30FF submission!
Warning: I plan for this to be yaoi which means two males doings the do. If you don't like this, press the back button please and do not flame. Another thing: This will contain spoilers from OoT and TP (though I'm certain that if you're here, you know about OoT) Sheik is also his own character and separate from Zelda. I'm not too certain if I'll explain their relationship (AKA Sheik = Zelda or not).
Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, or any of its characters do not belong to be and are property of Nintendo. However, I do claim possession of this story's plot line and any Original Characters formed in the process of it (Characters:N/A ATM)
As most dreams happened, Link didn't really see how he looked in his dreams. He knew he was called Link, but that was common. All he did see was the little children running about in those green tunics. Of course, he presumed he wore the same clothes as they did, but he actually never saw himself. Now, with the tales of the old Hero, things began to make sense. He was a Hylian who lived with the Kokori. For some reason, he left the woods and came back as an adult and the ageless children didn't recognise him, and Saria was gone. Sometime in between, he had run to the castle town to meet a young girl and a woman riding away from a man who resembled the embodiment of evil from his dreams. The one thing that threw him off however, was the fact that his dream body and physical body was exactly the same.
Of course, Link had begun to realize his dreams were some sort of alternate reality of sorts, but he didn't know exactly what it was. However, Link had finally figured it out.
His dreams, they had to be his life in the past.
"Well… I guess I'd expect any normal person to have nightmares about everything that happened." Midna had giggled as she came out from his shadow. "But, the blue-eyed-beast from the legends was said to be brave and courageous."
Link glared at the phantom figure of his new companion. "What I dreamed last night had nothing to do with the Twilight Midna."
The imp giggled again. "Sure, sure Mr. Hero. I might believe that if you don't wet your trousers with the next place we go." She hid back into his shadow.
Link rolled his eyes. His own personal conclusion still was not complete. He knew now, how to confirm what he believed. He took a deep breath and hummed. The notes came to him as if it were second nature. When he felt something click and a sigh in his mind, he knew he connected.
You're Saria, aren't you?
"So you do remember…" She telepathically whispered to him. "But how is that possible? It has to be over a century, so you can't be the same…"
Link chuckled. I was hoping you could answer that. I know who you are Saria, I see you in my dreams almost constantly – well did. When I was a child, I dreamt of you and the Kokori Village, of the Deku Tree, Mido, and even the Sacred Meadow. So, no, I am not the same Link you met however long ago that was. I could only come up with one conclusion – I am a reincarnation of the Link you knew.
Saria was quiet on the other end, but Link knew that their connection was still present; he could feel it in his mind. "So it is true then, that Link died… I know it wasn't because he left the village, but he must have died out there once he saved the world. I knew he had to… but to hear it, it still pains my heart. I apologize, but back to the matter at hand. Why did you think I could help answer your question Link?"
Purely out of habit, Link rubbed the back of his head. Well, you're the only one who would be alive out of… whoever else I interacted with back then. Besides, you're the only one who I can talk to Saria. I don't even know where you are, but I can talk to you like this. You also just confirmed another one of my suspicions – that I was the Hero of the legends. But… why would you know of that Saria? From what I dreamt, I don't think most of the Kokori were very in tune with the outside world.
"Ah… you haven't remembered that much I see. I am, but was, a Sage of the Forest. I cannot elaborate too much on that though Link. If the Goddesses will you to remember, you will in time. I still don't understand why you do remember though… most reincarnations don't remember their past lives. In fact, I've never heard of one remembering… But, I digress, why did you believe you were the Hero of Time Link? Did it appear in one of your dreams?"
Link shook his head, and made a mental note of only talking to Saria when alone. (Which she giggled at) Ah… a new threat to Hyrule has appeared… and I have been told that I am the new Hero chosen by the Gods, that I bear the mark and power of the old Hero. Is that true Saria? Is this triangle on my hand a mark that your Link had?
"That is a matter of debate. When I knew Link as a child, he did not bear that mark you state. He received it during his heroic adventures although... no. If you learn more about your previous life, ask me more about this topic. I cannot disobey the will of the Goddesses."
Saria? Why do you state those above as Goddesses but not Gods? The Light Spirits I have encountered refer to them as the latter.
"Ah… as time passes, so does the memory. Somewhere along the years, the concepts of Din, Farore, and Naryu must have been forgotten. That too, you may remember in time. But, if you will excuse me for now, Mido is pounding on my door. Play my song if you wish to speak again. It was… nice to speak with you again." Saria's presence faded from his mind and Link opened his eyes which he never noticed he shut.
