Ocarina of Time II: Parallel Symphony

Part One: Boy

Chapter One: Ten -- Second Chances (pt. 1)

Zelda looked through the window at the black-clad desert king approaching her father. Why? Why won't he listen to me? she wondered, clutching at the windowsill. Impa refused to teach her even the least Sheikah techniques before her twelfth birthday, and no matter how free with their lore she was, the princess still felt helpless without them. Just looking at the Gerudo King, she could feel the evil energies radiating off of him. She already knew some Sagecraft, and she'd mastered all three of the basic Hylian Spells at the tender age of ten, but that hardly qualified her to challenge the dreaded Ganondorf Dragmire, Ocarina or no Ocarina. What am I going to do? I always know what to do... The only answer her talent would give her was 'wait,' but how could she? King Dragmire was almost ready to move. Impa's contact with Darunia and her own talks with Ruto were proof enough of that. A brief smile flickered across her face at the thought of Ruto, but vanished in the face of Hyrule's grave plight. Thank Nayru that the Great Deku Tree yet stands. A sudden chill struck her. Please, Nayru, let the Tree still live. She'd sensed its distress, but all she knew in that moment was that the Kokiri remained untouched...for now.

"The Kokiri..." Zelda whispered. Why do I keep seeing Kokiri? Especially that boy...so serious for one so young... A grave frown on his face, a determination in his eyes to shatter every obstacle that evil might place before him, and some deeper emotion, one she couldn't place, yet for the most part, she knew this courageous boy down to his marrow.

Something landed softly behind her. For an instant, she thought it was Impa, but something about the sound of it was just different enough for Zelda to realize it wasn't. At the same time, she didn't feel at all in danger. Indeed, she mused with surprise, I've never felt...safer...

All the same, she gasped in shock the moment she turned.

It was him, the boy she'd seen, his expression even more intense than it had been in her dreams. A moment later, his inevitable fairy flew in from above, alighting on the edge of his tail-like Kokiri hat. She then vanished under it. And here I stand, Zelda thought, trapped between a giggle and a groan, looking like a helpless, frightened...princess, she realized, deciding on the giggle. "You're the one, aren't you?" Zelda coughed politely. "I mean, the Great Deku Tree sent you, didn't he?" The boy nodded. "Then...then you wouldn't happen to have...the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, would you? That green and shining stone..."

"Zelda, this is very important," Link said slowly. Instantly, he had her attention. When he looks into my eyes...it's like he's peering into my soul. Zelda nodded. "I have the Stone, but I know what you saw, and there's a flaw in your plan."

Zelda gaped in astonishment. He knew? She was sure she'd have known if the boy was a Sage. The ray of light that dispersed the darkness, the Stone, the fairy...he was a Hero, chosen by the gods, of that she was certain. The Sages guided Heroes, they didn't become them. Yet he knew? "Flaw? I don't understand..."

"You want me to go to the Gorons and the Zoras and gather their Stones as well," he replied. Zelda gasped. How would he know that? Unless he's heard the legend... "They're in danger, and I will help them...but trust me, it's best if we leave the Stones in their own lands."

"But why?" Zelda looked away. "If you know all of this, then you must be aware of Ganondorf..." her head snapped back up, eyes drawn to his face as if by sorcery. There was such pain written in him, such grief...Zelda suddenly wanted to tell him to go home, she'd handle it, her and Impa...

"Oh yes, I know Ganondorf," he whispered. "He's right through that window, isn't he?" Zelda glanced back briefly, beyond being surprised by his knowledge. Ganondorf was just then bending knee to the King, her father. The Gerudo let an eye flicker to her, and he smiled -- an expression without humor or kindness, as harsh and merciless as the desert winds he was born to. Zelda paled, and suddenly Link was there, one hand on her shoulder and the other on his sword hilt. "I will never," he said, and Zelda could almost hear Farore echoing in his voice, "let that monster hurt you. Never."

"I'm glad to hear it," Impa replied in her usual dry voice, and Link jumped away from the princess, looking sheepish. "One who came so close to the princess with a hand on his blade without such intentions would have been dead before he touched her."

