End of Legend of FIVE #2-Legend of FIVE #3

“What’s on your mind, Link?” Navi’s voice pulled Link from his trance. The boat gifted to the children traveled peacefully down Zora River. Link sat at the helm of the humble wooden ship. Trevor sat nearby, reaching out towards the water. A controlled flow pulled at the hull. Prosperous daylight shined down on Zora River, with golden rays bringing a glimmer to its serene waters. Navi floated where she always had been since the journey’s beginning–by Link’s side, ever watchful of him. Her warm smile brought a new joy to him in this moment. He gladly returned it. “Are you going to tell me?” Navi asked insistently. Link looked back out in the distance. “The forest. I’m thinking of Saria. The twins. The know-it-alls. Even Mido. Everyone back home.” “I know what you mean.” Navi looked out into the river area as well. “I miss the forest too. The fairies are probably waiting for me. I miss them.” Link looked down at the conch-shell crown the Zoras gave him. He didn’t take long in fastening his Kokiri cap back on his head. “I can’t wait to get back,” Link said. “We’ve come a long way.” Navi looked back at the others, who sat securely on the boat’s deck aside from Trevor. “All of us have.” “True,” Jerome said as his body sagged. “I feeltired.” “Me too,” said Sheila. She leaned into Jerome before snapping away from him like a fearful rabbit. “...Sorry.” Jerome’s eyes widened and his face changed color. “It’s OK.” Sheila and Jerome smirked and looked away from each other. Rebecca didn’t try to show it, but she did make eye contact with Sheila. They held a gaze and Rebecca mimed small claps like what she’d see at golf events on TV. A round of applause for her best friend. She knew a secret, but promised to keep it when she found out. “I could use a big nap when we get back to Oak Shire,” Trevor said. “This adventure–it’s so crazy.” “I feel a lot of energy,” said Rebecca. She stood up and walked to Trevor, perching herself by his side. “Prison time made me tired because I couldn’t sleep with all those chains on me.” Sheila shook her head in both disbelief and admiration for her friend. “I can’t believe they did that to you,” she said. Rebecca scoffed and shrugged. “Me neither. Everything in this place is really magical. I don’t why they were freaked out about me having powers. Is it bad that I’m strong and have a bunch of spirits helping me?” Rebecca thought about something before continuing. “O sea, sí, hice un cráter en el suelo con mis poderes, pero aun así…” “What was that?” Trevor asked. “I...mentioned the part where I put a crater in the desert, right?” Trevor shook his head. “Once or twice at most.” “Well, they still shouldn’t put a little girl in jail just because of that.” Link thought of the way Mido and the others glared at him. “They never saw you before,” he explained. “You were different from the very beginning. It’s hard to get over that sometimes.” Rebecca nodded. “You’re different too?” she asked. “From the day I was born.” “...I want to be different.” Jerome’s voice carried itself from the back of the boat to the front. “We saved theworld. We made a differencebecausewe were different. Who else could have helped Hyrule except for you, Link? You’re a hero! You saved my life. You saved your friends. You saved the Gorons and the Zoras. Everybody will remember you. At least we will.” The group clung to every word that came from Jerome’s mouth. He wasn’t wrong–whatever made each child stand out as “different” or “strange,” made them heroes as well. It would always be remembered. It would never be forgotten. Link remembered how the Deku Tree bestowed the same encouragement on him in the Kokiri Forest. The guardian foresaw greatness in Link’s future. Who would have thought it would emerge so quickly? Link unbelievably succeeded at every task and trial that came his way. It led to him protecting the Triforce and saving two places. It also led to Link having friends he’d remember for the rest of his life. His heart ached from knowing they would soon have to part. “Just remember one thing, Link.” Link glanced at a smirking Trevor. “I saved your life, bro,” the green-eyed youth from Oak Shire declared. “Remember the big wolfy?” “Wolfos,” Navi sharply corrected. Trevor sputtered at Navi’s irritation. “Whaaaatever. I’myourhero, Link. That’s why you’re still alive today. You’re welcome.” “The only thing you are,” Navi snorted. “Is egotistical.” “I know someone who loves you,” said Jerome in a teasing voice. Navi’s expression turned amused. “Oh right,” she chimed in. “You’re getting married.” Everyone on the boat—except for a scowling Rebecca—laughed. Even Trevor, however, had to laugh at the craziness of the situation. Maybe he didn’t feel so bad about it