Thank you so much for reading/reviewing this! This may sound corny, but it really means a lot to me! So, onwards to the story!
But I don't own The Legend of Zelda in any way! Except for Roy, he is my OC.
Ice melted through my veins, my body wrapped in a blanket of terror. Ganondorf's fierce yellow eyes pierced straight through mine, numbing my senses. I forcefully turned my head, penetrating Roy in a harsh glower.
"You liar!" I shrieked, as a tear unwillingly slipped down my cheek. For the slightest instant, a twinge of remorse flickered on his face, before it quickly dissipated in exchange for arrogance.
"My apologies. Let me correct myself." He bowed in derision. "Meet the new king of Hyrule."
Ganondorf smiled at this prospect, his arms tightly crossed against his chest. I bared my teeth, scanning the large expanse of the room for any possible exit. There were large openings in the sides of the room, where windows could have been placed, but it would be stupid to try to jump out.
The only other way out was through the entranceway we had just come through. Without giving it a second thought, I turned around, sprinting towards it. A laugh reverberated throughout the room, and I heard the snap of Ganondorf's fingers.
I grimaced, as unwanted visitors appeared. Now blocking my escape route were two knights cloaked in charcoal colored armor, ornamented by golden carvings. Tall helmets covered their faces, and each of their hands was locked in a giant, club-like sword. In their other hands was a shield and a smaller sword.
They firmly stood their ground in a battle position at my approach. I had absolutely no chance of defeating them with only a dagger equipped, but I took it out anyway.
I gripped it tightly, my feet frozen to the blue carpet beneath my feet. The Darknuts warily scanned me, positioned directly in front of the exit. There was no hope of escape, and another searing laugh from Ganondorf proved it.
His mockery seemed to fuel my anger, and I desperately reached for certain objects stowed in my pouch. Not waiting for hesitation to settle in, I threw three needles at one of the knights. With impeccable aim I didn't know I possessed, one of them stuck in between the slits of the left knight's helmet, while the other two casually bounced off its armor. (A/N I know that Sheik is usually the one with needles and a dagger, but I mean...I can't make Zelda TOTALLY useless, right?)
"Pathetic girl, do you really think measly needles will do anything? The Goddesses were foolish for choosing you to inherit the power of wisdom. I expected more from the princess of Hyrule," Ganondorf sneered, disappointment apparent in his voice.
I ignored him, hard as it was, and waited. Within seconds, a small explosion erupted from the left Darknut's head. It shrieked in bewilderment as its helmet disintegrated into miniscule fragments. Its actual head was slightly human looking, but a thinner, iron helmet bordered his face, with spikes like a crown lining the top of it.
"Exploding needles, huh? You're not too powerless, after all. I'll have to make note of that." That was from Roy, but I had other inconveniences to worry about.
The now exposed knight lashed out in rage. I leaped backwards, narrowly missing having my head torn off. However, my relief came too soon, and a blow from the side struck me so hard that my breath rushed from my lungs. I didn't even have enough oxygen to scream, as I was knocked through the air, tumbling roughly to the ground. I coughed, and felt a warm, crimson liquid drip down my lip. I attempted to move, but an immense, burning sensation filled my right side. I lifted my hand to where I had been painfully struck, and shades of vermillion instantly covered my palm.
The Darknuts had repositioned themselves in their original passive stances, seeing as I no longer posed a threat.
"Zelda, are you okay?" a mere whisper cascaded through my ear. Roy knelt beside me, touched with distress, but I'm sure it was just another act.
"Damn you! Do I look okay? You filthy traitor!" I screeched, struggling to get to my feet. My face was wet, whether it was from blood or tears. I unsteadily stood up, rocking back and forth, my fingers still clenched around my knife. He bit his lip.
A series of short applause filled the room. Ganondorf was staring at me in amusement, clearly finding pleasure in my pain.
