The Legend of Zelda : Twisted Destiny

VII

 

                Birds sang softly in the cold morning air as the chilly fall wind blew over Hyrule like a blanket of freezing needles. The trees of the forest near Kakariko creaked softly as the invisible strength of the wind pushed their branches towards the North. Some noisy squirrel was making a rally through those mistreated branches.

                A small spring was covered by the high trees. Its calm water reflected the gray sky so the soft liquid of the source looked greyish and dull. In the middle of it, a single man was sitting, naked, with water up to his stomach. He was looking down, cold water dripping from his soaked hair.

                Instinctively, he washed his left shoulder where a few beauty marks were positioned in a triangle fashion. His nose poked out between a few strands of wet hair. He shivered lightly as the air was cold, and so was the water. He had been sitting in there for an hour now, enduring the coldness of the atmosphere, of the water, of the forest and the sky.

                Some would call it masochism.

                He called it thinking.

                He let his pale hand fall down his arm. His skin was hard because of the coldness it held, because of the cool embrace of the wind.

                A Hero.

                He was nothing like that.

                Beautiful promises he made. But he wouldn’t fulfill these. He was sure he would never succeed. Because he had no one to fight for.

                Because he had nothing to fight for.

                He looked up slightly, his cold and wet hair brushing his face. Even the green plants and leaves of the forest seemed dull. They seemed grey. Everything was grey.

                Around him or in his head.

                He looked down at himself. Even his pale skin seemed grey in this frigid atmosphere.

                He took a deep breath before letting it escape his lungs as a slow sigh. When did he become this depressed? Oh yes, he always was. He was merely a good actor. “You will get sick, Link.” He turned his head to the side, quickly.

• 
  “What are you doing here?” Zelda was standing near a tree, wearing a black gown as well as a black sheikah cape. She smirked.


• 
  “I was getting worried, dear Hero.” Her violet eyes scooped the area. “It looks cold here. Perhaps you should come back to the house.” Link looked away.


• 
  “I don’t feel like it.” He answered softly, his voice measured so it would be strong enough for her to hear him. She took a few steps forward, nearing the spring.


• 
  “What happened?” He chuckled, then shook his head. Zelda sighed, putting a fist on her hip. “You won’t talk?” A moment later, Link looked at her. His expression was quite serious.


• 
  “As a princess, would you let a commoner get intimate with you?” She blinked, then crossed her arms over her breasts.


• 
  “I should not.”


• 
  “I’m not wondering over what you should do or not, I wanna know if you’d do it.” His words were harsh, brutal. Zelda considered him. Considered his nudity.


• 
  “As a lover, perhaps. Not as a husband.” Link chuckled as he got up. She looked away, down at some plant.


• 
  “And what about me?” He walked towards her, his steps perturbing the dull water of the spring.


• 
  “You are not even an option, Link.” She was still looking away, her pale beauty fitting perfectly with the cold atmosphere. Even as Zelda looked away, she could see, from the corners of her wise eyes that he was now standing very close to her. Dangerously close to her. “Link, go dress, will you.” She asked, she commanded. But her voice was not quite confident.


• 
  “Have you ever seen a naked man before?” She blinked to the question and turned her head to look up at him. He had a severe expression and she glared slightly at him. She could feel his heat. She could feel his coldness.


• 
  “Of course not.” He smiled lightly, somehow evilly.


• 
  “Then I’m offering you this opportunity.” Zelda glared up at him.


• 
  “You are mistaking me for some low peasant, Hero.” She growled. He laughed disdainfully.


• 
  “Low peasants. Exactly what you should be fighting for, princess.” He hissed. “Exactly what I am.” His voice, his words were as cold as the air around them. “Because those peasants are what makes your kingdom what it is. Never forget that.” He turned around, but she caught his wrist.


• 
  “Link…” Zelda’s voice was soft. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said such a thing.” He looked at her from above his shoulder.


• 
  “Yet, you said it, and I doubt you are the kind of woman whose words bear no signification.” She pulled onto his wrist.


• 
  “Link!”

He turned to face her, quickly. Zelda gasped lightly as he walked up to her and pushed her against a tree. Her surprised purplish eyes met his cold and calculating icy stare before he forced his lips down on hers.

She whined in the kiss, eyes wide, shocked by the sudden move of the Hero. But she was even more surprised when he moved his lips skilfully on hers in a soft and caring way. Possessively, he circled her slender waist with an arm. With his free hand, Link pushed her chin upward a little so it would make it easier for him to taste the woman who held his life between her very hands.

Hesitantly, Zelda rested her hands on his shoulders and she pushed him away lightly. He growled as an answer and pressed his naked skin against her. She shivered; his skin was incredibly cold, even through her dress she could feel his icy touch.

He broke the kiss to look at her.

That fierce attitude was gone. That freezing intensity as well. His eyes only looked grey. He looked merely tired and depressed. Tired and weak. Zelda looked up at him before smiling softly and caressing his cheek. “You are a good man, Link.” He looked down at her, perplexed.

• 
  “I force myself on you and you say I’m a good man?” She smiled more, tilting her head to the side.


• 
  “Yes. It was not an attack. Was it?” His stare changed to the one of a suspicious animal. “At least, it was not against me. It was against you.” He frowned.


• 
  “What do you mean?”


• 
  “Like all those women you’ve slept with… It was mutilation.” Link took a step back, shivering lightly.


• 
  “Stop this.” Zelda took a step forward.


• 
  “The only way out of this life, Link, is to survive your mission. Hurting yourself won’t change anything.” He stepped back into the water, hissing to the coldness of the liquid, this time.

