The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny

III

 

                Sheik sat by the window, playing his harp softly. Eyes closed, he could hear the metallic steps of the Royal Guards as they roamed through the streets of the Slums. On every wall of every half-destroyed house or building of the poor’s quarters, was now a very accurate picture of a certain Hylian’s face and more importantly, a very nice sum of money was offered for his capture. Dead or alive.

                Link sat down beside his best sheikah friend. He sighed heavily and groaned. Sheik looked down at him, smirking. “Bored?” He asked. Link looked up at him, his gaze icy.

• 
  “Don’t start.” Sheik chuckled softly.


• 
  “What? Don’t start mentioning that you can’t go out because you are wanted? And that this is only because of you? That trying to rape a noblewoman wasn’t exactly wise? And that, atop of that, that noblewoman is the girlfriend of your greatest enemy?” Sheik’s red eyes glistened with slight malice and pure amusement as Link rolled his eyes and looked away, pouting.


• 
  “Fuck you.” Whispered Link, ashamed. The golden blond chuckled again.


• 
  “Yes, that’s what I thought you’d answer.” He brought his braid over his shoulder, letting it fall down to his waist before the end of it went to rest on the window’s edge, beside his thigh.


• 
  “Anyways, I can’t just stay locked inside eternally.”


• 
  “I’m afraid you have no choice.” Link growled.


• 
  “I’m going out. Anyways.” He stood up. Sheik looked up at him, his stare more serious and a little severe.


• 
  “Link, that’s utterly dangerous and unconscious.” The Hylian shrugged and snorted.


• 
  “Heh, everything I do is dangerous and unconscious.” Sheik sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head.


• 
  “Yes, but that’s a little over-dangerous and over-unconscious.” He looked back up at Link. “If they find you, they are allowed to kill you.”


• 
  “I’m aware.” Link put a soft hand on Sheik’s shoulder. “But I trust that you’ll come and save my ass, if I’m in a bad situation?” The Sheikah stared up at him.


• 
  “No.”


• 
  “Why?”


• 
  “You don’t deserve any assistance.” Sheik looked away and out the window again. A guard was passing by.


• 
  “But, do you really want me to die at the hands of a mighty Royal Guard?” He puppy-eyed his friend. The Sheikah merely rolled his eyes, that mimic having no impact whatsoever on him.


• 
  “Whatever, Link.” The Hylian chuckled and hugged the smaller man tightly.


• 
  “I love you, Sheiky!” He kissed the blond’s cheek and ran off. Sheik shook his head before closing his eyes and playing his harp again.

Hidden in a dark cape, Link made his exit with his dear hook shot, landing in an empty alleyway. He put the item away and started to walk around the streets, meddling with the inhabitants of the Slums.

It was a boring day. In facts, it felt like a Sunday; gray sky, cool wind and that feeling of great nostalgia that came along with such dark and boring days. Heading towards the Market District, Link walked beside a few patrolling guards – who were not patrolling at all. Talking, their back to a wall, they looked disdainfully at the people of the Slums, sometimes sexually harassing a teenage girl who was a little prettier than the rest of the sick whores.

 Link walked past them. One of the guards spat at his feet, and then chuckled. The Hylian stopped walking and clenched his fists, looking at them through the darkness of his hood. “What do you want, beggar?” Asked the armoured man when he realised that he was being stared at. Snorting, Link proceeded to look away and continue on his way. But the guard felt like fighting that day. “Yo, asshole, I’m talking to you!” He took a step forward, grabbing Link’s shoulder and pulling the smaller Hylian to himself.  Link merely grabbed the man’s hand, and, in a matter of second, the Guard was howling in pain as the smaller man twisted his arm.

Link stepped away, the other guards who were with the first one stared at him, menacingly, now. “He assaulted Henry!” Yelled one of the remaining men. Link snorted and rolled his eyes. He was in no mood to fight, sincerely. He turned around and proceeded to walk away again, really hoping the guards knew better than to harass him.

• 
  “Stop right there, you criminal scum! Nobody breaks the law under my watch!” The guards started running. So did Link.

Taking his hook shot from under his cape, he aimed at a rooftop, as he ran. Quickly enough, he landed on a random roof, but the quickness of the movement made his hood fall from his head, revealing his face. He looked down at the guards. “That’s him! That’s the wanted criminal!”

