Dawn of a... New Life?

[songofsoaring]

Characters: Link
Setting: Around the tower. Don't see a prompt? Pick a spot and Link will find a reason to be there.
Format: I'm starting with prose, but whatever floats your boat is fine for threads
Summary: That new victim person smell is fresh on this boy. As fresh as that ugly white jumpsuit he's still wearing.
Warnings: None. Will update as needed

Room 4-14
He was in the process of carefully sliding the edge of his sword up the side of his right leg to cut the cloth of the jumpsuit he wore. He'd already gotten most of the left leg cut off and cut into strips. He hadn't been able to rip the fabric - such a strange material - but he'd found the razor edge of his sword could slice it open just fine. With an unknown place like this, and none of his clothes anywhere in sight, including belts, Link would have to make something approximating them to carry what few possessions he had left.

There were two sheets of paper that looked like letters on the table next to him. His reading was terrible without the aid of a fairy and he only had a few of the word patterns memorized enough to recognize a few of the words written on them. The first, shorter one, he managed to make out "I saved you" with no issue - so he knew he'd been in trouble of some sort, even if he couldn't remember it - but there were some words he didn't know to recognize by rote between the shorter ones he did: 'world' and 'destroyed' and 'let's' and 'happy'. So while it was nice he'd been saved, it would have been nicer to have someone in the room to tell him what had happened and why he had the weird feeling collar and bodysuit on... and how to more easily get them off. Zippers? What are those?


Dormitories - Around the Stairwell
Now in a jumpsuit that had both legs and the right arm poorly chopped off and the remnants re-purposed as make-shift belts/straps to hold all five of his masks, the Ocarina of Time and his sword's sheath (slung across his back), Link was making his way up the ramp that circled the stairwell. The ramp only seemed to go up while the stairwell went down. Knowing that most dungeons required him to go up to get the keys he needed to go down, Link had decided that up was the smart way to go. If he had to change directions, he could and would. In his left hand was his sword and on his right arm was his shield - what would have been a medium sized one on any grown man, was absurdly large on the boy's 3ft frame. The humor of it marred, perhaps, by the horrified face etched into it's mirrored surface.


Cafeteria - First Meal
Link had managed to make his way to the very bottom of the tower - or as far as he could go, anyway - using the contraption called the 'elevator'. It was food store of some kind and that was great, because he was hungry, but all they had were something called 'nutrition bars' and oatmeal. Oatmeal was what Malon fed Epona as a treat. So it probably wasn't meant for people... which only led to him being very frustrated because the strange people who worked there kept trying to give him oatmeal instead of the nutrition bars. He didn't understand it at all and they wouldn't answer his questions, just repeat themselves when saying he should have oatmeal.
[[Edit: this has been resolved, but anyone who wants to find him in the cafeteria trying to convince the people to give him more oatmeal, is welcome to do so.]]

Comments

Dorm stairwell

[ocariness]

[ It's pretty difficult to miss seeing any version of yourself, let alone someone who's obviously new in that ugly jumpsuit. They must've not gotten clothing in their trunk or stopped to look in it. This particular Hero of Time is wearing a blue tunic today, but otherwise fully-equipped with sword and mirror shield.

It's hard to miss someone you also KNOW, too. Considering it's the other version of yourself, and all. Have a small wave. ]

... No clothes, no belt... it seems Jason is not being very kind to people of late.

[ They can help with that! ]

Would you like assistance, Link?

1/2

[songofsoaring]

[The sound of his name being called surprised him less than the sight that greeted him as he spun to face the person that said it. It was like looking into a mirror that reflected the past.]

[songofsoaring]

[Link, after a good long moment of stunned silence, eased forward to poke the reflection's arm with the edge of his shield, watching the - creature? monster? evil dark shadow given color and acting oddly friendly? - person closely the whole time.]

Are you real?

[ocariness]

[ ... Okay, that cements the idea that, indeed, this is not the Link they knew. One from an alternate timeline. Something minutely different. There's a pause. ]

I am as real as you are.

[ It's the Tower, bro. It's weird. ]

I am glad they gave you your weapons, at least. This Tower is dangerous.

[songofsoaring]

Dangerous?

[That didn't sound right. And why did he look like Link used to... and would again?

Link backed up a few steps, face falling into that hard glare he held in battle as he let his body drop into a defensive stance. His shield wasn't all the way up, but it was at the ready. Pardon his caution, big sis. He was usually more trusting of those that spoke to him, but he also wasn't usually facing a mirror of himself. The last time he had was not the most pleasant of memories.

