I don't own Zelda, and I don't own Phantom. On to chapter two. Oh, and to Crimson Rose: thank you for reviewing! To answer your question, PHO actually is my "page breaker" thing which stands literally for my title, but shortened (like people call Lord of the Rings LOTR). Wow, and more people are reviewing! This is unexpected, but much appreciated!

THE PHANTOM OF HYRULE'S OPERA

Another madness by Ara Laothen

Ch. 2: Think of Me, Dear Link

-PHO-

Hyrule:Fifty Years Earlier

The wheels of the carriage moved swiftly and joyously through the cobbled streets of Hyrule Market, sunlight reflecting from the windows of the carriage to dance along the buildings and the faces of those who looked towards the horse-driven contraption with amusement. At the front of the carriage, his head held high as he confidently gripped the reins, Sir Link of Hyrule guided his proud horses through the streets, banking a swift right. Through a luscious and beaming garden the horses moved, Link guiding them naturally and effortlessly, a smile plain on his youthful features. With confidence, he slowed his horses to a stop, then leapt graciously to the ground, allowing just enough time to pass for him to smooth his green tunic. His golden gauntlets sparkled in the beaming sun. Fixing his equally green hat, he sped off up the stairs, dodging the custodian at the doors, and made his way inside.

-PHO-

The Opera House, the most famous in all Hyrule, was full of the hustle and bustle as was befitting a theater of its caliber. Yet, on the stage, most of this activity (and many an anxiety attack) was focused rather strongly. Dancers moved swiftly across the stage, back and forth in a flutter of motion and fluttering fabric. Even as this occurred, those trying to act their parts and sing as according to the opera that was so stressful at the moment miraculously managed to avoid these ballet dancers and reach their required notes.

Yes, rehearsals were always the epitome of stress for all in the opera house.

At the front of this masquerade that only fantasy could conceive stood a woman with hair twisted high above her head, the color of which was somewhere between red and auburn. The fact that her skin was dark, as if she had spent years in the Gerudo Valley Desert, was well hidden by the massive amounts of make-up and glitter that covered her face, neck, and any other amount of skin that chanced to appear from the rather large, green dress she wore that flowed outwards from her hips and completely covered her feet. A rather poignant arch of her eyebrow at the moment, however, was enough to send even the most stalwart of men scampering for cover.

La Nabooru was clearly getting annoyed.

As she had now become an obstacle for the majority of the dancers, many of them had either to stop completely or, more gracefully, to simply fall forward on their faces. The conductor, Kafei, attempted to ignore the fact that La Nabooru was starting to sing half-heartedly in her annoyance.

"Once more for the Goddesses, my fellow sisters,

do I sing..."

She stopped and let out a sound from her lips that was either a moan or a whine. Kafei, now choosing to acknowledge the fact that the lead soprano had become both a danger to those on stage and a mute, sighed heavily, rolled his eyes, and let his prized conductor's hands grow lifeless.

The music stopped immediately.

"Now what is it, Nabooru?" Kafei asked, trying his hardest not to mask the frustration in his voice.

She was about to reply when Talon, the Opera House's owner, entered on stage, two men, or rather, a man and a very muscular thing, in the tow of his shadow. Talon was obviously continuing a conversation with them.

Upon reaching the center of the stage, he cleared his throat. Kafei, now deciding to make his irritation clearly known, said loudly, "Monsieur Talon, we are rehearsing." He motioned for the performers to continue.

They obeyed, save for Nabooru, who eyed the two newcomers. Kafei glanced once at Nabooru, shook his head, and looked at the sheet of music on the podium before him.

Again Talon cleared his throat loudly (an amazing talent of his to be heard above a noise such as that, but, then again, he had been the owner of Hyrule's Opera House for decades at least). Kafei decided to kick the podium this time.

Rehearsal was, once more, interrupted.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt rehearsal, but I have an...announcement to make." Those on stage moved slightly closer to his proximity, while the furthest away craned their necks forward to hear. "I'm sure you have all heard of the rumors hinting my retirement. I am here to say that they are all true," Talon said as he placed his hands behind his back. There was a gasp from the crowd. "No, no, I'm not leaving you all to fend for yourselves." He turned to the two standing slightly behind him. "I am most honored to introduce to you Monsieurs Rauru and Darunia, your new managers."

