The Legend of Zelda: The Return

Hey all!

For those of you who liked the end of the last chapter, I really, really appreciate that. To those of you who didn't, I count myself among you and I apologize. In answer to the questions of whether or not that was planned, it was, however, it wasn't planned like that. There were supposed to be foreshadowing and lead-ups to it, to lessen the cliché blow and keep it from just coming out of nowhere . . . however, because of life, and lack of time, and a host of other reasons, I somehow managed to completely forget about uniting the races through music until it was time to unite the races through music, and at that point any kind of foreshadowing is more or less redundant. I apologize sincerely for this and all I ask is that you forgive me for it. I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again, because as much as it may have bothered some of you, it bothers me more. If I ever get the time to revise this story, that will be the first thing I fix.

On another note, a number of reviewers and e-mailers have expressed concern over some of the more negative reviews I've received. I thank you for your concern, and your encouragement and would like to assure you all that I've no intentions of giving up on the story because of them. I've received to date 304 reviews for this story, not including e-mails, and less than 20 of them (if that) are negative. They don't daunt me at all, and some of the more constructive can and have been helpful. I would ask, however, if it's not too much trouble, if you put up a negative review, could you follow it up with an e-mail so I can either defend myself or entreat you for more information on why you didn't like what I did or what it was about it that was wrong? If you can't, you can't, but if you could, I'd appreciate it.

On yet another note, I once again apologize for the gaps between chapters. I know they're taking a long time to get out lately, but school got harder this year, and life has been getting more involved with apartment shopping, etc.. I'm busy, but I'm not giving up on the story. The chapters will keep coming, I just need to ask you to be patient with me. There are essays and applications and resumes that need writing as well. :-)

One last thing (I swear): I've gotten a few requests for a sequel, and I'm wondering if there would be any interest in that? I have a few ideas that I might use, and I'm not promising anything, but if the interest's high enough I'll see what I can do once this one finally winds up (it's getting there . . .). Also, if there's anything you really want to see during the battles in the upcoming chapters, now's the time to let me know (review or e-mail). I'm not saying I'll do it, but if it fits, and there's time I'll try and put some of it in.

Thanks!

Lady Rose

xxx

Chapter 34

"This would be easier with a crossbow," I say, to fitting my arrow to my bow in my crouched position.

"I'm not sharing," Neesha says aiming her crossbow through the hole in the crumbling wall we're hiding behind and pulling the trigger, releasing her arrow with an audible twang. I stick my tongue out at her then pull myself out of my crouch, taking aim one of the Moblins below us, and release the arrow before ducking back down again. Hunter shifts uncomfortably behind us. It's technically his fault we're jammed up here on the second story of a house in Castletown working our way inch by painful inch towards the Market instead of joining the rest of the force and just hacking our way through to it, but I don't really blame him. All either of us wants is to get to the archery shop and see what state it's in. His arm's still in a sling though, and it's not like we could leave him behind. It's his dad's home as much as it was mine. So swords were out and we're back to the good old bow and arrow.

"How's your arm?" Navi asks him, peering out at him through my hair as I fit another arrow. Hunter opens and closes his hand.

"Better," he says. "Getting there anyway. Rue says a few more days and it'll be good as new."

"How about you?" I ask, eyeing him.

"Getting there," he says as well. "Slowly. And you?" I shrug.

"I've been better," I say, leaping up and shooting again, taking out another Moblin before dropping back into my crouch. I grin at him. "Killing Moblins helps mind. Though it would be easier without a little blue beacon announcing my presence every time I jump up." Navi humphs, but takes the hint and flutters over to Hunter, looking disgruntled. He grins back at me – a welcome sight. He's grinning a little bit more lately and I'm glad. I was worried about him for a while after we lost Jinni and Ketari . . . still hurts to think about it.

"How close are we?" He asks.

"Up the street and around the corner," I answer, fishing around in my pouch for my quiver refills. "Once we hit the Market place I signal with a Light arrow and the army comes ripping in. If all goes well we'll own the Market by sundown."

"And if it doesn't?" He asks.

