Chapter 2 – Old Faces, New Minds
The castle. Outside, very little had changed since ten years ago. The grey stone walls and gardens still looked the same as they had when two children peered in the courtyard window that fateful day.
An observer through that same window would see those same two children - adults now - inside in the hall, yet they could not have recognised them for who they were. Even though the weather outside was clear, inside there was a storm.
"You can't expect me to..."
"Yes. I do."
"That's not right!"
"Who ever said anything about right? Such a stupid word. It is what will happen."
The sad thing, Zelda mused, was that he was correct. Somehow, the orders she had been given - whoever heard of a queen taking orders? - would be carried out. Because if they weren't... She shuddered at the consequences. If she dared refuse, the retribution would be terrible.
But still - declaring war on the Gerudos... She felt sick to the core.
She looked up into his impassive white eyes. Why...
She'd been the ruler for six years now, since her father had been... It was too terrible to think about. To this day, she didn't know who did it. Although for about the first six months, she had been guided by Impa and other able advisors, one day... he'd returned. Since then, he'd been calling the shots. Not a command was made without his say-so. His grasp had become tighter and tighter over time. It was surely only a matter of time before he took over completely...
Whatever happened to my hero? she thought, although she knew perfectly well. Ever since that day, ten years ago, when she'd seen a monster destroyed - and a dear friend too. He'd walked away from the battle - someone else, someone completely different to the boy she'd trusted with the greatest treasures of Hyrule. And now...
"Are you listening to me?" he snapped.
"Yes. Yes. I am."
"Good. This is what will happen..." He outlined the plan. "But first, I've got some unfinished business." The kid at the market had reminded him of the old days. A thought had struck him, even after all this time. Termina. Hyrule. Parallels... Reminders of weaker days that he could not bear... He walked away.
-
Rega sat on the diving platform, and looked into the water. It wasn't fair. He was alone - had always been alone. Ever since his childhood, when he'd first noticed he was - different. Unconsciously, he reached to the back of his neck and traced the tail-formation, ending in a sharp point rather than the flared fins of the other Zoras. Why me? He groaned. Even though he was probably the fastest and most athletic of the Zoras his age, he was still "Mr. No-Fins" to everyone else. The lads ignored him, and the girls giggled as they walked past, even the princess. Still, there was one thing he took consolation in. He picked up the fishbone guitar by his side and began to play. The notes floated out across the waters, pure and clear, up, down, down, down, up, down...
Eventually, he put his instrument to one side. He could hear someone talking faintly. Surprised, he could make out his name.
"You have one among you who is... different. I must find him."
"What? Different... Hang on. Do you mean old Rega No-Fins? What do you want with him?"
"It is none of your concern. Where is he?"
"If I know him, he'll be playing guitar above the waterfall."
"...That must be him."
"Hey! Aren't you going to say thank you?"
"That depends on whether your advice is worth it."
What did they want with him? Rega wondered. Before long, he heard faint footsteps behind him. He whipped round... Someone was there.
Not another Zora - a Hylian. But something was different about this stranger. He didn't look anything like any of the land people that Rega had seen before. He wasn't one of the Royals, so how did he get up here? A thought struck him. That's never... He'd heard stories, but hadn't thought anything of them. Land people's politics didn't worry him. But perhaps, he thought, they should have.
"So. It is you."
Rega didn't know what to make of that. "What do you mean?"
"I have no need to explain myself to you. Especially when you will be dead soon..." The stranger drew a double-bladed sword, and lunged...
Time seemed to slow. Rega could see the blade coming - he charged an electric shield in an attempt to protect himself. The electricity fired back down the sword, stunning the stranger. He recovered quickly, but not so quickly that Rega didn't have a chance to grab his guitar and dive off the fall to safety. Watching as a bolt of blue fire smashed into the water, he sprinted into the hidden tunnel to the Lake, and swam for his life. He looked around. Where did that passage lead...
-
The ranch was quiet. Kaelon tried to sleep, but turned, restless, all night. All day, he'd been occupied by what he'd found out in town. Somehow, he felt that he was a part of the story. But how?
At last, he slumbered.
...The open field, with the tree on the hill... Kaelon approached, warily, waiting for an attack... The Fierce figure had gone. Only the boy in green remained under the tree, surrounded by six balls of light. "Want to play... with me?" he asked. Kaelon nodded, slowly... "Well... Shall we go?"...
...The field was gone. Instead, a blue cavern full of light and waterfalls. They stood on a white platform, a triangular symbol on the ground, the same as on his hand... Around them, six figures, strangely familiar, watched on... "It's time for you to remember who you are..."
He woke up with a start.
-
"Hey! Cam!" The guards at the castle gate waited for something to happen. Nothing ever did. The odd nosy kid trying to get in, but that was about it.
"What is it, Len?" Camrey, the taller of the two guards, looked at his companion.
"You were dozing on shift again. Why are you such a sleepy-head? I thought you Sheikah never slept. They say that's how you get red eyes."
Cam groaned at the old joke. His unusual eye colour attracted a lot of comments like that. "For the last time, Len, I'm not a Sheikah. You're just being mean. "
"What. Ever. Just don't blame me if," he nodded in the manner of someone sharing a private comment, "the man upstairs takes it out on you..."
"What do you mean?"
"What? Haven't you heard? He's been angrier than usual - and that takes a lot - since he came back from the Zora Falls yesterday. Don't ask me what happened... but I reckon he's gonna come down hard on any slackers. You know as well as I do what that means." He laughed half-seriously and drew his hand across his throat. "Buddy, you are in for it..." Len went white. "Oh, Farore... he's coming..."
The guards looked back to the castle. They understood now where the name "Fierce Deity" came from... He wasn't running. He didn't need to run. His entire stance said he expected to be obeyed. For a second, Cam froze. He was dead... No! He dropped his pike and sprinted into town. He didn't look back - that was a recipe for disaster. However, he heard the footsteps speed up, and the soft sound of a blade. He couldn't stop now... But how long could he keep going for? How long would his headstart give him? His best bet would be to get out of town. Perhaps he could borrow a horse, if he made it to the ranch, but where would he go then?... Eventually, as he ran through back alleys, the pursuit faded. Guess one little guard's not really worth his time. But I can't go back now. He paused to catch his breath. Hot, he pulled off his helmet, rolled down his mail and shook out his hair. Huh. Mr. Inconspicuous here... he mused. Like no-one's gonna notice a guy with hair this colour. If he puts out a notice, I'm deader than ever. Cam ran fingers through his indigo locks and, cautiously, walked out of town.