Wow, three reviews in one day. And here I was hoping for just one. Guess I'd better reply to them huh?
-Mr Gamez: I was losing hope too, so I took matters into my own hands. Thanks a lot; I'm planning on updating at least once a week.
-xakattak: I agree with you about the depressing ending. Glad my first stab at this caught a few people's attention.
-mellyd: I agree. Link and Ilia are great together. And I also agree that the game hints several times that they should be together. That's why I'm going to… well… you'll just have to wait and see.
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Link awoke the next morning feeling a little jittery. His dreams had been plagued by a pair of familiar reddish eyes that kept taking something precious to him away in different situations. He sat up a rubbed his tired eyes. He felt much better than he had the day before.
He got up and pulled on his tunic, leaving the protective chainmail folded on the bed, he felt much lighter without it. Out of habit, he strapped the Master Sword to his back and pulled on his hat. He was just about to leave when he thought he saw a red glow in the shadowy fireplace. He looked again, but saw nothing. Shrugging his shoulders, he walked outside to find Ilia.
He found her in the paddock tending to the goats with Fado, Link's friend and fellow wrangler before Link had left on his adventure. Link leaned on the fence for a little while, watching Ilia work, before climbing over the fence to lend a hand.
After the goats were taken care of and rounded back up into the barn by Link and Epona, Link and Ilia decided to get something to eat together. They wandered through town and Link discovered that Malo had added a small bar onto his shop recently. They went in and were immediately greeted by Malo himself. After finding out that Link and Ilia were there for breakfast, he scampered off to bully the cook.
"Leave it to Malo to think of everything," Link chuckled as they sat near a window.
"Hey Link? Can you tell me about one of your adventures?" Ilia asked, her chin in her hands.
"Of course. Gimme a moment to think of a good one…"
Link began retelling of his trip through the Goron mines. He hadn't gotten very far when Malo came back with two plates of eggs and bacon. Link went to pay, but Malo just ran off to help another customer. He paused for a moment, then continued with his tale as they ate. He completely left out the part about him turning into a wolf, and about Midna, as per Princess Zelda's request.
They finished eating and went outside just as Link began to tell her of the post-man.
"Once I saw that the Gorons were coming back down and that Colin would be alright, I left Kakariko and started heading north. I hadn't taken ten steps from the village when that annoying post-man ran up," Link was saying.
"Annoying," Ilia asked curiously.
"Yeah. He had this annoying call, and always said the same basic thing."
Link drew a breath and opened his mouth to mimic the post-man, but was beaten to it.
"MR. LINK!!!! WAAAIIITTT!!!"
Link put a hand over his face as he turned and saw the skinny man with a flag strapped to his bag on his back running up to him.
"I have some letters for you Mr. Link, five in fact," the postman said, pulling out the letters and handing them to Link. "Now that my duty has been fulfilled, I shall be off. Onward to mail!"
The postman ran off again, huffing and puffing as he always did. Link turned to Ilia and rolled his eyes as Ilia giggled. Link turned his attention to the letters.
"Five letters… I think that's a record. Let's see. One from Malo… It says that I've been granted an exclusive discount for my donations. Wow, anything under a hundred rupees I get for free, and everything else is half off. Well, that explains why he wouldn't let me pay for breakfast…"
Ilia nodded as she took the letter Link handed to her.
"Here's one from Telma in Hyrule Castle. She's having a final meeting of the resistance to celebrate the end of the war… I wonder if Rusl knows yet. Anyway, Renado sent a letter updating me on the relations with the Gorons. Apparently they are even better than before. Prince Ralis has sent a message saying that leading the Zoras isn't as bad as he thought it would be… good for him. I knew he could it. And this last one is from… oh…"
Ilia looked up at Link's surprised face, then down at the light blue envelope in his hand. She gasped when she saw the Royal Family Crest underneath Link's name.
"Princess Zelda sent me a message already? Wow, that was fast. I've only been gone a week. Let's see…" He opened the letter and read it aloud.
Honored Link,
I am aware that it has only been a short time since we last parted, but I believe the time has come that we introduce you to the land as the Savior of Hyrule and the Twilight Hero.
The ceremony will take place one month from the end of this season.
I would like to ask you to bring three of your friends from the Ordona Province with you. I'm sure they'd love to visit the castle.
Sincerely,
Princess Zelda
Link looked up at Ilia and smiled. "Looks like everything I've done for Hyrule is to be recognized. Can you imagine, me, the Twilight Hero?"
