Disclaimer: For anyone out there that thinks we fan writers write these stories and make money off of them, we don't! We only write these stories because we're bored, have nothing better to do, and it's fun. The only people that do make money off of Zelda merchandise are Nintendo and its creator, Yoshiki Haruhana. Sorry if I got his name wrong, tell me his real name in your review.
Author's Notes: I have used curse words in this story so be forewarned. When you see parentheses the words inside them are my own thoughts about a sentence or some sentences. Parentheses also give the meaning of Latin words I have used in the story. In my story characters will sometimes communicate telepathically and the first one to talk will have this symbol by their dialogue and the person answering will have a star next to theirs.
MIRRORS & SHADOWS
It has been 10 years since Link's battle with Ganondorf and 7 years after his adventure in Termina, which makes him about 20. Link moved out of his tree house in the Kokiri Forest and built a house somewhere in between Hyrule Castle and Lon Lon Ranch. It's an average two-bedroom house with a bathroom, kitchen/dining room, and a living room. Link was fast asleep when the morning sun's rays came in through the window to wake him up.
"Yawn, its morning already?" he asked no one while stretching. He grabbed the nearest tunic and slipped it on. It wasn't his cleanest tunic but it didn't look dirty and the smell wasn't that bad either. Link walked out of his room and into the kitchen to fix some breakfast. While eating he thought about what he would do that day or if he had anything planned.
"Hmmm, I know I had something to do today," Link thought with his chin in his hands, "Oh! That's right; I was supposed to meet Zelda at the market today." He jumped up out of his chair and sprinted into the bathroom to wash, brush his teeth, comb his blonde hair, and put on a cleaner outfit. Link used the back door and called Epona immediately. He jumped on her back, "Come on girl, let's go," and kicked her into a sprint.
When he arrived at Hyrule Castle Town Market, Link dismounted and headed into the Castle's outer walls. He was waiting by the central fountain when he heard a feminine voice from behind. The voice cried out, "Hey Link, over here!" Link turned to see Zelda running up to him with something in her arm.
"Hi Zelda, what's with the basket?" once he saw what it was.
"Well, I thought maybe we could go on a picnic after we look around town for a bit," Zelda said sheepishly. Link nodded and said, "That sounds like a great idea," while offering her his hand. After looking to see what was for sale they came to a stand where the merchant sold some fucked-up shit. It had shrunken heads, animal parts and anything else you might find in a voodoo shop [I have nothing against voodoo I was just trying to set the mood. So please forgive me. ].
"Umm excuse me," Zelda asked, "are those real heads?"
"Oh no princess," said the cloaked man in a voice that sent goose bumps up and down both their arms. That's when Link saw a mirror behind the scary merchant.
"Excuse me sir, may I see that mirror please," he asked with a smile.
"Certainly my young man," the seller said as he tool it off the wall and sat the mirror in front of Link and Zelda, "and if you do buy it the price will be 50 rupees."
Zelda looked at the mirror, to Link, and back to the mirror. She then declared, "I don't like this mirror."
"What do you mean?" Link questioned.
"Well, the reflection is all wrong!" Zelda said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, but you know what they say about mirrors, they add 10 pounds!" Link joked.
"That's not funny Link," Zelda whined as she hit him on the arm, "I'm serious, it looks… looks meaner."
"Awww don't worry princess I'm sure it's just your imagination," Link reassured her. Link gave the raspy voiced salesman fifty rupees and that's when they heard a boom.
"Well, it appears that a storm is coming in," stated the merchant, "best head home young ones."
"Well princess, looks like I'll have to take a rain check on your picnic. Maybe we can have it next week when the ground's dry again," Link said as he waved good-bye and headed for the exit.
"Bye," Zelda whispered because she had a gut feeling that the mirror was going to cause them a-hell-of-a-lot of trouble.
Link was standing at his front door watching the rainfall when he saw a cloaked figure run towards him. At first he thought it was the merchant but no it was smaller. When it finally came to the door it asked, "May I come in until the storm passes?"
"Uhh yeah, come on in," he invited. To his surprise it was a girl of about his age with brown wavy hair and hazel eyes. She was pretty too but not as pretty as Zelda.
"Thank you, my name is Amara Benecia Colecollin but you can call me Ashligh. What is your name?"
"My name's Link and it's nice to meet you Ashligh," he said as he took her cloak. Underneath she wore blue pants, Gerudo style, and a green shirt. On the back of her shirt there was a red spiral with a purple eye in the center. Link led her into the kitchen and fixed them a cup of tea.
