Using her strange magic, Midna had been able to warp the four of them out of the chamber where the Diababa plant had once dwelled, and they were now back at the spirit spring in Faron Woods. The fresh air gently warmed Link's soul. Now, I think I'll take Coro up on that offer...
But just as Link started off, a mystical voice spread out to him, as a soft, lulling tune played across the words. "Heroic Link, do not think that Hyrule is now saved from the spread of twilight. Leave these woods and go to the northeast, where you will find the land protected by the spirit Eldin. There … you will find those you seek."
Link's faint hope of ever finding his friends was rekindled, and he wondered why he had ever doubted his ability to do so.
"But know that these lands lie in twilight, they are now a dark realm covered by the clouds of dusk. And … if you are to set foot beyond the curtain of twilight, you will revert to your beast form, so … be prepared."
Those words played heavily upon Link. It seemed so short a time when he had finally been released of that form and he did not relish the thought of returning to four legs. He wondered if prowling about once more would heighten his wolfish characteristics when he again returned to his pale-colored body again. The possibility of becoming more like his separate half in his true form bore into his thoughts. It was a cruel thing. It seemed that he could not be rid of his nightmare. Every hour that passed he could register how much more he was aware of his surroundings, an awareness that was unusual for any human. Was it his curse to be a beast forever? Was his life bound to the goddesses' desire to force him to become more beast than man?
Faron's voice rang in his ears and awakened him from thought. "Hero chosen by the gods, the hopes of this realm now rest with you."
The singsong melody of the voice died away and left Link to his companion. Midna had sprung up from within his shadow, grinning, as if satisfied with herself. "That's better. Searching should be much easier now. But … of course, you feel the need to help the other light spirits, don't you?" Her laugh jarred him more than it normally did. How could she be so absolutely selfish?
"Well, don't worry. When you turn into a beast again," her eyes twinkled, "I'll take good care of you." Her voice then switched to a frank tone, "Now, the first thing you need to do is find the land covered in twilight. Once you do, I'll help you out." With a drawn out low-hummed laugh, Midna once again returned to the confines of his dark counterpart. "See you later!"
Link had to wonder what had made this tiny imp the way she was, why she felt no remorse for others. Why was it that she could not bring herself to just express the emotions of compassion that he knew must be hidden somewhere within her?
What was she keeping from him? Link turned toward Saria.
"Is there a shortcut to the lands of Eldin," Link asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Just go through the Lost Woods till you reach a the entrance to the Eldin Caves. They'll lead you to the Goron City on Death Mountain."
"Thanks for the assistance," Link stated gratefully.
It had taken only a few hours to retrace the path that he had taken to reach the cave entrance where he had first met Coro, the Faron dweller. He remembered coming across the odd man's tiny shack when he had searched for the tears of light. He turned right at the cave opening and made his way through the spread of trees, until he came to the small house. Outside, Coro sat at a campfire, roasting his supper overtop its flame. The puffy-haired man looked up at him. It was in this light that Link could finally take in his full appearance. He had believed that Coro had been much older than he, but realized that it had only been due to the premature growth of a slight beard that made his boyish body seem mature. His small eyes made him appear to be in a constant state of tiredness.
"Hey, Ordonian boy!" said Coro immediately, looking up from the roasting rodent he had slapped on a pointed stick. "What can Coro help you with?"
"I thought I'd take you up on that oil," said Link.
"Ah! Yes. Okay." Coro happily leapt up from his seat and offered his supper to Link, "Hold that for me?" Link took it and kept it in the flames, as Coro trotted into his house.
When the little man again appeared, Link lowered the animal into the fire again, having lifted it to see what it was this little man had been cooking. "Here you go!" said Coro, shooting out his arm to Link and taking back his dinner with his free hand.
Link took the small rounded bottle. Its corked insides contained the yellow oil that he needed for his lantern since his guide to the forested temple had used it. The bottle was only as large as two of his fingers and he found that it fit nicely in one of his belt pouches.
"You can have that one for free, but if you ever run out just come back and I'll refill it for twenty rupees," offered Coro.
"Thanks." Link momentarily thought about politely asking him about his day, but seeing as Coro had returned to roasting his meal, oblivious to Link's lingering presence, he bade him farewell and started down the path to the Kokiri Village, the path that would lead Link out into a world he had never explored.
Hyrule.
When Link came to the clearing beyond the path beyond the Kokiri Village, he halted immediately. In front of him stood the entrance to the Eldin Caves. Saria had informed him of a warrior named Volga that resided within. The entrance was blocked by a wall of twilight, everything around him becoming increasingly darker, as if night had come early. He approached it, painfully aware that he would have to enter into its black. He could distinctly see now the orange symbols that were magically embroidered into its expanse. He raised a hand to touch it, trying to render his fear of it meaningless, but he ripped his hand back when Midna giggled.
He had not realized in the darkness that she had risen up from his indistinguishable shadow, hovering next to him. In the blackness he could only see her one, menacing red eye.
Her high laugh seemed to thrash his face. "It's much closer than I thought," said Midna. "I suppose I don't need to ask if you remember what this is." Link looked at her despite himself, her eye peering into his. "If you set foot in there, you'll likely be a wolf again … for quite some time. Well," she giggled, "as long as it takes you to save the light of Eldin from the twilight, anyway." She came closer to him, and he could feel the breath of her mouth even though he could not see it. "So, shall we go then?"
Unwilling to show her his fear, he responded immediately, "Yes."
She separated from his presence, disappearing beyond the doorway of twilight with a ripple. Link watched the spot tentatively, bracing himself for the moment when she would open the twilight to him. After a moment's silent pause, a hand shot out from beyond the veil, and Link was reminded of the tortuous first time that he had been forcibly stolen into its darkness. But this hand he recognized as the same that Midna had used to snatch the Fused Shadow from his palms, only the length of it was now completely orange with yellow-tipped fingers and a black ornament decorating what served as a wrist.
The massive hand swallowed him and Sparx, and they were torn from their rooted position. He felt as though his skin ripped when he crossed the border, pain searing his every limb, as numbness crept into his mind.