Kafei sighed. Farore save us, he thought to himself as he rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Monsieurs, I beg of you, we are in rehearsal. 'The Triforce' debuts soon, and we are behind schedule..."

"Of course, Monsieur," Talon said with a bow, throwing a hand in front of him more to catch his balance than anything else. Kafei gritted his teeth.

"Thanks," Kafei muttered to himself, then motioned for rehearsal to continue. Those on stage, though looking slightly glum, obeyed the orders of their rather tyrannical conductor once again. The dancers continued their scheme of endless movement.

"Gentlemen, if we may continue our tour?" Talon asked with a bow.

"Of course, monsieur," Rauru said with a nod. Darunia continued to stare at the dancers.

"Ah, I see Monsieur Darunia has taken an interest in our dancers," Talon pointed out, then motioned for the both of them to move to a better viewing spot for the dancers (and thus moving slightly out of harm's way).

"Yes, and who is that lovely redhead, sir?" Darunia asked earnestly, his eyes intent on the mentioned dancer.

"Ah, that would be Malon Impa, monsieur," Talon answered. "The daughter of our ballet teacher...ah, and here comes Madame Impa!"

Madame Impa strode towards the three men with a confident air, her head held high. She moved, however, much as any ballet dancer would despite her age: fluently, and with a grace that could only match royalty. Her eyes, a deep, mesmerizing red, would gaze steadily at the men before her for a moment, as if she were considering their very souls as worthy or not, then turned back to her dancers, her every step in tune with their movements. This transition of her eyes, however, was so subtle that it went on unnoticed by the dancers' captive audience of three. Thus, she was able, as was her very distinct talent, to consider and meditate on the natural tendencies of others in a matter of seconds without having the victim of such intense scrutiny knowing of such an occurrence. Her scrutiny allowed her the amount of respect she always received.

"Madame Impa," Talon regarded her as she came upon him and his companions. Rauru seemed a little startled at her sudden appearance, but Darunia's eyes were intent rather oddly on his dancers.

But Madame Impa only waved him aside. "You, gentlemen, are in the way of my dancers! Move!"

Blushing crimson, the three men stepped back to allow the rehearsals to continue without interruption.

"And why are you retiring, Monsieur?" Darunia asked without turning to him, his eyes still intent on the young ballet girls. Talon remained silent.

The dancers continued their routine.

"My goddess," Darunia breathed suddenly. "Who is that blonde dancing over there? The one with those perfect blue eyes?"

Impa followed his gaze to the foretold dancer as she leapt gracefully forward, landing with ease on the points of her feet, only to twirl back in time with her companions, her feet gliding along the ground as morning mist clings effortlessly to a lake of glass. "That, monsieur, would be young Zelda DaaƩ. A very gifted dancer."

"DaaƩ?" Rauru asked, turning to Madame Impa, then resumed his gaze towards Zelda. "No relation to the famed violinist, I assume?"

"His only child. She is an orphan, monsieurs," Madame Impa answered. "She came to dance at the Opera House when she was seven years old; promising talent, Monsieur...very promising. I consider her," and at this she eyed Darunia in that subtle and scrutinizing way, "my adoptive daughter."

Darunia glanced at Madame Impa, narrowed his eyes, then tried in vain to look at anything but Zelda.

To all of this, Zelda remained unaware of what was occurring around her. Instead, the young girl of seventeen, as she danced, was lost in her own little world, her own little fantasies of a strange, enchanting voice that would often speak to her in her dreams...

Presently, as the rehearsals reached their climax (La Nabooru had suddenly regained her competitive edge in the presence of her manager), a heightening, trembling note that wavered from the voices of the actors on stage who now stood before a giant replica of the Triforce danced rather precariously in the air. It descended rather sharply on the ears, Nabooru's even sharper voice heard over all. And, as soon as it began to end, a prop from one of the actors high up near the replica shifted off, slamming dangerously close to La Nabooru to instead land on the male lead of the play's head. Ingo thus tripped forward in shock and fell headfirst into a midget near his feet, who also skipped forward and slid along the floor, taking a few dancers down with him.

