Hello Everybody, and welcome to another chapter of…
A Hero's Dream!
I know you all have been waiting, so let's get straight to the reviews!
Dracus9: Though I love the Idea and both the game and anime, I will not be writing it. I am already focused on this story, and the Fire Emblem 3H world is extensive. To rewrite that and create a feasible story will be very difficult. Though, don't give up on it, I'm sure someone will write it.
darkmist111: I'm glad you like it, and hope you will continue to read. This Link's design is most similar to TP, but with a more green color like OoT. Vernal was a way to show the audience that Link will have an affect on the RWBY World, other than just being there to help the plot along. Indeed, he does have a purpose, and he might just remember that purpose…
Lokyloco: Thank you for the review, and I'm glad you feel that way. It feels good to have my writing affect someone, because that shows that I am doing a good job. Now, let see how our hero reacts!
MessyMark: Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
human dragon: Thanks for the praise! Hope you enjoy!
VocaloidBrony: Thanks for commenting in English! It really helps me. Anyway, yes, I'm really proud of everything I did with Raven and Vernal, especially Raven v.s Link! Though she is indeed interested in the Master Sword, one has to wonder? Is it the Master Sword, or a different, very special sword in her world she's interested in? Things to think about as you read this chapter.
Tero7323: They really did.
Inheritance1990: Indeed, and here's the next chapter to enjoy!
Ahron756: I'm glad you think so, and hope you enjoy the new chapter.
alexkellar: I was mostly joking about your DeviantArt account, but I'm glad you I got your attention. Through your art, I might even get some more readers! I hope the illustration ends up well, and I am excited to see it!
WolfyFenri: I'm glad you enjoyed my fight scene, and hope you enjoy the scenes in this chapter even more! I will indeed keep written, but you gotta promise me to keep reading!
V1602: Indeed, Link has always been outmatches by his opponents, and has always come out on top! The Master Sword, his skills, and of course, his Luck, are incredibly helpful for him. Keep reading, and I'm sure you'll see our favorite green hero in action!
Now, with reviews written down, It's time for another chapter of "A Hero's Dream"
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Last Time, on "A Hero's Dream" :
Our hero Link had to face off against the powerful leaders of the Branwen tribe with nothing more than his bare hands. After crippling Vernal, and leaving Raven in critical condition, Link discovered that he was no longer within the land of Hyrule, or even it's dimension! After that Link was shot, and unable to move while Raven attempted to take the Master Sword, wanting its power for her own. Being rejected by the blade, she ordered her tribe to keep him alive, to figure out the secrets of the Master Swords power. Will Link be able to survive his wounds? Will he recover from the shock of dooming Hyrule when the next Ganondorf comes? Will he escape the treacherous Bandit Camp of the Branwen Tribe? Let's find out!
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Chapter 3: Journey to the East
I layed back with my eyes open, staring within the black void. No color, no light… simply nothing but void and myself.
It felt like I was floating, as if nothing could touch me, or even exist without my knowing.
I was sure that such a place should bring discomfort, that this darkness surrounding me could only bring a sense of fear. Yet, the feeling of solitude, the sense that nothing could happen in this space, even a stray breeze without my say so, was comforting. Nothing could blindside me here. No monsters, no injuries, and especially no insane sights that caused me to panic.
Everything here was under my control, and nothing could surprise me.
Afterall, this was the place I went whenever I passed out. This is the area where, as my body began to heal itself, my being would be able to relax and heal as well.
It was like a safe haven to me, a place where I kept my secrets, and where they would be forever contained. Unless, of course, I decided to divulge such information.
I had been here many times, more than I can count, and more than I cared to remember. Though, one could possibly count the number of times I had been here and probably match it with all of my lethal scars.
But, even here, with all the comfort I could ask for in this empty world…
I could feel the effects of what I had learned, weighing down not only on my mind, but here in what I could only assume to be my soul.
I took a deep breath of the non-existing air, able to do anything but relax as I could feel myself heal. The deep despair that filled me, all from learning if what i have done to homeland because of my failure.
What I had doomed my country men to for all their lives, living in fear of the next coming of the Demon King, and eventually, be ruled by him. The very thing I had fought to stop, assured from my failure, until the end of days.
I held my head, as my hands actually moved through my temples with no skin or bone to resist against. As I had said before, nothing existed here, not even the 'body' I was using. In fact, I wasn't even solid, as bits and pieces of me flashed in and out of existence, like a flame flickering in different directions, attempting to grab all the air it needed to live.
I clawed at my intangible brain, trying to stop the memory of that damn moon from entering. Was it too much to ask for some peace? Was it too much to just leave me a moment without these thoughts hanging me by the neck?
Or, perhaps this was my punishment for failing my world to the End Times. The constant, unending pressure of guilt and self-loathing crashing down on me. Always pushing, never resting… not until the day I finally-
Ccrack!*
I felt it before I heard it. Something within me shattering like a glasshouse.
And the memory of the moon threw the rock.
My eyes shot wide open, and my empty lungs somehow let loose all the air inside them. My ears were ringing, as I heard thousands of words assault them like a buzzing bee. Tastes and smells that were never there before assaulted me in overlapping waves.
I screamed in pain and horror, as the cracks of something within me grew larger. I yelled and screamed until I could feel my vocal cords tear apart! Yet, no matter how loudly I shouted, I could hear my own voice. There was nothing for my voice to ride on, nothing to hear. Not even the sound of my mind-
Shatter*
A piece fell away from something within me, as thousands upon thousands of screams echoed through me. Younger, older, higher, lower, angry, sad, happy, despairing, and too many more. They reverberated around nothing, but still made my teeth chattered in full force! Like I was in the cold Snowhead wind with nothing but my pants.
They didn't exist, couldn't exist, but they were there, making my head explode over and over with each syllable. Each letter, word, sentence, paragraph and novel that I've never read or heard shoved itself in my mind.
It was horrific, and I couldn't take much more of the sound. It was too loud to listen to, but too soft to make out. An impossibility that existed within me in ways I could never understand. I tried to drown it out, ignore it, but it was loud!
My eyes were open as I tried to focus on what was going on around me. But even that didn't make sense, as a carnival of sights played out in my eyes.
