Time passed quickly for Link and his friends. Day after day each person devoted him or herself to training and improving.
Link's days were occupied in much the same fashion as they had been. For the entirety of the morning he would train with either Impa or Sheik, depending on whether or not Impa disappeared on some mysterious errand or not. After a quick lunch he would head to the Know-It-All Brothers' home and read his five chapters. Once he'd finished A History of Hyrule and Its People he was tasked with a new book, then a new one after that. Each was specifically selected by Impa. The one he was presently reading was actually fairly interesting. Riddles Amongst the Battlefield. It was a compilation of strategies and methods used by some of history's greatest generals. There were narrations and commentaries put together by whomever compiled and finished the book too. Unlike the history book Link had started with, this actually made sense to him. He wondered why Impa didn't have him read this first. He learned so much in each chapter. At night he would often envision how these ancient battles played how, and which strategies he might have used.
After his five chapters Link went straight away to Malon. Impa had encouraged the equestrian lessons, even asked that Malon teach Link archery from horseback when he could finally stay upright. Malon of course agreed, even before Impa appeared with an Epona sized saddle she had procured.
Link trained with Epona and Malon until it was too dark to ride. After the sun set he would check in with Saria, then make his way home to sleep and prepare for the next day.
Sheik kept herself just as busy as Link. When she wasn't training with Link in the mornings she was working with Saria, helping the new sage hone her magic ability. This training was very productive for the disguised princess too, as it helped her improve her own abilities. Although Saria was never discouraged, it was clear that Sheik's magic improved exponentially faster than the kokiri's.
Afternoons when Impa was still in the village Sheik would train with her "aunt". They trained a myriad of skills. Hand-to-hand combat, stalking, throwing knives, even combative magic. Though Sheik had yet to see her teacher cast a single-spell, Impa was well versed in combative magic and taught the princess applications and methods she had not thought of.
On those days that Impa was gone, Sheik would go with Saria to Farore's Temple and lend her power in bolstering the protective barrier. This task required daily attention and was appropriately seen to by Saria. It amazed Sheik that even now The Great Deku Tree's magic still bolstered most of the barrier. To her knowledge a caster's magic was typically dispelled after their death and yet his persisted. Truly there was little for Saria or Sheik to contribute to the spell, but they took no chances. All that was really there for them to do was patch small holes that appeared occasionally.
The evenings were Sheik's least favorite time, as it was for all powerful casters. Twilight was the time when the barriers between worlds were at their weakest. Spells misfired, demons could be summoned, and portals could be opened and closed even by accident. It was unwise to dabble in magic at this time. For the princess, this was a problem.
Since she was a child magic energy practically flowed through her. Before she had learned the language of the Goddesses to cordon and control her energy she had accidentally set plants on fire, destroyed bulkheads, even teleported a puppy from its kennel into her lap. If it had not been for Impa she may have been discovered and branded a witch. It had been the mysterious Sheikah that had taught her incantations and ways to control herself. Even with the means to direct and harness her power Sheik had trouble containing it all. During the day it wasn't a problem, some of her power could drip out, and all it did was make her glow, or provide warmth to those around her. At twilight though, the effects were random. Any magic that escaped the vassal that was her body would have a mind of its own. People around her would sometimes complain of severe headaches, chills, one time even delusions. Another time they had not been delusions. With perfect clarity Sheik could recall the time she had slipped up, and her escaped magic had summoned a demon. A lesser demon to be sure, but a demon all the same. Impa killed it with ease but the creature had been spotted by one of the king's guards. The man had to be released from duty after his crazy rants in court about demons and witches. Of course nobody believed him and he was ridiculed. To the young princess's dismay she had learned that his wife had left him and that he had later drank himself to his death. Until the day her father died Zelda had sent anonymous donations to the single mother and her child.
In Kokiri Village Sheik disappeared into the woods alone and would meditate, focusing all of her attention on controlling the magic the Goddesses had blessed her with. Although twilight lasted only an hour at most, Sheik would stow herself away and meditate for three hours just to be safe. When she deemed it safe to relax, she would head back to Saria's house to sleep. Some nights she would spy Link and Malon, or Link and Saria talking before going their respective ways. At these times Sheik was always careful not to be seen or heard.
Malon, the last to join the group, had decided right away to become an asset to the team. In the mornings she would take care of the horses in the makeshift stable. She would feed, water, and exercise Bart, Mayfair, Epona, and Shimmer.
The great white charger, Shimmer, amazed the young ranch hand. Lon Lon Ranch was renowned for its superior breed of horses yet the girl had never seen anything that came close to the mare. At seventeen hands Shimmer was massive, even by war-horse standards. The greatest downfall of large horses typically was their weak knees and ankles, which were more prone to buckle or break under such immense weight. Shimmer's bones and joints were as massive as the rest of her. Even disproportionately so, for a horse. And she was fast. Gods was she fast! With Impa's permission Malon had ridden the charger and was shocked by the creature's conditioning. Its gallop was smooth and impossibly fast, and its run, when given full rein, was unbelievable. Tears would well up in the girl's eyes as the wind stung her face. This is what she hoped for Epona, this sort of grace and power.
