To Ayako Zetra: Ilia-Lover Buddies! *hugs* Me too, it's why I'm doing this :3 (well, that and it's a fun hobby/stress reliever) The first of many ;) Yep, they're slowly getting used to the other. Their companionship is nothing more than a neutral understanding. Well, they're not friends just yet, but yeah, Link did it anyway :)
To The Silver Titan: Yep! I like to think (and I'll explain in the future) that the Owners of the Old Hyrule Ranch wanted some memories, so built this one and named it the same ^_^ Of course! Link's stupidly selfless XD And because I am terrible at keeping secrets :D Thanks, and I will!
I don't own Legend of Zelda
Chapter 8: A Little Hope
Link let out a quiet yawn as she stretched her arms, keeping her eyes closed. She felt herself lying on her side and sighed a smile, pulling the covers closer to her face. It had been a peaceful rest, something she would always take gratefully. It was starting to become a cherished rarity.
However, the sun hit her face from the window, making her wince. There was always something preventing her from resting more. Giving in, she sat up and swung her legs over the bed. There was a sudden dull ache, but she ignored it as she stood. Only to give a soft grunt of pain when she put pressure on her left leg. She sat back down and rubbed the source of her pain, slowly remembering yesterday's events.
Right. Okay, maybe stabbing myself was a little...over the top. Could've just sliced my leg instead. All rational thoughts hadn't gone through her mind. Her worry for her 'ally', she supposed that was what Midna was, overwhelmed her thinking. She looked up at the rafter. She was only half-surprised to see Midna still asleep. Potions normally made the healing person sleep more to recover naturally. Link's plan of leaving before sunrise surly wouldn't work now.
Not like she could just up and run after helping save those people's lives. Although she was conflicted. They treated her like one of the Heroes from those old legends when in reality she hadn't even done much. She showed up in the right place at the right time and, what, got a bunch of Hornets mad? That was all she did. She felt Ralon would have gone after those bandits eventually anyway.
And yet she couldn't help feel a little pride for what little she did. If she hadn't spotted that Hornet nest what could they have done? Sure it made her shutter thinking of the swollen faces and the people she had killed, but in doing so she saved an entire ranch.
She smiled lightly. No matter what small part she played, she had helped Ralon and Calon saved their family and friends. Just knowing that gave Link a warm feeling.
Now she just needed to understand how she saw the Hornet nest in a dark cave with how bad her eyesight was in dark areas.
Her stomach, tired of hearing her mind thinking too much, decided to growl loudly, causing her to blush lightly as she held her stomach. Maybe these questions could wait until after she ate.
I'll let Midna have the food from my satchel. That Potion'll make her hungry when she wakes up.
She took pause. If she stood, she would subject herself to more pain. But if these people find she didn't take their last Potion, she could upset them. What if they hated her for 'wasting' it? What if they forbid her from ever coming back? She shook her head. She wouldn't let them know. She would hide her pain. She had gone through worse in the past.
With that final thought, Link stood. The pain was like fire shooting up through her body, and she stumbled, knocking into the side-table. She gasped, diving forward and catching the jar of water on it, and sighed. It took her a moment to realize she was lying haphazardly along the table, her torso heavier than her legs, and promptly tumbled on her face. The jar still in hand, Link flopped to her back and glared at the roof. Could she never win?
She placed the jar back on it after standing again. She then stood in place, staring at the door at the other side of the room. It may have only been about two meters or so, but to Link it looked much farther. Just the thought of having to put pressure on her leg...
No. She refused to show weakness. Standing straight, Link took a confident step forward, only to stumble to her hands and knees with a quiet grunt. She hoped no one heard that from downstairs. Slowly, she struggled to her feet again. Back awkwardly straight and her head high, she began taking small, pained steps towards the door. When she reached it, she let out the breath she was holding. Great, now she was light-headed.
'Okay, Link, breathe. Just breathe and you'll be fine.'
Her walk slackened, and she hid her pained grimace behind a soft whistle/sigh. Leaving the room, she promptly glared at the stairs taunting her. She would not let them win, so she began her way down, using her right leg more than her left. When she came in sight of the dining room, she saw Calon already at the table with her little brother and a family-friend. The last step creaked, in the same moment Link stumbled and her eyes watered, and Calon looked over.
Link quickly hid her teary eyes with a soft cough and waved happily, forcing a small smile. "Hero! Good to see ya up!" Calon hugged her, before guiding her to the table. "This is Howard, my little brother," she ruffled the boy's hair, but he didn't seem to mind as he looked at Link with large, admiring eyes.
"You're the one who saved us? Thanks, mister!" It was fair to notice that Howard did not have an accent like his sister. "I was getting really scared, they kept killing us one-by-one. Me and Mama were next...but then you came along!"
"If ya can't tell, Howard's really grateful," Calon whispered as the boy blathered on.
Link just smiled, getting hugged by the slightly shorter boy.
"How's yer leg?" Calon asked as they settled down to eat. Link nodded that it was getting better, even if it was burning. She knew she couldn't lie very well, but luckily Calon seemed to buy it. "Good. Ah'd hate fer ya to get hurt when ya were only tryin' to help."
Link smiled she looked over the food. There was porridge still steaming in a pot, some milk and sugar and a few bowls of fruit. She smiled, finding the meal to be a lot like the ones back in Ordon, save for the usual pumpkin seeds or stew. She poured herself some milk in a small clay jug, listening to the conversation around the small table. When she took a sip she had to hold back a gag reflex. The milk was so thick, almost feeling like it could choke her if she swallowed too much. To save herself some embarrassment, and to not make herself rude, Link let out a small cough as she quietly spat back into the jug. She placed it by her plate but didn't touch it again as she instead ate the porridge without it.
Link often forgot that many ranches and villages milked cows instead of goats. She couldn't pin-point it exactly, but the cow milk was just wrong to her. It was a lot sweater, almost sickly-so to her, and she could still feel some of the fat on her tongue.
I think I'll stick with goat milk… she thought absently, returning to listen to the three Ranchers.
After finishing the meal, and tossing the rest of the milk into a nearby potted plant, Link began walking to the stairs. Her leg was now stiff having sat down for so long, causing her to wince slightly as she got up. When she went to walk on the staircase her ear twitched and she turned, surprising both her and Calon as the Rancher had her hand reached out to grab Link's attention. Calon deftly put her arm down with a light giggle. "Sorry for th' sudden appearance, Hero. But Ah wanted t' give ya somethin'." Calon held out a piece of parchment. "Ya'll be leavin' soon, right? It's a map o' Hyrule. Ah didn't think ya had one, and it's the least Ah could do fer saving my brother."
Link unfolded the map, staring in awe at the large landscape. She had never known just how huge Hyrule was, but looking at this map overwhelmed her Ordon-raised mind. "Now this ain't no ordinary map. It has a special magic bound to it," Calon ran her hand over a portion of it, focusing in on a field just North of the Faron Province. With a jolt, Link recognized Lon Lon Ranch's walls. "Whenever ya touch an area ya've been to, ya can see it in more detail. Ya can see that these few areas 'r' darker, shows ya haven't been to Kakariko and so on. Speakin' of which, Ah think that should be yer next destination. There's a nice fella there who'll let ya stay if ya ever get hurt."