"Impa!" Zelda said, looking at her protector with wide eyes. "That's not nice!"

"It's my job," Impa shrugged.

"It's her job," Link said in the exact same moment. They looked at each other then, an understanding passing between them, and Zelda grimaced. Of all the idiotic...! For one brief, irrational instant, she'd been jealous of Impa. Jealous!

"That's not the point," Zelda replied as calmly as she could manage. "I told you a Kokiri boy would come -- well, a boy dressed as a Kokiri, anyway, and with that fairy accompanying him--"

"Navi, Your Highness," the fairy put in politely, glaring at Link as if it were his fault Zelda didn't know her name. "And this lout is Link." The Hero grinned sheepishly, clearly realizing in retrospect that he hadn't introduced either of them.

Zelda smiled indulgently. "An honor, Navi. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Great Deku Tree has embraced -- Link -- as one of their own." Link, she thought, examining the name in her mind. A connection. I've never heard of someone being named Link. Zelda examined the Hero in turn. Somehow, though, it suits him. The princess certainly felt connected to him.

"We're getting sidetracked," Link said, shaking his head suddenly, "and we don't have the time." He licked his lips. "Ganondorf suspects what we're planning."

"'We?'" Impa asked, eyebrow raised, the corners of her mouth twitching.

"'We,'" Link replied, scowling at the Sheikah, "seeing as I'm central to the plan, already know the plan, and have vital information about the plan."

"Touché." Impa nodded in acknowledgment. "And this 'flaw' you foresee?"

"I haven't foreseen it, Sage of Shadow," Link replied, eyes tightening, "I've lived it." He reached into his fairy-enchanted pouch and drew forth something plainly impossible: the Shadow Medallion.

Impa was still reacting to Link calling her the Sage of Shadow, expression going neutral and stance sliding to First Focus, when Zelda felt it. The Ocarina in her own enchanted pouch was humming. "Time," she whispered. "You've been through time itself."

Link nodded. "I have a lot to tell you, and not nearly as much time as I'd like to tell it. I'm connected to the Master Sword somehow. I did as you asked, healing the sacred places of the Gorons and Zoras and receiving their Stones in return." He grimaced slightly. Oh dear, Zelda thought with a faint blush, remembering in a rush that the Spiritual Stone of Water had an...unusual...tradition attached to it. "Just as I returned with the last Stone, though, you and Impa were fleeing the castle, Ganondorf right behind you. You threw me the Ocarina of Time, I used it to reach the Master Sword, and then..."

Zelda listened in horror as seven years of the most unimaginable nightmare she'd ever heard poured forth emotionlessly from the boy's lips. The princess could tell Link was leaving a few things out, but what she heard was clearly Truth. Even Impa paled during the worst parts of the story. They'd defeated Ganondorf in the end, but it was everything she was trying to prevent, and in spite of the way Link told the story, there was no mistaking how it all began. This child, no older than herself, had followed her directions into that horror. "What...what do you think we should do, then?" she asked finally, shuffling her feet.

"I'm going to need your help," Link replied, looking grimmer than ever. "We have to stop Ganondorf from reaching the Sacred Realm." The Hero's smile was humorless. "He can't touch the Master Sword, no matter how powerful he gets. Even so, we have to help Darunia and King Zora. Once we do that, they should be able to help us convince your father how dangerous Ganondorf is."

"Yet by the evidence, King Dragmire is aware of our plans somehow," Impa noted quietly. "How do you intend to claim the initiative?"

Link's smile returned, fierce with anticipation. "I have some experience with Ganondorf's twisted puzzles," he replied, his fairy bobbing a 'nod' beside him in agreement. "Just keep the castle safe for a little while longer."

Impa nodded. Zelda did likewise, but bit her lip when Link looked away. He didn't say, but the future Ganondorf must have killed...how can I stop the evil king when my own father won't believe me?

Link turned around, and Zelda immediately smoothed her expression. He placed a hand on her shoulder again, and those eyes...for just a moment, she didn't want him to leave. It wasn't fair that the gods should lay such burdens on a boy. Twice. It wasn't fair.

