An Assorted Collection of One-Shots

By: Midnight*Starfire

By request I wrote this one, thank you for your request the dark eyed one. I hope you like this!

Genre: Angst

Rating: hmmm let's see PG-13 I guess. R might be too high. I don't know PG-13 could even be high.

Notes: This story doesn't really have a pairing...it's open to interpretation.

Warning: Somewhat dark, depressing writing ahead. Not like what I usually write.

Disclaimer: Still do not own anything about the LOZ!

Assorted One Shot # 2


Sweet Misery, A Hero's Homecoming


Time passes in the blink of an eye, and what once was, is no more. You can never go back and you can never stop the flow of time. Life is ephemeral to all mortals, and all will eventually feel the wrath of time and it's effects on those consumed by it.

When I arrived it was raining, the skies seemed to be crying. Crying for the lost hope within the land, crying for the devastation that has taken hold on a once beautiful and prosperous country. I had no intentions of letting them be defeated, I wished no one an ill fate. And as I returned to my home land I was disgraced to see what lied before me. My home land in ruins, destroyed by it's own fate. A fate I could have prevented, but I selfishly left in search of an old friend. I was unsuccessful in my endeavors, and in all those years I did not accomplish my first goal. All I succeeded in doing was getting lost along the way. Now I look upon the vast destruction wondering about the survivors. I owe it to the people, to check each area of Hyrule to seek out survivors. Perhaps destiny found some fortunate, however the ominous sky does not reflect that. This deep sense of dread and this dark foreboding feeling I have will not dissipate. I should not trust my optimism.

First I traveled to the Kokiri Forest, my childhood home. I braced my self for the despair I was to see, but even assuming the worst did not prepare me for what I saw. The grove in which all the tree houses had been built was leveled, and there was none in sight. The green had decayed and turned into a murky brown and no vegetation thrived. I ran quickly to the Sacred Forest Meadow, in search of a certain clover haired friend. On my way I encountered several new hideous monsters that I had to defeat. And once in the clearing I was shocked ....

There in the clearing before the entrance to the temple stood rows of epitaphs , each marked with the name of several Kokiris I knew as a child. A scraggly haired boy, worn and beaten, knelt before a grave in the far back. I collected myself and walked forward to the boy, and I was surprised when I saw his face. He turned to me, fresh tears still staining his face, and gave me a look of purest loathing that sent a chill down my spine. "What a hero you ended up being!" he growled.

He knew me.

And I knew him.

It was Mido, an enemy of mine all throughout my childhood. He taunted me and ridiculed me because I was "the boy without a fairy". How ironic that I am once again alone. Sobs racked the boy's body, "She waited for you, you know. She believed you would come back. She said the Hero of Time will save us, have faith. But you did not come!" The boy leaned forward and traced the inscribed words, Saria upon the tomb.

If my first destination found this much sorrow in my heart I couldn't bear to see what else awaits me. I swallowed hard, catching a shaky breath and said, "I did not know this would happen. I figured Hyrule would be living another peaceful era, that I was not needed. If I would have known I would have never left. I'm truly....s-sorry".

Mido studied me for a moment, "But you did leave, and you cannot take it back. I do not blame you, but you and you alone could have saved us," he cried.

I turned away from him, not being able to bear the guilt. Hurriedly I left the Sacred Forrest Meadow, and as I ran I mumbled , "I'm sorry my friend. I'm so sorry!" There and then I planned to revisit Saria's grave and pay my respects properly. I now turned my sights to Lon Lon Ranch, to another old friend.

Mounting Epona I dug my heels deep into her flanks, letting her know I was in a hurry. She began at trot but before I knew it she was galloping, and I felt the wind stinging the wetness coming from my eyes. Lon Lon Ranch was a decayed building, no animals in the green pasture. No sweet melodies floated to my ears as I rode up to it. It was as dreary and broken as the Kokiri Forrest. I dismounted Epona and entered Malon's house. I found a version of Malon, battered and broken at the stove cooking fiercely. Her hair and clothing in disarray. I could hear yelling coming from upstairs, "Hurry up with the food, you stupid wench!" The voice that floated down the stairs was alien to me, I had no idea who it was. Malon turned to face me and once she saw me she dropped the plate of food in her hands. Shards of glass flew in every direction as she stared at me as if I was an apparition, something from beyond the grave. She knew who I was. "Fairy boy...." she mumbled.

