This isn't as strong as my first chapter, but that's for very specific reasons. The next chapter will hopefully be better though. Internal thoughts are indicated by italics, flashbacks/narration is indicated by bold and italics.
"Link, what in Hylia's name is going on?" Zelda asked Link in the tone he had grown to love; the scolding voice she took with him more often than either of them would admit. He stared at her, the rain pouring down on her perfect, golden hair. He cleared his throat, motioning her to come into his house. She frowned at him, before sighing, and stepping past him, into his house. He closed the door, staring at her, not saying a word.
"Well?" Zelda asked him. "Why are you upset?" She asked, her eyes quickly glancing at Link's bare chest. Link took notice, moving awkwardly to his closest, grabbing a spare shirt.
Idiot. He thought.
"I...I just had a long day." He mumbled to Zelda, sitting down at his table. She joined him, sitting across from him, throwing her hair over her shoulder. Her shirt was damped, and Link could clearly make out her figure. He tried not to stare.
You're slipping. Ignore your...emotions.
"Is it...your nightmares?" Zelda asked. Link shifted uncomfortably.
You're stronger than this. You're the hero.
"...No. I'm just tired. I'm apologize for my behavior, princess." He responded, looking away from her. Zelda stood up, walking around the table, and putting her hand on his shoulder.
"You know you don't have to talk to me like that, Link." She insisted to the blonde knight. Link turned, not saying anything in response, as he walked up his stairs to his bed.
"Goodnight, princess." He mumbled. Zelda scoffed, walking up the stairs, and sitting next to him on his bed.
"Link, you need to tell me what's going on." She insisted , staring at him. He sighed.
"I don't remember anything about who I even am, Princess." He said, staring at the ground.
"Don't be silly, you recovered your-"
"I recovered a few months of my life. I don't know my own friends, my ideals. My family." Zelda's body stiffened at the last word, her eyes widening slightly.
"Well...your father was a soldier in my father's army. He, like you, rose through the ranks, and became a Royal Guard. My father's Royal Guard." Link exhaled, relieved to hear something about his family.
"Do you remember his name?" He asked, staring into her eyes.
"I...I don't." She mumbled sadly, swallowing hard. Link frowned.
"And...my mother?"
"She passed within the walls of the castle, but I was too young to remember. I'm sorry." Link swallowed, looking down once more.
"..thank you Zelda."
"Not princess?" She asked him, smirking. Link jerked his head up quickly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"It's okay. I liked it." She said, smiling at him. They stared into each others' eyes, saying nothing.
Don't do it. Link thought.
"...what did you think of me? Before...all of this?" He asked her. She cleared her throat, surprised by his question.
"I had spent my whole life training to protect Hyrule from destruction. Every day, I would pray to the Goddesses to unlock my power, and as i got older, I would put my body through rigorous exercises in order to better myself. When we met, we were children. You lived in the castle with your father, and we became close friends. When you entered the academy, you rose through the ranks, and it quickly became apparent that you were the chosen hero. You were given the Master Sword at only 15 years of age, and yet...you wielded it without issue, with the skill of the greatest of swordsmen. I began to...feel contempt towards you. You simply took up a sword, and were accepted as the chosen one. I had spent..years torturing myself, spending nights crying, alone in my quarters, damning myself for failure. And you so willingly protected me, listening to my father's orders to the letter, despite my frequent..complaints. And yet...you didn't do it because you were the hero. You cared for me, and...I grew to respect that. For years, you were a living reminder of my failures. But near the end, you became a reminder of my success."
Link smiled at her, leaning over to hug her. She gasped, as Link wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"Thank you, Zelda."
She left early this morning, back to the castle. Unfortunately, I couldn't accompany her. I wanted to go back to the castle with her, but my duties still must come first. In a time of peace, heroes aren't needed.
My nightmares are getting worse. Zelda told me so much, but..something doesn't seem right. What happened to my father after Ganon's attack? Will I ever know?
The rain finally subsided this morning, thank the Goddesses. I'm going to take Mearas down to Kakariko later today, and pay Impa a visit. Zelda told me the town was experiencing some unusual visitors, who bare resemblance to Yiga. Trusting my gut had taken me far, but believing that they are gone for good would be foolish.
Link stood up, stretching his arms, and grabbing his journal. He left the comfort of his home, the brisk morning air hitting against his face as he stepped outside, the sounds of the birds chirps filling his ears for the first time in weeks. He went around, to the side of his home, where his horse Mearas stood, her ears perking up as Link neared her.
