I found out yesterday that I'm allergic to the protein in my body. Peachy.

Link and I lay unconscious for a few seconds. I woke up first and felt myself change back into my wolf form, thinking about how Yvaine could change into a dragon. Would I eventually have to change as well?

Link then woke up, standing up and shaking his head. He gasped a little as he changed into his wolf form as well, growling a little when Midna plopped herself onto his back.

"That's a good boy!" She exclaimed, patting his shoulders. "Now, I need you two to listen to what I say from now on. Ahh, look! How lovely! The black clouds of twilight are so fetching today…"

See, Gretchen? Fetch is becoming popular.

"I feel so at ease here…" Midna stretched and yawned. "And you two look so much better like this than in those dusty old clothes, anyway."

I growled a little, but stopped when Link's tail whapped against mine.

Midna giggled. "So, let's get going!" She patted Link's sides again and we took off. I was ahead of Link since I told him that I knew the way, but Link skidded to a stop when we saw Talo's sword.

"Wait!" He called, making me stop.

"What, what is it?" I asked, stopping as well. I turned around to see Link sniffing at the wooden sword, then his eyes widened. "It's Talo! Malo, Beth and Colin, too!" He picked up the sword with his mouth and darted off towards Kakariko.

"Isn't being a wolf convenient?" Midna asked as we ran.

I didn't think Link was listening, though. He was focused on the scent. But when the shadow beasts fell, almost on Link, he dropped the sword. He started to run for it, but Midna pulled back on his ear.

"Wait, Link!" She snapped, pointing to me.

I was surrounded by the beasts, and Link didn't bother. He continued to try and get the sword.

Midna gave up on him and flew onto my back, telling me what to do.

I felt the dark circle beneath my feet. It made everything slicker, harder to walk on. But I leapt anyway, killing all of them.

I felt Midna pat my back and say 'Good beast', but I wasn't really listening.

Link had Talo's sword back in his mouth. He was looking at the large gap that kept us from going on.

Midna stayed on my back when I got to his side. "What's this?" She exclaimed, leaning forward on me. "That's strange… The bridge is gone… I wonder if it's the work of those shadow creatures. Ugh!" She flew her arms into the air. "What a pain!" She shouted. "Ah well, let's look for it." She said, resting her hands back on my neck. Her mood was completely different than it was a few seconds ago.

"What about those woods we came through?" I asked. "Wasn't the bridge there?" I looked up at Midna.

"Why would it be there?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I have a photographic memory, and I remember it being there. Let's just try, alright?"

Midna crossed her arms. "Fine. But if it's not there, then it's your head." She teleported us out of there, and back to the Northern Faron woods, where the bridge was waiting, just like I said.

But we were back in the Light Realm. I looked around and noticed Link wasn't with us. "Where is he?" I asked, turning to my shadow.

"I left him there." Midna said with a shrug, coming out of my shadow. "You know, most people can't leave the twilight that easily. You'd better be grateful!" She said. "Now where's that bridge?" She asked, and I walked over to the large structure, and she blinked. "Alright. It seems okay." She flicked her hair/hand up and pointed at it, and an orange lightning bolt shot out and circled around the bridge piece.

Midna struggled slightly but lifted her arms and grunted, making the bridge lift out of the ground and teleport back to the Gorge, along with me.

We got back to the Gorge and Link was laying down, his head on Talo's sword. His ears pricked when I landed next to him. "Where were you two?" He asked, growling slightly.

"Busy doing the job." I growled back, pinning my ears at him and baring my teeth.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"While you were off daydreaming about your days back in Happy-Pappy land, I was being attacked by the shadow beasts!" I snapped, before walking across the bridge.

"Alright! Let's keep going!" Midna snapped, still on my back. I didn't really like it that she was on my back, but it felt kind of nice, in a non-strange way.

"Fine by me." I muttered, going off in a run towards the village.

We got to the gate and I stopped. "Huh…" I heard Midna mutter.

"What are they doing here?" She asked, her head tilting to the left. "This is a pretty elaborate gate… What are they trying to keep in? …Or out?" She asked.

I went for a deeper part of the bridge and dug under it, Midna hiding in my shadow as I did so. I ran right by them and into the village, Link behind me.

I saw more shadow beasts and I instantly sat down, making Link look at me with an insane look.

"You take care of them." I said, refusing to move.

He growled a little, but put the sword down at my feet and ran off, Midna back on him.

After he was done I got up and gripped the sword, walking over to him and dropping it on his foot, walking to the spirit's spring.

"To the heroes… who were transformed into blue eyed beasts… in the realm of shadows… in twilight…" It said weakly.

"This way." I said to Link who sat a ways away from me.

He then told us basically what Faron said, telling us to collect his 'tears' and he told us where they were.

"Let's go." I said, standing up and thinking. "I'll take the ones here and up above. You go get the ones in the mountain." I said and Link nodded, running off.

"Great, I get to blow up a building." I said, jumping a little.

