Hello and a belated Merry Christmas to you all; I didn't get one, but I hope you did. This new chapter here, think of it as a belated Christmas present.
Lana's brow furrowed as she gazed over the wide map before her. As soon as she had finished her breakfast she had gone into her room and started planning; planning to get Link out of the temple. Away from Cia. To Hyrule Castle.
'I must get Link to Hyrule Castle… I must!' she thought to herself as she furiously wracked her brain to figure out their route to Hyrule Castle.
She hadn't slept well the past few nights… fearing for Link's well-being.
…
The day before…
Lana was wandering around the temple; looking for Cia. Link's arm and leg were still healing, but the two guardian of time had decided to educate Link (who had grown bored of lying in bed all day or sitting in a chair.)
Right now, it was Cia's turn to teach Link; as the elder of the two guardians, by eons, it came without question that Cia would handle old history, while Lana would teach more recent or perennial subjects such as geography.
But now Cia was missing and Lana had to look for her.
'Odd,' thought the white sorceress to herself, 'I have searched the kitchen, the courtyard, the gardens… even the observatory…'
The white sorceress began to think more.
'That leaves the lower levels… but what would she do there?'
Like many castles, the temple of souls also had a network of halls and tunnels beneath the ground level. Unlike castles these lower levels did not include dungeons or catacombs or such. These were plainly for storage.
All except one area.
'But what would she be doing in the alchemist's laboratory?' thought Lana to herself as she descended into the lower levels, 'She hasn't been here in ages!'
During Cia's eons-long life, she had watched and seen countless things and people. And as a sorceress she had taken quite an interest in things such as astrology, augury, and such. Another thing that had once claimed her interest was alchemy; though she did not deeply immerse herself in that art.
But, on occasion, she had tried, with some success, to turn granite and sandstone into rupees.
Actually she had found that it was much easier to make rupees if you extracted all the necessary minerals and make the rupees out of them.
To this age, alchemists still hadn't figured that trick out.
Lana was still making her way from some tunnel when she heard something that chilled her heart.
"…ha ha… MWAHAHAHAHA!"
At once Lana froze.
"…this is it… this is PERFECT! With this… Link will surely love me!"
Lana inhaled sharply.
'…s-she didn't- She didn't-!'
"…just one sip of this… and Link will love me forever!"
At once Lana broke into a sprint.
"CIA!"
Soon she stood in the doorway of the alchemist laboratory. Breathing heavily, she took all in she saw.
There in the middle of the room, before a long table full of flasks, bottles, tubes, pots and what else not, stood Cia. With a vial of a suspicious looking reddish-colored liquid in her hands.
At once Lana rushed over and before the bewildered Cia could react, she knocked the tube out of her hand. The glass tube shattered on the floor, spilling the red liquid like blood.
"Ow!" cried Cia and held her hand. Then she glared, "Lana, what in Din's blazes is wrong with you?!"
"What's wrong with me?!" screamed Lana back, "What's wrong with you, you mean!"
Startled by Lana's outburst Cia leapt a step back.
"W-what do you mean?!"
"What do I mean?! You know exactly what I mean!" Lana pointed accusingly to the beaker behind Cia, "How dare you brew such an evil concoction?!"
"What do you mean 'evil concoction?!'" cried Cia outraged, "It's fine! And it tastes great!"
Cia quickly refilled another vial and held it out to Lana, "See for yourself, there's nothing wrong with it!"
Bewildered Lana took a step back.
'Why would she-?!'
Cia pushed the glass tube into Lana's hand.
"Go on, drink it," She said in a challenging voice.
Thoroughly befuddled, Lana's eyes jumped back and forth, from Cia to the vial to Cia.
'Why would she-wait.'
Cautiously, testingly, Lana took a tiny, tiny sip.
Then she nearly slumped in relief.
"Oh… it's just some deku-fruit cordial…" Lana breathed out another sigh of relief, "…I thought you had brewed a love potion for Link-"
"Lana, are you mad?!" Cia almost screamed, "By the goddess of time, I would never do that!"
Lana wasn't convinced.
"…really?"
"Of course not!" Cia's face was one of genuine indignation "Why, just the very idea of it!"
The guardian of time took a moment to gather herself.
