Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own the characters or land in Legend of Zelda games. However I do own the following characters: Linweh (Princess of Telthar), Lir (Prince of Telthar), Nightrunner, Maiku, Rimar, and the entire land of Telthar and the people within it as well as any other characters that happen to come up. The creatures from Legend of Mana belong to Squaresoft (now known as Square-Enix) but they are too cute not to use. Enjoy the story.
Legacy of a Hero
Chapter 9 - The Chosen Path
"Time to rest your weary head, set it down upon the pillow on your bed. Not another word uttered, allow your dreams to flutter. Twilight and sleep are nigh, let your dreams fly..." echoed the singing voice in the mind of the white-haired warrior. Slowly emerald eyes opened, they focused on the stone ceiling, and he could feel the corners of his eyes were moist. He quickly wiped them away, sat up, and glanced around; heavy snoring surrounded him as he realized that he was in the royal knight barracks. A smirk tugged its way onto his lips, he knew that these men would die for their royal family, and he did not mind in the slightest to be bunking with them since Sergei's return meant that he would be by Linweh's side. He stood from the small bed provided, stretched his back, rolled his shoulders, and began to dress. Maiku pulled on a simple black cotton shirt with brown pants, and black boots; he strapped on his sword and watched as Blaze and Naria joined him.
They traversed the halls, snagged some breakfast, and continued their journey; he was curious as to what was going on that day, the princess was out of harms way but that didn't mean Naria was safe. At this he sighed, "I'm sorry Naria but what you said back in the temple for Chrono...I have a feeling that even you know of your destined future that is unavoidable." The floating orb moved closer to him, he wrapped his palms around her glow, and gave her the closest thing that he could to an embrace. "I am so sorry." When she moved away from him, her glow was as bright as ever, and he had a feeling of what she wanted to tell him. Maiku bowed to her, "I'm glad that I was able to meet someone as beautiful inside and out as you Naria." Her normal blue glow turned straight to pink with a red line across the middle. The male from Lon Lon Ranch gave her sincere smile as she slowly faded back to blue, they began to traverse the castle once more, but he paused by a wall. "Princess Linweh said that this castle was filled with hidden passages..."
Maiku placed his hand on the cold stone, his mind began to contemplate the passages, If the abductors didn't know about the passages then they didn't come from Telthar. Then they must have come from another country just like those soldiers but...why did those soldiers seem so familiar to me? The more Maiku thought about the soldiers he had attacked, the more he began to think the familiarity was no coincidence, "What is it?" He ran his hand along the stones as he started with a slow walk, just so that he could focus on what was crossing his mind. "What am I missing? Those soldiers..." As the memories flashed through his mind, he was trying to reference their armor and their clothes, he had seen them before, there was no way of denying the déjà vu feeling that overcame him when he remembered them. "But what is it?" Oni had been quiet for a few days now and Maiku didn't want to disturb him, he knew that he had to figure this out on his own. "Naria..." the orb traveled in front of him while his emerald eyes locked onto the floor, "...those soldiers had a crest. I recognize it but I can't place it just yet. But...earlier...the end result of your destiny...it cannot be changed...nor can mine." Naria bobbed in place as she followed him, "This is our chosen path." Naria bobbed once more and there was a ghost of a smile on his face, "I'm still very glad that we got to meet. It's a shame that I couldn't take you to Hyrule so you could see it or to our new addition, the Munray Kin-"
His steps faltered, he glanced up at the far wall, Naria moved closer to him, and she noticed that his shocked face soon turned to one of anger. "I knew it!" he exclaimed under his breath, the Moon Sprite watched as the hand on the stone wall slowly clenched to the point that his knuckles were almost as white as his hair. "I should have known, their style of fighting, their insignia! It was hidden but I still remember seeing a flash of it or perhaps that was Oni's sight but it doesn't matter! I know!" Before the ranch hand could even move one more step another item flashed into his mind. The arrow-head around his neck, he remembered seeing it on an arrow before, when Link had taught him how to clean his sword when he first used it. The image that surfaced was Link setting down his quiver but he misjudged the table and a few arrows fell out. The boy didn't know then but he remembered the craftsmanship of the arrows while he watched Link hurriedly clean them up. Maiku picked up Blaze and stated, "Naria, lead me to the throne room please." She bobbed and began to lead him through the passages as fast as he could run. His boots echoed throughout the castle, it would signify his approach without him having to be announced. Maiku skidded around a corner, dodged a few soldiers, and squires before finally reaching the throne room. He nearly stumbled on his own feet as he saw Princess Zelda standing there with her new husband, Prince Garth of Munray. Emerald eyes glowered at the pair as the pieces began to fall into place in his mind.