He stumbled and fell into the water, on his rear. He looked down, shivering. Zelda stood before him; her feet were close to the water and the rim of her black dress was undulating softly with the rhythm of the small waves of the grey liquid. She was staring down at the small man sitting before her; he looked miserable. He looked broken and pitiful.

He was starting to change.

She held her hand out to him. “Your body won’t save you from anything anymore, Link.” He looked up. “Now, let’s go back to the house before you become as blue as a Zora.”

***

                Tatl looked out the kitchen window. Isca was gone outside, checking on his men. Just behind her stood Sheik as he was too staring out the window. She sighed before turning to the blond Sheikah.

                Sheik stared back with his usual cold and casual bloody gaze. However, even if no one could have known –but Link- he was worried. Link had disappeared for the whole night and had skipped breakfast.

                Link would never turn down food.

                Therefore, the Sheikah had a few options; he was dead, he found a very inviting inn full of nymphomaniac women or… He was really depressed, somewhere in that thin forest nearby.

                He hoped, at some point, that the Hylian really ended up in some heavenly inn for deeply heterosexual men.

                But Sheik was aware that the highest probability resided in a distressed Link lying on the forest ground.

                Or fighting bare-handed with a giant wolf. And ending up killing the beast by making a bear angry so the bear would try to hit Link, but he would dodge and the wolf would take the blow… Then the bear would run for the Hylian, so he would undress and run in zigzags to make the big beast stop at each piece of clothing. Then, the dark blond would freeze to near death because of the eerie temperature and ultimately fall from a cliff into a small spring where he would have an excess of masochist thoughts, leading him to stay in that cold water until someone would tear him away from there.

                And he would yell at that person before making some desperate attempt at being loved by that individual.

                Sheik chuckled softly, now amused.

                This was the most plausible scenario.

                Tatl tilted her head lightly as she watched the blond man seemingly having fun all alone. Her slight movement made the Sheikah actually look back at her. “You look like you have fun.” She pointed. Sheik considered her.

• 
  “I was enjoying myself, yes.” Olwen chuckled, a little behind them.


• 
  “Enjoying yourself, hmm?” The tall man repeated, his voice amused and playful. Sheik looked at him from above his shoulder, his expression lightly faking indignation and snobbism, but he was visibly enjoying the situation.


• 
  “Mind your own business, slave.” Tatl’s jaws dropped as Sheik answered with that detached expression of his. But before turning his head, he exchanged a meaningful stare with the butler who stared back at him, smirking, before crossing his arms over his chest and looking angry. “So, yes, princess. I was enjoying myself.” Tatl laughed softly.


• 
  “I think I should spend more time alone with you two.” Sheik shrugged lightly.


• 
  “Do as you please.” And he walked to the window to look outside. Tatl observed his back.


• 
  “Sheik…?” He looked at her, turning his head just enough to see the Twili. Her smile faded slowly as she let her head fall a little. Tatl looked at her feet. “Do you know where Link is…?”Olwen looked up at the blond. They both exchanged a very quiet conversation through visual interaction before the smaller Sheikah dared to speak through his concealed mouth.


• 
  “I have no idea. Why are you asking?” He sounded slightly suspicious.


• 
  “I… He skipped breakfast…”  The Sheikahs looked at each other again. Sheik turned around and crossed his arms over his chest.


• 
  “Yes, and?” She looked over at the table.


• 
  “He never ignores food…” Olwen chuckled.


• 
  “Then, you are worried because he skipped breakfast?” Asked Sheik, amused.


• 
  “She is.” Answered Olwen as he proceeded to wash the dishes. Tatl quickly glared at his back.


• 
  “That is not what I said.” Now, she was the one crossing her arms. Under her breasts. The silver-haired man merely laughed.


• 
  “But that is what your words mean, dearest.” He answered. She snorted lightly.


• 
  “Whatever.” Sheik was smiling.


• 
  “Yes, whatever because you’ll be able to ask him soon enough; he is coming back.”

Calculating the speed of her steps as she walked to the window (as she had no intention to seem in a hurry to see him), she immediately spotted Link… Who was wearing a new suit, apparently?

Tatl furrowed as she stared at him. That green tunic did fit him really well… And his tight pants and shirt, underneath, only showed that athletic build of his that people would usually forget as he wore dark clothes.

That hat was horrible, though.

He stopped walking, suddenly and turned around, resting his right hand on his hip, which gave him an arrogant attitude. A charming and yet arrogant attitude. Zelda appeared out of the forest, wearing the black dress of mourning and Impa’s old Sheikah cape.

She joined her Hylian Hero and he offered her his hand to help her out of the woods. She took it, looking up at Link, smiling.

Something within Tatl’s fluorescent being was suddenly very, very irritated. Unconsciously, she pressed her lips in an angry line as she looked at the scene.

Link switched lightly so he was not showing his slender profile to the Twili. He said something with that seductive smile of his. Zelda faked indignation, but she was smiling. She was enjoying his attention.

Tatl felt like growling, but she did not. Sheik and Olwen were now standing beside each other, both smirking as they watched the princess’ reactions.

Zelda seemed to answer something cocky to the Hylian as Link chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly.

He had great shoulders.

Then, they both turned around. Hand in hand. And they walked towards the house, smiling like content children.

Tatl turned from the window and headed towards the stairs. “Call me when I will be needed, Olwen, please.” She said dryly before disappearing into the second floor.

The Sheikahs looked at each other. They smiled, then they laughed.

