Ch 3
Quick Note:
Thanks for everyone who took the time to read the last two chapters! Especially to the two people that reviewed, it meant the world to me. To anybody that was wondering I will go back and fix the grammar mistakes, so thank you for telling me about them I do really appreciate it (I'm terrible at catching them myself). Also a gold star for reviewer FCL for figuring out some important stuff!
It was a warm afternoon, and two figures sat on the trunk of a large mechanical creature. One was a young Hylian man wearing a light blue tunic. The other was a red Zora covered in jewelry and was wearing a matching sash over her chest. Her hands were on the man's arm, and a blue glow emanated from her touch. Around them, the gentle breeze blew.
"I was thinking…this reminds me of the time we first met"
Link lay on the ground, letting the rain hit his face and puddle around him. His vision was coming back as the vision faded out, and the world came back into focus. It must have been a memory… but Link felt no connection to any of it. The place was foreign, and even the events surrounding it were unknown. It was like watching the life of another person.
The memory wasn't his any longer. It belonged to a bygone day when he was a different person, and there was still hope. But now it only served as a painful and awkward reminder that he was not the same person.
There was a hand helping him sit up, and Link finally saw the face of the worried Zora prince. It seemed returning with an injured child and promptly collapsing was not what he had expected when he asked for a Hylian to help the Domain. Link offered a small smile in reassurance. He struggled to stand and gladly accepted the Sidon's help in pulling himself up. Link's entire body was drenched now.
"Say Link are you sure you are well? I mean no disrespect to your abilities as a warrior but you do seem a bit fatigued," Sidon worried aloud. His radiant smile was replaced with a heavy look of concern. "…And you did just collapse, which seems to be a heavy indicator of over-exertion. But naturally, you would want to help the child in need, of course, you must have rushed here! A warrior always puts others first, never taking a moment to think for himself." There was no stopping Sidon at this point.
Link stood there amazed as Sidon again began to sing his praises. There was no bringing the Zora prince down it seemed.
Awkwardly, Link went along with it. The praise seemed underserved after his recent failure to save even a person he'd just met for one day from the monsters in the world. His pack with the book of plants felt very heavy all of a sudden. It just didn't feel right. He fidgeted uncomradely hoping Sidon would stop soon.
Sidon went on, was waving his hands dramatically in expressing his thoughts to the surrounding Zora's as he half guided half carried Link into a pavilion that served as a house. While there were no walls, at least it was dry and out of the rain.
Pushing away from the tinge of guilt, Link took in the inside and the growing smell of what had to be the most delicious fish dish he'd ever smelt. The room was bathed in a blue light that emanated from the walls around, illuminating a table and stove where a large pot was simmering. So that was the smell! Link's stomach growled loudly at the sight of it and had to restrain himself from lunging for it. A Zora was tending to it and gave a slight bow when they saw the prince.
Sidon addressed this Zora. "Please makes this Hylian feel welcomed and give him lots to eat," he instructed, helping Link into a chair. Then he turned to Link. "I am going to speak to my father and tell him you have arrived, while you recover your strength. I'll return when you are ready, and we can then discuss the best course of action in subduing the divine beast," Sidon told him. "Eat as much as you like; it will help you regain your energy." With another vibrant smile, Sidon left.
Link sat there as the Zora began to fill a bowl for him. It smelled even better if that was possible. Very hearty, almost like a fish stew with different vegetables. When the dish was finally in front of him, Link dug in. It must have been comical to watch him scarf down so much so quickly, but Link was too tired and hungry to care. He liked food too much and had found that he needed to eat a lot.
"You like it?" the Zora asked. Link only nodded, mouth too full of food to respond. "It's one of Zora's Domain's specialties, full of the best fish and vegetables in the region. I'm glad you are enjoying it." The Zora went on to going back to setting up what looked like a bed.
Before Link knew it, the bowl was empty, and he was started on seconds. It'd been a while since he'd had free homemade food, the last time being in Hateno. His cooking skills weren't bad, but they definably needed some work on improving the overall taste. He'd have to ask for some pointers before he left.
Finally, after the third bowl, Link sat back, feeling genuinely full, but at the same time like he was going to pass out from exhaustion. As the Zora was clearing his bowl, they seemed to notice Link's drooping lids.
"If you would like there's a bed in the corner," they motioned to the stack of blankets in a little alcove in the wall. "You will not be disturbed there, and it would be best for you to get some rest."
Link was too tired to comment as he nodded his head and made his way to the bed. His steps were wobbly and fell on the only decent bed he'd had in far too long. The Zora started to say something, but Link was already asleep.
Link stood in a barren landscape. The white fog was everywhere, making it impossible to differentiate between the ground and the sky. It went on endlessly in all directions. In front of him was a large black pool. It had no reflections and seemed to suck in all the light around it. There were no ripples. Being in the very presence of it made him feel cold.
Behind the pond was the only other distinguishing feature. It was black and dried up tree that had no leaves. It stood a little ways off on a mound of elevated dirt.
Suddenly there was bubbling up, and a hissing noise from the pool as the water began to ripple. It was smelled like brimstone. Out from the middle rose a hand, as dark as a shadow. It grasped onto the shore, followed by another hand. Whatever it was began clawing its way up onto land. It had the look of a person, but it was anything but that as inky shadows danced around. Its skin was an ashy gray, and it wore all black. From it came a rasping noise, like a dying animal struggling for its last breath.
