Seven Years 19.5

follows right after 19, go back and read them with no break if you have the time...

You stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid little arrogant self-righteous maggot… you ROYALLY screwed that one up Zelda, and there’s no turning back…

It was actually the most charitable thing she had though about herself since chasing off Toran. Sighing, Shiek kicked agitatedly at the ground. Why in the world did she feel the need to shoot herself in the foot all the time?

She was back at Lon Lon Ranch, and trying desperately to erase Toran’s face from her mind. He had been so calm, yet the hurt in his eyes had been clear and deep. Growling, she leapt up and grabbed one of the low-hanging rafters of the loft. She began pulling chin-ups as rapidly as possible, vainly attempting to sweat the idea of Toran out of her head. She had only completed ten reps when she heard the door burst open. Shiek had absolutely no desire to talk to Malon, so she quickly flipped herself on top of the beam and blended into the shadows.

It was Malon that burst into the barn, but rather than her usual flouncing step, the ranch girl stumbled in and fell sprawling to the floor, as though she had been shoved violently through the door. She let out a sharp cry of pain as she hit the ground and skid several feet. Shiek started, eyes widening as she watched Malon push herself back to her knees.

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO GIVE THAT HORSE ANY FOOD!”

Malon’s large eyes looked up, a flash of anger tinting the blue.

“You’re going to kill her! Just because Epionia won’t let you ride her doesn’t mean you’re allowed to starve her!”

Indigo stormed into view, his short figure coming in close to Malon’s kneeling form.

“You little slut,” he growled, weasel-like features contorting with rage as he grabbed her arm roughly, “you act so high and mighty, but you just low filth!”

His arm whipped around in a vicious backhand that connected with Malon’s face, snapping her head around. Malon sagged back, and probably would have sunk to the floor if Indigo hadn’t been pulling her upright. Shiek gasped audibly as Indigo lashed out again, the smack horrifyingly loud.

“Don’t think I haven’t seen those boys sneaking around here at night. Don’t act like you’re better then I am, you slut! I swear I’m gonn’a turn that horse into hamburger and force it down your throat!” Indigo punctuated his threat by pushing her roughly back into the boxes of milk crates.

Shiek felt frozen. She sat on the rafter, eyes wide, staring in shock at the scene below her. She had seen Moblins, Lizardmen, and Skultiods do horrible things, and even her share of Zora, Greudo, Shiekah and Hylian fighting, but this was the first time she had witnessed a Hylian man beating a defenseless victim. Shiek knew she should help Malon, but her arms and legs refused to respond. Icy fingers of fear gripped her heart as Malon looked up to Indigo, a small trickle of blood rolling down her face out of her nose. The ranch girl was trembling slightly, and her face was already showing the signs of taking several blows, but a defiant, angry, gleam still shone from her eyes.

“I care what you do to me, but don’t you dare touch Epionia!”

“Don’t talk to me, slut!” his hand shot out again, sending Malon back to the floor. Malon’s body had just hit the ground when the door opened again. Before any of the three had time to react the new comer was in the room and had grabbed Indigo by the straps of his overalls, lifting him clear off the ground.

“Look, pal, you want’a hit someone, you can try and hit me…”

Shiek gasped again. Link had returned to Lon Lon.

His tone was steady and collected, but there was fire in his eyes and a murderous undertone to his words.

“Fairy Boy!” Malon gasped, a hand drifting to her mouth.

Link slammed Indigo back into a beam, almost snarling as he glared down into the rancher’s beady eyes.

“I said, you want’a hit someone?”

Indigo’s brown eyes narrowed as he glared back at Link.

“Back off boy, you obviously have no idea who I am! Gannondorf gave me this ranch; I am one of his favorite servants!”

“You’re in with Ganny? Why doesn’t that surprise me… but here’s some news for you, pal, someone’s about to finally step up to your boss, and trust me, I don’t plan on losing.”

“Please Fairy Boy, don’t kill him!” Malon cried, pushing herself to her feet, keeping her balance by leaning on one of the support beams, “He’s right; if you kill him Gannondorf will burn this ranch to the ground! All the horses will die!”

Link scowled at Indigo a bit longer, and it was quite obvious he thought this was more then fair trade off. Finally he whirled, using the momentum to throw Indigo clean through the door back to the outside. He turned to face Malon again, concern in his eyes.

