Termina

Early Evening— (Day One)

Link sat beneath the base of a tree outside the plains of Termina, a short voyage away from any civilization, his grip tightening on the hilt of his gilded sword. He scorned the reflection staring back. Useless. Worthless. Unwanted memories resurfaced, memories he wanted no part of.

For five years, he remained in this world, unable to transverse to the kingdom he once knew and loved. But looking back, it had brought him nothing but grief and devastation. Had the events of Hyrule's usurp not happened, he might have lived out his life in Kokiri Forest, forever playing with the other children. But fate worked in mysterious ways. No. It wasn't fate… The mark on his left hand said otherwise.

A curse.

At a time of innocence and naivety, he had strived to help the Princess of Destiny save Hyrule from the Gerudo King, Ganondorf. But the happiness he hoped to attain led him on a path of devastation. And all his achievements meant nothing in the wake of fame and glory.

For the lives of those lost in the turmoil of that war, it meant nothing. Saria had given up her life as Sage to vanish Ganondorf into oblivion, along with the other Sages scattered across the kingdom. When Mido learned of her sacrifice, he disappeared from the Lost Woods, never again seen among the other Kokiri. And in the short seven years after Ingo took over the ranch, Talon died, and his daughter, Malon, took her life after.

What happiness had he achieved? Nothing. Nothing besides Hyrule's salvation. But at what cost? In the years following Majora's cataclysm upheaval, horrid thoughts led Link astray. Thoughts which left him questioning his worth as a warrior. What was the point of his existence if he couldn't protect the people he loved? Their sacrifices weren't worth the ending. In his mind, his Hyrule no longer existed.

A failure.

I failed all of you for the sake of the kingdom. Through the fires and chaos of Ganondorf's reign, I didn't hear your cries. I'm sorry…

A wetness brushed his cheek, and his cerulean gaze shifted to the dark clouds billowing overhead. A storm approached. Still regretful of his past mistakes, he regained his standing and touched his head. Another migraine formed at his temple, and he groaned. But he couldn't pull himself away from his musings, and his gaze wandered to his bandaged hand where the Triforce of Courage rested.

It's just a fleeting memory now. I should move on—

A jingling noise resonated throughout the woods and tore him from his musings. And he turned, expecting to encounter a familiar peddler with a large sack of masks, but there was no one.

Disappointed, he turned from the clearing, but he paused once more, his eyes widening as he witnessed a strange phenomenon. A golden pillar of light tore through the clouds in the distance and crash landed further into the forest like lightning.

Was it a sign from the Goddesses? Or something else? He followed the trail, but as he neared, he realized he wasn't far from home. His grip tightened on his blade. The closer he neared, the more he realized the destruction that light had caused to the surrounding area. Though its glimmer remained, a small portion of the forest within radius had dissipated from existence, leaving behind a stark landscape of brown earth.

A group of foreigners laid unconscious in the crater, and he peered closer, scrutinizing their odd clothing. Who were they? Link didn't move from his spot, but he kept his sword ready for any sign of attack. Moments passed and nothing happened. He sheathed his blade. Victims? Were they caught up in the strange light while passing through?

"I can't leave them here…" He said, crossing his arms and canting his head. "And the storm looks violent this time around…" He noted the lightning and roaring over the wind, the sky darkening further. Fortunately, he wasn't far from his home, and thinking fast, he turned on his heel.

When he returned several minutes later, he pulled a two-wheeled cart behind him, intending to carry each of the strangers back home. It proved more cumbersome than he imagined. Especially without Epona. On his first run around, he hefted the two women onto the cart with ease, along with the young child with a tail and a feline with two tails. By the time he dropped them off inside the house, the rain fell.

Through the downpour, he struggled far longer than necessary to get each of the men into his cart, along with the enormous yellow sack. The giant boomerang didn't yield, and he left it behind. The crater became muddy, and it was difficult to catch his balance by pulling them along. But he left the crater for the last time that evening and parked his cart outside his house. With the back of his muddy boot, Link pushed the door open, and one by one, dragged the remaining individuals inside.

