Author's Note: I'm surprised this is my first stab at a Zelda fanfic, given how much I like the series. Anyway, this is relatively short, but I got the Link's Awakening remake somewhat recently, and Marin's a pretty interesting character. I thought it'd be fun to try and get into her head, and this was the end result.
What Lies Beyond
Marin absently squeezed her arms as she glanced out at the ocean, wondering, as she often did, what waited past the horizon.
There had to be something out there—something more than just Koholint Island. Her life was nice, of course. Mabe Village was peaceful, and Marin loved her trips to the Animal Village. But the island seemed smaller every day, and it was all so…repetitive.
Everything was the same, and it seemed to have just…always been that way. She'd always lived with Tarin in their small house, the family with the four identical sons had always lived just north of them, and the library, shop, and trendy game had always been where they'd been. Nothing had ever been in the shops' present locations, and, despite the family's new baby, Marin couldn't remember the boys ever being babies themselves.
Come to think of it…had Marin always called Tarin by name? And she must've had a mother at some point—obviously, everyone did—but Marin couldn't remember her. Tarin never spoke of her, either. It had always just been her and him.
Marin couldn't remember much of her childhood, either. It was just a big fog if she tried to think back too far. If she didn't know better, it was almost like everyone had kind of…sprung into existence. But that was impossible; they had to have come from somewhere.
Where else was there, though? Certainly, no one else seemed interested in what lied past the beach. Had anyone ever ventured out there before? Marin doubted anyone who currently lived in Mabe Village had. Tarin always laughed her off when she brought up the topic, and everyone else seemed confused at the idea. To them, nothing beyond the village mattered; elsewhere may as well not even exist.
Marin sighed and shook her head; she was getting nowhere. Lately, she'd thought about things like this more and more often. It always frustrated her in the end, but she couldn't help it. The more Marin wondered what else was out there, the more she wanted to see it.
Finally, she stretched and stood up. Marin tried to put the squawking of the seagulls out of her head. She wasn't jealous of their ability to go wherever they wanted, whenever they wanted. No, definitely not.
Marin rounded the corner, leaving the small secluded area she liked to sit and think. She had some chores to take care of at home…maybe those would take her mind off things. Carefully, Marin went over her list in her head, and she was so focused on her plans that she almost didn't notice the flash of green nearby.
Marin turned around, quickly doubling back. There—a few yards away from her, there was a person sprawled out on the sand. Marin's heart pounded as she got closer. A soaking wet boy clad mostly in green was lying on the beach.
Was he all right? Marin knelt down, shaking him lightly. He didn't respond beyond a weak cough, but that proved he was alive.
What should she do? He clearly needed help. Marin could probably take him back to her and Tarin's house… Once he woke up, she could figure out what to do next.
But…one thing was clear to her. Marin knew she'd never seen the boy before. That meant he had to come from somewhere besides Koholint Island—and that meant something else was out there! She was right; she had to be!
Her breath quickened as she slipped one arm behind the boy's shoulders and the other beneath his knees. As Marin gently lifted him up, she was more excited than she'd been in weeks. She was concerned about him, of course, but the promise of something new and different hung in the air.
Marin finally had her chance—this boy was going to cause something incredible to happen. She knew it.