If anyone has any questions, please email me at kenshinslove@hotmail.com or at white_winged_sorrow@hotmail.com (yes, that email was inspired by X. I was on a CLAMP kick, what can I say...?)
The naginata barely missed his chest. Link recovered fast enough to dodge, but he wasn't sure about the next attack. The sword Elah gave him was still attached to his hand, and froze every time he thought of releasing it. His fingers were slowly turning blue, and he wondered if the sword would become a part of his hand if he didn't release it soon. With that occupying his mind, as well as this new revelation, Link knew he couldn't handle this battle.
Eon is...my brother? But how? This can't be true, it can't! Mother would have mentioned another child! She would have told me I had a brother! Another pass with the naginata made Link do a back flip, expertly parrying the blade with his own. Eon jumped back as well, figuring an attack from a different angle. No, she's lying to me. She's putting me at a disadvantage, knowing that telling me something like that will make me off balance. That thought in itself made Link's anger surge, seething through him. How dare she use Eon like that! How dare she keep torturing him like that!
Beside him, Volvagia was growling as well, the hair between his horns lifting as his energy made the air swirl about him. The small dragon would not forgive the blue woman, either.
Elah laughed from her place slightly behind Eon. "You really don't believe me, do you?"
Link spared her a quick glance, not wanting to lose sight of his opponent. If only he could attack her! She couldn't control Eon if she wasn't there...
"You're thinking of killing me now? Not very innocent anymore, are we? First you kill your friend, then you agree to kill your only brother. How could such an evil little boy become the Hero of Time?"
Link growled, his eyes narrowing in hatred, but Zelda's voice brought him back, filled with worry and fear. "Link, don't listen to her! She's just an evil spirit, you can't take anything she says to heart! Please don't become what Dark Link did..."
Link smiled lopsidedly and nodded, a small sigh escaping. "You're right Zelda. No matter what she says or how she tries to taunt me, I know I'm still myself."
Zelda sighed in relief as the tension left Link's aura, and she leaned against Impa. Sahasrahla looked at her, his expression pained.
"Did I do something wrong?"
The old man shook his head. "No, you didn't child. But you may have judged someone wrong..."
Zelda blinked at him, confused, but the clash of metal on metal drew her attention back to the battle at hand.
Eon attacked again, the blade of the naginata pinning Link's sword to the ground. Gritting his teeth, Link was trying to free himself when a knee came up, smashing into his gut, sending him flying backwards as Eon released the sword at the same time. Gasping and trying to catch his breath, he felt the shadow as Eon stood above him, the naginata held loosely by his side.
"E...Eon... Please stop this... I don't know what she told you, but you don't need to do this..." Link tried to stand but Eon moved faster, his fist connecting with the other boy's chest. Link collapsed against Eon's arm, then fell to the ground as his support drew away. Navi hovered above him, out of reach of Eon. She didn't fit into this fight.
The red-haired boy said nothing, and Link was beginning to wonder if he even heard anything. "E...Elah...what did you do to him? Why doesn't he hear me?"
Elah shrugged. "I've done nothing to him. If he doesn't hear you, it's because he doesn't want to. Simple as that."
Link coughed, managing to make it to his hands and knees. "You fill his head with lies and then say you did nothing to him? What kind of monster are you?!" Anger giving him strength, Link moved suddenly, rolling to the side and then to his knees, the sword dragging through the ground as he brought it up against the staff of the naginata. Kicking his feet out from under him, Link smashed into Eon's ankles, bringing the other boy down as he himself rolled onto his feet. Breathing heavily, Link charged Elah, his eyes ice blue.
Pain brought him down a few feet from his target. Screaming out, Link collapsed, dust flying about him, as Eon removed the naginata from his calf, walking calmly to block Elah from the boy lying on the ground in pain. Zelda yelled out his name, and would have run to him had Impa not held her back. The princess was openly crying, her arms reaching out, trying to protect her friend.
Sahasrahla also took a step forward, his mouth set in a hard line and the muscles of his jaw tight. "This is enough. Stop playing with these children, now. You don't need to use innocent souls to get your own revenge against the Hero of Time."
Elah glared at him, her face losing some of its beauty as her hatred shown through. "Shut up, old man! What I do is none of your business!"
"It is my business if it involves those children."
"Elder, what do you mean...?" Impa asked, her confusion evident. Sahasrahla turned to her then, his voice gentle but still slightly angry.
"Elah is a wicked spirit, similar to the Deku Tree, only of this area of the world. Long before Ganondorf came to her, offering her power, she was a greedy being, using others for her own gain. Ganondorf only offered her an easier way of toying with others' lives."
Elah threw out an arm, her anger rising. "I said shut up!"
"Angry that the Hero of Time had taken away such an easy life for her," Sahasrahla continued, now facing the blue woman before him, "she sought out a way to take her own revenge. And she found Eon. Or, I should say, she put him into play."
A burst of water cut the man off, sending him flying backwards. Elah was breathing hard, but her anger was beginning to recede. Impa glared at the woman for a second, then rushed to the elder's side, cradling his head in her arms. Zelda followed, preparing her magic to heal any injuries he may have sustained.
"Link! Link, please hurry and defeat her! I'm sorry, but I can't help you now..." Zelda's voice reached the boy on the ground, and he twitched, his arm moving slightly. Eon noticed, but didn't move. His eyes, however, stayed pinned on the green-clad boy, watching.
Why didn't he attack? Link crawled forward slowly, making no noise as he inched closer to his friend. Elah was still focusing on Sahasrahla, waiting to see how badly she'd hurt him. Eon stood before her back, watching Link move forward silently. Link smiled slightly.
If Elah wasn't looking at him, Eon wouldn't attack. A puppet cannot move without the puppeteer controlling it. With that knowledge at hand, Link crawled forward as silently as he possibly could, praying she would stay turned away until he was close enough to attack.
However, with Zelda healing the elder Hylian, Elah turned from them, her mood low. Noticing the boy wasn't in the same place as before, Elah scanned the ground before her, finding him nearly within attacking range. Biting back a cry, she jumped away, motioning for Eon to rush forward. The boy did as she commanded, not resisting. Link cried out as the naginata made a hole in the ground right beside his head, barely missing him. Some strands of hair fell to the earth, though.
"Eon! Snap out of it...!" Link rolled to the side, trying to dodge the attacks. As long as Eon didn't use the wind attacks from before, Link could easily dodge from the ground. Standing now would be almost impossible, but if he was to free the other boy, he'd need to grab hold of him to disarm him. But how could he distract a boy who couldn't hear him?
His eyes opened wide when he remembered earlier that day. The song he'd played... If Eon truly believed he was his brother, and had memories of being left behind by his family, then surely he would recognize that song! Link only needed to get far enough away to be able to play a few lines before Eon had the chance to attack.
Willing his body not to collapsed, Link rushed to his feet as Eon charged forward, the naginata pointed downwards to hit the fallen boy. Surprised when Link was no longer there, Eon was off balance enough for Link to round on him, smacking his arm and sending the weapon flying. Knowing Eon had only to call it though, Link dashed away a bit, untangling the ocarina from it's ties around his belt as he did so.
Placing the instrument to his lips at the same time he turned around, Link saw Eon advancing fast. Startled he'd recovered so quickly, Link trilled the notes, his eyes closed. This wouldn't work! The naginata would pierce his heart and he'd never free his friend! The thought that Eon would forever be under that evil woman's control hurt Link more than the thought of dying. This wouldn't be the first time his life was in danger.
The notes sounded high and clear, the tune that emerged blending with the sounds of nature. Eon faltered slightly, but kept coming. Link sighed as his body tensed, waiting for the feel of steel.
"Hush my child and close your eyes. Let the moon above sing lullabies," Link's eyes opened in surprise as the husky female voice broke through, filling the clearing. " And the gentle earth to hold you close while the stars light up your tender dreams..."
Eon stopped completely, the naginata falling from numb hands. He turned his head, ever so slightly, towards the source of the words, and saw Impa, her eyes hard with determination, standing before the princess and Sahasrahla. The Sheikah stopped her voice as the ocarina fell from Link's lips, his hands dropping to his sides in wonder. Impa knew the song from his vision! And so did Eon...
