Generations

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Chapter 2: Urban Legends

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Freedom! Trapped in that netherworld for an accursed eternity. Now - I make my escape. But the world looks different to how it was when I was - alive... no matter.
I am weakened... almost human again. But I will reclaim my power soon. And the world that is rightfully mine.
I believe I have one servant here already... who freed me? Is that him? A Hylian - ah, the irony is delicious!

Dr. Hunter took a step back at the sight of the apparition emerging from the void. "What... what are you?" He turned for the door, hoping to look for help.
Come back. You will obey me. The words seemed to ignore his ears and grab his heart directly. You will tell no others. Yet.
He didn't feel like he could, anyway. "Fine..." he stuttered, trying to remain calm. "And who is it I'm supposed to be 'obeying', anyway?"
Ah... yes. You may refer to me as your master.
The apparition began to condense, through the form of a minotaur-like creature, to a more human figure - although that was still only approximate. A three-dimensional shimmer on the air delineated the shape of a tall, proud man in heavy black and brown armour. One thing was clear, though. His eyes burned red.
At last, his words were vocalised. "My name? Now, as it was at the beginning ...Ganondorf. King of the darkness."

The scientist tried to remain calm, without much success. He was hallucinating, he rationalised. "I'm not calling anyone master. And I don't listen to ghosts." He saw the spectral figure's eyes grow wide at the impudence. It did nothing - had nothing it could do - however, and he walked away.

What's going on here? I must have knocked my head when the console blew up. 'Cause I can't have just seen a... Stop that, Rob. There's got to be a logical explanation.
I just wish I knew what it was.

It was well past midnight by the time the car pulled into the driveway. Everyone else was asleep. As he walked upstairs, he could hear Link yelling in his dreams. It probably wasn't a good idea to get involved.

-

"Yeah, it's weird, but it's only a dream."
"You say that, Zelda... I don't even dream, most of the time. Only when I've been stuffing my face the night before," an uncertain Link remarked as they followed each other down the stairs to the kitchen. "And how often... don't even say it. Point is... never mind." He wasn't quite sure just how much he could talk to his sister about it without sounding whinging. Never mind his parents. Sophia Hunter would just mutter 'that's nice, dear' - and his father would say even less. "Just a dream. Right."

Later, and still slightly foggy, Link stared out of the window of the school bus. He'd never believed that dreams had any meaning. But last night - it must have done, for all that he had stopped discussing it quickly. Something like that didn't happen for no reason. It wasn't like he'd been thinking about monsters. He hadn't even touched any video games or movies that had them in. It had just jumped out of his subconscious. Zelda's, too, if he'd understood what she had said correctly... why?
A friend's voice brought him crashing down to earth. "You got that essay done, right?"
He looked round, shocked. "Aw, crud! I completely forgot. Well... when I say forgot..."
His friend grinned. "Yeah. The dog ate it, while you were recovering from an alien abduction after getting run over by a rocket powered car. Copy mine. It's last thing, anyway. Plenty of time." He pulled a couple of pages out from the bottom of his bag.
"Thanks, but. I think Carter is going to spot that an essay of mine has 'Ralph Marshall' written all over it. You know what happened last time you copied my homework and we were caught... it was okay for you, you had a soccer match with the school team, but..."
"I was in detention the next day. Wasn't an excuse. I got chewed up when I got home, too. Dad was all, 'you know I expect more from you...' and funny looks, too."
"At least yours gives a damn. Mine doesn't care about anything that doesn't involve atoms..." Link remarked - but with an edge in his voice.
"Do I smell a rant coming on?"
"Well, maybe."
Ralph groaned. He'd heard this too many times before. As far as he was concerned, Link should try having parents over his back all the time. It was no improvement.

