Disclaimer: I own neither Zelda nor Inuyasha.

AN: This story is going to be very, very different from what it used to be. The premise is going to be the same, but things will be explained in more detail and the overall pace of things is going to be much, much slower for the sake of plot development and character growth. If you've already read the first chapters, I apologize. Please bear with me . ~firefox369

Simple Dreams

Chapter 1

firefox369

There was a sharp knock on the door around midnight and the girl looked up from the cot she was currently laying on, nervous. A soft click informed her that the door had been unlocked and she hid behind the slowly opening door. Tonight was the night. Tonight was the night that she would gain her freedom once and for all.

A young man gracefully climbed onto his horse and began to herd all of the goats into the barn with ease, his crimson horse glowing eerily in the light of the dying sun. Although he had saved the princess and was a hero, he preferred the calm life of being a village cheif, helping the the rancher herd all of the sheep into the barn. He would never forget the excitement of battle, however, and often found himself missing it.

As the door swung open and the demon came in, she lifted the tray from her last meal and slammed it against the back of the thing's head. He crumpled to the floor, dead or unconcious she didn't know and she didn't want to stick around to find out. She snuck out of the dungeon and looked around before silently moving across the floor to a nearby exit she knew was rarely used.

The sky was still fairly light by the time he had finished so he brought his horse to a nearby pond by his house to wash her up in. He smiled wistfully at the memories he had there, but his smile soon turned dark when he remembered that the pond where he stood was where it all had started. Where he had first been introduced to the world bathed in twilight and Midna.

She was now safely out of the castle, but her heart beat refused to calm down. She still had the castle grounds to move through, and even though she had spent the past ten years planning her escape and perfecting it, she was still terrified. What would they do when they found out she was gone?

He stared at the clear water and couldn't help but think that something was missing, something long forgotten. A strange feeling rose up inside of him, as if his duty to the gods was still not completely fulfilled. Yes, he was certain. Something was not right. Something was missing. He glanced up at his horse to find her just as restless as he was and patted her neck before climbing onto her now dry back. Perhaps riding would do something to help relieve their unease.

A loud horn sounded and she swore under her breath. She had been seen after all. Not caring anymore, she raced to the castle's front gates and squeezed through the metal bars, stumbling and falling over right before the guards reached for her and grabbed empty air. She quickly got to her feet and sprinted off in a random direction as a roar of fury echoed behind her. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew that anywhere away from the castle would be fine. The cold air brushed her cheeks and ahe couldn't help but smile as the fresh air finally entered her nose for the first time in far too long.

The horse began to snort and restlessly step backwards.

"Come on, Epona" the young man murmured softly and the crimson horse snorted once again before rearing in response. The person on top held on and comforted her, calming her with ease. "What's wrong, girl?" he asked softly, patting and petting her.

"Midna!" the girl cried desperately as she looked backwards, the soldiers quickly catching up to her. "Midna!"

The demon appeared in front of the girl and looked at her with both amusement and excitement glowing in her yellow eyes. "You finally put your plan to action?" she mused.

The horse reared again with a sharp whinny, kicking and bucking in a frenzy. She obviously wanted the person off her back but he refused, not liking the thought of being trampled by her hard hooves.

"Whoa! Epona!"

"Midna! Help me!" the girl pleaded and the demon smiled almost lovingly at her. The heavy sound of hooves were closing in and beastial roars reached their ears. "Please Midna!"

The horse burst into a gallop, almost making the rider fall off. It was all he could do to cling to her as his green hat flailed wildly in the wind, the shield and sword clattering painfully against his back.

"Only for you, Imouto" she whispered before opening a portal. The girl raced through but it was too late. The pursuers had caught up and followed her through before it could close. They moved in front of her, blocking her path before surrounding her on all sides. The disgusting overgrown boars they rode blew their even more disgusting breath in her face, making her want to gag.

"The Master asked for you" one monster grunted.

"I'm not going back" she stated defiantly, despite the trembling in her legs. She glanced around for an opening and hid a smile when she found one.

"Epona! Slow down! Where are you going?"

The girl ran and barely made it through before the sound of hooves and another roar of outrage chased her.

"What was that?" the young man asked no one in particular, grunting when he finally regained a balanced position on his horse. She charged straight towards the noise and the sound of many, many heavy hooves and grunts entered his pointy ears. He grabbed his bow and knocked an arrow, confused. He ignored it and waited, holding onto his horse. They would be crossing paths soon.

"Someone help me" the girl panted, near tears. She was so scared, positive that if she were caught that she would be killed. An unseen root tripped her and she crashed into the ground. The heavy pounding of hooves were almost on her now. They wouldn't be able to stop in time no matter how hard the rider pulled on the reins. Squeezing her eyes shut, she let out a terrified scream. But the pain never came. There was a soft thunk and a loud roar before everything was silent.

His eyes widened when he was the all too familiar creatures chase after a girl in a black cloak. She tripped and covered her head with her arms as he aimed. She screamed as he released the arrow. It flew straight and true, right into the boar's front left leg. It stumbled and collapsed, the rider flying off and crashing into the ground.

Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.

A horse? she thought, confused. A shadow then emerged from the trees to reveal a blonde man on a blood-red horse. He was dressed in the famed green tunic and the green hat. His blue eyes observed the scene before him as he drew his bow once again. The boars stepped back in apprehension.

