All right got a funny story. Ever since I posted prompt 7 its been bugging me in the back of my mind because it just didn't seem to match up with the prompt the way I thought it did. I've finally figured out what the problem was. I actually posted the wrong chapter under that prompt. Chapter 7 is actually supposed to go with today's prompt, and the prompt I'm posting today was supposed to be posted way back on October 7th. I had both prompts already written when the month started and they somehow got mixed up. At this point I'm going to leave it as is and maybe switch the chapters around sometime next month.
Prompt Seven – I've Got You
Timeline - Set right after Majora's Mask
I've Got You
The REAL Prompt 7 Chapter
Link did not actually remember getting into this tub. Sometimes he felt like he was literally going crazy because he often experienced huge gaps of time where he didn't know where he had been or what he had been doing. The last thing he recalled was coming into the ranch and seeing Romani, or maybe it was Malon. He wasn't quite sure. She has been looking at him with deep concern in her eyes, then suddenly he was sitting in a large tub of warm water completely naked. There was no recollection of getting undressed, or getting into the water.
Someone was also rubbing a soapy wash cloth over his arm, and it took Link much longer then usual for his mind to connect that this wasn't normal. Link had to blink a couple times and squint his eyes to get them to adjust to seeing again. The boy almost gave a start at the person who was scrubbing the dirt off of his body. It was the man who ran the Milk Bar in Clock Town- no just looked like that man. This had to be Talon, which meant that the girl had to be Malon. He was no longer in Termina, no longer in the three day time loop, no longer in danger. Link normally would have been much more embarrassed at the idea of someone else undressing him for a bath, but the warmth of the water felt too good right now. "I think he's back with us again," an unfamiliar voice said from behind him.
Link hadn't even realized he'd 'gone' anywhere. But since he was back and in control of his limbs again, the boy insisted that he finish bathing himself. Afterall he was no longer an infant and should be perfectly capable of scrubbing himself clean. Talon and a ranchhand Link never met before stepped back at once, though neither left the room. Even when Link pointed out that he was fine and they didn't have to stay, they both looked very reluctant to leave him alone.
It turned out to be a good thing, having them stay. Once the young hero deemed himself clean enough to leave the tub, he stood up. Or at least he attempted to stand up; but the moment his legs took on Link's entire weight, they collapsed beneath him. In fact if the ranchhand had not been so quick to catch him, he might have smacked his head against the side of the tub and drowned. Actually maybe it would have been better if that had happened. Why did he have no energy? Even after he steadied himself, the ranchhand was still the reason he was not sliding back into the water. As if they had already planned it ahead of time, Talon was at his side with a towel that was quickly wrapped around his thin frame. The ranchhand picked him up with much more gentleness than one might think. He was carried into a bedroom, where the two men assisted him into a thin white night robe, and toweling his hair dry. Link had not realized how tired he had been, until he had been laid down on the bed and covered in warm blankets. He was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.
When Link awoke, he saw the most beautiful thing ever staring down at him. Blue eyes, gorgeous red hair, and a smile so bright it could pierce the darkness of Kakariko's Well. It was Malon… no… or was it Romani. A huge wave of shame came over the boy as he realized he couldn't tell them apart. Malon is one of the most special people in his life, he should be able to tell her apart from Romani. Though Romani had become a special person to him as well, but was that because the other girl was almost a duplicate of Malon, in both features and personality. This brought confused emotions into the young child. "I'm glad to see you awake Link," the red haired girl said, saving the boy from continuing to dwell on his thoughts.
The young hero only gulped in response. He had to make sure, "M-Malon…?" he spoke hesitantly, dearly hoping that he was correct.
"Yes Link…" Malon responded with a bit of uncertainty in her own voice, and worry passed over her beautiful facial features. "It's always been me."
If only you knew… Link could not help but think. He stared into her worried gaze, and even stained with anxiety her face was stunningly beautiful. "Well… I brought you something to eat if you're hungry," Malon said, breaking the awkward silence, and motioning to a tray of food on the side table Link hadn't noticed until now.
It looked to be a bowl of porridge, with some apple slices on the side. The boy really didn't feel all that hungry, but didn't want to offend the girl. So he smiled, trying his best to look grateful, "Thanks Malon." Perhaps the food will give him back some energy.