Link picked it up quickly, and changed the topic back again. "...I think I'll just get some earplugs from the science lab and take my chances with the wrath of 'Sir'. I'm dead here. I don't want it to be game over for you too, buddy."
"The melodramatic thing doesn't suit you," Ralph grinned. "Detention is not death."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Nah! It's worse, definitely."
Link glared back. "Thanks a lot. You're such a help." He returned to staring vaguely out the window again, before changing his focus to a slightly more attractive prospect than endless suburban roads and grey city streets. She sat two seats in front of him and was completely unaware of his presence. She was just a friend, that was all. But... one day...
"Cckk..." Ralph imitated a microphone, spotting his friend's expression glazing over. "Earth to Link. Come in, Link. Arrival at destination imminent. ...What's up with you, anyway?"
"Nothing, bud. Just... one of those days." They scrambled off the bus, trying to avoid the crowd of younger pupils who seemed all too eager to get to their new high school. It was only October, and for them it was still a novelty. Not so for a thoroughly bored Link. All he knew was that if he had any excuse to get out of the same dull routine it couldn't come too soon. "See ya later..."

-

The school day wore on, leading inevitably to an unwelcome end. Link found himself wishing more and more that he hadn't tried to be a martyr with every passing lesson. For one moment, he wondered whether the penalty for cutting History would be worse than that for forgetting the essay - but, he decided, at least this way he only had one teacher to face.
In the end, the class had trouble settling down to work, despite Mr. Carter's best efforts to control the young people sick of sitting in the stuffy classroom. "Stop it!" the teacher snapped. "I saw that look! Christine, Holly, you two stop talking, I didn't need to know that... Everyone, just listen!" It took a few moments for quiet to take hold. "Now, I hope we've all remembered the homework..." The teacher moved stealthily along the row of desks.

"Ah, yes. Lincoln." You got it wrong again, sir... Have you got an allergy to my name, or something? Do you know something here I don't? He groaned. This didn't seem like such a good idea after all. No-one else seemed to have forgotten. "I can only wait to hear what gem you've come up with this time. Now, let me see... I haven't heard 'my dog ate it' for a long time..."
Link only muttered a vague 'sorry' under his breath.
"That's not good enough! Detention, Hunter. After school. See me here." Well, using my surname's an improvement on totally fluffing it...
"Yessir..." he groaned, before reluctantly beginning to copy notes off the board. Uncomfortable, he was sure he could feel someone looking at him and smirking. He could guess who it was. His worst enemy.

-

The corridors of Kakariko University's vast scientific research department echoed to one person's footsteps. It shouldn't have been this quiet, Robert thought, making his way quickly back to his almost destroyed laboratory. He could only hope that he hadn't been reported over the incident. It was one thing to see his theories go up in literal smoke. Another to see his career follow it.

He turned down a side passage, and punched in the keycode for the door. Everything was as he had left it, he saw with a mixture of relief and dismay.
Including - the scientist swallowed - the same apparition he had put down to a hallucination.
"Where were you? How dare you desert me?" Ganondorf roared. Dr. Hunter took a step back. "Come here! I have a task for you, Hylian."
The archaic term was hardly familiar. "It doesn't matter if I'm Hylian or not. I'm a scientist. And you shouldn't exist, if there is any logic left in the world."
"Logic does not matter! You were the one who brought me here - you can repeat yourself, correct?"
He swallowed. "That's the problem. When I - ah - brought you here..."

-

In time honoured fashion, detention dragged unbearably. It felt like time had stopped. Worse than death. Yeah. At least when you're dead, you're not bored. Link's hand felt cramped from all the lines upon lines he was writing. While the teacher's back was turned, he stretched it out, trying to rub the ache out. Somehow, it wasn't so much a pain in his fingers that was bothering him. It seemed to be coming more from an unusual birthmark he'd always had there. Three triangles, surprisingly regular for something apparently natural. For some reason they'd been getting darker recently. Maybe, he thought, he should see a doctor about it. Probably nothing, though.
"Lincoln! Stop staring at the back of your hand and get writing!"
His patience was getting short. It was worth a try - again - seeing as he was already in trouble. "Sir, you keep getting it wrong - that's not my name."
"I don't call my students by nicknames. I've told you that a thousand times."
"It's not a nickname, sir! It's on my birth certificate, and everything... ask my parents... I thought it was on all the files!"
Mr. Carter paused. "Fine. Maybe it is. But I'm not calling any student of mine that while he's still slacking behind. Get back to work."
What did he mean by that? Link wondered. Again, he had the uneasy feeling that the teacher knew something he didn't. Duh, it's his job. Sighing inaudibly, he continued to write.