"I thought you ssaid you wouldn't bother us anymore" he murmured, eyes narrowing in distaste.

He released the second arrow and successfully shot one of the creatures in the throat. It gurgled once before falling off his steed. The boar immediately ran. The other boars followed and he drew another arrow, killing another guard before looking at the girl in front of him. He slid off his horse and took a few steps towards the trembling clump of cloth. She scrambled to her feet and raced towards his horse.

Before he could comprehend what was going on she had climbed on and raced off. His horse had not put up a fight. Why was that? He quickly raced over to a nearby clump of horse grass and blew on it. His horse did not return immediately, but when she did, she raced straight past him at a speed he never thought possible on her.

"Faster!" the girl pleaded and the horse obeyed.

"Hey! Epona!" he shouted but another set of hooves raced past him. He dodged just in time to not get trampled by another huge boar. He stared at it in more confusion, especially when he saw an elf on top of it.

"What the..." he began but there was a terrified scream and his horse had returned to him moments later, restless and wanting him to get on. He did, and they were off again, chasing after something for some strange reason that couldn't exactly explain itself in his mind. He was too confused for his own good.

"When I ask for your audience I expect you to give it to me immediately" a voice growled and there was a yelp of pain. "I let you live in my castle for so long, and running away is how repay me?"

The young man hopped off his horse and slowly unsheathed his sword as he neared the man, sneaking up from behind. She spat in the man's face, disgusted.

"As if I would ever return to you" she hissed and he took this chance to slash right through the man. There was a soft 'poof' and the elf disappeared in a puff of smoke. A fake.

"Are you alright?" he asked, holding out his hand. The girl hesitated before nodding, the hood of her cloak still covering her face. "Let me help you up" he suggested, reaching for her, but she shied away from his touch. "Or not.."

"You won't... hurt me...?" she asked slowly, uncertainly, and his eyes narrowed in confusion at the question.

"Why would I do that? I just saved you" he replied and held out his hand. The girl still seemed skeptical so he sighed and shifted his weight onto one leg. "I swear I won't hurt you. I don't hurt innocent girls, just not what I do."

"If you touch me he'll try to kill you" she whispered and he couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Many have tried in the past. They all failed. Come on."

She hesitated before placing her hand in his and looking up at him nervously. He couldn't see anything, though, beneath her hood, so he just gently pulled her to her feet, marveling at how light she was.

"Who... are you?" she asked as he released her hand and he smiled softly.

"People call me Link. Who are you?"

She hesitated once again. "Kagome..."

"Kagome..." he murmured, letting the name roll off his tongue. "Where are you from?"

"I don't know" she whispered and he looked at her, shocked.

"Well, then, you can just stay with me for now. I'll protect you from the ugly pig-riders."

She laughed and he smiled again before leading Epona over to her. She smiled up at the horse and gently patted the horses muzzle. The horse nudged her hood off her hood and Link finally saw her features. She had bright, but wise, blue eyes and jet black hair. She was pale, but not unhealthily so, and full lips that were currently curved into a small smile. He took in her expression and worriedly cocked his head to the side. Why did she look so... sad?

"...Epona..." she whispered and his eyes widened.

"How did you know her name?"

"You said it earlier" she replied, a look that said 'duh' on her face, and hopped on like a pro. Link followed suit, climbing on right behind her, and took the reigns from around her. The girl's uncomfortable and fearful glances fell on blind eyes. The young hero did, however, take note of the small tremors that wracked her body as he did so, so he quickly urged the horse forward, towards his home in Ordon Village.

"You were the one that saved the princess" Kagome stated. Her voice trembled.

"I am."

"How lucky she must be..." she whispered to herself before shutting her eyes, deep in thought. Link looked at her, confused.

"Lucky?" he asked and she looked up at him.

"Of course, to be saved so quickly..."

"She was there for a while" he informed.

"Not as long as I was" she sighed before chewing her bottom lip. The chill through her spine was getting stronger, and there could only be one reason for that. Her wretched Lord was getting closer. Before Link could comment, she leaned forward, neck arched up towards the sky, and called an all too familiar name.

Shocked, Link pulled back on Epona's reins and stared at the black haired female incredulously. How? How could she know?

Familiar, impish laughter filled the air and the Twilight Princess emerged from Epona's shadow.

"It would seem that you still don't particularly enjoy his company" she mused. Her yellow eyes flickered towards Link for a split second before landing on the girl again. Somehow, Link could tell that she wasn't referring to him. He could feel Kagome's body entire body quiver in him arms yet again. The area around him was suddenly became dark and the air cold. Slowly, carefully, as if whatever was hiding in the shadows would pounce the moment he touched the handle of his sword, he began to unsheathe it. Whatever was following them, whatever was following her, was not nice.

"It's time we got going" Midna sighed, snapping her fingers. Kagome turned into a mass of black squares before shooting into the darkened sky. Midna lingered for a few moments and gazed into Link's eyes, contemplating something, before grinning and disappearing as well. All the darkness among the trees began to pixelate and chased after the two young women through the dark portal in the sky.

Link sat atop Epona, sword drawn, and watched as the forest returned to its natural state. If not for the dead boars and trampled undergrowth, nothing would have remained of the presence of Midna and Kagome.