Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ The Way Things Are ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Christopher “Hikari Roivas Version 1” Ryan

Written from October 2003-April 2004

Nintendo Of Japanâ„¢/Nintendo Of Americaâ„¢

The Legend of Zelda created by Mr. Miyamato

The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels

By Saint Raven

Chapter 1: “The Way Things Are”

Lightning flashed over the darkened sky. The rainstorms that had plagued the land of Hyrule for many days were still in full swing. Harsh winds whipped and lashed against the sparse trees and bushed of the Field. The elements of nature seemed not to care what damage was done to the land of the Field.

Nor did the elements seem close to easing up for the lone traveler that was attempting to cross to the Valley. The traveler, wrapped tightly in a long black hooded cloak, stumbled across the boundary line that separated Hyrule Field from Gerudo Valley. The form seemed weak, so weak, that the wind might pick him up and hurl him against the rock walls that he was now hurrying through.

He stumbled and fell, hard, into a sharp rock that stuck from the wall. He felt the edges rip into his flesh, felt the hot, burning pain strike an internal organ. Beneath his cloak, a winged, purple sphere floated up to his face, looking at him in concern.

“Away, Tael, away,” he moaned. “I'll make it; we're almost there.”

The figure pulled itself up and seized the fairy, shielding him against the rain once more. He stumbled deeper into the Valley, heading for the large, darkened stone fortress that reared up from the deep shadows…

Inside the long deserted Gerudo Fortress, Saetoushei sat at the top parapet, in the room that was once his prison cell. He closed his eyes, once again feeling the strike of the jailer's whip. Harsh laughter as she struck his bloody, dispirited form again and again-

BANG!

Saetoushei started as something struck the main gates. Standing up, he heaved himself up to the windowsill, peering out into the gloom. Standing at his doors was a black-garbed figure knocking at the doors. The fortress's newest master called out against the screams of the wind.

“Who knocks at my doors? Who is there?”

“Link…” the traveler called back weakly. “Please, open up! I must speak with you.”

The master was startled. “How do you know my forgotten name? Go away, no one named `Link' resides here now!”

“Please Link,” the traveler gasped out, “it's Termina…”

Saetoushei's eyes bulged. “Wait there, I'll open the gate!”

Moments later Saetoushei half-assisted, half-carried the stranger into the main hall of the fortress. Saetoushei was forced to lay the traveler down on a stone cot: build by Gerudo thieves, the fortress had never been known for its comforts. Living there alone, Saetoushei had never seen the need to add to what was already there.

“What is the matter? Why have you disturbed me at this God-forsaken hour of the night?” Saetoushei demanded harshly.

The strange creature actually laughed softly. “You have changed so much, Link. Whatever happened to the laughing, brave child I played with so long ago?”

Saetoushei was growing even more frustrated with his guest. “That is no longer my name! Stop calling me that! Who are you?”

Saetoushei seized the traveler's limp arm. Suddenly, a purple ball flew out of the folds of the cloak and slammed into Saetoushei's face, knocking him backwards. Saetoushei rubbed his sore nose and looked up. He saw the ball flying around shouting incoherent but unquestionably angry remarks at him.

“A fairy? It's been years since I saw one.”

The fairy dropped down to Saetoushei's eye level and glared at him. “And after we came all this way to ask help from you, this is how you treat us?”

Saetoushei gaped at the small, purple creature as memories from nearly a decade past came flooding back to him. “Tael???”

The fairy bobbed up and down, his equivalent of nodding.

“But then…no,” Saetoushei strode to the cloaked figure and ripped back it's hood. He choked back a sob as the figure's face came into view.

It was the Skull Kid.

Saetoushei stumbled backwards as his lost friend slowly raised himself to his feet and began stumbling towards him.

“Link, you must help us. Termina is dying. People, your friends, are dying.”

“No!” Saetoushei backed up into a chair and tipped over, landing hard on the stone floor.

“There is a new evil. The mask still lives, Link. A terrible man has harnessed its powers. You must stop him, before he sets our home to fire.”

Unable to move any further, Skull Kid sank to his knees and slowly laid down onto the floor. Saetoushei carefully crept forward to kneel beside his dying friend.

The cloak had fallen from his shoulders. Dark blood soaked through his straw jerkin, discoloring the once bright colors crimson. He slowly reached into his jerkin and pulled out a wooden object. Saetoushei gasped.

“The Deku Mask! How do you have it?”

“That doesn't matter! Link, listen to me: the man has started to overtake Termina land by land. Ikama Canyon has fallen to his power. He has declared himself the new Ikaylimu: The King of the Canyon. He resides in Igus du Ikama's former castle. He is raising an army and has begun to threaten Mayor Doyour and the rulers of the other lands with bloody, terrible war. I took the key from Doyour and crossed the cosmos to come here. I locked the doors behind me, then destroyed the key, so it would never fall into the wrong hands. You must take your key and go to Termina.”

Tael piped up. “Link, Tatl stayed behind. She's in Termina. I'm worried for my sister, help us please.”

Saetoushei shook his head to clear it; this was all happening so fast. He felt a hand gently take his, and looked up into the eyes of the Skull Kid.

“Link, you have always championed what is good and just. This world is no longer my home, Termina is. Please, as my last wish to my oldest living friend, please save the people there. You have not been forgotten in Termina. There are some dear friends of yours, that await your return…please…Link…”

The Skull Kid's hands grew cold and limp. He laid still and expired.