I've been dreaming my life away
I've been sleeping with ghosts today
I'm lost in a nightmare, or a distant place
I'm drowning in stars, and tracing deep scars I cannot erase.
Sad and alone, I'm caught in the arms of a storm
I'm broken, bruised, torn.
I.
The unmistakable scent of wet dirt announced the impending rain and the wind carried the sweet melody of a distant flute.
Link could see an array of glowing leaves, strange flowers, shapeless colors and lights that rushed passed him. If he looked up he could see dark clouds gathering. If he looked down; rivers, fallen leaves and pathways would swirl together then come apart below his feet.
Several minutes passed before these bizarre visions became a coherent environment. Link felt almost weightless, and strangely serene as he suddenly found himself to be no more than a small child walking through the foggy woods. It was clear to him then that his intention was to gather fruits, nuts, mushrooms and any good edible he could forage; However, he had not gathered much yet as he was often distracted with the animals and the trees.
He heard the sweet melody again. It sounded melancholic, but beautiful. It made him smile, so he decided to search for its source. The apparently endless turns and crossways in the forest discouraged most travelers from entering the area but Link was not afraid of the woods, or of getting lost. He walked untroubled following the sound.
He heard the song become louder and realized it was coming from beyond a thick briar. He walked around it until he found a small scorched spot that worked as an entryway. He went down on hands and knees to crawl through it.
The music stopped. Link wondered why but decided not to turn back. He crawled out into a pleasant clearing where flowers grew in several colors. He smiled at the sight and approached the surrounding trees to search for mushrooms at their base.
A loud rustling came from above. Link looked up in wonder "Woah!" he went wide eyed as he saw a child no older than him falling through the foliage. He was quick and acted on instinct as he tried his best to break the child's fall.
"Ou!" Ravio quickly got on his feet "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall on you! I heard you crawling through the briar. I thought it might be a monster so I hid"
"It's ok" Link said as he dusted his tunic. Ravio held out his hand offering to help Link stand up.
Link finally looked up to accept his offer but they were both struck motionless upon seeing each other's face.
Ravio was the first to react "You're so pretty!" he exclaimed. He happily threw his arms around Link in an affectionate manner.
Link hugged him back "You're so sweet" he laughed.
"Are you looking for something to eat?" Ravio asked. His arms still firmly around Link. Link nodded.
"What have you gathered?"
Link opened the small burlap satchel he carried with him, revealing only a couple of mushrooms and a big hearty radish.
"Come on, I will show you! I saw some food on my way!" Ravio put a headband with violet bunny ears on his head, then took Link by the hand "We will also need salt, we can make soup. Do you like candy? I know where we can get rice!" Ravio lead Link into another open path in the briar.
Link giggled happily.
"He speaks so fast!" he thought
"I do like candy" he said, and gladly followed as led. "My name is Link"
"That's a lovely name! And your hair is so pretty! It's like, carrot-blonde!"
Link could not help but laugh again.
"Thank you. What is your name?"
"I don't have a family so I was not given a name. I live in the castle now, everyone there calls me Little Boy. I think the king has been too busy to assign me a name" Ravio explained.
"Oh. . .I'm sorry Little Boy" Link suddenly turned mournful. "The king has passed away, to join the queen in the afterlife. Princess Zelda is now to care for us all"
Ravio stopped and stared at Link.
"Zelda?" he thought for a moment before his face light up. "I did it! I'm in Hyrule!...Oh, but, you say…" Ravio's expression turned identical to Link's as he brought his hands up to his chest. "I'm so sorry for your loss. This is most grim news . . . and most terrible omen!" Ravio's expression turned more serious and scared.
"Princess Zelda is but a teen, but they say she is wise and kind. I must believe she will be a fit ruler…" Link said as he put his arm around Ravio's shoulder. He could feel Ravio's sudden fear as if it where his own and he tried to ease him. "…Yet, it sounds like you are not from here"
"I'm from Lorule!" Ravio replied, almost forgetting his worry. Link's embrace made him relax, and he was always one to be easily distracted.
"Is that far away?" Link asked.
