The Legend of Zelda:

Forgotten Realms

Disclaimer: I unfortunately own nothing, nor do I care to. The characters are all the property of Nintendo or whoever the heck owns the rights. Anything I have is non-copyright, do what you want with it.

Though there are many places in which one may reside, from the highest mountain tops to the bottom of the deepest, darkest lake; the place that is truly your home can only be the place where you find those that you love. Indeed as the Twilight has risen, the love of those who lived in the shadow of the Dark One has blossomed as quickly as the darkness has receded.

"Link!" The children of Orden village were always glad to see the farmhand turned hero.

"How di d you defeat the bad guys?"

"Did you rescue the Princess?"

"Where have you been, we've been worried about you?" The poor hero was confused by the endless stream of questions from the smaller ones. Deciding that such questions could not be easily answered he decided that running away was his best option. The youth left Epona and all of his things at his house and sprinted past the children toward the valley.

All of the villagers were busily at work tending to what was needed when a thunderous roar rung their ears. Looking up the hill leading into the village was a lone man that was being chased by several smaller persons. The older half of the population merely laughed and continued on with the work they had to do.

The green clad warrior had nearly escaped when he tripped on a washout caused by the recent rains. Before he even had a chance to move the little one were upon him. Their overwhelming numbers gave no room for escape. The mischievous band of rogues firmly restrained him with an old and time tested technique. They all sat on top of him and wouldn't move.

"Ha Ha Ha." The booming voice of Mayor Bo was something that everyone in village recognized. As soon as the children hear the mayor they all jumped off of Link and stood in a single file line. "We wouldn't want you to be hurting the returning hero would we?"

"We were just playing."

"I know I'm just teasing you. Now run along so that I can speak with Link here." The children ran off, eager to get back to playing. "Link, I understand that you've been through a lot and that there may be some things that are difficult to transition back to, but if you need anything just ask." Link smiled with his silly grin and nodded. The mayor led link to his house at the end of the village.

Link noticed Ilia sitting in front of her father's home and smiled. He stopped walking and stared at her as she sat. "Link. I appreciate the liking you've taken to my daughter, but I would be a bit more comfortable if you didn't stare at her like that."

"heh." Link turned away bright red.

"Don't worry my boy. I'm only teasing you." The burly mayor led him to his home. "Ilia, Link has returned." She shook off her daydream and instantly stood up. She took one look at the man in green and jumped him.

"Link, you're alright. I was afraid that something had gotten you."

"Nonsense. We knew that you were going to be fine." The mayor bragged about the youth. Link's face returned to its now common red color. The hero was not very vocal about his accomplishments, not that he was vocal about anything. "You two have fun. I'll get everyone together for your coming home party. I figured you'd want to be away from the little kids just getting back." The mayor winked at Link before turning around and heading toward the village.

"Link." Ilia hugged the ex-farmhand. "You're not going to leave again, are you?" Link shook his head and smiled. "Good. I missed you so much. It's tough being the only mature one around here. Well, except for maybe Colin." She pointed toward the youth who was playing with the others in what could only be described as a game of tag, but looked more like wrestling match. Ilia laughed as Talo tackled Colin and the pair rolled down the hill and into the stream running through town.

Link snickered and sat down in front of the house with Ilia. "Link, I was just thinking, we've been friends for a long time right?" Link nodded. "After you helped us in Kakariko Village and you brought back my memory I had a lot of time on my hands and all I could think about was you. I suppose it's silly, but I thought that maybe you had the same kinds of thoughts?"

Link was caught off guard by the turn the conversation had taken. Maybe it was the way he had reacted or maybe it was the lack of verbal confirmation, but whatever he did Ilia misinterpreted his sudden recoil as a bad thing.

"Link. I'm sorry, I just thought…" She got up and ran off toward the town. Link refocused and started down the hill after her.

"Hey Link, I could use some help." Fado walked toward him. Link had other things on his mind and when Fado got in his way he bowled him over. "Hey, a simple no would have been ok."

Link got up after stumbling to see Ilia running past his house and toward the only place he assumed she would go. Colin turned to see the chase that was going on and silently left the younger children to go see what was amiss. He ran after Link. The other children noticed him leave and all wondered where he could be headed for they had not seen the events leading up to the present.

"I suppose I should go after him." Talo laughed as the group set off after Colin.