I rushed forward to embrace her , yet another long lost friend. And as I held her she began shaking and I knew she was crying. "The country's been plunged into darkness. We waited for your return but you never came. I was forced to marry a vile man to try to keep the Ranch from going under. All my efforts have been in vain, however," she cried. At the exact moment the door to the upstairs chamber flew open and a disgusting burly man came down the stairs. He tried to pry Malon from my arms, but she would not let me go. And I held onto her as well, fearing that if I let her go something terrible would come to pass. My conscience nagged me for leaving, everyone shared a horrible fate because of me. I was roused for my quarries by screaming. Before I knew it the man had pulled Malon from me and had acquired a knife and was about the challenge me. I drew my sword out, and I saw him quiver with fear for a moment before he hurried to the wall removing a long sword from a mantelpiece. He returned to me, hatred blazing in his eyes. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"That matters not," I told him firmly.

"Who do you think you are trying to steal my wife?" he asked.

"He is an old friend, and he was just leaving. He was not trying to steal me! Please calm down!" Malon interjected.

"Shut up!" he roared at her, turning to face her making her shrink down into a corner.

"You need to leave now, or I will kill you!" he demanded.

"I am not leaving without her" I was not surprised by my own audacity, I always fought whole heartedly for what I believed in.

He lunged forward in an attempt to stab me but I side-stepped his blow and grabbed the sword from his hands. We wrestled over the blade for a moment, and I found myself victorious. But it was at that exact moment that I heard the door squeak open announcing the presence of yet another person. I turned to face the interruption. Oblivious to the scene that occurred behind my back, the struggle that ensued between Malon and her husband as she attempted to flee. The only thing I heard was the squeal that came from the crimson haired woman as she tripped and fell into the sharp edge of a counter top, hitting her head. She lay there lifeless and unmoving and I knew I had lost her. I cried out over my loss and I rushed to her side to see if I was wrong. My first thought was accurate I had lost her. I fought to the death with the man that had interrupted causing me to lose Malon and with her husband as well.

I could not take this, I felt my own sanity beginning to leave me. Two great friends of mine, lost to me. I forced myself to head to what used to be Hyrule Castle. As I reached the draw bridge that was lowered at night, I felt a sudden chill , although there was no wind at the moment. What had become of Princess Zelda? I entered into what used to be Hyrule Castle Town, to find no surprise. It looked just as it had when I had awoken after my seven year long slumber. But it seemed more desolate somehow and re-deads were notoriously absent. Other creatures I had not never seen before lingered in the distance and an abundance of poes floated through the air. I ambled forward to what should have been Hyrule Castle. Yet it was not Hyrule Castle, there was no Castle at all. All that remained was a grey mountain, a mountain of ash. I could tell the castle had been burned, perhaps the occupants were inside as the amber flames depleted their home. I turned away from the ash, not wanting to see it. Din forbid I should see a few bones amidst the ashes, I would lose it, even more than I already had. It was at this point that I gave into sadness, the whole land was dead and gone because of me. Silent tears flowed down my cheeks. I was not here to aid them, and I abandoned them in their time of need. I wandered aimlessly now on my way to Kakariko Village, maybe I would find a survivor. Was it possible that I would find Kakariko less destitute than here? And as I walked forward I remembered an old memory, long since locked away, long since lost to me. It eerily drifted back to me, haunting me, making me question my own reality.

A young light haired girl was picking flowers in the courtyard. She had gathered vivid violets, bright asters, and soft daisies and was bending to pick a rare rose. The rose had a crystal in the middle and the girl had never seen anything like it. She inhaled it's scent deeply , sighing and closing her eyes, letting the breeze rustle through her hair and scatter her tresses in front of her face. Little did she know the danger that lurked behind her. Hiding behind a tree, praising himself for his stealth was a honey haired boy, about the girl's age. Carefully he crept from tree to tree, sly as a fox. When he finally approached the girl, with one quick fluid movement he wrapped his hands around her eyes. The girl, startled , dropped her bouquet and screamed. The boy laughed, but then adjusted his voice, so it was much deeper. "Guess who?" he asked, trying to stifle a giggle.

The young girl breathed a sigh of relief, " You really should not scare me like that!" she yelled.

The boy laughed, "It's not who you think it is"

The girl laughed, "Yes it is! I know it's you! You do this to me everyday!"

The boy released his hold on the girl and she turned to face him. He stooped down and picked up her flower arrangement and handed it to her, "You dropped these Princess".

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!"

"Seventy three," said the boy, finding himself quite comical.

"Your such a pain!" said the girl with a playful shove.

The boy pushed her back gently, a shy grin plastered on his face, his pink cheeks bright with happiness. She leaned forward and carefully grabbed the hat he always wore and ran off , laughing madly. "ZELDA!!!" he screamed as he began to chase her.

