I FINALLY finished this chapter. I've been struggling to get myself to write, because work has kinda been kicking my butt, and I got promoted sort of, and so I just haven't done it. I would like to thank my beautiful little angel of a friend personayami from Tumblr for pushing me to bust this out. I really appreciate it. This chapter is from Link's perspective, and so will the next one be probably almost definitely?! But anyways, read and hopefully enjoy. If you do, let me know. If you don't let me know, and tell me why! Please and thank you!
-DivinePrince0
Link collapsed onto the sand of the Gerudo Desert, the exertion of combat combined with the sweltering heat having quickly drained him of his remaining strength. The young warrior had been trailing the demon horde for weeks now as it made its way deeper into the unforgiving waste. After encountering groups of demons congregating at the edges of Hyrule Field, Link had made the rash decision to follow them to their destination, unaware of the consequences.
Unable to defeat a force of the magnitude he discovered had amassed, Link was left with no choice to to stay hidden as they traveled. In the depths of the desert, he struggled to keep his energy high, due to lack of supplies and ever-precious water. His only companion, the fairy Navi, was the sole reason Link had survived this long. She frequently scouted out oases for the warrior to make camp and replenish his water supply at.
Weeks into the journey, Link got his first glimpse at the mysterious figure that seemed to be guiding the demons onward. In the fading light of that day he saw them crest a sand dune alone, the demons momentarily parting around the rise. A pure white cloak that caught the light in a way that created the illusion the light around it was constantly being pulled inward. A deep blue embroidering ran around the edges of the cloak. Twin ribbons in that same shade dropped from a split in the sides, and curled back in to meet the inverted Triforce glaringly visible on the back of the cloak. The hem of cloak itself stopped just above mid thigh. The exposed skin of their legs and arms were a dull gold, similar to jewelry that had been left unpolished to tarnish.
As they began to turn in Link's direction, he threw himself hurriedly behind the rock rising out of the sand near him. He cursed his inability to get a chance to learn the face of the mysterious leader, and his stupidity for getting so close to the horde in the first place. With the light fading rapidly as night fell, Link had little options other than remain here behind the rock and await the dawn, knowing that the horde would soon stop for rest. When that occurred, he would be freed from his current predicament and able to search for another source of water.
"You know, this reminds of this one time that I was stuck trekking, well, flapping, my way through a desert just like this one!" Navi's chiming voice cut through the tension. "The guy I had been traveling with had dragged me all over the kingdom! Lakes, volcanoes, and by the time we had gotten to the desert, I was so tired! But…"
"But what Navi?" Link asked. "From what it sounds like, he wasn't very considerate of your feelings, was he?"
Navi's glow dims, a visible sadness falling over her. "He was very kind, and very brave. Whenever it was too much and I was too afraid, he let me hide inside his cap. And I always tried my best to help him out. He was my very best friend. And… And I had to leave him." At this admission, Navi began to cry. "I had to leave him after our journey was over, and he didn't even know why!"
Link lifted his hand to hold the winged ball of blue light that had been his closest companion since childhood. "Oh Navi. I am so sorry. That must have been awful. Why did you have to leave?" Link suffused his voice with comfort and love, lifting his other hand to cup the fairy close to him.
"Because he didn't need me anymore. And because I had to go to sleep." Her light flickered with her words, telegraphing the emotional turmoil she was experiencing. "A beautiful lady summoned me to the sky, and begged that I go to sleep. That someone in the future would need my help, just like he did."
"Well, maybe that someone was me! I need you too Navi!" Link's voice was quiet, but firm in his conviction. "I didn't have any friends before I met you. And now, you and I have lots of friends!"
Navi's shine stabilized, and she responded in a voice small with adoration and wonder. "You really believe that? That you need me?"
"Of course. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you that day in the forest." Link's words grew soft with the love and happiness he associated with that memory. "I'd be so lost without you."
A chuckle escaped from the little light, seemingly against her will. "Both of you would have been. So maybe you're right, maybe you are the person the lady meant."
