Chapter Twelve
Ignorat Pacem Bello
"Peace Knows Not of War"
Colin sat at the table in the back of the bar as he went over a list. The boy would be heading back to Ordon soon, and he wanted to make sure that he hadn't forgotten to do or get anything while in Castle Town. He was quite surprised at how much he had matured since the day he and the other Ordonian children had been captured and taken from their home. The boy's first great act of courage was when he had saved Beth in Kakariko, but he knew that one deed was far from enough. Colin swore that he would become someone worthy of carrying on Link's legacy in Ordon Village.
The boy sighed. He was worried, not having seen Link for over a year and wondering more and more of late where he could have possibly gone after leaving so suddenly. Colin refused to accept his role model had fallen in battle like he had overheard during his time in the bar. Link was the type to fight to the last breath for those he cared for, but knew when it was the time to run if necessary.
The people of Ordon never addressed the subject of his disappearance directly, but if it was ever brought up they simply brushed it aside, telling themselves he was merely out on some long journey and would be home safe and sound any day, if he indeed wanted to return to such a quaint little place.
Once he had gotten back to his home village, Colin and the other kids told everyone what had come to pass – at least what they had witnessed themselves. All of them knew so much more had happened, but even after a year they still didn't understand everything that had come to pass, and Colin feared they never would. Upon returning, the boy decided to take up residence in Link's house to guard the village and simultaneously keep the abode his friend had inhabited in order. After all, the home his parents resided in was quite small, especially now since he had a little sister.
After arriving in Ordon, he decided to take up the sword. Although Colin never originally intended to be a swordsman, he felt he owed Link something in return for everything the Hero had done for him. Colin trained every day with direction from his father, soon becoming stronger in not only the way of the blade, but herding as well. He quickly filled Link's absence, inheriting Epona and wrangling Fado's livestock. Although he was a bit small for the giant mare, she worked well with him.
Eventually Mayor Bo confronted Colin about becoming the new representative of the village. The boy's father, Rusl, had been wounded pretty badly from a monster attack on Ordon not long after all the children had been kidnapped. With Rusl unable to travel long distances, the duty of messenger that was briefly Link's was passed on to Colin.
The Ordonian turned his attention back to the bar, no longer reminiscing about past events he faced but still not fully focused on the present. It was before noon, yet that didn't stop people from drinking. Colin never understood why someone would want to lose himself in alcohol. Sure, times had been tough this past year, but Princess Zelda had quickly brought the kingdom back into order. Now that everything was normal once more people no longer had the excuse to forget their current troubles, yet it seemed some still desperately clung to that. It really is true that people forget how bad times are when they live in an era of peace. Although young, the boy had gone through plenty for him to mature. His experiences probably made him more of a man than any of the lazy soldiers that frequented the bar when they were off – and sometimes still on – duty.
"You okay hun?" Telma asked, snapping Colin out of his own mind for good as she walked up to him, carrying a glass of milk. He hadn't realized he had caught the attention of the bartender with his thoughtful expression.
"Yes, I'm quiet well. Though I don't recall ordering anything."
"It's on the house," she replied with a wink, setting the glass on the wooden surface next to the large map of Hyrule that seemed to always lay sprawled across the table.
"Thank you, and Telma…" he drifted, eyes almost glazing over as he was once more pulled into the depths of the past and that of his own thoughts. He was brought back to the moment at hand with the woman's voice.
"Hmm?" she raised an eyebrow, setting a palm on the table and leaning against the wooden surface. She had never seen him act this way before and knew from his demeanor that Colin had something important on his mind.
"What… do you think happened to Link?"
The question seemed to hover in the air. He'd never brought the subject up with the bartender, but for some reason the boy was remembering his role model more and more of late.
Telma froze for a moment, thinking over what to say, as she herself sometimes questioned his disappearance as well. The woman opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, the bell over the door chimed, letting her know guests had arrived. Without a word, she turned from the table, hopping over to the counter and beginning to polish a glass, Colin and his question put aside for the moment and the presence of customers giving the bartender an excuse to think on the boy's query as she cleaned the glassware. She hated doing the dishes and only did so when customers arrived. It made her look productive.
"Welcome to Telma's!" she called as three cloaked guests stepped into her establishment, her outer voice more cheerful than her inner one at the moment. One of the newcomers was braced by the tallest while the last seemed to glide effortlessly. Something about them seemed familiar yet foreboding to Telma. "What can I get for you?"
