Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction ❯ Wounded Hero ❯ It All Started That Day ( Chapter 1 )

It All Started That Day

 

 

A lone figure could be seen standing on the island in Lake Hylia. This solitary man faced the sun as it settled over the horizon. A gentle breeze picked up, blowing blonde hairs in a lazy manner. He tucked the loose locks behind his ears and started walking.

 

“Poor guy…” The man from the fishing pond wondered to himself as he watched Hyrule's savior walk towards Epona. “What's it been now? Six, seven months he's done this?” Link turned towards the fishing pond and waved before mounting Epona. The man returned the gesture. “Maybe he'll start fishing again…”

 

Link guided Epona through the gates and pointed her towards Kokiri Forest. She knew the routine. He dropped the reigns and put his hands to his face. “How long will it hurt?” It still felt like that day, seven months and three days ago.

 

 

FLASHBACK—

 

 

It was the same day that he had faced Ganondorf in the last timeline. Although the Gerudo King was sealed away in the Sacred Realm, there had been plenty of hardships for Link to overcome. The Great War, for instance, was one. Himself, Zelda, and the sages being the only ones to remember the other timeline was another. Link had been leaning on the tree near the gate to Hyrule Castle awaiting Princess Zelda, comparing the two timelines' hardships. He saw her trademark pink carriage enter Castle Town and guards clearing a path to the castle. Link popped to when her carriage passed and waited for her to wave. The curtains remained closed, even though he knew she knew he was standing there. He followed her to the gate and waited to be let in after she went through. The guard wouldn't let him pass, though. Link's first thought had been to cut this little man down right where he stood, but decided against it. He waited. The guards hadn't always let him through, and Zelda had usually snuck out to meet him. She didn't sneak out. He waited five days. She still hadn't shown. Impa had approached him on the sixth day. “Fairy boy.”

 

“How is she, Impa?” He remembered asking of the Shadow Sage.

 

“She asked me to bring you this… And Link, I'm sorry.” Impa had handed him the letter she spoke of and was gone when Link looked up. Link's heart had been racing as he unfolded the letter and began reading it.

 

`Link, you know that I will always care about you. I'll always remember the times we spent together. You know I will be assuming the throne in a few weeks, and royal protocol states that I cannot have standing relationships with any less than those of noble blood. I know what you have done for me and all of Hyrule, but the council doesn't and they know of us, Link. They won't let me ascend if we're dating, and they won't let me deny the throne. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was born into royalty, so I have to put Hyrule before myself. I'm sorry, Link, but I can't have a relationship with you anymore. -Zelda'

 

Link had folded the letter and put it in his pocket. He had gone back to his tree house in Kokiri Forest and cried. He had eventually awoken the next morning and read the letter again. This time he thought he read some hidden message. He suited up in his cleanest tunic and went to the castle, only to get the same message from Impa: `I'm sorry.'

 

He had done this every day for two weeks, until it was the day before Zelda's coronation. He had been tormenting himself, absolutely convinced he had done something wrong and pushed her away. Link's inner turmoil had reached the boiling point somewhere around midnight that night. Decked out in nothing but his boots and leggings, Link set off for the Castle. No weapons or a shield, he tore apart wolfos and stalchildren like they were dolls. Once he reached town, it was morning. The guards saw Link coming and called for Impa. She reached the drawbridge just as Link did.

 

“Fairy boy.” Impa had said.

 

“Out of my way.” He had said in quite a menacing way.

 

“You know I can't let you see her, especially in your current state.”

 

“I don't care what you can't do. What you can do is get the hell out of my way before I make you move!” He had shouted, making the guards form ranks behind Impa.

 

“Please Link, it's just as hard for her. Think about this. She wants to be with you but the council will have her dethroned and possibly imprisoned! They want her to marry some scrawny prince from Genthro so they don't invade us. She doesn't have a choice.” Impa had softened her tone as Link had seemed to lose steam in his approach.

 

“No choice…?” He had said more to himself than anyone there. He remembered looking at Impa, his eyes almost begging her to say she was kidding. She had turned her eyes down.