He was actually able to eat everything on the tray, and though the food felt a bit dense in his stomach, it didn't feel like it would be coming back up. Malon also seemed to be happy at the amount of food he had eaten, as she was now beaming at him. Link couldn't help but smile back at her. For a moment, a very brief moment it almost felt like his trip to Termina hadn't even happened. Like he was back living on the Ranch after Zelda restored his childhood. That brief time always stood out as the best time in Link's life, and it felt good to think that maybe life could get back to this point. But almost as quickly as it came, the moment was gone.
In a sudden flash, Malon's beautiful eyes had turned blank, her face pinched with pain, dry lips trembling as if about to burst into sobs. It was the face of Romani anytime he was unable to help her with the invaders that attacked the ranch. He couldn't bear to associate that face with Malon, even though it's already happened since Malon and Romani have the same face. Link had to look away before he lost it. Though the image of now plastered into his brain, and nothing he did could remove it. The boy barely had the time to crawl weakly over the side of the bed, before he stomach heaved up the food that was placed into his stomach moments earlier. When he looked back at the redhead a few minutes later, the terrified look she was giving him was almost worse then Romani's lifeless stare. "Oh Link… what happened to you?" was all she could choke out.
Link did not want to answer. He just wanted to forget about everything that happened in his life up until this point, especially what happened in Termina. So instead he broke down into hard frame racking sobs.
MAJORASMASK
Things did not improve for Link over the coming days, in fact everything was steadily declining. The precious hours of sleep the young hero could get were filled with terrifying nightmares that always stopped him from getting anymore then two or three hours of sleep each day. He was unable to keep any food down for long, and that along with his lack of sleep had practically made him bedridden. He was just short of having a diaper put on him, instead his caretakers had placed an absorbant pad under him since he only made it to the outhouse on time 50% of the time. Link normally would have been completely embarrassed by this, if he hadn't felt like he was on the brink of dying.
A doctor had come in, a couple days after he arrived, but deemed that aside from his lack of sleep and nutrition, there was nothing wrong with him. Malon was under the impression that if she stayed with him as much as possible it would help, and though he appreciated her efforts, her very presence actually tended to make things worse. Seeing Malon only brought up memories of Romani being taken away by the monsters that kept attacking Romani Ranch, and what happens to her when she is brought back hours later.
There was one cycle when Link accidently ran out of arrows and was unable to save her from the attack. He made the mistake of waiting around the ranch for her to return, thinking maybe if he got to her right when they brought her back he'd save her from the mind trauma. The boy had been foolish to think this however. Seeing her battered and bruised body fall to the ground with a thud was probably the worst thing he'd ever see. The only sounds coming from the girl were ear spitting cries and wails that immediately woke her older sister. Of course Cremina had to look exactly like the older version of Malon, and hearing the young woman's angry accusations was enough for Link to flee from the ranch and spend the next two cycles crying in sorrow and shame.
Link did not know how long he'd been at Lon Lon Ranch before Impa showed up. Talon must have asked her to come and see if she could help him. Malon had been in the daily process of coaxing the young Hero into eating some food when the wise Sheika walked into the room. Malon eyes widened in shock and intimidation at her sudden presence, which told Link that she had nothing to do with Impa being called here. The woman only needed to look at Malon before the young girl scuttled from the room. Link only stared at the Sheika woman with no traces of fear in his eyes. Even though in this timeline he'd spent very little time with the royal attendant, if you counted his time travel experiences he knew the woman quite well. He was even thankful to have her come, the Sheika tribe has powerful magic, surely she would be able to help him.
Assuming that she would ask what he wanted her to help him with, Link opened his mouth to explain what was happening. But the woman held up her hand to stop him from speaking. "No words by lad." Impa said, stepping closer to the bed he was lying on. She did not stop till she stood right in front of him. "Your mind and your body are weary, there will be plenty of time to talk when your weariness has passed." With that she smoothed a hand over his forehead and everything went dark.
