The Legend of Zelda: Re-Imagined

Chapter 6: Just Getting Started.

They were coming upon the quirky gate at Ordon.

Nick helped Zelda walk all the way from the spring.

"So, Hyrule's gonna be swept away in the darkness, and the Light Spirit Ordona knows who the 'Hero of Light' is?" He repeated to make sure he understood.

"That is all I know." She groaned, slightly limping.

"Then why are you all weird like this?"

"Certain people are gifted to sense when something evil has taken place." She answered before she corrected herself.

"I apologize, let me rephrase that statement. Certain people are more sensitive to evil than others. I am one of those people, but I'm even more sensitive than others; the reaction is especially powerful for me."

"So then you just keeled over? And somehow managed to convince Link that something bad was happening?" He inquired.

"It is my belief that Link also felt it." She returned.

Nick looked at Her Highness with a confused expression.

"He felt it too?" Nick asked, almost in disbelief.

She didn't respond, Nick gathered that she was still exhausted.

They finally made it to the entrance of the village, Nick took a moment to look at the gate that guarded the passage.

It was almost completely unhinged. He noticed it when he passed by earlier.

Nick thought to himself, I can't believe Link broke the gate.

"I'll have to fix this later." He sighed.

He and Zelda proceeded through it. On the other side, he wasn't met with silence.

The people of the village had started to move about. A few were already out of their homes and noticed Nick and Zelda.

Nick mumbled something to himself, but Zelda didn't catch what he murmured.

Two people approached them, a middle-aged man and an older gentleman.

"Nick? What's going on?!" The middle-aged man asked.

"Who is this young woman?" The older man asked.

Nick looked at her, and she smiled weakly, her sign of approval.

He looked back to the men.

"Our boy, Link, has gotten himself wrapped up in something that is bigger than all of us." Nick replied.

The two men looked at each other, bewildered.

"Let's bring her inside. We can talk there." The older man insisted.


Meanwhile, in Hyrule Castle Town.

"It's good that you've arrived, Link!" Auru called.

"What's happened?" Link got to the bottom line.

Shad stepped forward to answer.

"The prince has sent men of higher rank to capture us. Captain Viscen and the rest of our soldiers are trying to fend them off, but we're outnumbered!"

"That's not good. How many are we up against?" Link asked.

Ashei turned from the door she stood near. "There were fifteen, but our companions managed to mop up half of them."

"How many of us are left?" Link asked, as he headed towards Ashei.

She didn't answer. Link stopped and looked her in the eyes, for a moment she appeared to show some emotion. But she quickly reverted to her tougher façade.

"It's just the Captain left standing... The others..." She tried not to look sullen.

Link heard her unspoken words. He frowned in acknowledgement.

"I'm going out there." He announced.

"You can't be serious!" Shad tried. "These men are trained professionals! They've been hand-chosen by the Prince, himself!"

Link glanced at him. That look meant "Nothing you can say will stop me."

"Link..." Auru spoke up. "Is this truly what you want to do?"

Link walked up to the door, as he faced away from everyone.

"Zelda wanted me to help you. I don't think I could face her if I returned alone." He said as he opened the door. "Besides, ol' Cap over there needs help."

They did nothing as he passed through. The doors closed behind him.

Link came upon the captain as he fought to his hardest to keep his enemies at bay.

An enemy soldier attempted to strike with a sword.

Viscen swiftly deflected the strike with his own blade, and rammed his shoulder into the man.

The soldier was sent to the floor, but there were more soldiers who stood in opposition.

Viscen looked worn out.

"Captain!" Link yelled, as he ran towards Viscen's side, with sword drawn.

"...You came back..." Viscen let out with a heavy breath.

"I couldn't leave you guys hanging." Link smirked. "Who are these dastards?"

Viscen chuckled, but was cutoff before he could explain the situation.

"We are so far above you, lowly wretch, that you don't deserve to know who we are." The Colonel bellowed.

He continued. "But I'll humor you, and tell you that we are the Prince's personal guard. We do as he commands."

"Ooh!" Link replied, with fake enthusiasm. "I get to meet the Prince's personal hounds!"