~x~

I finished all of mine, except for the ones in the building with Renado and the kids. I figured Link would want to see them.

Link came running back, though stopped when he saw me in front of the small tree. "What?" He asked, walking over.

"I needed Midna's help getting on top of the building." I shrugged the wolf way, and saw Link roll his eyes.

Midna giggled and flew over to one of the branches. I got to the top first, then Link.

"Now?" He asked me.

"This." I said, jumping on a poorly made leak-preventing thingy. I landed on my feet and got out of the way, watching Link land beside me.

There were a bunch of spirits there, and I heard Link gasp. He was probably already in his senses.

I changed and saw all of the kids around with Renado and Barnes, and Renado's child. I think her name was Leno or something.

"Cripes!" Barnes exclaimed, making us turn to where he was, by the window. "I don't see any of those black brutes anywhere…" He muttered, looking every which way out the window. "They've gotta be hidin' somewhere…" He continued. "Waitin' for their helpless little prey to come out… Then they'll FEAST."

Such a way with children…

Beth was looking down and I saw her shaking.

Talo looked up at Renado with a scared look.

"We are safe as long as we remain in here, child." He soothed. "Be at ease." He smiled very weakly.

"Oh yeah?" Barnes asked, lifting his iron mask. I wonder if the monsters out there agree with you…"

Renado glared at Barnes through the corner of his eye.

"They sure didn't seem impressed by my bombs!" He went on. "How long do you think we can hold in this sanctuary against beasts that strong, huh?" He put one hand on his hip, the other one dangling by his side. "Once they attack, it's OVER."

Talo moved closer to Renado. I kind of felt back for the little brat.

"Remember the lady from the general store?" He asked. Barnes really needs to learn when to just shut up.

"Just one of those things attacked her, and a whole gang from town went to save her!" He exclaimed.

Malo glanced at Barnes before looking back to Beth.

"And what happened? She was already gone, and there were TWO monsters waitin'!" He flailed an arm. "…You connectin' the dots?"

No, we're all incredibly stupid.

"That means that if we're attacked by them, then we'll be…"

"BARNES!" Renado snapped, turning to the Bomb shop keeper, whose shop exploded a few minutes ago.

Barnes scoffed, turning his head to the right.

Beth then started to sob, covering her face with her hands.

"Look, Renado…" Barnes was on his hands and knees, slowly crawling over to them. "All I mean to say is that it's risky here, too!"

Then why didn't you just say that? I thought, glancing to Beth before looking back at Barnes.

"Ain't we got some place we can hide?" Barnes asked.

"There is … a cellar." Renado said after a few seconds of thinking.

"WHAAAT?" Barnes asked after quickly crawling over to the Shaman. "You've got a CELLAR? Where's the entrance, man?" He asked.

"The entrance to the cellar is designed to open when all of the candles have been lit…" Renado said, motioning to the candles in the window sills.

Barnes grabbed a stick that had one end on fire and walked over to a pot, lighting that and started to crawl away.

"…I… would not do that." The daughter said, and Barnes tripped over my paw, making me move away. "When Father instructed me to secure the cellar, I saw insects like the beasts outside…"

Barnes skittered away, back to his original spot, with his mask back over his face.

"Don't cry, Beth!" Colin said, reaching to touch her shoulder. "It'll be OK!"

Beth shoved his hand away and turned away as well, still sobbing.

"Link is coming to save us all!" He exclaimed.

Beth ceased crying for a few seconds, Talo's eyes widened, Renado and his daughter gasped a little, and Barnes just looked confused.

"…I can feel it!" Colin lowered his head.

"Maybe because we're right here…" Midna muttered with a soft giggle. "These kids knew you'd come to save them! What a hero!" She teased. "How sad, to be right in front of someone and not be noticed at all…"

I winced. I know what that feels like…

Midna giggled. "You two are chosen by the gods, and only that keeps you from turning into spirits, or worse, a dark monster, when you enter twilight. And no one knows what you have done… You may be doomed to toil in obscurity forever…" She sneered at us. "You're the type to worry about everything, I can tell…" She was addressing Link now. "But don't fret over Princess Zelda! She chose this state of affairs, after all.

"Anyway, what's with having to light candles to get to the basement?" She asked. "Not very subtle, is it… So," She patted Link's sides. "What are you going to do now? My lonely little heroes…" She giggled.

I went over and picked up the stick, lighting both ends on fire, then walking up the stairs and lighting two before I slipped and fell. I shook my head and relit all of the fires, ignoring the small pain where I hit my head.

The ground shook, and that eagle sculpture moved to the side, opening the cellar.

"Get moving." I told Link, tossing the stick aside and shoving him.

He was watching the children with a sad look.

"Move!" I snapped, making him yelp and jump down the hole.

We easily killed the bugs, and Link looked around. "Great, Alek. We can't get out." He growled at me, and I pinned my ears.

"…How about that?" Midna asked, pointing to the large hole in the ceiling.

I snorted at Link. "Shut up." I muttered as I walked by, leaping out of the building.