Zelda sighed. Well, as Impa keeps reminding me, life isn't fair. If he can do this, then so can I. She gave Link her best smile. "We'll protect the palace, Link. Don't worry about us." Link nodded. It's going to be different this time.

* * *

What are they up to? Ganondorf thought, eyes flashing with crimson light as he brooded on his throne.

Koume and Kotake flew in slow circles around him, and his muscles relaxed at the sound of their cackling. To think, it disturbed me so in my youth. The Spirit Temple chamber, with its austere pillars and artwork, held little else. I should create a third Iron Knuckle, he thought incongruously, his mind flickering to practical matters. Perhaps that rebellious fool Nabooru will suffice.

"Yes, heh heh heh," Koume said, nodding enough to cause her flight to wobble slightly, "Nabooru would be perfect."

"Of course, hee hee hee,' Kotake laughed, "once we break that traitor, the Gerudo will be ours."

"Stay out of my mind, witches," Ganondorf replied absently. It had become a habit -- a pointless habit, the monarch added to himself -- to admonish them for their telepathy, and for them to ignore him. "The Gerudo are already mine, with a few irrelevant exceptions. The princess has changed her plans. That kid, the Deku Tree's puppet, he knows something."

"It means nothing," Koume said with a fiery snort that echoed through the chamber. Even I've never gotten used to those noses of theirs, Ganondorf mused. "The boy will do the princess' bidding, and she, unwittingly, will do ours."

Kotake scowled. "I disagree," she replied, eyes narrowing. "The Heir is right, sister. The boy knows something." She spiraled closer to the Gerudo King. "Kill him now, Great Ganondorf, before he grows in power."

"Pah!" Koume moved in closer as well. "Didn't we agree the boy would be useful? Did we not place the Stones' path before the princess? How foolish would it be to change our plans now?"

"Ungrateful wretch!" Kotake snarled back. "Did I teach you nothing? We must change our plans when events change! Great Ganondorf is right!" 'Great Ganondorf' rubbed his temples. Din, not again...

"You're heartless!" Koume wailed. "Why must you always lay everything on our boy? We can handle this false Kokiri orphan!"

"Enough," Ganondorf rumbled, standing. The two lowered and expanded their flight, bowing their heads slightly. "In the immediate matter, I agree with Kotake that we should adjust our plans regarding that child." He sighed as the four century old mistress of ice stuck her tongue out at her sister. "He defeated the Dodongo King and has reached the Zora throne. Arrogant brat though she may be, Ruto is more cunning than most give her credit for. She will use the boy well, a boy who has proven clever enough to defeat my Cavern puzzles. Nevertheless," he continued, and Koume perked up, "we shall not slay him, yet. To assassinate one child out of fear would show weakness."

Kotake slowed to a stop before the Gerudo King, eyes narrowing even further as she peered into his. "You're certain that is your only reason?" she rasped. "You wouldn't feel compassion or sympathy for the boy, a fellow orphan, would you?"

Ganondorf regarded the old sorceress for a moment. Then he casually backhanded her across the room. "You froze all the compassion and sympathy out of me long ago, witch," he said, his tone light and level. "You needn't fear on that score. It is simply that I have no intention of displaying cowardice over a ten year old kid."

Koume gulped in shock, but Kotake only laughed. "I'm proud of you, King Dragmire," Kotake cackled, levitating from the floor. "Yes, let our minions do the work. When he falls to a Stalfos, or perhaps Barinade, there will be no legend, only a foolish boy who didn't know his place."

Ganondorf nodded and strode from the room, leaving the witches to resume their argument. They did, of course, with depressing alacrity and venom. He dismissed the two from his mind, bending his thoughts to the far-too-clever Zelda and her diminutive would-be protector. No Stalfos will slay this boy, nor even Barinade, I think, the Gerudo decided. I will have to defeat him myself. Ganondorf smiled, an expression colder than Kotake's mightiest spell. When that day comes, he must be old enough that instead of disgust, Hyrule knows only despair. He laughed. "Yes, Link of the Kokiri, yet not of the Kokiri, grow clever and strong. Become the Hero of Hyrule. When I crush you, that will break the Sages all the more utterly for it!" His laughter continued as he marched forward to summon yet another phantom soul with which to create a monster...

