I do not own Zelda, I am just borrowing it, though I don't think the peeps who do own it will want it back when I'm done…*sigh*Anything that does not feel familiar to you from the Zelda stuff is created by me (i.e. Airaen, Gate, Perigan, and anything else), but that's it. Toodles!
*Author's Note: This story goes along with the N64 Ocarina of Time game, so the distance between everything has been lengthened (if any of you have played it, everything in Hyrule was about a foot apart, which annoyed me, so everything is a good 50 to 200 miles apart from each other ^^ )
The Legend of Zelda: Child of Link
Ch. 1: Capture and Doom
The sun over Lon Lon Ranch spilled over Airaen's face as she made her way to the open field. Epona, the old horse of her father's, stood eating the grass while Perigan, her son, galloped and neighed about her. Swinging the harness on her shoulder, Airaen set a grim look on her face as she attempted for the hundredth time to tame Perigan. As she crept closer, she made sure that his back was to her. Slowly, she tiptoed over to the pony, and, quietly as ever, leaped onto Perigan's back and attempted to saddle him. Rearing, Perigan set off at a gallop as Airaen held on for dear life. With a snort, Perigan slid to a halt and threw Airaen off, watching her bounce three times before sprawling on her back with a groan. For a while, the young girl lay there, closing her eyes against the glare of the midday sun, until a shadow passed over her, and a voice said, "What are you doing?" Looking up, she saw Malon looking down at her with a face that tried to look stern but could not hold back laughter.
As Malon laughed, Airaen sat up and retorted, "That damn pony doesn't know who's boss! I'll show him!" She made to stand up, but Malon pushed her down.
"It's about time you stop messing with Perigan and started cleaning the stables I told you to do this morning! So stop messing around and get to it!", Malon cried as she pointed to the stable building. With a groan and a mumbled yes, Airaen stood up and made her way slowly to the stables as Malon called after her, "Those better be clean before Link gets home, or it'll be your hide!" While Malon went to tend to Epona, Airaen turned and gave her the finger, mumbling about everyone making her work.
**
The stables had been sore work for Airaen, but at least Malon wouldn't come raining down on her head, as the Hyrule saying went. As Airaen watched the sun set from the roof of her room, she waited for her father to return from whatever urgent calling he had received from the distant castle of Hyrule. Link had received this summoning when a guard came two days ago asking for her father. The messenger gave word to Link that Zelda, the Queen of Hyrule, requested an audience from Link. Immediately, Airaen's father set out with the guard, leaving Epona, now too tired to make such a long journey to the Castle, behind. Though she wouldn't admit it, her father's journeys to elsewhere troubled Airaen, for it always bothered her that, though she was fifteen years of age, her father had never taken her with him.
Sighing, Airaen lay back as the sun finally set and the familiar howl of a wolf came to signal night fall. The galloping of hooves reached her ears, and, sitting up, she saw her father riding up to the ranch on a horse from the Castle. With a yell, Airaen, slid down the roof, swung through her window, and ran downstairs and through the door to greet her father. As Link saw her daughter, he laughed and leapt off the horse and ran to her. As they embraced, Airaen said, "Well? What are you waiting for?! Tell me everything!" Laughing, Link led her back to the house.
**
"Malon, that was the best dinner yet!", Link said as he leaned back in his chair. Malon smiled, but Airaen only rolled her eyes in impatience. He still had not told her what had happened at the Castle, and she was getting angry.
"Aren't you going to tell me what happened? What did Zelda want?", she asked impatiently.
"That's Lady Zelda, Airaen. She is the Queen. Now, then, I'm tired, so I'll be going off to bed," he said, interrupting Airaen's angry outburst. However, as he made to stand, a loud banging at the door interrupted him. Narrowing his eyes, Link saw the red glow of a torch and motioned for Malon and Airaen to move back. After a few moments, the loud knocking began again and an outraged cry of Open in the name of the True King of Hyrule, or we'll burn this place down followed it. A look of odd realization came in the eyes of Link, and he whispered to Malon to go and hide. Nodding, Malon motioned for Airaen to go upstairs to her room and lock the door. With a slight protest, Airaen made her way to her room, but, before she went in, quickly hid in her father's room, which overlooked the front door. As she looked outside, Airaen saw a group of armed, evil-looking men standing outside with torches, their horses, black with red eyes, stood a short distance away. The man who was knocking had a sword drawn. Airaen saw the door open, and before she could say anything, the man moved inside. There was a crash and a yell, and nothing more. They were inside.