***

“So, where are you heading, next?” Link sat down heavily. Sheik followed his movement.

• 
  “What do you mean, where we’re going? I thought you were the one sending us away!” Replied Link. Zelda rolled her eyes before resting a hand on her hip. Sheik examined her; her violet eyes were a little puffy and she looked, frankly, exhausted. Apparently, she wasn’t faking her pain of losing her Sheikah servant.


• 
  “Link. You know where the temples are.”


• 
  “No.” She sighed, heavily. Just as heavily as Link had fallen onto his chair.


• 
  “You’ve been through Forest and Shadow temples.” The Hero nodded. “So, Water, Fire and Spirits are the ones that remain.”


• 
  “What’s the closest?” Asked Link as he inspected his very short nails.


• 
  “Fire.” She answered, crossing her arms under her breasts. “But I do not suggest that you head there right away.”


• 
  “Why?” The green-clad warrior asked nonchalantly as he was now staring at Nami who tried to hide from his piercing gaze.


• 
  “Because I have ordered special suits for you all so you’ll be able to endure the unbearable heat of the volcano.” Link finally looked at her.


• 
  “It’s that hot, in there?”


• 
  “Ever heard of lava?” Asked Olwen from the nearby shadows. Sheik chuckled.


• 
  “Indeed. I doubt taking a stroll in the middle of a volcano is an easy task, Link.” Pointed the blond Sheikah.


• 
  “Ok. Ok. No fire. Or lava. Or heat whatsoever. I don’t like extreme temperatures anyways.” Answered Link.


• 
  “Then, Water and Spirit await you.”


• 
  “Gimme a clue.” Zelda sighed. Her head hurt.


• 
  “Just go take care of the Water temple’s case. It’ll be long and hard, so I’ll be able to get away from you for a little while.”


• 
  “False.” The princess blinked at Link as he raised a finger in the air to catch everyone’s attention with a solemn attitude. “I am getting away from you. You are couch-potato-ing in here.” She blinked.


• 
  “Are you seriously trying to get on my nerves, Hero?” He chuckled. She growled.


• 
  “Perhaps.”


• 
  “I’m leaving.” She was losing her cool. Link smiled victoriously and Sheik elbowed him. He looked up at his brotherly friend.


• 
  “What?” The blond nodded towards Zelda as she walked away. Link rolled his eyes. Sheik insisted. The dark blond growled softly before getting up. “Zel… Come on… I was just fooling around…! We need your infos, anyways!”

He was pleading. He was forced to, but he was pleading her to do her work. Interesting. She stopped walking as she reached the stairs. Her back still turned to him, she considered his tone. “Zelda… Just... Oh, you know I hate to beg…! Dammit!” Link closed the distance between himself and the blond-haired woman.

She wouldn’t move.

He put a hand on her shoulder. She considered his touch. His warmness that was, now, contrasting violently with how frozen he was, a few hours ago. He squeezed her shoulder softly, in a friendly way. “Zel… You’re not really angry… Are you?”

Oh, Nayru, what a big child he was!

“You will behave yourself?” Zelda asked without looking at him. He nodded.

• 
  “I will.” She spun to stare at her now favourite Hylian Hero, smiling widely, a victorious glitter in her slightly malicious purplish eyes. Link’s jaws fell as he understood she had manipulated him.


• 
  “Now, sit.” She put a hand to his chest and pushed him down on his chair. Zelda stepped forward.

Sheik observed; the way she moved towards him, the way she looked at him had something sensual… Almost as if she was going to dance before him. Undressing at the same time.

Of course, Link wouldn’t be angry, if she were to do that.

But the Princess of Destiny wasn’t exactly that kind of woman, was she?

“So, yes. You should go for the Water temple.” She pushed her knee between his. Power merely flew from her as she was still feeling victorious, visibly. Link was impressed; he wasn’t talking. “However, for that, you need to go see the Zora King as there is an item that you shall acquire from him. But Zora’s Domain is frozen solid. So you have to find a way to unfreeze it.” She smiled. “Should keep you busy, no?” Link nodded, slowly.

• 
  “But… If we can’t go to the temple or the Zora’s Country yet… Where to?”


• 
  “A little outside of our borders lies the Mountain of Snowpeak. In there, you shall find a small village of mages that are allies. They should be of help.” He nodded, once again.


• 
  “Now, are we done?” Zelda nodded, still victorious.


• 
  “Yes, what for?”


• 
  “I would appreciate it if you could take your knee away from my testicules.”

***

                Link looked down at himself; at his brand new suit. “Zel, aren’t we gonna be cold? I mean… Snowpeak.”

• 
  “That is precisely why I went to shop.” He turned to look at Olwen who was standing behind him. Bags at his feet. “Without any of you noticing. Of course.” The bearish man chuckled.

He put the bags onto the table and pulled a lot of clothing out of it. Capes and clothes. Link smiled widely. “Oh, Goddesses, you’re wonderful.” He said before taking a cape out of the pile and wrapping himself in it, smiling. “Hot…  So hooooooooooooot…” Tatl laughed softly behind the hero. Olwen looked at her.

• 
  “Milady, I have also taken the liberty of choosing and buying you a suit that will be more suitable for this adventure. And for the incoming coldness of the icy mountains.” She looked at him, slightly perplexed, but quite interested.


• 
  “Is that so, Olwen?” He merely took a distinct pile of dark, folded clothes and gave them to her.


• 
  “I thought that a ripped dress wouldn’t be very warm.” She smiled, looking at the new items.


