Chapter -4-
Family Feels Like Family

Daruna 2, 2050AD, Midday
Lanayru Province, Capital City, Hyrule

LJ adjusted the strap of his satchel. "I know we only just met but I appreciate you coming with me, man."

Link looked from left to right as the two walked briskly up the street together. "The King and Princess were with the Royal Guard. Safe. And when I saw that moblin on the hillside from the window…well, I knew things would be dangerous. Your time is very strange to me. I can only imagine how strange my world must seem to you. I'm the authority on such; I wanted to help. Why are the people of Castletown looking at me so strangely?"

"Link, they were just attacked by creatures that are holding their own against the police...and now some guy in a green and red tunic with a sword and shield on his back is walking down the street. You look like something out of a renaissance festival. What I wanna know is why people are outside of their houses with all this crap going on. Most people hide under their beds. Or, at least, one would think."

"People are curious," said Link. "They want to see for themselves what is happening. There is an ingrained logic for many – your home can only provide so much security. These creatures are outlandishly alien. I'm sure, during the initial attack, they did remain inside."

In the distance, a police cruiser drove through an intersection. As it went through, they could hear the PA announcement, "Citizens of Hyrule, please stay inside your homes…"

"That…was a horseless carriage."

"Welcome to the future, Link. Also, we don't call the Capital City 'Castletown.' And then there's the fact that we have handheld communication devices in our pockets that let us access all the information of the world, but all we use it for is to prove each other wrong in arguments, and look at images of cats."

"What a strange place."

LJ's pace quickened, approaching his condominium. He opened the door to the stairwell and led LJ up the steps. "I know I said I wasn't going to let you meet Aryll because it's too soon. But then you helped me fight off a pack of robot creatures, and pointed out a walking bulldog with weapons. Just…don't go kissing her hand. That's just weird for me."

"Not to mention your city was under attack. I endeavor to use modern culturally acceptable methods of greeting. …To the best of my ability, of course. You still shake hands, correct?"

"Yeah. At some point, I'll have to explain fist-bumping." LJ started on the second flight of steps. They made their way to a door with a letter on the center. He turned the knob but it was locked. LJ felt his heart relax. He slid his key in, opened the door and announced, "Aryll, I'm home and I have a friend."

A thirteen-year-old girl crossed the living room and silently hugged her brother, face buried in his neck. In the background, the television depicted various images of chaos from around the city. It showed a news anchor, briefly, then cut to another image of a battle in progress at the gates of the Royal Compound.

LJ rested his chin on her head. "I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry it took so long. The mag-rail was shut down and we had to walk from Spectacle Rock until we found someone willing to give us a ride. Some nerdy tabletop role playing guy who saw our swords, and wanted to offer 'honorable camaraderie' or something. Brought us all the way into Lanayru, thankfully. So, you got a call from Zelda, Princess of Hyrule, huh?"

Aryll drew her head back and offered a weak smile. "Yeah. That was unexpected. At first I thought it was a joke, but then she offered to do video-chat. Once I saw her face, I recognized her voice and I realized she was the real deal. She explained everything."

She looked over at Link then arched her brows. "Wow. You two could be twins. So, LJ, this is what you'd look like with longer hair, huh?" She eased herself from her brother and turned directly to Link. She rewarded him with a hug and a kiss on the side of his face. "Thank you for helping my brother. Zelda said your name was also Link. The clothes are a little strange but I've always liked kilts so…it kinda works for you." She turned about and headed for her room. "So do I pack and we go somewhere safe or are we staying here?"

LJ looked at Link. They both shrugged. He turned back to his sister and said, "We didn't think that far in advance. I just had to make sure you're safe. That was the first thing on my mind. It's probably too dangerous outside. The police are telling people to stay indoors. Link, here, was given special permission to come with me, but at some point, he's going to have to return to the research facility."

"Special permission?" she asked.

LJ cleared his throat, trying to think of a way to word what he had to tell her. "Link is from…uh, well…"

"Honest, as confusing as it is, has always been the best policy," Link interjected, adding, "so please believe me when I tell you that I am being honest with you, Ms. Aryll. I was born in 1654."

LJ turned to Link and tilted his head. "Wait, you're only twenty-one? Hah! I'm twenty-two; I'm a year older than you!"

Link tilted his head in confusion. "Age is not a competition. It is something we cannot control in our lives."

Aryll rolled her eyes. "LJ, you might be older, but you don't act your age very often."

