"Tell me, do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? They say it's the onl- "
"Yeah, whatever Rusl. TELMA! You plannin' to get us those beers?" a certain dark haired warrior yelled.
"I'll be right there honey, just a minute!"
"You do realize, Ashei, that you don't have to interrupt your mates all the bloody-"
Shut up, Shad. I'm thirsty, yeah? I just spent- no, more like wasted- three hours of my life outside the gates of Castle Town looking at raccoons talking a dumb- and you call it " guarding". It's been seven fuckin' years since the war ended, why do we still have Resistance duties? It doesn't make any sense, yeah?"
"You never know when a new threat might appear, chap! After all, we played quite a part in saving princess Zelda! We couldn't possibly stop now!"
"Quite a part? Let me tell you what we actually did. Rusl made a pigeon attack Bulbins- "
"You mean a hawk."
"WHATEVER! Rusl made a hawk attack Bulbins, old man Auru threw fireworks at lizards while you were trying to catch up with us and at the same time talking to me about freaky chicken things!"
"They're called Ooccas!" Shad retorted, raising his voice at that last part, something quite rare for him.
"Here are those beers, honey"
It was early evening and five people, the only members of the Resistance, were having cold beer in the almost empty bar that Telma owned.
"Finally, I haven't had a drink in four hours!"
"You know, Ashei, a true warrior only needs to be a tough fighter, not a tough drinker, as well..." quoted the oldest one, a bearded man in his fifties.
"Are you ready kids? It's time for "Wisdom of Grampa Auru"!
"I'm serious. All you've been doing for the past seven years of your life is drink and yell at Shad. Can't you just lead an interesting life in a world of peace?" chuckled Auru.
"No! My father taught me to kill people, not have tea parties!"
"That is quiet bleeding obvious…"Shad replied in using a quite mocking tone.
"One more thing my father taught me was to rip idiots' balls off and feed them to Ordon goats, yeah Shad?" Ashei answered with a deadly look in her eyes.
"Alright, alright, settle down, sport!"
"Now that you say that, I'd love some Ordon goat cheese right about now…"
"Seriously Auru? That's what you heard from my sentence? You sure you're not gay? I mean, the cannon obsession and your friendship with a guy who wears lipstick were already quite the give-away, yeah?"
"Why? Ordonians have the best cheese and bread in Hyrule!" Auru answered.
"I like their buns myself, honey!" Telma said with an obviously sexual tone, something not so rare for her.
"Speaking of Ordonians with nice buns, what's up with Link lately?
"I'll ignore that first comment. What do you mean?"
"You should know Rusl. You live in the same village he does. I mean that since the war ended he's been getting more and more depressed, especially around this time of the year. And something's telling me that he's not sad about the same thing I am…"
"That's quite observational, for a woman who thinks with her sword. And don't you dare try that "ripping balls of" threat on me again, or else!" the young male shouted . "Or else what? You'll give me a lecture on Ooccans so that I'll die of boredom?"
"They. Are. Called. OOCCAS!"
"My friends, please, let's stay in topic!" The grey haired man said." You were saying that Link…?"
"I was TRYING…" Ashei started speaking cautiously and angrily."…to say that Link isn't the Link we knew no more, yeah? I mean, old Link was always cheerful and kind, even when I told him to fuck off when I met him! Nowadays he's just sad and quiet- even more quiet than he used to be, and that says a LOT! I mean, we were lucky as fuck in the war, if you consider the losses of the war from our side, since only about two to three dozens of soldiers died in the first attack by Zant, since that stupid Zelda just had to surrender and ruin the fun of a war! What I'm trying to say here is that he can't be sad about the dead of the war, he can't be sad 'cause the war ended, so, what the hell is he bitchin' about?"
"Well, blimey, it seems that the only person who could answer that question is Link himself! Our only solution is that Rusl will get him to explain what happened to him to us and everything's solved!" The young man with spectacles said.
" I think that's the best solution is that tomorrow morning, when I'm leaving for Ordon, you will come with me and help me get Link to tell us what's wrong."
"Deal." Ashei said.
"Jolly good!" replied Shad.
"In that case, pack your things, honeys, we're leaving, pronto!"
"I believe I will be joining you." A hooded figure at the entrance of the bar said, surprising all of the people and kittens in Telma's Bar.
"Oh yeah? And who might you be, you limp dick motherfucker?" The fierce female warrior aggressively asked.
"Why, I do believe I am your princess." The figure replied while pulling her hood off.
