The Beginning of the End

Link found himself in Hyrule Field, the plains stretching on forever. Behind him, Kakkiriko Village was gone. He was just out in the open, vulnerable to all manners of thieves, monsters, and worse fates.

So why was he here? He walked aimlessly amidst tall grass. He looked up at the lovely purple sky, that glittered like it was made up of a million jewels reflecting light. The grass around him was a bright orange, that contrasted sharply with the purple sky.

"So, you're just going to kill everyone?" a strange, eerie voice asked him.

Link snapped his head around in response, to see a shapeless, dark blob. Two piercing red eyes took up most of it's form, although a mouth was nowhere to be seen.

"I didn't say anything about killing anyone..." Link said.

"Oh yeah? I can read your mind. The children must die. That's what you're saying! And I'm wondering: how can you think of such a thing? Hee!" it said, playing games with him.

"What? Seriously, I'm not thinking of killing anyone! Why would I want to?" Link snapped, becoming annoyed.

The blob grew a mouth that smiled, "Well, actually, it is a pretty good idea. I change my mind, go on and kill everyone!" it said, grinning now.

"That's it! Just shut up! I don't want to kill anyone! I'm not even armed!" Link cried.

The creature's grin was so big, it now circled it's eyes. A whole circle of sharp teeth, "Come on! Just do it! Besides, it looks as if you are already armed!" it said, laughing.

Link realized he was holding a sword. He let out a gasp, looking down at it.

"Oh my gosh!" the thing exclaimed, "You've already started the slaughter!"

Link looked back up, opening his mouth to tell of the strange blob. But he never got a chance. The words left him. He was now staring at a bloody heap of bodies, all with slash and stab marks covering them. Link recognized them as the village kids.

"No! Guys, NO!" Link cried.

A wagon raced past Link, being pulled by a black horse with demonic red eyes. The merchant from earlier drove it, except his head was now a writhing mass of human flesh, blood, and brains that looked like it had been ground up in a mill.

"Oh, Din, NO!" Link screamed.

And then he woke up. Oh thank goodness! Just a bad dream!

He was itching in several places. After scratching a few of them, Link realized he had been bit by mosquitoes several times. Mosquitoes? How had...

That's right! He fell asleep watching the sunset! Oh, how stupid of him. He stood up, and shook himself off, scratching his neck. The itching was going to get on his nerves, cer-

"Link!" he heard a young boy cry.

His head snapped around to see a boy about two years younger than him sprinting forward holding a small, rusty knife. He was kind of skinny, with bony arms but muscular legs. He obviously had just woken up, and was quite alarmed.

The kid stopped right in front of him, "Are you okay? Were you attacked?"

Link shook his head before replying meekly, "No."

"Oh, then why did you scream?" the kid asked, still somewhat alarmed.

Link thought for a moment," Since when did I scream?" he mumbled.

"Just now! I heard you scream 'noo!' or something!" the kid replied.

Link shook his head, "Just a nightmare." He had just starting walking towards his house when the kid jumped out in front of him.

"Then why were you on the ground?" he exclaimed.

Link breathed a heavy sigh, shaking his head, "Look I... got tired and just... fell asleep. Crap, it's not such a big deal!" he snapped, becoming annoyed.

"Well, it's a big deal to me! I woke up thinking you were being mauled or something! And I was having a good dream, too! Cripes..." he muttered, obviously ticked off.

"Well... sorry," Link said unsure.

The kid took a deep breath, thought it over, and at once his facial expression changed.

Dang it... Link thought, realizing what had just happened.

The boy's name was Henry. He was infamous in the village for hearing a story and twisting it out of proportion. He was now chuckling, walking off towards his house, bad ideas formulating in his mind.

Link tried to call out, "Hen... oh never mind. The other guys probably won't think to much of it," he said to himself, walking off to his own house.

Link sighed. If he was lucky, he had about forty-five minutes left to sleep if he hurried. Although the nightmare had been bad, he was tired. Everyone would soon start waking up for chores, granted they hadn't already woken up because of Link's yelling.

He came to a wooden ladder. He climbed to the top, where there was a slim, two-story home with a few fenced-in cows and a small, square garden on a grassy mesa-like formation of land on the side of the base of a great mountain. He opened and closed the front door quietly, entering into a living room. There was a small fire, mostly just smoldering embers, in the fireplace. Link's mom was fast asleep on a chair in front of the dying fire.

He crept past her to a flight of wooden stairs. He slowly made his way up, making sure they didn't creak to much. He went to the first door, and opened it. He closed it, finding himself in his room. Managing to take off his boots, Link jumped on his bed. He was out before he knew it.