A/N: Sorry that this took so long, but Word decided it hated me halfway through the chapter... and yeah... Sorry!
I don't own anything to do with Zelda.Please review. Please please. I'll get the next chapter out sooner if everyone, or almost everyone, reviews.
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"We need to talk."
Why am I the bearer of the Triforce of Courage? Link thought bleakly as he sat down. Why me? I'm not courageous, or I wouldn't be this scared to talk to him. I wouldn't have waited so long to confront him, nor would I have needed to be prodded and pushed into it.
"What's wrong?" Izal asked, breaking into Link's thoughts. Startled, Link looked up at his father. Izal had come to the other side of the desk, and was now perched on it.
"Oh… nothing, why?"
"You looked, well, you look like you had just swallowed something that you rather you hadn't."
"Well, it's not like this was on the top of list to do today," Link muttered. Realizing what he had just said, his eyes widened and he began to stammer, apologizing. He need not have worried about it though, as Izal was laughing.
"No, I can see why you'd rather not come here," he said once he had calmed down. "Still, you came, and I… I'd like to think that means something." Link nodded and was silent once more.
"So… what did you want to talk about?" Izal asked after a few moments of silent, in which both stared at the floor. Link shrugged.
"I don't know… I'm really really bad at this. Can… Can you start, maybe?"
Izal smiled, "Sure. Let's start with how old you are." Link winced, he had to start with a complicated subject, did he not?
"What?"
"Nothing… it's just, well, my age is complicated. I grew up in the Kokiri Forest, and the people that live there are children, forever. So for about three hundred years or so I was about seven or eight. Now, I'm seventeen. Well, that's what I tell everyone, because until just recently, I wasn't sure how old I was."
"So we'll go with seventeen then," Izal said, "It's easier, and then I don't have to think about my son being older than me."
Link smiled weakly, "That'll work."
"So tell me about this forest, what is it like?" Link smiled, that would be easier to talk about.
"It's absolutely massive," he began, "And is protected by a Great Tree known as the Deku Tree. He made the Kokiri, the children that live in the forest, and is a father to them. He gives the faeries a home, and in return, they pair up with every Kokiri. Only, I never had a faery. For the longest time, I did not know why. I was teased about it, but I still had friends. My best friend is named Saria, and she and I explored the forest whenever we could. It's a place of beauty, with faeries everywhere, and you can see the magic of the forest all the time. When the sun shines through the trees at sunrise and sunset, it's the most beautiful place ever, and it is always summer there.
"Mido was the worst of the bunch, but he wasn't that bad, now, looking back. The worst part was that everyone would go along with him. Because of him, though, Saria and I would often play in the Lost Woods. It's really easy to loose your way in the fog and trees, hence the name. But Saria knew it by heart because she was great friends with the forest spirits, and over the years, she taught the paths to me. We had lots of fun there.
"However, the forest was attacked by an evil man. The Deku Tree was put under a curse, all for the Kokiri Emerald, one of the keys to the Sacred Realm. The Deku Tree sent a faery for me, and with her help, I managed to break the curse. Then, I was told to venture out of the forest and to the castle of the Hylians, where what was happening would be explained to me." Link paused, not sure where to go next.
"This man, who cursed the Deku Tree, is he in any way related to the Skull King?" Izal asked, sobered.
"Yes, unfortunately. His name was Ganondorf, and he harboured the spirit of Ganon, the Great King of Evil, who is the same Evil King that the undead boast of serving."
"I see," Izal frowned, and then shook his head, "But we'll dwell on that later." Link nodded, and then began to ask questions of his own. Izal answered them all readily enough, and Link relaxed enough to ask about the one person he had always wanted to meet.
"What was she like?" he asked softly, wanting to hear about his mother.
Izal smiled sadly, "Like sunlight turned human. Her warmth spread everywhere, even in the cold underground of the Temple. She was similar to her brothers in some ways, but in others, she was radically and fundamentally different. She was very kind and just, much like Kelvin, but when she wanted something done, she would not divert from her path and could be the biggest nuisance until it was done. She resembled Aegri in that aspect, though she was always right in her decisions that she stuck with in this matter, unlike him. She could be stubborn, but she was kind and just. As someone told me once, Xyli is Xyli. You can't define her, and you can't explain her. She just is.
