A/N: This is the first LoZ fic I ever wrote seriously. It actually was started about three years ago and has been finished on and off after having survived through three hiatuses and a serious consideration of scrapping. But I decided to give it another chance, and am actually quite pleased with the results. Rated PG-13 for violence and Link's surprisingly dirty mouth; warnings include angst, sadness, violence, Link/Zelda pairing (no citrus), and alternate realities. The timeline I'm basing things on is a quasi-alternate-reality of my own creation: I base most if not all of my Zelda fanfiction on the idea that all the deeds done and chronicled in the Zelda games (with the exception of the Wind Waker for obvious reasons) were the deeds of one brave young lad chosen by Destiny and the three Goddesses as the Hero of Time, the Legendary Hero. Oh. And I don't own Linky (more's the pity) or Zelda or any of the game's other characters. They are copyrighted to Miyamoto Shigeru-san and Nintendo, the lucky bastards. I own, however, sole copyright of each and every one of my original characters. Steal them and I will hunt you down and break your elbows. Remember: A vague threat is no one's friend.
-Act IV-
Convergence
3
The first thing Link noticed upon regaining consciousness was the pounding headache. He tried to sit up.
The second thing Link noticed was the fact that he already was sitting up. He blinked a few times, trying to reorient himself with his surroundings. He moved as if to run a hand through his hair.
Then came the realization that his arms and legs were bound tightly to the wooden chair in which he sat. Link tried a few times to maybe loosen the knots that held him bound, but found that it would be near impossible. The ropes that held him were as strong as steel. Upon hearing distinctive footsteps coming toward his location, the captive Hero of Time decided to play dead and see if he could find out anything about his captors and the people who had apparently taken control of LonLon Ranch.
He feigned unconsciousness, his ears straining for the slightest sound.
The door creaked open, and three distinct sets of footprints walked in. There was a disgusted sigh, and one of them spoke. "Just how long is he going to be unconscious?" a chillingly familiar voice asked irritably.
Ingo. Link felt a slow burn starting. Ingo had obviously sold out Talon and Malon to whomever had taken over. Link could only imagine what had happened to the two ranchers. Ingo cuffed him hard on the shoulder, and Link fought to keep from reacting.
"Calm down, Ingo," a second voice said, one that made his train of thought derail. Talon. Maybe I was wrong…but-why would they attack me?!
"Was it really necessary to hit him so hard, Daddy?" a third voice said, and Link's blood ran cold. Malon. "And did you have to hit him three times?"
Something was very wrong.
Link decided to 'wake up'.
His eyes opened on three figures standing before him. Ingo had no mask and no hood, just glared down at him, looking surlier than usual. Talon and Malon pulled their own hoods and masks off. Malon looked unsurely at her father. "Doesn't he…look a little…softer?" she asked hesitantly. "The hair isn't right…the skin isn't dark…"
I can't have changed that much, Link thought wryly, it's only been a month. Give or take a couple days.
Talon shook his head, his eyes hard. "Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed. "You know full well he's dead. It's got to be that double of his."
Dead? What the hell?! Link nearly jumped right from his seat at that statement. Anger seared trails through his mind. Ganondorf…he's been spreading rumors that I'm dead…not a chance in hell.
"No, Malon, it is me, I promise," he spoke up.
She stared dubiously at him.
"Prove it," Talon said, and Link knew he meant it. "Prove it's you and that you're not that slimy creature who's been parading around saying he's you."
"How did we meet?" Malon asked.
Link knew he was going to have to be very careful here. "I was in the Castle Town Market, on my way to the castle. You were just sort of standing around, looking for someone. Later on, you told me your father, the all-wise, all-knowing Talon, had gone to the castle to make a milk delivery and hadn't come back yet. I said I'd find him, you gave me a Cucco egg, and off I went. Later on, after I found him, I came back to your ranch for a visit, and charmed Epona off her hooves with a certain song…"
And with that, he began to whistle the tune Malon had taught him so many years ago.