"No! Not at all! It's just beyond…uh, well, just beyond everything, or um…just across everything here in Hyrule! Do you want to come with me? I will take you! Come follow me, I will show you!" Ravio put his arm around Link, mirroring his friendly gesture.
The wind picked up and seemed to be coming in gusts much stronger than it usually did in the middle of the forest. Link held Ravio tight and closed his eyes in order to prevent debris from flying into them. Thunder cracked loud above them and Link could feel Ravio squeeze him tighter.
"Don't be scared" he said in a low soothing voice.
Ravio replied, but Link could not hear him.
Link felt as if something had taken hold of his shoulders and pulled him back until he was falling head first. He could no longer feel Ravio in his arms. The humid evening seemed to drop in temperature and Link's nose and limbs turned ice cold. He tried to open his eyes but his eyelids where heavy and would fluttered closed against his will. This allowed him only quick glimpses of a smoky hut and several of the townspeople looking down at him. He perceived a distant murmuring which sounded like a cyclic chant. The sound was stressful and saddening. Link did not like it.
"Did you hear me Link?" Ravio's voice cut through that anxious dirge and lifted the heaviness and stress.
Link's eyes were open then and his cold skin was warming with the rising sun, and a small fire that burned just a few feet away.
"You did come back!" Link's voice was a combination of relieved and distraught.
"As we agreed. I was here last night too, Link" Ravio's pale sad eyes seemed to glow on their own accord as they reflected the golden quivering of the flames.
Link could feel Ravio's gaze follow his movements as he approached, even though Ravio's eyes remained stoic, and he appeared to stare at the fire.
"I'm really sorry" Link said reaching up to sweep Ravio's dark bangs away from his forehead. Ravio turned to look at Link. His sad expression softened as Link continued his attentions.
Link caressed Ravio's face, then ran his fingers down his neck to finally wrap his hands around Ravio's shoulders. The feeling made Ravio laugh.
"You are real" Link said in an affirmative tone.
"Of course!" Ravio replied smiling.
Link released Ravio's shoulder and turned his attention to the fire. He kicked dirt into it in order to quench it.
"Little Boy" his voice came out dimmed.
"What is it?" Ravio asked, concerned.
"The house keeper in an elder's home, the Blacksmith and the Priest say you are not real"
Ravio did not know how to react to that statement. Although it was nonsense it made Ravio feel as sad and scared as Link felt upon hearing it.
"That's why I couldn't be here. They talked to me for a long time. They kept saying they were not getting after me, but that's what it felt like" Link's mouth turned to a sad pout. "They say you are a ghost, and that I should no longer come to the forest to see you. They say that…" tears started forming on the corners of his eyes.
Ravio was very distressed by this. He opened his arms inviting Link into a hug. Link complied resting his forehead on Ravio's shoulder "They say that if I go with you, you will take me away forever, and I will never see Hyrule again" he concluded, already in full tears. He did not want to believe Ravio was a ghost. He wanted him to be real, and really believed he was; however, he could not understand why the townspeople tried to convince him otherwise. He never thought they meant him harm.
Ravio was confused and thought somehow this was all his fault. People in Lorule had started saying strange things about him ever since he became property of the Royal family, he didn't understand it, and he could not understand why people in Hyrule would say anything about him at all. They did not even know him.
"Link. Do you believe I'm a ghost?" he asked, obviously scared.
Link felt so comfortable in Ravio's embrace that he realized all of that didn't matter. He brought his arms around Ravio finally returning the hug.
"No" he replied.
Ravio hugged him tighter.
"I know I said I would find a way for you to come along with me, but we don't have to go anywhere you don't want"
Link stood upright and looked into Ravio's eyes. "I know they are wrong." He said, then buried his face back on the crook of Ravio's neck.
"You smell good" he inhaled deeply "Like vanilla"
"I had some ancient milk, I traded with a guard for it" Ravio explained.
"What did you trade?" Link asked.
"Monster extract"
Link chuckled he knew Ravio hated monster extract, and would gladly toss it if it were not for its trade value.
"What did you trade for that?"