• 
  “Let’s get him!” Link rolled his eyes. A spear brushed his arm. He looked down at the guards. When did they start using spears, again?

Link turned and started running again.

It was a rather particular sight; a single man running on a rooftop, pursued by a large group of spear-tossing Royal Guards. The peasants and merchants stopped their transactions to stare at the singular turn of events with opened mouth and surprised stare.

The Market District seemed to calm down a moment as Link ran by. But as soon as the activity reached their brain and that the meaning of this crazy manhunt was understood by all those people, a wind of utter panic enveloped the good citizens of Castle Town and they started to run everywhere, dragging the impressed boys and romantic girls away from the criminal that the good guards of Hyrule were about to catch in their tight grip.

Link cursed as he looked above his shoulder at the rather impressive group of government officials that was hunting him down. He looked back before him; nowhere to go. A wall stood before him. Still running, he looked at his right and he smirked; the Temple of Time.

He could use the right of asylum there. Couldn’t he?

He turned tightly and jumped down the roof on which he was. The guards yelled something behind him and a rather dangerous spear brushed his ear. His eyes widened a little as he felt how close Death seemed to be, at that moment.

Nevertheless, he reached the Temple of Time.

 

***

Tatl giggled softly as she played with a gorgeous white rose, caressing each petals of the delicate flower with much interest. She looked up at Isca, smiling softly. He smiled back.

They were lying in Zelda’s flower garden. They had spent their afternoon chatting and exchanging charming smiles and romantic affirmations – that invariably led to a crimson-red Isca – under the soft and pure light of the sun.

He took her hand softly and she kept smiling in a similar way to him. He kissed her skin delicately, looking up at her, his midnight stare into her magenta one. “Tatl…” He started, tracing an invisible pattern on her hand and looking down at the same time. She tilted her head to the side, looking at him and waiting for the knight to continue on. “You know… Hum…” He blushed. Again. She giggled softly to his expression.

• 
  “What do I know, Isca?” She asked, beating her eyelashes. He swallowed.


• 
  “You know… We’ve been friends for a long time and… Well…” He looked away, visibly shy. She knew what was coming, but wouldn’t rush him nor help him through this difficult moment of self-affirmation. “And hum… I… I mean…”


• 
  “Yeeeees?” She trailed, smiling softly.


• 
  “I-I…” He sighed, and then looked up at her, his stare now steady and confident. “I… Like you, Tatl… I mean, more than like… I…” He looked down again and blushed as he saw her smile.


• 
  “Yes, me too, Isca. I feel the same.” The knight looked up sharply, eyes wider than before as his lips curved upward in a happy and somewhat surprised smile.


• 
  “For real?” Tatl nodded.


• 
  “Hm-hm.”

They stared at each other a moment that seemed as long as the eternity to Isca before he found the courage de lean forward. His hand crawled up on her arm as she pulled herself closer to her knight. Slowly, she tilted her head to the side. He did the same. Closing their eyes, their lips were about to meet in a sealing passion… When a guard came crashing into the Royal Garden, making the Twilight princess and her knight in shining armour jump in surprise. Tatl gasped softly. “Captain! We need you in the Temple of Time, now!”

***

 

Link barged into the Temple of Time, closing the huge doors behind him with much passion before he heard the singular noise of a horde of armoured morons crashing against the wooden gates. He took a few steps back before running to the deepest part of the temple. As he hurried away, he remarked a weird pedestal on which three golden stones with peculiar jewels were reposing. A sapphire, a ruby and an emerald. He considered stealing them, but he had no time. Before himself, a pathway was opened; the Doors of Time were widely welcoming him in their lair.

He entered the sacred room just in time to hear the men pursuing him crash into the holy building. Link looked above his shoulder, cursing again.

It seemed that he couldn’t beg for the right of asylum, after all.

In a few seconds, an army of knights were surrounding him, spears and swords pointed at Link. He stared around at all the guards, wondering what to do. “You should surrender.” Link spun around to face the man who spoke. Isca was standing there, not wearing his armour, but holding his rather impressive sword. The small man chuckled darkly.

• 
  “Heh, and I thought you’d know me better than that, Captain, after all the time you spent pursuing me.” Isca merely snorted.


