Chapter 30: Rising Storm

"Hmm… can you sing?"

Link shot the princess a glare from beside the fire. They were a day away from Woodland Stable, as Zelda, for some unfathomable reason, decided to go the longer way.

"I get that it's a strange question," Zelda continued. "But I suppose it's only fair, as you know quite a bit more about me than I know of you."

Link rolled his eyes and poked at the flames. "I suppose it depends, Princess. I-"

"Zelda." She corrected.

"Apologies, Princess." Link said. Zelda merely huffed in response. "As I was saying, it depends on how resistant your windows are."

Zelda looked at him for a moment, before a light seemed to go off in her head. "Oh!" She chuckled slightly. "Well, is there anything that you're good at other than cooking, sword fighting, and horse riding?"

Link scoffed. "I am not good at any of those things. Except for the sword fighting nonsense." Even Link had to admit that he had some strange skill at that.

"Hmm…" Zelda hummed. "If you say so. However, that fruitcake of yours says otherwise."

Link froze in the middle of poking the flames. After a moment, he managed to shake off the shock. "I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about." He said calmly.

"Well, Liari claimed that it was your handwriting," Zelda argued. "And that the scribble sort of thing at the end was your signature."

Link finally managed to look up at Zelda. "Okay," Link said slowly. He drew in a deep breath. "But who's to say that the cooks didn't help me?"

"You." Zelda grinned. "It said in the letter… hmm… something about not making one in a while, and about how it probably wouldn't be the best?"

"I still said nothing about making it all by myself, Princess."

"If you say so, Link." Zelda rolled her eyes at him. "Are there any other things you…" Zelda paused, as if trying to choose the right words. "Enjoy doing in your spare time?"

"Riding horses." Link said as he poked at the flames again, sending up a few embers. "Training. Watching casual princesses who want me to break the rules most the time."

Zelda blinked at him for a moment. "I suppose you don't have much spare time nowadays," She observed. "But what did you do in your spare time before?"

Link paused in thought. "I used to climb all kinds of cliffs. Almost got myself killed many, many times."

"And?" Zelda egged him on.

Link grinned mischievously. "Eating."

"That was a given."

"I used to doodle a bit." Link grabbed a log from beside him and fed it to the fire. "Very bad artwork, but Liari liked it all the same."

"How do you know Liari?" Zelda asked.

Link paused for a moment before replying. "It's a long story."

"Well, we still have time until the sun sets." Zelda said. "And I won't be going anywhere."

Link drew in a deep breath. "Well, I do believe it starts quite a while before I met her. It had been a… somewhat ordinary day at first." It was a day that meant the world to me. Link thought it best not to voice that part.

Nearly ten years earlier...

Link rushed out the door to his father, who had just arrived home. "Pa!" He shouted, before throwing himself into the arms of the just dismounted knight.

Koruma recovered quickly, before smiling and ruffling the hair on his son's head. "How is my five year old doing?"

The little boy pulled himself away and placed his hands on his hips with a huff. "I'm six today! Did you forget already?"

The knight laughed at the boy's response. "No, I didn't forget. Happy Birthday, Link!" He ruffled Link's hair again.

The boy nodded, satisfied. "That's better."

The present day

"Link?"

Link shook his head. He had trailed off mid sentence, the memories dragging him back in time to his youthful oblivion.

"I apologize, Princess." Link said quietly. "I just… zoned off for a moment. Where was I?"

"Your father had just got home." Zelda said.

"Oh, yes." Link nodded.

Once again in the past

"I've got a gift for you!" Koruma said with a wide grin.

Link seemed to be bouncing in excitement. "Really? Is it food? I like food! Is it Fish? Some of that really good castle bread?"

Koruma shook his head. "Follow me out back."

The boy trailed his father to the stable, and gasped in amazement at what he saw.

A chestnut brown mare with a snowy white mane, tail, and muzzle stood tethered in front of their home's outdoor stalls.

"She's about three years old," Koruma said with a chuckle as the little boy stepped towards the horse. The mare lowered her head to allow the boy to pet her. "She's a wilder one, but I think you ought to be okay."

"She's so pretty," Link said in awe.

"What are you going to name her?" Koruma asked.

"Epona," The boy whispered without hesitation.

Koruma blinked at Link for a moment, before laughing heartily. "That's a great name, Link."

"Good. I would've named her Epona anyway, though. Not because you like it." Link huffed. The newly dubbed mare snorted.