"Mother...?" Eon took a hesitant step towards Impa, his eyes not quite as cloudy as before. His hands lifted before him, trying to reach out and touch the tall woman standing in front of him.
Impa shook her head slowly. "No, I'm not anyone's mother. But I heard your real mother sing it many times, even before she ever knew she was going to have a child." Eon stopped slightly before her, and Impa knelt, her hands on his shoulders. "Try to remember, Eon. You remembered being alone, but can you remember when your mother was with you? Can you see her face?"
Eon stared straight ahead, his mouth opening and closing but no words came. Finally, he shook his head. "No..."
He jerked suddenly, his head tilting backwards at an unhealthy angle. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open as though to scream. It looked as though someone was choking him. Impa jumped forward, trying to get to the boy, but something surrounded him, allowing no one near.
"Eon!" Zelda screamed his name as Link charged forward, his eyes intent on Elah. The water spirit had her hands out before her, her fingers contracting and twisting in gruesome ways as she tried to tear the life from Eon's body. With a shout, Link jumped, the sword held above his head as he put all his power behind his swing. Elah noticed him however, and her left arm snaked out, the fingers splayed. Before Link could react, a flash of energy burst forth form her hand, hitting him in the chest, sending him flying backwards against a tree. He coughed, and it felt like his lungs were being torn to pieces and his ribs broken, but Link forced himself to stand.
"Link-kun!" Navi hovered above him, her small voice raw.
Link coughed again, feeling blood on his lips. Using the back of his hand, he wiped it away, then nodded toward the woman. "Navi-chan...how can I get to her? She'll kill him if I don't stop her..."
"I," Navi's voice faltered, and she choked back a cry. "I don't know, Link-kun! I'm so sorry, but...I can't tell anything. I'm so sorry..." Her voice trailed off at the last, and Link shook his head.
"It's ok, Navi-chan. I don't blame you. You've helped all you can. Go with Impa, try to help him from there." The small faerie nodded and flew off. Link watched her go, his eyes unfocused. A chirping noise drew his attention to the ground, where Volvagia stood beside him. "What is it, friend?"
The small dragon purred against Link's knee, then bared his teeth, facing Elah. Link blinked, confused, then took a step forward as Volvagia charged forward, towards the woman. What was the dragon thinking, attacking on his own like that...? Unless, he was trying to buy Link time...?
"No!" His own voice sounding too deep to his ears, Link rushed forward, trying to stop the small dragon from attacking. There was no way Volvagia could win!
Elah heard the cry and turned, noticing the dragon.
"So, you also choose to fight me? Foolish creature!" She once again thrust her hand out, fingers splayed, but Volvagia was faster. He jumped, his teeth latching onto her wrist, and she cried out as he bit down, drawing blood. Link slowed, not sure what to do, but a voice urged him on.
'Link, I'm sorry for what I've done. Please don't worry. This is your chance to attack her. Don't let what happened to me happen to Eon. I don't want you to face that pain again.'
The Kokiri-boy's eyes widened as Volvagia's thoughts entered his mind. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched the small dragon hang on for dear life as the water witch began to choke him with her other hand. Over near Impa, Eon had fallen to the ground, unconscious, and Zelda was healing him as fast as she could. His chest barely rose.
"Die!" Elah's shout rang through the clearing as Link sprang forward and Volvagia opened his mouth for one last attack, the fire bursting directly into the evil creature's face. Elah screamed and flung Volvagia away, the small dragon landing with a sickening thud as Link screamed, bringing the sword down to cut through Elah's shoulder, into her chest. A vision of Volvagia superimposed itself upon the woman, and Link once again felt the resistance of sinew and bone as he cut through the rough hide.
The woman's eyes widened as he watched her, the sword sunk into her body. Link hoped never to see eyes like hers again; twisted and insane, full of anger and hatred for everything. And that gaze was fixated on him. Falling to the ground alongside the evil spirit, Link's last vision was of Zelda rushing to him, her face streaked with tears.
"Where...?"
Link looked around himself, confused. He was back in that dark void, the one where Zelda and Saria had come to him. Why was he here?
"I'm sorry, Link, I really am."
Turning to face the noise, Link watched as a spark of light expanded, forming itself into a small boy with reddish hair and blue-green eyes. His youthful face smiled, and Link blinked, recognition hitting him.
"Eon...?" The boy nodded.
"Yeah. This is what my body would have looked like if I'd lived. Elah kept some features, but most of what I look like to you is something she made up."
"What do you mean?"
The real Eon smiled sadly and started to fade away. "I really am sorry. I never should have attacked you, even if I was scared. Please don't hate me, Brother."
Link's eyes widened as a surge of light blinded him, and the world spun around.
Gasping, Link sat up, the reddish-white clouds blinding him for a second. He heard a startled cry as Navi was flung from her spot on his head and another as Zelda backed away, scared. Looking about him, trying to find the one thing he cared about right then, Link noticed him lying a few feet away, not moving. Jumping to his feet, the Kokiri-boy made a mad dash towards Eon, collapsing to his knees beside the fallen boy. His chest was barely moving.
"Eon...Eon!" Sahasrahla's hand on his shoulder made Link look up, blinking back tears.
The elder shook his head. "I don't think he'll ever wake up, child. I'm sorry... When Elah died, he was still connected to her. His consciousness is lost..."
Link shook his head, biting his lip. It couldn't be true! A mewling sound made him look as Volvagia crept up to Eon, one of his legs broken. Not caring, Volvagia crawled onto Eon's chest, tears in his eyes.
"Eo...n... E...on..."
"Volvagia..." Link could barely say the name as he reached out, drawing the small dragon into his arms.
"Come. Impa, please bring Eon with us. There are some things that need to be discussed..." The tall Sheikah nodded as she bent to retrieve the fallen warrior, and Sahasrahla held Link near him as the boy stumbled, his vision too blurred to walk straight.
They made it to Sahasrahla's hut before dark, and Impa lay the small boy down on Link's bed. Immediately, Volvagia jumped onto the boy's chest, refusing to move. Barely able to stand himself, Link collapsed on the edge of the bed. Sahasrahla helped him to lie down, and Impa pulled in some chairs.
"Now, child, I know you're eager to learn, but you must calm down first," the elder silenced Link before he even opened his mouth to ask the question that most haunted his mind. When he was satisfied Link wouldn't try to move or ask anything else, Sahasrahla sat in a chair provided by Impa. The tall Sheikah stood in a corner, her arms crossed over her chest in her usual position. "You want to know if Eon is really your brother?"
Link nodded. The strange encounter in that void still bothered him.
"Your answer is yes, he really is your brother." Link sat up suddenly, and Impa was holding him down before he even heard her move. Gently pushing him back, Link lay on the bed, his eyes lidded as his heartbeat slowed. "Eon is your brother, Link, although in a way he is not..."
"What do you mean?" Navi's small voice sounded from beside the princess, sitting next to Sahasrahla.
Link lifted a hand to his forehead, wincing as he felt his bones shift. His ribs were definitely broken, although how many, he wasn't sure. "He told me..." Licking his lips, Link tried again. "I saw him, in a dream... He looked different... Said 'If I'd lived.' What...what does that mean...?"
Sahasrahla looked down at the unconscious boy, his eyes sad. "So perhaps there is hope..."
"Elder?" Impa's concerned voice floated to him from her corner. "Do you know something about this?"
"Link was visited by Eon's conscious. Did he say anything else?"
Link nodded, barely. "Yes. He said he was sorry, and that he'd been scared..." He decided to keep the "Brother" to himself. It was something he wanted to keep for himself.
"Hm... I still don't understand how Elah managed to do what she did. Could it be because of who his family was...?"
Zelda tugged on his arm, drawing the elder's attention. "You said earlier that Elah used Eon when she learned Link defeated Ganondorf. What did you mean...?"