Drowsily, Link became aware of his surroundings. A patch of earth lay against his cheek and the shield pressed against his body. He realized he was lying facedown on the ground. He opened his eyes but he still could not see anything, the darkness constricting around him. He shoved himself to his feet, but just as he did so, a sharp pain buckled his knees. His stomach churned with sickness as his bones lit on fire. He held himself round the middle, eyes tightly shut as pain seared across his body. A massive pain then burst through his mind and skull. Clapping his hands to his temples, he screamed out.
The transformation was as agonizing as the first time, perhaps even more so. His knees cracked and bent backward, as his feet elongated into taloned paws. His clothes seemed to stick to his body and become one with his skin, his green cap growing fur as his hair grayed and stretched behind his fracturing skull. He could feel his ears remold themselves underneath his palms, and the feel of their furry presence frightened him so much that he lowered his hands. But wherever his hands rested, they could feel another part of his body changing. Before long his forearms grew hairier and he could not keep himself upright.
He fell to his four legs in exhaustion, completely reformed. He panted but managed to keep himself standing. He looked toward Sparx. Sadly, unlike him, Sparx became a spirit like everyone else. He looked to Midna, who had stood beside him, watching him transform. Link saw that she had returned to her natural colors, but he could not read the expression on her face.
Truthfully, Midna admitted to herself that observing his first conversion had been far easier to bear. She had not known the Ordonian boy then, but now... His alteration had been hard to tolerate for both of them. She had told herself not to become attached … not to trust him completely, or at all. She knew how difficult it must be for Link. She had known suffering. She had known betrayal. She knew not to attach herself.
But watching his body reform itself … listening to his scream as his brain was given a wider space to breathe … looking into those blue eyes, vision narrowed to slits from the pain...
It was hard to remain indifferent.
The only way she could pull herself from feeling even the slightest pity for him was to laugh at him. "That's a good boy," she said, talking to the wolf, not the human inside it. "Now, you need to listen to what I say from now on." She leapt onto his back, which she convinced herself had healed long enough. She looked up at the sky, and pulled at his ear to make him see, too. "And look. How lovely. The black clouds of twilight are so fetching today! I feel so much more at ease here," she hummed. To make herself feel better, she looked him straight in the eye, and said, with her usual tone of mockery, "And you look so much better like this than in those dusty old clothes anyway."
He shook loose of her gaze and looked at the area about him. He found the evening in the twilight much more fascinating than what she had to say right now … and that said a lot.
"Oh, let's get moving!" ordered Midna from his back.
Link continued through the system of caves. Every once in a while, he saw some Lizalfos walking around. They paid no signs of hostility toward him.
"Where is Master Volga," one said outloud. "We have to find him."
"Hmmm..." Midna wondered. "It seems that these creatures aren't part of Zant's forces. Curious..."
Link was confused. Who is this Zant? he thought. Is he the person that usurped the Royal Family?
They continued onward. Eventually, they ran into a spirit. This must be Volga. he thought. Volga was yelling at the Lizalfos.
"I'm right here," he yelled. "Look for the bearer of the Spirit of the Hero!" Sadly, the Lizalfos couldn't hear their master. He was currently a spirit and the Lizalfos couldn't see or hear spirits.
"It's sad that his followers can't see him," Midna scoffed. "Now onward to the exit. We need to reach the lands of Eldin."
Link dashed forward. After a few minutes of walking through the labyrinthine passages, they reached the exit of the Eldin Caves and the entrance to the Goron City. They went through.
The Goron City was huge. The city square was enormous. The exit of the Eldin Caves was in the city square. The heat would have been unbearable if he wasn't in his dragon form.
"Let's go down the mountain," Midna ordered. She apparently forgot that during the fight with Diababa, the right wing of his dragon form broke. At least in Link's point of view. Link shook his head. Midna got the jist.
"You must be misunderstanding me," she giggled. "I don't mean using your dragon form to fly out. I mean climb down the mountain." Link nodded in understanding.
After a while, they reached the exit to the Goron City.
From his vantage point at the height of Death Mountain, the vast land of Hyrule spread out beneath him. It was then that Link wished that he had a map of his home country, but no one in Ordon had ever had the need for one. They rarely strayed from their village. When they did, it was for the usual selling of their crops in Hyrule Castle Town, and no one needed a map to find the castle that could be seen miles off to the north.
At that memory Link gazed it that direction, but now that he looked away from the immediate surroundings, he could now see the devastating wall of twilight that covered the land to the south. He looked around to find that the orange and black obstruction blanketed everything in the distance, the only area untouched being the Faron province that he had recently saved from the darkness. Faron had told him how his quest was not yet over, how the lands surrounding his home were plagued by the same black disease, but this was more disturbing than he had realized. His entire homeland it seemed had been rendered a dark world, its inhabitants no more than slaves, unknowing spirits walking forlornly in the twilight.
To the east Link could barely recognize the towers that were the kingdom's heart through the dark, hazy blue that outlined it. Anger surged within Link, fists clenching tightly. Who was this ruler of the twilight that dared to shadow the realm in which he and his people lived?
But Link could do nothing to stop the spread of darkness by standing there, brooding over the shadow ruler. They started the perilous trek down the volcano. The heat from the volcano was intense. By the time they reached the bottom, Link was panting like mad. In front of them was the entrance to a village.
Raaru Village.
That was what the sign said anyway. To Link the village looked more like a ghost town, having been abandoned long ago and rather quickly. The tall buildings, though once surely magnificent in their days of glory, were now run down shacks. Cracks formed along every corner of the outside frameworks, which indicated that the insides would be much worse. Windows were broken, shattered completely, or barred. Most doors were pulled tight and locked; others were broken at the hinges. A few shutters had survived the mysterious onslaught against the town, most hanging loosely by one latch. Some houses had lost sections of brick, the blocks hanging halfway out of their respective places; others lay smashed on the ground beneath.
Minutes ticked by as they strode through the town, toward the spring at the other side of town. When at last they reached it, Link and Midna had no time to look around before they were bombarded by three crest-headed shadow beasts. With quick, effortless speed, Link dispatched two of the trio. After their bodies popped into nothingness, he centered his attention on the last monster.
The shadow being lurched at him, slashing with its spread of lethal fingers. Two of its claws caught Link's snout but dealt no real damage, the only evidence of its attack being two small slits along the top of his nose. Shaking off the sting, Link took advantage of its unguarded stance and launched himself directly at its neck.
