Generations

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Chapter 9: The Morning After

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"Link!" hollered Zelda, running to keep up with her brother's lengthened strides. "Wait up! Some of us are still..."
He paused, grinning faintly. "Sorry, Zel'. Guess I'm just getting carried away."
"Well - stop it," she snapped. "You've been marching off, and it's not like we know where we're going. Most of the roads are blocked. And for all we know, we could be the..." She choked. "We could be the last people alive in the city - in the world..."
Link shook his head. "Stop thinking like that. We can't be. And..." He paused for a second, closing his eyes. "Even if we are, we've got to keep looking, right? Find our way out of this mess?"
"I... I guess," his sister sighed. "No, you're right. Someone's got to have survived. I just wish I knew where." She shoved her hands into her pockets. As she did so, a grin lit up her face.
Link looked at her strangely. "Okay. What are you laughing about now?" He rolled his eyes out of habit. "Great. You've flipped."

Zelda laughed. "No, I'm still sane. I'm just thinking clearly for once."
"For you, that is flipped."
She glared. "Very funny. " Her expression softened. "But... why are we running around like idiots trying to find someone," Zelda said, pulling her hand out of her pocket, "when we can get in touch with them the usual way? Think we can get a signal through?"
A grin split Link's face as he spotted what Zelda was holding. "Why didn't you tell me you had your mobile phone?"
"You didn't ask. Can you remember Aunt Cassie's number?" she responded, switching it on.
"...Sorry. Nope. That's too far away, anyway." He paused, and snapped his fingers. "Ring Lyn'! She lives on the other side of town, so... " She'd better be okay. I didn't save her from that shadow person, that - I don't know, dark me - for this to happen... "One-seven-two-four-double zero. Try that." Please...

Her heart fluttering, Zelda punched in the number, paused, and passed the phone over. "You'd better talk. She's your..."
"Whatever." There was an anxious wait as the phone rang. Come on. Come on. Be okay. Be there... please be there...
The answer came at last, crackling with static but clear enough. "Hello? Who's..."
Link's heart jumped with relief as he heard the voice. "It's me, Lyn'. " I think so, anyway.
"Link? What? You..." Lynna sounded choked with emotion. "I was starting to think... I mean, you were..."
"I was what?"
"It's all on the news, you idiot!" She was half-laughing, half-crying. "Half the city's been ruined... some bits are just damaged, we just managed to avoid it, but there's a strip that's completely destroyed, and your house was right in the middle. They thought no-one there had... had survived..." Lynna ran down, unable to speak much more.
"I was lucky, I guess. Me and Zelda are both just about okay. I'm... not quite feeling myself, though."
"I'm not surprised. Where are you? There's police everywhere, you should have seen someone, mum's having a hell of a time at the station..."
"I bet. This used to be..." Link paused, looking for any evidence of where he actually was. A street sign poked out from under the debris. With his newly enhanced strength it was easy enough to pull it out. "Think this was Ridge Avenue."
"Okay... wait! Wait! You're still in the middle of... it..."
"You're telling us? We've been running around trying to find our way to anywhere that looks normal! The roads are all blocked with junk - it's impossible to get anywhere!"
Lynna paused. "From what I've seen, things clear up if you head east, along Saria Road - that sort of way."

Great, Link thought. We've been heading in the wrong direction all this time.

"I'm just thinking, now... have you got anywhere to stay tonight? Now..." Lynna's voice wobbled, as she tried to put words to what felt like a sensitive subject.
"What do you think?" Link halfway snapped, surprised at the question. "Mum's in Hyrule City. Dad's - well, I haven't seen him in a week, gods know what he's up to. And, in case you kind of missed what I've been saying, our house is currently wrecked... Where do you think we're staying?"
"Look. I'll sort something out. You can stay at our place tonight, if your folks are away. Ask Zelda - is she okay sleeping in my room?"
Link looked over. His sister had caught the conversation, and nodded. "She'll be fine."
"Good. And you... I don't think Alex is going to mind you taking his room, seeing as he's away at university."
"Thanks, but... I don't know..." I can't... Not like this! Then again... "Look. I'll get there as quickly as I can. Just - don't tell your parents, okay?"
Lynna's voice down the phone sounded puzzled. "You're not making any sense, Link. I'm going to have to..."
He sighed. "Okay. But... can you hold them off until I get there? There're things I'm going to need to explain - uh - face to face." He raised a hand to his own for a second.
"Uh... okay. I'll see you then."
"Okay! See you!"