"Then we all die," Navi answers brightly, settling herself into Hunter's sling. I frown at her.

"Tell me again why I shouldn't feed you to the Moblins?" I say.

"Because you love me," she answers with a nasty grin. "And you'd be horribly lost without me."

"I should have left you back in the Wood," I grumble to myself.

"Hey," Neesha says, glaring at me. "Am I the only one shooting here or what? I need help you know."

"I'm refilling my quiver!" I cry, then abruptly lower my voice to a whisper. "Farore! Give me a break here!" She mutters something at me then turns back to her crossbow as I continue fishing around in my pouch. I pull out a few more arrows and slip them into my quiver, then frown. "Hey . . . wait . . ." I reach back into my pouch, vaguely aware of the fact that something's missing. Neesha can't resist a guilty look out of the corner of her eye and I glare at her, pulling my hand out of my pouch and holding it out at her.

"Give it," I say flatly.

"What do you need it for?" She demands, rolling over to glare at me. "You have two!"

"Neesha! It's mine!" I cry. "Saria gave that to me. Give it back!"

"No," she says. "I stole it fair and square. It's mine now." I scowl. We've had this argument about fifty times since I noticed she had it She keeps taking it. Every time I turn my back she's back in my pouch looking for it.

"Give it!" I hiss. "I thought you said it was a sissy instrument."

"It is," she says with a frown. "But you said I couldn't call it that until I learnt to play it. So I did. And sissy though it is it's pretty, and I want it."

"Neesha," I growl. "Hunter will buy you a new one later. Give me mine back."

"Hey, don't drag me into this," Hunter says. He frowns at Neesha suddenly. "Where are you keeping it anyway?" He demands.

"None of your business," she returns.

"Neesha, give me back my Ocarina."

"No. You have two. You don't need this one."

"I told you! Saria gave it to me! It's a symbol of –"

"Aren't you two supposed to be shooting things?" Hunter asks mildly. We blink and glare at each other.

"I'm taking it from you as soon as we're back at camp," I growl.

"Try it, ocarina-boy. Just try it," she responds. Two twangs sound as we both fire off our arrows.

"I think that's the last of them," I say. "Come on, time to move."

"Move?" Asks a dry, raspy voice from behind us. "I don't think so." We gasp and whip around, facing the Stalfos who's just crept up behind us, two Moblins flanking him. We've been found out. The Stalfos' expression doesn't (can't) change, but the Moblins suddenly start jabbering at each other and pointing at me.

Great.

I've been recognized.

I rip the Master Sword out of its sheath and throw myself out of my crouch and at them. Neesha's scimitars clear their sheaths with crystalline rings as she scrambles to her feet and follows me, throwing herself between Hunter and the Moblin who leapt at him at our motion. I jump at the Stalfos and our swords meet with a clang. Great. This is going to be loud and attract either members of the Moblin force, or members of the Hyrulian force. Either way we're screwed.

"Hurry up and kill them!" Hunter hisses from somewhere behind me. "Do you know how much trouble we're going to be in if Rue and Dune find out we're out here?"

"I know, I know!" I cry, struggling desperately to slash through the Stalfos' defenses. There's a blur of red out of the corner of my eye as Neesha kills the Moblin she was fighting and blows past me and at the second one.

Strictly speaking Hunter and I aren't supposed to be out here. We both wanted to go with the main force today when they took back the Market. Very important, very big, very dangerous fight. Hunter assures the me the whole plan is very risky as it involves completely new tactics that haven't really been tested involving a mix of skills of the different races that have never really been used together. But there's apparently no way to test something like that except throwing them into battle and hoping the Goddesses are with you. I'll take his word for it. The problem wasn't the plan, but Rue and Dune. Rue was more stubborn than usual in her refusal to let me put myself in any kind of risk. My throat was aching by the time we got done shouting at each other, and I had apparently lost the argument because she posted a bunch of Red around my tent and told them not to let me out of the tent no matter what. She underestimate the sheer amount of sneaking I've done in my life however. I've snuck into places that were supposed to be sneak proof, and I've snuck out of them again. Tell me I can't go fight. Ha!

