Veil of Twilight

Chapter I
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"Tell me... Do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls?”

“They say it's the only time when our world intersects with theirs... The only time we can feel the lingering regrets of spirits who have left our world. That is why loneliness always pervades the hour of twilight..."


It sounded outlandish, but looking at his surroundings, Link supposed it could very well be true. The setting sun reflected off the surface of the brook they sat beside. It fell between the branches in the world, and the dusk was painted rich gold and deep emeralds. It certainly appeared otherworldly. Rusl looked contemplative, similar to how Link himself felt.

“But I’m rambling, I suppose,” he finally continued. Link gave him his full attention, as he always did.

“You’ve been like a son to me, Link,” he said. “Ever since Uli and I found you. I had always imagined that I would one day ask you to come with me on one of my journeys.” He looked away. “But it seems that this will be quite different.”

“I was to deliver a gift to the castle town, for the princess’s inauguration, but… Uli is due with the child any day now. I can’t leave.” He turned to Link, who was already nodding, an eager smile on his face.

“So you’ll go in my place, then?”

“Of course,” Link said. Rusl smiled at him.

“I knew I could count on you. I’m sure you’re eager to see the world beyond this village, anyway.” Link nodded again.

“Well, you’ll have to visit Ilia before dark, if you expect her to let you take Epona,” Rusl said, getting to his feet. “Let’s get back.”

The two walked down the bank of the stream, heading towards the village.

…

It was almost dusk when Link reached Ordon Village. The children, Malo, Talo, and Beth, had already returned to their homes for the night. Colin was still up when Link entered the house. The two shared a room under Rusl’s roof, and more or less treated one another as brothers. Link could see his face fall when he heard the news.

“How long will that take?” he asked in his quiet, reserved voice. Link stopped his packing for a moment, taking a seat on Colin’s bed beside him.

“I won’t be gone forever, if that’s what you mean.” Link said. “You can take care of yourself for a few days.”

Colin nodded, but as always, he looked unsure of himself. “I suppose…” he trailed off.

Link gave up. There was no use trying to cheer Colin when he was in one of his gloomy moods. He would feel better when his older brother returned from his trip. A few days, at most. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?

…

When he reached Ilia’s house, the lanterns already glowing through the windows. Mayor Bo answered the door when he knocked.

“Link, my boy,” he said, his voice booming and pleasant, the lamplight reflecting off of his bald head. “What brings you here so late? Business with my daughter, I suppose?”

Link nodded politely. “I need to talk to her about Epona,” he said. “I’m setting out for the castle province tomorrow.”

“The castle? How exiting. I think Ilia’s still up. I’ll go get her.” Link waited at the door, until Bo returned, this time with his daughter. She held a lamp in hand, already expecting to go somewhere.

“Hi, Link,” Ilia said, stepping past her father and out the door. Bo closed the front door, leaving the two youths alone. “What do you need Epona for?”

“I’m going to Hyrule Castle,” Link said. He saw a flicker in Ilia’s smile, and knew she was disappointed.

“How long will you be?” she asked, to which Link replied with a shrug. Ilia rolled her eyes at his carelessness.

“Ugh, you,” she said. “Come on, let’s go gather Epona’s things.” The two descended the steps from her house and started up the path that led to the village stables. They spoke along the way, casual friendly conversation.

Ilia and Link had been dear friends since childhood, spending nearly every day together. Most in the village suspected there was romance between them, but the both of them would deny it if asked. The denial was mostly honest. Neither Link nor Ilia would describe what was between them as romantic. Until a few days ago, they would’ve used the word platonic. But things had complicated since then…

They reached the stable, the sweet smell of hay invading their senses. Epona was in the last stable on the left, and seemed to be waiting for them. She neighed joyfully as Ilia pet her.

“You will take care of her, won’t you?” Ilia said, her hazel eyes fixed on Link’s blue ones.

“Of course, Ilia,” he said, almost teasing. “When have you known me to ever be careless?”

Once again, Ilia rolled her eyes. “Oh, spare me,” she said. “I’ve seen the way you ride. I should be worried for Epona’s health, letting you run off with her.”

They readied Epona’s saddle and bridle, the two of them working together expertly, never getting in each other’s way. Once, their hands touched, and both dropped their gaze, each determined not to be the one to break the awkwardness.

They finished with Epona after several more minutes of silence, and smiled at each other.

“Well, she’s ready to go,” Ilia said. “I suppose you’re leaving first thing tomorrow?”

Link nodded. “Before sunrise. I’ve already packed my things.”