This one, too, fell to join its companions after a crack of red and black haze dispersed its being into a world of nonexistence.
It was then that Link heard the ever familiar singsong voice of a spirit nearby. He looked around and found a spring in a recess of the rock to his right, a dimly glowing light dancing above the collection of water. "To the hero … who was transformed into a blue-eyed beast … in the realm of shadows … in twilight... This way."
Link followed its voice, which sounded more feminine than either Faron or Ordona-which made him wonder if light spirits had genders.
He trotted into the water until he came to the inches-tall, wide waterfall that was so common in spirit springs and sat down at water's edge to listen as the spirit continued. "I am a … spirit of light. Hero … chosen by the gods... Look for … my light." Its voice was incredibly strained, as if each new word brought pain to its dimming flare. "Gather the light stolen by the shadows … into this."
From within its broken orb, a vessel of light bounded forth. Midna caught it gently.
"The insects of darkness … they are the form taken … by the evil that attached itself … to my scattered light," the light informed. "In the twilight … the shadow insects are invisible, much as the people from your light world are. But with your abilities, you will be able to press back their darkness." The light struggled across its next words-words of warning. "But … be careful... The darkness now hunts you..."
Link turned around and cantered up the slope revolving about a house to the left of the entrance to town. By the writings on the front door, he assumed that it had once been a shop. He rounded the bend at the back of the store and came to a drop in the path. Instinctively, Link leapt, having no time to stop. He landed feet away on a manmade outcropping connecting to an open door of the next house.
He crept inside, wary of the approach of any of the insects that he hunted. He jumped down into the dim room, and, sniffing, sensed something. A flitter of movement caught in the corner of his keen eye. He turned about to meet the scampering form of a beetle-like creature. Instantly, before it could escape into the outside, Link pounced and tore the life out of it. After Midna captured the glowing light that rose out of its dead form, Link continued further into the house.
The next room was large. Open space greeted Link, the corners filled with boxes of all sizes, a bar at the far end. Yet at the sight in the middle of the room, he growled and sunk his head low. Two masked shadow beings stood in his way of ascending the staircase at the other side of the room, which climbed to an overhanging hallway.
With speed unlike theirs, Link was already upon the creatures before they even had time to react to his presence. Snapping the neck of the first, Link hopped on to attack the next, but was surprised by a brutal blow from its bone club. His side pounding from the pain, Link had to leap back in order to miss its following attack at his head. Midna held fast to his fur as he circled about the enemy and tackled it to the floor. It wrestled but its efforts ended abruptly as its cool blood began to pour from several wounds which Link had applied to its neck and chest.
Without a second thought, Link tore himself away from the corpses to search the upstairs for any sign of either the children or the insects.
He only discovered one insect in the room adjoined to the hallway, and once its light had been added to the vessel, Link made his way out of the house and back into the empty street of Raaru.
He searched through the many houses of the small village, carrying Midna upon his back, and within the next couple hours they had recovered several particles of the spirit's scattered light. Once he had exited the last of the houses, one in which Link presumed had been used to refine flammable material into usable substances due to the many warnings against the employment of uncontrolled fire within the house, did he realize that there were even more places to be searched.
Having exited the building on an upper level, he found himself on its rooftop and that it had been attached to the spread of the craggy slopes and outcroppings of the mountainside it had been set up against. It was a strange place to have constructed a wooden staircase, but Link did not have time for questions. He leapt up the stairs and wound through the confusing dirt paths until he arrived at another house a few inclines above. His nostrils caught the familiar scent of the insect thieves and searched around the house, looking for a route inside since the door had been damaged and barred shut. Around the corner of the decaying brickwork, Link spotted a section that had completely broken away. He peered through the fallen bricks and discovered dim lights on the other side of the pile.
Link shuffled his way through the mass and finally emerged into the interior of the house. Whoever had once lived within it had been quite the disbeliever in tossing anything away. In every possible crevice, the owner had crammed belongings, finding a perfect spot for each possession. Although, the end result was one of absolute disorder, no matter how honorable the attempts for organization may have been.
It was during Link's exploration of the house that he tripped over one of the items. He turned about and identified it as a piece of wood; however, one end was now ablaze from being knocked into the furnace by his foot. Before Link could react, the flare had spread to the opposite end of the stick and caught onto a folded curtain. From there the fire sprang up the walls of countless items and soon the entire house was aflame. Link and Midna choked on the rising smoke. The fire seemed to reach his nostrils, and he tried to cover his snout with a paw.
"Huh? What did you do?" asked Midna.
Through clouded vision Link saw something in the fire, but was distracted by Midna's constant bickering. "Sorry, but as romantic as this is," she said, a beam falling from its support against the rooftop, "I'm not going to stay here with you. I'm getting out!" And immediately, Midna slid off his back and pushed her way through the hole in the wall.
Link had come to a dilemma. Discover what it was he had seen in the fire and risk death. Or … follow Midna and risk that whatever it had been would be destroyed in the fire. By one standard he thought Midna's actions had been cowardly, yet another part of him saw her act as simple common sense.
And as the heat began to sting his eyes, the smoke becoming too great for his wolf lungs to tolerate, pots and boxes crashing in wild flames to the floor … he followed Midna out of the house. He cleared the immediate vicinity as the crackling grew to tiny pops of flame, engulfing the house completely in a raging dance of orange and red and smoke. It simmered under the crushing heat of the fire and smoldering breaths of grey vapor, and it blew out. Planks of wood burst upward, bricks flew outward, and an explosion of flame reduced the home and its collection into a mere pile of debris.
Link watched as the ashes settled and the last of the flames died under the repressive twilit sky.
Three gleaming dots swam throughout the rubble, as if calling out.
"I don't suppose there's a nice way to hunt these insects," remarked Midna. Her next words were said without any feeling whatsoever that Link could detect. "Well, you had to sacrifice someone's house to find Tears of Light … but that's how the cookie crumbles, right?"
He did not much appreciate the pun, but resolved to set aside the comment to step once more inside the remains of the fallen house and gnaw the life from the three insects. Midna then plucked their sparkles from the air.
"Hey!" Midna shouted from out of nowhere and pulled his ear to turn him to face the village below. "We didn't look in there. Now how could you have missed that house?"