• 
  “I do. That’s why I am armed.” Their eyes met and Link took a step back.


• 
  “You have a point.” The dark blond turned his head to his right, subtly and spotted… A sword.

In the middle of the room – a few meters away from him – stood an elegant and mighty purplish sword in her pedestal. On her polished silver blade rested the crest of the Royal Family of Hyrule : the holy Triforce. Just above the mark, a yellowish stone glistened softly in the sunlight that seemed to fall directly and magically on the mystical sword.

Link moved slightly towards the sword. Isca saw him. In a matter of seconds, the smaller Hylian had his hands around the pommel of the holy blade and the knight stood a few inches away from him, ready to attack.

The Master Sword – which was the name of the sword – had been the subject of many tournaments amongst the finest swordsmen of Hyrule. In the legend that had been passed down by the Royal Family, one man, somewhere in the kingdom would, one day, raise to become the Hero of Time. And that person would be chosen by the holy sword on a faithful day. Everyone had tried to get their hands on the more than gorgeous blade, but none had succeeded and the vast and prestigious kingdom of Hyrule was worried to never find its hero and therefore, fall to the hands of evil when the time of the take-over would come.

So, the massive gasp of the guards was fully explainable when Link retired the holy sword from its pedestal with such ease that the blade looked like it was being pulled out of melted butter.

Link merely looked back at the group of men surrounding him; they all stared at him with over-wide eyes and dropped jaws. Even the Captain seemed traumatised as Link stood before him, the Master Sword in his left hand. He stared at the guards as they stared at him.

He took a step back to test their reaction: they didn’t move. However, Isca unfroze pretty quickly.

But never quickly enough to catch Link who had already used his hook shot to disappear by the nearby window, dragging the blessed weapon with him.

***

                Zelda was sitting by her window again, reading a book, when Isca merely appeared in her room, closing the door behind him with a slightly loud “thud”. She looked up at him with a surprised stare. Isca was, usually, much calmer and delicate. The knight stared down at her. “Something happened.” Zelda tilted her head to the side and blinked.

• 
  “Yes?”


• 
  “The Master Sword. It has been pulled out.” She got up swiftly, walking to Isca.


• 
  “By the Goddesses…” She covered her mouth with her hand nervously, looking away, then back at Isca. “Then, this means that we are going to undergo dark hours in a very near future.” The knight didn’t seem to be surprised or moved by this affirmation.


• 
  “It was pulled out by Link.” She nodded.


• 
  “Yes, yes. We will need to reinforce the borders and…” She blinked. “Link?” Isca nodded and Zelda sat down again. “No…”


• 
  “Yes. He did it before my eyes.” She brought her hands to her forehead, rubbing her skin softly.


• 
  “… Bring him before me.” Isca tilted his head to the side.


• 
  “Bring such a... low being like him before you? It would be against my role as your captain and bodyguard, princess…” She waved his words away with an elegant and yet swift movement of the hand.


• 
  “I will need to talk to him.” Zelda looked up at her knight. “And I would highly prefer to see him alive and well, Isca.” He sighed.


• 
  “Yes, your highness.”

***

Link opened the door to the decrepit house in which he lived with the rest of his little gang only to be welcomed by an angry – and utterly annoyed – looking Sheik. The blond stood before him, arms crossed over his chest and his foot tapping the ground softly and yet energetically as his crimson stare sat itself on Link’s frame, his expression being severe. The Hylian smiled childishly. “H-hey, Sheik.”

• 
  “Please, do tell me that you are not the reason of all this commotion.” His tone was dry.


• 
  “Heh… Heh…” Link kept his smile, but he did take a few steps back. “Well, you see…” Sheik sighed heavily, closing his eyes, before looking at the taller man again.


• 
  “No, I don’t really want to know.”


• 
  “But, lookit, Sheiky!” Link apparently made the Master Sword appear out of thin air – or from under his cape. “I’ve found that sexy blade on my way for saving my own life! Looks valuable enough, nay?” The Sheikah stared down at the weapon.


• 
  “… It is a splendid weapon…” He looked up at Link, slowly. “Where did you find it?” He was anticipating something fishy, by the sound of his voice, Link could tell.


