A/N: I do not own The Legend of Zelda or any related characters.
I'm posting on Wednesday again because I'm busy on Thursday. Next week will probably be the same, but once September comes, it'll be back to Thursday, since I'll be busy on Wednesday like normal. Boy, summer schedule sure is messed up.
Also, this is the last chapter from Zelda's perspective. Again, it's long and weighty, so get comfy before you read.
Link seemed a bit off today. He wasn't his usual, happy self. He barely talked to me. Which was weird considering what I had read last night. Something was definitely up. So naturally, I decided to go see. I went to his dorm after classes and knocked on his door. When he answered, he was in a white T-shirt and grey shorts. His shirt had a huge hole in the shoulder and a rip in the opposite sleeve and his face was stained with...tears?
"Oh my Din, you look awful!" I said out of reflex.
"Hello to you too," he greeted.
"Link...What's wrong? You're not yourself."
"Nothing's wrong," he responded dryly.
"Link. I care about you, so just let me stop worrying, alright?" I let my tone tone soften, hoping to draw some answers out. "You...you trust me, right?"
"I-" He paused, taking a deep breath. "I want to, I really do. I just...don't know if I'm able to."
"I understand. After all that you've been through, you have reason not to trust other people. Just know that I'll be here for you whenever you want, and all you have to do is ask." It was true. I haven't been through what he had, but I knew how important I was to him. And I was determined to make a difference for him.
"Thank you," he said.
I nodded sympathetically and turned to go. I'll come back some other time. He needed space.
As I was leaving, I bumped into someone. He was wearing a baggy black hoodie and matching black jeans. "Sorry," he muttered. There was a short interval when he said nothing, before he realized who I was. "Zelda?" He kissed my cheek. Shiek.
"Shiek, this is Link, your new roommate!" I offered.
The blond extended his hand. "Hi, Link," greeted Shiek.
"Hi, Shiek," replied Link. He stretched, and pulled his hoodie over his head again. "I'm gonna go take a walk in Castle Town." That was good. He'd get some air and maybe feel a bit better.
"Cool, Shiek and I are going into town too," I needed to talk with Shiek.
The walk to Castle Town was really awkward. I was sandwiched between the two boys and neither of them would talk properly. Link was still sulking by the looks of it, and Shiek would answer all my questions about his trip with single words. "Yes." "No." "Fun." "Good." Soon, Link broke off from our group, leaving only me and Shiek. With my frustration building, I pushed Shiek against a wall.
"You're sick," I stated.
"No?" he replied.
"That wasn't a question. You're sick," I repeated. "Your voice is all messed up, you won't talk," I paused to feel his forehead. "and your head is super cold."
"What are you talking about?" That was his first full sentence since he came back.
"There's something wrong, go see Dr. Borville," I commanded, turning back to the academy.
"C'mon, Zelda-"
"I'm not talking to you until you go see the doctor," I interrupted, already speed-walking back to the school grounds.
When I got back to my dorm, Malon wasn't there. Probably out in Castle Town, as per usual on Friday nights. I reread the day's chapter for math class to pass some time, then I texted Shiek.
What did doc say?
Just flu was the response. I had a strong hunch it wasn't "just flu", but I decided against pressing the issue any further.
K.
With that, I went to bed. I didn't sleep much though. I spent the night trying to think of an appropriate way to break up with Shiek. I realized during our walk to Castle Town that "I like Link better" is a bit sudden, and frankly a bit rude. After a while, I heard Malon open the door. Even though I was still wide awake, I concluded based on this that it was around two in the morning. I sat up, getting Malon's attention.
"Can't sleep?" she asked, looking a bit concerned. Malon was a night owl, while I was an early bird. It didn't cause us any problems since we've both learned to be quiet while the other is sleeping, but she did express concern over the fact that I was still awake.
"I'm trying to think of a polite way to break up with Shiek," I replied, shaking my head. "You have any ideas? You did call dibs on him."
Malon laughed. "Zelda, there's no polite way to break up with someone!"
I tried to protest, but was interrupted with more cackling. Annoyed, I stuffed a pillow in Malon's face. "So I just tell him I like Link better?" I asked over the muffled laughing.
Malon pushed me off her. "Oh, no way! I thought you were more aware than that! You're just supposed to say you don't like him anymore. No details about the future, or you'll make it weird."
"Huh? I don't get it..."
"Just say 'I don't think this relationship is going anywhere,' or something like that."
"Okay, you're the expert." Despite Malon never having been in an actual relationship, I still trusted her judgement better than anyone else. She was the gossip girl of our friend group, the first one to know about everything embarrassing. And she was always right about her pairings. She guessed Mikau and Lulu would be together a full year and a half before it was official.