"…First of all; we both know that the desired effects are only temporary-"
"Cia!"
"What?!" asked Cia in genuine confusion, "I don't want Link to love me only for a day or so! I want him to love me forever! And I want him to truly love me and not just because of some unreliable drug!"
Lana just face-palmed.
'Yep… that's Cia, alright…'
"I cannot continuously drug him either… I'd have to increase the potency by and by… and I would never forgive myself if he manifested any of those goddess-awful side-effects!"
Lana froze. And blanched.
"…I wouldn't mind so much the possibly resulting permanent erection-"
"Cia!"
"-but goddess of time! - chances are that he will end up with an erectile dysfunction! Possibly impotence! I cannot risk that! I won't! And don't get me started on the possibly resulting brain damage and mental retardation!"
At that point Lana just gave up.
"Alright, I get it! There is no way in the Cursed Realm that you would ever use a love potion to gain Link's love…"
"…well… if there was one that is safe to use…"
"CIA!"
…
Lana shivered as a glimpse of yesterday flitted through her mind.
'I have to get Link out of here…' she thought, remembering the other day Cia had proposed that once Link was old and experienced enough he should gather all the Triforce pieces so that they could keep the complete Triforce in the temple of souls… forever.
Cia had claimed that this was another necessary step to ensure Hyrule's eternal peace and safety; without the Triforce in Hyrule, Hyrule would never again descend into a civil war, or be invaded again by another country.
Of course, the peace and safety of Hyrule were not really Cia's concern… but since Link was Hyrule's going be to eternal guardian (via her own machinations), Triforce or not, Ganondorf or not, if Hyrule was in danger, Link had to save it, meaning he'd have to leave the temple of souls… and Cia.
So, the more peace Hyrule experienced, the less Link was needed, and thus the more time, Cia reasoned, Cia and Lana could have Link to themselves…
'Cia has totally gone insane…'
Before Cia had tried to conquer Hyrule so that she could have Link all to herself. None she was determined to do whatever she could to bring Hyrule ever-lasting peace and prosperity… so that her Link wasn't needed and thus could stay with her.
'I've got to get Link out of here…'
With that thought in mind, Lana focused back on the map before her.
It was a huge map. Of Hyrule and its neighboring provinces. And standing on the map, placed by Lana, were several figurines.
Figurines of monsters, soldiers and more.
Back when Cia had been possessed by Ganondorf's evil, Cia and her second-in-commands had used these figurines when they were planning their battles and their conquest of Hyrule.
The figurines were rather well-made, after Cia had been purified, Cia and Lana had felt it a shame to throw them away. Now, most of the time these figurines were nothing more than decorative items.
Occasionally though, Cia and Lana would bring them out, and use them… as chess pieces.
Which figurine would be what chess piece depended on how the two guardians of time felt.
It would usually go like this…
First, they'd flip a coin, and whoever won could choose her first figurine... meaning, Link's figurine; Link, the Hyrule Warrior, mounted upon Epona, Mastersword in hand... and the figurine wasn't just any plain color, it was carefully colored; one would think it would come to life at any moment (as were all the other figurines…)
Needless to say it was both Lana's and Cia's favorite, and every time they played chess, they both wanted to have it as their game piece.
Neither Lana nor Cia however would pick it as their king. After all, Link? Sluggishly moving across the board? One step at a time? Hiding behind allies from the enemy?
True, it would be fitting that if you defeated Link you had won the game but...
Which is why Lana and Cia would always use Link as their queen; the most powerful and versatile piece on the chessboard. It had quickly become an unwritten rule that if you "defeated" Link, you could "capture" him and use him as your own queen once you promoted a pawn.
For the role of the king, Cia would usually choose her own figurine, or rather either of the two; the "dark" Cia if she got black, but preferably her guardian of time figurine.
She would do so every time she got lucky and got to use Link's figurine... Link and herself, queen and king, side-by-side on the chessboard, brave Link fighting to protect his beloved Cia...
She really had it bad.
Lana thought so too which is why whether she got hold of Link's figurine or not, she'd pick Zelda's figurine as her king (though she really wanted to pick her own figurine like Cia did!)
Her own figurine she would usually assign the role of a bishop or knight. Or both, seeing that they now had also two figurines of Lana; one white sorceress and one young guardian of time.
