Ocarina of Time II: Parallel Symphony

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 © Nintendo. Hey, they've earned it.

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Chapter Two: Nocturne of Destiny

"So she's been keeping you alive, in reserve, all these years?" Impa asked as calmly as she could. Even with her Mind Katas, seeing Fanadi alive and astonishingly well after so long left a quaver in her voice. She offered her a cup of Deku mint tea.

Fanadi accepted, then shook her head sadly. "Alive, yes, but not solely in reserve. We were used very rarely, but we were used. I fear we have been responsible for more than one death in Hyrule over the last fifteen years." She sipped gently. "Some of us held out longer than others, but I broke a little over a decade ago. I wrapped my Mind in the Shadow with the faint hope you could free me." She rubbed her fingers on the low table fondly. "Which, I suppose, you did. By the gods, how did you find the time to train the Hero?"

We cheated, Impa thought with a burst of good humor. Link hadn't learned any actual techniques in his previous life, but his observations both in that stream and this were enough to give them a head start. She regarded her fellow Sheikah with considerable relief. How long has it been since I sat cross-legged at the tea table? Impa wondered, taking in the sight of the long unused teapot. "He is very talented, as you discovered. You always were powerful in the mental arts, however," she said more seriously, pouring herself a few sips. "I suspect we will need Zelda to free the others." She drank mindfully, enjoying the feel of the life and shadow of Forest mana flowing through her. Then Impa carefully placed the cup back in its saucer. "Then there is the one we will not need to free. Sakon. Sakon. Right here under my nose. I should be stripped of my Tear."

Fanadi chuckled at that. "Sakon was always sneaky. None of us suspected him, and I doubt even you would recognize him now." Her humor evaporated quickly. "I am told the Hero only knew his name from a counterpart on another world -- Terminus?"

"Termina," Impa corrected absently, taking another sip. "Apparently, no one knew him as anything but a strange figure of an incompetent thief in Castle Town. His Terminan counterpart was better known."

"Unless it is the same Sakon, and he has been traveling between dimensions, we needn't worry about that." Fanadi joined Impa in a sip, then lowered her cup. "Your apprentice should not have interfered. Sakon will be a problem."

"I will deal with that murderous traitor," Impa replied coldly, "never fear on that account. As for Link, he is no mere Sheikah warrior, but the legendary Hero of Time. When he draws the Master Sword, much will fall to him, including the defeat of Ganondorf himself." She put her cup aside. "Had he taken more grievous wounds, Link might have been vulnerable when the time came."

"Impa, Hyrule has the finest healing magic ever known." Fanadi shook her head. "She cares for him, doesn't she?"

"To call what Zelda feels for Link 'caring' is to look at the sun and call it a candle," Impa replied with rueful humor. "As I said, Sakon will not be a problem. What truly concerns me are the others." The Sheikah bodyguard looked past Fanadi, imagining the Tribe's survivors floating in the air or sleeping in coffins of Shadow or ice. Kotake would like that, coffins of ice, Impa thought direly. "How are we to free them?"

Fanadi shook her head. "I do not believe it will be possible while Kotake lives. She has ever been jealous of her hold on us, even with her own sister. Now, her grip makes iron seem like air. Only the Evil King's command sent me into battle. Sakon's...assistance...was her idea, though he rather relished the notion."

Impa laughed at that, fierce and harsh. "I imagine that apostate regrets his ardor now." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "One other matter concerns me. It is of minor import to the coming battle, but since both are Trained, it is a matter for the Tribe."

"Link returns your apprentice's feelings?" Fanadi asked. Impa nodded grimly, to which Fanadi grinned. "This is cause for such a sour look? When was the last time that two with Shadow in their veins were so bound together?"

"I was not entirely certain until I saw him battle Sakon through the Shadow," Impa replied carefully, "but it is...complicated. Zelda is not merely Trained, but the Crown Princess, and a wizard of the Light besides." Fanadi's grin vanished. "Of greatest concern to me in this matter is the volatility of her feelings at this time. Even I cannot guess how she will react to seeing his ferocity in her defense."

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Zelda hummed her Lullaby happily, almost dancing to her window before throwing the curtains open with a flourish. The nightgown flared around her ankles as she spun to a particularly emphatic note. She made her bed with a gesture. I think the maid will survive one day of that, she thought with a chuckle, remembering the last time she'd made her own bed. Then she sat down and summoned her diary.

