"Come at me with all your might!"
Link thrust his wooden sword forward, but Impa dodged easily. Having her right where he wanted her, Link did a spin attack, effectively knocking back the Sheikah. He pointed his sword at her neck and she laughed.
"It seems there is nothing more for me to teach you in the way of the sword" Impa said as Link helped her up. Ten years had passed since the first day she had brought them to the Hidden Village. Now, Link was much taller than the blond Sheikah and much stronger as well. He turned to search for Zelda. She was training with Fanaad, the carrot head. It was a different type of training though; one Link had never gotten good at. Zelda had become skilled in the art of magic, like the Shadow Folk. She dressed like one, too. As for Link... well, he had decided he didn't look so good in a tight, blue body suit.
"Link... I think it is time to go out into the world again" Impa said seriously, interrupting his thoughts. Link looked at her for a moment and nodded. He agreed. Throughout the past years, they had witnessed the steady decline of the once prosperous Hyrule. It had plagued him with guilt that he and Zelda had been the cause of it, even if it had been against their will. They had been too young then to do anything about it. But now... now they had a fighting chance. They could restore hope for Hyrule. Zelda and Fanaad joined them.
"What is it?" Fanaad asked.
"It is time" Impa answered. Fanaad nodded in understanding.
"Yes. We have trained these two in hand to hand combat, archery, magic and swordsmanship. It seems they are ready to confront the enemy" Fanaad said solemnly.
The other three Sheikah joined them. Link felt a sense of pride as he looked at them: Impa, who had showed them the ways of the sword. The red-headed Fanaad, who had taught them magic Link never knew existed. Ryder, who helped them master archery and her twin brother, Stryker, who had trained them in hand to hand combat. And then there was Granny. Link felt a lump rise in his throat. Granny had been like their surrogate mother. She was ancient... at least two-hundred years old… and very wise. And even though she was tiny, she was strong and healthy. She made clothes for them… she made their meals... she had been their teacher when they were young; teaching them the history of Hyrule (a subject Zelda had known very well), telling them stories and wonderful tales of heroes and heroines past… and she'd tucked them into bed and sang them a lullaby after a hard day's work. He would miss them all.
"I have something for you, young man" Granny said as she joined the group, taking hold of Link's hand. She pulled him slowly away and into her house.
"What is it Granny?" he asked a bit puzzled.
"I have kept this safe for many, many years. It is yours now" she said, rummaging through her closet. She was trying to drag out a huge, heavy chest and Link immediately went to help her. "Open it" she smiled.
Link did as the old lady said. It was unlocked so it opened easily. Inside were... clothing? Shoes too? He pulled everything out. Yes, it was a green tunic, a green, floppy hat, beige hosen, two brown, leather gloves and forearm braces, a belt, and two brown boots. Also, there was a heavy shield inside too. And a sword!
"Granny! What's all this?" he asked, looking at the old lady.
"It belonged to the Hero of old. I told you about him. He saved Hyrule many centuries ago. You are his descendant… the Chosen One. You must wear this. It is yours by right. Go on, put it on" she urged. She stepped into the other room so he could change. He did so, thinking it would do no harm to humor an old lady. But even as he dressed he felt a sort of tingling sensation... like these clothes really did belong to him. They were the perfect size too, even the boots. How odd...
"Granny..." he called out, and the old woman stepped inside once more. She grinned as she stepped closer to him.
"Ah yes. You look so handsome" she said, adjusting his tunic and fiddling with his belt. She motioned for him to come closer so he knelt on one knee in front of her. "I know you're going to make things right in this world" she continued, adjusting his hat. She took his face in her old, wrinkled hands. "You don't ever let your heart be corrupted by hate and vengeance, you hear me? Your heart is kind and noble. And you keep an eye on the Princess. Together, you two are the key to saving Hyrule" she said, looking into his blue eyes and combing his blond hair with her fingers. He gave her his most charming smile.
