Admittedly, nothing much happens in this chapter. What basically happens is, we get a brief flashback to Link's childhood, we explore the way he thinks and works, and then get a bit of a cliff-hanger (if you can call it that) at the end. The story really picks up from chapter 3, so you guys have that to look forward to.
Also, there seems to be a hell of a lot of confusion, which is fair enough, so I shall be giving you guys an option:
If you want to read it, I'll put up an explanation to what happened to Link in this universe. I'll make it obvious by making it NOT BOLD in a sea of bold lettering, so if you want to stick to the story and work it out yourself, you can ignore it. :)
Anyway, thank you for coming to chapter two, and review replies are at the bottom.
Enjoy!
Chapter two
He'd had a nightmare. He didn't remember it much, except sensations of cold and heat, and how they both burned against him, tearing at his innards with boiling hands, melting out his brain with icy fingers. He'd woken up screaming, and he'd found himself struggling in a bulky man's arms, kicking and fighting in horror. The man had said something, but it eluded him in his panic.
Link gasped, tears streaking down his face, snot choking him. "What, wh-what he-he-he-"
The man looked startled, but he hesitantly patted the boy's head, and it somehow calmed him. "You're a strong boy…"
He stared at the tanned man, dark as the rich soil, eyes like a hunter's. "What…?"
"You fought bravely. There was… a battle. You're safe here now, however."
Link couldn't help but touch this man's nose, because it was so large, so hooked. It made the adult grin. Shyly Link recoiled, realising it was inappropriate. "Where, where am I?"
"In my Castle. My new Castle."
"Oh." He was made to stand, and he did so with some trepidation but thankfully didn't fall. Link wiped his face with his hands, once he realised that he didn't have anything to use, not even a handkerchief. Or a hat. "I… I don't remember what happened…"
"You'll be under my care. Know just that. You are now under my care."
The large man, encased in armour, shrouded in a tattered cape, extended his hand. Link suddenly felt a thrill of anxiety, and he quickly turned for friendly advice, but no-one was there to give it, and suddenly Link felt empty inside. He wanted someone friendly nearby. He needed it.
So he held this man's hand, and said, "I don't… I… who am I…?"
"Your name is Link. The battle was a fearsome one, but your memories should… manifest, given enough time.I am Ganondorf Dragmire. I'm pleased to be acquainted to you."
Link didn't know it yet, but he was going to be, too.
… … … … …
The memory had come unbidden as soon as he'd woken up, and Link said out loud, "I've been a puppet all my life, Navi. To him, after her. All because I might have been brave enough to get a couple of jewels. I don't think you're being fair on me."
There was nothing but silence. Hurt, Link packed his bags, not even a whisper from his friend.
He was careful to keep the mask out of sight before heading downstairs to pay for his stay. He got two more pastries, one filled with fruit and the other with beef mince. He wolfed them both down, smiling despite himself, wondering sadly when Navi would talk to him again.
He chatted with the bar-maids and the owner about Kakariko, telling them of his own tales about the south in general detail, his knowledge fuelled by Ganondorf's spies and reports, not to mention his sisters' scrying in a mirror. Some parts brought grim faces, others brought tentative hope. He tried to subtly get them to talk of their other hopes but theirs were practical, and simple at best. Better harvest. Fewer wars. They didn't elaborate much, perhaps because they didn't trust him.
It was fair enough, but that didn't help his search at all. But the thief must either have gone through Kakariko, or the forests that'd grown unmarred by Ganondorf's reign. Personally Link would've gone through the forests, but if the thief had in his/her possession a horse, Kakariko was best, to avoid injury from the wild, and to recuperate the beast.
"Do you have any horses for sale? In this town, generally?"
"We have stables for travellers, and we buy off them if they don't want them, but none to sell."
Link's brows shot up. "Why would travellers sell but not buy?"
"A pregnant mare might leave a foal behind," the owner shrugged, pouring four beers out for the barmaid to take away, "A companion might die and leave an extra horse, in which case it's only a burden. Sometimes the creatures go mad, from all the horror they see out there; this country isn't kind on foreign breeds."
Link snorted. "Or they're just weak."
"Do you have a horse, sir?" the man politely enquired, stashing a whole tray of shot glasses in its respective shelf.
"No, but I was thinking of getting one." He took a swig of honeyed mead, grinning as it seeped his gut with warmth. "Have any travellers come by? Maybe they're willing to sell."
The man scratched his head, and then pointed at a youth sitting in the corner, his back to the wall. "He did maybe earlier today, through the western pass."