If she didn't get Link's figurine, she would pick Impa's figurine to be Zelda's queen. Else, Impa would act as a rook.
For the other rook Lana sometimes picked Darunia.
Things easily got confusing if they choose to play with too many unique looking figurines, so they usually just picked the unique ones for their queen and king.
Sometimes though, or rather rarely, Linkle was chosen as a knight. So was the Imp Midna. The "true" Midna would act as a rook the rare times she came into play.
And it was the unspoken rule that there could only be one of the two Midna figurines; either the imp, or the princess.
The few times Cia or Lana chose to use Ruto's figurine it would be as a knight...
But to keep things simple the set up would usually be this:
Cia and Zelda would be the kings.
Link and his dark counterpart (or Impa) would act as the queens.
The bishops would be hylian soldiers, light calvarymen on the white side. On the dark side... their dark counterparts. Or bublin riders.
The knights... Hyrulean mages for white, dark ones or bublin archers for black.
The rooks... for white, hyrulean armored calvalry; hyrulean captains mounted on armoured horses. Dark equivalents for black, or bublin captains mounted upon large bublos.
The pawns... hyrulean infantry soldiers for white. Again their dark equivalents for black, or else bublins on foot, armed with clubs.
In very rare cases, Cia and Lana would use the 'evil' figurines.
Ganondorf as the king.
His beastform Ganon as the queen.
His two grandmothers as bishops.
Ghirahim and Vaati as knights.
The twin dragons Volga and Onox as the rooks.
And bublins as the pawns.
Now, though; Lana put these figurines to their old use: on a warmap.
Placing the figurines of Ganondorf and the bublins and what not other monsters where Ganondorf's hidden monster camps were, Lana tried to figure out where best to travel. Avoiding them.
She was still assessing the situation when Cia came in.
"Here you are Lana... Link was worried about you."
Lana froze, and blusehd, "He was...?"
"Yes, Lana..." nodded Cia, "He said you have been acting strange lately..."
With that she let her gaze pass over the map. And the figurines on it.
She frowned, "Are you planning another trip to Hyrule Castle?"
That brought Lana back, "Y-yes."
"What for?" wanted Cia to know, "You already tried to warn the king; in vain..."
Then she sighed.
"We really should have seen that one coming..." began the guardian of time, "After all, other than the Red King of Lions, King Daphnes, every king that ruled during a period of disaster has been more detrimental than helpful."
Lana winched, "That's true..."
Cia sagely nodded and gazed once again over the warmap. Then her brow furrowed.
Lana had arranged some figurines into closely set groups, there where the camps were, but other figurines were arranged in circles, around the camp… most likely the possible locations or routes of scouts.
And she hadn't just placed figurines of Ganondorf's warriors on the map; she had also placed the figurines of monsters and wild dangerous beasts, like wolvos, on the areas accordingly to their territories.
"You are being extra careful, I see..."
"W-well," began Lana, "Ganondorf's forces are everywhere so..."
Cia slowly nodded, but was not fully convinced.
Then she noticed something on the far corner of the map. Something that made her want to slap herself.
'How did I not see that?!'
There on the far corner stood two more figurines... Lana's and Link's, the hero of time's, when he had been a young boy!
Cia casually picked up that figurine.
Lana froze and felt her heart drop.
Cia feigning ignorance turned the figurine over and over between her fingers, observing it from every possible angle, as though it was the first time she had ever seen that figurine...
...which was bulbowash! She knew every inch of that figurine! Not only was that figurine one of her favorites... she had made it herself!
"Say…" began Cia, "Shall we have a game of chess?"
Lana was totally thrown off by the question, "…what?"
"A game of chess," repeated Cia, "It's been a while since we last played. And last time we ended at a draw."
"O-okay…" said Lana and went to fetch the chessboard.
She was just about to set up her figurines when she froze.
Cia had placed two figurines on her side of the chessboard. Her own figurine as the queen… and the figurine of little Link, the young hero of time… as her king.
Before Lana could react Cia had picked up Lana's figurine and placed it on Lana's side of the chessboard. On the king's field!
Before long Lana found herself staring at little Link's figurine… surrounded and guarded by Dark Links, Dark Hyrulean Soldiers… and most importantly… by queen Cia!
