17. And They All Lived...

or,

With Apologies to Bon Jovi

Link leaned on Zeld's shoulder as they walked the silent streets. The town had always been quiet, but this was the quiet of desertion, not fear.

"Where is everybody?" Zeld asked.

"Evacuated probably," Tor said. "Come on, I know the way."

He led them across town and out onto the old Milk Road, and sure enough there was a huge crowd of people huddling together. For a moment a field of eyes stared at the three of them.

"You're probably wondering what happened," Tor said with a reassuring smile. "Short version: Vaaltos is gone."

"How gone?" a woman asked.

"Dead."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

There was a quick murmur as the news traveled back to the people who couldn't hear, and then someone cheered. Domino effect followed.

It was a good fifteen minutes before any kind of order could be restored, and that was only because half the crowd had headed back to town to clean and reclaim. It was at this point that Denko, finally, found Tor.

"Tor!" he shouted, pushing through the remains of the crowd.

"Hey Sparky. How you doin'?"

"Um, fine. Fine. Why does everyone keep calling me that?"

"Oh...you know...reasons. What's up?"

"I've been looking for you! I- I have to tell you I- Tor I'm so sorry!"

Tor smiled. "It's okay, really. I weren't thinking."

"No...I wasn't..." He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "When that light hit me, in that weird white place, I saw...everything. Suddenly everything made sense. Why I said that, why I drink so much. I was...scared."

"Scared? Of what?"

"I'm gay."

Tor promptly smacked him on the side of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For being an idiot!"

"Oh. Okay then."

Zeld and Link managed to escape from some of their new fans, and worked their way back to Tor. Zeld poked him in the ribs.

"Hey. Link looks like she's gonna pass out. How about going home?"

"Home?" Tor repeated. He looked stunned.

"Yeah. You can get us back there...right?"

"Yeah, yeah...no problem. Come on."

They headed across town and to the graveyard, followed by a curious Denko. When they got there, a change was apparent.

There was a huge makeshift ramp leading from the top of the cliff along the side of the graveyard to the portal, which was visible as a faint shimmering in the air.

"How long has that thing been there?" Link asked, staring.

"Like two days," Denko said. The other three turned to him. "My kid brother told me about it. Him and some of the other boys were thinking that if they built up enough speed they could get through the portal and escape this place. They never tested it though. Cart's still up there." He pointed, and sure enough there was a cart at the top of the ridge.

Link grinned. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

zzz

"This is pointless you know," Tor said, helping the other two shove the cart into position.

"Perhaps," Link agreed. "But it will be so cool."

"You sure you can't come with us?" Zeld asked.

"Afraid so. Now that Vaaltos is dead the portal will remain open until the people that came through it go back, but only they will be able to use it."

"So no one but us can go through it, and once we do it'll close?"

"Yep."

"So how are you going to get home?"

Tor shrugged. "I've studied Vaaltos' magic. I'll figure something out."

"Well...when you do get back, if you need a job, look me up. I've noticed security at the palace is awfully lax."

Tor laughed. "I'll do that."

"Looks good!" Denko called from down near the end of the ramp.

"This is it then," Zeld sighed.

"Yeah," Link slipped her hand into his.

"Get in the cart before I start it off without you," Tor told them.

They clambered in, Link wincing as she settled near the back.

"All set?" Tor asked.

"All set," Zeld gave him a thumbs up.

Tor pulled off his black tunic and used it to pad his hands as he shoved the cart off the top of the ramp.

As he pushed, Link saw something glittering in the hollow of his throat.

A gold ring, engraved with two ancient Hylian symbols, on a chain around his neck.

She smacked herself in the forehead and lurched to her feet as the cart rumbled toward the portal.

"Tor!" she shouted, gripping the back of the cart. "Kobold misses you! He wants you to come home!"

Tor's eyes widened and he started forward, mouth open to shout.

But then cart passed through the portal and dumped Link and Zeld on the scraggly grass at the edge of the desert.

"What was that about?" Zeld groaned as he climbed to his feet.

"Me being dumb," Link sighed. "I can't believe I didn't figure it out before. 'Tall, very handsome, silverish hair that he likes to wear long...' Stupid, stupid Link!"

"Huh?"

"I'll explain on the way." She sighed again as she surveyed the desert. "We'll have plenty of time..."

zzz

After two day of trekking across the desert Link was starting to despair. She'd done the hero thing, she'd saved the prince, it should be over. She shouldn't have to try to cross a desert with nothing but a sword, a bow...and a guy who could use magic to get water out ofalmost anything.

"Just one of those handy spells that you need to know, because you never know," Zeld had said, grinning, the first time he did it.

The sun was rising and Link was shuffling along in dejection. "This is hopeless."

He poked her. "We've got to hold on to what we've got."

"It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not."

"We've got each other, and that's a lot." He smiled down at her. "For love."

She smiled back. "For love."

Zeld looked back up at the horizon. "Oh! We're halfway there."

Link shook her head. "Living on a prayer."

"Take my hand." She did. "We'll make it, I swear."

She smiled, but shook her head again. "Living on a prayer."

They walked on in silence for a while.

"Let's talk about something," Zeld said. "Pass the time."

"I think we've run out of subjects."

"Blasphemy! There must be something!"

Link cracked a smile. "I still can't believe you have piercings on your-"

"We will never speak of that again!" Zeld shouted.

Link threw her head back and laughed.

"It's not my fault okay? It's...traditional..."

"That's traditional?"

"The piercings allow the, uh, royal personage to be...sort of...tied down...to prevent any embarrassing...over-excitement in public."

Link was now laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

"Shut up will you?"

She said nothing, just wheezed.

"Shut up!"

Still nothing.

"Screw you."

"You already did baby," Link grinned, finally gaining her breath. "Piercings and all."

"Go to hell."

"Taking you with me."

Zeld grumbled and turned his eyes firmly on the horizon. Then he blinked.

"What is that?"

"What is what?"

"That," he pointed. "That thing, coming toward us."

"It's a mirage."

"It is not. I think it's a horse!"

"Well if it's a mirage you owe me ten bucks."

"It is a horse! Look!"

She looked. "17th!" she exclaimed gleefully.

"Who?"

"That's my horse!"

17th galloped across the sand, whinnying as she drew close. Link ran ahead, throwing her arms around the horse's neck as soon as she reached her. "17th, I can't believe you came all the way out here!"

"It's a horse, Link," Zeld told her.

"Shut up and hop on." Link swung herself into the saddle, grinning. "We're getting home in style."

"I have to sit behind you?"

"Yes."

"Fine, but if anyone asks...I was wounded in battle."

Link laughed. "Get on you big baby. And don't make me start calling you my bitch."

"Yes dear."

He climbed on behind her, and the hero and her prince rode off into the sunset.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Notes from the Author:

Before anyone asks, Zeld's piercing is what's known as the "Prince Albert" piercing. It's called this because, rumor has it, Prince Albert had is done for the same reason Zeld described. I really don't know why I included this in the story. Just thought it'd be funny.

Go check my DA account. I've got some fanart, and a steamy picture of Tor and Kobold. Yes they're a couple, yes I know you figured that out already, but this was the first time I actually confirmed that in the story, remember?

Only one chapter to go! Whoo! Next one will wrap up everything, I promise.