A tiny, rounded house sat nestled at the corner nearest to the spirit spring. The top of its dome had been badly damaged, its attic exposed to the outside. He wondered how he could have missed it in his search, but remembered that he had left the spring to read the sign posted at the opposite end of the town. Why does she have to point out everything? Why does she always seem to be right?
Link, not wanting to answer his own thought, started his way down the path to reach the house.
Its double doors had been securely sealed from the inside, for they did not tumble inward when he nudged them with the top of his head. He even tried grabbing the door knobs with his teeth and paw before giving up the attempt of pulling them outward.
"Hey, you can climb up there!" called Midna, pointing to the side of the building. Link tossed his head in the direction and found platforms leading up as far as the bottom of the dome. The arrangement of the planks reminded Link of a framework. Perhaps the owner had been creating an addition to the house before...
Link tried not to think of what had happened to the people here. He climbed up the beams and planks carefully and finally drug himself up onto the rooftop attic. There was a small opening in the floor, perhaps damage of the same kind as the dome had suffered. He did not wait for an invitation.
He leapt inside.
Link landed on a red woven blanket. Glad to have landed on something soft, he looked about the room, which was circular, suffocated candles lining the wall on one side. A tall statue stood at the center. It was then he noticed it. Faint glows; strange, hushed voices. Link closed his eyes and concentrated, connecting fully with the lupine blood that was now entwined with his.
When he next opened his eyes, he stared at the window beside the door, but now there was a lanky figure peering out of it in an odd manner.
"Cripes! I don't see those black brutes anywhere..." the crackling, male voice was saying. "They've gotta be hidin' somewhere, waitin' for their helpless little prey to come out! Then they'll feast!"
"We are safe as long as we remain in here. Be at ease," another male voice said behind Link, this one more calm, in control of himself.
But Link found himself unable to turn away from the skinny man staring out the window. He did not know the other voice. It did not belong to any of the children, so he paid his attention to the character who spoke of the beasts. Midna, however, put a hand over her giggle, laughing at both the man and Link's ignorance.
"Oh yeah, I wonder if the monsters out there agree with you," said the man at the window. He turned around to face the man behind Link, raising a welding mask as he addressed him. Glasses adorned his narrow face, its only color coming from the red beard and fluff of hair on his balding scalp. His belly bulged slightly from under its white shirt, giving the impression of a man who worked the wrong muscles.
"They sure didn't seem impressed by my bombs!" he continued, his tone rising to one of anger and fear. "How long do you think we can hold this sanctuary against beasts that strong, huh?"
Link heard a whimper behind him.
"Once they attack, it's over!" the bearded man went on, without giving any indication that he had heard the sob. "Remember the lady from the general store? Just one of those things attacked her, and a whole gang from town went to save her! And what happened?" His voice squeaked. "She was already gone, and there were two monsters waitin'!
"You connectin' the dots?" he asked the space behind Link. "That means that if we get attacked by them, then we'll be..."
You become the beast… finished Link. He thought of the shadow beings he had recently killed. Had they in fact been the townspeople?
"BARNES!" came the once calm voice of the other man, and it was then that Link turned to look at him. Dreadlocked and ornamented black hair framed a face of deep wrinkles. His eyes were widened in outrage at the other man, lips pursed.
Link looked to the other person that he consoled from the outpour of Barnes's own fears … and he knew that face... Talo. He looked across the bench were the two of them sat and found four other small figures, only one of whom he did not know. There, sitting with the comforting man, were the children from Ordon. Talo, Malo, Beth, and Colin.
Link felt his heart skip in its rhythmic pulse. He had found them! But … where was Ilia?
Beside them was a woman in an unrecognizable attire. She had an enormous sword on her back.
"I hope Princess Zelda is alright," she stated.
"Impa," the bearded man replied, "you should be hoping that a descendant of the Hero of Time will come."
The sobs that then squealed through the air drew Link back to the present scene. The strange man looked away from the offending Barnes and put an arm around Beth, who now cried into her hands. The man gave Barnes a sideways glance, and the disproportioned man tilted his mask back over his face and sank to the floor. Whether or not he was laughing or crying was not easy to tell, however.
"Look, Renado," said Barnes, now crawling across the floor, "All I mean to say is that it's risky here, too! Ain't you got some place we can hide?"
The man called Renado thought for a moment, deciding whether or not to tell the cowardly man. Then he said with a glare out the corner of his eye, "There is … a cellar."
As if suddenly struck from the behind, Barnes wheeled ahead, limbs flying in so many directions, Link thought his movements impossible for any human to rightfully manage. At once, Barnes was at Renado's feet, mask lifted, looking hopefully at him. His lips were shaking wildly. "What? You've got a cellar? Where's the entrance?"
Renado's answer came evenly, and Link sensed something lingering beneath the words. "It is designed to open when all of the candles are lit."
Immediately, Barnes was holding a single torch, its tip on fire. He rushed to the candle sitting before the great statue and set it aflame, tripping in the process. Before he could continue on to any of the wicks lining the wall, a female voice brought life to the subtext that had coated Renado's last words.
"I … would not do that."
Barnes looked up at the girl that Link could not identify. Renado allowed her to explain. "When Father instructed me to secure the cellar, I saw insects like the beasts outside."
Frightened at once at this prospect, the mask atop Barnes's head flew down over his face again as he paddled backward to hug the opposite wall in a strange fashion. He remained there, clinging to the stones, as the sobs of Beth renewed and grew more painful, leaving her gasping for breath.
Colin leaned down in front of her and reached out a hand. "Don't cry, Beth. It'll be okay." He touched her hand that shielded her face, but with a gasp, she beat back his attempt, covering her face once more. She angled herself away from Colin, sinking back into Renado's embrace.
"Link is coming to save us all," said Colin, his voice unwavering.
It was the first time that anyone had addressed him, and so badly Link wanted to call out to them, to tell them that he was here. He wanted to tell them that he was going to save them. But all he could not speak. And they could not hear him even if he barked.
Beth's cries subsided in that moment and she looked at Colin through her fingers. Talo looked as though he wanted to believe it, eyes popping wide, but his expression was hard to read since half of his face was hidden behind Renado's sleeve. Malo simply sat there, staring at his stubby feet. All of them, Link could feel, wanted him to be with them, but there was a hanging doubt in all of their eyes … save for Colin. Renado and the girl beside them looked on in ignorance. Link wondered if they were picturing a tall and muscular man in their minds' eyes.