Gavan was not amused.

Viscen whispered to Link.

"That's Colonel Gavan. He's the highest in rank under the Prince. He is one of the most skilled swordsmen Hyrule has ever seen. And he was also my former mentor."

"Mentor?" Link whispered back.

"Mm-hmm." Viscen nodded.

"No reason to hold back then, huh?" He laughed.

Viscen chuckled again. He began to get acquainted with Link's confidence and sense of humor.

"No reason at all." Viscen smiled. "But be cautious, he took out a few of us by himself... He figured we were too weak, and left the rest of his men to deal with us on their own."

"Are you two very much done yet? I'd like to get this over with." The Colonel expressed with impatience.

"Get this over with? Where's the fire, Colonel?" Link asked. "After all, I just got here! This party's just getting started!"

Gavan looked annoyed.

"Enough is enough. Kill the fools." He ordered his troops with an apathetic tone.

The soldiers marched through the center isle of seating towards the two swordsmen. Some of the soldiers even climbed over the pews to perform a flanking maneuver.

Link and Viscen went back-to-back, as they were surrounded.

"Think you can handle this many?" Viscen asked Link.

"Might be tough if one more shows up." Link replied with a smirk.

The men around them tried to look menacing with their lances and swords.

"You know, the Princess trusts you." Viscen said.

Link said nothing.

"You've been bestowed with a great honor and privilege." He added. "Don't waste it."

Link gave another one of his trademark smirks.

"I won't."

One of the men near Link quickly lunged with his sword at the ready.

As if they were in perfect synchronization, Link and Viscen both spun around, which caused the Captain to be the one to face the incoming attack.

Viscen used the momentum from their sudden change of formation and swung his blade, which cut the soldier across the midsection. He went down.

Two more jumped towards Link, and both Link and Viscen leaped forward themselves.

Link slid underneath the two men, and he kicked out their legs, which brought the both of them to the floor.

Learned that trick from that spider freak! Link laughed to himself.

Another soldier advanced at Link, and tried to bring the sword down vertically, but Link stepped to the side and narrowly avoided the blade.

Link was familiar with hand-to-hand and other close-quarters-combat, so he chose to grapple the man by the back of his neck and underarm. The half-nelson hold.

With his other arm, he held his blade to the soldier's neck.

Another soldier near Viscen readied a lance, and charged towards the Captain. He quickly thrust his spear forward.

"Now!" Viscen yelled, as he dodged out-of-the-way.

Link let go of the soldier he clutched and kicked him towards where Viscen had stood.

The tip of one soldier's spear pierced the armor of the other.

Before the soldier could retrieve his lance from his now-fallen comrade, Viscen was upon him. The man fell with a diagonal gash across his breastplate.

The two soldiers Link had knocked down started to get back up again.

Another enemy soldier locked swords with Viscen.

"Let's trade dance partners!" Link yelled, as he ran towards the Viscen.

"Gotcha!" Viscen shoved with his sword, and unlocked the two blades. The soldier was thrown off-balance, just in time for Link to follow-up with two quick slices. One for the shoulder, and one for the thigh.

He went down as well.

One more tried to attack Link from the side, as he leaped from one of the front row seats of the Sanctuary.

Link performed a high-risk maneuver and rushed his opponent mid-air. The soldier was unprepared for his target to run right at him. When the man landed, he was run-through with Link's sharpened brand.

Viscen squared off with two other knights under Gavan's command.

The two tried to coördinate their attacks, and charged at the same time from opposing angles.

Viscen blocked one blade before its sharp edge could shred through his midsection, but he was not able to block the second attack, and was slashed in the side.

He let out a groan of pain, as the soldier prepared another assault.

That soldier was suddenly struck in the shoulder by a lance that had been thrown like a javelin. Link had sent it, after he picked it up from a fallen soldier nearby.

Link ran at him, and kicked the end of the pole of the lance, which skewered the man even further.

There was only one left, in pitched combat with the Captain. Fatigued and injured, Viscen had to break away from his enemy.