Eventually, the clock made its way round for long enough. The teacher glanced over. "Okay. You can go. But it's the same again if you turn up on Monday without your essay. Understand?"
"Yes, sir..." Link groaned, virtually running out the door.
Inside seemed better than out, however. Clouds were starting to gather. If he was any judge, a storm was on the way. As he finally escaped, the familiar shape of the school bus was pulling away over the bridge down the road.
Just my luck to miss the bus on a day like this... Should I try to get a lift? Nah, dad's probably got the car, and far be it for me to go and interrupt the oh-so-mighty work of prodding atoms... It's only a couple of miles, I can run that no problem... yeah, would help if I wasn't lugging a bag of books around. Should be okay, though. Here's hoping it stays dry long enough.

-

"How do you mean, an accident?" Ganondorf snapped.
"Just that. I don't know what happened to get you from... wherever you were... to here. Theory said that..."
"Damn your theories! You... scientist?... must be able to do whatever you already have to break the seals on my prison!"
Dr. Hunter paused. "Wait. Your prison? What are you talking about?"
"You released me from my eternal confinement in the Dark World I had made my own." He grinned strangely. "And I am not the only one trapped there. My servants await release. You will let them free."
The scientist's mind was having trouble grasping what had happened. He was here, talking to someone. Something. And the experiment had gone wrong. He clung to the one bit of sense he could. "Look. I don't know who you are, Mr. - what was it? But I wouldn't expect a... a ghost, to understand just what the problem is here! The equipment is wrecked! I might have enough power in what's left for one more try, but I don't intend to waste what juice is left in the generator when I know nothing is going to happen..."
"Energy, is it, you require?" The evil king almost smiled. "The void produces its own energy. Can you not feel the darkness flowing through? That is all I require. And all you will require to repeat what you have already done. Do not think you can hold out much longer."
Hunter thought for a second. He was already in trouble. It can't hurt, surely. Nothing's going to happen, but at least I can get away from whatever the hell is going on here. "Fine," he sighed. "Just don't expect a miracle. I think I can bypass what's completely wrecked here..."
"Do it!"
Shut up! I don't need some damn person I can't see straight chewing me out. Give me a chance, here! Trying to ignore the glowing eyes peering into his mind, he tried to jury-rig the remaining instruments.
It wasn't an easy task. There wasn't a working clock to be seen. It must have taken hours before he managed to get the equipment into some semblance of working order. With a mixture of reluctance and hope he flicked the switch.
Nothing happened. He waited for a moment. "Looks like that's your lot. Got it?"
Ganondorf wasn't listening - or he was, but to sounds only he could hear.
"You've done well, scientist," he laughed. "The gate opened for long enough. They are coming! The Dark World does not touch this one in the same ways you might think..."
Anyone or anything that could be described as simply 'they' sounded ominous.

-

The rain began to spatter down. Trying to keep in shelter, Link dodged down a side alley, raindrops trying to follow. For the moment, it seemed he would be okay. It looked a bit drier in here. Quiet, too. A little too quiet.
Except... what's that noise?
He listened hard. A faint squeaking and rustling was coming from behind a pile of discarded boxes. Link kicked one over to look.
Immediately, he regretted it.

"What the hell's that?" he yelled, surprised. What looked like a ball of shadow or smoke leapt out and knocked him over. It was closely followed by at least another ten. Shocked, Link wildly tried to beat the things away, yet for every one he seemed to destroy - vanishing in a whisp of dust - another took its place. He kicked out madly, just trying to get enough space to move. If only I had some sort of a weapon... nah, wouldn't - agh - do any good - get away from me, you fuzzball... thing... what the hell are you, anyway?
Of all the things he had expected of his day, being attacked by black puffballs was not high on his list of priorities. He had no time to spare on the rain - only on staying alive. They were out for his blood, pelting into him from every direction. All he could do was strike at anything he saw that moved, and hope for the best.

Eventually, a shaken and tired Link managed to beat away all the creatures he could see. He looked around and ran on, deciding that being rained on was better than being attacked. The only thing on his mind now was getting home before something like that could happen again. Traffic piled past down the road. It did nothing for his temper when a motorcyclist sped past and through a convenient puddle. As if I wasn't wet enough anyway, Link cursed, missing the apologetic look flashed through the visor. He wasn't entirely sure that something else hadn't flashed through it instead, like a faint white light. Impossible, he decided, as he headed away. Must have bashed my head.

