Chapter 14

Link

"Link! Link get up! Please!"
I awoke to find Sora's hand on my shoulder, and earnestly looking at me through the window. "Good," he sighed, "Thought you were dead..." I shrugged.
"I was always a deep sleeper...! What's up?"
Sora shrugged as well.
"Just making sure you were okay. I'm keeping watch, want to switch or join me?"
"Considering how I'm probably not gonna get back to sleep, why not?"

Sora

Link flopped onto the ground right next to me.
"I have a question: just why did you follow Ciara after she acted so-"
"Angry? Betrayed? Jerk-like? Because she's my friend. That and she's better to convince when she's level-headed."
We laughed, then sat in silence for maybe a half-hour before another question arose in my head: How well does he know Ciara?
"Something's bothering you, am I right?" Link asked moments later.
"Yes and no..." I sighed.
"Ciara?"
"...? Well, yes. I want to know what makes her tick." After seeing Link's look I quickly added "She was grumpy with me most of today and yesterday! I just want to know so I won't get her all riled up at me!"
A dark look entered Link's eyes. "I'll take blame for the irritable mood. But, hasn't she told you?"
"Told me what?"
"Ah... I figured she'd be sensitive about that." It was irritating me how vague Link was being, "What? Just tell me already!"
"Her past... It wasn't very nice. She keeps her mouth shut, but don't ask me why." This was followed by the quiet sounds of night. I felt like such a jerk for snapping like that. "Why, do I need to know her past? Can't you just tell me what to avoid saying?"
"Because the past is just the present and future with the smallest differences. So get comfortable, this will take up a hour or two."
I settled on the ground as best as I could, patiently waiting for Link to begin the tale.
"16 years ago, a healthy baby girl was born to the blacksmith of Castle Town. It was a joyous occasion, until a haggard old woman walked in on the event with a prophecy:

In the age of no luck,

A golden eyed girl, of another realm

shall bring the Tyrant of Power Down to his knees,

with the Hero of Time and Legend,

"They named her Ciara, meaning 'dark haired one', and held her for only a few hours before another person intruded on their lives. This was another woman, though her hair shone like gold, her eyes were bright blue and filled with wisdom: she was the Queen of Hyrule at the time and was Zelda's mother. She knew the prophecy as well, and through the wisdom bestowed by the Goddesses, knew Ciara was the foretold child. She pleaded with Ciara's parents, telling them that Ganondorf had broken his seal, and was on his way to prevent his fate. They didn't argue, and Zelda's mother stole Ciara away to another realm, very different from Hyrule. Her words were true, as Ciara's parents died that very night, Ganondorf trying to find the fated child.

"In this strange new world, Ciara was left to a couple. Zelda's mother didn't make sure who they were, because she could sense Ganondorf on her heels. It would be harder for him to guess, if the household was random. The couple that took Ciara in, only did it because they had to; not out of love or kindness. They saw the name, scorned at it, and changed it to something more reasonable to them: Cari.

"And Cari grew in the following years. Becoming a nuisance to the parents who never wanted a child. Her dad, a severe alcoholic, constantly became enraged, and beat her and her mother for the simplest of reasons. He targeted Cari most, calling her a freak because of her pointed ears and Hylian heritage. Her only solace was staying up late into the night, playing whatever games her parents bought her to keep her out of their way. This continued until she was 13.

"At 13, Cari grew fed up with her life, and left. That's when Zelda sent me there, to find her again, and help force Ganondorf back into his seal. I found her... in an alley, barely scraping by. She was so unsure of herself, and mistrustful of me. But I convinced her to come back to Hyrule.

"Upon her return, she changed drastically. No longer as scared, no longer as sad..."

Link trailed off, lost in memory, but quickly resumed

"Me and Zelda, told her real name, and she accepted it with a positive outlook. We followed the path of the Hero of Time, collecting power from the Sages, and strengthening our bond. Soon, we were ready.

"Ganondorf first tried to take out Ciara; if she was vital as the prophecy claimed, the plan would be compromised and lost. I pushed her out of the way, taking the blow, and I don't remember much else of the battle. I do remember waking to her voice squealing for me to get up, her eyes puffy and red from crying.

"She stuck around with Zelda, being her lady-in-waiting, while I did other things. This only lasted a year or so, because when I returned she was gone. and I think you know the rest from there."

It took a few moments for everything to sink in.

"I think I get it now... Ciara wasn't just mad at you Link. She was mad at me too." Link looked at me questioningly whiled I tossed another log onto the steadily dying fire. "She was envious of how well off I am. How I have so many friends and make more so easily, how I'm always able to smile in the face of oppression. I don't think she understands how I struggled too."

Link nodded at my words, "Spot on Sora. Ciara has a bit of an envious and stubborn streak, that would've likely contributed to her mood. See? You wouldn't know that if I told you straight out what she was like."

I yawned, and noted the moon was halfway to the horizon.

"I'm gonna get some sleep. Wake me up when we're ready to get going."

Ciara

It was dangerous to be walking alone in the middle of the night, but I. Didn't. Care. All I wanted was to be as far away from Link as possible. To a lesser extent: be the jerk who would be able to piss-off anyone. I grew vengeful and bitter towards anyone when I was mad. Right now, I was FURIOUS. OUTRAGED. SICK WITH ANGER!

I felt regretful for the words I yelled at Link, but he deserved it. Abandoning me and Zelda like that.

Suddenly, someone twisted my arm uncomfortably behind my back, and pressed a greasy cloth to my mouth and nose before I could even scream. My eyelids instantly fluttered.

"Yes... breathe it in..." a voice crooned. My foggy mind couldn't place where I had heard it before.

I collapsed into darkness,

trying to cling to consciousness by focusing on the fading mystery voice.