Gah, my hand is killing me. Damn you exams, Damn you! So yeah, sorry this took so long, I had an essay exam thing to do. Blegh! But oh sweet Farore so many reviews. I'm so happy! –happy flail dance-
AreiaCananaid: Let us prey… no…wait pray.
Eptastic Girl: You must have a lot of frying pans. I don't think Link would approve but alright. Restrain yourself until I finish the story though. –Midna hides behind Link- Keep that mallet in hand, we're going for Zant soon. And yeesh try not to scare the living bananas out of her. They're back, from outer space! And won't be staying for very long.
Dragoness of storm: Thank-you! :D
Nejoyoukie: Join the club, all members require a weapon of some sort. Thank-you! :D he will…in time. Fear the pulverising poultry. And goddess, Ganon would be SO screwed.
And thanks for every one who favourited and followed! You fill my life with rainbows! (and frying pans)
"So you're telling me that, that…King Bublin kidnapped the children and that when you rescued them. That he later kidnapped Colin, and that you battled him and his army and won. And that you battled him and his army again when you took Ilia and a zora boy to kakariko and won. And that you battled him a third when you infiltrated their camp. Am I missing anything?" Rusl said.
Link nodded. He was anxious to leave. The youth was angry at his helplessness against Zant and was eager to give him a hiding he'd never forget.
"I can't even begin to fathom what you get up to." He sighed.
Link chuckled.
"Well, let's just be glad he's on our side." Shad said.
Link stood up. He nodded to Rusl.
"You leaving already?" Rusl asked.
Link nodded again.
"Alright then. Stay safe. And tell that Midna girl I'm sorry for shouting at her."
Link smiled and turned to leave, Silver hot on his heels. It was still dark when they left the bar. Silver tugged on Link's tunic. Link nodded and signalled for Midna to change him into a wolf.
"Are you sure you're ok?" the wolfos asked.
The wolf nodded.
"I know you want to get going, but I think it's a good idea for us to rest up at kakariko."
They had taken the shortcut past the main plaza so as not to frighten anyone. Link stopped and looked at her.
"Look at yourself, you've more cuts than a pincushion. Tell him Midna!"
"She has point. You did spend the last couple of nights locked up in a pit. Not to mention the fact that Silver led her own little army against the moblins as well. If she's coming she has to be in good shape."
Link growled a little but consented.
"Good dog!"Midna said patting his head.
Link would've given her a little buck if he hadn't been so tired.
"HAND IT OVER!" a voice cried.
"No, please, I can't…" a smaller voice stammered in return.
"HAND IT OVER NOW!"
Link and Silver exchanged glances and ran towards the tent. Inside they saw the STAR man and a youngish boy.
"GIVE ME THE MONEY!"
"But…I don't have any…"
"NO MONEY! THEN ITS SLAVERY FOR YOU!"
At this last remark Link snapped. He leapt from the shadows and pinned the STAR man down. He snarled deep in his throat and his teeth hovered inches from the man's face.
"GET OFF ME!"
Link snarled and let his claws dig into his skin.
"Please! Take anything you want. Take…take the boy! Yes, eat the boy! Just let me go!"
While this went on, Silver crept out of the shadows to the boy. The boy gave a yelp when he saw her. Silver lowered her muzzle and whined. Signing she meant no harm. When the boy realised this, he stretched out a tentative hand. Silver allowed him to pet her. Once she'd gained his trust she went and sat down in front of him.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Midna asked.
She'd left Link's back and come to hover beside the boy.
"uh…I was out walking on the street when he snatched me into his tent…then he, said that if I didn't play his game he'd take all my belongs…he didn't explain anything, just shoved me into the cage…I didn't know what to do and I lost…then he demanded me forfeit money…but I didn't have any money to give to begin with…he…said that he'd sell me into slavery."
"Men like him is why this world is riddled with monsters." Midna spat.
Silver growled at the STAR man.
Link who had overheard this conversation increased the volume of his snarl and let his claws dig in further.
