Hello everyone. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for all your support, you all moved me to tears. James, thankfully, is recovering from surgery, though they think they've rid of all the cancer as is. There was a shard of bone in his brain that was removed during the surgery, as a tumor had been eating away at it. They hope that tumor is the last of it. When they did a scan, they found no other traces. He hasn't had to go to the hospital for weeks, knock on wood, but his medical bills are quite costly. He is paying for them by donating both his blood and plasma every other day, as I've been told. So, Lost will be continuing.

Unfortunately, due to us living out in the country in Wyoming now, the Wifi sucks. School is also starting, so I've been rather busy... My computer will not connect to the internet worth anything, so I'm having to use my sister's laptop, pull all the files off my computer and transfer them onto a USB stick, then plug it all in to my sister's laptop. So, shoot TheAmethystAlpha01 your love and appreciation. If you're happening to read this, I love you, little sis! ❤️

Without further adieu, here is the next chapter of Lost. Thank you all for being so supportive and gentle, I truly am blessed to have each and every one of you. Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting.
-WingedIceWolf

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE LEGEND OF ZELDA OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

DISCLAIMER 2: THIS IS NOT A LINK X LINK FANFICTION!

"Bokoblins are back in Faron..." Twi repeated beneath his breath before placing the pie upon the table, bowing his head and touching his fingers to his chin, his lips set in a thin line.

Regardless of his proficiency in battle as both a beast and a swordsman, this was grave news indeed. Unfortunately, this situation was nothing bizarre; monsters of all kinds often came crawling to the Faron Woods, seeking a safe-haven to replenish their strength and numbers. These sacred grounds were isolated, secure, and abundant in a variety of resources; what better place to breach than the lands seldom occupied?

Due to only a handful of individuals settling within its boundaries, the creatures of the dark grew confident in their abilities, steadily building their population. Constructing base was a simple task, though the province suffered greatly as a result of their negligent behavior.

Saplings that had yet to endure their first winter would be torn from the earth in which their roots had sank, stripped of their branches and brutally hacked apart. A doe would be discovered, throat severed and eyes empty, its body wasting away upon the earth, impressions of teeth ground into its bones while the maggots were left to demolish the remaining carcass. The streams ran black with muck, the skies dark with smoke.

Though the beasts were scavengers, they were sluggish and corrosive. Bokoblins and Bulbins in particular did not fall under the astute category when it came to utilizing their environment. The parasites recognized only their ability to massacre, fester, devour, and breed- and like rabbits did they reproduce -when they hadn't the need to guard themselves.

Because of this, their security was hardly top-notch. Two Bokoblins, or two Bulbins, would stand guard outside the base, scratching at their backsides and gnawing on days old bones, drooling like infants. They were definitely not the most intelligent of watch-men.

If they were this naive, why not just march in and take them all down?

That was the issue. There were plenty of them, and while they may not be smart, they were quick and armed. In the blink of an eye, you could be surrounded while their swords cut into your flesh and arrows burst through your chest. Not only that, but Bokoblins in particular were a nuisance to kill due to their acidic blood. One drop of their gore upon the surface of your skin was the equivalent of an ember boring its way into your being.

However, this was not the first time such news had reached his ears. When he was much younger, Rusl would warn the rambunctious country boy to remain within Ordon, to never leave the village lest he was accompanied by a blade-wielding adult. With the horrors that were passed from household to household in the suburban, he dared not venture out into the wilderness.

He was always curious of the world outside of Ordon, only reading of it in books and hearing the tales from travelers as they stood over a campfire, shouting and waving their arms left and right as their words echoed the battles they had fought. And the residents of Ordon listened intently, whispering among themselves.

The curiosity would always spark anew in the boy's eyes as he listened, hiding behind a rock with his eyes barely peeking over the top, or laying in the tall grass with his fingers parting the sharp blades. He knew if he was caught listening in, not only past his bedtime but also after being told to steer clear of the wanderers, it would mean a punishment he dared not imagine.

On a few occasions, Rusl had gathered all of his books and stored them away until the boy could learn to respect the man who raised him. He had been forced to carry buckets of water up and down the hill at the ranch to water the goats, tear weeds from the gardens in the unforgiving heat of the sun, cursing the Gods for the flaming orb in the skies.

