*Remember this story is rated T for a reason*

Chapter 37

Blue eyes slowly opened to the faintly light room around them. Link felt the soft blanket around him and wondered briefly if he was in the castle but quickly dismissed the thought. Theses sheets were nicer than what he was used to but nothing compared to the silk used in the castle.

Link pushed himself out of bed as memory of the previous night came back to him. The room had an early morning gray light to it. When he opened the door that grayness was engulfed in the black before him. He walked along the hall with one hand against the wall and one in front of him until his eyes adjusted the darkness. He saw a stairwell leading down at the end and he assumed that he was on the third floor but as he made his way down that was not the case. When he reached the end of the stairwell there was another long hall and another staircase. Then another after that and another after that. Until finally there was a warm light at the bottom of the stairs.

"Ah you're up!" a cheery voice called as he reached the bottom floor, "I was afraid you got lost in the catacombs up there, I told James not design the place like that but he wouldn't be swayed." Nick chatter on brightly as he wheeled his way to Link.

"Where is he?" Link wondered, his eyes sweeping the room. Nick shrugged his massive shoulders.

"Ah not much of a morning person, I'm afraid," The was a glint of something in his brown eyes and he sat up taller in his chair, "In fact I'm surprised you're up this early, boy. Had a rough night?" The blonde shook his head. It had been the opposite in fact. He didn't remember anything just blissful darkness.

"Oh look at me yakking away," He said with a chuckle, "You want something to eat lad? I think I could scrap up something from the cupboards. James was supposed to restock yesterday . . ." He prattle off and soon Link found himself sitting at a table with a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of him despite his many protest. Link had enjoyed a couple spoonfuls before a thought crossed his mind.

"Did you?" the youth asked, earning a confused look from the jolly man next to him.

"Did I . . ." He trailed and Link realized the bald man had no idea what he was speaking.

"Did you have a rough night?" the blonde ask feeling the tips of his ears burn slightly. Realization crossed his eyes and while his smile never left his face, it didn't shine as brightly in his eyes.

"Observant, just like your dad." He said with a dry chuckle, "He wasn't much older than you when he asked to join. I hadn't seen anyone like him before most people don't know of our existence, except for the few asked to join and, trust me boy, those are far and few between. Than this child just shows up in a meeting and ask to join, I never seen anything like him." He locked eyes with Link, "at least until now."

"Ya didn't answer my question." Link stated firmly, though his ears burned more from the praise.

"Observant, like your dad," he repeated but mumbled quietly afterwards, "persistent too." He shook his head and waved his hand in front of his face. "I'm fine kid. I'm a big tough, mucho man, I can handle a few bad dreams." Nick stared down at the table and it took Link a moment to realize he was staring at the back of his hand. The boy quickly scratched the side of his leg and left his hand under the table.

"Of course you'd know all about nightmares I suppose…" The man trailed off. He looked at Link with earnest, leaning forward on his elbows, "What happened to you?"

"You first." Link said returning the intensity of his gaze. Nick gave a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Fair enough," He said settling himself into his chair, preparing himself for the long tale, "How much about our order do you know, kid?"Before the blonde could reply, Nick had already continued speaking, "We protect people. Legends believe that the sages chose pure hearted animals to guide and protect the land if they were to busy with other stuff. People didn't understand their warnings, so the sages made them Hylians. Others say there was a hero that could change into a blue eyed beast and after the land was safe, he taught others how to do the same. Believe what you will, but we still keep the tradition of picking a creature to represent ourselves. Something we can connect to, our inner animal.

"About five years ago, we felt a … shift in the air, I suppose you could put it. Something wasn't right, something still isn't right but I'll get to that later. You know how the world gets quiet right before a big storm? That's about what we felt, but we were a little late in discovering what it was. Monsters started appearing more often, more deaths and disappearances, but gradually. It was just slow enough so that by the time we realized what was going on, it was too late."

He rubbed his temples as if trying to prevent an oncoming head ache. As he spoke he visibly grew older and the smile slipped off his face. With a heavy sigh he continued his story and Link wasn't sure if he wanted him to.

"They found us somehow … Nobody is quite sure how. There was a breech in our system, or something. I personally believe we just got too sloppy. We were all attack at once, from within our homes. Some quick, others not so much. This was a big attack, whoever did this was plotting it for months, years maybe.

"And they had a liking for irony. We found Arial floating down a river, she drowned. After years of watching over Lake Hylia, the fish had drowned." A smile replaced his grim expression, one that didn't match the hard light in his brown eyes. Link found himself drawing away from the man.

"The territory I was in charge of was Hyrule field. When I was a boy I found hundreds of holes throughout, so when I joined the group I used them. I connected them all and created a vast network of tunnels, right there under Hyrule fields. Quickest way to get to one place to the next, of course that's only if you were me. They were an endless maze to anyone else but it was the greatest thing I ever made. My creation. My masterpiece.

"They dropped bombs. Somehow they found the entrances to my tunnels. The entire thing was collapsing right above me. I ran and somehow, found one they missed, but before I could reach the light, the ceiling caught me first. Crushed my legs, but unfortunately, not the rest of me. I was close enough to the entrance so I could still get air. I was stuck there for hours waiting for death."

"I found him first," A voice from behind made Link jump, "Pulled him out and brought him here." James said coming around the corner and heading straight for the bar. "Morning," he said as he filled a mug with a thick liquid and quickly taking a big gulp.

"Afternoon, you mean." Nick said wheeling away from where Link sat, "'bout time you got your lazy ass up."

