Hey, everybody! Here is chapter 2 of this story. I actually named this chapter after figuring out how.
The first chapter and this chapter were rather short (About 1000 words). That's just because I dreaded writing an intro, but now that I'm getting to the part that I've been wanting to write about, it will be longer. Sorry about that :)
Again, please do leave a review. Through this all I wish to improve my skills as a writer. If somebody would also like to be a Beta reader for me, that would be great. I just have to figure out how to assign one xD
The Legend of Zelda and all characters belong to Nintendo.
Link slid off of Epona's back and walked her across the all too familiar bridge that connected Ordon with the Faron woods. To his left was Ordon spring. He took off his boots and walked into the shallow water. Epona trotted up and ran through the spring as well. She was glad to be home.
After a few minutes, Link and Epona had arrived at his old house. His treehouse looked the same. When inside he began to get to work. Dusting off the shelves, getting everything organized. Link was happy to see his house again.
Suddenly a familiar voice came from outside his home.
"L-Link? Is that you in there?" Colin yelled from below Link's ladder.
The front door swung open and Link hurried down the ladder. In a split second, Collin had tackled him to the ground, embraced in a hug.
"You're back! When did you get back? How was your adventure? Did you really save Hyr-"
Link began to laugh with a large smile on his face. "It's good to see you too."
"Oh, come and see everybody! They will all be so happy to see you. Especially Ilia, she hasn't stopped talking about you since you left." Collin said, dragging link along with a mischievous smile on his face.
Link smiled a little. He was excited to see his best friend. I hope she hasn't changed very much, Link said to himself. He cherished the friendship he had with her.
"Links back everybody! Dad! Mom! Link is back!" Collin went yelling excitedly throughout the village. Soon everybody had swarmed around Link. Welcoming him back and asking about the adventure.
After scanning through the growing crowd, Link finally made eye contact with Ilia. She cut through Rusl and Uli and jumped on Link, hugging him.
Ilia looked into Link's deep blue eyes. She could get lost in those eyes. After hearing a light chuckle from the crowd, she let go of him and stepped back awkwardly.
"Link, you must join us for dinner." She said, looking towards her father.
"Ah, yes! You must be hungry after your return home. Let us make a feast of it! A welcome home party for Link!" Mayor Bo stated with an excited smile. "Meet at my house in an hour, everybody bring some food. Linkā¦" Bo smiled a little. "Go get cleaned up lad, you stink". Link laughed and turned back to his home.
Bo's sumo wrestling room was converted into a dining room for the event. Everybody brought a unique dish of food to share. Link got bombarded with questions, mostly from curious children. How was the adventure? What were some of the places he visited?
Link kept much of the harsh details to himself.
Slowly villagers got tired and departed. After a while, it was just Bo, Ilia and Link.
"So Link, what will you do now?" Bo asked inquisitively. "I'm sure you've become accustomed to living differently than here at Ordon."
Link nodded. "I don't think I will enjoy life here like I used to. I still have a craving for adventure. There is much I wish to do that I can't accomplish here at Ordon."
Link's words felt like a knife in Ilia's heart. She couldn't imagine him leaving again. "W-where will you go?"
The truth is, Link wasn't sure. He knew the kingdom was still in ruins and that he could assist in rebuilding. But he also wanted to see the world. There were legends of land to the west. He toyed with the idea of exploring that direction.
After a moment of consideration, he decided. "I think I will go to Hyrule castle," he said. "There is much to do to repair the kingdom that I would love to assist with. I plan to stay for the week and then depart."
Bo looked at him, with neither a happy nor sad expression. "We live a simple and quite boring life," he said with a laugh. "Not all of us had the chance to go out and see the world, but you do, so don't put that to waste."
Ilia was not so understanding. "Is this place not good enough for you, now that you went and saved Hyrule? Am I not?" Link flinched at her words.
Bo looked between the two over and over before deciding to leave them alone. "Ill uhh, be outside."
"Ilia, I-"
"You just got back, why don't you want to stay? It's been a year. You saved Hyrule and brought all of us back home safely. Why must you leave."
"Ilia, I crave something different. I want to do something else, something helpful to Hyrule".
"You are helpful here!" She yelled at him, "We need you here, Link."
"You guys have got through this year just fine without me."
"I haven't," She said with tears in her eyes.
Link put his hand over hers. "Ilia, ill come and visit. Nothing has or will change, you are still my best friend."
"Oh, god," She shoved him away. "You are unbelievable naive".
Ilia stormed off to her room before Link could respond. He confusedly walked out of the hose to catch Beth, Colin, Malo and Talo eavesdropping.
"Wow," Colin spoke first. "That was rude of her. You just got back!"
"For sure!" Malo and Talo quickly agreed.
Beth stomped her foot and turned to the three of them. "You all are just as naive as Link is. It's obvious she loves him."
Her words struck Link as he realized how dumb he had been. She did love him, and he turned a blind eye. He didn't feel the same, at least not anymore.
The next week went by quickly. He spent his time helping anybody with any issues. Plowing some fields, herding some goats, repairing some buildings. At one point he ended up hunting some wolves outside the village. Ilia didn't speak to him much. He felt bad and wanted to speak with her, to apologize for not feeling the same. She wasn't there when he departed for Hyrule castle. Colin was sad to see him go, but Link promised he would visit once or twice a month.
"We're holding you up to that promise Link, do come and visit," Bo said with a sad smile. "I'm sorry Ilia wasn't here. She didn't want to come."
"I understand. Please tell her I'm sorry and that I will miss her."
Link turned Epona around and went on his way to Hyrule; and possibly the lands beyond.