"Yeah? You're the one who is thirteen, acting like a grumpy old sourpuss. You need to act your age more often, kiddo." He offered his sister a slight grin. "So. Yeah. He was put into cryogenic stasis in 1675. He was brought out of it by the archeologists who found him. Yesterday. So let's try not to talk over his head. There's a lot of words and terms and things he hasn't seen before. I don't want to overwhelm him."

"With all due respect, LJ, Aryll, I have seen fantastic, mystical and unexplainable things. A world of technology has rhyme and reason. Ganon's world, on the other hand, was the definition of 'overwhelming.' LJ, it's best you stay here and keep Ms. Aryll safe. I want to investigate the reason for the attack. There has to be some connection. Your time was peaceful, then I'm awoken from my sleep, and the next day there are multiple attacks on multiple fronts. Considering the fact we saw those robots searching for something in that room with the workbenches, my first guess is that these Darkworld creatures may be here searching for something as well. What surprises me the most is that they've kept their Darkworld appearance, instead of adopting a normal look, here in the Light World. They must have a device akin to the Moon Pearl, but from their side, which allows them to retain their Darkworld attributes. Including their strength, size, and thick hide."

"We can figure the details out later," said LJ. "We don't have the authority to just go investigating weird stuff. We have military intelligence and Government think tanks for this sort of thing. They'll determine how those creatures got over here, how the robots were powered up…everything."

"I see. LJ, if they find whatever it is that they're looking for…well, let's just say that Ganon doesn't do anything without having a plan. It is in his nature to plan things out first. Whatever is being hunted for is something that will help him. Whatever helps him hurts us."

Aryll cut in. "You need to be prepared too. Both of you."

"Both of us?" asked LJ.

"Yes, both of you. It took the two of you, together, to keep the Royal Family safe today. You did something that armed guards and a high-ranking military leader couldn't do…protect the King and Princess. LJ, I'm really proud of you for being able to do what you did today. But you would be even better and more prepared if Link, here, trained you how to use weapons, especially the ones you mention in your book. And swords. Things you don't have to reload."

"If you think it'll help me keep you safe."

"It's best we keep her safe," said Link. "In my lineage, my ancestors have had their family abducted and even hunted. Ganon personally sought out my mother and father, razed my prefecture, where I was born, then imprisoned the queen of Catalia. If Ganon is truly behind this series of attacks, he'll know by now that you are involved. He'll assume we are related, whether we are or not, and he'll go after your sister. He'll do everything he can to hurt you, in order to try to break your spirit. If he gets to you, he can beat you."

"That's not going to happen," said LJ, resolve in his voice. "I'd kick his mythological ass right back to his fairytale land."

"LJ!"

He winced and looked over at Aryll. LJ withdrew a rupee and walked into the kitchen. He plunked the rupee into a 'curse jar,' which was a third of the way full. LJ came back out, cleared his throat and said, "Okay. Link, let's move the furniture into the den, then put the guest room blankets up on the walls. How do we protect ourselves from accidentally hitting each other with these swords?"

Link shook his head. "You don't sword fight with real swords. It ruins them. We will learn with weighted sticks. We'll have to find…"

LJ snapped his fingers. "There's a sports store across the street. Close enough that we can all go together."

"The city is under attack," Link reasoned.

LJ grinned in reply. "Obviously you don't know about the corporate world. It's all about making that rupee. Trust me. They'll be open. They sell fencing stuff. I'll have to put it on credit card, though. We can get sparring gear and protective pads and headgear, too."

"Very well, then. Let's move your furnishings, then we can all go there together. The sooner we begin, the better."

Aryll went to the window and glanced out the corner, which faced towards the direction of the street. "You ever get the feeling that this is the calm before the storm? Maybe we shouldn't go."

Link turned to LJ. "Take the sword you brought from the sheath it's in. We'll fashion a makeshift handle for our sword casings, and practice with those instead. I'll also show you how to operate some of the artifacts we brought. From what I can tell, they all still work."

"Alright. Then let's get started. If Ary is right, the storm might hit while we're out shopping. Besides, I've seen enough movies and shows, and read enough books to know that if it's quiet right now…it won't stay that way."

"I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'movies and shows' but yes, I've read books. Story telling is something to keep the reader engaged. This is real life, LJ. Let's hope things calm down while I teach you the basics. Let's also hope that the moblins do not find what they're looking for."