"Right, you should get to bed. You don't want to be too dead tomorrow, do you?"
"Tomorrow's Saturday. I'll have nothing to do." This was true, but it was way past my usual bedtime. I was tired, so I went to bed anyway.
The next couple of days were really boring. Both Link and Shiek were mostly absent. Darmani had a party on Sunday, and we decided to go bowling. We didn't have class that Monday, so Lulu took the girls clothes shopping, and I think the guys were playing Call of Duty at Mikau's. I had no interest in either of those activities, so I stayed in my room reading, playing Minesweeper and just wasting time in general.
Come Tuesday, and Link still hasn't asked me out and he was still sulky and sad. This was weird, since he should have seen my note. Maybe the pages stuck together when I wrote it? Ugh, that would be terrible.
Link wasn't at fencing club either. This worried me. As I was leaving the gym, Mikau and Darmani flagged me over.
"Hey, Zelda! We're all going down to Castle Town to get some food! You down?" asked Darmani.
"I would, but something's up with Link," I responded.
"Aw, but everyone else is going!" protested Darmani.
"Don't worry, Zelda. I'll go check on him. We'll catch up if he's up for it," offered Mikau. "And I can hang with Pipit if he's not."
I hesitated. "Um, sure. See you there, hopefully."
I was disappointed when Link didn't show up. Everyone was there except Pipit, Midna, Mikau and Link. The food was pretty good though. After we ate, I decided to stop putting things off. I pulled Shiek aside.
"Um, Shiek, I don't think our relationship is going anywhere, so, uh, I think we should end it here," I said.
"I see," he replied, taking my left hand in both of his. "But you and I, we were meant to be together." I felt a warm sense of belonging. Like we somehow were meant to be together. I shook my head. No, I was meant to be with Link.
"No, Shiek. I don't feel it."
"Zelda, we are meant to be together," he repeated, his voice rising. The warm feeling in my hand escalated until it was hot, then searing. I jerked my hand away.
Shiek looked angry. He didn't stand like Shiek anymore. He didn't talk like Shiek or walk like Shiek. That's when I noticed something. Black veins were creeping up his neck and around his face. The same black veins appeared on his hands. My blood ran cold. "You're not Shiek."
"You are correct, Wisdom. And I'm surprised it took you so long to find out," replied the Shiek-demon. "The only reason I had your friend come to Kakariko was to embody him, to attempt to gain your favor. I see that that has failed. Now, join me, and bear witness to true Power!" A black horn materialized in the Shiek-demon's hand, and he blew it.
And they came.
They came so quickly.
A horde, no, a flood of shadow monsters. They broke down the gates, tore down walls, and swallowed crowds. Hundreds fell at the hands of the guards, but hundreds more rose up to replace them. As I ran, I heard the screams of those who were slower than me. I dared not look back. And I thought of my father's room. Take me there, where I'll be safe. Then, I felt the wind under my feet, and I was in my father's room.
"Dad!" I panted. "Castle Town...there's an emergency."
My dad made a call while I caught my breath. When he was finished, he took a deep breath. "Zelda, gather the students that aren't in Castle Town. I'll gather the teachers. We'll meet in-"
"In my room," I interrupted. I made my way out before my dad could protest, and texted the group.
Guys, emergency. Dad says to meet in my room.
Omw, Pipit's with me too. Replied Mikau.
Fine. Replied Midna.
Link didn't reply. I called him. Unavailable. Maybe his phone was dead? I picked up the pace, walking into my room. I put my hand on the Gossip Stone and talked. "Link. Link. Link!"
As I was trying to make contact with Link, people filed into my room. Not many, surprisingly. I guess a lot of people were in town. Finally, after about five minutes, I heard a response.
"On my way," said Link. He arrived only a minute later.
"Link! You're here!" I cried, relieved.
"Yeah," he affirmed. "What's this for?"
"Well, Castle Town was attacked by an army of unidentified creatures. Darmani, Malon, Lulu and Shiek are among those that were in the Town at the time. We haven't been able to make contact with any of the students in Castle Town since the attack. We've also lost contact with many civilians," explained my dad. "The creatures were last seen leaving from Castle Town's West Gate, which is the furthest one from here. There was no reported bloodshed in the Town, which suggests that everybody who is unaccounted for has been captured by the army, but is still alive. Unfortunately, the West Gate is too far away from here to make the journey in a reasonable time frame." I assumed this information came from the call he made.
"I can go," I blurted.
"Out of the question!" boomed my father. "You are the only person here who has the power of such fast transportation. It would be beyond foolish for you to go alone. I will not risk the life of my daughter on such a mission."
"I'm strong enough to take somebody with me. I won't go alone," I countered. I'll go with Link, please.
