It hadn't been Link's idea of a romantic thing, a picnic outside of the Castle walls. He would have preferred taking Zelda to one of those romantic new restaurants that had recently been built.
Today, Navi wouldn't be following him around everywhere. She was hosting a baby shower for one of her fairy friends. Ruto and Impa were busy with their Kings, King Zora and Zelda's father. Darunia was busy spending a day with his son, whom was named after the Hero of Time. Nabooru was busy guarding the Gerudo Fortress, and not even Link knew what was so special about some fortress like this. Rauru stayed in the Light Temple, and he would never come out to see Hyrule. Saria could was busy doing a "Sage Thing," as she had told Link.
Link mounted Epona, and Epona almost crushed all of the Kokiri Children as they crowded around the horse and Link. "Where ya goin', Link?" Some declared, "I hear he's taking the princess on a date!" Link grinned at all of them, and rode out of the forest.
He arrived at the castle about ten minutes later, and waited outside the gates for her. Around the corner she came, in a simple, pretty white and pink dress, with a little crown atop her head, pink slippers, a gold bracelet, and a picnic basket in her hands. She smiled when she saw the hunky Hero of Time. She sat in front of him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist while holding the reigns. They rode of all the way to Lake Hylia.
They finished eating, and sat there talking for hours, right next to Lake Hylia. Occassionally, a Zora would come out of the water for a short period of time and sit by the water. The Zoras kept to their own business, and never did they shout out, "Look! The Hero of Time and Princess Zelda!"
The stars began to pop out, and Zelda said, "look, I have to go Link, I'm sorry."
"No," Link argued. "Stay a while longer." Zelda could tell he wanted her company, so she sat down next to him again, and her put his arm around her shoulder and she lay her head on his shoulder. She could feel a strong connection between them, a strong connection of love. She felt so safe around him, she had never felt this way when she was around any other man. She loved Link, oh indeed. And Link loved her. They were a perfect couple. The moon came out, a crescent one. But if you strained your eyes, you could see the whole moon.
Finally, Zelda knew she had best get home to the castle. "Link, now I'm sure I have to go," she stood and leaned over and kissed him. He blushed, she could see the redness in his cheeks. And she had never known a sensitive man like him...
They mounted Epona and rode back to the Castle. Zelda didn't want to leave Link, she wanted him with her always, but new that wouldn't happen, not until she married him...
"Goodbye, Link. See you tomorrow?"
"Most definitely," Link answered with a grin. "I love you, Zelda."
"I love you too, Link." And if her father had known she liked a boy, he would have thrown a fit. He thought that seventeen was 'too young to have a boyfriend.' But, if the boyfriend was Link, maybe he wouldn't mind so much. Zelda hopped off of Epona, waved to Link, and dashed off into the Castle. Link felt his heart sink, and he lowered his head.
He rode back silently to the forest, not wanting to wake the Kokiri. He had been bored lately, and quite depressed. He didn't tell Zelda, though, because he didn't want her to worry. That one day when he was ten-years-old, he had set off to battle the evil Ganondorf, but he didn't get the chance to do so for seven years. Then he had gone back in time, and had lived the years of his life he had missed. He was depressed because there was no adventure. No, it wasn't that he wanted it to be the way Hyrule had been before, but now people had forgotten who he was, and the King had even be looking at him like he were a rat lately. But in Zelda's eyes, she thought he was a lot better than she was. If only everyone else accepted him as an equal. But no, they looked at him with the words in their minds, "look, its that peasant orphan kid from the Kokiri Forest. I hear he's a Hylian!"
Link was enjoying a nice ride when he felt something beat against the back of his head. He winced in pain and touched the lump. He turned back to see if there was an attacker, but he saw nothing. He continued riding, all the way to his little Home in the Kokiri Forest.
THE NEXT DAY....
"Oh No!" Cried Rauru, devastated. "Ganondorf Dragmire has broken out of the Evil Realm! Hurry, contact the Hero of Time!" Rauru barked at Nabooru, who quickly contacted Link.
Link rose out of his bed, looking great as usual, and ran out of his treehouse. Saria was there waiting for him, and greeted him. "Hiya, Link."