Right.

So needless to say my authority problem kicked back in and it was a simple matter of waiting until Hunter came to see me, then hiding under my cot and getting him to rip out of the tent again saying I wasn't in there. The red came in, scanned the tent, panicked and took off, looking for me. Hunter came back in, told me the coast was clear, and we took off – Neesha in tow, as always. It's like she can smell us breaking the rules and isn't about to let us have all the fun. Not that we mind.

Hunter apparently got a worse situation than I did. Dune didn't shout, she cried. Told him he was like a second son to her, and she didn't know what she'd do if she lost Ketari and Hunter all in one go and she'd never forgive herself and what would she tell Thomas and Bel and Mel and Thomas had already lost a sister he didn't need to lose a friend until Hunter had sworn up and down that he wouldn't leave and he'd stay in camp and wouldn't so much as breathe unless she said he could.

Right after she left he came over and busted me out of my tent.

In his defense it's not that he doesn't value Dune's opinion, or that he doesn't care about her, or that he wants to worry her, or even that his word's no good . . . it's just . . .

This is personal.

We have every right to be involved, and they can't just tell us we can't be just because we might die. We're aware of the risks.

I knew they'd pull this though. I knew that as soon as the real fighting started they'd try and keep us out of it. I saw this coming from a mile away. It frustrates me. You'd think by now we'd have earned some measure of –

My thoughts are interrupted as the Stalfos suddenly dies in a spectacular shower of dust, but not from my blade. There's a scimitar sticking out of its chest. I grin and open my mouth to thank Neesha but immediately choke on the words.

It's not Neesha's scimitar.

It's Rue's.

And Dune's standing behind her.

My first instinct is to bolt, but knowing Rue and Dune this whole building, and probably half of the block have been fortified by Elite and Sheikah, and we won't make it very far.

"Uh . . . Hello," I say. I can hear Hunter's groan from behind me.

"Busted," Navi chimes in. "Told you you wouldn't get away with this." Hunter and I both glare at her.

xxx

" . . . reckless, thoughtless, irresponsible . . ."

Hunter and I sit and stare at Dune as she flays us up and down verbally. Rue just leans up against the wall, looking almost as surprised at Dune as I am. I didn't know she could yell like this . . .

" . . . could've gotten yourselves hurt, or . . . or killed . . . "

Hunter and I exchange a pained look. I half think Rue's not participating in the freak-out-fest because she knows I, at least, would fight with her. I won't fight with Dune. I cast a pleading look at the Gerudo leader and she meets my gaze vindictively, confirming my suspicions. This is revenge. That's what this is. She's going to sit there and make me sit here and listen to Dune's rant for revenge. I turn back to Dune.

I stare longingly at the door just behind Dune.

I've got to hand it to Rue.

It's a good revenge.

" . . . don't care a whit about anyone except yourselves. What if we . . ."

My self-defense mechanism kicks in, triggered by the lecture, and I zone out, wondering what Zelda's doing. We busted violently into Castletown four days ago and have been fighting a slow battle to reclaim it. The Market's the center-point of the city and if we can take that then it's downhill from there to the palace. The Moblins will be cornered, with nowhere to run. The city's trashed though. The fire they set that first night forever ago got out of control at some point and burned about a fifth of the city and half of the Market to cinders. The rest of the buildings have been sacked completely. Looted, trashed, ransacked . . . stupid Moblins. These are peoples' homes. You can't just do that. Every now and then we find bodies in varying states of decomposition but someone was apparently controlling the carnage because they're few and far between. Apparently slaves were more important. I'm glad. I don't think I could take much more of that. I knew most of them . . .

Seven years of my life were spent in this city. This was as much my home as any other place I've ever lived. Seven years reduced to ashes and rubble and destruction.

This is the second time that those same seven years have been taken from me. Only this time, I can take it back. I can't get back the years Zelda took from me, but this . . . this I can change.

Ganondorf owes me seven years.

I'll see it paid in blood.