People, creatures, animals, places, all running through me as the sound kept growing louder, and began speaking faster. Visions of battles took place in my mind, as swords, magic, and Goddesses know what else tore into me.
I continue to see things that didn't make sense, taste things that I've never tasted, heard things never said, and feel things that I've never felt. Nothing but this existed, yet it didn't exist at all.
I tried to figure out why all of this was happening, but it was next to impossible. My mind was filled with thoughts not my own, and was to busy to undertake these sensations to process anything else.
I tried harder and harder to ignore these images, trying to simply rest and heal. But the harder I ignored, the stronger these senses tried to be felt.
It was torture, it was insanity, it was-
'W-k- u-'
Familiar….
All the senses stopped, as they seemed to freeze in shock. I was much the same, as I looked around the dark space, trying to find the source of that voice.
It was… so familiar…
I looked up, as I breathed in the nothing that existed within this dark space. I wasn't sure why, but something pulled me there, as my heart seemed to skip a beat thirteen times over.
I wasn't sure why, but I wasn't surprised to see light above me.
The infinite emptiness within this space was replaced, as I found a large hole in the ceiling, filled with light. White cracks seemed to spread out from the source, as something seemed to have punched a hole through it.
I found the need to walk towards it.
Suddenly, I wasn't simply floating within an empty void, but standing within a dark place. I didn't think about what this place was, or how it suddenly changed. Rather, I walked forward towards the light, trying to reach it.
There was no path that I could see before me, but I knew the way. Though, even though the light was blinding and beyond warm; it was a voice that guided me forward.
"Wait up!"
An image flashed in my mind, one of a young boy and girl chasing each other through an empty castle hallway. Hiding from guards, playing games, and telling each other made up stories of the Hero.
A scene of better, simpler days, that the me of now cherished more than anything.
Yet, as soon as that one appeared, many more images followed. Images he knew, but didn't recognize even though they made his skip a beat.
"When all of this is over… Will you come to wake me up?"
My heart was suddenly stabbed by an overwhelming sadness, brought by an image to blurry to see. It was sudden, and I was almost forced to drop to my knee. I felt a tear from my eye enter this void around me, as the complete sorrow formed an incredible urge to move forward.
Another step, harder than the last, was taken as more images flashed by.
"Link! Hurry! Let's Go!"
A different image came to me, as my heart grew lighter at the sight. A young girl ran to a distant town, absolute joy filling both her face and voice.
Despite the difficulty of the step forward, I followed the girl, as more and more images weighed me down. Each new image coming with each new step.
"Link!"
A girl within a tower, standing upon a floor made of clouds, overlooking the entirety of Hyrule. Though, the image was strange, as he couldn't help but see the same thing in four different ways.
"Now it is time for me to to make up for my mistakes…"
A woman, standing in front of me, as we seemed to float in a crystal blue sky. A face filled with regret and sorrow.
"Wow. What's with that getup?"
A tan girl standing within a forest, confused about where she was and what had happened, the smell of the sea upon her.
"You were imprisoned…"
A figure cloaked in black, her voice filled with sadness as she looked down at him, surrounded by dreary twilight.
"I'm so glad you made it, Link!"
A young girl, with a pan flute in hand, as bright and cheerful as the sun itself. Unaware of the long journey ahead of her.
"Help me… Please, help me…"
The desperate plea of a girl within the dead of night, filled with fear for her life.
"I bid you fondest welcome to my castle, stranger."
A ruler in a time of peace, smiling upon me brightly, with eyes that shone with the light of familiarity.
"Open your eyes… Wake up Link…."
A wake up call to adventure, as a voice spoke within my ear, foreign yet familiar all the same.
Each vision I recalled, the closer the light came, and the harder it was to move forward. Despite that, I carried myself forward, as I always did.
Even when the weight of all of these visions seemed to crush me, I moved forward. Even when strange but familiar events play before in my eyes with untraceable speed, I kept moving.
Even when the seemingly infinite scars marked this body, time and time again, I never stopped.
"Link…."
And finally, when the final step could be taken to escape this void, I stared. This close, I could see through the light, just barely. And through that light...
"WAKE UP!"
As the world crumbled, the final step left untaken, all I could do was stare. I could feel myself begin awaken, being taken away from this place to the real world.
Still, none of that mattered at the moment. The light stood in front of me, the final veil before the journey could be completed.
Everything that had happened here would remain with me, I knew that for a fact. Even the vision before me, I would remember clearly.
I felt the veil of shine on me, it's warmth connecting to my core, ensuring that I was connected to the other side. Despite that feeling of warmth and comfort, I still could only stare at what was beyond…
And on the precipice of consciousness, I could only wonder…
Why twelve men stood there, waiting for me...
My eyes were open, and I immediately regretted waking up.
I gasped in pain, as each of my wounds and sore muscles immediately shout in agony. Their collective groans and moans echoing in my mind, telling me to go back to sleep. Ironically, their cries only served to keep me awake, as the pain sharpened my mind.
Of course, that wasn't why I immediately regretted waking up.
I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, as moving my arms would be to much of a hassle. Though it didn't take a genius to figure out that I was on my back.
Inside a cage…
Staring at the sky...
With the shattered moon directly over me…
I closed my eyes and sighed, ignoring the pain in my ribs the best I could. Life was never easy, was it?
'At least now I know it wasn't just a dream.' I thought to myself, opening my eyes and staring deeply into the moon. Silently, I tried to move my body, resisting the urge to groan in aching pain.
I quickly learned that, even though only my wrists were tied, I was definitely not moving any time soon. Every time I even thought about moving, my body roared for me to stop, saying I had pushed myself enough. It was so bad that even moving my head was too much, so I couldn't even get a good grasp of where I am.
And feeling the two new holes in my body, along with an almost entirely fractured left foot, I could understand why. Worse, as I felt my sheath dig into my back, irritating some of the new holes in my body.
Though, because of my current inability to move, I was stuck having to think. And with the symbol of my failure over my head, those thoughts were far from pleasant.
My failure, the pain in my body, even the strange experience within my dream. All of it weighed heavily on my mind and soul, as I tried to sift through the barrel of emotions inside of me.
I sighed again, vainly hoping that it would release some of the bottled up emotions inside of me. That had the opposite effect though, as the emotions were just brought closer to the surface instead.
