*Thanks to Just-AWESOME-old-me (great username by the way) for giving this a favorite and Girl of Twilight Wings for following. And thanks to Moonlight Raven Grave for doing both! :)*
Link himself had no problem living on the surface. In fact, he quite enjoyed it. The temple in Faron now felt like a second home to him. Well, it literally was a second home to him at this point. He and Zelda had been living in it for the past three months. They kept talking about building a new house, but something always stopped them. Where would they build it? How big should it be? What would the make it out of? After two weeks of asking questions, they decided to simply reside in the Sealed Temple for the time being.
On this particular day, he and Zelda didn't have much to do. They visited Skyloft yesterday and didn't want to go back so soon. They already checked on the Triforce that morning. They even cleaned every inch of the temple simply to have some sort of activity. At the moment, they were sitting in the light shining through a window.
"So…" Zelda started awkwardly. "What do you think?"
Link blinked in confusion. "Of what?"
Zelda shrugged a shoulder. "The surface. Nice, huh? I never thought I would actually get to see it with my own eyes."
Link didn't reply. He simply turned his gaze to the room in the back where Fi slept in the Master Sword. He wondered if he would ever be able to wake her up and show her the place he and Zelda had found. However, the more he thought about it, the more he realized it would never happen.
"You know," Zelda continued. "Sometimes I wonder why all this happened in the first place. As much as I try to remember from my time as Hylia, it all starts with the battle. Nothing before that except very vague information."
"I wish I could help," Link said sincerely. "But I wouldn't know what it's like to live as a god and be reincarnated as a mortal."
"And then be spontaneously thrown into…this," Zelda finished. "But if I had to go through it with someone…" She smiled genuinely at Link. "I'm glad it was with you."
Link's cheeks burned at the comment. "Oh, uh, thanks," he replied awkwardly.
Now it was Zelda who was blushing. "Err, sorry. That was kind of stupid."
"No, I'm glad I went through it with you too!" Link blurted out.
A few moments of tense silence followed. The two just stared at each other blankly. Finally, Zelda giggled.
"Yeah," she laughed. "I'm glad."
Link sighed in relief. Ever since coming to the surface, their conversations weren't as natural. Perhaps it was because they were all alone. They always had someone else to cling to, but now all they had was each other.
"So what do you think we should call this place?" Link asked, eager to change the subject. "It needs a proper name, don't you think?"
"I'm not sure," Zelda groaned cutely. "I'm not good at this stuff."
"You know," Link grinned. "When Groose first dropped down here, he suggested 'Grooseland.'"
More silence and blank stares followed. After a few seconds, the Sealed Temple was filled with laughter.
"That sounds like him!" Zelda wiped a tear from her eye. "What do you think?"
"Well, I think it should be named after Hylia," Link suggested once the laughter died down. "Like…Hylialand…" Zelda raised her eyebrows in disapproval. "No, no, uh… What about Hyland? Or Hyrule? Or-"
"Stop!" Zelda said suddenly. "That one. I like that one."
Link furrowed his eyebrows. "Hyrule? Seriously?"
"Yup. That sounds perfect." Zelda rested her head on his shoulder. "I love it."
XX
Cia leaned against a tree trunk. She was waiting for the right opportunity to approach Link. She'd been standing there for a half-hour listening to him and Zelda hunting. They were joking all the time, shooting small birds with a bow and arrow, as well as discussing matters of the Triforce.
How should I go about this…? Cia wondered. I'd like to do this now, but the girl's with him. What am I saying? She's always with him. Clingy bi-
"Who're you?"
Cia gasped in surprise. A little creature had snuck up on her, sitting on the branch next to her head. She knew from her experience as a Guardian of Time that this creature was known as a Kikwi.
"Are you friends with Link and Zelda?" the Kikwi continued despite Cia's hand signal for it to be quiet. "My name's Matcha. What's yours?"
Cia glared at him sternly. "Be. Quiet," she whispered.
"Why?" Matcha tapped his small hand on his chin. "Do you think they're scary? I did too, at first, but they're actually really nice. There's no need to hide."