Link passed the phone back to Zelda, whose expression told a story he didn't want to hear. "Link..." she started. "It's not going to be a good idea if you come along..."
"What do you mean?" he asked, incredulous. "I'm not hanging around here!"

Zelda paused, trying to come up with the right words. "Do - do you even know what you look like?" she asked.
"Duh. I've heard of mirrors. Last time I checked, blue eyes, long ears, thin nose, scar still from that fight... what do you..." He noticed the look in his sister's eyes quickly. "I've said something stupid, haven't I?" She nodded. "Well, that figures. Shouldn't have thought it was just a change of clothing and a new hairdo. Go on, then."
"You'd better look for yourself next time we pass something that'll do as a mirror. That mask changed your face, too."
"Makes sense, I guess." Link was beginning to have a sinking feeling. "It's what they do. But..." He put an experimental hand up to his face to check. "Still feels the same. There's no edges or anything. Just normal skin."
"It's hard to explain. You're still - you. Still all the same shape features, and stuff like that. But... no, you'd better look for yourself. Just be prepared for a shock."

A car by the side of the road provided the mirror they had needed. An uncertain Link leaned in close to look - and swore out loud as he saw himself, stepping back in surprise.
What the.. you mean... that's me? Those colours... hang on, weren't those on the mask already? That's okay, I get that, makes sense...
But heck, my eyes... what's with my eyes? He leaned in again, trying to see. Despite his best efforts, Link found himself unable to spot any detail in their snowy glow. His heart thumped. That's wrong, that's just so...
Hell... what am I? Another thought was hot on its tail.
What's everyone else going to think I am?

He shook his head. It was dark. And with this much trouble around, who would be out and looking? If I spook them, it's their problem, isn't it? "Right. Better get going, then."
"I'm not paying for the bus," Zelda said with a grin.
Link found himself returning the smile in spite of what was happening. "Does it look like I'm hiding any spare change in here?" he remarked. "Whoever designed this armour didn't put in pockets..."

-

The doorbell didn't have a chance to stop ringing before Lynna had got it open. "Zelda - you made it? That's great!" she laughed, before spotting something - or someone - that was wrong. "But... where's... wasn't he with you..."
Zelda sighed. "Yeah, Link's fine. He's here, too. Round the side of the house."
Lynna looked at her quizzically. "What's wrong? Why's he hiding round there?" She shook her head. "Your brother's great, but he can be such an idiot..."
"Nothing like that. He's just... uh... not quite himself... he didn't want anyone to see him as he is."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lynna's heart sank. "Was he hurt? Is that it? I've got to see..."
Zelda was pushed aside. "Wait!" she yelled, but was cut off by a shout of Lynna's. She ran round the corner.

Lynna stood, frozen, staring up at Link. "Who are you?" she whispered, unable to recognise the face she had last seen earlier that day behind the coloured streaks and glowing eyes. "I was told..."
"It's me..." He paused, seeing no recognition in her face. "It's Link."
"You're... you're not..." Lynna stammered. "Look. I know... this is... you don't look anything like..." As she looked more closely, she was slowly starting to see his familiar features.
"I know. I said I wasn't feeling myself." He smiled softly. "Look. I'll prove it to you. When all this is over, I'll buy you that ice cream I promised, right?"
She blinked and caught herself laughing. That sounded so much like the Link she knew. She forced herself to look past the ferocious exterior. "Okay," she smiled. "You can come in. Don't worry - " she started, seeing Link react - "there's no-one else in. No-one's going to see you."
Link breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

The three young people - even if one of them hardly looked it any more - walked round to the back of the house. Lynna and Zelda were first through the door. Link quickly followed, after a painful reminder that his new form was closer to eight feet tall than his natural height.

