author's note: I should note that these slow updates have nothing to do with my inspiration to continue this fiction. As always, my mind is spinning with ideas, but I really am trying to be careful with the progression of this story as it might turn into a bit of a mind fuck. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Thank you [ The Fierce Hero ], miano53, remvis, darkrai, Combobulated, LinkGirl101, ShiftingWings125, [ Spiritual Stone ], [ Sparxthehdgehog ] and [ Guest ] for reviewing the prior chapter.

Sweet, Dark Lullaby
Chapter 10: Remnants of the Past.

The peculiar object which had been removed from Link's body was still being investigated. Renado struggled to put it down. Never before had he seen something like this. With enough force, it would be able to cut through anybody. How though? What tool could be used to eject something like this?

Unbeknownst to him, Link was aware of what the object was. He didn't know the details, however he acknowledged the fact he would have died if help wasn't given straightaway. Unfortunately, his mother was not offered the same treatment. Link could still remember the sound the weapon made: so loud and frightening.

'I'm lucky he didn't aim that metal thing elsewhere,' he said, inspecting his bandaged arm. 'Thank you for helping me.'

Midna was silent for a moment. She sat in the open window, hugging her knees, gazing outside. Over the years, she had grown to like Kakariko Village, and its funny scent. During the evening, the village was peaceful and warm. Not too cold or hot. Just a moderate temperature. How she liked it.

Turning to look at Link, she wondered if the boy had recovered from what had occurred. Not long ago, Link was in a state of shock. His face was pale, eyes wide, and he was very hard to communicate with. Giving him time alone must have helped. Still, that didn't mean she had also recovered. Midna cared deeply for Link. If something was wrong, she wanted him to tell her.

There was more to the boy than she realised. While she also kept secrets, so did he.

'What happened to your mother?' Midna asked gently.

Link was expecting such a question. After what he confessed, he knew Midna wouldn't be able to let the topic go. 'I can't really tell you. When all of this happened, I was a child. I can't remember much, but I do recall the metal weapon. The way it was handled and the noise it made. All my life I've wondered if that weapon actually existed. I never saw it again, until today.'

'I'm sorry, Link.'

'You don't have anything to apologise for,' Link replied. 'You probably weren't even born when it happened.'

Midna frowned, then smiled a little. 'That would be interesting, seeing as I am older than you.'

This came as a shock for the boy. Whipping his head around to face her, Link widened his eyes. 'You are? By how many years?'

'Well, you're almost twenty, aren't you? That means I'm about five years older. When I turn back into my original form, you'll believe me.'

The imp-like creature did not look twenty-five, but Link gathered her appearance would appear more youthful in the body she possessed. Standing from the bed, Link proceeded over towards Midna. 'I believe anything you say.' She looked away when he smiled. 'I guess we'll only find more out about this weapon when we find the Mirror Shards.'

'Mm.'

'If only we knew where this Ocarina of Time was.'

When he didn't receive a response, Link dropped his gaze to Midna, and noticed how silent she was acting. Usually the Princess would be insisting they progress further on mysteries such as these. Now, Midna was still, gazing off into the distance almost longingly. At first, Link thought he was boring her.

However, if he was boring the girl, she would have told him.

'Are you all right?'

Midna almost grimaced. There was never a moment when she could be unlike herself without Link feeling concerned. Yet she guessed this time around, Link had good reason to worry because there was a reason. 'Fine. I just think you should rest some more before we start searching for the instrument.'

'I don't think I can,' Link said. 'I'm determined as you are to put a stop to Ganondorf.'

'... what if we don't have to?'

It took him a moment to realise what she just said. Link stared at her, mouth slightly ajar. 'What do you mean?'

'Maybe we could run away, not bother over any of this.'

Link smiled, then laughed. 'You'd hate being around me for pleasure. I'd drive you insane.'

'I didn't like seeing you so distressed,' Midna said. Their eyes met, and his smile fell. She wasn't joking or playing around. Midna was serious. 'Sometimes I forget you're barely a child. Everything that's happening shouldn't have anything to do with you, Link. From what I recall, you were a farm boy. It's unfair and cruel to place you through so much.'

'You're asking me to forfeit?'

'No. I'm asking you to decide for yourself. Do you really want to find this Ocarina, or are you following orders of others?'

Link hesitated. 'Uh, a bit of both.'

His companion sighed and turned away.

'Look, Midna, I know how this looks, and I'm sorry if I scared you when I was wounded. But I can't give up. Not now. Plus, I can't stand the thought of you battling alone. That's cruel, in my opinion. You've always been by my side, and have done so much for me. I don't want to leave you. That's my decision. I'm not following anyone's orders.'

