Chapter 2: emerald
Sweat rolled down Link's face, the master sword gripped in his hand so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. Clutched in the giant fist of the twilight goddess was his beloved Malon. The goddess leans down to address Link
"You, the chosen hero, I thought your heart was for another, but now it is clear what your heart wants. I feel betrayed, tossed aside like the worthless imp I was before… but that's going to change, this princess won't just sit back and pray for her savior anymore."
The goddess throws Malon to the ground, her body now limp and lifeless. Link screams out for his love, but she moves only by ghostly strings, controlled by the giant goddess.
"let us see if the great hero can overcome this obstacle, he seemed to be able to destroy all the others…especially my heart."
Malon forms blades in her hands, charging towards Link with bloodlust. The battle progresses and the two clash blades, sparks flying from the light of the master sword coupling with the darkness of the twilight blades. The two clash and are at a standstill, Links blade pointed towards Malon's neck and Malon's about to scissor Link's head off. No matter how hard he tried, link couldn't finish the deed, always pushing back to gain space, and clashing again. Finally, with one deft slice, Malon severs Links heels, smashing the hilt into his knees, bringing him to the ground. The goddess drops Malon and her body returns to its lifeless form, the twilight blades vanishing. The pure twilight form of the goddess melts back into the fused shadow, a gleam of white and orange being seen. Midna, the princess of twilight steps forward and leans into Link's face, her voice like a bitter hiss.
"such a coward, can't even defeat a thing that is already dead…your only the holder of the master sword, just like the stone of time."
With that, Midna picks up the master sword and runs Link through the stomach with it, the blade embedding into the stone and holding Link to the ground. The princess whispers into the dying boys ear.
"and to think I was trusting the destiny of my people to the acts of such a worthless mutt."
The scene swirled and the blackness turned to grey. The pungent iron stink of fresh blood turned to the fragrance of strawberries and hay. The feeling of Midna's breath was still on his ear, but the hiss was gone, all that was left was the steady breathing of Malon in slumber. Link realized his hand was around the handle of his master sword, the knuckles white like bone. He released the blade and it clanged to the floor, its sheath discarded to the side as if a battle had been fought. The sound woke Malon, her deep pools of emerald looked into Link's frightened eyes, the awakening bliss being quickly replaced in her eyes by the worry for Links wellbeing.
"What's wrong Link?" Malon asks, her hand gently wiping the cold sweat from the man's forehead. Link casts his gaze away from Malon's, having it turned back by red haired beauty. Link sighs and shakes his head.
"It was only a nightmare… just promise me that if I ever have to go into battle, you won't come after me… your too special to me… if I were to know something happened to you because of me… I'd rather face the punishment of the goddesses than lose you."
Now Malon's look turned from worried to compassionate, her lips gently resting against Link's for a second, then parting.
"That's my promise, but for every deal, there is a counter… If you ever go to battle… be safe and defend this kingdom for me, make the land safe for our family…and if you don't come home, I will find you and kill you myself."
Link's face was shocked for a bit, but then softened into a smile, his hand sliding down Malon's arm and lacing between her slender fingers.
"This is my promise as well, all I do is for you, for my family. This kingdom is my family, and you are my love, I fight for my family."
As if on cue, Navi and Tattl float in, the two fairies flittering and spinning around each other, there glow is much brighter this morning, even though the two were easily seen as worn out and tired.
"Good morning Link, Malon... how was your sleep?"
Navi had pulled Link's hat up and curled up in it, falling back to sleep while Tattl talks, her body more sore this morning than after any battle she had when she was guiding Link to save Hyrule.
"so, what's to eat?" Tattl asks, flying around to look around for food. This question reminded Link that today was the day after the summer solstice, all the crops would be at castle town market, the black Friday in Hyrule.
"Well, we can go down to the market and get some breakfast, if that's fine with you, love?" link addressed Malon, her lips curled into a smile.
"That sounds wonderful"
"no it doesn't!" navi cut in, her glowing form crawling from the warmth of the hat and splaying out on the bed.
"it's cold, it's dark, and I'm in pain…so unless I can sleep in, I'm not going out."
Link rolled his eyes and pulled out a bottle he had stuffed cotton balls and fabric from his old tunics into, the mess looking like a bed of some sort
"Fine, but I doubt Tattl will be happy if you're not with him."
"Then he can sleep In here with me" Navi retorts, being a grump, never having been a morning person.
Link places the bottle into the view of Navi, wiggling it a bit
"you know as well as I do that only one fairy fits into these small bottles…c'mon, don't be grumpy, you can sleep in my hat…Tattl did that in Termina, he doesn't mind."