“Well,” Ilia said, “I suppose we should say goodbye now then, before you run off and never return.” She had meant for it to sound playful, but the silence that followed was uncomfortable. The two stood there in the stable, facing each other but not daring to look at one another.

“Link,” Ilia braved, finally breaking the silence. “Are we ever going to talk about this?”

“What is there to say?” he asked. A stupid line. There was a lot to say. Their interactions had not been the same since they had met a few days ago, in the very stable they were in now. They had been with each other. Impulsively, neither one of them thinking anything of it. One innocent touch had led to another, and before either of them knew it, they were lying beside one another in the hay, their clothes scattered everywhere.

“Well…,” she floundered. “How do you feel about it? I mean, what does it mean to you?”

Link had no idea what to say. He felt there must be something, the exact right words, so as not to spoil his relationship with his dearest friend. But the words didn’t come.

“I don’t really know,” he said finally. “I mean, it just sort of happened, didn’t it?” He waited for some sort of backlash, some angry retort, but Ilia merely nodded.

“I had been wondering about it lately,” she said. “What it was like. And we’ve always been such good friends, done everything together… I thought… maybe it was another first we could share, I guess.” Her mouth quivered as she finished, as if she had said something awful. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Link asked. “It’s not like I wasn’t willing, or anything.” Ilia laughed at this, and she seemed to forget that she had almost started crying.

“No, I guess you weren’t,” she agreed. Her eyes locked with his. “So… you’re really not upset?”

“No way,” Link said, his smile growing all the time. “I’m just as surprised you aren’t. I thought for sure this would be happening in reverse, with you angry at me.”

The two fell silent again, the unease gone. They both turned towards the door and their hands touched again. Link’s heart jumped, and he heard Ilia gasp, but their fingers remained. After a few moments, they laced together.

Link turned to look at Ilia to see her already facing him, her eyes nervous and excited at the same time, just as they had been days before. He supposed he didn’t look much different.

Their lips met, cautious but unhesitant. They wrapped their arms around one another, their kiss deepening, tongues meeting. Link’s fingers found Ilia’s blonde hair, and hers likewise entangled themselves in his pale brown locks.

Link made to pull Ilia’s top over her head. She lifted her arms to assist. Both of them were dressed in simple white ranch tunics and breeches, and they made quick work of undressing each other. Link admired Ilia’s figure; like his own, her body was fit and defined, tanned by long days of ranch work.

The sight brought them together again, more zealous this time, kissing each other eagerly. Link hoisted Ilia up, enjoying her small yelp as he wrapped his strong arm under her firm butt. He carried her over to an empty stable, intending to sit her upon the door.

As he tried it, however, the door gave and swung open, dropping both of them into a pile of hay with a unanimous cry of surprise. They both laughed as they landed, rolling around in the hay, both of them trying for the top. Finally Ilia pinned Link to the ground, straddling him. She scooted her hips back, both of them gasping as he penetrated her.

The two were still unpracticed, having only done this once before. Their movements were amateur and stiff. Eventually, though, the two worked out a tentative rhythm, Ilia gyrating on top, Link’s hands on her hips, assisting her movements.

Their pace increased quickly, their breaths becoming more ragged and labored. Ilia straightened up over Link, propping herself up with her hands on Link’s chest. Her breasts quivered as she thrust her hips, her nails digging into Link a bit as she felt herself approaching climax.

She let out a long, sensual moan as orgasm rippled through her, body quivering as it continued to gyrate. Link did his best to hold himself, not wanting to release inside her. Ilia felt her peak subside, still bucking her hips steadily.

Link pressed upwards on her hips with his hands, signaling her to get off. She complied, lifting her leg over and rolling onto her side. Link erupted immediately afterwards, turning away from Ilia and onto his side to avoid spilling his seed onto himself.

After a few moments, he rolled back over to face Ilia. She was already dozing. He thought of waking her, of telling her they couldn’t stay here; he had to leave before first light, and she couldn’t very well stay missing from home all night.

Still, in the end, he decided not to. She looked so content, sleeping naked in the hay. Link wrapped his arm around her, pulling his dear friend close. Soon he was asleep, as well.

…

From the hills, Hyrule Castle was a portrait of composure, idyllic and regal. The citizens of the surrounding market town went about their business as the sun began to set, their fast paced day coming to an end.

Nobody heard the noises within the castle walls. Swords clashing. Bodies falling.

Screams.