Link smiled gratefully, then was pulled into a hug. It was rather awkward, seeing as her face was eye-level with...yeah, but Calon didn't seem to notice or care. "Ah really ought'a thank ya, Hero. Ah hope yer journey will be a safe one."
Yeah, somehow I think it will be far from that, Link hugged back, then was let go.
With a final nod, Link walked back up the stairs, her eyes watering by the time she made it to the guest room. She saw that the food she left was no longer there, even if Midna was still in the rafters ignoring her. 'Um...hey?' Link awkwardly rubbed the back of her head, pushing the headache aside. 'How're ya?'
"How are you. And I'm...fine, I guess," she said irritably, floating down to eye-level. "So, are we going?"
'Yep! I gotta map from Calon,' Link showed the parchment. 'An' she said it'll be best if we go to this place, Kakariko.'
"Well, it seems that is the direction where the Twilight is. So let's get going, mutt!" Midna jumped into her shadow, and Link shook her head. Right, she forgot they had to get rid of that, too.
Once she strapped her bags and weapons on, Link straightened the stupid hat on her head and took a breath. The pain in her leg didn't feel as bad, but she wasn't sure if it was because she was getting used to it or not.
Link looked back at Lon Lon Ranch as she walked down the hill. She gave a small smile, hoping that they wouldn't find any more heartache.
When out of sight of the ranch, Link allowed herself to start shifting her weight to her right leg. Without the chance of getting caught, she could at least not force herself to walk normally.
She really should have thought her 'plan' through. Here's to hoping she would learn for the future.
Pulling out the map, Link studied it. The small arrow indicating her position was pointed south, but they needed to go west. So, she turned shortly to the right, nodding when the point of the arrow changed with her. It was amazing, even if it was laced with magic. Tucking it into her satchel, she hefted up her belt and began walking. She would follow just off the road, not wanting to encounter more bandits. A repeat of yesterday was not a welcoming thought.
As she walked along the path, Link kept her eyes forward. She was concentrating only on thinking directly to herself. Trying to do so without her thoughts accidentally slipping to Midna was difficult. She'd never had to be careful with her thoughts. But if Midna was right and there were more people out there that could read people's thoughts, she wanted to be somewhat prepared. She didn't like the idea that someone could learn everything about her if she wasn't careful thinking to herself.
She shuttered, feeling her concentration fall. This was followed by a headache so bad she almost puked. When her injured leg fell into an abandoned animal burrow by accident, she did. Doubled over, she retched into the grass. The action of her heaving stomach made her body hot, worsening her migraine. She saw a shadow beside her and glanced up, seeing Midna floated off to the side with a blank expression. Yet, for a moment, Link liked to imagine she saw concern on the Imp's face.
Midna herself was shaking, but other than that she just stared at Link. The Hylian fished out her canteen from her satchel, gulping down all she could. Unfortunately, this emptied the canteen. At the moment, though, she didn't care. She just wanted to cool off and get the taste of bile out of her mouth.
'That hurt,' she grumbled lightly, rubbing her stomach.
"That was hilarious," Midna stated, a light smirk on her face.
Link panted, slowly looking up at the Imp. 'Screw. You.'
The words just made Midna giggle and pat the top of Link's head. "Trust me, I hate you, too, mutt."
Link almost found herself wondering why she had to go through this, then kicked herself for it. All of this, Midna and going through Hyrule, was worth it if she could just find her friends. If she really was this 'Hero' Faron thought she was, well hey that was a bonus. One she didn't want, but a bonus nonetheless. Link rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes and counting to ten mentally. She couldn't afford for Midna to leave. She could endure this. She had to.
For the first time in her life, Link mused at just how bad her temper was. She never lost it on the kids, that would be unfair, and the adults never gave her a reason. She wasn't even aware she had that big of a temper. But thanks to Midna she was sure it would be dangerous to have blow up in her face.
Before she could say/think something she'd regret, Link just looked at Midna and gave a small smirk of her own. Midna blinked, seeming shocked by the sudden change in expression.
'C'mon,' she thought, rubbing her leg as she began to walk again. For her friends. For the only family she's known.
Midna hovered behind, staring at Link's back as she began to whistle idly. Her gaze lifted and she looked at the Wall of Twilight in the distance. It would most likely take another day to reach it, especially with Link's leg hurt. But to Midna, it almost seemed closer.
She shook her head and scowled. She was thinking too hard on this.
She snapped her fingers, teleporting beside Link with a pop. The sound made her flinch, but she just glanced at Midna as the Imp entered her shadow.
'For the kids. For Ilia. And, maybe, for the people of Hyrule.'
-0-0-0-0-
He stared at the wall, stunned into mind-numbing horror. The others spared hateful glances every hour or so, shivering in terror. And for once he felt he fully deserved it. He was, after all, the one who stepped on the stupid stick. Who got them caught. Who...might have even killed Ilia...
Colin looked down at his hands sitting in his lap. It had taken about half a day, but they had made it to Kakariko Village. They had heard the roar of monsters and the scream of Ilia. Even if she said not to look back, he couldn't help himself. He had looked back and saw those Bokoblin creatures attack her. They beat her with their clubs...knocking her out.
He had to look forward after that. But he couldn't get the haunting image of Ilia, lying there and bleeding from her head, out of his mind. He deserved no less. He was always clumsy, but it had never hurt anyone but himself.
...Link's clumsy. Even clumsier than me, he thought with a timid smile. He missed her. He felt lost without his sister-figure beside him. She could never tell him it would be okay like his dad, or sing to him like his mum, but just her presence, her cheery way at looking at life, always gave Colin the energy to carry on through the day. Even if it was a bad day.
She hadn't been taken with them. She had been left behind at the Spirit Spring, unconscious. Colin knew she had followed them when she woke. She always went out of her way to help others. And Din's Hell have mercy on the poor soul who hurt her friends.
It will be okay, he thought, feeling weariness begin to seep in. They had run for so long...Link will come. She'll save us. She'll find us, and Ilia, and everything will go back to normal...we'll be safe. We'll...be okay. I know it.
-0-0-0-0-
Dusk was falling. After their short bicker, neither of them had 'spoken' to the other. Link was fine with it, she was happy to have a break, even if just for her mind. She stretched her arms above her head as she finished fishing through her satchel for flint and steel. A small fire pit sat under the tree they decided to camp at.
But clouds were beginning to dot the sky. Link frowned. If it rained soon she would be out of luck for a while. Luckily her prepacked food was all salted so it wouldn't spoil. Plus, she got a little from the Lon Lon Ranchers.
She began striking the flint, trying to ignore the burning from bending her leg. Once she got a spark she grinned and stood, sitting down with her back on the tree as she got out her food. Midna let down the guard she had put up and floated over, crossing her arms. Link rolled her eyes, handing her some of the food. Besides Midna was still recovering from the Potion a little. It left most people with a big appetite after it wore off.
I'll have'ta be prepared to hunt tomorrow, if this keeps up, Link thought, leaning back against the tree trunk.
A light punch over her ear caused her to look at Midna, who flew to a branch above her. "I heard you, moron."
'Maybe I don't wanna practice when I'm about to sleep,' Link yawned, closing her eyes.
"You should stay focused as much as possible when awake."
Link, being the ever-mature teenager, stuck her tongue out at the Imp. Midna, on her part, simply rolled her eyes at Link's stupid antics. "Stop acting like a kid. I don't care if you could pass off as one, you aren't one."
