I don't own Legend of Zelda. Enjoy! :)


Chapter Seven

Blue eyes kept glancing behind as Link cleared somewhat a decent path through the foliage. The Sheikah, he noticed, was behaving strangely. One of the first was when he called him Hylian and instead of… Nyuukos—if he got that right. Second, his mouth was void of words; not even a snide jibe would coax a sentence from the red-eyed blond. And third, were those very eyes—they held such hatred for him, but lately, ever since the fairies found them a few days ago, the red eyes only beheld confusion, like he was struggling internally—about what, Link would like to know.

Navi pointed out a spot for shelter for the night. Link was glad for her help—the other fairy, Tatl, just sat in the Sheikah's shoulder, brooding. Link gathered grass and leaves and made two beds as the Sheikah started on a small fire. Link took a breath.

"Hey, what's going inside that head of yours?" The Sheikah stilled at his words, before continuing to build the fire. Link waited for an answer, but as the wood caught a spark and the flame growing, Link sighed. He joined the Sheikah, sitting by him as the red-eyed boy moved slightly away. Both stared into the fire, watching the ever dancing flames, when the Sheikah spoke.

"It's hard to change feelings when you've hated for so long." Link nodded his head, letting the other make know he was listening. "At first, I didn't hate your kind. I had no anger—just a sense of justice. My people are one tribe, but split into many small groups. When the first group was nearly wiped out by your people, it was only right to help our fellow kin. But when my father, mother, and brother died… My hate started to grow. And as I lost more and more of my Kailr, my hate only grew; and I relied on that hate as my strength. I vowed to kill and destroy every one of your people, 'til my thirst for revenge had quenched. But, when Talt told me what the Queen Fairy did, what she truly did, I realized I couldn't let my hatred rule my heart. I have to let go, even if I can't forgive. And I'm having a hard time doing that. My Kailr, my fam-" "My father was killed by your people."

Link felt the Sheikah look at him; his red eyes staring. "When the war started, I was fourteen—young and ready to fight. But I wasn't old enough, and even if I was, I doubt my father would let me. When my sixteenth year came, I joined the army along with my father. We live on a farm and during times of war, the corps is sent to the army to help keep every solider feed. But that wasn't enough for me; I wanted to do more. After recruitment training, I was eager to help where I can and maybe get a glorious tale or two to bring home." Link shook his head, thinking how foolish he was when he thought of those thoughts. "After many battles, killing your people, there was no glory, pride, honor—just a desire, a hope for the war to end. And my father always told me—never fight to win; fight to live another day and see your loved ones again. And I did. I fought with everything I have, to see my mother and my siblings again. And he told the same thing to my brother when he joined a year later; he would've told my twin brothers, if he survived."

Link took out the talisman his father gave him, tracing the triforce within the circle. A rouge tear slipped down his face as the cruel death of his father replayed in his mind.

Link panted heavily as he gutted another Sheikah vihter, his eyes searching for another potential enemy that'll block his desire to go home again. He rolled to the side as he heard the wind of a knife spinning towards him, and lashed out his sword, his sword hitting home on another Sheikah. Stepping back, he felt a presence touch his back, and spurred around with his sword. It clashed with another sword, and a smile broke upon his face as he saw his own father grinning back. But soon his smile faded as a blade pierced through his body from behind. Blood spurted from his mouth and stained his blond-silver beard as fell to his knees, the Sheikah withdrawing the blood-stained blade. Link reacted too slowly as the Sheikah back-flipped and ran into the chaos of battle.

Link knelt by his dying father, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Hold on father! Stay with me!" Link's father choked up some blood and laid a shaky-hand on his son's shoulder. "I-it's too late-son." Link vigorously shook his head. "No it's not! HELP! I NEED HELP!" "St-op so-n…" "Never! You're going to live! You have too! You have to see your newborn child when it arrives!" Link's father slowly shook his. "It's-not… To be… Take c-care… Of… Fa… Mily…" The deep-blue eyes that Link looked up to and found comfort and joy in, faded as his father died in his arms. Link held him close and shed tears of hurt, pain, and loss. But those tears would turn into hate and anger.

"That was when I started hating. Hating your kind and wishing for their deaths. But as time passed, I realized that I didn't all your kind, I only hated that one Sheikah. Then I started blaming—hating myself. This talisman he kept around his neck, believing it helped bring him home safe. But on that day, he gave it to me. And he fell… I wished every day that I took his place instead; die on that battlefield, and him coming home to his family. Because of me, he'll never get to see his newborn child. But, like you said, I realized too what the Queen Fairy wanted of us. She wanted us to forgive the other party, forgive ourselves, and start over. Start to get to know each other, and hopefully, work together to bring this war to an end. There's been enough bloodshed on both sides, enough families torn apart."

Link faced his whole body at the Sheikah and held out his hand. "I'm Link." The Sheikah was surprised, mostly likely upon hearing the epiphany that Link gave. But he smiled lightly and took Link's hand, shaking it. "My name is Sheik." "Pleasure."

