I had an awfully lot of time lately. So this chapter came much earlier than expected.

First reviewer Darth Hawk 32: As you can see I changed it

I think this chapter turned out better than I thought. So enjoy!


Chapter 1: Lost Love

One year has passed since the final battle with the evil lord Ganondorf. Hyrule now was once again the glorious country it was supposed to be. It nearly seemed as nothing had ever happened to Hyrule at all. So people kept on doing their daily routines as usually, except for someone, we all know to well. Then not everyone can experience only happiness in their life.

"Collin son, do you know where to find Link right now? When I went to his house earlier, there was nothing that even indicated that he was there at all. It almost looked like a haunted house" asked the middle-aged man.

"I suggest you go to the fairy's spring. He's been there a lot lately" answered the small blonde. He looked more confident than one year before. But still there was something that disturbed the boy.

"Alright, thank you son" Moe was just about to go when suddenly his son tucked on his sleeve.

"Dad…do you think he'll be alright anytime soon?" Collin questioned worryingly.

"Don't worry son. I'll be sure to find a way to cheer him up somehow. So don't worry, alright?"

As Moe left the village he had to think about the passed year. His daughter was born healthy, the crops were excellent and everything seemed just too peacefully. Well until the incident that changed the mood completely.

He's still blaming himself for what happened. But that's just wrong. If there is someone to blame then it's us who carry the responsibility.

After a short walk Moe finally reached the entrance of the fairy's spring. Standing there in the middle of the pond was Link. Beside him was his loyal companion Epona. Though he attended to her needs you could easily tell that his mind was somewhere else. Taking a deep breath Moe walked over to the young man.

"You know, grieving here all alone by yourself won't help anybody. Instead you'll make everyone worry about you, especially Collin" Moe said carefully. He didn't want to upset the young one.

Link let out a sigh. "I know, but right now I don't feel like doing anything."

"Right now you say? Right now was the last whole month! When was the last time that you had a proper meal?!" exclaimed Moe furiously. He didn't want to be angry, but he was just to worried to control himself.

"Um… yesterday… I guess…" Link didn't sound too convinced himself. When was the last time?

"That's not the point here Link! You can't just…" the middle-aged man stopped. Damn what am I doing? I was supposed to cheer him up and all I'm doing is yelling at him now. "Link I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you"

"It's alright. I'd properly do the same" Link stated sadly.

"Tell me Link. Do you still blame yourself for what happened?" demanded Moe caringly. "You know as well as everyone does that it wasn't your fault. Nobody could have helped her in this hopeless situation.

Flashback

"I've never seen such symptoms before. Her body is swollen all over, her temperature is as high as a fever but her blood pressure and pulse are so low that it looks like she's barely alive" explained the doctor in shock. "You should have called me much earlier."

"But she was still fine the day before yesterday. How could this have happened in such a short period of time?" Boro the mayor of Ordon stated shocked as well.

"Sir, I don't think this just happened yesterday. Looking at the state her body is in right now I'd presume that she must have bearded it for at least 3 weeks or more already. And now it pains me to tell you that it's to late now."

Boro sank to his knees at his daughter's bed. "No it can't be!" There was nothing he could do to save his only child and that made him feel even more helpless than he already was.

Suddenly the door flung open revealing a soaked Link followed by Moe. Though it was raining hard they had just returned from their daily routine hearing the news from Collin's mother.

"Doc how is she? She can be cured right?" Link asked in haste.

"Calm down Link. I can see you're worried but Ilya needs rest. Rushing it now won't help her" Moe intervened before Link could do anything stupid.

"I am sorry, but as I already said before. We're too late. She has suffered for far too long already for her body to withstand and I don't even know what it is that plagues this poor child" admitted the doctor ashamed.

"What? Since when? Link questioned unsettled. He never heard of this.

"3 weeks at least" repeated the experienced man once again.

"That can't be…that means…All this time when I asked her about her paleness…she said it was due to lack of sleep…but in reality she suffered" stated the chosen hero. He could feel his legs grow weak. Not able to support him anymore link slumped on the nearest chair burying his face in his hand. What had he done? No the question was rather what he hadn't done. It was just too much for him to believe.

"That means there really is no cure for her?" asked Moe in hope for a solution to the crisis.

"I don't know. Maybe there is maybe there isn't. As I said before I've never encountered such illness before" explained the doctor.

Regaining his strength Link rose to his feet. "Then I'll go and search for one. With Epona's help I can do it in no time."

"I'm afraif we don't have that much luxury. From the state she is in now she won't make it until tonight" said the doctor sadly. Only a miracle could help her now.

This shocked all three of the men. Not even tonight? That would leave them only a few hours seeing as it was nearly noon. It would be impossible to find a cure in such limited time. But it still worth a try and so Link stormed out of the house mounted Epona and was off to Hyrule market. It was still pouring outside making it hard for him to find people he could ask. The first person that came to his mind was the fortune-teller lady.

"What do you want to know about?" asked the lady in a mysterious tone. "Is it about work or is it about love?"

"Neither, I need to find a cure for my friend. Is there anything you can do?" demanded the young man stressed.

"Uh…I'm sorry. I can only tell you something about your work or your love." The lady stated frightened.