It became eerily quiet in Lana's room, and Lana ominously calmly set up her figurines.
"Why was Link's figurine on the map?" asked Cia in a dreadfully calm voice as she made her first move; moving a dark pawn forward.
Lana didn't answer. She sent one of her pawns forward to block Cia's.
Cia moved another pawn two fields forward.
"He won't be coming with you... after all."
Not only was that not a question... Cia's tone also made it clear that it wasn't open for discussion.
In response Lana moved her queen, her own figurine, forward. (She had chosen an older Link as her king.)
"He will."
Cia immediately flickered from the chessboard to Lana. The expression on Cia's face had only subtly changed, but even the smallest change can make the difference between life and death.
Cia's eyes practically burned. The air around her shifted.
"Come again...?" she asked as moved her own figurine, her herself queen, forward.
Lana set one of her knights 'free'. Her eyes burned... with defiance. And the air around her also shifted.
"Link is coming with me..." she said slowly, "I'm taking him to Hyrule Castle."
The air in the room grew hot and heavy. On her arms, Lana tiny hairs stood on end.
"You will do no such thing..." said Cia in a slow voice that tolerated no otherwise, as she set her own knight loose.
Lana's eyes began to glow; not figuratively but literally! And her hair began to visibly shift with the air around her.
"I'm taking Link to Hyrule Castle..." she said once more, "It's what's best for Link..."
Immediately the tension inside the room went away; just like that.
Cia relaxed her aura and snorted.
"You're joking, right?"
A moment, Lana was confused by this abrupt chance in Cia, but then she regathered her will.
"I am not-"
"You want to lead Link through a land full of monsters, warriors, raiders, bounty-hunters, kidnappers and the goddesses know what kinds of other greedy criminals all out for Link?" Cia dismissively gestured to the map with all the figurines, which still lay undisturbed where it had been, "That's not what's best for Link; that's insane! You'll practically deliver him to Ganondorf himself!"
With that she protectively moved her little Link into a safe castle.
"It doesn't matter how carefully you plan your route; it won't work! Not only are Ganondorf's warriors raiding every village and town they can; his spies are in every village and town they can't!" reminded Cia her 'little sister', "Even in towns that are supposedly 'safe' Hylian boys and men just vanish! Sometimes their own villages, or even parents, sell them out! Just so that the rest of the village is safe! Or simply for the money! How do you expect to bring our little Link like this through Hyrule?"
Lana gnawed on her lower lip. Still thinking of an answer she reached to move on of her pieces.
"…you are not going to dress him up as a little girl and say he's your little sister, are you?"
Lana's erupted into a furious blush!
…and the chess game was over; she had knocked all figurines all over the place!
"O-of course not, Cia! What's wrong with you?!"
Cia shrugged.
"Well… there were a couple of guys who tried that; dressing up as women to fool Ganondorf and his henchmen… it didn't work for long…"
Lana said nothing.
Cia in the meantime looked up thoughtfully.
"Well… I guess I won't mind seeing Link dress up as a cute, little girl just once-"
"Cia!"
"-but I don't think Link will like you any more if you force him to-"
"Cia! I am NOT going to dress up Link as a girl!"
The guardian of time looked at her 'younger sister,' eyebrow raised.
"…you sure?"
"Yes!"
"You swear?"
"YES!"
"In the name of the goddess of time herself?"
"In the name of the goddess of time herself!"
"Very well then!" said Cia with a triumphant smile, "I guess that's it with your plans of bringing Link out of here-"
"No! I WILL bring Link to Hyrule Castle! I will find a way! You have my word for it."
Cia gave an impatient sigh.
"Very well then…" she said, humoring her 'little sister,' "How are you going to sneak a little Hylian boy all the way to Hyrule Castle?"
Lana remained silent.
"Face it, Lana; you can't! Even if you disguise him. Ganondorf's men will stop at nothing to find the chosen hero. They have even ambushed women and torn off their clothes just to see if a man or a boy is hiding underneath the dress. Some desperate mother cut off her son's and her own eartips hoping it would hide their Hylian lineage. It didn't."
Lana clenched her fists.
"So… how are you going to sneak Link into Hyrule Castle unnoticed?" challenged again Cia, "Don't tell me you are going to turn Link into an animal or something; you don't know how to do that kind of magic; neither of us does."