They let go of hands, not knowing what to do next. Then the red-eyed boy spoke. "So, you have three brothers?" Link grinned. "Yes, and a little sister, with another on the way as I'd mentioned. Would you like to know about them?" The Sheikah nodded.

Link went into a full blown rant of his young siblings, talking about each of their quirks. The Sheikah was surprised upon hearing magic in the twins' eyes, but kept silent as Link explained more about his family. He even took out a small drawing of his family.

"The little girl is Samantha; here are the twins, Marcus and Mitchell; this is Ernest; and here's my mother—her name is Rhinna; and my father… Jedin."


Sheik looked over the picture of the smiling and happy family. The sister had hair grown to her waist, gathered in a ponytail. Link described her eyes were blue like his and her hair a mix between blond and auburn colors, and had the most positive attitude out of all his siblings—including him. The twins, like Link explained, looked nothing alike: each with their own hair and eye color. The next brother did look like the mother as Sheik saw them stand next to each other. The father had a small beard on his grinning face, his hair pulled into a ponytail. Sheik felt empathy towards Link when he retold of his father's death, now felt even more he looked at the happy picture.

He showed his bracelet with three beads representing the deceased to Link, describing his family in turn. "My family, we all have similar hair and eye color, but different personality. My father, Kayn, was the most serious person you could ever meet, but those who knew him, knew he had a secret playful side. My mother, Ninhan, had the sweetest smile, she could melt any heart. She wasn't a fighter, but she helped in the healing tents, soothing everybody. My sister, Impa, she was strict and quiet; when my brother and I sometimes spark words against each other, she would use her voice in a quiet, but firm way—always got us to stop. My little brother, Meekah, he had calm demeanor—a lot like your brother Ernest. When he faced a challenge, he never let his anger get the best of him. He put his mind to work and quickly figures out the task. He was a bright boy…" He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry… What happened to your parents and brother?" Sheik stared into the fire, remembering too well what happened.

Sheik relaxed into the blankets, taking a break. He'd been a scouting mission and only just got back to be told by both his mother and father to go rest—after he gave the report, of course. He felt another body lay next to him, and smiled as his little brother snuggled closer for warmth.

"You a Dead Hand yet, Meekah?" "Shut up. It's cold and you're warm. And will you ever stop comparing me to a Dead Hand? Those things are creepy." Sheik laughed. "Never Visöy, never." Soon both brothers fell asleep.

Screams jolted Sheik awake, quickly grabbing his weapons. He noticed his brother already up and copying his movements. Both left the tent and saw the horror upon the camp. Their kin lay slaughtered upon the grassy-ground, their blood flowing among the grass. Sheik and Meekah sprang into action, killing the Nyuukos, but there were too many. A Nyuukos pummeled Sheik in the head and as he fell, he saw his brother being taking away—fighting to get free. Sheik tried to stand up, but his head pounded too much and soon fell into darkness.

He awoke to his sister face—tear-streaked. Sheik asked about father and mother and Meekah. Impa only shook her head. Sheik felt a hole, ripping into his heart. His father… His mother… His brother… All gone… He cried for their loss and vowed vengeance upon their souls.

"And that was the last I saw of them. We buried my mother and father… We couldn't find my brother's body." "That could mean he's still alive." Sheik shook his head. "No Hylian would keep a Sheikah alive—excluding you. They probably killed him on the road…" He felt Link rub his shoulder with sympathy. "You never know, Sheik, you never know."

Sheik nodded. He felt a tap on his other shoulder and turn his head to see Tatl, giving a stern look. "If you're done talking, the night is past nigh and you'll lose more sleep of you guys keep talking." Sheik and Link grinned before going to their beds, ready to sleep. But there's was one more thing on Sheik's mind.

"Hey Link... Do you remember what the Sheikah looked like that killed your father?" "Yes, though it was dark and hard to see, I saw it had only one eye—the other eye was covered in bandages."


Paitely tied her sword belt and adjusted her armor. Though the armor was meant for men, she tampered with it to fit her just slightly—still look like a boy, but easier for her to move in. She looked into her mirror, her different eyes staring at her back. She played whatever role her Master needed her to do. With her two different eye color, she can play either Hylian or Sheikah.

Picking up an eye-patch, she covered her left eye—her red eye. Now with her short-shaggy hair, she passes as a Hylian soldier boy in the army. Grabbing her helmet and shield, Paitely walked out into the open air and breathed in deep. She loved the freedom of outside. Most of her childhood possessed of dark memories indoors, people poking her with needles and cutting her with knifes—all because of her unique eyes. Those people, those monsters, wondered if she was half Hylian and half Sheikah, but she is neither. She's a rare race, a kind long forgotten. A kind that's superior to others.

Looking up to the full moon, Paitely set out to do her Master's will.


Translation

Visöy - endearment for a brother