Link's Odyssey ✔️

I

Link opened his eyes. It was still dark outside. He turned on the Sheikah Slate to check the time.
2:24 a.m. Too early to get up.
The young warrior sighed and stared at the sky. Princess Zelda was sleeping on his chest with her arms wrapped around his body. Link tried to relax, but disturbing thoughts were running through his mind. Ganon is back. Zelda could get taken away from me. Hyrule is in danger once again. I could get killed. Zelda could get killed. The whole damn kingdom could get destroyed once and for all.
Unconsciously, Link slapped himself in the face. Why does this keep happening to me? The anxious boy grabbed his diary and started scribbling:

Dear Diary...
Ganon has awoken again. It's been a hundred and two years since we lost Mipha, Daruk, Revali, Urbosa, and his majesty Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. I killed Ganon then, remembered everything and saved the princess...it's all worthless. I thought I killed him for good, but that monster always finds strength and returns...
I shouldn't be complaining. I am a warrior. A Hyrule warrior, I'm supposed to be protecting Zelda from danger. My job is fighting perpetrators and keeping the people of Hyrule safe. As my grandpa told me "Fight for your life, never give up. A true warrior never gives up and must never be seen crying." I shouldn't be complaining at all. But I still am complaining!! I've even been self-harming...I started cutting a while ago. Nobody knows. If I tell Zelda, she might become afraid of me. I really need to see a therapist, but I barely had any time to myself. Zelda needs me. I needed to help her gain rupees to restore the ruins of Central Hyrule...we FINALLY GOT ENOUGH RUPEES. Right as we did, that Ganon returned. GANON IS BACK. I don't know what to do anymore. This is getting annoying, having to kill him so often. Please, help me, somebody. Dad, Gramps, Daruk, send help! I want myself and Zelda to be safe and have a normal life for once! I love Zelda, and I want her to be happy! As long as she's happy, then I'll be happy too!

-"Link?"
The warrior looked up from his diary.
-"Link...why are you awake? It's two in the morning,"
Link looked down. Zelda woke up from her sleep. "I couldn't sleep," he finally said, "I have too much on my mind. You know...the battle with Ganon was so stressful it affects me to this day. I've been having sleep problems ever since. Plus, Daruk, Urbosa, Mipha, Revali...I miss them. They were our good friends..."
Zelda looked up at the sky. "It's all my fault...I didn't acquire the sacred power in time...if only Hylia heard me..."
"Zelda, please...calm down. It's not your fault...everyone dies eventually. Ganon had so much power that he took over in a glimpse. We didn't have enough time to stop him. Really, Princess...do not blame yourself. It makes me feel sad. It's okay not to be strong," whispered Link, not looking up from the ground. "I understand you miss the Champions and your father, but, please. Just don't blame yourself. Remember that day...when we ran off? I dropped your hand by accident, you fell down. I walked back to get you, and you expressed your feelings to me. After you did, you cried in my lap for like twenty minutes. I'm mad at myself to this day because I feel like I haven't supported you enough. I allowed Ganon to kidnap you, kill your father and the rest of the Champions...if only I was a bit faster, I would have destroyed that schmuck, you would've been safe, and our friends, the King, and his guards would have still been here,"

Zelda hugged him. "You can't blame yourself either, Linkie. Don't you remember what happened? You tried to protect me from that Guardian...I begged you to stop, however, you didn't. You were covered in mud, your clothes were badly damaged, and you were barely standing on your legs. Magically, I was able to assassinate that Guardian just in time. Right after I did, you fell to the ground...then, I ran to you and held your upper body. You looked at me...and then you...kinda died. I cried on your body and then realized that I could still save you. I ordered my men to take you to the Shrine of Resurrection, which they did. You slept for a whole century..."
Link stood up. "I didn't stop because that was my duty to protect you. And it still is. That's why we're hiding here. Ganon is back, and the Hyrule Castle is still in ruins. I'd ask Bolson, Karson, and Hudson to help restore it, however, it's too dangerous there right now. Ganon destroys every living thing. So until Ganon gets weaker or leaves, we cannot go back to the Hyrule Castle. I'm too weak at the moment to defeat him on my own. I'd need help-"

A loud scream interrupted Link. "What's going on?" gasped Zelda, grabbing Link by the tunic. Link removed his Master Sword and looked around. No sign of anybody. "I can't see anybod-"

All of a sudden, somebody jumped on top of Link and shoved him to the ground. The perpetrators pinned Link's hands behind his back and held his legs together to prevent him from escaping. "You thought you could hide from us, huh?" said the tallest one, "well, you're wrong! Now if you don't mind, we are taking Zelda to Ganondorf. Master Ganondorf has some wonderful plans for Zelda and himself,"

Link tried to break free. "Don't you do anything to Zelda! Let me go! You've caused enough damage to Hyrule already!! Get lost!"

The perpetrators laughed. "You want her, you come and get her. But don't worry, Ganondorf will have Zelda in good hands. You'll never find her. Who do you think you are, a knight? A warrior? You look so wimpy. You look like a woman. Cut off some of that hair and grow facial hair. Oh, what does Zelda see in you? Farewell, Linkie. Take this!" said the tallest one, then turned to the other Bokoblins: "Ronnie, Sheldon! Kill him!" he ordered.
"Zelda! Run! Now! Forget about me, just run!" gasped Link, trying to break free. However, it was too late. Zelda turned to run off when one of the Bokoblins grabbed her. "Link!" gasped Zelda, kicking her enemy. The monster took out a pair of handcuffs and put them on Zelda's arms. "Nice try, Princess of Hyrule. You aren't going anywhere. Now you can watch Link die before we take you to Ganondorf," laughed Eric, the tallest Bokoblin and snapped his fingers at his companions. "Kill him," he ordered.
"Link! Don't perish! Let him be!!" cried Zelda as her eyes watered. The perpetrators hit Link in the face with a club and repeatedly hit him with it. The boy's vision blackened out and he fell to the ground unconscious. The monsters stopped. "He's dead, Eric. Happy now?"

Eric looked at Link. He wasn't moving. "Yeah, he's dead. Now take her to Ganondorf!" he ordered and dragged Zelda to his companions.

Several hours later, Link woke up again. He looked around. No sign of Zelda or the perpetrators. I allowed it to happen again, he thought. I allowed it to happen...I allowed it to happen.

"I ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN!" he shouted and broke down into tears. He sat on the muddy ground as it started to rain. And he cried. He cried...and cried...and cried.
A couple of minutes have passed. Link lifted his head up from his hands and looked ahead of himself. Footprints. He saw footprints of the perpetrators and Zelda's shoes. The warrior stood up. "Princess Zelda, I swear that I'll save you! I cross my heart and hope to die,"
Link grabbed his Master Sword and took off running, following the footprints. "Zelda, I'm coming!"