"Well, then, would you like to go on a ride, then?" Koruma asked.

Link nodded eagerly.

"Good. But please don't do anything risky this time."

Link puffed out his lip in a pout. "But why?"

"This horse isn't used to you, yet." Koruma patted his own horse's neck. "And I'm getting far too old to keep up with you."

"Didn't you say that you've been too old for sixteen years, Pa?" Link asked.

Koruma leaned down to whisper in his son's ear. "I said that as an excuse not to be your mother's next taste tester. She's been making even stranger foods lately! Watch your stew, my boy, or you might find a frog leg floating around it it."

"I already have!" Link said cheerfully. "It made me lose my appetite, and I never want to see another frog leg again!"

Koruma patted the boy on the back. "And I thought we'd never find something you wouldn't eat!"

"I'm not about to go and eat another person!" Link argued.

Koruma tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You have bested your own father in a battle of wits, my boy."

"I'll never beat you at swords, though, Pa!" Link exclaimed.

Koruma shook his head. "I doubt that."

Link merely tilted his head before helping his father saddle Epona.

The present day

"Are you sure you're okay?" Zelda asked.

Link blinked at her. "I'm fine."

"Why did he get you a horse?" Zelda asked. "You said it was an ordinary day."

Link hadn't realized how much he'd said. "Um… I must be getting my days mixed up." Link said quickly. "I have always had jumbled memories of back then."

"If you say so." Zelda said slowly. "So… the ride?"

Link nodded. "We rode through the woods. I rode a bit too fast, despite my father's wishes. I can still remember how bright the colors of the forest seemed. Back then, it seemed everything was, and would always be perfect." Link didn't realize the smile that had overcome his face until his expression grew dark. "But then… then we got back."

Ten years earlier

Stormy gray clouds had grown across the sky, and Koruma decided to steer the both of them back home.

When they got there, an agonized scream had met their ears. Koruma recognized it speedily.

It was Link's mother.

Koruma steered his horse towards his son. "Link, I want you to go to Rusl's house as quickly as possible. Whatever you do, don't stop for anyone."

Link nodded slowly, confused, and jerkily turned Epona around, before launching her into a swifter trot, heading for the friend of his father's home.

Edit: So I've gotten some complaints about how the flashbacks fit together and such. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PART. I seriously have no idea how to fit them together, or transitions, or ANYTHING! I was actually just trying to string them together as quickly as I could, due to the REALLY long delay. I WAS OUT OF TOWN! I'm still REALLY SORRY! So... yeah. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, DO NOT HESITATE TO VOICE THEM! :D

So... I know many of you want to kill me due to how long it took me to upload this chapter. I don't blame you. I set my own lawn on fire. I've got to admit, Hyrule at setting stuff on fire. And this chapter was going to be longer, but I decided it would be too long if I included all of Link's story.

So... sorry guys. Feel free to set my lawn on fire (it's made of rocks).

REPLIES! (Secret review phrase is the word "fire.")

MeaninglessMayhem: Horses are great, Purah is priceless, and Zora's Domain is nice and wet. Good ol' lakes and water. Don't worry- I have no idea what I'm doing here either.

RhymingRobin: Hmm. Many believe I'm a bit too eccentric. And I honestly don't blame them (XD). Well, I'm glad you like it!

Guest: Okay! Thanks! *Gets to the pun* *Claps* GOLD STAR FOR YOU!

SmokeyMirrors: Nah, that's some good quality punning right there! Divine Beasts? I'm not sure if I'll go into those too much, as they are one of the main focuses of the game. But we'll see. I'm not sure about Dark Link either, but I do have some ideas. He may show up. Just don't let your hopes get too high.

Catseye: I'm so glad you liked it! Good ol' Purah. I've been trying out one shots, but there's a small problem with those. When I write, I usually have a gigantic and extensive plot in mind, so sometimes writing one shots can be difficult. That, and half the time I already have no idea what I'm doing. We'll see! Did you have Sidon in mind when you said "I believe in you"? Because now all I can picture is that cheesy grin (XD). YAY! PUNS!

I DID IT! GUYS, I DID IT! LOOK! I DID IT!

Well, thank you everyone! I appreciate your inputs! UGH, you guys are WAY too nice to my work! Not that I don't like it! I give it plenty of criticism as it is, but we don't talk about that.

SINCERELY (At least, I THINK so),

Ari