Sahasrahla sighed. "Eon was 'born' two years ago, but his spirit has been in her care for about twelve years. Ever since he died."
"What do you mean...he died?" Zelda's face was paler than usual.
"Eon's spirit is that of a boy who would have been born into the Hero of Time's household. When he died, Elah, knowing the importance of the family, took his spirit and kept it in limbo. She fed him lies and kept him trapped there, making him relive his death over and over again. And gradually, he began to forget the real reasons behind it, and believed that he was truly left behind by his family."
"Eon..." Zelda whispered his name, her eyes downcast. Link shifted on the bed, his own feelings a jumble.
"So... Did I leave him behind? I have no recollection of anything. But earlier, he came to me, and I had a vision..." Link took a deep breath, then pushed himself up. Impa was there right away, her hands out to steady him and make him lie down. "No, let me sit. I can't breathe while I'm lying down..."
Sahasrahla frowned and placed his hand against Link's chest, his eyebrows knit together. "Child, you hide your pain well. You have two broken ribs and probably some internal bleeding. We need to get you fixed up. The stories can wait."
"No." Link's firm command stopped everyone. "No," he repeated, softer. "Not until Eon wakes up. He's going to need to be healed as well."
Sahasrahla frowned. "The boy will not be waking up, child... I'm sorry, but-"
"You said his consciousness reached me! So maybe I can bring him back! But I need to know the truth in order to do that. Please, Sahasrahla elder, please help me to save my brother." The words felt weird coming from his mouth, but also right. Link didn't want to lose anyone else.
"Very well. What did you see?"
"I saw Mother and me, lying beneath the Deku Tree. She was singing that song I played..." He trailed off, looking to Impa. She nodded, and he smiled slightly. "Then I saw Saria appear, and she took me as Mother died. Why did I see that?"
"That was one of Eon's memories. It was probably something he saw shortly after..." Sahasrahla trailed off. They'd mentioned the boy's death enough, Link was glad he didn't say it.
"So then, why did Mother never tell me about him? She never even acted like she had another son."
"Because she didn't."
Everyone looked to Sahasrahla as though he'd gone mad. "What do you mean, she didn't?" Navi's voice was the one to break the silence.
"Eon was never born, so she could never know of him."
Link stared at the elder, then his eyes widened as he remembered...
~ A rustling in the leaves beside Mikomi brought his attention back to what was happening, though, and all thoughts of the strange melody fled as Saria stepped into view. She looked the same as she always had, as she always would, with her green hair tied back with her headband and an ocarina in her hands. When Mikomi finally realized there was another presence, her song cut off instantly, and she tensed herself, cradling the baby Link to her and holding her stomach in pain. Saria knelt beside the dying woman and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, then reached around the woman to touch baby Link's head, moving some loose hair from his eyes.~
"I remember...in my vision, Mother clutched her stomach in pain..."
Sahasrahla nodded. "Yes."
"So...did Saria know as well...? She talked to Mother last..."
Again, the elder nodded. "Yes, she knew. It upset her, but she never told you of him, just as she was never allowed to tell you of Mikomi."
Link averted his gaze, watching his slumbering brother. If only Eon would open his eyes... If only he could tell him the truth...
"Now, Link, lie down." Impa's strong arms pushed him back down, and Zelda trailed the edge of the blanket over him. "You need to rest. Zelda Hime can only heal so much."
Link did as he was told, too weary to care. His eyes strayed to the inert form at the other end of the bed, but he had to avert his gaze. It was sad, to see that boy, once so full of life, barely breathing, not moving. If only Link had acted faster...
"Again...?"
Link was once again in the black void, but his question was more just to tease than out of any real anger to be there. He'd been hoping to find himself here.
"Is it so bad...? I'm rather used to it..."
Link turned and watched as the light faded into a form, and Eon sat on the ground, his legs crossed and a smile on his face.
"It's not so bad anymore though. It used to be really frightening and I'd always see really bad memories. But those are gone now. I'd rather have it just black than have those images all the time."
Link knelt down beside his brother's form, but refrained from touching his shoulder like he wanted to. He smiled sadly, and Eon looked at him.
"You don't have to stay here, though. There's a bright place with flowers and trees and sun, and there are people waiting for you to return." He recalled their conversation from that morning, where Eon had mentioned people waiting. "You don't want to disappoint them, do you?"
Eon frowned. "But...there is no one left waiting. They left a long time ago..."
Link sighed sadly, tentatively reaching out a trembling hand to touch the younger boy's shoulder. The warmth he felt flowing through the ghost body surprised him. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I didn't know, because I was too young. And she's sorry too, I'm sure." The knowledge that Mikomi never even had the chance to meet her son subdued the Kokiri-boy's heart. If only they hadn't needed to die... He felt something cool drop onto his hand, and realized vaguely that Eon was crying. Smiling again, Link continued, "But I'm here now, and I won't leave you alone again. So please, come with me?"
Eon sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "And I can play with other people? And have friends and everything? I won't be alone anymore?"
Link smiled, feeling his own tears on his cheeks. "Yeah. There are plenty of people who would love to play with you. When this is over, I'll introduce you to them."
"And Brother will be there too?"
Link was taken aback. "Well, yes, I will. I said that before, didn't I...?"
Eon smiled, wiping his tears away. "Because I watched Brother a lot from here, and he was always sad and lonely. I don't want to have fun and play if Brother can't too." His smile faded as he turned his head away. "Brother isn't...he isn't mad at me for fighting with him, is he? Because I was lonely and scared, and I thought that if I fought Brother, then it would go away. Because the scary lady said so..."
Link bit his lip, then pulled Eon to him, hugging the small boy. "No, Eon. Brother isn't mad at all."
Eon hugged him back, his voice soft. "Then Eon would like to go back home."
A burst of light filled his vision, and Link was swept away, still holding the small spirit in his arms.
He woke up to a wet cloth on his forehead. Zelda apologized as he opened his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Link. I didn't mean to wake you."
Shaking his head, Link sat up, scanning the room. Eon still lay at the other end of the bed, but his breathing seemed deeper. Zelda noticed his gaze and smiled, her hands folding in her lap as she sat down, her back against the back of the chair.
"He started breathing easier a little while ago. It seems you may have helped him after all. I guess the Hero of Time just can't take no for an answer."
Link looked at the young girl, his smile broadening. "Yeah, maybe he can't. But neither can Link." She blinked at him, and he winked. "I'm no longer the Hero of Time. I'm just a Hylian warrior now."
"No. You're anything but "just a Hylian warrior," and you know it."
He beamed at her. "Thank you, Zelda."
She smiled right back. "No problem, Link."
He looked at her, wanting to say something else but not knowing exactly what. His cheeks felt warm, but he shook his head slightly, trying to make the blush go away. "So, um, where's Impa?" He said that very fast.
Zelda bit back a laugh, but pointed towards the door. "Her and Sahasrahla elder went to make some food. You've been sleeping for the past four hours. Your wounds are healed, as are Eon's. You've both just exhausted yourselves so much over the past days, though, I never expected you to wake up today."
Link nodded. "Yeah. But it was worth it, wasn't it?" The gleam in his eye made her blink. Only boys would think anything that occurred in the past few days was fun.
He leaned back, sighed, then jumped off the bed. Stretching, he turned to face Zelda. "I mean, it wasn't so bad when you look at it." He leaned to the side, one arm over his head as he stretched out sore muscles. "I may have released a new threat to Hyrule, but I got an ally as well! And a brother. It's a really weird feeling, being a big brother..." He stopped his stretching to look at the sleeping dragon and boy, a small smile on his lips. "I wonder what big brother's do..." He turned to Zelda again. "Do we tell stories or pick on our brothers, or both? The only brothers I've ever had were the Kokiri boys, and they weren't exactly brothers." He frowned, remembering Mido. A vision of the boy sticking out his tongue at him while Link sat in a puddle of water came unbidden to his mind. "Well, I definitely won't be a brother like that," he said to himself.
Zelda giggled. "I wouldn't know, Link. I've never been a big brother."