In the afternoon Malon would work on her archery, perfecting the skill so that she could better instruct Fairy Boy. The time spent with Link was always her favorite part of the day. Sure she lived with both Sheik and Saria, who were always kind and friendly, but both always seemed mentally preoccupied. Talking to them was like talking to an adult who had important matters on their mind. Matters a child wouldn't understand. But Link was not like that. Even though he was physically drained, Malon could tell despite Link's attempts to hide it, Fairy Boy would give Malon his full attention, speaking sincerely. Malon truly appreciated that, appreciated her friend. And so she did her best to teach him, even though she herself was the same age as he.
Archery had not been taught to her by either her mother or father, but by her uncle Ingo. At first he would bring Malon along on his hunting trips simply to fetch his arrows and return them to him, berating her for being so slow or clumsy regardless of how quickly she retrieved it. One day though, her uncle decided that if she were going to waste his time by accompanying him in the woods, she might as well help bring home food. So he started teaching her how to shoot. The tiny recurve bow he brought from Castle Town was the first, and last, gift Malon received from the man. Teaching her how to hit the center of the haystacks had been the only time she felt the man was kind to her. He enjoyed archery, and was quite skilled at it. It was her father that had ordered the lessons to stop. Malon had not realized that she had been helping her Uncle poach game, and hunt illegally. Talon and Ingo had gotten into a heated argument that ended with Talon doubling Ingo's share of the work or kicking him out of the ranch. Ingo had no time for Malon after that. Even if he did, he blamed the little girl for ruining his pastime. Malon had continued to train in secret, even learned how to shoot from horseback. She did her best to pass her skill on to Link.
When Link's lessons ended Malon would brush Epona down then head to bed. She was usually the first one back to Saria's house and this always bothered the girl. She did not like to be alone. When she was alone her thoughts always drifted back to the day the soldiers showed up and arrested her father. She had been in the chorale that day, working Epona in movement drills with just her reins. She remembered her father sprinting out to the field, a terrified expression on his face.
"Malon!" he had shouted. "That green boy and sheikah were right! You need to leave! Take that horse and run to the forest!"
"But Daddy…" she had started. Her father grabbed her around the waist and lifted her onto Epona.
"No buts Honey, I need you to listen to Daddy and go. Go find Link and stay with him."
That was when she'd seen the soldiers. They were charging across the field, weapons drawn.
"Go now!" he cried, and slapped Epona hard on the flanks. With a whinny Epona pulled away. Malon's little legs squeezed as tight as they could to stay on. Epona went wide around the soldiers and headed for the gate. Malon looked back in time to see a soldier strike her father in the face with the butt of his spear.
"Daddy!" she had cried out. The man who had struck her father pointed at the girl getting away. Two soldiers saddled their horses and gave chase.
Epona had a head start, and was not weighed down with armor or even a saddle, but it had been close. Multiple times the soldiers had been close enough to grab the girl. If it had not been for that giant owl, swooping down to startle the soldiers' horses, she would have been caught for sure. She had made it to the woods though. And Link had found her just in time.
Two memories were seared onto the inside of Malon's eyelids. The first, the image of her father falling after being struck; the second, Link, standing over the dead soldier, breathing heavily, hands covered in blood. Every night, to no avail, Malon fought to keep these images out of her head. Only when Sheik or Saria returned home was she ever able to fall asleep.
And that is how that first year passed for Link and his friends. There were few interruptions to their daily cycles. Besides Impa, none of them left the forest for any reason. The guardian Sheikah left for random intervals, returning with news or without. This time she returned with instructions.
"Tomorrow," Impa said when she had gathered Link, Saria, and Zelda inside Saria's home. Malon was there too, even though she had not been specifically requested. "King Darunia and a dispatch from King Zora XVI will arrive."
"Brother Darunia is coming here?" Link asked excitedly. He had not seen his "brother" in more than a year. He was anxious to see him and catch up. "That's good news right?"
"It may be. They are coming to discuss the possibility and necessity of going to war. Together." Impa said.
"Why now?" Sheik asked. She was sitting erect, with perfect posture and a serious look on her face. Malon and Saria both tried to mimic the girl's most lady-like posture but failed for the most part. "Ganondorf has had control of the realm for more than a year now, demanded unfair taxes of them on eight separate occasions, and insulted each race of the realm multiple times."
"It would appear they have reached their breaking point." Impa said.
"I can't believe it didn't happen sooner." Link said leaning back casually. "No way Darunia takes an insult from "the soft people" sitting down."