Thunder boomed, and the house shook, and he closed the door, latching it. From there, he lit a lantern from the table until a soft orange glow filled the room. He spared them one more look before throwing some timbers into the hearth, and before long, a steady flame emerged.

"There. That should be good enough until the storm quiets," He said, rubbing the sweat from his forehead. "But who are they?" A tapping on the window drew his attention, and noticing a familiar pink fairy caught in the downpour, he rushed over to let her inside. "Serena! What are you doing here?"

She fluttered in and rested on the table by the lantern. "To fetch you! I looked everywhere for you!" She said, out of breath.

"Sorry. There's been more monster sightings as of late. Just earlier, I came upon a group of them near the outskirts of the plains."

"It's getting worse, Link, and the Great Fairy summoned you."

"Me?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It didn't sound good. I think it's because of those monsters and the frequent storms…"

At this, he sat down in the chair. "I can't imagine what it could be…"

"Who are they?"

He turned when she fluttered past him. "Oh. I found them a short bit ago. They appeared beneath a pillar of golden light. But I'm not sure if it was coincidence…"

"They're not Terminians. Are they foreigners?"

Link leaned forward. "I thought the same with their clothing," He said. "Their ears resemble the Gerudo. Except for the child and the one with silver hair…"

"So, you just going to leave them on the floor? No blankets?"

He sweat dropped. "I was going to," He said and moved from the table to retrieve a couple blankets from the chest under the upstairs loft. When he returned, he kneeled in front of the girls and covered them and the child. Pleased they seemed far more comfortable than before, he moved over to the other side with the two men.

"That one looks like a monk. Doesn't he?" Serena asked. "But I've never seen one sporting a dress before…"

Link nodded and covered the young man and his companion. "I wonder if they're warriors…"

"Who knows, but we don't have time to wait around. We should head over to Clock Town—"

"In this storm?" Link asked. "We should wait it out. And besides, without Epona, it will take far longer to get there."

"Fine… But why did you give up Epona? It would have been easier traveling the remaining distance."

"Romani was fond of her. Besides, it takes a lot of rupees to care for a horse, Serena. Don't forget. I used up all my savings for this house," He said. At least this way he wasn't burdening Kafei and Anju at the Stock Pot Inn. He had lived with them for two years before he rounded up enough money to build his own house. "And it's cheaper living outside town than it is inside."

"True…"

A noise sounded behind him, and he turned. Were they waking up? From where he and Serena sat, Link observed the two-tailed feline uncurl itself and open its crimson eyes. It locked onto him in an instant and bristled its white fur, but it didn't attack. "Come here. We won't hurt you," He said, beckoning it with a wave of his fingers.

It mewed, its gaze wandering the room from top to bottom. But only after settling its gaze on its companions, it approached him and rubbed its back against his palm, purring. "Mew!"

"That's a good kitty," Link said, smiling.

"I've never seen a cat like that."

"Neither have I. I wonder where they came from?" He asked, and he heard another rustle. He turned, but the other occupants were sound asleep. But feeling bold, he moved from the chair and kneeled beside them, his eyes transfixed on the individual with silver hair. There were strange white appendages on his head. "He's the strangest of the bunch…"

"Huh?" Serena fluttered forward, settling herself atop his mane of blonde hair. "Oh. Yeah, you're right. Look how long his hair is too! Are those dog ears or cat ears? Do you think they're real?"

"How should I know—Serena—What are you doing?" He reached out to grab her, but she flew out of his reach and towards the sleeping man. "You'll wake him!" He said, his voice low in a whisper.

"Shh. I'm just going to check something. Give me a second," She said, and she landed upon his head with a plop. From there, her feminine form inspected the moving appendages and touched them. She rubbed her palms up and down the sides of his ears and inspected the insides. "Hm… Yeah. He looks like a mutt."

