Title - Rain
Chapter 1 - The Forest
Rating - PG-13 (minor gore)
AN - Reread my old story and on a Zelda kick, determined to rewrite this story better and slightly more true to character.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Legends of Zelda.
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"Saria?" Link called out in the empty Sacred Forest Meadow. Usually his dear friend would materialize with a giggle and a flurry of leaves at his voice but nothing happened. Tapping his foot on the grassy ground behind him he huffed. "Saria!" Still no answer, which left him worried. His best friend never left him waiting. Looking about he reached into his pouch and retrieved his prized hook shot. Taking aim he shot off the weapon flying into the air moments later.
Fearlessly he slipped passed the entry door, the shattered foyer with it's over grown hedges and menacing darkness. He had cleaned out the destroyed manor years ago; when he was sixteen to keep his skills honed and to learn the newness of his growing body. Slipping through the entry hall without a thought and entering the heart of the ghost mansion he looked about. The room was still dreary and dark as it had always been. Slow flickering ghost lights cast a hallow glow about the room promising death and painful torments if approached.
He hummed curious as to why Saria was not answering his calls. Nothing seemed moving let alone alive in the Mansion so he stepped forward again ready to travel to the heart of the Temple where he knew Saria now lived as the Heart of the Realm. Taking the steps down the center of the foyer where the elevator was he was surprised by the sudden crash. A door he remembered he had chased a Poe sister through crashed open.
The wood splintered into a thousand tiny pieces as a figure shot through the frame Mirror Shield first. He grinned for just a moment proud of how strong his shield was then frowned feeling it's weight on his back curious as to how a one of a kind shield was in someone else's hands. The shield dropped revealing a girl with shockingly pale skin and brilliant honey colored hair. She was dressed in a tunic similar to his dyed blue with a chain mail shirt peeking out from above the skin tight white body suit. She was like a female clone of himself.
Startled by her appearance he nearly jumped feeling the elevator give to his feet the girl dashing right for him. Behind her he saw a Redead. Startled even the ground continued to rise as the elevator descended he pulled his sword free. The Redead was charging after the girl at an alarming pace. Almost as though it were freshly dead and still had full range of moment. She jumped over the steps bending her body into a roll even as her shield let out a painful skidding sound against the floor. She crashed into steps of the middle platform only a few feet away from him.
Turning to him she froze for a moment her eyes filled with shock. "Mi'lord." She muttered just as the Redead latched on to her. She gave a pained shriek swing her sword hilt up into its face. The monster tumbled back its teeth popping free from her neck dripping blood. Stumbling forward she bent her knees to account for the slowly diminishing open space of the elevator. Kicking a foot forward she stumbled in the elevator accidently cracking him in the face with her shield. He grunted feeling her turn her hard back against his chest. The Redead was still trying to get at her with only 3 feet of space to work with now. It has its torso slipped between the space snapping it's grotesque face at her.
She growled jabbing her sword forward meeting the creature's mouth effortlessly. Her sword slipped out the other side as though the skull were butter. He admired the likeness of their Master swords in that small moment her body pressed up against his; bleeding on him as her sword arm trembled with the effort of the large wound on her neck.
The Redead chewed at her sword inching closer to her hand. Mesmerize she stared blankly. Hearing the gross pop of the monster's arm's breaking from trying to hold the elevator open to get to them he pulled her back her sword slipping out of the creature's mouth with a slick pop. The elevator gave one final groan before slamming down severing the Redead at the shoulders so they could descend even deeper into the ruined building.
"What's your name," He finally uttered minutes later when the girl finally shifted out of his grip as the elevator stopped. Why he had been compelled to stay silent he wasn't sure. Normally he would fret over his friends or his wards and check if they were still in one piece. The girl didn't seem at all bothered by the bite wound on her neck.
"Leena." She commented shortly rubbing at her neck as she sheathed her sword. Her honey hair stained with blood spilled down her back as she took off her cap. Turning to him she nodded, "You must be the Hero of Time…" She grinned her aqua blue eyes twinkling at him.
"How do you know?" He asked, not that it was too hard to guess. Zelda made him a public spectacle sometimes. People put up with her but no one save Zelda and himself even knew he was the Hero of Time. He was merely a very honored guard that people thought was slowly whittling away at the Princess's iron clad resolve to steal her innocence.
"The Master sword… the Mirror shield… and the Triforce of courage. I can feel it… yours… it calls to mine." She smirked looking away finally to the distance with a frown. He blinked for a moment. He did feel a small attraction to her, but he hadn't noticed it before so concerned with their matching weaponry and the unusual Redead.
"Oh… and where did you get your weapons…" he mummered a bit worried she was like his Shadow Copy in the Water Temple. By outward appearance it had looked like someone good, though in reality not at all. She silently shifted her Mirror Shield to rest on her back as she continued on to the alcove in the wall to trigger the switch.
Jump onto the switch she grunted, "The sword I found in the Temple of Time the shield I borrowed from the Desert Temple. Any other obvious questions that you should know as you and I are alike." He blinked at her cold disposition.
"We're alike? Can't be, there's can only be one Hero of Time." He chuckled off handedly as he headed towards the door leading to Saria's room.
"Nonsense, you think the Goddesses would be happy with just one world to play in? I'm from another Hyrule- a mirror to yours… I am the Heroine of Time…" She said taking the steps two at a time her eyes darting about. "No…" She whispered as he trailed up behind her.
He blanched. Saria was strung up like a doll in the center of the room. Held up like a puppet by black glowing threads her head slumped forward her eyes shut. "Saria!" He shouted reaching into his pack for his hover boots. Leena reached over to still him by grabbing his shoulders. "There is nothing you can do…" She whispered.
He slapped her away kicking off a boot. She pushed him to the ground growling. He twisted to counter he action falling to the ground with her. She stumbled onto of him glaring. Up close he could see the beginnings of a black eyes and small gashes at her hair line. She looked in rather poor shape. "I beg you don't try to cut her down or you'll end up just like her. Just listen to me. I know the enemy here. You don't." She hissed her breath hot and rancid.
"What have you been eating?" He frowned his face wrinkling in disgust. She pushed off him quickly careless if her action hurt his ribcage.
"I've been eating fine, what I haven't been doing is getting a decent bath or good sleep. I was too late. Nothing we can do here. Let's move on. The jewels are in danger. I know the next one is in the Fire caverns where exactly I'm not sure." She muttered.
Link stared her in disbelief. If she was a mirror of him should know the jewels no longer resided in their homes. That they had relocated and hidden in safer spots in hopes to be forgotten in time so that none could harness the power of the Triforce once more. Still unsure of her loyalty he let her believe as much. Taking one last longing look at Saria he put his boot back on and stuffed his hover boots away for later.
He pulled his Orcarina out watching as she too pulled out her own. They were perfect matches save her dainty hands seemed dwarfed by the instrument. Glaring at each other they whistled out the Bolero of Fire both disappearing in flurries of red fairies.