Barnes just looked as bemused as any human Link had ever seen, his mouth hanging low and making the strangest sounds.
Colin looked at his hands, summoning strength. "I can feel it!" he said in a rising tone. He looked up and saw Sparx.
"Sparx," Colin gasped in surprise. "How did you get here?"
"I came with Link," he replied.
"What?" Colin asked. "Link's here!?"
"Apparently, Link is the only person who can save Hyrule from the darkness that threatens it," Sparx stated.
"What did you say?" Impa asked. Link wondered if he truly could feel his presence … even though he knew that he could not.
He heard Talo's grunt, and looked up to see him turn away, eyes narrowed. He looked to the others and saw that only Colin truly believed that he would come to their rescue. The other children would be proven wrong. Link would not let Colin down, the boy who had admired him since the day he was born, the boy who had treated him like an older brother...
He lingered, staring into Colin's face, a face that could not return his glance.
Midna woke him from his trance. "These kids knew you'd come to save them? What a hero!" she called. "How sad, to be right in front of someone and not be noticed at all..." There was not a note of sympathy within her voice, however. "You are chosen by the gods, and only that keeps you from turning into a spirit, or worse, into a dark monster, when you enter the twilight," she reminded, quite unnecessarily. "And no one knows what you have done... You may be doomed to toil in obscurity forever."
Truthfully, Link preferred it that way. If his alter identity could be kept a secret from everyone, the better he would feel. He did not need recognition for his deeds. The tasks were simply those that needed to be done … whoever was to do them.
"You're the type to worry about everything," she droned on. "I can tell. But don't fret over Princess Zelda! She chose this state of affairs after all..."
To save her people from a certain death, Link argued in his mind. They are better this way. Wandering in the twilight as spirits... They aren't dead, so, they still have a chance.
"So," boomed Midna's voice, "what's all this about having to light candles to get to the basement? Not very subtle, is it?" She bent over him, clutching the vessel carefully within one of her arms.
At least she cares about something, Link thought.
Midna smiled at him. "So, what are you going to do now … my lonely little hero?"
Ignoring her callous giggle, Link picked up where Barnes left off, grabbing the dropped torch between his jaws. Quickly, he sprang to each of the four candles set into the wall, and in the middle of the room, a well-disguised hatch behind the statue collapsed into the floor.
Across the room he could hear Renado and the children's astonishment at the movement. Barnes had backed himself into a corner mumbling to himself. "It just moved … by itself … what's going on?..."
He let slip the torch and it fall to his feet, where his soft paws patted out the flare. He then strode over to the entrance and peered down. It was dark. Should've kept that torch. But then Link remembered that his eyes were now more powerful in darker places, so he had no further hesitation in dropping down into the unknown.
With a tumble he landed quite safely into the basement. A passage led into a central room, and it was there where he found his hiding prey. Its quick movements from side to side were no match for his sight or reflexes, and within seconds, its stolen light was stowed with the others.
The hunt for the remaining insects did not wear through much of the adventurers' time. Link's attention was still settled on the conversation that he had overheard between the people of Raaru and the Ordonian children, and therefore, losing track of time in the real world, Link was jolted awake when Midna told him to return to the spirit spring. The search at an end, he heeded her order, though not for the fear of not obeying her, but for the understanding that once he returned to Eldin the twilight surrounding the town would be smitten by the light and forced away.
His steps grew weary as he cantered down the slope that led into the main street of town in his dragon form, his broken wing dragged along in his wake. How long had it been since he had slept? Tiredness began to creep into his eyes, and they narrowed, wishing for a break. But Link shook his head to reawaken his nerves and plowed ahead into the road.
In a normal town, he would have looked across the path to find a part in the coming and going folk, yet the village of Raaru had been swept into a desolate plain. Walking through the middle of town, the only things for which he searched were the signs of any shadow beings.
When his paws touched the bordering line of the water's edge of the spring, his scales gleamed about his crunched legs gently. The coolness soothed him. It was a simple thing, water. He found it strange how a collection or even the tiniest droplet could affect him with a sense of ease.
All at once the vessel in Midna's hands stirred and glowed brightly, as if the lost offspring within it could feel the undulating of the light circling about the orb now before them. It was then that Midna lowered herself down to place the vessel below what was left of the spirit. The tears rose up from their host and connected with the ball of light once more.
Then it happened, most likely because he had been expecting it this time. His scales reverted back to purple.
Link, regretting he had even let the words of his befuddlement slip out, turned away from her. He noticed that the wounds he had previously sustained-the bite from the baba serpent and the scratches on his nose from the shadow beast-had faded. Only his broken wing remained.
He looked up to where the spirit's light had once gleamed, pulling himself upright, though careful to avoid bringing more tenderness to his body, which pulsated with his own blood once more. The water had begun the glow a bright yellow; the surrounding rocks of the mountain village were now splattered with green designs. A single drop of water rose from the spring at the middle of the base of the waterfall, and it fell again in the same fluid motion.
A second sparkle ascended from the water, but not a droplet. The complete orb of light. The spirit's light. It rose high above the spring until it found a comfortable spot and began to burst outward with its light, whirling arms of great luminescence bouncing around its presence. Finally, the brightness taking on the shades of greens and blues, a form began to take shape around the radiating sphere. Blinding, smooth wings lifted from the topmost hemisphere and flapped downward with a swoop that Link not only felt in wind but also in warmth. The wings continued to move, bringing themselves up and in, curling toward a body that had not yet been formed.
When the appendages finally retreated from their central position, splaying out around the orb, there now hovered the great white and yellow and green body of a giant bird. Its sharp talons clutched its most prized light; its body was comprised of smooth feathers, and its face of indistinct proportions. It was almost … human. The nose and eyes were surrounded by a nearly heart-shaped design of black splotches on yellow, and the lips were human, oddly pink.
"Eldin..." muttered Link, awed by this creature more so than by any other being of the light he had before encountered.