The soldier that said a woman hired them from Hyrule Market for the Teltharian princess' power, the soldier that Oni killed said she didn't like the Teltharian princess, and the time Chrono told me to trust the one within. He referred to Oni and now I know. I know everything! His eyes shone in the darkness, the Essence Blade thrummed in response to his connection with it, and he reached behind him with his free hand, fingers gripped the hilt of it, and he silently pulled it free. Maiku put Blaze down, he whispered to Naria and the pup, "You two stay together and out of sight." They both nodded to him as they did as they were told and Maiku kept to the shadows, he was never one for stealth but he was going to attempt it now, if only to warn everyone.
The formalities he was not familiar with but he did see Link and Sergei in the room, they were used to it but Maiku could not help the feeling of foreboding, it weighed heavy on his soul, and he began to take short, shallow breaths. Once the greetings were exchanged, Maiku maneuvered in the shadows as quietly as he could, using the only training he ever had which was sneaking back in late without his mother finding out. I want to say something but I cannot...they could harm my mother... Oni spoke up in his mind, Do not worry, they will not. Just speak your truth when there is a free moment and sheath your sword. Violence will not work here. Maiku nodded, sheathed the Essence Sword, and steadied his breathing while waiting for an opening to interject.
"So you have no idea about who attacked you?" asked Zelda. It was clear that Link didn't want to be there but had no choice in the matter and Sergei held the same face as Link while the royal twins were seated on their respective thrones along with the king and queen of Telthar. "There must be someone who you are enemies with."
The queen of Telthar replied, "We have no enemies. Telthar is a peaceful country and is allies with all the Sea Countries. So we are at a loss."
"It's a shame then. Not even a single idea?"
"I have an idea." Everyone looked to the shadows as Maiku stepped into the light.
Zelda scoffed, "Surely you know nothing of politics. Why you are just a ranch hand."
Garth sneered, "And a worthless peasant at that."
"If the king and queen allow it, I would like to put forth my findings about who would want Princess Linweh." Before Zelda and Garth could even say another word, they were silenced by the king. He motioned for Maiku to continue and the ranch hand bowed to him. "I thank you for your time." Maiku made his way to stand in front of Zelda and Garth but also so that he could protect the royal family. Link and Sergei became interested in the conversation and even Roderick was present with a few of his knights. Maiku put his hands behind his back and stared directly at Zelda and Garth before bowing to them. "Your highnesses," when he straightened back up, he kept his gaze riveted onto the two interlopers. "The day I bought my sword from Rimar was the same day that Hyrule was attacked by bandits wanting Princess Linweh. I was in the market and combated some of them. From one I learned the information that they were hired by a woman who, and I quote, 'wanted the Teltharian princess' power.' So I began to wonder about that, I had heard nothing of the tales of Telthar so I couldn't do anything about it. When I stowed away on Link's ship and arrived here, I was told of some of the history after I met Sergei. Then some things began to make a little sense, countries would love to use the power for themselves but still, Telthar is peaceful, and then there were rumors of the return of Ganondorf. So now I began to truly wonder what was going on, no one in their right frame of mind would want the return of that evil man."
He allowed the silence to fall while Garth spoke up, "Do you have a point to this story of yours boy?"
"When Princess Linweh was found by me and finally returned to the castle, there was an ambush. Enemy soldiers had infiltrated the castle but since I had training, I was able to protect the family from them. Yet, in my battle with so many trained soldiers, one thing stood out." More silence, Garth began to tap his foot, "That one thing was the insignia that I saw hidden on their clothes." The prince of Munray's foot immediately stopped tapping, at this point, Maiku's hand had traveled to the hilt of his sword while his green eyes narrowed. "That insignia came to me this morning and I finally figured everything out. The people who tried to kidnap the princess didn't know about the many hidden passages but they knew about the legends so that means that person must be of noble birth since no one from this land would kidnap their own princess. Not only that but it had to be someone of noble birth in order to know about Ganondorf as well."
"Heh, you're pretty sharp for a ranch hand," stated the prince.
Maiku glared at him, "A woman hired those men in the market, that woman would need to have access to soldiers with the insignia that I saw, and that insignia belonged to the Munray Kingdom." There was a collected gasp from everyone in the throne room, including Link but Maiku had gripped his sword, "Princess Zelda of Hyrule and Prince Garth of Munray, I am charging you with treason!"