Even in this strange situation, normalcy still had a way of surviving, and the television's comforting sound came from the living room. What was on, however, was far from regular.
A map came up as a news announcer talked with a practiced calm. She had repeated the same facts too many times that night. While her eyes said they just wanted to get away from there, her mouth went through the motions.
"The strange shockwave is believed to have started in the location of the University of Kakariko buildings - although, amazingly, they appear to have survived untouched. Even more amazing is the way in which it appears to have travelled. A natural explosion would travel out in all directions around the source. This - phenomenon - appears to have confined itself to a narrow band. As yet, there is no plausible explanation."
Zelda stared at the street map. "That's no coincidence..." she whispered to Link, shock setting back in. "That's deliberate. Look - our place is right there..."
"Was," Link muttered. But - the uni? he thought. Hope you're okay, dad...

-

From the highest point of the university buildings, Ganondorf watched the world outside the windows. Slowly, but surely, his influence was spreading. There was no way to reach what had been Robert Hunter's laboratory - and, more than that, no way to reach many of the scientific buildings.
Perhaps that was for the best. Anyone who had managed to breach the defences would have seen the interiors already transformed beyond recognition into something akin to the Dark King's lair of old.
It would have been the last sight they saw.
Except, Ganon thought. It is one thing to have the beasts of the Dark World at my call.
But perhaps I need those more closely allied to this one, instead.

The city spread into the distance. It was easy to see the destruction he had already caused, as a wide trail of debris scarred the view - a band of darkness in the middle of the city lights.
Perfect.
He couldn't escape that...

-

It wasn't easy to fall asleep in armour, Link soon found out, and even less so when the bed was designed for someone two feet shorter than his current height. Curling up as tightly as he could, he tried to put the events of the day out of his mind, but they weren't going away. The sky was almost turning light before he managed to drop off.

He's in the centre of a ruined temple - the marble and granite architecture reaches to the sky. It looks like it was a beautiful spot once, and even now, it retains the same splendour, though grass grows in the rubble around him. He walks forwards, looking around. Somehow, he knows he's dreaming. Nothing's told him, nothing's obvious enough to hint at his mind that this isn't real - but he's certain.
"Hello, Link," a voice says behind him - it's strangely familiar. He whips round to look. His enigmatic visitor is leaning against a pillar. This time, something's different about him. His eyes are glowing a brilliant white - much as Link remembers his own currently are.
Link takes a step back in surprise. "Who - who are you?"
"Someone who wants to help you."
"Fine," he sighs. "Now can we put that into less enigmatic terms? You know my name - how come I don't know yours?"
His visitor nods. "Fair enough. My name's Oni'kara. Most people who know it just shorten it to Oni."
"That's... kind of unusual..." Then again, I can't talk, Link thinks. Mine's not exactly common.
Oni half-smiles. "Not unusual. Just old." He pauses. "I've been looking to talk to you for a while..."
"About what?"
He picks up Link's armoured hand. "I think you know what."
"You got me like this, didn't you?"
"It's my power you're using."
"Not much help."
"If you knew where it came from, perhaps that would be..."
"But what the heck do you..."

"...mean?" Link mumbled, finding himself on the wrong side of consciousness unexpectedly. Weird dream. (Then again, weird dreams aren't weird any more.) Maybe there's something more to it... I mean, I remember now, didn't I dream about fighting - whatever he was, call him Dark Link, or something - before? So maybe this is real. How, I'm not even going to try and guess... Least, if that was real, I know his name now. That's a start.

The clock read six-thirty in the morning. Link was certain that sleep was no longer on the menu. He stared up at the ceiling for a while, before swinging his legs off the bed. The sound of his heavy metallic boots on the floor made him jump, but no one had apparently heard.

He looked around. A computer sat at the side of the room. In a second, Link felt an idea leap into his brain.
Hell - why not? Think they've got broadband here, anyway... who's going to know? He dived onto the system, and working quickly, fired off an email. Probably not the most sophisticated approach here, but so what?

To: ganondorf@globecom.cl. Re: Help me! Link paused. Ha.

Hey, Garry? You there? Look, I really have to talk... try and get online at - Link glanced at the clock - five p.m. my time. Think it'll be about midday where you are... this is urgent... hope you get this before then...
Another idea occurred to him, as a forgotten fact crept into his mind. Something deity's mask... that was it. Link began to type again. The keys felt too small for his fingers. Would you mind checking something for me, though? I need information on a mythical figure. I think he was the god of war, or something... name's Onikahra. (I'm not sure on the spelling).
Thanks so much... I'll see you then...