"Hi," he said, dashing past her, mounting Epona. He rode out of the Forest and straight to the Temple of Time. Rauru was standing on the Triforce symbol, waiting for him.
"Link, there was no time to explain right away. Ganondorf Dragmire has broken out of the Evil Realm. We don't know how on Earth he did it, but he did. Maybe the seal we used to close up the Evil Realm wasn't strong enough. Well, he escaped, but the other villians in the Evil Realm are still there. We sealed it before any others escaped. Please, find Ganondorf Dragmire and kill him, or find him and bring him back to the Evil Realm. I'm done explaining, off you go, Link." Rauru waved, and disappeared. Link knew what he had to do, and he knew exactly what Ganondorf was going for. He wouldn't go for one of the Sages, Link knew, but he didn't know why Ganondorf wouldn't go after them. But he knew he would go after the Leader of the Sages first. He was going to kill Zelda.
Link raced to the Castle, wasting not a moment.
"Zelda! Rise and shine! Breakfast is ready!" Zelda noticed that it was awfully early for breakfast, but, she wasn't tired and she was a bit hungry. She rose from her bed and walked out of the room, and something quickly caught her eye. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ganondorf Dragmire! She opened her mouth to say something, but Ganon quickly cupped his hand over her lips, and used just one arm to restrain her. Physically, she wasn't strong enough to take on Ganon with just her body and not her magic. She mumbled, her words slurred from his hand, and he just grinned at her. "I fooled ya, didn't I? Didn't you realize that Impa's voice isn't that deep? I'm back for my revenge, this is your lucky day! You're going to die!" He shook her violently, and she started crying. She started to put up a fight, and Ganondorf was having a hard time controlling her. He finally gained control when he rendered her unconscious. But something foiled his plans, as always.
"Stop right there!" Down the hall stood Link, holding his sword bravely and triumphantly. Ganon's eyes narrowed and he dropped Zelda, and she lay there in a heap. Ganon marched over to Link, and Link felt a surprising relaxation. Ganon was doing something to him! Lulling him to sleep? Link could fight it! He strained his eyes open, and called out, "Is that your only defense? Knocking people unconscious so there are no witnesses and so you can escape easily?" "Pretty much, my boy. Your girlfriend is going to die today, and I'm going to kill you later. Its great, I've developed sleep techniques! You should be up in about a day or two, Good night!" Ganon turned his hand in a funny manner, and Link fell to the floor. With Link out of the way, Ganon turned to Zelda, picked her up, and escaped out of a window.
Link could hear people chattering away, and he even heard his name mentioned a few times. "Zelda would never run away! She's been kidnapped! Link must have done it, and he's got her put away somewhere!" Link had no idea what they were talking about, he didn't even remember. He opened his eyes, and found he was chained to a wall. Impa and Zelda's father were in front of him, discussing.
"Excuse me? Where am I?"
"In my dungeon, and where's my DAUGHTER!!!" The King barked at him. "If you've done anything to her..."
"I didn't do anything to your daughter! I can't remember... I don't hurt people! Just evil people!" Link defended. "How long have I been out?"
"three in a half days," Impa answered. "Link, do you know where Zelda IS?" Link lowered his head and closed his eyes trying to remember anything from three in a half days ago. He remembered a chubby Sage...an old man in robes... Rauru! Yes, Rauru! But what had Rauru told him? He said something.... Ganondorf...escaped... Evil Realm...
"Ganondorf...Ganondorf did it." Link answered. "Ganondorf? Link, that's impossible. Ganondorf is in the Evil Realm, and will probably be there forever. Now, Link, did you do something to Zelda?"
"I know that I didn't do anything to her," Link defended himself. "You can contact that guy...uh, Rauru, and even he'll tell you that I didn't do it." Impa glanced at the King.
"I'll be right back," she transformed into a purple light and it flew off. A few moments later, she returned. "So, Ganondorf did escape. Alright, you're free to go, Link. Please find Zelda and rescue her." Two guards walked over and unchained Link. Link walked past the King and Impa. He heard the King say something to Impa.
"You're telling him to save her? Why, he's just a runty peasant! You should have hired a valiant prince to do the work, instead."
Link was hurt by this comment, but he would show Zelda's father. He would show him what type of kid he WAS.
