AN: Hello Shattered Times readers, ALBS is back! I'm so sorry for my long, unannounced hiatus, one that was the result of procrastination, school, and writer's block. I really hope to not have another one these unannounced hiatuses again, and now I'm back! I'm not expecting any regular update schedule from me any time soon though :/ I've been getting sad, because this monster of a fanfic is reaching its end sooner rather than later... I absolutely do not want it to, it's been so fun to write and to see everyone's reactions to the plot and how it's been turning out :) Thank you again to all you wonderful followers and favoriters - you guys are wonderful. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and if you see any weird errors please let me know, and R&R!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Rated T for teen
Link had an odd feeling of deja-vu as the small troupe crested the familiar rocky hill, then looked down the trail toward the grand, frozen, and comforting sight of Lake Hylia. The ice layered over the waters shone in the early morning sun, the snowbanks surrounding the lake glimmering, almost blinding Link with the sheer whiteness that met him. The sun had finally crested over the deep cliffs surrounding Lake Hylia, making Link wince against the warm light.
Night travel had proved fast and efficient, though Aeron had to join Link and Saria on Epona, who was willing to take more dead weight. For once, Link was grateful for the near boundless energy that his faithful horse contained, though as she plodded down the trail towards the lake basin, he could tell that she was getting tired. Link couldn't work her much harder, not until she recovered.
"This lake is beautiful. What's its name?" Link heard Rin ask, the tone slightly laced with exhaustion. Ruto responding, her own voice filled with emotion.
"Lake Hylia," and after a long pause, Ruto added, "my home."
Saria stirred against Link, a slight groan escaping her as she did. Link looked down at her face, and saw, heart leaping abruptly in his chest, that her eyes were open.
"...Link...?" she murmured, so quiet it was almost inaudible. She moved in her spot, shivering slightly. "Where...?"
"Home, Saria. You're home." Link responded, relief flooding him at that phrase. "And you're safe."
The Sage slowly lifted her arm, touching the shallow gash on her temple. She winced slightly, letting her arm fall again to her side. "How did this..."
"You were attacked. I almost thought..." Link faded off, glancing down into the face of his childhood friend. The Kokiri smiled, almost playfully.
"Goddesses forbid that I die outside of Hyrule, Link."
Link couldn't help but laugh gently, and he felt Aeron start from his precarious position behind him. The Chi's hands were lightly gripping Link's shirt, as to which the grip tightened, then released as Link laughed.
"Sorry, Aeron. Didn't mean to wake you."
"N-no, I...I wasn't asleep, I was only surprised..." Aeron stammered, then Link heard Rin's quiet giggle from her horse beside his. Epona seemed to recognize the slightly happier moods, and her light trot gained a more playful step as she snorted lightly. The group didn't stop by the trading post at the lakeside, instead trekking up the trail that led out into Hyrule Field.
The clouds were sparse up in the baby blue sky, giving the white-covered field the sensation that the clouds themselves had fallen to the ground, blanketing Hyrule with a fluffy and cold fabric.
Link relished in the gentle wind, biting at his cheeks and tousling his hair and clothing. The wind felt rejuvenating, no longer an unknown wind from an unknown outback, but a wind from home. His mission felt so short now, even though it could end in death - maybe he'd never leave Hyrule again, instead of his original plan to slip away again after the battle for Hyrule. If he lived. That was an uncertainty that he would need to keep consistently in his mind as the end of his journey was nearing.
Link felt Saria stir against his body, and her head craned upward, scanning the scenery, green eyes drinking in the sights of her home.
"...Link," she murmured, so quiet Link barely heard.
"Yeah? Saria?"
Saria's small hand peeked out from the swaths of Link's cloak, pointing east.
"The Kokiri," she whispered, exhaling slightly, the breath carried away by the wind. "we need to go there."
"We...Saria, I don't -"
"We have to go back. I need to see the Kokiri, and my home." Saria's voice was punctuated with a sudden strength, eyes sparking with determination. She moved suddenly against Link, sitting up taller. "I need to see that they're alright."