The front court of the castle was flooded with bodies, some human, some not. Castle guards clashed with their opponents despite their fear. The creatures were unearthly, demonic figures that shouldn’t exist. The guards fought at an arms length, so as to avoid the things’ claws, or worse, their tentacle-covered maws. One soldier over swung, and opened his mouth to shriek before the tentacles invaded his mouth and wrapped around his face, the creature bringing him to the ground to feed. The casualty was one of many.

In the golden sky above, dark, bird like creatures circled, waiting for the monsters to drop bodies to scavenge. When they saw a wounded guard, they swooped down and carried him into the air, two or three of the birds picking him clean before his corpse fell back to the ground.

The fallen, after lying in the dirt for so long, would eventually rise, changing form, becoming one of the tentacle faced humanoid things, and fighting against their former comrades. The royal defense was quickly weakening.

Inside, in the throne room, the battle was not much different. Guards clashed valiantly against the otherworldly abominations, all indistinguishable except for one figure; a young woman, no more than twenty years, her once regally styled hair tousled and matted as she fought along side her men, sword in hand, pale blue eyes brave and fierce. Her dress swirled around her feet, but she didn’t miss a single step, each swing striking it’s target, cutting down creature after creature.

The Princess of Hyrule, Zelda.

The princess slashed through another of the things, and turned as she heard an approach behind her. One of the creatures was reared on it’s hind legs, about to strike. But it made no further movement. It stood their on it’s hind legs, motionless, as if frozen in time.

The princess looked around, and saw that the rest of them had done the same. They were all as still as stone, not so much as breathing. The hall was suddenly and eerily silent. The guards turned to her in confusion, waiting for an order.

Before she could issue one, the large, wooden double doors burst open, spilling in the golden light of the setting sun. A figure entered the throne room, a tall, imposing form, flanked on either side by two of the tentacle creatures.

The figure was completely robed in black, even the hands concealed by long, baggy sleeves. Upon it’s head was a giant helmet, a gross caricature of a face, with a lolling tongue, bulging eyes and a pointed head. The figure stopped before the stone steps ascending the throne and bowed.

“Greetings, princess,” the strange man said; his voice was high and shrill, malevolently childish. “I am Zant, king of the denizens of Twilight.” The guards all looked back and forth, between the princess and the mysterious king. Upon Zelda’s face was a expression of shock and disbelief. The Twili…?

“I understand that you were to ascend the throne, come tomorrow,” Zant said. “I congratulate you, my dear. But for now, I must speak with the present King and Queen. Where have they gone?” The Twilight King’s voice lilted upwards in mockery at the last part. Zelda steeled herself, not allowing her face to break, or any tears to fall.

“You know what has become of them…” Zelda managed. “This was all your doing…”

“Ahh…” Zant crooned. “So you have ascended the throne, after all.” He laughed. “Don’t look so sad, princess. You should be celebrating. Hyrule is yours.”

Zelda said nothing, only turned her head so that the ruthless man could not see her tears fall. When she looked back, the king was ascending the staircase, approaching until he stood directly in front of her, his headdress seemingly looking down on her. She fought the urge to drive her sword through his gut.

“All formalities aside, princess, I’m afraid I must be blunt. I demand you surrender the throne. Hyrule belongs to me now.”

Zelda said nothing. She could have guessed as much. “And if I refuse?” she challenged.

Zant raised an arm and snapped his fingers beneath his sleeve. Immediately the frozen tentacle creatures sprang to life, pinning all of the guards to the floor. They turned their heads to look at their princess, begging her to save them.

“If you refuse,” Zant threatened, “I will kill them all. If you still deny me, I will open the castle gates, and release my creatures upon your citizens.”

He stepped closer to the princess, taking hold of the blade of her sword.

“It’s your choice, princess. Your first official act as Hyrule’s matriarch. Your last, as well, If you are wise.”

Zelda stared at the eyes of Zant’s mask, determined to resist. But as she looked around, she saw the on looking faces of her soldiers; her people, helpless and frightened. Zelda dropped her gaze, her hand loosening on the sword’s grip. Zant pulled it from her, laughing quietly to himself.

“How noble of you, princess,” Zant said. He turned away from the princess as she fell to her knees, head hung in shame.

“This world is ours now, my brothers!” Zant cried. The tentacle things cried back, a shrill, alien noise echoing through the chamber, causing the guards to whimper.

“Go, my subjects,” Zant yelled joyously. “Ravage this world, and take the darkness with you wherever you may roam!”

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Here's the first chapter. Please Review! I'll add more before too long. Enjoy!!!