Woohoo! We're almost at Chapter 20!! Be happy!

Anyway, here you go. Enjoy!

-Shawshank

Chapter 19 - Dreams

It had been hours, and they were still lost. Navi had yet to wake up, and the mists surrounding them had only thickened with time. Every once in a while, though, they would part just a bit so that they could see the deep greens of the forest, and they would head in that direction. Then the mists would close around them yet again, and they would have no choice but to try to wander in that direction.

Kawhin was unsettled by the way he could hear the mists whispering around them, and even more so when he realized that Zelda could not. It made him wish he could summon fire, as some of the other Sheikah in his clan could, to burn away the small water droplets that seemed to be immune to the sun. Of course, none of them could even tell if it was sunny outside of the thick fogbank. For all they knew, it could be raining or cloudy, or even snowing. This part of the country especially was known for freak weather. Besides, the glade was too close to the ancient Forests of Night for his liking; then again, the Forests of Night surrounded the entire country, making sure outsiders could never enter their land.

Sometimes he wished that he could know what the outside world was like.

Sometimes he almost worked up the courage to walk through the Forests of Night, find a portal, and leave this world for the next.

Sometimes he wished Link were here to lead them out of this. Surely the Hero could find his way out of anything!

Sometimes he wished it were he who was dead, instead of Link.

He thought back to the Prophecies. They had apparently found the very rock upon which they had first been inscribed, then found by one who was only known by two names; The Finder of the Prophecies, and Vere'forgad'urian. The first name was given to the Finder by the people of Hyrule and by the scholars who had studied his works; the second was the name he had signed at the bottom of the scroll upon which he had written the poem he had found on a black rock.

Navi shifted in his hands, and he carefully adjusted his grip on the tiny pixie. She was lying in his hands, completely oblivious to the deepening evil surrounding them. He watched her move in half sleep, half unconsciousness. Did faeries dream? If they did, he had no doubt that Navi was dreaming now. He wished, just for a fleeting moment, that he could see what she was dreaming of.

***

Zelda groaned and let herself fall to the ground with a barely audible thud. She was tired of wandering around aimlessly, and her feet ached. She mentally berated herself for being so stupid as to even bring heeled shoes on a trip like this. Besides that, she was starting to feel light-headed from all the humidity, and the blood pounded through her veins mercilessly. She let her hair fall into disarray and sat with her head between her knees, as Impa had taught her to if ever she felt too faint to walk.

Even in her highly distracting state, she felt Kawhin's presence come near her, and heard him sit down. She knew he was tired too, but he was quickly adapting to life outside of the place where he had grown up. She, however, was much too used to palace life. The knowledge of woodcraft had never been expected of her as a Princess, and now she was suffering the consequences. Once again, she found herself regretting having led the sheltered life of a Royal during her childhood.

Suddenly, through the haze of her aching head, she felt a strong connection being formed - and she was being drawn into it. She groaned and gave in, too tired to fight it.

Zelda was starting to get sick of all the mind connections she'd had to endure over the past few days.

***

The majestic white horse was coming straight towards us, its black eyes rolling in their sockets, mane and tail waving in the wind created by its passage. Its whinnying clashed with the loud, confused scream of the small girl on its back. A tall, imposing woman dressed in dark body armour held on to the royally dressed child, shielding her from attacks from behind.

At the first glance, I knew it was them. Zelda stared at me, her eyes wide, then threw something back towards me. Impa shouted at me to be strong, but I lost the last of it. I tried to catch the object, but it sailed over my head and into the castle moat. I was about to go after it, but a black horse came clattering over the wooden bridge just as they disappeared. The wood seemed to sag under this black burden, and I heard the man sitting on the horse grind his teeth together, cursing under his breath. He bared his teeth angrily and said aloud, "Argh! I lost them!"

It was then that he noticed me. He turned to look at me, his eyes burning with anger.

I knew then that I had met my archrival, in the past, present, and future. This was the one I had given in to over and over again in many different forms. This was the one I would destroy in the end. I saw it in his eyes, and he saw it in mine. And I watched as the fear wash through him, and I watched as he tried to cover it up with a false air of authority.

"You must have seen the white horse. Which way did they go? Answer me!"

I remained silent, knowing my refusal to answer was unnerving him further.