Link stopped Epona, looking in the direction that Saria had been pointing. Her idea wasn't illogical, it sounded like a good idea even. They wouldn't be long - Kakariko Village remained a bright priority in Link's head, but Saria seemed bent on getting to the Kokiri.
He tried to push away the fact that the Kokiri Village had been burnt to the ground. It was the people that she wanted to see.
"Hey, you guys!" Link exclaimed to Rin and Ruto, both who turned as Rin stopped her own horse. "We're gonna go east. Saria's request."
"Can we afford it? I thought you wanted to get to that village as soon as possible." Rin said, speaking over the wind. The wind tangled her long black hair, blowing around her face in an ethereal fashion.
"That can wait. This is more important now. We'll try and get there full speed, if the horses allow."
Rin appeared to think it over briefly, before nodding quickly. "Sounds like a plan."
Link steered Epona into the direction of the Kokiri Village, and his steed tossed her head, pawing at the ground.
Link felt an increased sinking feeling in his chest as they reached the entrance to the Kokiri Village, while Saria, contrary to him, was feeling increasingly tense with anticipation against his body. He didn't want to tell her that the village had been burnt out beyond belief; he knew what anguish that would cause her?
Would she be mad at him? For not telling her? Link didn't know.
Epona stopped at the hollowed-out entrance to Kokiri Village, and before Link could stop her, Saria scrambled off Epona, shaky on her legs, before catching herself and walking rapidly through the snow, into Kokiri Village.
"Saria, no!" Link, alarmed, leapt off Epona before following Saria into the dark entrance of Kokiri Village. He nearly fell as he ran over the wooden bridge before reaching the true entrance to Kokiri.
Link nearly crashed into Saria when he reached the village clearing, as she was fallen to her knees just outside the entrance. Link stood a ways back as he looked around the burned village.
Nearly every building had collapsed into a pile of blackened wood and ash, and the air was still infested with air-borne flecks of ash. The snow underneath Link's feet was still watery and muddy, even now, too warm to freeze.
"Saria..."
The Sage said nothing, and only trembled.
"Saria, I... meant to tell you, but..." Link's voice faded, traveling upwards into the still air like the ash hanging above their heads. He heard the noise of footsteps behind him - followed by Ruto's stifled gasp, Aeron's murmured curse, and Rin's sad exhale.
Saria remained on the ground, clutching at her body.
"How?" she whispered, barely audible to Link.
Link stammered slightly, his mind scrambling for an explanation that didn't include the name 'Ganondorf'.
"I... it -"
"Link! Look out!"
Rin's scream made Link jump, whirling around at her voice. His sudden change of position made him stagger, just as the whistle of an arrow blew by where his head had been a moment ago. The arrow implanted itself into the shell of a house a few yards away.
Link looked in the direction of the arrow's origin, his heart leaping into his chest at the sight of the attacker.
"I warned you not to come back. Hero types like you never listen."
Link's shadow stood away from him, as the shadowy bow dissolved into nothingness at the shadow's hand. A snarl was etched onto its face, eyes glowing a blood red. He heard Rin and Aeron step forward, no doubt to attack, but Link shot them a sharp glance.
"Don't. He's got a bone to pick with only me." the shadow laughed derisively.
"A smart choice. And you also brought two Sages along with you. After I incapacitate you, and kill your friends, I'll bring them along to Ganondorf. He'll be very happy to see you're back in town."
"Stop talking." Link replied, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The shadow mimicked his movement, smirking as it did.
"You'd like to spar? Excellent." Link's shadow drew its blade, beckoning at Link with the weapon. "Come at me, then. If you're brave enough." a smile tugged at the shadow's lips.
Link gritted his teeth, but didn't draw his own blade. He'd prefer for his shadow to strike first - just so he knew its style of fighting.
Quicker than Link anticipated, his shadow lunged, forcing Link to hastily block the blow it delivered. Link fell back into the snow, and he heard Saria scream in shock.