"Yo. What are you doing idiot! Hurry up will you? Jezz, how long does it take for you to get your wits about you?" Midna said as she floated above him, a scow on her face. "Oh well, it's not as if I don't mind Hyrule encased in Twilight, or have you forgotten that your precious girlfriend was taken away by those monsters?" She chuckled and disappeared once again.
.+++.
After the monkey he kept rescuing came to his rescue, he met a golden wolf who pounced at him moments after growling at him.
Link had closed his eyes instinctively, and when he opened them, he was in a fogged place and Hyrule Castle stood off in the distance.
His head felt heavy and his chest hurt.
Link fell to the floor, clutching his chest and groaned. Something was wrong. There was ringing in his head and he winced to glance at a skeleton near him, armed but ethereal.
"You… You are not what I had expected, yet at the same time the one I did."
The ringing was gradually increasing in volume and he cracked out. "Wh-what have you done?"
"I correct you, what have we done, but it seems that you do not recall it quite yet, but you will in time, budding Hero. I envy you who have taken the easy route. I had to endure the hard trials throughout the years. But that is not why I had called you here."
Link wanted somebody to shut off that infernal buzzing sound. He gave up clutching his chest in order to cover his ears, but that did nothing to alleviate the pain. "Stop it! Stop!" Link pleaded, the noise becoming unbearable.
"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. Remember those words" The skeleton spoke before kneeling. "The lessons must take another form than intended young Hero." The gauntleted hand pressed onto his shoulder and Link's world shifted yet again.
It was similar to the world in his dreams. There was a dinolfos walking around him. However, the only different thing was that he could not control his own actions – or at least they didn't feel natural. He knocked down the reptile-like creature and jumped into the air before pushing his sword through its skull.
When he opened his eyes again, the armoured skeleton looked weary as it stepped away from him.
"The first hidden skill, the ending blow, had been passed on. There are still six hidden skills for you to learn. Those are only for one who carries the blood of the hero… the one whose spirit is that of the sublime beast. Grow powerful. Test your courage. And when you find that you need another skill to overcome the threats that face you… search for the statues that howl with the sound of the wind, with the familiar and painful symbol. Seek the sound that calls to the spirit of the beast to awaken me again."
The world faded, and as Link opened his eyes again, he was back in Faron Woods. Who – or what – was that skeleton in the mist? Why did they know who he was and that he remembered? There was also something peculiar about what he said – the familiar and painful symbol. He knew about Link finding the entire world nostalgic, and why did that creature refer to actions he took as we?
Link shook his head and continued on before Midna could bug him again.
.+++.
As Link battled through the temple, that familiar feeling was back again, that feeling of home yet a job at the same time. To slice through enemies, to see another version of those spider-like creatures which he recalled were skulltulas, to help others through dungeons, to find maps, keys and compasses. The boomerang also had that familiar feeling, and fighting bosses, acquiring some sort of reward afterwards. He had to have done this before – to fight through dungeons and save others in the process – it was the only option Link could come up with. He also had a sneaking feeling that if he continued in his quest, he would only remember more.
He followed Midna out of the temple, and ended up in the fountain again.
"Heroic Link… Do not think that Hyrule is now saved from the spread of Twilight. Leave these woods and go to the east where you will find the land protected by the spirit Eldin. There you will find those you seek. But know that these lands lie in Twilight. They are now a dark realm covered by the clouds of dusk. If you set foot beyond the curtain of Twilight, you will revert to your beast form, so be prepared. Hero chosen by the gods, leave these woods and go to the east, to the land of Eldin." He heard Faron speak to him.
Link knew where he would go – to Kakariko village. Well, if it still existed.
And Midna just further provoked the issue. Really, he didn't need any more prompting. He wanted to figure out his previous life.
.+++.
When Link heard Colin state that he would be the one to save them, he couldn't help but feel touched. However, with Midna's words of how he was going to be an unknown hero, it didn't really matter to him. So, what if he were a hero by trade? He needn't be recognised, it would only make life more difficult – not that life was necessarily difficult back at the farm. Besides… Link wasn't being entirely selfless anymore; he wanted to learn more about the past – something not even the most precise of textbooks could give.
Oh course, that wasn't the only thing on his mind when he saw the children. He was ecstatic that they were alright, that none were missing. However, it just made him worry more as well, because his sister wasn't there. Where would Ilia be?
"Hehe. Worried about your girlfriend wolf-boy? I'm sure she's alright – just taken to a different place. But, you better hurry. You never know…" She left on that foreboding note and Link growled.
Perhaps he'd try something.
You know Midna… she's not my girlfriend.