• 
  “And you thought well, Olwen. You have taste.” He chuckled.


• 
  “Gayness, you may call it.” Replied Link before anyone else could say something. The silver-haired man laughed softly.


• 
  “Most probably, yes.” Sheik smiled and looked up at the other Sheikah a moment before looking outside. What a long way to go… Again.


• 
  “So, now that our favourite crew has been equipped correctly, I will humbly kick you all out of here.” Said Zelda, arms still crossed under her chest.


• 
  “Aow, I’ll miss you.” Link hurried to her and hugged the blond woman. She rolled her eyes and waited for him to be done. Tatl growled softly, looking away.


• 
  “I’m going to change.” She headed towards her shared bedroom. Link let go of the smaller woman he held.


• 
  “Thank you Link.” She replied, replacing her dress.


• 
  “So.” Started the Hero. “How much time do we have to walk to get to those icy-icy mountains?”


• 
  “Two weeks.”

***

                Snowpeak. Virgin. White and pure. It was, by far, the most beautiful virgin on which the Hero had sat his gaze upon.

                And the most dangerous.

                Snow. Snow. Snow. Hidden ice. BAM. On your ass.

                Ice. Ice. Ice. Ice. Ice creaks. FLOUSH. Into the frozen water.

                Snow. Ice. Tranquility. HOWL. A white wolf jumping on you.

                Hyrule. For the first time of his life, Link missed his homeland.

                They were still at the feet of the mountains. They had been walking for two days now. The Hero of Time sighed heavily as a nice puffy cloud of sticky snow fell straight on his head. He looked up, teeth gritted tightly. A fox. A damn fox was nagging him!

                He growled. “What is wrong?” Sheik appeared beside him. Grinning under his cowl. He was in a good mood. Link glared at him, he didn’t answer as snow melted its way down his nose. “Fox got your tongue?” Asked the blond once again before chuckling and walking away, joining Olwen’s side.

                Since they reached the mountains, two days ago, nothing very good had happened to the poor Hero of Time. He was the only member of the crew who fell into a concealed hole under the snow. Who was pursued by a wolf and lead into an icy lake. Let’s not forget the blue bat that got stuck in his hair during the night.

                And that fox.

                He had been following them all along. A white fox. A beautiful creature which kept on nagging Link as they tried to make their way through the snow and cold. A damn white fox.

                Link sighed as the fox seemed to smile at him. “I think I should name you. What about Fucker?” The animal didn’t move. It only seemed to appreciate getting on the poor Hylian’s nerves. Taking in a deep breath, he shook his head lightly and started walking again. The fox following closely behind.

                Tatl wrapped herself tightly into her cape and she shivered. She looked up at Isca who was walking beside her; he seemed totally unaffected by the coldness or the wind or anything else. She turned her stare on Link, who was behind the group and she smiled; he looked adorably miserable with that fox running around him and pulling pranks on the man.

                Yes. Link. Tatl let her eyes linger on his slender body a moment. He had big and childish eyes when he was desperate. “Where the Hell are we going, anyways?!” Asked the said Hylian. Sheik –who was in a very good mood that day- shrugged lightly before motioning towards the snowy mountains.

• 
  “At the top of these wonderfully cold hills, my dear.” Link whined.


• 
  “But that’s far!”


• 
  “It is, young man.” Replied Olwen who seemed to be as happy as Sheik. Tatl stared at the two Sheikahs… They did look suspicious.


• 
  “Oh, I wish a big, big bird could appear and take us up that freaking mountain!” Exclaimed Link. Isca turned to answer…

But a very particular screech broke the moment.

The whole group froze before Olwen turned to look behind them; the noise came from that way. “Hero… From now on, I recommend that you think about your wishes before exteriorising them.” Blinking, Link turned around slowly. He gasped.

• 
  “You’re fuckin’ kidding me!”

Another very violent screech pierced the still air of the welcoming night.

Hovering above the bluish-white snowy ground, and contrasting slightly with the darkening winter sky, a humongous bird stared wildly at them.

A very beautiful bird, though.

Tall and wide, it bore a purplish-grey color to its ruffled feathers. Its beak was short but visibly sharp and white, while its eyes were of a light purplish shade.

Menacingly, it stared down at the group, swinging its wings and creating small whirlwinds each time it did so. “What… Is that….?” Murmured Link.

• 
  “The wind spirit… Sylph…” Whispered back Nami. “It protects these mountains from foreigners.”


• 
  “And… You couldn’t have said so sooner?” Asked the Hero lowly as he took a step back. The bird screeched at Link and he stopped moving.


• 
  “He rarely appears to outsiders.”


• 
  “How lucky we are…”

The bird screeched more furiously as it seemed maddened by Link’s words. It moved its head in a provocative fashion, glaring at the Hero before it flipped its wing furiously, instantly creating a ravaging gust of wind, snow and ice.

The newly created tempest directed itself at the heroic crew with an alarming speed.

Link screamed and turned around to run. He had just enough time to see the collective emotion of surprise and fear on his comrades’ faces before Sylph’s attack hit his back.

And he blacked out.

***

                Injured, Isca hissed softly as he sat up slowly. His armour had never been this heavy or cold against him. He shivered lightly, looking around.

                Alone. He was alone.

                Surrounded by trees and snow, he couldn’t even say where he was into those mountains. He looked up at the sky, snow falling softly on his face. It was night time.

                So, he had lost consciousness when the attack of the bird had hit him. And judging by his surroundings, not only had he blackened out, but he had been transported somewhere else.

                Had the same thing happened to the others?

