I'm back! Sorry about the delay. I had hoped I could get a chapter out in November before my wedding, but I underestimated how busy I would be in the weeks leading up to it. Once we got back from our honeymoon cruise in December, it was Christmas craziness and then finding a place for all our wedding memorabilia and presents and finally this month we've got back into the swing of things, haha. But I'm very excited to work on this again. I'm thinking maybe one or two more chapters and that will wrap up this story. I hope you all like it!
Thanks to Random Chick 29, Flik98, OniHelix, Stormhelen, Phillip, CosmicZelda, Shaveza, Imagination That, Guest, Titan616, RexStorm, Holdyouup, Denise, Chesta1892 for your wonderful reviews!
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Part III
Chapter Thirteen
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Link was lounging in the hammock of his home, but his crossed arms and furrowed brow made him seem anything but relaxed. The room was quiet except for the steady pounding of rain outside, which had hit around midnight. They had helped Telma walk back to her home in the rain. Link had asked near one hundred times if she wanted to go home with him, or if he needed to stay with her. But she assured each time she was fine and just needed rest. And she demanded he get sleep as well.
Zelda watched Link quietly from her seat on the lopsided couch, exhausted herself. After he had emerged from the tunnel, they had met Cohen at the appointed spot and gave him the potion. After that was a half hour of waiting before the cure was ready to be administered. Link had paced restlessly like a wolf unable to reach its prey. When Telma was finally brought out, weak but relieved to be released, Link had embraced her and instantly took her away from Cohen and his group, only glaring once back at the anarchist. A glare that promised revenge. Once they had gotten Telma to her home she had assured them she would be fine and didn't want anyone fussing over her. Zelda thought it was sweet. Telma still saw herself as a mother figure to Link, and still thought of his well-being first before her own. They had returned to Link's home in silence, and he hadn't spoken since.
"What are you going to do about Cohen?" she finally asked, her voice loud in the silence.
He sighed, staring hard at the ceiling. "I don't know. I'm too relieved that Telma's safe right now to worry about that psychotic bastard."
"You were very brave," Zelda stated. "You saved her life. You're a hero."
His mouth twisted up in a half-grin. "I just did what had to be done."
She came over and kneeled beside him, so her face was just slightly above his. "You're a complicated person, Link. But you've proven that you're far more than a thief and a smuggler."
His grin spread to cover his face. "You're far more than just the Hylian elite. I misjudged you at first."
"Well, one thing I've learned over the last couple months is that to judge someone based on a label or social standing or even first impressions is wrong. You've shown me that."
They held eyes in silence for awhile, the rain steadily coming down outside.
"Can I paint you?" Zelda asked, the desire suddenly springing upon her. "Back at Hyrule Castle City, girls would paint boys that . . . that meant a lot to them. Is it okay if I paint you?"
He laughed. "Go ahead. Just don't do anything that could ruin my roguish reputation."
"I will do no such thing," she chuckled. She went over and got her paint set, dragging a chair beside him. Tucking her short hair behind her pointed ears, she looked him over to determine a location, already knowing what she wanted to paint. She then grabbed his wrist and pushed up his sleeve to his elbow. "Your forearm will work." She dipped her brush into the light blue paint and started working.
Link watched her silently, fascinated, before saying, "Did you paint a lot when you lived in the castle?"
She laughed. "Only in secret. Body-painting was, well, frowned upon by my father. I think it is a classic case of the older generation not understanding the interests of the younger." She paused, then asked, "Was there anything like that between you and Telma?"
"No," he replied. "Our relationship has mostly been one of survival until the last few years when I went out on my own."
"That must have been when you were fifteen? Sixteen? That's awfully young to be out on your own."
"I already knew how to survive alone. How to fight, to hunt, to navigate. I know it made Telma uncomfortable. She'd worry when I left Trash City. But I didn't want her to have to constantly watch over me. She has a life she has to live too."
As Zelda started on his skin with yellow she was saddened by what she heard. She knew she would never be concerned that her father was worrying about her too much. But Link saw Telma as someone who stepped into the role of mother, volunteered for it. He didn't want to inconvenience her even more. "Link, Telma loves you. I'm sure you've never been a bother to her."
He seemed uncomfortable now, avoiding her gaze. "Being around me is dangerous. I just don't want her to get hurt. After being possessed by Veran once I swore I'd never let her be in peril again. But it happened anyway."
Zelda dipped into the green paint. "We can't always control situations around us, Link."
He sighed deeply. "What good am I if I can't? All the skills I've built up being on the run are supposed to be used to protect the people I care about. I was too young and too weak to save my parents. I can't let that happen again."