Lana pouted at the truth of this. Cia got an idea though.
'Wait… shapeshifting…!' Cia remembered the heroes of time and twilight, 'Maybe Link has the gift of a shapeshifter…!'
Cia knew practically nothing about shapeshifting. She was one of the more common mages, who used their powers to affect the world around them; their spells, their magic would manifest in their environment. Shapeshifters though… and other body manipulation mages, used their magic to bring about changes in their own body; their spells took effect on and inside bodies.
She decided that she would research more on this in the temple's library.
…after Lana had given up on her foolish idea of bringing Link to Hyrule Castle!
"Face it, Lana, it can't be done. It's too dangerous."
"I'll protect him," said Lana determinedly.
Cia eyed her for a moment, then she sighed.
"I know you will, and I know you are good…" she said, "But you cannot fight off hordes of monsters all on your own for long. Especially while trying to shield a little boy at the same time. And most importantly; you cannot defeat Ganondorf… you know that. You have seen his strength."
Lana clenched her fist. Then she looked up.
"But you could…" said Lana.
At that the guardian of time looked up, lost in thought.
"…maybe. But I am pretty sure I'd die in the process…"
"Then let's fight him together!"
At that Cia smiled pityingly at her 'little sister.'
"Lana…You want me to deliver Link to Princess Zelda? And risk his and my life in the process…? Now that I finally have the chance of an eternity to be with him?" asked Cia in mock-amusement, "Sweetie… you know me better than that…"
Lana slumped dejectedly.
'…why did I even try…'
"Besides… even if Link agreed to go, even if I agreed to help, even if we succeeded at bringing Link to Hyrule Castle, it'd still be for nothing."
At that Lana raised her head again.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it," said Cia, "Once you have reached, against all logic, Hyrule Castletown, what will you do then?"
Lana seemed confused by the question.
"I will take Link to see the king and-"
"-and some stupid guard will stand in your way and say 'You can't see the king, go home.'"
Lana groaned in displeasure.
"After all, that's what they always do… that's what they always did… they always get in the way," went Cia on, "That's exactly what happened when you tried to warn the King a couple of days back, remember?"
Lana moaned almost in despair. Cia didn't blame her.
'Those guards and soldiers are nothing but troublesome obstacles!' thought Cia to herself, 'To think… Link is hero chosen by Hylia herself… and every time he goes to see the princess of destiny to serve the reincarnated goddess as he ought to, those dimwits get in the way! But Ganondorf and his evil henchmen? They can pass without hassle!'
"I'll get past them!" answered Lana irritably.
Cia humphed, "Oh… you will… no doubt about it!"
That was another thing Cia disliked about Hyrulean soldiers and castle guards; not only were they in the way… they were easy to find a way around! So really, what was their purpose?! What good is a guard who gets in your way to prevent you from passing, yet is easy to pass?!
'…useless nuisances…' thought Cia.
Lana's next words got her out of her thoughts.
"Anyway, once I'm past the guards I will take Link to the king and-"
"And he won't listen to you…" finished Cia, "Just like every other king who ruled during an era of disaster. He won't believe a word you say, he won't listen, and he then will ask some guards to show you the way out… meaning, he'll throw you out. We've had this before."
Lana grunted angrily.
That was another reason Hyrule always got conquered; because of her ignorant king! How many times could Hyrule have been saved, if only her king had listened to the warnings? How many lives could have been spared if only the damn king of Hyrule had kept his ears AND mind open?!
'Just imagine…' thought Cia while shaking her head, 'Back during the era of the hero of time, his little daughter princess Zelda could tell that the Gerudo King Ganondorf was up to no good… Seriously! Everyone could have told that he was a shady character! It's not as though he made it a secret or anything… his very clothes screamed; 'Watch out! Dangerous Desert Bandit!' But no… he invited the demon king right into his throneroom! And told his daughter not to worry!'
"I'll speak to his daughter-"
"Lana…" cut in Cia in a 'Oh please…' tone, "Princess Zelda is just a little girl! As little and young and naive as our littleLink!"
Cia shook her head.
