Draye: Oh my goodness! Your review made me laugh so hard. I really hadn't thought about that when I put him in... Hahah. Thanks for that input!
A. Navi: I actually do think that you have reviewed all or most of the chapters, ever since the prologue. But you really make me laugh. 'Now either it's going to totally be Link or your just playing us on until you kill our brains by revealing that it's not Link.' Yes, I am going to kill your brain. I will kill it nice, and slow... [insert evil laughter here Oh, and on the EmrixBlaize thing... I'm sorry to say that these two will never be a couple.
OK. Now that that's over with, onto writing!
For an odd reason, he was traveling very fast over foriegn plains and mountains. Was he flying? Or was he running? He couldn't tell, because the scenes changed too quickly for him to absorb anything.
A castle rose up in the distance. The spiers grazed the blue-black sky; the blue and gold flags waved dully in the cool breeze. The gray stone was almost battle-scarred, black in places and withering away. He could tell it had once been a magnificent building, indeed.
He blinked, and the fields around the castle were burning; they held no life. There was no way that there was once life! The brown grass was still burning in areas, sending up gray, thick smoke. With a sudden bang, he realized that he was looking down on Hyrule... or what was left of it.
The scene changed and he was inside Hyrule Castle, standing atop what seemed like a long staircase. The castle was quiet; occasionally there would be footsteps echoing lightly against the stone walls. The blue drapes were hung over multi-colored glass windows, depicting legends and stories from long ago. One the blue cloth, was a triforce, being raised by a golden bird. He realized as well that this was the standard of Hyrule. So the carvings in the small horse he once had back in Termina, and the necklace, wasn't just coincidence.
He took a step down the marble stairs, looking at all of the paintings and tapestries with a hidden awe. His eyes glanced a covered painting... the brown cloth was draped over the frame as if to hide what was beneath it. A draft blew a corner up, picking his interest. Walking over to the hidding canvas, he lifted the drape... and stepped back with shock.
His father was the source of the picture. A much younger version, at that, but it was Link all the same. The sharp, blue eyes were laughing a laugh that matched the bright smile that he only knew so well. A smile that would turn away any storm clouds... Link was sitting astride a younger version of Epona, who looked proud, and regal: an animal who glowed with a wild beauty.
But there was another person in the picture. A young woman, around Picture Link's age. Her golden hair cascaded along her back, a golden tiara on her forhead. Her white-silk, gloved hand was holding Link's much larger, work-worn one. The woman's violet eyes were warm, soft, but shining with pure joy. Link was returning the gentle look to her, and Shea knew that this woman was his mother.
Shea lowered the drape, blinking. This was the first image of his mother he had seen ever since well... since she had left, and his memory of her had started to fade. His father was right... they did love each other. Shea could tell that by the captured expressions in the picture.
Voices and footsteps alerted him of coming people. He stepped back into shadows, but he knew that he wasn't concealed enough. Shea pressed himself into the stone wall, waiting.
"...and the Gorons?" a tired voice asked.
"Sending all their help. They're making armor from the ore they collect in the volcano." Another voice responded.
A squad of people rounded a corner, led by an older version of the woman in the previous picture: Shea's mother. She was still, in his eyes, the most beautiful thing he had seen in his life, despite the disheveled look about her. There were tired, gray areas under her eyes, and her forehead was creased with constant worry. Her gold hair was tied up in a braid that fell over her shoulder. The group passed by Shea without even a glance at the boy.
He removed himself from his hiding place and followed.
His mother spoke again, "The last attack was almost half-hearted... the Exelians are up to something. Where is Cicierga?" She asked, sharply.
One of her councelors spoke up, "He's tending the wounded."
"But he should be here now." The worried monarch snapped.
"No, worries, Your Highness. I'm here." A deep voice issued forth as a man in half-armor met them up the stairs.
Shea's mother frowned, "What's the devestation?"
"Not good, Princess Zelda. Kakariko's still on fire; people are being left homeless with the hours passing. We're running low on food... Ordon just suffered a storm that blocked their usual trade passage."
Zelda rubbed her temples, "The sooner my so- ... Rhairu's demi-god can get here safely, the better."