The chase ensued for quite awhile before she disappeared. He found her hiding in a bush, preparing to jump out and scare him. When it was he that snuck up behind her and scared her. She screamed, dropping the hostage hat while doing so. He bent to pick it up, but soon felt himself falling onto the ground as she tackled him. "For a girl your pretty strong!" he said

"For a boy your pretty dumb, oh wait all boys are!" she laughed.

"Let me up , Zelda," he demanded.

"No!" she said. "Not until you tell me a secret!" she giggled.

"What kind of secret?" he asked.

"Do you like.... anyone?" she questioned.

"I like lots of people and things," said Link, "I like Navi, Saria, all my friends," he told her.

She laughed yet once more. "No! Not like that! Who do you like? You know ....love?" she asked her voice becoming shaky as if apprehensive about something.

The boy was at a loss for words, "Ummm..... I .... uhhh...."

Zelda then said, "You do not have to tell me, I already know!" She then gently kissed him on the cheek and held her hand out to help him up. As he grabbed her hand she left go , letting him fall back onto his butt, hard. Her high pitched giggle filled the air as she ran off yet again.

That boy was me. I had not announced my departure from this land, yet she knew. I remember it well, I paid a visit to the castle during the day to find her in the courtyard picking flowers just as she had years ago. I went to sneak up behind her, just like I did many times years ago. But she turned around as I stepped upon a stray branch. She smiled that sweet, innocent smile I always knew. However as I came closer I knew that her smile betrayed her eyes. Embedded in her eyes was a look of deepest sorrow, and an underlying longing. "Come to say goodbye, have you?"

The smile on my own face faltered, "How did you know?"

She tried to smile but she failed miserably, "I dreamed this day would come. I knew you would never stay," she said.

I suddenly found the ground interesting, "I have a lot to seek out in my own life, many things I lost along the way. A friend that I lost...." my voice broke and trailed off.

Zelda nodded, "I understand," she told me. It was two simple words, yet I knew they were lies to her heart. Where as she might understand, she did not fully comprehend my situation.

Silence.

The beautiful blonde cleared her throat, "I'll miss you, you know".

I smiled at her, feeling my heart flutter.

"And I you," I said now feeling sadness reeling about me.

She slowly walked forward and held out the ocarina of time, "I know you gave this back to me, but I feel you should take this with you". I held out my hands to accept the ocarina. Zelda took my hands and closed them around the blue ocarina and smiled. "I want to teach you another song, so you might find your way back here. Find your way safely back to me," she told me.

That day she taught me Hyrule's Solo, a song that would warp me back to Hyrule. I promised I would visit soon, but I never did. Now I hate my own existence for allowing myself to forget that song. I should have heard the soft melody floating from the ocarina long ago, I should have played the song. I never would have guessed how quickly time passes. Or what can occur within a year. A day becomes a week and a week becomes a month. Soon a month becomes a year, and then the word year becomes the word years.

When I reached Kakariko I found the same destruction as the other places. The houses still stood however, but they were falling apart. The trees had died and the paint chipped off the houses. Old fragments of what used to be walls of houses stood in place. Often I found that only a few walls of a house remained. To my dismay I found skeleton's sitting in old chairs at tables. My stomach lurched and I suddenly felt sick I could tell no one lived here, and if not here than where? About to head to Death Mountain I felt a hand on my shoulder, I drew my sword to destroy whoever laid their hand upon me. As I turned around , however, I let my sword fall out of my hands. It hit the ground with an abnormal sounding thud. I stared silently as two crimson eyes glared back at me from under a dark black cloak. Stray strands of ivory hair fell out of the hood of the cloak as the wind blew.

Impa.....

"Welcome home, Hero of Time," she said with a voice I could tell had not been used for years. It was chilling and lifeless, much like all of Hyrule.

"Not much of a welcome," I retorted.

Impa lowered her hood and tried to smile at me. I was greatly horrified when I saw her face. How she had aged horribly, looking as if though it hurt just to smile. Scars and cuts surrounded her face and tired eyes told the tales of many horrific memories.

"Impa , I'm sorry I didn't return sooner. I know that if I was here I could have saved the land I could have-"

At this point she cut me off.

"It was fate, my child. You could have offered us no help. It was meant to be this way," she said.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to look upon her. "Are there.....any survivors?" I questioned her.

"Only a few remain," she said her voice monotone.

"What came to pass for the Gerudos?"

"The sun stopped shining in the desert, and they froze to death."

"The Zoras?" I asked.

"A heat wave made the water burn them alive. They could not stand the intense heat of the water," she said.

