SUMMARY: When Zelda heals Midna from her injuries given by Zant, her life force drains away in the process-but the triforce of wisdom has to go somewhere. When the triforce finds a new host-a local girl who took up a position in the Hyrule Castle Town Guard, and has been having frequent dreams about the end of her town-she feels a pull that suggests there is more in store for her than just commanding the cowardly soldiers around. But can she find the ability to not only trust, but follow the orders of the mysterious boy who's been coming to the town that, according to Telma, could truly use her help? Rated T for language. LinkXOC. Reviews appreciated (:
AN: Chapter Two! I'm planning on updating every few days, but right now, I'm on a roll(:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, or any of the characters; however, I do own Nina and the soon-to-be-presented Loki(:
"Whatever you do, don't touch anything," Nina commanded stiffly before opening the door to her home. It was tiny, but for her it was perfect; a one person home kept clean with her randomly strewn armor pieces being the only signs of clutter. The early afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows and lit everything up, and as the brunette made her way over and picked up the armor pieces, Link stopped just inside the door and looked around.
"Yeah….no problem, but why did we have to stop here?" he asked, causing Nina to turn to face him with a look that seemed to ask if he was stupid plastered across her face. "To get my other weapons, of course. Just this sword isn't gonna cut it," she said simply before pulling the breastplate of armor on a dummy that was standing in the corner. Within a minute she had put almost all of it back on the stand, except for her gauntlets. She pulled the brown gloves on, and the gauntlets went on over those. She flexed her fingers and brushed her hair out of her face before turning. "Alright…weapons. One sec."
She turned the corner and headed into her room, grabbing the two daggers off of her bed and fixing them into the straps she had fixed to the inside of her boots. Her shield she fixed along the back of her belt, so it was easily reachable. The quiver, which was filled with arrows, she temporarily slid over her arm; and the bow she held in her hand as she made her way back out towards Link.
"Alright, I'm ready," she told him as she rounded the corner, and Link straightened up from his position against the wall. "Anything else you need to do before we head out?" he asked,
Nina paused to think. "Uhm...yes, one other thing. I just have to appoint somebody to my position to take over. You know, train the soldiers so maybe they'll be able to protect the town someday…"
Link nodded solemnly, thinking this was taking altogether too long and knowing for a fact Midna was most likely becoming impatient. "So, do you at least know who you want to appoint?"
Nina nodded and ushered him out the door, before pointing up towards the castle. "There's one outside the castle, I know he's on duty now. It won't take long for me to tell him," she promised, and turned to head in that direction. Link followed silently.
"Wow, uh, you don't talk much, do you?" Nina asked as they continued along one of the side streets. A few children went running past them laughing, but other than that the road was deserted.
"Not unless it's needed."
"Well, I'd actually like to get to know you a little if we're going to be working together, y'know. Might make it a little less awkward."
Link was silent.
"So! Uh, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Me to," the brunette responded, chewing on her lower lip as she tried to think of a topic of conversation. "How long have you been on this….journey…or whatever you'd call it?"
"A month or two by now."
"Had any other help?"
"No."
"Any family?"
"No."
"Think it'll be over soon?"
"Most likely not."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Wow, you're just a little chatterbox," she mumbled under her breath before heading up to the castle gates. Link stayed at the bottom of the hill, and after a moment or two the guard turned to head back into the castle as Nina started back down the hill.
"That was quick," Link mentioned.
"I think he knew it was coming."
The two continued on in silence, Nina playing with a strand of her hair as she led Link back towards the bar. "And….what are we going to find now?"
"Hm?" Nina asked, eyes flickering over to him.
"We could have just left through the gates near the castle."
"No, we couldn't of," Nina countered. "I need to get my horse. I'm guessing you have one, so I don't want to slow us down by having to walk," she reasoned as she led him down an alley way. Near the doctor's office, there was a set of stables, and Nina walked towards them. She walked past the plain brown, black, and chestnut horses and to one who was almost yellow, a thick mane of black hair streaming down his neck.
"Hey there, Loki," she crooned, sticking out her hand as the horse eased his head forward to nuzzle it. She rubbed his nose as Loki let out a content whinny, then reached for blue blanket she laid on his back. She grabbed the saddle and fitted it around him, strapping it on, before grabbing the bridle and fitting it over him. She opened the gate and lead him out, holding the reigns. Loki looked at Link and tossed his head a bit, while Nina stroked his neck to calm him down.
"He doesn't take well to strangers, but….he's the only horse I have. So he'll have to do for now," she reasoned before taking her quiver off of her arm and tying it to part of the saddle. She stuck the bow in with the arrows, and patted his side once again before looking back over at Link. "Well, I'm ready. Lead the way/"
Link turned and started to lead her through the street, out towards the gate he wanted to exit through. There was no sound except for the occasional townsperson trying to make a sale, and the continuous clip-clopping of Loki's hooves on the road. The occasional person would walk past, looking at the two and the horse curiously, and then scurried along on their way.
As they came up to the gate, one of the guards stopped Link and looked him up and down. "And just what do you think you're doing with Miss Nina's horse?" he asked.
"I'm right here, Harrison," she said with a sigh before walking around the side of Loki, fixing him with a bemused look.
"Oh! Sorry, I couldn't see you," he explained quickly, his hand on the gate. "But, where are you going? I thought we were supposed to have training tomorrow morning?"
"You still will. You know Xander, up at the castle? He'll be taking my position until I get back."
"And how long will that be?"
Nina paused at Harrison's question, and glanced at Link. "I….don't know," she started, before looking back at the guard. "It could be a while, and even then, I might not…."
"Nina?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. His eyebrows furrowed, a slight look of confusion crossing his face. He wasn't used to his commanding officer looking so put off.
"Oh, ah, it's nothing," she quickly covered with a soft smile. "I'll be back soon enough. And I expect you to be a fine soldier when I do show up again, got it?" she half threatened-she wasn't about to let her reputation slip now.
"Yeah! Got it!" he responded, straightening up and opening the gate. "Have a safe trip!"
"Yeah, thanks," Nina mumbled before leading Loki out the gate, stopping at the top of the steps beside Link.
"So, where are we going first?" Nina asked, looking out over the fields.
"To Lake Hylia. It's closest to the place we last explored, and there's a place next that I want to check out.."
"Which is where?"
Link was silent, instead going over to a plant and picking off one of the flowers. He raised it to his mouth, and a tune whistled out that carried on the wind. Nina heard a neigh not far off, and saw a red mare galloping up to Link and nuzzling him softly.
"Well?" Nina asked, walking forward, Loki eying the mare curiously. He let out a soft whinny, which the mare ignored.
"Arbiter's grounds, out in the Gerudo Desert."
"The…why?" she asked, tilting her head. "There's nothing out there but some old ruins and a shit ton of sand."
"I have my reasons," Link said simply before climbing up on Epona. He was ready to lead her forward, but first turned to look and make sure Nina was ready to follow. She stood on the ground still, arms crossed and looking up at him defiantly. "Are you coming?"
"Not until you give me a reason. I'm not going to charge blindly into a desert with no reason other than my partner wants to go there," she countered.
It was apparent she wasn't planning on moving anytime soon until she got her answers, so Link sighed and got back off Epona.
"Okay, fine. There's somebody I want you to meet then."
"Okay….where are they?"
"Well….before she comes out, don't react…immediately. It might be a bit of a shock."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So, where is she?" Nina asked, looking around a bit.
Link cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey, Midna?...you can come on out now."