The soldier swung his sword at the Captain, but his strike was deflected by Link, who had intercepted the blow with his own sword.

The guard was pushed back, and nearly stumbled backwards over something on the floor. He looked to saw what almost caused him to fall.

Another broadsword from one of his fallen comrades.

He picked it up, and now held a weapon in each hand.

"Dual-wielding?" Link asked aloud.

The man twirled both blades, as he tried to demonstrate the ability to use two swords at once.

Dual-wielding was an uncommon technique, and not many were capable of performing such a feat due to the required use of the off-hand. It also required more focus, and an awareness of what the non-dominant arm was doing.

Colonel Gavan remained a spectator, as he had been this entire fight. He just watched as the rest his unit were felled by two men, but perhaps this last knight could use an advanced weapon style and defeat Captain Viscen and this "overconfident" swordsman.

The knight jumped onto one of the pews, as he wanted more leverage for his next strike.

The soldier held both swords high, and jumped forward to perform a leaping attack.

Link had already prepared something different for this man. A special technique of his own.

Link gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

He focused all his strength into this next attack, and held his sword arm out to his side, then he did it.

Both Gavan and Viscen looked in amazement as Link spun around, three-hundred and sixty degress in a clockwise direction. He encircled himself with his sword, and the velocity of the spin caused the blade to cut through the air itself, which created a wave of pressure.

The soldier who had jumped towards Link didn't even have time to regret his fated decision.

He was thrown back from the force. He flew into the pew he jumped from, and it toppled over along with a few seats behind it. He had two large gashes across his armored torso.

Who is this kid?! Gavan pondered.

For a moment, Viscen felt proud to have Link as his fellow warrior, but that faded as he cringed from the pain in his side. He went down to one knee.

Link noticed, and quickly rushed to his aide.

"C'mon, don't give up on me now, Captain!" Link told him.

Ashei emerged from the back room to help Viscen.

"Viscen!" She yelled.

"It's just a flesh wound." He groaned.

"Says the man doubled over in pain." Link countered.

Ashei tried to help Viscen up, but Link quickly grabbed her shoulder.

She looked at him with an intense glare, but she saw that he stared back at her with the same look in his eyes.

"I need you to do something for me." He told her.

Gavan still stood in the same spot. He had believed that his men could win this fight. He was just proven wrong.

He felt his anger seethe inside of him.

This boy knows the Spinning Slash?! He mentally vented. No one has mastered that technique in years! How could he...

He shook himself out of his own thoughts.

No. That was a fluke. It had to be. Gavan reaffirmed to himself, as he stood firm in his belief that the people before him were mere rubbish.

"Got it, Ashei?" Link asked.

"Y-Yes!" She nodded, as she helped Viscen get back on his feet.

"Alright then, I'll meet you there!" He stated, and gave a two-fingered salute.

She walked Viscen into the backroom, and out of Gavan's sight.

Only two were left in the Sanctuary: Gavan, and Link.

"How did you defeat my men?" Gavan asked, as Link turned to face the Colonel.

"You underestimated us, Colonel. We had the element of surprise." Link replied.

Gavan scowled.

"Something wrong, Colonel?" Link asked, he used the man's military title in a sarcastic manner.

"Who do you think you are?" He asked.

"According to you, I'm just a lowly wretch." Link retorted.

Gavan said nothing.

"I wish I could see the look on your superior's face when you say that a 'wretch', much like myself, was able to wipe out your men." Link asserted.

Gavan raised his arm, and pointed the tip of his weapon towards Link.

"Face me then, boy. Prove your worth!" Gavan said, with a condescending tone.

Link looked at him.

The others need time to escape. I'm gonna hafta' keep him busy. Link thought.

"Fine." Link accepted, almost reluctantly. Link twirled the blade effortlessly in his hand, and got into battle stance, with the blade hung just beside his left leg.

Gavan followed in turn, and stepped into his stance. He held the blade straight up with both hands on the grip, both elbows bent. His left leg was extended forward.

While he awaited a fierce battle, Link took a moment to recognize the situation. He was about to do battle with a famous knight of Hyrule; hopefully, this wouldn't end too badly.