The shadow leapt at Link, who parried the blow, before planting his boot into the shadow's stomach, forcing it to stagger backwards. Link scrambled up to his feet, blocking another frenzied blow.
Link rolled across the ground to avoid another sword swing, before slashing clean though his shadow's leg. Its leg from the knee-down disappeared into a puff of smoke, and the shadow staggered, hissing in anger. Its leg quickly reformed, and with an arrogant smile, it hurled itself at Link.
Blades locked with one another as Link and his shadow were practically face-to-face, both parties' arms shaking underneath the force of their enemy. Small sparks of metal against metal were building at the point where their blades were crossed, and Link gritted his teeth, while his shadow bared his in a mocking smile.
Link heard Aeron's growling, and he turned his head to look at the young demon.
"No, Aeron!"
"That's a mistake you're making, hero," the shadow hissed, pushing back against Link. "You're going to need all the help you can -"
"FIRE!"
The bossy, albeit annoying voice of Mido the Kokiri echoed through the Kokiri Village hollow, breaking the shadow's focus as it looked upwards at the sound of the voice.
"You were saying -!" Link growled, and with a forceful pushback, Link pushed the shadow away from him, just as a number of slingshot pellets soared through the air, striking the shadow as it staggered backwards.
Link's shadow shrieked in both irritation and shock at the sudden onslaught, staggering though the snow as it continued to be pelted with slingshot ammo from the Kokiri. The shadow soon fixed Link with a furious snarl before dissipating into the air as a black smoke, streaking upwards and disappearing as it fled.
Child-like cheers from above Link's head sounded as he turned, looking up at the entrance into the Lost Woods as he sheathed his blade. Standing on the small wooden fence directing the path to the woods was Mido, face smug as the Kokiri behind him celebrated.
"Mido!" Link smiled, laughing. "You saved me!" Mido cheekily grinned, placing his hands on his hips.
"Isn't that what I -" he cut himself off as he saw Saria, who walked to stand next to Link. Mido blinked once, then twice.
"SARIAAAAA!" The Kokiri leader screamed shrilly as he leapt from the fence down to the second-highest landing to the Lost Woods, before landing in the muddy snow, dashing toward Saria. Mido fell to his knees and tightly hugged Saria around the waist, instantly bursting into tears. The rest of the Kokiri were descending down the ledges from the Lost Woods, looking excited, but more restrained than Mido.
Saria laughed quietly, patting Mido on the head. "Hello, Mido."
"S-Saria, I was so-so-scared -" Mido hiccuped, looking up at Saria before wiping his nose on his sleeve. "B-but now you-you're BAAAACK!" Mido wailed once more, before wiping away his tears, sitting in the muddy snow.
Link backed away from the two Kokiri, reuniting with Rin, Ruto, and Aeron as they watched the Kokiri gather around Saria. Saria looked more alive than she had in the whole trip, her cheeks rosy, eyes bright.
"I'm so glad for her." Link heard Ruto whisper, and he turned his head to look at her. The Zora's eyes were bright, and Link remembered with an icy shock that her people had been slaughtered.
"Ruto..." Link began, and Ruto turned, gazing at him. "I'm sorry. About the Zoras. It's... terrible, what happened." Ruto smiled, a breath of a laugh escaping her.
"Thank you. Some... some of them survived, and... well, it'll be hard, but, we'll push through it. Once all of our problems are over."
"I agree." Link responded, and Ruto smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Link." Link started at the voice that came from next to him, and he looked down. Fado stood there, hands behind her back, swaying in place. She was smiling.
"It's just Link, Fado. And there's no need to thank me. You should -"
Link was cut off by a collective sound of disappointment from the Kokiri, stemming from Saria's statement of apology and explanation.
"I'll be back very soon, but I can't come home... not just yet. Please be patient everyone." Saria said, quietly and apologetically. She walked toward Link, turning, then grabbing Link's arm. "And stay safe, please."
"Y-you got it, Saria!" Mido exclaimed, still sniffling. All the Kokiri laughed good-naturedly, and Saria giggled slightly. She nudged Link, murmuring,
"I'm ready to leave. I've said my hellos and goodbyes." Link only nodded, looking at his companions.