“You ok?” he asked reaching out to steady her. Malon staggered forward to cling onto Link, clutching the tunic at his chest and snuggling into him.

“I am now,” she breathed, and it looked as though she was beginning to cry. Shiek felt her heart freeze as Link’s arms began to encircle Malon, his right arm around her waist while his other hand gently stroked the long red hair at her back.

“How long has this been going on,” Link asked, a trace of raw hatred in his voice.

“Ever since daddy’s been gone… I don’t understand, Indigo used to be such a nice man, but now he’s always angry, and it’s been getting worse…”

“You’ve been very strong, not everyone would have stood up for the horses like you did…”

“Knowing you were back gave me strength…” the Ranch Girl whispered, burrowing deeper into his chest.

“Uh, yeah, well, I need to get on… I came back to see if I could get a horse. I’m guessing that Indigo wouldn’t miss a few of them.”

“Oh, no he wouldn’t… Epionia would still remember you, if you want her,” Malon replied, an odd tone Shiek had never heard before in her voice.

“Yeah… hey, I’ll see you later, ok?”

Malon nodded and stepped away, tears shining in her blue eyes. Link reached out and wiped the trickle of blood off Malon’s face. Turning to go, Link smiled back over his shoulder.

“Don’t worry about anything Malon… I found some stuff when I was in the village, and things will get better…”

With that Link turned and exited the barn.

Shiek wasn’t sure how to read what had happened. On one hand it seemed obvious that Malon was very attracted to Link, but on the other hand she didn’t act anything close to how she acted around other guys with him. Also, Link seemed to be concerned about Malon’s wellbeing, but Shiek wasn’t sure if that necessarily meant he loved the ranch girl. Maybe they had been very close friends before, and were just watching each other’s backs in this dark time. Dropping out of the loft, Shiek landed next to Malon, causing the startled ranch girl to gasp.

“Shiek! Where did you come from?”

“Just around,” she said, smiling slightly. She always got a thrill out of making people jump, “I’ve been helping Link, so I have to follow him around a bit.”

“You’ve been stalking Fairy Boy?” there was something akin to incredulity in her voice.

“Not stalking, following,” Shiek said giggling slightly; she did have to admit it must seem a bit odd.

“Well, you can just about back off Shiek.”

Shiek stood, her mouth slightly agape, in shock. Malon’s arms were crossed over her chest, a dangerous gleam in her blue eyes. Maybe her worst fears had been right; Malon liked Link more then as a friend, and certainly more then the men she used to fill her emotional void.

“Um, what do you mean?” she asked, stepping back as Malon edged in closer, still glaring murderously.

“Fairy Boy is mine Shiek… The one thing I have left. Plus I saw him first; I’ve been his friend for many, many, years. There’s no way you could love him as much as I do!”

Malon directness caused a flare to go off in Shiek’s mind. She was only an inch or two taller then the ranch girl, but Shiek tried her best to tower over Malon.

“Is that so? Then how become you were bedding Draq the whole time I was waiting for Link to return?”

Deep hurt flashed across Malon’s eyes, and Shiek honestly regretted the comment. However, the pain was almost instantly overshadowed by raw anger.

“Some of us didn’t have the benefit of knowing he was alive, Shiek… and it’s not like I don’t know what you and Toran do together! How dare you!”

Malon had no way of knowing just how hard this comment was going to hit home. Shiek was already feeling guilty about her attachment to Toran, and the last thing she needed was Malon stoking the fire. Clenching her fist at her sides, Shiek’s red eyes burned with anger.

“I don’t want to hear it from you, you slut-” even as the last word fell from her mouth, Shiek remembered why it sounded so familiar. Malon’s blue eyes narrowed, clouding as she nearly snarled in response.

“Yeah, sure, you gonn’a hit me too?”

Malon whirled and stalked towards the door, leaving Shiek standing mutely in the barn. Shiek knew she had overstepped her bounds, but could think of nothing to say that could possibly redeem herself.

We’re acting like immature little girls, both of us… surly we could have worked that out, right?