• 
  “As I was doing what you won’t hear because you think I’m a moron, I stumbled upon that gorgeous steely item inside the Temple of Time and just pulled it out of its pedestal as the guards looked at me with wide and stupid eyes. You should’ve seen their faces, man!” Yet, the blond looked sceptic.


• 
  “… I see…” Sheik stared up at Link and sighed. “Anyways… I am glad to see you alive.” He turned to exit the room and leave Link alone, but the Hylian held him there.


• 
  “Yo, think the boss would like it?” Sheik looked at his friend from over his shoulder.


• 
  “You’d offer him such a blade?” Link shrugged.


• 
  “I use daggers… I mean, it sure is awesome, but… You know… I won’t use it, anyways.” The blond nodded softly.


• 
  “If you say so.” He turned to look at Link. “Anyways, Master wants to see you. I guess he heard about your little escapade, today.” The Sheikah smirked under the cowl. Link could just read him that easily.


• 
  “Yeah… I guess he did…” The Hylian looked down before running a hand through his messy hair. “I’m going to see him. Wanna tag along?”


• 
  “No.”


• 
  “Even if I ask?” Sheik sighed.


• 
  “Fine.”

They left the house together, travelling cautiously by the hidden rooftops of the Slums as they tried not to be seen by a guard again. It seemed that the number of posters on which Link’s face was printed had gone up drastically. The Hylian groaned softly behind Sheik. “Does my nose look so horrible?” Sheik looked at him from over his shoulder.

• 
  “It is worse than that.” He chuckled softly.


• 
  “Fuck you.” Sheik only chuckled again.

The friendly couple reached Ganondorf’s lair a few moments later. They entered the dark room in which he pleased himself to stay. The tall and shadowy man turned his head slightly, making his leather suit creak slightly with his movement. His eyes shone with discontentment and Link swallowed, taking a step back to hide behind Sheik. Ganondorf turned completely to face them. He looked down at the small men before him with severity.

It affected Link who slightly looked down, but Sheik held the huge and tanned man’s gaze with confidence and strength. It made Ganondorf smile softly. “So, you have finally come.”His voice resonated in the room like thunder, as it always did. Sheik nodded as Link took a step forward.

• 
  “Yes… Master. I am… sorry.” Said Link, looking down, ashamed. Ganondorf chuckled.


• 
  “What for, my son?” His aura seemed to spat malice around the room. Behind him, through the dirty window, a few guards were patrolling.


• 
  “You know…” Whispered Link. Sheik crossed his arms over his chest.


• 
  “Say it.” It was an order. An order in which there was an audible hint of promised violence if the Hylian didn’t obey.


• 
  “I have failed you. Two times.” Ganondorf laughed.


• 
  “You did, my son.” Sheik stared at Link, feeling disgusted by the Master’s attitude towards the poor Hylian.  “And I hope you plan on making up for those mistakes.” It was, again, an order pronounced in a solemn way.


• 
  “Of course!” Link looked up to stare at the tall man, his expression a little childish. He took a step forward, taking the Master Sword out from under his cape and presented it to his boss, the man he considered a father.

Ganondorf’s  smile faded as he stared at the mystical sword. He took a step forward to touch the holy weapon, but had to retire his hand right away because it burnt his hand. The Evil’s Bane Sword had reacted to him, to his soul. He looked down at Link who was staring up at him with wide and blue eyes. The Gerudo swallowed as he looked down at his minion. “How did you get your hands on such a precious and magnificent sword, son?”

• 
  “In the Temple of Time, I pulled it out of a pedestal.”

The tanned man’s hot blood froze in his veins as he stared down at Link with a renewed interest. Or fear.

This boy, who was standing before him, whom had worked for him for seven years was the legendary Hero of Time. Ganondorf shivered lightly, something Link didn’t realize. “Is that so?” The dark blond nodded with energy.

• 
  “Yeah, and if you want it, I’m gladly offering it to you.” Ganondorf shook his head.


• 
  “No, keep it child.” The Gerudo turned around to look out the window. “I have my own blade and you deserve it.” Link tilted his head to the side.


• 
  “… Shouldn’t I be punished, for what I have done, instead of being allowed to keep that sword?”