"I think so." The young man smiled. "Hey Navi" He queried.
"Yes Link?"
"I love you." With that, the green-garbed adventurer released the fairy, and twisted until he was lying on the ground, eyes falling shut with the sudden onset of exhaustion brought by the fading light of day.
Navi hovered above Link for a long moment, unable to process the admission from him. After a few seconds, she let herself glide down to the level of the young man. "You look just like him, you know? And you even share the same name."
The fairy's words are met with snores, Link having slipped off to sleep as quick as ever. "And you sleep just like he did too." As she slips into the gap between his head and the green knit cap that covered Link's disheveled blonde hair, she whispers back,
"I love you too."
Link's shift from a quiet sleep to alert awakeness was sharp and sudden. Unaware of what had roused him from his sleep, the warrior slowly placed his feet underneath him, pointed ears overly aware of the sound each grain of sand beneath his boots made. Sapphire eyes cast about in the final darkness before the dawn, assessing the dunes around him for danger.
"Navi, I think it's time to wake up." Link's voice was muted, but the tightness in it belied the tension that coursed through his body and mind.
The little fairy was not easily drawn from her slumber, but at the young man's insistent repetition of her name, she groggily responded. "What is it Link? What's wrong"
"I'm not sure my friend, but I get the feeling we're going to find out." As soon as the words had left his lips, the twang of an arrow being released from a bow cut through silence of the night. Link twisted sharply, that same arrow narrowly missing his shoulder to shatter on the boulder he had slept against.
"Dim lights, Navi. It's time to move."
With no time to deliberate, Link dashed in a direction perpendicular to the path of arrow. Hopefully this will make it harder for the archer to track my body. His fairy companion zoomed ahead of him, using her superior night vision to navigate their escape. As they crested the nearest dune, the call of a goblin horn erupted behind him, followed after a few moments by the cries of a group of the disgusting creatures.
"Link, what are we going to do?! We're in open desert, with nowhere to hide!" Navi's frantic chimes lit a flame within the young warrior, her fear awakening a fierce need to protect.
A calm stole over Link, one that silenced the alarm and panic in his head, replacing it with certainty. "We're not going to hide. We're going to fight."
"What do you mean, you can just say that all calm-like!" Navi's cries grew louder with her increasing despair. "We can't win against that many at once, we'll-"
"Quiet Navi!" Sliding to a halt over the crest of the next rise, Link spoke with conviction. "We can, and we will. But I'm going to need your help, alright? I can't do it without you."
The small ball of light flit back and forth, apprehensive of Link's apparent course of action. "What do you need me to do?" Her voice was tiny with fear, but no longer consumed by it, which brought a smile to the verdantly-garbed warrior's face.
"I just need you to do what you do best. Show me where the bad guys are." In the faint light the fairy shone with, Link's eyes were alight with confidence. "Keep your light as low as you can, get as close to the head of an individual goblin, and when I give the signal, I want you to shine."
"Just get close, and glow?" The overwhelming fear in Navi's voice was replaced by skepticism. "Is that all?"
Link nodded vigorously, and upon hearing the approach of the goblins, began to stealthily move away from them. "They don't have torches, probably because they were too stupid to assume that an ambush wouldn't work on us. So they can't really see me, and I can't see them." The excitement for the oncoming fight grew steadily within the warrior's voice. "So you'll stack the playing field in my favor. Just trust me on this, okay Navi?"
"Okay. I trust you." After confirming with Link once more her part in his plans, she zipped into the open sky to approach the oncoming group of goblins. The young man himself slipped silently to the dune on the right of the enemy, grabbing his bow off of his back and drawing an arrow from his quiver. A slow draw of the string, and Link was ready to fire.
"NOW NAVI!" At his shout, the fairy did what she had been asked. She shone. A blue-white radiance illuminated the pit in-between dunes the goblin pack had been passing through. The vile creatures released screeches of pain as the light seared their eyes, blinding them. They're sight temporarily eliminated, Link sighted down his arrow, snapping his bow to the left to zero in on Navi's target.
