' cold... did someone leave a window open?" Shuffling over to the only source of light in the room – a single round-topped window which looked out over the castle – she gazed out to the moon above. "Where am I?" She looks around in shock. "Am I... am I in a castle!?" Her gaze turns down, small figures moving in the courtyard. "I'm in a castle!" She pulls herself into the window. "I'm naked, and I'm in a castle... that water must have been laced with some hella rank hallucinogens." She shuffled towards the door, snatching the bedsheets up on the way out, throwing them around herself as a makeshift cloak. "Light switch, light switch... where is the lightswitch..."
After ten minutes of feeling along every inch of every wall she could, she finally gave up, unable to find a lightswitch. She felt defeated... she was unable to see, and had no clothes to work with... talk about being literally naked. Was the door locked?! Was she trapped here?! A quick cursory check of the door had lead her to discover that no... the door wasn't locked. "So, I'm not trapped here... and I'm in some kind of tower..." She hurried over to the window once more and looked down. Could she just... call out to one of the guys down there? Get them to help her out? Her question wouldn't need an answer, as just as she took a breath to shout down, the heavy wooden door clattered open, a gentle amber light spilling inside. Quickly dropping the bedsheet in favor of faster movement, Lyndrys ducked behind the bed, just enough to peek over. Entering the room was a maid – comically dressed in a similar french maid-like outfit – holding a candleabra in one hand and a platter of clothes in the other.
"Oh! It looks like you're awake." The woman spoke. She was older – mid to late thirties, if Lyndrys had to guess – but had a powerful aura of kindness about her. The woman went about the room and started putting fire to the candles that Lyndrys could now see dotting the room. "Well, don't be afraid, dear... can you understand me?"
"I'm not afraid..." Lyndrys mused. "I'm just cautious." Both hands gripping the bed, she pointed one finger at the clothes. "Those for me?"
"They are, dear... here." The maid placed the candlabra on the bedside table and sat the platter on the bed. "Let me help you-"
"I can dress myself..." Lyndrys muttered indignantly.
"Of course you can dear... but this is what I do for the Princess every day."
"Princess?" Lyndrys was interested now. "Did you fly my happy ass to England?"
"Fly? Oh, no darling." The maid had produced two sets of clothes – one intermingled with the other – and offered them on displace. "Would the lady like something a bit more formal..." She motioned to a very frilly dress that Lyndrys had to suppress the urge to shout 'kill it with fire'. "Or perhaps something a little more around the town?"
"How about the one with jeans. Got any jeans in there?"
"Jeans? What... what are 'jeans'?"
"Jeans. You know. Blue jeans? Denims? Pants?" The maid shook her head.
"Mmm, I'm afraid I do not know what you speak of."
"You're kidding. You've never been to a walmart before? Big racks of them?"
"'Wal-Mart'? What is 'Walmart'?" She... she was kidding, right? She's... she's gotta be pulling Lyndrys' chain! There was no other reasonable explanation why she'd never heard of a Walmart! There were Walmarts everywhere! They grew faster then grass!
"Okay so... either you're serious, and you really don't know what a Walmart is... or you're jerking my chain, and this is some elaborate prank... either way I'm not impressed. Stop pulling my chain."
"Dear, I assure you I'm not pulling anything of yours... Look, my name is Impa, I'm Princess Zelda's nursemaid and keeper. What is your name?" Lyndrys squinted her eyes at Impa.
"My name is Lyndrys Pyre."
"Oh my! Two names! So very uncommon!" Impa smiled. "Well then, Lyndrys Pyre, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Please... just call me Lyndrys. I don't even know why I have a last name..."
"Yes, it is quite interesting..."
"Look okay... let's start from scratch, alright? Do you have underwear in there?" That was a good start. She'd worry about the jeans and Walmart thing later.
"Of course... but I'm sad to say I am uncertain how well they will fit you."
"Cross that bridge when we come it it. I'll start with that." Impa removed two pieces of cloth – resembling a bra and a pair of panties – and walked around the bed. "I can-"
"I am well aware. Come, stand. It's nothing I've not seen before." Impa had practically pulled Lyndrys from her crouched position. Lyndrys was fairly typical for a fifteen year old – her breasts were small and her body was typical of someone of her lifestyle – lean leg muscles and a thin, almost gaunt frame. Lyndrys fought almost as hard as Impa did, eventually giving up and letting the nursemaid dress her.
"...so humiliating..."
