Hello, once again, to another chapter of…
A Hero's Dream!
Before we begin though, let's get to answering my Reviewers!
darkmist111: You'll see.
Dragonmaster150: Indeed, that was RvB. And yeah, Librarian Zelda's gonna be something that sticks around for a while.
Inheritance1990: Good! Someone reviewed that this was all dark and serious and nothing funny and such. So, I decided to make something fun.
Urs Zord: …
…
VocaloidBrony: Yep, Zelda has a job now. Something I thought she might enjoy. And yes, she was talking about the Hero of the Wild.
Anyway, now that reviews are done, I can finally say this.
HOLY SHIT!
I'm not sure why, but this chapter flowed through me with ease. I think it has something to do with the ending, but this was a fun chapter for me. I just wanted to say that before the story begins.
Now, onto the story!
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Link
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Chapter 6: A Clash of Ideals
I woke up, sweating in a cold room from underneath the blanket.
I groaned as I sat up in the bed, feeling my heart beat faster than usual, my hands tingling with adrenaline. I groaned again, hearing the call of the blankets, whispering for me to get some more sleep.
But I didn't want to sleep again, so I turned and let my legs dangle off the edge.
Usually it would take some time for me to wake up, maybe a splash of cold water from the stream. But I was already wide awake, and already beginning to stretch myself out. Feeling all of the kinks and muscles stretch out, giving a few satisfying cracks, I stopped.
So standing up, shivering as I felt the cold floorboards on my feet. Moving quickly, I went towards the bathroom, hoping that the hot water would help warm up the room.
'Damn that cold machine.' I thought to myself, looking at the horrible piece of equipment that hadn't stopped blowing in cold air. 'It's already Autumn, so why would it be blowing even more cold into this room!'
It had already been one week since I had accepted Timothy's offer of a job. One week since I had been able to find a place to stay, which was a giant vertical inn known as a 'hotel'.
Of course, that was after I had found something called a pawn shop, and sold some of my Green Rupees. I had gotten the idea after seeing the evening news, and saw that the Rupee I had given to the farmer was actually a lot of Lien as they call it.
After that, it wasn't too hard to find this place, as I watched as many people with luggage were heading to this building. All of them, if their excited whispers were to be believed, were here for the upcoming Vytal Festival.
So, I went in and asked for a room. Sure, I had gotten a few sideways glances, since I didn't have anything on me that would seem like luggage. Other than that though, I was fine and the room was great.
Except for the machine blowing cold air, that I couldn't turn off no matter how many times I pressed the off button!
I took off my sleepwear in the bathroom, feeling and seeing the goosebump that covered my skin. Quickly, I moved to turn on the water, which still fascinated me how the people of this world had done this without magic.
While I waited for the water to heat up though, I couldn't help but stop and think.
This was actually kind of nice.
This feeling of doing something so simple, something that didn't weigh the lives of hundreds of people with each decision. Not having to fight monsters every other day, risking my life for my Kingdom. Not having to sneak around said Kingdom, for fear of being caught by Ganondorf's forces.
But here… there wasn't any of that. Not much need for complex thoughts or overbearing worries and threats. I could actually look ahead, not worrying about any monster or people sneaking up on me.
If I was being honest with myself, it was actually kind of… perplexing to compare me now now from myself over a week ago.
I looked at the mirror in the bathroom, as if to confirm I was still Zelda, the leader of the Kingdom of Hyrule. The girl that my Father and Mother had raised with love.
And I still was, I could see it in my eyes… except….
I felt my hand gently hover over the scars I hadn't had two years ago. One between my shoulder blades, the other scar on my right hip. Both of them were easy to hide, and much smaller than even the smallest of Links scars.
But I was pretty self conscious about them, or more accurately, about the one on my back.
The one on my hip was a cut from a Lizalfos, able to get through my defenses when I wasn't paying attention. Sure, the scar was much smaller than it should have been, thanks to my healing magic. But the one on my back…
That was a sneak attack from a Wolfos.
It died pretty quickly after that, Link practically cutting it's head off before coming to help me. By the time that happened, I was already healing myself. So, the wound should have been okay.
But I couldn't see it.
It was something dumb, sure, but I was always worried that the scar had healed wrong, or that it was bright red. Worse, every time I tried to see the scar in a mirror, I could barely see any of it! Usually I would ask Link to check if the wound had healed, but what if it really was ugly or repulsive!?
Again, it was dumb, but I thought it was important.
And it was because I could reminisce and wonder about such things that I could only find it enjoyable. I could think and enjoy things that I simply didn't have the time to entertain before.
But such feelings came with a sense of heavy, heavy guilt.
Though the room was now warm from the steaming water, I couldn't help but shiver as I stepped into the shower.
The truth was, ever since I had taken up Timothy's offer, I've been having nightmares every night. They weren't prophetic, as those types of dreams were few and very far between.
Rather, it was a nightmare about my own fears.
Usually they were different, they never followed the same script. But the same things always happened.
My kingdom, sucked into an endless abyss.
My world, slowly but surely following behind.
The Goddesses cursing me for my failure.
Link, swallowed by the encroaching darkness.
Then I wake up.
And it would repeat… every night.
It didn't take a genius to see why these nightmares were occurring.
I was doing everything I could though. I had practically read every book in Timothy's library, getting as much information as I could. I watched the news on what I now knew as a television, looking for any signs of something from my own world. I even looked for a sign of the only two people that might've come with me to this world.
I even searched for ways to get this Kingdom to search for Link, which by then I will hopefully have the Triforce of Power in my hands.
That didn't stop me from feeling guilty though, as the time I spent coming up with nothing meant that my Kingdom's end was creeping closer and c-
I shut off the water, my body and hair clean for the coming day. I felt a sigh force itself out of my body, as whatever joy I found in the warm shower left me entirely.
Getting out, I grabbed one of the many soft towels that the hotel provided for all of it's guests. Drying myself off as quickly as possible to avoid freezing in my own skin, I began the new daily routine.
Brushing my teeth and drying my hair, I walked out into the cold room, feeling the goosebumps crawl up my skin once again. While I was at it, I also grabbed my sleepwear, bringing it into the main room.
Checking to make sure, I looked towards the 'digital' cloak as it was called, seeing that the numbers on its face read 7:00. Seeing this, I gave a quiet hum, calculating in my mind how long it would take to get to the library.
Seeing as how the library opened at 7:30, I only had about 10 minutes left to get everything done. Plenty of time though, as I simply put my sleep wear back on, and let my magic move through my body, and into my hand.
With a flash from the Triforce on my right hand, my sleepwear shined in a bright light. With barely a second passing, I barely registered the feel of my dress back on my body, heavy and familiar.
Looking at the mirror, I found myself wearing the same dress I had arrived into this world in, though properly clean. Even the pieces I had taken off a week ago were placed exactly where they should be, as I relaxed under their familiar weight.
I was right in thinking that my dress brought too much attention, as even after a week of looking at what everyone wore in this world, I had found nothing even matching it. I had even gone to some of the many clothes stores in this world, specifically looking for this type of dress, and had found nothing. Even none of the material had matched, from the cheapest to the most expensive paled in comparison.
The materials the dress had been made from, collected from both the Sheikah and the Sages of old, simply didn't exist here. Not to mention the enchantment placed upon it by a Great Fairy.
But that didn't really matter to me now.
Taking a breath, I once again let the flow of my magic head towards my left hand, feeling the Triforce Piece activate again. This time though, I focused on a specific image of me wearing something else.
Once that was complete, the Triforce Piece responded to my image, as I felt the bright light pass over my entire body. The clothes shifted, and the weight that was those clothes became lighter, covering different areas of my body in different ways.
It only lasted a few second though, as the light suddenly dropped, and I once again appeared in front of the mirror.