* * *

High King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule turned the coin over and over in his hand. What he felt between his fingers was impossible, yet there it was: the Medallion of Light. The court murmured with concern. Sir Senza and Sir Zuko, the princess' official bodyguards, looked over her head at each other in concern, both men moving a step closer to her. "Where, daughter," he said, trying to tamp down his fear for his only child, "did you get this?"

"A Kokiri boy," Zelda said solemnly. Daphnes bit back a sigh. I'm proud of you, my child, he thought, but the king's throat still tightened. There had been a time that his daughter would have shown her emotions around her father. I've taught you too well, it seems. Daphnes shook off the feeling. Zelda would be a great queen. He could give her no more and serve his people properly.

"Kokiri?" Daphnes asked, instead of saying what he thought. "Kokiri cannot leave the forest. They wither immediately, and die within days." The diminutive Zuko scowled, while Senza made the Triforce symbol over his heart.

Zelda's eyes tightened. "He was raised Kokiri. He has a fairy companion, and the Great Deku Tree chose him. That he was born Hylian should make little difference, in light of...this," she said, holding out another wonder.

In spite of himself, Daphnes gasped, shifting in his seat. Half the court gasped far more loudly, however, covering his own gaffe nicely. "The Spiritual Stone of the Forest," he breathed. There could be no mistaking that gem, not for one of Hylian blood. He could feel the Stone's song ringing in his blood, his soul.

This was going to be a problem.

"Leave us," he said, waving the court away. As the shocked Lady Marie went through the more proper heraldic litany of dismissing the nobles and courtiers, Daphnes gestured for Zelda to step forward. Senza and Zuko withdrew with deep reluctance, leaving last save for the king's own guards. Zelda, meanwhile, obeyed, her Sheikah 'nanny' following loyally. "Impa," he said fondly once they were alone. "I do not recall making an exception for you."

Impa's lips twitched. You do not smile around me any more either, he mused, though it gladdened him that she came close today. "You bade me swear loyalty to your daughter, Your Majesty," Impa replied evenly. "Above even yourself, by your own command."

Daphnes nodded. "So I did, so I did," he agreed absently, thoughts returning to the magnificent Stone. "Then Great Deku has chosen a champion." Zelda nodded. "And said champion agrees with you that Ganondorf is dangerous." Again, Zelda nodded politely, but he noted his proper, respectful daughter starting to bounce on her toes. Daphnes himself fought back a smile. It was the most she would ever show, but her patience was starting to fray. Be a child, my princess, for just a little longer. He gestured to the step below the throne and stood. "Sit, Zelda."

Zelda blinked and approached the throne, bowing before taking a seat on the highest stair. She gasped as he sat down beside her, gently laying an arm around her shoulders. "Daddy..."

Daphnes nodded. "I know, Zelda. I have not done this in a long time. Too long, clearly." He glanced over one shoulder. Gods be good. Impa was smiling, now. It was a tiny thing, but there it was. Perhaps there is more I can give her after all. Confident he'd done the right thing, he leaned over slightly. "I know that Ganondorf is planning something. Darunia and Zora the Sixteenth are my friends, you know."

His daughter looked up at him in surprise. "Then why, father? Why did you dismiss me like...like..." she swallowed, then forced a polite expression to form. "Why did you act as if you thought my vision nothing but a dream?"

Daphnes sighed again. This is going to be difficult. He gestured at the banners. "Hylians. Gorons. Zoras. Dekus. Kokiri. The races of Hyrule have been fractious for centuries. The peace you have lived with your whole life, Zelda, is a recent and fragile one, and I am the first High King in a thousand years. Even the Gerudos and Sheikah are considered different races by most, not 'true' Hylians." Zelda frowned, but did not react otherwise. I am glad you are not so sheltered, the king thought, but I wish you did not have to see it. "If I can make peace with the Gerudo tribe, then only the Dekus will remain outside the law and justice of our ancestors, and they will not resist Hryule's writ for long."