So, in an attempt to distract myself, I tried to find something to focus on. Anything to help me just… just ignore everything inside until I had enough time and energy to focus on them.
Of course, just when I was thinking about energy, my stomach growled in pain, begging to be filled.
I sighed again, just looking up into the sky, trying to find something a little distracting. Ironically, my attention was brought to the cause of my current state…
The shattered moon in the sky.
I simply stared, gazing up while simultaneously pushing my emotions down to just relax and recover. I stopped halfway through though, realizing that doing that would only make the problem worse.
Distracting myself wasn't working.
So, in an attempt to calm down and process all of my emotions, I tried what Impa had taught me in an attempt to teach me magic.
Meditation.
According to her, it was a technique used by ancient Sheikah to become one with themselves. It was originally used as a way to connect one to the Goddesses, to fully understand oneself from the Goddesses eyes. Some Sheikah had succeeded, and those that did were said to live far beyond their already long life span, and were gifted wisdom that few could possess. The most famous being the Impa from the Tales of the Hero of the Sky, who was said to have lived centuries before dying.
However, true meditation was never taught outside of the Sheikah Clan, not even to the Royal Family. They had deemed it to dangerous to share outside of the Clan, and thus guarded it's secrets with the utmost care.
Though, they did share a simplistic version of it, and let all of the races of Hyrule practice. Though nowhere near as effective as Sheikah Meditation, this helped many ground themselves and deal with the problems of the inner self. It also helped connect you to magic, though I could never figure out how.
Slowly, I took a breath, all while closing my eyes, focusing on nothing but breathing. Nothing mattered at the moment, nothing but my breathing.
It was hard at first, since I was in pain and every breath only solidified that fact. However, moving through it, I was finally in a state where I could look in in myself, and relax.
Relaxed and composed, I tried to untangle the huge ball of emotions I felt inside of me. Slowly but surely, I kept myself focused in unraveling all of these emotions and let pass through.
Anxiety that seemed to shake me to my very core, I let flow through me. Guilt for what I had let happened, weighing me down, was released. Inadequacy that seemed to crush my heart was accepted. Dread that is always above me could never leave. Fear for my life, as well as the realm I now inhabited. Betrayal as my friend called down that t-
I stopped as I felt sweat rolling down my body, an unspeakable fear freezing my very bones. My breathing was erratic, as my ribs ached in horrible pain. Something was roaring in my ear, as the sound of bells tried to warn me of the incoming death.
I could feel it, the stare that was pointed at me from above, wishing nothing but our cruel end. Even with my eyes closed, it stared through me, tempting me to look upon it, and meet its eye.
It didn't care though, as it would complete its mission…
If I didn't stop it.
I grabbed my instrument, and opened my eyes…
And saw the terrible yellow eyes from the heavens, as it's form began to fal-
"Damnit Kreig, wake the fuck up!"
I jerked at the loud yell, as everything around me melted away back into reality. I was still in the cage, looking up at the moon with sweat rolling down every inch of my body. Weirdly enough, my hands were at my side, reaching for something in my item pouch, something I clearly wasn't doing before.
'What the hell was that?!' I thought to myself in a blind panic, as I brought my bound hands to my heart, feeling it beat faster than a drum. My ribs aches with each beat, as I tried to force myself to calm down.
I looked around the small cage I was in, trying to find something to ground me in reality. Cause what I saw couldn't be real, even more so than the shattered moon above me.
It couldn't...
That was when I saw the both of them right outside of my cage. Two dark skinned men, wielding a bastard sword and a shotgun, on guard. Though, one of them was sitting down with his hand rubbing his eyes, as if he had just woken up. The other was standing over him, glaring down at the slacking guard.
"I'm up, I'm up…" The younger sitting guard, Kreig if I heard right, spoke, yawning as he began to stand himself up…
Before falling back down, lightly snoring, his head leaning onto one of the bars of my cage.
"Son of a-" The other, older guard spoke up, before kicking the sleeping guard in the ribs. "Wake-up!"
The sudden kick knocked Kreig to the side, as he grabbed his left ribs in agony and groaning up a storm. "T-the hell was that for Coby…"
"Shut up you lazy bastard!" The guard now known as Coby spoke, grabbing Kreig under his shoulder. Without any effort on his part, Coby lifted the last guard up, dragging him back onto his feet. "We have a job to do, and if we're caught slacking off, neither of us will sleep tonight!"
With his part said, Coby turned toward me in the cage, as I shut my eyes pretending to be unconscious. All other thoughts left my mind, as the need for survival took over everything.
For if I was caught awake, who knows what they'd do to me.
My breathing slowed down, as I forced every part of my body to go limp. Legs, arm, face, everything was limp as I forced myself to seem relaxed. Despite that, I remained attentive, listening in on what they were talking about.
"Lucky bastard…" He heard Kreig yawn, as he heard the distinctive sound of feet walking on dirt. "Gets to sleep the whole day as a reward for beating up our boss yesterday. Meanwhile, I have to stay up and watch as he gets a good night's rest."
"If you want to be like him, be my guest." Coby told his partner, as I heard the sound of something moving within his hands. "I'd be happy to put you under."
"Put the gun down Coby," Kreig reacted calmly, despite what I assume to be the end of the gun in his face. "I'm too lazy to react, and you're too forgetful to realize that you didn't even load it."
Cody clicked his teeth, as my mind started to race.
I've only been unconscious for a day? That didn't sound right…
Even I could tell that my body was in serious need of repair. The horrible aches and bruises that I could feel were enough proof, even to a blind man. Without the healing of a potion or a healing spell, I should be out for some time, not awake barely twenty-four hours after I was knocked unconscious.
So, why was I awake? Was it that strange dream? Or something more…
My thoughts were interrupted, once again, by the two guards outside of my cell. This time, however, the conversation was started by the lazy Kreig.
"This is really dumb, ya'know that right?" He started out, as I heard the sound of someone sliding down the bars to sit down.
"What is?" Coby asked, as he stood silently and at attention, ever vigilant of anything that could come at him.
"This," Kreig began, as I assumed he gestured around himself, maybe even pointing at me laying down 'unconscious'. "Think about it! Why do we have to do this? Hell, why are we doing this?!"