But this time, I wasn't wearing the dress of the Princess of Destiny.
Instead, I was wearing what could only be called the simplified version of that dress. The once flowing, expensive material with multiple colored patterns as it flowed down was only white and made of stiffer, cheaper material. The expensive amethyst bodice, which connected to a cloth that beautifully held the Important symbols of my kingdom was now just a simpler purple bodice. All of my earrings, jewelry and golden colored pauldrons and arm guards, were gone too. Instead, the Triforce earrings were replaced with the simple pearl ones. A black cloak that didn't exist a few seconds ago was on my back, made of soft warm material to block out the Fall breeze. I even had makeup on, which easily highlighted her eyes and lips.
The bracelet Link had made for me was still on my arm too. Not replaced by a fixed fake one, but rather the real thing.
I gave a sigh of relief, as I twist my body, making sure everything was as it should be.
This was easily the most useful of all of the Triforces abilities, and one that I had used often on my journey. With it, I was easily able to disguise myself from prying eyes, and avoid detection by Ganondorf's forces. Though I was only using my abilities to change my clothes and hide the enchantment, it could very well change my entire appearance.
It was the same type of magic used by the Princess of Destiny in the Tale of the Hero of Time.
And it wasn't even my magic, but rather the Triforce, so it didn't cost any magic to use. Meaning I could practically use it whenever I want.
Though, why the Triforce of Wisdom would have such an ability was hard to grasp. Perhaps it was meant to represent the many forms wisdom can take? Or perhaps had something to do with the near infinite rules and forces that Nayru had created on the earth Din had shaped?
It didn't matter, right now all that mattered was what the ability let me do.
Of course, this could have made entering the City much easier, and stealing a cloak unnecessary. But there were too many variables.
Again, I still had no idea about the rules of magic in this world, if it was illegal or even possible. Hell, if it weren't for the Triforce of Wisdom, I probably wouldn't be able to use the spells from my world in this one. My attempts would have clashed with the very rules of reality, and would either fail miserably, or do something infinitely worse.
But thanks to that Piece, I was free to use my magic as I see fit. Link might have some trouble, as unlike me he didn't use his Piece intentionally often, if at all. But he should be fine.
Anyway, if I had done the magic and was caught, who knows what they did to me.
Now that I knew magic was purposely being hidden though… Well, that was something entirely.
In my mind, hiding and covering up the very existence of magic was a grave sin. Magic was a gift the many races of Hyrule had practiced to be closer to the Goddesses. Magic was a form of prayer, among many other things.
It wasn't something meant to be destroyed and hidden. The only magic that deserved that kind of treatment was the magic that bent and twisted the world the Goddesses had created. Things like summoning Demons and magic that directly interfered with the mind of other creatures.
To do something like destroying the very existence in the minds of others… making it simply a fairytale? It was unthinkable.
But that was also the reason why I felt safe using my magic.
Such a coverup would require a lot of people working together and hundreds, maybe even thousands, of years. The people who did this wouldn't make magic so easy to be discovered with a sensor, if it even existed. I doubted others knew much about it either, since they were more focused on the Dust shortage here than anything else.
Besides, if people caught me, they'd think it was just my Semblance and not even think twice about it.
So, I was free to use my less eye catching abilities in private, when I was sure no one was watching. Was it risky? Sure, but not as risky as being caught with materials that didn't and couldn't exist in this world.
I took a glance at the clock again to see that it was now 7:34, and began to move out the door.
It was time to leave for her day job.
If there was one thing I could say that I didn't like about this world, it was all the stares.
I grabbed a book that was placed incorrectly back on the shelf, one of the many visitors having tried to put it back. Already knowing where it should go, scouting the location for where all these books belonged, I placed it one row down. Nodding, I gave a quick turn, going back to my station…
As about twenty eyes either followed me or avoided my gaze simultaneously.
I could only sigh as I felt them, fighting off the urge to shrink into the cloak that wasn't on. Two years of hiding away from the odd glance was hard to fight, even if I wasn't technically in hiding.
It had been this way from the very first day.
At first there had been nothing wrong. The Library was empty and quiet, and not one person came in to read. It was warm outside, and barely any light came in due to all the dust that covered the window.
That was the first to go.
For the first three hours on the job, I had grabbed a dustpan and broom, unable to stand all of the dirt. It was hard, and definitely something I wasn't used to, but it was easy compared to fighting Demons. Eventually, I had cleaned out every inch of the room, and was left with two trash cans filled with dust.
Timothy had watched and smiled, impressed with my hard work, a shine in his eye.
He wasn't smiling at me though…
With that done, I grabbed the trash bags and moved outside to throw them away into an even bigger trash can. After that, I had grabbed some books and began to read, getting as much knowledge about this world as I could.
It was when I was on break that things started to go awry.
Knowing nothing of the city I was in, I decided to do some exploring. I wanted to see this world and how it worked, though I was mostly just searching for Link and any signs of him.
By the time my break was over, having grabbed some lunch from a restaurant, I had found nothing. I was basically empty handed.
I wasn't alone though.
As soon as I had walked back in the library, I was followed by some of the people I had seen at the restaurant.
At first, I had been worried. Has someone found me out? Had they discovered me and come to take me away?!
As they came in, I put on a brave face, pretending not to notice them as I got back to work. To the outside world I was completely calm, but my mind was racing, trying to figure out why they were here.
For a while, they just grabbed some books and stared at me when they thought I wasn't looking. I could hear them whispering, nudging their friends with smirks.
That made it harder to be calm, but still no one could even tell my thoughts were going a mile a minute. Though, a part of me couldn't help but think that this was… familiar.
It was only when one of them walked to me and complimented my eyes that I realized what this was.
It took everything I had not to burst out laughing.
He wasn't suspicious about my presence, nor had he figured out my abilities.
He was trying to court me!
I politely smiled and responded with a thanks, all while I fought off a chuckle. No wonder I had thought this was familiar! The same thing happened a year before Hyrule was taken over!
As soon as I had turned 18, hundreds of gifts and letters came from all over the world, trying to impress me with material things. A few had even showed up asking for my company, before taking one look at me, and practically begging to marry me.
Not that I didn't understand why.
Hyrule's History was filled with such things happening to their Princesses. Gifts from afar, flowery words that could turn women aflame with desire, even jewelry that costed more than what half my Kingdom made together. All to Princesses that were said to match the beauty of the Goddess Hylia herself.
I was no different.
He continued to try and woe me, as I simply gave a polite smile. When he was done, I politely rejected him using the same technique I used on those Prince's who wanted my hand.
Brutal honesty.
"Thank you for your kind words, but I'm afraid I'm not looking for a relationship. Please tell your friends the same."
I practically watched his heart shatter, as he turned away, sulking all the while. I watched the same thing happen with his friends, as I quickly went back to work.
Timothy had gotten a kick out of that, though he went to go comfort the young men. He had gotten them to stay and read some books.
I wish I could say that was the last of them though.
After that, without fail, at least ten new people came in a day. Some would come in and stare, trying to build up the courage, while others pestered me with skin-deep compliments.
It actually made me miss having at least 12 guards protecting me. Though there were many suitors asking for my hand, they were nowhere this close between.
It was starting to get on my nerves.
Timothy certainly wasn't helping either.
"Quite the heartbreaker, aren't you?" He jokes as he writes something down, perhaps another book being borrowed? "Who knew that hiring a pretty woman would be so good for business. Got any friends who might be interested in a job?" He asked as seriously as possible, his shoulders shaking trying to hold it in.
I simply gave him a dead-pan glare, which only made things worse, as he broke out into laughter.