"But father, if Ganondorf threatens our allies, how can you allow him to come here so freely?" Zelda asked. She shivered, and Daphnes caught a brief glimpse of what his goddess-gifted daughter saw, the dark clouds surrounding the Gerudo King, clouds hiding fierce, terrible flames.

"Zelda, sometimes it is more important to talk to one's enemies than one's friends." Daphnes hugged his daughter. She let out a tiny, shocked gasp. Far too long. "In public, I show him all the respect and honor due the Gerudo King, their strongest in five hundred years. Zelda, most Gerudo love their king. Aside from a rebellious 'lone wolf' and her adherents," he continued, chuckling at the contradiction, "where Ganondorf leads, they follow, without question or hesitation." His humor vanished as he remembered Darunia's most recent, desperate message. "In private, I have informed him in no uncertain terms that if he is responsible for the Gorons' food crisis or Jabu-Jabu's illness, I will show him that Gerudo are not the only Hylians who know how to fight."

Zelda's face flickered, a wide smile appearing and vanishing as if by Sheikah magic. He'd taught her the gravity of war, and even in the abstract, she clearly remembered her lessons well. "And the Great Deku Tree, father?"

Daphnes sighed. "I cannot bring the dead back to life." Zelda gasped at that, eyes wide, and tears glistened in them. He glanced down. "The boy did not tell you?" he asked, a bit surprised.

"N-no," Zelda replied, blinking. "Excuse me, father, I..."

"I am surprised you did not sense it," Daphnes said, regarding his daughter anew, then turning to the Spiritual Stone once more. There was a filter, of sorts, on the Stone. The ancient Tree had left this knowledge to his champion alone, but Daphnes was too well connected to those he'd made pacts with so long ago to have not felt the void. Impa simply regarded the pair with a raised eyebrow, but Daphnes knew that she'd been aware of it as well. *You cannot shelter her forever, Impa,* he sent to her mentally, grateful that his ability to 'path was not gone entirely.

*Zelda has burdens even you will never understand, my liege,* Impa replied quietly. *We hoped to ease those burdens a little longer.*

*Hmph. 'We?' You trust this boy quickly,* Daphnes shot back.

*I remember him,* Impa 'pathed simply. Daphnes kept his face neutral, but his mind reverberated with shock. *I am the Sage of Shadow. When the lad told me, I remembered it all. Another life, another world. Zelda will explain the specifics, but I tell you this true: even of those chosen to be Heroes, he shall be a legend among legends.* She paused. *And he loves Zelda with an intensity I did not think possible. He has died for her repeatedly, and will do so again if he must.*

Repeatedly? Daphnes thought, wondering how many times a body could handle fairy resurrection. As strong as she'd been, his own wife hadn't been able to survive the magic of the Gerudo witches. He still remembered her, burning and freezing at once, her strange, foreign armor shattered, leading the battle that broke the last Gerudo assault even as she was dying...he shook the memory aside. I cannot let myself grieve again, not now. If Impa could make her claim even remembering his golden Luda, then this boy must be extraordinary indeed. He returned his attention to Zelda, who was failing to hide her tears with a wipe from the back of her hand. For a moment, he'd thought the hand had glowed, but it had been a trick of the light, clearly. "Zelda, if my own awareness is accurate, the Great Deku Tree must have been dead before the boy ever reached you."

"It's just...not fair. He's been through so much." Zelda sniffled.

Daphnes handed her a kerchief. She wiped her face daintily, then blew her nose into it loudly. Again, he fought back a chuckle, but couldn't help a smile. "'He,' 'he,' you keep referring to this boy like some kind of phantom. Who is this super-child?"

Zelda's sorrow all but vanished, and she smiled up at him like the sun itself. "Link," she said.

* * *

"Watch out!" Navi shouted.

Link circled the electrified monster, hefting the boomerang carefully. Well, this is different, he thought wryly. He dodged the thing as it spun at him again. It was almost exactly the same as before, but one small element was complicating the fight.

"Put me DOWN, you ugly beast!" Ruto howled, beating on the thing's...head, antenna, whatever it was that formed one of Barinade's topmost elements. She was distracting it rather nicely, but when Link used the Lens of Truth, he could see a magical force keeping her pinned to it. If he wasn't going to hurt the Zora princess, the young Hero was going to have to be careful with every throw.