I wonder how long I can sit here before he realizes I'm stalling? Link asked himself.

"Well?" The Colonel asked impatiently.

Link looked confused. "'Well' what?"

"With how confident you sounded earlier, I was sure you would have attacked me already. Was that big talk just for show? As I presumed, you're just another namby-pamby milksop with a loose tongue. A self-righteous swordsman with the uncontrollable urge to proclaim his 'holier-than-thou' ideology." Gavan sounded with disappointment.

Link didn't take it personally, but he was amused at the irony of what Gavan said. So he decided to give a smirk.

"What's so funny, boy?" The Colonel inquired.

Link shrugged, "Nothing, nothing. It's just that it's not often you get to take part in an ol' fashioned stand-off."

"Old fashioned stand-off?" Gavan recited.

"Yeah. Can't you feel the invigorating tension of the moment?" Link explained.

Gavan looked cynical.

"You mean me to believe that you're enjoying this moment because you are feeling tense?" The Colonel asked.

"Sure, why not? Doesn't it get your blood pumping?" Link asked, he tried to sound as jazzed as possible.

The Colonel heard the "enthusiasm" in Link's voice. He could tell it was phony.

What is going on in that head of his? Is he daft? Or is he simply out of his mind? The Colonel pondered.

"Have you gone mad, boy?" He asked loudly.

Link chuckled, "Maybe."

He has acknowledged his own madness. I'm not sure if I should hate him, or pity him. Gavan thought.

"So," Link started, "The Captain told me you were a mentor of his. Care to explain that?"

"He told you? Very well, since this won't go on any longer, I suppose I can part with that information." Gavan started.

"I trained him in the ways of the sword, and taught him how to be a knight. He had the potential to become one of Hyrule's finest." He continued.

"What went wrong?" Link asked.

Gavan scowled for a split-second, but returned to his stern-looking demeanor very quickly.

"He began to make emotional decisions in favor of logical ones. I see that he has not changed his ways. He claimed to always follow his heart..." He paused.

"But that was his excuse when he was young. He has grown older, yes, but he hasn't matured as I had initially hoped. He continues to make these foolish choices based on his wavering emotions."

Gavan spat at the idea. "Letting your feelings determine your actions! Now that's foolhardy! 'Emotions fluctuate daily, but the mind remains consistent.' That is what I have always said to him. I had hoped he would one day understand those words."

He almost sounded... remorseful. Link couldn't believe that this cold, hardened knight could possibly care about someone else. Link also couldn't understand how he got this man to monologue about what seemed to be a personal subject.

"He was like a son to me. And I was like a father to him. I strove to make him greater than I, to allow him to surpass me."

He scowled again, this time he kept the look on his face. "Obviously, he failed."

"Or maybe you failed him." Link inserted.

"Care to repeat that?" Gavan glared.

"There's two sides to every story, Colonel." Link began to explain, " You taught this man everything there was to know, and you say he could have been the best. Yet, he claims to follow his heart, almost as if he was acting in spite of your teachings. What does that tell you?"

Gavan had no answer.

"Sure, I agree that emotional decisions are oft' unwise. But following your heart, now that's a different story. It means you have a drive, a passion." Link added.

Gavan looked incredulous.

Link continued, "What is it that drives Viscen to do what he does?"

The Colonel found himself vying for the answer to a question he had never been asked before. The question came from a different perspective, one that Gavan was not familiar with.

What drives him? Gavan recited in thought.

"Actually, Colonel, I gotta ask: What drives you?" Link finished.

That caught him off guard. Gavan had never performed any personal introspection. A question like this required one to look inwardly; which would cause them to see their own flaws and weaknesses.

Gavan was suddenly filled with much frustration and anger, yet he could not understand why.

"Enough is enough! You will fall here, and then the rest of those cowards hiding behind those doors will be next!" Gavan yelled, he lost his composure.

The Colonel charged forwards, and Link readied himself.

Gavan may have been a larger man, but size didn't matter to Link.

Using both hands, Gavan raised his sword and brought it down vertically.