• 
  “Maybe, but I have something else in mind.” He turned his head so he could look at Link from above his shoulder. “That noblewoman that you tried to rape at the ball; I want her dead.” Link blinked.


• 
  “…Okay.” The Hylian bowed slightly.


• 
  “Take care of this with Sheik, will you?” Link looked over at Sheik who nodded back.


• 
  “We will, my lord.” Ganondorf nodded.


• 
  “Then, you may both take your leave.”They bowed slightly, looking at each other, and disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Ganondorf looked out the window as they left him alone. He stared down at the streets and at the people, arms crossed over his enormous chest. Those children were sure going to be a nuisance in a near future; Link was destined to become the Hero of Time and Sheik would follow him anywhere. The Sheikah didn’t trust Ganondorf at all, and the Gerudo knew it so very well. He chuckled softly to himself.

They had to be eliminated.

***

Sheik and Link stood beside each other near Hyrule’s Castle. The sun was starting to set, bathing the luminous castle in a pinkish light. They stared at each other a moment. “Why would he want her dead, anyways?” Asked Link.

• 
  “I don’t know. He did have a weird attitude back there.” Pointed the Sheikah. Link tilted his head to the side.


• 
  “What do you mean?”


• 
  “I mean that he completely changed his attitude towards you when you showed him the sword.” Link looked down at Sheik sceptically.


• 
  “S’that so?”


• 
  “It is so.” The Hylian shrugged.


• 
  “If you say so.” Sheik returned his stare to the castle.


• 
  “Makes many so.” They both chuckled softly. They stood in silence a few minutes, both preparing tactics in their minds.


• 
  “You take care of her butler?” Sheik looked at Link.


• 
  “Of course.” The dark blond chuckled.


• 
  “I knew you’d like that idea.” Sheik gave him a questioning stare.


• 
  “And what do you mean by that, young man?” Link grinned.


• 
  “That you OBVIOUSLY want to get in his pants.” The Sheikah snorted, looking away arrogantly.


• 
  “Whatever, Link.” The Hylian kept grinning.

A few minutes later, they invaded the castle, each going their separate way.

Olwen was reading peacefully in a small room of the domestics’ quarters, sitting in hay, his back resting against the cold, stone wall, when a light “thud” came from the window nearby. Putting his book down, he looked over at the sound’s source, the sun catching his hair and eyes, making them glow softly, like the moon would.

Sheik stood, now, inside the room, his back against the wall on which was the window. He smirked, his stare provocative as he gazed at the much bigger Sheikah. Olwen stared back at him, a little surprised, but still very calm. The blond chuckled. “Good evening.” The silver-haired man stared at Sheik in silence a moment.

• 
  “Good evening to you too.” He answered, his low voice contrasting violently with Sheik’s lighter tone. Sheik took a few steps towards the butler in a feline way, his hips moving femininely as he neared his prey. Olwen stared at him in an interested way. “What brings you here, dearest?” Sheik chuckled softly, seductively.


• 
  “You.” The taller man chuckled lowly, eyes glowing playfully.


• 
  “Is that so?”


• 
  “It is.” Sheik neared the bigger Sheikah until he could stand before him and put a knee on the hay, beside Olwen. The silver-haired man’s hands went to rest on Sheik’s hips, holding him there. The blond groaned lowly as he trailed a finger down his prey’s chest. It was a shame to have to kill that man, seriously. “I was feeling… Lonely.” He whispered sexily.


• 
  “And so was I.” Olwen chuckled again, caressing Sheik’s hips and upwards, letting his fingers feel the hard and yet delicate form of the blond’s sides and stomach. Sheik leaned into his touch, demanding more as the silver-haired man smirked under his cowl.

Suddenly, Olwen got up and pushed Sheik against a nearby wall, pressing his impressive self against the smaller man’s form. The blond groaned softly, smiling softly, his eyes glowing in lust. “So you like it rough, hmm?” Olwen chuckled.

• 
  “Sometimes.” Sheik leaned forward to kiss his prey, pulling his cowl down. Olwen closed the rest of the distance to seal their lips together and the blond closed his eyes in the kiss.

He felt the taller Sheikah’s hands on his side, but didn’t pay much attention for the time being. But when he opened his eyes, after Olwen had broken the kiss, he understood his mistake. Sheik’s eyes grew wide as the butler’s skilled hand close itself around the blond’s jaws.