                He gasped, suddenly.

                Tatl.

                Where in the world would she be?

                Isca got up; he had no time to lose. She could be anywhere. She could be injured, in danger or with Link, which resumed the first two options.

                He took a step forward and stopped to groan in pain. In all this mess, he had not realised how his right side was painful. But under the armour and considering the situation and the environment, Isca decided to postpone a check up for later.

                Instead, he groaned lightly as he started to make his way through the snow. He had no idea where to go or where he was going, but moving was better than wait.

                Was it not?

                The knight walked into the snow for a few minutes. He looked around; Snowpeak was a beautiful mountain. Covered in snow; pure and soft. Only a feeling of utter tranquility emanated from Isca’s surroundings.

                Only tranquility and something a little more dark.

                A growl. From behind.

                Isca turned around, sword in hands.

                If it would have been a single or a small group of wolves, the warrior that was the Captain of the Royal Guards would have smirked before skilfully taking the creature down. However, he swallowed his saliva, furrowing as he took a more defensive position; fifteen hungry and big white wolves wouldn’t be easily taken down, he feared.

                Growling, the beasts surrounded him. Unconsciously, he thanked the Goddesses to have such armour; the plates all around his body would take most of the attacks. Hopefully.

                The first beasts attacked; they lunched themselves at him, teeth first as they attempted to bring him down. Of course, they hit metal and couldn’t get a bite of the warrior as Isca swung his sword at them.

                And a few seconds later, the blood of two wolves was tainting the snow a crimson red.

                The beasts whom hadn’t attacked yet growled in anger as they started to circle the knight, nearing in at the same time.

                Isca glared at them.

                This time, three wolves jumped at him and before he had time to finish off any of the beasts, the rest of them were on him.

                Even as heavy as he was, it wasn’t enough to keep himself standing as the wolves pushed him down. And soon enough, he found himself lying down in the bloody snow, fighting for his life, bare-handed, with hungry and angry predators.

                Teeth closed themselves right beside his ear with an eerie clack. He looked lightly in that direction, meeting the stare of a crazy and starving animal.

                Sharp fangs brushed his cheek. He felt the trail of saliva that indicated the path that the wolf’s mouth had taken over his face.

                Isca growled loudly, competing with the noise that the creatures on him were making. Would he really die eaten alive…?

                That was quite a horrible death, wasn’t it?

                With his rather big hand, he grabbed the muzzle of a beast and squeezed it roughly. The attacked wolf jumped away, whining softly.

                Another one growled more furiously than ever as it tried to bite Isca’s neck. The knight punched it, but the wolf merely caught the man’s hand with his mouth.

                And he bite.

                Isca screamed in pain and with his free hand, he hit the wolf’s head, hitting him right in one eye. The beast yelped in surprise and probably pain and it let go of Isca’s hand.

                He was bleeding. A lot.

                For a moment, the wolves seemed to calm down lightly. However, soon enough, Isca discovered that the smell of blood would drive any starving predator crazy.

                Smelling the knight’s injury, the remaining beasts seemed to chuckle victoriously as they started turning around Isca once again. Their stare were hungrier and scarier than before.

                Isca had just enough time to look at them, glare at them, before they launched themselves at the injured knight once again.

                He closed his eyes, waiting for the attack.

                Something hot passed above Isca’s body. A hot wave that made a soft woush noise as it flew above the knight. Isca opened his eyes.

                He did so just in time to see the wolves running and being hit by a wave of fire. Something like a large fireball which died as it hit the trees.

                Howling and whining, the wolves ran away.

                Isca blinked, holding his bleeding hand, and he sat up. Shifting lightly, he turned enough to spot silhouettes standing behind him.

                Sheik was there, arms crossed over his chest with a slightly amused hint to his stare as his crimson irises seemed to examine the sat knight. Beside his head, Nami was flying softly.

                And a little before Sheik, a rather tall man stood. Smaller than Isca and yet quite taller than Link. He was slim; almost skinny and wore dark purple and black clothes, which were partially concealed under his grey cape. He had very light lilac eyes. Almost white. His skin was somehow greyish and his hair was dark, as black as a crow’s feathers, and down to his waist.

                He held a book in his left hand. His right one was empty. “Killing the creatures of the mountain won’t help you in any way. It merely angers them and they come back to attack later.” Said the man with a somewhat deep, but anonymous voice. He bore a wise and yet indifferent attitude.

                Isca stared at him with wide eyes. Sheik chuckled softly. Too softly for anyone but Nami to hear. “This is Erk.” The Sheikah introduced. “He is a mage from the tribe we are trying to find.”

• 
  “An elementalist.” Specified Erk. Isca blinked, looking at the mage. Understanding the warrior needed precision, the greyish man sighed softly. “As a mage, I specialise myself in the ways of the element; therefore, I study the spells related to Water, Earth, Wind and Fire.” Isca considered him a moment.


• 
  “I see.” He said, though he had no specific interest for mages. “I guess you are the one who saved me from those wolves, then?”


• 
  “Perhaps they would have spared you if you hadn’t tried to kill them. But indeed, I was the author of this action.” Sheik smirked under his cowl; he liked that man’s attitude already. Isca glared at the mage.


• 
  “Charming…” Whispered Isca. “Anyhow, I thank you…”


• 
  “Erk.” Repeated the black haired man who was visibly annoyed by the knight.


• 
  “Yes, Erk.” Isca got up. Sheik examined him a second time.


• 
  “Bloody. It gives some colour to your armour.” Pointed the Sheikah. Isca looked at him.