"Ah, what an entertaining show! Too bad it has to be cut short." He casually strode towards us, taking his time with every step, as a smile was carved on his menacing green face.
Roy gripped my arm, trying to steady me, but with no warning whatsoever, I pulled it back, and with as much force as I could muster at this point, punched him in the face. He grunted in a mixture of pain and surprise, stumbling backwards a few steps.
I let out a cry of defeat, falling to my knees. I pressed my hand to my wounded ribs, trying to stop the flow of blood. My head spun with an assortment of color, wavering between shades of black, threatening to permanently cloud my vision.
"Zelda, can you hear me?" Roy's voice rang in the distance, though he was standing right next to me.
"Princess, Princess!" a younger voice called out. It sounded like Roy, but his voice was usually much deeper. Was this one of those mysterious flashbacks like I had while Link and Roy had fought earlier?
"Zelda, hang in there!" The sounds merged together to a point where I could not tell whether it was from the past or the present.
"Princess...Zelda..." a familiar voice that slid through the air like a wisp of silk, called out to me. I recognized it immediately, although only the harsh strain of black filled my vision.
"Beware of what lies ahead...The belly of the beast is a dangerous place, where traps and peril lurk at every corner..." Nayru's tone was calm, but her words displayed an urgent warning.
Were there more traps? Hadn't one already deceived me? If I could speak up, I would ask her if Roy could be trusted, but I assumed that the reply would already be known to me. Only Link could be trusted now, yet he was not even here.
"Remember: words are but an assembly of vowels and consonants; it's up to you to decide whether to listen or not. Don't be discouraged; you're never truly alone." Nayru paused, and for several seconds I was lost in deep silence.
"Young princess, even if all seems lost, the power of the Goddesses will still remain with you. Do not forget that. I wish you the best of luck..."
A series of melodious notes greeted my ears from somewhere unknown. I rubbed my dark cerulean eyes, before opening them.
I noticed that I was lying in a white bed in a room I had never seen. There was an unlit fireplace on the other side of the room, a red cushioned chair positioned next to it. I slowly moved away from the bed, testing my balance. The wound I had received from the knight seared in pain, but pain was merely a message, and I refused to listen to it.
Rays of light streamed through a glass-paned window, seeming to beckon me towards it. I peered curiously out and the whole expanse of Castle Town came into view. Specks that I assumed to be people, crowded around the center of town, near the fountain. What was happening to them now that I had been imprisoned? They hadn't really had a princess beforehand, so would now be any different?
Then I noticed it. Waves of fire leaped from the rooftops of various buildings, as screams gradually began to escalate through the air. Soldiers gathered around, the spears in their hands shaking as fear took hold of them. I couldn't make out what was going on now, but I thought I saw some of the soldiers run away in terror. What had scared them?
A woman screamed, but the sound quickly dissipated from thin air, as some creature snarled angrily.
Was Link's dream now coming true? But his prophecy was different from reality. For one thing, Ganondorf had already taken over Hyrule, without even being noticed. It's like he had destroyed the Kingdom from the inside, but how did he manage to get in without the citizens knowing?
Secondly, Hyrule Castle was not on fire...or at least I hoped. Instead, the homes of civilians burned in its place.
I shook my head angrily, abruptly fleeing the room, not being able to witness the destruction of the city I was bound to protect. What a greatPrincess I was turning out to be: a coward.
Concrete stairs spiraled in both directions, and I turned each way. Should I go down or up? I chose randomly, shakily ascending the stairs, and pushing open the nearest door, where the music was coming from.
To my relief, Ganondorf was not the one playing the grand piano centered in the room. But was Roy really any better?
I quietly slipped inside, propping myself against a wall. He didn't seem to notice me as his hands gently glided across the piano. The notes were mesmerizing and the slow tempo was soothing. I closed my eyes, listening to the soft rhythm, before quickly reopening them, remembering where I was. But Roy didn't stir on the piano bench.