I resisted the urge to quirk my brow at his question, as Cody began to ask the same question I was going to ask. "You mean watch the guy who could possibly take out the entire camp with a single swipe of his sword, and took out our leaders?" He spoke in a sarcastic voice, as I imagined him rolling eyes, focusing on the pitch black sky. "I don't know Kreig, you tell me."
"That's exactly my point," Kreig began, as I heard the distinct sound of fingernails scratching against skin. " Seriously, if he wakes up, what the hell are we going to be able to do?! We might as well get my grandma to gum him to death, might do more than we can."
The world went silent with Coby not making a sound, as I disagreed with the lazy guard in front of my cage. Right now, I was as weak as glass, and I could barely move in this cage, much less make an attempted escape. Even if I let them know I was awake, there isn't much I can do without the Master Sword, or any of my items for example. The most I could do is probably glare at them threateningly, unable to move any other body part.
"See." Kreig suddenly said, as if the silence with his realization was proof enough that he was right. " Someone more qualified needs to watch this guy, and let the rest of us get some rest."
"Qualified like, oh I don't know, our leader and her second hand, both of which were nearly killed." Coby replied sarcastically, though not disagreeing with the lazy guard. If anything, from the sound of shifting dirt, Coby joined Kreig on the dirt and relaxed. "Just be honored that our temporary leader respects you enough to actually guard the bastard. Though, we should probably be focusing on fixing that breech in our walls instead."
"Don't I know it!" Kreig responded, as I could practically hear him shiver in his boots, as he I heard the distinct sound of a flask opening. "The thought of another large Grimm raid without Raven's or Vernal's help? That's a thought I don't want to be having right now …" He trailed off, as he took a swig from the flask, containing what I could only assume what was some kind of alcoholic drink.
"So…." He began, closing his flask and putting it away in his jacket if the sound of skin rubbing against fabric was anything to go by. "Crazy idea…"
"Yeah?" Coby asked, curious as to what this crazy idea was, as I too focused on the lazy guards words.
Only to stiffen at what he said, as I prayed to the Goddesses they didn't see me react.
"Why don't we just kill him?" Kreig asked casually as if he didn't just ask whether they should kill the unconscious man behind them. Even Coby was silent in what I assumed to be shocked. "It's better than leaving him alive with a chance of getting out and killing all of us in our sleep. Would cut down any chance of the Grimm being tracked to our dread of keepin' the guy who destroyed our camp, maybe even boost moral! There is literally no reason to keep him alive, only very bad consequences!"
… I had to admit, he made some very good points. If it were any other situation, and I wasn't the one they are talking about murdering, I might've agreed with him.
I was a huge risk to keep alive, more so since I had devastated any structure of leadership that they had in place. If I was able to escape this cage, and grab my sword, there probably wouldn't be many people in this camp that would be able to stop me.
Of course, that was only if I was healed, and had more than just one fully functional limb. They didn't need to know that though, and they certainly didn't need to know that I couldn't escape this cage without any of my equipment.
However, despite understanding why he suggested this, it didn't stop the chill from creeping down my spine. And the reason was not hard to figure out.
If they decided to kill me, there was little I could do to stop them. My body didn't want to move do to all of my injuries and I had no weapons of any kind. Even if I could move, I was sure that these bandits had the power of Aura, make it impossible for me to hurt them. At least, not without breaking my body further.
Though, as I thought about it, what was the point of fighting back?
Hyrule was lost to me. My home gone, with the only way to defend its future in the middle of this bandit camp. Part of me was already giving in waiting for the cold edge of steel.
A part that was hard to ignore, and easy to accept
But another part of me told me that I was too quick to give up. It whispered that I was too quick to give away the life I had been trying to keep for twenty years now. Too strong to give in so easily.
And despite the loud voice telling me to give up, this whispering voice was all I could hear.
Besides...
I was vulnerable to the whims of destiny, and that was never an easy prospect for me to accept. Especially after all I had been through on the journey to defeat the King of Evil.
I squinted my eyes open, enough that I could see with the least amount of space needed to close if needed. With my eyes open, I tried to gauge Coby's reaction, seeing whether or not he agreed with Kreig's statement. However, it was too dark, and my vision too blurry to see anything. So, preparing for the worst, I tried to find anything to defend myself with. Whether it was a stick or even a rock, anything would do.
Though, when I heard one of the guards laugh, I realized that wasn't necessary.
"Di-didn't know you were such a coward Kreig," Coby spoke in between gasps of laughter, as from my squinted eyes, I saw him rest a hand on his sides. "Afraid of a goody two shoe Huntsman killing us? Really?"
"The hell are you talking about!?" Kreig shouted as he stood up, and got in the other guards face, voice filled with anger. "You saw what he did! You know what he can do! He crippled Vernal, and almost killed Raven! So hell yeah I'm scared! What if he wakes up and burst out of this cage?! He'd kill us without a second tho-"
Kreig was interrupted by Coby laughing even harder, trying to catch his breath As he did, Kreig to take back a step back, as we both looked at the man as if he had gone crazy.
"What the hell are you laughing about?!" Kreig asked, as I silently wondered the same thing, still looking for any sort of weapon.
" T-the fact that you think that this guy," Coby began to say as he laughed, pointing me out as I shut my eyes and remained perfectly still. "Is gonna be trying to kill us!"
"What?" Kreig asked, confused over what his fellow guard was trying to get across. Seeing his confusion, Coby stopped laughing and sighed, shaking his head as he did.
"He's a Huntsman, kid." Coby began to explain, shifting himself to get comfortable. "A new age one based on his age, the ones too drunk on fairy tales to look at reality. They're strong, sure, but they lack the edge that the older Huntsmen and Huntresses have. The most he'll do is beat us up and go to Mistral to report us to Lionheart. And we'll be long gone before the other Huntsmen show up."
"Tell that to Liam!" Kreig spoke up, seething at the older guards calm words. "Tell that to Po, and even that bitch Julie! They're literally dust in the wind, and you're telling me that this… jackass is weak!?"
"Please," Coby spoke simply, brushing off the words of the other guard with ease. "We both know that was an accident, a mistake made in the moment. If he were awake, he'd probably be puking his guts out over what he did."