As he grew older, he came to appreciate the consequences Rusl had thrust upon him. This labor had made him stronger than an ox, capable of enduring hours of strain in all manners of weather and terrain; strain that would force any man to lie in his bed for weeks, body exhausted of its strength. He seldom cracked under such conditions. It was this labor that had aided him along his adventure, creating a durability to the geology of the earth, its ever-changing climates, and the countless struggles brought with it.

"You can take them down, right Link?" Colin turned toward his childhood elderly brother figure, a plea in his voice. Hope sparkled in his eyes.

Twi shook his head gently. "It would be quite foolish to go alone, Colin. Two heads are better than one, but even so, caution is necessary. None in this village are nearly as skilled as your father. Rusl is quite the able fighter, but you must remember that he is still journeying to Castletown to meet up with the Resistance."

"What if he's in trouble?" Colin began ranting. "What if he's hurt out there? What if he didn't make it? What if the Bokoblins got to him? What if they're gnawing on his bones as we speak?!"

"Colin!" Uli shouted in warning. The Ordonian boy suddenly fell silent and cast his gaze to the ground, snapping his mouth shut and clenching his fists. His mother stepped toward him, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "You know just as well as I do that your father would not allow such things to happen. He will return to us. He promised."

"Whether he does or does not, we can't just cower here in fear!" Colin snapped, stepping back. "They'll come creeping into the village. They always have! They always will… Mom, you can't defend yourself or Akio in your current state. And if you got hurt while dad was away, he would never forgive himself... Not many of the villagers know how to fight with blades; the enemy would have the advantage!"

"Colin, that's quite enough," Twi stated softly with an inward sigh. "We know we have the disadvantage here, but that doesn't mean we should lose our heads. Remember, this is just a rumor, we don't know for sure whether or not Bokoblins have truly entered Faron again. But, I promise you I will investigate and see what I can do to help, alright?"

Colin nodded slightly, then he piped up, determined to aid the cause in some way. "Why don't you bring Wild with you? I bet he's a great swordsman!"

"Link's guest is gravely injured," Uli answered gently. "He could easily reopen his wounds if he charged recklessly into battle, and after Link fought so hard to keep him alive, it'd be quite the shame for him to perish. For now, there is nothing we can do but pray this rumor is simply a rumor and nothing more."

Colin sighed in defeat, hanging his head. He kicked off his shoes at the doorway rather sloppily before heading to his room, closing the door quietly as to not wake his infant sister. After several seconds of silence passed between Uli and Twi, Uli finally broke the tension.

"Thank you for bringing him home safely," Uli began, pulling Twi into a tight hug. "You've done so much for this family, yet we've only done so much for you. If there's anything you ever need, don't hesitate to let me know. Alright?"

Twi cracked a sad smile, wrapping his arms tight around the woman. Per usual, she was warm and smelled pleasantly of posies, just as he remembered. As a child, she would cradle him in her lap, pressing him against her chest and humming. He would often fall asleep to the soft beating of her heartbeat.

This woman was the only mother he had ever truly known. He'd be more than devastated if anything happened to her or their family.

"Alright," the Hero of Twilight affirmed, giving her one last firm squeeze before releasing her. He turned toward the table, motioning to the pie. "Wild, Colin, and I prepared you a pie. We know you've been having it a bit rough with Akio and you're no doubt worried for Rusl, so we wanted to put a little pep in your step, you know? Don't worry about returning the pan, I can come by and grab it later."

"You three are such a blessing," Uli stated warmly, stepping over to the pie. She removed the lid and took a deep inhale of the pastry, sighing softly to herself. However, she refrained from diving in, instead motioning for Twi to take a seat. "I'm too busy worrying for you lot that I often forgo my own health… It's always great to receive a little pick-me-up from my boys, along with the reminder to be more self considerate. However, have you and Wild eaten anything?"

