Path of Time

Author's Note: I know I said they were going to meet Marcia this chapter, but... well, they have to get to know each other someway. shrugs So think of this as a filler chapter, where Link gets to know everyone individually. I wouldn't want this to be impersonal, after all. But I do promise for sure they will meet her... and of how she reacts to him. Heh heh heh... it will be torture time next chapter for sure!

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Chapter Three

The mercenaries had since been resting as they camped out. They had most certainly never fought enemies like that before.

"Are you sure we are safe here?" Ike asked Link, who apparently knew more about what kind of creatures they were than they did.

Link nodded.

"If I'm right, we should be," Link answered, looking at the young commander.

"Should be?" Boyd cut in. "Should be?! No, I want to know for certain if we are!"

Boyd pointed behind himself.

"I don't want to have to fight those things ever again, nor would I want to meet that sorcerer guy by myself!"

Link shook his head.

"Don't worry. They don't roam onto the fields."

Boyd sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness. After all, I wouldn't want pee-wee here to wet his pants from fear because of those things."

Rolf scowled at him and then kicked him in the shin. Boyd let out a holler.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?!"

"First of all, I told you NOT to call me 'pee-wee' and secondly-" Rolf kicked him again, causing Boyd to holler, "if anyone's going to wet his pants, it would be you! After all, you kept looking around the forest as we escaped, Boyd!"

Boyd gritted his teeth.

"Why you..."
Link stepped in front of Boyd before he could go near Rolf.

"That's enough."

Boyd folded his arms across his chest as Rolf peered around Link and stuck his tongue at him. Boyd did it right back. Oscar sighed and rubbed his forehead with his thumb and index, seemingly from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry about that," the older knight apologized. "My brothers usually do this when they're under stress."

Link shook his head.

"It's not your fault."

Soon, the mercenaries were sitting around the campfire, knowing that they probably wouldn't be sleeping tonight because of the circumstances. At first, it was entirely silent, save for Mia humming quietly to herself. Finally, the purple-haired myrmidon couldn't take it any more. It was too quiet for her.

"I don't believe we've introduced ourselves to you," Mia said, hoping that Link would take the bait.

Link's eyes widened as he looked at each and every single member, from Ike to Titania and Soren, to Mist, to the three brothers, to Rhys, to Mia, and to the female mage, Ilyana, who had decided to sit with the mercenaries, since they had saved her earlier.

"You're right," Link responded as everyone realized that in the midst of everything, they didn't even know his name, save for Titania, Boyd, Oscar, and Soren. However, they doubted if he knew theirs.

Ike cast his head down.

"I apologize. I didn't even think of it," Ike said. "I am Ike, leader of the Greil Mercenaries."

It was then Link learned each individual's name: Ike, Titania, Soren, and Ike's sister, Mist. Then there were the others: Oscar the elder, Boyd the middle, and Rolf the youngest brother. Then there was Rhys, Mia, and Ilyana, who was the newest member of the Greil Mercenaries.

After the introductions, Mia sat even closer to Link, but he was oblivious to this. Rhys, on the other hand, especially noticed but chose not to say anything, for fear of embarrassment. The last thing he wanted to do was make Link uncomfortable around them.

The entire camp was silent again as the ten mercenaries were still confused from the night's events.

"That sorcerer back there... how do you two know each other?" Soren interrogated suddenly, causing everyone to turn and look. "After all, it was rather convenient that we were attacked by presumably his minions, then you come out of nowhere and save us, being a hero, right?"

Oscar frowned.

"Soren, please. This really isn't the time..."

"This is the perfect time, Oscar," Soren said curtly, staring straight at Link. "We are safe and out of danger, as far as we're concerned, so now is the perfect time."

Soren scowled.

"Isn't it, Link?"