"Oh, stop it, dear. There's nothing humiliating about this." She laughed a little. "Oh, but you do so remind me of a younger Zelda... oh would she complain and fight me... I think she's happy to have another young lady in the castle... hoping I'll dote on another, and forget her. She can think that... but I have a very good memory." The woman smiled sharply, tying the cloth bow in the back of the bra. "There. It's maybe a bit large, but it will have to suffice for now." She was dressed in something, so that was an improvement. The bra – as stated by Impa – was a bit too large for Lyndrys' otherwise smaller chest, but there was always room. She was, after all, a growing girl.
"So... Impa..." A thought came to Lyndrys as the nursemaid continued to look through the clothes to find a style for her.
"Mm?" She nudged her head up from her task, but didn't stop.
"Where am I?" She decided that – instead of bombarding the girl with things she potentially knew nothing about – she'd get all the information she could.
"You're in The North Palace – Hyrule Castle."
"Mkay." She nodded. "I haven't been out that long... you couldn't have taken me far... probably to the border at most. Hyrule's in what...? Georgia?"
"Georgia? Where is that?"
"You know, one of the United States." Impa's blank expression told her everything she needed to know, and a dread realization came over her. The blue eyes staring back at Lyndrys were not the eyes of someone playing a trick on her. This woman had no idea what Walmart, Georgia or one of the largest countries in the world was! Lyndrys paled. "I need a map of the world."
"Well... I can get you a map of Hyrule..."
"Okay, I need someone can answer my questions!"
"Well, it was Princess Zelda who summoned you-"
"Get her!" The yelling was more from hysteria then anything else. Lyndrys was – understandably, of course – terrified at the rammifications of what was running through her head. She hadn't just been kidnapped... she'd been kidnapped... through time! Or... something along those lines.
"Of course! Of course! Please, do await my return!" Impa scurried out of the room as quick as her legs could carry her. She had, of course, no cause to be worried about Lyndrys leaving. She would probably get lost the second she left the room... no way that was happening. Lyndrys paced nervously for ten minutes – still only in her underwear – waiting for Impa to return with this Princess Zelda. Her patience would be rewarded when Impa would return with a tired, but nonetheless regal Princess Zelda in tow.
"Hello, Lyndrys Pyre..." Zelda spoke with a bow. "I understand you have some questions for me?"
"Yeah... 'some'... that's good. First off... I want to know exactly what happened to me. One minute, I'm in my shitty little tent, about to have dinner, and the next minute, bam. I wake up in Butt-Fuck Nowhere, with a nursemaid trying to dress me... who has no idea what a Walmart is!"
"You are afraid-"
"I'm not afraid! I'm... freaked out! I don't know where I am... I don't know when I am!" Zelda put a hand out to calm her.
"Please, Lyndrys Pyre..." Her voice was calm. "I understand the concern... please try to understand that we are not your enemies. We do not want to harm you."
"Well, if that's true, I need some answers."
"I will answer what I can."
"What year is it?" Lyndrys started with the obvious.
"It is the twenty third year of my father – the Fifth King's – rule."
"Okay, not helpful... What... okay, what continent is this?"
"Continent? Well, it is the kingdom of Hyrule..."
"Okay, we keep coming back to that. Do you have a map I could look at?"
Mayhap I could shed some light on thy confusion, Champion.
A voice filled everyone's head, Zelda looking down at her left arm. "Ah, Great Triforce... perhaps you can."
"Wait... I recognize that voice... that voice came to me just before I blacked out!" She started to look about, searching for the source of the voice. "Where are you, you pervert! If you did anything bad to me when I was out, I'm gonna force-feed you your own dick!"
Such fire I doth sense in thy heart. Good, it shall serve thee well, Champion of the Veil. I am called the Triforce... I am a force of creation – the hand of the Goddess' – and the source of the Hylian people's faith. A great darkness threatens the good people of Hyrule, and I hath reached through the Veil Between the Worlds to draw you into our realm.
"The... Veil Between the Worlds...?" Lyndrys echoed dryly.
In simplistic terms... the world thou knows... is a parallel world to mine own. Our worlds run in parallel, moving forward in tandem with one another... but they are not the same. They draw similarities, but stop at those similarities.
"Okay then... send me back. Put me back in my own world." What was she saying!? Go back!? To being a vagabond in her own home!? Sure, it wasn't a great life, but god dammit, it was her fucking life! And she wanted it back!
I cannot.
"What the fuck do you mean, 'you cannot'!? You pulled me here, didn't you! Put me back!"
I am afraid it simply does not work like that. In order to bring you here, I had to make a plea with the Goddess of Creation... a reason, if thou will, for my piercing of the Veil. Hyrule's need was great, so my incursion was warrented. I cannot simply 'put thou back', as it wouldst void my plea. If thou desirest to return, thou must work to return on thy own. Vanquish Hyrule's darkness, and mayhap you can return.