'Well what's that supposed to mean?' Link huffed, peeking an eye open to glance at the Imp.
"It means you're short, skinny and have no bust to speak of."
And Link promptly blushed and looked away. 'At least I ain't naked.' This thought was swiftly followed by another. Good Goddesses she's naked!
"My people don't have the same laws of you Light Dwellers," Midna scoffed. "So long as a man covers his genitals than anything is acceptable."
Link covered her head with her arms, shaking it harshly. 'Nope nope nope! Too much info there, Midna!'
The Imp giggled, taking great delight in Link's discomfort. "What? You're pretending to be a boy now, you can't get squeamish if people start talking about their hormo-"
'It was bad enough getting that talk from Uli, I don't need to hear the other side of it!' Link covered her ears, although she knew very well it wouldn't help.
"Huh, that brings up a good point. We're gunna have to be careful about your-"
'Shut up, Midna!' Link, fully flushed like a fresh tomato, brought the rim of her hat over her eyes and nose. Ears flat against the side of her head she felt her body temperature rise a good few degrees as Midna laughed loudly.
"Pft, you're too easy to fluster. It's fun."
'Yeah, tons,' Link mind-mumbled, letting out a final yawn before she fell asleep.
-0-0-0-0-
Weak.
Before her stood the tall figure, leering down at her with an ugly yellow gaze. She held her sword in both hands, pointing it at the imposing man. He merely looked at her without emotion. Behind him were the children and Ilia, tied up and half-dead.
You can't even fight properly.
She ran forward, the tip ready to drive through his heart. He countered with a strike to her right arm. His own heavy, dark blade cut through like parchment, making her fall to the ground in pain. The sword clattered to the ground, unable to be lifted. She huffed, looking up.
You can't lift a simple sword.
She tried to stand with the blade, but it sunk into the ground. Blood dripped down her right side, falling to the ground slowly. Her friends relied on her. She had to get past this man. She tried swinging the sword, but it was just too heavy for her. It thunked uselessly against his thick armour.
Your friends are relying on you. But why should they? You can't save them. You can't save anyone.
A massive hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her free off her feet. She pulled at it with her remaining hand, trying to pry it loose to save herself. Beyond his head she could see her friends beginning to fall limp. Their breathing became dangerously even. She could almost hear their heartbeats dwindling.
Faron is wrong. You don't have the Spirit of the Hero inside you. You are a useless goat herder.
She watched, tears staining her cheeks, as the kids and Ilia began to fade. Her pseudo-sister gave her a final glance, one of broken hope, before the man and world around her also faded away. She fell to the ground, sobbing dryly. She heard footsteps and glanced through her bangs, seeing brown boots. She looked up, finding tan breeches and a green tunic before she saw her own face staring blankly at her.
It took Link a moment to realize she was now standing, and was looking down into a frozen pond. You can't save Hyrule. Link jerked, realizing these were all her thoughts. It was doomed from the start.
Rain welcomed Link when she woke. It dripped through the branches and splattered her face, but she ignored it. The thudding in her chest and the weight on her mind took all her attention.
She turned her head to the side, her eyes falling on the sword. She slowly scooped it into her lap and unsheathed it a little, staring into her reflection through the silver blade.
Link stood, slinging the strap of the blade over her left shoulder, and grabbed her small Ordon Shield before walking off into the rain.
-0-0-0-0-
Midna let out a yawn when she woke up. She scowled lightly at the rain falling around her. It wasn't refreshing like what she was use to. She almost fell back asleep when she noted it was a little too quiet for so early in the morning. She sat up and looked down, seeing no signs of Link anywhere. The fire pit had died during the night, only a small smoke trail was left, and a spot in the grass was flattened.
"Oh she did not just leave me here," she muttered. She lifted off the branch and glided around the tree, her scowl darkening. Where could that idiot have gone?
She was almost thinking of abandoning the mutt when she heard a thunk in the distance. She watched the area where she heard it for a moment before flying over. Rounding a rock she blinked when she saw Link standing in front of a make-shift dummy made of bark and stone. The stones sparked, causing small plumes of smoke to rise, as the blade of her sword hit them. Her tunic and chain mail were set dryly under a rock.
And Link was holding her sword in one hand, the Ordon Shield strapped to her right forearm.
"What are you doing?"
Link jumped, looking over her shoulder to see Midna. The Imp noticed, besides Link's wet face, her eyes were red. She smirked. "Heh, have you been crying?"
Link brushed her hand across her cheek, flushed lightly, but otherwise didn't comment. Instead she just looked at the dummy intently, her entire body shaking. So she was cold. "Why are you even out here for?"
'Just...woke up. Couldn't sleep so I decided to practice.'
"Without me to kick you awake?"
Instead of Link getting annoyed, like Midna wanted, she just looked to the side and shrugged lightly. 'I guess not...'
Midna rolled her eyes, turning to go back to the tree. She didn't want to be in the rain any longer. "Well pack up. We might as well leave early today."
What is she not telling me?
-Link's POV-
She couldn't tell Midna about her dream. The Imp would just mock her for it. Even though she knew Midna saw through her nervous lie, Link was glad the subject of her being up early was dropped. It was always annoying when people acted so surprised at her being awake before noon. Sure she liked sleeping in, but only a little bit.
…
Okay, she slept in a lot. Usually past noon-but that wasn't the point!
She glanced from over her shoulder to the blade in her hand. Somehow it seemed so much lighter now. Although she wasn't sure if it was because she was getting used to it or the boost of motivation.
I've been dreaming a lot lately...
It might have seemed odd if anyone were around to hear the thought, but Link rarely ever had a dream. Whenever she did she felt exhausted, like she hadn't even slept. Those days she normally slept even later than noon but she knew she couldn't do that now. Too much was at stake to step aside for her habit of napping.
A cold gust of wind blew over the grass, making Link hug her arms to herself. She hated the cold but she hadn't wanted to practice and get overheated. She turned her gaze to the tunic and chain-mail lying peacefully under the rock. Link let out a sigh. She never liked tunics, they were always too big for her and often got caught on objects. The fact she was forced to wear it made her a little more than annoyed.
At least it's green, she mused, sheathing her weapons and walking to the clothes. I'd have hated Faron if it was yellow.
She limped over to the pile, pulling on the chilly chain-mail before fitting the tunic over her head. Oddly enough when she put it on she felt something tingle across her skin. It only lasted a moment, almost making her think she imagined it, and left her with a warm feeling over her body. She hadn't noticed before. Could she only do so now because she had taken it off for the first time in about three days?
...I really need a bath. Link felt like slapping herself for not doing so back at the ranch. By now she was too far away to warrant her going there just for a hot soak. No matter how good that might have felt.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Link lumbered her way back to the small campsite, seeing Midna destroying the remaining bits of the fire. She shivered harshly, not just due to the cold biting at her skin. She had never liked magic, but now she almost felt like she feared it. Which was ridicules when living in a world where magic was considered a rare gift from the Goddesses that should be celebrated.
Or so Rusl had told her.
Ignoring her internal rambling, Link helped pack up her extra things into her satchel. It was going to be a long day traveling through the rain, and cold, but she had to endure it just like she has endured the burn in her leg. For the others.
I'm not weak, Link thought, her minding momentarily drifting back to her dream. And I'm gonna prove that, even if it has to be to myself.