Let's see. Impa's not alone anymore. We know when he can draw the Master Sword. She pressed a hand against her belly."You will not touch her! YOU WILL NOT!" she remembered, trying to relegate the moment to a minor bonus and failing utterly. A bodyguard does not react like that. A man hypnotized by the gods does not react like that. Even a caring friend isn't quite so...protective. Her hand raced across the pages, morning light streaming through her room as she wrote. Zelda couldn't remember the last time the words had flowed so naturally. Every event, every detail appeared as if conjured.

Then she looked at what she wrote, and froze. Nayru. What do I do now? It was almost exactly two days before the moment Link would have to... Analysis. Only the tiniest flicker of doubt remained in a deep corner of her mind. Examination. If he felt...what she felt...was there any real danger in telling him? I've never told him either, after all. Surely it would be a great comfort to him to know, if I am right. She tapped the feathered end of the quill on the paper. Surely it would be the right thing to do...wouldn't it? Zelda worried at her lower lip with her teeth. Love of Nayru! I can negotiate treaties with skittish kings in my sleep, hold together fragile alliances in the face of Ganondorf Dragmire, all but end poverty in my kingdom, and leave foolish barons ten times my age cowed and obedient, but I can't figure out whether I'm being selfish over Link! She stood, closing the diary again and dismissing it. The quill flew into its ink pot, refilling itself.

She strode to the door, but stopped when she touched the handle. Gods. I'm not still afraid...am I? Zelda licked her lips, then firmed her resolve. I'm going to do this. She opened the door and strode through.

"Your Highness!" Senza gasped. Zuko bit his lip, clearly trying not to chuckle.

"What?" Zelda demanded, whirling on them. "Has Father grounded me, and I was not informed?"

"But...but Little Princess...it isn't proper to..." Senza gestured up and down at her, scandalized. For some reason, he couldn't quite make himself look directly at her.

"I bet Master Link wouldn't mind," Zuko quipped, tears forming at the effort of not laughing.

Zelda's eyes felt like they were going to pop out, they went so wide. She looked down. I'm...I'm still in my shift, she realized, certain that she was turning a bright enough red that she could read by the glow. Without another word, she drew herself to her full height, looked straight into her room, and marched back in, closing the door behind her.

Zuko finally exploded, whooping helplessly. "Stop that!" Senza barked, gauntlet clanking against pauldron. The smaller knight tried to control himself, but another outburst escaped him.

I suppose waiting until noon wouldn't hurt, Zelda thought, even her internal voice soft and humbled, as she walked softly to her closet.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

"HAH!" Link slashed and whirled, then parried Nabooru's blade with the Master Sword replica he wielded.

"Excellent," Nabooru said, nodding. "It is fortunate that you began using that magnificent purple blade a few years ago. You are still overcompensating a touch, but once you're using the true Blade exclusively, it will likely be a minor adjustment. You are doing well." She stepped back, looked him over, then leaped at him with both scimitars spinning.

Link caught them between his sword and shield, slid the blade up to the hilt, and twisted. The wing-like quillons locked against her blades, and he pushed, twisting again and sending both weapons flying. "I try," he said simply, taking long, deep breaths. "Break?"

"Sure," she agreed, gesturing to a nearby bench. They sat, and the Hero accepted a bottle of milk gladly. "Mmm. Lon Lon," she noted, Link nodding in emphatic agreement. When he finished, head snapping back down, he looked across the castle training ground without thinking. Several knights were watching them coldly, varying levels of imagined violence glittering in envious eyes. Every one of them was from the 'chivalry,' older, larger and several orders of magnitude wealthier than Link, yet their jealousy of the Hero was obvious. Those glares were nothing, though, to the way they looked at Nabooru. The paradoxical way their eyes took her in made Link want to call the Great Fairy's Sword back to his hand and issue a few challenges.

At least they'd just kill me. It never ends, does it? he thought with a sigh. Link held up the replica of the Master Sword, weighing it in his hand. He'd trained with it on and off for months, a gift from his Sworn Brother, and was still amazed at how much its balance and heft were like the true Blade of Evil's Bane. He looked at Nabooru and gestured in the air with the weapon. "How do you think the Gorons did it?" Link asked.

Nabooru grinned. "You're the Hero of Time," she replied with a wink. "It was destiny." The Spirit Sage leaned back and looked into the sky. "Of course, I imagine the records had some information about the forging process, and no one knows stone or metal like the Gorons, but...I have to admit that lately, I've felt the gods taking a more direct hand." She looked over at the Hero and shrugged. "As much as they ever do, of course."

Link nodded, taking off his hat carefully, then his tunic more casually, and exhaled. #Do you mind?# Navi 'pathed irritably, shifting in the conical cloth.

