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
21
Darkness. Saria blinked three times before realizing that it was just so dark she couldn't see anything.
Link…I know you can hear me…I can feel you.
…Saria? Is that you? Came the faint reply.
The Kokiri girl nearly sobbed with relief. Yes, Link! It's me! Where are you?
I was about to ask you the same thing, he said. His voice was so weak, so far away. It's dark in here.
The girl made a face. Don't I know it. Reach toward me…follow my voice, I'll keep talking, you have to come back. Your friends are in danger and you're the only one who can help…Rauru sent me to take you back, Link.
But I'm so tired…I don't have any strength left…I want to go back…I want to help…but I don't think I can, Saria… He did indeed sound tired, physically and emotionally and spiritually exhausted.
I'll give you the strength you need, Link, I promise. Trust me?
I…
And Impa's here, and the Sages can all lend a hand…Rauru has promised me that we'll all be there to help you. And this time there will be no seal, no Evil Realm, no banishment…we're going to help you destroy that monster once and for all, Link…but you have to come back first so we can use the Master Sword to take him down. No one else can do it! …Zelda cried so hard for you…she needs you, Link…more than even she knows.
She does…?
Yes, Link, she does. And I know how you feel about her, too…as the Seventh Sage, she'll be offering you even more strength than any of us. Love is funny like that, the Kokiri girl quipped.
All right, he muttered irritably, sounding more like himself, that's enough of that chatter. Give me your hand, Saria, I'm coming back.
She nearly laughed in relief, and took his ethereal hand, practically running back toward the light that beckoned them both. The next thing the Sage of Forest felt was a gentle upward pull, and then the light enfolded them.
-Act IV-
Convergence
21
Darkness. Saria blinked three times before realizing that it was just so dark she couldn't see anything.
Link…I know you can hear me…I can feel you.
…Saria? Is that you? Came the faint reply.
The Kokiri girl nearly sobbed with relief. Yes, Link! It's me! Where are you?
I was about to ask you the same thing, he said. His voice was so weak, so far away. It's dark in here.
The girl made a face. Don't I know it. Reach toward me…follow my voice, I'll keep talking, you have to come back. Your friends are in danger and you're the only one who can help…Rauru sent me to take you back, Link.
But I'm so tired…I don't have any strength left…I want to go back…I want to help…but I don't think I can, Saria… He did indeed sound tired, physically and emotionally and spiritually exhausted.
I'll give you the strength you need, Link, I promise. Trust me?
I…
And Impa's here, and the Sages can all lend a hand…Rauru has promised me that we'll all be there to help you. And this time there will be no seal, no Evil Realm, no banishment…we're going to help you destroy that monster once and for all, Link…but you have to come back first so we can use the Master Sword to take him down. No one else can do it! …Zelda cried so hard for you…she needs you, Link…more than even she knows.
She does…?
Yes, Link, she does. And I know how you feel about her, too…as the Seventh Sage, she'll be offering you even more strength than any of us. Love is funny like that, the Kokiri girl quipped.
All right, he muttered irritably, sounding more like himself, that's enough of that chatter. Give me your hand, Saria, I'm coming back.
She nearly laughed in relief, and took his ethereal hand, practically running back toward the light that beckoned them both. The next thing the Sage of Forest felt was a gentle upward pull, and then the light enfolded them.