It didn't take long before his journey ended. A few Knights in a convoy discovered a piece of bloody clothing that had belonged to Princess Zelda. "The clothing says that she's dead," said one knight. They argued about whether Princess Zelda was deceased or not, and Link didn't want to hear it. He couldn't just accept the words, "Princess Zelda is dead." He denied it, but deep down inside, he kind of knew that he had to believe what the Knights had told him, he thought she was dead.
That night was restless. He could barely sleep. He didn't know where Saria was, she probably hadn't heard the news about Zelda yet. Maybe she didn't even know that Ganon had escaped from the Evil Realm. Link lay on his side, just staring at the walls of his treehouse. If only he had planned out his attack better...maybe Zelda would still be alive, he thought.
He felt like it was all his fault. He could've saved her, and what did he do? He took it all in stride, and ignored his instincts to grab Zelda and get out of there. If only his brain had been functioning properly. He knew why he hadn't reacted so fast. He hadn't cleared his mind and kept his thoughts simple during battle. "Its all my fault," he mumbled, able to remember the whole event this time around.
"Hey, Link! Where have you been these past three days?" Saria inquired, in her usual spot, right outside of his treehouse, a few feet away from the ladder leading up to his house.
"Chained up somewhere," he said, and she thought it was a joke and started giggling. "Ganon's escaped, he kidnapped Zelda, and now she's dead." Saria's mouth dropped open. Link could see redness in her eyes and then tears.
"Oh my God! Princess Zelda's dead? There's no other heir to the throne! She was my best friend, Link! Do the other Sages know?"
"I don't know if they know or not," Link answered honestly. "I miss her...it was all my fault. If only I had been quicker and if I hadn't been..."
"Link, don't blame yourself. You did only what you could do and we don't always succeed. Its part of being Hylian, its not like no Hylian has never made a mistake. All of the races here have made mistakes."
"I have no other business being here. I haven't really talked to the King since Zelda's death. I'm considering moving out of Hyrule, Saria."
"Out of Hyrule?! Link, you can't! We need you here! Ganon is back and you need to destroy him! Many more helpless people will die! The King needs you!" Saria cried.
"Yeah right," Link snapped. "He can get the brave, valiant prince he wanted. I'm just some poor, Hylian peasant, after all. He can have him save all of these people. The people don't even know who I am!" He gave one cold look to Saria, and then turned away from her and started walking away.
"Link!" Saria began. "Just because Zelda is dead, it doesn't mean that you can take out all of your anger on everyone else! I lost somebody too, ya know!" Link knew she was right, but he really did have no more business in Hyrule.
Link mounted Epona and left the forest with Saria shouting at him to come back. He ignored her. He wiped the tears from his eyes, knowing he would have to leave the only land he had ever known. He bit his lip, and it soon started to bleed, but he didn't notice because his mind was on Zelda so much. His conscience was nagging at him, telling him he had to go back. But his instincts told him to keep going, and he followed his instincts. He stopped at Lake Hylia's waters and looked out. The sea stretched on for miles and miles. He wondered where he would stop to live out the rest of his days. Calatia, perhaps. He'd still visit Hyrule, but only about once a month. He was trying to forget all that was in this place, he was trying to forget the bad memories but remember the good ones. He looked at his reflection in the water. It started to fade, the blond hair becoming lighter and a more, feminine looking head appeared. It was Zelda's face! Her eyes were red and she was crying. She pleaded, "Help me, Link!" Link was startled, his eyes widening in horror, and he stood, turned and started running, until he bumped into somebody.
He was knocked backward, and started to apologize but stopped when he saw who it was. Green skin, red, flaming hair, it was none other than Ganondorf Dragmire. "What are you doing here, Ganon?" Link hissed. "My Zelda isn't dead, is she? Where is she? WHERE IS SHE?" Link stood and lifted Ganon off the ground, his anger controlling his strength. Ganon was at ease, though. He just grinned at Link, as if he were totally at peace. Link didn't understand why he was so peaceful, and Link soon dropped him. Ganon shoved him down and put his boot to his throat and started pushing down. Link couldn't breathe! He was starting to feel dizzy, and Ganon's grin beat down on him. His world was starting to fade, but he gathered up his strength and shoved Ganon down. He leaped to his feet and drew his sword.