Link laughed, putting one hand behind his head. "I guess that's true. It's still hard to believe that Zelda was Sheik..." He blushed a bit thinking about it. Link actually held Sheik in his arms, carrying the wounded boy from a fight... He idly wondered if he'd still have done that, knowing Sheik was really Zelda.
He lost his goofy grin when water splashed in his face, and an irate princess stood on the other side of the bucket. She didn't say anything, though, so Link was about to ask what was wrong when a noise from Eon made them stop.
"Uh... Huh...?"
They were by his side in an instant, and Volvagia was wide awake, his tail wagging back and forth. Eon opened his blue-green eyes, the shimmer lost as he fought for consciousness. He looked the same as always, but his eyes were those of his true soul. The small boy that was the real Eon really was not entirely gone.
"Eon, you can't move very quickly. Your body suffered greatly in the fight. Please stay still until you're fully conscious." Zelda's tender words made the boy blink, then turn his head toward the sound.
"You're real pretty. Am I in Heaven?"
Zelda blushed and Link's eye twitched slightly. "No," she said, "you're not in Heaven. But thank you for the compliment all the same..." Eon's eyes opened wide when he finally realized who was beside him, and he blushed, his entire body red.
"It's you! Zelda Hime! Wow, I don't think I ever did get a good look at you. And who's the one with the death glare? Link?"
Said boy coughed into his fist, then shook his hand out, smiling. He was not jealous. "Welcome back Eon. I see you're feeling fine."
The younger Hylian nodded. "Fine as rain. Where's the food?"
Link opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and opened it again. "I...don't know. Zelda?"
She gave him one of her looks out of the corner of her eye, but smiled at Eon. "It's being prepared. I should go and tell them that you're both awake." A chirp made her look, and she smiled, petting Volvagia under the chin. "That the three of you are awake. I'll be right back."
The three males watched the princess leave, moving only their eyes. When the door closed behind her, Eon lay back, placing his hands behind his head.
"Wow, you got a pretty little princess there, Link. Aren't we the lucky one?" He eyed his older brother out of the corner of his eye, noticing the blush creeping up the older boy's face.
"It...it's not like that!" Eon nodded, his smile taunting. "It isn't! And that's completely off subject!"
Eon blinked. "And what subject were we on...?"
Link clenched his fists, but held his temper. Letting out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding, Link dragged the chair Zelda sat on over beside Eon, sitting down.
"So you're ok now?" His tone was serious, and Eon nodded, his own look matching Link's.
"Yeah, I feel fine. A bit different, though." Link arched an eyebrow. "Well, maybe it's because she's not in the back of my mind anymore, I don't know, but I feel different. More like...how do I say this? More like a full person..."
"Strange, that's the opposite of how I feel..." Link whispered to himself, and Eon turned his head, watching.
"You say something?"
Shaking his head slowly, Link smiled sadly. "Nope. Nothing at all."
An awkward silence hung about the room, only the sound of Volvagia's tail swishing the air breaking the monotony. Finally, Eon moved slightly, bringing his arms in front of him to pet the small dragon.
"I'm sorry, Link." Noticing Link's look of surprise, Eon smiled to himself. "About making you feel so bad and everything. Trying to kill you, stuff like that..." Link smiled sadly, about to say something, but Eon continued. "I know I was just following what she told me and all, but... This new threat... I really don't see any way to defeat him. And it makes me feel terrible, because the only option I can see is one I won't ever let happen."
The Kokiri-boy shook his head again. "Don't worry about it. I know there'll be a way to win, I just have to figure out how. But I can't kill him, and I'm not about to die."
Eon smirked. "Oh? The greatest Hero of our time, and he won't give up his life for the world. Ever heard the phrase 'Die for your team?'"
Link smirked right back. "Oh yes, I remember that phrase. And since we're all on the same team right now, I'm right behind you."
The red-haired boy sputtered. "What? There's no way I'm about to just go out and die!"
"Exactly," Link teased. His expression turned serious again though. "I never said I won't die for Hyrule. But to just give up my life, that's something I won't do. I'll keep trying, and keep fighting, and if that's the only option left, then..."
A slap against his back made Link cough and nearly fall off the chair. Somehow, Eon had managed to sit up enough to be able to reach behind the sitting boy and slap him-hard. "You're way too serious for your own good, Link. Live a little before you die. Not everything is gloom and doom and destruction. There are better things in life."
His words hung in the air a bit before Link finally nodded. Eon sounded a lot like Mikomi. Idly wondering if he should tell the other boy about their mother, Eon sat up all the way, throwing the covers off. He was wearing a blue tunic, not unlike Link's, and he smiled down at himself. Turning to face Link, he nodded.
"Thank you."
Link nodded back. "I figured you'd like the color. Sorry if the style isn't to your liking though. My clothes are the only children's clothes around here, unless dresses make you more comfortable...?"
Eon's punch to the arm gave Link more than enough proof of the other boy's discontent with that line of thought. Ignoring Link then and picking the dragon up off the bed, Eon started towards the door, but stopped, his hand on the handle.
"Hey, Link?" From across the room, the other boy nodded, making up the bed. Eon turned slightly. "Would you mind... Would you mind, if I called you Brother?"
Turning only his head, Link shook his head slightly. "No, I wouldn't mind at all."
The smile that graced Eon's face made Link's heart ache. It was the same smile his spirit had given him when he confessed to watching Link from the shadows. "Yeah! Now it'll really be fun, won't it? Everything will be all right!" He laughed happily as he opened the door and ran down the hall, his whoops of joy startling the others. Link heard Impa's cry of alarm, but didn't dwell on what Eon could have done to her to make that sound.
Settling the covers back on the bed, Link patted the pillow, then looked up to the ceiling.
"Yeah...everything will be all right..."
LINK NO MIKO'S LITTLE CORNER OF TALKINGNESS
Woow, look how close these updates are! I wrote this chapter in like...two days. And I'm satisfied with it, too. Maybe I'm just getting less picky, who knows... Oh, and notice my lovely little Link/Zelda? Teehee. Am I fan of Link/Zelda? Yes indeedy. I think they are a lovely pair (just no hentai...nonono). Will this become a Link/Zelda ficcie? No. Sorry to anyone who was hoping, but....no.
Anywho, I mentioned this before in a review box, but I think I will again, in case no one saw it. One, about the way I wrote Zelda when talking of the Japanese manga.
Tenshi-chan: Yeah, I know it's supposed to be Zeruda, and I'm sorry if it threw you off that I wrote it Zelda. There are two reasons for this. 1) I'm lazy. Extremely so. 2) Zeruda looks very very wrong to me. Again, if you read this in a review box, sorry for the reiteration.
The second piece of answering-stuff is in another review box, like...right after that one.
Phoenix of The Glade, Dragon of the Surf: Where did I get my manga? I got mine off Ebay. Both my OoT manga (a set) and my Link to the Past 4-KOMA doujinshi I got off Ebay (actually, thanks to my friend Rachael, I got the 4-KOMA thing. Thanks Rae-chan!) My MM manga I got from Otakon. I'm not really sure where you can get it. According to the site that translates the manga, you can buy them at www.kinokuniya.com, under "store locations." Check this link http://www.bsu.edu/web/agscherer/zeldaindex.html to find out more. Hehe, you had a few questions... You asked about Elah, and she was explained in this chapter, hopefully enough to answer your questions. If you still want to know more, feel free to email me. And no, the masks will not be in this fic, and Link's origins...I'm not sure what you meant by that...
Well. I hope I answered peoples' questions okees. On a different note. I read the first chapter of Majora's Mask and I have an urge, a desperate urge, to start a game. Why can't I have the right hookup cables? Whyyyy? Need go buy, now, so N64 work, yesss... I still have my reservations, but... And on another note, LINK NO MIKO NEEDS A GAMECUBE. She's going to preorder Zelda, that she is, oh yes indeedy. She's sure she'll have the game before the GC, but oh well.
Sigh... I'm too hyper, that I am. And I'm speaking like Kenshin again, and that's...is that bad? Dunno. But I'm eagerly awaiting my next instalment of Angel Sanctuary. Ahh, Setsuna. You poor, poor soul...