"So, you think you're tough, huh? You think you're protecting them, kid?"

I drew my sword calmly and put my shield on my arm. His brows drew together.

"So you want a piece of me? That's real funny, kid! I like your attitude!"

He laughed slowly, and I knew that I would hear that laugh again, when I was lying at his feet, dying slowly.

He raised his hand and growled in his throat, and the air around him darkened as he drew energy from it. He released it, and I couldn't move fast enough. It hit me square in the chest, and I flew backwards, bouncing painfully on my spine a few feet backwards. I looked up at him, and realized that he did not deserve to be given the title of a living being.

It laughed at me again, shouting back at me as it rode off, "I am Ganondorf! And soon, I will rule this world!"

I got up, brushed myself off, and looked at Navi to reassure myself that she was all right. I dove into the moat to get the object Zelda had left me. It was the Ocarina of Time, along with a message of sorts, linking my mind directly to hers via our already established connection.

***

A wave of light flooded over us, and as it faded, I saw the Princess standing in front of a stone formation. I recognized it; it was the Temple of Time, and she was standing in front of the altar. She turned towards me, her dress swishing around her ankles. Her face was weighed down with unearthly burdens, but she managed a small smile when she saw me.

( Link, when you hold this Ocarina in your hands, I won't be around anymore. )

Her voice was breaking, and tears streaked her face. I wondered why she was crying.

( Link, you must save Hyrule. You must open the Door of Time, and defeat Ganondorf. I'm sorry I can't be there to help you. )

I felt that age - old mask floating down over my face. I fought to take it off, to no avail.

( Link, this song will open the Door of Time. Play it in front of the altar. )

As that beautiful, heart - wrenching song floated through my head, my blood pounded in my veins. This was what I was meant for, what I was meant to do. This was *me*. I felt my own eyes misting, and I hurriedly scrubbed them with a grimy fist. I looked down at my hands, and felt, not for the first time, that this wasn't quite right. My hands were too small, my fingers too short and stubby and weak.

I took out my Ocarina and played the song back to her perfectly, having known it since before I was out of my mother's womb. This was the tune I had heard in half - waking, the simple song that had been with me through my whole life. This was the melody I had unconsciously hummed while trekking through the grassy plains of Hyrule, and when I noticed I was humming, I always forgot it.

One more tear slipped down Zelda's face, and the connection was severed. I tried to call her name, but she had blocked me out. All I knew was that we wouldn't be talking again for a very long time.

I wondered why as the light took me back.

***

I sputtered, half-drowned, in the moat. Navi fluttered over my head, angry at me, telling me how stupid I was, how I knew that I couldn't swim very well! I was concentrating more on getting air into my lungs than I was on anything else at that point, so I was surprised when a rock - solid hand took me by the scruff of my neck and hauled me onto the drawbridge.

I must have been in that connection for a while, because the sun had already begun to set. The owner of the hand kneeled down in front of me and stared me viciously in the face. His hard, flat eyes frightened me, but I didn't back down. He grabbed the front of my tunic and lifted me up a few centimetres when I made a grab for my sword. I tried to kick him, but he only narrowed his eyes and stood up, taking me with him. He held me out at arm's length.

"Where did they go?"

"Where did who go?"

His eyes narrowed again.

"You know perfectly well who I'm talking about. Don't play stupid."

I struggled to eradicate myself from his strong, adult grip.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

He smiled a small, sad smile at me, and his eyes twinkled a bit. A slight wind ruffled his hair and clothing.

"You'll just have to trust me, Fairy Boy."

"How do you know my nickname?"

The hardness snapped back into place, and suddenly he was a statue again, the skin on the bridge of his nose wrinkling as he snarled at me.

"I can't tell you that. You ask too many questions and don't give enough answers for your own good. Now tell me!"

I shook my head, and he let me drop to the drawbridge, leaving me to nurse a twisted ankle.

"You fool. If Ganondorf finds them first, they'll be dead before you can draw breath."

"Yeah, well, Hyrule's a big land. I know, I've been all over it."

"You sure have a lot of spunk, don't you?"

"It keeps me alive."

"It'll kill you someday."

"What makes you think that?"

"Forget it, Kid. Just - just one more thing before I have to leave."

"What's that?"