-

Later, Link stared out the window. This was possibly the dullest day of his life, he thought. The novelty of his new form was soured by the fact that it confined him to the one room. The adrenalin-fuelled mood of last night had worn off, and the prospect of being stared out held very little appeal. Lynna and Zelda had both been in to see him, but they hadn't been able to spend much time together. The Bowman family were beginning to get suspicious about the noises coming from what should have been an empty room.
Rock and a hard place, he thought. Lovely. Go stir crazy, or... I can't take this any more! I am out of here!
But... where can I go?

Slowly, an idea dawned on him. It didn't even seem to have come from within his mind, but his heart.
There's one place that no-one's going to go...
I've got to go back and check. Look for survivors.
(And it won't hurt if I get the chance to smash a few more monster heads, will it?)

He paused. Did I just think that? Whoa... this is getting to me more than I thought...

He crouched on the window ledge for a moment, then leapt, landing lightly on his feet.
Hope there's no reporters there...

-

The original portal to the Dark World flickered brightly. Ganon whipped round to see what was happening. I didn't ask for any... reinforcements, yet...

"I assume you have good news for me," he snapped, icily, glaring at the Bokoblin messenger who had just materialised.
The creature forced human words out of its mouth. "Master. We have had... difficulties."
"Difficulties?" Ganondorf yelled. "The Hero was destroyed, correct?"
"We had... assumed so. He is not so simple to fight as we had thought," it replied.
"How could he have been a difficult target? He has never touched a sword in his life!"
"But your... ancient captor... has."

Ganon froze, unable to say the name. He knew that Oni'kara had returned, but as yet, he had assumed that the Fierce Deity would be letting destiny take its course.
Now, it seemed, things were otherwise. There was only one possible ray of hope that he could see.
"Was it my... adversary? Really? Or just the boy playing with powers he doesn't understand?"
"Master. You are correct."
Ganon half-smiled, before realising what it meant on another level. Oni'kara might not be a threat, but if his troops could not handle an inexperienced fighter... "He still defeated you? You had him outnumbered!"
"Master! You don't understand!" The creature backed away slowly.
Ganondorf's eyes narrowed. "On the contrary, I understand perfectly well. You delayed too long - you gave him a chance to use..." He paused. "To think I put up with your kind so long." Maybe it was the scientist's mind that he had taken over, but alien thoughts ran in Ganon's own. To think I was once such a monster. Slow. Unintelligent.
I have spent too long making the same mistakes.

He raised a hand, green energy coalescing in its palm. "There is no reward for failure."

-

A dishevelled Link stared at the computer monitor. There had been survivors - gabbling madly about the monsters they had seen. Even an armoured warrior came as a relief after that.
As he watched, the 'personal message' icon flashed onscreen. Heart racing, Link seized on the mouse. That'd better be you...

hiya
Hey!
where have you been, L.? you were the one who wanted to talk!
LOL, Garry.
what's up?
and why the sudden mythology obsession?
Quite a lot, actually...
And that's cause I think I'm in the middle of it.
hope you're happy, man. I checked one of my books. I don't know how you knew about that, but...
you got the spelling wrong, lol. Oni'kara was the ancient Hylian god of time and destiny, usually shown as a young man in armour with a painted face. very long legend attached, but you can look that one up yourself!

Link swallowed, and looked in the mirror. He reached up and touched his face, running his fingers along the marks below his eyes. That's... what does that mean?
Are you telling me I'm this...

BRB...

He began to look around the desk, hoping wildly that Lynna's brother had left some sort of camera handy. No such luck, he soon found out. There was only one thing to do. Try to explain. Yeah, and sound like a nutter in the process...

Okay, sorted. I don't want to sound weird, but...
yeah?
That's me.
what do you mean?
Just that. I'd send you a picture if I had a camera.
L. , you've lost it...
Well, my home was *trashed* yesterday, I think I'd be allowed to 'lose it'! (Has it been on the news?) But I'm not kidding around!
Say I sound crazy if you like, but there is some *crazy* stuff happening in my life. Yesterday, I got turned into just what you said there, and I dreamt I met a guy calling himself Oni'kara last night. I didn't even know the name before - you saw I couldn't spell it! But now...