#Hey, I'm working up a sweat out here,# Link retorted with amusement. #You're the one who decided to live in...a...hat...# The Hero blinked and looked at Nabooru in confusion. She was staring. "What? Did Sakon leave scars?" He checked his chest. It doesn't look like I have any new ones. There was the one Phantom Ganon had left, a thin diagonal slash across the front -- nothing to the one directly across his back, which Link knew he'd be buried with -- but still a vivid pale line. Stalfos had left two others, their vile swords touched with Dark Fire. There were a few other permanent marks, but the rest were just recent. They'll fade like the others, I'm sure.

Nabooru's expression went flat, and she crossed her arms. "Link of the Kokiri, I am honored that you respect me as a warrior, but in case you had forgotten, I am also a woman."

"Woman? What does that have to do...with..." Link swallowed. Nabooru smiled again, realizing that it wasn't her gender he was unaware of, and took in the sight of him with naked relish.

"I especially like the effect of the tights without the tunic," she said saucily. Solid red, with eyeholes. Definitely. Link rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "It leaves just that enticing bit of a hint to the imagination." Her eyes flickered across his chest. "Some women think wounds mar a man's beauty, but some of us like to see marks of valor on a fine body." Navi giggled uproariously, the hat flopping on the table next to them.

"Nabooru!" Link gasped, finally reclaiming his voice. The Gerudo laughed.

"Relax, Link. I know where your heart lies." She stood and walked towards the arsenal, winking as she passed. "If she doesn't have the wits to claim you, though, a warrior like you could always find a home among the Gerudo."

Link wiped his mouth as she left, though he hardly needed to, dry as it had gone. "farore," he breathed quietly. "Navi, I think it's time to go inside. I'm hungry, how about you?"

#No argument here!# she replied jauntily, the occasional snicker still escaping the hat. The Hero nodded, stood, turned to pick up his tunic, and froze. Those...eyes...

Zelda was as paralyzed as he was, her endless eyes twin lakes, shining and vast. "L...Link..."

His paralysis vanished. Immediately, he strode to her side. "Zelda, is something wrong?" The Hero looked her over in alarm. "Zel, you're trembling. Are you all right?" She was leaning on the archway she'd half-entered through. Link looked at her neck, nodded, then placed two fingers on her main artery. "Mm-hm. Heart's racing faster than Epona at full gallop."

"I'm fine," Zelda replied suddenly and loudly, stepping back from Link. "I...I just came to talk, and..." she cleared her throat. "Why don't you put on your tunic? Then we can go somewhere less..." she glared at the watching knights as if noticing them for the first time. "...problematic."

The knights suddenly looked away, milling about for a few seconds. Then they trickled off into the castle, Link believing he heard muttering about important duties and the like. The Hero shrugged. "Well, okay, but I still want you to see a healer when we're done." He walked to the table and pulled on his tunic, then set his hat on carefully.

#Oh, now I count for something,# Navi teased.

#Love of Nayru, Navi, will you please settle down?# Link 'pathed back. #Better yet, go to the infirmary and see if we can take care of Zel discreetly.#

The tiny fairy giggled. #Gods, you really are oblivious sometimes. Trust me, she's not sick.# She laid herself on his head, propping herself up on her elbows, and he felt her wink at him. #Well, lovesick, maybe.#

Link scowled like a thunderhead. #That's not funny, Navi.#

"I haven't disturbed you, have I, Link?" Zelda asked suddenly, jumping slightly at his expression.

The Hero immediately smoothed his face over, smiling gently at the princess. "No! No. No, that's Navi's job," he said, pointing at his hat.

#I wasn't joking, you know,# Navi said casually, suddenly finding one strand of hair particularly interesting.

"And she excels at it," Link muttered, rolling his eyes.

Zelda giggled, and Link's heart felt light. "Don't ride him too hard, Navi. It's not his fault." The Sage of Time took his hand suddenly, and Link found himself being towed implacably through the castle.

"Din!" Link blurted. What in Farore's name has gotten into her? He followed all the same, confused or not. "Zelda, what are you doing?"

"We haven't much time," the Sage said, seeming as cryptic as her element, "and I want to do this before meetings and ceremonies and preparations swallow me up for the rest of...until your birthday," she finished softly.

Link picked up his pace to keep Zelda from having to drag him. "Is that supposed to make any sense?" he asked, utterly lost. She hasn't done this in years, he thought, remembering being tugged from one end of the castle to the other in their youth. He hadn't minded before, and in truth he wouldn't have minded then either...if I had the slightest idea what she was up to!

Zelda slowed, though she didn't stop. "Yes," she finally said, "but you're not to blame for your lack of understanding."

