Chapter 1 – Persistence of Vision
Dawn crept over the ranch. As a cock crowed, Talon slowly stirred. After a time, he slipped out of bed and out to work, grumbling "Why do I have to...". The Cuccos pecked around his feet as he blundered downstairs. He yanked on the door, stepped outside -
and nearly tripped over what looked like a bundle of sheets on the doorstep. "What in tarnation..." he wondered. He bent down to take a closer look. The sheets contained a sleeping baby, who clutched something long and thin. "What're you doing here? Oh well. I'd better take a look at you." Carefully, trying not to disturb him, he bundled the child and mysterious object into his arms and carried them back.
Ten years later...
"Kae! Come here! I've told you a hundred times about climbing trees..."
"Aw, Sis!" Kaelon grumbled, in the style of younger siblings the world over. "Do I have to... I like it up here..."
"Don't look at me like that. Tell you what, you come down now and I won't tell dad about what you were up to. Deal?"
"Okay. I'm coming..." Carefully, he dropped out of the tree. Malon wondered - her adopted brother seemed to get himself into all sorts of scrapes, but still, he never got seriously hurt. It was as if he had someone watching over him all the time apart from her, keeping him safe.
Like a fairy... she thought, then angrily pushed the idea aside. It had been ten years since her "fairy boy" had... been lost, but she still thought about him sometimes. He wasn't dead, she knew - but he might as well have been, for all that had happened to him.
"Malon? What's the matter?"
"Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking about someone I used to know... Come on. Let's go in. Dinner's nearly ready. That is, if Dad didn't fall asleep and burn it..." They walked back to the house laughing.
...The bright grass stretched all the way to an unbroken horizon, except for a tree on a hill. Above him, a grinning moon. He walked to the tree, but nothing else was there. He walked on... but a noise caught his attention. He looked round. A shadowy figure stood under the tree. He wandered back... The figure became clearer. A tall man, seemingly young but at the same time somehow ageless, with pure white hair and odd marks on his face. He seized a strange double-bladed sword and attacked... Kaelon span and fell to the ground. He got up, but the warrior had vanished. Instead, there was a boy of Kaelon's age, in green, with the same blue eyes. He reached out a hand... "Remember..."...
Kaelon awoke with a start. Nightmares again? He hadn't had them since he was seven. Then, it was a man on a black horse, and a giant pig-like monster. Those had been the normal sort of scary, but this new one seemed to be playing with his mind in a different way. Carefully, trying not to disturb anyone else, he walked to the window and looked out over the peaceful ranch. Struck by a sudden idea, he looked for the moon. No, it was still normal. Everything looked so peaceful. Unlike my head. "Why me..." he muttered under his breath, before crawling back to bed and clamping the pillows round his ears to block out Talon's snores.
The next day was market day in town. Usually, Kaelon would plead with his father or sister, depending on whose turn it was to deliver milk and eggs to the castle, if he could come. The argument was so well rehearsed that there was really no point his even trying, but try he did. It never worked. But today was different.
"Hey, kid."
"Huh, Sis?"
"Fancy a ride?"
"What, you're letting me..."
"Sure. It's a big delivery today. You can help."
"Gee! Thanks!" He gave her a hug.
"Hey! Don't strangle me!"
"Oh. Sorry."
The journey across the field was uneventful, although Malon seemed edgy. Perhaps she was just worried. Or is there something she's not telling me? Kaelon wondered.
It was mid-morning by the time they reached the bustling market. Kaelon looked about in wonder - he'd never seen it in full swing before. The only time he'd been to town before was when he was little and they'd gone to see the ruined temple. That had been interesting, but they'd have to leave in a hurry. He still wondered why. Despite the unfamiliarity of it all, somehow he'd felt at home there.
This was different. People pushed and shoved around them. In the crowds, he could see a group of three - well, they were walking fish weren't they? He remembered the name. Zoras, that was it! They stood behind a fish stall. He wandered into the crowds, hearing his sister's voice warning him blending into the background. Curious, he walked over to the temple. Two guards stood by the entrance.
"Sorry, but you're not allowed in."
"Why?"
"It's just the rules."
Dejected, he turned back and headed to the cart.
Something felt wrong. The crowds were quieting. As he arrived back, Malon grabbed his arm.
"Stay here. Just - stay by me," she snapped, in a totally different tone of voice to normal. He looked around. There was someone coming through the crowds. A tall figure in armour, standing above the rest, but he moved almost silently. Everyone moved away - afraid? - as he approached.
Kaelon craned his neck to see. He gave a yelp of surprise as he recognised who it was. That was...
It was hard for white eyes to seem in the slightest shocked, but for a fleeting moment the strange figure's did. Deja vu, he thought. Mind you, that kid does look a lot like I did back then... Not that it matters. He turned and walked towards the castle.
The market slowly returned to normal. Malon glanced round at her brother, whose eyes were still wide in surprise.
"Kae? Kae! What's up?"
"That man... I saw him in a dream last night..." Malon looked at him, but said nothing. "Do you know who he is?"
Grimly, she nodded. "Yes. I do." In an undertone, she added, "I wish I didn't."
They sat on the back of the cart and talked.
"Some people call him the Fierce Deity. Others, Oni. I've heard him called all sorts of names, including those that I really don't want to repeat. But his real name - though he never uses it - is Link." Kaelon looked up in surprise. He'd heard the name before, he was sure of it... "I knew him when we were kids. About your age, in fact. It was market day, and Dad had gone to deliver milk to the castle. Surprise surprise, he dozed off when he was there. Link found him sleeping when he snuck into the castle. I think he was trying to see the princess. Anyway, he sent him home. After that point, we became friends. I even let him have Epona - don't look so surprised, he could handle her as well as you and I can. Sweet little thing she was then... But about a year after we first met...
"A stranger appeared on the ranch. Well, I say 'stranger', but... He was leading Epona. He said he didn't need her any more. I wondered what he meant - but then I saw his face. Even though he looked older, even though his eyes and hair had changed, I recognised him for who he was. He'd changed for good... inside and out. I don't know why, but my friend was gone, and the Fierce Deity had taken his place..." She wiped her eyes. "Sorry. It's still hard to think about what happened, even after all this time."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"No - it's not your fault. You weren't to know. Actually, it's done me good to talk it over. Anyway, where were we...
"I've heard rumours that he’s been in charge of the country since the old king died, that he’s the real power behind the throne. I don't know how true that is - if it is, then I feel so sorry for the queen. I don't even want to guess." Kaelon put a sympathetic hand on Malon's. She sighed. "It's not fair, just not fair..." She paused. "Hang on. What's that on your hand?" They looked together. A faint brown pattern seemed to be traced on the skin, like a highly selective suntan.
"I dunno. Been there a couple of days. Doesn't hurt."
"No... I've seen it before." She peered closer. "Looks like... never!" The last was in a hushed tone. "He had one just like it. He never made a big thing of it... before, and... after... you couldn't see it under his gauntlets, if he still had - has - it. I wonder what it means?"
"Does it matter?"
"Probably not. Strange, though." Malon sighed. "Come on. We've got to get this finished." They scarcely talked for the rest of the day. The ride back home was subdued. There was too much to think about.