With no cloak to her name, Link walked out into the summer downpour with Midna inside her shadow. It was a little hazy due to the dry earth rising from the rain, but otherwise Link could feel days worth of grime beginning to wash off her, even if it was only a cold rinse.
Note to self, buy soap in Kakariko.
"I agree. You smell really badly."
'I doubt you smell any better.'
"I have magic to cleanse myself," Midna boasted. "I would offer you the spell, but I, being the kind and gracious p-person I am wouldn't want to put your fickle mind through such torment."
Because she hadn't been doing so since she met her. Link frowned, confused as to why Midna seemed to stutter mid-sentence. Although she came to the conclusion that Midna might still be tired. By the looks of it using magic was exhausting, so she didn't pry into the stammer.
Call it respect for Midna not pushing her earlier.
They continued through the field, Link occasionally bringing out the map to be sure they were going the right way. Very little was spoken between them. The odd time Midna would remind to put up her walls and just focusing on such left little room for Link to commune with Midna.
Link honestly could not fully ignore the happy feeling she got at remembering someone, for once in her life, could hear her clear as day. Even if it was a rather selfish and arrogant Imp.
About midday the clouds began to thin, leaking in a mild sunlight which made Link sure happy. She had been shivering non-stop the entire time. She hated that she had always been easy to get cold, even with Ordon's mild winters.
About an hour after the rain stopped Link spotted a figure in the distance. Smiling, she began to walk to them, although cautiously. She couldn't spot any weapons on them from where she was, but from what she has learned she shouldn't just trust some stranger.
Hmm, they seemed to be very small from where she was. How could that be-?
Link, with her injury still making her mind muddled, focusing on her 'mental walls', and from the lack of sleep the night before had failed to see the slowly descending nature of the road. In fact, if she had been sharp she would have realized she had walked off the path half an hour ago. Because of this she did not see the sudden drop before her.
She let out a yelp as her foot met air. She quickly became good friends with the hill as she rolled down it, hitting rocks and small shrubs along the way. While they slowed her down, the hill got steeper very quickly. Several times she stopped on a small outcropping, only to continue when they broke under her.
After a long ride, in which she felt her leg burn up a-new, she landed on her face in a mud puddle. She pushed herself from the mud before flipping onto her back, taking short pants while her mind caught up to her body.
...Ow!
She let out a low hiss as she sat up, holding her injured thigh tightly to her chest. She could even feel her eyes sting from the pain. But knowing that would only cause a certain Imp to mock her she held them back. Instead she focused on the sudden shadow that fell over her.
Link gulped softly before looking up and sighing in relief. It was just a man. Although he looked odd, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and shorts, with a red bag and flag strapped to his back. He looked perplexedly down at her, offering a small smile.
"Why hello there, young man!" he greeted, crouching down without a hitch. Link, on her part, gave him a mild glare. Was it really that easy to mistake her for a boy? Was it the short hair? "That was quite some trip!" he laughed at his own joke. "Are you okay?"
Link just nodded, pushing herself to her knees. The action made her leg burn but she did her best to ignore it. That is to say she mentally swore so badly it would have made Uli clean her mouth with soap if she could speak. "Well that's good! The name's Postman Maverick! I work at Hyrule Castle Town! But I can't get there right now, there's this huge wall blocking the way to West Hyrule. Can't get through to Kakariko and deliver this," he showed Link a pile of letters. Her heart pumped in her ears when she saw Mayor Bo on one of them. She pointed to it curiously. Postman Maverick looked from it to her for a few seconds.
"Do you know this man? Oh! You must be the 'Link' he mentioned! You look just like he said!" he passed the letter to Link. "Well if you could take this to the address in Kakariko that would be great! So long!"
With a blow of the whistle around his neck, which made Link's ears ring slightly, he ran off with low grunts.
Link blinked after the strange man several times. Some Postman gave a letter to a person just because their name so happened be on it. And just on a chance she was even 'Link' at all.
Nonetheless, Link looked down at the letter. Could it be a clue to finding the kids and Ilia? Opening it up, she read through it as quickly as she could.
Renado blah blah girl named Link blah blah delivering sword blah three days blah blah blah... she frowned, finding nothing more than Mayor Bo describing her and her task at delivering the sword. It said nothing about the kids or Ilia. Some help that was.
She felt a chill run down her spine and looked over her shoulder to see Midna in her face. With a yelp she spun around and stumbled back, falling onto her butt and panting. 'Don't do that!'
"So what does it say?" Midna asked, ignoring her and plucking the letter from her hand.
'Can you not read Hylian?'
"Nope. Never thought I would need to learn it. So?"
Link gave a quick summary which made Midna quirk an eyebrow. "And there are words saying 'she' and 'girl'?"
'Yep.'
"I see..." Midna promptly flicked her thumb and a small flame burst on the end. Link jumped back, too startled by the magic to realize what Midna was about to do. Her jaw fell open when the Imp turned the letter to ash in her palm, then blew on it to send it scattering through the air.
Link, thrusting her hands at the floating ash, gave Midna the best 'What in Din's Hell was that?!' look she could muster.
"I don't want any evidence escaping that you might be a girl. My idea of you being a boy is very important."
She didn't elaborate as to why.
'Whatever, let's just go.' Link thought as she walked forward, hands in her pockets.
It took several more hours, the sun was hovering over the hills, before Link and Midna got to a canyon of sorts. Not far beyond it they found the Wall of Twilight looming ominously across the sky. Before they went in, however, Link noticed some of those green Bokoblin-like creatures. With a soft 'gah!' she dove behind a tree before she got noticed.
Link peeked around the tree, sighing when they hadn't seen her, and found that it seemed to be the remains of a camp. The grass was burnt in some places, flattened by tents in others, and a few tents were still set up with the two or three remaining creatures.
She would have liked to know what they even were.
"What are you hiding for? There's only three of them, I'm sure even you can take them on," Midna rolled her eyes.
Truth be told, Link just didn't want to fight with her leg still injured. It didn't help that the last encounter with these things ended with her getting knocked over the head. That's the last thing she wanted.
While the front of her skull was used to such impact (it wasn't uncommon for those living in Ordon to butt heads with the Goat kids), the back wasn't so tough.
Link crouched lower, thinking it best just to sneak away, but her foot tugged something and made her trip forward. Spitting grass from her mouth, she looked up at a grunt to see several of the Bokoblin-like creatures running at her. She stood and tried to back off, but tripped again. She looked at her foot to find it tangled in some roughly cut rope.
She pulled out her sword as best she could, holding it up as the things ran at her. The tip of the blade dug into one of their necks when they couldn't stop. Its body tumbled over her and landed behind her, while the other two both swing at the same time.
Grunting lightly, Link rolled to the side. While her foot got even more tangled, she dodged the dual attack. She heard Midna sigh before the Imp appeared behind the creatures, her hair-hand coming alive and grabbing both their heads. Link's jaw dropped in horror as she squeezed and the things heads exploded.
Midna smirked, dusting off her hands. "Well, there's that. Idiot," she hit her over the head. "Next time look where you're stepping."
Link sighed, sitting up so she could undo the rope. 'I was focused on the monsters...'
"As a fighter you need to focus on all your surroundings. If you get too caught up looking at one thing, you'll never notice something in front of you."
'If it's so easy why don't you fight more?'
