Past and Present

PART 1

Link could tell by simply walking through the streets, his armaments concealed, that the party was going to be a big hit. It seemed to be the only conversation he passed.

"You think I should wear a dress? I have one." A lady told her friend.

"I am going to drink myself silly, I fear." another man said to his best buddy.

"Do it!" he dared laughing.

The outfit merchants, Link noticed, were having quite a bit more attention. And the fabric merchants. People all seemed to want to dress well for the occasion.

"Come one, come all!" a merchant cried, holding a dress above his had," I have the finest garments in all of the land, and for the cheapest price! I even sell fabric and sewing supplies!"

Link watched in semi-amazement as nearly every woman in a twenty-five foot radius charged towards the man, fighting to be the first in line. The man smiled slyly, knowing he was possibly going to come home with a lot more money than usual. Link couldn't help but grin and give him a thumbs-up. He didn't no whether the man regarded him or not, albeit he continued to walk, anyway, getting the layout of the city before he killed Sonorah.

He put his hood back on after a while, as that seemed to help with the fumes. He passed a few guards, surrounding a woman, and shoving her back and forth. He stopped and raised a brow.

"You will die, Hylian!" one guard spat, shoving her into his friend.

"Please, I didn't have it! Someone must have put it into my pocket!" she protested, only to be shoved again.

"A likely story! No one takes a rupee out in my presence, and then gets away with some sorry excuse! How do you expalin your pale skin, then! Only Hylians have pale skin!" the same man roared.

He drew a knife, ready to kill her. Link couldn't let it happen. And this lady was Hylian. There was no way he was letting her die. I feel I might regret this; I was hoping to avoid causing a scene this far in to my mission, but there is no other choice. Link reached into his tunic and drew a dagger. He got into position, just like his father had showed him years ago. He aimed carefully, and threw. It was a pleasant surprise for Link to know the knife landed square in the back of the man's neck.

The others instantly stopped shoving and turned their heads, looking for who did it. The lady didn't dare run, still frozen in fear, shivering. Link drew his sword and charged at a guard who was looking away. He sliced the head clean off. The crowd went crazy, running in every direction, knocking and trampling others over, breaking stalls. All hell was being let loose it seemed.

The body collapsed in front of Link, and the other guards lunged at him. Link drew his sword and held it out. The man's eyes went wide, but he could not stop himself from flying right through the blade. He gagged, and slid off, rolling over and moaning, begging for help as blood ran down his side.

Link stepped to the side to avoid another, bringing his sword down on the man's head. He fell over, dead. The other guard took a cautious step back, obviously scared. Link put his sword away. The man smiled and ran forward, sword raised. Link waited until he was right up close, and drew one of his knives. He took a long step forward, put it up to his neck, and allowed him run right into it. He fell over gasping and choking for air. The other wounded man had died mere seconds later.

The lady's eyes were wide, and she bowed down.

"No need for that, stand up." Link said reassuringly.

"Thank Farore you came! I thought I was surely going to die!" she thanked him, standing back up like he instructed.

"Well, good thing you didn't. This may not come as a surprise, but I am Hylian." he informed her, removing his hood.

She smiled. "I have a brother who is good with a sword. I will ask him to assist you. Surely you are on a mission, correct?" she offered.

"I am. I cannot reveal what it is, yet, but do not show up at the party. I would like to meet your brother some time." Link replied, running off. He climbed up onto a small rooftop and hid in an empty box, waiting for the guards to pass by. He climbed out and headed in the direction of the party, which was going to start soon.

---

An hour later, Link found himself at the gates to a mansion, the largest in town. It was also the capital building and home to Sonorah. People were filing in, wearing things from simple dresses and tunics, to elaborate costumes and hats.

Link kept his head low, and weapons concealed, and got right into the middle of the crowd. The guards tried to watch everyone, but could not keep up with so many people. Link took this to his advantage and slipped right by them.

The courtyard seemed to have more people in it than the plaza where the speech was held, and Link couldn't help but think there were more inside. He made his way to a massive, two-story fountain in the middle, which was spilling wine instead of water. Several men were gathered around it, dipping in golden cups and drinking. Link wanted some badly, since he had never had wine before, but he decided he didn't want to be drunk. He needed to stay focused. He wasn't here to celebrate. He was here to murder a vile scum bag, ruling a town he shouldn't even exist in.

Off on one side of the courtyard, propped up against the tall stone walls, was a band, playing flute and drum music, common in the desert. Link thought it was okay, but he liked his style of music. Several people had gathered in front of the small stage the band was on, and started to dance to the rhythm. Others clapped.

Link scanned the crowd, looking for Sonorah. He couldn't see him. He would have to go inside and check. He gently pushed a few people out of the way, heading towards the front door, surrounded by two guards on either side.

He waited for a group of eager party-goers to start heading in, and tried to fit in with them until they were passed the doorway. He was now inside probably the most beautiful thing he had seen in his entire life-time. He looked all around in awe. The ceiling was red and gold, and Gerudo flags hung from wooden supports on the roof. A massive chandelier the size of a small house was hooked up. People milled about inside, talking and eating from the buffet. The windows were surrounded by intricate golden designs, and candles flickered in every corner and place. Guards were at every entrance and exit, eyeing the crowd, obviously making sure he wasn't showing up to kill some more people like he had been doing on the streets.