 

 

END FLASHBACK—

 

 

Link looked up from his mind scouring as they reached the entrance to the Lost Woods. He jumped off Epona and turned her towards Lon Lon Ranch. She trotted towards her home as her owner trudged towards his. He noticed a figure standing at the end of the bridge. It was a woman with flaming red hair and very little clothing. The moon seemed to make her honey-colored skin glow. He cleared his throat and started the woman.

 

“Link! Don't do that! You know I hate being scared!” She walked over to him and gave him a rather stiff punch. She turned and walked into the Kokiri Forest.

 

Link pulled his cap off and scratched his scalp. “Good to see you, too, Nabooru.”

 

He met up with her at the base to his tree house. “So how have you been, Link?” She said without turning around to face him.

 

“So what have you been up to lately? “ He asked, trying to avoid answering her question.

 

“I asked you first, Hero.” She said as she turned around.

 

“I haven't been too busy lately, I guess.” He said, still playing dodge ball.

 

“I didn't ask if you were busy, I asked how you have been since I last saw you.” Nabooru was getting annoyed with how Link was avoiding her question.

 

“Oh…” Link sighed as he looked around Kokiri. Nabooru was about to say something when he spoke. “I've hacked thirty-two pairs of Wolfos, shot fifty-three Guays, and used the arm of one Stalchild to beat forty-nine others.”

 

Nabooru smiled. “All that in a week, huh?”

 

“Yeah…” He said as he climbed the ladder.

 

Nabooru and Link sat in his humble tree house and talked about the past week. About an hour later, Nabooru stood and headed for the door. “It was good talking to you again, Hero.”

 

Link stood and crossed the room. “Yeah. I'll try to stop by the fortress more often.” He scratched his head as he said the last part.

 

Nabooru glanced at Link and, for a brief second, saw the pain he was holding in. “Why don't you come out with me tonight?” Nabooru rubbed her elbow while she nervously shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

 

“Well, I guess I don't have anything planned for tonight or tomorrow… Hell, nothing for the next few months, actually.” He remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

 

“Well then, let's get going!” She said as she snaked her arm around Link's. Link was, to say the least, surprised.

 

 

GERUDO FORTRESS—

 

 

It was well into the night when the two arrived on Epona. It had been a quiet ride. Link suspected Nabooru was close to falling asleep, what with her nodding off only to jerk awake a few seconds later. When they reached the fortress, the lone sentry approached. Link held his finger to his lips and pointed behind him. The guard looked around Link and noticed her superior. She waved them through. Another guard came out of the fortress itself when they reached a door. Link roused Nabooru enough to stay upright while he jumped off Epona. He reach up to help her down. The guard took Epona to the stables while Link helped a sleepy Nabooru to her bed.

 

Nabooru awoke sometime in the night. She looked around her room, confused as to how she had gotten there. Upon looking at her dresser, she noticed the slouched figure that had gotten her to her room. She stood and walked towards the only window, gazing at the horizon.

 

“Sun'll be up in a little bit.” Link said, effectively startling the woman in front of him.

 

“Link! I told you not to scare me!” She said with a huff.

 

Link chuckled, which caused Nabooru to huff again and turn towards the window again. He decided to make it up to her. She jumped again when his hands met with her shoulders. “Just relax…” Link whispered as he began to massage her upper shoulders. She did as she was told, even going so far as to let an occasional moan slip when he hit a tense spot. The mood was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Both heads turned to look at the intruder. Link didn't stop massaging, though.

 

“Lady Nabooru, there is a man outside who has been waiting to see you for a few hours.”

 

“A few hours? Why didn't you come tell me when he first arrived?” She asked, turning when Link dropped his hands.

 

“We, um… didn't want to interrupt you, seeing as you two… slept in… the same room…” Stumbling on her words, the guard left it at that and excused herself to inform their `guest' that he would get his meeting.

 

“Wow.” Link said as he went to put his armor on underneath his tunic.

 

“Wow what?” Nabooru said as she brushed through her hair a few times.

 

“The ladies made some guy wait hours for a meeting just because we were sleeping.” Link replied as he straightened his tunic. He moved towards the door to wait for her to make herself presentable. A few minutes later Nabooru said it was time to meet her mystery guest.