As its wings-decorated quite elaborately in natural black swirls-flapped lightly in an involuntary manner, the human lips spoke. "Yes. I am one of the light spirits of Hyrule. I am the spirit that guards these lands." Its voice matched the elegance Link had heard in the tones of Ordon and Faron, and yet there was a new sense of wonder at hearing this being's singsong voice.
"O great hero chosen by the gods, the dark power you seek lies in the sacred ground of the proud mountain dwellers," it said, raising its sight to look at one of the more precarious mountains of the range. Fire sizzled at its peak. "But already those grounds have been defiled, draped in shadow and seeded with evil. You must go to those sacred grounds and cleanse them."
With just those words, Eldin stretched its wings and body out fully. Then its wings collapsed inward and swallowed itself and burst into thousands of dribbles of light. They faded again into nothingness, returning to their watery home with a silent splash.
Link was left to himself, Midna stealing her gaze from the disappeared spirit and switching it to her partner as if trying to determine what he now thought. Truthfully, Link felt as though he was simply a means to an end. Midna's attitude toward him had never truly bothered him, never really gotten under his skin-whether human, dragon, or lupine. He knew that she only wanted his skill in retrieving the Fused Shadows, but it seemed to him in that moment that Eldin was simply exploiting his talents to fight for Hyrule, when it-as a spirit protecting Hyrule-should have been. Perhaps it was this way with the others as well, and they had only gone about approaching Link and speaking to him in a more gentle way. The other spirits had even given him advice and bestowed upon him knowledge of his friends' whereabouts. He had come to greatly respect-even admire-the great light spirits, but after his conversation with Eldin he just felt slighted. Perhaps it was only that his thoughts still dwelled on Ilia, since he had not seen her with the others, and maybe it was that he had hoped that Eldin would have helped him in his search for Ilia as Faron had for the children.
Yet, after these thoughts had passed through him, he only became disgusted in himself. He had been chosen by the gods, and he had a duty to uphold. He had even told himself after the battle with the Diababa plant that rescuing Ilia, Epona, and the children would have to be second priority, and that if he was to find them out in the wide lands of Hyrule, it would be during his journey to save all the peoples of Princess Zelda's darkened kingdom. It was his honor to uphold the mantle of the Old Hero, his responsibility to wear the leather boots of that hero with strength and courage, discarding his own desires, and his own selfish pride … even if it meant … never finding Ilia...
Thoughts broke into shards in that moment, realizing that he had taken several steps into town and that he had heard a nearby door creak open. He quickly looked back to see where Midna had gone, but she no longer stood at the spring, and with a furtive glance downward he saw her one eye wink up at him. He shook off his disturbed contemplation and looked up to the door of the sanctuary, the half-demolished building that had housed the Ordonian children and the four Kakarikans.
There, standing in the doorway, stood Rusl's son. Link stopped dead. He wanted to smile, to acknowledge the boy in some gesture, but speech and movement seemed impossible in his disbelief. A flood of relief washed over him completely yet mixed with an inability to grasp that the young boy finally stood before him, safe-even though just a little while ago he had seen them all safe.
Colin only stood there, as if the same state had rained over him as well. But soon, as Talo, Beth, and Malo peeked out from behind him, Colin was able to put his astonishment to words, calling out his name. He started to run toward Link, but in that moment, the other children grasped what was going on and Talo and Beth bolted for the lone figure standing at the water's edge. They paid no attention to Colin and jostled past him, either unintentionally or forcibly grounding him to the dirt. Malo exited the building at a slower pace, idly walking around Colin's fallen figure and looking at him as if he were merely another grain of dirt in the path between him and Link. This was the exact opposite reaction Link had expected. He thought that at the sight of him, Colin would scream and flee from him.
When Malo arrived at Link's side, Talo and Beth were already celebrating, leaping up and down, dancing back and forth on the balls of their feet. "You see, Beth?" Talo was boasting. "I told you Link would come to save us!" Link only passed them quick glances.
Colin looked up and watched as the other children rejoiced around Link.
Link looked behind the children at Colin, with the smallest of smiles, yet one that said everything that needed to be said between them. What the boy did not know, however, as he returned the gesture and stood to race to him, was that Link knew that how much the others wanted to mask it, they had not really believed Colin when he had been the one-not Talo-to declare Link would rescue them all. Link remembered the snort of disgust and disbelief that Talo had expressed at the mention of his name. But Link would never punish any of them for it, for he understood that they were children after all. Most children had the peculiar habit of getting into trouble and not believing they would escape the predicament until they were actually in the arms of a trusted adult.
By this time, the children all circled about him, and the four other figures that he had met without their knowledge came forth to greet him. It did not surprise Link that Barnes was the last out of the sanctuary, taking cautious, fearful steps toward him. He nearly laughed aloud at him, remembering his ridiculous behavior within the house.
The tallest figure, Renado, and the black-haired girl stepped up to Link, the children shifting aside a little to allow them room to talk. "So, you are the one from Ordon whom these children spoke of?"
Link had to look up to return his gaze; the man was nearly a head taller than Link is in human form. He offered his name, regardless that he already knew that this man had heard it from Colin.
"We are well met. I am Renado, shaman of this town," he replied, the short, masked man settling to stand between the shaman and the girl. "And this" -Barnes giggled nervously, upturning the metal and saluting Link- "is my daughter, Luda." Barnes took his arm down quickly, and hid his face, trying to disguise the fact that he thought he had been honored with an introduction.
The girl with short-cropped black locks looked to be about Colin's age. She smiled and nodded at Link in greeting as Barnes flung his arms in quieted anger and started walking off. Impa stepped forward, Sparx hovering over her shoulder.
"You must be the Purple Dragon of Legend," she said. "My grandmother, the original Sage of Shadow, used to tell me tales of your heroism." She caught the unnatural bend of Link's broken wing. "Renado, his wing is broken. Spyro needs immediate medical attention."
A few minutes later, they were all inside the sanctuary. Renado was realigning the halves of the fractured bone in Link's wing while Impa went to see Saria to get some red potion to speed up Link's recovery. Link was confused. How in the world did Colin recognize him in his dragon form and why did Saria and Impa mistake him as the Purple Dragon of Legend?
To center his attention on the children and away from his confusion, Link looked to the children. "What happened to you?"
"The beasts took us and left us to die," said Colin, his voice grave. But then he smiled. "Mr. Renado and Ms. Impa found us."