• 
  “Yes…” Erk cleared his throat as he rested his right hand on his hip.


• 
  “I think you have other companions that we need to, perhaps, save. It would be wiser for all of you if we were to start rescuing them. Your conversation may wait.” Said bluntly the dark haired mage as he turned to the right and started to walk away, his hair flowing with the wind in an almost unnatural way. Isca glared at his back and Sheik followed the mage, smirking.

***

                Finding Olwen didn’t prove to be very difficult; in the immaculate white snow, a black clad, tall and large man was quite easy to see. And he was not trying to hide, anyways.

                In fact, he was sitting on a bear. Very simply.

                The little group neared him and his bloody stare sat itself on them. He didn’t look particularly pleased as he was cleaning the blade of his dagger with a dark cloth. Erk stared down at the dead bear. Isca merely seemed surprised by the vision of the butler sitting on such an animal and he looked up at the silver-haired man. “You… Killed it?” Whispered the knight. Four pairs of exasperated eyes sat themselves on him.

• 
  “No.” Answered Olwen, amused and malicious. “I merely asked him to lie down and sleep so I could have a proper seating environment as I waited for you to arrive.” The mage’s lips curled very slightly up, and Isca growled softly, glaring at the imposing Sheikah. Sheik chuckled.


• 
  “Still, killing is not a solution in these mountains, Sheikah.” Stated Erk. His tone wasn’t as icy as before, though. “It may bring the wrath of Sylph down on you once again.” Olwen considered the greyish mage.


• 
  “Then I apologize. I was not aware.” Erk raised his free hand, as if saying this was fine.


• 
  “I don’t think the spirit will take offense in this.” He let his hand fall down. “However, there are still two of your companions who need help.” The Sheikahs nodded. “Let’s go.”

***

                The fox was lying down, muzzle in the snow, looking sadly at a whitened form that was still beside him. His little green eyes wouldn’t quit the unmoving shape, even as the wild wind and the snowstorm attacked it.

                It whined softly, burying its muzzle into the snow and closing its eyes a moment.

                But that snowy shape he was watching moaned softly.

                Alerted, the fox looked up, a small mountain of snow on its nose.

                The snow covered silhouette shivered softly, slowly turning on its back, revealing the deep green of its armour.

                Growling, Link massaged his forehead.

                Before he sat up abruptly. The fox imitated him and sat up as well, looking at the hero, perplexed. Looking alarmed and confused, Link examined his surroundings, which were… Pretty much a wasteland of snow…

              He looked down at the fox. And he sighed in disbelief, rolling his eyes and looking up at the sky. “I hate you, Farore.” An icy wind blew at him.

                Cursing, he slowly got up; he was frozen down and feeling really numb. The fox skipped around his legs. Link considered him a moment. “Why the hell are you still with me?” The animal seemed to ask what he was saying. With a swing of the hand, he dismissed his new comrade. “Whatever.” The fox swung its tail happily.

                Wrapping himself tightly in his snow-covered cape, Link shivered, teeth clacking, as he started to walk towards… Nowhere. He had no idea whatsoever where he was going, anyways.  The fox ran between his legs to get before him. He looked at the Hero excitedly before walking quickly towards something white a little farther ahead.

                Tiredly, Link followed the fox’s steps until he saw that snowy thing around which the animal was now skipping. He stopped walking a moment to examine the little creature. Was he really following a fox?

                Link looked around him. There was still nothing.

                So yeah… He was following that fox…

                The white animal whined softly as it kept running around the snow-covered form. Something turquoise and flashy could be seen from that snowy shape.

                Greenish and fluo.

                Link considered it a moment. When did the snow started to be this coloured? He looked around another time. No. No flashy snow anywhere else.

                Flashy…

                Link tilted his head to the side slightly. The fox sat down, looking up at him. “What?” The animal whined softly. The Hylian observed it. “What?” He asked again, this time more impatiently.

                The fox almost rolled its eyes. Almost.

                Instead, it got up and walked to the green snowy thing and pointed at it with its muzzle. Link, who looked exasperated, sighed. “Yeah, weird green stuff which looks like hair. What about it?” The hero blinked. “Wait.”

                Link suddenly neared the snowy shape and kneeled beside it with difficulty. He hissed as his wet pants –and skin- hit the cold snow. Quickly and shaking, he wiped the snow away from that covered form. And he gasped softly. “Tatl!”

***

                Warm and yet slightly cold, Tatl opened her eyes; her lids felt incredibly heavy. The first thing she remarked was that she was somewhere were the walls and ceiling were mere of very white and shiny ice. She could hear the cracking of a fire and feel its heat. Moaning softly, she turned her head –or more like let it fell- to the side. The fire was there, almost smiling to her. She smiled back. Nearby, she remarked that the white fox was still there. What a beautiful animal it was.

                And beside the fire, her clothes were installed on the icy ground, close enough for them to dry. Yes. All of her clothes.

                Blinking, she sat up quickly, a hand holding the furry blanket over her chest. With wide eyes, she examined the ice cavern, hoping she would find Isca.

                But she only gasped more when she remarked the Hero of Time, himself, seemingly as naked as her, covered by another blanket and asleep, his back to an icy wall.

                His clothes lied on the ground as well. All of them, apparently…

                Shocked, she examined his sleeping self. He was curled up in the blanket, though one of his shoulders wasn’t covered and he shivered softly, once in a while.

                Afraid, Tatl glared at him before risking a quick inspection of her own body, fearing he would have done something to her… The flashback of Link almost raping her came back to Tatl’s mind, now.