"Greetings Telma," the middle-height one called as the three made their way to the table in the front. Louise jumped off the surface, walking over to the bar owner behind the counter and brushing up against her leg. Colin watched from the back of the bar, glancing over the edge of his list so he didn't appear to be eavesdropping. He let the question he had asked Telma slide from his mind, focusing on the mysterious new arrivals.
"My, my… a familiar voice from a time ago," Telma spoke, at first shocked at the unexpected appearance of the Princess she knew hid beneath the veil. "Last time I'd seen you here wasn't long after that event at the castle. Shame about that. Good men died that day and I lost myself a few customers. Anyway, that is something in the past. What can I get for you today hun?" She glanced from the cloaked figure that spoke towards the two others with her.
"I have an important matter to discuss. I believe it involves the Wolf that hasn't been seen for quite some time."
Telma stopped polishing the glass, gaze once more darting to the disguised royal in response to her statement. That was the code word used for matters involving the Resistance. The Princess of Hyrule visited the bar a year ago to discuss the events that had come to pass in which most of the kingdom had seen in a different light – quite literally. It was at that time Zelda revealed practically everything to the bar owner. The royal woman had almost lost herself in drink. The poor thing had so much to do in order to get her kingdom under control again. She had needed someone to vent to, and Telma was willing to listen.
She and the other members of the Resistance had known Zelda on a personal basis for years. The Princess had even used them as spies of sorts to crack down on sneaky criminals in the past, yet the royal never came to the bar personally unless it involved something of the utmost importance. The Resistance leader set the glass on the counter, tossing the torn rag used to clean it over her shoulder.
"So, it seems…" she drifted, turning to the men who slept at the bar. This early in the day and they had already drunk themselves to sleep. Telma slapped her hand on the counter, making them snap to awareness. One even saluted her before glancing around and realizing he wasn't on duty. The woman nodded her head towards the door and the men grumbled as they unsteadily made their way to the exit. The pub owner sighed at the sight of one patron still present. The town doctor was still snoring.
"You old coot, wake up. I'll give you a pint on the house," she grumbled and the elderly man snorted a moment later.
"Wh-whuzzit? Oh, yes please," he spoke groggily, coming to at the tempting offer of the bartender. He adjusted his glasses to meet the stringent eyes of Telma.
"Out. Or do you want me to hire the strong-arm again? Even after a year you still haven't paid your tab in full." Telma's arms were crossed in front of her chest, face stern.
"Eh? Ah, I-I'll be going then," he nervously muttered, hopping off the bar stool and making his way towards the door. As he passed the odd bunch he mumbled something about the lack of respect towards elders these days.
Once the door latched closed behind the last of the drunks and the sound of the bell drifted to silence, the bartender turned towards her guests yet again. Colin scooted further down in his seat, attempting to hide. It seemed Telma had forgotten about him and his presence had gone unnoticed by the newcomers.
"Wolf, huh?" the woman said with an eyebrow raised.
Zelda nodded, pulling back her hood. The others were still and silent, not following her actions. Telma didn't expect the appearance of the Princess to be as she was, but understood. Something big was happening, just as it had then, even if it was cloaked in shadow to the public eye.
"Yes, he has returned and seems to be injured. I am hoping you will be able to provide some assistance regarding his safe passage, will you not?"
"Cryptic as always, I see." Telma came out from behind the bar, walking over to the group of three as she threw the rag from her shoulder onto the counter. "Where is this injured wolf?"
Without a word Link stepped forward, reaching for the hood and pulling it from his face. Telma's eyes widened at the sight of unnatural lines and eerie irises, and Colin couldn't help but let out a gasp. The three cloaked figures tensed, turning to the sound of the boy's surprise. He hunkered down behind the list he still held.
"Luckily for you, I think I might have the right one for the job," Telma broke the tension in the room a moment later. She knew better to ask about Link's condition, understanding it would be explained at some point or another, if she even need know what was happening.
"Colin?" Link asked, taking a step towards the boy. It took the Hero a moment to recognize the kid. He'd gone through a rapid growth spurt, shooting up a few inches and beginning to develop muscles known to only swordsmen and equestrians.