Garth simply laughed with Zelda, once the woman regained her composure she stated, "You have no authority here or in Hyrule. You're just a simple ranch hand."
The white-haired male smirked, "Oh I don't think so. I have some leverage and not just because I saved the royal family." He reached in with his free hand and drew out the necklace with the arrow-head on it. "This arrow-head tells me of my lineage from my father, he may not have come forward but he doesn't have to. Only one person that I have met in all my travels and life has ever made such fine arrow heads. That person is Link." Silence engulfed the throne room but Maiku never took his eyes off the two in front of him, he replaced the arrow-head in his shirt while Link stood there dumbfounded but Sergei patted him on the back. The Hero of Time was about to say something but Sergei stopped him since Maiku continued, "Link is my father, I know this now and that should give me enough leverage. Princess Zelda, you knew of the legends of Telthar and were there for Ganondorf's reign so why would you want him here?"
She smirked, "You're a clever boy aren't you but not clever enough." He quirked an eyebrow at her, Garth put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, immediately there was clanging of swords and doors opening. "This is a coup d'état. Stand down or risk getting killed." Maiku returned that smirk she had given him, "What's so funny?" Maiku simply grinned while he removed the blade from its confines, she gasped in shock at the gold speckled black blade. Not only that but the three gems were shining bright on the hilt, the blue one immediately put up a barrier to block the royal family, it even blocked Link and Sergei.
Link yelled, "Maiku let this down! I'll help you!"
Maiku looked over his shoulder, "Get the royal family to safety!" His emerald gaze took in a quick look at Linweh, she was holding Blaze but there was no sign of Naria. Instead the blue orb appeared in front of Zelda, the princess smirked, before any one could act, the blond princess muttered a few words, and Naria was sliced in half by a dagger the princess held in the folds of her clothes. Maiku stared in disbelief, "NARIA!" The two halves fell to the ground, the blood pooled there, and soon that blood turned into a portal, Link and Sergei had already corralled the royal family together but Maiku's water shield kept them confined in a box. Roderick and his knights had joined the royal family inside the water shield but all eyes were on that portal. A dark clad hand reached out of that portal, the man soon emerged, and Maiku stared up at him, he was intimidating but the rage that he felt from Naria's death over ruled that fear.
"You were the last person I expected to see free me Zelda," came the booming voice. Link had already drawn his sword as those yellow irises locked onto him. The man laughed, "Hello Link. It's been a long time, but you've aged a lot while I have not." His eyes roamed over everyone present, until they landed on Maiku who was glaring at him. "Hmm...who are you?" The sword's blade caught his eye, "What is this? A sword made from my black tower? How interesting. Who are you boy?"
"No one." It was all he said as he charged at the man, Link yelled at him to stop but it went unheard as Maiku continued with his charge. Maiku never heard Link's yell, he never heard Linweh scream, and he never heard the howl that Blaze emitted. All he saw was the man in front of him with the flaming red hair and yellow eyes, the man who was the cause of a lot of strife, and now he threatened the woman he loved as well as his mother and newly discovered father. Maiku yelled as he swung his blade towards the man, only to have it blocked, but he tried again and again. Each time was unsuccessful, Maiku only saw darkness as he felt the strength of the man, a single punch to his abdomen was enough to knock him out. The blade fell from his hand to the ground clattering and Maiku fell unconscious with only the man's laughter echoing in his mind.
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Pain became a familiar friend to him, awakened by pain, left to sleep with pain, and the only thing that he ever saw was the sad face of the man who was told to do it. The boy had become somewhat weakened but his torturer was kind enough to give him sustenance to keep him going and Maiku wasn't sure why. The male was older, balding in some spots, and never spoke; Maiku could only surmise that the man's tongue had been ripped out. But those whip lashes, the hot iron pressed onto his skin, and the slow painful stitches that were needed to sew him up once more were all that went through his mind. There was no one there for him, he couldn't even form a coherent thought, all his days were filled like that until he heard nothing at all except the sound of someone pushing a chair over, and the last breath of a man who hung himself.