His eyes softened again, and the sky darkened several shades as the sun sank lower.

"Don't end up like me, Kid. Don't you dare end up like me."

"How do I do that, Mister?"

He kneeled down in front of me again, and his face was fierce.

"Don't go into that Temple. Don't play that song ever again. Forget Hyrule, Kid; just go and live your life somewhere else. Leave this land."

I stared at him like he was an idiot, which he probably was.

"What are you talking about? Hyrule needs me. Ganondorf -"

"Will cease to exist if you don't touch that Temple. I'll see to that."

"And what makes you think *you* can beat Ganondorf?"

He stood up and looked down at me, again with that small, sad smile.

"What makes you think *you* can? Just take my word for it." The light in his eyes became dangerous. "Besides, unlike you, I've got nothing to lose."

I glared up at him as I answered. "No. I'm going."

He sighed, shook his head in defeat, and walked away. I angrily turned and stalked off into the castle, but not before I looked back one more time. What I saw made my heart ache for the mysterious stranger.

He was walking west, into the sunset. He was silhouetted by the sinking mass of orange, and headed in entirely the wrong direction. I was tempted to shout after him to go south, but decided against it. After all, you never know who might be listening.

Or maybe he was going in the wrong direction on purpose.

He was staggering back and forth now, and he would stop every once in a while, fall down on his side, and stay there. Then he would summon up the energy to get up, and continue walking. Just as the resident pack of wolves howled, he dropped to his knees, raised his head to the sky, and screamed with them. He had his hair gripped in his hands like a crazy man, and I watched in horror as the Stalchildren pounced on him. He just sat there and let himself be killed.

The last thing I saw before the drawbridge slammed shut was a Stalchild digging its bony claws into his side, and the man falling on his face.

The drawbridge shut with a loud clang, and I found that I was weeping for the strange man who refused to defend himself against the night predators.

I wondered why as the guards locked the drawbridge. Then I turned and ran towards the Temple that held my future.

***

Zelda shook her head in wonder as the visions faded away. The memories were Link's, of that she was sure. But how could they be Link's? Link was - dead. Something caught in her throat, and she forced herself to breathe normally. Sobbing wouldn't help her figure this out. She saw Kawhin sitting with Navi still in his hands, staring at her.

"Kawhin, did you do something?"

He blushed and looked towards the ground.

His voice trailed off in an ashamed whimper. Zelda's blood boiled.

"You looked in her head without *asking*? That's the worst violation anyone with the gift of telepathy can commit!"

"And just what is *that* supposed to mean?"

"She's unconscious! Of *course* she's not going to block you!"

Kawhin shook his head as he answered.

"Like when I was having those prophetic dreams? As I recall, you let your guard down, and they were transferred to you."

"Well? What did you see?"

Zelda shook her head. Kawhin sighed in frustration.

"Funny. I don't mind that I don't remember what I saw. I actually feel like it doesn't really matter, that I'll find out anyway."

Kawhin's eyes pierced into hers.

"So what are you doing poking around in Navi's mind?"

"Well, apparently they do. And not just their dreams either; they dream the memories of those they guard, too."

"Don't say that! And yes, despite myself, I do." She continued in a more subdued voice. "When he was - alive - I never really gave myself the chance to look into his past, before we were fighting Ganondorf as grown - ups."

"I don't know, Kawhin."

"Oh, fine. Now or never, I guess."

***

I watched from the shadows as he tripped down the stairs, Navi floating behind him. He wasn't quite used to his adult body yet, and he had always been clumsy anyway. Except, of course, when he had a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. My last glimpse of him had been seven long, lonely years ago, when he and I were still young. He had been standing in front of the traitor Ganondorf, with his sword drawn. He made an encouraging sight, and it was one of the few things that had kept me going for so long.

During those seven years of separation, I had perfected transforming into my Sheikah form, and now I was working on gathering up enough magic in two seconds to move instantly to the Spatial Plane, on which I could go wherever I pleased.

Those years had been stressful on all of us. The small colony of rebels I was staying with was having trouble sticking together in the height of Ganondorf's rule. Fights were constantly breaking out, and patience was stretched to the maximum. Everyone was tired. There was even talk - behind mine and Impa's backs, of course - of surrendering. After all, for all we knew, we were the last rebels in the entire country. For all we knew, all the rest could be dead or worse.