Link knew he could have blocked Gavan's attack, but decided not to challenge his opponent's strength. Instead, Link dodged to his right.

The blade smashed into the floor where Link had stood and cracked the tiles. Link pulled his own blade past his right arm and attempted a backhand slice.

But the Colonel was fast enough to pull the sword back and deflect Link's attack by holding the blade down diagonally, with the tip pointed towards his right foot.

The two exchanged a few strikes back and forth, as Gavan tried to cleave Link in-two with every strike, but Link managed to block each one.

Sparks flew as the blades clashed.

Gavan had put everything into his assaults. Yet, it felt as if Link's heart was not in it.

That was when the Colonel understood what Link had said. About having a drive.

The two were suddenly distanced from each other.

"You!" Gavan called, "You are not giving this fight your all! Does it not matter to you that your life is at stake here?"

Link looked at him impassively. He had fought halfheartedly, to the point that even Gavan sensed it. But Gavan did not know why Link held back.

"Fight me with everything you have!" The Colonel called out.

In response, Link sheathed his sword, much to Gavan's chagrin.

"I'll pass."

"What?!" Gavan said, taken aback.

"There's been enough bloodshed for one day. I'd rather not leave the caretakers of this Sanctuary more blood to clean off the floor."

In the corner of his eye, Link caught sight of a staircase to his left. He quickly turned and dashed towards it.

In response, the Colonel ran towards the front row of seats, and stopped.

Link made it to the second floor of the sacred temple, and saw a chair near the railing.

"Well, Colonel, it's been a real slice." He said, as he gave his typical salutation. "But I think I've wasted enough of your time. Farewell!"

He quickly grabbed the chair, and hurled it towards the stained-glass windows behind him, and shattered it to bits.

He then jumped out of the newly broken window; a successful escape.

Gavan quickly remembered the back room, where the others had hidden themselves.

"They couldn't have!" He yelled as he burst through the doors.

No one. The room was empty, and it showed no signs of activity.

"What?! I watched them walk into this room! Where did they go?!" He yelled furiously.

He walked back out, and saw a man who wasn't there before. He was dressed in priestly garments, but they were crimson with golden lining on the edges. The image of an eye with a tear drop was emblazoned on the man's robes. His skin appeared a pale sky blue.

"S-Sir Agahnim!" Gavan let out.

"You failed the Prince, Colonel. Which means you've failed me." The man returned.

"No! Please! Give me another chance! Tell His Highness that I will get them next time!" The Colonel pleaded, having completely foregone his former demeanor of power .

"Hmm. For a man of power, Gavan, you sure know how to grovel." The mysterious Agahnim said in a wispy tone.

Gavan tried to put on a brave face, but was terrified inside.

"I'll tell the Prince." Agahnim spoke.

Gavan's expression began to show a kindling of hope.

"I'll tell the Prince... that you fell in battle due to your incompetence!" He hissed.

Fright overtook the Colonel's face. "No! No!"

The man in red raised his arm, and held out his wicked fingers.

"Good-bye~~!" He said playfully.

A destructive bolt of dark energy was cast from his hands, it streaked all the way across the Sanctuary and collided with its ill-fated victim.

The Sanctuary echoed with roars of agony...

...it then fell deathly silent.

The crowds outside could hear the insane cackling of a maniacal man, but the sound vanished into the nothingness whence it came.


After Link's heroic getaway, he landed in the shrubbery at the backside of the Sanctuary.

He crawled out of the bushes, made sure he wasn't seen, and tried to get out of there without being noticed.

He eventually got out of the plants and back onto the stone pathways of the Castle town market.

He jumped into an alley, and looked back to make sure he hadn't been followed.

Then he made his way back into the relaxed atmosphere of Telma's bar.

He saw that Ashei, Auru, and Shad had arrived with the priests and the injured Viscen.

"Good to see you're not dead." Link chimed-in facetiously.

Impa turned to Link. "You directed them through the underground passage to get back here?"

Link nodded with a smile.

Impa gave a smile as well. "You did well. Better than I expected."

"I aim to please." Link commented. Impa smiled, she then turned back to help with Viscen.