As he said this, the three bandits flashed before my mind, as I vaguely recall them trying to rob me. So they really were dead than…
Damn.
"B-but what he did to Raven and Vern-" Kreig began to counter, before he was interrupted by again by the older guard.
"What about what Raven did to little Daisy?"
Kreig shut his mouth closed with an audible click, as all turned silent in this small part of the world.
'Daisy?' I asked myself in my head as I squinted my eyes open, trying to read their expressions. It came as no surprise to find their expressions filled with sadness, as they remembered someone.
"That girl was with us for two years." Coby continued, despite the expression on his face showing that he didn't like talking about it. "Raven saw the magic she had, the power that the tribe could wield with her on our side. The gift only four people in the world can have at a time."
I felt my eyes widen at his words before going to squinting, as it connected quite a lot of dots in my mind. Magic did exist in this world, and this Aura that everyone in this camp wielded was different. That must've been what Raven had used against me, though her ability to control the elements was beyond impressive. Though I had already guessed that, it was nice to have confirmation that it was actually magic, and not something else.
Though, if this Daisy has the magic…
How did Raven get it?
"We tried to train her." Coby began again, as he stood up and grabbed Kreig by the collar. At first, I thought he was going to hit him, but instead, he grabbed Krieg's flask, taking a long drink of its contents.
"But she wasn't cut out for this type of life." He spoke as he gasped for air, the drink moving through his system. "Combat was never her forte, anyone could tell you that with a glacé… But we tried… I tried."
Kreig was silent, as he cringed at the admission of the older guard. I could tell he knew the story, but didn't have the heart to stop the older man. Not that I blame him though, as I could feel the emotion wafting off of him.
"Wasn't enough though… the girl wasn't able to hurt a fly, much less another person." Coby continued, his expression filled with regret, as he just looked at the flask he had taken. "Raven saw this, and I told her that we should just use her as a figurehead. Something to instill fear, rather than fight off the enemy…. S-she was a good actor too, could've done it with ease..."
"Hey man…" Kreig began, seeing the older guard struggling with his words. "I know the story, you don't have t-"
"Daisy died a week after I told Raven." Coby told him, as I felt a pit in my stomach grow. "No hesitation, no second thoughts… our leader killed a sixteen-year-old girl that had lived with us for two years… a girl that was too good for this world…"
"This guy is strong." Coby told Kreig, pointing at me with his thumb, as the other gave the flask back to Kreig. "He has my respect, and even a pat on the back for knocking her down a peg. But Raven… to kill someone you've laughed, ate, and even lived with for two years without a second thought… all for the power she wields…"
"That is a strength that I fear. A strength that constantly hovers over your shoulder, making you wonder if your next. A strength no man can run from when you're already in its clutches …"
All was silent once again, as both Kreig and I digested what he said. No one could say a word, as we simply settled in the dark emotions that Coby left for us.
"Don't be afraid of any Huntsmen you fight Kreig," Coby suddenly spoke up standing up and stretching his back, causing some pops to fill the air. "Cause what's leading you is much worse."
"Now…" Coby began, looking at the standing Kreig, and giving a smirk. "I need a drink. You?"
"B-But what if-" Kreig began, as he and I could only imagine what would happen if they got caught skipping guard duty. Especially after what he had just told us about Raven's leadership.
"Relax," Coby eased the younger bandit, as he patted him on the shoulder, pushing him away from the cage. "The next guards show up in fifteen minutes, and he's out like a light. Even if he was awake, he'd have to get through 6-inch thick iron bars without a sound."
Despite his words, Kreig still seemed unsure, as he glanced at me and the cage.
Coby gave a sigh, as he rubbed his temple, before taking out a piece of glass from his pocket. "Fine, I'll message the guys to come early. One of them owes me a favor anyway. You get to my tent, and I'll wait for him to message me back, okay?" He told him with a smile, as he began to press his fingers onto the glass.
I watched as Kreig stared at the older guard through squinted eyes, trying to figure out what he was pulling. He decided it was unimportant though, as he simply shrugged and started to head towards the group of tents.
As soon as he was out of sight, Coby stopped the forced smile, and turned to me. I immediately shut my eyes a relaxed, pretending to still be unconscious.
I could feel his presence outside of the cage for a full minute, as he simply stared at me. His gaze was burning into me, as if he was trying to see through my body.
Then it all suddenly stopped, as the sound of metal rubbing together filled the air. Then, the sound of feet walking away echoed in the quiet air, as they slowly walked away from the cage.
I opened my eyes, turning my head towards the door of the cage, chained shut with a heavy lock. In that lock…
Was a key.
I sat myself up, despite the difficulty with my broken body, staring at the key with wide eyes. I shifted my gaze towards where Coby left, nothing there but empty space.
Though he wasn't there, I gave him a nod in thanks, as I digested what I had heard. However, just thinking about bandit leaders actions made me grip my left hand in rage.
The death of a girl, all to take a power that just happened to be a part of her. It was just like the actions of the King of Evil...
Just like Ganondorf, D-mi-, Be-l-m, M-or-,O-o-, Ag-n-im, Z-n-, M-l-ad-s, Ve-a-, V-t-i, -u-a!
He who slays everyone in his way, all to obtain the power he craved. The strength of the Goddess of Power, Din. All while aware of the pain he had caused so many others.
He was a monster. There was no doubt about that.
But to so readily sacrifice someone you broke bread with. Someone you knew personally and even cared for, all for your own selfish needs… not even Ganondorf could've claimed to have done that. Not even the King of Evil, one of the worst evils within Hyrule history, could say he had done such an evil.
And the thought made the blood that flowed through my body boil! The fact that such evils existed both in this and even my world! It was infuriating, rage inducing even, to think about such things!
Even still, I could only imagine what I would've done to if someone had tried that with Zeld-!
Zelda….
My mind froze along with my rage, as my thoughts went to my friend. If I was here…
Than she had to be here too, in this world!
I felt my face split into a smile, as I could only feel the dark emotions disappear within my chest. She was here, it was possible to see her once again! And where I couldn't even begin to grasp how to get back home, there was no doubt Zelda would know!
However, as the happiness flowed in, so to did the reality of what her being here meant.