Now, our hope was here. The Hero of Time had risen, and it was only a matter of time before all was well again. At least, I hoped it would be.

If everything worked out, I had a plan. If Link could somehow survive the trials ahead of him, I knew what I would have to do. I knew that his future was, ironically, in my hands. If - no, when - everything was right again, I would set things right. I would make them as they once were. I had no choice. Link had a right to innocence.

*But*, the voice in my head whispered, *Doesn't he also have a right to choose for himself? What if he missed you too? What then, hmm?*

*Oh, shut up,* I told it. But she had to admit, it was a nice prospect. My father was dead, killed by Ganondorf in the first few weeks of his dictatorship; there was nobody to tell me how to run my life, who I could marry.

I looked at Link again, licking my lips. Wouldn't it be so much easier to just rip off all of the bandages Impa had painstakingly wrapped around my chest and arms, run to him, and hold him until my heart was healed? Would it? No, it would be easier and better for both of us if I remained in disguise, if I hid my feelings until the right time. No, I would have to hide them forever, along with the truth. If I ever ended up telling him the truth about my alter ego, he would never forgive me. I couldn't lose him, not after I'd lost everything else with my carelessness. It just wasn't worth it. So, no, I would keep my secrets, and Link would keep his, and we would be friends, nothing more. Even so, small whispers of longing tugged at my heart, played tricks with my soul.

I swallowed hard, pushed them away, and stepped halfway into the circle of light.

***

"Get out of here, freak!"

"You don't belong here!"

I looked up into the face so like mine, and yet so different. While mine was hard and drawn, hers had hate boiling underneath the surface. She hated me for what I was, for what I had become. All my life, the only thing I had wanted was her approval. My world revolved around her. My only goal was to receive on pat on the head, one kiss on the cheek, one kind word.

Now I knew that there was no way on this Earth that my own mother would ever touch me again.

My clan studied the ways of the wind. I lived with the wind. I knew it in a way they never could. For two beautiful months I had run with the wolves and the streams, trailed my hands through the long grasses, learned how to decipher the complex tongue of the faithful beasts whom I loved unashamedly. Then I thought of my mother, and, thinking to earn her approval, I had asked the wolves to guide me to the valley of my childhood.

The welcome I got was less than friendly.

People had recognized me for my mother's daughter the instant I stepped into our territory. The boy I had once thought I loved, now a man, looked at me with pain in his flecked brown eyes. Then his face hardened over, reminiscent, I knew, of mine, and he joined the rest in whispering behind my back, thinking I couldn't hear them. I had last been here three years ago. I had somehow survived three winters, and now I hoped to spend the coming one by the warmth of my mother's fire. In return, I would tell them of my travels; I would teach them to speak with the wolves, to be in harmony with nature, and, most of all, I would tell them of the wind. I would tell them how the Earth's sweet breath flowed through my fingers and my hair, of how, if I concentrated, I could hear it whispering soft words of everlasting love and devotion to me.

Oh, what a wonderful mother the Earth was! She was so much more understanding and loving than my own mother!

I had accidentally stumbled right in the middle of a meeting of the Elders, and they had looked at me with distaste, like I was some mess of rotting leaves to be picked from between one's toes. I ran over to my mother, intending to embrace her. She neatly stepped aside, and I fell on my face into the mud.

My own mother laughed at me with the Elders. I pushed myself up with my arms, then leaped to my feet, not caring that a lob of something was forming in my throat.

I had growled and jumped her, only to be stopped in midair by a pair of strong young arms.

It was him. The boy who had so disillusioned me that I had actually believed myself to care for him beyond as a part of the Tribe. What a fool I was!

Now I was being exiled by the only family I had ever known besides the wolves, the Winden Tribe. I was being betrayed. I hated them, and that hate burned in the pit of my stomach until I felt like I was going to explode.

I roared and slashed at my dragon skin with my sword, drawing steaming, blue blood. It spurted out of my system and landed on a large, sap - sticky tree beside me, and the tree instantly burst into flames. I laughed when sparks and burning branches fell onto the mud homes of the strangers I thought I had known, and I watched with satisfaction as the valley burned to a crisp.