Telma walked up to Link, and gave him a big hug, much to his surprise.

She let go and allowed him to catch his breath after nearly being squeezed to death.

"Boy, I gotta thank you for everything you've done so far! I'm gonna keep the bar closed for a little longer today, that way you guys will have time to recuperate!" She said excitedly.

Link smiled.

"Oh, and the drinks are on the house!" She said with a wink.

Auru entered the conversation.

"We can stay only a little while. Once we get Viscen patched up, we grab our things and head to Ordon, yes?"

Link nodded. "Yes. Zelda's still waiting for us."

"Speaking of," Shad intervened, "How is she?"

Link turned away for a second. "Well, I think she's still conscious..."

"WHAT?!" Shad yelled.

"Calm down, it's nothing serious."

"What did you do to her?!"

"Nothing, she just-!"

"I can't believe I allowed myself to leave her highness alone with a complete stranger!"

"Shad."

"I knew better than to leave her with you! What have I done?!"

Link rolled his eyes, and folded his arms. Shad clearly wasn't listening.

Shad went on a rant that lasted twenty more seconds before he finally stopped to take a breath.

"...You done?" Link asked with a tilted head.

"...Yes, I think so..." He replied, having gotten it out of his system.

"Good. Zelda should be fine. She sensed a disturbance and it took a lot out of her. Other than that, she's perfectly okay."

"I sure hope so." Shad stated.

"If anything, I think by now she'll be getting help from the villagers there. They're very hospitable people."

"You're sure they'll take us in?" Ashei questioned.

"If they don't, they can take it up with me." Link said as he cracked his knuckles.

"Right, then!" Viscen said confidently as he stepped forward, bandages wrapped around his side. "When do we leave?"

"We can leave now, if you wish." Link replied.

Impa came back over to Link.

"I think I'll join you." She stated.

Link smiled. "I'm sure Zelda will be glad to see you're well. Welcome aboard!"

Before they left, they all decided to have one of the many drinks Telma had available.

The group eventually made its way out of the bar. The group sneaked out of Castle Town.

Impa managed to gather horses for all the riders, except herself. She took a ride with Auru.

Link, who rode on Epona, led the group through Faron Woods and eventually arrived in Ordona.


"Princess Zelda?!" They all cried.

Suddenly, the inside of the Mayor's home became a public assembly.

Everyone decided to visit old Mayor Bo today, of all days.

After the word spread of Link having come back to the village, everyone rushed to the mayor's house as soon as possible. The mayor's house was the largest house in Ordon, so it was fully capable of hosting all the denizens of Ordon.

There, they would all discover the Princess of Hyrule as she rested from her time at the spring.

Nick just finished explaining everything he knew up to this point.

"Your highness, I don't know what to say!" Bo said, exasperated. He was the older man who approached them before.

The middle-aged man from before spoke up this time, his name was Rusl.

"Link decided to help you, eh? That sounds like Link, alright." Rusl continued. "But he brought you here of all places, now that's unusual."

"How is that unusual?" Zelda asked politely.

"..." Rusl wasn't sure what to say.

"Aryll." Nick answered.

Awkward silence filled the room.

"Yes, that's right. He was looking for her when he found us when we needed help." The lovely maiden stated.

"Link gave me the low-down last night. He's been everywhere looking for Aryll. But still no sign of her." Nick added.

"Oh! Where are my manners?" Zelda cried. "I am very grateful for you opening your home as a refuge for my companions and I."

"Not at all! It is our honor, milady!" Bo returned with a bow.

The door opened, another guest came in.

"Is it true?! Did my son and nephew bring in the Princess herself?!" yelled the man who came in. He had dark brown hair, a large nose, and an equally large mustache.

Then he saw Nick.

"My boy!" He exclaimed when he saw his son. He turned and saw Zelda sitting at the table.

"Oh my, oh my! It's the Princess herself!" He exclaimed as he ran over and bowed at her feet.

"Your highness, we're not worthy!"

Nick looked embarrassed.

"Are you perhaps, Tarin?" She asked with a gentle voice.

He looked up at her, his face was beaming.