A few moments after their encounter, the rider stopped. This is the place, he thought, leaping off the cycle and heading into the alley. I felt it - again - it's here somewhere. Perhaps I should have asked that boy if he saw anything... no, he wouldn't have. Best not to give myself away yet.
Unnoticed, with a flick of his wrist he caught a double-helix sword in his left hand as he went to look. It all seemed quiet. Something felt wrong, though - the feeling of a just-healed wound hung in the air. No human would have noticed it.
But to a deity, it was all too obvious. He heard a muffled squeak, and looked round. One last shadow creature was slinking out, insofar as the word applied to a being with no legs. A black Boe? Oni'kara thought, curious. They've been extinct in this world for how long - at least a thousand years? But there's a last one there...
He aimed a well-placed kick at the monster. Not any more. It had confirmed his suspicions. He was in the right place at the right time. And with any luck he'd have time to find out the truth of what was happening.

-

"What happened?" his mother asked, concerned, as he came through the door. "Got caught in the rain?"
And more. "Yeah, Mum. Carter had me in detention, so no bus."
"Over the essay? You know..."
"Okay..." Link spotted the parental rant coming, and sighed. "...It's my own fault, should have done it..." Blah, blah...
"No need to take that tone with me!"
You don't have a clue. "I'm gonna do it now. OK?" Without waiting for a reply, he ran up the stairs. He just hoped that the state his jacket was in would pass as simply 'rain'. Only rain didn't rip the seams. That wasn't going to be fun to explain.

As he attempted to continue where he had left off, his sister rounded the door. "Hey, Link."
"Hey. You going to tell me off, too?"
"Nah. It only goes in one ear and out the other," she remarked, flicking the point of her brother's.
"Watch it!" he almost snapped. "I'm sore enough already..."
"Ohoh..." Zelda paused. "Cal and his gang beat you up?"
"Wish it was them. Least then I could tell someone." Link was silent for a moment. "You trust me, right?"
Zelda gave a shrug. "When you're not spinning some sort of a tale, yeah."
"That's the problem. This is gonna sound like total nonsense - but I swear it's the truth. It wasn't Cal, it was weird creatures. Black puffball things."
"You sure it wasn't a dog?" she added, trying to sound encouraging.
"These things were a bit hard to mistake for a dog. They were big - I don't know, lumps of shadow with eyes." He stopped dead. "What are you looking at me like that for?"
"Oh, come on! I'm not stupid! It sounds like the sort of thing you'd tell me when we were little, and not even as good as that!"
"I'm... not... kidding. I've never been more serious." He sighed. "Look, you can tell me I'm lying all you want. But I'm not. Really."
She put her head to one side. "Just leave it, Link. You're beginning to scare me."

Zelda walked away. Link shook his head. He hadn't expected, inside, that she would believe him. Even I wouldn't believe me with something like that. It had been worth a try, though.
The essay hung on the computer screen. Fine, then. What do I know about the olden days? C'mon, brain... think...
It seemed impossible. The black letters merged into black blobs, leaping out at him. He wasn't fit for anything tonight yet.
Link paused. Well, I know someone who is. He's a bit of a nerd on this sort of thing, right? Hope he doesn't mind me asking... The email address he tapped out on the keyboard was only testament to his penpal's historical knowledge - imperfect, but far better than Link's own.
To: ganondorf@globecom.cl. Re: Homework Hell!. Hey, Garry... mind helping me out here?...
He suspected his friend wouldn't be awake yet, given the difference in time zones. But it was worth a try.

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A/N: A big thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far is in order here, methinks...
JadeAngel, Shades of Oblivion, Lord Orion, Hotaru S. Tomoe, Eskimo Kid, The Fierce Deity, Big Ben - huge thank you's to everyone for giving me such positive feedback. And if you haven't, any comments will be mucho appreciated from the bottom of my heart... Any flames will be donated to the Sunshine Sanctuary for Sick Dragons :p