The stars danced against the black, cloudless sky. The warm, desert wind blew short, sunset colored hair away from sunset eyes. The young prince gazed at the stars in wonder and awe.
"What are you doing out here, young man?"
Gwain spun around as Link walked up. The boy bowed his head in embarrassment and looked away. His father sat down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder in reassurance.
"I'm not mad. I was just playing," Link explained.
"You're not mad?" Gwain asked, looking up.
Link shook his head. "I understand. I sometimes come out here to watch the stars when I need fresh air." He looked out over the desert. "It's nice when it's peaceful," he commented.
Gwain nodded in agreement. He went back to his star gazing.
"It kinda makes you feel small, doesn't it?" he asked.
"It does," Link said.
Gwain looked down and scanned the barren land. "Um...can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," Link answered.
"How did you and Mother meet?"
Link blinked. The question was unexpected and caught the former Hero off guard a little bit.
"Why do you ask that?"
Gwain shrugged. "No one's ever told me."
Link didn't know how to start. No one had asked him how he had met Midna besides Ralis. And, he wasn't ready to bring up the subject of Ganondorf.
"It was many years ago," Link began. "I was around Luma's age, and was quite happy with life in Ordon Village."
"That was where Luma was born, right?" Gwain asked.
Link nodded. "I worked at the ranch, herding goats. In my spare time I played with the other village children and practiced sword skills." Gwain's eyes lit up. "Then, one day, Rusl, my mentor, asked me if I would bring a gift to the Royal Family. I agreed and prepared for the journey to Hyrule." Link trailed off. His face saddened. "However, before I got the chance to leave, Ordon Village was raided. Bulbins kidnapped the children, but left me behind. When I finally came back to my senses everyone was gone." Link ran his fingers through his hair. "I ran off looking for them, only to find myself facing a wall of twilight."
"Twilight?" Gwain repeated.
"I was pulled through into a twilight invested Faron Woods. After that, I don't remember much. The last thing I remember was waking up in a dungeon cell, chained down, and seeing an imp staring through the bars at me."
Gwain frowned in confusion. "An imp?"
"Uh huh. Back then, your mother had been cursed by a power hungry Twili named Zant."
"Oh. Why was she cursed?"
Link shrugged. "I guess Zant thought that she wouldn't be as powerful as she was in her real form."
Gwain crossed his arms. "Zant was stupid," he said.
Link laughed. He patted his son on the shoulder. Gwain also began to laugh.
"You're funny, kid," Link told the young prince. "And yes, Zant was pretty stupid to believe that he could steal your mother's power."
He looked out across the desert and gazed up on the sparkling Lake Hylia in the distance. He suddenly longed to be racing across Hyrule Field on the back of his trusted steed. He hadn't seen Epona in years. Or any of his old friends, for that matter. Link's eyes sparkled at the thought of seeing them again.
"Hey," he started. Gwain looked up at him. "Do you want to go for a little adventure before bed?" Link asked.
"Really?" the prince asked, his eyes lighting up. Link nodded. "Cool."
"But, don't tell your mom, okay?" Link whispered. Gwain nodded in agreement. "Alright. Take my hand and hold on tight. This might feel a little weird at first."
Gwain grasped his father's hand with all of his might. A strange feeling suddenly ran through his body. Before he could make a sound, Gerudo Desert disappeared from his sight only to be replaced with an open field a few seconds later.
"Whoa," Gwain mutted, shaking his head.
"Told you it was going to feel weird," Link said. "I was a wolf the first time I warped."
"You were a wolf?" Gwain asked. "When did that happen?"
"The first time I was pulled into the twilight," Link answered.
He reached inside his tunic and pulled out a white, horse-shoe shaped charm. He put it to his lips and played a short song. In the distance, a horse whinned. Link put the charm back inside his tunic as a magnificant horse coming galloping through the light of the full moon.
"Wow," Gwain breathed.
The horse slowed to a stop in front of the father and son. Link walked over to the animal and rubbed its neck.
"How's my girl?" he asked.
Epona nudged her master's cheek in a friendly greeting. Gwain hesitantly stepped forward.
"It's okay. She won't bite," Link assured him.
Gwain walked over to his father and looked up at the horse. Epona bent her head down so she could get a better look at the boy.
"I've had her since I was your age," Link said. "Next to your mother, she's my best friend."
He picked Gwain up and placed him in saddle. He then mounted and took the reigns.
"Where do you want to go, Gwain?"
Gwain thought for a moment. "Ordon Village," he finally replied.
"You heard the boy, Epona. Ordon Village, it is. Hiyeah!"
He kicked Epona in the sides and she took off. Gwain grabbed the saddle horn and closed his eyes against the rushing wind. He felt his father pat him reassuringly on the back. He slowly opened his eyes. They were dashing over a small bridge.
"How did we get here so fast?" Gwain yelled over the wind.
"Epona's the fastest horse in Hyrule," Link yelled back.
They left the field behind them and entered Faron Woods. Epona slowed to a trot. Gwain released the saddle horn and leaned back against Link's chest. He looked up at the sky and noticed something odd hanging in the clouds.
"Father? What's that?"
Link looked up. "I'm surprised the portals have survived. But, then again, we wouldn't have been able to warp if they were gone."
"Portals?" Gwain repeated.
"Yep. From the twilight days," Link replied.
Epona trotted over a long wooden bridge and past another spring. After a few more minutes they entered a small clearing.
"Welcome to Ordon Village," Link said.