Garry was silent at the other end of the conversation for a while. Link thought he might have said the wrong thing. Something else struck him, though.

And you were the one who once told me that my name was out of mythology. I think it's happening again.
History's repeating.
Take what I said earlier as a big joke if you want (it's not) but I'm in the same situation as the other Links.
you remembered that?
Hard to forget.
I... I don't know what to say
but... I believe you
and even if I didn't, I'd stick by you here :)

Link sighed.
Thanks. That makes all the difference. Just knowing that.
Bye...
see ya, man...

His heart began to pound. Oh, man. Oh man, oh man, oh man.
This can't mean what it sounds like, can it?
That's... I was getting used to the whole Hero bit, but now...

He looked into the mirror again, then down into his hands and at his body. Link whispered to himself. "I'm a god?"

It took some time for him to calm down. No, he thought. It's impossible. It was the... that other person, my visitor, who called himself that.
Yeah - but I'm the one who currently fits the description. Not that blond biker.
Is he real? Or, last night, was that just my subconscious putting a face to the information it was giving me?
Ohh...

He toppled back onto the bed, holding his head in his hands. Even though it was still light outside, he wanted to sleep.

The dream is the same; the location is the same. But this time, Link's not so confused. He walks up to Oni'kara, who is stretching out with his back to a toppled column. "Okay," he asks. "I know who you are. What you are." Somehow, in this world, the knowledge that he is confronting one of the gods means nothing - and Link's still not sure whether his visitor is the real thing or not. He doesn't look like one here. "And I know what's happened to me."
"That's good."
"Is that all you can say?"
"What do you expect me to say?" Link paused. "Look. It's... it's okay. I can handle it." He sighs. "I'll cope."
Oni blinks. "Cope with what?"
"This. What I've become. Or I'll try, anyway. If I've got to be a, be a..."
Sighing, Oni turns aside. He's worked out what Link's thinking. "It's not as simple as that. It's only temporary, Link. You're borrowing my powers to fight."
Link closes his eyes for a moment. He believes and understands what he's hearing. It comes as a relief and a disappointment at the same time. "Okay. I think I get you. But... what do you mean, temporary?"

The real Fierce Deity walks over, and puts a hand on Link's shoulder. "Just think about it. When did all this start?"
"That's an easy one. Put that mask you gave me on. Five seconds later, I'm hitting my head on doorframes and scaring the hell out of my girlfriend." He laughs.
"What do you think happened to it?"
Link shrugs. "I don't know, do I?"
"Haven't you considered that it might still be there?"
"What do you mean? I've checked. Poked and prodded until I was red in the - ha - face. There's nothing there."
"You're looking in the wrong place," Oni'kara remarks. "The answer - it's inside you. It's a case of knowing what's going on." He reaches forwards and runs his fingers under Link's jawline. Link starts back in shock.
"What're you doing?"
"I can feel it there. Concentrate, Link. And remember who you are." He nods, and turns away.

As Link awoke, the knowledge he had gained was fresh in his mind. He sat up and raised his hands to his face. Okay. You know what you're doing, now. Just... just remember... just think about it...
Another voice joined him in his mind. Yeah? Says who?
You're going to give up a chance like this?
But he said...
And he also said you're the one with the power here. Don't waste it.

-

"What are you saying, Link? You can go back to your old self?" Zelda asked, peering in on her brother the next morning. He was gazing out of the window. As he turned towards her, his eyes looked different. The light that filled them seemed more intense than it had before.
"Yeah. That's what he's telling me. All I need to do is concentrate." Link paused, and turned his back.
"So what's the problem?" his sister asked, concerned.
He shot Zelda a burning look over his shoulder. "I'm not going to."

--

A/N: A little request. If I screw up on any Wind Waker references, someone tell me, okay? While you lucky people are playing it, I'm still waiting... Thank you!
Heh, while I'm waiting, maybe reading a review or two might do to cheer me up... extremely large hint here, people. (I know. I know. Have I no shame? And yes, I know that line wasn't original...) It means a lot to me to know there are people reading, so thank you in advance for taking the time to write one. Even a flame.
Okay - after this point, I'll shut up on that topic... sorry to be a bore.