The Ordonian poked his head out from behind the list, setting the parchment on the table and in the process covering part of the map of Hyrule. He understood there was no use in hiding now.
"Link… what's happened to you?" Colin asked, frightened over his friend's strange appearance and unexpected arrival after a sudden and long absence.
The Hero smiled sadly, opening his mouth to speak; yet he didn't know where to begin.
"I hate to interrupt the moment, but we do have something important we need to discuss," spoke the one who had stayed silent and cloaked since the moment of their appearance.
"Of course," Zelda said. "It is a long story…"
The two common folk sat in awe, absorbing the information the Princess of Hyrule had presented them with. Colin was in more shock than Telma. He never expected to meet the ruler of the kingdom he resided in, let alone have her reveal the existence of a whole other world. The boy didn't know what to do or say, unable to draw his gaze away from the Twili's strange appearance. In addition to that, he was having trouble accepting his friend was essentially very ill; body in a vague way fighting itself and that of foreign magic Colin had no understanding of.
Telma's expression was serious as she was in deep thought. This was a matter far stranger than she had originally anticipated. Zelda had told her of the Twilight Invasion so she knew fragments of the tale, but not all this. At first the Resistance leader thought it had to do with the gang of bandits that had been occasionally seen throughout Hyrule, but upon seeing Link's appearance, she knew that something much more sinister was happening. The woman was half tempted to object to Zelda's idea of coming along, but knew no matter what she said, she knew the Princess would find a way around her words.
Zelda had left out the history of the Interlopers, much to Midna's relief at this time. The Princess was able to sum up everything without going into detail over the legends that had been kept a close secret along the Royal Family lines of both races. The Fused Shadows and Mirror were explained of course, but the history and Legend of the Sheikah were not. The Hylian Princess didn't want to burden anyone with more troubles and understood that the words she spoke now were already plenty confusing enough.
During the whole story, Link sat at the bar, his arms crossed atop the counter and face buried in them as he rested.
"I understand this comes as quite a shock, but you must keep this a secret to everybody as of now. So, will you assist us?" Zelda finally questioned, her explanation complete for the moment.
"Of course," Telma spoke without hesitation. "After all Link's done for Hyrule…" she drifted, looking to the tired Hero. Her eyes traveled towards that of the foreigner. "…for this Twilight Realm you speak of… now I must do my part."
"Thank you," Zelda spoke genuinely, turning to the Ordonian in the back, "Colin, would you lend your powers?"
He looked back at her, face dumbfounded as he still attempted to digest everything that had been explained. Although he wasn't the naïve boy of the past, much of this still went far over his head.
"Y-Yes, Your Highness," he stuttered. Although her garb was far from formal, Colin couldn't help but address her in that manner. In response Zelda smiled sorrowfully.
"Please, refer to me by name. We are accomplices here. I regret not meeting you in person earlier. I had heard of your deeds from my council when you had come as representative over these past few months."
"No one knew I was a princess for so long. Relax kid," Midna interjected, smiling to brighten the mood. It had been far too somber of late and she missed using her lighthearted words. It felt odd, but at the same time, in a way, right. "Us royal women like to keep in disguise," she continued, referring to her unwanted cursed form from her last time in Hyrule and Zelda's current guise as an ancient guardian.
"Telma, what of the other members of the Resistance?" the Princess asked, bringing their conversation back to the matter at hand. The explanation had taken far longer than they had anticipated and the day was progressing rapidly.
"Ashei is in Snowpeak studying an ancient mansion she had come across when exploring the region. Rusl is in Ordon, as Colin knows, and last I heard, Auru is trying to find a way into Gerudo desert from Lake Hylia since Fyer's cannon is the only way there as of now. Speaking of cannons, he's monopolizing that giant one that appeared out of nowhere. Shad took it to explore someplace in the sky, apparently. I'm quite surprised to be honest. I never expected him to be the type to go on an adventure like that, though he's fascinated by these sky beings he says are called Oocca. Fyer's been trying to drum up sales of tickets to this "City in the Sky" much to Shad's disappointment. He wants to study and preserve the culture…" Telma realized she had begun to go off topic and cleared her throat. "Anyway, will the two of us be enough?"
"Of course," Zelda replied. "The less the better I believe. We would not wish to attract too much attention."
