The Hero of Which Time?
Chapter 2: Calm Before the Storm
And so, our long quest began. We left the dreary castle setting and headed out into Hyrule Field. When we got out into the open, I called Epona with Epona's Song, (hence the name) and helped the princess up. As we rode towards my old home, I couldn't help but wonder; where exactly did Epona go when I'm not around?
In just under an hour, we arrived at our destination; Kokiri Forest. I jumped off Epona's back and helped Zelda down. We entered through the hollow log and walked onto the bridge.
"Aaah!" Zelda suddenly yelled as one of her shoe heels got stuck in a crack on the bridge.
"Ha ha haa, better be careful!" I teased.
"Hmph!" she said, annoyed.
"Alright, sorry," I said. "But you should really get some better traveling clothes, or you'll probably trip the whole way. I think I know where to get a tunic and some boots almost your size."
"I don't want new clothes! Hey! What are you doing?!" she cried. I hoisted her up on my shoulder--intending to carry her--and then the familiar tune went up. 'Buh nuh nuh nuh!' Navi also chided in, adding to the already awkward situation.
"You got Princess Zelda! You can call on her advice by using the item subscreen. But don't look up!"
"Huh?" I said as I looked up to see Zelda in the air, spinning like all the other items I'd gotten on my quest. Of course, she was still in a dress, so I got a good view of some light blue panties, then an equally good view of a well placed kick to the face from their owner.
"I can't believe you Link!" cried Zelda indignantly as she jumped back down, released from whatever it is that held her up.
"Hee hee! I told you Link," giggled Navi.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I said, embarrassed.
"*Ahem*, anyway, let's get going. And let me walk on my own." Said Zelda.
"There's no way you'll ever get there if your shoes keep getting stuck." I pointed out.
"*Sigh* Fine, I see that I have any say in the matter, do I?" grumbled Zelda.
I walked over the bridge and down the path that led to the local store, acquiring many odd looks from my childhood friends of Kokiri Forest. Zelda rode me piggyback, her arms wrapped grimly about my neck. Navi hung back a bit, a small giggle escaping from her every now and then.
I set her down just outside the shop, and we both walked in.
"Welcome!" Exclaimed the tiny shopkeeper as we move to the back of the store. "Shop around by moving the 'control stick' left or right." He had to continuously hop up and down in order to see over the counter.
"I was actually wondering if you perchance had any spare tunics or boots-- something in her size maybe?" I pointed at Zelda, who was standing somewhat shyly behind me. "I'd pay a good price for them." I added.
"Well, I do... have... uh, say, you look kind of familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?" he asked.
"Me? Uh, no, sorry. You must be thinking of someone else." I lied.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Besides, he probably forgot about us a long time ago." Murmured the shopkeeper.
"Yeah, right." I winced.
"Alright, here you go." He handed me a neatly folded tunic with a pair of boots resting on top. "That'll be 300 rupees, if you will."
I carried Zelda back to my old home, with the new clothes wrapped safely in the crook of one of her arms. I guess that throughout my travels I had never really thought about things like coming back home or seeing my friends after such a long journey. Maybe it's because I had never really had a family, considering my mother was dead and I never met my father. //And now the only family I ever really knew doesn't recognize me because real Kokiri never grow older .//
"Link, watch out!"
"Wha--? Aaahh!" *SMACK*
I had been thinking so intently that I forgot to watch where I was going, and ended up tripping over the sign in front of my house. This sent me into a nice summersault, and headfirst into my tree. Zelda had slipped off my back and landed on her knees, escaping any injury.
"Owwww...." I moaned, bending down and rubbing my sore forehead.
"Are you alright?" Zelda asked, laughing but still worried.
"Guess you shouldn't try doing too many things at once," remarked Navi.
"Yes, I am alright, Navi. Thanks for asking." I grumbled sarcastically from my crouched position. "You'll have to ride on my back if you want to get up the ladder." I said to Zelda.
"I've done what you've told me to so far; why stop now?" she replied dryly.