"You know of me?" His tone made it seem as if he'd been touched by an angel.

"Nickolas and Link both spoke of you. I'm glad you took it upon yourself to deal with the infestation of Deku Hornets." She said with a smile.

"Aww, it was nothing! I just-Wait, Deku Hornets?" He looked at Nick. "You TOLD her?!"

Nick's face had "Guilty" written all over it. Nick blasted out of the house as quickly as he could. Tarin chased after him, his face as red as a cherry.

Zelda laughed, she finally felt a little relief from the stress she had experienced recently.

Maybe she had just gotten comfortable here, but she was glad she could finally sit back and enjoy herself.

"I have to ask, where is Link now?" Rusl asked, which caused everyone to look at Zelda.

"Something didn't feel right, so he went to meet with my associates and see what the issue was." She answered.

I just hope everyone is all right. She thought.

"And on the way out, he broke the gate!" Nick said, after he made it back inside. He looked like he had just run a marathon.

"The gate?" Rusl asked.

"The one right here." He pointed in the direction of the gate though the wall. "I'm gonna... need to fix that. Dang, when did my dad learn to run like that?" He huffed.

"Probably when the hornets chased him!" Rusl laughed, the others joined in.

"So!" Bo spoke. "How long do you think you will be with us, your majesty?"

"Hopefully not too long. I just want to lay low until this whole incident settles, and my brother returns to his senses." Zelda said.

"Well, don't think you're not welcome! Stay as long as you wish!" Bo offered.

"That is very kind of you. I wouldn't want to take advantage of your generosity. I don't want to become a burden." She said, looking guilty.

I can't believe I've pulled a whole village into this dispute. I'm horrible. Zelda mentally berated herself.

"As if you could ever become a burden, Princess!" Nick said.

"Thank you." She looked at him gratefully.


A couple of hours had passed.

The horses had arrived at the bridge which led to Ordon.

"We're here!" Link called.

He led everyone onward, and he made sure to lock the large gate that allowed one entry into Ordona.

They eventually passed through the clearing.

A tall man ran into the mayor's house from outside.

"They're here!" He called.

Everyone in the house scrambled to get outside and see the people who had arrived; all except Zelda, who remained inside to rest.

The horses and their riders entered the village, with Link being the last to arrive.

They all proceeded to dismount the riding animals, Viscen had some trouble but he refused to admit it.

Nick came forward to greet them.

"Bro!" He called.

"Hey, I know you!" Link said with a chuckle.

"I'm glad you got back safe and sound." Nick claimed.

"Don't try to hide it, you just want more soup." Link stated with a smirk, an "I-know-you" look was on his face.

Nick laughed. "Oh! Right! Do your pals here need any medical help?"

Link looked over his shoulder to see Viscen clutching his side while Ashei inspected his now bloody bandages. Nick looked past Link to see Viscen as well.

The two looked back at each other.

"No." Link said with a straight face. Nick knew it was a joke.

Nick turned around, and called to the group of Ordonians behind him.

"Hey, Uli!" He yelled. A woman with short blond hair approached, she was holding a young infant girl in her arms.

"Yes, Nick?" She asked.

"See that man over there? The pathetic one whimpering like a dog?" He said as he point towards Viscen.

"I am not whimpering!" He said, clearly having heard Nick.

"Can you help patch him up?"

"Ah, sure. I will do my best." She said with a smile. "Oh, and it's good to see you too, Link!" She added before she walked over to Viscen and introduced herself.

Link gave a smile and a small wave. Uli was Rusl's wife, and could have been the official nurse of Ordon.

"Now," Link started. "Where is Zel?"

Nick answered, "She's in Bo's place, resting."

"She asleep?"

"Nah, just getting her energy back. She seems to have gone through a lot before you found her."

"Apparently, more took place than I was aware of." Link stated.

"But she's tough. She may look fragile, but underneath that angelic exterior is a very powerful resolve." Nick said with a sparkle in his eyes.

Link nodded, and tried to walk past Nick.

"Hey, Link." Nick tried.

Link turned around, "Yeah?"