"King Darunia is not a fool." Impa shot Link an annoyed look. "He can sense the power of Ganondorf, and would not thoughtlessly put his people in harm's way. When they arrive tomorrow you Sheik, and you Link, will need to be there to convince the two races to join forces for the good of the realm."
"The rock and water people don't like each other?" Malon asked. She immediately regretted speaking when she too caught an annoyed look from Impa.
"For the most part the two can't exist in the same ecosystem." Link offered. "So it's not so much they don't like each other, as they don't know each other. This will be like convincing two strangers that they are actually old friends." Then turning to Impa "What of those soldiers you helped hide all that time ago? Will they be coming?"
Impa shook her head. "It would be reckless to move so many bodies just for a meeting. They will be on standby until we have concluded. What I need from you two, what the kingdom needs from you two, is prepared statements to convince the two races to fight together."
"Should be easy enough." Link was stilling feeling confident, excited that things were finally happening. "If they are making the journey at all it means we all want the same thing already right? To kill Ganondorf and give the throne back to Sh. . ." Link caught himself and glanced over at Malon. The girl was looking at Sheik and still trying to copy her mannerisms. "To the Princess." He finished. Impa had caught her breath at the boy's near mishap.
"But each will have their own preferred plan of attack, and method. It will be up to the two of you to set the terms."
"Okay, what terms do you want us to set?" Link asked sitting up. He started looking for a quill and paper, to write down his instructions.
"The decision has to be yours." This from Sheik. Link looked at her quizzically then back at Impa. The Sheikah nodded her head in confirmation.
"Mine? I've never planned a battle before. I've never even seen two armies battle." He argued.
"Be that as it may, the prophecies still say that victory comes from you. You must have a big part in this plan in order for it to succeed." Impa said. Saria and Sheik both agreed.
Link brought his hand to his face and stroked his chin. "You can help me though right? And stop me if I come up with a bad plan? Or say something stupid?"
"Of course we will be here." Sheik reached across the table and put her hand on Link's. Link smiled at his friend thanking her for her support.
"Then tell me everything. What has been happening in the cursed town and what is the best way to put an end to Ganondorf?"
The five of them spent the rest of the morning listening to the information Impa had gathered, then helping Link devise a battle strategy. When they broke for lunch Link asked to be alone to get his thoughts together, and weigh the different plans in his mind.
"I managed to not make a scene this time." Link joked as he meandered through the woods.
"Yes yes, I am very proud of you." Navi said bobbing up and down in front of Link. "You have matured so much over this past year."
Link kicked a dead branch out of his path and watched it fly through the air. "What do you think of the plan Navi?" Rarely did Link go without consulting his best friend, willingly or otherwise.
Navi hummed for a moment. "It is a solid plan. The trick will be getting the gorons into the field."
"Right right right. I can't have them just roll down from Death Mountain, the bridge they'll have to use to cross the river is too much of a choke point and can be sabotaged by Ganondorf's soldiers. That only leaves the fields north of the citadel or coming in through the forest."
"Their legs are too short to get through the forest quickly, and they cannot roll through all of the foliage."
"But if we have them enter from the North there will be civilian casualties from all the farmers, not to mention the Zora have no access there. We ourselves would have to take a month hike just to get there through the mountain range, and that trek is impossible for the Zora."
Navi sat on Link's shoulder thinking. "You could split our forces. Gorons from the north and our soldiers and the zora from the south."
Link shook his head. "That still leaves collateral damage in the north. And I don't know that we will have enough forces to have a divided push like that. Not to mention the gorons' impenetrable armored backs play a huge part in my plan for protecting the zora and the soldiers from arrows."
"Maybe Darunia has more secret tunnels that can get his men into Hyrule field. You can ask him when he arrives."
Link nods his head. Hopefully his brother has such tunnels. A strange noise pulls Link and Navi from their conversation. Slowly Link crouches and reaches for Din's Wrath.
"Find it Navi." He whispers to his companion.
Dimming her lights Navi flies off into the forest in the direction of the sound. Crouched, with his sword half drawn, Link takes off in that direction. The sound is similar to a "popping" noise, but not so clear. Link tries to imagine what could be making that noise. Maybe a sick deku shrub spitting seeds, he muses.
"Oh, what a lovely fairy. Where is your little friend?" a voice asked. "The green one with the crooked back?"
Link peeked around a tree to see the most peculiar man talking to Navi. Scanning the man for weapons Link saw that he carried none, but he did have a ridiculously oversized pack on his back. When Link identified what was on his back, he remembered who the man was.
"I don't have a crooked back." Link said stepping from behind the tree. He sheathed Din's Wrath and put his hands on his hips. "What is the Happy Masks salesman doing this far into the woods?"