As the note ended, Kafei breathed a sigh of relief and threw his head back, his eyes again rolling to the ceiling. The dancers breathlessly moved to the side, a few of the bumped ones saving as much dignity as they could.

That moaning whine nearly escaped from La Nabooru's lips, but she decided to keep it to herself in the presence of her managers. She may love to give others a piece of her mind, but her manager payed the bills and kept her rich, of course. Instead, she strolled forward and bowed as showily as she could.

"Ah, monsieurs," Talon said, "it would honor me to introduce you to our prima donna, La Nabooru. She is our Lady Nayru for Twinrova's 'Triforce' opera piece, and also the lead soprano of the Opera House. Has been so for five seasons."

"An honor, my lady," Darunia said with a smile as he graciously took La Nabooru's hand and kissed it. Rauru did the same.

At this moment, Link entered from the back of the stage. Talon sighed happily.

"Ah, and here, ladies and gentlemen," Talon said breathlessly, "is the man with the pocket full of money for us...may I present Sir Link of Hyrule!"

As many clapped, La Nabooru moved forward.

Zelda started as she saw Link, then grabbed Malon's arm. "I can't believe it," she whispered, her blue eyes wide and sparkling. "It's Link..."

"From the seaside?" Malon whispered back.

"Yes...we were...childhood friends," Zelda replied slowly, her eyes following Link wherever he seemed to go.

La Nabooru had reached her target. She extended a sweaty arm to him, a lustful smile on her lips.

"This, monsieur," Talon said to Link, "is La Nabooru...our lead soprano."

Arching an eyebrow, but clearly not wanting to offend, Link graciously took her hand and, as quickly as he could, briefly let his lips touch the very top of her hand, then, gracefully but swiftly, moved his lips away as he straightened. Nabooru, clearly satisfied, smiled and turned to her servants who waited at the side of the stage.

"He love me," she said arrogantly to them, that smile on her lips. "Love me, love me, love me..."

"La Nabooru is our lead for this year's new production, 'The Triforce,'" Talon was saying to Link. "She'll be playing Lady Nayru of Wisdom as she expresses her love for a mortal played by Ingo, our other lead." Ingo nodded and bowed quickly.

"Wonderful," Link mused. He glanced at his pocket watch, then clicked his tongue. "Ah, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen. I have other business to attend to...I just felt I should stop by and see how things were going...forgive me..."

As he moved by Zelda, her breathing quickened, her heart began to race...and then he passed without a word. "I....I doubt he remembers me at all..." she whispered half-heartedly to Malon.

"I'm sure he didn't see you," Malon whispered reassuringly to her friend.

"Hm," Rauru said, his gaze returning to Nabooru. "If I remember rightly, Lady Nayru has a rather fine aria in Act Three of 'Triforce.' I wonder, Signora, if, as a personal favor, you would oblige us with a private rendition?" He eyed Kafei. "Unless, of course, Monsieur Kafei objects..."

Kafei, trying hard not to kick the podium again (he had not eaten since the clock had struck five in the morning), remained steadily silent.

"My manager commands...Monsieur Kafei?" La Nabooru asked haughtily, strutting forward with her pointed noise held high.

Kafei clenched his fist. "If my...diva commands?"

La Nabooru marched forward. "Maestro," she said arrogantly to Kafei.

The piano began. A few servants who were cleaning the audience seats instinctively put cotton in their ears.

Nabooru took a deep breath and sang.

"Think of me,


think of me fondly,


when we've said goodbye.


Remember me once in a while -


please promise me you'll try."

As this singing, however unbalanced it may have been, descended upon the Opera House, above the stage there was heard, for any who truly cared to listen, a flutter of a dark fabric, the soft patter, patter of feet unlike any heard before. They sailed along the ground at a surprising rate, a mythical ship in a sea full of darkness. A hand, gloved completely in black, shot out from within the folds of a large, shadowy cape, striking against the workings that held an important backdrop high above the stage.

Unbeknownst to her, La Nabooru continued.


"When you find that, once again, you long

to take your heart . . ."