This had been our usual interactions for the past week. Where I was mostly serious, doing my job to the best of my ability, he was more of a jokester, making jabs at me every so often. Nothing terrible mind you, usually just making jokes at my expense.
If we were in Hyrule though, I definitely would not have made him my jester.
"Relax a little Zel," He told me with a small grin, as my own brow twitched ever so slightly. "Here, have an N&N." He said, holding out a small piece of chocolate as a sort of peace offering.
I glared at him for a while, simply staring into his soul, trying to set fire to it without magic. I only sighed though, taking the smallest piece of chocolate I had ever seen, and placing it in my mouth.
Before swallowing it whole, not even tasting it.
He stared at me, wide eyed, as if he had just seen a Picori. That is, before he gave a faugh frown, playing his disappointment up.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" He asked, fighting a grin as he did, as I kept glaring.
"Don't call me Zel," I told him simply, turning away with a small huff. Though a small smile did break out when I turned.
He gave a small, sincere smile as I turned…
But once again, it wasn't aimed at me.
I quirked an eyebrow again, listing another of Timothy's strange smiles on a mental list.
It had only been a week, and already I knew a lot despite Timothy not saying a word about his past. For one, he was a retired Huntsmen, though that was mostly speculation on my part. That limp hadn't always been there, and his reactions to sudden loud noises was quite the evidence.
Not that I was any better, since I always resisted the urge to pull out a knife when someone dropped a book.
Anyway, Timothy had been married before too. That was easy to figure out, since I could easily see the ring on his finger, well cleaned and oiled. He also had a picture of him and his wife standing in front of this library.
I also knew that his wife was dead, because of the ring around his neck.
But, what I couldn't figure out, was his strange gestures and quirks.
Ever since I had started, Timothy had been acting… familiar to me. As if he had known me for most of my life. At first it was extremely awkward, as I never knew quite how to respond.
Luckily, I got used to it rather quickly, and began taking a part in some of his jokes.
That's when it started.
Sometimes, when the day was slow, he'd get me a random drink or food. Sometimes he'd get me 'soda', other times a coffee made in a specific way, or certain foods from certain restaurants.
At first I had thought it was weird because he didn't ask me what I had wanted, but I shrugged it off, thinking he was just being nice.
Then, when I said I didn't like to eat meat too often…
It was hard to describe but… it was like his own expectations disappointed him?
When I told him that the coffee was delicious, though it was a bit bitter, he had the exact opposite reaction. Like I had just confirmed something, as he smiled at that something.
There were other things too, like when he asked what I liked to do in my free time, he would smile that strange smile at my answer of reading. When I also told him I liked to watch the news, as I didn't have much knowledge of free time in this world, he frowned again.
It was like he was… expecting something from me. As if my answers would let him peer deeper into… whatever it was I had.
He was a strange man, an enigma I didn't fully understand yet.
But he was helpful too.
Thinking that, I was reminded of just two days ago…
When he had tried to awaken my Aura.
I had been checking some of the books when it had happened.
I frowned as I heard the sounds of laughter and some rough housing from behind the book shelves. They were talking about something called Griffball, and what they were going to do after they win. From the sounds of it, they were joking about who was going to get the most touchdowns, though I wasn't really paying attention.
From the corner of my eye, I watched as Timothy just laughed at them, finding the situation funny. I was the opposite though, and he could tell, which only made him excited to see what would happen.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't get that chance.
As was described to me by Timothy, one of the students was on the other side of the bookshelf had pushed him a bit harder than the other was expecting. The student had fallen down, slamming directly into the bolted down bookshelf with massive force.
And though the bookshelf would easily move, it wasn't the same for the books.
From my side, it could only be described as an avalanche coming straight for my head.
I made the effort to cast some of my magic, before I had remembered we were in a public space. By the time I had realized this, it was already too late to dodge out of the way. So, I did the only thing I could do.
I used my arm and shielded my head.
The books fell and many hit my arm, no doubt forming what will be many bruises. Nothing I couldn't heal later, but certainly enough to bring some tears to my eye.
As the final book fell, I heard some of the students curse as they rushed to see what happened. I brought my head back up, confirming that there wouldn't be any more surprises.
Timothy wasn't laughing anymore.
After that whole fiasco, Timothy asked the three students to leave, as politely as he could. I was already up and ready, placing the books back where they belonged.
The students had apologized for what happened, and left quietly as I accepted their apology. It was an accident, and what would be another reason why I wouldn't allow rough housing in a library.
Timothy didn't smile the rest of the day, even after I reassured him that I was fine.
It was only after he closed did he ask what I felt would've been asked eventually.
"You're Aura isn't unlocked." He said simply, as I was in the middle of cleaning the library again. I sighed a bit, stopping what I was doing and turning to face him, my brain turning.
"No, it isn't." I told him simply, rubbing up and down on my bruised arm.
I had been worried that not having Aura was strange in this world, that not not having it would put a lot of attention on me.
It appears that I was right.
Timothy grimaced, like he had just eaten a rotten apple. My expression was one of surprise though, as it was the first time I had seen such an expression on him.
That… wasn't the reaction I was expecting. I had been expecting surprise, maybe even confusion, but this?
I watched as Timothy sighed, looking down at his hand and back to me, like he was deciding something. I myself was looking away, hoping he wouldn't ask why.
Instead, he asked me something else. No, it was more like he was telling me.
"Come here, " Timothy said, as he stood up from the chair he was sitting. "I can't have you getting hurt on or off the job, so I'm gonna have to awaken it myself."
I stared at him, not quite expecting such a turn of events. And after he did, my mind went into a whirlwind of thought.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
If she did awaken her Aura, she would have more protection and even an extra ability she could use to fend herself from others.
On the other hand, what if it failed?
Her reality was different from this one, and her understanding of Aura completely different. Were there people who couldn't awaken their Aura? Would she be some kind of freak in this world if she couldn't? What if the very nature of her Aura tipped people off about her origins?
And what did having magic do to Aura?
All this and more ran through her head, but she had to decide, here and now.
Only one way to find out.
That thought entered my head, and already I was moving forward. Timothy gave a nod, as he touched his fingers to my forehead, and closed his eyes.
As he began, I too felt the urge to close my eyes.
"For it is in the passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul and by my shoulder protect thee."
With his words came an foreign energy, moving through my head and into the very center of my being. I felt this energy as it passed, as I couldn't help but make an observation.
It was warm, like the glow of the sun… but it was also cold. Like the sun was trapped somewhere deep inside of him, giving only the semblance of life. Was this his Aura? The very essence of his soul given form?
I observed the movement of the energy, feeling it slowly sink into me and begin to touch something.
My soul… the soul of Princess Zelda Harkinan Hyrule. A bright light, not white or gold just… light.
This was where it filtered through, I realized. This was where I filtered the magic of the Goddeses, and made it my own.
The energy began to wrap around it, inch by inch, as if it were trying to pull it out into the open.
My mind wandered as this happened, my excitement rising. What would my Semblance be, what would I do with it. It felt exactly like it did when I first started to learn Magic.
As I thought that, it wrapped around another inch an-
It vanished.
My eyes still closed, my eyebrows shot up my head, before it turned into a glare. Why did he stop?! What was the big idea?! Why w-
That was when I heard the large thump.
My eyes immediately shot open, trying to locate where that sound had come from. However, when I opened them…
Timothy was on the floor, unconscious.
"Timothy…?" I asked, as my worry began to climb higher and higher.
No response.
I kneeled down, shaking him to try and get him to wake up. "Timothy, this isn't funny." I began, my voice serious and begging for this to be some joke at the same time.
Nothing.
My breathing began getting heavier, worry climbing up my throat as instinct took over.
I checked his pulse, sighing in relief as I felt the blood move through his veins. I placed the back of my hand near his nose, feeling his breath it. But that did nothing for my worry.