Zelda, one of the strongest magic users in all of Hyrule…
Was in a world where magic users are killed, sacrificed, for their power.
I didn't even realize that I was standing before my hands were already on the key to the cage. More specifically, my left hand, due to my right arm being broken.
She was out there, already in incredible danger without even knowing it. Before long, in this world with incredibly powerful warriors, she would be targeted without hesitation. Without any protection other than her own….
I could not let that stand.
Though I trusted the princess, who had been with me on my two year journey every step of the way, this was different. In this world, my trust in her abilities was in completely different waters. I couldn't even trust my own abilities, despite being one of, if not the, best swordsman Hyrule has to offer.
And without any knowledge on how powerful the people of this world could be, she was vulnerable to surprise.
And if she died…
No.
I turned the key, the lock clicking open as the chain fell to the ground with a soft thud. After it fell, I grabbed the key and the chain, leaving no evidence to how I escaped.
I will protect her, just as I always have. I will find her, face all of the enemies that would dare attack her, and go back home with her...
I took the first step out of my cage, bound and still injured beyond belief. Despite that, whoever met my eye would freeze, as the light of determination within them was blinding
And nothing, not even the strongest warrior in this world, would be able to stop me.
It was easier to sneak through the bandit camp than I had originally thought.
I chewed on the dry fish I had managed grab while bound from my pouch, finally able to enjoy its taste. Careful to be as quiet and stealthy as possible I peeked out from behind a stack of crates.
It had only been about two minutes since I had escaped from my cage, two minutes of peeking around corners and trying to make sure I didn't hiss in pain. And, in all honesty…
I had not been impressed.
Very little guards, very little people walking around, and a whole lot of tents and crates to hide behind? I couldn't help but feel that they weren't taking me seriously. Though, who am I to complain?
Though, from what I was seeing, the hard part started now.
I took another bite out of my fish, leaving nothing but bones as I watched the center of the bandit camp.
The only part in wide-open space, and the origin of both of my fights from yesterday. The marks from such a battle still present, such as the large scar dig into the earth from my strike. It was also resting place of my blade…
And the ten or so guards around Raven's tent, right in front of the Master Sword, weapons drawn. The key to escape, the large hole I had after absorbing her magic attack right next to them. Also guarded by men and women with their weapons drawn.
I sighed, feeling but ignoring the pain in my ribs, as I attempted to come up with a game plan.
Getting the map wasn't an option anymore, as the place I would think it would be in was the leaders tent. Looking at the many guards in front of that tent, their guns at the ready, only helped solidify that fact.
Running certainly wasn't an option, as not only were my legs too injured to go full sprint, but I had nowhere near enough energy to dodge all of the gun fire. And even if I could run, I would have to run towards and past a group of those guards. Something I knew I couldn't do as I was now.
Again, I sighed, looking out from behind the crate I was using as cover, throwing my fish bones aside. I had already used three minutes before the guard recognize that I was no longer in that cage.
And with all these guards around, with me in no reasonable position to fight, it seemed hopeless.
I could only feel my frustration grow, as I could only think about what my plans could've been. The easiest one coming to mind being to use my Magic Cape, or simply rushing past them with the Pegasus Boots, or even some bombs to just blow up the guards. So many plans, and no way to implement them…
It was infuriating.
Though, even as I was stuck here, between a tent and a crate, with freedom inches away but unattainable, it was easy to realize that this wasn't the worst situation I have ever been in. In fact, this was one of the more tame situations I've ever had to solve.
Still, I grit my teeth in frustration, grabbing the other cooked fish within my pouch, biting into its flesh. If only my magic pouch was still working, than this situation wouldn't seem as impossible. Or at least, my options would increase, making me not feel as pathetic as I was now.
It made me realize how reliant I was on my Items, a realization that I would've loved to have anytime but now.
'Anything could've worked here…' I continued to think to myself, trying to come up with a plan that involved none of my Items. Though, that was failing miserably. 'My Ball and Chain, the Magic Rod, maybe even my bow if I was forced to. Though, pulling the bow would be really hard with only one arm to use. Maybe if just had an arrow, I could fend for myself but…'
I looked back at the group of guards, still holding all of their weapons at the ready.
'There are still too many of them for a normal arrow. Maybe an Ice Arrow or Fire Arr-'
My mind froze as the idea crossed my mind, as fast and flashy as a bolt of lightning. I didn't quite have the Items to fight off the group of guards…
But maybe I could replicate their effects.
I ate the last of my fish, throwing the inedible parts to the ground with the rest, as I began planning on how to begin. I looked in my emergency pouch, checking whether or not I had the materials to make this work.
I could only smile as the Goddesses seemed to smile back in this foreign world.
Knowing that I was too out in the open for this to happen, I retreated farther back into the camp, moving with the wall to find the perfect spot. It didn't take long, as I found a good spot right behind me, with a pile of firewood nearby. The surplus they used to feed their fireplaces for light no doubt.
Knowing I was on borrowed time, I carefully but quickly moved to stack all of the said firewood next to the spiked wall. Picking it up throwing it onto the grass, before stacking them up. It took quite some time, as I was bound by the wrist, but that was time well spent.
With it all stacked, I looked around for anything that could catch easily, knowing logs wouldn't easily ignite. What I found was the top of one of the many fur tents, made to keep in the warmth when one was trying to sleep inside.
I grabbed the fur tarp, and rolled it up haphazardly, simply trying to get it as compact as possible. With that done, I moved the tarp towards the wood pile, and removed the logs within the center of the structure. Before it could collapse on itself, I shoved the large tarp in, giving the pile some nice kindling.
Still, I feared that this wouldn't be enough to get the guards panicking enough to leave their stations. Realizing this, I looked towards on of the crates I had hid behind, the large but thin amounts of dry wood perfect for what I was planning.
Careful to not make any noise while pulling it, I only moved it when the guards weren't looking. Luckily, it was quite dark where I was hiding compared to their completely lit area, so I and the crate were practically invisible.
The crate was a lot lighter than I had thought it would be, thankfully, so I was able to move it incredibly quickly. I was even able to lean the crate right onto the wood pile, it's top open and facing the thick wood walls.