"Of course I can," Ilia said with a warm smile. "You've always been a hero to me."
Link smiled and gave her a kiss, then turned back to the letter. Ilia saw his mouth form the words "bring three of your friends."
"Hey Ilia?" he said, looking up. "How would you like to come with me and meet the princess?"
Ilia's face lit up. "Really? You want me to go?"
"Of course. I think I'll invite Rusl and Colin too. Rusl helped out a lot, and Colin would love the castle."
"You're so thoughtful Link." Ilia reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "I'd better go ask my dad if I can go."
"Yeah, good idea. Oh wait!"
"What?"
"I think you'd also better learn how to use a sword. At least the basics. There are still quite a few monsters out there. I'm sure Rusl and I can show you. You can use the Ordon Sword."
"Um, okay. Sounds like fun. I'll be back soon. I need to talk to my dad."
She ran off up the path while Link walked over to Rusl's house to talk to him and his son. He knocked on the door, which was answered by Rusl's wife Uli.
"Why good morning Link," she said with a welcoming smile. Her newborn baby slept in her arms. "What brings you here?"
"I'd like to talk to Rusl and Colin if that's possible," Link replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You just missed them. They headed over to Sera's a little while ago."
"Oh, that's alright. I'll go look for them. Thank you Uli."
"You're very welcome Link."
Uli walked back into the house with the baby and closed the door. Link had been very embarrassed when He'd received a letter from Rusl on his way home saying the baby had been born and they'd named him Link.
As he approached Sera's house, he saw Rusl and Colin walk out. They spotted him and waved. Link waved back and ran up to them.
"Good morning Link," Rusl said, shaking hands with him.
"Good to see you Link," Colin said, beaming. He'd always looked up to Link, as was trying to grow up to be just like him.
"Morning you two," Link said with a smile. "I have something I want to ask you. How'd you like to come with me and Ilia to the castle a month from the season's end for my introductory ceremony?"
"Well, I don't see why not," Rusl said, ruffling Colin's hair. "Colin has gotten pretty good with his wooden sword, so I'm sure he can make the journey with little worry. Fado also taught him to ride a horse."
"Yeah, I can ride one of the younger ones!" Colin said smirking. "Could I go tell the others dad?"
"Of course. But let me tell your mother. I don't want her worrying or anything."
Colin ran off to find his friends.
"So, a month from the end of the season? Technically that's tomorrow."
"Yeah. Do you think you can help me teach Ilia the basics of the sword? We have two weeks before we should leave," Link said. Rusl smiled.
"Of course. She can practice with me and Colin."
They said good-bye and Link wandered off towards the fields. It was after midday now, and Fado was letting the goats back out to graze. Link sat on a fence nearby, remembering his occasional times when he was in the form of a wolf and could talk to animals. He was trying to find a way to transform at will again. During his adventure, being a wolf sometimes had its advantages, though he always needed Midna to help him transform. He hoped he'd be able to tap into the power within him that had originally transformed him at the beginning of his adventures. Maybe Zelda can help with that, Link thought.
The sun was staring to get low and twilight was setting in when Ilia finally found Link in the field. He had wandered over to a tree and was practicing some of the techniques the Hero's Shade had taught him. The Master Sword gleamed as it swung through the air at a scarecrow, knocking it around like the dummy that it was. Ilia sat against the tree and watched as her hero bashed the scarecrow with his shield, then rolled around it and sliced it as he got up.
Link saw Ilia and sheathed his sword, sitting down next to her to watch the sunset. The twilight once again reminded him of Midna.
"What did your dad say?" Link asked, breathing slightly harder than normal.
"He said it was a great idea. He thought I should see the princess and be there when your introduced.," she said, leaning against him and taking his hand. Link smiled and kissed her forehead. It felt good being home, too bad it was only for a little while. Hopefully he wouldn't have to do anything hero-like after the ceremony.
Twilight faded into night and the young couple headed back to the village. Link walked Ilia home, then went back to his tree house. He saw the chest he had stashed his equipment in and hauled it up into his house. Then he climbed up and got ready for bed. As he was lying down, he felt an odd sensation on the back of his neck, and the hairs there stood up. He looked around the little house, having the sneaky suspicion that he was being watched.
After a few minutes of not seeing anything, Link rolled over and fell asleep. Once again, he never saw the reddish eyes in the shadows.