Midna was grateful she had turned away –– he wouldn't be able to spot the blush creeping across her cheeks. No one had ever been this open with her. Everything Link said made her tingle inside, as if there were butterflies in her tummy, flapping their wings wildly. It was odd how words could have that much of an effect on her.

Or, maybe it was the man who spoke those words who made her feel this way.

'I'm not prepared to let those close to me die by that demon.'

Sometimes Link could really sound like a child, but she was glad to hear him say that. Finding her feet, Midna faced the blonde and smiled crookedly. 'Good.' Then she placed a kiss above his upper lip. Link's heart stopped for a second, unused to Midna showing signs of affection. He smiled when she pulled back. 'If we are to find the Ocarina, then you require a weapon. I don't know where the Master Sword could be.'

Then Link recalled what the spirit Lanayru had said to him. 'I was told Ganondorf does not have the blade in his possession.'

'Yes... Link, they call it the Blade of Evil's Bane. Evil cannot touch it.' A flash of memory came to her. 'When I was with Ganondorf, I distinctly remember his hand being injured, melting almost. That means he's tried to hold it, but failed. I wonder if it's still in the Castle.'

'Maybe,' Link said, narrowing his brows. 'Or, maybe it returned to where we originally found the weapon.'

'The Sacred Grove?'

Link nodded. 'No harm in checking.'

Heart in her mouth, Midna retrieved the transformation crystal and stabbed it into Link's forehead. As soon as the boy possessed the appearance of a wolf, she warped him out of the village and into the Sacred Grove. Crystal removed from his forehead, Link instantly shot to his feet. The place looked the same: silent, eery but oddly comforting.

Quickly, he rushed through the entrance of the shrine, up the staircase and then came faced with the open room. Link sighed in relief, overjoyed to witness the Master Sword where he originally discovered it. He hurried forwards, grabbed the blade by its handle and pulled it from the pedestal with ease.

The blade glistened in the sunlight, almost grinning down at him in triumph. At once Link felt a boost of confidence, a lightness in his step. The blade had waited for his arrival.

'Midna,' Link said, turning around. No response.

Link narrowed his brows, and exited the shrine, wondering where she could have vanished to. However, Midna wasn't very far away. In fact, she was just outside the entrance to the shrine, facing one of the Guardian statues. He stood beside her, sheathing the blade.

'So it was there?'

'Yes.'

Midna was impressed. 'Thank the Goddesses for that.'

'What are you doing?'

'Can you speak to the Guardians? Maybe they might know something on the Ocarina.'

Facing the imprint of the Triforce on the ground, Link stepped above it, before turning back to the statues. 'I could howl that lullaby again. Princess Zelda's.'

Midna remembered the sweet tune Link was able to produce. 'That awakened them before.' It was worth a shot. The crystal was stuck in Link's forehead again, and he welcomed the cramped tension of his bones changing shape. As a wolf, he rehearsed the song in his mind before tipping his head, and howling the lullaby.

The tune lasted no more than half a minute. Midna looked at the statues, but, to her dismay, neither moved or showed any signs of waking up.

Useless ornaments.

Only a second after that thought, Midna heard a rustling noise behind her. Link growled, also hearing the noise. Both swivelled around, and looked up, noticing some of the leaves in a tree moving. Link considered it to just be the wind, but there was no wind here, and he was certain he recognised a scent–– one he recognised.

Then a small creature jumped out, landing gracefully on his feet before the two. 'Not that son-of-a-bitch again...' Midna muttered, watching the Skull Kid giggle and hurry towards the exit of the Sacred Grove. 'I imagine he wants to show us something,' she said, turning to Link. The wolf had stopped growling, and seemed to have the same idea.

Straddling his back, Midna subconsciously kicked her heels into his side, and together they hurried after the Skull Kid. Link realised there was only so far they could go. There was a dead end, and Midna would have to warp them out if they were to head into the Lost Woods.

However, Link was in for a surprise. The Skull Kid waited for them just outside the gates leading into the Temple of Time. He giggled shortly, grinning constantly. Then he waddled over, eyes focussed on the wolf. 'You're funny,' he said, voice high and full of amusement. 'I got a secret, but don't have any friends to tell it to. Will you be my friend?'

Link nodded once.

'Then find me. I'll be on top of a tree, playing my trumpet. If you can find me, then I suppose we can be friends and I'll tell you my secret.'