"Don't look at me like that Link," Dune says suddenly, misinterpreting my face, "I'm just saying this because I don't want to see you boys hurt and you seem determined to get yourselves killed. And dragging Neesha along! I would have hoped you were more responsible than that! She's just a little girl! You should be setting an example!" Hunter's and my jaws both drop as we stare at her and Neesha's face clouds with anger, but Rue stops her from commenting with a hand.

"I . . . Dune . . . Neesha's not . . ."

"Neesha's not a little girl, Dune," Hunter says. "She's an adult according to the Gerudo. She's fulfilled her rite of passage. And technically, Link and I aren't boys. We both went into the Quisrol and came out again."

"Link may have," Dune says, "but you didn't complete the Quisros, Hunter. You didn't look into the Pedestal."

"I still went in, and came out," Hunter says, raising an eyebrow at her. "What are the exact words of the tradition? A boy will be considered a man only once he's gone into the Quisrol, and come out again." He flashes her a bright, winning smile. "It assumes you'll do the Quisros once you're in there, but it doesn't actually say that you have to." Dune's eyes narrow dangerously.

"Don't start playing this sophistry game with me, Hunter," she growls.

"Sophistry or not, you can't deny it," Hunter replies. "Technically, Link, Neesha and I are all adults." Dune's eyes narrow further.

"Well you certainly aren't acting it, now are you?" She cries. She levels her glare on Hunter. "What about Malon, Hunter?" She demands. "What would she have done if you'd gotten yourself killed?" I blink, wondering why she singled out Hunter for that jab. Is she picking on him for some reason? Dune moves as though to continue her lecture, but, surprisingly, it's Navi that interrupts her.

"I'm surprised," she says, moving to hover in front of Hunter and I, "that apparently the fact that I am an adult and am perfectly capable of reason doesn't seem to be figuring into your argument anywhere." Dune and Rue blink in surprise.

"I . . . " Dune says.

"The way you're talking you make it seem like they were alone, without any kind of adult guidance." Her eyes glint. "Well what in Nayru's name do you think a Guardian Fairy is for?" She demands, her voice going up an octave. "Are you saying I'm not doing my job, Dune? Is that it? You don't think I'm capable of telling these boys when they're being stupid and reckless and everything else? Think you're more qualified is that it?" She crosses her arms and her blue aura trembles with anger, her wings fluttering irritably. "Just because I'm tiny doesn't mean I'm not capable!"

"I . . . Navi . . . it's not that we doubt your abilities or your faculties," Dune says placatingly. "It's just that . . . well . . . they're strong willed and foolhardy, and . . . well . . . as you've said you are tiny. If they get it into their heads to do something, then you won't be able to stop them, and –"

"Oh yeah," she says harshly, "because the two of you managed to stop them all the more easier because you're big. If I'm not mistaken we're currently sitting in a crumbling house in Castletown, the exact place you told them not to go." She flutters up in front of Dune's face, her sapphire eyes narrowed and piercing beneath her wild blue hair. "I dare you to tell me you're doing this job better than I am." She points at me. "You both know how foolish Link can be. I should think the fact that he's still alive in spite of that would be some kind of testament to my abilities as a Guardian." I open my mouth to protest, but Hunter elbows me and cuts me off.

"Let her go," he hisses at me. "You know she doesn't mean half of it." I mutter something nasty about guardian fairies and take his advice.

"I'd also like to point out that the two of you seem to be ignoring a couple of other, very important facts," she continues, rounding on Rue now. "Link is the Hero of Time. He knows what he's doing. By trying to lock him in his tent and keep him out of this war you're preventing him from doing his job. He was chosen for that position by the Goddesses. Are you going to tell me they didn't know what they were doing? You don't think Link's capable of the job? Is that what you're trying to say? Because I don't appreciate it, I'm sure Link doesn't appreciate it, and I know the Goddesses don't appreciate it. And Hunter is not only his friend, but his cousin. Things like courage and strength and heart run in families, and Hunter has proven himself more than capable so far of everything we've gotten involved in. It's an insult to them, and to me, to tell us that they can't go out and join the fight because they're children. Because they might get hurt. It's their choice, ladies, if they want to take that risk, as much as it is your choice if you want to take that risk. You can't make it for them. And they've proven themselves worthy of, if nothing else, your trust and faith. It can't hurt for you to actually put a bit of that in them." She humphs and whirls around in the air, fluttering back over to perch imperiously on my shoulder. Hunter and I look at Dune and Rue, eyes wide, and they stare at Navi with the same expression.