What had happened? Had I done this to him? How?! What was going on?!
A sudden gasp was brought to her attention, as the man on the floor suddenly sat up. I jumped back a little, frightened enough to almost pull out the dagger I had hidden in my dress.
Almost.
As soon as he was up, he brought a hand to his head, groaning like he had a splitting headache. It was only when I kneeled down next to him did he seem to realize what had happened…
As he stared at me in astonishment.
"Thank the Goddeses." I told him with a sigh of relief, as I couldn't help a small smile rising on my face.
"How…?" Timothy began, staring at me as he did, that look of shock and astonishment still in his eyes.
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, before I began to ask him questions.
"Is something wrong," I asked, looking him over again to see if there were any injuries on his person. "Should I get you to a hospital?"
He didn't say anything, as if he hadn't heard me. A part of me was worried that whatever happened made him deaf.
But what he said next only made me quirk a brow.
"How is your soul so strong?"
According to Timothy, I was a one in a billion talent. Someone who was born with an abnormally powerful soul, so much so that it was practically five times what an average Huntsman has.
Usually what happens when someone awakens another's Aura, is they use their own Aura to jumpstart another's. This usually leaves the other person a little tired, and that effect is larger depending on the power of the soul.
Apparently, Timothy used so much of his Aura to try and jumpstart mine, that he actually passed out from exhaustion. And if what I felt was true, then he barely even scratched the surface of it.
It was ironic, in a way. My soul was so powerful that it exceeded many if not all Huntsman, but it was because of that that nobody could even activate hers.
In hindsight though, I probably should have seen this coming.
Legends about the Princesses of Destiny were numerous, and all of them had one thing in common.
The current Incarnation of Evil wanted the incredible power that lay within the current Princess of Destiny. It was the common theme of all the stories, from the Hero of the Minish all the way to The Hero of Spirits.
Yet most of those Legends were over simplified for children, and many facts about the legends hidden. All so not everyone could, say, find the Sacred Ground to take the Triforce for themselves.
Yet I knew all of the real Legends. I knew what the heroes went through, as Hyrule Castle had many of the heroes journals, kept as sacred treasures.
I, and my father before me, knew our ancestry quite well.
I was a defendant of Hylia's Reincarnation, a Goddess given flesh.
And the power that lay within her descendants was what Incarnations of Evil had wanted. The most famous being Vatti from the tales of the Hero of Minish.
Long before I had the Triforce of Wisdom, I was already a powerful mage, some would even consider me a prodigy. Of course, that was overselling it, as I could learn magic quickly but using it was always the most difficult part.
So, why wouldn't my soul, the soul of one who was a descendant of a goddess, be powerful?
In all honesty, part of me couldn't help being pleased that I was considered a genius in not one, but two worlds.
Though, because of that, my mind began to wander towards Link.
If I was a powerful soul, then I couldn't even imagine what Link was.
My mind began to wander to those two years, two years of watching and working with Link to take back Hyrule. Two years of fighting any and every dangerous Demon that Ganondorf could throw at them.
Two years of Link protecting me, being my shield, my sword…
My Hero.
Compared to me, Link was the more powerful, the most willing to face any obstacles for what he believes in.
So, how powerful was his soul?
Definitely more powerful than mine, no doubt.
I felt a small smile grace my lips. I could only wonder how he would surprise the people of this world. If I were a one in a billion…
Then he certainly was one of a kind.
However, that smile was destroyed when my mind wandered back to my dream. Link and my entire kingdom, facing what could only be extinction.
I felt the world spin around me, the impact of what was coming almost too much. For a second, the world seemed to freeze and shatter, as I could only wonder if this is what my people would feel.
I reached out and grabbed a bookshelf, forcing myself to remain upright, despite the bile rising in my throat. Breaths that came in gasps were forced down, as I swallowed those feelings down for later, not wanting to be seen.
I was a little too late.
"Zelda…?"
The world came back as I saw Timothy, staring at me in concern for health. "What's wrong? You don't look too good…"
I forced a smile, trying to calm him down. There wasn't anything wrong physically, so not much could be done about it.
It was only the fear of dooming the kingdom I swore to protect, and the guilt of enjoying this simple life at the cost of that Kingdom.
But I had faced and killed Demons larger than this building. I could handle such a thing.
I was fine…
"It's alright." I strained, standing up straight with the forced smile still in place. "I… just didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
Timothy stared at me, as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle. My flimsy lie wasn't enough to comfort him it seemed, and he was certainly trying to figure out what I was hiding.
Before he could even start to ask questions though, I struck first.
"Do you think I can leave early today?" I asked Timothy, using his worry to my advantage in hopes that he would agree. Though doing such a thing left a bad taste in my mouth, I shrugged it off. "I have something I need to get done today, and I'll certainly sleep easier knowing it was done."
He looked at me suspiciously, still trying to figure out what it was that I was hiding. Slowly, he gave a nod, giving me the go ahead.
I finally gave a real smile, thanking him as I grabbed my black cloak and left the building. All the while, Timothy kept staring, trying to decipher my unusual behavior.
But I was beyond that at the moment, as I put the hood up and briskly walked towards my destination. Though, as I did, I placed a clenched fist on my chest.
'It was time.' I told myself, walking down the street, a passing clock saying it was at least 4:00.
I had already spent enough time learning all I needed to know about Remnant and the way this Kingdom operated. Now, it was time to use that knowledge. Though this past week had been fun, I couldn't get side tracked.
My people and my Country came first, everything else came second. I needed to find my way back home. I needed to save my Kingdom, Something, anything…
Anything to stop this feeling of guilt.
But I couldn't do that alone. This world only had the theory of other dimensions, nothing to travel between them. And no matter how hard I looked, there was nothing on magic relics that could help me with such a thing. Only one existed in this world, and it was the object that I had brought with me.
I needed the other pieces of the Triforce. I needed to find them, and gather them so we could return home.
Once again, my Kingdom was on the verge of destruction. But, even if I wanted to… I couldn't do it alone.
To do that, to save my Kingdom and myself along with it, I needed him…
I needed my Hero.
It had taken me about an hour to get to where I was going. When I did, I could only stand and marvel at what stood in front of me.
It was a huge building that seemed almost entirely made up of glass. There wasn't a window placed on the outside, but rather the front of the building seemed to be the window. The sides were made of a white cement, built to last and make the building stand out even further. Despite the glass in front of me though, I couldn't see through it, no matter how hard I looked.
This was what I had discovered in my research through Timothy's library. This was what was known as the Huntsman Center.
According to the history books, after the first war the world was still in quite a bit of turmoil. The emotions and fear of the war had Grimm sightings skyrocketing, and there wasn't enough manpower to do all of the jobs needed to be done in the Kingdoms. Police were already stretched thin due to many of their able bodied men and women being drafted as Huntsmen and Huntresses. Convoys to trade goods were being attacked by Grimm, and criminals were in the rise due to a lack of manpower.
So, with their surplus of Huntsmen and Huntresses, the Kingdoms decided to create a system.
So long as it was legal, anyone could pay a certain fee to acquire the aid of these powerful warriors. Depending on the job or the difficulty of the request, the cost would increase.
Yet, that simple system was all it took to get all of the Kingdoms rolling again.
Police suddenly had more warriors than they would ever need, goods and services were finally getting to their location, and the Grimm sightings had gone down by half!
Seeing their system was such a success, they kept it in place, giving people the option to call a Huntsman or Huntress if they needed it.
To put it simply, the Kingdom allows their elite personnel to be used as Mercenaries for the right price.
I watched a number of people walk into the building, many of them moving around me to get in. It seemed that the system was still really popular too.
Going through the flow of traffic, I began to follow them into the building, my destination from the very beginning.