Cia peered around the tree, ignoring Matcha's rambling. Link and Zelda were becoming curious about Matcha's one-sided conversation. They were coming near where Cia was hiding…!
She furrowed her eyebrows in frustration. No need to hide anymore, she supposed. With a determined expression, she stepped out of her hiding place, scepter in hand like a queen. Link and Zelda stopped in their tracks, obvious shock etched in their faces.
Cia did her best to offer a kind smile, even with her distaste of Zelda. "Hello. Nice to meet you."
Zelda blinked stupidly. "Uh, nice to meet you too." She tilted her head, trying to remember if she knew Cia. "…Do we know you?"
"I'm afraid not," Cia sighed. "Allow me to introduce myself. "My name is Cia. I come from another dimension, far removed from this timeline. I need assistance with my…little problem."
Link and Zelda exchanged wary glances. They weren't buying her story.
"I'm a Guardian of Time," Cia continued. "I can see all timelines and dimensions. I overlooked the Triforce in my own world. And for the record…" She grinned good-naturedly at Link. "You two have traveled through time before if I'm not mistaken."
"True," Zelda said. "What do you want with us?"
"No, not with you." Cia nodded to Link. "With him."
Link's expression was unreadable as Cia explained. He simply crossed his arms and looked her straight in the eye. Zelda was different. She panicked a bit.
"But he can't," she said. "He just got back from saving the world a few months ago! It's too soon-"
"Let me hear her out," Link interrupted. Zelda gave him the glare a wife would give an unruly husband, but she bit her tongue. "What do you need me for?"
Cia sighed in relief. Her cheeks began to burn. One of the things she had liked about Link was his kindness. He was showing it now: willing to help a stranger even though he was being cautious. Zelda, on the other hand, almost outright rejected her.
"You see, things are different in my world." Cia placed her free hand over her heart, as if in dread about the situation. "In my land, Zelda is the princess. She is seen as benevolent and kind. But I know the truth. She is consumed by greed. I tried to protect the Triforce, but…" She clenched her fist, pantomiming anger. "She took it for herself. I failed at my task. I thought she would stop now that she has what she wants. However, she desires more. She has cast a spell that is turning my light magic dark, and my soul is being taken with it."
Link and Zelda's judging looks slowly turned to ones of pity. Cia knew she had them with the lie about Zelda replacing her light magic with black magic. It would explain the dark aura around her.
"My sister has also been taken in by her greed," Cia added, making an excuse for her and Lana's likeness. "And so has the entire kingdom. People are so blind. I don't know what to do anymore…" Her eyes brightened as she looked to Link once more. "But I have seen your feats and your pure soul. I know what you can do. So, please…help me push darkness from the land."
She gazed hopefully at the hero. He stared at the ground, his mind racing. Zelda simply stood silently, waiting for his decision. After what seemed like an eternity, Link met Cia's eyes and clearly said the words she'd been hoping to hear:
"I'll go."
"Y-You will?" Cia could've cried. Her plan had worked…for now, anyway. "Thank you so much!" She turned to Zelda, mustering the most genuine smile she could. "I promise I'll return him to you safe and sound."
Zelda smiled kindly. "Don't worry. This'll be nothing for Link. Just be careful, both of you."
Link and Cia both nodded. Cia looked at Link and said, "Well, were off." She waved her hand to materialize a portal in front of them. Zelda and Link exchanged one final hug before he returned to Cia's side.
"After you," he offered jokingly. Cia giggled and bowed playfully, her head spinning with delight. They both hopped through the portal, waving to Zelda, who was hiding her sadness.
"You think she'll be okay alone?" Cia asked while crossing dimensions, although she didn't really care.
"Yeah," Link shrugged. "She'll probably just go up to Skyloft with her dad."
"Ah, that's good." Cia stepped into the Temple of Souls with Link. Her room was now empty, void of any pictures or statues of the hero. It made her upset she wouldn't get to have him everywhere she turned, but now she had the real thing.
"Well, that was easy," Link grinned. "You know when we start? I'm ready to fight any time you want. Or any time the enemy wants."