"We're sorry we worried you," Hunter says, "but you kind of left us no choice. And . . . Navi's right. This is as much our fight as yours. More so maybe. I . . . a little bit of credit would be appreciated." Dune bites her lower lip and Rue's expression says nothing. Finally, however, she steps forward.

"You want to fight, fine," she says with a scowl. "But you're taking the Elite. Everywhere. You might be the Hero of Time, but you're still my King, and I'm not letting you die." I sigh. I don't want the Elite tailing me everywhere. But . . . if it keeps her from fighting with me . . .

"Fine," I say, just as flatly. "I'll take the Elite."

"And you," Rue says, rounding on Hunter and leveling her scowl on him. "You're injured and a liability. You shouldn't be out here. It's your duty as Link's friend and cousin, and as a soldier, to not put him in further danger by tagging along until your arms healed and you can actually defend yourself. Jinni gave up her life for you, boy. Don't make her sacrifice in vain." Hunter's face takes on a grayish tint at the mention of Jinni's name and he nods solemnly.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I really am. And I know that. I just . . . I want to see the Archery Shop. That's it. That's all I wanted in the first place."

"Fine," Rue says with a cool nod. "We'll get you to the archery shop. But your place until we clear the Market is back at Camp with Karun and the others. You're more good to us there than here." The four of us stare at each other for a moment, each judging the sincerity of the other.

"All right," Dune says. "It's too late to join the attack on the Market, but we can find a high vantage point and watch." She gestures for us to follow and we get to our feet, following her out.

"I can't wait until we get Nabooru back," I can hear Rue mutter under breath as we brush past her. "Then she can deal with him and I can go back to retirement like I should be . . ." I can't help but flash her my best grin. She answers it with a scowl that doesn't go all the way to her eyes and my grin turns into a smirk.

She knows she loves me.

xxx

My prediction about owning the Market by sundown turned out to be true. The new tactics worked amazingly well and took the Moblins by complete surprise. Their response was panicked and unorganized and it didn't take us long at all to rout them and claim the Market. The soldiers immediately got to work on adapting the Moblin barricades to suit our purposes before the Moblins came back to try and drive us out. By the time they gather enough force we'll be firmly entrenched here. We now own half of Castletown, and there's no way we're giving it up. There's three days left until my birthday, and it will take us that long to get to the palace. It will be easier once we've got the Sages. Their powers will be an immense help . . . not to mention their presence a great comfort. All the races are eager to get their leaders back. I just want my friends back.

I can't wait to see the look on Nabooru's face when I tell her I'm Natalia's son. She's going to flip out.

And I'll have Darunia and Impa and Saria and Ruto (sigh) and Zelda . . .

Zelda . . .

I try not to think about after I rescue Zelda. It's just the rescue I like to think about. I know how that will work. I know what I'll feel, and I know what she'll feel, and what she'll look like, and I'll know where I stand.

It's after the rescue where that gets confused . . .

I have no idea where I'm going to stand after the rescue, except that it probably won't be where I want to stand.

I sigh.

"What's up?" Hunter asks, looking at me.

"Nothing," I say. "Come on. Let's go find the Shop." He eyes me with a frown, then shrugs and nods, following me. "Hey, where's Malon?" I ask. He blinks and looks at me, an odd note of panic in his eyes.

"Why?" He asks quickly. I blink at him.

"I just haven't seen her for a while," I say with a frown. "I thought she was coming in with the main group after the battle. What's wrong with you? Why are you so jumpy?"

