Happy Anniversary, Ocarina of Time! Only a few of you will actually get the title and what it's referencing, but it's alright. Anyways, how about another chapter? I'm super excited for this one, so please review when you can! Enjoy!
-Joost

Shattering the Stars
Chapter 3: A Kite… Flying Into A Hurricane

Midday. Link slashed the unbalanced sword through the air yet again, but nothing happened. It simply whiffed, striking a nonexistent foe and slamming back into the sand roughly. Jim sighed, crossing his arms and glancing over to Romani, who sat across the beach by the house.

Link breathed heavily, pulling the sword from the ground, flinging grains of sand into the air, which landed on his boots. He tried again, bringing the blade up over his head and swinging, being met with the same result. This had grown tiring, and somewhat exhausting with how heavy but also small the sword was. The hero, now finally out of retirement, didn't want to be delayed by a simple weapon, but it was the only way he knew to travel between realms.

"You sure the sword is even the key?" Jim asked, eyeing the weapon with extreme apathy. Link lamented his friend's lethargic tone, knowing Jim didn't want to see him go either.

"I'm positive," Link replied. He couldn't get the words out of his head, the ones his variant told him. The doubtless expression was something he couldn't shake, how he pointed to the strange sword with certainty. All Link's hopes lied with the weapon that he could barely handle correctly.

After a few more fruitless attempts with the weapon, Link gave up for the time being, his stomach yearning for some sustenance and a headache roaring between his ears. He and Jim joined Romani back in the house, the couple enjoying the rare company of their friend. While lovely in Great Bay, visitors were like gold dust, and just the sight of a familiar face within their home elated Link and Romani.

Jim, taking off his bandana as a sign of respect, left it hand on the chair by the front door, following his friends into the house and to the kitchen. It'd been some time since the Bomber had been enticed to stopover at Great Bay. He wasn't very fond of the breeze, brooding about how saturated it was with the scent of salt.

Link started preparing lunch, a rather large dish of salmon risotto and a side of poultry pilaf. Even though they lived on a beach, there was enough fertile soil for some farming. A small patch of rice, barley, and wheat had been planted just next to the home, and the salmon was sourced right from the sea. The mushrooms, brought all the way from the Southern Swamp, were worth the journey. When the meal was ready, Link, being the best provider he could be, divided the food up into three portions, one for each of them.

"Thank you, honey," Romani said sweetly, licking her lips as she ogled the food ravenously. Jim expressed his gratitude as well, also eager to dig in. Link smiled, memories of his childhood coming back, the frequent sleepovers he had at Romani Ranch being one he admired.

Such a scenario as this, Link, Romani, and Jim, all sharing a table together, had been almost lost to them. They simply didn't have the time to really socialize anymore, their lives becoming more engrossed by the duties of adulthood. Jim's pursuit of all the missions from the Clock Town Guard, Romani's maternity leave, and Link being the one to keep the house up to code as his wife rested and such. He could remember one particular day, when he was thirteen. He, his parents, Romani, Cremia, and Jim, all sat around the Inn lobby and enjoyed a meal, conversing about the littlest of things. Moments like that became reclusive, seemingly without warning.

Link, presently, enjoyed his life, but he'd be remissive if he said that he didn't miss those days. The times when he was just twelve years old, running around Clock Town with his friends, not needing to worry about the secrets of Ikana Canyon. Right after his rematch with Gomess, where he learned of the returning force of the Garo. That day when Romani became a member of the Bomber's Secret Society of Justice was a special one for all of them. Jim felt like he had finally gotten to know folks better, Link started breaking out of his shell, and Romani began to make new friends.

Nowadays, the only real Bombers of the secret society were Jim and two of the other guys. While the whole team hadn't disbanded, the group didn't quite meet up very often. Link and Romani were at Great Bay, one boy had moved to Snowhead, and the last two just got far too busy with their own jobs. Lastly, there was Skull Kid. Link's face grew immensely contrite in a matter of seconds, his fork clattering onto his plate.

"Grasshopper? Is everything alright?" Romani, startled by the sound, could instantly see that something was unbecoming of her husband. When she received no response from him, she set down her own utensils and stood from her chair, approaching him and caressing his cheek.

"Link? Link, look at me," Romani ordered, one of the scarce times she used his goddess-given name instead of the one she thought up for him when they were children. Even though he didn't acknowledge her yet, she still spoke, "Link, honey what's wrong?" She used two fingers to tilt his chin upwards to face her. "Romani's right here, don't worry. She and Jim didn't go anywhere."

Link inwardly cursed the cruel moment before him. Finally dragging his eyes to meet Romani's, sighing. The sheer beauty of his life, next to the idea of it all being taken away by a man who wished to tear it down just for a reason unknown to him, it stabbed his heart and left him in anguish. The fiend named Shatterhand, from what little Link knew, could be the most dangerous, wicked, immoral, vile thing he may ever come across. Worse than the Garo Master, Majora, Ganondorf, or those witch sisters. The vague yet vivid impression he was granted of the man still lingered front and center.