Very calmly, he asked:]

Where am I, who are you, and what is dangerous about this place?

[They didn't give him everything.]

cafeteria

[chainsawn]

[ After a few attempts Link might find a young girl popping up next to him, staring at him with a near complete blank expression and blinking idly. ]

... Is there a problem..?

[songofsoaring]

[Link looked up at the girl with an annoyed frown.]

They keep trying to give me oatmeal. Oatmeal is for horses. I want the other thing.

[chainsawn]

It's actually not too bad. [ but that's coming from the girl who ate monstrous dishes here without complaining at all.. ]

I think people eat it too though. Not just horses. .. Or maybe it's different where you come from..

[songofsoaring]

[Not what he was taught.]

Malon said oatmeal was for the horses. Romani did, too. They said it was a treat for them.

cafeteria

[kickspenguins]

If I were you, I'd take the oatmeal.

[Normally, he wouldn't care about the state of people he didn't know but seeing this guy trying to reason with the people working in the cafeteria about not wanting oatmeal is kind of getting to him.

Besides, he doesn't want to witness someone puking all over the floor.]

cafeteria

[songofsoaring]

[Link looked over at the other boy and frowned. It wasn't that he really minded, but... it was for horses. Malon had made that very clear.]

It's for horses. I'm not a horse.

[kickspenguins]

[Wow, where did this guy come from.]

It's not just for horses. If it makes you feel any better, everyone has to eat it when they first get here.

[songofsoaring]

...they do?

[That seemed really odd. Everyone being required to eat it.]

Why?

Cafeteria

[great_king_of_evil]

[ Worry not young Hero, for the strange workers who keep repeating the same answer to you are about to become the lesser of your worries. Indeed, before long someone else entered the Cafeteria. Someone Link fought before. None other than the Great King of Evil- Dark Lord, Demon King, the title mattered little.

Yet he looked noticeably older and bigger than when Link fought him, that and he was now sporting a beard. He didn't pay attention to Link immediately. Instead, upon seeing what people were eating, he chuckled. ]

The fool has returned...

[ He is not speaking about you Link, but he could. And before long he lays his eyes on the young hero. Others could have been fooled, but Ganondorf could feel he wasn't the same young Link from last time. Something was different... He smirked. Let's see how it goes. ]

Yet another? Ah. Then I bid thee welcome, Hero of Time.

1/2

[songofsoaring]

[If he hadn't had been warned of Ganondorf being here by his odd doppleganger from the past, Link would have reacted with less words and more force. As it was, the insulting words - which Link couldn't tell whether they were directed at him or not - followed by the surprisingly pleasant welcome received a distrusting glare in return.]

[songofsoaring]

[One that lasted only a few seconds as his mind registered he'd been addressed as 'Hero of Time'. Older or not, Ganondorf shouldn't have been able to recognize him that easlily... should he have? Not only was he a child again, but he wasn't dressed at all like his usual self and the five masks were things Ganondorf shouldn't have ever encountered so that couldn't have given it away.

Confusion erased the glare and he looked up... and up... and up at the man - By the Goddesses, was he ever tall.]

How did you recognize me as the Hero of Time?

[great_king_of_evil]

A simple conclusion reached easily when all elements converge in the same direction. For one, there are only two child heroes that I know of.

[ This confirms his suspicion. But Ganon walks past the young hero, looking at one of the nutrition bar. Not that he cares for them, but he is making a quite important stock of food. That way when something will happen to the tower, food will be very prized and whoever will have the most food to offer, will have the most power. Simple logic.

He turns back to the Hero. ]

The Hero of Winds has black eyes, unlike any other heroes... Unlike the Hero of Time. This and you are the sole hero to be using masks.

[ Your predecessor in the tower offered him the Mask of Scents so yeah. He didn't appreciate the present, this being said. ]

[songofsoaring]

[The Mask of Scents is an awesome mask, his predecessor was silly to offer it. He should have offered the Bomb Mask so Ganondorf would blow his face up every time he used it.

Link frowned, watching the man, stepping back when he passes so he's out of the much longer arm's reach. He'd never heard of the Hero of Winds, but more puzzling was Ganondorf's comment about the masks.

Unconsciously, Link's right hand hovered protectively over Majora's Mask.]