"Now this is how to shoot someone with an arrow, you monsters." Link's growl was drowned out by the piercing twang of the bowstring as he let the arrow fly. It flew true, and pierced the goblin's skull just above it's eyes. By this time, Navi had dimmed herself once more and it's fellows had regained some vision, gathering into what seemed to be a passable excuse for a defensive battle formation.
Someone is training the demons of Hyrule! The thought struck deep within Link, but he thrust it aside to maintain focus. One down, five to go.
He tracked Navi's flitting glow as he restrung another arrow. The instant she had decided on a target, she flared up once more, blinding the squad of goblins for the second time. Link took a breath, centered on his target, and released both his breath and arrow. Another instant kill, and Link ducked back down to circle around the pit.
The next two goblin's went down in the same way. When the young warrior popped his head back over the dune to slay the final demon, it was gone, along with Navi. Alarm shot through Link's veins, and he leapt into the pit without a moment's hesitation. Storing his bow upon his back, he reached down to grasp the hilt of the blade sheathed just above his rear.
"Navi?" Link's call rang through the air. Mere seconds later, the faint sound of Navi's distinct chime responded, growing rapidly softer. "Navi!"
Sand flew into the desert air as Link burst into motion, drawing his sword as he honed in on the tiny fairy's chiming cry for help. Clearing the nearest dune, the warrior caught a brief glimpse of the remaining goblin fleeing in over the next wave of sand, Navi held tight within its hands. Link's field of vision narrowed to a slit, rage flooding his system at the sight. A clarion battle call wrested itself from his lips as he sped after the retreating enemy.
The minutes that followed were filled charged with a crackling tension as Link gave pursuit. Each second drove a sliver of terror over Navi's safety further into his heart, spurring him to reduce the seemingly gaping distance between him and the fleeing figure. After what seemed like an eternity to the young man, but was in reality nothing of the sort, Link was upon the fleeing demon.
A quick thrust later, it was over.
The goblin flailed about, tossing Navi into the air as it struggled remove the blade lodged in it's chest. Link stood firm, holding steady until it ceased to move. With his right hand he gripped the goblin's shoulder, and with his blade hand he pulled his sword free. Once the blade itself slid out of the demon, all the rage dissipated, leaving him limp with exhaustion. As he wiped the pitch-like blood from the steel, he lifted his sapphire blue gaze to check on his fairy companion.
"Are you okay?" His voice quivered with anxious relief. "I thought.. You could have…" Tears filled his eyes, threatening to spill over onto Link's dust-stained cheeks.
Navi hastened to the young man's side, tinkling in a reassuring way. "I'm quite alright, Link. It was just a small scare. You saved me." Her voice was overflowing with pride and thanks. Link's hands reached up to cup her close to his heart, the intensity of the night having left him in need of comfort.
"Promise me that you'll always let me save you. Promise." The hushed whisper slipped between the Hyrulian's lips, a quiet admission of need.
"I promise. Because let's be honest, I definitely have a horrible track record for saving myself." Navi's chiming laugh soothed the spaces in Link's chest that ached with worry for the little ball of light. He chuckled to himself, and released the fairy as he picked up his sword from where he had dropped it to hold her in his hands. He flourishes the blade to rid it of sand, and sharply sheathes it in it's scabbard.
Taking quick stock of their surroundings, Link realizes that dawn has arrived. The sun has begun to creep lazily over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with vivid pinks and oranges. With the dawn comes a breeze that carries the acrid smell of flame and smoke. The warrior spins around, and scans the distance for the source of the scent.
"Navi. We've got to move." With that, he takes off at a dead sprint towards the column of smoke rising from the cliffs barely visible through the heat haze.
"Here we go again." With a sigh, the small fairy zips off after Link, neither of them aware of the Gerudo scout that watches them from afar, and who dashes off in the direction of the smoke behind them.