Isn't that the way to the Castle?
Link rolled his eyes and nodded an affirmative at Navi, who gasped. Should you really confront them now, Link? I mean, this person might work for Zelda. Maybe she can help you!
Link gritted his teeth at the very idea, and the barman noticed. "You alright?"
Link shook his head, clearing it, and smiled apologetically. "Sweet tooth's beginning to ache, I think. I'll take care of it, once I talk to that guy. Excuse me, and thanks for the info."
He sculled the rest of his drink and let the rupees clatter over the counter before heading over to the traveller, dragging his things with him. He knew that kind of seating well. Link called it the Paranoid Chair. With its back to the wall, one had a whole view of the room. Link grinned at the Surprise Table right in front of the stranger, with a mug of wine barely touched, and any manner of weapon hiding under the furniture.
Link indicated at the table and said, "May I?"
The stranger nodded, after a brief pause. He/she had one eye bandaged like a blindfold, and the other was slightly obscured by tassels of bright blond hair. The rest of his face (judging by the unshaven beard and moustache) was beaten by the weather and time, in such a way that it reminded him of Ganondorf. Link's sense of adventure was slightly disappointed that the person in front of him wasn't wearing a billowing cloak or mantle; just a tunic and leggings, both practical shades of dark and light brown, respectively, with black boots that reached as high as his knees, and a sleeveless undershirt. The muscles of his arms were slim, but intimidating nonetheless. It was those deceptive kinds of arms that could win an arm wrestle against men as muscled as bulls on drugs.
Link grinned at the idea. "How about an arm wrestle?"
An eyebrow quirked upwards. Even his voice reminded Link of his foster-father; deep, powerful, unyielding. "Oh?"
"Maybe not?" Link chuckled, pulling up a chair and dumping himself in it. "Actually I was hoping you might sell me your horse."
"What?"
"Hey, I just heard that some people do that here, as crazy as that sounds," he raised his hands defensively, still smiling, "And I was just hoping that maybe you'd be one of them."
He paused, pulling his mug of wine away from Link, frowning deeply. "No. Not tonight."
"Damn. I guess I'll have to walk, then." Link extended his hand and said, "I'm Navi. Hi. What's your name?"
The man glowered.
Link sighed disappointedly, but still left him with a smile and a wave.
… … … … …
"You know," Link spoke as he wandered round Kakariko, between talking to the locals to speak of current events, "I think that guy was wearing a disguise. A good one."
Cuz he sounded like Ganonpork jerk-face? And looked like him too?
Link let the insult slide before continuing, "Yeah, I think so. Nobody really wanted to talk about him, except the owner guy, but he seems pretty brave. I bet he didn't want to give his name because he couldn't think of one. Seriously, you're Father's double, nobody's man enough to talk to you, and bam, I come along. Would you have thought of a name?"
He rounded a corner and stopped, quickly leaping back again before peering round the corner. It was him. The man from home. The one Link'd thrown out the window after he'd beaten him to death's door.
By the gods he looked horrible. The fairy had healed his wounds, but there were scars left from when he'd smashed against the ground by the lava pit, and though his ribs were fixed, the side (thus arm) he'd landed on was mangled. They'd need to break it again to heal it so it'd function once more.
Link couldn't help but giggle. That man's injuries were truly a masterpiece.
He contemplated stepping into sight to simply jeer at him, but no, the informant was waiting next to some simple stables, a rather stout looking chestnut horse, to be exact. Link grinned. Crows flew where crows hunted. Since he knew this was one of Zelda's crows…
Another had to be nearby. He looked around, making sure no-one had seen how suspicious he'd been acting, before looking for someplace better to snoop from. He had his Hawk-eye anyway, so he opted to go farther away and climb a tree or house and watch from there. To him, with the right resolution it'd be as if he was standing right next to them.
He made quick work of it, finding the roof, finding the spy with his mask, and then waiting. Finally, after an hour of waiting and cramping his neck, a shadow shouldering a large pack arrived, and just as Link had suspected, it was the man in Ganondorf's likeness, different enough to be a stranger, similar enough to be threatening.
Grinning, Link watched.
They talked. They seemed to argue a bit, Link's spy looking worried whilst mini-Ganon looked angry. He gently placed two fingers upon the spy's brow and bowed his head. Link perked up, confused. Was that magic? Was he… viewing that man's thoughts? Link shuddered. He'd thought only the Gerudo was capable of that, and even then, on the most perverse level: to erase the mind and to control the mind. To actually be able to read… it was ludicrous.