"She hasn't even started her formal royal education yet! All she knows is how to bow and be polite to visitors! The rest of the time she practically spends playing with her little dolls in her pretty little dresses! Why you told me, when you went to the castle she was hiding behind Impa like a scared little kid. What can she do to help Link?"
Lana growled.
"I'll speak to Impa-"
"Impa is nothing more than a royal sheikah guardian," cut in Cia, "True, she is currently the strongest sheikah in the clan. True, she is the strongest, wisest, most experienced, knowledgeable, loyal knight in Hyrule. True, she is a trusted friend of the king and princess. True she could take in Link and prepare him for his role-But-!" Cut in Cia before Lana could, "She has no power in court! Her opinion does not matter in the throneroom. She can't do anything to sway the king or his council. And she is absolutely and unquestionably loyal to the crown."
Lana felt like straggling Cia. And the castleguards. And the king. And Impa. And everybody else.
"But let us assume that Dame Impa agrees to take Link in…" continued Cia, "Why would she take him in a squire? Link is just a homeless little farmboy… Why would she train him in the arts of war? Why teach him the way of the sword? Link will probably just end up as some lowly castle servant instead, maybe a kitchenboy or a stableboy-"
"The Triforce!"
Cia looked up in surprise.
"The Triforce of Courage!" said Lana, "Once Impa sees it-"
"IF she sees it you mean," cut in Cia, "The Triforce of Courage hasn't revealed itself yet and there is no telling when it will."
Lana muttered ancient curses under her breath.
"You are right… once Impa sees the Triforce of Courage, she will probably act accordingly… but if the wrong people learn that Link has the Triforce of Courage… that he is the boy Ganondorf is looking for…"
Lana fell silent.
"…then there is no telling what will happen. At best, the king will take in Link as a squire and have him guarded... but I think it more likely…" Cia looked up thoughtfully, "Some councilor will suggest banishing Link from the castle… if not the entire kingdom… another will suggest giving Link to Ganondorf in exchange for Hyrule's safety… another will suggest locking Link away somewhere where Ganondorf will never find him… and that one advisor that spoke out against you will probably stab the king and all of Hyrule in the back and sell out Link to Ganondorf. And if he can't sneak out Link to Ganondorf, Ganondorf will simply invade the castle and capture Princess Zelda and Link all together!"
Lana had the sudden urge to pull out her wand and blow up something up… Anything!
"But let us assume everything so far will go as you wish…" continued Cia, emphasizing on: "…which it won't!"
"Let us assume Link will agree to go with you… which he won't!"
"Let us assume I will help you… which I won't!"
"Let's assume we will deliver Link successfully across Hyrule to the king… which we won't!"
"Let us assume the king listens to us and agrees to our demands… which he won't!"
"Let us assume Link will be safe in Hyrule Castle from Ganondorf… which he won't be!"
Cia took a breath to deal the finishing touch.
"It is still better he stays here with us."
Lana raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"And why is that?"
"What can they teach him?" asked Cia.
Lana was slightly puzzled by the question, "Why… how to fight of course!"
"Correct!" conformed Cia, "They can teach him how to use a sword. They can teach him how to use a shield. They can teach him how to shoot with bow and arrow. They can teach him how to ride a horse. But's that's it! And that's not enough!"
Lana looked perplexed, "What else does Link need to know?"
"How to fight monsters?" asked Cia, "How to recognize them? How to effectively dispatch them? Not all monsters can be slayed by a sword or arrow. And what about evil magic users? What about the forgotten temples? What about magical artifacts? Who is going to teach him those in the castle?"
Lana's reply was swift, "We can."
"You want us to stay in Hyrule Castle?" Cia shook her head without waiting for an answer, "One of us has to stay here; speaking of which; that kills your idea of both of us bringing Link to Hyrule Castle. But more importantly; in order to teach Link we would need our library here; without it…"
Lana had to swallow yet another bottle of bitter tasting chu jelly.
"To help Link, we might even have to use the eye into eternity," went on Cia, "And you know that we cannot take it out of the temple of souls!"
Lana just remained silent.
"See? It really is best if Link stays-"
"NO! HE CAN'T STAY!" roared Lana in frustration.
Cia sighed, and began to speak-
But then her eyes widened and her face shifted to one of horror!
Lana's head whipped around-
And her face too grew horrified.
There in the doorway, despite his still healing injuries, stood poor little Link.