The shaman looked to the boy but spoke to Link, "At first, I couldn't believe that they had come from so distant a place south as the Ordona Province..."
Colin shifted, trying to make sense of his thoughts and what had happened. "Yeah, I…. We don't remember much. All of a sudden everyone was captured, and then … until now it's been like..." He struggled for a definition.
"A nightmare," Malo's tiny voice offered.
"Yeah, it was like a terrible dream," finished Colin, a flash of fright returning momentarily to his pupils, "and we couldn't wake up..."
As Link began to ask of Ilia, where she was, why she was not with them, Renado's words took his place before any of them noticed the questions burning within his eyes.
"Nightmares are everywhere these days, it seems. This village has certainly seen its share of recent hardships." His voice weighed in weariness; perhaps internal affliction had ironed his soul at seeing the townspeople attacked and the village itself in shambles. "The dark beasts attacked, but even worse was the sudden and inexplicable change in the mountain-dwelling Goron tribe. They had long been our friends," he said, and seemed to slip into a reverie of those earlier times, "but suddenly, they began treating us as foes. Even now they refuse to permit us entry into their mines or even into their city beyond."
Renado sighed, frustrated, defeated by the ravages of the twilight. "It strains the limits of belief … to think that such a gentle and proud tribe could change so suddenly... It makes me wonder if something in those mines," he pondered, looking toward the peak, "is the cause of this change..."
"Perhaps they don't want anyone to get hurt," Sparx suggested. " Perhaps that Daruk character is learning how to control Divine Beast Rudania and it's not going badly."
"That might be the reason," Renado admitted. "No one would want to be crushed by Rudania. But Rudania is needed when the Great Calamity comes."
The shaman broke free of his thoughts after a few seconds and again looked toward Link, dismissing the words that he had just spoken. "In any case, you must take these children and flee this village before more nightmares descend. I, of course, cannot leave my village in such a time. There is no telling what may happen to us here. I will try to coax the Gorons back from their recent change of heart."
But Link grew reluctant. "Wait. I cannot let you go alone. The children are safe here now. We could run into more trouble on the long road back, and looking after four children on the return trip would be difficult. Besides, the only way back is through the Lost Woods. The children might get lost in there and become skull kids. I feel that it is my place to help you." He was careful not to say anything of the spirits, for they seemed to be quite ignorant of the fact that he had just spoken to one just minutes ago. The less he revealed to his friends about his destiny, the less his enemies would find out about him and the true threat that he had become to their cause.
"Link, there is no telling what may happen to this village. I cannot ensure their safety forever," the shaman replied.
Renado would not relent. Link could see that.
"Please, the night is upon us. Let me offer you a bed before you return with the children to your village."
Link again realized how tired he was. "Looks like I have no choice with my wing in this condition," he replied.
But sleep would have to wait.
The perfect opportunity...
After Renado finished putting the injured wing in a cast and a splint, Link saw the four children to bed in the upstairs bedroom of the house in which he had killed two shadow beings, answering most of their questions of his journey vaguely, leaving the details for another day … when all was again at peace.
He had to reassure himself that he would live to see that day, live to tell them about his exciting yet challenging voyage.
Downstairs he met Renado. Luda had already been sent to bed in another room. The shaman silently showed him to a room on the bottom floor of the house, right across from his daughter's bedroom. "You may have my bed for the night," he offered.
"But I can damage it," Link protested. "I don't want to cause unintentional damage to anything." After a hushed, friendly argument, Renado allowed the youth to refuse his hospitality and gave to him a blanket and a patched pillow. The shaman looked on as Link fluffed up a makeshift bed on the floor of the main room with the attached bar. He lay the pillow down in a corner, and tossed out the folds in the blanket, waving it twice before letting it settle to the floorboards. That was when Impa returned from the Lost Woods.
"Renado," she called. "I have some Red Potion for Spyro." She approached the dragon, a bottle in her right hand. She held it out to him.
"Thank you," Link stated gratefully. He grasped the bottle in his paw and drank its contents. He felt a tinge in his wing as if the bone was rapidly stitching itself back together. He gestured to give the bottle back to Impa but she shook her head.
"Keep it," she replied. "The world owes you considerably for what you did for it."
"You must be mistaken," Link replied. "I'm not the Purple Dragon of Legend. I haven't been to the Dragon Realms at all. I lived my entire life in Ordon. How could I be the legendary Spyro?" That caught Impa off guard.
"But he might be your future self," Impa countered.
"All right," he conceded; still not convinced. "Have it your way." He set his attention back to the blanket and pillows that Renado gave him.
She turned to Renado. "I'll be calling it a day now. See you tomorrow." Impa turned around and left.
Link felt the eyes of the shaman plunging into the back of his skull, knowing that he was not seeing him to bed, but perhaps making sure that he would settle down for the night and not sneak off into the mountains at night. Link tried to prolong his preparation for bed as long as he could without making Renado suspicious of his intentions. So he reverted to his human form and resigned himself to truly disrobe his accessories.
He unlatched his belt and all items attached-the scabbard, shield, lantern, boomerang … everything-and laid them to rest to the side of his bed, making it only seem that he wanted to be ready in case any mishap were to break out while he "slept." He then removed his cap and donned it on the hilt of his sword and curled into bed under his cover.
He closed his eyes, but his wolf-like senses were still a part of him, and he could feel the eyes still watching, could smell the body of the shaman still standing in the doorway. Link was slightly embarrassed with himself when he felt that his body had involuntarily coiled up into a position much like that of a four-legged animal when trying to fall into dreams. But he did not move.
Minutes ticked away before Link could no longer pick up the man's scent, and he forced himself to remain alert for another many minutes, keeping his eyes tightly shut.
When at last he decided that everyone had to be asleep, Link's arm bolted out from under the covers and latched onto the sheath of his sword.
The mountain pass proved quite treacherous in the dead of night, but Link trudged on. If Renado refused to allow him to travel up to the Gorons with him, then he would simply go there first. He needed to know what he was up against at least, for it seemed that the troubles in Goron territory were at the epicenter of the twilit activity.