The gurgling sound of life that left a body was what had awakened him, he had no idea of the day or the time, all he knew were the chains that bound his wrists, and the pain in his body but that pain kept him alive. Emerald eyes cracked open to see a small amount of sunlight drifting through the bars, there was no one in the prison, he was alone, and that meant that the royal family was safe but for how long? Oni? There was silence, not a single response, and he could feel an emptiness. Maiku bit his lower lip and stated, "You said you'd always be here! You said you'd never leave me!" More silence, he slammed his head against the wall, his emerald eyes stared through the small window, the sunlight filtered in, but that did not give him any comfort. "So...her accursed spell locked him away...or he put himself inside the sword so that no one else can use it. That's what I would do..." Maiku managed to resolve himself but he looked down at the chains that bound him, he wasn't sure what had occurred, all he knew was that he had lost the battle but it was enough time for the others to escape. "Why did Linweh scream though?" It was only then that he took notice of the large scar that ran down the length of his right arm; from shoulder to wrist. The scar was prominent, ragged, and had healed horribly. "I see..I must have used it to block without thinking or knowing, I was consumed with rage...I didn't see anything." His eyes gazed over the rest of his chest, since he wore no shirt, and it was revealed to him the various burn scars, scratches, lacerations, and other results from the torture methods but none had healed nicely so he was left with the ragged edges. Maiku sighed, he knew he was in a terrible position but that was not going to stop him from getting out and retrieving his sword. Yet when he pushed himself to a standing position, he noticed that his white hair was much longer now, it was past his jaw line, and that was the only conception of time he ever had. But what made him happy was the weight of the arrowhead that hit his chest as he stood.
"I don't care. I'll find a way out of here myself." Immediately he began to look around for anything that was small enough to fit into the shackles that were around his wrists. "Best to stay quiet for now." He realized that, since he didn't have a shirt on, he could feel a culmination of scars and cuts that were scabbed over on his backside but that would not deter him. Maiku searched around his cell for anything that would be small enough to fit into the key hole but came up with nothing. He sighed, ground his teeth together, and began to tug on the shackles, once that failed, he plopped onto the floor once more. "Everything has been taken away from me...mother..." He leaned his head back to stare at the small window, the more he stared at it, the angrier he became, and he got to his feet once more. "I will not rot here! I will keep mother safe! I promised her that I would bring Link back!" Maiku's eyes glinted like emeralds in a fire as he began to search once more, he looked at the bars, they were rusted and made of iron, but that didn't mean he couldn't kick it. Maiku lifted one foot and launched it as hard as he could at one bar. It didn't move but he kept trying, he made sure to aim it in the same place, or some place close to it.
After many attempts, he felt the sweat sting his wounds, he wiped his face with the back of his hands, and growled. I will not fail. I will get out. I will kill him. His eyes narrowed, he felt renewed strength flow in his body at the promise of killing Ganondorf. The more he kicked it, the more rage he felt, the more he wanted to get out of the cell. He heard a cracking sound, eventually the iron bar snapped, he was breathing heavily, but it was all he needed. Maiku inspected the bar, there was a small shard that appeared to be the right size for his shackles, but it was stuck onto the main bar, so he lifted his shackles to the iron shard, and tried it that way. "I have never picked a lock before and here I am trying to do it," he laughed at his predicament, one that he caused himself for being so careless.
Maiku wasn't sure how long he had stood there but he felt that he wouldn't be able to stand much more until there was a clanking sound. He looked to see that the wrist shackles fell off, he rubbed his wrists gingerly, they were sore and raw from the metal but he glanced down; hoping there wasn't a pair on his feet. Luckily there wasn't and he was glad that they had left his boots on, it was some semblance of courtesy, "Yeah right. They probably didn't think that I'd wake up so soon but I have a feeling that old man who tortured me left them on. He is no longer here...I know that for a fact. Thank you old man, whoever you were. Now...how to get out of here." The single broken bar was not enough for him but he supposed that squeezing out might work, so he approached the iron bar once more, this time he grabbed it with both hands, and began to bend it using all of his body weight as leverage. It moved just enough for him, Maiku started to squeeze his body out of it, but half way through he was stuck, and this only prompted him to laugh in the darkness. It echoed around him, "Yeah...this is funny. Stuck between two iron prisons." He began to wiggle and push until he popped out of his wedge and landed on his side on the cold floor.
A hiss escaped his mouth but he managed to recover to his feet, he crept around the dungeon, unfamiliar with it, but remembering that Linweh had locked her brother in it one time. This made him smile, there was still hope if he didn't see any one else in the dungeon, "That means they got away but how?" He only shook his head and decided that he wanted his sword back so he closed his eyes; he let his consciousness flow into the sword, he felt it, it was close. When he reopened his eyes, they were glowing with the power of the Essence Blade. "I may have been locked away but that's not going to stop me from killing all three of them." Once more he ground his teeth and began to make his way out of the dungeon, his mind-set on getting Oni's sword back. "Maybe if I get it back, he'll return too." The ranch hand pushed open the door, he glanced around, emerged into the hall, closed the door behind him, and began to move quietly through the castle.