"Hey girl." He whispered quietly to her, holding and apple out for her.
You're one of my best friends. He thought to himself, allowing his loyal mount to eat from his hand. He sighed in relief, as the warm wind blew against him. He smirked, as he led Mearas out, and mounted her, slowly trotting out of the village.
Link crouched in the tall grass, not far from Kakariko, his eyes locked on the grey horse, it's white mane blowing in the wind.
This one. He thought to himself. He slowly made his way towards the horse, the grass brushing against him. He held his breath as he neared the magnificent creature, drawn to it. He leaped from the grass, mounting the horse in a flash, as it began bucking wildly to throw him off.
She's strong! He thought to himself, struggling to stay on. She continued fighting him for what seemed like eternity, before giving up, allowing Link to sit atop her. He soothed her, rubbing his hand on her neck, as he breathed heavily, out of breath. He respected her, and wanted to show it.
He dismounted her, pulling an apple from his pouch, offering it to her.
Take it. He thought, looking into her eyes. She stared back, suspicious of him, before leaning her head down, accepting the apple. He smiled, a warm feeling spreading through his body, a rare occurrence. He glanced around him, the peaceful hill brimming with birds, foxes, and other horses. His eyes followed a fox as it ran over to the rocky cliff on his right.
Then he spotted it.
The long, white, metallic arm crept over the rock, crushing the fox in one blow, as Link's eyes widened. The arm continued moving, revealing the glowing blue body of Link's most feared enemy.
"Guardian." He whispered. He turned to run, as the red laser beam began to center on his chest, but he turned, looking at his horse. He had to decide, and decide quick.
"Dammit."
He leaped onto his horse, pulling her hard to the side, as she neighed, dashing off, the laser focusing on them. Link focused, the horse's speed surprising him as she soared down the hill, away from the guardian. Link heard the sound of the blast, and before he could react, his horse turned, the blast narrowly avoiding them. They dashed into the trees, at top speed, as they ran from the Guardian, not stopping until they were safe.
She trotted along the path of the stable, sweat pouring from Link's head. They narrowly escaped death.
I could have left her. He thought. But..I just couldn't.
"Hey, Mr. Link!" Called one of the children who lived at the stable. Link smiled down at the boy, who's face was covered in grey paints.
"Hey, Milo..why is your face covered like that?" He asked, as he continued guiding the horse to the stable master.
"I'm Mearas, the lord of all horses," Milo responded, striking a pose. "I'm the mystical horse who protects all who need help!" Link's brow rose in curiosity, as he neared the registration window.
"Hello! I see you've caught yourself a new horse, would you like to register it?" Asked the stable master.
"Yes, I would." Link answered.
"What name should we put on the papers?" The man asked. Link smiled.
"Mearas."
Link and Mearas trotted up the path of Kakariko, tired from a long journey. Night had long since fallen, and everybody was asleep, so he let Mearas go, trusting her not to get into anything, and made his way to Impa's home.
He walked through the doors, where she and Paya were discussing something quietly. Paya noticed Link, and leaped up, in surprise.
"M-master Link!" She yelled, covering her mouth. Link smiled warmly.
"Hello, Paya." Link said, reaching into his belt, pulling an object from it. She stared down at it in confusion. He opened his hand, revealing a papaya.
"M-MASTER LINK!" She yelled in embarrassment, as she fled to upstairs, blushing the entire way there.
"Hey, Impa." Link called to the elder with a chuckle. Impa sternly stared at him.
"Unfortunately, Link, now is not the time for such jovial things." She declared. Link cocked his eyebrow.
"The Yiga." He mumbled. She nodded slowly.
"They have made their presence known." She said. She held her hand out, a small note in it. Link took it, reading it carefully. His eyes widened.
"A bounty."
"On Zelda's head." Link said, swallowing hard.
Hello wonderful readers! This chapter was something that took a lot out of me, because I have more of the later story worked out, but the response from you guys was great, so i started chapter two right away! This started as a side project, something I was working on alongside my passion project, End of Legends. But you guys really liked this, so I had to give you something! There is much more to come, with a chapter in the future, possibly the next one, being a flashback of Link and Zelda directly after the ending of BoTW. So, please review, and stay tuned for the next chapter!
-Darth Ganon
