Chapter 11 Moving Forward

Ilia's P.O.V.

"Why do you always look at Link?" Ilia wondered. Whenever Ilia caught Arun looking into his crystal ball thing, she always saw images of Link and Shad. There were also two other people that had light and dark skin. Ilia didn't know who they were.

"Because, his mind intrigues me, it's as if he has another mind living inside of his own. It tries to contact him, but he doesn't realize that he has put up mental blocks." Arun explained thoughtfully.

Ilia didn't get what he was saying. Another Link? It didn't make any sense. She didn't care much anyway.

Arun is a horrible man, he could go die for all I care! Ilia would think to herself.

Arun got up from his throne and walked around the white room still looking at the crystal ball that he held in his hand, "Well why don't we help him out?" Arun laughed.

Ilia gasped, No! She tried to run but her feet wouldn't move. Arun looked up at her and laughed, "We can't have you dashing in to save the day, now can we?" He laughed again.

Ilia watched helplessly as Arun turned the glass ball into a weird looking amulet. It was small and gear shaped. It had a picture of the Triforce on the front. He threw it up into the air; it floated up slowly. As it reached the ceiling in passed straight through and disappeared.

"Link, be careful…" Ilia whimpered. Tears streamed down her face.

Link's P.O.V.

Link strapped the last box of supplies to Epona's saddle. The plan was about to begin. Link pulled on the boxes to make sure they were on tight.

Link heard footsteps behind him. He spun around and drew his sword at the same time. The Postman was standing there with his hands up, looking, cross-eyed, down at the point of the blade, that was pointed between his eyes. Link lowered his sword.

"Sorry about that…" Link apologized.

The Postman swallowed, "Uh… Um… A-are you mister Link?"

"Yes."

"I-I have a package for you…" He said holding out a box covered by brown paper and tied shut by string with a shaky hand. Link took it and The Postman took off.

Oops… Link thought. He looked down at the package he held in his hand. It didn't say any names. He wasn't sure who it was from. He opened it up. It was an amulet. The picture of the Triforce glowed in the presence of Link. He dropped the box and slipped it over his neck. He picked it up off of his chest and looked at it. It was made from a black metal that Link couldn't identify. It hung on a small chain that looked very sturdy. Link slid it under his shirt and went back to checking the boxes.

After Link checked all the boxes he pet Epona for a moment before heading back toward the house. He didn't even get within ten paces of the ladder when the pain exploded through him.

His head throbbed. The pain was so great it forced Link to his knees. He gripped his head with both hands. Link screamed. He clamped his jaw shut but still continued to scream. The sound was muffled for a moment until a new wave of pain exploded through him and his screams were let loose again. He fell sideways and cradled his head on the ground. He could hear the voices of others but could not decipher what they were saying. The pain in Link's head exceeded any other pain he had ever felt.

Just when Link though the pain couldn't get any worse a new level of pain rolled through him. Black spots blurred his vision. He briefly saw Shad and Fado standing over him. Link slammed his eye lids closed. Link could feel consciousness leaving him. He passed out.

When Link woke up he was lying on his bed. His head still hurt but it wasn't the same kind of pain. It felt like he hit his head and not the intense burning he felt last time. Link sat up and the world started spinning. He put his hands on his head and waited for the spinning to stop.

Finally! I have tried to contact you for ages! I tried but I could only manage to take over your mind in a sense.

Link froze. What was that…?

That, was me. you see, I am one of your past lives. There is a cycle. We, the holders of the Triforce of Courage, must defeat Ganondorf and keep him from destroying the world. But just as we are incarnated into another body, so are the other two bearers of the Triforce, Princess Zelda and Ganondorf.

Wait… b-but I already killed Ganondorf… Link thought.

Yes, but this time it is different. I believe that Ganon's past lives were communicating with him same as the way I am talking to you right now. They told him of all the defeats that he has suffered. He told him to spread his power else were. Not just to focus on us and defeating us. He told him that he had to give the majority of his power to someone else.