We came out, and were now in the graveyard.

I shuddered. I've always hated graveyards. "Let's go." I said, taking off into a run, back to the spring.

"The Vessel of Light is full of tears, and light has returned to this area!" The Light Spirit cheered happily.

Link and I were back in our human forms, and I looked down to see how dirty I was, probably from the bomb shop exploding.

"Aw, I was just starting to have fun!" Midna complained, floating out of Link's shadow. "Don't forget that Fused Shadow!" She giggled and said farewell, before disappearing into the spring, where the Light Spirit came up, this time an eagle took its form, grabbing onto the light orb with its talons.

"O great heroes chosen by the gods…" It murmured. "The dark powers you seek lies in the sacred grounds of the proud mountain dwellers… But already those grounds have been defiled, draped in shadow and seeded in evil."

Link turned to look at the mountains, and I crossed my arms, pushing a pebble around with my boot.

"You must go to those sacred grounds and cleanse them." Eldin spread its wings and was fading. It wrapped its wings around itself and dissolved.

I sighed. "Ready to go?" I asked, turning to Link.

He was looking down, but nodded.

"Come on." I rested my hand on his shoulder and we started for the mountains, but we stopped when we heard the door open.

Colin was standing in the doorway, his lips parted in a silent gasp and his hands spread out a tad bit.

"Link?" He exclaimed, the other kids huddled behind the door.

Colin started to walk to him, but Talo shoved him aside and ran over to the boy, Beth behind him.

Malo waddled over but kept a distance, and I backed away, allowing the kids to surround Link. I crossed my arms behind my back and looked down, smiling weakly.

Colin laughed. "See, Beth? I TOLD you Link would save us!" Colin exclaimed, and I saw Malo glare at him through the corner of his eye.

Renado, his daughter and Barnes walked out after the children surrounded him.

"…You are the one from Ordon whom these children spoke of?" He asked Link.

Link nodded.

"We are well met. I am Renado, shaman of this town. And this…" Barnes lifted his mask and saluted Link. "This is my daughter, Luda."

I smacked my forehead. Luda! Of course! I can't believe I forgot her name!

Luda smiled, and Barnes walked away, pouting.

"The beasts took us and left us to die…" Colin turned to Renado. "But Mr. Renado found us." He smiled.

"At first, I couldn't believe they had come from a so distance place as the Ordona Province." Renado said, looking down to Colin.

"Yeah, I…" Colin looked down and turned away. "We don't remember much. All of a sudden everyone was captured, and then… until now… it's been like…"

"…A nightmare." Malo finished.

"Yeah! It was like a terrible dream and we couldn't wake up…"

"Mmm… Nightmares are everywhere these days, it seems." Renado muttered, looking down for a second. "This village has certainly seen its share of recent hardships…" He blinked sadly. "The dark beasts attacked, but even worse was the inexplicable change in the mountain-dwelling Goron tribe. They had long been our friends, but suddenly treated us as foes."

Random PMSing? I held back a giggle, keeping a straight face.

"Even now they refuse to permit us entry into their mines." Renado continued. "It strains the limits of belief… To think that such a gentle and proud tribe could change so suddenly… It makes me wonder is something in those mines is the cause of this change… In any change," He turned to face Link and me, now by his side again.

"You must take these children and flee this village before the nightmares descend. I, of course, cannot leave my village in such a time." He said, blinking once. "There is no telling what may happen to us here…" He looked down. "But it is my job to try to coax the Gorons back from their recent change of heart."

The kids all looked to Link, and I took a step forward. "I'm afraid we can't do that." I said, blinking once.

Renado raised his eyebrows slightly and the kids gasped.

"Link may take the children back, but I will stay. I cannot, will not allow such a task to fall upon your shoulders." I looked at Renado, expecting him to decline. "Your village needs you. I am not an important person where I come from."

"And where is that?" Renado asked.

"Castle Town." I replied, keeping my posture. "I have no home there and no family. You have a home, and a family." I glanced down to Luda before looking back to the shaman. "If I do not make it, it will not make a change in everyone's lives. Please, allow me to take the job." I placed my right hand over my heart and bowed politely.

Renado was thinking for a while. "You may try." He answered after a few moments of silence.

I straightened myself out. "Thank you, sir. I will depart immediately." I turned and left, but Link gripped my shoulder and pulled me to look at him.

"Alek, what are you thinking?" He hissed at me.

"Let me do this, Link." I shoved his hand off of my shoulder. "If you die in there, then you'll village will be affected, too!"

"No, it won't!" He growled.

"You're going to be the next mayor, Link! Of course Ordon will be affected!" I shouted. "Don't worry about me, I'll come back soon!" I turned and ran off, and when I got to the entrance of the mountain's base, I heard quick footsteps after me.

"We were both chosen, right?" Link asked, now walking by my side. "So we both do this." He took my hand in his which made me blush slightly.

"Fine." I turned my head away, walking towards the base, ready for the Goron to run me over.