"Would you like me to send a party to escort him here? The Exelians are patrolling all roads-" The army captain optioned, but was cut off by Zelda.
"No. He's got all the help he needs... you remember my friend, Trace? I sent him to find Rhairu."
Shea noticed an odd tone in the way his mother spoke of Trace. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Cicierga smothered a worried laugh with a cough, "But, Your Highness. One man can't possibly stand up to the forces of the Exelians. You've seen what just five of them can do..."
Zelda shot the man a hard look, "I would put my life in Trace's hands. And that's not my tongue making light talk," she then muttered sadly, "He knew Link better than I ever have." She turned to look up into her council's eyes for more discussing on the wellfare of her people.
The soldier bowed his head in respect, "But, is there anything that I can do? For the good of this country?"
The regal monarch turned her head, "You can continue doing all the humanitarian things that you and your squad are currently doing. That's the first thing to get Hyrule back on it's feet... and to move us towards our victory in this war."
Cicierga bowed low, "Yes, Your Highness. May the Goddesses go with you."
Zelda inclined her head, "May the Goddesses blessings be upon you."
With the soldier gone, the princess was able to sigh and break her formal stance as she continued on her way down the stairs. "Get me some milk tea..." she asked, her voice having lost all regalness to it. She uncerimoniously fell into a chair with a sigh of relief. A servant brought out a tray with the princess' drink. He poured it, bowing low. Shea noticed that, even this time of need, they all still obeyed her; respected her; loved her.
"Your Highness?" One of the councilmen spoke up.
"Hm?" Zelda replied, swallowing the hot liquid.
"Rhairu's Messenger... I was trying to look something up on him... and I found the legend of Rhairu and his promise. In order for this to be happening... that would have had to mean that-"
"-the Messenger is my child? Yes." The princess admitted, closing her eyes and bowing her head.
"But -if it is out of my place to ask, just say so- who is the father? Who is the Courage part of the prophecy?" The councilman pressed.
Zelda remained silent, a sad look overcoming her face, "You all remember my childhood friend, Link? He is the bearer of the Triforce of Courage. But," she paused at the council's shocked expressions, "he and I... we never... I don't understand how it happened, but the Goddesses were able to make it happen. I have my guesses, but I cannot be sure until I die and am able to ask the Goddesses face to face." A beam of light seemed to be shining from the princess' face, "The Messenger of Rhairu is a pure being, so the people he had to have come from had to have been pure. The Messenger of Rhairu is my son! I haven't seen him for almost nine years... you have no idea how much I am relying on this prophecy. One can not understand the anxiety I am feeling until they too have experienced those nine, painful years-" she broke off in a sob. She put her hand to her chest, a took a shuddering breath, "He'll have so many questions... But we cannot afford for him to be captured by the Exelians. That's why I sent Trace out into the field to find him and bring him here. If the Exelians get Rhairu's Messenger... he, along with many other people, will not come out of this war alive."
And then Shea's mother's eyes fell upon the visionary version of her son. Shea stood there, locked in eye-contact with his mother. Now he knew... he really knew that she cared for him...
"BLAIZE, GET OUT OF HERE!!"
Shea's eyes snapped opened to a scream, crashing, and cursing. He sat up sharply, to find Blaize stumble into the room, face bright red... brighter-than-his-eyes red. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!" He repeatedly called over his shoulder.
Emri came in, clothes in a disarray, bo-staff extended. "Have. You. Ever. Heard. About. Knocking!?" She knocked him over the head with each word with her staff. Shea winced for the poor Exelian...
"Emri, what happened?" He made the mistake of asking.
"This little pervert walked in on me an' Claire while we were getting washed and dressed!" She whacked Blaize on the head again.
"Heyy! I had no idea! You said 'one-second,' so I waited outside for one second!" He was almost whining...
Emri cracked an angry grin, "You really don't understand the meaning of those types of phrases, do you?" she hissed, and bopped him on the head again.
"Stop hitting me!"
"I can hit you all I want!"
"That sounds dirty."
"Pervert!"
Whack!
Shea fell back on his pillow and pulled the sheets over his head...