That person was Zant wasn't it?

No, he was just a decoy. Ganon just used him to get a body and get back into the light world.

How do you know all of this? I thought you were a part of me, how do you know all this stuff if I don't?

Because even though I reside inside your body, I am not limited to this body like you're mind. Where do you think your knowledge came from? Did you ever think about how you always knew where to go? That was because I would go scout and give you the info unconsciously.

Okay... How can you do that if your one of my... Past lives... And what can I call you?

Just call me whatever you want, also I cannot explain it all now. it would take quite a bit time we do not have.

What did Ganon put his power in then?

It is not what it is who. We will discuss this later I am departing now. I will come back. But, do me a favor and keep the medallion on.

Wait! Who are you? Why couldn't you communicate with me before? I have so many questions!

We will talk at a later date! When he spoke a ripple of pain went through Link's head. It was almost as bad as last time only this time it didn't last as long. Link yelled out in pain. He felt a weird sensation like something passing through him and Link realized it was the spirit inside of him leaving. The thought made him shiver.

He heard feet moving around below him and then Shad and Fado came up the ladder onto his bed loft. Link momentarily wondered were Lan and Midna had gone, then another wave of pain went through him. He clamped his eyes shut and tried not to scream.

"Link are you alright?" Fado asked.

Link tried to answer but it came out sounding like, "GaaahaAAAA!"

Link sat down on the bed and waited. After several minutes the pain started to subside. After about an hour Link felt good enough to sit up again. He looked out the small window and saw it was night time.

Link slowly lifted himself out of bed. The world was spinning again. He used the railing to support himself. He was suddenly over come with a horrible sense of nausea. He puked on the floor. He moved over to the ladder. He tried to climb down ended up tripping over his feet and fell down to the next loft. He groaned when got up. He didn't seem to have broken anything. Suddenly Fado was standing over him.

"Man, in all my years of taking care of you and being your friend I haven't ever seen you as bad as you are now!" He exclaimed.

Link only moaned. With help from Fado Link made it down to the bottom floor and collapsed in a chair.

"I… I need to clean up my… puke…" Link managed to stand up only to be pushed back down.

"Let me do that, buddy. You just need to sit and rest." Fado responded.

"Whe-where is Shad…?" Link asked.

"He is in the town with ever one else. You gave us quite a scare; your screaming was heard by everyone!" Fado explained.

Link moaned. Great, now I have made a fool of myself.

Maybe you have not. Showing weakness is not always a bad thing.

I am not weak! Be quiet and leave me alone! You are the reason I feel like this! Link yelled at the spirit within him.

"Link? Are you alright? You are not going into a screaming fit again are ya?" Fado asked.

"No, I'm fine…"

Shad came in just then and came over to Link. "Are you alright?"

"YES! Yes I am fine!" Link yelled. He jumped up from his chair, wincing slightly because his side was still hurting from his fall.

"Are you hurt?" Shad asked.

"He fell off of his bed loft." Fado informed.

Shad opened his mouth to speak up Link held his hand up and silenced him "I'm fine, you need not worry about my condition. Where are my sword and my shield?" Link asked looking down upon himself. His chest was bare and beaded with sweat. His boots stood by the door and he was wearing shorts. He ran his hand through his hair and felt no hat. That he expected, "Where are my clothes?"

"You stuff is on the book loft." Fado answered.

Link went over and climbed up the ladder. His clothes were lying in a heap on top of the book case. His sword and shield were leaning up against it. He changed into his clothes and strapped his shield and sword onto his back. He grabbed his hat and adjusted it on his head. He felt better with it on. He turned around and flipped down the stairs.

Fado and Shad looked at each other. "Someone looks like they're feeling better." Shad smirked.

Where is the medallion!

"Where is my medallion?" Link asked a little annoyed.

"Well, we put it in the basement because we figured that was what was making you scream…" Fado said nervously.

"It was." You are not supposed to tell them that! They will prevent you from wearing it! Then I cannot help you!

