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[forhylia]

Characters: Prequel!Link and YOU!
Setting: Floor 25
Format: Prose preferred, but action is A-Okay
Summary: Link takes some time to relax and breathe the fresh air. The perpetual springtime of floor 25 is much preferred to the dank depths of the castle dungeon, or the barren wasteland that became of his home
Warnings: SS prequel manga spoilers


Link inhaled deeply, letting the scent of flowers and life fill his lungs as he took in the sight of floor 25's seemingly endless meadow. There was something magical about this place, there was no doubt. Of course he had been warned about its more sinister corners. In every light there was also a shadow.

But that did not mean that Link couldn't enjoy the light. It had been years since he'd been able to stop and, literally, smell the roses. The wildlife of Hylia had been burned to the ground by the Demon King. Damn him, his obsession with the goddess' sacred power. It was difficult to keep in mind that it did not matter anymore, especially not here. His people had been saved, and they had flourished in the sky as well as on the surface afterward. The young princess's words had served him a great comfort.

Link set his sword down in the grass, lying on his back and enjoying the breeze. For the first time in a very long time, bliss.

Comments

[great_king_of_evil]

Bliss for the first time in a very long time and most unfortunately for a short time as well-- Indeed after some time, the King of Evil would step onto the meadow. He bore no particular affection to this floor, but he had mildly important business that brought him to check the meadow once in a while.

Unlike Link, Ganondorf didn't stop a second to admire the surroundings, inhale the sweet scent of the flowers and such things. All creations of the administrators that he came to hate nearly as much as the Goddesses and the Princess. However as he passed by, he spotted the hero laying in the grass. Last time they had crossed and seen each other without saying a word, but this time the King took the initiative to speak to the hero and stopped then.

"You again..." Ganondorf smiled "Is it not ironic, hero, that we should meet on such a familiar floor?"

[forhylia]

Link could feel him before he heard him or saw him. He got to his feet as the stranger approached, picking up his sword and resting the scabbard around his shoulders once again.

"How do you know to call me hero?" His words were certainly cryptic. Link could feel his heart race. He was on high alert of this man and yet he did not know why. There was simply something wrong about him, and Link's gut was hardly ever wrong.

[great_king_of_evil]

The King of Evil's smile only widened when the hero picked up his sword, obviously he had no idea what Ganondorf was but he had enough of an instinct to know he was dangerous. Like the other heroes. However he rose an eyebrow when he heard Link asking him how he knew to call him a hero.

"Has not Princess Zelda explained everything to you?" Ganondorf asked in a genuinely surprised yet interested tone. It had been a couple weeks now, he couldn't imagine Zelda had not met him at least once. But if she had not told him...

[forhylia]

"Perhaps she mentioned you in passing, but nothing specific. Your name would certainly be of assistance, first of all. I would hate to jump to a foolish conclusion." Oh, but he already had. And it was nearly spot-on. Hardly foolish at all.

Link was suddenly glad he had taken the precaution to wear his armor out on this little excursion.

[great_king_of_evil]

"My name is Ganondorf..." he stated simply, if Zelda had told him half of what he expected, the name alone would be enough to allow the hero to confirm his guesses. Seeing at the sword though, he shook his head.

"But worry not, I am not here looking for a battle against you." he replied calmly "Quite the contrary actually."

Hope you don't mind an overly excited gargoyle? :3

[techsavvy]

During his time here in the Tower, Lex had learned something. He didn't turn into stone anymore. At all. Originally this had worried him. He didn't know the Tower by any means, knew nothing of what lay within and as such, had no idea of the possible dangers that he would face during the day if he had ever turned to stone.

But it never happened. Not once since his arrival. Frankly he was relieved. It meant that he could protect himself regardless of the time of day. It also meant that, for the first time in his existence, he could enjoy the sunlight. So, he ventured down to the Meadow.

At first, he remained on the staircase. What if the sun here did turn him to stone? What would happen then?

