Author's Note
It hasn't been too long since I finished and uploaded the prologue, but hey, I'm feeling up to it, so I might as well continue writing. However, just a warning...unfortunately, after tomorrow, I have to go back to school, as spring break is over for me on Monday. Which means...I probably won't have much time to write, in between school (though I do manage to finish most of my homework there, so that frees up some time), games (For some reason, I never really played much of Wind Waker, so I'm remedying that now...started Thursday night, and now I'm up to the part where you have to find all the pieces of the Triforce...and I have Brawl, too, which I've spent almost 80 hours on thus far...it's just TOO DANG GOOD...), et cetera. So bear with me on that, please! That is, if anyone actually reads this, heh heh. I have 1 hit so far, but it might be me, checking the story to see if everything was uploaded correctly. xD
Well, I hope I get more hits soon, and maybe some reviews. winks in a hinting manner
Anyways, I'm done talking for now, and I shall commence writing!
Link awoke to the carefree sing song of birds from outside his window, as feeble rays of sunlight peeked in shyly. His first thought was that it must be early, earlier than he was accustomed to waking; it was almost always glaringly sunny in Ordon.
Still, he didn't exactly want to go back to sleep. He had slept well. No dreams, not fits, no waking up in the middle of the night in an emotional state, all things he had experienced for the first two months after returning to Ordon. It had died down, gradually, but to have a perfectly normal sleep was rare, and he treasured it as such. There was no telling what type of dream he would dream if he went back to bed now.
While he was still somewhat drowsy, he sat up in his bed, remained motionless for a minute or so, and proceeded to stretch and lightly slap himself in an effort to rid himself of the desire for rest. He shook the sleep from his eyes and stood out of bed, fighting back a yawn in doing so. He figured the best way to start the day was to wash off a bit, and since it was so early, he doubted anyone else would be awake...he brought with him a fresh change of clothes and opened his door, quietly. He put the stack of clothes in one hand and used the other to venture down the ladder, slowly, before hopping off halfway down and landing lightly on the ground.
Taking a moment to look around and appreciate Ordon as it appeared this early in the morning, he turned left, up the path that led to the spring.
The spring...
He closed his eyes and gently shook his head back and forth, as if to drive away the memories. That had really been the starting point of his adventure; the monsters, led by King Bulblin, had arrived so quickly, giving him no time to react.
They spared no time in knocking his friends out before rendering him briefly unconscious. By the time he had come to, they were gone; he panicked, and ran to the bridge, where he found a large, glowing door...the shadow beast from within reached out, grabbed him, took him in; there was fear, and there was so much he didn't understand, yet he had no time to think. Then his palm glowed, bathing his hand in golden light, and he found himself howling in pain...
Enough. That was some time ago...things aren't like that now. Things are back to normal. Why can't you accept it?
Yes...normal. He had to keep reminding himself what was normal, now...it sickened him. Why should he have to remind himself of something like that? Why couldn't he adapt? Why couldn't he go back to the way he was?
He stopped short of arriving at the spring. With senses honed by battle beyond the limits of most people, his ears picked up a gentle, almost inaudible humming...it was a familiar tune, one he hadn't heard in some time.
llia.
One of his closest friends, and the only one in Ordon his age. At some point, there was something...more, between them. Now, he wasn't so sure. After being shown life outside of Ordon and his destiny as the hero chosen by the goddesses, it seemed as if a giant rift had been formed between them. He couldn't talk to her without falling into an awkward silence...he just didn't know where to begin.
Maybe it started with her losing her memory...her temporary amnesia somehow made him feel distant...unimportant. He knew it wasn't her fault, but still, he couldn't help feeling cheated, in a way. Maybe it was selfish, but that's just how he felt.
He thought that when she regained her memories, it would bring them closer again. But this didn't seem to be the case...try as he might, he just couldn't bring himself to feel the same way about her.
After things went back to "normal", he tried picturing her in the same light as he used to. He tried imagining what things could be like, if the two were more than just friends...but every time, it wasn't her face that popped up in his mind. Rather, it was a very different face...
"What? Say something. Am I so beautiful you have no words left?"
Midna.
He didn't know why he was trying to deceive himself; it was futile. He needed to accept it...he had feelings for Midna. It took him so long to realize it, and by the time he had recognized it for what it was, it was too late. She was gone, and the only thing that could have brought them together again, she had destroyed. At first, he was bitter, but later, he came to realize why she had done it. Blinded by despair, he had isolated himself further from those around him...while he was better now, he didn't know if he could ever truly bridge the gap he had created with his previous world...while those around him continued to stay the same as they always had been, he had changed in ways even he didn't fully comprehend.