Link was rather startled by Soren's coldness. He had figured earlier that he was the silent type. However, that was only an impression. When Link didn't respond, Soren continued.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? You don't expect me to believe that the creatures, your appearence, and the shadow were all merely coincidence, do you? The others may be absolutely thankful that you had come to save us, but it is all very suspicious to me. Do you have something to say to us in your defense? After all, not many beorc come here in Gallia, especially with all the sub-humans that live here."
Link's eyes widened.

"...Sub-humans?"

Soren nodded as the others shifted uncomfortably. Boyd looked as if he was ready to pounce on Soren, but after Ike touched his shoulder, he reluctantly calmed down.

"Yes. We all originally came here to Gallia so we could seek sanctuary for Princess Elincia, and as far as we know, she is safe. It was all very circumstancial for us to come here, after all."

Soren then squinted his red eyes.

"I told you the reason we're in Gallia. Now it is your turn to explain to us what you are doing here and your link to that sorcerer."

Link sighed. He was hoping he could avoid this, but it appeared as if he had no choice. After all, they had been caught up in the middle of his battle with the sorcerer. He knew he had to tell them the truth. He wasn't sure if they would believe him, but it was worth a try. Apparently, they didn't have monsters in their world like his did, so there was on reason for them to disbelieve him. He sighed.

"First of all, everyone, don't be angry with Soren," he said, noticing the looks on everyone's faces, "he's right. I shouldn't keep the true reason I'm here from you. You had all been caught up in the middle of it, so I guess I owe it to tell you. I don't know if you'll believe my tale, but... you have no reason to discredit it either."

Titania nodded.

"All right. We're ready."

Ilyana, Mist, and Rolf scooted closer to the campfire, not wanting to be left out. Ilyana rested her chin on her knees and looked at Link. After all, she wanted to be included too.

Link sighed again.

"The name of that sorcerer... is Ganondorf. Seven years ago, he had taken over my homeland of Hyrule while I was asleep for seven years.

"There was darkness all over Hyrule when I had awakened at last from a long sleep. Thanks to the seven sages and Princess Zelda... I've managed to defeat him and imprison him. I had gone back seven years in time and lived in peace... and now seven years later, again, he managed to break free. He had come to confront me. Ganondorf wanted revenge, and we had fought."

Link cast his eyes to the fire.

"He had defeated me because I didn't have the one sword that could defeat him. I had almost died that day. I didn't know it at the time, but when he had defeated me, he then opened up a dimensional gate, using a power he had taken from me and Princess Zelda, to then escape into your world.

"When I came to, I was informed by the sages who assisted me that Ganondorf had already defeated Zelda and escaped into a world called Tellius. So I grabbed the blade I had used to defeat Ganondorf, my ocarina, and followed him here. I had been sent to deliver this world of Ganondorf's evil."

Link then turned to see the reactions of each mercenary. Even Soren, who had doubted his motives only moments ago, seemed to believe his story. He didn't know if he should have told the mercenaries about the medallion yet. It was obvious that none of them knew anything about it, but according the sage, Rauru, the medallion contained the dark god of this land, and if it was released, then the world would be in danger. That was the only information he was given so far, so he didn't know about it either other than what he was told by the sage.

"It appears you have a journey ahead of you," Titania said. "What are you going to do, though?"

Link didn't even hesitate.

"I'm not much of a sociable person," Link said, "but... I'll travel with you for a while. After all, Ganondorf may come back for you, Ike, and Mist. If that time came... without the sacred sword of light, none of you can even harm him."

Mia folded her arms across her chest.

"No wonder I couldn't hurt him when I attacked. I thought it was because I wasn't strong enough to defeat him."

Link turned to her.

"No matter how competent of a fighter you may be, only I can defeat him, because I'm the only one who can wield this sword."

Link then unsheathed his sword to show them. Rolf's eyes widened as he stood up to take a closer look at the sword.

"It's so... bright," Rolf said.

He was right. The light of the sword shined and lit the darkness.

"Wow. So only you can wield that sword?" Mia asked, scooting entirely too close to Link.