That...was so random...
The naginata barely missed his chest. Link recovered fast enough to dodge, but he wasn't sure about the next attack. The sword Elah gave him was still attached to his hand, and froze every time he thought of releasing it. His fingers were slowly turning blue, and he wondered if the sword would become a part of his hand if he didn't release it soon. With that occupying his mind, as well as this new revelation, Link knew he couldn't handle this battle.
Eon is...my brother? But how? This can't be true, it can't! Mother would have mentioned another child! She would have told me I had a brother! Another pass with the naginata made Link do a back flip, expertly parrying the blade with his own. Eon jumped back as well, figuring an attack from a different angle. No, she's lying to me. She's putting me at a disadvantage, knowing that telling me something like that will make me off balance. That thought in itself made Link's anger surge, seething through him. How dare she use Eon like that! How dare she keep torturing him like that!
Beside him, Volvagia was growling as well, the hair between his horns lifting as his energy made the air swirl about him. The small dragon would not forgive the blue woman, either.
Elah laughed from her place slightly behind Eon. "You really don't believe me, do you?"
Link spared her a quick glance, not wanting to lose sight of his opponent. If only he could attack her! She couldn't control Eon if she wasn't there...
"You're thinking of killing me now? Not very innocent anymore, are we? First you kill your friend, then you agree to kill your only brother. How could such an evil little boy become the Hero of Time?"
Link growled, his eyes narrowing in hatred, but Zelda's voice brought him back, filled with worry and fear. "Link, don't listen to her! She's just an evil spirit, you can't take anything she says to heart! Please don't become what Dark Link did..."
Link smiled lopsidedly and nodded, a small sigh escaping. "You're right Zelda. No matter what she says or how she tries to taunt me, I know I'm still myself."
Zelda sighed in relief as the tension left Link's aura, and she leaned against Impa. Sahasrahla looked at her, his expression pained.
"Did I do something wrong?"
The old man shook his head. "No, you didn't child. But you may have judged someone wrong..."
Zelda blinked at him, confused, but the clash of metal on metal drew her attention back to the battle at hand.
Eon attacked again, the blade of the naginata pinning Link's sword to the ground. Gritting his teeth, Link was trying to free himself when a knee came up, smashing into his gut, sending him flying backwards as Eon released the sword at the same time. Gasping and trying to catch his breath, he felt the shadow as Eon stood above him, the naginata held loosely by his side.
"E...Eon... Please stop this... I don't know what she told you, but you don't need to do this..." Link tried to stand but Eon moved faster, his fist connecting with the other boy's chest. Link collapsed against Eon's arm, then fell to the ground as his support drew away. Navi hovered above him, out of reach of Eon. She didn't fit into this fight.
The red-haired boy said nothing, and Link was beginning to wonder if he even heard anything. "E...Elah...what did you do to him? Why doesn't he hear me?"
Elah shrugged. "I've done nothing to him. If he doesn't hear you, it's because he doesn't want to. Simple as that."
Link coughed, managing to make it to his hands and knees. "You fill his head with lies and then say you did nothing to him? What kind of monster are you?!" Anger giving him strength, Link moved suddenly, rolling to the side and then to his knees, the sword dragging through the ground as he brought it up against the staff of the naginata. Kicking his feet out from under him, Link smashed into Eon's ankles, bringing the other boy down as he himself rolled onto his feet. Breathing heavily, Link charged Elah, his eyes ice blue.
Pain brought him down a few feet from his target. Screaming out, Link collapsed, dust flying about him, as Eon removed the naginata from his calf, walking calmly to block Elah from the boy lying on the ground in pain. Zelda yelled out his name, and would have run to him had Impa not held her back. The princess was openly crying, her arms reaching out, trying to protect her friend.
Sahasrahla also took a step forward, his mouth set in a hard line and the muscles of his jaw tight. "This is enough. Stop playing with these children, now. You don't need to use innocent souls to get your own revenge against the Hero of Time."
Elah glared at him, her face losing some of its beauty as her hatred shown through. "Shut up, old man! What I do is none of your business!"
"It is my business if it involves those children."
"Elder, what do you mean...?" Impa asked, her confusion evident. Sahasrahla turned to her then, his voice gentle but still slightly angry.
"Elah is a wicked spirit, similar to the Deku Tree, only of this area of the world. Long before Ganondorf came to her, offering her power, she was a greedy being, using others for her own gain. Ganondorf only offered her an easier way of toying with others' lives."
Elah threw out an arm, her anger rising. "I said shut up!"
"Angry that the Hero of Time had taken away such an easy life for her," Sahasrahla continued, now facing the blue woman before him, "she sought out a way to take her own revenge. And she found Eon. Or, I should say, she put him into play."
A burst of water cut the man off, sending him flying backwards. Elah was breathing hard, but her anger was beginning to recede. Impa glared at the woman for a second, then rushed to the elder's side, cradling his head in her arms. Zelda followed, preparing her magic to heal any injuries he may have sustained.
"Link! Link, please hurry and defeat her! I'm sorry, but I can't help you now..." Zelda's voice reached the boy on the ground, and he twitched, his arm moving slightly. Eon noticed, but didn't move. His eyes, however, stayed pinned on the green-clad boy, watching.
Why didn't he attack? Link crawled forward slowly, making no noise as he inched closer to his friend. Elah was still focusing on Sahasrahla, waiting to see how badly she'd hurt him. Eon stood before her back, watching Link move forward silently. Link smiled slightly.
If Elah wasn't looking at him, Eon wouldn't attack. A puppet cannot move without the puppeteer controlling it. With that knowledge at hand, Link crawled forward as silently as he possibly could, praying she would stay turned away until he was close enough to attack.
However, with Zelda healing the elder Hylian, Elah turned from them, her mood low. Noticing the boy wasn't in the same place as before, Elah scanned the ground before her, finding him nearly within attacking range. Biting back a cry, she jumped away, motioning for Eon to rush forward. The boy did as she commanded, not resisting. Link cried out as the naginata made a hole in the ground right beside his head, barely missing him. Some strands of hair fell to the earth, though.
"Eon! Snap out of it...!" Link rolled to the side, trying to dodge the attacks. As long as Eon didn't use the wind attacks from before, Link could easily dodge from the ground. Standing now would be almost impossible, but if he was to free the other boy, he'd need to grab hold of him to disarm him. But how could he distract a boy who couldn't hear him?
His eyes opened wide when he remembered earlier that day. The song he'd played... If Eon truly believed he was his brother, and had memories of being left behind by his family, then surely he would recognize that song! Link only needed to get far enough away to be able to play a few lines before Eon had the chance to attack.
Willing his body not to collapsed, Link rushed to his feet as Eon charged forward, the naginata pointed downwards to hit the fallen boy. Surprised when Link was no longer there, Eon was off balance enough for Link to round on him, smacking his arm and sending the weapon flying. Knowing Eon had only to call it though, Link dashed away a bit, untangling the ocarina from it's ties around his belt as he did so.
Placing the instrument to his lips at the same time he turned around, Link saw Eon advancing fast. Startled he'd recovered so quickly, Link trilled the notes, his eyes closed. This wouldn't work! The naginata would pierce his heart and he'd never free his friend! The thought that Eon would forever be under that evil woman's control hurt Link more than the thought of dying. This wouldn't be the first time his life was in danger.
The notes sounded high and clear, the tune that emerged blending with the sounds of nature. Eon faltered slightly, but kept coming. Link sighed as his body tensed, waiting for the feel of steel.
"Hush my child and close your eyes. Let the moon above sing lullabies," Link's eyes opened in surprise as the husky female voice broke through, filling the clearing. " And the gentle earth to hold you close while the stars light up your tender dreams..."
Eon stopped completely, the naginata falling from numb hands. He turned his head, ever so slightly, towards the source of the words, and saw Impa, her eyes hard with determination, standing before the princess and Sahasrahla. The Sheikah stopped her voice as the ocarina fell from Link's lips, his hands dropping to his sides in wonder. Impa knew the song from his vision! And so did Eon...
