All he ever wanted was to ride in on that sunset. Feel its light and breathe its life. It's painted dark shades of red. It looks much like the very field he's lying in, soaked in red. He could pretend that it's part of the sky. Maybe then he wouldn't feel so lost lying here, stained with blood and grass. He's been here so many times before. It's quite safe to say that he's gotten used to it.
He could hear Epona, trotting up over the hills. Her long face hung above his. She nudged Links face, bringing pain to his cheek. It had been raked by something; he wasn't sure what caused the wound. This was only one of many injuries. He had been fighting for a long time. He's fought since childhood. He was thrown in all directions; even torn through the very fabric of reality. Time was strewn in ways that he still isn't able to explain or even begin to understand.
A hero as he's been called… is alone. He wasn't always alone. Companions come and go. They were there when the most tedious and violent of challenges where bestowed upon him. And of course he was never one to say no. He could never turn anyone away; it's not in his nature.
It was never so bad with Navi. His Navi. He still searches for her. It's been ten years since they unexpectedly parted ways, and were ripped from each others lives. It doesn't feel like ten years to him, not at all. He wonders where she is day and night for years. Is she still out there? Does she need his company like He needs hers? Is she searching for him as well? He can only hope. Link remembers it like it was only yesterday she was tearing him away from that hellish nightmare in his childhood tree house and pushing him out of bed.
Lazy, she called him. Link always laughed when He thought of her. He prayed to the goddesses every day that his thoughts would somehow reach her. Overtime he stopped asking for answers. He lost hope.
He would keep going for her. That's what she would want of him. She never let him give up, not once. And he still hasn't.
Epona nudged Link gently once more. It was time to leave. He slaughtered every last one of those creatures. The village had nothing to fear any longer. All will be well. Link didn't want to return to the village even though he knew he should. But he didn't want to leave them wondering or siting in anticipation, anxiety racking their minds. Link tried to will himself to turn away, but his conscience wouldn't allow it. He knew the right thing would be to return and set their minds at ease.
Upon his return the village was empty. Not a single shadow was cast. Everyone was still hiding in their homes, as the sun slowly crept below the horizon. Just as Link was about to take his leave he heard the slow creak of a door. He turned to see a girl; younger than himself. Talia was her name. She looked at him with a certain fondness.
She had somewhat taken care of Link. He could even call her his friend. They did have a sort bond with one another. But something wasn't right with Link. He couldn't accept her in the way she wanted him to. Something didn't feel right to him, and he can't pretend. He cared for her nonetheless. But only in the same sense that he would care for anyone else is need of his help.
"You can come out now…" Link told her as he dismounted Epona. "It's safe… They are all gone." He held his hand out to reassure her. She did need that sort of comfort being the fragile girl she was.
She strode towards him immediately, even though she looked hesitant to reach out, he could see the painfully obvious worry reflected in her eyes. "Link, you're hurt."
He was. This was nothing new to him, he's had much worse. He only felt the pain when he thought about it. "Come inside… I'll patch you up."
"I should be on my way. Give your mother a farewell for me."He said. Just as he began to turn away she reached for his hand, gripping it firmly in hers.
"Please, Let me." Her eyes looked fearful and suddenly Links inability to say no was beginning to show through again.
"Alright." He gave in Softly.
The room was dimly lit by a small lantern. It outlined the small frame of her face.
It stung in strange kind of way, whatever it was that she spread over his wounds. He can think about something else other than the pain.
"It looks deep." She whispered, as she gently applied a thin white sheet of cloth to Links face. The gash ran from the corner of his right eye to the edge of his lip. "It will scar."
She filled the silence well. Even in her fragility, she had that spark that made someone look twice. She was clever, yet shy. She was strong willed, yet timid. You would have to look at her a second time to truly understand her ways. And perhaps recent village terrors have made even more reclusive.
"Men will surely fear you with such a mark." She smiled softly at him.
Link reached up to touch it but his hand was slapped back down before he could do so. "Don't touch it! It will never heal." She was quick to put him in his place, and he couldn't help but laugh a bit.
Link had only known her twenty days. He always counted the days. And in these twenty days she'd become so comfortable around him. He thanked her accordingly and stood to leave. He knew it was abrupt of him, but this is the part that Link is least fond of. Goodbyes.
'Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow'
She stood in his way, staring at him, soft eyes burning into him . "Do you… really have to leave?"
"Yes." Link answered without a second thought. Of course he had to. He always had to leave. For him to say that he wished to stay would be a lie. He's never wanted that. Not for a long time.
That familiar wind and ever-changing sky wouldn't let him. It was pulling him toward something. Link couldn't stay in one place for very long before he felt that reoccurring ache to move on. He didn't know if it was because he wanted more out of this life, or because he was looking for something out there. Maybe both.
He does know that he's always wanted something more. He grew up rather unconventionally. Maybe he was hoping to find what was missing. There's always been something missing from him. That piece of the puzzle that he could never find.
He stood to gather his things. Link wanted this parting to be short and free of tears. But of course things never really go that way. Talia's eyes began to well up as he secured his sword in its place.
"Will I ever meet you again?" She asked.
"Time will tell." Not a yes or a no, it was the only answer he could give her.
Just as Link began to pass the threshold of the door she yelled for him to wait.
"You're horse." She panted.
Epona needed rest, and treatment as soon as possible. Link knew that. He had to find a stable quickly. One that would willingly accept his patronage with little to no qualms.
"Yes, she is hurt. Don't worry. I always take care of her." It was an honest answer.
"I know a place just north of here, they will help you. I'm sure of it."
"North?" He asked cautiously.
"Yes… I know that you would have to pass through those woods, but for someone like you…"
"Thank You." He interrupted her. He didn't want her glorifying any of his abilities. After all, he was only a man. "North it is." He curled Epona's reigns around his fist. They walked off in the night together, small lantern lighting their way. He looked back.
"Thank you, Talia." He said again.
"Goodbye." She said, barely a whisper.
He's said goodbye so many times to so many different people. Why should this time be any different? It shouldn't be. So as always Link casted it out of his mind before it bothers him enough to turn back. Eliminate the doubts.
The air felt heavy in the woods, and Link felt a strange familiarity as he and Epona trudged through the damp shrubbery. The ground seems to glow, reminding him of the Kokiri Forest. It was so easy to run and chase after those fireflies without a care in the world. They always seemed within reach even though Link knew he would never catch them. The fairies always told him the fireflies would laugh at all of the Kokiri children.
The fairies were the only ones that could hear such a tiny thing as a firefly's laughter.
Link would've liked to chase them with Navi. He couldn't of course. The second she came into his life he was thrown into everything rather quickly. But he's sure she would've loved to if he'd have asked her.
Link heard a soft sound brush past him. As if the wind were some sort of a conscious creature, he felt the hairs on his arm stand. A sudden light flashed past his line of vision. His senses heightened on their own accord. Epona began back up, thrashing, and neighing. She felt threatened. Link tried his best to calm her, caressing her mane and whispering comforts into her ear.
That same fierce and quick flash of light flickered in the distance, its glow dizzying Him. He didn't know why, but wanted that light. He wanted to chase it so desperately. It shined so bright against the darkness of the quiet woods. He saw the green of the trees become brighter. And his vision was almost distorted as he was entranced by that glow. He wanted to follow it just as he had followed those fireflies as a child.
He wanted that light like he wanted Navi beside him. The closer he got to it, the more he became convinced that it was Navi. Completely mad, and he knew it. But in the very moment, he couldn't be swayed any other way. Epona seemed to be just as drawn in as Link had been. Her movements were in sync with his, slowly approaching this vein of light.
Time seemed frozen as his ears rung and his head grew heavy. A panic fled through Links whole being as he saw Epona faint to the ground beside him. He tried to get through to her, bring her back. The land was shaking, the ground sinking them down. Link felt so impaired and helpless, he couldn't stand any longer. He collapsed on top of Epona, hoping and praying that this was all a dream, or even a trick.
It felt all too real. This wasn't his Navi. This wasn't the magic that he constantly sought. This wasn't those bright and hopeful fireflies. This was an evil one that he would not escape.
Links head was swimming with fear as he began to lose consciousness. He knew that he would wake up. And when he did, he had to be ready.
He was falling. This fall wasn't to his death. It felt too familiar to him to be death.