"Zelda…" Colin said nervously. He wasn't used to addressing one of such high status by name. "I'm wondering about something… You said that when this twilight was covering Hyrule, Link didn't turn into a spirit like the rest of us but instead had another form. It was some sort of blue-eyed beast from the legends of the Twili people?" Colin spoke. "What exactly is that like?"
The Hylian royal opened her mouth to speak, but before she was able, the Twili said the Hero's name.
"Link," Midna spoke, turning to the one who hadn't moved since he laid his head on the counter. He looked up to the royal as his name was called. Midna regretted not transforming him earlier, hoping that he didn't have to suffer much in the meantime.
Link saw her concern on the face of the Twilight Princess and spoke before she had a chance to further question his health and wellbeing.
"Being in Hyrule has helped me. I don't feel pained, and like you said Midna, it's slowed down the process since I'm not influenced by the twilight here. I'm just so… tired all the time, but other than that, I'm fine. If you'd think it's best for me to transform, then do it."
Midna walked up to the Hero who stood from the barstool, still holding the counter for balance. Zelda watched inquisitively. She'd never seen him transform, having only been conscious in the Hero's presence while he possessed one body or the other. Neither she nor the other two Hylians had any idea of what was about to happen. Link pulled his cloak off, laying it over the stool he previously sat on.
The Twilight Princess summoned the Shadow Crystal and Link reached out, hand hovering in front of it but stopping before touching the magic. He turned to Colin and Telma, looking back and forth between the two as he bit his lip, canine slipping over the edge in the process of the action. He took a deep breath a moment later.
"Please… don't be shocked. It doesn't hurt me when I transform and my other shape…" Link drifted, turning back to Midna. She nodded to him. He swallowed and touched the magic.
The three light dwellers gasped as the twilight took hold of the Hero, transforming him into the beast Zelda met not long after she surrendered her kingdom to the darkness. Link shook his head, turning to the stunned expressions of the bartender and that of her young customer.
"It was you hun?" Telma asked concerned, breaking the silence after a moment. She remembered the rainy day a wolf tried to enter her bar. She knocked him outside with a broom.
He nodded. The Hero knew what she meant.
"I'm so sorry. If I'd known…" she drifted, much more serious than she was even a few moments ago.
"Louise assisted us, explaining about the secret passage to the castle that went through the sewers," Midna informed them. "Link understood since he was a beast," the Twili said, looking down to the Hero.
"Link," Colin spoke. The bestial one the boy had known in another form turned his gaze towards the Ordonian. "My father told me that a wolf attacked the village not long after the other kids and I were kidnapped. So… it was you?" he said almost unbelieving. Midna did some more explaining.
"We needed weapons for when he returned to his true form. The sword and shield Link was planning to take to Hyrule Castle as the representative of Ordon were the closest. In the process he took out some of the monsters that were on their way to the village… If necessary, we can discuss this more on the journey. We have to set out now," she finished, reaching down to Link and drawing the Shadow Crystal from him. Walking the streets of Castle Town as a beast wasn't the best idea. She knew from experience. Zelda spoke as Midna changed the Hero back to his true form.
"The Sacred Grove where the Blade of Evil's Bane rests is deep within Faron Woods."
"How long will it take to get there?" Telma asked, looking at Link who carefully pushed himself up from the ground, now back in his familiar body.
"Since instant teleportation is out of the question and we have a cart, I'm thinking maybe one night if we set out within the hour," Midna spoke, knowing the location of the hidden holy place best only to that of Link who had begun to don his cloak once again. "We can probably set up camp just outside the southernmost part of Hyrule Field in Faron Province."
"The carriage shouldn't take that long to prepare. Is Epona fed and rested?" the Resistance leader asked the boy after nodding to the Twili.
"Yes. I was planning to head back to Ordon today anyway so I made sure to give her yesterday off."
"Excellent," Zelda said, turning to Link and Midna with a nod.
The Twilight Princess looked over the motley group before her, she not an exception to the unique crowd. The Twili met the eyes of each, expression serious. They had another journey ahead of them. Midna took a deep breath and spoke words she thought that she would never again need to say – never again after she herself had been healed from an ailment not all that dissimilar from Link's in a vague sense.
"Now we go back. Back to Faron woods."
A/N: I love using actual dialog from the game in my story. It's also quite fun to give lines that belong to one character to a completely different character. Playing around with dialog can be pretty entertaining!
