Child Of Destiny By Riana Part One *Note: this story takes place in Ocarina of Time. It doesn’t follow the storyline, per se, but one I wish I the creators could’ve followed* Link sat up in amazement. Moments ago, he and Saria were reunited after seven long years, and now he was flung into the empty meadow the now deceased Deku Tree had resided. Except now, it wasn’t so empty. A fat bush claiming to be the new deku tree had suddenly sprouted. Weird. “It’s just a bush Link. Freak-ith not.” Navi teased. “Sorry,” the scrub apologized. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” Link nodded, and brushed himself off. “In case you’re wondering, you’re not a Kokiri.” Score one for subtlety, Link thought sarcastically. Strange: he’d been suspicious as to why he was the only one of his friends able to wonder into the Hylian world, but never thought anything of it. Yet it was like he’d always known he wasn’t a part of them… “Let me tell you your own history…” the Deku began. “It started many years before the king was able to unify Hyrule. Savage wars ravaged throughout Hyrule…” Images of flames and darkness suddenly filled his imagination as he was drawn into the story… ***** “Do you really have to go?” Lara asked her husband, a commander in the fledgling king’s army. “I don’t exactly have a choice. Civil wars are erupting everywhere, and the king needs me.” Kristian answered. Lara sighed, knowing full well how fiercely loyal the commander was. He smiled, blond hair falling into his face as he leaned down to kiss her. ”Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” The tall man strode over to the homemade cradle. Sure, he hated leaving his wife…but even worse was the pain of leaving their new son. “Hey Link,” he said quietly, smiling as the baby curled one fist around his father’s massive finger. “You take care of mama, okay?” Link just gurgled in delight, staring with clear blue eyes at the man above him. “That’s my boy. I love you,” Kristian responded, planting a kiss on his son’s downy head. With one final embrace to his wife, he donned his silver helmet and joined the ranks of his men, marching out of the castle gates. “I’m fighting for you, son. May you live a life free of war, even if it costs me my life.” ***** “Oh no…no…” Lara whispered in disbelief nearly four months later, staring at the parchment before her. The wars had reached the peak of their conflict, like a beast rearing its ugly head before falling. “I-I’m real sorry ma’am.” The young courier said, his brown eyes trying to sympathize with her green ones. He took off his helmet, bowed, and moved on. Leaving Lara to sink in her chair, numb and shaken. The notice of death flitted to the floor unhindered. He can’t be gone, she thought. He-he just can’t! With the Gerudos about to storm the fort, how will we ever survive without you Kristian? Lara moved to where Link was asleep in his tiny cradle and went to hold him. Suddenly a scream pierced the once tranquil air. Hoofs pounded past, and caused Lara to peek out her window. Monstrous black horses whipped past, Gerudo torches lighting fire to the houses along the town. Soon the entire night sky was aflame with brilliant orange from the fires. Soon the pillaging would begin. I can’t stay any longer, Lara thought, rushing to the bedroom. I’ve got to save Link. She pushed the bed aside, grabbing onto the heavy metal ring of the trap door. She flung it open, crawling into the dusty tunnel. The underground lamps were lit, illuminating two paths: one to the castle and one to Hyrule Field. Lara started down the latter one, but stopped. The Queen had just had a baby not too long ago. Princess Zelda, the heir. Surely the Gerudos would attack and head straight to the Castle. Baby Link gurgled at his mother, uncomprehending what was going on and not caring one whim. Lara couldn’t just let the baby princess die. Kristian gave his life protecting the King, and she would protect his daughter. Lara turned down the path towards the castle. Kristian, I hope I’m doing the right thing. What started this whole blasted war anyways? She thought as she crept towards the castle. Ah, she remembered now: a few years ago Gensi, the first male Gerudo born in seven years, set his heart on conquering all of Hyrule. After his failed Hylian campaign, Gensi was publicly executed. Unbeknownst to any Hylian, his son, Ganondorf was in the crowd, watching. Dressed as a young Gerudo girl, the young prince saw his father die, and in that instant inherited his father’s wish to rule the world. And he would, or die trying.  While in town, he heard of the legends of the Triforce, an ancient Hylian relic. The one bearing the Triforce would be granted wishes beyond his imagination. That, that was the key to his success. The Gerudos were infuriated that their leader had been killed in such a humiliating way and thus gathered forces with Northern kingdoms and sacked Hyrule. Lara trembled as the horrifying hooves pounded the ground above her. They were about ten feet from the castle. She crawled a little further, then throwing all her weight into shoving open a trap door. She emerged dust-covered in a small stone shack outside the castle. She opened the door quietly, so as not to alert any guards. The black sky was alit with orange flames rising like the Northern Lights. Above a pale moon watched, helpless. Lara looked around: to her right was the small creek that ran the perimeter of the castle. Across from that was a small hole, leading to the inner courtyards of the castle. Link had somehow miraculously stayed asleep this whole time, as he was now. Slipping him into the hood of her coat, she flipped it around so that he hung a little below her chin. Steadying her feet on the very edge, she leaped gracefully to the other side with an agility she prayed her son would inherit should he ever need it… Lara pushed her baby through first, then crawled in after him. Thank god she had a small frame, for she would never have fit through the hole. She picked up Link again and skirted along the outside walls to the inner sanctums. She pushed open a false wall and lay low behind a suit of armor. Once the dim-witted guard passed, Lara sprinted towards the queen’s