"I'm not jumpy," he says, looking away. "I . . . Malon . . . Malon and . . . Neesha are over with the Gerudos. Neesha said she's trying to undo all the mistakes I apparently taught her." I frown at him but he refuses to meet my gaze and I shake my head, shrugging it off to war-time jitters. He's been acting oddly ever since Jinni and Ketari died anyway. Some of it makes no sense though . . . it's more like guilt than grief. I'd be more concerned if he was the only one acting like that. Malon is too though.

Hmm. Maybe they should get together and talk about it or something . . .

The moment is forgotten, however, once we arrive at the shop. We both stare up at it, lost in our own thoughts. Half of the building is gone, burnt away, and even from here I can see that the game section of the place is ruined. The sign that hung over the door lies in a cracked, blackened pile in front of the door. This place was where I grew up . . . I shake my head bitterly and step over the sign, pushing on the door which topples inward at my touch. The damage doesn't look as bad from the inside, however. The fire didn't touch anything except the game area, so the bedrooms and living areas are still intact, if ransacked. The Moblins that invaded threw things all over and ripped and smashed what they could. We have to pick our way carefully over piles of paper and glass and other assorted things. The kitchen table is smashed down the middle and lies in pieces in the middle of the floor. Some of the doors on the cupboards are missing, scattered around the room, and the stove has been tipped over, but it's nothing that can't be repaired.

"Are the stairs safe?" Hunter asks in a hushed voice. I look over and nod.

"Looks it," I say. "Let's go. Bruiser's room is the first on the left if you're looking for that." He nods once and we move up the stairs, trying to ignore the gouges in the walls. We split up at the top, Hunter moving towards his father's room, and me moving towards my own. The door creaks eerily, just barely hanging from its hinges. I push it open and step into my room. My things are trashed, but they're still recognizably my things. I draw in a weak breath and move across the room to sit on my mattress, folding my legs up under me as I do so and staring around in bewilderment.

I'd forgotten what it felt like to be in this room . . .

I'd forgotten what it felt like to be the me when I lived in this room . . .

Every morning I'd wake up . . . usually late . . . and fly around the room, in a panic, trying to find my clothes and boots and hat. Bruiser would yell up the stairs at me to hurry up or he wouldn't feed me and I'd scream something pointless back at him about not being able to find my hat and he'd yell back about the customers not caring about my hat. Then I'd bolt down the stairs and wolf down my breakfast while Bruiser outlined the events of the day: when he needed me to work, where he needed me to go, what he needed me to pick up. Once all that was done, then the day was mine. I'd spend it messing around town. Fooling around with Malon and Sheik if they were available, amusing myself in other ways if they weren't. Sometimes I'd take Epona out and we'd ride around Hyrule field like nothing else in the world mattered. Because . . . at the time . . . nothing else did. On days when we were closed I might have rode to Kakariko to visit Dampe, and find Anju's chickens, which were almost always missing. Or I'd go to Lon Lon Ranch and tell Talon and Ingo bad jokes until Talon was rolling around on the ground busting a gut and Ingo was ready to throw me out, never once caring about Kings and Heroes and armies and war.

Never once . . .

"Would you go back to it?" Navi asks me softly, nestling in my hair. "Do you ever regret where you are now? Do you ever want to go back to the way things were?" I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on them, shaking my head mutely.

"It was fun," I whisper, "when I was there. I might not have realized it at the time, but it was. I love life-as-I-knew-it. But . . . " I shake my head again. "Something was missing. Something was always missing. It bothered me. I couldn't ever figure out what it was, but it was there. A hole. A feeling that that wasn't all of who I was. That . . . something was missing. I was missing something."

"Have you found it?" She asks me. I lay down on my old bed and curl up, closing my eyes and picturing the room the way it was before the Moblins got to it. Picturing life-as-I-knew-it. But it's hard now. Other faces keep popping up that weren't there before. Hunter, Neesha, Jinni, Ketari, Dune, Karun, Rue, Acqul, Navi, Thomas, Bel, Mel, Goron-Link, even the Sages . . .

"Not yet," I answer her finally. "But I'm getting there . . . I'll find it yet. And I'll let you know when I do . . ."