"We're ready when you are." Aeron said, and Rin nodded in agreement. Link smiled, and looked back at the crowd of Kokiri in front of them.
"Stay safe, everyone," Link said, before turning around, and the Kokiri waved their Sage and her friends goodbye, as the group's final destination neared.
Kakariko Village.
Zelda sat at a large table with Frankie, Joey, Malon, Abel, Nabooru, and the newly acquainted Alika and Nova, the Gerudo soldiers who had aided Link in his journey early on. They were nearly all silent, save for Alika and Nova's quiet bickering at one side of the table. It was close to noon now, but the inn was relatively quiet, the group really the only large party inside.
"Who are we waiting for?" Malon said, quietly.
"Darunia; he's still likely speaking with the Kakariko elders." Nabooru replied. "I've only just arrived, so even I barely know what's going on in Kakariko, and what will happen if... he attacks."
Nabooru was right, to Zelda - she had only arrived that morning, and the prospect that Ganondorf would attack Kakariko was terrifying, but not out of the question. Even with the multitude of Sages concentrated there, that fact likely wouldn't deter Ganondorf.
Zelda chewed at her lip, kneading her hands together as she did. Frankie leaned over, whispering in her ear, "Joey and I 'ill be upstair', you'll be alrigh'?"
Zelda nodded and smiled. "Yes. Thank you, Frankie." The old man smiled, his beard and eyes crinkling upwards as he heartily patted Zelda on the shoulder, before pushing out his chair alongside Joey. The two old men waddled up the inn steps, boots heavily stomping on the wooden floor.
As the two old traders left, the door to the inn burst open, Darunia squeezing through the entrance before slamming the door closed.
"Damn elders haven't figured anything out, it's like they don't believe anything I'm saying..." the Sage growled, pounding his fists on the table. Zelda felt it shudder underneath her hands.
"Well, they likely don't believe it. It's too..."
"Ridiculous?" Nabooru finished Zelda's statement, sighing. "Yeah, if I were them, I wouldn't believe it too."
The group fell into silence again, until there was the shrill whinny of a horse outside, making the group turn towards the window. Two horses, with a multitude of passengers, had entered Kakariko. The horse that had whinnied was a beautiful white and auburn breed, one that was painstakingly familiar to everyone at the table.
Nabooru stood up from the table, brow furrowed.
"Zelda, stay here."
Zelda opened her mouth indignantly as everyone except her, Alika, and Nova exited the tavern. After a brief moment, Zelda huffed in slight irritation, standing up and making her way to the window.
That horse was all too familiar. Too good to be true almost.
"I'm going to go see who that is." Zelda muttered, turning back to the table, before frowning, as Alika was holding onto Zelda's cloak.
"Nabooru didn't want you going out, your highness."
"Well, I'm the ruler of this land, so please, give me my cloak."
Alika pouted slightly, but didn't comply. Zelda huffed, before looking out the window once more.
"Fine, I'll go out there like this, and maybe freeze to death, who knows." Zelda stomped toward the door, ripping it open and marching outside, instantly wrapping her arms around her chest from the cold.
Everyone was quiet as Link dismounted his horse, following Saria, who had been helped off by Aeron, and Link gripped Epona's reigns tightly. He kept his hood up as he looked at the small group that seemed absolutely stunned by his arrival. Nabooru and Darunia looked incredulous at Link's presence, while Malon had an expression of pleasant surprise on her face, while Abel stood at his mother's side, mouth slightly open.
"...Link?" Malon asked, voice high-pitched. "How...?"
"It's good to see you, Malon." Link murmured. He smiled at the woman, and she slightly smiled as well, before responding.
"Who...who are these people?"
"They're friends. We got Ruto and Saria back to Hyrule, and I wouldn't have been able to alone. You can trust them," Link remarked, as Darunia appeared to expand at the idea of unknown friends. "I promise you that, Darunia."