"Flowers. That reminds me! Look, I brought something for you. I hope you like them, they are really good!" Ravio spoke in his usual song-like rhythm. He reached into his pocket and got a handful of candies.
"What is it?" Link took several of them, but accidentally dropped a couple of them. "I'm sorry" he apologized.
"It's ok. It's candied safflina flowers. The yellow ones taste like lemon, the red ones taste like chili peppers and the blue ones taste like wintergreen"
Link opened a red one and examined it. The clusters of delicate flowers frozen in space by tiny sugar crystals were very pretty, the way Link thought candy should be. He held it up above his head to see the creeping sunlight shine through them, then finally stuck the candy in his mouth. At first he could only taste a sweet smoky flavor. "They're good!" he said happy.
"I'm so glad you like them!" Ravio cheered.
Link's lips started turning bright red and he started inhaling fast through his mouth.
"They're hot!" he said in a light panic.
"Here, here! Take a blue one!" Ravio quickly unwrapped a cool safflina candy and gave it to Link. Link took it and eagerly chewed on it at the same time that he unwrapped one made with electric safflina, and another warm safflina one.
Ravio was amused staring at Link eat.
"Weren't the red ones too hot?" he asked. "Yes, but I like them" Link put both candies in his mouth at the same time. Immediately his mouth, ears and nose turned red again.
Ravio thought it was adorable to see Link struggle with spice. He giggled and could not resist stepping in and catching Link's lower lip between his own in a fast and playful nibble, then backing away before Link could react.
"You kissed me!" Link stared at Ravio wide eyed. Ravio smiled shyly. He couldn't understand the nervous drive that made him do that, but he liked it.
Link kissed him back with the same chaste playfulness.
"You're it!" he laughed and took off running.
"Hey!" Ravio quickly took off chasing behind.
Link ran as fast as he could, as he knew Ravio could easily catch up. As he continued running he noticed the ground become soft and unstable, then that the brightening morning suddenly seemed much darker. He could hear water falling in slow drops at a distance, there were a couple of frogs croaking lazily in response to the relentless cooing of a dove. Link turned to admire the trees and shrubbery around and to make sure he remembered his way.
"Where are we going? Did you find something neat?" Ravio's voice was so soft that it seemed to be just another sound within the song of nature.
"Yes. Come on, it's this way" Link replied without hesitation. He had found a small and pleasant cave. He thought it was a great place to call his home for a while and was eager to explore it with Ravio.
When they arrived at the cave Ravio noticed Link had started making himself comfortable in there. There was a neat pile of logs waiting to be lit, several apples set on top of a rock, and a bottle of water next to them.
"This is awesome!" Ravio recoiled at his own voice. He was startled by the loud echo in the place, but he thought it was very interesting. "We could play music in here!" He laughed.
"We need a fire first. Would you light it?" Link admired Ravio's abilities, and liked to see him display them.
"Sure" Ravio did not even look at the pile of logs, they simply seemed to ignite on their own.
Link looked at the fire in awe, then turned to stare at Ravio as he walked further into the cave. The light from the flames refracted from the limestone walls and made Ravio's pale skin look tones of green and blue.
"Hey there's a treasure chest in here!" Ravio got on his knees and started digging. Link caught up with him to see what he had found.
The treasure chest was buried deep, and the soil in the area was hard and clay-like.
"You don't have a shovel…" Ravio knew Link was unlikely to have a shovel, and was simply thinking out loud.
"I used to have a shovel" Link remarked "But that does not help now"
"What happened to it?" Ravio asked.
"I dug something up and left it behind" Link examined the buried chest.
"Just left it?"
"Yeah"
Ravio stood and pondered their options
"Hmm, ok, stand back I've never done this before"
Link got up and stood behind Ravio, yet still in a place where he could observe.
Ravio was silent for a moment, then shook his head and pouted. He closed his eyes and immediately there was a thick column of sand springing from the ground.
Link was startled, he fumbled and fell back but quickly sat up to continue witnessing the phenomenon.
Ravio opened his eyes and the ground returned to its original formation, leaving the chest tumbling on its surface.
"Wow that's amazing!" Link kept looking, almost incredulous.
