Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda isn't mine. It's depressing, but I'm learning to handle my grief…

Chapter 5: Aidyn vs Link (part one)

A.N: I'd like to apologise to SS4 Psycho Link for calling him SS Psycho Link. Sorry!

Moreth looked at the sight before him and snorted.

"Mashter, ish thish Hyrule Cashtle?" One of the Moblins asked.

Moreth nodded.

"Yesh. Get the othersh ready, we're going to shteal the Queen again and then we're going to hurt Olaran shomething chronic!"

"Yesh Shir!"

Moreth chuckled and limped down the hillside, his club swinging. He could picture the look on the pretty queen's face, blissfully and totally unaware of the fact that there was no longer a queen living in Hyrule Castle and in her place as the highest ranking Hylian female in the kingdom there resided a young Sage of Wisdom, whose best friend was the Hero of Time.

******

Link took a quick drink from an offered beaker, oblivious to the pats on the back he was receiving and the withering looks from Yoric, Horeb and various other competitors who had failed to get through to the duels.

"Link m'boy well done!"

Darunia's booming voice filled the tent as the Goron chief appeared and heartily clapped his young comrade on the back. Link's knees buckled under the force.

"Thanks Darunia."

"You looked so handsome Link, just like a God." Ruto swooned.

Link felt extremely disturbed by this comment, as well as seeing the look in Ruto's eyes that resembled something that looked worryingly like unbridled passsion. He swallowed nervously.

"Hey Link, you did great!" Malon giggled. "I'm sorry I didn't belive you earlier."

"Hrn." Link responded, folding his arms.

"Kid, you knock 'im dead." Nabooru said proudly. "He might be mighty cute and very good with a sword but you're better, in both departments come seven years time."

What is this, Sages hit on Link day? Link pondered. I don't object to the kisses that Zelda's rewarding me with, but Ruto and Nabooru? Gah!

"Five minutes!" The balding, blowfish minister announced.

Link finished his drink and made his way to the exit.

"I'm going to get some fresh air." He said by means of an explanation.

He stood out in the snow, breathing deeply and looking around at the hustle and bustle. This would be the last time he'd look at it before he was crowned champion and quite frankly he couldn't be more relaxed about it.

"Link, can I have a word?"

Link spun around to see General Olaran looking at him with some interest.

"Sure, but I've only got five minutes."

Olaran nodded and walked, indicating that Link should follow him. They paused behind the Royal Box and Olaran began to speak.

"I've been watching your fights." He began. "And I want to know where you learnt it."

"Learnt what?" Link asked, genuinely confused.

"Learnt how to fight. Everyone learns from someone and I wondered where it was that you did."

Link shrugged.

"Taught myself. Picked up a sword, stuck it into some Stalkids..."

"Stalkids? There haven't been any Stalkids in Hyrule for over ten years!" Olaran mused. "I'm merely curious to know where you learnt how to fight."

"I told you: I taught myself. It's as simple as that."

Olaran looked at the boy in disbelief.

"In that case then you are a phenomenon that has not been seen in Hyrule since mythology." He chuckled. "But in any case lad, I'd like to put a proposition to you."

He looked at the boy again, at his young and eager face with its startling midnight blue eyes and got another stange feeling of deja vu.

"I'd like to offer you further training. It would involve you returning to my home with me and Aidyn after the tournament and staying there until the training is complete."

Link's jaw dropped.

"Training?"

"For free, but only if you want it."

"For real? You want to train me?"

Olaran nodded.

"I certainly would be interested. You've got potential, I'd be interested to see where that potential could take you."

He smiled.

"Quite frankly lad, I've been looking for a new student for a while. Aidyn's growing up and he'll be leaving home before I know it, probably getting married and having children of his own and I'll be left alone again."

He sighed heavily and leant against the tent.

"I think you could be just what I'm looking for. All I ask is that you think about what I'm offering."

Link looked up at the general and nodded.

"I'll think about it." He said.

"I hope you will. Good luck, I'll be rooting for you but don't tell my son."

Link laughed.

"I won't."

******

Link and Aidyn walked out into the arena, one tall and proud, the other small and prouder.

"So. Here we are." Aidyn smiled. "Just like you said."

"Are you surprised." Link replied, smiling back.

Neither looked at one another, they just walked with their heads held high and their eyes straight ahead.

"Should we give the audience what they want?"

"We'll give them their money's worth." Link replied.

They got to the centre of the ring and bowed to one another before shaking hands. Link almost forgot his plan and nearly offered his left, but realised his mistake before he made it.

"At last, I get some worthy opposition." Link smiled.

"Same to be said here." Aidyn replied. "Shall we start this?"

"Ready and waiting." Link replied, taking his wooden sword.

"Pity we couldn't use iron." Aidyn said. "My father tried, didn't work."

"Well there's always next year. Once I've beaten you then I'm gonna try the senior tournament next year."

"You'll be fighting me again then."

"Fight!" The announcer called.

"You heard the gentleman Link."

"I certainly did."