"Yeah, let's hope. Grab that end of the sofa. I'll swing around and you'll back into the den." The boys lifted the couch and moved it out of the living room so they'd have room to practice. "And I hope you're right, Link. I'm not ready to go up against one of those robot things again, that's for sure. I almost got my butt handed to me, and I don't know how to handle myself if I get my shoulder hurt again. I don't know what Zelda did but that was amazing."

"With all due respect," said Link, backing into the den with the furniture, "it would be most respectful to include her title when speaking of her."

"Yeah, yeah. Alright. Let me get some duct tape and I'll break a broom handle, then we'll get started with using the case-thingies of the swords. I just…I think I'm still hopped up on adrenaline or something."

"Let's just hope it stays quiet for now," said Aryll. "I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about seeing one of those creatures up close and personal." She went to the window again and sighed. "Still. Even though we're staying inside, I really feel like the proverbial crap is about to hit the figurative fan, y'know?"

Link removed the Master Sword from its sheath and laid it across the kitchen table. "The two of you speak so strangely at times." He removed the other sword from its case and laid it adjacent to the Master Sword then approached LJ and took a moment to examine the birthmark on his left hand. "I was once torn between my desire to be in control of my destiny, and the comfortably numb idea of relaxing into whatever plan the goddesses may have for me. And perhaps there is a bit of fate and freewill blended into each one of our lives at the end of the day…but there's one thing nobody can deny."

"Yeah?"

Link nodded. "For both of us to meet like this…for both of us, two people from different times, to meet in an enormous world full of hundreds of thousands of people…"

"Billions," Aryll corrected, masking her reply as a cough.

"Then that proves it," said Link. "In a world of billions of people, for two people to meet that look alike, and both have this birthmark…for us to come together and save the Princess and King, and fight together, and consider that we may very well be related…it's obvious fate is at work. As the village elder would say, it's mathematically impossible for us to meet as a coincidence. The conditions were too perfect. I honestly believe, with all my heart, that we're a family. And we should stick together. Because, as it stands right now, you two are the only family I have left."

Link slumped down onto a kitchen chair with a sigh. "You know, yesterday I defeated Ganon. And before that, I was fighting for my life. I didn't have a chance to really mourn the death of my mother and father. And even now, the dust hasn't settled for me…I am using that euphemism correctly, yes? I learned it from Bagu."

Aryll approached Link and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes, you did. I'm sorry about your mom and dad. I know how you feel and I know that, right now, everything is still raw for you. But you have us. I'm a really good judge of character, and I can tell you that you're a trustworthy guy. I promise you're not alone in this whole grieving thing."

Link looked up at LJ who offered a slow nod to show silent approval. Link slid his arm around Aryll and returned the hug. "Thank you, both of you."

"You're welcome," she said, then sighed, resting her chin on his head. She placed her left hand on the backrest of Link's chair then looked over at her brother.

LJ could tell by the look on her face that something bothered her. He followed her gaze to the living room window. LJ crossed the room and glanced out to the street. He was starting to feel it, too. Things were about to get bad. Real bad. He felt the worry and anxiety stirring in his gut. The air felt thick, strange. Even the barometric pressure started to drop at a noticeable rate. He closed the window and slid the lock into place then sighed.

Okay, Link. Let's get started. I need to be prepared because I think Aryll is right. Something big is going to happen and, somehow, I feel like we're going to be right in the middle of it."

"Yes. That birthmark on your left hand…on our left hand…it's a blessing of courage, but it's also a curse that our family has to bare. In my time, it was called the Mark of the Hero. Said to be placed upon us by Hylia to make clear the warrior chosen by the goddesses. In my time, people treated me with respect, not because I'd earned it from a young age, but because they knew that my life would become very difficult. They pitied me for it."

"Curse or not, those things invaded my home town. And I intended to fight back. Ganon is said to want to rule over people, right? That's the mythology we hear growing up. Well, with every conqueror, there is always a resistance. And that's going to be us."

"Well met, LJ. Let's get started."

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A/N: Okay! So now we get to see things like Link having feelings. Dude's a genuine person. And we see that they're questioning things that Ganon told Link in the prologue, and wondering about the goddesses.

We also get to see that they have some measure of chemistry; LJ was quick to challenge Link in conversation during the last chapter, but now he's starting to see more of himself in Link. And they're starting to trust one another.

Plus I'm building more of the world. It's modern, like our own. Sporting stories, credit cards, cuss jars, condos, automobiles, ren-fests… it's all very normal.

But what happens when fiction and fantasy slam into science and society?
I have no idea but I have a feeling we're going to find out in the next chapter!

Thanks again for reading!