Ingo shook his head in amazement. "I'll be the son of a motherless goat," he breathed.
Link nodded. "Most likely," he said.
Ingo sputtered.
Talon started to laugh.
Malon, on the other hand, was more emotional. She threw her arms around Link's neck and hugged him so hard he couldn't breathe.
"I'll need my ribs more or less in one piece, Malon," he wheezed. "Not to mention it'd be nice if I could feel my fingers."
She pulled away. "Oh!!" With an embarrassed blush, Malon quickly untied the ropes binding Link to the wooden kitchen chair. He stood and walked over to Talon. He stuck out a hand. "Nice to see you," he said calmly.
Talon hadn't been able to meet Link's eyes.
He smiled at Link's greeting, finally looking up. "Welcome home, son," he said warmly.
Link grinned. "Nice to hear that. It was the welcome I was actually expecting in the first place. Now, tell me what happened," he said.
Talon's eyes got hard. "For the first few days after you disappeared-and we're going to have a long talk about that later, son-there was no word from the palace, just that the search was still on. And then, suddenly, all outgoing news stopped. We got word two days later from one of the Castle Town refugees that Ganondorf had come back and taken the castle without much of a fight, that you were either dead or turned on us. That's when I knew it was that black shadow creature Ganondorf created, traipsing around, wreaking havoc and sullyin' your name, boy. Next thing we knew, there were horse thieves left and right coming at the ranch, trying to steal us blind. Guess they figured that even if you weren't dead, we didn't matter a whole lot anymore, and so they could just come in and do whatever they wanted without fear of retribution. So we've had to take up the practice of running people out." Talon shrugged.
Link looked up sharply. "Then that means it was that accursed phantom of his that almost killed me…" he clenched his fists. "There's going to be hell to pay for this," he promised.
"Don't I know it," Malon laughed. "When you came along," Malon continued, "we all figured it was just that shade come to screw around with the horses again. And when you wouldn't just back out and leave, well…" she looked faintly uneasy. Link couldn't quite figure out why. "You know the rest."
"It is good to see you back, son," Talon repeated.
"It's good to be back," Link said. "And it'll be even better once that tyrant's gone for good."
Out in the yard, Link sat once more atop his trusty steed, grasping the reins of two more horses. "I owe you for two," Link said.
Talon laughed. "For three," he corrected.
Link's eyes widened. "What?" he blurted. "I know, for these two, but-"
"You're sittin' on her, boy," Talon gestured at Epona.
"What?!" Link cried. "Oh, hey, come on, you know I'm the only one besides Malon who can get near her, much less ride her," he protested.
Talon laughed even harder. "I'm only pulling your leg, Link," he said. "Lighten up!"
Link nodded, accepting the rib gracefully. "All right. But I will be back to pay you for these two after I cream a certain persistent pest," he promised.
"I know you will," Talon waved him off. "There was never any worry about that."
"Oh, and Link?" Malon added.
"Yeah?"
"Uhm…" she seemed uneasy about something.
"What, Pretty?" he asked. 'Pretty' was Link's favorite nickname for Malon.
She blushed and continued to look uneasy. "Uhm…I'm sorry about…you know…holding a knife to your back…and all…" she twisted her hands together with the air of someone who is horribly embarrassed.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He jerked his thumb back toward the ranch house. "You mean-" he cut off.
Talon started to chuckle as Malon nodded unhappily.
"You mean…" Link couldn't seem to get past it. "That was you what kicked my ass all over the ranch house?"
She nodded again, just as unhappy. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "It's just that-well, we thought you were dead, and then when you came barging in last night-"
"Just like always," Talon muttered, half-seriously.
"We thought you were that stupid damn shadow, and it made me so mad, and…well…" she smiled. "I won't tell anybody if you don't want me to."