"The Gorons?" I asked.

"They starved to death," she responded.

"I have seen Kokiri Forrest, Lon Lon Ranch and Hyrule Castle. But what happened to each of them?"

"The children of Kokiri forest contracted a sort of plague and they died because of the incurable illness. The Great Deku Tree was the first to pass. Lon Lon Ranch was spared because he needed horses, so he sent one of his knights in disguise to marry Malon. And Hyrule Castle...." Impa said her eyes filling with crystal tears.

"The people of Hyrule Castle were locked in and burned alive. I escaped with Zelda and -"

ZELDA! My heart sped up so fast I felt it might jump out of my chest. I felt the wind knocked from me and I suddenly felt dizzy. "Is she alive?"

"She disappeared, my child. I have not seen her since. The last words she spoke to me the night before she disappeared was 'I wonder where Link is and when he will come back.' I think she left to find you," cried Impa. She was sobbing now and I felt even more horrible for leaving.

After what seemed like an eternity I found my voice, "Who survived this terrible insolence?" I asked.

"A few people of Kakariko village survived the attacks of new monstrous minions. Their houses were pillaged and they were individually slaughtered. Nabooru, Rauru, Malon, Zelda and I all survived. It was believed that a single Kokiri survived and Saria went to visit him, but she never returned," Impa stated.

"Malon is no more, I visited the ranch," I said.

Suddenly my attention was called to her earlier use of the word HE, who was he? I would make him pay for all he has done. Killing the people of this great land! Destroying my future and my past! I would avenge all of their deaths!

"Who is....he?"

Impa's eyes became alive with fear, something I had never seen from her before. "Ganon, has returned. He broke the seal and conquered the land. But he is no longer here, he destroyed this land and left it. He rendered it fruitless making sure no one could survive here and then he left searching greedily for more power. We have no idea about his whereabouts," she informed me.

Ganon.....I'll find him whatever the cost may be and kill him....

I thought I killed him once....but now I'll annihilate him.

When I did not speak for a moment, Impa took over, "The land is beginning to be covered by water. Lake Hylia and Zora's Domain have overflowed due to relentless rainstorms. We fear the land shall soon be flooded. Hyrule shall become a vast lake and all the foundations shall sink into the newly created ocean," said Impa.

I did not realized throughout the conversation I had closed my eyes. Now when I opened them I felt hatred course through my veins, radiating from my heart itself. I drew in a shaky breath and said, "Impa, I'm going to kill Ganon. I will avenge the deaths of my friends. I'm sorry I left, this is all my fault. Had I known what would come to pass, I would have never even considered my departure".

Impa's crimson eyes burned into me, "Do not blame yourself, you did not know. No one had such knowledge. Even Zelda's prophetic dreams did not foretell of such a fate. I have but one request of you, Link, Hero of Time," she said.

I cringed at the word hero, a title that should never be near my name. Hero, what kind of hero abandoned his own people?

I heard my own voice ask , "What is your request?" although I felt far away.

"I need you to find Zelda. She is the key to Ganon's demise. The power of you two combined shall be overwhelming to him. Zelda has learned new magic since you left, she has gained power," said Impa.

I nodded, words once again lost to me.

As I turned to leave Impa called to me and I turned around. "She loved you , you know," Impa said.

I turned and left Impa, not knowing I would never see Hyrule again.

The Hero of Time journeyed far and wide to find the Princess of Destiny, however he never succeeded. Once among a crowd in a land far away, he believed he saw her. He ran to the spot where she stood and she disappeared around a corner. Looking around the corner he found nothing. There after every where he went he believed he saw her, and every time he thought he found her, there was no one there. Princess Zelda was never seen or heard from again. Some believe she assumed another identity and went on with life as normal in another land. Others, faithful to the Princess, believed she came back to Hyrule just as it flooded and sank to the bottom of the ocean with her land. Hyrule vanished like it was a dream and became a vast ocean as predicted. The remaining inhabitants of Hyrule drowned in the flood. Alone, with his memories chilling him and his conscience blaming him for Hyrule's downfall, Link died. With his precious ocarina at his side, his final remaining memory of a beautiful Princess and the quests he went on for her. Her love for him she took to the grave. Link's final hope was that his soul would find retribution for leaving Hyrule, and with his final breath he blamed himself and admitted a truth. The truth that he would not have left knowing he was loved. Knowing that someone needed him near and he was someone's hero. But either way he believed he could not win, because he lived and died in sweet misery.

-M*S

That was hard for me to write, I hate sad endings! Please do not flame me if you disagree with this!!!!