After a minute both looked relieved, and after a nod they bid farewell. But Link's battered-up spy took the horse, not mini-Ganon, which Link found interesting. There were no saddlebags on the horse big enough to conceal the Master Sword (unless the 'sword' part was simply an exaggeration placed upon a dagger, I mean, come Link, doesn't Master Sword have too good a ring to it as a name?) so Mini-Ganon had to have it.
Link decided to call him simply Mini for now. Mini-Ganon just seemed too ridiculous.
He saw the horse's ears go flat against its skull as it trotted off. Link slipped off the mask and pondered quietly to himself, before tentatively whispering, "Are you talking to me now?"
I am. She grumbled, earning a sigh of relief from him regardless.
"So. Which should I follow? Either one could lead me to Zelda."
I think the man on horseback's going to her. He's done his duty, he needs to see some healers after what you did to him and make some report, not to mention he has that message thing you did to him.
"You have to admit that that was an impressive effort on my part."
Brute.
"I accept your compliment," he retorted, pressing the mask back onto his face to watch Mini. The man seemed to be headed for the grave-yard, which was odd at best. "I have got to say that there's no doubt in my mind that Mini is our Temple-robber."
I think he's it, too. But Zelda-
"Can kiss my behind." He sang, putting his mask away, "Besides, the guy's on horseback; tracking him would take forever. And Ganondorf's orders were to get the sword back, and kill the thief. Isn't it ironic he's heading for a graveyard?"
Link jumped from the building, a feral grin on his face.
… … … … …
The graveyard seemed too big for such a small village.
Link's expression smoothed from feral to forlorn, the one living creature amongst the quiet dead. Headstones lay decorated with garlands of flowers and herbs, trinkets mouldering affectionately at the foot of each name and description. He crouched and read the first one next to him, topped with carnations and thyme, bound by all sorts of string, and a band of knitting and sewing needles nestled in the dying foliage.
-In Memory Of Rain, The Best Seamstress Any Grandchild Could Hope For-
"At least it wasn't me who killed her." He sighed, stroking the headstone, "It was just her time."
You don't know that.
"It still wasn't me." Link stubbornly forced out before heaving himself off his knees to stroll around the graveyard, looking for Mini. Oddly enough, he didn't seem to be anywhere nearby. Then he heard the sound of the door, and when Link turned he saw him come out of the grave-digger's hut.
Mini glanced at him as he walked past. Link inwardly gave him credit for not even pausing at the sight of him; after all, he'd been somewhere he shouldn't have been.
Link couldn't help but rib him. "Oh, so are you the Grave-keeper here? No wonder you're so scary."
Mini ignored him.
"Hey, hey I just wanted to thank you, for looking after my grandmother." He lied, catching up to him, gesturing at the headstone he'd been kneeling next to. "Grandma Rain, which was a stupid name for her, really, since she was like a ray of sunshine. She once made me a cap like this," he said, tapping the light brown covering of his helm, "I couldn't live without it as a kid."
Mini glowered at him as he said, "Why do you wish to bother me?"
"Cuz under that big, hard exterior of yours, I think there's someone worth knowing."
Link suppressed his grin from growing any wider; he'd caught the man's startled pause, but just as quickly it was shrugged away, taking his word as metaphorical. "You're not a member of Kakariko, are you."
Link gave an exaggerated shrug. "Oh, you know, mum married the guy grandpa didn't like, but he had nothing against us grandkids, so we got to visit sometimes. I gotta say though, I think the southern air would've been better for Granny Ray's health."
"When did she die?"
Oops. He hadn't checked that. He paused a little sheepishly before inventing, "The thing is, I don't consider her dead. I mean, I talk to her all the time, in my head. Always thinking, What would Granny Ray tell me? Ha. Anyway, seriously, what's your name?"
"Gerard."
A play on the word Gerudo, maybe? Either that or he was telling the truth, though Link highly, highly doubted it. This guy was making it too easy.
"Huh. So, grave-keeper. You allotted yourself a spot here already? Or are you undecided?"
Link saw that startled air about him, the same as when he'd hinted about the disguise. Interesting.
"You're a morbid one, ain't ya."
"Well, you know, nice to decide beforehand, considering these times," he shrugged, shifting his weapon subtly across his back as he casually looked around, making sure that the place was empty of witnesses, "I plan to be buried without a coffin. I'm gonna have a pocket of seeds with me, and whatever grows up the strongest will mark my grave, so that it won't fade away like a headstone."
