Nintendo created all the characters and places and stuff. I just made the story up. The cover was done by Tavoriel of DeviantART.
Chapter fourteen - Boars And Brothers
It was pouring with rain on a quiet summer morning, Link pulled on his summer cloak and opened the door, Colin was still fast asleep as dawn had not yet arrived. Uli came downstairs, still in her nightclothes, Rusl was still in bed.
"Good morning, Link." Uli yawned as Link lit the stove and filled a bottle with cold water from the pump
"Morning, Ma." Link replied
"Where are you going so early?" Uli sighed rubbing her eyes as Link put the kettle on the stove
"It's kid season, Ma. I want to help this year." Link mumbled slicing some bread from a thick loaf
"Actually, Rusl wanted to take you to Kakariko Village. We need Epona to help with the harvest." Uli replied sitting at the table; Link groaned. "Now I know Fa is a little over protective-"
"A little?!" Link shrieked over the whistle of the kettle
"Alright, very overprotective, but he can't trap you here looking after goats all your life." Uli sighed as Link sat down with two cups of pumpkin tea, one for him and one for her. Uli placed a hand on his right arm and chuckled "You can do whatever you like and we will support you."
"Thanks, Ma." Link sighed giving her a hug
"You're not a child anymore, Link. You are a young man with much potential; you can do anything you want." Uli spoke, getting up from the table
"Ma…" Link whispered, his hands moved to his cup "I was thinking…"
"What?" Uli asked buttering a slice of bread
"I was thinking, Colin needs his own room and I'm sixteen. I should move out." Link stammered hoping Uli would not do anything out of surprise
"Where would you move to?" Uli questioned putting a few slices of goat cheese on top of the bread
"I was going to build my own place, just outside the village in that clearing where Epona grazes." Link stuttered, his hands shaking around his cup. Uli came beside him and put a hand on his shoulder
"You can do whatever you like and we will support you." Uli repeated "Have a talk with Fa today. Tell him slowly. Steer the conversation towards the subject."
"Do I have to?" Link giggled, letting his nervous frown disappear to welcome back the smile
"There's my Link." Uli remarked running a hand through his hair
Epona was saddled up to a small cart with Link keeping her calm. She had never been hitched to one before. Rusl and Bo were loading up the cart with crates of pumpkins, bottles of milk, rounds of cheese and steaks of goat; along with a basket of food for Rusl and Link, a tent and a few treats for Epona. Link tightened the reigns and sat in the wooden seat on the cart. Ilia came to Epona's side, as normal she blanked Link off to talk to Epona. Link folded his arms and rolled his eyes as Epona shook her head to tell Ilia to back off a little
"Still prefer your master over me, huh?" Ilia smirked turning to face Link so that his cheeks turned bright red "You never said you were going to Kakariko."
"I didn't know till this morning." Link answered leaning forward; Ilia sighed and walked off to Bo. Link took the reigns as Rusl climbed on the seat next to him and told him to let Epona walk.
They kept silent; the only sound was Epona's hooves against the grass. It was still dark so Rusl lit a lantern and held it up so Link could see. Link was unnerved; Rusl's head was constantly swivelling around looking for danger. Something shuffled in the grass causing Rusl to draw his sword; the silver blade gleamed in the torch light. "Hare." Link sighed pointing towards a thin, long eared creature feeding on some plant leaves. Rusl sheathed his sword; Link flicked his ears and whispered a command to Epona: Fast.
Epona broke her rhythm of a slow walk to a trot, before heading to a slow gallop
"Slow her down." Rusl ordered as the carriage shook, Link stood up on his seat and flicked the reigns harder, an arrow whizzed past his head
"If I do, we'll get caught." Link growled, Rusl poked his head out to see two Moblins riding huge boars, eager to get the trade from inside. Rusl moved back to avoid an arrow to the face to see Link draw his own sword and look at the blade. Rusl got an unreadable stare.
"Keep going straight!" Rusl roared climbing through the cloth that served as a roof and walls to get a good look at the Moblins. Link gave a sharp turn on the reigns as a Moblin shot an arrow narrowly missing Rusl's head. Link let out a howl; Rusl rushed up to him and covered his mouth
"Fa!" Link shouted through Rusl's hand "I know what to do!"
"Listen to me, Link. When I tell you to go straight, you go straight. If we can reach Kakariko Village-" Rusl snapped, Link pushed his hand away
"Fa, if I hadn't turned when I did, you wouldn't be shouting at me!" Link snarled, handing the reigns to Rusl. Rusl opened his mouth to speak but Link had vanished inside the cart. Rusl glimpsed back to see him jump from the back of the cart onto the front of one of the boars, missing a hard hit with a club over the back of the head. Link shoved the rider off the front and barked a command to both boars: Stop!