"That's the second time you've said that," Link noted. "I'm even starting to almost believe it. Zelda, where in Farore's name are we going?"

At that, Zelda giggled again. It's almost like we're ten, again, and everything...we've been through...doesn't matter. She glanced over her shoulder at him, then led them around another corner and up a sloping corridor. "This part, you have no excuse not to know. You snuck in up there often enough."

"Your garden?" Link cocked his head, more lost than ever. "If you want privacy, there must be more secure places to talk."

"Not for this." One more corridor, and then they were through the door. As beautiful as I remember -- FARORE!

"DOWN!" Link shouted, shield appearing magically between them and the needle-blades flying at them. Zelda was already moving, rolling away and transforming into Sheik. "Sakon," the Hero growled.

"Impossible!" Sheik objected in shock. "The wards, the charms, Impa!"

A figure covered entirely in Shadow landed in the center of the garden. For an instant, Link thought it might not be Sakon, because their foe, while lean, was broader than Sakon and well-muscled. Wounds showed through the sheath, however, ragged indentations of darkness that matched where Link had ravaged the Sheikah traitor. He moved like the Sakon he'd met in the field as well, with reckless, superhuman speed. Now, however, those movements were jerky and graceless. From the injuries, no doubt, Link guessed. Even this Shadow sorcery has its limits, apparently. The Hero circled towards Sheik, watching Sakon as the villain darted back and forth warily. "Traitor or not, he's a Sheikah."

The blankness covering the eyes vanished suddenly, red eyes literally glowing. The would-be assassin stared at Link, locking eyes with a desperation completely at odds with his slack expression. #Cold,# he 'pathed with a hollow echo. #Alone.#

Link stared back in horror. That -- that wasn't Sakon -- Farore, now what? "Sheik, did you hear that?" The Hero's ally nodded warily. She's going to kill me for this. Slowly, carefully, he sheathed his blade and held out his hand. "Listen. You're not alone now. We might be able to help you, if you -- gods!"

Even compared to what he'd seen, the Shadow-thing's speed took Link completely by surprise. He -- it? -- had grasped his hand like a drowning man, eyes flickering with conflict. #So close. So very close. Please help me. Do you remember me, Hero? Let -- let me go! Make them let me go!# The contact all came from the same figure, but each one sounded different. Link only recognized the last one, Sakon's voice sounding as if it came from the bottom of a well, but they were all familiar in different ways.

"Release him, traitor!" Sheik roared, plunging her dagger into the arm that held Link. Both Sakon and the Shadow that controlled him screamed, releasing the Hero and rocketing backwards.

The glow faded from their opponent's eyes, leaving only Sakon's hateful glare. "You'll pay for that, you--" The traitor was cut off, quite literally, by twin blades plunging through his chest.

"Wrong," Impa hissed from behind him. "You pay. Now. In full." The Shadow screamed again, then swirled above them, blotting out the sun briefly. Then it vanished, and Sakon fell over, unmoving. Link and Sheik looked at each other in relief. Zelda reappeared, her second self swirling away in a mixture of light and shadow. She paled slightly at the sight of the body. Gods, that's right, Link realized, that's the first time she's watched an actual person die.

All at once, the garden was a frenzy of activity. Senza and Zuko were there almost immediately, of course, soon followed by half a dozen attendants and a handful of discreet servants. The king himself didn't take long to arrive. Of course, Link thought with a mental sigh. So much for privacy. He stepped away to allow His Majesty to fuss over his obviously frustrated daughter. Impa tapped him on the back of his shoulder, then guided him out of the chaos with two fingers on his back. "Impa?" he asked quietly once they were within the castle proper.

"Ganondorf has played us for fools again," the Sheikah growled. "No -- me. I am the one who killed Sakon."

Link stared for a moment, unable to speak. Was that Impa? He checked with the Eye, just to be sure. "Impa, any one of us would have killed him given the chance." The Hero frowned, understanding Impa's frustration in an intuitive rush. "I take it his death had something to do with the reaction of that...that thing on him."