Link only caught up to Ilia as she attempted to lock the gate on him for the second time in a year. "Go away Link I want to be alone." She cried as Link stopped her from shutting him out. She gave up on her exertions knowing that she couldn't possibly hold back Link. She walked to the edge of the spring and sat down. Her tears fell to the sand in front of her. Link quietly walked next to her and sat down. She made no move to get away.

Link was no more able to understand the feelings of a female, much less a teenager, as the next guy. Even if he had, there would be no way for him to put into words the thoughts that he had. So he weighed his options carefully, understanding that if he screwed up here then things could go really bad. Finally he decided that there was only one thing that he could do. He turned to his friend who noticed the sudden shift in his posture.

Ilia turned toward him and looked into his blue eyes trying to figure out what was in that head of his. If only she could ever get the silly teen to speak his mind, but she had a hard enough time trying to get him to say anything at all. "Link it's just that I've liked you for the longest time, and I…" the tears came back to her eyes as she tried to voice her feelings. She looked toward the ground as if trying to find a way to explain herself.

Link decided that he wouldn't be able to bear the sight of her unhappy once again. He gently tilted her chin back up and pressed his lips against hers. The two young friends were only in contact for a few seconds, but in that time a feeling spread through both of them, unlike any they had felt before. He pulled away and looked back into her eyes; no longer seeing the pained tears of earlier. "I…I've felt the same way." He whispered to her.

Now the young ones were not exactly up to date on the events of the day and when they arrived and saw the two on the edge of the spring they didn't know what to do. Colin, of course wanted to make sure that they were ok, while the others didn't want to interrupt them they didn't know what to tell Colin. Beth finally came up with something and walked over to Colin. She told him that if he walked in that she was going to kiss him.

Colin was decidedly against going in after the statement, much to the chagrin of Beth who was really hoping she would have to go after him. The children watched from afar as events occurred. The four of them couldn't help but voice their surprise. Although no of them knew what was most surprising, the fact the Link had just kissed Ilia, or the fact that this was the first time that they had heard him say anything.

Ilia was as surprised as anyone else, but before she said something the two friends noticed the lurkers in the shadows. "It's alright kids, you can come out."

"I told you we should have hid better."

"Nuh, uh you were the one who wanted a better view."

"Guys, just relax." Colin and Malo had to force the two apart before things got too crazy. Colin forced Beth away with all he could while Malo attempted to hold back his older sibling. Link and Ilia managed to walk back over before the two children really started fighting.

"Come on, Link is tired from his journey home, don't you think we should let him rest and not fight." Ilia scolded the two.

"We're sorry." They replied in unison. Talo, the ever immature one decided to give Beth a little shove before sprinting off back to the village. Colin caught her as she stumbled back and then was forced to wrap his arms around her before she could take off after the youth. Beth's anger subsided as she felt Colin's embrace. She smiled happily as the smith's son released her. She grabbed his hand and although he was surprised by the sudden move, he made no attempt to escape.

Link looked after the two young ones who held hands as they walked back toward Ordon Village. He smiled and grasped Ilia's hand, which she was only too happy to receive. The two teens followed the children back to the village as the sun started to set. Time had indeed moved quickly and it was getting time for dinner. Link's stomach growled as much from anticipation of the meal he knew the mayor would prepare as much as from the journey home.

"Look who finally decided to show up. You two are perhaps the slowest pair I've ever seen. Even the kids were able to get back here before you." Indeed, the children had managed to beat the pair by quite a while. Everyone else was already seated so Link took a seat at the end while Ilia sat next to her father. "Hey, get down here you silly fool. We aren't just having this feast for any occasion." The mayor had saved a seat at the end of the table for Link.

Link appreciated the offer, but it meant that he had to walk past all of the food. The table was covered in delicacies, everything from roasted goat, which was always really good in Ordon, to steaming pumpkin pies. The poor hero barely made it to the end of the table without his stomach turning on him. As he sat down he really hoped that they could just get to eating.

"We are here tonight to honor, a person who can only be called a hero." Rats, he couldn't get to the food. "Link has been a member of our family here for years. His deeds have never gone unnoticed and his character has always been something to envy. Yet it wasn't enough for him to just do what he was asked. He went above and beyond the call of duty, by not only saving the entire village, and its children, but the entire nation of Hyrule as well. So today we eat this feast in honor of him. To Link."

The Mayor raised his glass and finally noticed that Link had already cut himself a piece of goat. He swallowed and gave the mayor a meek smile. The mayor laughed heartily and invited everyone to join the young man who had eagerly begun to eat. "Sorry, young man, I forgot that you hadn't eaten in a while." Link just nodded and continued to wolf down the food on the table before him.