Rhys' eyes widened as he saw the pass that Mia was making at Link.

"Yes," Link answered, oblivious, "this was the very sword I had used to defeat Ganondorf."

"Wow. You must have been quite the swordsman to be named as the Hero of Time."

Rhys was starting to gnash his teeth together, and Link looked up to see Rhys tensing up.

"Rhys, are you all right?" he asked.

Mia turned to look at him, followed by curious stares from the others. Even Oscar and Titania turned to look at him. Rhys' face brightened red.

"Actually, I'm... uh... I'm going to catch up on whatever hours are left of sleep."

On that note, the priest then got up and walked toward the wagon where the merchants were. Ike then looked at Boyd, who shrugged at him in return. Titania then stood.

"It may actually be a good idea for us to take advantage the last hours of the night," she advised. "Otherwise, we'll never be able to function fully."

The others then turned to one another.

"One of us will have to be on watch," Ike said, turning to everyone.

"I'll be on look-out," Ilyana volunteered. "I did get more sleep than any of you did."

Ike looked at her.

"But your injury..."

"I owe you thanks for saving me, Commander Ike. You cared for me, and I want to pay you back."

Ike shook his head.

"No, I don't want..."

Link touched his shoulder.

"I'll be on look-out. Get some rest. You will all need it."

Oscar looked at him.

"What about you? You cannot function well with a lack of sleep either."

Link looked at Oscar. He knew that arguing with him would be difficult, because from what he saw of Oscar, he was kind but could be stubborn. Before he could proceed to explain to Oscar that he normally stayed up whole nights, Rauru's voice spoke to him.

"Link, go get some rest for now. We will look out for you and the Greil Mercenaries. No shadows are near, and you are in no danger."

Link then turned to Oscar.

"You already look as if you'll fall over. In the morning, I can sleep in the wagon."

Oscar nodded.

"Very well."

Oscar then got up, and he was walking slightly unsteadily. Link knew that he was definitely exhausted. Ike and Boyd then followed Oscar. When Link turned to look at the remaining mercenaries, Soren and Ilyana were already gone, while Mist and Rolf were sleeping, nestled up against Oscar and Titania's horses. Mia was the last to go. She winked at Link.

"Well, good night. I guess we'll... see you in the morning."

She then walked away, and Link blinked. After he was certain that everyone had gone to sleep, he walked over to a nearby tree and after sitting under it, he closed his eyes as he leaned his back against the tree.

---

An orange cat and blue tiger rushed over to Gebal Castle and looked around. The cat sniffed around and looked at the tiger. They then reverted to humanoid form and turned to each other.

"They're gone..." the tiger man said. "Where have they gone?"

The cat woman scowled.

"Humph. Typical humans. They couldn't stand the thought of being accompanied by 'sub-humans', so they abandoned their princess."

He looked at her.

"I do not think so."

"Why not? Mordecai, give me one good reason not to..."

She paused as she sniffed the air. Her ears then twitched. They could hear agonized moaning. The cat woman started growling as her tail thrashed wildly.

"What is that stench?"
The tiger man looked at the cat woman.

"Lethe, it is best we retreat. The mercenaries have already left. We should not stay here much longer."

Lethe nodded.

"Right. There's no need to stick around. As long as Princess Crimea's mercenaries are gone..."

"I have their scent... although the scent of one is strange."

Lethe squinted.

"You're right. We must find them."

Without another word, Lethe and Mordecai then transformed and quickly ran out.

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Looks like Mia's getting her flirt on! Oooh... once again, I don't really plan to make her and Link an official couple. I'm just having a little fun, that's all. In other news, it looks as if they'll be meeting Lethe and Mordecai next chapter, as well as Marcia. I've already screwed up time a little bit too... or did I? Oh well. That's we all get when someone from a parallel world intrudes in! Chapter Nine's going to be unusual. Once again, read and review!