"Princess Zelda!" The Resistance members said simultaneously, while bowing at the same time, except for Louise, who was incapable of doing so and Ashei, who was looking at the Princess terrified with trembling feet, trying to explain herself." Your royal highness, cut me some slack- I mean, forgive me! I did not expect someone like you in a shit hole like this!"
"Gee, thanks, Ashei." Telma replied with an angry look.
"Well, what do you know, everyone needs a nice cold glass of beer once in a while, Ashei my dear." The Hylian Princess said, with a forgiving but entertained look on her face.
"How do you know my- "
"I am good friends with Shad, I happen to know all of you. As I said, I am coming along."
"But, your majesty, why do you want to join us?" Auru asked puzzled.
"I happen to be concerned for Link as well and I already have a hunch of what it could be that saddens Link.. Also, I would love to seize an opportunity like this and treat myself to some quality Ordon goat cheese." Zelda answered, while Auru was looking at Ashei with an "I told you so" look on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~12 hours later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is everyone set to go?" Rusl asked, what seemed to be a rhetorical question." We probably won't encounter any problems on our way, since there are only a few peaceful Bulbins left around Hyrule Field nowadays."
"That's too bad, I've missed kickin' some Moblin ass!"
"Oh, bugger, Ashei, could you please refrain from using that kind of language around me?" Shad protested.
"Why is that, balls face? It's not like I'm insulting you!"
"What are you talking about? You just insul- "
"That is all quite nice, my friends, but it's better too arrive to Ordon before the sun perches high above the hills of Hyrule Field." Rusl said.
The Resistance members, as well as Louise and Princess Zelda, were riding through the small hills of Hyrule Field for about half an hour before arriving to the Hyrule Field of the Faron Province and stopping for a break.
"Oh, look, a Kargaroc there in the distance!" Shad told the group.
"In Hyrule Field? How original." Ashei said sarcastically. "Let's keep moving!"
They continued to ride until they reached Faron Woods. They crossed paths with a weird short man with an afro, who was insisting on giving them free lanterns for some reason, and stopped for a short break in the spirit spring of Faron to replenish their energy. After that, they walked to Link's house with their horses walking next to them.
"Rusl, you plannin' to knock on the door?" the black haired swordswoman shouted.
"I already did, no one's answering! I think it's better to go to the village and ask my neighbors if they know where he is."
"Rusl? Is that you? You're already back! And with friends! How wonderful!" A middle aged woman said, while walking towards the group of people.
"Looks like the neighbors came to us, honey." Telma whispered to Ashei.
"Sera! Great to see you again! How's the store going? I came back with a bunch of my friends to uh…uh… show them around Ordon!" Rusl replied to the over weight woman with an anxious tone.
"Oh, bother, if Rusl is planning to use such ghastly excuses why didn't he just say that we came to get pumpkins, or something similar to that?" Shad told the women in a sarcastic tone.
"Try not to whisper too much, dumb-dumb, that bitch is already onto our case." Ashei answered.
"Oh, isn't that great? Finally, some tourists for our village! I always wanted to become well known in Castle Town and open a branch store!" Sera said, completely clueless of what their true intentions were.
"Man, that Ordon goat cheese must be bad for your brain!" Ashei retorted shocked.
In less than two minutes the heroic company was in Ordon village, surrounded by villagers, seemingly without escape.
"They really aren't very used to visitors 'round this part…" Auru commented surprised.
"Well, Sera, this has been lovely, but we would like to talk to Link about an extremely urgent matter." Rusl said in an attempt to leave the circle of curious Ordonians.
"How important?" A short man with a mustache asked.
"Important enough that even the Princess of Hyrule would have come." Zelda said, who in the meanwhile had worn her hood again.
"And your name is…?"The short man asked.
"Zelda."
"Zelda? What a coincidence! That's the same name as the pr- "The man started saying, only to be interrupted by the rest of the villagers bowing and shocked by the sight of Zelda pulling her hood down.
"Your majesty? I am the mayor of this village. What do you need of Link?" An over weight man asked.
"I am familiar with you, Mayor Bo. I prefer that the topic of our conversation with Link remains private." Princess Zelda replied.
"Of course. He is in Ordon Ranch with his boss, Fado. I shall guide you there."
"It's okay Bo. I'll take it from here. Follow me, my comrades." Rusl said while gently pushing Bo aside.
The six people walked to the ranch, following Rusl, until they found Fado and Link sitting next to a small herd of goats while chatting.
"Guys? Princess Zelda? What are you doing here?" The young ash blonde male asked.