"I can't fight much, not in this world. It's too bright," she scowled at the sun, eyes in slits. "And with the affects of that Potion still making me tired I don't think I could summon much magic anyway."
'Maybe that isn't a bad thing,' Link muttered in her mind, finally freeing her foot. 'What about if it's night?'
"Not much better. Your world is too bright for my kind."
Link's eyebrows furrowed. Her kind? Did Midna mean Imps or something else?
If Midna heard that thought, she gave no sign and sunk back into Link's shadow. Link began walking towards the cut path, not noticing she stepped on a half-snapped stick on her way.
Stepping into the shadow of the wall, Link began to shiver. The temperature seemed to drop drastically, leaving her with a strong urge to run the opposite way. The closer she got, the more her heart pounded. About three meters away from the wall, she stopped dead, knees knocking. She would be forced to become a wolf again. Would it be as bad as the first time?
Midna came out, casting a smirk at Link before floating into the wall, leaving ripples behind. Silence fell over the land, making Link's nerves rise ten-fold. Gulping, she glanced over her shoulder, half expecting Midna to pop up. Looking back at the wall, she let out a yelp when Midna's hair/hand grabbed her.
Passing through the chilly Wall, Link was left dangling in the air for a few moments before the hand vanished. Landing with her face in the dirt, she felt a headache rap against her head. Like when she first was brought into the Twilight, the world around her began to pulse with each slow, agonizing heartbeat. The mark on her hand began to glow a brilliant gold as the fire spread through her body. She let out a low moan, feeling her spine and legs snapping into their unnatural place. She noticed that the pain was much lesser than the first time, but it was still over-all a very unpleasant feeling.
For the final touch, a swarm of the black Twilight Particles covered her entire body, forming into fur before bursting off her and leaving her stunned in the dirt.
Blinking several times, Link shakily sat back on her paws, whimpering slightly at the wound on her leg. She looked down at it, finding it was bleeding again, and began licking it. It took her a good minute before she realized what she was doing. Stopping mid-lick, Link froze and blinked three times before jerking into a straight position, her back stiff and rigid. That was weird.
At Midna's giggle her ears fell back sheepishly. The Imp was floating cross-legged, arms behind her head. She didn't say anything at first, instead looking up at the orange-painted sky and navy-blue clouds. "Aren't the clouds of Twilight beautiful today?" she said almost wistfully. Link tilted her head, feeling she was temporarily forgotten, as Midna actually smiled. There was no hint of smugness behind it. Just a simple smile.
Midna, seeming to remember who was with her, sharply looked at Link, who's tail was wagging slightly. Midna's smile turned to a scowl. "What are you looking at, mutt?" This made Link promptly stop her tail. Midna rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers, conjuring the map. Levitating it in front of her, she hummed lightly as she glanced down the path ahead. "Wow, this seems almost too simple. This Kakariko place you mentioned is just down this dirt road. No turning or anything. There is a bridge, but that's about it."
Midna put the map away and sat on Link's back as the Hylian-turned-wolf stood. She took some weight off her left hind leg and began walking forward, keeping an eye out for any enemies. She didn't want to run into those Messengers or Beasts or whatever they were so soon.
Not long down the path, Link's front paw caught something, making her stumble. She saved herself from face-planting, but accidentally pushed Midna forward onto her head. Midna, fixing her helmet-hat, scowled and hit the top of her head roughly. "What I'd tell you about looking around you?"
Link's ears flattened as she sheepishly smiled, even if Midna couldn't see it. As the Imp settled on her back again, Link looked between her front paws to see what she stumbled over. It was a stick. She almost left it be, but noticed a red stripe on it. Turning with a tilted head, Link lowered her face to the stick. Almost out of instinct, she began to dig around it, making Midna cough. "Hey! What's the big idea?!"
Link paused, her heart hammering, when she uncovered a hilt of a familiar wooden sword. No... Link grabbed the hilt in her mouth and pulled, finding her half-broken wooden sword. She let it drop at her paws, stunned. Talo had this last, which means they came this way. But it was broken. Did that mean they were all hurt? Or mean they got away from danger? Sadly sniffing the stick, Link reeled back in surprise when she caught four different scents. She didn't know how she could tell, but Link knew these belonged to the kids.
Ignoring Midna's questions, Link lowered her snout to the dirt and began to sniff around. She had to find the trail and track them down. She needed to know that they were okay. It concerned her she didn't find any traces of Ilia, but one step at a time. Maybe these four scents just overtook hers.
Link's eyes widened and she stopped for a moment, sniffing more to make sure. I found it! she stood straight, her tail wagging, before bending down and sniffing the trail out. She began to fast walk, then trot, then full-out sprint. Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going.
Midna, holding onto Link's mane, grunted and scowled as she looked ahead. A fraction of fear crossed her face when she saw a canyon before her. There was supposed to be a bridge, but it seemed to have been taken away, leaving behind an arch of sorts. Not wanting her helper to plummet to her stupid death, she grabbed the wolf's earrings and pulled. This caused her to yelp and quickly reel back, planting her paws into a skid. Midna didn't let up until they stopped.
She wouldn't admit it, but she had closed her eyes. Now opening them she saw Link was but centimetres away from falling off the edge, the front of her paws were even over the edge.
The Imp gave Link a harsh glare and lifted her hand off her mane. With a snap of her fingers she summoned some orange lightning to dance across her fingertips. She planted it on Link's head and shocked her, ignoring the loud howls of pain to stop.
After a few long moments, Midna took her hand off and floated from Link's back. The wolf lay on her side, fur smoking slightly and whimpering. Slowly and shaking, Link turned her head to Midna, who was still glaring at her.
'...Pay attention?'
Midna said nothing, she just glared harsher.
'Pay attention, got it,' Link slowly got to her paws. Her fur stood on end from whatever magic Midna used. 'What did you do?'
"I shot you with lightning. From now on I will punish you if you mess up. I've worked too hard for you to die now."
Link let out a low growl-grunt. 'You? All you've done is hang out in my shadow.'
"Did you forget I almost died yesterday because of your stupid plan?"
Link sat slowly, ears falling. She's right. She hasn't done nothing. 'Sorry, I guess.'
"Whatever. Oh no..."
Blinking, Link looked over her shoulder. Three Twilight Messengers lumbered out of the shadows, their masked gaze locked onto them. Link, rigid, slowly turned to face them, a rumble forming deep in her chest. Lowering her head, but keeping her eyes on them, her lip curled up in a snarl. How did these things sneak up on her?
She realized just how stupid she'd been just charging forward.
She didn't feel Midna land on her back, but also didn't have time to question why. One of the Messengers ran forward, raising both claws to swipe at her. She ducked the first swing and rolled over, feeling the claws nick her shoulder. Getting to her paws from the roll, she leapt forward. Her claws dug into the skin on its shoulders as she snapped at its throat, trying not to think about the sticky, gooey blood pouring from the wound into her mouth.
It let out a roar as it shook, flinging her off. She landed ungracefully in a pile at the bottom of the red-runed wall surrounding them. Before she could think she ran between their legs, pivoting on her front left paw, and held her stance as she forced her back leg straight. It burned, but she would be faster this way. She noticed it took the monsters a few seconds to turn around. They seemed built for damage and taking hits, but she had always had quick feet. Paws in this case.