I peeked inside of the crate, its content filled with what seemed to be red spice, ground into a fine powder. Perhaps he was near the storage area, or maybe even the place where the bandits kept all of their stolen goods. Whatever the case, it didn't matter, so I simply ignored it and moved on with the plan.
Though, I was curious if it was good. If they stole it in such bulk, there must be a high demand for it.
With it finished I looked upon my hastily made fire pit, trying to calculate how much time I had left. I felt my heart jolt in a small spark of panic when I realized I might have more than three minutes over my time limit. Luckily, it seemed that whoever was supposed to be checking and guarding my cage was running late, as no alarm seemed to sound.
Still, knowing that I was almost out of time, I moved as quickly as possible. I placed my bound hand in my pouch, and searched for the only item I had that could help me. When I felt my hands wrap around it's warm shell, I could only smile as I pulled it out.
In my hands, as small and as warm as a baby mouse, was a red seed from a foreign Kingdom known as Holodrum. It's fibers shaped into a small flame, as it seemed to glow in my hand.
An Ember Seed.
I sighed as I rolled the small seed around in my hands, feeling it's warmth move through me. It was almost burning me, sitting on the precipice of being too hot to hold in an ungloved hand.
This seed was something I bought at the beginning of our journey, at the request of both Zelda and Impa. It was expensive, costing almost a 100 Rupees due to the case that they only grew in Holodrum at certain times of the year, when the days were at their coldest. It was supposed to be used for emergencies, such as when Zelda and I almost died on Snowpeak. It was capable of lighting anything on fire, so long as it wasn't too big, and it would catch.
I could only grimace at that memory, as the memory of the smell of burning fur graced my mind.
Since then, I had always kept at least three on hand, just in case a similar situation ever came up. Though they were expensive, they have gotten me and Zelda out of quite a few jams.
Just as it was doing now.
Taking a few steps back, I brought my hands up into the air, grimacing as the bones in my broken arm shifted under my skin. It was a necessary pain, however, as I had to crack open it's shell right on the pile, or waste this chance.
Gritting my teeth and taking deep breaths in preparation, I steeled myself for what was going to be some incredible pain. With my last deep breath, I focused my attention toward the pile of wood, making sure it never left my mark…
Before swinging both of my arms down, hissing in pain, before releasing the seed from my clutches.
I took another step back, shutting my eyes in pain, as my arm felt like a sword had just been stabbed into it.
I opened them just in time to see the seed crack open with a loud snap...
And watch the large raging flames burst out of it, as if waiting for someone to release the demon within.
The entirety of the fur tarp caught fire, as I began to run towards a hiding spot away from the newly made fire. Each footfall was incredibly painful, but I forced myself to continue anyway, knowing the reaction something like a sudden blaze would have.
I could already hear the shouts sound when I snuck into my new hiding spot, not twenty feet from the fire. Peeking out from behind crate, I looked to the center of the encampment, watching as all of the guards reacted to the sudden blaze that occurred on the opposite end of the camp. They looked at each other wondering who will make the first move, as they had no leader to command them.
Luckily for me, and for them, someone saw how bad this could be.
"What are you all, stupid!?" A women in the guard shouted, pushing some of the guards toward the fire. "Put it out! If that thing gets big enough, we'll be seen by everyone in Mistral, including every Huntsmen they got."
"But ma'am, we have to protect R-" One of the guards began, as the rest of them moved to find anything to put out the fire. He was interrupted however, when the woman looked him dead in the eye.
"You stupid son of a bitch!" The woman shouted in his face, grabbing the collar of his coat as he did. Then, before he could say anything, she pointed towards where the fire was, as a sliver of fear seemed to enter her eyes. "Don't you see where that fire is! Do it befor-"
Suddenly, the entire encampment felt a wave of heat washed over every person at once, stinging their eyes. Before anyone could stop it, or even wonder what the cause was, the sound of roaring flames, and singeing fur reached my ears…
As the fire I had made grew ten times larger, and hot enough to melt the steel that supported the wall.
I could only widen my eyes and watch as more than a few guards shrunk back at the size and heat of the fire. Some screamed, to slow to react, as they were burned by the fire. Other shouted curses, too close for comfort to becoming exactly like their friends.
And without a leader, everyone was panicking. The woman before tried to give orders, but she was failing miserably, no one listening to her.
Without any guidance, they all ran around like they were being chased by Peahats. With no order and surprise filling my chest at the sudden huge fire, I could only watch the chaos stunned.
Of course, that didn't mean they were all running around doing nothing. To their credit, they were trying to put out the fire as quickly as possible. But, with no order in their movements, they just kept bumping into one another ruining each other's plan.
It was actually kinda amusing, yet this was no time to stay and watch.
I stood up, and ran towards the center of the encampment, moving my feet as fast as I could. It ended up only being fast walk, however, as I tried to dodge the men and women running around.
Within the chaos, I was hidden by my enemy's attention, as they were too busy looking at the fire. I had wondered briefly what I had done to make the flame so large in the first place, as there was nowhere near enough firewood to burn so high.
Right now, however, that didn't matter, as I had just reached my sword. Placing my arms parallel to the edge of the blade and ignoring the pain in my right arm, I cut my bonds, finally free. All while remaining hidden from view from all of the bandits, grabbing fire blankets and water to put out the fire.
Knowing that this chaos would only last so long, I quickly grabbed my sword, not even bothering to sheath it. I didn't have enough time, and hitting someone with it on accident would draw dangerous attention. So, I simply used it as a walking stick, propelling myself forward with each odd step, forcing me to move faster.
Moving towards the opening I had created just yesterday, I was relieved to find that it was now unguarded. Part of me had worried that even with the fire, I would be forced to fight those guards. With the fear of having to fight gone, I rushed forward, running as fast as I could away from the camp.
I ran into the forest, my attention at full alert, as I could only see vague shadows of the trees. I moved as quickly as possible, avoiding the trees as much as I could with my injured legs. I could still hear the sound of chaos behind me as I ran forward.
I didn't stop running, not even as the sounds of the bandit camp faded away. I could not be found again, I couldn't be trapped by the bandits, I told myself as my legs were about to quit. I couldn't stop, not before I found shelter miles away from the Branwen Tribe. I was thankful that my eyes began to adjust to the dark forest, letting me dodge the trees with ease.
