The pair came to a stop in the shadow of Death Mountain. It was later in the day than Colin was honestly comfortable with, but they needed to rest the horses. Looking to the East he tries to get an idea of how far they are from Kakariko when Zelda huffs beside him.
"Why are we running away? What about your duty to fight beside the Legendary Hero and help him save Hyrule?"
Colin really didn't want to answer those questions, he felt like enough of a coward when his prince ordered him to leave the castle. "And what about you, why were you going as fast as you could toward the castle and danger? You could have gotten yourself hurt or worse."
"I was going to help get people out."
Colin stares at his sister, standing there with her hands on her hips and determination in her eyes. This was the hero he had sworn to serve and protect, this was his precious little sister that looked up to him as a great hero even though he hadn't done anything yet. In those eyes, he also so a confused girl whose big brother was not behaving the way he should and it had to have her questioning everything.
"I wasn't running away."
"Then what were you doing? You're supposed to be fighting with the prince."
"He sent me out to find someone."
Zelda looks contemplative as she thinks about what that means. "You mean the Princess of Destiny?"
Colin shakes his head. "No. Funny thing about that is, it's actually the Prince of Destiny this time."
Zelda's mouth hangs open as she hears this, not sure how to really respond. Colin waits for the next question he knows is coming.
"So, he sent you to find the hero?" Zelda is beginning to look giddy at the thought of her brother's quest. "You have to let me help, you have to. How are you going to know who it is? Did he tell you who it was already, or what would mark them? This is so exciting."
"Zelda, please calm down." Colin crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow as his sister tries to contain herself. Once she has herself under control he continues. "Yes, I was sent to find the hero. As for how I am going to know who the hero is, they will be the only person that can draw the Master Sword from its sheath."
Zelda clasps her hands in front of her and looks up at her brother with a pleading expression on her face. "The Master Sword! You have it! Where is it? Can I see it? Can I touch it?"
Colin gives his sister a soft smile at her eagerness, she had always been so excited to hear about anything regarding the hero. It had led him to writing about the prince in many of his letters to her, just so she could feel like she knew him. That soft smile slowly turns into a stiff frown when he realizes he has to answer her questions about the sword, his eyes darting to the hilt peaking over her shoulder.
"Is something wrong Colin? I'm not, I'm not causing you problems, am I?"
Sighing Colin rubs the bridge of his nose. "No, that's not it at all Zelda. I just, I wasn't expecting to find the hero so quickly." He can see her confused expression overtaking the eager one from before and continues quickly. "The Master Sword is the one you picked up after I was knocked from my horse Zelda. You drew it and were able to use it. That means you're the Legendary Hero."
As excited as Zelda may have been for adventure, Colin wasn't sure how she would take learning she was the hero everyone needed. He watches as her face goes from one of caution when she thought she had upset him to one of apprehension.
"I can't be the hero. I'm just a farm girl. I don't know anything about how to use a sword. Colin,"
Colin looks down at his sister and his stance relaxes, with a single step his moves forward and pulls her into a gentle hug, rubbing her back. "I know, it seems so far-fetched, but it's the truth." He pauses to gather his words. "It's a heavy burden to bare, but you won't be alone Zelda. I will be at your side, I will guide you and teach you everything I can. Understand?"
She nods her head and pulls back from him; the apprehension having left her face. He was glad to see she hadn't cried.
"Alright, we need to get moving again. We need to get to Kakariko, it's the safest place to train and prepare."
"Alright, let's go." A look of determination was on her face now as she heads over to Epona and her brother's horse. She glances back in the direction of the castle, pillars of black smoke marking it's location. Trapped in there somewhere was the prince, being held by the leader of the enemy forces, at least that's what she told herself. The alternative was something she didn't want to think about.
Colin had already mounted his horse and was waiting for Zelda to do the same. As soon as she was back on her horse the two take off, both keeping a wary eye out for any potential enemies
Ganondorf sits on the throne of Hyrule, the prince still trapped in a barrier crystal beside him. He needs to find the hero before he can gather his strength to defeat him.
"That knight you sent scurrying away as I arrived. You sent him away with the Master Sword, did you not?" The prince remains silent in his prison, arms crossed and eyes trained on the evil king. "The monsters I sent after him have not returned. Was he the hero you wait for to rescue you?" Ganondorf smirks at his captive. "Are you truly so certain he will return to save you and all of Hyrule?" The prince remains silent, his expression unchanging. Ganondorf slams his fist into the arm of the throne, cracking the stone. "Answer me!" The prince says nothing. "You are testing my patience, boy."
Still he says nothing. In truth Link is hiding his own smirks at Ganondorf behavior. He had taken the time during his studies to read as much as he could about all of the previous heroes and their behaviors. It was something he had tried to use in order to complete the illusion that everyone had of him. One thing he remembered sticking out was the rumor that the Legendary Hero had his voice stolen by the Goddess Hylia so he could never take back his vow to fight evil in the land of Hyrule. Link, of course, felt this was ridiculous, but he could see how being silent could certainly get on one's nerves.
Link's train of thought is interrupted when the crystal prison he is in shakes violently and suddenly. He stumbles, a worried frown crossing his face as he looks up into the enraged face of his captor.
"You may have given yourself his face in this lifetime, Princess, but I still have you here and now. Your hero stands no chance against my forces. Even as we speak my soldiers are searching Hyrule for him and they will find him. Once they do I will make you watch as I slowly strangle the life from him."
Link is left kneeling in the crystal prison as Ganondorf gloats on his victory. He looks out one of the windows in the throne room and sends another prayer to the Goddesses. Please let Colin have found the hero, please let them both be safe.