Why couldn't have this been like the Dodongo Caverns? Link thought wearily. Jabu-Jabu was far more badly infected this time around than the poor old fish-god had been before -- and Link wasn't about to lose another guardian deity to Ganondorf.

The Caverns had been so easy...

"Still not very bright, are you?" Link laughed, running as fast as his stubby child's legs would carry him. Again, King Dodongo suffered an explosive case of indigestion. "Even kid-running is faster than you," he taunted as the monster bellowed in rage and pain. Again it pounded after the young Hero. Again Link ran for a sample of the 'Goron special crop.' "I just hope Darunia doesn't get overly excited again. Gods, he's more dangerous than you are." He turned as he hefted another bomb 'fruit.' "You think he'll try to hug me?" Link asked casually, tossing the explosive plant as the creature bellowed its wordless response.

Darunia had tried to hug him, of course.

Link dodged another spinning charge from the deadly anemone-thing, eyes narrowing as he focused. Mercifully, its whirling had caused its upper appendages to entangle, thanks to Ruto's presence. I really shouldn't be so glad that Ruto's dizzy too, he thought, grimacing as he let the boomerang fly. He smiled -- finally! he exulted, relieved -- as the weapon hit home and the monster fell over. Of course, the smaller beasts were swirling around it, but Link knew how that worked. He rolled past one, ran around the others, and leapt at the exposed body with his Kokiri blade.

"Hnn -- hnn -- hnn -- hey-AAH!" he roared, finishing his series of slashes with his trademark spin, unleashing a fiery ring of magical power. The creature began to shudder, its body withering. "Gotcha!" Link exulted, then gasped in horror. "Ruto!" He leaped over the parasite, driving his sword down and sending Navi with a thought to center his focus on his target. Guide my blade, Farore! the Hero prayed. If he missed that antenna...Link didn't want to think about what would happen to the Zora princess, no matter how tough she was.

He didn't miss.

Barinade thrashed for a moment, and Link forced the Iron Boots to appear on his legs -- he ignored the snapping sound, but he couldn't prevent tears from forming as his thigh bones broke neatly in the middle. His body held, though, Ruto's eyes going wide in sympathetic horror even as Barinade's tentacle-thing tore away where his sword had driven through it into the ground. He willed the boots to vanish, falling at Ruto's side and smiling through pain-born tears as he watched the beast's spectacular demise. "Are..." he exhaled in pain. "...are you all right?"

"Am I all right?! Stupid, crazy...what took you so long, anyway?" The princess grimaced as she knelt next to Link, examining his legs. "I hope you have a potion or a bottled fairy, because if we don't heal you in about five minutes, you're not walking for a while."

"I keep telling him," Navi sighed, darting into his pouch. A pink fairy emerged, immediately followed by Navi, and the pair swirled around his legs. Link stood slowly and cautiously, testing his legs carefully. His upper legs were still incredibly sore, and Link strongly suspected they would be for days, but at least they worked. "How can anyone be so lazy and so reckless at the same time?"

"Lazy?" Link shot back with a distinctly child-like pout. I'm ten, I can get away with it. "Tell that to Ganon."

"I didn't mean it like that," Navi said in a very small voice. Link's pout vanished. All at once, his heart fell into his boots. Din, Nayru and Farore. Navi's not still guilty about that fight in Ganondorf's Tower, is she? His fairy bond quickly disabused him of that notion.

*For the love of Nayru, Navi!* With a flash of inspiration, he shot a mental grin across their link. *How many times do you have to save my life before you realize how great you are?*

"Excuse me," Ruto said loudly. Link looked up, chagrined, but Navi was smiling again. "I was trying to thank you." The Hero just nodded at that, not trusting his voice just then. Ruto's idea of thanks hasn't changed. Give me Goron hugs any day. He blinked then, watching her expression change. It was...unreadable. Uh-oh. Link remembered the last time they'd been through this.