 

 

FORTRESS GROUNDS—

 

 

Nabooru appeared with three of her best guards. Her `guest' turned out to be a royal messenger. His five knight escorts stood straighter once the group of women neared.

 

“Lady Nabooru, I am Ros Milan, messenger of the royal family. I come with news of the holy union of Queen Zelda to Prince Rovus in two weeks time. The High Council requests your presence with only what escorts you require. May I ask how many will be attending?” The man pulled a handkerchief and dabbed his brow, sweating from the heat of the morning sun. Nabooru looked behind her, receiving nods from the three women behind her.

 

“Myself plus three escorts shall be attending.”

 

“Very well, then. I shall inform the council of your response.” The messenger turned and signaled for his escorts to gather the horses. When they returned, one knight whispered something to the messenger.

 

“Lady Nabooru, may I ask you one last question?” He almost shouted, since Nabooru was almost inside the fortress. She turned and waited.

 

“One of my escorts noticed a horse belonging to Sir Link in your stable as he retrieved our horses. I have a request for him, if he is available.”

 

The man in question stepped out into the clearing and walked towards the messenger. As he passed Nabooru, she motioned for her guards to follow him. The messenger smirked when Link stopped, three women in a defensive formation behind him.

 

“The great war hero needs women to guard him, how… amusing.” The messenger finished with a small chuckle. “Living with all these women must be making you weak.” That comment caused the knights to chuckle. The women took a step forward, and the chuckling stopped.

 

“Well, now.” Link said as he turned a smile on his face. “Seems to me you five big, strong knights might be afraid of these women.” Links smile turned into something evil, or so it seemed to the Gerudo who had gathered in the courtyard. He took a step forward and the messenger visible flinched. “So what is your request, messenger man?”

 

“Oh, right…” The messenger stood tall, took a breath to collect himself, and unrolled a scroll. “Sir Link, I am Ros Milan, messenger to the royal family. I come with news of the holy union of Queen Zelda and Prince Rovus in two weeks time. Her Majesty Queen Zelda requests your presence. The High Council also inquires how many escorts you would bring.” The messenger stood ready to write Link's response.

 

“Well, I don't have any escorts to take with me.” Link stated with his hand on his chin.

 

“It is customary for nobles and other distinguished guests to come with escorts to ensure their safety, but if you have none, then I shall explain you situation to the High Council. I'm sure they will allow it, what with your status.” He readied his quill pen to mark Link's escort number when Nabooru spoke up.

 

“He'll have three Gerudo escorts.”

 

“Please, Lady Nabooru, let Sir Link speak for himself.” The messenger said while shaking his head slightly.

 

Link walked towards the messenger and didn't stop until he was an arm's length away. “You heard the lady, I'll have three Gerudo escorts.” Something about the messengers of late had set Link on edge. They were snobby and looked down on everybody.

 

“Surely, you wouldn't be seen in public with three women as your escorts. Plus, everyone knows they despise men.” Nervousness was pouring out of his mouth, almost as fast as his words.

 

His last sentence caused Nabooru to walk forward and drape an arm around Link's waist. “We don't despise this man, do we ladies?” Link was a little surprised, but did his best to not show it. The circle of Gerudo made different noises and gestures agreeing with their Queen.

 

The messenger mounted his horse after jotting down Link's escort number. “I shall inform the council of your decision. Lady Nabooru, Sir Link.” He bowed his head only to Link, which irked Link. They stood and watched the group leave.

 

“Two weeks, huh.” Link absently said. He turned towards Nabooru. “Thanks for giving me some escorts.” Nabooru nodded, and an idea struck Link. “Who, exactly will be my escorts?”

 

Nabooru looked from woman to woman before listing the names. “Vajra, Tara, and Jayanti shall be your escorts. Why did you want to know?”

 

Link looked at the group of women for a few seconds, noting his escorts had taken a step forward. “Any woman who would guard me should be prepared for any circumstance.” He walked towards the three women as he continued. “You three will have to pass a test before I'll let you escort me.” He noted their attitudes turned sour after that statement. He stopped moving. In one fluid motion, he had his sword at one woman's neck. Some women unsheathed their own swords, but Nabooru stopped them with a wave of her hand. They still saw fit to try and kill Link with their stares. “What's your name?”