"I know! It's a really big chest!" Ravio hopped towards it to open it.
Link followed.
"That's not what I meant"
"It's a shackle!" Ravio said both happy and confused.
"A shackle?" Link stared at it, also confused.
"It feels powerful, and it kind of smells bad!" Ravio said as he examined it, then gave it to Link. Link took it and stared at it trying to understand or feel what Ravio said he felt. "I do feel something" He thought. He looked at his wrist, then slipped the shackle on as a bracelet. The shackle started making a strange high pitched chirping sound of sorts, and Link could swear it was lightly moving.
"Oh!" Ravio quickly grabbed the shackle and created a purple glow around it before slipping it off Link's wrist.
"What was that Little Boy?" Link did not understand what had happened.
"I don't know. It reacted to you. I made it stop. I like it, it was potential" Ravio did not seem the least bit scared or concerned about the incident, so Link did not pay it further mind.
Ravio searched for more treasure while Link explored the small cave.
Link looked over every turn and corner with no other purpose than to make a mental map of the place. He came upon another treasure chest, this one discarded in a corner far within the cave.
"There's more treasure!" He announced before opening the chest.
"What did you find?" Ravio caught up with him and found him holding a book
"Tales of Twilight: The obscure history of Hyrule" Link read the title out loud. "I wonder who put these items here."
Ravio took the book and quickly paged through it.
"The thieves in Lorule once told me sometimes they leave their stolen items in hidden places, until the rightful owner forgets them, or until the right buyer comes along"
Link was attentive to Ravio's words, he knew Ravio was wiser than most kids their age, and far more learned.
Ravio sensed the remnants of a strong energy emanating from the book. It was similar to some of the energy contained in the shackle he found.
"They also said some items are better to leave behind. That some things are a sin to steal, but a joy to find" Ravio sang these words slowly and a little dramatically, imitating the singing of an old Thief-lady he had once met. He took hold of Link's belt, and stuffed the book into it.
"This one is yours."
Link placed his hands above Ravio's holding him in place.
"Link. They lifted the castle's curfew for tonight" Ravio knew Link did not have a home, and would usually sleep in a comfortable place by a fire, but he wished to stay with him. "Whenever there is no curfew I stay in the vacant home south of the castle, you know, for fun, but…"
"Stay with me?" Link interrupted. He knew Ravio would comply.
"Yay!" Ravio clapped. "I brought some food and my divination cards. I will teach you how to use them, it will be fun. There must be some mushrooms around here too!" Ravio took a pause, apparently pondering something before simply kissing Link again "Now you're it!"
Link's heart fluttered, he had wished for another kiss. He reacted quickly, catching Ravio by the wrist before he could run. He kissed Ravio, and then he ran off.
"Hey! No tag back!" Ravio laughed and ran after Link. He effectively caught up to Link again as Link slowed his pace, obviously wanting to get caught.
Ravio took noticed of this. He drew Link close and tight into his chest and finally captured Link's mouth in a proper kiss.
Ravio's lips were soft and light upon Link's, parted only slightly as the tip of his tongue shyly searched to appease his curiosity for Link's taste. Link sighed low as he locked his arms tight around Ravio's hips. He held him in place as he stepped closer into him for just a brief moment before backing away.
They breathed deep and rapidly staring at each other with matching wide-eyed expressions.
"That felt . . . really different" Ravio started giggling uncontrollably, and covered his mouth with his hands.
Link felt as if delicate pins were tickling him all over. A surge of adrenaline made him giggle as well before he kissed Ravio again. He did not say a word then, just hastily sprinted; once again leading Ravio into exploration.
"Hey that was another tag back you cheater!" Ravio called out.
They continued their affectionate playing throughout the rest of the day, constantly kissing and running; touching and laughing.
They reached a crossroad far north west of the woods. There they met a sweet and kind woman who would giggle every time she would see them kiss. They enjoyed meeting her and cheerfully accepted when she offered them a gift of tea, cream and cakes. They said their farewells to the woman and turned their hike back into the woods. They met a cute and friendly creature called a korok who said his name was Natie. They played and danced with Natie for several hours. He gave them sweet berries, fresh spring water and strange mushrooms which made the tickling pins that accompanied their kissing much more apparent, so they decided to kiss more often.