Familiar magic whirled around them. Link fell into the water all the same, Navi giggling as he splashed noisily into the river. "You..." Ruto said slowly, looking him over. "I guess you looked kind of cool." Her smile came slowly too, and this time he knew exactly what it was, sly and knowing. "Well, kind of. Anyway, you saved me, so I guess I'll reward you. What do you wish? Just tell me..."

Link licked his lips. He'd rather deal with Bongo Bongo again. Even with kid-running. "Ruto, I know you think I want the Spiritual Stone..." What drove him crazy was, for just a moment, he did. I must be losing my mind. Still, he looked at the confusion and pain slowly forming in her eyes, and his heart felt like Ganon had grabbed it. "Your Highness, please, listen to me. Ganondorf is trying to get into the Sacred Realm. We have to protect it."

Ruto's eyes cleared. Ganon's fist relented. "Oh! So you want me to hide the Spiritual Stone?"

Link exhaled in relied. "Exactly. Find somewhere even Ganondorf can't reach it. We'll need it many years from now, but if Ganondorf gets his sick hands on the Triforce..." the boy's eyes clouded over. He saw Castle Town in ruins, overrun by ReDead. He saw a boiling pit of lava where Zelda's home had been, that obscene Tower hovering over it. He saw Zelda herself, hovering helplessly in a pink crystal (Pink...why pink? the Hero wondered for the hundredth time), watching in horror as he approached the King of Evil.

He returned to the present, such as it was, with a shock. Ruto's hand was on his arm. It was a look he'd never seen on her before -- sympathy. Genuine sympathy. "Love of Nayru...what happened to you?"she asked quietly.

Link forced a smile and put his hand over hers. "One day, you'll find the right man to give your Stone to," he said. Ruto, much to his satisfaction, was speechless. "When you do, make sure you tell him to treat you right, or the Hero of Time will kick his butt from one end of history to the other." With that, he gave the stunned princess a quick peck on the cheek and swam away as fast as he could.

Yeah. The Dodongo Caverns were definitely easier. All Brother Darunia did was crack a few ribs.

* * *

Zelda smiled at the young Hero's apprehension. Holding his hand, she guided him through the narrow secret tunnel, her wimple brushing the ceiling. "It's all right, Link," she whispered. "Just keep your voice down."

"You hear that, Navi?" Link whispered behind him. Navi razzed him, but she, too, was quiet about it. "Uh, Zelda, why are we doing this again?"

"To keep an eye on the Royal Council," Zelda explained patiently. "Well, more of an ear, really, but you know what I mean." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and tugged him slowly along. "I think you made an impression on King Zora. That letter he sent really got Father's attention."

She felt Link grow solemn. "That's a relief." He padded a little faster. "So what difference does this council make?"

"The Royal Council is more than just a collection of advisors," Zelda explained. "They're all empowered to act on the Crown's behalf in their respective fields, and have considerable authority in their own right. While the king can overrule the Council, sometimes it's a dangerous thing to do, politically." She bit her lip. "And it acts as Regent if something happens to Father before I turn 27."

"That means they're in charge, right?" Link asked softly.

"For the most part," the princess admitted reluctantly. "Certain powers devolve to the Royal Heir -- that means I get them -- when either Father grants me a seat or the Council votes me in, but they can overrule me in several areas until I reach the three-filled age." Zelda glanced back to see Link raising an eyebrow at that. "Three to the third power -- twenty-seven."

"Oh. Numerology." Link nodded ruefully. "Mido gave me the worst time about that. I'm good at normal math, but the sympathetic correspondences just don't stick."

Zelda waved him down. "Sh, we're here." She entered the small, domed room and peered through the familiar stained glass window, the Triforce surrounded by the three Creators. The Hero stretched in relief as he came in. Zelda smiled once more when Link stared in wonder at the minor Light Charm above them. "This illuminates the room below. Come up here, and look through the center of the Triforce symbol." The princess climbed to a well-worn wooden beam, and Link obeyed, following her. He gasped as they stared, the whole of the room visible to them as if by magic. It's only clever refraction, she thought with a grin, but I can tell him that later.

The Councillors filed in, radiating varying levels of authority and dignity. Zelda watched her friend more than the advisors and nobles, knowing each by heart. "They all seem really different," Link said slowly.