"Watch your mouth, girl," Talon growled.
"Sorry."
Link nodded, still in awe of Malon's skills. "Thanks?" he said, but his tone made it sound more like a question.
Malon giggled. "Sorry," she said again, and shrugged.
Link grinned and waved farewell to the ranchers, and started on his way back to Kakariko, the sunrise beckoning onward.
Malon waved after him. "Be careful!!" she called.
"I promise!" he called back.
She grinned. "And don't get killed!!" she screeched.
"Yes, mother!" Link yelled back with a smile as he rode out of sight.
-Act IV-
Convergence
3
The first thing Link noticed upon regaining consciousness was the pounding headache. He tried to sit up.
The second thing Link noticed was the fact that he already was sitting up. He blinked a few times, trying to reorient himself with his surroundings. He moved as if to run a hand through his hair.
Then came the realization that his arms and legs were bound tightly to the wooden chair in which he sat. Link tried a few times to maybe loosen the knots that held him bound, but found that it would be near impossible. The ropes that held him were as strong as steel. Upon hearing distinctive footsteps coming toward his location, the captive Hero of Time decided to play dead and see if he could find out anything about his captors and the people who had apparently taken control of LonLon Ranch.
He feigned unconsciousness, his ears straining for the slightest sound.
The door creaked open, and three distinct sets of footprints walked in. There was a disgusted sigh, and one of them spoke. "Just how long is he going to be unconscious?" a chillingly familiar voice asked irritably.
Ingo. Link felt a slow burn starting. Ingo had obviously sold out Talon and Malon to whomever had taken over. Link could only imagine what had happened to the two ranchers. Ingo cuffed him hard on the shoulder, and Link fought to keep from reacting.
"Calm down, Ingo," a second voice said, one that made his train of thought derail. Talon. Maybe I was wrong…but-why would they attack me?!
"Was it really necessary to hit him so hard, Daddy?" a third voice said, and Link's blood ran cold. Malon. "And did you have to hit him three times?"
Something was very wrong.
Link decided to 'wake up'.
His eyes opened on three figures standing before him. Ingo had no mask and no hood, just glared down at him, looking surlier than usual. Talon and Malon pulled their own hoods and masks off. Malon looked unsurely at her father. "Doesn't he…look a little…softer?" she asked hesitantly. "The hair isn't right…the skin isn't dark…"
I can't have changed that much, Link thought wryly, it's only been a month. Give or take a couple days.
Talon shook his head, his eyes hard. "Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed. "You know full well he's dead. It's got to be that double of his."
Dead? What the hell?! Link nearly jumped right from his seat at that statement. Anger seared trails through his mind. Ganondorf…he's been spreading rumors that I'm dead…not a chance in hell.
"No, Malon, it is me, I promise," he spoke up.
She stared dubiously at him.
"Prove it," Talon said, and Link knew he meant it. "Prove it's you and that you're not that slimy creature who's been parading around saying he's you."
"How did we meet?" Malon asked.
Link knew he was going to have to be very careful here. "I was in the Castle Town Market, on my way to the castle. You were just sort of standing around, looking for someone. Later on, you told me your father, the all-wise, all-knowing Talon, had gone to the castle to make a milk delivery and hadn't come back yet. I said I'd find him, you gave me a Cucco egg, and off I went. Later on, after I found him, I came back to your ranch for a visit, and charmed Epona off her hooves with a certain song…"
And with that, he began to whistle the tune Malon had taught him so many years ago.
Ingo shook his head in amazement. "I'll be the son of a motherless goat," he breathed.
Link nodded. "Most likely," he said.
Ingo sputtered.
Talon started to laugh.
Malon, on the other hand, was more emotional. She threw her arms around Link's neck and hugged him so hard he couldn't breathe.
"I'll need my ribs more or less in one piece, Malon," he wheezed. "Not to mention it'd be nice if I could feel my fingers."