"I promise, Grans" he said, holding her hands in his.
"Come... tomorrow you will finally face your destiny... but not tonight" she said. Together, they joined the others.
That night, Zelda and Link sat outside the home they shared with Granny.
"You look really good" Zelda said, leaning back on her hands and staring into the night sky. No stars were visible, only the dark shroud of twilight that gave off a soothing, golden glow. Link looked at the now grown woman beside him. She hadn't changed much, he thought. Her hair was long now, though, reaching past her butt. She wore it in a long braid. She had adopted the dressing style of the Sheikah, going so far as to wear bandages around her head.
"Thanks. You too" he replied.
"Are you ready?" the Princess asked quietly.
"For what? Ready to go kick ass?" he grinned. She laughed softly.
"I'm kind of nervous..." she confessed, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"I'm only nervous as to what we are going to find" Link said, lying back on the ground, arms crossed behind his head.
"Me too" Zelda whispered.
Link let his mind wander. Had it really been ten years since he had left home? Ten long years since the last time he had seen his father... his uncle? He still felt a dull ache in his heart whenever he thought about his family and his people. Zelda startled him out of his thoughts by kissing his cheek.
"I'm going to sleep. Good night, Link" she said, jumping swiftly to her feet. A few seconds later, he heard the door close behind her. He promised himself he would not let anybody's death be in vain. He would do all in his power to right the wrong he had done. For their families... and for the innocents who suffered because of him.
The sun was rising, casting a beautiful golden, pinkish glow across the horizon even through the shadows that marred the sky. Link checked his bags. Granny and Impa had packed a few things: cheese, dried meat, bread, along with some tools, like a small knife and rope. He gave the now grown Epona a soft pat on the neck and she turned to nuzzle his cheek. Next to them was Zelda, strapping her own bags onto Fury. She looked up at Link and smiled. He smiled back.
"I think I'm ready" she said, checking to make sure her saddle was secure.
"Me too" he said. Granny came to them.
"This is yours, you will need it my dear" she said, handing Zelda a large bag of rupees and their heavy cloaks.
"Thank you, gramama" Zelda said softly, hugging the old lady. They were joined by the rest of the Sheikahs.
"As you set off into the world, so too will we. You will not face all the dangers alone" Impa said. "We will see each other again in our journey to return peace to this land. I ask only this" she said, turning to look at each of them. "That you return here, to the Hidden Village, as often as your journey permits. Granny is staying behind to pray for our safety. I want all of us to keep an eye on her"
Everyone agreed. Not one of them would forsake Granny... not when she had done so much for them.
"Very well. I wish everyone the best of luck. May the goddesses aid you in your quests" Impa said,
and in a flash of bright light, she was gone. Link smiled to himself. Never one for sentimentalities, that Impa, Link thought.
"See you around, brats" Ryder said as she stepped forward to hug Link and the Princess. Stryker took two tiny hoop-earrings from his pocket.
"Link," he said, "step over here." Link did as he was told and Stryker pierced his ears with the earrings quickly. He felt no pain.
"It is a Sheikah's rite of passage when one becomes of age" Stryker said, clapping Link hard on the back. He turned to Zelda and kissed her hand. "See you around" he said. Jumping with ease, higher than anyone Link had ever seen anyone jump, both siblings jumped across the Hidden Village's buildings and out of sight in mere seconds, like shadows.
"I don't have much else to say" said the red-headed Sheikah, handing Zelda an old piece of parchment. "An accurate map for your travels. Take care you two. See you out there" and in a puff of gray smoke he was gone too. Jumping onto their horses, Link looked back at Granny.
"We'll be back soon Grans" he said.
"We'll come back as soon as we can" Zelda added. Granny smiled sadly.
"I know children. I will wait for you" she said. With that, the two young adults rode off.
"I think Hyrule Castle is about a day's ride" Zelda said as she looked over the map Fanaad had given them. She looked up at Link and he nodded.