"So how did you get caught in the storm?" Link asked while pouring Ashligh some tea.
"Well it was my turn to buy the groceries and anything else we needed but I got so caught up in my own things, once done I didn't see the storm come in," was her response.
"And you live where?"
"On the east side of Mt. Edan."
"What?"
"Sorry I think you call it Death Mountain."
"Oh, but I've been up Death Mountain hundreds of times and I've never seen a trail leading around back."
"That's because it's a hidden path. A path that runs below and along the trail leading to Goron City. Could I have some more tea please?"
"Sure," as Link poured her another cup of tea, Ashligh noticed the mirror he bought earlier that day.
"When did you get that mirror?" Link looked over at the mirror and noticed it looked different some how. He didn't know why, but dismissed it as his imagination, "Well are you going to tell me?"
"Today, why?"
"It's a magic mirror."
"Magic!"
"Uh-hu, but the question is what kind of magic is it. I myself have seen only two of the thousand types there are."
"What were those like?"
"Well, one was a little blue embellished hand mirror. It took you to another land if you looked into it for too long."
"That doesn't sound too bad, it might even be fun."
"Yeah, the other was the thing that made my life what it is now. It was an oval like yours but was attached to a vanity. It showed you what you want most."
"What did the mirror show you?" Link asked with a playful smile.
"Well," Ashligh was blushing, "it showed me in new lands and fighting to protect the ones I love. So you can say I wanted to go adventuring and so far it has happened."
"Are there any other magic mirrors you know of?"
"Why yes, the two I've read the most about is where one allows you to talk to the other side of yourself."
Link looked at her questionably, "Other self?"
"Your dark side, what ever you want to call it," she said simply.
"And the other?"
"It's a portal too but, things come through it and they usually aren't too friendly."
"I hope that's not the case with that mirror."
"I doubt it, the portal doesn't open till Porta Nox {portal night}."
"When's that?"
"This is in the month of Aestas which means two to three months from now."
"But that's in Decimus, when demons roam the land!"
"Yeah, because all the natural portals are at full power and don't need magical assistance."
"Oh," he looked over at the mirror one more time. What type of mirror do I have he thought as he heard Ashligh get up, "Where are you going?"
"It's late, and if the storm hasn't stopped I'd like to get some sleep."
"Well there's a spare bedroom right there."
"Thank you, and good night."
"You're welcome, good night," Link said as he went to bed, as well.
Zelda was in her bedroom brushing her hair when a knock came rapping from her door, "Come in."
"Princess," it was the voice of Impa, Zelda's Shiekah nursemaid, "how was your day?"
"Fine, until that storm came in and ruined our picnic."
"Anything else?"
"No, other than that it was fine. Why?" Zelda asked with a fake smile.
"Come on Zelda, I know you're lying…"
"How would you know?"
"I was getting to that. I know you are lying because at dinner you barley ate anything and usually you eat half of what's on your plate when in a bad mood."
"So your saying whatever is wrong is very serious?"
"Yes."
"Well if you help brush my hair out I'll tell you."
"All right," Impa sighed while taking the brush from Zelda, "what is wrong?"
"Well, before Link and I were supposed to go on our picnic, we looked around the town."
"Did you buy anything?"
"No, but Link did."
"Oh really, what did he buy?"
"A mirror, form a merchant that scared the shit out of me."
"Zelda!"
"I'm sorry Impa but the man wore a black cloak, spoke in a raspy voice, and knew I was the Princess!" Impa looked into Zelda's eyes and saw that she was indeed serious. Usually when Zelda went to town alone to meet Link or shop she dressed in regular clothes so no one would recognize her.
"Don't worry, Link's a big boy, he can take care of himself. Now get some sleep, it's late, ok?" Zelda nodded her head and staggered over to the bed. Impa watched until she was sure Zelda would sleep and left the room.
"So how is my daughter?" Impa turned and saw King Andres Orsen Hyrule. She saw that his face showed signs of the utmost concern.
"She's fine, just the average teenage worries."
"Oh, what kinds of worries?" he asked with suspicion. Ten years ago he would have been dead if it was not for his daughter and the young lad Link.
"You know, boy things. She thinks Link's in trouble all because he bought a mirror from a merchant that knew she was the Princess."
"Well, many have came and seen her while paying respect. It was more that likely one of them and besides Link is a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"I know, that's what I told her, but to change the subject, when do you plan on bringing those two closer?"
"I haven't figured out a good reason for him to come live here without giving away suspicion," Andres sighed.