The man's eyes lit up and he clasped his hands together in an almost feminine fashion. "Oh but it is! I see the weight of the world has bowed your shoulders and bent your back. Why, you look as though you were carrying the moon over your head!" The man found this last bit hilarious and threw his head back to laugh. The man's mountain of masks strapped to his back shook as he did this. Suddenly the stopped and stood perfectly still.
"But how rude of me, you asked a question yes?" As it was the first time Link met the man, back in Castle Town a year ago, he spoke almost too fast to be coherent. "What is such a humble salesman doing this far into the woods yes? That was your question? I believe it was! I found the villa surrounding the castle to be boring you see? No more customers wanted to be happy! And who would buy a mask if they don't want to be happy? Nobody is the answer. Not a body hehehe. So I left. I packed up my trade and left the castle. Came down with the flu right after. Terrible thing. But I was on my way out of Hyrule when I remembered my green friend and his fairy! I couldn't very well leave Hyrule without first checking on my very best employee! So to answer your question I am here for you! To give my wishes to the boy in green who spreads happiness! But what do I find when I get here? A boy with a crooked spine, worrying about problems too big for his head! Why not spread happiness, why not be free?"
All of this came out in a blur with at least four different changes of pitch in the man's voice.
Link scratched his head under his hat. "Uhh. . . you came all the way out here to see me? How did you know I was out here?"
The man shook his finger at Link. His voice was suddenly very deep. "Where else is a boy in green to be but a green sea? Lovely village by the way. Lots of little boys and girls in green but none of them you." He brought hand to his chin and shifted to a contemplative stance. "There was one boy in green who is also in need of happiness. At first I thought he was you! Carrying your sword you see? An easy mistake for anyone but when I saw that he had no happiness I knew it couldn't be Link!"
Link glanced at Navi. He imagined that she was offering him a shrug. "Ok, so what did you want from me?" He would have asked how the man found the village but he did not feel like listening to some cryptic, crazy rant about following happiness or magic beans or something like that.
Faster than Link could react the man lunged forward and started patting Link on the head. "I came to thank you for your loyal service of course! Then invite you to travel with me. That's right! But now I see that is not possible. No no no, you are much too busy. So! To show my appreciation for your hard work, I will help you!"
Link knocked the man's hand aside and backed up, unnerved that the strange man had been able to move so quickly. "How can you help me?"
Without moving his neck the man tilted his head to the side. He had a concerned quizzical look on his face. "How can I help you ask? What a silly question to ask! I can share happiness with your village of course! I have masks that the boys and girls will love! Absolutely love I tell you!"
"Link," Navi whispered into the boy's ear. "This man is giving me the creeps."
"I'm sure the villagers would love your masks, but nobody here has rupees to pay for your wares. As far as lodging. . ." Link stopped because the man's face had suddenly been filled with rage.
"I OFFERED TO SHARE HAPPINESS NOT SELL!" he shouted. Link took a step back, surprised by the man's intensity. It took everything in him not to reach for Din's Wrath. Possibly realizing his outburst had been out of line, the man brought his hands together in his feminine fashion and spoke softly. "There is no charge to friends of Link. No charge. As for lodging, I am but a humble man, I will find a place to sleep in the woods. I have packed my own tent you see? So it's settled. Shylock will help the hero Link, as the hero Link helped Shylock."
With that he stepped past Link and started heading directly for the village. Link stood there for just a moment and shook his head. What a strange man Link thought. He turned and caught up to the man making a beeline for his village.
"Impa is not going to like this."
Author's note: Based on the feedback I've gotten so far I've been going a little slow in some chapters, then too fast in others. That's fair. I am trying to encompass what is going to be a large period of time, but important things are going to happen weeks, months, and years apart. So I AM having a little bit of trouble hopping from days to weeks to years, like you see in this chapter. Any advice on how to improve would be appreciated. (Also received lots of feedback concerning typos, grammatical errors, and words in random places. I will do my best to edit these out in both past and future chapters. Thanks!)
As for the story itself, the war is about to start! I realize I have handicapped myself just a bit by using the Ocarina of Time world to stage this. While it is an incredible map for the game, it is not as expansive as that of TP or WW. I may have to fiddle with this. I have introduced the Happy Mask Salesman too! Fun character, I have seen lots of great work concerning the mysteries behind him. Here I named him Shylock. Shylock was the antagonist from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. I thought the name suited him. Nintendo did a great job of making him crazy in Majora's Mask so I intend to play off that and some other things.
I know this was a long chapter with no action but thank your for reading it! Like I said earlier, the war is just around the corner so stick around for the next chapter. As always, PM me or leave a review!
Also I've been looking for some more fan fiction to dive into. It's typically the same 30 or so stories on the first two pages, and I know there are some great works that have been buried simply because they were written a while ago. If you've got something you want me to check out, even if it's an old piece, let me know! Thanks!