"Mother...?" Eon took a hesitant step towards Impa, his eyes not quite as cloudy as before. His hands lifted before him, trying to reach out and touch the tall woman standing in front of him.
Impa shook her head slowly. "No, I'm not anyone's mother. But I heard your real mother sing it many times, even before she ever knew she was going to have a child." Eon stopped slightly before her, and Impa knelt, her hands on his shoulders. "Try to remember, Eon. You remembered being alone, but can you remember when your mother was with you? Can you see her face?"
Eon stared straight ahead, his mouth opening and closing but no words came. Finally, he shook his head. "No..."
He jerked suddenly, his head tilting backwards at an unhealthy angle. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open as though to scream. It looked as though someone was choking him. Impa jumped forward, trying to get to the boy, but something surrounded him, allowing no one near.
"Eon!" Zelda screamed his name as Link charged forward, his eyes intent on Elah. The water spirit had her hands out before her, her fingers contracting and twisting in gruesome ways as she tried to tear the life from Eon's body. With a shout, Link jumped, the sword held above his head as he put all his power behind his swing. Elah noticed him however, and her left arm snaked out, the fingers splayed. Before Link could react, a flash of energy burst forth form her hand, hitting him in the chest, sending him flying backwards against a tree. He coughed, and it felt like his lungs were being torn to pieces and his ribs broken, but Link forced himself to stand.
"Link-kun!" Navi hovered above him, her small voice raw.
Link coughed again, feeling blood on his lips. Using the back of his hand, he wiped it away, then nodded toward the woman. "Navi-chan...how can I get to her? She'll kill him if I don't stop her..."
"I," Navi's voice faltered, and she choked back a cry. "I don't know, Link-kun! I'm so sorry, but...I can't tell anything. I'm so sorry..." Her voice trailed off at the last, and Link shook his head.
"It's ok, Navi-chan. I don't blame you. You've helped all you can. Go with Impa, try to help him from there." The small faerie nodded and flew off. Link watched her go, his eyes unfocused. A chirping noise drew his attention to the ground, where Volvagia stood beside him. "What is it, friend?"
The small dragon purred against Link's knee, then bared his teeth, facing Elah. Link blinked, confused, then took a step forward as Volvagia charged forward, towards the woman. What was the dragon thinking, attacking on his own like that...? Unless, he was trying to buy Link time...?
"No!" His own voice sounding too deep to his ears, Link rushed forward, trying to stop the small dragon from attacking. There was no way Volvagia could win!
Elah heard the cry and turned, noticing the dragon.
"So, you also choose to fight me? Foolish creature!" She once again thrust her hand out, fingers splayed, but Volvagia was faster. He jumped, his teeth latching onto her wrist, and she cried out as he bit down, drawing blood. Link slowed, not sure what to do, but a voice urged him on.
'Link, I'm sorry for what I've done. Please don't worry. This is your chance to attack her. Don't let what happened to me happen to Eon. I don't want you to face that pain again.'
The Kokiri-boy's eyes widened as Volvagia's thoughts entered his mind. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched the small dragon hang on for dear life as the water witch began to choke him with her other hand. Over near Impa, Eon had fallen to the ground, unconscious, and Zelda was healing him as fast as she could. His chest barely rose.
"Die!" Elah's shout rang through the clearing as Link sprang forward and Volvagia opened his mouth for one last attack, the fire bursting directly into the evil creature's face. Elah screamed and flung Volvagia away, the small dragon landing with a sickening thud as Link screamed, bringing the sword down to cut through Elah's shoulder, into her chest. A vision of Volvagia superimposed itself upon the woman, and Link once again felt the resistance of sinew and bone as he cut through the rough hide.
The woman's eyes widened as he watched her, the sword sunk into her body. Link hoped never to see eyes like hers again; twisted and insane, full of anger and hatred for everything. And that gaze was fixated on him. Falling to the ground alongside the evil spirit, Link's last vision was of Zelda rushing to him, her face streaked with tears.
"Where...?"
Link looked around himself, confused. He was back in that dark void, the one where Zelda and Saria had come to him. Why was he here?
"I'm sorry, Link, I really am."
Turning to face the noise, Link watched as a spark of light expanded, forming itself into a small boy with reddish hair and blue-green eyes. His youthful face smiled, and Link blinked, recognition hitting him.
"Eon...?" The boy nodded.
"Yeah. This is what my body would have looked like if I'd lived. Elah kept some features, but most of what I look like to you is something she made up."
"What do you mean?"
The real Eon smiled sadly and started to fade away. "I really am sorry. I never should have attacked you, even if I was scared. Please don't hate me, Brother."
Link's eyes widened as a surge of light blinded him, and the world spun around.
Gasping, Link sat up, the reddish-white clouds blinding him for a second. He heard a startled cry as Navi was flung from her spot on his head and another as Zelda backed away, scared. Looking about him, trying to find the one thing he cared about right then, Link noticed him lying a few feet away, not moving. Jumping to his feet, the Kokiri-boy made a mad dash towards Eon, collapsing to his knees beside the fallen boy. His chest was barely moving.
"Eon...Eon!" Sahasrahla's hand on his shoulder made Link look up, blinking back tears.
The elder shook his head. "I don't think he'll ever wake up, child. I'm sorry... When Elah died, he was still connected to her. His consciousness is lost..."
Link shook his head, biting his lip. It couldn't be true! A mewling sound made him look as Volvagia crept up to Eon, one of his legs broken. Not caring, Volvagia crawled onto Eon's chest, tears in his eyes.
"Eo...n... E...on..."
"Volvagia..." Link could barely say the name as he reached out, drawing the small dragon into his arms.
"Come. Impa, please bring Eon with us. There are some things that need to be discussed..." The tall Sheikah nodded as she bent to retrieve the fallen warrior, and Sahasrahla held Link near him as the boy stumbled, his vision too blurred to walk straight.
They made it to Sahasrahla's hut before dark, and Impa lay the small boy down on Link's bed. Immediately, Volvagia jumped onto the boy's chest, refusing to move. Barely able to stand himself, Link collapsed on the edge of the bed. Sahasrahla helped him to lie down, and Impa pulled in some chairs.
"Now, child, I know you're eager to learn, but you must calm down first," the elder silenced Link before he even opened his mouth to ask the question that most haunted his mind. When he was satisfied Link wouldn't try to move or ask anything else, Sahasrahla sat in a chair provided by Impa. The tall Sheikah stood in a corner, her arms crossed over her chest in her usual position. "You want to know if Eon is really your brother?"
Link nodded. The strange encounter in that void still bothered him.
"Your answer is yes, he really is your brother." Link sat up suddenly, and Impa was holding him down before he even heard her move. Gently pushing him back, Link lay on the bed, his eyes lidded as his heartbeat slowed. "Eon is your brother, Link, although in a way he is not..."
"What do you mean?" Navi's small voice sounded from beside the princess, sitting next to Sahasrahla.
Link lifted a hand to his forehead, wincing as he felt his bones shift. His ribs were definitely broken, although how many, he wasn't sure. "He told me..." Licking his lips, Link tried again. "I saw him, in a dream... He looked different... Said 'If I'd lived.' What...what does that mean...?"
Sahasrahla looked down at the unconscious boy, his eyes sad. "So perhaps there is hope..."
"Elder?" Impa's concerned voice floated to him from her corner. "Do you know something about this?"
"Link was visited by Eon's conscious. Did he say anything else?"
Link nodded, barely. "Yes. He said he was sorry, and that he'd been scared..." He decided to keep the "Brother" to himself. It was something he wanted to keep for himself.
"Hm... I still don't understand how Elah managed to do what she did. Could it be because of who his family was...?"
Zelda tugged on his arm, drawing the elder's attention. "You said earlier that Elah used Eon when she learned Link defeated Ganondorf. What did you mean...?"
Sahasrahla sighed. "Eon was 'born' two years ago, but his spirit has been in her care for about twelve years. Ever since he died."
