Past and Present

PART 1

I was forced awake the next morning, as usual. I was really getting sick of being these peoples' prisoner just so they could experiment on me. The man gestured towards them machine after I was awake and stretched out.

"No." I replied flatly.

"What?!" he demanded.

"No, I'm not getting on, until you let me in on some things, like you promised."

"Fine. My name is Vandelum. It may seem strange, but I will tell your more on a differnet date. We used to be a powerful race that nearly inhabited Hyrule, but we were sent back to our home, and attacked and attacked until we were nearly extinct. We hide in small camps deep in the wilderness and in underground bases, like this one. You ancestor may help us become accepted again. There; now get on the damn machine!" he ordered.

"Good." I snapped bitterly, climbing on.

The screen folded over my face, and I waited patiently as he logged on and scanned me. He selected the memory log we had just left off on, and clicked it. The image of the brain appeared as usual. I watched it float around on the screen as things started to fade away.

Link reluctantly ran down the cliff on the path opposite his father was going. He reached the bottom and started to run towards his home in the Southern part of the city, at the other end. He turned to see several gerudos, slaughtering some of the New Ordon's soldiers. He felt like crying, and so did I.

He ran passed the general store, which was now closed. A soldier clutching his bleeding arm quickly ran past him. The sight of all that blood scared Link even more.

Link passed one of his friend's houses, to see that it was surrounded by Gerudos, all laughing as they watched while it burned in the raging inferno it was consumed by.

Link screamed in sheer terror. The Gerudos turned and raced towards him, laughing as they did so, joking about how they would 'tear him apart'.

I tried to jump in front of Link and fend off the soldiers like I had done the muggers, but couldn't. More static appeared as I struggled. Link drew his sword and blocked an attack at his head. The powerful blow hurt his wrist. I tried to grab my wrist, but couldn't. He blocked another hit, and was kicked to the ground.

I tried desperatley to help him, but couldn't move. More static appeared, and things started to fade.

"No, no!" I cried, waking up in the machine.

"You must not get so involved in the memory!" Van snapped angrily." Lets try that again."

I felt myself fade away to see Link on the ground, surrounded by Gerudos, all eyeing him viciously.

"Are these the soldiers they have here? How pathetic!" one said.

Link started to stand and raise his blade, but was kicked back down, hard. The pain in his side was tremendous.

I found it hard, but I managed to try not to get involved, and just let it happen. I felt myself becoming more like one person with Link.

Link stood up again and lunged at a Gerudo, stabbing the man. He fell back and screamed loudly, blood leaking from his chest. Link yanked the sword out and ran. Oh no, I think I killed 'em! I killed that man! Link thought frantically as he ran. The Gerudos were fast though, gaining on him.

Link jumped over a few baskets of wheat and kicked them over, tripping the Gerudos as he continued to run towards his home. He rounded a corner and lost them, still running. The crude wooden buildings and abandoned stalls flew by him as he raced towards his house.

He eventually arrived at his house, where his mother was waiting worriedly around back. Link slowed to a stop in front of her, and started to pant heavily, tired from his long run. His heart was beating frantically.

"Oh, Link! Thank goodness you are safe! Where is your father?" she asked nervously.

"I don't know, mom. He ran off to fight the Gerudos, and he told me to run, and he gave me this sword. Gerudos tried to kill me mom, and I killed one of them!"

"Oh Goddesses!" she cried, hugging him tightly.

"Over here! Here's a house we can loot!" they heard a female Gerudo soldier cry.

"Link, quickly, you must go. Hide in the mountains for as long as it takes, and keep your father's training in mind. I will fend them off!" she said quickly in a hushed voice. They could hear the soldiers ramsacking the house now.

"No, mom, just come with me!" Link protested.

"No son, we won't make it. I'd just slow you down! You know how weak I am! Go, and remember, I will always love you."

Link felt a tear go down his cheek as he turned and ran into the forest, running as fast as he could. He never looked back, even when he heard her shrill scream as she was slaughtered.

"MOM!" I awoke screaming at the top of my lungs.

"Good work, today, Mr. Link! We're one more step closer to discovering what happened to my people. You may rest and eat."

A/N: A little on the title - I will put two words. One will represent present tense, and the other past. Sometimes one, for just past or present. Mostly past or both.

Like Problem Departure.

Problem- present Departure- past.

All clear? Good.

-Sam