With this in mind, Dennel plotted an inconspicuous and casual course through the village to the Lost Woods. After putting on an equally casual and indifferent face, Dennel started down into the village. His going was slow—as was the plan, and it gave him time to think about what had transpired. Indeed, after hearing Navi's story from the clearing, Dennel had been unable to resist eavesdropping on the two while they were on the cliff. Obviously, he now had more than what he originally bargained for.
What am I going to say to Saria? Dennel asked himself. Or will I ever be able to even tell her?
No one needed to tell Dennel of the responsibility that the now carried—after Navi's story, the responsibility of knowing the truth was something he knew he couldn't drop. However, despite being aware of this new burden he carried he still didn't know what would happen if he did drop it. Unlike Navi, Dennel was uneducated in the flow of time and its consequences. He could not begin to comprehend the ramifications should Link prevent the inevitable. But, granted he knew that the truth wasn't something to be taken lightly, he decided to stay quiet for the time being…until Link was ready to tell the truth himself.
But I wonder, Dennel thought, what he thinks he'll change by lying…
"Link?" someone said.
Link sat up and rubbed his eyes—clearing away the blur to see Navi hovering in front of him.
"What? What is it?" he asked, yawning as he did so.
"The time!" Navi practically yelled. "You've been snoozing all day! It's about time you start walking among the living."
Link looked at her with a confused face and looked up to where the sun was indeed straight above him.
"I must have been tired…" Link said absentmindedly, still shaking away some of the grog.
"Well," Navi sighed casually, "I don't see how running across a field for three days on end could make anyone tired…I just think you're getting lazy."
"Alright! I'm up!" Link groaned.
"Well, imagine that…" Navi said with a slight snicker. "I swear of all the things I've been through, getting you out of bed has to be the worst."
Link was about to comment on her unusual quantity of sarcasm, but stopped when he remembered the first time they met, and several other instances where sleeping in the middle of a road wasn't the brightest idea.
"…I really hate it when you do that…" Link said after awhile.
Navi giggled and flew into his hat.
"Wait a sec…" Link said suddenly, "Where's Saria?"
"She went to the village already," Navi explained, "She didn't want to wake you because you were actually sleeping well this time."
"Huh…" Link thought aloud. He couldn't argue with that one either. For the first time in a long time, Link was able to sleep without a plague of nightmares haunting his dreams.
"Well then," Link said, standing up and putting all of his gear on. "Lets go."
Link's walk through the village wasn't exactly a pleasant one at all. Everywhere he went children stared at him with looks of suspicion, confusion, awe, and even fear. Naturally, Link had no idea why, but he would pay the Know-It-All's a visit to sort it out. But still, they were bound to have some questions and before Link wanted to know anything he knew he'd have to answer to Kurtia first.
Link sighed once and decided to worry about it later…first, he'd get something to eat.
"…Are you positive?" Saria asked from her bed.
Saria had been in her house with Arisa ever since she came back to the village; and, in that time, learned of Mido's devious rumors of Link that had spread relentlessly from one side of the forest to the other. Saria was sitting up on her bed, and Arisa was busy at the stove again trying to prepare a second batch of lunch without having to pitch it out the window.
"I'm positive," Arisa affirmed, dicing up some vegetables. "And honestly, Saria," she added, "I don't know what to think anymore."
"But…the Know-It-All's they surely must have—"
"They tried," came the interruptive reply. "But Mido somehow proved them wrong."
Saria had trouble believing that.
"They told me that all they accomplished was to ask an unanswerable question—Mido obviously took advantage of the doubt and fed his rumors to the village. And so I'm confused…" Arisa continued, scraping the vegetables into a pot.
Saria was quiet—not liking her friend's lack of loyalty.
"The question is this: How did the Deku Tree die? …Mido says Link did it—the Kurtia brothers said he tried to save it, but it was already too late. The second question is: How did the Deku Tree get filled with all those monsters anyway? After all, we've witnessed The Deku Tree's actual power before, and there's a barrier around the village that prevents monsters from getting in…"
Saria tried closing her ears, but it was too late now that such ideas were now introduced; so inevitably, her mind started racing and jumping to conclusions. Fortunately, it was Arisa's word that ended the confusion.