"Interesting."
"Though I admit I'm partial towards a tree with blue flowers. What about you?" he asked, turning his gaze back to the man. It irked him that he couldn't quite see the whole of Mini's face.
"I don't plan to die just yet, young man. And I don't think you do, either." He countered, indicating his weaponry across Link's back with his head.
"You got me." Link laughed, unsheathing his sword, playfully swinging it. Mini stepped away uneasily. Wise man. "I recently received this as a gift, to go adventuring with.
"Hn. You're a mad fool and I tire of you. Leave me."
"D'aww," he sighed, turning away, gripping his weapon tightly, ready to lop off a limb or two before dragging the man to the hut for a nice long chat, "And here I thought things were getting interes-"
He staggered to a halt, as nobody was there. Link yelped as he tripped on a pebble, his awesome spinning attack ruined by the surprising lack of a foe, and he nearly fell flat on his face. Cursing he jerked his head this way and that, trying to find the elusive being, but he was nowhere in sight, and even as Link ran around the graveyard, looking for a shadowy glimpse of someone hiding behind a stone, a tree, anything ,but nobody was there.
"You've got to be kidding me."
And that's what you get for playing with your food, oh masterful hunter.
Link grumbled sullenly as he sheathed his sword.
… … … … …
He waited at the entrance of Kakariko for Mini to leave the town (somehow he couldn't get himself to call the stranger Gerard, he just loved Mini so much better), and after he didn't do so after half a day, Link returned to the graveyard (leaving his gear in some bushes) in the hopes of tracking him.
He knelt by the scuffing in the ground that was obviously his blundered attack, and scowling, Link traced his fingertips over the ground. He travelled backwards, catching the faint boot-prints that weren't his, how they walked evenly with a gait shorter than his, like the pair in the temple of time.
He traced the footprints back to where he'd misjudged his strike (Tripped, you mean. Admit it, you tripped) and painstakingly followed the footprints, and because he was crouched so low and his face was veered vertically downward, he didn't see the large grave he collided straight into. "Ow!"
Navi giggled.
Grumbling he sat on the ground, rubbing the top of his head. The grave belonged to a man called Dampe, and it said that in life, he'd been the grave keeper.
Wait. Mini had gone into Dampe's hut. Then come out, and disappeared. Lin checked the ground again, and impossibly, a boot print was cut in half by the stone, as if it'd been dragged over it.
He'd gone into the tomb?
That's really disgusting. Not to mention disrespectful!
"Well he is a thief," Link muttered thoughtfully, wincing as he stood. He marched to the hut, kicked the door open when he found that it was locked, and rummaged around till he found a diary. The last entry told of a treasure hidden in his grave, and anyone brave enough to venture in was welcome.
Link hummed, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "He's probably long gone, now. If the treasure was small he could've easily slipped into one of the caravans that went through the western pass, or hauled it through the woods."
What I don't get, Navi whimpered in horror, is why anyone would challenge a stalker into coming to their grave for a post-mortem duel.
"I think I would've loved this guy." Link chuckled, closing the book and pocketing it.
Hey! That's someone's private diary! You shouldn't take it!
"Navi, this'll give me an interesting point of view of the last seven years…"
You only just want to know how your new sick idol's mind works, don't you.
"Yes, well, that too."
… … … … …
Link wondered around the fields for a bit, deciding to head to Lon lon Ranch for the night. A small town had once surrounded the ranch, but because the fields were too dangerous the people had given up and moved to the borders of the fields. Link admired the family that still raised horses on their property, defying his father's rule. Link discovered that defiance was a small and pitiful one, for the owner seemed deep-seated in his favour of the Dark King.
Ingo stared at Link's face before inspecting the rest of him. Link wondered what the older man thought of the cross-shaped scar on his left temple; one slash cutting one eyebrow in two, the other trailing down from his forehead to his cheekbone. Usually people feared it, so Link often hid it under his fringe. "And who are you, soldier?"
Link took an immediate dislike to Ingo. And he vaguely remembered him from his wiped memories, and Navi humphed in his head. We didn't like him. Trust me.
"Just a traveller, looking for a thief." He shrugged amiably, smiling. "Though I doubt I'll find one here."
"If you're not looking to buy or sell anything of worth be gone with you; this land here is for breeding Lord Ganondorf's horses, not tending to the homeless or wayward drunks."