Red met red and between them, Olwen was holding Sheik’s dagger and needles. The blond stood speechless and the butler chuckled lowly. “And for a moment, I really thought that you wanted to enjoy a nice evening of sex.” Said the bearish Sheikah, smirking a little maliciously. He then snorted. “Now, leave the castle.” He gave Sheik a severe and dark stare, giving him back his weapons as he walked away from him. The blond stared with wide eyes at the man.

• 
  “You are not going to kill me?” He said, his voice quiet. Olwen looked at him from above his shoulder.


• 
  “People who attack me once rarely do it twice. I trust that you are wise enough to do the same.” Sheik blinked and hid his weapons again before heading to the window. He looked back up at the butler who had his severe and yet sad stare on him. Without another word spoken, Sheik exited the room.

***

It took a little while for Link to get into the Royal Garden where Tatl was enjoying the sunset. He had to sneak through the flower labyrinth and skip the guards’ really deviant attention. Damn, he didn’t even try to hide and they never spotted him…

Anyhow, he landed behind Tatl in the garden, sighing heavily. She turned around to face him and gasped, stepping back automatically. “You?!” He looked up at her.

• 
  “Yes, me. Who else?” Link chuckled as Tatl hurried away from him.


• 
  “Stay back!” The Hylian walked towards her. “I said to stand back!” She joined her hands before herself, starting to create an energy ball of a dark purplish color. He stared at her hand and smirked.


• 
  “So, you are not really helpless, after all?” Link chuckled. She growled and released the energy ball at him. He dodged, but was rather impressed by her skills as he could feel the heat of that attack as it brushed his cheek. It made him smirk and his stare became icier, crueler. “I knew you were fierce, but never that fierce.” Tatl started another ball.


• 
  “Leave me alone!”


• 
  “I’m sorry, but I can’t comply to your request right now, milady.” He undressed her with his stare, grinning. She felt disgusted.


• 
  “Go away!” She threw the orb at him again. He dodged once again. Link was terribly quick… “Why won’t you leave me alone?!”


• 
  “Because I promised I would come back for you, no?” He chuckled as she seemed terrified through her fierceness. “And because I was ordered to get rid of you.” This last affirmation made her blink.


• 
  “Get rid of me?”


• 
  “Yes, someone wants you dead.” She gasped softly as he threw himself at her, dagger at hand.

She created another orb, though a small one because she had no real time to power it up. The magical attack hit him, this time, on the shoulder. He groaned in pain lowly, but this attack wouldn’t get her rid of him. Oh no. In a matter of seconds, he was on her, slashing his dagger at Tatl’s throat. With a swift move of the hand, she raised a barrier around herself to block the attack. Link growled as the blade of his weapon hit the magic shield.

But the barrier fell and Tatl ran away, Link on her heel. He was quick and quickly closed the distance between them. She looked above her shoulder, looking at Link and gasped when her gaze saw how close to her his blade was… She closed her eyes, waiting for the blow.

And the earth shook.

They both stopped running as a mighty roar echoed through the castle. Standing beside each other, they stared at the garden’s entrance where a guard flew by, a stick of wood going through his chest. Tatl brought her hands before her mouth, horrified.

Link’s arrogant and sadistic façade died quickly as he stared before him with wide eyes and maybe, with a slightly childish expression as four tall monsters entered the garden. Big lizards with small and yet very pointy swords growled and screeched as they made their way to the Twili and the Hylian.

Two lizards attacked Link instantly. He dodged, getting his dagger out to fight back as the monsters slashed wildly at him. Growling, he used his speed and agility to evade from most of their attack. Taking risks, he kicked a lizard who screeched. While that one was busy yelling its pain, the Hylian ran to it and planted his dagger in the thing’s throat, before punching the blade so it would get deep enough.

However, the other creature was on him in a matter of seconds and Link looked over his shoulder at it. His blade was high and ready to fall down on him. Growling, the dark blond grabbed his weapon with both of his hands to get it out of the corpse at his feet.

But the dagger was stuck in the lizard.

Link looked up again and rolled on his side just in time to see the remaining lizard stab its companion’s dead body. It screeched and took his weapon out of the dead creature. And Link’s as well. Now armed with two bloody blades, the lizard launched himself at Link again.