because he knew the Triforce could fix the dilemma–at least he hoped. “I’ll wish all of you away when we get the Triforce,” Trevor joked. “Just wish Ruto away,” Rebecca muttered, rolling her eyes. Sheila sighed. “I’m going to miss Kakariko Village. The people there were so nice...sometimes, at least. I started making friends with the village kids. Little Tomas...I hope henevergoes near the river again. He doesn’t know how to stay safe.” Jerome nodded as sadness entered his eyes. “I’m going to miss the Gorons the most,” he said. “I wish I could see them again. I’ll miss Darunia, Tuba—oh, their baby! I don’t get to see their kid get born…” Jerome frowned and it was clear the sadness wouldn’t go away for a while. “Man...I really wanted to see the baby.” “I wish I could say goodbye to Anju and Guru-Guru,” Sheila said. “I’d even say goodbye to Greta.” “The women at the fortress didn’t like me much at first,” said Rebecca. “If it wasn’t for Nabooru, I’d be dead right now. Or lost in the desert again. I wouldn’t mind visiting her one more time.” “So,” Link said. “Youreallymet Ganondorf?” Rebecca nodded. “Mm-hm. I saved the woman who saved me. He was about to kill her and that’s when I found out what made me so scary to the women. Guess what? Ganondorf was scarier.” “How did you stand up to him?” Link asked. “I...I just had to fight, you know? We had to find a way to win. Ganondorf ran away when he saw everyone standing up to him. I don’t think he’ll cause problems any time soon. Again, the Gerudos got him good. Mira also went off to warn the King of Hyrule or whoever, so I think we’re good.” “And lucky.” Trevor grinned as the river started to make its final big turn. “We can save the Triforce, stop Ganondorf, and go home.” Sheila looked back at Trevor. “What are you going to miss about Hyrule?” she asked. “The Zoras, maybe?” Sheila looked back at Trevor. “What are you going to miss about Hyrule?” she asked. “The Zoras?” “The ranch?” Jerome asked. “Meeting the Kokiri?” Navi chimed in. Everyone was so curious. Trevor took time to think. He sifted days worth of memories–how many days did he spend here again? He thought of landing in this very river he now navigated with ease. He thought of the shock that came with seeing Castletown for the first time, the first sign of him being in a whole new world altogether. He thought of the family that took him in, Kaepora Gaebora, meeting with Link like the owl told him to do, and the great adventure that followed. Trevor did think of Malon–her smile, her country accent, her way with words and the few days Trevor spent at her home. He thought of the Kokiri Forest, the Lost Woods, seeing Sheila in the village, and seeing Jerome again. And then there was everything that just happened. This adventure wasn’t just a journey. Life changed forever. He wanted to remember everything…but all he could think of was home. “I don’t know,” he said. “All of it, I guess. Maybe I’ll miss the cucco.” “I’m going to miss all of you,” Link confessed. “You’re all really great friends. If there was a way for us to see each other again, I’d see you every day. Just so I could say hi.” Sheila wiped away a tear she already shed. “We’ll miss you too.” “You’re awesome,” said Jerome. “Real cool,” Trevor declared. “I wish I knew you more,” said Rebecca. “Hey, why don’t we just have the Triforce make it happen? If it grants wishes, we can ask for whatever we want. All we got to do is wish for Hyrule to stay safe and then we can go from there. Maybe you can visit us someday!” “Let’s get home first,” Trevor said. “Then we can do the rest…” The final stretch of the river awaited. As Trevor peered ahead, he looked for a place for the boat to land. Colors began to change. Trevor felt a jolt around the hull and he stiffened. “Weird,” he muttered to himself. “It’s chilly…is that the wind?” Loose leaves and swirls of dust flew about in the air. The sky’s bright blue expanse receded behind a dark crawl of black clouds. The clouds billowed across the atmosphere, shrouding the sun. All the daylight blotted out as if it weren’t there to begin with. “It’s only the early afternoon,” Navi murmured. “We didn’t spend more than an hour traveling back…” Sheila’s eyes widened as she inhaled deeply. She sat still on the deck of the boat. Jerome and Rebecca quickly approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Everyone waited. The silence in the wait’s midst built uncertainty amongst them. Sheila’s skin turned white. When she came to, the complexion remained. “It’s starting to rain,” Sheila whispered. The wind picked up. Lightning crashed in sudden bursts, shattering out of the darkness above. Droplets shot down like daggers, nearly pricking the children’s skin. Everything was cold. And the sky turned dark.