"You look a lot like her. She too had honey coloured hair, a deviation from the usual hair colour of the royal family. When I first saw you, you were glaring at Aegri. Whether this is real or just my imagination, you had the same glare then. What I said then is true, you do look a lot like her. And from what I've heard, you act a lot like her." Izal cocked his head to the side, and gave Link a critical look.
"You act a lot like me too it seems. I'm guessing Kelvin or Izra found out?" he suddenly asked. Link nodded sheepishly.
"Kelvin did. Sh- mom, she came in and was yelling at me. Just as she was about to leave, Kelvin came in, and well, put two and two together." Izal chuckled.
"Sorry, but better you than me. I would've really been yelled at."
"Yeah… well, you didn't have to deal with Kelvin and Aedan. Those two are brutal together," Link muttered, causing Izal to laugh again.
"I'm sorry it took me this long…" Link muttered sheepishly.
"Don't be," Izal said softly. "It's as much my fault as it is yours."
"You were sick in bed though," Link protested.
"I could have sent Izra or someone else to get you though."
Link winced, "Actually, I'm glad you didn't. Frankly, I don't want to be confronted by Izra on something like this."
Izal laughed understandably, and Link grinned.
"Was she always this bad?" he asked, curious.
"Oh yes," Izal answered with a grin, "She's a little sister, how can she not be? We're only seperated by a candle mark, so she was always trying to prove that she was better than me, that she should have been the eldest. Thank the goddesses she grew out of that. But yes, she is more of a doer than a thinker. If something needs to be done, she will go and do it, not think on it for days."
"Or weeks..." Link muttered.
"Yes, or weeks. But enough of that. I think we've both beaten ourselves up on the matter enough. Do you have a horse?" Now it was Link's turn to laugh. Horses were just as important to the Sheikah as they were to the Gerudo, but they were important more for spirtitual reasons instead of practical ones.
"Yes, I do. She's a twelve year old mare, though with enough spunk and attitude to be a stallion. Her name is Epona."
Izal raised an eyebrow, "So she's named after the Horse Daughter then." Link nodded. The Horse Daughter, or Jaz'uin a, was a character in Sheikah mythology. It was said that just after the goddesses left Hyrule, there was a Sheikah maiden named Epona. The Sheikah had hit hard times when Epona was alive; they were constantly being attacked by monstors that were both massive and quick. After her fiance had been killed by one of the monstors, Epona had gone to the shrine of the goddess Farore and begged for help. She offered to give anything that the goddess wanted, if only she would help the Sheikah. Farore appeared before the girl and spoke to her.
I admire your courage, young one. You have just offered me your life, when you still have much to live. I will help the Sheikah, and you will bring my gift to them. However, as your price, you shall become one with my gift once you have taught your people how to use it. Now go, and outside it shall be waiting.
The goddess had disappeared, and Epona went out to find a huge herd of horses, some of which were pregnant. A glorious stallion walked up to her, and placing his black head on her shoulder, told her how to care for his people and how they were to help. He then allowed her to mount him, and leading the herd, brought the much needed help back to the Sheikah. After everyone understood how to care for the glorious animals, Epona disappeared. Weeks later, a young boy, watching as the first mare gave birth, swore he saw a flaming chestnut mare with flaxen mane and tail watching the herd. When she saw him, she reared and ran away, whinnying.
"I didn't name her," Link said, "But she is a lot like the Horse Daughter. She looks exactly like what the tales say the Horse Daughter looks like. Only, she's more, err, bloodthirsty than the tales."
"Bloodthirsty?" Izal asked, shocked.
"She likes to bite people she doesn't like, and when she bites, she often takes away chunks. And she finds it fun to, umm, help out when I'm fighting on her back."
"Oh. I see."
"Yeah..." Link stared down at the ground, realizing again how different Epona was. Oh well, she's a great friend, he thought.
"So what's your horse like?" he asked Izal.
"A horse," Izal said with a grin, "He's a stallion and is better behaved than your mare from the sounds of it." Link chuckled weakly, shrugging his shoulders.
"You can't ask for a better friend than Epona though," he said, defending his friend.
"I'm sure," Izal said softly. A person's horse was sacred to that person in Sheikah tradition; one did not go around insulting another's horse for any reason.
"You won't believe what she did one time," Link said, smiling at the memory.
"What?" Link grinned as he began to tell of the time Epona found her way into Mido's house and proceded to eat everything in it. Laughing, Izal began to tell one of his horse stories.