Voices were approaching him, so he ducked into a niche, the guards passed by, stating that some sword was still surrounded by three elements and that not even their lord could get to it. Maiku grinned, I knew it. It's being protected by Oni and the essences. Now the grin on his face could not be wiped off as he began his stealthy traversing once more, he would hide whenever there were soldiers, and reappear when they had passed. He didn't want to alert any one to his presence. Once through a few passages, wrong turns, and dead ends, Maiku managed to finally find the room where his sword was being kept, luckily there wasn't any one around since it didn't need to be guarded. Maiku crept inside, the doors had been left open so he had to be quick, the ranch hand approached the sword that was encased in fire, water, and earth. He reached out a hand to it, the elements diminished as it recognized its master. He smiled with tears in his eyes, he grabbed the sheath, strapped it across his bare chest, and was relieved at the weight but his wounds still stung. Instantly he felt revitalized at having his old friend back and his consciousness connected to the sword. Oni? Silence for now and he sighed, What took you so long Maiku? The ranch hand wanted to cry or shout with joy but he had to get out. "Iron bars and some semblance of being unconscious. How long has it been?" Six months we've been apart. "Not anymore." You sound different Maiku. "Oh I am." I see. "Check my most recent memories and you'll see why." Nothing more was said as the adopted son of Malon began to sneak his way around the castle once more, he made it to the stables only to see Nightrunner, he grinned at his other old friend. The moment that Maiku mounted him bare back, the bells clanged to reveal his escape, he patted the stallion's neck and whispered, "Fly like the wind." Nothing more was needed from the human as the horse bolted out of his unlocked stall, he ran through the market, knocking over guards and avoiding merchants, Nightrunner ran across the drawbridge and into the field just as the sun set against the horizon.
-::::::-
Maiku...Maiku...Maiku wake up! He blinked a few times to see that night had fallen, "Sorry Oni. I must have passed out, I haven't eaten anything good, nor had proper rest so I'm worn out. But I won't give up. Are the others safe? Do you know?" They are safe. Nightrunner is taking us to them by way of losing our followers. Your sword has automatically been covering up his tracks. Your consciousness and the sword's have merged. You do not need to have it with you in order to use the elements that are harbored within it. Maiku nodded, "That means if they take my sword again, I'm going to have it turn into a fire pit for the person holding it." Oni laughed while Maiku grinned and held onto Nightrunner's mane, "I hope they'll still recognize me." You are the only one with white hair and yet you've managed to gain more muscle and keep your tan through these six months. Maiku chuckled, "Must be all that Lon Lon Milk I grew up on." It must be or it's from what you had to endure. Maiku laughed with Oni out loud but quickly silenced himself as he felt pain in his side, apparently there was a bruise there that he had not noticed. "Heh...must have been from when I got stuck." There was renewed laughter in his mind from Oni as the memory was brought forth and Maiku shook his head, "Shut up Oni, you're going to make me laugh again." Oni continued to laugh while Maiku chuckled and Nightrunner soon slowed to a trot as he approached FireFly Village. FireFly Village, the rebels outpost and before you ask, the gate was installed to keep out intruders. Only two horses are capable of jumping that fence, one of which you already know from Hyrule. "Epona...I'm glad the fence is there. Once inside I can fall off onto the ground and maybe someone will find me in the morning." Once more the crazed deity inside his mind howled with laughter, "Yeah yeah."
Nightrunner whinnied, it echoed across the field, the black stallion picked up his pace once more and charged straight for the fence. Maiku gripped the base of his mane tightly, ground his teeth together, and moved with the stallion. The horse launched his massive weight high into the air, for a brief second Maiku felt as if he was flying but that was soon demolished as they hit the ground and it jarred the bruise on his side. Maiku felt dizzy and saw black spots swim in his vision, Nightrunner had slowed down to a walk before stopping completely, and looked over at the rider on his back as his consciousness slipped away and he fell off the horse onto the ground. Nightrunner snorted and Oni chuckled, Such a silly child.
"Is he alive?" came a female voice.
"Yeah but barely. I don't know how he managed to survive," came another female voice but older.
"He'll get better right?" a male voice this time.
"Yes, he'll get better," a stern older male voice.
"He'll heal with some milk from home," a woman's voice that he knew all too well.