"Your Zelda is alive. I have her safe and sound. I was just waiting to kill you both together."
"Well, let her go, because you're never going to capture me. I'm too strong for you."
"Wrong," Ganon argued. "When I put you out, I could have killed you right then and there. But I'm giving you a fair chance, after all, I'm not a cheater."
"Yes you are," Link shot back.
"This is no time for fighting. Since you called me a cheater, I won't play fair." Ganon used his power to pull Link's weapons away from him. "I'll count to ten, and then I'm going to find you and kill you. 1..." Once Link had heard this, he sprinted off to hide. Without his weapons, he didn't stand a chance. He had only Farore's Wind, Din's Fire, and Nayru's Love with him. He had a lot of magic stored up, so maybe he could use Farore's wind. But if he used Farore's Wind, he didn't know where on Earth he'd end up. He didn't remember where he last used it. He could end up ANYWHERE. "2..." Ganon's voice echoed. "3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10..." Link knew it was now or never. He'd be back when he knew he was ready. He casted it, and then his world faded to black.
"Oooohhhhhhhhhh he's so cute!" Link found himself mobbed by teenage Hylians, Zoras, and Gerudos. Girls were blowing him kisses, trying to hug him, and trying to ask him for his autograph. Link pushed past them, and they screamed and ran after him.
"I guess there's some girls that still remember, or at least, they remember who I am and my looks." He ran to Kakariko Village and went into the Cuckoo ladies' house. He used a piece of wood to hold back the girls that were trying to get into the house. The cuckoo Lady was outside. Link crawled out of a whole and whistled for Kaepora Gaebora. The girls below chanted, "Link! Link! Link!" Kaepora swung into action and lifted Link into the air, and flew all the way to Death Mountain.
"Why'd you bring me here, Kaepora?"
"Well," the wise old owl began. "I saw Ganondorf escape into Death Mountain Crater with Princess Zelda, Link. I tried to contact you and warn you, but, you were sleeping when I dropped by, so I didn't bother you." Link nodded, and slipped into Death Mountain crater with the Goron Tunic on. He heard Kaepora call, "Good Luck!"
Link saw Zelda right away. She was still alive! She also wore a Goron Tunic. She was chained up, like Link had once been. She grinned when she saw him. "The last time you kissed me, I thought it was the Last Kiss I'd ever get from you." Link said to her, remembering the night before he took her back at the castle, the night of the picnic they'd had.
"Hurry, Link. Ganon will be back soon, and if he sees you here, he'll be very mad." They heard a very loud BOOM! And a very frightened look appeared on Zelda's face. "Oh No! Hurry up and get out of here, Link! He's back! Do you have your weapons?" Link was about to say no because Ganon had taken them, but he found he had all of his weapons. He figured that the magic must have worn off when you teleported from an area.
Ganon came in and spotted Link. "So, we meet again, huh, little thug?" Ganon made his first move and kicked Link in the spine. Link recovered and stabbed him in the gut. Ganon howled in pain, and he pulled out two crooked swords that the Gerudo often used to battle. Ganon swung out him, and Link couldn't avoid the attack in time and his tunic was ripped, but he wasn't injured.
"I'll be back, and next time I will kill you,"
"Well, I'll just have to make sure you NEVER come back!" Link delivered a brutal, final blow, and the Sages worked together to send Ganon back into the voids of the Evil Realm. Hopefully, this time, the seal would be stronger.
"Link!" Link turned to Zelda and unlocked the chains. She fell into his arms and hugged him. Link picked her up and held her the way a mother held a baby when she was rocking it to sleep. Zelda grinned at him. "Link, Marry me!"
"Okay, Beautiful!"
The King apologized to Link, and now looked upon him as a person that was more important than he. "Link, would you consider becoming a Knight?"
"I'm pretty much already one," Link answered. "I work alone, though, your highness."
"I declare thee husband and wife!" Said the priest, two weeks after Ganon had been sent into the voids of the Evil Realm for the second time. Link turned to Zelda and kissed her. The Sages clapped and cried with all of the other friends of the King. They were finally together, forever. "I love you, Zelda." "I love you too, Link," she said, kissing him again. And hopefully, this wasn't their LAST kiss.