"So." She stood up, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill out. "You kidnap me from my home – my fucking reality – and give some lame-ass excuse why you can't put me back. And to add insult to injury, you tell me I can't go back unless I fight your damn war for you, and even then it's a tentative maybe... and one more 'go fuck yourself' to tack on top of that, this damn maid is trying to stick me in a fucking dress! I don't! Do! Dresses!" She heaved, letting out all of her aggression.
I sense great anger within thee. Find an outlet for your rage, before it consumes thee.
"Alright, I will! Where the fuck are you, 'Triforce'?"
If thou lookest for me, all thou must do is see thy right hand.
Lyndrys looked at her right hand, palm open. Slowly turning it over, she spied to tattoo on the back of her hand, a trio of triangles with the top one glowing. She gave a dry laugh and shook her head. "Checkmate, Triforce... checkmate..." Princess Zelda advanced.
"Please, Lyndrys Pyre... you must rest. In the morrow, I promise to explain everything to you... but you need sleep."
"Fine fine..." Lyndrys grunted, waving away Zelda's concern. "I'll catch some sleep, but you better be willing to answer my questions."
"Of course, Lyndrys Pyre."
"And it's just Lyndrys!" Zelda nodded.
"Of course, Lyndrys. Please, sleep well, and we shall speak again in the morrow." Despite just waking from her lengthy coma, Lyndrys suddenly felt very tired... as though all the energy had been suddenly and inexplicably drained from her body. She didn't even bother trying to take off what Impa had managed to stuff her into... she just wanted to sleep and never wake up again. She put her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, her head immediately filled with all manner of images – both from her old life and from the speculation of what this new one would bring... both sets of images refreshing and disturbing.
She slept well into the morning, her body eventually waking up with the sun high in the sky, and a figure moving about the room. In the daylight – the flickering semi-light of candles gone – she could see a great many details that went unobserved the previous night – namely the rather vivid oil painting on the far wall, and the armoire near the window. She strained against her sleep-addled mind to remember what figure was messing about in the room she was in. It was the Princess' Nursemaid... Impa, if her memory served.
"Mmph..." She grumbled. "'elp you?"
"Ah! You're awake, my lady. I apologize if I woke you."
"Mm...nah..." She grunted. "Just kinda woke up on my own..." She stretched in bed, rubbing her eyes against the yawn forming. "So last night wasn't a horrible nightmare, then? This is really something that's happening?"
"Aye, it is. Did you want it to be a dream?"
"Kinda..." She muttered. "I mean... it certainly beats being a homeless bum but... pulled into a different reality? Do you blame me for being skeptical?"
"Of course not, my lady." Impa smiled. "Come, let us get you dressed and down for breakfast. Princess Zelda is excited to speak with you."
"I dunno why. I'm boring." Lyndrys got out of bed and shuddered at the cold stone floor once more. "Kill you to get a mat for the floor? Stone is cold, yo."
"I can certainly see about getting you a rug, my lady." Impa held up a bundle of clothes. "I spoke with Master Link this morning, and he suggested that if dresses weren't your clothing option of choice, then perhaps I should look at other genders... He suggested a simple black tunic for now, as well as a pair of very rugged traveling boots." Lyndrys really should have been mad that not only was she being dressed by someone when she should have outgrown that, but that a man was picking her outfit out for her. This could only end one of two way. The tunic Impa provided turned out to be a shorter dress – the fringe of the tunic ending about midway down her thigh. Not terrible, and it certainly didn't feel like a dress. She was a bit disturbed that for the most part, she was exposed from the waist down (save for the tail of the Microskirt that was the fringe of the tunic)... but really she wasn't going to be going up any escalators or elevators anytime soon, so she could afford to just keep the panties on and call it golden. Once Impa had finished fighting Lyndrys tooth and nail into the tunic and boots (which despite not having any socks to go with, were very comfortable and ventilated), she stepped back and smiled. "There! Is that more to your liking?" Lyndrys pulled down on the fringes of the tunic, trying to pull it farther over her ass.
"Mmmph... It'll do, I suppose." She answered. About this point in time, Lyndrys was really, really regretting taking her clothes off before being whisked away to a new reality. Though... having said that, perhaps blending in wasn't such a bad thing. "Alright, I guess I'm as decent as I'll ever be for breakfast." Impa bowed to her once more.
"Very well, my lady! Please, follow me."
"And... could you stop calling me that? You can just call me Lyndrys."
"If that is your wish, Lady Lyndrys."