Ilia only had a little bit of the goat, but she enjoyed watching Link attempt to eat his. "Hey Link." He turned with a piece of goat still in his mouth. She laughed as he attempted to finish it before she continued. "What are you doing tonight? I mean after the feast." Link thought about it for a little bit. He did have to unpack his things, but after that he had nothing else.

"Nothing."

"What the heck? You could speak the entire time and you just give me little nods and grins. Why have you been leading us on this whole time?"

"There hasn't been much to say."

"Oh, of course." The mayor was still stunned to hear the young man's voice. It was a soft voice that carried behind it strength. Much like the young man it belonged to.

"Dad, can Link stay with us tonight? He doesn't have anybody to stay with at home."

"Of course, it would be my honor, if you wished to Link." Link looked over toward Ilia for a second before turning back to the mayor and nodding. The mayor smiled and continued with the food. Even though Link was basically starving the mayor still managed to out eat him. By the time everyone got to dessert there was nothing leftover.

At dessert Rusl took Link from the table for a second to talk to him. "By now everyone knows what you did and about all of your adventures. You have done a lot for this village and we thank you for that, but the reason I wanted to talk to you was Colin. I wanted to thank you for taking care of him. He has learned a lot since you helped rescue them. I was hoping that you would be able to keep track of him for me. I really want him to be able to grow up and be able to go on adventures of his own."

Link nodded, he already had a close relationship with the youth and was only too eager to take him under his wing.

"Thanks Link. I am indebted to you yet again. I'll let you go, I'm sure you've plenty of things to do." Rusl looked knowingly toward Ilia and then looked back at Link. "She's nice, but beware of the mayor. He trusts you, but he's very on edge after his daughter was taken." Link smiled and nodded.

Rusl returned to his wife and two children, leaving Link to attend to his things. He was never one for parties anyway. Link made it back to his house to find his ever faithful steed waiting for him. He ran his hand along Epona's hair before taking his things off of her. He brushed her coat for a while before gathering up his things climbing up to his home. He dropped his things to the floor and admired his home. It wasn't very much, but it always felt good to return home.

He bent over to grab some of his things and felt something brush against his shoulder. He unsheathed his sword and looked at the figure that had touched him.

"Link, it's just me." Ilia cried out, afraid that Link was going to do something rash. Link was however, his ever composed self.

"Sorry." He looked back toward the ground ashamed that he had almost attacked his dear friend.

"You're fine Link. It's been a tough road for you. I just came by to help you unpack. Where do you put your stuff anyway?" Link pointed at the floor by his bag as he sheathed his sword. "I know where it is. Where do you keep it?" Link pointed at the floor again. "Why am I not surprised? How do you even keep track of all of your stuff?" Link shrugged attempting to divert questions. "We have a lot of work to do this summer. Just leave it, we'll come back tomorrow." Link wasn't going to argue with her and followed her out of the house.

They took their time getting back to Ilia's house. They didn't want to be home just yet. "Link, what are you going to do now that you've saved everybody. I mean, there's probably nothing that could really be of interest to you here." Link shrugged. He didn't know what he would do now. After all there wasn't that much that he could do. Anything he could would be to boring for him.

"Maybe we could go on a great adventure, somewhere far away from here. We could travel across the country to faraway places, just the two of us. We could have our own little adventure." Ilia had grown tired of Ordon Village as well. After seeing the numerous places around Hyrule she couldn't bear to be stuck in the small village any longer.

Link smiled as he thought about the fun adventures that the two of them could enjoy, but as he thought about it he realized that an adventure was really not something that you wanted to happen. It came about because it was necessary. As much fun as being an adventure was it wasn't something you just did. Link decided to not say anything, he wanted to go with her everywhere, but he didn't like the idea of them heading off into all sorts of danger.

"I understand Link. Especially after everything that happened in this last adventure. I think we should at least spend another year here. After all, home is where those you love are." He smiled at that. It was going to be a great year.

I know this is my first story in a while. Things are getting busy and honestly I think that there are things more important than just writing. Obviously consider the nature of this first chapter it's those around you that are the most important and while I don't know how often I'll update or whether I will even add a second chapter I know that I will have my time spent doing things that I love with the people I love and those of you on this site I encourage to do the same. You only live life once and the internet cannot give you the same experience as the world/people around you.

That was my message of the chapter. Ranting again. Do what you want I cannot tell you what to do. I hope that you enjoyed my story and that I am able to update again soon. Until then.