"Not much," Twi admitted, pulling out a chair and plopping down in it. He set the pie off to the side so the two of them could converse without distractions. "It's been a rather crazy day, I must admit. So much information, so little time to soak it all in. He didn't take a liking to Ilia, that's for sure, and now I'm sure the two would go to war if given the opportunity. Hopefully this doesn't spark some arguments as to wether or not to trust him…"

"Why would he dislike Ilia…?" Uli's eyebrows knitted together. "She's a sweet girl. Sassy, headstrong, and often times a bit pushy, but she's truly a sweetheart."

"I wouldn't know. But Ilia stormed off and Wild became his normal self. Before, he was tense, standing like a wild animal ready to pounce on its prey." He laughed at his own pun before continuing. "It was kind of frightening, if I'm being honest… Even Ilia recoiled. He was running a fever earlier today so perhaps he was just acting feverishly? Ilia smacked me upside the head and Wild let out this… growl… It almost sounded like a wolf's."

"That's definitely odd… As for his feverish state, I suppose it's a possibility."

"After that, I decided to take him to pick some apples before it got too dark. It's something that's not too strenuous and I thought it might ease Wild up after I'd yelled at him for his behavior toward Ilia. We watched the sun set and that's when we bumped into Colin. Very quickly, Wild and Colin got along. You should've seen Colin on Wild's shoulders, picking apples. Both of them were smiling..."

"That's so sweet. I'm glad the two got along. I don't know what I'd do if your guest came to dislike my boy. What is there to dislike about him? He's very loving, gentle, sweet, and strives to be like you, Link. We raised our little boy right," Uli said with a slight sorrow in her voice. Her eyes looked past him, into the beyond. He could see the tears forming at her eyes as she bit her lower lip, and he knew just then that she was greatly troubled over the well-being of her husband.

"Indeed you have," Twi agreed, reaching over and giving Uli's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Rusl will come back. I'm sure of it."

"I know, I know, it's just..." she trailed off, pulling her hands away, into her lap, taking up fistfuls of her dress. Tears hit the fabric, her voice breaking, though she summoned the strength to continue. "I can't bear to see him hurt. Not again. When he defended our village, he limped toward me and collapsed in my arms. I thought for sure he'd left me. I said a silent prayer to the Gods and heard his ragged breath… He was alive, but gravely wounded..."

"It's over and done with, Uli. He's safe, I promise you, and even if he returns injured, I know he'll pull through," Twi promised, standing and wrapping his arms tight around her. He rested his head on her shoulder, just as he had done as a child. "He always has, he always will. Don't give up, alright?"

"Alright..." she sniffled, wiping tears on the back of her sleeve. When she'd finally calmed herself, though worry still chipped away at her, she stuttered, "W-why didn't you bring Wild with you?"

Twi sensed the change in topic. He stood upright and took his seat from across the table, dragging it across the wooden floors so he would sit at her side. He decided to play along in her alternative subject. The last thing he wanted was to inflict excessive stress onto the poor, worry-ridden woman who was left home alone to tend to her little one.

"He's back at home, resting. Got quite the bad panic attack, so I told him to stay behind and relax, that I'd be back for him in time. I've decided it'd be best I shift my focus onto him, ensuring his wounds are completely healed before we go venturing anywhere. I want to be positive that he won't do something reckless and tear open old wounds, as it's something he'd probably do..." Twi laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

Wild's Chosen like me, I'm sure of it. Even if the Spirit refuses to confirm it. You can't fake those scars, the trauma in those blue eyes... He has to be Chosen. Which means my blood most likely runs through his veins. Which also means the apple didn't fall far from the tree when it comes to recklessness... I mean, I probably inherited my recklessness from the Hero of Time... he grimaced.

"I see. Poor thing..." Uli sympathized. "What triggered his anxiety?"

"I'm not certain. He was peeling an apple and his eyes suddenly fell shut. I could sense his unease, as if he was reliving a nightmare. I gently snapped him out of it, though he was pretty shaken up. I'll talk to him tonight, if he's feeling up to it," the Ordonian settled.

"He'd make a good farm-boy, that Wild," Uli offered. "He's strong, looks like he's endured quite the hardships. I don't see why he couldn't go up to the ranch with you a few days from now. He could do something simple, something that doesn't involve a lot of lifting and hardship. Maybe he could scrape the goat's hooves?"