I climbed up the ladder, followed by Zelda, (who insisted I went first, so that there weren't any more "accidents") stepped into my tree house, then stared forward in shock.
"Link? Can I ask you a question?" asked Zelda slowly. "Exactly why is there a... cow, in your bedroom?"
"I have no idea" I said, equally baffled.
"Mooooooooooooooooooo" Bellowed the cow.
"Wait! This must be that present that Malon said was too big for you to carry home!" Piped Navi, flying into view. "You know, when you beat their record of 50.00 seconds on their race track."
"Oh yeah, that's right!" I said, slapping my head in remembrance, then remembering too late that my head was bruised. "Owwww!" I moaned again.
"Maybe we should put a cold cloth on that. I'll use a bit from my dress after I change out of it. I don't suppose I'll need it much after today." Zelda sighed.
"Sure, but I still say I'm fine." I said.
"I'm sure you are," smiled Zelda. "Now turn around so I can get into this tunic outfit."
I complied and walked over to my bed to sit down. I heard the rustling of cloth and couldn't help but take a small peak over my shoulder, treating myself to an explicit view of her upper person. //Okay, I'm going to stop doing that now,// I thought, feeling the blood rush to my face. //Nice figure though...//
"Okay, you can turn around now" said Zelda after a minute. She turned and struck a little pose. "This actually isn't that bad. It's much easier to move in, that's for sure."
"Yeah, easier to move." I mumbled, blushing harder.
"You must have hit your head pretty hard Link. Your face is all red. I'll get the cloth." she said, giving me a strange look. Zelda stepped over to where her dress was and tore off a small piece, then walked over to one of the water jars in the room and dipped in the cloth. She walked back over and moved my hat and hair aside, placing the damp cloth on the sore spot, while I casually averted my eyes from the part of her body in front of my face.
"It doesn't seem to be that serious . I swear, for being the Hero of Time you can be such a child sometimes." she said with a laugh.
"Hm." I muttered in reply, my thoughts not on my injury. ". Zelda, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, what is it?" she asked, looking slightly worried.
"What that shopkeeper said--about how I'd probably forgotten about them all . do you think I should tell them? I mean, I know I should, but... what if they don't believe me? Or what if they hate me because I left to fight instead of staying and protecting them?"
Zelda sat down on the bed next to me, placing a slim hand on my shoulder. "Oh, Link, they would never hate you. They're your friends. And you didn't just leave them to go off on your own; you left them because that was the only way they would stay safe. You had to do it," she said softly. "You're the Hero of Time. I say . tell them. I think they would want to know that their friend came back safe."
"She's right Link," commented Navi, who had been listening in from a distance. "Your friends would understand."
"... Yeah . Hiding things from them isn't going to make this better." I said. "I'll go and tell them in the morning; it's already past sundown."
"Alright. But, uh . where am I going to sleep, exactly?" Asked Zelda, looking around.
"Oh! You can use the bed. I have a few extra blankets in here somewhere that I could use instead." I said.
"Thanks Link." she said with a smile, seating herself on the bed.
I got out the blankets from a cupboard and laid them out on the floor, slipping off my sword, shield, hat and boots, and the rest of my equipment. "Good night Zelda, Navi." I called.
"Good night Link." yawned Navi as she flew inside my hat.
"Sleep well," I heard from Zelda, before falling into a world of dreams known only to me.
I hope everyone enjoyed the second chapter. I'm really, really, reeeeeeaallly sorry it took so long. My computer decided to delete my second chapter the first time I typed it, so I had to redo it from memory ~_~b I look forward to all reviews (everyone who reviews my fanfic gets a complementary picture of Link if they leave an email address *^_^*)
By the way, I'd just like to thank my Beta, MewMewRei. She's so nice and talented and beautiful. I wish I could be as great as her -- wha?! Ah, no! It's not what you think, Lyn! I wasn't typing this on my own -- what are you talking about? You did this yourself, honest! Wait! What are you doing with that lamp?! Noooooo! WHACK
Chapter 2: Calm Before the Storm
And so, our long quest began. We left the dreary castle setting and headed out into Hyrule Field. When we got out into the open, I called Epona with Epona's Song, (hence the name) and helped the princess up. As we rode towards my old home, I couldn't help but wonder; where exactly did Epona go when I'm not around?