Damn her, her and her useless fortunetelling was what the chosen hero thought. But he didn't have time to waste on cursing. Maybe the church's priest knew something. After all they are the ones giving refugee to the ill.

"Young one, it is the goddesses wish to bring your friend to their side in the heavens. You shouldn't oppose their will. Rather be glad that she is summoned by holy goddesses themselves and rejoice for her destiny" was all the priest had to say.

Now that really was a waste of time. Desperate our Hero walked around knocking at the doors in hopes of receiving any hint possible. In the end his desperate actions were in vain when the churches bell rung, announcing that it was six o'clock by now and he knew that he had failed. By the time he returned to the village the rain had already stop leaving clouds behind that darkened the night seemingly mocking the failure of Link. Boro was the first one to approach him.

"Did you find anything? Please tell me you found something to cure her!" exclaimed the mayor. But his hope only found a shaking head.

"No, nothing at all…I'm sorry. I failed" Link apologised sadly. There was nothing he could anymore.

"You gave it your all. There is nothing to be ashamed of" said Moe to cheer him up, in vain.

"L…Link?" came a weak voice.

"Ilya…you re awake!" rejoiced Boro.

"Father…I'm sorry to trouble you again" said Ilya still weak.

"Don't talk! You shouldn't strain yourself too much" her father told her caressing her head.

"Father…please….let me talk with Link for a while…in private" pleaded his only child.

"What ever you wish Ilya" Boro answered still worried.

"We'll be waiting outside. Let us know if there is anything you need" stated Collin's father.

Link took a chair and sat beside Ilya's bed after the two fathers left the room.

"Hey, what's with the long face?" asked Ilya with a faint smile. Link stayed silent. "I'm sorry, it seems the only thing I can do is causing you trouble."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Link demanded a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"I…I don't know. Maybe I didn't want to bother you anymore. You jus saved Hyrule. I thought you'd deserved your break from all the fighting" she explained guiltily.

"What are you saying?" questioned Link. "The purpose of my whole journey was to save you and protect everyone. I'd do everything for you, because I…I…"

"Because you what Link?" Ilya asked. She was so confused right now.

"…because I love you!" Link exclaimed taking a deep breath. Those words, they finally were out.

The blonde girl broke out in tears. "Link...do you really mean that?"

"Yes of course!" was all he could think of.

"I'm so happy. I love you, too. Ever since we were kids I had loved you" she admitted happily with tears of joy.

Link too broke out in tears hugging her. He wanted to embrace her with all he might as to never let her go. He knew he couldn't for he didn't want to give her more pain. Unluckily their moment was short-lived when realization struck them.

"I'm sorry Link. If…if I had told you earlier maybe then it wouldn't be too late now" stated the blonde girl sadly.

"Don't say that! It's not too late yet!" Link yelled distressed.

"Link…It's alright. It's my body so I know that I don't have much time left" said Ilya her voice growing weaker again.

"Ilya…"

"Link, would you do me a favour please?" asked the weak blonde.

"Anything you wish" was his only reply.

"Then please kiss me."

The chosen Hero turned red as a tomato. This would be his first kiss. But who was he to deny Ilya's last wish?

Having found his resolve He leaned closer to the girl he loved. He could feel her weak breath. He could feel her pain through it. Then their lips touched. It was a gentle touch, but nonetheless filled with emotions. Emotions which were never revealed before united in those lips of hers until they parted again.

"That was so wonderful" Ilya stated her eyes still closed.

"Indeed it was" were the only words Link could think of right now.

They stared at each other drowning in the eyes of the other. But that too as the kiss before was short-lived as Ilya felt her eyes getting heavier by the seconds.

"Link…I'm…so tired…have to…rest…for …a while…" mumbled the weak girl tiredly.

"No, don't. Please stay with me!" pleaded Link desperately.

"Link…I'm…sorry" were her last words before she fell into an endless sleep.

"Ilya? Ilya? You're just sleeping right? Cone on, wake up. Ilya?...ILYA!!" Link screamed to the tip of his voice.

"What's wrong?" questioned Moe. They immediately entered the room when they heard Link screaming.

"Ilya is…"

End Flashback

"…No I could have helped her. I should have persuaded her more. I have let her down and she's gone." Link said guiltily.

"You can't change what happened in the past and people are not perfect. You can't –"

"But I'm the CHOSEN HERO! I should at least be able to save the one person I love!" shouted the young man in frustration.

He cried tears of pain, of guilt and of regret. He didn't know what to do anymore. Why did the goddesses take Ilya? He saved the damn whole of Hyrule. Was that really what he deserved after all his struggles?

In that moment Moe's fatherly instincts kicked in and he embraced the sobbing youngster.

"Let it out. Let it all out" comforted the man.

After some strong cries and sobs Link finally calmed down, allowing himself to regain his composure.

"Thank you Moe. I think I've had enough for now." Link stated sniffing.

"Alright, say…how about we: you, Collin and I go to the riverbank and catch some big fish? That'll be a change for a while" offered Moe friendly.

Finally Link smiled again, faint but nonetheless. "Yeah, I guess I'd like that."

tbc


Wow that was sad. Nearly cried myself there O.o

Well what do you think?

Action will come soon so don't worry