"What is that you're playing?" The words tumbled out of my mouth. Startled, he turned around. A sad smile crept on his lips, and my fists clenched in unease.
"...You don't remember it?"
I shook my head. "Remember what?" I questioned.
He sighed, chuckling slightly. "Never mind then." He brushed strands of black hair away from his jade eyes, glossed in a distant sadness.
Then the images of Hyrule slipped into my mind.
"Roy, what's going on? The town is on fire!"
"You think I don't know?" His tone was sarcastic, but it didn't gleam with scorn. "Ganondorf is making his presence known, so to speak..."
"By slaughtering everyone? You have to let me help them!" I begged, stepping away from the wall, only to fall to my knees. My white dress embroidered in patterns of light blue, trailed on the ground. The blood stains were gone...
"One: only the rebellious one's lives will be taken...possibly, but all the soldiers will surely perish. Two: If I did that, he'd kill us both. Is that what you want? You're no use to anyone dead, Princess. Besides, do you really think you have a chance of defeating him alone?"
I gritted my teeth. He was right. There was no way I could possibly help these people.
"So, what...You're just going to keep me locked in here forever? If Ganondorf wanted the Triforce so badly, why doesn't he just take it? After all, you know where Link is! He could just go after Link himself!"
"First of all, I know where Link is; Ganondorf does not. He doesn't need to go after Link because he has you for that. You're the bait, and he'll come for you eventually...at least I would expect he would. Ganondorf has other matters to attend to besides tracking the Goddess's chosen hero. He's busy conquering other parts of the land, summoning dark creatures to roam the earth. Meanwhile, I'm here babysitting you."
He got up from the bench, walking towards me. My right side burned, causing me to wince in pain.
"Don't undo the bandages or you'll bleed." Bandages? I slipped a hand underneath my dress, while trying to still remain covered up. It was true, there were bandages wrapped around my injury, near my waist. My eyes widened as I retracted my hand.
"You undressed me?" He opened his mouth in contradiction but then closed it, averting his gaze and running his hand through his hair. "You pervert!" I shrieked. He chuckled slightly.
"I didn't see anything. I had to stop the bleeding, okay? Besides, you probably won't remember it...but I accidentally walked in on you when you were, like, five..." His voice trailed off, and he promptly shut it. Apparently, he had revealed too much.
"Ewww! Get away from me!" I put my hands out in front of me in defense. "Wait...what did you say? You knew me when I was five?" He cursed under his breath.
"I...uh..." He swallowed. "Yes, yes I did." My eyes widened.
"Roy—"
"I didn't lie before when I said I worked for your father." Oh, so he wasn't lying, he was just a traitor.
"How old are you?" I insisted on knowing more.
"Twenty-three." So he was six years older than me. Before I could ask any more, he scooped me up, carrying me out of the room like you'd cradle a child. I struggled, but the stinging sensation in my nerves made me stop. He opened the door I had woken up in, placing me on the bed.
"Roy..." I managed to choke out.
"You look tired. Go to sleep." As if on command, my eyelids drifted shut, and sleep overtook me.
He waited near the fireplace until he heard her breathing steadily. He approached the sleeping princess, covering her body with the blanket on the bed. She looked so small, like she was a little kid again, like before she...
He shook the thought from his mind, brushing the hair away from her eyes. He smiled, remembering a question that she had asked him earlier. He was disappointed that she hadn't known the answer, but he couldn't blame her. If anything, it was his fault that her memory had disappeared...
Again, he forced the thought to disperse. Although she wouldn't be able to hear it anyway, he whispered the answer,
"Zelda's Lullaby."
heheh I hope you enjoyed this, and please review! So, what do you all think of Roy? The question of whether he is good or evil will remain a mystery for a while, but don't worry, you'll find out later. Oh! By the way, I didn't mean for him to sound like a creep when Zelda found out that he bandaged her. He didn't do anything weird, I swear!