Before she fully thought it, Link knew she had a plan. She walked backwards slowly from the beasts as they ran at her, then jumped to the side when one tried to strike. She began to run in circles around them, jumping between their legs and changing direction rapidly. This caused them to stagger and grow agitated, almost sporadic in their attacks.
The Messenger she had first attacked, clearly having enough, tilted its head to the darkened sky and let out its unGoddessly screech. Link howled in turn, tripping over her paws and rolling to a stop. She covered her ears with her paws, trying to drown out the painful cry, but sharp claws raked down her side. They weren't deep, but they were long and drew blood. She rolled, wincing as dirt clung to her wounds, and bit its ankle. It kicked, hitting her snout and making her stagger back.
'Midna?' she stretched out her mind, trying to put Midna's lessons to work.
"...Very well." For a single moment Midna looked down with her eyes closed before manifesting on top of Link, raising her hands up. The large circle surrounded them, crackling with lightning. Link winced, having just been on the receiving end of that, but held still as the two beasts slowly lumbered into the circle. With a growl she lunged forward, the magic from the circle coursing through her and causing her to rip through the beasts quickly.
They fell with loud thuds, soon turning into Twilight Particles before transforming the portal they used to get here blue. Link sat down harshly, panting and shaking lightly from the magic used. It felt so strange going through her body like that.
She noticed Midna was quiet and looked over her shoulder. The Imp was staring at the portal, her eyes misted over with so much emotion Link almost questioned if it was Midna at all. When the beginning of tears began to fill the bottom of Midna's eyes the Imp blinked and exhaled deeply, looking at Link sharply.
"Well looks like we're out of luck. With that bridge out we won't be able to progress, unless we find it. What are the chances of that happening?"
Link turned to where the bridge should have been, looking over the edge cautiously. She couldn't see if it had fallen into the ravine below but something was nagging at the back of her mind. She was forgetting something, but what?
She ran her mind through the events of the last few days. Between the big events she couldn't remember many of the small details. Yet there was one simple detail she was beginning to recall, something before the Forest Temple-
Bridge! Link stood up, her tail wagging unconsciously as she remembered. 'In North Faron Woods there was a bunch of wood leaning on a wall! Close to where we killed those monsters before the Forest Temple! I think that could be used! Oh wait, how do we get here?'
"...I don't know what I'm more angry about, the fact you came up with that idea before me or that you called the Shadow Messengers monsters."
That confused Link, but Midna simply lifted off her back and hovered away. Link turned to see Midna underneath the portal, humming thoughtfully. She closed her eyes and an orange glow surrounded her body lightly, making Link's tail stop wagging. When Midna opened her eyes again she was smirking. "Ah yes, we can use that." She turned to Link. "We can use these Warp tunnels to transport us quickly across Hyrule. We can only do so in places where we have...dealt with the Messengers. That includes those Spirit Springs and the area before the Temple."
'Oh cool!' Link grinned, trotting forward. 'So you'll go get it?'
"No, we're going together." Link's ears fell. "If there is something dangerous on the other side I won't be able to fend it off. I am only a shadow in your realm."
That made sense, even if Link wasn't looking forward to this Warping. She had a feeling that was what Midna used to get them out of Hyrule Castle, although Link noticed there hadn't been a Warp tunnel there.
"I got use to your village through the last bit of magic reserves I had," Midna pinched the bridge of her nose. Link herself was feeling a mild headache. "Using these won't be a big deal."
Link didn't get much time to think on it before Midna twirled, vanishing while flying to the tunnel. The next moment Link felt her body go numb as she broke into Twilight Partials. Reforming on the other side left a shiver down her spine and she looked around, finding the sun had set in their few minutes inside the Twilight. Yet despite the dim light from the moon above she could see very well. Were her senses working even when she wasn't focused on them?
Nonetheless she smiled lightly at the twinkling stars above. For some reason she didn't feel very tired, despite not getting the best sleep the night before. Although she was possibly just focused on the current task and riding on the hope the children were safe within Kakariko.
Midna was floating ahead of her, looking around the clearing for the bridge. Link was a little confused at how the kids could have gotten across with the bridge being here, but maybe they were further ahead of her than she thought?
It took maybe ten minutes before the two of them found an odd shape among the rocks and foliage. Link pushed a bush down a little and smiled when she saw abnormal dark wood. 'Hey I think I found it!'
Midna flew over, hovering beside Link as she studied the uncovered bridge. She gave a small sneer, crossing her arms. "Ugh, this is different," Midna's comment made Link's ears wilt slightly. "The arch is different and it looks short."
'Will it fit the ravine?' Link asked, sitting down to rest off her leg for a second.
"I can make it work," Midna said, facing the broken bridge. Link stood back, watching carefully as Midna tilted her face down before flicking her arms to her sides. Following the motion was a crackle as Midna's hair/hand sprouted from the helmet, orange magic dancing from each limb. It began to encase the bridge as Midna looked up and raised all three limbs. With a soft grunt which turned into a cry, the bridge shook violently and tore from the earth, ripping up plants and dirt as it began to rise.
Link stared blankly as the bridge began disintegrating into Twilight Particles, not sure if she should be scared or amazed. She strained her neck as she watched the Particles vanish within the Warp tunnel.
She cringed when the chilled numbness filled her body, closing her eyes. She kept them closed even after she felt her paws greet a wooden surface. It shook, making her sit down to stay steady. After a few moments the shaking stopped and Link opened her eyes, finding herself in the middle of the bridge. The wood was darker than the remaining arch, but it had been big enough to fit the ravine. She felt Midna sit down on her back as she stood.
With the problem solved Link began walking forward. A rough dirt path lead to a gate further down a small hill so she followed it, and she kept her ears perked for any sounds of danger. After the last two run-ins with monsters she didn't feel too keen on being caught unaware.
"Alas, you're learning. I think I have a treat somewhere."
Hard to do when you have a degrading Imp on your back.
Link chose to ignore Midna and instead follow the road to a black gate. It was closed, with iron spikes protruding from the top and sides. Getting closer Link caught the smell of copper and cringed, confused as to what it could be. It took no time spotting the mass splatter of red across the gate. The sight of so much blood made Link whimper, her ears and tail lowering.
"What? Scared of a little blood?" Midna giggled. "Never took you as one for being squeamish."
'Only because the kids are beyond this gate,' Link thought, not caring if the thoughts were heard as she sniffed to the trail left behind. Of course she wouldn't admit to Midna that she was squeamish. She placed a paw on the gate, mindful of the spikes. Peeking through the bars she could see the shapes of homes. Kakariko Village. She was so close now, but how could she get past this gate? There was no hope in Din's Hell she'd climb over it.
Midna tugged her left earring, making her glare at the Imp before spotting a small hole leading underneath the gate. Sparing the Imp a sheepish grin Link began to dig, almost taking a cynical joy out of hearing Midna complain about getting pebbles thrown at her. She went inside Link's shadow as she crawled under the freshly dug entrance and to the other side. Link shook herself free of the dirt before pausing once more.
Why was she gaining all these mannerisms as a wolf? Shaking her fur, licking her leg. It was almost like the body was controlling her, not the other way around.