In just under an hour, we arrived at our destination; Kokiri Forest. I jumped off Epona's back and helped Zelda down. We entered through the hollow log and walked onto the bridge.
"Aaah!" Zelda suddenly yelled as one of her shoe heels got stuck in a crack on the bridge.
"Ha ha haa, better be careful!" I teased.
"Hmph!" she said, annoyed.
"Alright, sorry," I said. "But you should really get some better traveling clothes, or you'll probably trip the whole way. I think I know where to get a tunic and some boots almost your size."
"I don't want new clothes! Hey! What are you doing?!" she cried. I hoisted her up on my shoulder--intending to carry her--and then the familiar tune went up. 'Buh nuh nuh nuh!' Navi also chided in, adding to the already awkward situation.
"You got Princess Zelda! You can call on her advice by using the item subscreen. But don't look up!"
"Huh?" I said as I looked up to see Zelda in the air, spinning like all the other items I'd gotten on my quest. Of course, she was still in a dress, so I got a good view of some light blue panties, then an equally good view of a well placed kick to the face from their owner.
"I can't believe you Link!" cried Zelda indignantly as she jumped back down, released from whatever it is that held her up.
"Hee hee! I told you Link," giggled Navi.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I said, embarrassed.
"*Ahem*, anyway, let's get going. And let me walk on my own." Said Zelda.
"There's no way you'll ever get there if your shoes keep getting stuck." I pointed out.
"*Sigh* Fine, I see that I have any say in the matter, do I?" grumbled Zelda.
I walked over the bridge and down the path that led to the local store, acquiring many odd looks from my childhood friends of Kokiri Forest. Zelda rode me piggyback, her arms wrapped grimly about my neck. Navi hung back a bit, a small giggle escaping from her every now and then.
I set her down just outside the shop, and we both walked in.
"Welcome!" Exclaimed the tiny shopkeeper as we move to the back of the store. "Shop around by moving the 'control stick' left or right." He had to continuously hop up and down in order to see over the counter.
"I was actually wondering if you perchance had any spare tunics or boots-- something in her size maybe?" I pointed at Zelda, who was standing somewhat shyly behind me. "I'd pay a good price for them." I added.
"Well, I do... have... uh, say, you look kind of familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?" he asked.
"Me? Uh, no, sorry. You must be thinking of someone else." I lied.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Besides, he probably forgot about us a long time ago." Murmured the shopkeeper.
"Yeah, right." I winced.
"Alright, here you go." He handed me a neatly folded tunic with a pair of boots resting on top. "That'll be 300 rupees, if you will."
I carried Zelda back to my old home, with the new clothes wrapped safely in the crook of one of her arms. I guess that throughout my travels I had never really thought about things like coming back home or seeing my friends after such a long journey. Maybe it's because I had never really had a family, considering my mother was dead and I never met my father. //And now the only family I ever really knew doesn't recognize me because real Kokiri never grow older .//
"Link, watch out!"
"Wha--? Aaahh!" *SMACK*
I had been thinking so intently that I forgot to watch where I was going, and ended up tripping over the sign in front of my house. This sent me into a nice summersault, and headfirst into my tree. Zelda had slipped off my back and landed on her knees, escaping any injury.
"Owwww...." I moaned, bending down and rubbing my sore forehead.
"Are you alright?" Zelda asked, laughing but still worried.
"Guess you shouldn't try doing too many things at once," remarked Navi.
"Yes, I am alright, Navi. Thanks for asking." I grumbled sarcastically from my crouched position. "You'll have to ride on my back if you want to get up the ladder." I said to Zelda.
"I've done what you've told me to so far; why stop now?" she replied dryly.