"Noon?" James said stealing a glance out the windows at the far end of the room, "Well what do you know." he brought the mug back to his lips, not caring to look at the hard brown eyes staring intently at his sarcastic words. His gray eyes meet Link's blue ones and he brought the cup back down.

"You're still around here." He stated, smacking his lips at the bitter taste of his drink, "if you're sticking around for a while longer, I believe it's your turn to explain."

"James!" Nick scolded, but the ginger snapped around and met Nick's anger face with one of his own.

"What? You told me off for asking last night, only so you can ask him this morning and tell him that cheery tale?" He slammed his mug on the countertop. Nick opened his mouth to reply but Link found himself crying out:

"Please, I need you help!" Both men froze in their spots. Link felt his face burn as they both turn to face him. In quieter voice he said, "Please, I know there'll be more than enough time to fight in the future but I need your help right now." Then Link found himself telling them everything. From the day the voices spoke to him and Zelda, to the nightmares has been plagued with.

After he finished, no one moved, no one said a word. The child was panting slightly as if he had just run a very long distance. Never in his life had Link heard silence that deafening. He wasn't sure if he felt something wet on his cheek after watching Nick move or if it was the other way around. He wheeled over to the blonde and took hold of one of his hands in his big callused one.

"My … My poor boy," he said hesitantly patting Link's hand, "I can even begin to express how sorry I am that this fate has befalling to you." As Link spoke, the hard look in nick's brown eyes had changed to one of sorrow then to sympathy, "To think this could even happen in my lifetime is …" he trailed off unable to find the right words.

"Please," Link pleaded to the older man, "I need to find Bizi. There's so much I don't know and I think that he might know. I'm going after him with or without your help … But it'll be a lot easier with your help." He admitted quietly.

"To do what?" James snapped moving for the first time since Link spoke, "go off and save the world? What did you think? You'd come here and find an army ready to charge into battle? Well I'm sorry to disappoint you but we're done with that sort of stuff." He turned his back to the two refilling his mug. Nick glared daggers at his back but returned to Link with a sigh.

"I'm afraid he's right, boy. We aren't fighters anymore. Just take a look at me," He gestured down to the shriveled mass that used to be his legs, though there was a tattered pink blanket covering them, Link could clearly see their outline.

"We'll help you however we can but we can't fight," Nick patted Link's hand once more before letting go off it, "I'm sorry lad."

"I don't know my way around those mountains." Link stated quietly. Nick nodded understanding what he was implying.

"Other than Death Mountain, its treacherous land up there. Nothing can grow in the dirt, it's not solid enough. Too many rock slides. Too many earthquakes. Not many things can live up there." He wheeled towards the bar ignoring the unmoving redhead. He opened a cabinet and shuffled around before returning to Link with a paper on hand.

"That's the main reason we guard the -guarded the area," he corrected himself as he placed the paper next to Link's untouched oatmeal and began unfolding it, "to prevent people from settling there. It was too dangerous." The yellowed paper had many faded lines across it but Link was quickly able to recognize it as a map.

"This," Nick said pointing a meaty finger at a thick line that across it, there was an indent there as if someone had gone over the spot many times, "is the only stable path there. Been there for centuries, not changing anytime soon. Take any other path at your own risk. From what you said it sound like the guy you're looking for has taken over David's old place. That's here," he pointed to a spot along the dark line.

"Thank you." Link said as he gathered the paper and all but ran towards the door. He froze with his hand on the knob as a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"It's hopeless." James's voice sliced through him like a knife, "We thought ourselves high and mighty, when we didn't understand shit. We were fools chasing our own shadows." His stormy grey eyes bore into Link's back. "Your father doubly so for dragging you into this, now you're running off to your grave to fix his mistakes. It'll kill you like it did him." At this remark, Link turned to face him, fury in his sky blue eyes.

"I couldn't understand," Link began slowly, "Why someone who devoted his entire life protecting others was wasting away here, when people out there are in need of help. I think I do now. You just don't care for others." Link said looking at him with disgust.

"You're right!" James screamed, "I don't give a shit! Neither should you!"

"How can you say that?" The boy yelled back in disbelief, "So many people fought for others! My father died for other!"

"You will, too!"

"Then I'll die knowing I did everything I possible could!" Link screeched. Neither said anything for a moment. Once Link regained control of his emotions, he spoke again.

"I wasn't sure what I'd find, if I found you," the boy all but whispered, "But I wasn't expecting to find a coward." Link threw open the door and left the worn building, not caring to know the state he left the two men.

I know I'm the worst author in the history of authors! I give you permission to attack me with your choice of Legend of Zelda weapon for making you all wait so long. I am jeopardizing my English grade to get this to you guys.

I've been working my ass off trying to get this out. I wouldn't have been able to do it with out Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day, Belief by John Mayer and Country 92,5. Plus some awesome friends supporting me and giving advice, Thanks Attack!

Also, thank you to SB2Flazy for following this story. I should have thanked you last chapter but I didn't see it until after I posted it. So I apologize for that. alys. elle also for following and favoriting this story so thank you as well! Thank you for reviewing!

Side note: Cecily Rose Midnight posted another story and it looks like it'll be as good as the rest she already has, so you should check that out. Also another friend of mine would really like more reviews. So you should go check out DarkPriestessOfHyrule's stuff. She's pretty good too, so you should definitely give her some feedback.

Quick question for you guys, just to get you thinking: Who do you think is really the broken one?

You know what? You should tell me what you think by reviewing!

Me no grammar!

I don't own anything. It's a FANfic (duh).

Till next time!