                Hesitantly, she pulled the blanket slightly away. “You really think that… In such cold… I’d dare fuck you in your sleep…?” The Hero’s voice sounded quite exhausted. She looked up at Link, surprised. He chuckled. “No. I wasn’t asleep.” He shivered and shifted lightly under his blanket. “I’m far too cold for that.” Tatl looked at him.

• 
  “… Why...” She had no real question to ask, really.


• 
  “Because we would have frozen to death if we would have remained in our clothes.” He smiled, half flirty, half exhausted. “And seeing you naked was satisfying for my frozen mind.” Tatl should have glared at him. She should have taken this as an insult or at least, she shouldn’t have appreciated his comment. But he looked miserable.


• 
  “Link… You’re freezing.” He chuckled again, more bitterly this time.


• 
  “Dunno what you’re talking about.” Tatl tilted her head to the side slightly, glaring at him in a caring way.

He looked away, his teeth clacking together. Tatl sighed and she got up, taking with her all of her blankets. Link looked up at her, unsure, as she neared him. “What are you doing?” He whispered more than talked.

• 
  “Taking care of you because you obviously can’t do it yourself.” Surprised, Link looked up at her. He looked hesitant.

Smiling softly, she installed some blankets down on the ground and sat on them. They looked at each other as her naked shoulder touched his. Still smiling, she looked down and blushed before offering him the side of her own blanket. The one that was covering her naked body. “You…Sure?” He asked, hesitant.

She looked up at him and laughed. Link being hesitant before a naked woman? That must have been a first! “Just get closer, dummy!” She said, smiling. Chuckling, he smiled as well before accepting her invitation.

The fox seemed to smile as well.

Naked skin against naked skin. Even if they didn’t touch much under that blanket… It felt quite… Right.

And also wrong.

Tatl looked away, shivering softly as Link’s skin was incredibly cold against her own. He stared at her a moment before turning his attention to the fire. “How long… Have we been here?” She asked, her voice quiet and soft.

• 
  “A few hours. I can’t really tell.” He smiled softly. “Foxy helped me find you and he brought us here.” She nodded.


• 
  “He isn’t such a bother, after all.” Link chuckled, his voice happy, aerial.


• 
  “No, he’s quite a nice companion.” The fox looked at him a moment.


• 
  “Just like you.” Answered Tatl, smiling and looking down. Link turned his attention on her.

He considered her; she was beautiful all the time, but right now, the soft and content expression she wore was only making her… Angelic.  Her hair fell in a messy way around her face and over her naked and pale shoulders. She was smiling, looking at the fire. Her eyes, half-closed were also smiling. Or it seemed to him.

Lightly, he shifted to have a better look at her. Tatl, feeling him move, turned her stare on him. They locked eyes.

He swallowed as he felt something. Something that was crawling out of his stomach and up his throat. And he wasn’t about to throw up.

Hesitantly, he opened his mouth to say something. Smiling softly, Tatl tilted her head to the side, waiting. “Tatl…” He breathed before he had time to realise he was talking.

• 
  “Yes?” She asked, finding the Hero’s attitude quite entertaining… And cute. He swallowed.


• 
  “I…”


• 
  “You?”


• 
  “I…” He blinked, staring at her as if he’d seen a ghost. Tatl laughed softly.


• 
  “Yes, Link? What’s wrong?” He held his breath.


• 
  “I… I think you have great lashes.”

She stared at him a moment, unmoving. Slowly, however, a smile appeared on her purplish lips. And she laughed. “Link, that was-“

Bluntly, suddenly, surprisingly, He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to him, losing the blankets separating them at the same time. He pulled her close. So close it almost hurt them as their naked skin hit, collided together. And before she had time to gasp, he was kissing her.

It was the most possessive, the most brutal kiss she had ever experienced.

It was also the most passionate and the most meaningful.

He held her against him in a way that suggested that he wouldn’t let go. He was clinging. He was begging. Begging for her to be his.

And he was skilled.

It took a moment before Tatl allowed herself to close her eyes and melt in the touch. It took a moment before the shock was replaced with that longing that she had felt all those time she had watched him.

He let her hands fall down to her waist just as she brought hers around his neck.

Pressed against each other and kissing passionately. It felt perfect.

But reality, at some point, kicked in… and reluctantly, the Twili broke the kiss and let go of his shoulders to look away from Link. “We should… Probably dress up.” Saddened by her own action, she examined the fire. His hands were still on her waist. “Before they find us like this.”

Link, with difficulty, let his hands fall down from her skin, from her body he desired so much…

Taking a blanket, she covered her naked body as she collected her clothes on the ground. Not speaking, he followed her. They dressed up in silence, their back to each other.

And dressing up had been a rather good idea as a few moments after the awkwardness of their actions had sunk between them, Sheik stepped into the cavern.

The Sheikah stared at the couple a moment as he felt the uneasiness of the ambiance around him, but he merely associated it with a small fight… Something stupid that the Hero might have done to offense de fluorescent princess…

He was good at that, anyways.

“I am glad to see that you are both alright.” The blond finally said before crossing his arms over his chest. Link merely looked at him a second. The Hylian was miserable.

It, of course, worried the Sheikah slightly, but he pushed the matter away for the moment; it was not the right place, nor the right time for that. “The rest of our small friendly group is waiting outside.” Pointed Sheik as he examined the room, the Twili and Link.

Tatl, ignoring Sheik and Link, exited the cavern quickly without looking at the two men on her way.

Sheik stared up at his brother, worriedly.