"And so here we are…most of the others believe Mido. But some, including the Know-It-All's, are still skeptical, and then there's me in the middle," she said, "No matter how you look at it, there's no way to prove either one wrong…"
Saria was satisfied with the latter statement, and she didn't get to think about it any longer anyway, as Link himself suddenly knocked on the side of the doorway.
"Hiya, girls," he greeted. "It smells good in here. So, what have you cooked up this time, Arisa?"
Arisa pasted a fake smile on her face.
"Oh-h-h," she said playfully, "nothing that you won't be able to swallow…"
Later that day, after his strangely uneasy breakfast/lunch with Arisa, Link wandered back to his house for the first time after what seemed like (in one reality) several months but what was really only (in another reality) a week. There, he straightened everything up (though he didn't need to) and updated his personal record sheet.
When everything was done (that is, when Link couldn't think of anything else that needed to be done) he stood in the middle of his room for a moment and sighed half-heartedly, and half-spiritedly.
"Link…" Navi tried saying something sympathetic, but failed.
"You don't have to worry, Navi," Link said, sitting on his bed. "I feel great…"
"Link," Navi started again, this time with a reprimanding tone, "You…you cant live like this anymore…you cant expect to live the rest of your life as a Kokiri!"
Link didn't respond.
"We don't belong here anymore…" Navi forced out, "you know that…you know that we're both—"
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence." Link demanded with an icy stare.
"Link…"
"Don't!"
Navi gave up, and bowed her head shamefully, then reluctantly perched herself on top of Link's hat. The two then sat in silence for a while—having nothing interesting to do. Link was about to nod off when he suddenly heard someone climbing his ladder. Link sat up to see Kurtia and his brothers clamber onto his platform and walk into house.
"Alright Link, I'll scrap the small talk because we're short in time," Kurtia said, "What in Farore's name happened last week?"
"And, tell us everything you know about what happened to the Deku Tree!" Marik chimed in.
"Oh, and make it fast…you'll want to…" Liao added nervously.
I wish we could tell them…Navi thought along to Link. But we can't…not until I'm sure that…
"Well?" Kurtia asked expectantly, interrupting their thought.
Link decided to gamble. "Well…I wish I could tell you guys, but I can't…" he said, mimicking Navi. "All you need to know is that you're right, and that what I'm dealing with on the outside is bigger than anyone could comprehend. There's no use in explaining because even your logic and knowledge couldn't understand it."
Kurtia lowered his head, as did his brothers.
"I was afraid of that…" he said sullenly.
Link looked at him questioningly, but Kurtia did not answer or raise his head for some time. At length, he sat himself down on Link's center table and began to explain the events that had transpired in the same manner Arisa had.
When he was finished, Kurtia looked up to find Link simply staring back at him with an almost bored expression on his face.
"Is that all?" Link asked.
Kurtia looked at Link with his mouth open for a moment then sputtered, "W-Well…doesn't it…y'know, bother you?"
Link grinned. "It bothers me just as much as calling me 'fairyless' when I have Navi around."
Navi beamed (several colors), being exceptionally proud of her partner; but Kurtia, on the contrary, swallowed nervously.
"This is nothing that I've already been through, Kurtia," Link continued, "For my whole life I was left out of everything because I was different. I never really belonged here in the first place…If I'm an outcast again, so be it…"
"Well then, Link, I'm sorry…" Kurtia said walking out onto Link's balcony. "But there's something you should see…"
Link joined Kurtia on the balcony and looked out to where a crowd of children was slowly marching through the village, rounding up new members and growing larger everywhere it goes.
"Leave it to children to be so naïve…" Uhai said contemptuously. "Those children are out for your blood Link." He explained.
"I've asked those who still believe in you to rally to our cause—" Kurtia started saying, but before he could finish, Link grabbed the collar of his tunic and held Kurtia close to his face.
"Our cause? Do you mean to start some kind of civil war? Do you mean to fight your own brethren just because you want to protect my reputation?" The almost forgotten light slowly re-kindled itself in Link's eyes and paralyzed Kurtia with fear.
"If I fight them I'll kill them all! They're no match for Navi or me, and I have no wish to become the enemy they think I am!"