Link sweat dropped. "Okay. You had a look. Let them rest—"

A clawed hand shot through the darkness and ensnared his throat in a vice-like grip, and Link fell back. The person who'd Serena had landed on moments ago, had sprung from the floor, the blankets now in disarray, and he towered over him on all fours, growling. A shriek followed.

Golden eyes blazed upon him, and Link stared at his attacker. "Who the hell do you think you are? You better have a good explanation before I cut out your throat!"

"Get off him, you brute!"

"Answer me! Who are you?"

Link fought for breath, grasping the hand choking him. "Y-you've got it all wrong!" He said. "I brought y-you in from the r-rain!"

His ears twitched, and his gaze shifted around the room before narrowing upon the window. "You brought us here? Where the hell is this place?"

"Get off him!"

"Shut up! Listen here! I don't know what kind of trick you pulled, but you better send us back now!"

"W-what are you talking about?" He asked, gasping. "I-I can't b-breathe…" Although he didn't predict this move, the claws piercing into his skin surprised him. This was no ordinary human. This man even had fangs and feral eyes. Blue orbs searched for his sword, but it laid on the table by the lantern and out of reach.

A mess of ebony filled his vision, but it was not the darkness encompassing the outer corners of his vision. It was a young woman with ivory skin and large blue eyes. She wore a peculiar outfit, unlike any he'd seen before, of a white button-down blouse tucked into a dark pleated skirt. It fell above her knees, revealing slender and toned legs with white stockings, and brown shoes.

From where he laid, he briefly pondered the length as it different from those of Clock Town, especially among the women. But he forced the thought away, trying to regain hold over the situation, but those claws dug into his skin.

"What are you doing, Inuyasha?! Get off him!" The young woman said, pushing his attacker aside.

"Butt out, Kagome!"

"Don't make me say it!"

And like that, he let go, and Link gasped for air. He touched the spot where the claws had pierced him and turned onto his side. Would that person have killed him? What nonsense was he spouting moments ago?

"Are you all right? Can you stand?" She asked, kneeling beside him, and touching his shoulder. "I'm so sorry!" She rounded on the silver-haired man known as Inuyasha. "What's wrong with you? How can you attack him like that?!"

"What do you mean, what's wrong with me? He's the one that was hovering over us while we were sleeping!"

She rolled her eyes. "You're overthinking, Inuyasha!" She said, pointing to the blankets. "Would an attacker cover us with blankets and warm the house with a fire? Huh? You attacked him for no reason!"

"What's going on?" A childish voice asked. The small boy lifted himself from the blankets and rubbed his eyes. "Are you two fighting again?"

"Where is this place?" Another feminine voice asked. "Miroku, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sango. But what happened?" The other male occupant asked beside her. "What has Inuyasha worked up?"

As Link lifted himself into a seated position, still rubbing the spot on his neck, he fixated his attention onto the guests. They had awoken to a complete misunderstanding, and he sighed. Could the evening get any weirder?

His fairy companion landed upon his shoulder a moment after and inspected the injury to his neck. "Link! Are you okay? That stupid mutt tried to kill you!"

"I'm fine—"

"Hey! Who are you calling a mutt?" The man said, reaching for the sword sheathed at his side. But the young girl grabbed his arm. "You got a problem with me?"

Serena flew between them. "Yeah, I got a problem with you! What's the big deal attacking my partner?! For all I care, he should have left you out in the rain! After all that work to bring all of you in from that storm! Is that the thanks he gets?"

"Please, stop it already!" Kagome said, glaring at Inuyasha. Her blue eyes settled on Serena and Link. "I'm so sorry. We didn't mean for this to happen. Inuyasha! Apologize! He helped us, and that's the least we can do!"

"I ain't gotta do nothing!" He said and pointed at Link. "I don't know who you are, but you reek of a dead person! And you smell just like that light that surrounded us earlier! So, you better explain yourself!"

A/N

Character Ages: Kagome and Link (17) Inuyasha (21) Miroku (18) Sango (16) Shippo (8)