I climbed up the ladder, followed by Zelda, (who insisted I went first, so that there weren't any more "accidents") stepped into my tree house, then stared forward in shock.
"Link? Can I ask you a question?" asked Zelda slowly. "Exactly why is there a... cow, in your bedroom?"
"I have no idea" I said, equally baffled.
"Mooooooooooooooooooo" Bellowed the cow.
"Wait! This must be that present that Malon said was too big for you to carry home!" Piped Navi, flying into view. "You know, when you beat their record of 50.00 seconds on their race track."
"Oh yeah, that's right!" I said, slapping my head in remembrance, then remembering too late that my head was bruised. "Owwww!" I moaned again.
"Maybe we should put a cold cloth on that. I'll use a bit from my dress after I change out of it. I don't suppose I'll need it much after today." Zelda sighed.
"Sure, but I still say I'm fine." I said.
"I'm sure you are," smiled Zelda. "Now turn around so I can get into this tunic outfit."
I complied and walked over to my bed to sit down. I heard the rustling of cloth and couldn't help but take a small peak over my shoulder, treating myself to an explicit view of her upper person. //Okay, I'm going to stop doing that now,// I thought, feeling the blood rush to my face. //Nice figure though...//
"Okay, you can turn around now" said Zelda after a minute. She turned and struck a little pose. "This actually isn't that bad. It's much easier to move in, that's for sure."
"Yeah, easier to move." I mumbled, blushing harder.
"You must have hit your head pretty hard Link. Your face is all red. I'll get the cloth." she said, giving me a strange look. Zelda stepped over to where her dress was and tore off a small piece, then walked over to one of the water jars in the room and dipped in the cloth. She walked back over and moved my hat and hair aside, placing the damp cloth on the sore spot, while I casually averted my eyes from the part of her body in front of my face.
"It doesn't seem to be that serious . I swear, for being the Hero of Time you can be such a child sometimes." she said with a laugh.
"Hm." I muttered in reply, my thoughts not on my injury. ". Zelda, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, what is it?" she asked, looking slightly worried.
"What that shopkeeper said--about how I'd probably forgotten about them all . do you think I should tell them? I mean, I know I should, but... what if they don't believe me? Or what if they hate me because I left to fight instead of staying and protecting them?"
Zelda sat down on the bed next to me, placing a slim hand on my shoulder. "Oh, Link, they would never hate you. They're your friends. And you didn't just leave them to go off on your own; you left them because that was the only way they would stay safe. You had to do it," she said softly. "You're the Hero of Time. I say . tell them. I think they would want to know that their friend came back safe."
"She's right Link," commented Navi, who had been listening in from a distance. "Your friends would understand."
"... Yeah . Hiding things from them isn't going to make this better." I said. "I'll go and tell them in the morning; it's already past sundown."
"Alright. But, uh . where am I going to sleep, exactly?" Asked Zelda, looking around.
"Oh! You can use the bed. I have a few extra blankets in here somewhere that I could use instead." I said.
"Thanks Link." she said with a smile, seating herself on the bed.
I got out the blankets from a cupboard and laid them out on the floor, slipping off my sword, shield, hat and boots, and the rest of my equipment. "Good night Zelda, Navi." I called.
"Good night Link." yawned Navi as she flew inside my hat.
"Sleep well," I heard from Zelda, before falling into a world of dreams known only to me.
I hope everyone enjoyed the second chapter. I'm really, really, reeeeeeaallly sorry it took so long. My computer decided to delete my second chapter the first time I typed it, so I had to redo it from memory ~_~b I look forward to all reviews (everyone who reviews my fanfic gets a complementary picture of Link if they leave an email address *^_^*)
By the way, I'd just like to thank my Beta, MewMewRei. She's so nice and talented and beautiful. I wish I could be as great as her -- wha?! Ah, no! It's not what you think, Lyn! I wasn't typing this on my own -- what are you talking about? You did this yourself, honest! Wait! What are you doing with that lamp?! Noooooo! WHACK