Kurtia pushed himself away from Link and gave an emotionless smile.
"That's just like you, Link…selfless, and putting everyone before yourself…I just don't understand the way you think. But, if you feel that way," Kurtia paused to step aside from the ladder, "then its up to you to solve this mess."
Link eyed Mido at the head of the mob, slowly making his way towards Link's tree house.
"Yes," Link agreed coldly, "it is."
Mido halted the group just short of Link's tree house and marched to the ladder's base as heroically as he could. Then, hailed Link like a besieger to a fortress.
"Link! You have a lot of guts showing your face here again after what you've—" Mido began.
"Is there something you want to tell me Mido?" Link interrupted rudely.
Mido became a little flustered at the interruption…just when it was starting to get good too.
"Do you admit to killing the—"
"Oh, so you want to ask me something then!" Link exclaimed, "I almost thought you might have been jumping to conclusions…again."
Mido gritted his teeth.
"Come, out with it then. You're wasting the others' time."
"YOU KILLED THE DEKU—!"
"I thought you wanted to ASK me something, Mido!"
"Oh, THAT'S IT!" Mido screamed, "C'mon everyone! Let's chop his house down!"
The crowd screamed back a cry of approval and surged forward. However, Link quickly jumped down from his balcony and stood protectively in front of his home. As soon as they saw him, the entire crowd stopped short for a moment, wondering if Link would actually fight them. Then, slowly, Link drew his sword and shield—right in front of all of them, and bowed his head.
The crowd took a fearful step backwards in unison.
"Beat it, or I beat you…" Link hissed, and the crowd instantly scattered in every direction. Everyone was gone, except Mido, who stood with shaking legs in the middle of the vacated area. Link sheathed his sword and shield and walked up to Mido to confront him.
"Mido, I've never liked you…did you know that?" Link asked rhetorically with his head lowered.
Mido whimpered inaudibly.
"I also really don't like it when you lie about me…or call me names…"
Mido swallowed again, and was (amazingly) able to backup a little.
"and I really, really don't like it when you bring a mob of my friends to dispose of me and my home," Link said bringing his head up just enough to allow a single eye a straight shot at Mido, and stepping forward to catch up with Mido's retreat. As soon as Link took his first step, however, Mido tripped and fell on the ground.
"It almost makes me want to do something about it…" Link said with an ominous smile.
Then, with the power of the Goron's Bracelet, Link picked Mido off the ground and turned him around in the air; and, after dropping him from the modest height, Link administered a quick and severe boot to Mido's posterior, and sent him reeling and crying across the village. Later that day, after he thought it was safe to come out, Mido was found near the stream cleaning out his (shorts) tunic.
After the punt, Kurtia, Marik, and Liao all threw their hands up in an approving guesture of applause, and roared with a series of complements and mutual feelings for the game ball. Liao even went inside to record the yardage on Link's personal record sheet.
The three brothers then jumped down to congratulate Link personally. However, Link didn't seem in a celebratory mood at all. As soon as Kurtia was near him, Link turned his back and began walking to the West Entrance.
"Hey, don't be like that," Kurtia said, "We're on your side, remember?"
"It doesn't matter how many friends I have…it's better not to have friends…" came the sullen and reluctant reply.
"That's mad talk there, Link," Marik said, "Whether you like it or not, we will always see you as a friend."
"I'm afraid none of that really matters now…" Link rebutted.
"How so?" Liao asked (now that it was his turn).
"Haven't you guys figured out that one?" Link asked with an unexpected chuckle.
All four of them stopped walking at the same time. Link, muddling in his inner turmoil, and the Know-It-All's stewing in their own confusion.
"What are you talking--?" Kurtia started.
"Don't you guys remember?" Link asked incredulously, "I told you that all my life, all I wanted to be was one of you. For so long I felt like I never belonged here…I was an outcast only because I was unique."
"Link…" Uhai suddenly popped out of Kurtia's hat at that last word.
"I even wanted to find that place I could call home. I felt like I could run away to a place where people could accept me for what I was!" Link was quiet for a moment after that, but it was clear that he was not finished.