As if in answer the barn door slammed shut, leaving her alone once again. She had definitely seen better days then this one…

Seven Years part 19

19.5 will be out very soon, so no one complain about the shortness of 19... BTW, a new point of view is introduced, so please have fun

Toran swallowed hard. It was difficult to keep from breaking down right there on Hyrule Plain. He silently trudged across the plain, lips pressed tightly together, eyes staring forward unseeing, arms hanging limply at his sides.

“Hey man, anything wrong?”

The voice jerked Toran out of his thoughts and back to Hyrule Plain. Glancing around, he saw a lanky youth about his own age stand close by. He was slightly taller then Toran, dressed in green and white, blond hair blowing slightly in the morning breeze. His chest, arms, and legs were obviously powerful, and the sword and shield slung over his back completed his warrior image.

“No, just thinking… and you are?” Toran tried to keep suspicion out of his tone, but slightly shifted his weight to enable a quick draw from the katana at his shoulder, should the man turn out to be more inclined to fight then talk.

“Link,” he replied, something between a smile and a smirk, “and don’t think I can’t see you getting ready to strike… I’m a fighter too you know.”

Link? Toran contemplated taking off his head right there, but realized how ridiculous the idea was even as he entertained it. One, it was wrong. Two, Link was the Hero of Time after all, and probably a good enough warrior to avoid a one stroke kill. And of course, knocking off the Hero of Time was probably NOT the best way to win Shiek over to his side.

“So anyway, you sure nothing is wrong? You look like everything you ever cared about just died…”

Toran shrugged. That was sort of the case after all.

“Yeah, well, I just need to find a place to chill and rest… it’s been a kind of crappy day.”

“Already?” Link laughed good-naturedly, “it’s not even eleven o’clock yet…”

Toran felt a smirk tug at his mouth. It was funny yes, but Link wasn’t exactly starting on his good side.

“Well, see ya man, I gott’a keep moving… I have lot’s of things to do.”

“Like?” Toran asked, relaxing his stance slightly.

“Well, I was going to head back into Lon Lon and see if I could permanently borrow a horse. Also I wouldn’t mind talking with Malon, the ranch girl, again. I mean, she was really cute last time I saw her seven years ago, but now, wow. You seen her?”

“Um, yeah…”

“Oh hey!” Link cried, as though he suddenly remembered something, “you’re obviously a warrior of sorts… you know anything about this guy I just recently met. His name’s Shiek. He stands about yeah tall, red eyes, yellow blond hair, wears a high collar to cover his face and really tight blue pants. Ever seen him?”

“One could say that…” Toran mumbled under his breath.

“I mean if you don’t it’s ok, I was just curious because he’s been kind of helping me out recently… I mean if you can call what he does help… mostly he just shows up, acts gay, and then leaves before the real action starts. Got to admit, I like him though, he seems cool enough… and from what I’ve overheard the villagers say, he’s been quite a resistance worker.”

“Actually Link, if you don’t mind I need to get going too,” Toran broke in, gesturing vaguely in the general direction of the village.

“Yeah, like I said, me too,” Link said grinning broadly, “try and cheer up man… if there nothing in this world to love why are we fighting to save it, right?”

Toran watched Link wave and jog off in the direction of the ranch. If it wasn’t for the whole Shiek thing, he might have been able to like the lanky hero. As it was, he would have given anything to lop the blond head clean off those broad shoulders.

*****

It had most definitely been a good morning. She wasn’t totally sure why, but when Impa had woken up that morning it had felt like something good had been accomplished, as though Hyrule were a step closer to overthrowing the hell that had come to reign over it. Stretching expansively, the shiekah elder winced slightly at the loud popping sounds that came from her back. Impa had let Shiek live in the delusion that she was somewhere in the neighborhood of 35, when truth be told she was actually closer to 45. She knew others, particularly the teenagers that looked up to her, saw her as timeless somehow, but in the morning her body reminded her vividly that this notion was far from a realistic view of reality. She repressed the beginning of a wry grin and stepped into the morning sun.

She had been up late at Zora Fountain, and partly to no avail. She had been able to dispose of the few straggling Lizardmen and Moblins that lurked in the large carven, but the ice was entirely beyond her power. She figured the secret to thawing the Zora nation lay in the Water Temple, but the temple was too deep beneath the waters of Lake Hylia for her to reach. It was obviously up to the Hero of Time.