How did you know I use masks?

Cafeteria

[moontothetide]

Oh, dear.

Link certainly isn't the first person Tara's overheard having this particular fight with the clear-collared workers. But, what with things already getting strange again, she feels a pang of sympathy for him all the same. Besides that, she's more than happy to leave her half-eaten nutrition bar for later. The things are offensively bland.

So she goes up to the boy just as the worker is turning away and taps him on the shoulder. "Um...h-hi."

Cafeteria

[songofsoaring]

Link spins around and takes a step back from her, instantly on the defensive, "...hello."

He was also dealing with his heart beating a few hundred times faster than normal because the girl was very, very quiet and had snuck up on him.

Re: Cafeteria

[moontothetide]

And Tara immediately steps well back with a sharp gasp, one hand going to her chest as her heart speeds up in turn. She immediately feels guilty - she certainly hadn't meant to startle the poor kid.

"I, I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean...it's just, um...oatmeal. I, I wanted to say...w-when they say you need to eat oatmeal you, you really do. Y-You'll get sick, if you don't."

Cafeteria

[songofsoaring]

Link felt bad immediately because it looked - and sounded - like he scared the woman worst than her approach had startled him. He took a deep breath to calm himself and then stepped forward to lift a hand up to her arm in an attempt to offer her a soothing gesture.

He didn't mean to silence her, just get her to take a breather, when he said, "Slower, Miss. Please. It's okay to go slower. I'm sorry I startled you."

Stairs! (shh I'm totally not late to this)

[sageprincess]

[She really shouldn't be up and around, but she swears, if she spends one more minute in the infirmary she is going to lose her mind.

The Princess of Hyrule does not look very princess-like as she makes her way back to the stairs on the first dormitory level. Her royal regalia has been tossed aside for the sake of comfort; her flowing gown replaced by a lighter long-sleeved tunic and pants. Her clothes do a decent job of hiding her injuries, though her gait remains stiff and evident of discomfort.

Oh, she's going to get an earful from someone for this later, but she can't really say it's not worth it. It's while musing over that thought that she notices a familiar young boy descending the staircase, and... what in Nayru's name is he wearing.]

Link...?

[And... that's really the only thing that strikes her as odd as of yet. A bit strange, hm?]

(you are totally not)

[songofsoaring]

[Meeting a look-a-like of yourself and being told that your fated enemy is alive and well in this strange place was not the same as seeing the one person who drove most of your life's accomplishments.

Link stood there, staring up at her, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. She was a vision of beauty even in the mundane clothing - she always would be. The dream of seeing her again, seeing her like this, as the adult she'd grown into, had haunted him since his return to the past. He could get to know the Zelda of the past but she would never be the same as the woman he'd fallen in love with in the future. She would never go through the things that shaped that woman and being around her had only made his heart hurt at what could never come to be.

But there she was. Standing in front of him. As beautiful as ever.

...and he was in the body of a child.

It's her fault. a voice in his head whispered, smothering the pain of regret with anger at what had to be done, grabbing his heart and squeezing it tight. The ache so physical that he clutched at his chest and had to blink back tears.

There were very few things that made Link want to run away instead of stand his ground. This was one of them. He didn't even try to fight it. Spinning around, he threw himself down the ramp that spiraled along next to the stairs, letting himself slide down on his over-sized shield.

He was a child. It was her fault. It had to be done. It wouldn't have had to if she hadn't asked him to open the Door of Time. She didn't know, she couldn't have known. That doesn't take the blame away.

He couldn't face her like this.]


[[oos:p.s. I'm sorry.]]

oh it's not like I needed my heart anyway

[sageprincess]

[Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.

Zelda's brows furrow in concern for the brief moment the Hero of Time spends merely staring at her in stunned silence, and suddenly it is not only the strange garb he wears that's throwing her off. And she barely gets a chance to even attempt pinpointing what exactly that off-kilter thing is before Link flees.]

W-wait, Link...!

[Sudden desperation settling in her heart, she starts after him, and perhaps if she were more honest with herself, she would recognize her reasons for doing so are as much out of fear as they are out of worry. Fear of being left behind, fear that she has done something wrong and will not be able to fix it... fear of losing the one she cares about more than anything again.

But her body can't handle chasing anything or anyone right now, and she's forced to stop at the top the stairs, only able to look down and watch him disappear.

This the second time in a week something like this has happened.

It hurts. More than she can say.]