"No ju-" She stopped herself. Baby steps, Lyndrys. If you did that, she'd start calling you 'Just Lyndrys', and no one wanted to go down that path. Lyndrys followed Impa in silence, trying to memorize the route to the room she was sleeping in. It was hard... the decoration in the castle was sparse at best, and what paintings that were hanging were small and simple, easy to loose in the shadows that were cast by flickering torchlight. Christ, whatever job they had for her here certainly beat being the poor son of a bitch who has to go torch by torch and light every single one every night. Talk about wetwork. Oooh, boots were so nice after touching the cold-ass stone floor... Lyndrys secretly thanked every god she knew about for the comfortable pair of leather boots she was gifted.
The dining room wasn't too awefully far from the room Lyndrys was placed in, a few short minute walk with only really three main turns before Impa pushed the door open to reveal a large, open room with a very high ceiling and a gold chandeleir hanging above a long, ornate table. Seated at the table were three figures – the first Lyndrys recognized from last night, the blonde-haired, blue eyed visage of Princess Zelda. The second – seated at the head of the table to Zelda's right was a portly, important looking man dressed very richly; a vibrant brown beard latched firmly to his face, and a gold crown placed prominently on his head.
"Your Majesty, may I present the Champion of the Veil, Lady Lyndrys Pyre."
"You can drop the 'Champion of the Veil' thing, really... I'm just a girl..." Lyndrys muttered. The third figure – a young boy with blonde hair and a green tunic of similar style – waved to her with a broad smile on his face. He was seated across from Zelda to the portly man's right.
"Lyndrys... please, allow me to introduce you to my father, King Harkinian of Hyrule-" Lyndrys gave a quick 'how-dee-doo' wave.
"Hey." The young man started laughing at this casual display.
"Hahaha! I like her already!" The portly man – the King – seemed to be also bemused by her rather casual introduction. "My dear, these are some interesting associates of yours. Is the girl aware she stands before royalty?"
"I must beg forgiveness, Father. She is... from an alternate reality. I'm afriad she is... uneducated in the royal family of Hyrule."
"Another reality you say? When you said the Triforce had a hand in her summoning, I thought she would have been brought from another land... not another reality. Truly, this is a blessing for Hyrule." He motioned Lyndrys forward. "Come, girl! Sit, eat with us!" Lyndrys slowly advanced, choosing to sit next to the young boy – clearly closer to her 'class' then the Princess.
"Hey you." The boy smiled, looking at her with a lazy smile. "Name's Link." He introduced himself. "I guess you and I are going to be... working together, I suppose? I don't know, I haven't really figured out what we're going to be doing."
"All in good time, my boy!" The King responded. "When my daughter told me that she was looking into the rumors from the south, I did not believe for a moment it would amount to such measures. I am glad that I have such capable eyes looking into this issue, as I daresay my own eyes are turned elsewhere." Harkinian looked to Impa. "Impa, has the girl been armed yet?"
"No, Your Majesty. It was a chore enough to get her dressed this morning." Lyndrys' cheeks flashed red.
"Which I told you several times I was capable of myself..." Everyone laughed at her comment, Zelda cutely covering her mouth daintly.
"Ah, such fire I sense in this youth! Good, good! You shall need much vigor!" He turned once more to Impa. "While we finish breakfast, Impa, go to the armory and fetch me my sword. The girl must have a weapon." Sword? Seriously? Lyndrys had never handled a sword before in her life... how the hell was she just supposed to pick one up and save the world!? One step at a time... she had to try, it was the only way she was going home – scratch that, it was the only chance she had of going home. Lyndrys looked down at the plate before her... and it was all she could do to contain herself from shoving the whole thing – plate, silverwear and napkin included – into her mouth in one go.
"Is there something the matter, Lyndrys?" Lyndrys looked up to Zelda with a sheepish look in her eye.
"All this talking is... really well and all but... can we eat? I've not eaten anything substantial in a few months..."
"Months!?" Link blurted out.
"My dear, girl, what have you done with your life!?" Harkinian looked shocked. "Please, eat! Do not let us stop you!"
It took control. A lot of control to eat like a person, and not shove her face into the plate and inhale everything at once. "Well..." She spoke between swallows. "If you won't judge me for it..." Another big bite of cooked venison and freshly baked bread. "...I've been reduced to stealing from convenience stores to survive..." She swallowed, then added in quickly: "Not much! I never steal more then I need! I'm... I'm not a bad person, I swear!" Harkinian nodded sagely.
"Well, my girl. As long as you are in service to the crown, I can promise you you'll never have to steal again. You are always welcome in my castle." The more she thought about it... the more she sat there – good food on her plate and decent company at the table – she began to think that this was more blessing then curse. Yeah, everything she knew was thrown out of whack, and she'll have to get used to this new reality but... could it have been for the best? The four of them ate breakfast with gusto, the King letting out a content sigh that was echoed by Lyndrys.
