A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first post. I will not put so many warning this time. I think one is enough, don't you? Please R/R!
Disclaimer: I noticed that I forgot this in the first post. Zelda and all its characters belong to Nintendo. The only thing that belongs to me is this story, in which I shall torment their characters (he he! I love angst/drama!)
To Travel Through Time
Chapter One
By Shousetsuka
Link's senses slowly started to come to him as he opened his eyes. Every part of him was sore, even his eyes. He blinked a few times, forcing his brain to work. Link soon realized that he was lying on his back in the Temple of Time. Sitting up groggily, he shook his head, wanting to clear it.
After a moment of numbness, the brain cells started to work again and he examined his surroundings more closely. He was in the Temple, yes, but something wasn't right. He should be a child. Link lifted an adult-sized hand up in front of his gaze. He stared at it hard, hoping it was just his foggy brain, but soon realized it wasn't.
Stumbling to wobbly feet, Link glanced around. Everything seemed the same, but his instincts told him they weren't. Granted, he wasn't a child like he should be, but that didn't prove much. He could have just gone back to his time, retaining his age. Although the Hero told himself thus, his consciousness told him that it was impossible.
As his gaze fell on the Master Sword's stone, he gaped. It wasn't there. Shouldn't it have come with him? Link's instincts were screaming. Something was terribly wrong and, although he didn't know what it was, he didn't like it.
Link felt around on his person and found that he was still equipped with the Biggoron sword, his bow and arrows, and his other supplies. Felling a bit more relieved, he turned his back on the altar and started for the door. After a step, he stopped. The door was closed. He hadn't seen it closed in a long time. Maybe he had gone back and the sword had chosen to stay behind?
Although his instincts told him that he was being foolish, the Hero tried to believe that. He started to walk again. Once he reached the door, he took ahold of the side and pulled. Though hesitant, the stone slab cracked open, just enough for him to fit through.
Link barely made it through before the door slammed shut. It caught part of his tunic and he had to rip it free. Now that he was out of the chamber, however, Link scanned the setting. Everything was the same, all but the Spiritual Stones. There were gone. It did make sense that they were missing, however. The door wasn't open; therefore, they were not needed.
With a last look around, Link crossed the chamber and exited the temple. A bright, harsh light bombarded his eyes, and he was forced to squint. Had he been in the dark that long? As he descended the stairs, the sounds of a happy, active village met his ears and a smile formed on his battle-hardened features. It had been a long time.
The village was very lively, indeed. More crowded than he remembered. The streets were decorated and everyone was celebrating something.
'How ironic', he thought. He had just defeated Hyrule's evil, and here he was, being greeted with a celebration. Of course, it wasn't for him, but it was a celebration all the same.
As he wandered through the crowd, Link wondered why there were celebrating. Wracking his brain, he tried to come up with something, but could not remember anything of importance that happened seven years ago. Yet, he wasn't very good with Hylian news, so him even trying was foolish.
Banners were strewn through the streets, and flags were being waved in the air, which was disturbed with the sounds of merrymaking. The townspeople ignored the odd looking youth for the time, as he wove through the thong towards the castle, deciding to see if Zelda was there. Maybe she could explain, if she even remembered him, that is.
"Have a drink on me, boy!" a voice suddenly exploded in Link's ear, a tankard, overflowing with ale, being stuffed in his hand.
Surprised, the Hero looked up and saw it was a well-built, middle aged man. He didn't recognize him, but knew he was Hylian. "Thank you, sir, but I do not drink-" Link began, handing the mug back to the man.
"Nonsense! Even a youngster like you can drink to the King and his new bride!"
"New bride?" Link asked, before he could stop himself.
The man gave him an odd look. "Where've ya been, boy? Everyone knows that the King just married Lady Celestra from the country over the mountains, Catalina. Hyrule finally has a queen! That young whippersnapper finally married! May the Goddesses by praised!"
Link could tell that this man had had a little too much ale himself. First, he'd gone from suspicious to all out joyous. But he had other, more important things to worry about.