As La Nabooru sang those words, a loud whining sound, as of rope rubbing against rope, was heard, followed almost immediately by the crashing of the backdrop, a large cloth bound by two parallel, heavy pieces of wood connected at the top and bottom of the cloth. It sailed down at an incredible speed to land mere inches from where the opera's lead soprano had been standing had she not leapt forward ungracefully to land on her face. She was screaming in terror.

As Rauru leapt forward, Talon yelled in a voice that would reach the rafters to the space high above the stage, "Good gods, Ganon! What the devil are you doing up there?!!"

"It wasn't me, sir, honest!" Ganon yelled back as he tended to his post, dutifully drawing the backdrop back up. "Please monsieur don't look at me: as Din's my witness, I was not at my post. Please monsieur, there's no one there: and if there is," he sneered, "well then, it must be a ghost..."

The chorus and dancers, as well as the rest of the actors, muttered anxiously to themselves. A few yelled out, "He's here! The Phantom of the Opera!"

"Good heavens, the what?" Rauru said with a shake of his head. "This is nonsense..."

Madame Impa noticed the small letter that floated gently to the ground offstage. Going to retrieve it, she looked up to the rafters, but saw nothing but the darkness. Frowning, she opened the letter.

"My dear," Rauru was saying as he helped Nabooru to her feet, "these things do happen, I'm afraid. Thank Nayru you weren't hurt."

But La Nabooru would not be eased. Throwing her hands in the air, her glitter glistening in the light and from her sweat, she cried, "Si! These things do happen! Well, until you stop these things happening," she pointed to herself, "this thing does not happen! Ingo! Come!" Turning on her heel, she marched out.

"Amateurs," Ingo spat before following her out.

Seeing his opportunity, Talon began to make his way towards the exit. "I don't think there's much more to assist you, gentlemen. Good luck. If you need me, I shall be on the other side of the country." Half-skipping, he sped away.

There was a silence. All present gazed at their new managers expectantly.

"La Nabooru will be back," Rauru said confidently. "Er...won't...she...?"

"I wouldn't be too sure, monsieurs," Madame Impa's voice called, startling all present. She moved gracefully forward and handed Rauru the note. "I have received a letter from the Opera Ghost."

Darunia put a hand to his forehead. "Farore's wind, you're all obsessed!"

Madame Impa regarded him for a moment, then replied, "He merely welcomes you to his opera house and commands you to continue to leave Box Five empty for his use." She paused for a moment, then continued. "And he also reminds you that his salary is due." At this, a small smile crept across her lips for a fleeting moment, then was gone.

"His salary?!" Rauru cried incredulously.

Madame Impa raised a questioning eyebrow. "Monsieur Talon paid him twenty thousand rupees a month. Perhaps you can afford more, with Sir Link of Hyrule as your patron?"

Darunia was about to say something to her that was quite unbefitting a man of his reputation, but he merely decided to hold his tongue. Instead, he replied, "Madame, I'm sure there's an understudy for La Nabooru, of course?"

"'Understudy'?" Kafei laughed from his place. "There is no understudy for La Nabooru! This is a brand new production!"

"Dear goddesses in the sacred realm," Rauru swore. "Well, who else have we got? Whom may we use to play for Lady Nayru?" He placed a shaky hand to his moist forehead. "Oh, dear Farore, I'm going to be ill..."

Madame Impa moved towards her dancers. They parted as she passed. Presently, she came upon Zelda and, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders, steered the poor thing to the front of the stage. "Zelda could sing the part for you."

"What?" Rauru said incredulously.

Madame Impa smiled. "She has been taught by a great teacher."

Zelda, a blush just appearing on her cheeks, turned to Madame Impa with a look in her sapphire eyes that was somewhere between embarrassment and fear.

"Well?" Darunia asked. "Can you?"

"I...I don't know, sir," Zelda replied quietly.

"Darunia, this is doing nothing for my nerves," Rauru hissed as he rubbed his temples. His companion silenced Rauru with a look.

"Go on, Zelda," Madame Impa said, gently motioning her forward. Malon came to stand beside her mother, an encouraging smile on her lips.

"Alright," Kafei said, his mood somewhat refreshed after La Nabooru's exit. "From the top, mademoiselle."