He felt his heart jump at the thought, but he was willing to take that risk. He'd made some friends in the Tower, so surely, if anything were to happen, they'd go out looking for him.. right?

Taking a deep breath, he walked into the meadow on all fours, feeling the grass underneath his claws. The sunlight burned at his eyes a little, but he quickly adjusted. So much so, in fact, that he began running around, jumping, laughing, gliding. He was happy, not to mention blissfully unaware that someone else was occupying this floor.

Ooof course not!

[forhylia]

Apparently Link was not the only one desperate for a little sunlight. He sat up with an amused smile as the odd-looking creature bounded through the field. Maybe some called this place evil. And maybe they were right. But Great Goddesses, it had its sunny sides.

"Is this the first time you have seen sunlight?" He asked the question more to himself than anything else. Link gave a small laugh.

83 !!!

[techsavvy]

Lex came to a halt at the sound of another voice. Looking around, he spotted the figure and began to laugh sheepishly to himself.

"I did't realize someone else was here. I didn't bother you, did I?"

[forhylia]

Link shook his head, still smiling at the creature.

"Not at all. Perhaps it is nice to be sharing this moment with someone as elated as I am to be out in the sunlight."

[techsavvy]

The gargoyle's grin reached from ear to ear.

"I can understand why humans like it so much. Took some getting used to though."

He glanced around, still fascinated at how everything looked so beautiful in the sunlight.

[justabignobody]

If there is one thing that can thankfully be trusted in this place, it's the safety and peace of the meadow floor during daylight hours. Which is exactly why it's one of Riku's preferred training spots - it's easy to find the focus and calm that he needs in order to work on bettering his control on his magic.

He knows, he won't have that calm once he needs to use it in a battle situation, but at least he can work out the worst of kinks this way... until Terra returns to the tower and can continue training with him anyways.

Though he takes note of Link as he passes him, and recognizes him as somewhat familiar face - he's been so long in the tower, and though he's never been particularly close to any incarnation of the man (or woman?), it's hard to associate with Princess Zelda and not at least have seen him - but doesn't react with anything but perhaps a polite nod of greeting, before moving on to his favorite spot.

Though, with Link lying there, it seems pretty rude to work on offensive magic like he had planned to, and so he settles in a cross legged seat and focuses on drawing darkness into the evolved form of his defensive spell. Maybe today he can finally get the last unstable elements of Dark Barrier to set into place.

[forhylia]

As Riku walks by, Link lifts his head out of the grass and offers him a polite smile and a lazy wave. He continues to discretely watch as the younger man seems to settle into a meditative state. Link can feel it, the energy collecting around him.

"I beg your pardon for breaking your concentration, but what exactly are you doing?" The energy feels dark, that's for certain. Not the magic of the goddesses Link knows.

[justabignobody]

It's a probably good thing that Riku is still gathering himself, his shadow darkening by just a shade, when he is startled out of his concentration. It's been a long time since the last time that he's lost control of a shield/barrier spell to the point that it had, well... exploded into his face, but it's not a fun experience and not particularly safe for anyone close by either, so he doesn't really care all too much for a repeat of it.

There is still a bit of a flicker of irritation on his face upon being interrupted as he looks up to meet Link's eyes, before he whips it from his face and shrugs.

" Magic practice."

What does it look like that he's doing, really.

[forhylia]

"Magic..."

Link has never seen magic before. Magic of goddesses, yes, but not by men. A flicker of apology crosses his face when he notices the young man's brief look of irritation.

"Do you mind if I watch? I will not interrupt again."

[justabignobody]

Riku stares at him for a second, then shrugs.

"Sure. Better take a step back though."

While his control now is by far better than it had been before he had started training under Terra, he still likes to be careful. Especially given the nature of the power he is drawing on. A moment later, he has found his focus once more and he pulls the irritation from before into his barrier spell, his arms pushing out sidewards as the spell builds around him from darkly hued, translucent hexagons, the force of the spell lifting him just a bit off the ground. Link may find that three or four of the hexagons seem just a little out of place, hovering a bit above the rest.