The Hero of Time…

Sighing, Impa turned back to the door of “her” house. It had been the first night she had slept there in nearly fifteen months, but not much had changed. The table she had been sitting at nearly thirty-seven years ago when she had been informed of her newly wedded husband’s death was still there. She had told herself that she was warrior, that she had known Defaid was a warrior, that she had known either of them could die at any time, that she was fine and would move on, but that had been the last night she had consistently slept in the house. Defaid had built it for her with his own hands, and the memory of him was still too strong in the place for her.

Is that the real reason? I think I can protect Zelda from marrying the same type of man I did? Not all warriors die young Impa, and even if they did, that is her choice to take the risk, not yours. You can only protect the princess for so long, sooner or later you are going to have to let someone else take that responsibility.

Grimacing with frustration, Impa glanced at a mirror inside the house. She had been slightly disappointed that her bout with the Shadow Phantom had left yet another scar on her face. Back when she had first met Defaid her face arms and body had been perfect, toned and tanned from countless hours training in the sun and not one single scar. Her hair had been jet black back then too, not the silver it had turned to almost over night.

Sometimes she wondered why things had happened like they had. She and Defaid had been the closest of companions during their teen years, and shared many adventures. Both had lived dangerous and fast-paced lives, but had arranged to slow down for family life. She had cashed in her chips to land a job as the personal bodyguard of Princess Julia, and Defaid was set to become the head of the Hyrule Palace Guard. But, a warrior by nature, he felt obligated to fight in what would be the last battle between the Hylian and Greudo nations. Defaid had saved the battle, won peace and victory for Hyrule, and lost his life to a Temple Guard’s spear. She remembered the night she that she had heard of Defaid’s death. It was the first time she had ever cried. The next morning Impa had gone to the palace and told Julia, who was her closest friend, what had happened, and the two had cried together.

It was the second time she ever cried.

Julia had lived a normal life and, for the first time, so had Impa. She remained close with Julia, and the two shared everything with each other. Then Julia had met Lord Fiate, a hero of the Moblin wars, and it wasn’t long before Impa was getting ready to look after a new princess entirely. Julia had used Impa’s house for the pregnancy, to get away from the bustle of the palace. Impa was thrilled for Julia, but it seemed as though fate was determined tint every joy she had with sorrow. A beautiful new girl entered the world, but Julia died in childbirth.

It was the last time she ever cried.

In a way, the house symbolized everything that had caused her pain over the years, yet at the same time everything that she had loved was connected with it.

Impa busied herself about the house for a while, helping Migrid with breakfast and checking on the general up keep of the house. It was afternoon before she started out to Lon Lon Ranch to check on Toran and Shiek. It was a nice jog, and she felt the need to get some exercise.

As she exited the town, Impa got the eerie feeling of distress that she generally felt when Shiek was in danger. Quickening her pace, Impa continued towards the ranch, figuring it was the best place to locate what was going on. Looking ahead she noticed a figure jogging towards her. She wasn’t overly worried about it, until she recognized the figure as Toran.

What is he doing out here alone? Where is Zelda?

Toran noticed her and called out. Impa was relieved that there was no obvious urgency in his voice, even if there was a strain of stress in his tone.

“Hey Impa, how’s it going?”

“I am fine. Where is Shiek?”

Toran looked a little taken aback by her directness, but gestured over his shoulder.

“Um, she’s back at Lon Lon…”

“Why is she not with you?” Impa asked, fearing the worst from Toran tone.

“Well, we kind of split up…”

“Split up?” Impa was trying hard to hide her frustration and confusion, but was willing to bet at least a little of it was showing through.

“Well, basically it came out that I was in love with her and then she asked me to go away for a long time.”

Impa cursed inwardly; she had been hoping things wouldn’t come to this. She sent a silent prayer to all the goddess that the emotional stress Zelda must have been going through was what had triggered her alert system.

“Toran,” she said, walking past him towards the ranch, “Migrid needs someone to take Keef’s place in the village, why don’t you go report to her? I need to talk with Shiek…”

Toran nodded and the two parted ways; Toran to the village and Impa on to the ranch.

Seven Years part 18

a short but inportant section. Please comment.