"You're being too hard on yourself," she said, painting red over his skin. "What happened to your parents was not your fault. Any more than my mother's death from illness was mine. Bad things happen. I've always been told that I was given the Triforce of Wisdom so I could stop evil. I do think Veran is this evil, but this certainly hasn't turned out the way I thought it would. But I'm here now, and I want to help." She sat back, satisfied with her work. "There! Done. What do you think?"
Link held up his arm to look at it, his blue eyes going wide. Down his arm was painted a scene in the sky, sunshine breaking through the clouds. Floating in the center was the Triforce, its three gold triangles shining. Circling around it were three forms of blue, red, and green. The three goddesses of wisdom, power, and courage.
"Zelda . . ." he began softly, "it's amazing. But . . . why did you choose this scene for me?"
"I know you're not the Hero from our legends," she answered, "but you are a hero in your own right. And I'm privileged to fight with you to stop Veran."
His rubbed his face with one hand, his demeanor changing suddenly. He seemed upset, angry even. "Oh, Zelda . . ." His legs swung around and he sat up in his hammock. "Oh good grief . . . how am I going to say this?"
She leaned back, her brow crinkling. "What's wrong?"
He met her eyes. "First off, I'm sorry. I really, really am. But you have to understand why I did it. My parents were murdered because of me. I'm always on the run, always in danger, because Veran wants me. Telma and you have nearly been killed because of me. I thought that meant it was a curse. Everyone I cared about, everyone I could love, would eventually be killed. That's why I did this. That's why I chose crime. I thought if I became a horrible, unlawful, immoral person then I could change fate. But it hasn't happened. I realize that now. I haven't changed anything."
She leaned back further from him, a knot of growing horror settling in her stomach. "Link . . . what are you talking about?"
He sighed, meeting her eyes. "Zelda . . . I am the Hero from the legends. I know I am. I've always known since I was a child. My parents took me to a sage when the Triforce symbol first appeared on my hand. I was told I was destined for great things, that I would save Hyrule. But also that dark powers would try to stop me. When Veran killed my parents – along with nearly everyone in the village – I hated being the Hero. I didn't want it. I ran from it . . . and I've been running ever since."
Zelda stopped up suddenly, the chair toppling over. She was shocked, appalled, her whole world having changed. "You-" She struggled, trying to find words to express her feelings. "You-"
"I know. I'm sorry."
Zelda turned and raced out, through the tunnels that led up to his home and out into the streets. The rain was falling heavily, instantly soaking her clothes and sticking her hair to her face. The colorful lights of Trash City were fuzzy and blurred, the city quiet.
"Zelda!" Link came running out into the rain after her, stopping a few feet away. "Please just talk to me about this."
"You lied to me!" she shouted. "From the first moment I spoke to you in the dungeons, trying to figure out why the Triforce of Wisdom would prompt me to save you. You dismissed my thoughts that you were the Hero so easily, even with death hanging over your head. I fought to save your life, going against my people, Captain Karane, and my own father, the King. It would have been so much easier if you had just old me the truth!"
"I know, I'm sorry," he repeated again. The rain was washing the paint off his forearm, streams of color dripping in disfigured streams down his skin. "I was wrong. I thought – I thought if I became the opposite of Hero then I could change fate. That's why I lied to you."
Zelda held up her hands, closing her eyes to try to compose her emotions. "I understand what you're saying, Link. I even understand where you're coming from. Why you became a criminal, why you lie to people and push them away." She opened her eyes again, giving him a hard stare. "But what I don't understand is why, after everything I have sacrificed for you . . . I disobeyed my King! I turned my back on my people! I ran away from my home for you, learned to fight when you asked me to, defended you, committed crimes with you, and was nearly killed by Veran because I'm helping you . . . And never once did you just be honest and tell me what was going on."
He was quiet, his blue eyes full of hurt and sorrow.
"That solves the mystery now, doesn't it?" she snapped. "Why Veran is after you. That could have saved me a few sleepless nights trying to figure that out. I trusted you with my life, Link. How come you didn't trust me with yours?"
After a few seconds of staring at her, he simply asked, "Are you going to leave?"
She sighed, looking out over the empty streets, the rain puddling in the corners. "I have to, don't I?"
"You don't," he pressed, taking a step forward. "Please stay. You . . . you said you'd help me stop Veran."
Zelda's face twisted into a glare. "You said a lot of things too that weren't true. I think you need to figure out yourself first before you stand a chance at stopping Veran. And once you do that . . . then I'll help you." And with that she turned her back to him and walked off into the rain.