"Maybe," Twi hummed, drumming his fingers against the tablecloth. "He opened up to me today, so for that I'm thankful. His name is Link, just like mine. Funny isn't it?"

"Are you serious?" Uli inquired, her eyes wide. Twi nodded softly, his dirty blonde hair falling over his eyes, easily brushed aside with one hand. "Then it could not be mere coincidence…"

"He doesn't speak, as you know, but rather uses sign language. Colin's curiosity sparked up and he started asking questions, such as his name, Sure enough, Link answered, hesitantly." He signed L-I-N-K just as Wild had, though much slower so Uli could follow along. "Link. I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you, but Link's not from this era."

"How can you be so sure he isn't one of the knights from the castle?" Uli questioned.

"His injuries say otherwise. And when I discovered him, he was wearing a blue garb unlike anything I've ever seen a knight wear. I know a few men from the Castle and none of them bear that clothing. I wrote him a note while I was gone in case he woke while I was away, but he couldn't read it, only stared at it in confusion," Link explained.

"If that's the case, how can he understand you?" Uli reasoned.

"Supposedly the spirits granted him that ability... But he can't be from our world. Or this era. You know of the Hero of Time, the Hero of the Sky, Hylia's Chosen. They were all from different eras. Even our current world itself counts as an era," he answered.

"So all of this is theory?"

Twi opened his mouth to speak, but quickly snapped it shut. If he told her the truth, would she believe him? Would she truly believe he had been speaking with the light spirits concerning his guest? Would she believe they had answered? Though she was the closest thing he had to a mother, there was a lot she didn't know. A lot he dared not tell her.

With his knowledge came a price. A price that could very well mean your life. Enough people had been endangered as is from both the actions of Zant and Ganondorf. He'd rather not tangle her up in the situation. She was involved, yes, but he only wished to protect her. But… How would the knowledge of the Light Spirits threaten her life?

"If I'm being honest, no. Uli, I haven't really been telling you the truth behind all of this, but the Light Spirit Faron, saved Link's life. And I've been conversing with Ordona concerning Wild's condition. The Spirit told me that he's not of our era before it faded away…"

"You spoke with the spirits?" Uli stared at him in disbelief. The longer he talked, the crazier this all sounded. Yet, what reason had he to lie? The young man's injuries couldn't have sealed that quickly, even if he had soaked in the blessed waters for hours.

The springs were capable of healing minor injuries and soothing the more severe of them, but the waters could not heal such injuries on their own. She knew this for a fact, seeing as she had guided a severely wounded Rusl to the spring, his body depleted of strength. Though she had laid him in the spring and prayed for her husband to be healed, no answer came. Was she not worthy to speak with the Spirits? Did Ordona not hear her prayer?

"Why didn't Ordona answer me when Rusl was injured?"

Again, another question he had to answer carefully. Ordona had not had it's light stolen by the beasts of darkness, but it was doing its best to keep a low profile to avoid such.

"The Spirits had their light stolen by the creatures of the shadow… Lanayru, Faron, Eldin… all suffered greatly. They were too weak to answer the prayers of their people. Ordona was most likely forced to lay low to prevent itself from suffering the same fate… Don't take it personally."

Uli nodded slightly, though her fists clenched in her lap. She took a deep breath, her fists uncurling, relaxing. "Why don't you and Wild go ahead and take a couple slices from the pie? It's lovely, but I doubt I can eat it all…"

"No, we made it for you! You should be the one eating it-" Twi began, but he was quickly cut off.

"I insist. Please. It's the least I can do to repay the both of you for keeping Colin company and keeping him safe. I love the boy, but he can be quite reckless… Like someone else I know," she playfully poked Twi in the ribs, causing him to make a small squeak and curl up, giggling.

"Alright, I'll take some pie," he sighed, grinning. Uli sat up and shifted to the shelves, where a wooden bowl had been set, a lid on top. She returned to the table with a knife, cutting into the pie and placing two slices into the bowl rather expertly, placing the lid on top and tying it in place with a ribbon. A mother's touch.