Link avoided many steaming geysers along the route that he had chosen, nearly being singed by one that had been hidden by a jagged wall of rock. But he did not relent. This was Eldin's wish, the wish of all the spirits and that of the goddesses. He had been given great power, and it was his destiny to use it to help the people of Hyrule. He would not allow a stubborn and proud shaman to halt his journey.
When he at last reached an outcropping that overlooked the base of the mountain that both Eldin and Renado had indicated, Link stopped and hunkered down onto the rough stones. From there he had a clear vantage point, even in the eerie darkness. Many yellow-orange figures lined the levels of the mountain below and there were many hustling about and talking with one another around a campfire.
If only Link could find a way to bypass them all, could find an opening into the mountain, the volcano that housed the mines of the Gorons.
He squinted through the night air and found a path that wound up and up, ending near the summit of the mountain, and what was more, a small slope to Link's right seemed stable enough to hold his weight without crumbling, a tiny path that would lead him down to the base and then back up once more. He would deal with evading the eyes of the Gorons when he completed his descent.
And maybe … he might have time to track down and up the rocks before dawn, time to talk with the leaders of their tribe … before Renado woke to find him gone.
Link gathered himself up and placed his left foot down on the top of the slope, testing it, and found that it would hold his weight, but just before he could step his other foot onto the path … he was jerked backward, tumbling down the outcrop. His worst fear was that a Goron had ensnared him, that he would be going to see the leader the hard way, but instead...
"How fortunate you are in one piece!" Link was face-to-face with the shaman. "If the Gorons had seen you..." But a gleam in Link's eye reformed his anger into a question, one that Link did not need to answer. "You are trying to reach the Gorons of Death Mountain? It is too dangerous up here, Link!"
"I have to do something!" argued Link, but at a tone that would not carry to the Gorons below. "At least I know that Rudania is still slumbering." He pointed near the crater of the volcano, where a mechanical lizard rested. "Daruk is down there with several others."
"You have a point there," the shaman admitted. "This problem must be isolated to the mines themselves if Daruk postponed his training on piloting Rudania. However, they recognize only strength. A normal person could never persuade them!"
"Oh, so you can then?" returned Link, ripping his arm free of the man's hard grip. There was an absolute sparkle of rebellion within Link's eyes, but not against Renado. His rising anger at the shaman only proclaimed his need to do something, to help the village of Raaru, the help the people of every village.
Renado could deny it no longer. "You truly wish to set yourself in possible danger to help us and the Gorons?"
"Yes."
Renado looked hard at Link, and after a moment, he nodded. "I know one person who was able to best them and earn their trust."
"Who? Where can I find this person?"
"I believe you already know him. He is the mayor of your home village. Bo." Renado then continued, the latter part of what he said painful for him to accept. "Go to him. And please, while you are there, if you do not wish to risk taking the children, please let everyone know that they are safe. We will take them back when we can get a hold of a horse and cart. For now, they are welcome in my home."
"Thank you," nodded Link.
They headed back down into Raaru together.
By the time they reached the periphery of the village, dawn had emerged from shadow. Renado and Link headed for the house in which the children still slept soundly, but all at once, Link halted abruptly in his tracks. Renado stopped and looked to him questioningly. They both stood in the center of the road. "I hear something," was Link's solid reply, as he unsheathed his blade.
Several squeals screeched from behind them, and Link turned about. Heavy footfalls echoed through the mountainside village. Sensing grave danger, Link took up a defensive stance in front of Renado, who had also remained to discover the source of the commotion.
Just then white hair came screaming into the village from the northern end, and at the sound of a neigh, Link realized that it was Epona who now came galloping at full speed through the town, two green-skinned bulblins riding in her saddle. Obviously, they were not in control of the beast since they were both shrieking and holding on for dear life. Link lowered his sword, and watched as a bulblin slid off completely and held on to the back of the saddle. Epona reared violently, tossing herself about insanely, either completely frightened or very angry. The foot soldiers flew off, and Link could tell by the loud sounds of their impact that they had been killed.
Link sheathed his weapon and started for Epona, but he stopped short when she began cantering forward again, unaware where she was and afraid beyond measure of how many more creatures would try to harness her.
She did not stop when she saw Link. She did not stop when there were only feet left between her and the two men.
Link jumped out of her path and pulled Renado with him.
Epona skidded to a halt at the edge of the spirit spring and tossed her head once more, white hair flailing about her magnificent form. Link left a startled Renado and leapt up onto his horse's saddle from the back. She was immediately riled, however, and tried to toss Link off her back in the same motions she had used to rid herself of the other two creatures. She was in such a state that she could comprehend no concept except escape.
Link clutched one hand to her reins and the other to the front of the saddle, and his frightened horse pulled him into an intense exercise of simply trying to stay seated. She took off into the spirit spring, and before they crashed, turned quickly about, nearly flinging Link from her backside. Unsuccessful, she lost no steps in continuing her rampage up and down and around the town.
"Epona! Calm down! It's me! I'm not going to hurt you!" Link repeated over and over, until finally, after being flung left and right constantly, her hooves began to slow. She at last came to rest at the edge of the spring once more. This time however, she did not toss her head nor try to dislodge her master from her saddle.
Feeling the intense beating of her heart, Link slid off the saddle and approached her front. "That's my girl. You remember my face, don't you, Epona?" he calmed, patting her mane. He took her head in his hands and leaned his forehead against her cheek, closing his eyes.
"Your horse?" he heard Renado ask from behind him.
Link looked up and nodded. He explained how he had lost her, Ilia, and Colin to the raid in Ordon and how the other children had been taken when he had been unconscious. He mentioned nothing of his fall into twilight. "If they were taken from their homes so violently, then it is best you were off. They need to know their children are safe."
Link nodded and mounted a now tranquil Epona. He pressed his legs gently into her sides and they took off at a slow trot. When they reached the gate that led back into the fields of Hyrule, Link looked back. Satisfaction rose up within him. To see the faces of the children … to have Epona underneath him once more...
"You're not too shabby a wrangler after all!" said the familiar voice of Midna.
He turned to her-knowing that she had obviously ascended from his shadow-and found her with her arms folded and a sly smile written across her face, and he said plainly, "No, not at all."
With a strange glance back at him, she disappeared into his shadow once more, and Link threw Epona into a gallop, pleased that he had, for once, caused Midna a loss for words.