Chapter 3

Freedom

Link immediately shielded Zelda with his body despite her weird behavior. He had no idea what was going on, but he would not allow her to be hurt under any circumstance.

Screams rent the air, emitted by both male and female. Then, just as soon as the strange 'wind storm' had come, it stopped. In fact, it stopped so abruptly, screams were still going. Then there was a small orb of red light floating in the middle of the room, it was watched in a now stunned silence as it began to grow bigger…soon it began to take shape…the shape of a human?

People were already slowly backing towards the exits not wanting to stick around for anything bad to happen…

Zelda had snapped out of her previous trance and could only stare at the orb in confusion, she couldn't remember anything from the past few minutes. And had only suddenly been in Link's arms not remembering how she got there.

To everyone's horror, the orb of light did morph into a human…something far from being normal, in the next moment, everyone ran out screaming bloody murder in an undignified rush, leaving a bewildered king, Zelda, Link, and those who worked at the castle.

In the middle of the room and in place of the light, now stood a man. The man had fiery red hair and golden colored eyes. He was garbed in fine clothes of silver and black with a huge broad sword strapped across his back in an elaborately decorated sheath. The man was at least seven feet tall and was very muscular.

Zelda suddenly pulled away from Link, and for reasons unknown to even her, was drawn towards the man. When she stood in front of him, all she could do was stare up at him in fascination.

He smiled at her, not missing how beautiful she was, and knelt before her, "I thank you for releasing me beautiful one…" he kissed her hand, but as if that wasn't enough, he continued kissing her up her arm…up her neck…Link's eyes narrowed into slits, he knew where this was going and wasn't about to let that happen which had knocked him from his shocked state. Normally Zelda would have been repulsed by what this crude man was doing, but it was as if she were hypnotized…and you would think the king would have reacted to this, but he only stood there staring blankly ahead.

Link had seen enough and sprinted towards the man, "Get away from her!" he delivered a hard punch to the side of the man's face. There was a loud crack as fist met face…

Link's eyes widened in pain as he snapped his hand back, the man hadn't even flinched from the blow! Although, it did get the man off of Zelda... Link held his left hand out and stared in disbelief, his hand hung limply and he had felt the bone crack on impact as well as heard it, meaning it was more than likely broken. Yet here this man stood… knelt…unscathed. Link just couldn't believe it!

The man threw back his head and laughed, Zelda sauntered away in a daze.

"What gives you the right to do something like that?" Link snarled menacingly, despite the pain ringing through his hand and all the way up his arm. Oh how he wished he had his sword…even if he would have to wield it with his right hand…but it was all the way up in the room…

The man's laughter came to a sudden stop as he glared at Link icily and stood, towering over him, "You dare question me for my actions? My dear boy, do you not know who I am?"

"I don't see why not, and no, I do not know who you are." Link replied grimly.

"My mother must be a bigger fool than I thought…" he spoke aloud more to himself than to anyone else. "For your information, I am the great Zen, son of the goddess of power, Din. Until recently, my spirit was trapped in that amulet…now that it's shattered, here I am."

"Son of Din? What kind of joke of yours is that? If this is true, why were you trapped within an amulet?" Link pried, doubt flickering across his features.

"I am quite serious, this is no joke," then a smirk crept across Zen's face. "I was sealed away because of certain deeds I wanted to do to the land of Hyrule…but my mother saw it unfit and that stupid woman locked me away."

"…What kind of…deeds?"

Zen's eyes lit up, "Evil." and suddenly Link was sent flying in the air by some invisible force before he slammed into the wall and then hit the floor in a limp heap."

"Link!" Zelda cried running to his side.

The king snapped back to reality and played his position of high authority, "What makes you think you can just barge in here and touch my daughter like that, you sick bastard. Guards, seize him!"

Guards rushed from all directions running towards Zen with their spears out. Zen flicked his hand slightly and they all crumbled to the ground…dead. "Stupid oafs, my power reaches beyond that of any of you, I am a god! How pitiful, such fragile beings mortals are. Mortality is a curse…a curse that can be all too easily used against you. I will dominate this despicable world…and I will have the maiden by my side." he eyed Princess Zelda hungrily.

