Chapter Nine
Link let go of the Master Sword, his hands shaking. He made sure that Ganon was not going to suddenly return to life, and then he climbed down and dropped in front of Annabella and Princess Zelda, who had rushed forward to make sure he was alright.
"It's…over," whispered Link. "Just a quick battle and – he's gone. I…I never knew that he would freeze in stone like that. I suppose that he is gone forever."
"He's not," Annabella told him glumly as Link took the heavy Megaton Hammer from her. "He will be back."
Link gazed at Annabella, his eyes piercing hers. "Well, I'll be ready then. I'll be able to defeat him."
Annabella shook her head, feeling more defeated than Ganon was. "I'm—I'm sorry, but you…you will no longer be around." Annabella rubbed her temples. "Even though he will come back, he can always be defeated by the Master Sword. And…" Annabella lifted her head, a smile on her lips – "he always will be."
OoO
The trio stepped into a beam of light that sparkled and shimmered, which was known to teleport one out of a dungeon. When they were freed of the dank dungeon, glorious sunlight greeted them, along with a gently smiling Roan.
"I know what you three did. 'Twas very brave." Roan's smile flickered. Roan gazed at both Annabella and then Princess Zelda with a hard, serious look in his eyes. "Maidens…I have a very important truth to tell both of you. Yes, Link, you may listen in, but it might affect you greatly." Roan took a deep breath. "Lasses…would you like to hear…the truth about your heritage?"
Princess Zelda breathed a sharp intake. She mentally prepared herself not to burst into tears again when she learned that her life was fake, a lie, and that she would have to give up the Crown to Annabella, a clueless, weak Earthling who couldn't even strike Ganon…
Annabella also prepared herself. It was somewhat exciting, but it was also quite saddening. The parents she had grown to love were not her own. She would leave them forever to become a Princess. She was not sure she wanted to become royalty. It would be hard. Her look alike functioned much better; she had been raised to be polite, soft-spoken, yet determined to do what was best for her land and not for herself. Annabella was not sure if she, a typical teenaged girl, could compete. Plus, the loss of Annabella would devastate her parents, whom loved her very much and she in return. If she just ran away to Hyrule, life would not be the same for her family or her close friends. However…if she told her peers and her parents where she was going, she would be dubbed mentally ill. It would not good. She would have to make a decision.
Link also wondered how life would be different. Princess Zelda would have to go to Earth and adapt to the wonderful technology, and would have to change her personality to become fun-loving, boisterous, Legend of Zelda otaku Annabella. And Annabella…Hyrule would accept the idea of a new Zelda because of the rumors that had circulated when she was born, but would Earth accept Annabella? The idea would be allowed, but Annabella…she was different. She was not trained to be a Princess. She was trained to be herself and to grow up to love life and to raise a family, not an entire Kingdom.
"I…I'm ready to know the truth," Annabella told Roan shakily.
"S-so am I, R-Roan," chimed in Princess Zelda.
Roan's eyes locked with the Princess's, and then with Annabella's. "The truth is…what you know. The rumor was just that – a rumor. 'Twas a childish falsehood made by those who wished to stir up excitement." Roan looked at the ground, a pink tone appearing in his cheeks. "I am sorry for upsetting either of you."
Princess Zelda's eyes opened wide. "What! I'm…I truly am the Princess!"
Roan smiled. "Yes. And…" he turned to face Annabella, "you are truly Annabella Rose Evans, as your parents christened you."
"How do you know my full name?" asked Annabella as she beamed gleefully. She wasn't disappointed. She was…happy. Being a Princess just didn't fit the role for her.
"The human thought process is quite simple. When I asked your name, the thought that was first processed was your full name." Roan chuckled. "I suppose I do read minds. I myself am unsure of what the full extent of my ability is."
"Then why do they look like twins?" demanded Link. "If they are not meant to be replacements of each other, why do they look similar? I do not understand. Why was Annabella transported here?"
Roan sighed. "I do not know all of those answers, Hero of Time, but I can estimate. Annabella and the Princess's similarities? Pure coincidence. But, see – Annabella has thicker eyebrows. Princess Zelda, your eyes are a darker blue. And Annabella is a distinct three inches taller than the Princess." Roan smiled. "Annabella, I have a guess to why you were transported here: because in all of your heart, just purely and simply, you wanted to be here. You lead your two companions to me. I had acquired the Master Sword to give to Link to seal up Ganon for the time being." Roan was silent for a few moments, lost in thought, and then he continued. "I do believe that if Ganon was not sealed up, he would have destroyed the Temple of Time after he escaped from his dungeon down there." Roan's eyes shone with sadness. "And, dear Annabella, you know what will happen to this lovely land. Not defeated Ganon might have sped up that process." Roan shook his head slowly, eyes closed, chin raised. "And that would have been a tragedy, would it not?"
His voice seemed to grow faint. He repeated the words again, in a soft whisper. Annabella rubbed her eyes. They were playing tricks on her, surely. Roan…he could not…
"He's a ghost," murmured Link, noticing how Roan was disappearing from view, fading like the mists had.
"Indeed I am." Roan's eyes opened, but they were now transparent. Annabella felt immense depression seeing him go. He couldn't…Roan had helped them so much…and had Annabella or Link or Princess Zelda even thanked him? Would there even be a way to repay him?
"There will be, Annabella. In fact…you already have."
Annabella was surprised for a moment by Roan's words, but then remembered how he knew about thoughts.
"How did we repay you, Roan?" she asked eagerly, reaching out a hand to try to touch his. "How? Please tell me!"
"Fifteen years ago, I was killed in a gruesome battle. My wife ran away with our baby. She was injured."
Annabella knew this familiar story. It was one well-known throughout the Legend of Zelda fanfic community.
"No way…no way…" whispered Annabella. She glanced at Link and then at Roan. "Oh…no way…"
"What is going on?" asked Princess Zelda in a demanding voice.
"Link…I'm sorry that we did not meet until now. But remember me, Link, and remember this: you are the son of Roan."
And then, the ghost faded away completely, leaving Link with tears shimmering in his emerald eyes.
This is not the end! Okay, the last chapter will be entitled "Epilogue", so you'll know it's the end, 'kay? Plus, I have to get Annabella back to Earth, right! And I have to explain which "love" is this hero's love... XD