Zelda nodded. "Father believes that one receives better advice from a wide variety of perspectives," she explained, though her eyes narrowed as she locked onto Lady Veran. "On the other hand, some perspectives do have more merit than others."

"Is that, um..." Link began slowly.

"A no-good stuck-up snob who thinks that being Queen would be a step down from what she 'truly deserves?'" Zelda said caustically, pointing at Veran. "That would be Lady Veran, representing the nobility. Officially, she advises Father on the current state of the aristocracy, both acting as their voice and aiding the king in dealing with their unique politics." The princess scowled. "In truth, she schemed her way onto the Council. I believe Father permitted it to keep a closer watch on her."

"'Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,'" Link whispered. Zelda blinked at him in surprise. "It's a Gerudo saying. I never liked it, but it does make a sad kind of sense."

"Actually, it's Sheikah," Zelda replied quietly. For some reason, Link chuckled at that. "The man next to her, in the armor, is Lord General Onox," she continued. "He's ambitious too, and a real stickler for tradition, but at least he's honest about it."

"Why's he wearing armor to a meeting?" Link asked dubiously.

The princess shook her head. "Tradition," she drawled. "Anyway, on Veran's other side is Lady Pompie. Ruto calls her Lady Pompous," Zelda added with a chuckle, "but she's really just kind of a busybody. That's her job, though; with Impa as busy as she is, Lady Pompie is in charge of Hyrule's information network, and she's better at it than she looks." She giggled at that. "Zuko says it's because she's the kingdom's greatest gossip." Link chuckled in response.

Again the princess pointed. "That's Lady Mila next to her," Zelda snorted. "Lady Veran maneuvered her onto the council too. Not that she's bad at what she does -- Father would never put up with incompetence -- but as advisor on foreign relations, she's best known for her ability to," Zelda paused, wrinkling her nose, "um, 'charm' certain people."

"What kind of people?" Link asked innocently. Navi giggled.

Zelda stuck out her tongue. "Men." The Hero blinked and looked up at Navi, who fell onto his shoulder, holding her belly as she laughed. Link let out a long-suffering sigh. "On the other side of Onox is Lord Jovani," Zelda continued quickly. "He's the Court Exchequer. Jovani lives for money." Strangely, Link sighed sadly at that. "It makes him very good at his job, though, and he is loyal to Father."

"Who's that?" Link asked suddenly, pointing at a tall, broad, imposing Hylian with a thick white beard. "He looks like a wizard."

"Impressive," Zelda replied cheerfully. "That's Master Lenzo, and he's one of the greatest wizards in the world. You can guess what he advises Father on." Link nodded emphatically. "He's also experimenting with enchantment. Among other things, he invented the Light Charm." She pointed at their illumination, which Link watched warily for a second. "Next to him, the shorter fellow with the goggles? That's Lord Bandam, but he tells everyone to call him 'Doc.' He's, well, he's not a witch, but he's a fantastic potion brewer. What people used to call an 'alchemist.' He advises Father on healing and brewing, but he's really more of an 'at large' Councillor."

"What makes him not a witch?" Link asked, puzzled.

The princess looked at Link with deep consideration. "Well, he can't cast spells." Link's so smart, and he knows so many things some people envy, but sometimes it's like he's from a whole other world. "I'll explain that later. They're getting started." Link nodded. "The last two are actually the most important. Mistress Agitha is the Court Chronicler, she's been around almost forever, and sometimes it's like she knows everything about Hyrule's laws and history. She's also really, really nice -- but don't get her started on bugs!" She chuckled, pointing at the large book the older woman carried. There was a pretty enameled ladybug on the cover. Finally, Zelda directed Link to the even older man walking beside Daphnes as they entered. "And that's Master Potho. He's officially the representative of and advisor on commoners, but he's also Father's closest ally and most trusted confidant." She settled back and watched, Link instantly picking up the hint and giving the meeting his full attention.

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Standard disclaimer: I don't own any of these people, places or things. Heck, even most of the verbs belong to someone else. :-) All characters and settings (c) Nintendo. Hey, they've earned it.