Static passed my vision, and I once again began to think, for awhile.

Link looked at every face, looking for the man who had given the speech. He eventually found him up on a balcony, drinking a cup of wine, looking down at all his citizens.

Link scowled up at him, knowing he couldn't see. Your life is mine for disgracing my people. Link thought bitterly.

He snaked his way through the thick crowd, heading towards the golden staircase leading up to the man. Link walked carefully, keeping low under the railing, so no one would see him sneaking up there. He took a moment to put his knives back on his chest, and put his sword back on his back. He made it to the top, and then said aloud:

"Sir, we have a problem I need you to look into!" he said, mimicking a Gerudo's accent.

He eyed him for a moment and then followed. His bodyguards tried to follow, but he motioned them to stay back. Link led him down the staircase and out into the courtyard. He brought him to the fountain, and pointed at a random man, already becoming drunk.

He looked the man over," What is wrong?"

"He stole things from the inside of your home." he answered.

"What things?" he asked, turning around. At the exact moment of him turning around, Link shoved a knife through his throat, and kicked the body over.

Everyone turned, and just about everyone gasped and or remained silent for a few long seconds. The band stopped playing. Then there was only silence as the citizens and guards stared. Then one person screamed. Then a few more. Then everyone was screaming.

"Get him! Tear him apart! Show him no mercy!" one officer yelled at the top of his lungs, drawing his sword.

Another private screamed," It's the killer!"

Link took off running, knocking people out of his way, so they wouldn't slow him down. Others ran from him as fast as they could, afraid he would kill them. I grew nervous watching the scene. Link saw the exit was now blocked by at least twenty readied guards, all staring him down threateningly. Link took a sharp turned and headed towards the band's stage. He ducked to avoid a guard's sword, and continued running.

He reached the stage, and looked for some way to climb the walls. He saw no other way, so he turned and started to run towards the house. Guards all followed him trying to surround him and kill him. Link's heart was beating insanely fast. He had been chased before, but not like this. I grew even more nervous. Static passed my vision.

Link shoved a guard down that was in his way, running into the house which was now void of people. Now it was inhabited by several blood-thirsty guards. He ran past a few, heading straight towards an emergency exit that lead outside of the town walls. A guard jumped in front of him.

It caught Link off guard. He screamed and fell over, the blade cutting into his shoulder. Luckily it wasn't the shoulder of his good arm. He stood up anf drew his sword and cut into the man's throat. He parried an attack by another guard. He swung at another to his left, missing by a mere inch. The man gasped and jumped back in fear. There were now at least fifty guards and soldiers, all surrounding him, swords drawn. His shoulder was bleeding, and it hurt like sin. He raised his sword up, trying to figure how to survive. He then turned to see one young guard, without a helmet, standing behind him in the direction of the exit.

Link punched him square in the nose, followed by a satisfying crack! and scream, sending him flying. He ran through the hole he had just created and made a beeline towards the exit. Two guards stepped in front of the door, raising their swords up. Link wasn't sure about what he was about to do, but he had to try something, or he was stuck. The plan in his head had to work, or he was essentially screwed.

He jumped onto one of the guard's swords, and jumped right over their heads. He kicked the door off of it's hinges in mid-air, which were surprisingly weak, landed, and ran out into the sunlight, where several more Gerudos were waiting. Link groaned in desperation, knowing he could not keep this up forever.

He turned and cut one of his pursuing guard's stomachs open. He heard a few shouts, and he took off sprinting down an alley.

Damnit! Dead end! he saw as he ran down the dark passage-way. A wall stood in front of him, about two feet taller than him. He picked up his speed and jumped. He latched onto it and threw himself over and out into the streets, which were full of screaming people. They went even crazier, seeing him. Link cursed the situation silently, running up on top of a small building, and running and jumping onto the roof of the next.

He could still hear the guards chasing him. He knew they knew where he was. He continued to jump from rooftop to rooftop, afraid of being slaughtered by his pursuers. He jumped and landed in an almost-empty street. He ran down it as fast as he could, heading towards the edge of the city.

He remembered the brother of the woman he had saved. He would have to come back later to meet this man, when things calmed down.

He reached the walls, and ran up a ladder archers used to climb up when there was an invasion. He ran and jumped into the large moat around the entire town. He landed in the water, and swam quickly back up to the surface. It was cold, now. He spewed water out of his mouth, and swam over to the shore, where he climbed back onto land. He took off running towards a near-by patch of trees, still worried about being spotted. The wind rushed by him, chilling him to the bone, since he was already soaking wet.

He hid behind a tree and caught his breath. Then he remembered his wounded shoulder.

Static passed my vision, and everything blurred. I awoke in front of the screen, panting. The screen went away, and the clamps released their hold. I sat up and stretched my back, getting off. My head was spinning.

"Good work, today, Mister Link. We went longer than usual, didn't we?"

I groaned.

A/N: I hope you all like where the story's going! It will become more Zelda-like in the near future. And yes, he will use the master-sword later to fight Ganondorf.

So, reviews? I have gotten a few, and I truely appreciate them. But if you're not reviewing because you don't like the story, tell me why!