Heh, next thing you'll know I'll be chasin' my own tail, Link thought, limping down the path through the cliffs. She slowed down when she saw three black shapes lumbering about a spring. It seemed to be similar to Ordona's and Faron's Springs although Link couldn't be sure with the Twilight. Standing to the side of the Spring was a dome-like building with boarded up windows and doors. The roof seemed to be in bad repair, but otherwise it stood sturdy against the Shadow Messengers' attacks at the walls. Link let her gaze wander down the dirt road and found various buildings in disrepair, all left abandoned and forgotten. Boarded, crack windows with paint dully chipping from the stone, dead grass and collapsing roofs. Somehow she imagined Kakariko to be...grander.
Her eyes turned back to the Messengers, who luckily hadn't noticed her yet. She looked back at her leg, hoping she could find a Potion somewhere in the village to heal it up. If she didn't get it healed soon she feared it would get infected, if it hadn't already. And doubting she had the balance to fight on three legs (if the last fight was any indication) when she could barely fight on four she sucked in a deep breath and placed the wounded leg on the ground. She winced, but turned her attention to the beasts, walking forward slowly.
"I'll get the attack ready," Midna sighed quietly, her hands crackling with the orange magic. Link crouched, slowly walking up to the trio of beasts. With the spell already up she felt less scared of them.
When she got into their sight, the familiar red walls slammed into the ground behind her. All three Messengers ran at her, almost inside the spell's circle before it faded. Link jumped in confusion and looked back at Midna, who was staring at the center Messenger with a horrified expression.
'What's wrong?' Link asked, but was distracted by the sound of a growl. She looked up to see the beasts looming over her and yelped, running through their legs to escape their attack. She skidded on the water and spun, her leg jerking violently. She ignored it and instead looked back at Midna. 'What was that about? Why'd you call it off?'
The Imp looked down at her, her eyes for once showing fear. She didn't even seemed bothered Link saw. "I can't fight these."
'What?!'
Midna lifted off her back, hovering over the walled ring. "You'll have to do this yourself."
'Midna!' Link cried out as the Imp vanished. Her eyes fell on the monsters rushing at her, the ground shaking under their feet. She ran under them again, but her back leg was nicked by one of their claws when they took a swipe at her. Yelping, she continued to run from the creatures until she met the barrier. Pivoting, she crouched low and glanced around, hoping Midna was just playing some cruel joke. She wouldn't just leave Link to get killed, would she?
'Midna! I need your help killing these things!' Link thought, her mind swimming at the effort of trying to think directly to the Imp. Without even knowing if she was around Link wasn't sure if she should bother.
A roar woke her from her frantic thoughts and she howled as the Messenger before her picked her up, wrapping its claw around her neck. Horrifying flashbacks of being pulled into the Twilight the same way awoke in her and she howled to the dark sky, clawing at the Messenger's face in a futile attempt to stop it from crushing her throat and ribs. Her back left claw snagged on something around the Messenger's neck, making her leg halt and jerk violently. She only got a moment to glance at a silver necklace before the dark beast threw her aside. She rolled in the shallow water, her bones aching. She wasn't allowed the honour to stand when a second jumped on top of her, crushing her under its weight.
Her howl echoed in her hears as she tried to escape but was left struggling. She saw the beast raise a claw in the reflection of the water and saw her own terrified face. Squeezing her eyes shut, she let out a final, desperate cry, 'MIDNA HELP!'
It was like an entire barricade was taken down. While before it had hurt to try and think outside of her own mind, for the first time Link felt no hint of a migraine. She could feel her thoughts almost echo through the still air, reaching far and wide to whoever bothered to listen. For once in her life, Link felt like she truly had a voice.
The moment was short-lived as her mind caught up to her body, which currently had a giant claw ripping through her left leg. Feeling her stomach lurch from the ever-adding pain to her leg and the goat-like strike of a migraine Link was almost glad wolves didn't puke.
The Messenger suddenly shrieked, backing off of Link and into the corner, covering its disk-like face with its claws. Faintly Link could feel a warm light course through her, making her blood pump faster. The feeling encouraged her to stand on her paws, her half-ripped hind leg lifted close to her stomach. She saw her paws and found the birthmark on her left paw glowing strongly, like the times she transformed. The light caused the Messengers to screech, in turn making Link collapse and cover her ears. The sound left ringing in her ears before the smell of lightning met her nose.
She peeked through her paws in time to see an orange bolt of lightning fly over top her head. She yelped, but wasn't struck. Instead the Messenger behind her fell to the ground motionless.
"You're useless." Link shot her head up to see Midna hovering in front of her. The light from her birthmark was dying and the display had easily caught the other monsters attentions. Link hadn't even been aware they got bored of her. "Let me handle...these."
The familiar circle surrounded Link as Midna landed on her back, the hair-hand rising up. Link didn't have the strength in her leg to move, but she didn't have to as the Messengers ran into the circle. Midna let the magic run its course as it shot Link off like an arrow, cutting through the beasts in seconds. They let out a final cry before falling, exploding into Particles and rising into the air to form a Warp tunnel.
Midna hovered off Link's back and she watched the Imp glide to a glint in the water. It was the chain Link had felt, left behind from the beast. She limped up behind Midna, but the Imp hid what was on it in her hair-hand. She didn't look at Link but in the corner of her eye Link could see...regret? Shame? Anger?
Anger. Link should have been angry with Midna. The Imp left her to die for no reason. If Link was anyone else she would have ripped her throat out, but Link refused to be like those mindless raiders. Instead, the Hylian-turned-wolf sat beside Midna in the water and timidly pressed her nose to the Imp's cheek. This made Midna jerk away in shock and stare at Link.
Link allowed her tail to wag, forgetting to feel sheepish about it and instead bowing her head lightly. 'Thanks.' For coming back, for saving her. For hearing her. Link didn't care what she was thankful for, she was just happy to say it.
"...Whatever..." Midna said halfheartedly, sitting in the air.
Link brushed a paw over the spring's water, looking at the reflection of them both. 'It ain't whatever. Ya didn't have to come back and save me, y'know.'
"...Call it even for the bee's nest thing."
For once, Link smiled at Midna. Somehow she felt there was more to it but didn't dare push it. Maybe Link had been wrong about the Imp, maybe they did care about each other.
The moment of content silence was ruined when Midna smacked Link over the head with her hair-hand. "You completely broke the mental wall we were building. We'll have to start over again."
'Oh…' Link used her good hind leg to scratch behind her ear.
"Young youth..." Link jumped at the weak, male voice. She turned around, spotting a small mass of light hovering above the spring. "I am...Eldin...Guardian of this land...from the power of the Twilight...I am weak...much like my Brother and Sisters...I beg you...find my lost light...and bring it back to me..." Link walked forward, ears flat on her skull. So this was a Spirit Spring. The final fragments of light let out a weak flash before a gold vine dropped from the center. Link nosed the Vessel before it latched around her neck. "I cannot...help you more...I am too weak..."
"Say no more, we got the deal," Midna cut in, impatiently tapping Link's head before sitting on her. "We did this before."
The new Spirit said nothing more and Link turned away, limping out of the water. Without the fear and adrenaline running laps through her body, Link picked up a sent she was beginning to get very familiar with. She looked up at the dome building, walking to the door and clawing at the base. She could see the faint glow of a person through the window, but gave up on them opening the door for her.
Sighing, Link began walking around the dome. "Aren't we supposed to find those bugs?"
'The kids are in here,' Link whimpers at the back door of the building. 'I need to see them. I need to know they're okay…'
"There's a way," Midna tugged her ears up. Her eyes fell on a dead tree beside the dome, the branches leaving a small bridge to the roof. "I can get us up there no problem."