"Do you think a princess like her and a guy like me..."

"No." Link answered sincerely with a straight face.

Nick just chuckled. Link kept walking.

Tarin walked up and greeted Link.

"Howdy, nephew!" He said cheerily.

"Howdy, uncle! How are ya?" Link asked.

"I'm havin' a good day today, that's fer sure!" He chuckled.

"No Deku Hornets to deal with, huh?" Link asked, he withheld laughter.

"DAGNABBIT! What in tarnation is wrong with my boy?! Telling EVERYONE about that hornets' story!" Tarin yelled out as he ran towards Nick, who in response tried to run away.

Now, the people of Ordon were the only things between him and Zelda. And he felt that he needed to talk to her.

First up, Rusl.

"Link, it's good to see you're well! I've heard you have visited many places in your travels."

"And all of them lovely." There was a slight discomforting tone in Link's voice.

"I'm sorry, Link. I didn't mean-" Rusl tried.

"It's fine." Link smiled weakly.

Rusl didn't have much to say, so he stepped aside.

Link was then greeted by a group of energetic younglings, whose faces lit up at the sight of him.

There was Beth, the daughter of the village store owners. Malo and Talo, who were brothers, and sons of the waterwheel owners. And Colin, Rusl and Uli's timid son.

They all looked up to Link, figuratively and literally.

"Link you're back!" They all yelled excitedly.

"Have you found Aryll yet?" Talo asked.

Link shook his head with a weak smile on his face.

Beth elbowed Talo. "I'm sorry, Link! Talo doesn't know when to shut his mouth!"

"It's alright. I'm not mad." Link smiled at them, and walked past them to greet Colin.

"Link! I'm glad you're okay!" He cheerily commented.

"Good to you too, little bro." Link said as he patted Colin's head.

"Hey, Link?" The boy asked.

"Hmm?"

"Can you teach me to ride a horse?"

"Maybe next time, sport." Link replied, and walked past Colin.

He was then greeted by the parents of Beth, Malo, and Talo.

A large woman named Sera, the general store owner, and mother of Beth. Her husband Hanch was also there, who looked even more timid than Colin.

He was as thin as a twig to boot.

Jaggle, a man with a larger forehead, who was the father of Malo and Talo. His wife, Pergie, who had a larger jaw line, was with him as well.

Mayor Bo stepped forward and met Link. He was a larger bald man with an interesting horn-shaped mustache. He was also her father.

"Link, it does my heart good to see you have remained well during your travels." He greeted.

"Good to see you too, Mr. Mayor." Link returned.

"I hear you've had no luck on finding Aryll?"

"Nothing. I'll just have to look harder."

"I know you'll find her. Don't give up!"

"Thanks." Link walked past him.

"Oh, and Link?" Bo spoke again.

"Yes, sir?" He stopped.

"Ilia..." He hesitated.

Link frowned. He knew where this conversation was headed.

"You should... You should probably talk with her." Bo said.

"I guess that's unavoidable at this point, huh?" Link asked.

Bo chuckled weakly, "She's missed you. I hope you know that."

Link kept going. He greeted the others. Right before he got to the Mayor's home, he met up with the tall man.

"Fado! How's the ranching going?" Link asked.

"Link, you don't know how glad I am to see you're back! Those goats just don't like listening to me!" Fado answered.

"We'll have to work on that, won't we?" Link smiled, and made his way to the door.

He gripped the knob, twisted it, and pushed the door open.

He walked inside, and shut the door behind him.

He took a few steps in, Zelda was nowhere to be seen.

He heard noises that came from upstairs, eventually the noises ended up going down the steps.

Link turned to see what made the sounds.

"Link." Was all she said.

~End Of Chapter~

Author's notes: Sorry it took so long. I originally wanted to get this out before Thanksgiving, but clearly that didn't happen. But it gave me extra time to work on it later on.

Phew, this was a long one too.

There are a few references here and there, as I have contentiously sprinkled references all over the place. Some are noticeable, others are not as easy to spot. But they exist, albeit subtle. Have fun going through and finding a few!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and be careful: For evil is stirring. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!