The piano began to play.

Zelda's heart was beating in her chest forcefully, but she refused to allow herself to tremble. Her palms became sweaty, but she remembered...

"Think of me,


think of me fondly,


when we've said goodbye.


Remember me once in a while -


please promise me you'll try...
"

She looked towards Madame Impa and Malon, her blue eyes shining with an emotion that threatened to overtake her. Inwardly, Zelda could feel the tremble beginning around her heart. Soon, she knew, it would burst into a thousand pieces, and next she would be groveling on the floor in tears.

But Malon only nodded, her eyes urging Zelda into confidence. Madame Impa only allowed the ghost of a smile to creep across her usually stern lips.

Zelda, returning the smile with one of her own, suddenly looked forward towards the audience, row upon row of empty seats, their colors mimicking the red roses outside in the garden. Her beating heart suddenly slowed into calm as if a warm cloak had wrapped itself around her, comforting her...whispering songs in her head. She stepped forward with confidence.

"When you find that, once


again, you long


to take your heart back and be free -


if you ever find a moment,


spare a thought for me
...

-PHO-

The audience gazed at her with one face, eyes twinkling like endless stars upon a black night. Zelda could almost feel the beat of every heart, could sense the magic in her own tongue, her own voice. She had never put so much passion in her voice before...had never felt such undying confidence, such incredible surges of emotion that had slept in her bosom until now. Zelda reached her notes effortlessly...

"We never said

our love was evergreen,


or as unchanging as the sea -


but if you can still remember


stop and think of me . . .

Think of all the things


we've shared and seen -


don't think about the things


which might have been . . .

Think of me,


think of me waking,


silent and resigned.

Imagine me,


trying too hard to put you


from my mind.

Recall those days


look back on all those times,


think of the things


we'll never do -


there will never be a day,


when I won't think of you . ."

The orchestra rose in its answer to her voice.

Link, from his box seat to the right of the stage, started as he saw her, his mind at a loss, his heart beginning to race in his chest. It couldn't be...or could it...?

(Sung): Can it be?, he mused,

Can it be Zelda?

He rose from his chair, his applause growing louder, possibly, than the audience's. "Bravo!!" he called loudly, a large smile on his face. Goddess, she looked beautiful, like a sleeping bud bursting into bloom in an instant, a bright and vibrant rose that outshone any other flower that had come before it and would most certainly follow after. His smile widened. It was Zelda; her rosy cheeks were the same as he remembered. There was a hint of her childhood in her, but she had grown in maturity in such a drastic way he was thrown aback at its possibility. That gawky little girl was gone. Before him stood a young woman, fresh and instantaneous, an attraction he could never look away from. It was her! She, the young girl, the young playmate he had spent his young days with...she, the girl he had payed his farewells to...

Again he shook his head. Goddess...she was so beautiful...

(Sung): Long ago,

It seems so long ago,

How young and innocent we were.

She may not remember me,

but I remember her...

The orchestra was beginning to end its song to her. She smiled in anticipation and again poured her heart into her voice.

"Flowers fade,

the fruits of summer fade,

they have their seasons, so do we.

But please promise me that sometimes you will think...."

She had trembled the night prior to this in her bed when she considered this part in the song. Silently, in her heart, she prayed to him...to the one who had sang songs in her head...who had spoken to her in her dreams...

She felt confidence renewed grow in her heart. It spread throughout her, filling her voice with a passion, a power, she had never thought possible. Oh, and how real it was...

She reached the notes effortlessly, in an opera fashion that would make the gods sing in jealousy. Her voice soared to the ceiling, broke past it, and sailed on into the heavens to kiss the clouds and the moon as effortlessly as possible.

"O-o-o-o-....of me!"

The audience roared in applause, their voices threatening to bring the chandelier above them crashing down upon their heads.

The chandelier itself seemed to shake, not from the noise, but as if from its own appreciation of the singer...as if a heart beat within it...

And deep, deep, down below the opera house, a cloaked figure smiled in the darkness. The Angel of Music had sung so perfectly....his Angel of Music...

-PHO-

Chapter three to be coming soon...please review!