Conqueror

There are many things worth living for, there are a few things worth dying for, but there is nothing worth killing for.

-- Tom Robbins

By Raine Ishida

"So, you're saying that in the alternate world, two years from now, Link seals the evil when he awakens the sages and destroys Ganondorf."

The old sage nodded, his hands hidden in the long robe he wore. Rauru smiled and replied, "Certainly, Princess. That was in the alternate world. When you sent Link back in time, you sent him to the world where he was going to grow up as a normal teenager anyway. See it like this: Hyrule seems to have a parallel universe. In one, Link is summoned by the Great Deku Tree, sent for the Spiritual Stones, told to awaken the sages, and then he defeats Ganondorf, traveling through time in the process. In the world we're currently in, the world you sent him back to after Ganon's defeat, he was originally going to be sent away from the Kokiri and sent to Kakariko to grow up. In the future, we will find out what happens, because that is what is happening now."

"So…he won't have access to time travel," Zelda assumed. Rauru nodded. "Precisely, Princess. The things that happen, will happen without a chance to go back and change it. Basically, in the beginning, Link was brought to Kokiri Forest. He grew, was called, did his duty. Your magic, young Princess, sent him to an alternate rip in time.

"Ganondorf is no idiot. He knows you made a mistake and found a loophole. He found a way out of the Chamber and is roaming free in Hyrule. Did you even know that?"

Zelda's eyes widened. "You're kidding me," she breathed.

Rauru shook his head firmly. "He's the Gerudo's king at the moment. He has no intention of spreading harm, yet. You have not told Link his destiny. When that time comes, Ganondorf will arise."
"How do you know all this?" Zelda asked, frowning. The wise old man knew too much and it scared her. Did he know the outcome? Would this Hyrule cease to exist ultimately? Was the alternate Hyrule peaceful like this one was?

"I'm told, my dear. Now, there will be a time and a place to answer all of your questions. Oh, and the alternate Hyrule, we will call it the Past, does not count on this Hyrule to stay fruitful. However, this Hyrule, the Present, counts on every move we make for the future to be."

Rauru left Zelda to ponder this. It was all very confusing. Perhaps if she drew a picture…?

---

Link woke up early the next morning, feeling terrible. Argo was right. Perhaps he wasn't getting the sleep he needed. When he looked into the mirror, he wasn't surprised to see a very tired face looking back at him.

Dressing himself and leaving his house, he entered the sunshine and climbed up to the grassy hill beside the windmill to lie down and rest.

"Didn't you just wake up?" The voice was coming up the ladder. It was Tait, the Bazaar owner's daughter. She was dark skinned and dark haired, but pleasant in appearance. All the girls were jealous of her and figured that since Link was so kind to her that she'd end up being the lucky girl who got to marry him, but Link knew nothing of this secret conspiracy. He saw Tait as a nice girl to talk to.

She sat next to him, folding her skirt beneath her and looked at the sky.

"Nice day out, isn't it?" she said quietly. She knew she wasn't going to get an answer. When Link was relaxing like this, she knew she'd get not a word from him.

She took her chance to study him. He looked so handsome in the sunlight. His skin was tanned, his face defined, his lips full…she could just lean over and…

Link opened his eyes and sat up, causing her to blush as the thought crossed her mind.

"I'm finishing the sleep I didn't get last night."

"Rough sleep?" she asked, cocking her head in question. He nodded grimly, stretching and lying back down, putting his arms behind his head. His arms were now flexed as he did that, Tait noticed. She blushed again. He was so toned, so muscular…

Looking up at her, Link noticed she was blushing and how she averted her eyes when he met them. "What?" he asked plainly. There was no beating around the bush with him. He was also blind as a bat however. He knew nothing of girlish staring and blushes.

"Nothing," Tait replied with a smile. "You've been getting a lot of sun lately," she noted, pointing at him and poking his arm. His skin was warm and smooth. It gave her goose bumps. It came to the realization that she was head over heels infatuated by him.

The way he blinked was mesmerizing. How his lips were just barely parted as he looked out over the village was enthralling…she shook her head violently. She had to rid herself of these thoughts!

"Now what's wrong?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow at her. A dark eyebrow, contrasted against his silky blond hair…Tait stood. "I just remembered, I gotta go do some chores for my dad. Some…sale is on. He needs me to help set up or something…see ya around!"

She rushed down the ladder and ran towards her father's store.

Link shrugged. "That was weird," he muttered to himself before standing and rewarding himself with a full body stretch.

Down in the village, Impa, who had returned for a few errands, noticed the beautiful blond-haired boy stretching and smiled. With his muscles visible and his crystal eyes sparkling from the top of the hill, she nodded. He really did look like a hero.

And to think, he wasn't even of age quite yet.

---

Author's Note: Well, this chapter was fun. I got to picture Link, accentuate his yumminess, drool some more…accentuate some more…drool a bit more…oh wait, I have to go get the mop, excuse me. ;)

Seriously, though. For you girls who like Link and see him as a gorgeous creature, I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Ha ha.