She pulled away. "Oh!!" With an embarrassed blush, Malon quickly untied the ropes binding Link to the wooden kitchen chair. He stood and walked over to Talon. He stuck out a hand. "Nice to see you," he said calmly.
Talon hadn't been able to meet Link's eyes.
He smiled at Link's greeting, finally looking up. "Welcome home, son," he said warmly.
Link grinned. "Nice to hear that. It was the welcome I was actually expecting in the first place. Now, tell me what happened," he said.
Talon's eyes got hard. "For the first few days after you disappeared-and we're going to have a long talk about that later, son-there was no word from the palace, just that the search was still on. And then, suddenly, all outgoing news stopped. We got word two days later from one of the Castle Town refugees that Ganondorf had come back and taken the castle without much of a fight, that you were either dead or turned on us. That's when I knew it was that black shadow creature Ganondorf created, traipsing around, wreaking havoc and sullyin' your name, boy. Next thing we knew, there were horse thieves left and right coming at the ranch, trying to steal us blind. Guess they figured that even if you weren't dead, we didn't matter a whole lot anymore, and so they could just come in and do whatever they wanted without fear of retribution. So we've had to take up the practice of running people out." Talon shrugged.
Link looked up sharply. "Then that means it was that accursed phantom of his that almost killed me…" he clenched his fists. "There's going to be hell to pay for this," he promised.
"Don't I know it," Malon laughed. "When you came along," Malon continued, "we all figured it was just that shade come to screw around with the horses again. And when you wouldn't just back out and leave, well…" she looked faintly uneasy. Link couldn't quite figure out why. "You know the rest."
"It is good to see you back, son," Talon repeated.
"It's good to be back," Link said. "And it'll be even better once that tyrant's gone for good."
Out in the yard, Link sat once more atop his trusty steed, grasping the reins of two more horses. "I owe you for two," Link said.
Talon laughed. "For three," he corrected.
Link's eyes widened. "What?" he blurted. "I know, for these two, but-"
"You're sittin' on her, boy," Talon gestured at Epona.
"What?!" Link cried. "Oh, hey, come on, you know I'm the only one besides Malon who can get near her, much less ride her," he protested.
Talon laughed even harder. "I'm only pulling your leg, Link," he said. "Lighten up!"
Link nodded, accepting the rib gracefully. "All right. But I will be back to pay you for these two after I cream a certain persistent pest," he promised.
"I know you will," Talon waved him off. "There was never any worry about that."
"Oh, and Link?" Malon added.
"Yeah?"
"Uhm…" she seemed uneasy about something.
"What, Pretty?" he asked. 'Pretty' was Link's favorite nickname for Malon.
She blushed and continued to look uneasy. "Uhm…I'm sorry about…you know…holding a knife to your back…and all…" she twisted her hands together with the air of someone who is horribly embarrassed.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He jerked his thumb back toward the ranch house. "You mean-" he cut off.
Talon started to chuckle as Malon nodded unhappily.
"You mean…" Link couldn't seem to get past it. "That was you what kicked my ass all over the ranch house?"
She nodded again, just as unhappy. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "It's just that-well, we thought you were dead, and then when you came barging in last night-"
"Just like always," Talon muttered, half-seriously.
"We thought you were that stupid damn shadow, and it made me so mad, and…well…" she smiled. "I won't tell anybody if you don't want me to."
"Watch your mouth, girl," Talon growled.
"Sorry."
Link nodded, still in awe of Malon's skills. "Thanks?" he said, but his tone made it sound more like a question.
Malon giggled. "Sorry," she said again, and shrugged.
Link grinned and waved farewell to the ranchers, and started on his way back to Kakariko, the sunrise beckoning onward.
Malon waved after him. "Be careful!!" she called.
"I promise!" he called back.
She grinned. "And don't get killed!!" she screeched.
"Yes, mother!" Link yelled back with a smile as he rode out of sight.