Disclaimer: I still don't own SSBM, LoZ, or related titles and characters. I'm just not cool enough yet.
The One I Love
Chapter 6
Zelda and I talked for hours. Or rather, I talked for hours. She constantly asked me about all the trials and tribulations I had overcome in the past, whether it was part of saving her from Ganondorf the umpteenth time or my adventures in worlds outside of Hyrule. I was certainly curious about her present thoughts, but every time I asked she responded with another question about one adventure or another. My only worry was that she seemed preoccupied with something as I answered her questions.
"…and that's how I defeated Volvagia, the fire dragon." I concluded another of my long-winded tales. Zelda continued staring into space. I had to nudge her shoulder to elicit any kind of response.
"That's really something, Link." Zelda finally answered in her melodic voice. "Tell me again how you obtained the Biggoron's sword. Please?" She added the please only as an afterthought after I didn't immediately respond.
"Zelda, I have a strange feeling you didn't invite me over just to talk story." I responded. "Is there something bothering you?" Zelda gave me a look as if she was about to cry.
"Impa said not to say anything, but I think I can trust you, if no one else," Zelda replied, holding back tears. "I guess I'll start from the beginning: Something weird has been going on in Hyrule. It started with Ganondorf's disappearance several nights ago. Our contact within the Gerudos gave us the information. Then, one by one, the rest of the Gerudos went missing. They just vanished. Poof. Disappeared. Sadly, this included our contact. When we sent another scout out, the entire area was deserted. Not even the killer cabbages remained." Zelda was finding it easier to hold back the tears as she went on.
I thought those annoying things were invincible, I thought to myself.
"Over the next few days, the residents of both Zora's Falls and Kakariko Village suffered the same fate. As of now, the only remaining people in Hyrule are within the castle walls and in Kokiri Forest. Even now, the inhabitants of the forest are…" Zelda continued, sniffing during that last line. My own expression grew grave as well, as her eyes began welling up with tears again. "And then, last night…my own father…" Zelda broke down in tears and hugged me tightly. I reciprocated.
"I'm so sorry…" I said, then thought for a moment. "Why didn't Impa want me to know about this anomaly?"
"Because…" Zelda tried calming herself down. "We got a message the night after Ganondorf's appearance that you shouldn't interfere, or else whoever it is that's doing this…would get you too!" Zelda began sobbing again.
"It'll be okay…" I said, rubbing her back as we held each other close. I'd dreamed of holding her this close, but the circumstances were always happier ones in the dreams. "I'm sure I've beaten worse than whomever is doing this." That line made me think of the dream I had had a few nights prior. The man who had threatened me in the dream. I wonder if he had anything to do with this…?
Zelda continued crying in my arms until she fell asleep, at which point I tucked her into her bed. I then got up and sat back down on a stool next to her bed. I unsheathed my Master Sword and held it at the ready position.
"I'll protect you if it's the last thing I do." I whispered.
Several hours later, not far from the wee hours of the morning, I was close to dozing off. I kept myself awake all night, but the only adversary I was fending off was sleep. It wasn't until it surrounded me that I noticed a purplish-black cloud seeping into Zelda's room. I immediately stood to try staving it off, but, just as quickly, the cloud enveloped me. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was a young-looking, lithe man enter the room.
I awoke in a groggy daze to Zelda's sun-lit room. I quickly remembered what had transpired the night before, and yelled Zelda's name as I scanned the room. Save for an unkempt bed, there was no sign of Zelda or the young man I saw. Whoever that guy was, I was going to make him pay for this.
I stormed my way out of the castle and met Impa at the front gate.
"You might need this," she said impassively, and handed me the Ocarina of Time. While time-travel was expressly forbidden, lest anyone cause a repeat of Ganondorf's domination, the Ocarina still had its uses. I began to play Epona's Song. "Where to first?" Impa asked. Even though she hadn't wanted Zelda to tell me what was going on, Impa knew Zelda would eventually spill the beans.
"Zelda said the first disappearance was Ganondorf and the Gerudos," I explained, as Epona arrived. "So that's my first stop." I mounted my horse.
"Good speed to you, then." Impa waved goodbye as Epona and I sped off toward Gerudo Valley.