The Hylian turned and ran towards the nearest wall, not knowing what else to do. He stared above himself and around and couldn’t find anything to use his hook shot on.

Was he going to die?

He stopped when he reached the wall and turned around to face the lizard, the quick movement making his cape float around him and the sword at his hip hit the wall with a soft metallic noise.

The sword!

In a swift movement, he grabbed the famed Master Sword and pointed at the creature. It only screeched again before attacking Link. The dark blond slashed the sword at the monster, finding the weapon heavy and hard to manipulate, contrarily to his daggers. Anyhow, he succeeded, clumsily, to cut the lizard’s belly open. Its organs fell at Link’s feet with a wet and disgusting noise. And the smell wasn’t exactly better.

Link looked up, sighing, but just in time to see Tatl spin on her athletic legs to kill the last lizard with a dark orb. At her feet rested two roasted lizard now. The Hylian swallowed slightly. She wasn’t exactly in distress, now, was she? They stared at each other. “I think we can escape by the garden’s flower labyrinth, or whatever it’s called.” Tatl blinked.

• 
  “Excuse me? Did you say “we”?” He nodded.


• 
  “Hell, yeah! You want to stay here and be eaten by some monster?” She stared at him, visibly insulted.


• 
  “And you think I’ll just come along and follow you?!”


• 
  “Yeah.” They stared at each other again.


• 
  “May I remind you that you just tried to kill me and tried to rape me, a few days ago?!” Link rolled his eyes.


• 
  “Ah, come on. You have to learn to let go of the past.” And he took her hand, forcing her to follow him.

Tatl protested all the way, trying to free herself from his grip. But it was hard enough, and she changed her mind when they stumbled upon a few groups of monsters. They fought their way through the garden where a few corpses of guards and domestics were resting, mostly disfigured and ravaged. Tatl closed her eyes every time they crossed a body.

Until she saw one of Isca’s man, lying dead on the grass. Her eyes grew wider, suddenly, as she wondered if her knight was alright… Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Link’s hand as they walked, looking for a way out of this castle. She casted her gaze down to stare at the bloody grass.

Isca would be alright…! Right…?

They made their way into the garden and ultimately, ended up in a rather large training ground. Link looked around as various weapons were scattered everywhere around them. Behind them, stood the glorious castle that kept shining proudly in the dying sun, even if it was being invaded with monsters. And before them was, very visibly, their pathway to liberty and more importantly, safety.

But it was suddenly obstructed as a tight and dark-clothed man landed before them. Raising his head, he revealed the upper part of his face, while the lower part was hidden in a cowl. In the dim orange glow of the dying day, his red eyes and hair seemed to shine violently, contrasting with the pale beauty that surrounded them. Link smiled. “Yo, Acheron!” The Hylian took a step forward, only to feel a metallic needle brush his cheek, making a neat and yet small cut on his skin. Link’s eyes widened. “Acheron?! What the heck is wrong with you?!” The redhead chuckled and switched position, adopting a more combative stance.

• 
  “With me, nothing’s wrong. But obviously, something is with you.”

The Sheikah started running with alluring speed towards Link. No, he teleported himself. Link gasped as he saw the distinct shape of a dagger aiming straight at his throat and yet, he knew he had no time to react before the blow would come. He closed his eyes.

Only to hear the clash of two blades.

Opening his eyes, Link smiled widely. Sheik stood right before him, blocking Acheron’s dagger with his own. His grip on Tatl’s hand loosened as his mind was now busy elsewhere and the Twili took the opportunity to get away from the fight. And try to find another way outside.

Meanwhile, Acheron’s stare hardened as his blade met with Sheik’s. “What are you doing, Acheron?” Asked the blond, though his voice was soft and calm, it resonated darkly and dangerously. The redhead chuckled.

• 
  “Killing you and your dear Link.”

The fight begun. Link stood behind, watching the Sheikahs with jaws dropped; they were quick, aggressive and skilled. He had seen them fight a few times, but it was never this impressive since they only had to attack Hylian. And Hylians weren’t exactly quick.

But Sheik was small and light enough to almost fly around the place. Acheron had a similar shape, though he was taller. Their blades clashed together quickly, the weapons sparkling violently under the remaining sun beams.