Well, if it worked or it didn't, Link didn't know, for the little imp never responded.
.+++.
Link decided to continue onwards and destroy the remaining bugs holding the light. When he approached a large mountain – no volcano – he knew he had been here in his previous life. It had changed, as had most of Hyrule, but he had been here. He also thought it was weird for the Goron spirit to be guarding the volcano from the humans. But… when the world is swirling into an abyss, everybody acts weird.
So he climbed up the rocks and killed the Twilight-dwellers before he began to hear a song in the distance.
It was oddly familiar. The oddity itself was familiar too – it was that strange sensation when that skeleton had… done whatever he did to teach Link the finishing move – as if it were a memory that had been forced upon him, a dream which he couldn't control his actions.
He followed the noise, killing the creatures that attacked him as he did so.
It was coming from a stone, and Link stared at it. There was an eye – an oh so familiar eye – and it was crying a single tear. He couldn't tear his eyes off of the symbol and his heartbeat had changed. At first, it was a slow, steady beating, then it began to speed up. His breath became laboured and he took a step back. There was the pain… that pain he was warned about, and it hit him hard. His chest hurt, he felt as if he was going to be sick. He didn't want to – he couldn't remember. Something was telling him [u]no[/u]. He wanted to deny it – deny the long-past reason for the pain – to ignore it and move on. It was the past, he tried to reason, it had nothing to do with him. But… it did. It was his previous life which would undoubtedly repeat itself. He still didn't want to remember.
He passed out.
He saw a large mountain in the distance on yellowed grass, a horse beneath him.
Listen! That cloud over Death Mountain… there is something strange about it…
He had looked up to a fairy pointing at the mountain, a dark red, ominous cloud circling the top. He suddenly worried for the Gorons – especially Darunia.
The world shifted again, and Link suddenly was a child. He was walking up the path, killing tektites that jumped at him, and avoiding rolling Gorons. He ended up playing Saria's song to cheer up the Goron leader – Darunia – and was told about their troubles. He had saved the people after entering and conquering the dungeon. He received the Goron's Ruby to match his Kokori Emerald. Now he just needed the Zora's Sapphire…
.+++.
When Link awoke, he found himself in a fairy fountain – no in a Guardian's fountain.
"What the hell happened back there!" He heard Midna yell at him. "You approached that weird stone and then passed out! Man, you're weaker than I thought! Some blue-eyed beast you are!"
Link groaned and pawed at his face sleepily, thinking, Yes, you're definitely more annoying than her, at least she didn't demean me.
"Oh?" The imp said to him, crossing her arms. "Who?"
Link smiled. Nobody of your concern. Oh, and Ilia isn't my girlfriend.
"If you're going to be that way!" Midna said and threw him into the portal above them.
.+++.
When Link encountered that whistling stone once again, the pain wasn't as bad, but that was perhaps because he expected it. Instead, he closed his eyes and listened to the oddly reminiscence sound of the wind and howled.
After his first success, he ended up on a cliff near to the side of Hyrule he was in. He felt pain – one that resembled the pain he had when he was in the same area as that skeleton, but it was… diluted, it wasn't as painful. It was probably the difference in their locations. He reasoned that this… person-wolf-thing lived in a separate realm, and whenever he and Link were in the same realm, the pain was there as well.
There was another reminiscence feeling though, to the stone's carvings and music. It ached and it seemed that anything relating that symbol would be, but Link felt as if he knew what to do. He howled again, painful nostalgia filling him.
The golden wolf, who was heard on the other end, responded with the same call before they both howled at the same time.
It reminded him so much of something he just couldn't remember.
"Let teachings of old pass to you…" The wolf-skeleton said to him. "Take sword in hand and find me…" He jumped down, the world fading out.
When Link opened his eyes, he was back on the mountain and walked away from the stone. If he stayed any further… Link knew that he might collapse again.
He really wanted to know what that symbol did in the past to make his soul want to forget so badly, but he had a job to do – to save Hyrule.
Memories came later.
Wheee~ Here it is! My brother cut me off when I was playing the game... so sorry if I phrased things a little bit wrong:/ I had to rush to finish some stuff so he could play my Wii.
BTW... IT WAS SO FUCKING HARD TRYING TO FIND NAVI'S COMMENT FOR THE CLOUD! ... Srsly.. took me over 1 hour T^T
And yes, I changed a bit of The Hero's Shade's comments. I actually had to change some things in my pot, but I like it all the better xD Can anybody guess what's entirely going on with The Hero's Shade? xD
I think I might end up summarizing some stuff next... and I mgiht play with the time-line of the story. I don't know just yet though. We'll see.