 

The woman was a proud one, and she lifted her chin as she spoke. “I am Jayanti.”

 

“Well, Jayanti, I see you are not afraid of a sword.” He backed away and dropped his shield. “Come at me, then.” He waited for a moment before looking at Nabooru.

 

Nabooru was puzzled by Link's display as well, but trusted him nonetheless. “You heard him, attack. And don't hold anything back.”

 

Jayanti nodded once and unsheathed her scimitar. Twirling it in her hands a few times, she would have caught Link off-guard if had been anyone else. He saw the blade coming in an overhead motion, so Link simply sidestepped. Her blade imbedded itself in the arid soil and Link placed his boot on the blade. “That would have been fatal, had I been a person of average skill.” He backed away, holding one finger up. She freed her blade and charged Link. Again she telegraphed her move by turning her body for a sideways slicing attack. He saw the attack start and performed a back flip that took his head mere inches from her swinging blade. His counterattack this time was to use the broad side of his blade as a paddle on her ass as she spun to compensate for missing her target. “That, too, would have been fatal.” This time he held two fingers as he backed away. Jayanti was fuming over her humiliation of being spanked like a child, by a man no less. She charged Link in a rage that a true swordsman would never allow himself to fall into. Every attack she threw at Link, he mirrored in a way that upset her more and more each time. Slash for slash, chop for chop. Then she tried to stab. Big mistake. Link saw her pull her sword back close to her body in preparation to thrust it forward in his direction. He lunged forward, tackling her as he ran for the cliff wall. His sudden offensive movement caused her to drop her sword. Link stopped just feet from slamming her into the wall and threw her to her feet. “That was three fatal strikes you tried to hit me with.”

 

“That was the point!” She screamed. “I can't believe you would be mad at me for doing what you told me to do!”

 

“I'm not mad.” Link said as he turned his back to pick up her sword. He walked to her and handed to hilt to her. She took it, but still affixed him a deadly stare. “I just wanted to point out something I've noticed over the years. Every attack you performed was flawless.” He paused to look at the others. “All of your attacks are virtually flawless.” Nabooru raised an eyebrow at Link's assessment. “The things I've noticed are these. One. The Gerudo who use swords don't move their feet enough. This isn't a flaw, it just limits your mobility. Two. All Gerudo telegraph their next move as if they were saying it. Again, this isn't a flaw unless you are faced with an enemy who is an expert swordsman. I respect all of you, and any who want improve on these things I've pointed out are welcome to my help. I'm not saying these things to belittle you or make fun of you. I know from Nabooru that these moves were taught to you by your mothers and to them from their mothers. I only want to have you ladies better prepared.” Link turned towards Nabooru and motioned at the stables.

 

 

GERUDO STABLES—

 

 

Nabooru arrived a short while after Link, and found him grooming Epona. “What was with that little sparing match and the speech that followed it?” She leaned against the support beam nearest Link while speaking.

 

“Like I said, I don't want any of them getting hurt. I'm worried that this wedding is going to bring a bunch of new knights and warriors to Hyrule that are leagues above our own. You know we've been weak military wise since the war. And don't forget, not one Gerudo was killed. That says a lot for the skill level at this fortress. I'm sure they'll see our own knights have little or no battle experience and will quickly take over the guard. There's no telling what might happen after that.”

 

Nabooru smiled. “So you genuinely want to better the Gerudo?” She asked while making her way to Link.

 

“Yes.” Link said, not missing a beat. His answer was the correct one, since Nabooru trapped him in a fierce hug. He slowly returned the gesture.

 

“You're the first man in a long time who has cared enough to help us. You've done it more than once.” She whispered in his ears while hugging him. They ended the hug when Epona snorted. Not long after, Jayanti walked into view. She was almost shy in her approach, looking at the ground until she saw Nabooru.

 

“Lady Nabooru.” She said with a nod, which Nabooru returned. “Link, um… could you… um would you mind…” She stopped, frustrated and embarrassed that she couldn't ask a simple question.

 

Link put his hand on her shoulder. “I'd be happy to help you, if that's okay with you, Nabooru.”