"uh…not the boy…then those girls…they come here every day…you could just wait 'till morning and eat them…"
Link was disgusted by this man. How dare he sell out others in exchange for his own life. He let his claws draw blood.
"GAH…a goat…wolves like goats…I could get you a goat to eat…"
Midna floated over to the STAR man.
"Let me talk to him Link." She said.
The wolf obliged and stepped off the petrified man. He went and sat by Silver. The boy was little scared at first, but when the wolf whined to him and Silver licked the wolf's ear. He cautiously put out a hand to pet him. When he did, the wolf's tail started wagging. Now the boy stood between to wolves, a hand on each of their heads.
Midna's hand shot out and pinned him to the cage wall.
"You just don't get it do you?" she sneered. "We're not like you! The more lives you offer up, the angrier Link will get. And trust me when I say that, that wolf took on an entire army to save one child." She let this sink in.
The man's eyes darted to the wolf. Link yawned, showing off his large white fangs. The man gulped.
"If you promise to never ever con, abduct or threaten anyone again AND tell me where you sent the people you put into slavery, then maybe I won't let Link rip your throat out."
The man nodded fearfully. Midna let him to drop to the floor.
"Where are they?" she demanded.
"Near…near kakariko gorge."
"better, now, if I find you breaking your promise, I won't hesitate to let Link end your pathetic life."
Link padded up to her. She sat on his back and with Silver and the boy in tow they trotted out. Suddenly something went whirling towards Midna. Midna ducked, avoiding the object. Quick as lightning Link was upon the STAR man. The man's crossbow lay broken beside him. Link's teeth flashed. The man screamed. Midna floated over.
"Next time you try that, Link won't be lenient."
The STAR man opened his eyes and was pulled into thee wolf's startling blue eyes. They were familiar some how. He'd seen them before. But couldn't remember when. Link stepped off and Midna seated herself on his back again.
The man's hands went to his face. Around his eye was a crescent shaped wound bleeding profusely.
Link left the tent to join Silver and the boy.
"You two alright?" Silver asked.
Link nodded as did Midna.
"What's going to happen to him?" Silver asked.
Link barked a suggestion.
"Alright, but I thought I told you that you needed rest. Running about the place is not going to do your wounds any good. Urgh stupid beast." She cuffed him over the ear.
Link winced. Midna turned to the boy.
"Where are your parents?" she asked.
"They died several years ago." He replied.
Link whined and licked the boy's hand in empathy. Silver too rubbed her head into his hand.
"You too huh?" he said.
"Any family?"
The boy shook his head.
"Ok then, listen I'm going to take you to some friends. Tell them what you told me. Then we'll take you to Kakariko Village." She said.
The boy nodded.
They walked back to Telma's bar. Link barked for them to open the door.
"Midna?" Shad said.
"You know anything about slavery?" she said as Link (wolf) walked in.
"What?"
"Tell them what you told me." Midna said to the boy.
So the boy did. The faces of the bar's occupants grew grave.
"If it weren't for Midna and her wolves I might've ended up in slavery." He said, finishing his account.
"And where is this happening?" Aaru asked.
"Kakariko Gorge." The boy replied.
"Alright then, Ashei, Rusl, you with me?" the old man said standing up. They nodded.
"You go home to your parents now, we'll look after this." Telma said, putting a hand on the boy's head.
"I…don't have any." He said quietly.
On hearing this the woman pulled him into a bear hug.
"Oh you poor thing." She said.
"We're taking him to Kakariko." Midna explained.
"But the road is treacherous." Telma replied.
"Link's taking us."
"Well, if he's taking you then it must be alright. Tell him to come by later." Telma released the boy.
"Be good." she said.
The boy nodded.
The boy followed the wolves outside. They led him to the east gate. As they walked, the boy began asking questions.
"Isn't the big wolf called Link?"
"Yes and no. There's two Links, wolf Link" as she said this she patted the wolf's flank. "And hylian Link. You'll meet him at the gate." Midna explained.