"And then…I got the chance," he continued, staring fondly at Navi. "I went off on an adventure to save the world and learn who I really was! And you know what? –I found out, the hard way. Just when I thought I could do it all, just when I thought myself a 'hero,' just when I thought I knew who I was…I didn't."
Link turned to face them with watering eyes.
"I learned that there was a bigger picture behind my foolish ideal crusade. I learned that there was no place for me out there…and that's when I thought I could call this place home again…"
"BUT YOU CAN LINK!" Kurtia practically screamed.
"No I really can't…" Link said with a heartless smile. "You see…Mido's got a lot more guts than you think. In a few weeks (give or take), he'll be ranting about how I savagely attacked all the children and him. And they'll buy it…because they don't know what else to think, and I really did give them quite a scare, didn't I?"
"But we can help you with that!" Marik exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Just like you helped me in the Who-Killed-the-Deku-Tree case? Yeah…thanks…"
Marik and Liao stared at the ground and kicked their heels, but Kurtia on the other hand, got angry.
"We tried our best!" he shouted, "but we couldn't figure it…out…"
An annoyed glance from Link caused Kurtia to trail off, and he remembered Link's lecture on understanding the incomprehensible.
"Lets not go there again, Kurtia." Link said flatly.
"Well, then where are you going, Link?" Kurtia asked.
"Away…for a long time," Link answered, turning again to walk to the entrance. "It's time I found my real place in the world."
The brothers didn't bother to follow him. They were smart enough to realize that there wasn't any way to convince him to stay—no matter how much they didn't like to admit it. And as soon as Link had disappeared through the log opening, the three brothers turned began walking towards their own home, and speculated on Link's sudden change in attitude.
"Why do you think he acts like that?" Liao asked, and then added, "before Navi came, he never acted like that."
"I don't think he's that much different than what he used to be," Marik countered. "He's the same selfless, nice, and most generous person in this forest besides Saria."
"I think…" Kurtia started, then trailed off—revising his conjecture, "I think it's because Navi and Link are somewhat similar…"
Indeed, Uhai thought, they, along with Saria, are the only unique people in this forest…
Then, after dawning on a precarious thought about Navi, Uhai shut himself up.
"But what about his personality? It's totally changed! The way he acts is so weird y'know?" Liao challenged, then struggled to define Link's attitude. "It's like he's…its like he's a…"
"It's like he's an adult…" Uhai finished for him.
"Uh…yeah…whatever that is. I guess we'll go with that…" Kurtia said, eyeing his guardian suspiciously.
Uhai grinned. Leave it to children to be so naïve…he thought, and then laughed to himself for the rest of the day.
"So you're leaving without saying goodbye again eh?" Saria asked as Link passed her—causing him to trip over one of the bridge planks.
"Oh…hi there, Saria," Link said into the wood board.
Saria helped him up and dusted him off.
"Could you at least tell me when you'd be back?" She asked.
"Seven years and one day late," Link said under his breath, but Saria heard it anyway.
"You don't mean that…"
"Of course not."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"Link…you didn't deserve to be treated like that…" Saria said sympathetically.
"I told Kurtia that it was nothing that I'm already used to," Link responded unnervingly.
"That's another lie!" Saria rebuked, "You were always so nice to them! And now they chased you out of your own home!"
Link lowered his head and spoke softly, "That may be true…but that doesn't change or justify what they did. So, I think it's time I left for—"
"For good? Forever? Are you just going to run away? You never used to be afraid of anything!"
Link raised his head defiantly, "I am not afraid," he protested. "But they will not let me back in until they regret what they've done…and there's really no reason for them to regret their actions, because I have no proof of my innocence."
Saria's eyes began to water and Link stepped forward to comfort her, but he was not done relaying the bitter truth.
"Saria, Link said, lifting her chin affectionately. "I have to leave until they forget about me…"
"But…but what about me?" Saria sobbed, "I want you here with me…"
Link's heart jumped into his throat and he swallowed it back down—thinking in vain of a way to answer her.
Link, Dennel thought privately along to Link. Although you're heart is that of a Kokiri, you aren't. You're part of a bigger picture that doesn't include your relationship with Saria…you have a duty to fulfill—so do it.
Link looked up at Dennel with wide and astounded eyes.
Don't worry, your secret's safe with me…at least until you tell her the truth, then I'll help you.