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Link wasn't sure how long he stood there in the street after he'd lost sight of Zelda. The rain had stopped after an hour, leaving the city wet and the sky streaked with clouds. Eventually he just started walking, no particular destination in mind. He kept replaying their argument over and over in his mind. Zelda's words cut deep, but they were true. And he deserved it. What had he been thinking? He should have told her the truth the moment she volunteered to go to Trash City to help him. Before that – even though she had saved his life from the execution – he hadn't trusted her enough. It made him hate being the Hero even more. This is the kind of misery that title brought. He should have never tried to do good. He should have sent her straight back to the castle and continued on his criminal ways. Eventually he probably would have died before Veran ever got to him.
He looked up to see where he was, having lost track of his surroundings. He found himself outside of Anna's house, the woman who collected expensive treasures. Maybe that was what he needed. Another mission. Another mindless thievery to distract him from his failure and put him back on his criminal course. He didn't know what time it was, but he was past caring. He was physically and emotionally exhausted. He knocked on the door.
It was ten minutes before Anna answered it, but Link barely noticed the time. When the door opened, her blonde hair was done up in tight curls, makeup was hastily smeared over her face, and she was wearing a silk nightgown. "Link? You look awful, come in, my dear!"
He wandered into her house, a few lanterns lit to illuminate curvy sofas. He moved to sit on one, barely noticing when Anna hastily put a chair underneath him.
"Well," she sat down across from him. "What's the matter? You're soaked through, how long were you out in the rain?"
"I, um, I don't know," he couldn't seem to organize his thoughts. "I just thought you might . . . have a job for me."
"A job?" she looked him over. "Well of course, I always have jobs for you, honey. Why don't you come back in the morning and I'll get you set up? You look like you need sleep."
Link stood up, nodding. "Okay . . . thanks. I'll come back in the morning."
Anna stared at him in concern. "You're okay, right? You don't need food or anything?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm good. It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
He wasn't sure what to say. He certainly couldn't tell her the truth. But the desire to unload his pain on someone was intense. So all that came from his mouth was, "Mila left me."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Link. I didn't know you two were so close." She gently directed him toward the door. "But you need to sleep. Go home, come back in the morning. Okay? Unless you want to spend the night here."
"No, no, I'll be good," he assured. "Thanks, Anna. I'll-I'll see you tomorrow."
As he stepped halfway through the door and into the night, she called out, "Link . . . are you in trouble?"
He glanced back at her, thinking about how to respond to that. "I'm always in trouble." He managed a half-smile. Then he left her house and went back out into the city.
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Zelda sat on a stone wall that overlooked the pier, her knees pulled tight to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She stared out at the horizon, thinking she could see the mountains of Hyrule's mainland silhouetted against the stars. At dawn the ship would come, and she could go home.
She'd probably be unrecognizable walking through the streets of Hyrule Castle City. Her hair cut short, her clothes black and roguish, her skin dirty, and a dagger at her hip. A new Zelda would be coming home, one that was wiser and more experienced. And in the end, that would be best for Hyrule. She had such a better understanding now not only of her country, but also of the struggles of the most poor and most condemned.
At least these last few months haven't been a complete waste, she thought.
What Link had done was unfair. It was selfish. She knew she had every right to be angry. But she still sympathized with him. So strongly that she wished it was easier to be fuming with rage. His words had affected her. His admittance that he'd turned to a life of crime to try to undo his destiny as the Hero had made her sad. For him, that title had only brought pain and loss. She couldn't blame him for fighting it. Zelda sincerely hoped that he figured himself out and worked through his issues. She would be more than happy to help him stop Veran, to help him be the Hero, when he was ready for it.
She wondered what he was doing now, and hoped he would stay safe. A long journey lay ahead of her. She looked out across the ocean and saw the first blossom of light in the distance. Dawn was approaching. Soon, she would be able to put this city behind her.
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When a knock came again at Anna's door, she became a little irritated. Sure, she'd told Link to come back in the morning, but it was still dark outside. Waiting around for a few hours did not count. She still had her hair done and makeup on, having been too tired to get ready for bed again. She shuffled to the front door, but as she glanced through her window she didn't see Link, but the outline of a woman instead. Frowning, Anna opened the door halfway. "Yes?"
The woman was tall, thin, with red hair pulled back into a ponytail, and pale blue skin. Her red lips broke into a smile. "Hello! I'm so sorry to bother you at this hour. But I'm looking for someone and I believe he came through here tonight."