Navi groaned and floated up, nodding. Link smiled and scooped up the two fairies in his hat, placing it on his head. Link, now alone with his love, leans in and kisses the farm girl with passion, making up for all the times he restrained himself from this simple pleasure during his quest. The kiss breaks and Link stands, carting Malon in his arms.
"Ready Malon?"
Malon nods and wraps her arms around Links neck, her dress from the night before still looked as if it was just from the tailor, despite having been worn throughout the night's activities. Link on the other hand looked like he always did, his tunic so worn in that it never wrinkled, his hair a mess of the dirty blond locks.
"Either get going or leave me here, Casanova, I'm tired and hungry"
Navi wiggled around in Link's hat, emphasizing her impatient mood, her movement being stilled by an unseen kiss from Tattl. Link smiles and places Malon down, taking her hand and exiting the barn.
Three months have passed since the solstice, the faint signs of a child to come showing on Malon, as well as Navi. Dressed in none other than the dress from Queen Zelda's own marriage ceremony, Malon walks down the aisle of the Temple of time. At the alter stands Raru, as well as the other sages, there beings now able to come into the mortal world…but only in the walls of the temple of time. Above the sages, The empty settings of the spiritual stones float, waiting for the jewels to be reunited with them. This was the wedding of the hero and the farm girl, all in the land attended, even Gannandorf, securely imprisoned in a crystal like the one that held Zelda. The Groom, the hero, stands in front of the stone alter, the master sword hovers above the alter in wait. Malon Reaches the side of her lover, the engagement ring sliding off her finger on its own and dismantling. The golden forms of the goddesses raise their arms and lean in, a shining light forming a flawless diamond in the place of the light. The three gems reunite with their settings, floating down to the top of the alter. The new ring falls into Link's open hand.
Raru reads the sacred vows and the two lovers are made one. Link slides the ring onto Malon's finger, kissing her to seal the deal.
"Now the hero and his wife will seal the sword away, having succeeded in its duty for the kingdom, the master sword will now be put back into its slumber." Raru's voice is loud but not frightening, commanding the hall into silence. Link takes the master sword by the handle and Malon clasps her hand over his. The two walk down the hall of time and stand on either side of the pedestal. Each sage appears on their respective crests, protecting the two from turning back time again from the setting of the blade. Link takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, Malon doing the same. The two place their hands on the handle and turn the sword down towards the stone of time, neither looking for the slot, but feeling the pull of the blade to its home. The Sages join hands and create a rainbow barrier, similar to the bridge to Gannon's former castle, around the stone of time and the blade. Malon is the first to release a hand, extending it and being met with that of Link's. Neither look, only feel, raising the blade skyward for the blessing of the goddesses before pulling down in unison, the blade locking in the stone and taking in the memory of the child to be, the next hero. The wall of energy is stopped by the rainbow barrier, both Malon and Link are shaking as the raw power flows through their submerged hands, up their arms and down the other, meeting at the diamond rings, blessed by the goddesses. From the gem, a holy light shoots out, the beams from both rings hit and an essence is created within. The pain is long, the essence growing and growing until the energy is gone. The sages lower their hands and the barrier dissipates, leaving the two lovers hands around the handle of the master sword. The hands release and left behind are the fingerprints of the two. The essence from their rings starts to fade, left behind is a tunic of white and gold and a cloak of black. The final object to appear is a black master sword, like the one that had clashed with its brother in the water temple. These things float down to the couple, resting at their feet.
"this is the essence of the blade, the purged memories of the battles it had faced, The cloak of twilight, the tunic of the goddess, and the blade of the unborn evil, all memories from the sacred blade forgotten by the sword and given to the barer for remembrance."
The couple picks up the objects, giving each other a glance as they walk through the hall of time. Once out of the hall, the spiritual stones vanish and return to their resting places in the lake, forest, and mountain, the presence of the stones now so weak to the temple that the door of time slides shut.
Link gives Malon another look and she smiles, holding the cloak in her hands, link with the tunic and blade. In unison, the two take a pose and hold up their new items, the wedding band striking the familiar melody of a new possession. A wave of laughter washes through the temple, marking the start of the festivities.
Three months have passed since the wedding of the hero and the farm girl, the birth of Navi and Tattl's child had come and the newborn was already zipping around like the excited child she was. Being creatures of knowledge, the child was able to speak from the moment of birth and already it was giving information on all the little things around the house.
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This is the part where I say "what happens next?" well, you would usually respond with "tell us already." And then I give you a new chapter…but that won't happen this time. This time I am going of a writing binge, you won't get a new chapter, you will get a shitload of new chapters and even the start of my final book. Until then, keep the good vibes goin, see you all soon. ^^