"Oh?" Link gave a feral grin, pulling up his sleeve and taking off leather gauntlets to show the scraggly man two marks, one that lay on his bracelet, which was the sun, moon, and star insignia of the Gerudo, and one tattoo inked on the palm of his hand, in the shape of a dragon gripping a Triforce in its jaw.
The man paled significantly when he saw Ganondorf's mark.
That night Link was given a good meal, simple and homely, and of good taste. Ingo looked indignant that the girl, Malon, hadn't cooked up something more exquisite and generous for him, but Link shook his hand and winked, making Ingo flinch. At his request his identity was kept secret (on the grounds that his mission known only to the king) and though Ingo preened at his supposed trustworthiness, he seemed terrified of such a burden.
Link happily chewed on the cucoo stew, Navi chuckling at Ingo's expense.
… … … … …
That night Link slipped outside and gave a soft whistle, extending his arm as if waiting for a hawk. Instead came a keese as big as a wild cat, its sharp teeth bright in the moonlight, beady eyes as green and dark as the bottom of the sea, watching him dangerously. It grabbed the bracer against his arm and hung on it, folding its cloaking wings against his body as Link tied a message for his father.
Then there was a shriek like glass shards scraping on a metal surface and Link howled as another keese rammed into the one hanging off his arm, killing it instantly. Link cursed and was about to draw his sword but he noticed that it was armoured in enchanted leather, its tail adorned with a hook to deter anything that blocked its flight path. A message hung off its tail. Link grabbed it and dread filled his heart.
It was from his sisters, and the castle was under siege.
Just to make it deliberately obvious: GUESS WHO MINI-GANON IS. XD
Anyway, review replies first, thank yous next, and then the backstory of Link. :) Here goes!
deikitty: Hey there! Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like this! XD Though I am sort of sorry about link being evil, but he is so much fun to right as a psychopath. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, and I can't wait to see what you thought of it. Have a nice day!
Sale el Sol: Hello! Thanks for popping over to read this, I love seeing new names on the reviews list. Uh, yeah, sorry about the confusion. It was supposed to be all suspenseful and stuff, but since you were able to stick with it maybe it was? I dunno, but thank you so much for your paience and praise. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, and I look forward to seeing what you thought of it.
Practically Venemous: : hank you very much! I'm glad you liked it, though I am sorry to say nothing much happened in this chapter. But I promise the next one will be more exciting, and I hope to see your review again. And yay for stuff to do during class! XD
Havoc's Tears: Glad you liked it! XD And yeah, you've pretty much summurised Link in a nutshell with that description; well done! I hope you liked this chapter just as much, and I hope to see your review again. See ya!
Me: Hi Me! Yeah, it was a joy to write as well, I got go completely nuts with this Link, and will continue to do so throughout the story. yayness! And thank you for your support! I'm glad that you're sticking with it, and I'll be looking forward to your reviews as I go. Thanks again, and have a nice day!
CatsGotTongue: Yay! And sorry that it's not Blue Pearls, I've been in a psychotic mood rather than a romantic one, so I'm basically going for the story with more juices flowing. but I'm glad you're enjoying this fic just the same, and I think you're the first one who likes crazy Link. XD Hurrah to the crazy!
Darkwolflink1: Yeeeaah, Navi's dead. Yet she still finds a way to be as annoying and pestering as all hell. I'm sorry to say that nothing much happened in THIS chapter, but wait till you get to chapter three! XD That thing was so much fun to write. :P
Maneki Neko: Indeed, Link is completely and utterly messed in the head! Though it is a shame that Navi died, but it was necessary, so yeah. But she still lives on in spirit? Also, here's the update, and I hope you enjoy. :)
Thanks for putting this on story alerts guys!
CatsGotTongue
deikitty
forgedinparchment
Havoc's Tears
kellie-rose
LEva114
Practically Venemous
Sale El Sol
And Thanks for putting into favourites:
Havoc's Tears
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And finally LINK'S BRIEF BACKGROUND SUMMARY!
If you don't want to see it just skip down to the review button, kay? XD
When Link put in the Spiritual Stones and was about to pull the Master Sword out, Ganondorf caught him, put him to short sleep, then grabbed the Triforce for himself. Then, capturing Link in order to find out where Zelda is hiding, tries to get him to talk. Failing that, Ganon kills Navi to weaken Link's state of mind, and get Twin Rova to go through his brains to see if he knows anything. The process should've killed him, but it didn't, it just wiped his memories, so Ganon took him in. If I tell you more it won't be so interesting, so yeah. But that's how it is.
And here Link's backstory ends.
Look down,
Look down,
Look down,
And click.
;D