"We should check out Castle Towne... see how things are holding up there" he said. Zelda nodded in agreement.
It was eerie how the land had changed since last they had seen it. Twilight shadow merged with the landscape, but somehow it had been unable to shroud everything in darkness. Some places were covered in twilit shadows and gloom, and others remained full of life, fed and encouraged by the sun; the golden orb the twilight shadow could not yet hope to overcome. It gave Link a sense that Hyrule... the land itself... was fighting off the darkness with all its might... clinging to hope that someday someone would come to save it.
At midday, they stopped by the river's bank. The river seemed dryer than Link remembered. Definitely more shallow. Jumping off his mare, Link stretched out his arms and legs. Zelda filled a small pot with water and began to boil it over a small fire.
"You know," she said as she sliced the piece of cheese, "I have spent my entire life hiding. First in Hyrule Castle... then the Hidden Village… I'm glad I am able to be outside now. I'm glad that I can finally be useful." She handed Link a piece of bread topped with cheese and dry meat. He too was glad to be able to finally get out and fight.
"Me too. I want to right the wrong that has been done to Hyrule and its people" he said as he took a large bite of his bread. Zelda nodded as she tore off a piece of her own food. They ate in silence, each immersed in their own thoughts. Once the water had cooled down, Zelda took a drink straight from the pot, making Link grin. He wondered, if she had been living in the castle like a proper princess, would she have dared dress as she was? Eat what she did? Drink straight from the pot? He didn't think so. Royalty wouldn't allow it. Then again, he remembered how he had first met her. She had escaped into Castle Town, pretending to be a pauper. He had thought her to be a spoiled brat then. Maybe she had been. But those days were long gone, and through it all, she had proved to be brave and intelligent and strong. He guessed they both had had to be. He was suddenly startled out of his thoughts by the sound of hooves. Heavy hooves were getting closer, and he recognized the sound to be bullbos and their bulblin riders. Zelda looked at Link and they both grinned. They waited patiently for the bulblins to spot them, completely unafraid. And spot them they did and they charged right at the two. Quick as a keaton, Link drew his bow and arrows, killing two bulblins in less than thirty seconds. The other four raged as the now rider-less bullbo took off running in another direction. Zelda ran straight at another charging bullbo and used his ugly snout as leverage to jump up and over the beast and its riders, pulling out a long, thin sword in the process and slicing the neck of the bulblins even before she landed behind the beast, who now squealed away in terror. Link shot the remaining two bulblins. He and Zelda stared at each other and then looked down at the bodies.
"They stink. I can't believe I forgot how much they reek" Zelda said, turning her nose in disgust.
"Yeah... let's get out of here. If these were out for a midday stroll that means more are sure to follow them" Link said, and they quickly gathered their things, leaving the dead bulblins as food for the kargaroks. They didn't stop again until well after midnight, and only because they were tired. They had been fortunate enough to find a place to stay the night; a sort of clearing well hidden behind the otherwise bushy, leafy terrain. The tall trees and thick, high bushes served to hide their horses from the view of any passers-by.
"Well, it's a good thing it's not raining" Zelda said. She unfolded her blankets and spread them out on the ground.
"Yeah. Not the most comfortable place to stay, but at least we are safe here" Link said, removing his boots. He lay down on his own blankets, crossing his arms behind his head. Zelda watched him in silence for a moment.
"I'm glad you're with me," she whispered before turning over, "good night."
"Good night" Link replied. He didn't tell her, but he was glad she was with him too.
A/N: Hi guys! Sorry for not updating in a while, but college life is a busy life lol. Anyway, finally our story is really going to kick off from here on out! I'll be introducing more characters, the plot will unravel little by little and things will start to get crazy. I'll probably alternate between Link and Zelda as far as their point of view, so don't get confused if I do that with no warning lol. Also, expect some fluff but not too much. See you soon! xoxo