Acheron threw a handful of needles at Sheik’s direction. The blond dodged and attacked directly after, kicking the redhead in the stomach, hardly. Acheron stumbled back, groaning in pain, but dodged Sheik’s dagger. However, he wasn’t able to get away from Sheik’s fist when it connected with his jaws.

The blond then kicked Acheron in the knees, forcing him down. He grabbed a handful of red hair and pulled on it, exposing the Sheikah’s throat to him. “Now, why are you doing this?” The red head chuckled.

• 
  “Mission.” He whispered. Sheik’s stared hardened.


• 
  “Who gave you this mission?”


• 
  “Can’t tell.” Link appeared behind Sheik.


• 
  “I am sure that you can.” Growled the blond as he pressed the blade of his dagger against his former brother’s throat.


• 
  “No I can’t.” Link stared down at the scene, speechless. Sheik pulled on Acheron’s hair again. The redhead whined in pain.


• 
  “Speak, or I shall silence you.” Red and agonizing eyes looked down at Sheik.


• 
  “Do it, then.”

Link brought a hand up on Sheik’s shoulder. But he stopped midway as he heard the redhead choke and saw a river of blood appear at his friend’s feet. Acheron’s body shook violently in Sheik’s hand before it stopped abruptly. The blond let him fall to the ground and he turned around to look at Link, a few droplets of blood were on his cheek and cowl.

Link’s eyes widened slightly as he looked down over Sheik’s shoulder at the corpse of the man who had been one of his closest friend. A family member. He then stared down at the blond before him. Sheik gave him a sad and somehow distant stare before cleaning his dagger’s blade. “You… Killed him.” Red eyes shot up to meet blue.

• 
  “He would have killed you. And me.” Link blinked, looking down at his feet. At Acheron’s feet.


• 
  “But-“


• 
  “Nothing would have changed this, Link. You know it.” The sheikah nodded towards Link, looking in the distance behind him. “But now, you should take care of her.”

The Hylian turned his head to look at Tatl who was desperately trying to dig her way out through a dense bush. Link sighed and walked up to her, grabbing her hand again. Tatl gasped and struggled before growling. The dark blond rolled his eyes and shook her lightly. “I’m in no mood now. Calm down.”

Her pink eyes shot up to stare at his cool blue ones. She examined his features. He didn’t wear that sadistic smile anymore, nor did his eyes shine maliciously. He looked tired and somewhere, she could see the sadness. This man had feelings, after all?

Holding Tatl’s hand in his, he joined Sheik who merely looked down at the Twili a split second before they exited the training ground.

***

The way back to safety wasn’t exactly calm and made of utopia; they had to fight countless monsters and make their way through trees and bushes and ultimately, climb a nice wall.

Sheik was the first one to get on the other side of the wall, as Link and Tatl struggled to use the wines to go up. Tatl put her hand against Link’s face, using him to get higher as he growled dangerously. She took her hand away just in time to spare herself to be bitten. She smirked down at him as he gave her a dangerous and icy stare.

Eventually, they made it to the other side, Tatl landing gracefully on her feet as Link fell down on his ass, heavily. He growled in pain, rubbing his derrière as he heard the pink woman gasp in surprise and relief before running off.

He opened his eyes just in time to see a rather pointy and big sword pointed at his throat. He swallowed, following the blade upward to meet with Isca’s own icy midnight stare. The knight pressed Tatl against him as she stared down at Link. As everyone stared down at him. “Your highness, I am at your orders.” Said Isca as he pressed his blade against the smaller man’s throat again.

Behind him, a light blond woman with porcelain skin and a light blue and rich dress appeared. She casted her wise and violet stare down on Link’s form. She had a severe and yet sad expression. She seemed to be grieving. She then looked up at the castle. “Bring the fugitives to Impa’s house in Kakariko. I wish to speak with them.” She turned around and started walking. Tatl got away from Isca to join the other princess.

Isca pushed his blade upward to hit Link’s chin, pushing it upward. “You’ve heard the princess. On your feet.” The smaller Hylian growled, but he obeyed. He turned his head right to look at Sheik who stared back at him.

And in a matter of seconds, the wind shifted. So did their lives.