Dejected…
…with a look of betrayal on his face…
At that moment Cia wanted to slap herself.
Lana had finally gotten her way and they had prepared a separate bedroom for Link…
Or so Lana had thought!
The truth was Cia had graciously let her have her way because… she had known that Link would return to her! Though Link had, mentally, much recovered, he was still from time to time plagued by nightmares! He had also developed a fear for the dark.
Which is why time and time again, much to Lana's chagrin, Link would sneak back to Cia, who had been always sleeping with and comforting him!
'He must have had another of his nightmares…' realized Cia, 'He must have come looking for me…'
If the timing hadn't been so bad she would have gushed.
Tears gathered at the corner of poor little Link's eyes. Soon he would-
"UWAAHHH!" bawled Lana as she threw her arms around Link, "I'msorryLinkI'msosorry! Ididn'tmeantto!"
Link said nothing. He just cried silently.
"…you said I could stay…"
Lana swiftly pulled back so that she could look at Link.
"Link I-!" she groped around for an answer, "I want you to stay! I do! If it were for me you could stay here forever!"
Link just cried some more.
When Lana spoke next seemed to break her heart, "But you can't! This is the temple of souls! Only Cia and I are supposed to be here… in the first place; you shouldn't even be here!"
"WAIT!"
Startled by her sudden cry, both Link and Lana looked over to Cia.
Who had a mystified expression on her face.
"You're right…" said Cia in wonderment, "He really shouldn't be he-Ohnononono!"
As soon as she saw her poor little Link tear up again she rushed over and took Link (out of Lana's) into her arms.
"I'm sorry, Link… I didn't mean it… not like that…" she tried to make it up to her dear little Link.
Then she pulled back to look at him.
"Link sweetie… how did you find your way here?" asked Cia wondering, "This temple is a magical place; no one can come here, unless I or Lana lead them here… You cannot just stumble upon this place… Some people have spent their entire lives searching for this temple and never found it…"
She looked at her little Link questioningly.
"How did you find your way here?"
Realizing the truth of her words, Lana also came closer; Link apparently hadn't told them everything… not that she blamed him! It had been a very traumatizing night for him…
After a moment Link answered, "… a fairy."
"A fairy?"
Little Link nodded his head.
"Uh-huh… a fairy told me the way…"
…
"Find the boy… find him…!"
Link struggled hard not to make any sound, keeping his hands tightly clapped on his mouth. His legs had finally given out on him… he had barely managed to crawl into an abandoned animal den, at the roots of some big tree.
Outside, the storm raged on. Outside, the horned riders kept searching.
"Pst, hey you! Little hylian!"
Startled, Link's head whipped around. There before him floated a faintly yellow glowing fairy.
"SH! Be quiet!" she warned, "I'll help you, but you have to be quiet."
Still keeping his hands tightly clapped on his mouth, little Link nodded.
"Okay, listen close… I'll distract them, and you run! Keep running, but follow the moon!" she urged, "There is a temple close by… from here, all you have to do is follow the moon. Follow the moon and keep your eyes about! Once you see the temple, go there and get inside the walls that surround the temple! Once you are within the walls you are safe. Got it?"
Little Link nodded.
"Okay; now here goes…" the fairy got ready to fly out, "Ready… go!"
With that Link hurtled himself into the night again.
…
"I see…" said Cia in understanding, "So a fairy told you the way…"
'So that's how he found his way here…' thought Lana, 'That's how he escaped those bublin riders…'
"Well that's settles it!" said Cia with a big smile, "You can stay here!"
Lana's head immediately whipped over, "Wha-?"
"Can I really?!" asked Link hopefully.
"Yes, Link," said Cia triumphantly, "If a fairy guided you here, then the goddesses themselves must have wanted this-"
"Cia!"
"-you see…" went Cia on, "Fairies do not appear to just anybody… or have you met any fairies before, Link?"
Little Link shook his head.
"See? And they don't just go around saving people either," Cia explained, "Fairies usually serve some greater deity, such as the Great Deku Tree or the Great Fairies, who themselves carry out the wills of the golden goddesses here on our world. If a fairy guided you here, then the goddesses themselves must want you to stay here."
"Ci-!"
"Then I can stay?" cried Link excitedly.