The atmosphere outside the building was not so jovial though. Standing in the shadows, a pale man glared at the building and its two occupants. Snarling, he beckoned the grinning bubbles forward.
"Kill them," he ordered, and the bubbles began to bounce enthusiastically, bringing forth their protective flames. They then rushed headlong towards the wooden building, causing it to explode into flame, trapping the two inside. Smiling, the Skull King crossed his arms, an expression of malicious triumph on his face. The annoying boy would either die with his aggravating father or come out to be killed.
Link looked around in surprise as the scent of smoke rose into the room. The dangerous smoke soon rolled in after the scent.
Where did this come from? he wondered, looking for a way out. Coughing and wheezing soon distracted him from his search though, and he looked over to see Izal leaning on the desk, gasping for air. His weak lung, unable to function fully even with clean air, was beginning to tighten up, leaving the Sheikah dizzy and short of breath. Cursing, Link opened the door, praying that the fire had not made it up to this floor. However, through the haze that the smoke created, Link could dimly see the fire inching forward.
Arrows… arrows. I need arrows and a bow, he thought frantically as he shut the door and looked around the room. The room was devoid of the missile weapon though, and Link's heart sunk. He would not be able to fire ice arrows to stop the hungry flames.
But all that happens is I say the command and the ice comes… he thought, and stared at his hands. The chance was slim, but he would take it before he let Izal and himself burn alive. Opening the door again, he extended his right hand and spoke the command for ice in a forceful voice. A moment's silence, and then the whirring sound of ice magic came as it gathered around his hand before it shot across the hallway, stopping the flames and quelling some of the smoke. Link winced, holding his frigid hand.
Good thing I didn't use my left hand, or I'd be screwed if I needed to fight, he thought as he turned to get his father, who was now using all of his strength just to stay upright.
"Go," Izal croaked when he saw Link come towards him, "Go. Leave… leave me cough here…"
"Not a chance," Link growled and threw Izal's arm across his shoulder, supporting his weight. His right hand still free, Link was able to stop the flames on their slow and arduous trek to the entrance of the building.
Izra bit her lip in frustration as she stared at the burning building. They had tried to set up a bucket line, but the heat was too great. The Zora had then tired their water magic, but they too were soon driven back by the immense heat.
A large figure emerged from the flames and was followed by another.
"Too smokey, goro. Can't see, can't breathe," the Goron panted. Izra closed her eyes in despair. If the Gorons, home in the depths of a volcano, could not breathe in there, how could her brother, with his injured lung? She half hoped that Azaman was in there, as he was supposed to have gone to talk to Izal, and she half hoped that he was not. While her brother's life was important, Azaman had longer to live, and, as it was becoming more and more clear, he would be very important in the upcoming events.
"Despair, followers of light, for your hero is about to die," a voice commanded. They looked towards the shadows to see a tall, pale Hylian male standing there, surrounded by undead. Izra spat on the ground, showing her distaste for the man who now had given her a face to put to the title of "Skull King". He laughed.
"Spit all you want, dear Sheikah, but your brother is about to die. And that annoying brat with him. No one can survive being in that smokey building this long, even if they did avoid the flames." Izra glared up at the man, hating him with a passion that made her normally schooled face light up in fury.
"Such anger, my dear," the Skull King laughed, "But misplaced. Blame Aegri, if you must. Had he not forced his sister to marry that damn brother of yours, I would not have had to worry about their brat. And had Aegri done his job right in killing that nosy dog of a Sheikah, I wouldn't have to make you watch this horrible spectacle."
"Brat? You killed my nephew when you killed Xyli!" Izra shouted, no longer able to contain her anger. The Skull King scowled, as that failure came back.
"No, the bitch managed to get away, and her son survived. He was taken to that damn forest. The forest of children. And he lived, for years, until he left the protection of that tree, and managed, somehow, to defeat my master, my glorious master. And then…" the Skull King took a deep breath, calming himself.
"And then he came back here. Azaman. 'A time in the past' if you go by the High Tongue translation. It fits with his true name, even though it is pronounced wrong. Link (lii-n-sk last syllable is pronounced softly), which means 'that which connects past and future', or, loosely translated, 'the present'."