The inside was just as amazing as the outside, perhaps even more so.
Looking around, the window itself had scrolling holographic screens, depicting an incredible amount of requests to be done. As she watched and tried to read some of them, they disappeared with a green light. Others stayed around for longer, letting me read some of the requests.
Though, none of them were too impressive, in my mind. What was a crossing guard anyway?
Anyway, back on track.
Turning to face the back of the building, seeing the white walls within. There were three stations, all of which were white and had three people behind them. Two women and one man, each of them listening to the tasks described to them into what seemed to be a computer.
Another thing I realized was that the lines were long.
I frowned within the confines of my cloak, closely watching the rate that each task was finished. I was lucky though, as it seemed that many of these tasks were simple to report and write down.
As I was about to step into one of the lines though, I saw something from the corner of my eye.
Turning my head, I saw a completely separate room, with only a few people inside of it. The door leading into the room having a small sign above saying 'Private Requests'.
I stood still, staring at the room as many people behind me complained to move forward. I ignored them though, as I tried to think this through.
The fact was, I couldn't go searching through the entire country for Link, though not for a lack of trying. If I did myself, there was a chance that we could miss one another by simple chance. Sure, the Triforce pieces reacted when they were near each other, but that was in close proximity. I couldn't just use it as a radar and hope for the best. Besides, if we weren't on the same continent, then I would just be wasting time.
I needed to find him, absolutely, but I didn't have to be the one who found him.
There were many Huntsmen and Huntresses in this Kingdom, though she didn't have an exact number. If only one team took the request, that would be one more team searching for him along with me.
The more people looking, the more likely it was to find him.
The more likely it was to get home.
Though, that didn't mean I wanted his face plastered on the wall.
The fact was, Link and I weren't supposed to be here. We were enigmas, pieces in a game that we were never supposed to be a part of. The longer we stayed, the more likely it was that someone would notice our… abilities. Someone who would wish to use us for their own gains, or at least try to.
So the more secretive I could be with Link's existence, as well as my own, the better.
With that done, I moved forward towards the 'Private Request' door, and simply opened it.
The room inside, instead of being made of the pure white walls, was a more… homely color. The warm brown covered the walls, the seats comfy and a darker shade of brown. There was only one desk in this room, behind a woman on her Scroll.
She wasn't on it for long though, as she must've seen the shift in movement I had made when coming in. Immediately, almost faster than the eye could track, she placed the Scroll, turning towards me with a bright smile.
"Hello there." She said with a brightness that matched her smile, as she looked me up and down, trying to get a grasp on my personality. That would be hard though, as I had still my cloak on, which covered me from head to toe. "How can I help you today?" She asked, gesturing in front of her to a simple seat, made more function rather than comfort.
Before I did take a seat though, I glanced around, looking around for anyone else that could overhear our conversation.
"Relax lady," The girl behind the counter chuckled, as if she had seen this before. "I can assure you that the only person you need to worry about hearing you is me. Besides…" She trailed off, smirking as a flash of violet ran across her features.
I tensed, palming at the dagger that I always carried with me just in case of any trouble. But, as I waited for something to happen…
Nothing did.
I lifted a brow, my curiosity rising as I wondered what she had done.
Then I watched the girl clap her hands as hard as she possibly could, no doubt something that would hurt my ears. But as soon as the hands met…
Nothing. Not a sound.
Once again she flashed violet, as she only smirked at me, as I felt my own eyes widen.
"I'm good at keeping secrets." She told me simply, chuckling at her own joke before gesturing back towards the chair.
I gave a small smile back, sitting down in front of the girl as she flashed purple again. As soon as she did, all of the background noise seemed to fade away, replaced by the stillness of silence.
"Anyway, now that we've got some privacy," The girl began, leaning back in her chair with that smile still in place. "How can I help you?"
Straight to the point. That was good, as I didn't need anyone coddling me at the moment. So, with her candidness, I decided to respond the same way.
"I need you to find someone for me." I told the girl simply, honest and straight to the point.
The girl almost fell backwards in her chair, probably not getting the response she had expected. I didn't know the kinds of requests she got here, but likely they were something either embarrassing or extremely important.
Perhaps I should have phrased it better.
"Um… be a bit more specific please." The girl asked with a small chuckle, as she handled me less like a person and more like a bomb that could go off.
I thought about it slowly, trying to find an answer close to the truth without spilling everything.
"My… friend Link and I were traveling here together," I began slowly, watching my words as I explained. "but we got separated during a Grimm attack. I don't know where he is, and would like for someone to help search for him."
As I finished, I watched the girl look at me in pity, as I gave a light sigh. It seemed she bought the story, so I didn't have to worry about being questioned too much about what happened.
"I'm sorry to hear that," She began, turning her body towards one of the computers at her side. "So he's at least in the Vale area, right?"
"Yes, though he would've gone to the nearest City or Settlement." I simply told her everything I knew about Link in an attempt to figure out where he'd go. "He might be injured, so searching through care facilities would be helpful. He was also armed with a sword and shield, so that would be something to search for too."
"Ok…" She began, writing everything down on the computer at such speeds that it was hard to track.
"He also wears green as much as possible, since it's his favorite color." I added with a smile, not sure if it would help, but putting it out there anyway. "He's a… Faunus, his defining trait being pointed ears, with a blue hoop earring in the left ear. Oh, he's also blonde with blue eyes."
"Got it." The woman said with a small grin, as she turned back to me with a knowing eye. "Alright, we'll see if we can find your boyfriend. Can you pay the fee?"
Huh?
My mind seemed to freeze as she said that, as I felt my ears and cheeks go up in flames. "W-Wha? H-he's not… that's…"
"Really?" She said with surprise, though I knew she was faking it. "You seem to like to talk about him though. You sound like some of my friends back in high school after prom, talking about who they'd want to take them."
If it were possible, my cheeks burned even hotter, as the girl in front of me had to hold back her laughter. I wasn't sure what prom was, but to be compared to a girl in her teenage years? One head over-heels for some guy?!
I was a Princess, not some… some smitten school girl!
"H-how much is it…" I asked her in a hushed whisper, even though I knew no one could hear us. As I heard myself though, I could only grip my hands tight in embarrassment. Stop proving her right Zelda!
The lady chuckled at my voice, as I tried to glare as hard as I possibly could, almost using my magic to burn her where she stood.
"Alright, alright, calm down." She began, stopping herself from laughing, though she was still smiling. "Do you have a picture we can use to identify him as they search? If not, can you give a rough sketch or description?"
Hearing this, I took a breath and tried to clear my cheeks of the red. No matter how hard I tried though, I could still feel a pink blush over my face.
I already figured something like this would happen, so I came prepared. Though I didn't have the Pictograph, since it was Link's job to carry all of the items, I did have something else.
My ability to draw.
Though nothing like the fabulous artists of Hyrule, I was tutored by the castle's portrait maker for la few years. He was the one who had made a portrait of my mother and father, along with three other pictures of me. I was a little interested, so I asked him if I could learn from him.
Though drawing definitely wasn't a talent of mine, I kept at it until I was at least ok. Or at least, ok compared to my tutor.
Pulling out a white sheet of paper from within my cloak, I gave it to the woman to use for the search. I had been working on it in my free time to use to ask around for Link, and it had turned out pretty good.
Though it wasn't an exact replica of what he looked like, it was the best picture in his likeness that I could make. Sure, I had some gripes about it, seeing as his eyes weren't perfect and his nose was a little off, but it would function.
The lady behind the counter stared at the picture, giving a low whistle as she did. "You are one lucky lady, huh?"
I simply rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see me do it. If only she knew how untrue that really was.
