The Legend of Zelda: Transient (third book in the Timeless series)

Chapter 14

Seven years later

'"Hurry up Erick! It's getting away!" A little girl yelled behind her, giggling as she ran through the tall grass, chasing after a butterfly. Her older brother followed, several feet behind,

"Hey! Wait up!" He called breathlessly. She slowed to a stop as the butterfly flew upwards, getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the clouds. He finally caught up, tossing his bow to the ground and putting his hands on his knees. "Why can't you chase something slower?" He said with a chuckle. She giggled and danced around him, her long, dark golden hair flew around her, coming out of the braid it had been tied back in,

"That's much too boring." She said, as if that was obvious. He shook his head and picked up his bow. 

"Come on, let's go back" He said, looking out at the field in front of them. In the distance, he saw the shapes of the monsters that roamed the land. They had come back several years beforehand, but his sister was too young to understand. He glanced up at the sky, his way of checking the time. "Mom should have lunch ready by now." He said. Her face lit up, and off she went, racing back towards home. He groaned,

"Give me a break, Mira!" He called, still standing there,

"Not my fault you're getting old!" He heard her call back with a giggle. He raised an eyebrow before whistling loudly. 

A minute later, his stallion, Domino, was visible racing across the field towards him. He jumped on before he had quite stopped, burying his hands in his mane and kicking him. He took off, and was no time before he was speeding past Mira, who's eyes got huge,

"You cheater!" She yelled. He chuckled and slowed to a stop, offering his hand to her, 

"Come on, you sore loser." She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand. He hoisted her up before setting off again. 

When they rode up to the bridge leading into Castle Town, they both dismounted, and Erick stroked Domino's muzzle. He then patted his hip and he dashed away,

"Come on, I'm hungry." Mira complained, pulling on his hand. He sighed and allowed her to drag him along. 

~~

"There you both are." their mother said, turning as they both walked into the large dining hall. "Just in time, too." She said. Mira went running towards her,

"Guess what?! Me and Erick went chasing a butterfly, and I was so close to catching it! He was being super slow, but I-" She went off, talking a million miles a minute. Erick rolled his eyes and set his bow against the table as he sat down, digging in. 

He finished before the others, and he stood up quietly, walking away,

"Erick?" Zelda called, and he turned. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Mira, "Are you okay?" She asked. He knew immediately what she meant. 

He had darkness in him. He knew that now. He found it more difficult to fight "him" off the older he got. Zelda had refused to tell him much of anything, but he knew something was really wrong with him. "He" was even coming through in Erick's appearance. Zelda had made it a point to ask him once in awhile if he was keeping in control, but she had to tone it down in front of Mira.

He merely nodded. She still looked slightly worried. "Where are you heading off to?" She asked, returning to eating. He looked away for a moment,

"I'm just going to see Dad for a minute. I won't be long." She nodded, and he made his exit. 

He made his way through the all-too-familiar castle corridors, and soon found himself in front of a pair of double doors, looking worn with age. He pushed them open after a moment, and walked into his mother's garden.

The flowers still grew confidently, after all those years. Especially around his destination.

A headstone, with a howling wolf etched into the top.

"Hey Dad." He said, playing with his hands. "I've had a good day today. Mira's kept me exhausted. She just had to go after another butterfly while we were outside today. It's tiring, keeping up with her." He said with a small chuckle, sitting down in the soft grass in front of the stone. "I don't mind though. She keeps me distracted, so it's easier to keep "him" at bay." He paused. "Mom says I'm getting pretty good at archery. I still use the bow you got me, you know. It's really cool, how it still fits me. Mom doesn't think I'll need a new one." He said, and a shadow of a smile crossed his face. "I really wish Mira had gotten to meet you. I bet she would think you were as cool as I did when I was her age." He sighed and stood up. "Anyway, I just wanted to come see you." He turned to leave, before hesitating. "I..." He looked back at the stone. "I love you, Dad." He murmured before walking out.