"Yes Link…" answered Cia in a warm tone as she picked up Link (whose leg was still healing) "Both Lana and I serve the goddesses, and if they want you to stay…"
"And even if they hadn't decreed it, I'll still let you stay!" Cia added to shut up Lana once and for all, "The goddess of time left me in charge of this temple, so as the elder guardian of time I give you special permission to stay; even if you are not a guardian!"
Lana was speechless.
Link was ecstatic.
"…thank you Cia…" he mumbled as he buried himself into her embrace, "…thank you so much…"
Cia pressed a gentle kiss upon his brow.
"…you are welcome Link…" she cooed, "…do you think you will you be able to sleep now?"
Little Link just nodded his head.
"Good… you need your sleep Link… your wounds are still healing after all…"
With that, Cia left off, carrying her dear little Link in her arms…
…leaving Lana to stand behind, looking after them.
For a good long moment she remained like that.
Then she buried her face in her hands and groaned.
'No way, he CAN'T stay!' she moaned, 'If he stays much longer I won't be able to resist! Nayru knows what I'll do!'
It wasn't just that Lana was concerned for Link's well-being.
It wasn't just that she was worried about Cia's questionable plans and intentions.
Cia was eons old, and had contented herself for ages simply watching Link from afar… unavertably, she had developed a kind of patience, that could last decades, even centuries!
And a will that could easily endure another millennia of loneliness and longing!
But Lana… Lana was only around two centuries old… she didn't have that patience! Or that strong will! She had no idea when she would crack!
…
Meanwhile, up in Link's room, Cia had just tucked her sweet little Link into bed.
"Good night Link…" she cooed before giving him a second good-night kiss, "Sweet dreams…"
Little Link yawned.
"…good night Cia…"
The guardian of time smiled and quietly made her way to the door.
Before closing it, she stared longingly at the little sleeping boy…
"I love you…" she whispered.
And gently closed the door.
"…luv yu tou…"
Cia froze and her eyes widened.
Then her lips broke into a fanatical grin, and her eyes glowered like a maniac's!
'HE'S MINE…! HE'S FINALLY MINE! '
After a moment she caught herself; Link had been half-asleep and had probably not even realized what he had said…
'BUT STILL… SOON I WILL HAVE HIM! '
With that she happily went her way.
But then she remembered somehow.
'Now… what to do about Lana…?'
Cia knew she won't just give like that… being 'sisters' there were so many things they shared, so many things they had in common.
And one thing they had in common was some big stubbornness!
'I've got to change her mind somehow…' thought Cia to herself, 'Or at the least get her to give up on bringing Link to Princess Zelda!'
Then she sighed.
"Seriously… why doesn't she just go along with my plan of making Link our eternal boyto-the eternal hero? It's the chance of an eternity!"
Again, she sighed in frustration.
"Maybe…" she began thoughtfully, "It's because Lana is my good. Maybe that's the reason she's so… prim and proper."
Again she sighed.
"I think I'm rather happy to be rid of such… restrictive feelings. Now what to do about Lana…?"
"Excuse me!"
Surprised, Cia looked whipped around.
Just before she flew smack into Cia's face, a winged ball of light managed to stop itself.
"Oh! Hello Ciela."
Ciela was a moment fairy, a fairy of time, who along with other moment fairies, stopped by the temple of souls and visited Cia and Lana from time to time.
Cia observed Ciela thoughtfully.
'I wonder what has her come here so hurriedly? One would think she ran all the way here…'
But then, while she waited for the little glowing fairy to catch her breath, Cia got an idea.
A wicked smile spread on her lips.
"Come Ciela… I made some honeydrops earlier today… would you like to have one?"
At that the fairy visibly perked up.
"You made honeydrops?! Oh, yes please let me have one!"
Honeydrops were amber-colored candy made from honey; a great favorite among fairies!
"Sure, sure… I will make some honeyed milk tea for us as well if you want."
"Oh, yes, please."
"You came just right… there is a small favor I need of you."
And that the moment fairy titled her head curiously.
"Oh?"
Well, what do you think has Cia planned this time?
I decided to include Ciela here because in some LOZ wiki, I read that she's the spirit of time or something like that so…
Well, here she is.
Well, you guys know how it goes:
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