(no subject)

[ocarinahero]

[It's fairly late in the day when the feed starts. Cambot seems to be hiding in a corner on the weapons deck. The sound of clanging metal and a high, child-like voice crying out at certain intervals fills the air.

Cambot peeks over his hiding spot to see Link engaged in a swordfight with his doppelganger. Oddly enough, it seems as though he's dealt with something like this before.

The shadow version of the boy says something, and Link grits his teeth angrily and replies:]

Y-yeah, well, you used to be taller, too!

[And he lunges at the doppelganger, trying to find an opening to finish the thing off. They trade blows, swords clanging off of shields. All the while, Link is trying to back the thing into a corner, while the doppelganger flings unheard insults at him

When he's finally able to corner the shadow, he leaps at it, bringing his sword down to cleave it in two. It disappears almost instantly.

I liked you better when you couldn't talk...

Comments

[sailorgenerous]

[She winces a bit when he slices it in two, but...]

Do they disappear that easily, then?

[ocarinahero]

So it seems...

[sailorgenerous]

Well. That is interesting.

I am glad you don't have to, ah...deal with yours anymore.

[ocarinahero]

I've dealt with something like this before...

Though last time it didn't insult me.

[sylvan_child]

[Saria just watches, bewildered. She's never seen Link fight for real before, and she's long since gotten a bad feeling about these things.]

[ocarinahero]

[Link suddenly seems upset when he sees Saria's reaction. He unceremoniously lets the weapons clatter to the ground.]

S-saria?

[sylvan_child]

Link...you...

y-you knew that thing?

[ocarinahero]

Something like it...

[sylvan_child]

[She just looks at him, confused. Goddesses, what happened to him since he left the forest?]

[ocarinahero]

I'm... I'm okay, Saria, honest!

[Except he doesn't sound okay. He sound's guilty]

[sylvan_child]

It's...not that...

[ocarinahero]

Then...

What is it?

[sylvan_child]

Well. I...

[So many questions and she has no idea where to even start or if she should even say anything.]

[Action]

[ocarinahero]

[He doesn't reply, instead he shows up in the room she was in sometime later]

Hey.

[sylvan_child]

[She just looks up at Link and nods. She's still trying to gather her thoughts.]

[ocarinahero]

[He looks away and thinks for a moment, then looks back]

Saria... do you know what I am?

[It seems like a random question, but it actually has a purpose]

[sylvan_child]

[She tilts her head slightly, shaking her head. She doesn't fully understand what he means.]

I...I know you had to leave for some great purposes...I've always known that...but I...Link, I don't understand. What's happened to you all this time?

[ocarinahero]

All I was supposed to do was give Princess Zelda the stone.

[He sits down next to Saria]

But the Princess, she came up with a plan to save Hyrule... It wasn't anything major, just get the other stones from the Gorons and Zora and open the Sacred Realm, but... [He looks at Saria] It didn't go quite as she planned.

[sylvan_child]

Link...?

[She's not sure what to make of this. She knew of things like the Goron King who liked her music, and that somewhere there was a castle. But saving Hyrule...?]

[ocarinahero]

I opened the door and... drew the Master Sword from the pedestal...

And next thing I knew, it was seven ye... [He hesitates]

[sylvan_child]

[Her ears perk at that hesitation. She looks at him with wide eyes. She thinks she knows that word he was about to start.]

...years?

[ocarinahero]

Yes. I had been asleep for seven years and...

[There's even more hesitation, and he stares at his hands for a moment.]

I... I had grown up.

[sylvan_child]

[Her face falls slowly and she looks to the floor.

She...has no idea what she can say to that. She's never even fathomed what it must be like to grow up. She knew he was different, but this...]

[ocarinahero]

I'm Hylian, Saria, not Kokiri.

[He sighs and looks away]

I was able to save Hyrule, and the Princess sent me back to my childhood, but I'm not sure I...

I mean... [He looks back up at Saria] I never really felt like an adult, but I don't feel like a child anymore, either.

[sylvan_child]

[Saria continues to look at the floor. Seven years. She just can't get past that. It explains so much...why there was such a long time when he didn't contact her again. And as it sinks in further it almost explains everything. The Deku Tree must have even given his life for this.]

Link...I....I don't know what to say...

[ocarinahero]

You don't have to say anything...

[He looks away]

That thing... It said I'll never be a hero again, that I lost my only chance to feel like I belong somewhere and that I'll never learn how to live with being a child again.

... And it called me short.

[sylvan_child]

[She looks over at him with sad eyes, watching him. She has no idea what she can even say to this.

All she can think to do is just reach over and cover his hand with hers.]

[ocarinahero]

[He just... breaks down and starts crying]

[sylvan_child]

[Saria is absolutely startled. In the ten years she knew him, she never saw him cry. Not like this. Not even when he left. Silently she just scoots closer, moving her hand up to put her arm around his shoulders.]

[ocarinahero]

I'll understand if you want nothing to do with me anymore....

[sylvan_child]

Wh-what?!

[ocarinahero]

I'm not the same person who left the forest... I've changed.

[sylvan_child]

...

[She's silent for a moment, before she shakes her head.]

What kind of friend would I be if I just pushed you away now?

[ocarinahero]

[He hugs Saria]

I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.

[sylvan_child]

[She shakes her head again and returns the hug, tighter than she's ever hugged him before.]

[ocarinahero]

[He sighs, then puts on a somewhat sad smile]

Some people say I'm the best swordsman in Hyrule.

[He's trying to change the subject]

[solmidna]

You can kill them?

[ocarinahero]

It is just a monster.

[solmidna]

[Midna turns around but hers seems to be gone. She nods to Link.]

I'm glad you're alright.

[dadandgone]

[He solemnly watches this, paying close attention as it disappears]

So they can be dispatched fairly easily then.

I wonder why it doesn't leave a body.