"So with Enzaman, we have a trio then, eh? Past, present and future." Everyone stared at the burning building. There was Link and Izal, sooty and wearing scorched clothes, but alive all the same. Izra breathed a sigh of relief. They were alright; they were alive.
When Link heard the Skull King explain the meaning of his name, something clicked in his mind. He was Enzaman. He was the Sage of Time, the mysterious cloaked man. And why not? It was one short step from being Hero of Time to being Sage of Time, from being able to only occasionaly manipulate Time to being able to walk through it.
"So you managed to survive brat," the Skull King spat out, and three Stalfos attacked. Concentrating, Link brought up the protective barrier of Nayru's Love, and the attackers bounced off the shield. The Skull King scowled and sent out a barrage of flames. Moaning in distress, the Stalfos fled. The shield still held, and Link used the cover of flame to get Izal over to where Izra and the others stood.
"Stay back," he commanded grimly as he turned back to the Skull King, "He's mine."
"That's what you think," the Skull King laughed, "Today, you die!" Snarling, Link attacked. Flinging magic into the air, the Skull King brought out a huge, black sword. He brought it down forcibly, blocking Link's attack, and sending tremors through the young man's body. Wincing, Link ducked down, and rolled to the other side of his opponent.
"Arm a little sore?" the Skull King cackled, feeling secure in his huge broadsword.
"Not the one you think!" Link shouted as he attacked again, this time scoring a hit before he was blasted back with magic. Scowling, he stood up and extended his right hand. Instead of the ball of flames that had pushed him back, he sent out a barrage of ice, hitting his opponent and freezing him to the ground. But before Link could strike, the Skull King had freed himself using his fire to melt the ice.
"So that's how you got out," the Skull King snarled, shivering. Link smirked, and, enraged, the necromancer kunged forward.
"DIE!" he shouted, attacking not only with his black sword, but also with the dark magic within it. Batting back the dark magic with the Master sword, Link managed to block the physical attack only barely. Leaping back, he brought his hand up again.
"Your ice won't work boy, and neither will your fire," the Skull King taunted. Link scowled and spoke a command that left him without a voice. It was a magic command that he did not know, it had just suddenly come to him. It was the command for Divine Light, one that only the Sage of Light could use. From the heavans came a light both beautiful and terrifying, and as it streaked towards the stupefied Skull King, it blinded the onlookers.
Sagging to the ground, Link stared at the body of the now dead necromancer. His eyes opened in disbelief as it began to sink into the ground. Gasping, he tried to utter the command for fire, but his voice had left him. He could not even concentrate on the command, and so had to watch helplessly as the necromancer became undead himself.
A hand was placed on his shoulder, and he looked up in surprise. It was Impa.
"Now we know who sent us back," she said softly. Link nodded silently.
"Come on," she said as she helped him up, "You need to get some rest. Izal will be fine, so don't worry." Mutely nodding again, Link stumbled along, so drained of energy that he did not even think of protesting.
Zelda looked at the Sage of Time.
"Did it get to Link?" she asked softly, speaking of the command for Divine Light. Smiling sadly, the Sage nodded.
"Yes, it did. And now I must leave, as the me in this time has woken. My last advice to you, princess, is to prepare your troops. The undead are coming." Zelda nodded, and the Sage turned to leave. Suddenly, he stopped and turned towards the princess.
"And do not, I repeat, do not allow your blood to be taken by anyone. Do you understand?" Confused, Zelda nodded. This time, when he turned to leave, the Sage was gone. Still confused over his last words, Zelda turned to find her father. He now knew that she was the Sage of Light and who the other Sages were. She now had to tell him that the Sage of Time had told her that the undead were coming. Biting her lip, she wished fervently that Link and Impa would get back soon. Hyrule needed all the Sages it had and its hero. Now.
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A/N: So there you have it! The Sage of Time in Link! So, how many people thought that he was the Sage? I know Corran Nackatori got it, but did anyone else?
Allyanna: Sorry about the wait. Did their talk make up for it?
The Fiercesomest Dragon Ever: Sorry this took so long... stupid Word... Were you able to follow the pov changes easier this time?
Tizamiki: Thank you, and you're right. I meant write instead of right, but I have no idea how to go back and fix it. Oh well.
Justin Time: Thanks! And when are you going to update?
Astryel: Yay! New reviewer! Sorry about the waiting, but I have to leave it at a cliffhanger so people will come back.