Fan Fiction ❯ Professional Hero ❯ Link returns to Hyrule ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6 - Link returns to Hyrule

Link ran up to Romani ranch, aching to see Romani again. He looked around but didn't see her. He felt like he didn't have time for this. All he wanted to do was find Romani, take her back to Hyrule and live happily ever after. But of course, that was too much to ask. Wait, over there, that was Cremia.

"Cremia!" he shouted. "Where's Romani?"

Cremia looked up and saw the young man running down.

"Oh, Link! How nice to see you."

"Where's Romani?"

"She's in Hyrule."

What?

"She left with your things about a year ago and she lives there now. Says she's the new protector or something."

Link's head dropped. Oh great, she's able to fight off some Garos and now she thinks she can protect Hyrule. And from what? Link killed all great evils there! Except maybe... those Gerudo's that followed Ganondorf! But she could handle them, right?

"I'll go to Hyrule right away."

"Wait until tomorrow morning," Cremia said, "I'm sending a new wagon of Chateau Romani to Hyrule. You can come along."

Well, it was a long journey, and he was a bit hungry.

"Very well," Link nodded, "uhm, do you have something to eat?"

A large bump in the road woke Link back up. Man, this was boring. They had been on the road for several hours now and they still were somewhere next to the lost woods. The only sounds there was, were the wheels of the wagon and the clappering sound of the horseshoes on the bumpy road. Link was dozing off again.

"Huh, what?" Link looked at the driver of the wagon, a sturdy looking man with a bow next to him.

"I said, how long do you know Cremia?"

"Oh, I met her about... what, nine, ten years ago." Link figured it was already something like that. "But I know Romani better, I have to say."

This was the answer the man wanted to hear, since a smile came on his face.

"What about you?" Link didn't really want to initiate a conversation, but he was a little intrigued by that smile.

"Oh, a couple of months. I drive the milkwagons from Termina to Hyrule. But I would rather work on the farm wi... uhm, doing more farm work. I mean, it's not really a job for a woman to do."

Link nodded and lied down in the wagon again.

"How long do you figure we get in Hyrule?"

"Oh, a few more hours. What exactly do you do? If I may ask."

"Professional hero," Link smiled, "I'll have business cards soon."

The driver looked at Link as he was joking and muttered something like "okay, if you don't want to tell, don't tell" and turned his concentration back on the road. Link dozed off again.

It was practically evening when the wagon arrived at Castle Town. Link stretched and jumped out. The driver had started to unload the milk and was looking at Link to help him. Link looked around to see exactly where he was and how he could dodge work. The milkbar was located where the Happy Mask shop used to be. And there, a guard, yes!

"Excuse me, my good man," Link exclaimed, loud enough for the driver to hear, "but where can I find Alexis."

"The queen's personal guard?" the guard answered.

The driver raised an eyebrow. That guy knew someone who was close to the queen?

"He's not here for the moment, he's gone with queen Zelda to lake Hylia for a concert of the Indigo-go's. You should go too, I'm sure the queen would love to see you again."

He knew the queen personally?

"I must say, I'm glad you have returned, because once again, these are dangerous times that need the Hero of Time."

The driver looked unbelieving at Link. That guy is the Hero of Time? No way.

"Why? What's the matter?"

"I'm sure queen Zelda can tell you..."

"I need to see Impa!"

Link and the guard looked at the soldier who just rode up the market place.

"The ghosts have returned. They are at Lake Hylia."

"What ghosts?" Link asked.

"The ghosts that have plagued us since about a year, of course," the soldier said, "luckily Romani is there but for the queen's safety..."

Link jumped up and threw the soldier of his horse.

"Get Impa, I'm going ahead." He shouted as he drove off.

He didn't like this horse. Epona had much more fire in her. But he had no choice, if he wanted to go to Lake Hylia he had to ride. Walking would take too long and Romani had the ocarina, so he couldn't warp. After a while (which took too long according to Link), he arrived at Lake Hylia. He jumped off his horse and drew his sword. There was Romani, shooting arrows at hovering ghosts and slashing at Gibdo's. Alexis was fighting with two swords, fencing off a couple of Gibdo's who were threatening the audience of the Indigo-go's. Zelda was right behind him, throwing knives at ghosts. Darunia was beating the shit out of some Gibdo, assisted by his son, who looked a lot tougher than a year ago. The Indigo-go's were standing on the middle island, save from Gibdo's but the ghosts drew nearer, but all fell victim to the fins of two Zora boys. Link knew what to do. He ran across the ropebridge, shooting his slingshot he brought from Holodrum at passing ghosts and reached the island.

"Give me that guitar." He said to the new guitarist.

"Hey man, what do you think you're doing." The Zora objected.

Link sighed and took the guitar out of his hands. He concentrated for a while, it had been over a year since he held a guitar, and how did the sun song go again? He played the notes and the sunlight broke through the clouds and froze all Gibdo's. Romani jumped from one to another and slashed them all in half. The ghosts realised they had lost their biggest asset and fled.