"I-I'm sorry, honey. It's just-" Link eyed the plate on the table, then quickly returned his gaze to his wife. "I can't stop thinking about that… man. I have to- I need to find him, stop him, and make sure everything'll be alright. That sword is a pain, and I know there's no time to linger. The more I delay, the more I risk losing you, and I can't. I just- I just-"

Romani placed her index finger on Link's worried lips, shushing him gently. Even Jim rose from his seat and walked over to his friend. Together, the Bomber and the ranch woman hugged the hero in green, bending down to wrap their arms around him while he remained in his chair.

"I miss him," Link finally said, cowering within his friends.

It took the others a moment to determine what, or rather who, Link was talking about, but a quick survey of the scene brought the burning memory back with a vengeance. Their fourth piece, the imp that had been struck down in Hyrule. The culprit for his demise, the unruly shadow of Link, was long gone. However, his spectre still remained.

"We…" Jim muttered. "We miss him too."

"I can't lose you guys like I lost Skull Kid," Link said, feeling small. "Even though I let go… I can't fail like that again."

"You won't, Link! You've managed to win against worse odds, so I have faith. Right, Romani?" Jim's plucky demeanor had made a welcome return, forcing a smile to weakly creep onto Link's face.

"Absolutely. Grasshopper, while we won't be there to help you, remember that we're still here. We're alright," Romani looked down at her stomach, accentuating her maternal form for her husband. The act made Link blush, embarrassed that she'd do that in front of Jim.

"Th-Thank you, Firefly…" Link stammered, trying not to bring attention to Romani.

The trio looked back at their plates, realizing their food was getting cold. After another hug, Romani and Jim sat down and resumed eating, still giving Link comforting words as he only stared at his lunch. He tried to eat, stuffing some of the rice into his mouth and forcing a swallow, but it rested in the pit of his stomach miserably. His appetite was thoroughly botched, only an unpleasant feeling of nauseousness left.

An hour later, the kitchen was empty and still. The table had been wiped down by a towel now drying in the wooden hamper, its use evident by the soaped dishes that lay in the lower curve of the sink across the room. All evidence of lunch was gone, expertly cleaned by the three friends who had been eating. The candles, snuffed out and free of the scent of wax, waited for dinner, which would take hours to come.

Outside, Link was at the routine again, continuously swinging the sword in hopes something would happen. With a tired mania, the hero kept praying that somehow, some way, he would figure it out, allowing him to say his goodbyes and start his journey.

Fate was always a cruel mistress for the man in green, his desires marred by the harsh reality before him. He was doing something wrong, but he just didn't know what. Was it his form? The strength of the swing? Link was growing irritated by the lack of progress he was making.

Suddenly, and abruptly, Link fell to his knees in the sand and the sword slammed down next to him. He stared blankly out into the ocean, the sounds of Jim and Romani coming to see what was wrong being drowned out by an intense ringing. His ears were on fire as his companions tried to get through to him.

"I-I just…" Link said, just barely.

Endless thoughts of what Shatterhand might do to his home, his loved ones, and everything he cared about swarmed his mind. Moisture started leaking from Link's eyes as he ignored the pleading voices of Romani and Jim and looked down at the goddess-forsaken sword by his leg.

"I hate it…" Link whispered.

"What?" Jim asked, bewildered.

"I hate it!" Link shouted, snatching the hilt of the sword and reeling his arm back. Overcome with emotion, he threw the sword across the beach, the blade twirling around through the air beautifully. With his arm aching, he fell forward and slumped onto the sand head-first.

Then, as if triggered by his rage, it worked. Sparks shined from the weapon and an opening emerged from the flash. A tear in reality finally opened, just briefly, before closing, vanishing in a brilliant burst of light.

"U-Uh… Link?" Jim said as he and Romani's eyes went wide, their jaws falling slack. He tapped his friend on the shoulder a couple times.

"Whaaat?" Link groaned.

"I… I-" Jim was breathless. "I think it worked!"

Link froze and slowly sat up, his face contorting with confusion. Was this another sadistic joke? No, it couldn't be, Jim wasn't the one to do something like that. He jittered slightly before turning to the Bomber.

"Could you say that again?" Link asked.

"Grasshopper, it really worked!" Romani retrieved the sword from where it landed and held it quizzically. She knew it was dangerous to hold, but when Link saw her with the weapon, he immediately stood up and took it from her.

"How?" Link's mind was so frayed he could hardly make a complex sentence.

Romani thought for a moment before having an epiphany. She grabbed Link's hand, the one wielding the sword, and positioned it straight. "Perhaps… think about what was going through your mind when you threw it, and try again!" she said, smiling. The warmth of her face made the hero's heart weaken, his nerves a bit more at ease.

"Alright…" Link said, stepping away as to not strike either of his friends with the weapon. He took a breath, closed his eyes, and held the blade steady. Reluctantly, he thought about what he had been previously, and his grip on the hilt changed.