MAJORASMASK
What followed was the strangest sleep Link has ever experienced. It was as if some force was warding off the normal nightmares that plagued his dreams. When he awoke, Link felt better and more refreshed then he had in weeks, maybe even months. In fact when he saw the tray of food on the bedside table, his stomach roared to life and he had to mentally stop himself from shoveling food into his mouth. He was half way through the tray of food when Impa returned to the room again. "Hello Link, I trust you are well rested," she said by way of greeting.
"Yes I did," the boy responded, the gratefulness was clearly evident in his voice. If only she could do whatever it was she did every time he slept. But that was probably too much to hope for. "I don't know what you did, but thanks for it. I feel a lot better now."
The Sheika nodded in approval, "I see it has also helped your appetite which is good. Unfortunately we cannot always rely on the Sheiken magic." This wasn't the first time Link was under the impression that Impa could read minds. But he pushed the uncomfortable thought away so he could continue eating. "Unfortunately the time for questions has come. What is it that troubled you so much you were left in the state I found you in the other day?"
Link knew this was coming as well, and his refueled appetite left him almost the moment he began thinking about Termina. He also knew that there really wasn't any point putting it off. So with a soft sigh, the child set down the piece of flat bread he had been eating and turned to look at the woman. Then he explained everything. Everything that had happened since he left Hyrule. He left out no details, including everything from the Skull Kid's plan with the moon, to helping Anju and Kafei reunite. Link also included how everything seemed to be an exact doppelganger of someone from Hyrule, and the effects Romani and her sister were now having on him when he saw Malon.
Impa did not speak during his story, but the frown on her face deepened with each moment that passed. The boy finally ended with, "Now I wonder if it was all a strange nightmare."
A few moments of silence passed before Impa asked, "Your current injuries. Did you receive them while in Termina?"
Link knew exactly where the Sheiken woman was going. "Y-Yes…" he replied with a sinking feeling.
"What about the scars that cover your body?" The young hero only nodded, his eyes downcast. "Then I can assure you that it was not a dream."
It had been a longshot. But Link had still taken comfort the past few weeks in the slim chance that none of it had ever happened. It would be so much easier to return to normal life if it had been a hellish nightmare. But of course it hadn't. Tears began to flow from his eyes, would he have to live with this forever. "What should I do…?"
"Well one thing is for certain," the woman started matter of factly. "Staying here at his Ranch is doing you more harm than good." At Link's confused look Impa elaborated. "While Talon and his family mean well, they seem to bring too many troubled memories from your time in Termina."
"W-Where... should I go t-then?" Link asked between sobs. "Every... p-place in Hyrule will re-mind me of Termina!"
"I did not mean that you needed to go somewhere that wouldn't remind you of Termina. Given your story that would be quite impossible. What I mean is you should go to a place that would more likely give you good memories of your time in Termina. Surely you must have had some good times there?"
Link could not help but nod in agreement. Yes the terrible things that happened in that cursed land overwhelmed the good things. But here were some happy things he could recall. Like when he reunited Anju and Kafei. Again almost like she had read his mind, Impa said, "I suggest you go to my home village Kakariko. There are many nice families there who would be more than willing to take you in."
Though he was hesitant at first, Link eventually agreed to this. Even he had to admit all the residents he knew of that lived in Kakariko didn't have much to do with his adventure in Termina, aside from Anju. But he didn't have any terrible memories of her, in fact most of them were positive. Expectantly Malon took the news of his leaving the Ranch pretty hard. But Impa had been very clear that Link needed time to heal it would better he do it in the village rather than the Ranch. Link was pretty sure Talon was thankful for the excuse to be rid of him, he must have caused a lot of caos since his arrival.
On the day he got ready to leave, Link approached Malon, who had been avoiding him since the news of his departure. She was gently petting Epona, refusing to look at him but Link could see the tears rolling down her face. "Please don't cry Malon," the boy begged, grabbing her hand into his and giving it a squeeze. "It won't be forever."
"Oh Link!" the girl suddenly jumped into his arms and began crying into his now clean green tunic. "I feel like I just got you back, and now you have to leave again!"
The young hero wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. It hurt to know that he was the one causing her pain. "We can write to each other all the time." The girl gently pushed away from him. Her tearstreamed face looking into his. "I promise, I will return. When I have healed… I'll return and then I'll tell you everything." Link hugged her again. That was a promise he was determined to keep.