"There is something important we need of you, Link." Zelda replied.
"Alright, I suppose? Fado, you mind going to the village for a while?"
"You got it, partner." The older man said and walked away.
In the meanwhile, a few meters away, three teenagers and two children were watching the scene, hidden behind a few trees.
"Malo, can you shut up? I'm trying to listen to what Link is saying!" A sixteen year old girl with short hair was now looking at a thirteen year old boy angrily.
"Okay, okay! Man, you need to calm down, Beth!" The boy replied.
A few meters away, the seven adults were carrying on their conversation.
"All we want, lad, is to exterminate your problems! It's crazy for you to act like your heart has been cut in half, since the war has ended!" Shad told Link.
"Did you hear that, guys?" Beth said.
"Yeah! We have to tell the others!" A seven year old girl screamed.
Link and the others were still talking, unaware that five frightened children were running towards the village.
"MAYOR BO! MAYOR BO!" A seventeen year old boy with brown hair shouted.
"What is it this time, Malo?
"The people who came told Link that we're crazy, that we should be terminated, and that they'll cut us in half!
At the same time, in Ordon Ranch…
"We're just worried about you, buddy!" Ashei told Link.
"Of course, why won't you simply tell us what's the matter?" Shad added.
"You better forget 'bout that. It's my problem and no one else- and I mean no one- should be concerned. So you better mind your own fucking business and get your brain to work the next time you decide to come all the way to Ordon just to get on my fucking nerves!"
"You colossal idiot." Zelda answered furious.
"What?"
"You buffoon, you, you… YOU FUCKING MORON! Do you honestly think that I have absolutely no idea why you're sad? Do you think that I don't care as well?" Zelda yelled, shocking the rest of the group.
"You mean…?" Link asked, without finishing his sentence.
"Oh, of course I know! I know that it's because you miss Midna!"
"M-Midna… I haven't heard her name in more than five years… I mean, after she…" Link replied with a crushed look in his blue eyes.
"Link, don't you understand? She was my friend as well, I had given my life for her, and she returned the favor! I truly miss her, and I every moment that passes in my life, I wonder why she had to break the Mirror of Twilight!" Zelda replied, making everyone wonder even more what they were talking about.
"The Mirror of Twi-" Auru started saying, only to be interrupted by Telma.
"Oh, hang on, what the heck are you two talking about? Who's Midna? Aren't you gonna explain anything to us?
"Alright." Link answered with an angry look on his face.
"Alright what?" Ashei asked.
"As in: Alright, I'll tell you what troubles me." Link replied.
"Excellent! So, what is it exactly that tr—are those pitchforks and torches?" Rusl asked, upon seeing the sight of a small mob of Ordonians with furious expressions, walking quickly towards them, scaring many goats in the process,
"Out with the Hylians!" The villagers shouted.
"Hey, hang on. What's the matter? Did you eat too many pumpkins? " Rusl asked, while standing in front of his friends, in an attempt to protect them.
"Move away. The children told us all about the crazy Hylians, Rusl! We knew that they never really liked Ordonians, but wanting to vanish us from the face of Earth- Bo begun to say.
"What the hell are you talking about? What did the children tell you exactly?"
"That we're crazy, they're gonna cut us in half and terminate us!" The seven year old girl said.
"Oh my god." Rusl sighed." Helga sweetie, you must have misheard."
After the entire misunderstanding was cleared up, the villagers left and let the others carry on with their conversation.
" Alright. I suppose than now I can tell you. What you're all about to hear is something that only Zelda and I know. And the person to whom we refer as "Midna" Link retorted.
He narrated the entire story to all of his friends. He begun with the day Rusl informed him of his trip to Hyrule castle, and ended with the Mirror of Twilight shattering.
"…and the Mirror was broken forever." Link wrapped up his story, not having noticed that some of his companions were sitting on the ground, elated by it.
"That was very… enlightening." Shad said shocked.
"To say the least." added Auru.
"Well, whether you liked it or not, that is what really happened. And without Midna, princess Zelda and I would probably be dead by now." Link answered.
"Yes, but what can we do about it master Link?" Auru asked.
"I guess that the only solution to make you quit yo cryin' is to find an alternative way to get into that so called "Twilight Realm, yeah?" Ashei said.
Everyone looked at her, surprised by the simple and clever idea.
"Yeah Shad, sometimes I think with my brain!"
"I didn't say anything!" Shad replied.
"Wait a minute." Auru retorted. "Now that I think about it, master Link, I might have a solution to your problem."