Both halted forcing their riders to fly across Hyrule Field.
Rusl stopped Epona and jumped down to find Link sitting in the empty saddle of the bigger of the two boars. He had a smile on his face but Rusl held a glare on his.
"You could have been killed." Rusl whispered which made Link forget his smile
"Just because I didn't do it your way doesn't mean I got hurt." Link whined climbing down of the boar "Do I make you proud, Fa? Or do your safety concerns overrule that?"
"Link, I am proud of you. But I wish you would be more careful." Rusl sighed; Link threw his arms into the air
"You never sound it." Link mumbled "There is always something wrong no matter what I do right."
"Oh, no, Link. I-" Rusl stammered trying not to look at Link, his unblinking scowl was something only Link could give
"That's why I'm moving out." Link said sharply, Rusl swallowed hard
"I'm sorry, Link." Rusl spoke "I've made some dreadful mistakes in the past with you. I know how much I hurt you and I didn't care as long as you were safe."
"But-" Link interrupted Rusl put a hand up to stop him
"Now I see you're not a child anymore; I have to let you grow up. Life can be cruel and it has been to you. I wasn't helping." Rusl whispered choking on his breath "I'm sorry, son. I should be treating you like a man. Not a boy."
Link's smile returned "You really mean that?"
Rusl opened his arms "I do. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I won't do it again." Link rushed into him, Rusl hugged him tight
Rinku watched with Rose on the hill next to the Den. Grinning their wolf grins.
It took time. But I'm sure it is forgiveness Link is giving. His father finally understands. Rose whispered
I guess I should tell him now. Rinku sighed turning around, his coat turning a dark shade
He needs you one more time, Rinku. You can't leave yet! Rose howled pointing her nose to the sky, Rinku growled, Dark's face was hanging in a black cloud above the pair.
I will rid Link's life of him! Rinku snarled as Dark winked at him
How will he do it this time? Rose asked
I don't know. But he better be ready for us. If he wants a fight, he's got one. Rinku growled I've had enough.
Uli waited with Colin back at the Spirit Spring. She heard echoing laughter as the carriage came around the corner. Rusl had his arm around Link. Uli smiled as Link winked at her, he had told him.
Link sat with Colin that night on the rug playing a card game. Uli was knitting a jumper while Rusl was making cups of pumpkin tea. The entire house seemed to be at ease, full of peace and calm. Yet something lingered in the back of Link's mind that all was not well.
He tucked Colin into bed and put more water in the vase of night flowers, he was tired from the trip so climbed into his hammock, undoing the outgrown ponytail while he was at it.
"Are you okay?" Colin asked his eight year old curiosity sensing something was wrong
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Link replied turning to face him
"Just asking." Colin questioned. Link sent him a smile
"I'm fine." Link whispered, his eyelids were getting heavy
"Good night, Link." Colin yawned turning over
"Night, Colin." Link answered "Sweet dreams."
The night was dark and the rainclouds were giving way to the moon. It shone bright through Link's window allowing the room to be covered in a white blanket. Link woke with a gasping breath and turned to look at Colin's bed. He was fast asleep with the covers up to his neck. Link strained his eyes; that uneasy feeling returned to Link's mind. Link crept out of his hammock and pulled back the covers of Colin's bed.
Colin was not there.
"Surprise!" Daku cackled with a shriek. In an instant he pressed his hands on Link's shoulders and focused Link's stare onto him. Link tried to pull away but Daku's eyes had seized him, he gagged on his breath as Daku stood up from the bed, blood began to drip from Link's palms as Daku put his hands against them
"L-let go o-of me!" Link shouted as Daku pinned him against the wall, every breath Link could feel the air being tortured out of his lungs and electricity ran through him at his heartbeat.
"I know everything about you; I am bound to you like Dark is to Rinku. Forever!" Daku shrieked touching Link's forehead with his own. Link let out a breathless scream as Daku vanished into a cloud of black smoke and flew into Link's open eyes.
Link tried to stand up; his head was flicking back and forth without his control, his hair went from black to brown to blond to black again. He let out a roar and yowled at the moon.
"St-stop it; you're suffocating m-me!" Link screamed, his voice came no more than a horse whisper
"Stop resisting me!" Daku shouted in his head
"Never!" Link coughed dropping to his knees; Link's eyes turned red as Rinku rushed to the window
"Link!" Rinku shrieked Daku jumped out of the window in Link's body
"Pathetic fools who love the Light! Surrender before Master and the Darkness!" Dark snarled, using a hint of Link's breathless voice. Rinku drew his sword
"Release him." Rinku demanded
"You can't kill me. You risk killing him. Goodbye, Rinku. Thanks for keeping him safe for me." Daku laughed clicking his fingers, he vanished into the night.