It's much better than when he had first stumbled upon it in the desperation of being tossed around like a rag-doll in Riki's room, but Riku is well aware; he hasn't mastered this skill quite yet.

Hopefully, that will just be a matter of time though.

After Ganondorf's thread, of course

[sageprincess]

These days have been busy for the Princess. Planning the assault on the administrator levels takes its time, of course, especially when those "in the know" get interrupted by those kept out of the loop. And then there's this new revelation about a poor boy named Ryoji that has gotten caught up in the wrong crowd, and she feels there are even fewer she can talk to about that particular conflict without risking various identities.

Even if it's just for a moment, she'd love it if she could just... sit down. Relax. Breathe.

Alas, the most popular spot for such activities has a worrying sight in the form of the ancient hero standing with a look of shock and confusion on his face. And of course, she cannot let that go without a word. She approaches him cautiously, quietly, tired concern in her eyes.

"... Forgive my presumptuousness, but... is everything all right?"

[forhylia]

Link snaps out of his trance as the young princess approaches.

"Not exactly..." He frowns, turning his gaze back to the place Ganondorf once stood. "I have just met the man who calls himself Ganondorf."

[sageprincess]

A flare of anger instantly makes its way into her expression at that name, and her hands ball into fists.

"Did he do anything? You are not hurt, are you?"

[forhylia]

"Not hurt, no... He spoke for quite a while, though. Blasphemous things." Link is silent for a moment.

"I suppose his presence has only shaken me up some. He was my killer. Or perhaps not him, but it is close enough." He shakes his head.

[sageprincess]

"He cannot destroy us here, and the cowardly part of him wants to hide who he truly is from those not of our world. So he falls upon cruel words and manipulation and hurt us."

She crosses her arms in front of her, as though the gesture will protect her from the anger she feels. She's so tired. So tired of him and fighting him and being reminded of all the things he's done and Goddesses, can she just rest?

No. Of course not. Her blood and spirit are of Hylia. It's her destiny. It has always been so. Stop entertaining such thoughts, Zelda.

"He arrived roughly two months after myself. Believe me when I say you have company in that sentiment."

perpetually late it's meeeeeeeee

[lookmanostrings]

It certainly didn't seem like any of the Heroes he had been familiar with before; but just as he had been assured, at least one of them was here!

Fado'd wanted to greet him, of course, but it seemed that the man was enjoying himself more getting to relax in the flowers. Something that he surely couldn't fault him for! So instead of speaking up or disturbing his rest, he simply sat nearby, playing a small tune on his violin.

naaah

[forhylia]

Link smiled lazily when his sharp ears picked up the tune drifting across the meadow. It was a lovely melody, yes. One that called to him, somehow.

He sat up from his resting place, folding his legs out in front of him to watch Fado play.

Funny. He'd never seen someone else wearing a green hat like his. Orville had always said it was foolish-looking!

[lookmanostrings]

Fado's expression brightened a little in acknowledgement when Link turned to look at him, and he continued playing on his violin until he finished the current refrain. When the melody slowly petered off, he lowered the violin and bow into his lap, and bowed his head slightly to the Hero.

"I hope I did not disturb you; it is a pleasure to meet you."

[forhylia]

"Not at all!" Link rolled onto his stomach, resting his chin in his hands.

"It has been a long time since I have heard music. My name is Link." He smiled at Fado brightly. Yes, it had truly been a very long time since he had heard anything so lovely. It was welcome. There was a certain power in those notes, he could tell.

[lookmanostrings]

"In my age music takes an undefinable importance; I cannot even imagine life without it," He says, a tad of an almost nostalgic tone to his voice.

"My name is Fado, of the Kokiri Tribe."