"What do you mean...he died?" Zelda's face was paler than usual.
"Eon's spirit is that of a boy who would have been born into the Hero of Time's household. When he died, Elah, knowing the importance of the family, took his spirit and kept it in limbo. She fed him lies and kept him trapped there, making him relive his death over and over again. And gradually, he began to forget the real reasons behind it, and believed that he was truly left behind by his family."
"Eon..." Zelda whispered his name, her eyes downcast. Link shifted on the bed, his own feelings a jumble.
"So... Did I leave him behind? I have no recollection of anything. But earlier, he came to me, and I had a vision..." Link took a deep breath, then pushed himself up. Impa was there right away, her hands out to steady him and make him lie down. "No, let me sit. I can't breathe while I'm lying down..."
Sahasrahla frowned and placed his hand against Link's chest, his eyebrows knit together. "Child, you hide your pain well. You have two broken ribs and probably some internal bleeding. We need to get you fixed up. The stories can wait."
"No." Link's firm command stopped everyone. "No," he repeated, softer. "Not until Eon wakes up. He's going to need to be healed as well."
Sahasrahla frowned. "The boy will not be waking up, child... I'm sorry, but-"
"You said his consciousness reached me! So maybe I can bring him back! But I need to know the truth in order to do that. Please, Sahasrahla elder, please help me to save my brother." The words felt weird coming from his mouth, but also right. Link didn't want to lose anyone else.
"Very well. What did you see?"
"I saw Mother and me, lying beneath the Deku Tree. She was singing that song I played..." He trailed off, looking to Impa. She nodded, and he smiled slightly. "Then I saw Saria appear, and she took me as Mother died. Why did I see that?"
"That was one of Eon's memories. It was probably something he saw shortly after..." Sahasrahla trailed off. They'd mentioned the boy's death enough, Link was glad he didn't say it.
"So then, why did Mother never tell me about him? She never even acted like she had another son."
"Because she didn't."
Everyone looked to Sahasrahla as though he'd gone mad. "What do you mean, she didn't?" Navi's voice was the one to break the silence.
"Eon was never born, so she could never know of him."
Link stared at the elder, then his eyes widened as he remembered...
~ A rustling in the leaves beside Mikomi brought his attention back to what was happening, though, and all thoughts of the strange melody fled as Saria stepped into view. She looked the same as she always had, as she always would, with her green hair tied back with her headband and an ocarina in her hands. When Mikomi finally realized there was another presence, her song cut off instantly, and she tensed herself, cradling the baby Link to her and holding her stomach in pain. Saria knelt beside the dying woman and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, then reached around the woman to touch baby Link's head, moving some loose hair from his eyes.~
"I remember...in my vision, Mother clutched her stomach in pain..."
Sahasrahla nodded. "Yes."
"So...did Saria know as well...? She talked to Mother last..."
Again, the elder nodded. "Yes, she knew. It upset her, but she never told you of him, just as she was never allowed to tell you of Mikomi."
Link averted his gaze, watching his slumbering brother. If only Eon would open his eyes... If only he could tell him the truth...
"Now, Link, lie down." Impa's strong arms pushed him back down, and Zelda trailed the edge of the blanket over him. "You need to rest. Zelda Hime can only heal so much."
Link did as he was told, too weary to care. His eyes strayed to the inert form at the other end of the bed, but he had to avert his gaze. It was sad, to see that boy, once so full of life, barely breathing, not moving. If only Link had acted faster...
"Again...?"
Link was once again in the black void, but his question was more just to tease than out of any real anger to be there. He'd been hoping to find himself here.
"Is it so bad...? I'm rather used to it..."
Link turned and watched as the light faded into a form, and Eon sat on the ground, his legs crossed and a smile on his face.
"It's not so bad anymore though. It used to be really frightening and I'd always see really bad memories. But those are gone now. I'd rather have it just black than have those images all the time."
Link knelt down beside his brother's form, but refrained from touching his shoulder like he wanted to. He smiled sadly, and Eon looked at him.
"You don't have to stay here, though. There's a bright place with flowers and trees and sun, and there are people waiting for you to return." He recalled their conversation from that morning, where Eon had mentioned people waiting. "You don't want to disappoint them, do you?"
Eon frowned. "But...there is no one left waiting. They left a long time ago..."
Link sighed sadly, tentatively reaching out a trembling hand to touch the younger boy's shoulder. The warmth he felt flowing through the ghost body surprised him. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I didn't know, because I was too young. And she's sorry too, I'm sure." The knowledge that Mikomi never even had the chance to meet her son subdued the Kokiri-boy's heart. If only they hadn't needed to die... He felt something cool drop onto his hand, and realized vaguely that Eon was crying. Smiling again, Link continued, "But I'm here now, and I won't leave you alone again. So please, come with me?"
Eon sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "And I can play with other people? And have friends and everything? I won't be alone anymore?"
Link smiled, feeling his own tears on his cheeks. "Yeah. There are plenty of people who would love to play with you. When this is over, I'll introduce you to them."
"And Brother will be there too?"
Link was taken aback. "Well, yes, I will. I said that before, didn't I...?"
Eon smiled, wiping his tears away. "Because I watched Brother a lot from here, and he was always sad and lonely. I don't want to have fun and play if Brother can't too." His smile faded as he turned his head away. "Brother isn't...he isn't mad at me for fighting with him, is he? Because I was lonely and scared, and I thought that if I fought Brother, then it would go away. Because the scary lady said so..."
Link bit his lip, then pulled Eon to him, hugging the small boy. "No, Eon. Brother isn't mad at all."
Eon hugged him back, his voice soft. "Then Eon would like to go back home."
A burst of light filled his vision, and Link was swept away, still holding the small spirit in his arms.
He woke up to a wet cloth on his forehead. Zelda apologized as he opened his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Link. I didn't mean to wake you."
Shaking his head, Link sat up, scanning the room. Eon still lay at the other end of the bed, but his breathing seemed deeper. Zelda noticed his gaze and smiled, her hands folding in her lap as she sat down, her back against the back of the chair.
"He started breathing easier a little while ago. It seems you may have helped him after all. I guess the Hero of Time just can't take no for an answer."
Link looked at the young girl, his smile broadening. "Yeah, maybe he can't. But neither can Link." She blinked at him, and he winked. "I'm no longer the Hero of Time. I'm just a Hylian warrior now."
"No. You're anything but "just a Hylian warrior," and you know it."
He beamed at her. "Thank you, Zelda."
She smiled right back. "No problem, Link."
He looked at her, wanting to say something else but not knowing exactly what. His cheeks felt warm, but he shook his head slightly, trying to make the blush go away. "So, um, where's Impa?" He said that very fast.
Zelda bit back a laugh, but pointed towards the door. "Her and Sahasrahla elder went to make some food. You've been sleeping for the past four hours. Your wounds are healed, as are Eon's. You've both just exhausted yourselves so much over the past days, though, I never expected you to wake up today."
Link nodded. "Yeah. But it was worth it, wasn't it?" The gleam in his eye made her blink. Only boys would think anything that occurred in the past few days was fun.
He leaned back, sighed, then jumped off the bed. Stretching, he turned to face Zelda. "I mean, it wasn't so bad when you look at it." He leaned to the side, one arm over his head as he stretched out sore muscles. "I may have released a new threat to Hyrule, but I got an ally as well! And a brother. It's a really weird feeling, being a big brother..." He stopped his stretching to look at the sleeping dragon and boy, a small smile on his lips. "I wonder what big brother's do..." He turned to Zelda again. "Do we tell stories or pick on our brothers, or both? The only brothers I've ever had were the Kokiri boys, and they weren't exactly brothers." He frowned, remembering Mido. A vision of the boy sticking out his tongue at him while Link sat in a puddle of water came unbidden to his mind. "Well, I definitely won't be a brother like that," he said to himself.
Zelda giggled. "I wouldn't know, Link. I've never been a big brother."
Link laughed, putting one hand behind his head. "I guess that's true. It's still hard to believe that Zelda was Sheik..." He blushed a bit thinking about it. Link actually held Sheik in his arms, carrying the wounded boy from a fight... He idly wondered if he'd still have done that, knowing Sheik was really Zelda.