Sure, the kids had all been a part of it, in some way. They were all victims, and he was the one who rescued them. After which, they all seemed to go back to life as they knew it...while he continued to battle, for the sake of...what, exactly?
It was his destiny. Was that it? His duty? His calling? His purpose?
Had he no choice in the matter of his own fate? Was this his lot in life, to spend his remaining days acting as a calling boy for the goddesses too lazy to do anything about the world they created themselves?
He grimaced, and ducked his head in shame. What was with him? Sure, he had been through a lot, but...he seemed to refuse to see the good in all he had achieved. Instead, he was left with all this pent up agression and irritability. He was afraid he was going to snap; he had worked so hard on maintaining his composure, on making sure no one worried about him, that he had little room to breathe. He needed...something. But what? What could he do?
As he pondered these things, he let his guard slip, and failed to notice llia leaving the spring. She stopped upon discovering him, noticed him deep in thought, staring at the ground, and opted to remain silent until he made the first move. She had noticed the change within him, though she didn't comprehend the severity of it or its effects on him. She just assumed it was average for someone who underwent such an ordeal, nothing more, nothing less.
He looked up, and his eyes widened for a brief moment in surprise, before he regained his composure. He kept quiet for a moment before speaking up, more roughly than he intended.
"What are you doing here?"
He was surprised at the venom in his voice, and llia flinched slightly and looked down, deflated. He sighed, and made an effort to calm himself.
"I'm sorry, llia, I'm just...tired, is all."
llia seemed to accept that, and nodded slightly, before gathering the courage to speak.
"Well, it...is early. I was just washing up...I normally get up around this hour, because I like the quiet...and I enjoy the time to myself." She shook her hair, still wet, in an effort to dry it some. She didn't break eye contact with Link, expecting a response. She wasn't fond of the awkward silences that had become almost regular in their conversations these days.
Link smiled, genuinely, though it was a small smile.
"Really? I didn't know that. Well, it is nice, this early...that's for sure." He tried to think of something more to say, but couldn't find the words. He groaned inwardly; that was all he could think of to say?
llia smiled, happy that he had responded at all. He always seemed so spacey and distant since returning from his grand quest...it was nice to see some of the old Link appear, even if it was a slow process. That was the Link that she had developed...feelings...for...
She felt heat on her face, and realized she was beginning to blush. She sought to change the subject before he noticed...
"Well, it's probably your first time seeing Ordon in it's early morning glory, isn't it? I mean, you tend to sleep until noon...I'm surprised you could even drag yourself out of bed at this early hour, Link." She smiled, and he chuckled. Inwardly, she beamed. It seemed as though her efforts to chip away the cold, distant shell Link had developed were working.
"Well, I won't deny that." Link replied, though inside, he couldn't help but feel a little sad. He used to sleep in on account of laziness; now, he either slept in because he couldn't sleep a wink at night, or he stayed in his room for hours, unwilling to face anyone. It was something he had to try to overcome, instead of giving into depression, as he had been prone to doing for the last few months.
O hero chosen by the goddesses...
Link froze. llia noticed the change in his demeanor and ceased smiling. All of a sudden, an empty look had replaced the light of humor in his eyes, and his face had hardened.
He remained quiet, ignoring llia for the moment. He was sure that it hadn't simply been his mind, that time...he could hear the voice so clearly...and llia hadn't reacted to it. What could it mean?
Thy courage is withering...
Link remained guarded, and he felt a breeze, unnaturally cold, caress his skin. Once again, llia didn't react, though she moved forward to examine Link more closely...
Suddenly, he fell to the ground, clutching his heart with one hand. His right hand lit up brilliantly, the triforce of courage humming loudly. He opened his mouth, attempted to scream, but nothing came out. The world around him was growing darker, darker, and from within the shadows, he could feel it...an evil presence that felt chillingly familiar, but...
There's no way...
He looked up, pain racking his body, and could briefly make out llia, yelling something, fear painted a shade of black on her face...and then, there was a sound; shrill, unending, and so very loud...
He realized he was screaming.
llia ran; he didn't know where she was going, and at the moment, he didn't care. All that existed was this agony that coursed throughout every fiber of his being...and that presence, deep within the darkness, reaching forward with promises of power...
He looked up, eyes glazed over with pain, and saw a dark cloak, evident even within the fabric of darkness clouding his bleary vision. And within the cloak, there was a body, but the two seemed to merge, back and forth, back and forth, shadows fusing and separating, as if one was the other and both were one and the same...
There was laughter, and he inched his head up, just enough to see a pair of cold eyes peer down upon him with calm, collected malice.
Fear took him, and he saw nothing at all.
Phew! Well, there's the first chapter. I'll try and get a chapter or two in tomorrow; who knows, I might even get another one in before I go to bed tonight! I doubt it, though. Anyways, 'till next time!