Link, his arm eager with rage, yet also love, swung the sword. Again, sparks fluttered around, and another portal opened, this time bigger. When he opened his eyes, he stumbled back and fell to his bottom, shocked at the sight. A glittering, star-shaped opening, hovering above the sand. It seemed to tunnel down into infinity, wave-like oscillations beckoning someone to jump through.

"The infinite passion of life…" Link said to himself as Romani and Jim joined him. They all gazed at the portal with awe, along with some fear. Its presence had several meanings now.

"Is…" Jim began, unsure how to speak. Link's stone-cold stare at the portal oozed a sense of valiance, something that hadn't been there for years now. "Is this it, Link?"

"Not yet," Link assured his friend. "Do me a favor and get Tael. I made a promise to him that he could join me, and I intend to keep it."

"Oh, well, alright then. I'll get going," Jim looked a little glum, but he gave Link a pat on the shoulder before leaving to fetch Ivory, his trusty steed.

Link felt something, or rather someone, grab his hand. Romani, her cheeks red and hand trembling, was holding on for dear life. He returned the gesture, squeezing his wife's hand with similar affection. She walked up to stand in front of him, placed her hands on his cheeks, and made him look her in the eye.

"Promise… Ugh, promise Romani that you'll come back, you hear me?" Romani sounded assertive, almost like her sister. Link chuckled, holding her by the hips and nuzzling close to her lovingly.

"I promise. I don't know how long I'll be… But I'll come back. For you." Link quickly remembered he had a child on the way and rushed to fix his verbal mistake. "For both of you, don't worry."

The sound of hooves clopping along the sand brought the lovers out of their tender moment, and they glanced at the valley leading to Great Bay, waving Jim goodbye. It'd be a few minutes until he'd return, so they restored themselves to just seconds before, smilingly at each other passionately.

"You know, you are such a troublemaker," Romani commented slyly. "Leaving your expecting wife alone while you go and fight."

"I know, I'm so evil," Link replied playfully. He wasted no time in kissing Romani, time slowing to a crawl.

The couple was so immersed in each other that they didn't even recognize the noise of hooves approaching until it was too late. It had been minutes of just them, standing along on the beach, just enough time for Jim to reappear, Tael in tow. They smirked at how oblivious their friends were as the Bomber dismounted from his ride. It took Tael ringing like his sister to break the hero out of his love-induced haze.

"Hey, are we all ready?" Tael asked, flying up in front of the still open portal.

"Oh! Right, sorry," Link blushed and parted from Romani, but not before giving her one last peck on the cheek. He already had his Gilded Sword and Mirror Shield strapped to his back, and his item bag on his belt. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture of Romani he took the night before, holding it carefully in his right hand, the left grabbing the sword.

"Well, see you guys soon," Link said, smiling one final time. He turned and entered the portal, Tael perched on his shoulder. As soon as he crossed, the tear sealed back up, leaving Romani and Jim alone.

"Oh goddesses… please look after him," Romani asked, clasping her hands together for a prayer.

"Hey, Roma, look," Jim put his hand on Romani's shoulder. He smiled warmly at her and chuckled. "It's Link. You know him, he's got this."

Romani glared at Jim, making him take his hand off her shoulder. It was rare for her to give anyone such looks, but then again, nobody ever really interrupted her prayers. She finished her request to the Goddess of Time and eased up, her nerves relaxing at last. She sighed, and a weak, but clear smile crossed her lips as she looked at where the portal once hovered.

"Romani knows," she said.

A cosmic disturbance rumbled through the lair of a certain god-like bird. She peaked her head upwards and quickly leaped out of her nest, taking care to not awaken her recently hatched chicks. She peered over into her spectral looking-glass and gazed inside.

"Something… has begun," she thought, as the amazing mirror granted her eyes a front-row seat to view a man. His clothing, his face, his distinctive complexion, it perfectly matched the one she'd seen in her dreams as of late.

"That boy…" Empyrea mused, noting his green tunic, hefty bag along his belt, and stoic expression. She lowered her head and ruminated on her choices. Her chicks briefly stirred in the nest, bringing her attention to them.

Empyrea, the ageless phoenix of reality, had been sensing tremors throughout the realms for some time now, but her duty to her children outweighed her instincts to investigate. Now, with them finally hatched and well-fed, there was no excuse. She had to at least act and figure out what had been the cause of the untamed madness that was dwelling outside of her home. This man in green, he wasn't the culprit. His actions were different, motivated by a separate resolve.

Ramia, as she was once called, drew closer to her slumbering children, admiring their inert state. So peaceful, yet also criminally unaware of their mother's responsibility. She'd act without their knowledge, time passing slowly enough here compared to other worlds so that days-worth of departure would only be a couple hours.

"Forgive me, my loved ones…" Empyrea thought, nestling herself in-between her heirs comfortably for a little while. She'd be sure to relish this last sliver of rest before she would have to leave.