Moving quickly, the lady behind the desk grabbed her scroll again, taking a picture of the sketch before giving it right back to me. Taking it back, I placed the picture back in my cloak to use for later.
With that done, she did something else I couldn't quite see on the computer before turning to me. "That'll be 50,000* Lien for the search. Think you can manage?" She asked, giving me a glance and a small hope that I could.
I simply gave a nod, pulling out the appropriate amount of cards from my cloak. 5 Silver cards should be enough for this, though I should probably go sell some more Rupees after this.
She took the cards, before grabbing two things from under her desk. One was a bag to put the cards into, the other…
The other was a Scroll. Or at least, a mini Scroll.
"This is a pager," The woman began to explain, before placing the cards inside of the bag. "keep it on you at all times. If anything about the mission comes up that we feel you need to know about, we'll contact you. We'll also be needing it back after the mission is complete. With that said, we'll take it from here."
I gave a small nod in appreciation, as I stood up out of the chair and turned to leave. As I did though, I could practically feel some of the weight sliding off of my shoulders. With this, she was one step closer to finding Link, and going home.
One step closer to saving my Kingdom.
Before I could even take a step though, the woman called out to me.
"Hold up."
I turned around, watching as she placed the silver cards into a small bag. Except, the girl wasn't grinning this time. In fact, she seemed a little… uncomfortable
"I should warn you before you get your hopes up," She began, clasping her hands together as a way to distract herself from what she was going to say. " These… these kinds of missions don't always have a happy ending. Just… prepare for the worst, alright?"
I stared at the girl, as she fidgeted under my gaze. More than likely she had seen this kind of thing happen quite a few times, and had seen how they can end.
Indeed, not everything was a fairytale. That remained the same, even in this new world I found myself in.
Despite that, I could only smile at the girl's worry. The smile itself seemed to stun her, as it probably wasn't what she was expecting from me.
"Then you don't know Link."
With that I turned to take my leave, as the sounds of the world came back to me in a soft wave.
Opening the door and leaving the Huntsmen center, I walked out into the brisk fall night. The hotel was a ways away, about six miles, so it would take a while to get there. Luckily, the other place I wanted to go was on the way, so I didn't need to take much of a detour.
It took me half an hour to get to my destination, as the lights around the streets began to turn off, the streets empty of people. Yet, the store were still open, hoping for any customer to come walking into their doors.
And I did, but only for one particular shop.
I looked up at the sign wondering if this was the right place. Seeing a large window in front of the store though, I peered in, trying to see if I had gotten the right place.
Seeing that I was right, I walked in, quickly being greeted by a man behind the counter.
"Welcome to Dustco! Anything you are looking for in particular?" The man asked, as I took a second to look around the Dust Shop.
Or rather, at the many tubes of Dust, as well as the many crystals that were kept within safety containers.
This has been something I had been interested in since I had first heard of the substance known as Dust. The substance that could only be magic given a pure material form. Something that wasn't anywhere in my world.
And honestly, there were many reasons for me to be interested in such a substance. For one, apparently this was the cause of the technological leap in this world compared to my own. It was the reason why there were flying machines, or objects that can produce an image from miles away.
If I could learn from this Dust, how they implanted into tools and such, I could discover a new way to use magic. Perhaps even recreate these kinds of tools in Hyrule!
The second reason was the other ways Dust could be used. As a weapon.
Once again, magic was being hidden in this world, kept away from normal eyes. People wouldn't do something like this, place so much effort over centuries, for a simple reason.
Magic was a rare resource, and it was something I had in spades. I couldn't let others figure that out.
But if I were to be force to fight, what could I do? Sure, I had a sword and dagger on me in case of emergencies, but those were just backup weapons. Magic was always my defense and my attack, from the beginning of our journey right to the end. And since I couldn't get my Aura awakened, I couldn't just play off what I could do as a Semblance.
So, the only other way to fight that was acceptable in this world was Dust.
And third…
"Yes, I would like some manuals and the basic equipment for Dust experimentation please." I told the man behind the counter, giving him my own smile as I did. "Anything from the research into it and properties that can be mixed and used would be great as well."
My inner researcher was just fascinated.
"Uh…" The clerk behind said blankly, as if stunned by the specific request he had been given. "The, uh, the Dust experimentation equipment in the back. We… I don't think we have any of the research, but I'd check around the Hardlight Dust, just in case. That's the Cyan one by the way."
I gave a simple nod, moving towards the back of the store without a seconds hesitation. I moved past some of the other people in the store, browsing through the store in search of dust crystals for their own needs. All with a smile on my face.
This was going to be fun.
'Hmm, Dust in liquid and gas form…" I thought to myself, as I stood and read through some of the theoretical Dust papers. 'Might be useful, though I might not be able to accomplish something like that with beginners equipment. I should probably stick with turning Dust particles back into a crystal.'
It had been over an hour since she had entered the Dustco store. An hour of just reading through the research and Dust descriptions while trying to find what would I could use.
And honestly, I couldn't get enough of it.
'If I could make mixtures of Dust and than turn them back into crystals,' I continued to think to myself, as someone moved past me. 'I could maximize the power while also reducing space. If I found a way to make the crystals specific shapes too, I might be able to make it fit on the end of my rapier. I could probably make different kinds of paper bombs to, or just Dust Crystals shaped as weapons!'
It had literally been years since I could research and play with something just for fun. Long before our adventure, I was already reading and experimenting with the process of magic, trying to figure out the most effective way to use it. I would even try to make new spells to use for myself, though that was a long time ago. Sure, during our adventure Link and I had collected many magical item. In fact, it wasn't an exaggeration to stay we had collected every magic item on the face of Hyrule.
But those were weapons, something to be used against the enemies that hunted us. Experimentation with how they work and how they could do what they do meant there was a chance we'd be ambushed without that item. It might have even broken in the scuffle, making it entirely useless, and one less weapon against Ganondorf.
Even the teachings Impa gave me were simply something not to experiment and wonder about but use.
This, on the other hand…
This was fun.
Sure, it might be a weapon to use, but it was more against people rather than Grimm. And with the bigger threats like Huntsmen and Huntresses, I doubt I was a big target so long as I kept my abilities hidden.
Without a threat around me, this was mostly just for the sake of my curiosity.
'I should grab a number of different Dust types, both Crystal and Particle.' I thought to myself, as my ears twitch at the sound the bell ringing, a new customer coming in. 'Should focus on Hard Light in an attempt to make a Dust version of Nayru's Love. I should also grab the Wind and Gravity Dust in an attempt to manip-'
"Welcome to Dustco," I heard the clerk began, doing his usual greeting for anyone new in the store. "How can I- "
But he froze, as I felt a stiffness in the air that I grew used to, but did not miss.
Dread.
"Oh fuck..." The clerk began in horrified whisper, as I immediately turned my head towards the entrance of the store.
Where a certain infamous redhead stood, leaning on his cane, a number of Faunus in white masks standing around him.
"Hear that guys," Roman Torchwick began, an ever present smirk on his face, standing up straight. "I'm famous."
Before the clerk even had time to blink, the end of the cane was already in his face, something flipping off the bottom. The clerk immediately put his hands in the air, as the other patrons could only stare in stunned silence.
"Well, more infamous than anything." He began, as he tilted his head towards the dust, where the White Fang began to steal from.
Right next to a number of what were now hostages.
I ducked down behind one shelf, glaring all the while. 'You've got to be kidding me.' I thought to myself, as I slowly made my way toward the corner of the shelf, taking a small glance.
I watched as many of the Fang began to grab balls they could, from Crystals to Particles. They mostly ignored the hostages, simply grabbing the Dust as a few of the members stood back, aiming their guns.
I immediately hid back behind the shelf, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself, only one thought on my mind.
That she needed to get out of here.