"Where is he? Where is he?!" came it's voice, hissing in between breaths. Its words had a crazed tone that bored on insanity.
Link wanted to run away from the creature, but he couldn't move. He could only stare forward at the monstrosity that was emerging in front of him. What in the goddess' name was it?
It seemed to sniff and finally caught wind of something as it looked up. If Link could of, he would have gasped as looking straight at him were two glowing red eyes. It's face was twisted in a wicked grin.
"Found you" it breathed, and then it lunged.
Link shot awake covered in a cold sweat. Already his nightmare was beginning to fade, but he could not get those two red eyes from his mind. Everything else was foggy. These half remembered dreams were becoming far too common, but Link had more important things to worry about, namely saving a city from being flooded.
Looking around Link could see that it looked a bit brighter. It was probably morning though the constant rain clouds made it hard to determine exact times. He decided he needed to get up and moving. Standing Link saw that someone must have taken off his pack and weapons while he slept and put it to the side. He probably would have gutted himself in his sleep if they hadn't taken those. Grabbing his weapons, Link strapped back on his gear and headed out.
It was just as rainy as Link though it was going to be and at this point no use in trying to dry his cloths again. All around the domain were worried Zoras, though kids still played oblivious to the tense atmosphere. One of the guards nearby saw Link and waved him over.
"I'm glad you're awake. Sidon requested that I escort to the King's throne to discuss the beast. Please follow me," he instructed and began heading to one of the stair cases. Link followed close behind.
Now that Link was fully aware he began to notice the palpable tension present where he walked. There was no mistaking the glares from other Zoras as they pasted by. Link was beginning to suspect that some Zoras did not look to kindly on Hylains for whatever reason. He was even more confused as when they walked by one group of older looking Zoras, Link could distinctly make out the word "murder."
Link was shocked by this. He had no idea that relations were this bad between the two races, but with all stress from the Calamity it wasn't not outlandish. Link only wondered what specific incident caused it.
Walking up another case of stairs, they came to a giant fish carved into the stone whose mouth served as entrance. The Zora guard stopped and motioned for Link to enter. Taking a deep breath, Link steadied himself. He needed to be at his best for this. Squaring his shoulders, Link went in.
Bright blue eyes slowly opened. Everything was so bright, and there were shapes drifting in and out of his vision. The eyes squeezed shut. There were voices, too, ones that were getting louder and clearer with each moment. All he wanted was them to go away and take whatever bright light was there with them.
The more conciseness returned to him, the more he couldn't ignore the growing awareness of his situation. He was perplexed. First, he had no idea where he was or who was around him. There seemed to be a rather large gap and lack of anything really as if he didn't have any memories.
His heart rate spiked as panic set in, and he finally opened his eyes and faced the harsh light.
"Typical Hylian behavior. Brings one of its own that's wounded, not caring about the burden they put on us. Are there no Hylain doctors?"
"Very true. Especially all the damage they've caused us."
There wasn't much he could make out of the room, but the voices he definably could hear better. One that seemed to be coming from a sizeable blueish blob was speaking.
"He seems to be waking up. Laruto, please go inform Prince Sidon of the news," followed by an "Of course" and the disappearing of another blob. At least that was what the boy could make out, but things where about to become much more interesting, and not just for him.
Far to the southeast, in the a desert valley sat a man all dressed in red silently peeling a banana. The man had a sizable gut, which was accentuated by the tight outfit and wore a mask with an upside down eye.
Around him rose high stone walls, sanded smooth by the decades of storms that raged through. Red banner where hung, decorating the area.
As the man was about to take his first bite, with no visible mouth hole in his mask, there seemed to a sudden chill in air. The man stopped, looking around. The shadows were looking darker than normal. There was also a dripping noise that was not there before.
Putting down the banana carefully, the man stood and got into a defensive stance. There was defiantly magic in the air, though he could not tell if it was the calamity's. All he knew was that it left a dark and cold feeling and that it was old.
"I know you're there! I am the great Master Kohga and I demand you show yourself" he called out. To show he meant business he summoned a spike ball and levitated it above his head.
There came low laughter echoing off the walls of the canyon. It had an edge that sent shivers down Master Kohga pine. He spun around but could not find its source. Then a voice came, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Pathetic," came the dark voice softly.
Then to his right there was movement. Master Kohga spun to face it, but there wasn't anything there…yet.
An inky blackness was gathering and pooling on the ground, like a liquid shadow, It grew larger and larger until it was the size of a Goron. From its depths rose an ashy figure with red eyes. Master Kohga had never seen anything like it
"There is a new threat" it hissed. "One that requires the Yiga's clan attention and assistance. Ganon will be most displeased if you fail him in this task also."
Note; so this one is short I'm sorry but I'm starting the next one right away. I just can't proceed until I come up with a good name for our (as you may have guessed) other Link. I can't refer to him as Link and I'm trying to not make it campy so calling him by his game won't work either. I was thinking of either an L name (Len, Lye or something) or Shade (after the Hero's Shade). If anyone has any better suggestions please pm me or leave a comment.
For next time! The meeting and Link taking on the Divine Beast (with some possible help) .