Anna instantly tensed up. She did not recognize this woman, and that made her nervous. "I haven't had any visitors in a couple of days, you must be mistaken."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? I thought I saw a young man named Link in this . . . area."
"I know a Link," Anna replied. "But I haven't seen him in five months. If he's on this island, he hasn't come to visit me."
The woman's lips twisted into a dark grin. "I see. Well, I appreciate your time. There is one favor you can do for me, though."
Anna glared. "I don't do favors, lady. And truthfully I don't do business this early. I have wolfos on my property, I suggest you – "
She wasn't able to finish as the stranger at her door turned into black mist and slammed into her, rendering her unconscious.
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Dawn broke and Link had barely gotten sleep. It was only from pure exhaustion that he'd even slept at all. But his dreams were filled with Zelda yelling at him, with Veran chasing him, with his parents telling him how disappointed they were in him. He woke up groggy, weak, and upset. Getting dressed in some fresh clothes he staggered outside. It wasn't as late as he thought it was – the horizon was turning red and orange but the sun wasn't out yet. He hoped Anna wouldn't mind. He couldn't wait around doing nothing anymore.
He reached Anna's house and was just contemplating waiting outside until she woke up when she opened the door, dressed for the day and smiling at him. "Good morning, Link! It's so nice to see you again."
He blinked, surprised. "Oh, yeah, hi. Good morning. I . . . I didn't think you were awake."
"It's a busy day for me, I wanted to get an early start."
He stepped closer to the door. "Oh? So you have a job for me, then?"
"I do, come inside and we'll talk about it," she gestured into her home, opening the door further for him. "You look tired, is everything alright?"
Link froze where he was, frowning at Anna in confusion. His mind was foggy, he was so fatigued, but he felt sure they'd already had a conversation about this.
"Where's your girlfriend?" she asked innocently.
He hesitated, then ventured, " . . . Mila left me."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Come inside and we can talk about it."
They held eyes for a second, and he saw the evil in them, the hungry malice. And it confirmed his fear. He turned on his heel and ran, hearing Anna – Veran – racing after him. Heat scorched close behind and he was barely able to veer to the side as fire shot past him.
Buildings flew past him as he ran, somehow finding the energy as his body snapped into survival mode. He wasn't even armed. What had he been thinking going out without a weapon? He wished he knew how to use his Triforce piece for magic like Zelda had. The one advantage he had here was how well he knew Trash City. He ducked through narrow passages, darted in and out of abandoned buildings, skidded under low arches, and made his way into the most complicated maze-like streets of the main housing district.
He glanced behind him, not seeing Veran. Maybe he lost her. He turned another corner and slammed his back against the wall, staying as small of a target as he could. He peered back out into the street, but didn't see anyone pursuing. A sigh of relief escaped him, his heart thundering in his chest. As he turned to continue on his path and find a hiding place, he found himself face to face with a very surprised Captain Karane and two soldiers in cloaks. He had just enough time to hold up his hands before the hilt of a sword was slammed into his forehead. Stars burst before his eyes and he fell, feeling two arms catch him. The world faded into black as he passed out.
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Zelda leaned on the railing of the ship, watching as they began to leave the dock. She sighed. She didn't want to do this, but there was nothing for her in Trash City anymore. She had tried to track down Sahashrala, but couldn't find him. Link would let him know what had happened. The old man had wanted to do more research on the island, anyway.
The ship behind her was full of the poor and the criminal of Trash City, wrapped up against the chilly morning air. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, turning the water red and orange and blinding yellow. She found her mind drifting, wondering what her father would say. He would be angry, certainly. But being able to tell him for certain that Link was the Hero would hopefully put his mind at ease.
The island started to shrink, the ramshackle buildings silhouetted black against the sunrise like the bones of an animal carcass.
What a terrible city, she thought. What a terrible, filthy, wonderful city.
She was just starting to get relaxed, leaning heavily against the rail, when she heard, "Princess Zelda?"
Zelda straightened, her eyes popping wide. She spun around, knowing she recognized the voice. And there stood Captain Karane, her armor covered in dark peasant clothes and a cloak. "Captain?"
Karane's hand flew to her mouth in shock. "You're here, I can't believe it! We were just on the island looking for you. You're alive -" She then dropped her hand, composing herself. "My lady, we have been searching for you for months. I'm pleased to see you're okay, but . . . what are you doing here? You look . . . very different."