The Skull Kid jumped into the air and then evaporated, leaves falling in his place. Midna didn't need to be told what to do. The Skull Kid wanted them to search for him in the Lost Woods. There were thousands of trees, though. Hopefully the noise the Skull Kid produced would be heard clearly.

Midna warped Link out of the Sacred Grove, and to the entrance of the Lost Woods. The crystal was soon in her possession, and Link was back to his original form.

'I'd be wary, Link,' Midna said quietly. 'Kids like to trick their elders.'

'Don't worry,' he replied, touching the handle of his Master Sword. 'I am equipped.'

Then he heard it: the trumpet, the familiar tune. Link listened carefully, directing himself west, pausing every now and again to listen. He noticed the Skull Kid wasn't letting him face any opponents. Was he playing the game easily? Maybe he was in a hurry? Maybe Link had proved his worth.

He just needed to listen and find.

The further he ran, the more dizzier he felt. That tune... He had heard it before. Link knew the Skull Kid always performed the piece whenever he arrived, but, suddenly, the melody rang many bells. It was familiar. Link recognised it from his childhood. At least he thought it was his childhood.

Soon the tune grew clearer and clearer, until Link was certain he was in the correct place. Raising his head, he searched across the canopy, wishing he could see closer. Which tree was the Skull Kid balancing on?

'Master, walk twenty-seven more steps to your right. The tree you reach has a ninety-eight percent chance of being the one you wish to find.'

Link should have felt frightened or confused to hear the singing voice. However, without a thought, he obeyed. Once he was at the tree, Link searched for a way to climb. The trunk had relatively thick lines spiralling across it. If Link could use them to hold some of his weight, then he should be able to reach the top.

It was hard, tiresome work. The Skull Kid never stopped playing, nor did he move away when it was clear Link had found the correct tree. He climbed and climbed, sometimes misplacing his foot and slipping slightly. Never did he fall, though, almost as if someone was keeping him up.

When he reached the branch the Skull Kid was at, Link heaved himself up and collapsed, breathing a sigh of relief. The Skull Kid lowered his trumpet and giggled, watching Link crawl over to where he sat.

'You found me! That means you're now my new friend.'

'Urgh, yipee,' Link groaned, rubbing his head. Sitting on the branch, he let his feet dangle off the end, and allowed himself a couple of seconds to regain his breath. 'You had a secret you wanted to tell me?'

'I have a present for you, Hero of Time, heehee.'

Link looked at him. 'Where have you heard that name before?'

'Oh, for so, so long.'

'... By whom?'

'No, not by whom. I know of a boy called the Hero of Time. Long before you.'

'Is that your secret?'

'He gave me something to look after. I thought, seeing as you're my friend, you should look after it as well. We can take turns to.'

The Skull Kid continued to grin while he slipped a hand into his pocket and revealed a blue, wooden object. It was clean, and quite beautiful, shimmering in the dim light. Link could almost see his own reflection across the wood.

He instantly recognised the object.

'It's called the Ocarina of Time. I wish I could play a nice tune so you can hear me.'

Link couldn't believe his luck! It was almost as if the Goddesses themselves had guided him here so he would end up facing the Skull Kid. 'Thank you. Can I hold it?'

'Yes! Please do! But keep it safe, okay? I've had it for a very long time.'

Once the instrument was in his hands, Link lifted the Ocarina up slightly, inspecting its polished blue wood. The Ocarina was so light and delicate in his hands. Gorgeous. With some hesitance, Link placed it to his lips and blew.

A light note was played. The Skull Kid giggled.

'That's about all I know!'

'Huh...' Link nodded. 'Well, thank you. I shall take great care of this, don't you worry.'

'Give it back to me though! We take turns looking after the Ocarina, okay?'

'Of course. I'll remember.'

Once he had clambered back down from the tree, Link took out the Ocarina from his pocket again. It was hard to keep his eyes off the object, the instrument was so beautiful. If only he knew what melody to play to send him to the future or back in time. Those Sages at the Mirror Chamber weren't a great deal of help. No wonder Midna wasn't fond of them.

Lowering the Ocarina of Time, Link remembered the voice he heard not long ago. He was certain he heard it, maybe in his mind, he wasn't sure. The voice carried a tune with it, a very happy one, almost singing. Unfortunately Link wasn't sure if he recognised the voice, or if he was going insane.

author's note: Do you know whose voice that was? ;)
So, I decided Link is nineteen in this fanficton, but will be twenty very soon. I also thought Midna was older than him for quite a bunch of reasons. Cheers for reading!