The entire audience turned from the battlescene to the stage where the strange notes had sounded. Link gave the guitar back to the Zora and looked at the gazing people. He wasn't used performing for an audience, so to speak. He wished he could disappear. He felt uncomfortable. Slowly he started moving across the ropebridge with the Indigo-go's right behind him.

"Link!" Zelda shouted, "you have returned!"

Link smiled but his smile froze when he saw Alexis' face. There was something not right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Zelda, Darunia and Ruto surrounded Link.

"I know I was gone longer than I anticipated and I hope none of you were in real trouble, but I was sent to save the Oracles."

"You mean Din, Nayru and Farore?" Zelda asked.

"Well, Din and Nayru," Link said, "Farore kept herself out of trouble. But what happened here with those ghosts?"

"They appeared shortly after you left," Darunia said, "luckily Romani came and helped us fight them."

"Looks like you have competition in the hero department." Ruto smiled.

"But we are here for the concert of the Indigo-go's," Zelda interrupted, "we should let them sing again. Link, why won't you sit amongst us on the royal tribune?"

Again that look on Alexis' face. Didn't Link tell him he wasn't interested in Zelda? And she loved Alexis, so what was up with that?

"Link?"

Link turned to Lulu, the singer of the Indigo-go's.

"You're the one who took Mikau's place, aren't you?" she asked, "The one who saved the water temple?"

Link nodded, not knowing what to say.

"I, and the entire Indigo-go's I believe, would be honoured if you played with us in Mikau's place."

Link thought about this, sure, he vaguely remembered all the old songs of the Zora band thanks to Mikau's memories, and then he slowly nodded.

"I would be honoured to play in Mikau's place."

The Zora guitarist gave Link his guitar and Link returned with the Indigo-go's to the stage, with the two Zora boys that fought of the ghosts next to him.

"So, you're Link?" one of them said, "Mom told us stuff about you, said you saved Termina from the moon falling down and that you took dad's place for a while."

Link nodded.

"That's cool," the kid continued, "in fact, fishface here," he pointed at the other boy, "was named after you. He don't say much, guess mom dropped him on his head when he was an egg."

The fishface was ready to smack his brother but glanced towards his mother who was watching the boys.

"Anyway, I'm Mikau, and we would like to know if you really invaded the Gerudo fortress, not that's it hard, I mean, we did it a couple of times already, didn't we."

His brother smiled a wicked smile and nodded.

"Looks like you two like to get into mischief."

"Sure do, in fact, mischief is our middle name, well, it's mine anyway, his is malice, which is actually a girl's name but it still suits him. But enough about us, let's talk about you. We heard you're big around here, saved the country and stuff. How much of that is true?"

"Well, if you're told everything about me, you still wouldn't know half of what I did here. Not to mention Holodrum and Labrynna."

Link padded them both on the head and walked on the stage. The two Zora boys jumped in the water to watch from beneath the bridge. Link thought for a moment and started to play a song. Jappas quickly jumped in and soon the Indigo-go's were swinging. About two hours later their set came to an end but Link felt something was missing, so he started playing the New Wave Bossanova. The entire crowd grew silent. Lulu started to sing and everyone was caught in the song. It was like Link and Lulu were the only two living beings in Lake Hylia. It was only after the last note died in the air, people started applauding.

Link put down the guitar and ran back to the entrance of the lake. He wanted some time alone with Romani and he wanted it fast. Romani waited for him, barely hiding a smile.

"So, Hero of Time, is it?"

"Hero of Time, it is." Link responded. "I would like to know what exactly you've been doing here in Hyrule and if you're good enough to stay."

"Very well," Romani said with a little smile, "right here?"

Link had to fight the urge to strip her down and take her right there.

"No," he said calmly, "in the Lost Woods, near the Deku shooting target. You know where that is?"

Romani slowly nodded.

"Very well, I will meet you there."

Link jumped in the water and swam to the entrance to Zora's fountain. He really wanted to be there sooner than Romani. Maybe he could ask in Kokiri forest some picknick pack or something. When he emerged in Zora's fountain he quickly climbed the ladder and headed out. A short turn right after the waterfall he jumped back into the water, now leading to the Lost Woods. Okay, he was here, the shooting target was, yes there, and now three more turns (or was it four) and he would be in Kokiri forest.

"The shooting target is that way."

Link stopped as Romani stood in front of him. Damn, so much for a picknick.

"How did you get here so fast?"

"Epona," Romani said with a seductive smile, "Malon lets me keep her. She has her hands full with her new stable boy, in more way than one."

She moved closer to Link and kissed him passionate.

"Romani missed you, Grasshopper."

He grabbed Romani and kissed her again as she wrapped her legs around his waist and carried her to the shooting target. He stopped kissing her as he bumped his knees on the railing. He put her down and jumped to the lower part. He held up his arms and she jumped into them. They started kissing again and fell into the long grass where they undressed. Link licked every inch of her body and she thanked the Goddesses he had returned to her.