Toran groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. He had pushed himself slightly harder then normal in practice the other day, and was paying for it in stiffness this morning. It had been worth it though; he had successfully completed the three most complicated routines he knew and, more importantly, he had noticed Shiek had been checking him out with Malon behind a few crates near the barn. Knowing Malon had been watching him was fun in a way, but realizing that Shiek actually found him appealing was like having his most wonderful dreams manifest themselves in flesh.

Brushing some clinging hay off his clothes, Toran walked into the morning sun, pausing to stretch expansively after exiting the barn. He figured it was around six thirty, but Malon apparently was already up. She was breezing around the corral, the largest smile Toran had ever seen plastered over her face. When she caught sight of him, Malon began giggling and flounced over to him.

“Toran!” she cried, obviously way too happy, “isn’t it such a wonderful day?”

Toran looked around; slightly cool, dew still on the ground, it all seemed perfectly normal. Malon bounded closer and wrapped Toran in a massive hug, giving an odd squeal as she pinned his arms to his sides. Toran shifted slightly uncomfortably in her arms, a little unsure of what was going on.

“Uh, Malon?”

“Oh Toran,” she let her arms come down from around her, grabbing his hands and spinning around in a circle, “the most wonderful thing happened last night!”

Ok, someone has wonderful stuck on the brain… Toran thought, allowing Malon to pull him around.

“An old friend of mine came back to visit, Toran… someone I haven’t seen in years and years. Fairy Boy, and my, has he grown up! He is soooo cute, with those blue eyes and the blond hair hanging in his eyes…” Malon stopped spinning and swooned. She fell back into Toran’s arms, and he had to grab her quickly to stop her from collapsing to the ground.

“Toran, everything is going to start getting better now!” she cried, squeezing him in another hug.

“Well, good morning, you two…”

Shiek was standing with her arms crossed, foot tapping slightly, red eyes flashing murderous fire. Toran groaned. It seemed as though any circumstance involving Shiek, Malon and himself had the worst possible timing ever.

Why Din? Why Narue? Why Naria? Am I just a bad person or something?

Malon was obvious too delirious about whatever it was that was making her so giddy to notice the tension that was forming between herself, Shiek, and Toran. She pressed a quick kiss to Toran’s cheek before bounding over to give Shiek a hug. She never actually got the chance though, as Shiek had already whirled and was storming off.

“Did she not sleep well or something?” Malon asked, obviously slightly confused. Toran did take the time to respond though. Shiek could disappear quickly if she wanted, and he wasn’t going to let her get away.

“Shiek, wait!”

She wasn’t slowing her quick walk, but she wasn’t running either. Quickening to a run, Toran tried to overtake her.

“Hey Shiek, come on, wait up!”

Shiek must have realized he was starting to run her down, because she sped her own pace a bit. Toran wasn’t about to give up though, and got close enough to catch the young woman’s wrist. She whirled, striking out with other hand, palm connecting squarely Toran’s sternum. Toran gasped for breath, stumbling backwards a step.

“Leave me the frick alone,” Shiek shouted, hurt and anger in her voice, tears filling her large eyes.

“S-huh-S-huh-,” Toran gasped, still trying to inflate his lungs, “Goddess Shiek, what the hell is your problem?”

“You,” she cried, emotion heavy in her voice, “you and that little red haired slut and the way she keeps taking everyone I ever cared about!”

“I, uh,” Toran was totally taken aback; his arms fell limply to his sides. Shiek was flat out crying now, a sight he had only actually seen twice before. Her face was buried into her hands, shoulders shaking slightly. Toran was hit with mixed emotions. On one hand he hated to see Shiek upset, but on the other it was a little flattering to know she was this insanely jealous over a hug and kiss from Malon.

“Shiek,” Toran soothed, reaching out to wrap her in a hug.

“No,” she sniveled, roughly pushing his arms from around her, “I said leave me alone.”

Turning, she made to sprint away still wiping at her face. Toran stepped in to stop her, but Shiek obviously had no intention of being stopped.

“I said leave me ALONE,” she shouted, whirling into a roundhouse kick to Toran’s gut. Toran felt his feet literally leave the ground as the force of the blow sent him flying backwards.

Well, that’s highly uncool, Toran thought as he stared dazedly up at the clouds from the sprawled position he had landed in. Pushing himself to his feet, Toran debated running after the obviously hurting Shiek. He wanted more then anything to try to explain what had happened, but was also wondering if that course of action would only result in more bodily harm to himself.