"Oh, that was soooo goooood..." She moaned. She reached for the goblet in front of her – having paid more attention to her food then drink, and took a grand slug of the liquid within. "Hk!" She gagged on the taste, and pulled away, managing to swallow what was in her mouth before coughing into her napkin. "Gaaaah, what is this?"
"The finest wine from the royal vineyards." Zelda mused. "Is it not to your liking?"
"Well... to be honest... I've never had wine before..." She chuckled. "I'm not even old enough to drink back home..."
"If I may..." Zelda came again, looking at her curiously. "How old are you?"
"Hehe..." Lyndrys chuckled. "I'm still a kid... only fifteen."
"What do you mean 'still a kid'?" Link grinned. "You're older then me."
"How old are you!?" Lyndrys blurted out.
"Fourteen." Lyndrys blinked slowly, choosing her words carefully.
"At what age is it commonly accepted that you are an adult?"
"Fourteen." Link answered simply.
"Damn... it's eighteen back home..." Harkinian laughed.
"Truly, your home land is full of mystery! I can only imagine what form of magic your people cultivate." She wouldn't get into this whole 'magic is a lie' thing and just store this conversation for later. The rest of breakfast passed rather quickly for Lyndrys, her stomach finally full for the first time in months. The wine – once she had gotten used to it's flavor – was actually very savory and dry, adding a beautiful cap onto her breakfast. Best part is, she felt like she was more awake then normal... the light – barely noticeable – buzzing of her head was both refreshing and fantastic feeling.
After breakfast, Zelda had called both Lyndrys and Link outside to discuss exactly what she wanted them to do. The rumors circulating was that something dark lurked within Spectacle Rock – deep within Death Mountain to the south. She would have transport provided to bring them to the far southern reaches of Hyrule – colloqually known as Hyrule Penninsula – and investigate the rumors surrounding Spectacle Rock and Death Mountain.
"Princess?" Impa interrupted near the end of Zelda's explanation, a sword in her arms. "Your father bade me provide this blade to Lady Lyndrys." Zelda nodded to the older woman and stepped aside, letting Impa affix the sword to her belt.
"Yeah, I'm going to let you do that... I wouldn't know how to do it if my life depended on it." She smiled as Impa put it just over her left hip. "Huh... how'd you know I was right handed?"
"How you held your fork at breakfast." She responded after finishing her task. "Master Link held his with his left, you held it with your right." She nodded gently. "I've been doing this a long time, Lady Lyndrys."
"Remind me not to question you again."
"So, question I have to get out." Link mused, both hands behind his head. "You ever used a sword before?"
"I'm... sad to admit no. They're... not common back home." She felt drew the blade, and felt it's weight in her hand, giving it a slow, test swing. "...heavier then it looks."
"Not common? What kind of world do you live in where you don't have swords?" Lyndrys gave it an awkward flip in her hand, then smiled to him.
"I said they weren't common. We have them..."
"On the way over, what do you say I give you a cursory lesson, eh? Just a little training with the thing."
"That would be great, actually... I don't think this is something I can just figure out on my own."
"Well, I suppose it is, if you've got the time to devote to teaching yourself..." Impa cut into Link's sentence.
"...which need I remind you we've not."
"Yeah, exactly. So I'll drill you on the boat over. We've got a few days, it should be enough time for you to learn the basics, we can refine those on some of the wildlife."
"That's legal?" Lyndrys responded, a shocked tone in her voice.
"Of course. Most of the wildlife in the southern portion of Hyrule reproduce at an uncontrollable rate, so we've basically got carte blanch to kill them on sight. The simple-minded ones will help you learn, and the more intelligent ones will make good sparring partners when you're feeling comfortable." Zelda nodded to them both, a carriage appearing through the gate – it's driver a gruff looking man with shaggy black hair.
"I urge you both to continue your talks on the road, but remain vigilant. The road to Mido is fraught with danger."
"When isn't it?" Link wagged his eyebrows at her. "Alright, we'll head out, Princess. In the meantime, I want you to help your father as much as you can. With the two of us away... Hyrule's security is in your hands." Zelda bowed to him as he heaved himself up onto the carriage.
"Of course. And please... be safe in your travels." Link reached down to help Lyndrys up, the girl more concentrated on keeping her tunic down over her rear.
"...how do you function in these things...?"
"Easy. You stop caring. C'mon, hop up." She pushed off and Link finished pulling her up. "See? Easy." No matter how much he said it... Lyndrys didn't think she would ever get used to wearing this stupid thing.