Young whippersnapper? From what he knew, Zelda's father wasn't young in his time. He was about the age of the ale-drinking man. Escaping the attention of the drunkard, Link weaved through the crowd, changing his plans.
Entering the nearest inn, Link took a seat on a stool and listened. No one noticed his entrance, all, excluding the bartender, who eyed him skeptically. Link paid him no mind as he eavesdropped on the conversations. Normally he would have been dead set against doing so, but he figured it would be the best way to learn information. Everyone was talking about the same event, which seemed to be the marriage between their King and Lady Celestra. Still, he was very wary.
"I am glad that his Highness finally had the chance to marry. This terrible war made it nearly impossible," a young soldier remarked, to the left.
The young woman who sat with him nodded. "I heard Lady Celestra was attacked by the Gerudo on her way over here. It was a rough battle, but as you can see, the Lady survived."
Another soldier, leaning against a nearby wall, joined in. "Damn those Gerudos that's what I say! They always seemed to ruin everything!"
"That's a perfect example, Edwin. Mentioning them at a time of celebration," the woman remarked, smiling.
The soldier scowled. "Miss Sleine, you yourself-"
"Well, let me just say that I wish the King and his Lady a happy, safe life, as well as many children," the first soldier interrupted, raising his glass.
"Hear, hear!" The two other's cried in unison. The two men took large swigs of their tankards while the woman sip her wine delicately.
"Ya gonna buy somehitn', lad?" A gruff voice asked, interrupting the end of the conversation. Link swerved around to face the stocky innkeeper. "Look, even if this is a time of rejoicing, I don't wanna have any loitering. I'se gotta keep up with business, ya know! So either buy something, or get out."
With a sigh, Link withdrew his purse, willing to spend the money on even a small glass of something. However, to his dismay, he found out that he did not have any rupees. He looked up at the glowering innkeeper. "I'm sorry. I don't have any money. I'll just leave."
Link soon found himself out in the crowded streets again. At least it was still daylight out. The experience at the inn reminded him that he had to find a place to stay for the night. Rupees would be hard to find at that time, so he decided to do a bit more research.
Link was certain now that he wasn't in his time. The King's wife was dead then. He was also certain that her name had been Lady Celestra. He'd learned that in his travels.
It also seemed that they were having trouble with the Gerudo. That really didn't mean much, since Hylians had had trouble with them throughout the decades. Nevertheless, it seemed that they were worse than usually and that there was war. The Hero didn't know Hylian history that well, so he couldn't name any past wars. His specialty was the future.
*
The boy sank down in the shadows, watching as the last of the merrymakers disappeared into their houses. He had learned much that day, although that learning had left him out on the streets for the night. It wasn't that bad, though. The night was warm. It wasn't raining. Things could have been worse.
The knowledge Link had gathered that day led him to believe that he had gone father back in time then he was suppose to. He was many years before his time. How many, he hadn't the slightest clue, but it was before he and the Princess were born.
Link had also learned that this time was during one of Hyrule's worst wars with the Gerudo. The two didn't just hate one another; there was gruesome warfare and frequent thievery. He'd learned that the Gerudos even stooped so low as to steal men, since their King was only a child.
As the last candle was snuffed out, a thought came to the Hero's mind. The Gerudo King, who was he? Was it Ganondorf? If that was so, he could easily get rid of him.
Link shivered. That was a horrible thought. He despised the thought of killing a child. Yet, if he had to, he would. Maybe he was sent to this time for that reason, to get rid of the Evil King.
The Hero shifted, uncomfortably. He would most likely have to go and see for himself. 'I don't think these people would readily discuss the Gerudian King', he thought.
For that, he'd need a horse. Not having money made that a problem. The Hero withdrew his wallet again. He overturned it, shaking it, hoping to get something. All that fell out was a piece of lint. Link cursed, dropping the pouch in his lap. He would need to gain money. He wasn't sure if Epona was around yet.
With a sigh, he sank down on his side, in the shadows. Folding his arms under his head, he curled up and fell asleep.