"Indeed." Impa leaned close and touched his brow, then through it, his mind. #Blood sacrifice has little use outside Dark Fire sorcery, but it can be used to manipulate death itself, creating a mockery of life. Such creatures are more intelligent and effective than a normal Stalfos or ReDead.# He felt her concern for him like a flash of light in the silver-gray of their connection. #You have faced such evil before.#

His dark counterpart, and Zelda's, both rose in his thoughts. #Another Dark reflection?#

#Perhaps,# Impa replied dubiously, #but Ganondorf prefers...innovation. What I can be certain of is that he means to create a living Shadow with the power of the Shadow Tribe. A Dark Sheikah.#

Link suppressed a desire to draw the Triforce over his heart. #Gods be good.# He took a long breath, then made himself look Impa in the eyes. #There's more, sensei. When we touched, I heard minds.# He replayed the voices for Zelda's protector. #Not one, but several, at least three aside from Sakon's.#

Impa's mood brightened in their connection. Outwardly, her face smoothed to placidity. #At least one unwilling subject. Kotake grows desperate. If we can reach this soul, save it as you did Fanadi's...a marvel among marvels, incidentally, and again, I thank you with all my heart...then Ganondorf's vile masterwork will be our ally, not his.#

#Love of Nayru, Impa, I was just doing what I'm meant to,# Link replied, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously. #As for the creature, what about the other two voices?#

#They felt...incomplete, somehow,# Impa 'pathed slowly. #More I cannot deduce, Hero.# Her will became as unyielding as the Master Sword itself. #I'll not tell you to abandon the captive spirit, Link, but do not become reckless.#

#I won't, sensei. Um...# He glanced behind him, toward the entrance to the garden. #...there is one more thing. Zelda wanted to talk to me about something. She didn't seem well.#

A ripple of amusement pulsed through Impa's mind. Navi, for some reason, chuckled at that. #You needn't fear for the princess. She is quite hale. Simply...frustrated, I suspect.# The humor vanished. #Be gentle with her, Hero of Time. The topic is delicate.#

#I will never hurt Zelda, sensei.# He stepped back, breaking the connection, and bowed slightly. I would rather be in Kotake's hands again. "If you'll excuse me." He headed back for the training field. Too much to do, not enough time.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

If Sakon weren't already dead, I'd... Zelda's thoughts trailed off. A part of her was still furious with the traitor to the Tribe, and the interruption was only a small part of it. He was evil. He was a coward. He... The frozen look of shock on his face flickered through her mind. Blood pooling among her lilies made her shiver. How can I feel sympathy for that...that...oooh!

Ganondorf's monsters had been so different. The undead, of course, were a category unto themselves, but the dodongos and keese also vanished in spurts of shadow and flame. Even Koume had blown herself up, leaving nothing behind at all.

The traitor's body was probably being burned even then. My counterpart was used to death by thirteen, she told herself fiercely. A far grimmer thought struck her, and she shivered again. I'd best get used to it as well. Sakon will hardly be the last, and far more noble souls will share his fate in the days to come.

Zelda sighed heavily, indulging in one more moment of emotion, then gathered herself with an act of will. She looked around the antechamber, going over the ceremony once more. Sir Colin. Has a nice ring to it, she thought determinedly. Rusl's son has come a long way the last few years. Thoughts of Sir Rusl's family buoyed her thoughts. The knight and his lady and children were among the brightest stars in the court, and it didn't hurt the princess' mood to remember that Link had more than one ally among the chivalry. The thought of what Colin had asked for as his knighting boon warmed her soul as well.

Link. It always does come back to him, doesn't it, Malon? Zelda thought ruefully. It looks like I'm going to have to wait after all. The Sage closed her eyes and let her sense of destiny flow from her mana and her soul. The flows of time felt strong, now, like rivers swollen from rain. Close. So much is so close. That part was true, at least. A strange, warm thrill shot through her right hand. How odd. A brief flicker of knowing ran through her, and Zelda grimaced a bit. Farore. I was right. Had she acted earlier, fate would not have been altered drastically, but now... I think I would distract him after all. Too late. She exhaled. Well, it is less than two days now. I must have faith in him.

Opening her eyes and glancing at the ladybug-adorned book on the table next to her, she nodded to herself. It isn't as if I won't have more than enough to keep my mind busy between now and then. Three more knightings, counting Colin's, one last war council tomorrow... Zelda smiled beatifically. ...and Ruto's wedding. I can't blame them for moving the date up. She's certainly not the only one, considering. Previous thoughts tried to return, but she dismissed them once more. Gods, she looks beautiful in her dress. A bit more revealing than Hylian wedding gowns, but that's the Zoras. Briefly, her mind partly returned to Link. I wonder who Lulu is.

Zelda jumped at a knock. "Yes?"

Mistress Agitha entered, sighing in relief at the sight of her book. "Your Highness, we still have a little time," she said, hefting her codex lovingly.

"I know, Agitha," the princess replied, taking a slow breath. "Just collecting my thoughts, such as they are."

Agitha giggled in her girlish way. "Oh, now, Your Highness, everyone here knows you've the finest mind in Hyrule."

Zelda smiled politely and nodded a bow. Let's hope so, Agitha, for all our sakes.