As soon as the robbery was over, the police would be showing up in a matter of minutes. The second they do, they'd ask for my name as a witness. I wasn't sure what they did with those names, but if they tried to find out who I was and where I'd come from…
They'd realize I didn't exist in this world until last week.
Perhaps an extreme chance, as likely as I of finding a Gold Ruppee on the ground, but still a chance.
"As I'm sure you've heard on the news," Roman began as I stood in crouch form, once again glancing from behind a shelf. "All we want is the Dust and your valuables. So, as long as you don't try to be a Hero, we'll leave you to go on your merry way. If not, who knows."
Seeing a chance, I moved quickly towards the back of the store, silent as a mouse. I didn't need much, just an enclosed space so people won't notice me teleporting out of here. Luckily I had thought ahead, and had placed a Farore's Wind marker in the Hotel, so I could just get out of here in the blink of an eye.
I felt my ears twitch as I heard something ahead of me, as I turned down another aisle. As soon as I snuck through, another member of the Fang came out of the corner, no doubt looking for any stragglers.
Though that detour was to my advantage, as I saw the perfect place to teleport out. The bathroom, only an aisle between me and it.
But of course, nothing was ever that simple. There was always a problem, be it the enemy or something else.
And this problem happened to take the form of a ring.
"Give that back you bastard!" I heard someone shout out, the shifting of clothes that could only come from someone standing up straight.
I took a glance back, watching someone wrestle with a White Fang member holding a ring with a snapped piece of cable around it. Before he could even try to grab it though, another Fang member showed up and whacked him with the butt of the gun.
A few of the hostages screamed, as the man went down, no doubt with a heavy bruise on his head.
"Why do I even…" I heard Roman say under his breath, before stepping into my sight, his face now set into a glare. "What did I say? No Heroes!"
I could still hear them, even though Roman was speaking. The hostages…
They were crying.
Don't stop.
I shook my head, facing my head back towards the bathroom…
But I could still hear them… The pit in my stomach that I hadn't realized was there, growing every second.
Ignore them.
But…
The less people who know about your existence the better.
I couldn't respond, whether it be through voice or through thought. I was frozen.
This was… this was too cruel.
It didn't matter though. I shouldn't care, No, I couldn't care.
If I cared, that was time not spent saving my people. If I cared, I would be trapped here, caught in the gears that made this world run. I wouldn't be able to go home…
I had already fought two years against Demons, against the personification of evil itself… All of that for my people.
Could I really sacrifice those years, all of those drop of blood and tears, for people who I would never see again?
Would I risk everything I fought for to help strangers?
"Alright, that's it." I heard Roman began, his tone annoyed as the tears kept coming from the hostages. "Shut them up, I don't care how."
The pit grew ever deeper, as the unfamiliar click of metal sounded in my ears. But I could see them, the White Fang…
They were aiming their guns, some with smiles on their faces.
I was reminded of the events of two years ago… the day Ganondorf sieged Hyrule. I saw it from my castle, as my Royal Guards were telling me to escape….
The Demons, slaying her people left and right, as he walked over there bodies like it was nothing.
I already knew that this world was so much like my own… Not in its laws or it's people…
I could feel it, even if these people couldn't.
Something was coming. A change that couldn't be stopped, only rectified and fixed.
Their own Demon King would soon come to take this place as its own. Perhaps it was because I had already lived through it, but all the signs were there.
Weapons and supplies being taken.
Grimm on the rise.
A terrified populace.
Men and women ravaging the streets, destroying each other.
All too familiar.
And I could stop it.
If magic was rare and powerful in this world, couldn't I stop this from even starting? Couldn't I, perhaps one of the few magic users in this world, use my abilities for good?
Couldn't I stop this world from meeting a fate similar to my own Kingdom?
These were dumb thoughts, they had to be…
I couldn't think like this, or I would tear myself apart.
I needed to make that decision….
To risk everything, and save a few more people…
Or leave them to die, helping the chances of saving my Kingdom?
I wanted more time, needed more time to decide.
But they were still crying, the sound ringing in my ears. The metal was clicking, as more and more soldiers aimed at the civilians, loading their guns for the kill.
I grabbed my arm, gripping it as tightly as I could. I hadn't realized it, but I was gasping for air, my heart beating a mile a minute as more and more thoughts ran through my mind. But only one could be heard…
'What do I do…'
Stop them, and there is no guarantee you won't be hunted.
Will I sacrifice what I believed in, the very virtues of my people, to save them?
'What do I do?'
Face them, and you might never return home.
Will I risk everything I bled for, to a world that wasn't mine?
'What do I do?!'
Defeat them, and your people might go extinct.
What will I d-
And as my mind ran a mile a minute…
The sting of pain ran through me. Nothing big, not like many of the bruises or broken arms she had received. But something small…
The world slowed down, as my gaze went to the source of the pain…
As well as the bracelet that caused it.
I could only stare at the bracelet Link had made me for my Birthday, a feeling of fondness growing within me as I did. But, as I looked at it, I couldn't see a gift made for me by my Hero…
I saw the symbol of Farore. She who crafted all life that lived on the Earth Din made, and followed the Laws Nayru set. The Goddess of Courage, she who stood by all as they faced any challenge, any decision. The symbol of life itself...
The symbol synonymous with the Hero himself.
For an instant, I thought about what my Hero would do. He wouldn't be thinking about the best option, nor would he even hesitate…
He would bravely charge these thieves and murders, safe the people, because he couldn't stand not doing anything. He wouldn't stand for this in Hyrule…
He wouldn't stand for this here either.
He would save them both, achieving the impossible to do so.
"That's not fair Link."
Before I even knew it, I was already standing. My hand was stretched out towards the members of the White Fang, the magic I knew so well flowing through me on pure instinct.
This was the dumbest thing I had done in two years… This could backfire in so many ways…
But, just like my Hero...
"That's not fair at all."
Maybe I could do the impossible too.
Fire as hot as the sun shot forward, surging through the aisles and nearly activating the Dust as she did. The two Fang members I was aiming for didn't even have a chance to glance behind them before they were burned.
As screams of pain suddenly cried out, the heat becoming just as unbearable as the sound, every person turned towards me. There were many faces, many holding surprise and shock, others holding a bit of fear.
One holding a form of recognition and realization.
"Great," Roman spoke with a simple sigh, as he turned towards the other members of the White Fang. "Well what are you waiting for?! Shoot her!"
To their credit, even after the sudden shock of one of their members going down, they followed their orders well. As soon as Roman gave the order, they opened fire on me, a new bullet coming towards me every second.
They wouldn't land.
I instantly created two layers of Nayru's Love with only a thought, making sure to cover every angle they were firing. One around me to give the illusion of the Aura that so many had in this world, the other under my cloak to absorb the excess momentum from the bullets.
The result was a resounding success.
As soon as the bullets hit me, they shattered upon impact, their elemental abilities going off around me. But I couldn't even feel them, as the first barrier around me absorbed all of the damage. The elements bounced off of me without a scratch, not even scratching the light blue shield.
But that didn't mean the energy that carried those bullets were gone. The force itself moved the shield back, almost forcing it to crush me. That was where the second shield came in, as it braced the first one, protecting me even further from any of the excess force from piercing me.
Everything seemed to freeze as the bullets stopped firing, as even through the mask I could tell the Fang was shocked. As soon as they stopped, the first shield disappeared, no longer necessary. I kept the second shield just in case of a sneak attack…
But I doubt they would try shooting me again.
The bullets that struck me hit the ground with a clang, their elemental properties spent.
"The hell?!" Roman could only say, staring widened eyes as the volley did nothing to me. "How did you…"
I took a glance at the man who started this problem in the first place, his eyes staring at me in shock. Even with my eyes on him though, he couldn't see anything except my chin and mouth, a heavy shadow over them because of my hood.