Gwain looked around. A huge tree stood in the place where Link's old house used to be. Epona walked through the gates across from the tree and entered the rebuilt Ordon Village. Even Link was surprised at how much the village had changed. The houses were still in the same places, but the land had been expanded. A few new houses had also been added, most likely more families had moved in over the years.
"Wow," father and son breathed.
A light turned on in one of the houses. A door opened and someone came out.
"Hey!"
Link turned towards the voice.
"Malo?"
Malo ran up to greet them. He had grown from a trouble-making teenager into a handsome young man.
"How are you, Link?" Malo asked. He looked at Gwain. "Who's the boy?"
Gwain pressed against Link's chest. Link put an arm around his son and smiled.
"This is my son, Gwain. Gwain, I knew this man when he was just a little kid."
"You were a kid along with the rest of us," Malo pointed out.
"Yes, but I didn't run off after a monkey," Link put in.
Malo felt his face burn. "Okay. You've got me there," he admitted.
"Malo? Who is it?" someone called.
Malo turned back towards the house. A young woman stood outside the door with a shawl draped over her shoulders. Her dirty blonde hair fell around her round, tanned face. A little girl stood behind her mother's legs.
"It's okay, Nalia," Malo said.
"Who are they, Malo?" Link asked in a low voice.
Malo looked at the former Hero with a proud smile. "That's my wife and daughter," he announced.
Gwain shyly waved to the girl and was surprised when she waved back. The young prince smiled, earning him a smile in return.
"How about you two come inside?" Malo offered. "We're just about to have supper. Nalia makes the best pumpkin soup."
Gwain looked up at his father. "Can we?" he asked.
"Sure," Link replied.
Malo helped Gwain down off of Epona's back and placed him on the ground.
"I'll get Epona settled then I'll join you," Link told Malo.
Malo nodded and lead Gwain to the house. Link steered Epona over to the small stream and dismounted. He took the bit out of Epona's mouth. He then took off the saddle and reigns and placed them on the ground. She bent her head down and began drinking from the stream. He ran his hand over Epona's bare back. He didn't notice the door to the major's house open.
"Link?"
Link looked up and slowly turned around. Blue eyes met emerald green. Link blinked a couple of times. Ilia blinked back.
"Hi," the former Hero managed to choke out.
"Hi," Ilia greeted back.
She had grown more beautiful over the years. Her hair fell around her face in loose curls. Link noticed a small, gold band around her ring finger.
"Who's the lucky man?" Link asked.
"A former knight that helped in the final battle," Ilia replied. "He came from a distant land."
"I remember I lot of foreign knights. Can you be more specific?" Link asked.
"His name is Saul. He came from the land of Vervain."
Link walked over to Ilia, took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. He gently kissed her hand.
"He's a very lucky man."
"I know."
Link straightened and Ilia turned around. Saul stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on the black clad man in front of his wife.
"Saul, this is Link," Ilia introduced. "He was in the battle against Ganondorf sixteen years ago."
Saul frowned as though he was trying to remember. Then, his eyes brightened and he smiled.
"Ah, yes. The barer of the legendary Triforce of Courage," he said. "The chosen Hero of Light."
"Former," Link corrected. "Former Hero of Light, actually."
"Seems like all the good warriors have retired these days," Saul joked.
"Hyrule has been at peace for sixteen years," Ilia pointed out. "Even if there was a Hero of Light he would be very bored."
Link smiled to himself. He was thankful that everyone he had grown up with still didn't believe that he had been the chosen Hero. It made him feel that everything that had happened within the last few years and during the Twilight invasion never happened, though he knew that they really did.
Saul eyed Link's tunic and crown. "You've come a long way."
"Pardon?" Link asked.
"Were you knighted?" Saul wanted to know. "I don't recall seeing you in that garb during the battle."
Link looked down at his clothing. "No, I wasn't knighted. I, uh...got married."
"To Midna," Ilia said.
"To who?" Saul inquired.
"Midna," Link repeated. "She's the queen of..."
"From Hero to King," Saul cut in. "Quite an accomplishment."
Link suddenly felt extrememly hot and uncomfortable. Luckily, he was saved by the voice of his excited son.
"Father, are you coming?" Gwain called.
"I'm coming," Link called back. He turned to Saul and Ilia. "It was nice seeing you again, Ilia. And it was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Saul."
"Please, just call me Saul."
"Okay. It was a pleasure meeting you, Saul," Link corrected himself.
"A pleasure to meet you, too," Saul said, taking Link's hand and shaking it.
Link nodded to Saul and Ilia and headed over to Malo's house.
The barren desert gave way to a large, sparkling lake. To anyone who was tired of seeing sand would have been overjoyed to see a source of life. However, Ciar and Tanith looked at Lake Hylia like it carried some kind of disease. They steered their horses towards a cliff. Ciar dismounted and walked over to the rock face. He closed his eyes and muttered some kind of spell as he placed his hand against the rock. A portal opened, revealing Hyrule Field through the water-like doorway. Ciar returned to his horse and the siblings went through.
"What a boring land," Tanith commented.
"It was far more exciting when Father was in the castle," Ciar added.
The twins travelled for a few more hours before they came upon Castle Town.
"Shall we go pay dear Queen Zelda a visit?" Tanith asked.
"Let's," Ciar replied.
And as silent and deadly as a plague, they swept into the unsuspecting town.
What do you think? Reviews are welcome, flames are worthless.