I turned back to the wolves, and they ran from me, snarling at me over their shoulders. I sat on the grassy hilltop and wept, and Earth's breath came back to me.

*What have you done, child?*

'I don't know, Mother.'

*I offered you love, little one. Why did you turn away?*

'I only wanted them to love me, Mother!'

The Earth left me, and I stood and screamed.

"I ONLY WANTED THEM TO LOVE ME! I only wanted them to love me. Oh, what have I done, Mother? What have I become?"

As I sat and wept, I knew the answer. I had become a monster, weeping bitter tears over the loss of those who hated me, who had hated me since I first drew breath.

I had been a monster from the womb, and I would be one to the grave. My only wish now was to find my heart before I died.

Yes. I was a monster looking for my heart. How ironic.

Tears were still running down my mutilated face.

***

"Hold him still, you idiot! He'll hurt himself!"

"But, Master, he might kill me!"

"So? Hold him!"

The creature reluctantly placed its claws on the thrashing figure's arms, trying and failing to hold it down on the ground. The monster had somehow made its way outside, and was now trying to run. It kept falling down, though, not able to find its balance. It screamed in frustration, and the clear crescent moon around its neck was beginning to glow a strange turquoise colour.

The thing made of shadows and nightmares stepped forward, exasperated, and yanked the chain from around its creation's neck. The chain immediately wilted under his evil fingers, and the crescent moon faded back to the dull colour it had been before. The monster on the ground thrashed momentarily, then ceased to struggle. The thing standing above it with the necklace smiled a bit. He had won, yet again. And he could sense one of the other ones, approaching recklessly. The others were still being mislead by his mists; they would likely be lost for days, or until they were dead, whichever came first. He immediately dropped the smile, forcing himself to frown, concentrating on the anger he felt at being delayed, no matter how slightly.

He looked towards the moon. It was almost time. He would rid the necklace of its power, finish perfecting his creature's body, and then the fun part would begin. Oh, how he loved playing with the mind! It was such a complicated thing, and this one's was more complex than most. His new monster's mind was full of death traps; it would take time to unravel. But he had all the time in the world! Well, not quite. His master had demanded to see his new creation as soon as it was completed, and he had told it that it could take some amount of time. His master wasn't quite pleased by that, but no matter. He would definitely be pleased with the results.

He snapped his fingers, and two more creatures carried the now still monster into their master's luxurious tent. He played with the small stone - carved figure in his hands. How could such a small thing be tied to a life such as his monster's? Well, when had unravelled the mysteries of the stone's power, he would tweak it. As long as the stone was whole, so would the body of his monster be. And then he would make the stone unbreakable! And he would keep the stone at all times. Yes, he had it! The stone was the key to controlling his new monster!

But, even so, mind control wasn't always flawless. He would still enjoy himself brainwashing the monster.

He walked back into the tent, grass wilting in his trail.

***

Ooh, nine pages in one night! My fingers are starting to hurt, especially since its about 11:30 PM now. I'll finish this up fast.

Reviewers, I love you! And that means all of you! Thank you!

Today's Wisdom Quote: 'Only two things are infinite, human stupidity and the universe; and I'm not so sure about the universe.'

-Albert Einstein

Today's Revelation: Stop signs are evil. So are brake pedals. And speed limit signs. And moms who think its just plain scary when you drive over 30KPH on a 60KPH road.

Today's Lyrical Quote:

'Are you comfortable and numb?

Did they all succumb to all those lies?

Does it satisfy the greed?

Is it all you need? Is it all you want?

'Cause baby, I'm not that strong.

And I'm Walking Wounded, all alone.

Yeah, baby, I'm not that strong.

And I'm Walking Wounded, all alone;

All alone.'

-From Walking Wounded by The Tea Party

Well, that's all for this week, folks! See ya real soon!

Da da da da da da! Pah-uppy Pah-ower!

-Shawshank *has been watching too much Scooby Doo*

(Notes made after I wrote this chapter:

Wow Melanie! Thank you very, very much! I love repetitive reviewers!!! Also, thanks extended to ???, and believe you me, I'll get over this writer's block ASAP. Thanks for the 'get well card.'

Well, I'm gonna go try to start on the next part now. Thanks everybody!

Oh, and I don't own George of the Jungle. Just makin' that clear.)