I heard someone reload their gun, the direction of the sound giving me a clear image of where he was. Before he even got the chance to aim his gun, he was already burnt by Din's Fire. As soon as he was struck, I heard the distinct shattering of glass, though nothing followed after.
Not the Dust, so maybe his Aura?
With that thought in mind, I heard the man fall to the, a pained groaned escaping his lips.
Definitely his Aura.
Seeing that they were so weak, I dialed Din's Fire back a bit, making sure not to kill them. I didn't want to be hunted down by the police for a death, even if it was in self defense.
Gasps of surprise echoed through the store, as many of the White Fang dropped their guns in fear. Hearing those guns fall, it was easy to get their preside locations. With only the barest flick of my wrist, the five other thieves went down with ease, their Aura's shattering as they did.
Now Roman wasn't shocked or surprised… he was afraid.
"You…" He began, taking a step backwards as he stared at me in fear, his legs shaking ever so slightly. "You're…"
I raised a brow ever so slightly, wondering what it was that he was saying. Before I could decipher his expression though, he lifted his cane and aimed for something behind me.
I flinched, looking to see where the hostages were. Luckily it seemed some of them had sense, as they were already escaping out the back door. I gave a sigh of relief, seeing the people I did this for get away safely.
That moment of relaxation was enough to get off his shot though, as I finally discovered what he was aiming for.
The large canister of gray Steam Dust.
My eyes widened as I watched his bullet travel, as the instinct to stop it with Nayru's Love was powerful. However, I already showed off Din's Fire, making anyone who saw this believe that my Semblance was Pyromancy. Using Nayru's Love now would ruin that image, thus revealing that I had two Semblances.
An impossibility of this world.
Aura and Semblances are inferior to Magic in two ways. One, the number of effects one can cause while using it, and two the rate it drains when using both aspects of its power.
Magic, if I were to put it in simple terms, was the act of creating power with the same energy of creation that the Three Goddesses used, and the intent of one's soul. It was a mirror to the acts of the Goddesses used by all races to create their own miracles.
Semblances and Aura were, in a phrase, the illusion of magic. Instead of using the energy of creation itself to create and use spells, they were using the energy of their own souls to create and use one spell. Technically two if one looked at Aura as a spell.
Which was why a person normally couldn't have two Semblances. This was a basic rule of this world, and a nearly ironclad one.
So, to keep up appearances, I jumped behind one of the aisles of the store, secretly recreating the first shield under my cloak.
I was glad I did.
An explosion of heat and steam covered every inch of the store, my only protection being both of the shields. Glass shattered from the temperature alone, as some my sensitive ears heard someone step over these shattered pieces.
Undoubtedly, that was Roman. I opened my eyes, dropping Nayru's Love as the warm steam clung to my skin.
Not that I minded, I would be gone in a second.
Once again, I sighed in relief.
So this is what it felt like doing something without thought… to do something despite all of the risk…
Hmm.
I watched as the steam cleared, any cover that I would have slowly disappear if into the air.
Standing up, I brushed myself off, getting rid of some of the dirt that was on the floor. It was time to go.
Still though, my mind was rushing to catch up with what happened. What I did was… it was stupid, no doubt about that.
But I didn't regret it.
Hopefully, that would be enough.
With a simple twitch of the wrist, I was covered in a green light, my body being carried away by the wind…
As I landed straight in my bed, my mind too tired to think about anything.
All but one…
'I hope I made you proud Link…'
With that I fell asleep….
Unaware of the significance of my magic in this world…
Unaware of the connection Roman Torchwick made between my abilities and that of a certain employer...
And certainly unaware of the old librarian who witnessed the whole thing…
Timothy Redbrooks
His life was hell. It was the only to describe it.
But.. it wasn't always.
Once upon a time, the man named Timothy was happy. He was a Huntsman, his dream came true, and he fought to help his Kingdom with everything he had.
Then he found love.
She was a damsel in distress in a nearby settlement. The old him wanted to be the hero in stories, so he rushed in to save her.
Turned out she didn't need saving. She was a good fighter, better than he ever would have been. Especially with his weak Fire Semblance.
He remembered that day like it was yesterday. 40 years ago, he was jealous of that girl, jealous that she had such a powerful Semblance, such a powerful soul.
But when she smiled at him, he felt his heart skip a beat.
She came to the hospital when he was healing from his injuries, and he thanked her. She came to his house and met his team, and he told her all sorts of stories. She told him her dream, and he couldn't help but think that it was such a waste of her abilities. He couldn't help but be bitter, but he also couldn't help but see the beauty of someone so powerful wanting such a simple life.
She asked for his help, when they told her everything.
And he did.
For years they were together, helping one another in their times of need. Eventually, that became affection for one another, which soon evolved into love.
They made their vows together, to always be by each other's side. He vowed to protect her, to make her every dream come true.
He failed.
She died, murdered by those bastards over 20 years ago. He couldn't save her, and he was crippled as a result. The last thing she saw in life was her husband failing to rescue her, as she only smiled and thanked him for such a wonderful life.
He was devastated. He should've been better. He should have been more cautious, protecting her with all of his power.
But he failed.
The dream she wanted was gone, everything he worked on for her was gone.
Only he knew it. The dream she wanted to live, the way she wanted her dream to take form. He had been helping her for years when he could, trying to make her dream a reality. He had even bought the place that would've been the foundation of her dream, days before it happened.
He failed her… failed when it was so close...
So, he lived it for her. Even though his soul wanted to go to combat and help people, save them like he tried to do with her. He wanted to take the brace they had gifted him, to help protect those like her...
That was what he wanted… but to let go of her dream…
He couldn't.
So he lived in the prison that was his wife's dream, for the rest of his life. That was his sentence, this was his punishment.
This was his punishment for his failure.
But now…
Now it was happening again.
He had followed her because he was worried. He saw the face she had made when she practically fainted in his library. He saw her walk into the Huntsmen Center. He watched her enter the Dust store like a child would enter a candy store.
He saw everything. Everything that his new employee did to those thieves.
He knew Zelda didn't have Aura. He knew that, because he could feel that it was still locked inside her.
Yet, the hope that he was clinging to from the moment she put those books back exactly where they were supposed to go, finally seemed to blossom.
Maybe it was coincidence that she was there, maybe it was fate, but he could feel it.
A chance at redemption. A chance to make up for his failure.
It was why the first thing he did when he got home was put in a number he swore never to call again. He heard it ring twice, before the man on the other line picked up.
"Hello Timothy." The voice spoke, as the librarian had to fight off the curse on his lips. "I'm surprised to get this call f-"
He stopped the bastard right there, already tired of hearing his voice.
"She came back."
The other line stopped dead, confused at my words. "What do you mean? Who came back?"
A part of him hesitated, unwilling to tell the man who he had discovered. He could play this off, maybe pretend to be senile.
But then Zelda would have to face Them. All with nothing but an old man at her side. An old warrior 20 years retired...
He couldn't fail again, never again! So he had to make sure she was protected.
Once again, his mind went back to the moment Zelda had put all those books on the shelf, as if she knew where they went. He remembered when they came up with the system, one of the many parts that made that library special…
Only two people knew that system… and the other had died 20 years ago. And those two people were him…
He felt tears of relief well up in his eyes, as he finally let the words loose from his lips.
"My Wife." He told him, as Timothy could only chuckle, as he finally felt joy for the first time in years.
And Diane Redbrooks…
"She's come home Ozpin."
The Summer Maiden.
*Equal to 500 dollars
"Though wisdom itself is important, so is the ability to face the odds for what you believe in."
Next time on "A Hero's Dream"!
"No Rest for the Weary"!