Link directed his gaze on the fire, desperate.

And the screech from earlier came back. Only stronger.

***

With Link on his heels, Sheik exited the cavern. Both men knew what they would lay eyes upon and they were right; hovering above the ground, the purplish and fierce bird was waiting and seemed just as angry as before.

Or perhaps a little more.

However, the Hero’s group stood back, watching the bird with attention as a man Link had never seen before was standing closer to the monster, visibly engaging him in a duel. The Hylian looked up at Olwen, but his heart sank at the sight of Isca holding Tatl against him. Shaking his head, he focused on the silver-haired man. “What’s happening?” Link voice was rather soft, which surprised himself and the Sheikahs.

• 
  “That bird from earlier came back.” Pointed Olwen as he looked at the smaller men.


• 
  “Yes, but why are we standing back? And who’s that guy?”


• 
  “His name is Erk. He is a mage from the tribe we are trying to find, and he saved us all, one by one.” Answered Sheik.


• 
  “And we are standing back because he asked for us to wait before attacking.” Nami appeared beside Link’s head. “Apparently, he has been chasing that creature for a while, now.” Link stared at the butler before looking at the bird, but did not really see it. His mind was elsewhere.


• 
  “I see…” He whispered.

Erk stood before the bird, staring at it. The creature glared back menacingly. Yet, the mage didn’t twitch. It screeched, moving its head in a vast circle, as if warning the elementalist about something. But Erk didn’t mind the flying spirit’s screams; he was well aware of the bird’s strength.

And of his.

Steadily standing into the snow, book at his feet, he started moving his hands together, his pale eyes still on the creature before him. The humongous creature.

Slowly, energy started to gather around his hands and the spirit, feeling the attack coming, screeched and beat its wings more quickly, the wind around him shifted in all the directions at the same time.

Sitting on Link’s head, Nami watched with interest.

The white fox appeared beside the Hero, yawning. Link looked down at it, but the animal became suddenly alerted as he spotted the bird and Erk. Without another look at the Hylian, it ran straight beside the mage, adopting a fighting and aggressive stance.

The mage, not losing his concentration, looked down briefly at the animal before returning his attention to the spirit.

And then, the very quiet pouf of a new fire brought the distinct substance of flames between the greyish man’s hands. Smirking lightly, the mage, started to cast.

Inferiorum facere homo scelestus

Animal ex mors

Flamma velle capere tuus

Admodum spiritus

              A wave of fire escaped the mage’s hands. He joined his wrists together and the wave intensified itself, grew bigger. Wilder.

                The bird screeched, but it didn’t seem to burn down. It only looked surprised and angry to have been fooled by some mortal.

                Behind the fight, the small group stared at the scene with wide eyes. That fire wave would have killed any of them the moment it would have touched their skin!

                Impressed, Nami stared at the mage.

The spirit, angry, flew away and above Erk, circling the man via the airway. The greyish man merely followed the movements of the bird with calculating eyes as the wind gusts exiting the creature’s wings made the snow around the skinny man lift and slowly circle him.

Protego Durus

A wide transparent and slightly bluish energy shield rose around the mage and his fox at the very moment the bird transformed the snow into icy and miniature spears and launched them at Erk.

Nami gasped softly.

Erk turned himself towards the bird, hands spread. The bird has his guard down now, and the mage knew it was time to strike. He dismissed his shield and smirked, an unknown spark in his eyes.

Augue

A big fireball hit the spirit’s body, surprising it. It sent the bird flying into trees, destroying a few ones before it reached the ground.

Silence.

Quickly, Erk ran to the spirit.

So did the rest of the group, curious.

Standing before the mystic creature, Erk stared hardly down at it. The fox growled softly at the spirit. It looked tired, but it was not injured. Raising its neck, it looked at the mage. “Ye who hast challenged Sylph, ye who hast proved worthy, what is yer desire?” The voice was deep and ghostly. Erk considered the bird’s words.

• 
  “As an elementalist, I have dedicated myself to the forgotten art of fusion. Today, I seek to convince the great wind spirit, Sylph, that I am worthy enough for him to allow me to use his powers by combining them to mine.” Behind him, Sheik and Olwen stared at each other, interested. Sylph, tired, examined the man before him.


• 
  “What pact hast ye made before?”


• 
  “I have the powers of Gaïa, the great spirit of earth.” Sylph nodded slowly before it rose, high, into the winter sky.


• 
  “Ye hast proved worthy. Ye hast, though, showed only little of what ye can do.” The bird’s now calm eyes looked around at the group behind Erk. “And it is in the hope of seeing more, that Sylph shall agree.”

Erk smiled. For the first time. Then he nodded and bowed his head lightly. “I thank you, great wind spirit.”

A flash of purplish white light blinded the whole group a moment. And when they could open their eyes again, the bird had disappeared, but before them hovered a half-man, half-crow creature of dark purple and black color.

However, it instantly turned back to its original shape: Erk was standing before them, eyes closed.  They had had no time, sadly, to truly observe the man’s magic appearance. “What… Happened?” Asked Link. Opening his light and ghostly eyes, the mage looked at him.

• 
  “You must be the Hero of Time?” The Hylian blinked.


• 
  “Yes…?” The mage examined him, then nodded.


• 
  “Then we have to talk. Let’s leave for the village right away.” Not answering the Hero’s question, he started to walk away, the fox following closely behind.


• 
  “Can I have an explanation, please?!” Screamed Link at the greyish man. Stopping, Erk looked above his shoulder at him.

“In due time.”