Maiku abruptly sat up, to stare into the blue eyes framed by red hair that he knew all to well. "M-mother!" She smiled at him, Maiku immediately took her into an embrace, whoever was present smiled at him, he could feel the tears at the corners of his eyes once more, too overjoyed to see her there, and to feel her. When they parted he looked at her, to make sure she was fine, "How..did you get here?"
She smiled, "Link had sent a letter to me the moment that the princess was found to prepare me to come over here, so I did. I brought your favorite cow with us as well as Epona." Maiku sighed happily until he took note of the others in the room, his eyes settled on the king of Telthar, the queen, Lir, and Linweh. "Linweh helped with your wounds as did Lir. They know the land quite well."
He quirked an eyebrow at Lir who became bashful as he said, "Rimar used to put us to work with the villagers so we know about the herbs here."
Maiku nodded and watched as Linweh approached him, she hugged him tightly before relinquishing him to glance around, he wrapped a hand around the arrowhead, "Where's Link?" Everyone parted ways to show that he was there, standing by the wall with Sergei. Maiku looked at him and gave a smirk, "I never expected to find out so suddenly but I did when I was thinking about the soldiers I fought, somehow I never noticed it when I was sixteen that your arrows you spilled onto the floor had the same arrowhead that was around my neck. I feel like an idiot for not noticing."
Link grinned, "It's alright. Don't worry about it. I'll understand if you don't want me in your life any more."
Maiku barked laughter which ended in a hiss as he gripped his bruised side, "I would never have you out of my life since you were there. You may not have told me but you were there and that's enough for me." Link nodded with tears in his own eyes as he hugged his son for the first time since his birth. Maiku patted his back after a few minutes and sighed happily. "I need some decent sleep, food, then we can start training." Everyone stared at him while his eyes narrowed, "I'll kill all three of them." The others nodded as they filed out, he grabbed Malon's wrist and asked, "Can you find Blaze for me?" She nodded and kissed his forehead before leaving him alone to get his rest.
After many days of bed rest and proper nourishment, Maiku found himself sweating and looking at a bewildered Link. The Hero of Time was on his back on the ground with the Master Sword flung away from him, Maiku was breathing heavily but sheathed his sword, and put a hand out to his father. When Link got up, retrieved his sword, he looked at Maiku and asked, "You've gotten stronger."
His son smiled, "It's from all that milk I drank as a kid." Link smiled but shook his head and it was then that Maiku's eyes darkened, "Seriously, torture will do that to someone."
Link entered the house of Rimar and sat down with Malon as they watched him from the windows, he ran a hand through his hair while Malon glanced at him with a worried expression. "I'm concerned that being in that prison has skewed his mind."
"What do you mean?"
"He was tortured down there, by who, I don't know but Maiku didn't talk about this torturer with disdain so it leads me to believe that it was someone who didn't want to do it." Malon nodded and looked at her son with worry, "There's nothing we can do Malon but I have a feeling that someone from my past is going to help him. Someone who has helped him all his life." She nodded as he added, "This is his chosen path and we can do nothing more to help him."
"At least he'll be happy to see Blaze. I told him that Maiku had returned and he immediately ran to the fields to find something."
"Probably a present for the boy."
Malon smiled and sat down next to Link, "At least you can call him your son openly."
Link smirked, "Yes I can but I don't want him to find out about his mother yet. Right now, he's going to need all the anger he can muster to get stronger for the last battle."
"Yes why haven't they come looking for us?"
"They know that we'll go to them."
"I see..."
"Don't worry Malon. Maiku is protected by a lot more than just those gems on his sword."
The farm girl smiled and looked out the window at her son, "I know." Link smiled as he pulled her onto his lap, she looked down at him, and asked, "What is it?"
"When all this is over I have something to ask you." Malon simply nodded as she kissed him before turning to stare at her son once more. The farm girl knew that he was different, stronger, determined, and she also knew that he harbored a darkness inside of him that would only manifest when he faced Ganondorf but she wasn't about to tell any one that. But Link seemed to sense it, "That darkness will be his best ally." Once more Malon nodded before kissing the hero again, she stayed there on his lap, and watched her son train and Link watched with her. How things would have been different if Malon and I married all those years ago. It seems like another time but Maiku...Oni protect him. His darkside piped in, Don't worry. That crazy deity is bound to protect him since they have formed a bond much like you and I. Link smirked in response to Shadow, I know Shadow. I know all too well that bond. There was laughter echoing in his mind.
