Jovani could have expected a lot of things when the light finally disappeared and the spell he had accidentally cast had waned. More monsters, more dead, perhaps fire, maybe even a more oppressive version of the golden barrier that had swallowed Hyrule Castle Town. But not this. He forced his feet to move as he stumbled between the buildings in disbelief.
Everything seemed hollow. The houses and shops were gray and empty. Many of them were half-crumbling, surrounded by debris. The trees were barren and leafless, if they had not already been uprooted and left to rot. The barrier was gone, but that was cold comfort; the sky was pale gray. Whenever he took a deep breath, the air felt stale. He could not even see the towers of Hyrule Castle anymore. And he knew that would be impossible unless the castle itself had been torn asunder.
Jovani forced himself to review the facts he knew. He had used the harp incorrectly, and he was now in the future instead of further in the past, where he could still talk to his girlfriend Erene.
He knew in his heart that the bar frequented by so many would probably not be standing anymore. But there was still his house...his pulse quickened. Gengle? Erene? He had to try. He was running through the streets now, his footsteps like drumbeats to his ears. Down the road, jump over that fallen barricade, turn the corner...
Jovani blinked.
True, the grass was gone, replaced by dead, dry earth. Sure, there was no longer a gaggle of cats hanging around. But the house itself was standing steady. He grasped the sudden speck of hope in his heart, gripping the harp tighter and walking steadily forward. He made his way to the door, finding it open just a crack. He dismissed the sight and kicked it open.
The second he walked in, he collapsed to his knees. The back of his head was burning, and he heard the harp hit the floor. There was some chatter in the air, but he could not register it. He simply waited dumbly as a set of strong hands pulled him up and into a creaky wooden chair. It was impossible for him to know when he finally came to, but he regained his vision and hearing in time.
"Sorry about that."
Jovani blinked as he took in the three people standing before him. The one closest to him was a youth with cropped sandy hair and poorly-managed stubble. He held a wooden shield in his hand, and he wore chainmail over his tall, thin frame. Jovani gulped as he saw the sword at the stranger's waist, but then he saw the other man's face soften as he waved his hand.
"Are...you alright? Can you hear me?"
Jovani nodded dumbly, mustering up the only words he could bring himself to say. "Hello. I...am Jovani."
The stranger nodded back. "I'm Colin. Nice to meet you, I guess."
Jovani's eyes flickered behind Colin to see the other two assailants. One was a woman dressed in a hodgepodge mix of mail and plate armor, with half of her cropped hair black and the other gray. The other was another man, frail, with tattered clothes and a pair of cracked glasses hanging on his nose. He was holding a length of wood behind his back and was guiltily looking down at his worn-out boots.
"There was no need for that, Shad."
The shriveled man shrugged. The woman left her spot and went for the door, which had been closed again.
Shad's voice was weak. "Again, I'm sorry. But we haven't seen any people in who knows how long, apart from the dark Link."
"Don't call that thing a person." Colin paused. Jovani realized that the atmosphere had suddenly turned cold.
The woman has shifted the door just a bit to take a look outside. She released it and turned back, her body quivering.
"He's here."
For a moment, even Colin looked to be at a loss. Then he shook his head and rushed over to a spot near the middle of the room, yanking up the trapdoor's opening. Jovani was paralyzed with confusion, but his eyes flickered in recognition as it became clear his mansion's special feature was intact.
"Get him, go to the spot, bring that guy with you."
"Colin!"
"Colin..."
"Do what I say!"
The stranger outside was a tall young man, dressed in the same black tunic he had become infamous for. The tattered red cape was still clasped around his neck. His bangs fell over, but did not obscure, his bright yellow eyes. His face was deathly pale, with the thin black lines were still stretched across the sides of his face. He allowed himself a wide smile as Colin came out through the open doorway.
Colin took a drop breath, then another. He walked as smoothly as he could, but he could not help the fact that his heart was pounding so loud that he could practically hear the beats shatter his ears. As he approached, he saw his adversary walk closer himself, maintaining an almost jovial air as he hailed Colin with his right hand. There were three triangles on the back of it, two of which were emitting light.
"Colin, Colin, Colin. I can't say I'm not happy to see you again."
Colin shook his head. "Let's just move on." He pulled forth his own sword from his side. "I won't stand back as you wreck this land."
There was a sinister chuckle. "It's taken a lot of time and effort to destroy the Hylian army and all of its support. It would require less if you just told me where to find Zelda."
Colin raised his sword and readied his shield. "Either talk or fight. I don't care which."
"You're not afraid of me anymore?"
Colin's voice was blunt and direct. "I am terrified."
"You could just tell me what I need to know and leave with your life."
Silence.
"As you wish..."
Next up; Jovani tries to find a way back to the past...