 

She smiled while she raised her hands. “If she wants to learn something new, I won't hold her back.”

 

Link looked at Jayanti. “Tell everyone who wants to learn some new things to meet me at the archery track tomorrow at sunrise.” She nodded and left the two alone.

 

Link took Epona's saddle and placed it on her. Nabooru walked to her beam and leaned against it again. “So where are you going?”

 

Link grabbed a nearby saddlebag and attached it to Epona's saddle. “I guess my tree house is a little to small for me now. I'm going to get some things and look for a place to stay in Castle Town.”

 

Nabooru tensed. “That's just dumb. You can stay here where you at least know people. You move into town and you'll grow dull.” Her face reddened a little when she realized what she said. “I mean, if you want to stay here. We don't have much, but…”

 

Link silenced her with his hands on her shoulders. “I'd be honored to stay here.” He let his hands linger on her shoulders for a few moments.

 

“I'd be honored if you stayed.” Nabooru took a chance and placed her hands on top of Link's. She closed the distance between them. She hesitated, and Link finished the motion. His lips fell on hers as his hands fell to her hips. Nabooru's hand slowly moved up Link's arms as they kissed softly.

 

Epona nudged Nabooru with a snort. Link laughed. “Easy girl, easy.” Nabooru smiled too as they patted the jealous mare on the neck. “Well, since I'm staying here for a while, you want to go with me to get my things?” Nabooru nodded and went to saddle one of the few Gerudo horses left. Link made a mental note of that.

 

 

HYRULE FIELD—

 

 

Link and Nabooru were near Lon Lon Ranch when they heard undecipherable shouting. They looked to each other and snapped their reigns towards the gates.

 

 

LON LON RANCH—

 

 

“Just give us a peek, honey.” One knight said to the farm girl. His comrades laughed when she slapped him. The offending knight didn't find it funny, though. “You bitch! Who are you to slap a Genthro Knight!? I'm gonna get more than a peek now, bitch!” He shouted as the poor woman started backing away. Two knights grabbed her and threw her to the ground. One ripped her blouse and the other started to rip her dress when he screamed in agony. Heads whipped in his direction as he held his hand, an arrow sticking through it. Another arrow planted itself in the other knight's shoulder. The other knight turned to see two people on horseback galloping full speed in his direction. He pulled his claymore from his back as Link readied another arrow. The knight used his huge sword to block Link's arrow. Link and Nabooru pulled hard on the reigns and used the momentum to launch themselves at the knight. Link's sword was out in a flash and it clanged with his. Nabooru blew past the two and dispatched the other knights with ease. She took Malon inside.

 

“I see you have no manners.” The knight said. “I am Ajax, captain of the Dragon Brigade of Genthro. I'll let you be on your way if you leave and forget what you saw.”

 

Link looked at him and smiled. “You must be Genthro's pride and joy, huh.” It played right into Ajax's ego.

 

“Damn right I am, not that it is any of your business. Now leave before I have to put you in your place.” He said, momentarily lowering his absolutely huge sword. Link took the opportunity and knocked the sword out of Ajax's hand. He put the blade to his throat.

 

“I'm sorry, but there's nobody man enough to put me in my place. And if you ever come around here again, I'll do more than put you in your place. Now get your buddies and get the hell out of here before I change my mind.” He punctuated his sentence with a stiff shove. Nabooru came back out with her scimitar at the ready. She raised it to strike, but Link held his hand to stop. She did, but gave Link a rather nasty stare. The knight gathered his sword and roused his comrades. They walked past Link and went to mount their horses. “Wait.” Link said. “I never said you could take the horses.”

 

“These are our horses, so we will take them and leave.” The leader said.

 

“Oh hell no, you won't. Now get to walking to wherever you need to go.” He said as he pulled his bow. He nocked an arrow and aimed. “Unless you are jealous that your buddies got arrows and you didn't, you'll turn your ass around and get the hell out!” Link screamed, nearing the end of his patience. He threw his head at the horses, and Nabooru went to take the horses. The knight with one good hand made a move for Nabooru and got another arrow-hand for his troubles. Link was ready to fire the next instant. Nabooru gave the man a swift kick between the legs, and, having no armor in that particular region, sent him straight to his knees. She didn't have any trouble from them as she took the horses and went to Link. “Like I said, leave.” They stood, ever defiant of him. “If you stand there any longer, I'll kill all three of you. Do you understand that?” They slowly turned and made their way towards Hyrule Field. Waiting a few minutes, he went to the gates and closed them. Content that his job was done, he went inside the house to check on his lifelong friend.