Cia grinned sincerely. "Actually, I must make a few more preparations before we battle. I'll lead you somewhere you can be safe in case of a surprise attack."
Link raised an eyebrow. "You won't be here?"
"I must go get something." Cia's smile became apologetic. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. And promise me this: Even if the enemy attacks, you will not leave that room. You may be powerful, but I still have others to recruit."
Link nodded. "I think I get it. I'm not sure how well I'll do in a room with nothing to do, though."
They both shared a small laugh. "I won't be more than a half-hour." Cia led him into an empty room on the side of the temple. "You shall be safe here."
"Thanks," Link said, walking into the room. "Promise you won't be long?"
"Yes, I promise." Cia reached to close the large double-doors, but stopped midway. "Um, Link? Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"…Remember what I said about my soul being turned to darkness?" Cia asked hesitantly. "How did you know I wasn't lying?"
"That's obvious," Link replied matter-of-factly. "Let me put it this way. Good souls are white and evil souls are black. Yours is kind of gray. So you still have good in you."
Cia's eyes widened. "Oh…you're the only one who noticed," she said to hide her surprise. She offered one last sad smile. "Thank you very much." With that, she began to close the doors, Link looking around the room. She giggled as the doors shut. He was already getting bored. He'd always hated to sit still.
She started enchanting the door with a lock of sorts: no one except her from the outside could get in, but Link could exit easily. Just a bit of a safety precaution. After the door was sealed, she made her way to the center to the temple.
"Wizzro! Volga!" she called. They instantly appeared in a dark cloud and flames.
"Mistress," Wizzro cackled. "What would you like from us?"
"Oh, shut up," Cia groaned. "I have a new plan I'm putting into action. I've traveled through dimensions and brought back the Hero of Sky. I believe he will be able to defeat the hero we're battling against now." She jabbed a finger at Wizzro. "I want you to stay away from him at all costs. Go delay the Hylian troops. I can't make an excuse for the evil aura you give off."
Wizzro drooped his shoulders. "You always give me the borings jobs." Still, he vanished in the dark cloud he appeared in.
"Volga," Cia continued. "When Link comes out, we'll have a false story to tell him. He bought the idea that my soul is turning dark from Zelda's magic. You shall have the same tale."
"Whatever convinces him." Volga replied. "Is there anything else you have for me?"
"Yes. Don't treat him like an enemy," Cia commanded. "We are allies. And to him, we are on the good side of things."
She was sure Volga was rolling his eyes under that helmet. "Of course. Is that all?"
"For now. Just keep him safe. He's in the room east of the temple. He won't be coming out, so if there's an ambush, keep the enemy away from that area. I'll be back later." She created another portal and started to step through, but shot Volga one last threatening glare before she did.
As she crossed through the portal, Volga crossed his arms and sat on a large chair at the back of the central room.
Sometimes he wondered what went through that Cia's head.
*This was…lengthy, wasn't it? 0_0 I came into this with writer's black (which may explain the bad writing 8/) but came out with so many ideas!
Zelda: Bad ideas, but still ideas.
Hey! Anyway, next chapter we go into OoT Link. I can't wait! He may not be my favorite Link, but he's the one who's most fun to write! :3 I can't wait! And please review. If you review I'll give you a cupcake. :)
K bye.
P.S. Just for the heck of it, these are my fav Links, taken right from my profile (and, yes, I own all these games):
My favorite incarnations of Link are: 1:Twilight Princess (he has the same voice as Austria! YES! ...He also has the same voice as Takaba Akihito from the You're my Loveprize in Viewfinder Drama CD. Look it up. Let's just say it'll make his fangirls happy...) 2: Skyward Sword (he's a yandere, I swear) 3: Young Link from Ocarina of Time: (I just think he'd be this kid going around like "I'm the hero! Suck it Mido! :D) 4: Hyrule Warriors (He's got them moves like Jaeger. However, he doesn't wear earrings, so he gets minus points.) 5: Windwaker (Just for the face he makes when he's low on hearts. :3)