The rapidly drifting clouds, heated noon and cool evening made it seem as if Hyrule had all seasons happening at once. Link felt elated and timeless as he gave into his senses and took Ravio as his own. They kissed, caressed, hugged and loved each other to their hearts delight; enjoying the unity of mutual ecstasy several times over. They interrupted their lovemaking only in brief periods by taking short naps, and eating several small meals which summed up to a copious feast.
"NOO! NOO!" The deafening scream that had haunted Link violently ripped this reality apart. Link's mind was shot into total chaos as he realized it was his own voice. He was lonely, screaming and crying the loss of the Little Boy he so loved. His hands were bleeding and trembling in desperation.
"No, no please. There has to be a way!" He fell on his knees and cried harder, then everything turned perfectly black.
"He's going to die"
"Link has seen a ghost"
"Is he cursed?"
"Quickly, quickly!"
Different voices morphed into blood chilling sounds. A noxious dirge was making Link frightened and sick. "Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?" he was nauseated and confused, and could not stand another moment of it. He gathered all his will power and tried to push all these overwhelming noises away.
He regained his vision the moment he stepped out of a strange hut. He did not turn back to think about any of it, and did not stop running until he was thrown back to the ground.
He had run into an intricate statue which depicted a large and corpulent bird. He was still crying, he cared about nothing other than finding the Little Boy.
The statue suddenly became animated, turning its large saucer-like eyes to look straight at Link.
"Hoo. Hoo" The statue shook its stone feathers and turned his head upside down as he spoke "Hoo. Hoo. I am an owl, Link." It then turned his head back straight around "Link. Wake up"
Link's eyes shot opened, finally awake. His clothes were soaking wet, he was sobbing and trembling, further drenching his tunic in tears. He realized he still laid flat on his back on the street in Lorule where he had fought the shadow being. The sorrow caused by his dreams was debilitating. He had to crawl to the nearby wall fissure to cross to Hyrule.
II.
The clear skies and new moon allowed for a perfectly dark night in Hyrule. Ravio's eyes were wide open and swollen with tears. He stared at the ceiling. His worry had again kept him up until he passed out of exhaustion, then he woke shortly after completely terrified from a nightmare he quickly forgot. He could no longer think of anything but his hurt as he laid in the pitch black darkness allowing icicles to form on his skin and on everything around him.
Link slammed the door open, then shut. Ravio prompt himself up in a jolt. He realized his hood was laying on a box by the door, but he was so happy that Link was back that he paid no mind to it at all.
Link was still shaking and crying, he did not care about the total darkness or dizzying cold. He walked straight to the duvets and crawled under the sheets.
Link's crying was heartbreaking to Ravio; it made him cry as well. He laid back and hugged Link tight. Link did not say a word, just hugged him back. They kept crying and holding each other until their hearts slowed down and they could breathe more easily.
They laid still until Link dared to reach up and touch Ravio's face. Ravio's breathing was still ragged from his crying, and his heart beat was sent back on the rise by Link's actions.
Link lightly ran his middle finger down Ravio's nose, stopping at the tip, then caressing his way back up to his forehead. He traced patterns with his fingertips around Ravio's eyes, then down his temples. He cupped his hand on Ravio's cheek and softly stroke his cheekbone with his thumb.
Ravio reached up and rid Link of his cap in order to pet his hair. He hoped to comfort Link as much as Link was calming him.
They laid soothing each other in total silence for a long time.
III.
Ravio woke disoriented. The day was already uncomfortably bright even though he held the bedsheets in fist-fulls over his head as he always did when he slept. He sat up quickly and looked all around him in total panic.
Sheerow was on his perch staring at him and looking characteristically judgmental.
Ravio found a note beside him on the pillows.
"We fell asleep. Don't worry. I didn't peak"
Ravio fell back onto the duvet holding his palm to his forehead. He was not sure if he wanted to think. He felt rested, and relieved to know Link was well, but much more confused than before.