Nabooru pointed a finger at Link. "Alright, I'll give you that Link, but...you left with no warning. That gives me enough warrant to punch you. You didn't even tell any of us, we had no idea -"
"I knew. He told me." Malon said, and Darunia nodded in agreement with Malon. Nabooru looked back and forth between the two, then rolled her eyes.
"Okay, you told the cow lady, and Mr. Pile o'Rocks. But what about us? This is your problem, you're so unpre -"
"-I had to Nabooru, I had no choice. And besides, you weren't even here when I left -" Link said through slightly gritted teeth, feeling exasperation at Nabooru's unforgiving attitude.
"That doesn't mean that the other Sages have to be left in the dark, what about Zelda -"
"What about me? Nabooru, what's going on -"
Link inhaled sharply as Zelda stepped into the small semi-circle facing him, her brow knit together at the slight commotion occurring. Her arms were tightly wrapped around her chest, her thin, billowy shirt providing little insulation. Her hair was put up in a bun, strands falling across and aside her face, light bruises and scratches present on her visage. Her gaze soon locked on his, and she fell silent, an expression of shock on her face.
In Link's honest opinion, she was more beautiful than in any royal gown or garment.
"...Zelda," Link said, in a manner that sounded like an awkward introduction. He let go of Epona's reigns, letting his hands fall limply to his side.
"Link...?" Zelda replied incredulously, her mouth barely moving. "I thought..."
"I was dead?" Link finished the princess's question, and she nodded slightly, mouth slightly open in stupefaction.
"I...Link, I..." Zelda faded off, and took a small step toward him.
The two Hylians met each other at the halfway in a gentle embrace. Link buried his head into Zelda's hair, smelling the sweet scent of smoked wood and fragrant shampoo oils. She smelled like a home, as if he knew what having a home felt like, after the years of never having one.
"...I'm so glad the Hero of Time is safe home once again," Zelda whispered, and Link felt her warm hand clutch at the back of his head, before she pushed his hood away. "I thought we had lost you..."
Link inhaled deeply before responding, closing his eyes. "How did you even get here? Princess..." the last word faded as it left his mouth.
Zelda laughed, one that caught in her throat. "Zelda, Link," she said, backing away slightly. "my name is Zelda, and I command you to call me that from now on."
Link laughed, before he was yanked into a rough hug from Darunia, who tousled Link's hair as he was jostled around by the Goron.
"Really was worried 'bout ya, brother. We really were." Darunia gruffly said, stepping back slightly and releasing Link from his strong hug.
"Don't worry about me, I'm more worried about -"
"Goddesses, Link, your... eye." Nabooru's eyes flashed with shock as she studied Link's face.
Zelda looked at Link, her face relatively expressionless. She seemed to be memorizing his face almost. "Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it." Zelda stated, slightly stepping forward. "I'm sure -"
Link interjected across the princess. "It's a long story, Nabooru. I wouldn't want to bore you anymore than I typically do."
Nabooru snorted, fixing Link with an exasperated stare. "Oh, you silly Hylian," she remarked as she stepped forward, bringing Link close in a strong hug. "I'm glad you're safe."
"I'm glad you're glad that I'm safe, if you weren't, I'd have to worry about how much you'd actually care." Link joked, the two pulling apart. Nabooru waggled a finger, yet her eyes were sharp, almost stony.
"You're the key to Hyrule actually surviving, so I'd put all my money on your life, Link." she winked, and patted him roughly on the back. "You should come inside the inn, all of you guys." she looked around at Rin, Ruto, Saria, and Aeron, then turning back to Link. "We've got lots to talk about."
lol I've been looking back at the first few chapters of this fanfic and it's *cRIngY* I'm definitely going to revise the fu k out of this fanfic once it comes to an end. What do you guys think?
I'm soooo happy I finally got Link back in Hyrule my god! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, with all the reunions, e.t.c e.t.c... Dark Link(shadow? Idk) will come back later, cause his business with Link ain't done yet... but anyway! I hoping to upload the next chapter within the next couple weeks, and until then, please R&R, and peace out ~ALBS