My dad agreed. "Fine, take Instructor Megaton with you. He is experienced in weapons and will protect you."
"Are ya kiddin' me?" cried Darunia. "If ya want a swordsman, take Link here! He beat me on 'is first try!"
"Yeah, he can cut a dummy in half with a practice sword!" My chances were looking good. Link was the most useful one here.
"That settles it," my father said. "Get Link a good sword from the storage room. Link, Zelda, you leave as soon as possible."
We nodded in unison, and ran out the door with Darunia in tow.
As Link was arming himself, I noticed his shield. It was so shiny and polished, I could see my reflection in it. I fixed my hair. Soon, Link turned around, pulling my attention away from my hair. "Ready to go, Link?" I asked. He nodded in response, sheathing his sword. "Hold on to me tight, okay?"
I wrapped my arms around his waist, while he draped his arms over my shoulders. We both squeezed each other.
"Get ready, it's a bit disorienting," I warned. "Close your eyes, it helps with the motion sickness."
And in an instant, we were in Hyrule Field. The army I had escaped not more than half an hour ago was approaching us, holding a crude cage.
"Master Link, these enemies are Bokoblins. These monsters have plagued the land since ancient times. They each play different roles, and their weaponry varies. They prefer to act in groups. None of them are intelligent by any definition of the word. Curiously, they seem to have a mysterious obsession with fashionable undergarments," I heard.
"What was that?" I asked.
"That's Fi, a sword spirit that resides in the gem on this pen," he answered.
"Oh." I said simply. I smiled at him. "Ready?"
"You bet."
Link charged at the army. I hung a little ways behind him, casting Lesser Din's Fire repeatedly. The fireballs exploded satisfyingly against the Bokoblins' ranks. When we got to the center, Fi began to inform Link about Moblins. I noticed one winding up for an attack. "Link!" I shouted. He seemed so vulnerable. I jumped in front of him, casting Nayru's Love to protect the both of us. It was draining. Since our attacks subsided, the horde of Bokoblins surrounded us, trying to attack us through my magical barrier. I needed to cast the big spell. But I had no time.
"L-Link...cover me..."
And he did. I felt the resistance against the barrier go away. Without hesitating, I used the last of my energy to cast Greater Din's Fire. Without even seeing the results, I collapsed, trusting that Link would do all he could to protect me.
I woke up in a dark room. I felt my left wrist bound by a shackle. I cast Lesser Din's Fire and used the light to see. I was in a confined dungeon cell, and there was another person next to me. I shifted his face towards me. Shiek. Not possessed demon Shiek, but old childhood friend Shiek. No black veins. Shiek. I sighed in relief and shook him awake.
"Zelda? Where am I?" His voice was back to normal. Whoever, whatever, was inside him was gone.
"I don't know. Shiek, I need you to hold on to me so I can take us home."
"Okay, Zelda," he obeyed. "Sorry for getting possessed. He has the Triforce of Power. That's what you felt when he made me hold your hand."
"It's okay, it wasn't your fault," I comforted him. "Close your eyes."
I thought of the place where I spent so many of my days. I thought of home, and in an instant, we were back at the Academy. We were immediately greeted by our group of friends.
"Zelda! Shiek! You're all right!" cried Mikau. "Where's Link?"
I felt my face go pale. "I thought he was back here with you guys."
I heard Darmani curse. "We have to go look for him!" he cried.
"I'll go," I answered. "You guys take care of Shiek. He's been through a lot."
I used Farore's Wind to go back to Hyrule Field. "Link!" I cried. Nothing. I went to Castle Town. "Link!" Nothing. Kakariko. Nothing. Lake Hylia. Nothing. With every use of Farore's Wind I became more and more worried. Tears started flowing. My cries became more and more desperate. I feared the worst. But I had to find him. In a desperate last resort, I did something I have never done before. I didn't think of a place.
I thought of the smell of cut grass. I thought of that first day, when I hugged him. I thought of that day when I fenced him. I thought of him teaching me his techniques. I thought of that day when I read his journal, of how he came home angry, and of how he was sad for the rest of the week. I thought of when I comforted him, how grateful he looked. I thought of how he fought an entire army just now, risking his life to protect others, to protect me. I thought of his brownish blonde hair that was always messy but never ugly. I thought about his strong blue eyes, the eyes of a Hero. I thought of how the past week has been the best week of my life.
I thought of Link.
Please, take me to Link.
A/N: And there we go! Zelda's side of the story! I'm sure this answers questions you didn't even have before, but not the one you've wanted the answer to for the past three weeks. Need I remind you that you need to wait another week to find out Link's fate?
That's it for this week. Drop a review if you want. Peace out.