He lost his goofy grin when water splashed in his face, and an irate princess stood on the other side of the bucket. She didn't say anything, though, so Link was about to ask what was wrong when a noise from Eon made them stop.
"Uh... Huh...?"
They were by his side in an instant, and Volvagia was wide awake, his tail wagging back and forth. Eon opened his blue-green eyes, the shimmer lost as he fought for consciousness. He looked the same as always, but his eyes were those of his true soul. The small boy that was the real Eon really was not entirely gone.
"Eon, you can't move very quickly. Your body suffered greatly in the fight. Please stay still until you're fully conscious." Zelda's tender words made the boy blink, then turn his head toward the sound.
"You're real pretty. Am I in Heaven?"
Zelda blushed and Link's eye twitched slightly. "No," she said, "you're not in Heaven. But thank you for the compliment all the same..." Eon's eyes opened wide when he finally realized who was beside him, and he blushed, his entire body red.
"It's you! Zelda Hime! Wow, I don't think I ever did get a good look at you. And who's the one with the death glare? Link?"
Said boy coughed into his fist, then shook his hand out, smiling. He was not jealous. "Welcome back Eon. I see you're feeling fine."
The younger Hylian nodded. "Fine as rain. Where's the food?"
Link opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and opened it again. "I...don't know. Zelda?"
She gave him one of her looks out of the corner of her eye, but smiled at Eon. "It's being prepared. I should go and tell them that you're both awake." A chirp made her look, and she smiled, petting Volvagia under the chin. "That the three of you are awake. I'll be right back."
The three males watched the princess leave, moving only their eyes. When the door closed behind her, Eon lay back, placing his hands behind his head.
"Wow, you got a pretty little princess there, Link. Aren't we the lucky one?" He eyed his older brother out of the corner of his eye, noticing the blush creeping up the older boy's face.
"It...it's not like that!" Eon nodded, his smile taunting. "It isn't! And that's completely off subject!"
Eon blinked. "And what subject were we on...?"
Link clenched his fists, but held his temper. Letting out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding, Link dragged the chair Zelda sat on over beside Eon, sitting down.
"So you're ok now?" His tone was serious, and Eon nodded, his own look matching Link's.
"Yeah, I feel fine. A bit different, though." Link arched an eyebrow. "Well, maybe it's because she's not in the back of my mind anymore, I don't know, but I feel different. More like...how do I say this? More like a full person..."
"Strange, that's the opposite of how I feel..." Link whispered to himself, and Eon turned his head, watching.
"You say something?"
Shaking his head slowly, Link smiled sadly. "Nope. Nothing at all."
An awkward silence hung about the room, only the sound of Volvagia's tail swishing the air breaking the monotony. Finally, Eon moved slightly, bringing his arms in front of him to pet the small dragon.
"I'm sorry, Link." Noticing Link's look of surprise, Eon smiled to himself. "About making you feel so bad and everything. Trying to kill you, stuff like that..." Link smiled sadly, about to say something, but Eon continued. "I know I was just following what she told me and all, but... This new threat... I really don't see any way to defeat him. And it makes me feel terrible, because the only option I can see is one I won't ever let happen."
The Kokiri-boy shook his head again. "Don't worry about it. I know there'll be a way to win, I just have to figure out how. But I can't kill him, and I'm not about to die."
Eon smirked. "Oh? The greatest Hero of our time, and he won't give up his life for the world. Ever heard the phrase 'Die for your team?'"
Link smirked right back. "Oh yes, I remember that phrase. And since we're all on the same team right now, I'm right behind you."
The red-haired boy sputtered. "What? There's no way I'm about to just go out and die!"
"Exactly," Link teased. His expression turned serious again though. "I never said I won't die for Hyrule. But to just give up my life, that's something I won't do. I'll keep trying, and keep fighting, and if that's the only option left, then..."
A slap against his back made Link cough and nearly fall off the chair. Somehow, Eon had managed to sit up enough to be able to reach behind the sitting boy and slap him-hard. "You're way too serious for your own good, Link. Live a little before you die. Not everything is gloom and doom and destruction. There are better things in life."
His words hung in the air a bit before Link finally nodded. Eon sounded a lot like Mikomi. Idly wondering if he should tell the other boy about their mother, Eon sat up all the way, throwing the covers off. He was wearing a blue tunic, not unlike Link's, and he smiled down at himself. Turning to face Link, he nodded.
"Thank you."
Link nodded back. "I figured you'd like the color. Sorry if the style isn't to your liking though. My clothes are the only children's clothes around here, unless dresses make you more comfortable...?"
Eon's punch to the arm gave Link more than enough proof of the other boy's discontent with that line of thought. Ignoring Link then and picking the dragon up off the bed, Eon started towards the door, but stopped, his hand on the handle.
"Hey, Link?" From across the room, the other boy nodded, making up the bed. Eon turned slightly. "Would you mind... Would you mind, if I called you Brother?"
Turning only his head, Link shook his head slightly. "No, I wouldn't mind at all."
The smile that graced Eon's face made Link's heart ache. It was the same smile his spirit had given him when he confessed to watching Link from the shadows. "Yeah! Now it'll really be fun, won't it? Everything will be all right!" He laughed happily as he opened the door and ran down the hall, his whoops of joy startling the others. Link heard Impa's cry of alarm, but didn't dwell on what Eon could have done to her to make that sound.
Settling the covers back on the bed, Link patted the pillow, then looked up to the ceiling.
"Yeah...everything will be all right..."
LINK NO MIKO'S LITTLE CORNER OF TALKINGNESS
Woow, look how close these updates are! I wrote this chapter in like...two days. And I'm satisfied with it, too. Maybe I'm just getting less picky, who knows... Oh, and notice my lovely little Link/Zelda? Teehee. Am I fan of Link/Zelda? Yes indeedy. I think they are a lovely pair (just no hentai...nonono). Will this become a Link/Zelda ficcie? No. Sorry to anyone who was hoping, but....no.
Anywho, I mentioned this before in a review box, but I think I will again, in case no one saw it. One, about the way I wrote Zelda when talking of the Japanese manga.
Tenshi-chan: Yeah, I know it's supposed to be Zeruda, and I'm sorry if it threw you off that I wrote it Zelda. There are two reasons for this. 1) I'm lazy. Extremely so. 2) Zeruda looks very very wrong to me. Again, if you read this in a review box, sorry for the reiteration.
The second piece of answering-stuff is in another review box, like...right after that one.
Phoenix of The Glade, Dragon of the Surf: Where did I get my manga? I got mine off Ebay. Both my OoT manga (a set) and my Link to the Past 4-KOMA doujinshi I got off Ebay (actually, thanks to my friend Rachael, I got the 4-KOMA thing. Thanks Rae-chan!) My MM manga I got from Otakon. I'm not really sure where you can get it. According to the site that translates the manga, you can buy them at www.kinokuniya.com, under "store locations." Check this link http://www.bsu.edu/web/agscherer/zeldaindex.html to find out more. Hehe, you had a few questions... You asked about Elah, and she was explained in this chapter, hopefully enough to answer your questions. If you still want to know more, feel free to email me. And no, the masks will not be in this fic, and Link's origins...I'm not sure what you meant by that...
Well. I hope I answered peoples' questions okees. On a different note. I read the first chapter of Majora's Mask and I have an urge, a desperate urge, to start a game. Why can't I have the right hookup cables? Whyyyy? Need go buy, now, so N64 work, yesss... I still have my reservations, but... And on another note, LINK NO MIKO NEEDS A GAMECUBE. She's going to preorder Zelda, that she is, oh yes indeedy. She's sure she'll have the game before the GC, but oh well.
Sigh... I'm too hyper, that I am. And I'm speaking like Kenshin again, and that's...is that bad? Dunno. But I'm eagerly awaiting my next instalment of Angel Sanctuary. Ahh, Setsuna. You poor, poor soul...
That...was so random...