Soon the running became more of an instinct than a conscious thought, as running and dodging became second nature. I had found my stride, even with my damaged feet, feeling the air leave my chest in painful but controlled bursts. Feeling my arms tire, I put my swords back in it's sheath, feeling no need for it assistance in running.
After that, everything seemed to blur together for me, as I just kept running. Nothing reached my ears but the sound of my heartbeat, and the footfalls of my feet hitting the ground.
How far I had run didn't matter, I just knew I had to get somewhere that none of the bandits could find me. When I felt safe, maybe I could finally stop and rest, but until the-
My surroundings changed in a sudden twist, as everything was suddenly upside down. My foot stung more than usual, and my breath was caught in my throat.
Before I knew it, I was falling down a sheer drop, twisting and turning in the air as I did so. I couldn't tell which way was up or down, or how long it would take to hit the ground. I caught glimpses of the world as it spun, as the star and the ground seemed to blend together.
The spinning stopped though, as I felt my back slam against something cold. I felt a sting across my back, as the cold surrounded me, making it impossible to breath.
I only realized a second later that I was underwater, and already had sunk down a good few feet. My waterlogged clothes, my sword and sheath, all were dragging me down into the cold depths.
My eyes, still open under the water, could see the surface, though it was blurry and hurt to keep them open. I began to swim up, trying to get some fresh air for my tired and burning lungs.
But my legs wouldn't move, too tired from the long run to even so much as twitch. I felt my heart lurch at that realization, as I used my arm to try and lift me out of the endless expanse of water beneath me. Yet, all that did was keep me there, only making me float up centimeter by centimeter. I even tried to use my broken arm, but the pain only me want to gasp.
That horrible feeling of dread spread throughout my body, as I tried to force my legs to move. But no matter what I tried, my legs wouldn't move, not even to save life. They were just too used up to even budge an inch.
I tried to access my items, summon my Zora Armor, anything to help me escape or breathe in this watery grave. Yet, my items were still lost to me, nothing more than a tangled mess in my storage.
My body demanded I let go of the air in my lungs, but I knew I was doomed the moment I did. Without any air, I would simply sink to the bottom faster, and just d-
I couldn't think about that!
I swam faster, moving my arms and legs as fast as I could. Yet, no matter what I did, the surface of the water seemed too far.
I shut my eyes, hoping it would help to not think about the distance from the surface. Again, I tried to move my legs, but they wouldn't move!
I looked down at them, hoping there was some kind of answer for why they wouldn't move.
Only to be met with six pairs of red eyes.
My eyes widened as I gasped, air escaping my lungs before I had a chance to stop myself. After that, I only sunk faster, right into the arm of the six demons below me. They were too blurry to see, but their eyes were always present, as if taunting me in my time of need.
I glared at what were no doubt ugly creatures, as I stopped swimming altogether. I could see their eyes widen in anticipation, their grubby fingers digging into the leather of my boots.
That was before I grabbed my sword and unsheathed it's blade.
Instantly, the demons recoiled in horror, as their dark forms burned from the holy power of my sword. I could see their skin turn white a dissapear, before they all swam away, leaving me to swim back to the surface.
But, it was already too late…
My body no longer had any air to use, and couldn't move an inch. My body was already sinking to the bottom, as through blurry eyes, I could see the bones of others like me. Face down in the sludge of the bottom of the lake, my life seemed to flash before my eyes, as if desperate to find some way out.
Without any energy, my body was forced to breath in water, as I finally started to drown. My lungs burn in a horrible and unfamiliar pain, not designed to have water in them. My eyes dulled, as I felt death inch closer and closer, as my cheek feel to the sludge at the bottom of the lake...
As the angel of death wrapped their arms around me, and pulled me up.
"C'mon, c'mon! Wake up!"
I felt my sternum fracture from the force of someone pushing down on my chest, as my broken ribs started to ache in pain.
"Carol, enough! Don't you see the state he's in? He was dead long before he drowned."
"You don't know that!"
There was another push, as my throat seemed to fill with water. I tried to breath, but my body wouldn't let me, as too much water was in my lungs.
Someone pressed their lips to mine, forcing air in my lungs and pushing down the water with it.
"For god's sake, he's got a bullet hole in his chest Carol! He was dead the moment he hit the water! Now, stop before you attract Gri-!"
I heard the sound of someone hitting the ground, as someone kept pressing down on my ribs. That was the final push I needed though, as all of the water was forever out of my lungs.
I coughed up all the water as I took gasps of air, feeling the warm liquid splash into my face. I rolled to my left, coughing between breaths, spitting up the rest of the water in my lungs.
"H-he's alive…"
I took deep breaths, ignoring the absolute torture that came with the. I could only groan due to the horrible feeling, but didn't refuse to let my body take the gracious gift of air.
"G-get the car ready, we need to get him to a hospital!
"Carol, we can't! You're already in too much de-"
"Than we'll take him home!"
"...Fine, but he's your problem, got it!"
"Yes, fine, just go!"
My breathing finally relax, as I felt the grip of my sword tightened. I could feel every cell in body ache, glad to finally have air to function. I opened my eyes, as the shattered moon of this world shine overhead.
Revealing a woman in front of, watching over me, and making sure I was okay.
"You're gonna be fine," She told me, as I was left stunned by her appearance in front of me. A feeling welled up inside of me, as I could only look at her in shock. "I'll take care of everything. Just rest."
"M-m…" I tried to speak, as I could stare at her, my mind escaping me as I did. I could feel my consciousness slipping, as I tried to hang on, to see whether or not I was right.
"Don't talk," She said, looking over her shoulder, as if looking for something important. "You need your energy."
But I ignored that, as I kept trying to speak. I needed to know if she was real. I needed to know why this person reminded me of...
"M-Marin?"
Someone I shouldn't know.
Yet, before I could get my answer, for the third day in a row, I blacked out. My mind filled with more questions than answers.
"Look at my eyes, Faye. One of them is fake because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I've been seeing the past in one eye and the present in another. So, I thought I could only see patches of reality, never the whole picture.
I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was over." ~ Spike Spiegel: Cowboy Bebop
See ya, Space Cowboy!
Next Time on "A Hero's Dream"!
"A Princess With no Hero"!