*
"Let go of me!" A voice screamed, shaking Link awake. It was still dark. Lifting his head, he looked around. A few feet away, a young girl was struggling with a shadowy figure, who had a firm gripe on her arm.
"Quiet, Hylian! Just give me that ring," a female voice hissed, gruffly.
"Never!" The young woman fought against the stranger's grasp. "It was a gift from my husband!"
"Husband, eh? That may prove more interesting than a ring," the voice replied, smoothly.
"Don't you dare, you bitch!" The Hylian woman snarled, struggling more. She was only rewarded with a swift blow to the side of her head. She hissed in pain as the stranger shoved her to the ground, pinning both of her arms behind her back.
"Why not? Prince Ganondorf gave us al the power to do as we please in such areas," the stranger hissed in the woman's ear.
"I don't care about what your leader says!"
"Oh? Well then, you wouldn't care to know that he usually condones the murdering of Hylians in such situations, hm?"
"What?" the woman gasped.
Before the Gerudo could answer, however, Link leapt to his feet, drawing his sword. "Leave her alone!"
The thief growled, swerving around, releasing her prisoner. The woman took this moment to scramble to her feet and into the shadows. "Well, what have we here?" The Gerudo's cat-like eyes scanned the Hero. "Such a pretty little lad you are," she remarked, with a sickening smile.
Link barred his teeth, his grip tightening on his sword. The women's peering eyes were most disturbing.
"I expected a valiant lad to come to that pretty little wench's aid. Seems I was right." As she said thus, the woman drew her sword. However, she did not drop into the battle stance. Instead, she rapped it against the cobblestone street.
Before Link could react, a large group of Gerudos appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the Hero. He stepped backwards, trying to keep his eyes on everyone.
The first woman laughed. "I really don't like having to find men this way, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right girls?" Some nodded, but most of them just drew their weapons, noting that their captive was armed.
Link wasn't that worried about them. He'd faced Gerudo women before. But, as he watched the group before him, he realized they were not the harem creatures he knew. They were equipped for war, everything from armor to grim expressions.
As Link was contemplating his moves, the first one struck. A small, lithe woman leapt forward and Link had barely enough time to block the swift swing. The others pounced also, so that Link had to defend himself against all of them at once. They didn't play very fair, and the Hero found himself losing.
A sword flat rammed into the side of his head, and he stumbled. As he hit the ground, the Hero rolled to the side, just as the same sword swooped down, trying to catch him again. Panting heavily, Link jumped to his feet, catching another blade with his own.
The woman on the other end growled, drawing her dagger. Link noticed, spinning to the side, but he was too late. The thin steel pierced his calf, causing him to stumble once more. This time, he wasn't as lucky.
A foot slammed down on his heaving chest, preventing him from rising. Another fell on his extended sword arm. "That was the toughest battle we've had all night. I can tell your going to be a feisty one," the woman from before said, laughingly. Link growled at her, struggling under the woman's foot. She pushed down harder. Addressing the nearest Gerudo, she said, "Take him to the chain. We'll head out now."
"Yes, ma'am."
*
The sun was rising over the horizon as Link was tied to the end of the 'chain'. It consisted of a line of Hylian and Sheikah men chained together, some of them being Link's age, others older. Everyone one of them looked miserable.
One man was lamenting about what his wife would think, and how she wouldn't believe he had been kidnapped by Gerudo women when he told her. "She'll probably think I was unfaithful!" he was crying as Link was chained on.
One of the Gerudos had patched his wound, so that he could make the long trek to the desert. Yet, it still throbbed like hell, and made walking difficult.
"Out we go!" a voice called. A mounted Gerudo took up the end of the line, watching Link as he struggled to his feet.
His left leg was chained to the man in front of him, who happened to be the worrier, while his hands were tied behind his back. The Gerudos had taken every last thing from him, everything, that is, but the clothes on his back.
'Well,' he thought, dryly, as they started marching. The Gerudo behind him withdrew a whip, from her saddlebag, and got it at the ready. 'At least now I don't need a horse.'