With that, Link returned his gaze to Saria's. It was another moment of impatient cradling on Saria's part before Link found the words he needed to tell her.
"Saria, there is much I wish to tell you, and there is much that you should know—but I will only tell you little, and that will be more than enough," Link began.
"I don't understand, Link…" Saria said nervously.
"I only wish to tell you little because it will only bring you grief…"
Saria stared at him questioningly.
"And all you need to know is that I have a duty to perform—one that's caused me pain time and time again, but…I can't break away—it's become a part of my life," Link paused and then went on, "this duty, has already taken you away from me—taken you to a place whence I cannot find nor follow."
"I still don't—" Saria tried saying, but Link cradled her hands in his pleadingly.
"In time you'll understand. And when that time comes, you'll wonder why I chose to leave—you'll wonder why I did this so callously…but please just know that it was never my choice…"
Link then embraced her and kissed her affectionately. Saria, still bewildered from all the senselessness that Link was spewing, only stood there as Link drew away.
"But, I'll be back to save you…I promise…" Link said at last, and then darted through the log opening.
From the other side of the opening Saria thought she heard the notes of a strange song, unfamiliar to her, and a dim burst of yellow light—then everything was quiet.
"Saria," Dennel said after he knew the two were gone, "I think there's something you should know…"
On the way to Kakariko from the Temple of Time, Navi was silent in respect to Link, and Link only. He had come to the Forest, vowing not to do what he inevitably ended up doing to Saria—and he knew it.
"Afraid of doing the same thing over again, in the same way, only this time, he has the power to stop it…" Navi remembered Uhai's words clearly, and indeed he was right save for the fact that Link wasn't afraid at all when he did it, nor did he fear the consequences, Link just did what he had to do—what he was meant to do…
Link had left Saria to face her destiny, alone.
WOOT! I really took my sweet time with this, didn't I? Geh, sorry bout that.
Yes, it's shorter, and thank god it is. Although I must say, for being one of my core ideas, I really didn't like the way this turned out. Once again, I think I made Link either a little angry…or a little too unemotional (he'll want a second opinion for that)…in either case, I'm sending Link to an anger management school complete with psychiatric care (too bad its in France) …Coughs …
In the process of making this one I also stepped up on my other (nearly abandoned) fics, so I think I'll finish them (their current chapters) before I move back to this one. I had a song for this one, but now that I'm finished I don't know where to put it because it doesn't fit as well as it needs to in any part of the chapter. If you see a song in here later on, that means I updated the chapter. The song (should be) is Page Avenue, by Story of the Year.
Also, I really just wanted to get this up and running so I really haven't looked over or revised much of any of this—expect an update with some minor changes.
And, now for reviews. (hope I don't miss anyone)
Tizami: Thanks much! True, I really wanted to put a unique twist on Navi, and unique is a word you'll be seeing a lot with her later on.
Kat-: Yes, this is definitely more convenient. But, I don't mind typing out the full thing—though some might disagree, I don't hold speed typing as strenuous as weight lifting…coughs But anyway, I'm sorry to say I have no idea what those lyrics say in latin…until you mentioned it, I really thought it was some kind of English lol.
Bvv: Definitely. Up until this point I've been wrapping a lot of stuff around those points in the game. For example, later on, I'll get into a logical explanation of why Zelda became Sheik in the first place and other stuff like that. The game itself doesn't elaborate much on them, and so that's where I come in y'know?
Greki: Thanks!
FOO3A2: Thanks, you see, that's kinda something I've been struggling over ever since I got core ideas for the sequel. While I'm not going to spill anything, I will say that the next installment will be an original fiction (meaning it doesn't retell the game). I just knew that MM would be insanely difficult to incorporate into my main ideas with all the separate (30 of them) stories and masks. And besides, if I tell my own story, I wont have to deal with all the disclaimer crap right?
MoombaRave: Like I've said before, adding twists and turns to the main theme is what I live for.
BD: It is…but I only did that for metaphorical purposes. You know, Biggoron sword being broken and everything choughs cheese coughs again
Dragon's Hitokiri: Thanks! I hope I got it up soon enough!
Thanks a lot everybody and make sure to R&R!