The Plea Of A Hero - a Legend Of Zelda Fanfic
chapter five: Way Back When
Zelda went back to her house, to the man that had cared for her. She remembered everything now.
"You're not... You were my teacher, right? Back home, you taught me what my role would be if Ganon ever came back."
"And the one who found Link and brought him to the castle." she added.
Zelda's teacher-- Othar-- chuckled. "You used to despise him for all the attention he got, but I think he grew on you after a while."
A moment passed in silence as the princess prepared to ask the question on her mind.
"I know we're not related, but... would it be okay if I kept calling you grandpa? You still feel like family to me."
Tears welled in Othar's eyes, and he nodded.
And someplace else, far off the mountain and in the scorching, barren planes of Gerudo Desert... a man was devising his plot.
It was the very same man who was in possession of the supposed hero. Link was weak and reckless, and stood no chance of being accepted by the sword. Not without proper training, at least.
Link was scared. He was tired and sore, and his head was throbbing, pulsating, more and more with every restored piece of his childhood. He curled in on himself and held both sides of his head, as though it would stem the memories flowing into his mind.
Link didn't know why he was being trained this way. They kept telling him he was 'destined' for something, but he didn't know what that meant.
And all he could do was run. Those people weren't his real family. They found him when he was a baby and took him in.
"You'll be the one," they used to say, handing him a heavy sword to train with. After each failed session, he wondered why they thought he would be the one.
So he was running away. Link wasn't sure where, or how far he would get, but maybe someone could help him.
He froze in fear. A horse-drawn carriage was rushing towards him.
Somehow, moments later, Link was still alive. The horse reared just in time. It lowered its head to look into the child's eyes.
"Go on, you can pet her. Epona doesn't bite." A man had stepped out of the carriage. He was gentle looking, with white hair and ice blue eyes. He adjusted his glasses and looked the little boy over, walking up next to him to supervise.
Slowly, Link reached out and scratched the side of the horse's nose. Epona leaned in, closing her deep brown eyes.
"So, where did you come from? It's not safe for a kid to be out here this late."
The child remained silent.
What was Othar to do? He couldn't just ask a kid to come with him, but he could not leave the boy alone, either.
But when Othar looked back, the young stranger was not there.
"I must be getting tired. Time to head back, old girl." he said to Epona.
And they returned to Hyrule Castle.
The young maid greeted him outside, "Welcome back," she said, "How was your evening ride?"
"Not a monster in sight." The teacher responded, stepping out of the carriage.
"Oh? Who...? Who's your little friend, here?"
"What friend? I can assure you, Impa, I never picked up any--"
"That boy, in the carriage."
"Hmm?" Othar turned, to see a large pair of lavender eyes peeking at him from inside the wagon. It was that child again.
"A stowaway...?" Impa murmured as she walked over. "Well, we can't keep him out here. It's late and about to storm. We'll get you back to your family tomorrow."
The maid reached out to pick him up, but the boy scooted back, shaking his head.
"I-- I don't want to go back there." a tiny voice slipped through at last. "I... they--"
At the sound of someone else's voice, the child huddled close to Impa, and she put a protective arm around him.
"What are you doing? Hand him over." a woman said. She was talking as though he was some sort of object.
Impa gathered the boy-- Link-- up in her arms and set him behind her.
"We found him when he was just a baby. We've been training him. He's the legendary hero, look at the Triforce on his hand!" The woman insisted. "And then just a few hours ago, he ran off!"
"Training him?" Othar said as he glanced over at Link. "This boy has to be just barely seven years old, no wonder he ran off. He doesn't need training, he needs a family, and love!"
A man stepped forward, shoving Impa out of the way and taking the young boy by the wrist, "We're leaving," he said, "and he's coming with us."
Link gazed back longingly as they got smaller and smaller, farther and farther. He tried planting his feet, staying in one spot but nothing help.
"No, let me go! I want to go with them. Stop it, please!"
But he knew, his tiny voice would never reach their ears.
"Excuse me? Hello? Over here!" a voice called. The three of them turned to look.
"I don't think this child wants to go back with you. Do you, Link?"
He blinked in surprise. No one had ever asked Link what he wanted.
"I want to stay here! In the castle!"
"And you might just be able to, kiddo!" Impa told him. She was bent down to be at eye-level. "You three wait here. I'll ask the King of Hyrule himself if Link can stay!"
"Ask me if who can stay here?"
They all turned, and even Link's supposed caretakers were respectful enough to kneel before the King of Hyrule.
"Your Majesty," said Impa, "this child wants to live in Hyrule Castle. He doesn't have a real family, and I was wondering if I could take him under my wing."
A moment passed in silence, and the king nodded.
"Ugh, fine." The man who had seized hold of Link released his grip, and shoved the child forward.
"Come along then, Link." Impa smiled, offering her open palm.
He put his tiny hand in hers, and from that day on, Link knew where his loyalty stood.