Women are the most confusing thing ever… Sighing, Toran scuffed the ground in frustration.

******

She couldn’t believe what she had just done. There was absolutely no excuse for striking Toran twice in as many minutes, but when she had seen Malon throwing herself at him that way something had finally snapped. Malon was slowly stealing Toran from her, and Shiek had a sinking suspicion that the red haired flirt had taken Link’s heart years ago.

That little greedy whore… she isn’t happy just stealing the man I’ve waited seven years for, now she wants to bed every man I’ve ever cared about… What is it about her? I mean, are guys so shallow that they can’t see through her breasts to what’s actually going on?

She stormed on, frustration, anger, confusion and hundreds of other emotions she couldn’t name or understand flooded her mind. She wasn’t sure were she was headed, but she was reasonably sure she wanted to be alone.

“Shiek, SHIEK!”

Sighing, Shiek turned around. Hadn’t he gotten the point the first time around?

Toran stopped in front of her and grinned lopsidedly.

“Um, please don’t hurt me, ok?”

“Yeah, whatever,” she growled. Feelings of guilt were still floating inside of her, but there was no way Toran was going to know that.

“Look, it’s not what you think… Malon’s just really pumped about something and wasn’t thinking. I mean, if it makes you feel any better I think she so happy because one of her old boy friends just showed up…”

Shiek winced slightly. That didn’t make her feel better at all.

“Why would I care about what you and Malon do?” she growled, hoping desperately that her voice didn’t betray the reason.

Toran growled in obvious frustration, running his hand through his tussled hair.

“Ok Shiek FINE! You need me to just say it? I love you, ok? You’re the first thing I think of when I wake up, you make my life worth living, I spend every moment I’m not with you wishing you were in my arms! Narue, Shiek, don’t you get it? I’d do anything just to be near you!”

His burning, passionate hazel eyes bored right through her. Shiek couldn’t look him in the face. Biting down on her lower lip, Shiek’s eyes fell away, tears threatening to spill.

“Please Toran, don’t say that…” she whispered, afraid that anything louder would cause her voice to crack.

“Why?” his voice still burned with emotion, and she was willing to bet his eyes still flashed fire, “don’t you love me? Even just a little?”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Shiek bit back down on her lower lip to keep it from quivering. Did she? Maybe a little, but she had to love Link; he was who fate had chosen for her, the one she had waited nearly a decade for. Still unable to look up, Shiek felt a tear squeeze out of her shut eyes.

“No,” she whispered, “I can’t…”

“Can’t?” there was a slight hint of confusion in his voice.

“Can’t,” she whispered again, feeling a gut wrenching pain. She knew what had to come next.

“I love Link, Toran. I’m Princess Zelda, he’s the Hero of Time, don’t you get it? I always knew he’d come back and we’d end up together after he overthrew Gannondorf… I never should have let us get as close as we did, Toran, it wasn’t right. Now please, go.”

“Go?” the shock in Toran’s voice was worse then anything he could have said.

“Yes go. We can’t go on like this, so I am relieving you of your duties on this team. Please Toran, just go…”

“Shiek, I-”

“JUST GO!” her gaze went to his face, the pain and sorrow of her heart unhidden in her red eyes, “please Toran, I can’t have you around me anymore.”

He looked down at her, absolutely no emotion betrayed in the hazel eyes that so often served as a window to his soul. His entire person seemed sorrowed somehow, but no one feature, twitch, or sound displayed it. It looked as though something deep inside the young warrior had snapped. Finally Toran spoke, his voice low and strained, yet strangely calm.

“If that’s how you want it, Shiek, then that’s how it’ll be. Look me up if you ever have a mind to, Impa will know where to find me…” reaching up, Toran pulled off his green cloth headband and held it out.

“I’ll always love you Shiek, please remember me…”

She wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow she was holding the green cloth strip. Looking back up she saw Toran walking slowly away, waving once without turning around. It didn’t take long before he was out of sight behind a rise. Clinching the cloth tightly, Shiek felt the first tear squeeze out, then another, then another, and soon she was crying for everything she was worth. Sinking to her knees, she felt sobs wrack her body.

Shiek was alone.