Link shakily stood, "You will never rule and you better stay away from Zelda." he said coldly, yet weakly.

"Hahaha, how charming, you telling me to stay away from the girl. It is obvious you are in love, but when I want something, I get it. I will keep you around a little while longer only because you amuse me."

"I would never be with such a vile…whatever you are such as yourself." Zelda spat helping to support Link up.

"You didn't object when I was kissing you earlier." Zen smirked maliciously.

"You what?" Zelda looked at Link questioningly.

Link shook his head, "Don't worry about it." She didn't remember? That meant that he had to have put her under some type of spell or another…He had said he had been released…released? How and when?...If he truly was the son of Din, then he really is a god…a corrupt one at that, but a god…something not good. Why had there been no knowledge of this? That necklace! Or amulet as he called it…He must have somehow possessed her to break it… Thoughts like these raced through Link's mind as he watched Zen step closer to get to Zelda. "I warned you to stay away from her." Link growled.

"You are in no position to make threats, even if you were in full health!" Zen scoffed.

Now would definitely be a good time to have my sword…

"Hero!" As if on cue, Impa emerged from the shadows holding his sword. Link immediately pulled away from Zelda and caught it by the hilt as Impa threw it to him.

Link ignored the pain, now shooting through his entire body, and charged directly at Zen.

"So you wish to put up a fight do you?" Zen laughed, then he disappeared. "I will be back for the maiden, just wait and see. I will be there when you least expect it…"

"Coward!" Link screamed.

"H-h-he…he killed my b-best soldiers w-without even…without even laying a f-finger on them…" the king stammered staring wide eyed at the deceased troop of soldiers strewn across the floor.

"You need medical attention!" Zelda spoke with worry in her eyes to Link as she stood by his side trying to offer help.

But Link refused her help as he staggered away, a fresh wave of pain sweeping over him with each step he took, "I don't need any help…You're the one in danger and I'm in good enough condition to keep that sick man away from you."

"Hmph, you plan to keep that atrocious monster away from my daughter?" king said scornfully. "Just look at what he did to my best soldiers!"

"And look at me, I'm still here after facing him," Link retorted. "And yes, I will protect her."

"I will simply station more soldiers around her bedroom door, there is no need for you boy so why don't you just leave?" the king snapped.

"Daddy!" Zelda scolded. "I don't see why he can't stay, there's already a room set up for him and everything. I just wish he would accept medical attention…although there is no reason to worry about my protection…"

"What do you mean no reason to worry? Of course there is!" Link exclaimed.

"If that is your wish my daughter, then so be it, he can stay….for the night. But…I have been wondering why you never told me of this boy before…I know you said you wanted it to be a surprise, but surely there's more to it than that." the king added.

"We just had wanted to wait before revealing anything…" Zelda bluntly explained. "Come on Link, I'm sure you want to go up to your room and change, at least let me help you up there."

Link didn't refuse her offer of help this time as they steadily made their way to the room given to him for the time being, he was just in so much pain…but his stubbornness would not allow him to admit it.

The king was left fuming as certain castle workers filtered in to take care of the carnage.

"My king, you should not be angry with them for keeping such a thing secret until now…" Impa said from behind him.

"It is not your place to be concerned of such a thing," the king huffed angrily and walked away.

Impa shook her head with a sigh and then proceeded to check up on Zelda and Link.

Link felt like such an idiot…what had compelled him to give the necklace to her? Oh right, he had thought she would like it…Next time, he should check things out before accepting things from total strangers…If what Zen said was true, then they had an evil god on their hands.

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((sigh)) Is it wrong of me to be feeling discouraged already by the lack of reviews? Chapter 1 had an amount I'm more than happy (thank you so much to those who reviewed that!) with but honestly...I got 2 reviews for chapter 2 and that was my best friend and sister(Of course I am grateful for at least that so thank you guys!)..I will keep posting cuz I really like this fic despite any lack of reviews so yeah...lol.

Anywayz...I'll get my butt to writing the next chapter and it'll be up soon:)

-blondie91

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda, only Zen and any other made-ups, minor characters or major.