Both boys attacked at the same time, with the younger making a savage cry of aggression. Their wooden swords met and the boys were at stalemate in the centre. The crowd held their breath and applauded wildly as the boys sprung back from one another.

"Man I hate fighting with wood!" Link growled.

"Me too." Aidyn replied. "Maybe we should have a rematch with iron later, what do you say?"

"Sounds good to me, but then again beating you twice would be twice as much fun!"

As he spoke, Link made a horizontal cut to Aidyn's belly, only to have it missed as he dodged.

"Close but not close enough." Aidyn laughed, lunging back.

"OLARAN!"

Both boys stopped dead as the mighty bellow echoed around the grounds of the tournament. The crowd were totally silent until the biggest Moblin Link had ever seen appeared in the arena, his eyes wild and furious. The audience's silence turned to terrified screams.

"OLARAN, WHERE ARE YOU?!" The Moblin roared.

"What in the name of the Triforce is that and how does it know my father?" Aidyn asked, totally bewildered.

"Moblin." Link muttered.

Moreth heard Aidyn's question and turned to the two boys in the arena.

"Sho, you are Olaran'sh shon are you?" He asked, rounding upong Aidyn. "Well where'sh your daddy?"

"Right here wart face."

Olaran jumped down from the Royal Box, tossing aside his scabbard and holding his sword with both hands.

"Step away from those boys if you know what's good for you Moreth."

Moreth laughed unintimidated.

"Sho, we meet again general." He snorted, regarding Olaran with malice. "I owe you from shlicing my leg. Where'sh my property?"

Link suddenly noticed that King Harkinian was looking nervous and was holding onto his daughter.

"Queen Cordelia isn't here anymore Moblin, go back to where you came from." Olaran snapped.

Moreth laughed.

"Not until I get shome revenge!"

As he spoke, dozens of Moblins appeared from nowhere, waving spears and trying to look aggressive. The audience scattered, screaming wildly while the castle guards appeared instantaneously and made feeble attempts to get rid of them. Link threw aside his wooden weapon and pulled the Kokiri sword from its scabbard.

"They wanna rumble then they've got a fight on their hands."

Aidyn had followed suit and had drawn his sword.

"You said it."flew at the first Moblin he saw with a loud battle cry before hacking and slashing at it until it toppled and fell, evaporating in a puff of green smoke. The slayer regared the blue monster blood on his blade and smiled.

"Just like old times."

Nabooru, seeing the battle that had broken out, smiled and tapped Darunia on the shoulder.

"Should we wait for our illustrious leader to give the command or should we go fight anyway?"

Darunia grinned broadly, cracking his knuckles.

"Haven't had a good fight for a while now." He laughed, before curling up into a ball and cannonballing himself into the nearest invader.

Nabooru drew a curved scimitar from underneath her cloak.

"You never know."

Zelda watched the battling and felt a sudden surge of anger well up inside her. Before her father could react, she had jumped out into the arena and had charged up a magic orb. Moreth was too busy trying to avoid the predatory Olaran to notice the small girl sneaking up behind him with her small hands glowing gold.

"Hey ugly!" She called, alarmed at how shrill her voice sounded.

Just as Moreth turned, he felt a stinging blast hit his back. He howled in pain and then spotted the little princess.

"Little bug." He snorted. "She'sh not worth my time."

"Back off pork chop, you're way past well done!" Zelda challenged.

It was then that the Moblin leader spotted the striking resemblence between Princess Zelda and the young queen he had abducted all those years before.

"Well well well, looksh like we've got a little princessh!" Moreth chuckled. "Fieshty little thing ish'nt she?"

Moreth swung his club and knocked the wind out of Olaran, who he grabbed and tossed over his shoulder. Zelda gasped in fright as the Moblin made his advance on her.

"I'm warning you!" Zelda growled, backing up and calling for another energy orb.

What she didn't see was the Moblin that had snuck up behind her that decided to grab her while she wasn't looking.

"HYAH!" Link yelled, disposing of another monster and pulling his sword clear.

"Lemme go! Help!"

He spun on his heel as he heard Zelda's distressed cry, as did Aidyn.

"Zelda!"

"Dad!"

Moreth laughed.

"I'll be taking my prizesh now. Don't any of you pipshqueaks try to shtop me! Mwa ha ha ha ha!"

He marched off with Olaran slung over his shoulder and Zelda tucked underneath his arm. Link's eyes narrowed.

"Hey dungbreath!" He yelled hoarsely.

Moreth stopped and turned around.

"That's right, I'm talking to you!" Link continued, marching towards him. "You'd better let them go or you'll wish you'd never been born."

Moreth was laughing so much that Zelda feared he was going to be sick.

"You? You're challenging me!"

Link nodded.

"That's right, I am. And if you don't like it, then you better come and tell it to my face."

Aidyn grabbed hold of Link's arm.

"Link this is serious, this isn't just some game! This guy's playing for keeps!"

Link pulled his hood down firmly onto the top of his head and narrowed his eyes.

"Well so am I."