Zelda smiled, happy to see someone she knew. "It's so good to see you, Captain Karane. I'm on this ship heading home. It's a . . . very long story. I'll be glad to share all the details when I'm back with my father." She didn't feel like explaining herself and listening to a lecture. She just wanted to relax and let her emotions catch back up with her.
Karane gave a small smile in return. "His Highness will be pleased. And I'm sure you'll be glad to know we apprehended the criminal who kidnapped you."
And that was all it took for Zelda's happiness to drop. "What? Link?"
Karane nodded. "Yes, we have him tied up in our room. He's unconscious, we gave him – " Zelda started to rush past her, heading towards the stairs. The captain grabbed her arm, trying to stop her. "What are you doing?"
Zelda violently pulled her arm away, startling the other woman. "I'm going to free him, you can't keep him prisoner!"
Karane's face twisted into a glare, opening her mouth to retort. But she didn't get the chance. The ship shook and then a blast of green magic shot out from inside the hull, erupting through the deck and vanishing off into the sky. The whole vessel shook, wood flying in the air. Karane and Zelda both staggered backwards, covering their heads protectively.
"What on Hyrule?" Karane gasped, drawing her sword.
The passengers on the deck screamed in fright, and a group raced up from the stairs. They were followed by a very calm Link, unbound and unhurt.
"Link!" Zelda gasped. She started toward him, but Karane rushed past her, sword poised for a strike. Link's gaze snapped towards the attacker and he lifted his hand. A burst of green magic shot from it, striking Karane and throwing her off the ship.
Other passengers paused in shock before rushing him, seeing him as a clear threat to their safety. He spun around, fingers splayed as another attack sliced forth, mowing down the entire group.
Zelda took a step forward cautiously. "Link? Are you okay?"
He looked at her, but there was something different in his eyes. Something cold and hard and malicious. "I'm perfectly fine, why wouldn't I be? I've just learned to use my Triforce the way it's meant to be used."
A horror dawned on Zelda. She prayed it wasn't true, but there was only one way to find out. "Secret dungeon visits."
He frowned, tilting his head to the side. "What?"
She repeated, knowing he'd been through a lot recently and might not have heard. "Secret dungeon visits."
He sighed heavily. "Oh, goddesses, I don't have time for you." In a flash he fired forth a blast of magic.
Zelda reacted on instinct, bringing her hands up as a blue shield materialized before her. The attack Link had produced was powerful, but so was her defense. When the two collided the force shook the ship to pieces around them, cracking the hull in two. Zelda was sent flying back, landing roughly on wood. She sat up, looking around at what had happened.
The ship was in pieces, the one she had landed on large enough to be a row boat. The passengers were scattered in the water and swimming away in panic, towards the rising sun and Trash City. She didn't know where Karane was. The wind blew her short hair across her face as she turned and spotted Link standing on the largest chunk of the ship that bobbed up and down with the waves, his shadow cast over the water.
Zelda stood up shakily, getting her balance. She called out, "Veran!"
Link's – Veran's – head turned, regarding her. "You're smart, aren't you? No wonder he trusted you so much."
"How did you possess him?" she asked. "After all these years of trying, how did you finally do it?'
He grinned darkly. "I was able to track him down again. He put up quite the chase. I probably would have lost him, too, if the lovely Captain Karane hadn't assisted. She knocked him unconscious, and with that I was able to bypass his Triforce and enter his mind."
Zelda realized the same defense that protected her from Veran – her Triforce piece – was the same for Link, even though he'd played dumb when questioned about why Veran couldn't just hop into him. All Veran ever needed was him unconscious. She'd finally been patient enough to get it.
"And now what do you intend to do?" Zelda asked.
Veran spread Link's arms wide, a manic smile on his face. "Take Hyrule, of course."
Zelda knew she couldn't let that happen. She didn't want to hurt Link's body, but she needed to stop Veran. Knocking her out might work. Feeling more confident about her abilities, Zelda held up her hands and fired off a blast of magic.
Veran deflected it easily and fired right back. Zelda brought up a quick defense but it wasn't powerful enough. She was knocked off and into the water, pain searing through her body. She went under, disoriented about where the surface was. Morning sunlight broke through the water in thick beams, and she followed that up the top. She gasped for breath, pain wracking her arm where the magic blast had caught her. She looked around wildly, expecting another attack. But Veran was gone. Gone in Link's body. More powerful than she'd ever been. And she was headed for Hyrule Castle.
Zelda pushed her emotional pain down. Now was not the time to feel guilty for leaving Link, or to cry over what had happened to him. If there was a way to reverse this catastrophe and save him, only one person would know how.
She needed to get back to Trash City, and to Sahashrala.
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