chambers. She rapped on the solid oak door once, then rushed in. “What do you want?” The queen asked, frightened. Queen Callia had long -been renowned for her beauty, and now Lara could see the rumors were true. Silky blonde hair fell to her waist, with a few bangs delicately framing her heart-shaped face. Her dark green eyes were wide with fear. “Your majesty I bring you no harm,” Lara said quietly. “I’ve come to save you and the princess.” “How-how can I trust you?” Callia asked, blonde eyebrows raising skeptically. Lara raised her right hand; a faint etching of the tri-force appearing. It was a mark that those within the palace could hold to show their loyalty to the Royal Family. “Your majesty I will not betray you.” Callia nodded, wrapping a water blue cloak around herself and pushing past a painting that lead to the nursery. Callia wasted no time in grabbing her sleeping daughter. “Let’s go,” Lara said, pulling her own emerald hood over her dark brown hair. ******* “Just this way, majesty.” Lara said, pushing away the darkness in the subterranean tunnel. “Where are you taking me?” Callia questioned, her voice trembling in the dark. “Kakriko Village, milady. If I’m not mistaken, your bodyguard Impa has fled there.” Callia fell silent, amazed at this woman’s courage to save her and Zelda when it was clear she could’ve fled with her own baby. May God protect you, dear woman, she thought. Lara pushed open another trap door, just below the windmill of the small village. Luckily, few, if any Gerudos knew of this town, so it was still unaffected. And I doubt any Gerudo would be foolish enough to fight a Shekiah, she added, knowing full well of the inhabitants’ fierce loyalty to the Royal Family. “This way your highness,” Lara said, pulling the Queen out of the tunnels. The two women made their way across the dark village, darting like two fleeing shadows They were almost there when the horses’ began pouring in. Gerudos and Lokis (a tribe from the north) rode past fiercely, and began lightening the houses nearby with their torches. Shekiah men and women immediately struck back, engaging in a violent battle within the streets. “Callia, this way!” Lara shouted over the din, dragging the queen to an alleyway. A Loki youth, his silvery hair falling down his back, walked past, pausing at the entrance to the alley. He looked around a moment, reaching for his long, double-bladed sword. Lara clamped a hand down on Link’s mouth, should he cry. Yet another baby began to whimper. Callia looked down frustratedly at Zelda, who’d began to cry. The Loki was immediately alerted and turned his cold silver eyes down the alley. Then he saw them. “Hey! You!” he cried, rushing for them. “RUN!” Lara shouted, pushing Callia down the narrow way. The two women ran hard through the twisting labyrinth of passages, but it was no use. Eventually they reached the open square in the center of town. For a moment, it seemed like their scatter-brained plan had worked. The Loki was nowhere in sight. Something told Lara to look up; in doing so she found the Loki pulling back an arrow. Then it hit her: Callia had turned to look at the enemy as they had ran and he had identified her as the Queen. “CALLIA!” she cried, shoving the queen out of the arrow’s pathway. She winced in pain as it struck her in the arm. Link began to cry as well. Callia looked to Lara, stunned. “Go! Go!” Lara shouted in pain, shoving the woman towards a nearby house. Callia pounded on the door as the Loki cursed and fumbled for another arrow. The door opened, pulled her in, and slammed shut just as the arrow whizzed by. Feeling a warm, sticky liquid starting to flow down to her elbow, Lara stumbled to her feet and began to run. Run, run, you’ve got to keep running, Lara told her exhausted body. She was nearly across Hyrule Field, dodging the walls of flames and angry Loki everywhere. She raised her brown eyes, barely making out the ancient tree that marked the edge of Kokiri Forest. Her heart continued to pound as she forced herself towards the forest. She was going to die, she knew it. But she had to get Link to the forest; that was all that mattered. As soon as he was safe in the sheltering trees, she could breath easy. Link. She looked fondly down at her son, who stared back up at her with innocent eyes. Her only regret was that he would never know either of his parents. Lara stumbled into the meadow, deep within the forbidden forest. A giant tree stood regally in the fading moonlight. This, this must be the tree from legend. The Deku Tree, ancient guardian of the children of the forest: the Kokiri. “Oh…” she cried, falling to her knees. Link began to wail, seeming to sense his mother’s pain. The baby’s cry must’ve awakened the tree, because Lara suddenly felt someone staring down at her. “P-please,” she begged of the tree, half-wondering if she was delusional. “take care of my baby.” She was on the floor completely now, her head leaning next to Link’s tiny one. Oh! How much he reminded her of Kristian. “My little son, what a price we’ve paid to keep you safe. Your parents died keeping the Royal Family safe; I pray you’ll do the same if nessecary. Keep a courageous heart, son, for you are a Child of Destiny.” Lara laid her head down, barely able to keep her eyes open. “I love you…” The sun burst over the forest glade, and Lara breathed deepily. “K-kristian?” she murmured, then falling silent. The silence echoed eerily in the forest, until a songbird declared the morning begun. ******* Link sat back, dumbfounded as the Deku Scrub finished the story. He looked to the ground; the very same meadow where a young mother placed her baby into a forest’s keeping. And now her son caressed the ground, like he was reaching back in time to touch his mother’s face. A swirl of emotions raged within: grief, anger, love, confusion, longing…all demanding his attention. “Link? Are you going to be okay?” Navi asked quietly. ”Yes.” Link stood up resolutely, pulling out the Master Sword. A strong determination raced through him, outstanding all other emotions in his strong body. I cannot lose this battle now, he thought. For my parents’ death will have been in vain if I do. Mom, Dad, I won’t let you down.