Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda, but I can dream, can't I?

Chapter 2: Separate Ways, Part 1

The sun peeked up over the horizon showering the land of Hyrule in the soft light of dawn. The trees fairly glowed in the golden-silver light. The animals of the realm began to rouse themselves as the sun rose up over the trees. They scurried about continuing on with their lives as they always had, always would.

It was one such animal, a young rust-colored fox, that woke the Hero of Twilight as it skittered along the outskirts of his camp, searching for its first meal of the day.

Link blinked groggily up at the sun, making a vague note of the time; about half past six. He slowly stood up and stretched his stiff... well, stiff everything. Sleeping on the ground, sword in hand, with his metal shield turned pillow was not doing Link's back any favors.

As he stretched, Link looked toward Castle Hyrule, now only a few hours away. He admired the way the sun shone upon the great, stone structure accentuating each intricate design in the stone work. He wondered how long it had taken to carve such elegant patterns into something so hard as rock.

Link turned to his shadow, about to comment on this to Midna, when he stopped. He stared for a few seconds before turning back to the view, a slight frown curled upon his lips. He sighed heavily.

"Oh... right..." He said with more than a hint of sadness echoing in his voice.

It had been three days. Three days since he had made one of the biggest mistakes of his life: leaving Midna. Three days since the sharp pain of loneliness began eating away at Link's heart. Three days since Link had lost quite possibly the best friend he ever had, the only one who seemed to fully understand him. Three long, empty days...

In that time he had begun making his way towards Castle Town with the intent of checking in on Princess Zelda. After all, Link was, as Midna had put with her usual tact, 'the type to worry about everything'. He just wanted to make sure she was all right now that the Twilight was gone forever from the Realm of Hyrule.

At least that's what he told himself... In truth Link was going in the hope of finding some answers. He had so many questions: who was Midna, really, who was Zant, did they know each other, what were the Fused Shadows, just to name a few. He had about as much of an idea to the answers of these questions as Ilia did to her past.

Link needed answers to his questions and he knew that only Zelda and Midna herself could give them.

He took a deep breath and released it in another heavy sigh.

"Well," Link thought, still gazing upon the majestic dawn shining down on Hyrule Castle, "standing here will get me nowhere... I might as well get going."

With that the young Hero proceeded to quickly pack up his camp. He resumed his journey to the Castle, berating himself internally for both leaving Epona in Kakariko and forgetting to pack some Horsegrass.

_

Four hours and several miles later the southern gates of Castle Town came into view; the eastern gates being blocked off by rubble at the moment. The Hero made a mental note to try to open the way up later.

Link stopped for a short rest under one of the many trees that grew in this section of the field. He placed his back up against the tree and allowed himself to slide down into a sitting position, rubbing his sore calves. He dreaded even the thought of getting up, knowing that at least twenty more minutes of walking awaited him before he finally reached the the gates. Not to mention the time it would take him to traverse Castle Town's busy roads and to get into the Castle and find Zelda. This was going to be another long day to add to the series of long days he had had since he became the Hero.

Reluctantly, Link forced himself to stand back up, wincing as his legs voiced their protest. With a weary, heartfelt sigh, his third of the day, the Hero continued on his way to the city without great incident; the only enemies being Bublins, which, after facing things like Morpheel and Fyrus, held absolutely no challenge for him. He defeated them with an almost mechanical ease.

When at last he reached the wooden gates the guard on watch there let him without question, having seen Link enough on the many supply runs he made into Castle Town to know that he wouldn't too much trouble. Unlike that wolf that had recently plagued the city.

The Hero wandered the bustling streets of Castle Town lost in thought to the point where he knocked over several people and was almost run over twice, all without notice. Eventually his aimless wandering brought him to his destination, the first thing he had truly seen since entering Castle Town: the home of the Royal Family, Castle Hyrule.

Link grimaced up at the sight of the architectural marvel. His brooding had yielded only questions, no answers. Not that he had expected it to and not that it mattered; he would see Zelda soon, she would have the information he required. Or so he hoped. He started up the steps toward the entrance.

"HEY!! Git away from der! Jus' where d'ya tink yer goin'?"

Link started and turned to see a Hylian Guard advancing on him, spear drawn. Apparently this was one of the few that were not afraid of their shadows. Though, admittedly, some were with good reason as Midna had gotten quite bored on more than couple of their visits.

"To see Princess Zelda..." Link replied, surprise making him slow to respond. Zelda was known for giving commoners free reign to go in and out of the Palace as they pleased, as well as holding special appointments to those seeking advice.

"Not t'day, ya ain't." The guard said with a heavy slur; he had just been kicked out Telma's bar. "'Yrule's under 'igh 'lert. No one 'cept aut'rized pers'nel are 'llowed int' da Castle, so git." The man punctuated his last statement by spitting at Link's boot.

The Hero tensed, fighting off the urge to draw his sword and teach this man a lesson in respect. He would have if he did not feel so pressed for time, besides this man was not worth the spit on Link's boot.

"Ya 'ard o' 'earin', boy? Scat afore I 'ave ya 'rested fer tresspassin', ya rotten scoundrel." The guard pointed his spear at the Hero's chest, in what would have been a threatening gesture had the man actually known how to hold his weapon.

"He's not worth it." Link repeated to himself as he turned unwillingly and left, leaving the guard with a self-important, and hideously smug look on his already churlish face. The Hero wandered over to the fountain and sat down, reviewing his options. It didn't take long considering he had none.

"What would Midna do?" He found himself asking. She had always has some sort of suggestion, no matter how outlandish it was. Link chuckled to himself, "She's probably tell me to... No, no. Even Midna would know better than to suggest that. Still... Why not? I haven't got any better ideas. And if the Hero of Time could do it, so could I."

Link smirked. If only Midna could see him now.

Author's Note: Whew! My first cliffhanger! What could Link be planning? What could be so bold that even our favorite imp would not suggest it? Tune in (or log in, rather) and find out.

Hey people, do you think the next chapter should be Link or Midna?

Please refer to Chapter 1, Author's Note 2 for your response options. Be seein' ya.