 

“Link!” Malon yelled as she attacked him with a crushing hug. He put his arms around her and let her cry. “I was so scared, I though… I thought… they were… gonna…” She said between sobs.

 

“Hey, that's enough of that, okay?” Link said softly as he rubbed her back. “Nothing happened, and they're gone. They won't mess with you again.” It seemed to calm her nerves some, as she at least stopped shaking. “Where is Talon?”

 

“He's at the castle on a delivery. He'll be back before long.” She said as she released Link and he did the same.

 

“We'll stay until Talon comes back, okay?” He smiled as she thanked him. Link decided to check the gates. “I'll go open the gates so he can get in, okay?” She nodded. “Nabooru, would you stay with her?” Nabooru also nodded. “Thanks.”

 

Outside, Link was nearing the gates when he heard Talon pound on the gates. “Open these darn gates right now, Malon!” He yelled as he pounded some more. Link chuckled as he lifted the cross bar and pulled the door open. Talon looked happy to see Link. “I heard some knights talking about this freak shooting them with arrows and then stealing their horses up here. Seems like it was you, huh?”

 

Link gave him a weak smile. “I guess.” He wanted to tell him the rest of the story, but figured it was Malon's choice. “They deserved it.”

 

The two were walking to the house when Talon spoke. “Must've done something terrible to warrant a response like that from you.” Link shrugged his shoulders. Not two seconds after they walked into the house, Talon was attacked similar to Link.

 

“It was terrible, daddy!” She cried into his chest. He tried his best to comfort her as she told him the story. He understood why Link reacted the way he did. Everyone tried to comfort her when she suddenly broke out into sobs over the next few hours. She soon went to bed, saying she was exhausted from the day's events. Link and Nabooru stayed long enough to ensure she was asleep.

 

“Well, Talon, we have to get going. We'll stop by the next time we're on our way to the Castle.” Link said as they made their way to the door. Talon stood and walked

with them. He didn't speak until they were mounted and had the reigns of one horse each.

 

“Thanks, you two. I really mean it. Thanks. Something like that would have crushed her spirit.” Talon shook their hands as he thanked them. “You need anything, I mean anything, you ask. I'll help if I can.”

 

Link nodded and gestured at the other horse. “You can have that horse if you like. If Malon doesn't want it, let me know. I'll take it.” Talon nodded. “We'll see you soon. Take care.” Talon returned the goodbye. They left at a slow trot.

 

 

KOKIRI FOREST—

 

 

Link wasted no time in collecting his belongings and saying his goodbyes. When he got to Saria, he had a surprise for her.

 

“You'll still come to visit, won't you?” She asked, her bright eyes begging Link to say yes.

 

“Of course I'll come to visit. And we always have the ocarinas, remember?” Link said, flashing her his goofiest smile. She giggled and said she remembered. “One more thing before I go.” He stood and pointed at his old house. “I want you to have my tree house, Saria. It's not much, but it'll be your own.” Link wasn't prepared for a bear hug by the young sage.

 

“It's a gift from you, Link, and that makes it precious to me. I'll gladly take it.” She said as a tear fell, a happy tear. After helping her move, he and Nabooru left for the desert.

 

 

GERUDO FORTRESS—

 

 

After stabling the new horses, the two took some of Links things inside. Link wondered where his room would be. “Hey Nabooru, where will I stay?”

 

Nabooru stiffened at his question. She had forgotten they didn't have any spare rooms. She stalled for a few seconds before finally answering. “Well, we don't have any extra rooms, so… you'll be staying in… my room. I mean, if that's okay with you.” She quickly blurted. Link chuckled at her, not because of her statement, but because she blushed when she said it.

 

“It's fine, I guess.” He teased.

 

“You guess, huh?” She said, playing back.