"Are you three coming with me?" he asked.
"Link and I won't. He doesn't really like Hylian Link so they steer clear of each other. I'll be staying with him because he wouldn't last a second without me."
Link gave her a little buck.
"Oi you!" she snapped, cuffing his ear again.
"Silver will be staying with you though."
The boy smiled at that and petted Silver's head. They arrived at the gate.
"Well, this is where we part. The other Link will be along shortly." And with that wolf Link loped away.
A few minutes later, a teenager clad in green clothing jogged over. He smiled at the boy.
"You're Link right? The other one?" the boy asked.
Link nodded. The teen patted Silver's head in greeting. Then he pulled the horse call from his pouch.
"What's that?" the boy asked.
Link smiled mischievously and blew the call. A sweet melody filled the air. There was a neigh and the most beautiful horse that the boy had ever seen came galloping towards them.
When she arrived, Link stroked her muzzle affectionately.
"She's beautiful." The boy breathed. "Can I?"
Link nodded and stepped aside. The mare sniffed his hand and then allowed herself to be petted.
"What's her name?" he asked.
Link pointed to the crest on her martingale.
"Ep-o-na. Epona, is that her name?"
Link nodded again. He looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to rise. He walked to the left side of Epona and beckoned for the boy to follow. He obliged. Grasping the boy's waist with strong hands he lifted him up onto the front of the saddle. He then climbed up behind him. He picked up the reins and gave a light tap with his feet. The mare neighed with joy and cantered off, Silver running beside her.
The boy couldn't contain his excitement as they went up into a gallop. He yelled with exhiliration as they sped towards Kakariko. Even when Link had to draw his sword and slice any creature that got too close of shoot down and Kargorocs, the boy donned a grin on his face.
Before long they reached kakariko. The boy was upset when they trotted into the village and Link helped him down off the mare. A robed man approached them.
"Good to see you Link. Who is your friend?"
"I'm Ryan. He brought from Hyrule town because I had no family." The boy said.
The shaman nodded.
"I am Renado. You are welcome here. Already some of Link's friends from Ordon reside here."
"LINK!" a voice cried angrily.
Ryan could have sworn Link shrunk away slightly.
Renado sighed.
"HOW DARE YOU LET EPONA GET HURT! SHE CAME BACK COVERED IN WOUNDS!" a girl raged, storming over.
Ryan heard Link gulped and sidle behind Epona.
"YOU IRRESPONSIBLE PATHEIC EXCUSE FOR A HORSEMAN!" shouted in his face.
"Calm down Ilia. I am quite sure Link didn't mean any harm."
"Keep out of this Renado. Link needs to be taught a lesson!" she said to him.
Link took this opportunity to creep away.
"GET BACK HERE!" she ordered.
Link froze.
"Who's that?" Ryan asked.
"Ilia. A friend of Link's from Ordon. She is, as you can see, very protective of Epona…and very easily angered." Renado replied.
Ryan looked at Ilia. She was scolding Link angrily. Ryan felt sorry for him. He hadn't done anything wrong. Silver whined.
"What's up?" he asked.
She gestured to Link.
Ryan looked closely at him. Then he realised that he was covered in wounds. He seemed pale and his hands were shaking.
"Hey! Ilia!" Ryan cried.
She turned on him.
"What do YOU want?" she demanded.
Facing Ilia like that, he felt his confidence desert him. Silver growled at her.
"Link brought me here from Hyrule Town. He fought off loads of monsters to keep me safe." Ryan said timidly.
"He did?" she asked.
Ryan nodded. She turned back to Link.
"Is this true?"
Link nodded.
"Look closely Ilia." Renado said to her.
Ilia looked at him questioningly but nonetheless looked at her victim. She gasped when she saw the wounds that riddled his body and the rips in his tunic. All her anger left her.
"Inside now!" she ordered.
Link gulped again and walked into the inn.
Yay, I kept my promise. Twilight realm next! Fear the disembodied hands! Well, that's it for now. Keep reviewing guys.