'But my leg-'
Midna was already hovering above the branch, smirking down at her. "Well? Leap at me!"
Link sighed. Could Midna be considerate once? Her leg almost felt like it could get taken off by a bad stumble and she was having a Din's Hell of a time trying to balance on only three paws. She desperately hoped there would be no more Messengers to deal with.
'But the kids…' Link turned her neck to look at the dome, her ears flat. After a few moments she gave a firm nod and looked at Midna, crouching low and risking putting her hind leg in pain.
Midna began to glow faintly as Link launched forward, pushed by the surge of magic. She landed on the bare branch, pushing off before it snapped off and fell to the dead grass below. She rolled on the roof, coming to a slow stop in the center. She shook her head clear of a dizzy spell and stood, looking around for any indication of an entrance. Unfortunately all she could see was bare roof.
'Oh come on! Are there any other entrances to-' Link was cut off by a crack under her paw. She looked down and saw a portion of the roof breaking under her. It sent her through the roof, landing roughly on the ground inside.
Letting out a pained groan, Link pushed herself to her paws and held her head down lightly, looking up with her eyes. Her body shot straight when she saw several flames sitting in a cluster, a separate flame at the window. Tentatively, Link focused on the flames and blinked her eyes.
The sight caused tears to well in her eyes.
Huddled around a tall man with long black hair and dark skin were the kids. Talo, Malo, Beth and Colin sat quietly with another girl similar looking to the man among them. All four of them looked near to fainting with bags under their eyes, bruises, scratches and grime covered them. But all Link could see were the Ordonian children safe and sound, protected from the horrors of outside the dome.
Kids… she thought, walking forward to look them all in the eyes. They couldn't see or hear her, but she didn't care. She let herself collapse onto her stomach, a smile spreading over her face in pure joy and relief.Thank the Goddesses.
"Ey, I don't see those monsters anymore." Link raised her head to the window. The final flame was a balding red-haired man with a large bear-belly, overalls and a strange helmet on top his head. He was staring at the window cautiously before he turned to the others. "Do you think they've given up and gone home?"
"We can't be too sure," the dark-skinned man said calmly. "These are unlike any other monster I've seen before in Hyrule."
"Damn right they ain't," the red-haired man scoffed, leaning on the wall beside the window. "Normal monsters don't just show up from nowhere. Funny thing is when they first arrived there were only two of 'em."
Link felt Midna grab her mane tightly, but stayed focused on what the man was saying.
"Then one of the local ladies went out to try and fight 'em. Ended up getting killed in a second. Head seared off like a dandelion head." Link heard a whimper and looked at Beth sadly, then the man angrily. "Then next time I look there's three of the damn things! If you add up the math it ain't hard to understand she became like 'em somehow. Next thing you know they'll be lying in wait out of my sight, like on the roof or something," the man glared at the roof while Link glared at him. He was scaring the kids! Although the girl didn't seem too concerned… "We let our guard down and bam! We get our heads taken off by things we didn't even see! Bet ya they'll even break down the doors if given the chance-"
'Stop talkin' ya idiot!' Link growled at the man, but didn't need to think such.
"Barnes!" the man yelled.
The stress was too much for Beth. The poor girl began crying into her hands, unable to stop. Everyone, even Midna, fixed Barnes in a harsh glare, causing the man to sheepishly pull down the helmet over his face. After a few moments he crouched forward.
"Hey, Renado, you know this place better than anyone! There's gotta be a way to escape without being seen, right?" Barnes asked sheepishly, trying to fix the mess he made.
'Bo mentioned Renado his letter. This is the Shaman of Kakariko?'
Renado stayed quiet, his eyes landing on the large statue in the center of the room. Link took this moment to actually look around, the room was large with stairs to a strange pseudo-walkway of sorts, four torches placed in several locations on the wall. The statue in the center was some sort of bird with a large bill and a long tail. Why was it so interesting to the man?
"There is a cellar, beneath the statue. It leads to the graveyard, we could find a safe way out there."
"Wha? Well help me move this thing!" Barnes stepped through Link while Midna floated to the side, making her shiver. The man began pushing against the statue, making Renado sigh.
"The torches," he said. "Light them and the statue moves to reveal the cellar."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Barnes grabbed a stick from a small lamp and lit a center candle before the girl spoke up.
"That would be unwise. When dad told me to close the cellar I saw some bugs covered in lightning," she said, causing Barnes to back away from the statue in panic. "It should be still trapped there."
"Well shoot, we're still trapped here and now with a crying girl," Barnes muttered as he began looking out the window again. He was damn lucky only Link heard him.
Wait 'til I bring the light back. I'll have you meet two nice friends of mine.
Her attention turned back to Beth, who was crying even harder. She walked up to her and put a paw on the seat beside her, wishing more than ever to be solid.
But for once Link wasn't the one to comfort someone in grief.
"Beth...Beth it'll be okay," Colin said quietly, sitting on his knees in front of Beth and beside Link. He reached out a hand to her shoulder but she jerked away. Link's ears fell. Beth was always kind to Colin. Why was she rejecting his comfort now?
"Stop saying it will be okay, Colin. It won't be," Talo scowled darkly, making Colin shrink in on himself slightly.
"But it will be okay. Link's coming to save us all."
That did the trick. Beth stopped crying immediately and turned to face Colin, as did everyone else. Renado, the girl and Barnes seemed the most confused, although only Barnes showed any reaction. Colin, under the stares, blushed and looked away, unknowingly looking into Link's eyes. "I can feel it..." he trailed off.
Link felt tears well in her eyes and hovered a paw on Colin's leg fondly. He believed in her? Even though the last he saw her she was still a Goat Herder? How could he hold so much faith in someone who allowed this all to happen? Who hadn't been strong enough to stop a bunch of green monsters on pigs?
Beth and Malo smiled lightly, but Link saw the doubt on Talo's face. He was always one to believe it when he saw it for himself. She didn't mind, she was just glad to know they were safe and sound.
"Eh...what kinda name is 'Link?'" Barnes piped up, but jerked back to looking outside when everyone stared at him. It was a clear sign to shut his mouth before he stirred up trouble again.
What kinda name is 'Barnes?' Link growled back.
"Aww, the little munchkin believes in you. Such a shame his roll model is a coward," Midna sighed wistfully. "What a pain it must be, being in front of their faces and not even seen! Tee hee hee! Oh don't give me that sour look. Just because you don't share their fate because of this so called 'Hero's blood' doesn't mean you are surviving the Twilight any better. Your lucky that shiny birthmark of yours is working, you'd be a spirit yourself otherwise."
She kicked Link's sides, jerking her head at the statue. "Well we have a job to do. Hurry up."
'Yeah, just...gimme a minute here, please?' Link asked, lying down at the children's feet and putting her head on her paws. 'It feels like so long...since I've seen them…'
"It's been a week," Midna said, but Link shifted her head lightly and closed her eyes, unknowingly falling asleep.
Midna sighed, contemplating zapping Link awake but paused when she looked at the four tired and scared children. A pained expression crossed her face for a fraction of a second before she simply sat down on the top of the statue, leaning back on it and letting her gaze wander. Reluctantly her eyes kept glancing at Link, each time she debated waking her up.
She is hurt even more because of you…
...Damn.