I'm not so sure that is such a bad thing.

Link slid down the basement ladder. He picked up his lantern that he kept down there and lit the oil. The medallion was hanging on a nail on the wall. Link picked it up and looked at it for a moment. How do I know it will not cause me pain again?

Because, the only reason it hurt you in the first place was because your mental barriers were falling down. I don't know how you got this but it was to my benefit.

And why did my head hurt again right before you left? Link accused.

You have never experienced me leaving you at that magnitude before. I am guessing that because your mental barriers fell it made it more intense.

And if I don't put it on?

My prison inside your mind will be re-constructed; I might even cease to exist.

How do I know that you are on my side?

I am a past life of yours! Why would I not?

… I don't totally trust you. If you lead me and/or my friends into a bad situation, I promise to remove and destroy the medallion. Do I have your word?

… i can not promise that i will keep you totally out of danger but i will try…

That's not what I said. i can fight, I don't need you protection. I mean, if you lie and tell me that it is safe when it's not.

Link looked down at the medallion again. Timidly, he slipped it over his neck. He flinched, but nothing happened. Sighing with relief he placed it underneath his shirt and blew out the lamp. He climbed back up the stairs to find two concerned people staring at him.

"What?" Link demanded.

"You didn't put that thing back on, did you?" Shad asked.

"Yes, I had to…" Link answered.

"Why?"

"I can't explain right now…" Link moved over to shad and whispered to him, "I will tell you once Fado has left…"

Link moved over to the fireplace and let the flames warm his face.

"Well, I got to get back to the goats. Link, you tell me if you need anything…" Fado said after a moment. He walked over to the door and left.

"Where are Midna and Lan?" Link asked after a moment.

"They are in the Twilight Realm. Midna said that she needed to be there to comfort her people. She has been gone awhile. And the people are growing restless and scared without their Queen. So are you going to tell me now?" Shad pressed.

Link sighed, "You know that I am the bearer of the Triforce, right?"

"Of course!"

"Well, I have past lives because of the Triforce, and I can communicate with one of my past lives. But I can only do this because of this medallion. It brings down my mental barriers, I think, so that he can talk to me…" Link explained.

"Link, that is strange. But I have come to know you are strange." Shad laughed.

Link stared at him, "Has your memory returned?"

"Mostly, yes. While you were sleeping I was suddenly hit with a sense of realization and my memories flashed before me. It was quite extraordinary. Something are still a little fuzzy though." Shad explained.

Link stared at shad for another moment before his mouth broke into a large smile, "Shad! This is wonderful news! I cannot believe this!"

"I don't really understand why my memory left me in the first place though…"

I do.

What then?

Your enemy, Arun, messed with his mind when he took over him. He knew that you were coming close to finding him so he slowed you down.

"It was Arun, I think, Messing with your head." Link said aloud.

"I wouldn't doubt it." Shad said angrily.

Link was silent for a moment. "We need to leave. We have been held back so much. I don't want to think about what he might have done to Ilia." Link said.

"I agree. I want to help. Link you go ahead without me. I will stay and help if something happens here. You take Midna and Lan I will stay and protect the people here." Shad offered.

Link was going to protest but, with all the delays, Link didn't think they had a choice.

"Alright." Link agreed

Shad smiled, "Thank you."

"But, I am going to leave Midna here with you. I suspect that Lan is the traitor. I want to keep an eye on him." Link smiled. Shad blushed.

"Well… I, uh…"

Link smiled even larger. "Good bye my brother I will see you soon." Link put a hand on Shad's shoulder and walked out the door. As if on cue, a portal opened up and Midna and Lan appeared before him. He jumped down and walked over to them. He explained the plan to them.

"Link I trust you, I will stay here, but only for a couple days. If nothing happens in three days, I am going to take shad and find you, got it?" Midna asked.

"Okay." Link smiled. Lan was silent. He moved over to Link and sunk into his shadow.

Link walked over to his horse and jumped up onto her. He nodded to Midna and rode out of the clearing.