"Hurry on home, boy, before that pie turns cold," she said, shooing Twi toward the door after giving him one last hug. "Tell Link I said hello."

"Well, to avoid confusion, just call him Wild. As for me… Call me Twi," the Hero of Twilight piped up with a smile before bowing and turning toward the door.

"Why the name Twi?"

"Because I'm the Hero of Twilight," he answered simply before slipping out the door.

~o~

He found himself standing in an open area, fog stretching as far as the eye could see, glittering. A chill brushed past him, biting at his ears and his fingers, causing him to instinctively wrap his arms tight around himself for some form of warmth. Every breath he exhaled was chilled in the air, hovering for a brief moment before melting away. It was eerily silent, though stars hung overhead and the moon was magnified by hundreds. He could see every crater in its surface, see the light reflecting off its pale body.

What is this place…? How did I get here? Am I dreaming?

"Hello, young one..."

He jumped, spinning around, but he did not expect the sight before him in the least. A large, golden furred wolf stood, one red eye gazing up at him, the other scarred shut. Its long ears were perked, looped earrings dangling from them. Its body glowed with an otherworldly light.

The Hero of The Wild took a few steps back, but where could he run? There was nowhere to hide, nothing he could use to defend himself. Strangely enough, he felt a sense of calm rush over him in the presence of this being; a sense of security.

"Do not be afraid, Hero chosen by the Gods," the wolf spoke, though his lips did not move. The disembodied voice echoed around the two.

"Who… W-who are you?" Link spoke, his voice unsteady. He feared the creature could pounce upon him at any given moment, sinking its teeth into his soft flesh.

A gentle laughter echoed around him before the wolf's lips pulled into a grin and he answered, "I am many things, boy. However, I am not a stranger to you, despite what you have lead yourself to believe. We have not met, granted, yet you know of me. Of my story… The remnants of what legend has passed down to you is scattered within the fragments of your shattered mind."

"I-I… I'm sorry? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Link replied as the wolf graciously rose, padding toward him, muscles rippling beneath his skin. In that instant, the Hero of the Wild's fight or flight instincts began to take over, but he fought back. He needed answers…

The golden wolf stopped less than a foot away from him. He could feel the creature's breath against his hand before he pressed his snout to Link's arm. In a flash of bright gold, forcing Link to shield his eyes, a man now stood in the place of the wolf.

His golden hair parted in the middle, bangs hanging over his face, though the rest of it was pulled up behind his head, swaying gently in the breeze. One blue eye gazed back at him, the other scarred over, closed. He wore armor, perhaps golden once but now faded and rusted, overgrown with moss and foilage. His breastplate met in the center of his chest, tipped and shaped like an eagle's beak. Red painting had chipped away upon his armor, a banner flapping at his waist, chain mail broken and tattered. A red cloak swished behind him, torn and beaten. In one hand, he clutched a battered helmet. Link couldn't help but stare in awe at the figure who stood over him.

"I am the Cursed Swordsman, the Forgotten Hero, the betrayed Captain, the boy sealed away within the Temple of Time for seven years. The savior of Termina, the Angel of The Battlefield, the Raven. I am the Hero's Shade."

Link continued to stare, his eyes wide and heart yet again racing within his chest. His knees felt weak, as if he would collapse upon the earth at the feet of this entity. The Hero's Shade placed his hand upon the younger's shoulder, steadying him. "There is much you do not yet understand, Link. Though you are eager to learn, I must warn you. Too much knowledge at so little time can obliterate your spirit, and you shall be lost to the shadows eternally… I have contacted you to aid you, having been permitted to answer a few questions. Please understand I must take my leave after all has been said and done."

"Why me…?" Link whispered.

"Why you?" the Hero's Shade began. "My little pup, you were not brought to this era by mistake..."

"What… what do you mean…?"

"You were sent to your ancestor as a means to spare you whilst you grasped at the ashes of life. You are lost, both in physicality and mentality. Your story has barely begun, lad."

Again, thank you all for being so supportive and loving. Thank you all for everything you do. And if you're reading this, Lulu and Z'sWyverns, thank you both for being my driving force, giving me the strength to continue when I had none. You truly are goddesses.❤️