Hi everyone!

A new chapter, yay! It's certainly been a while. I'm getting serious now about finishing this fanfiction! I don't want to let you guys down!

On a similar note, I'm going to be going back through Unplanned Consequences and re-writing it. It's rather old and the writing is, for lack of better word, kinda shit XD I've already gone back through these chapters and re-written them. On that, if you find ANYTHING wrong with any of the chapters, please don't be shy to note me about them! I will be very grateful for your help. Afterall, I'm here to keep you guys entertained, and I'm not doing my job very well with shoddy writing skills!

Thank you for coming, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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Chapter 13

"Groose!" Zelda cried, surprised to see her friend for the first time in months. That surprise quickly turned into anger, and she marched right up to him, giving him a (not so playful) slap across the face.

"How dare you!" She shouted at him, "Karane has been so worried about you! She misses you so much! You have no idea how many times I've heard her crying! And then, there's also that fact that you've left her alone whilst she's-"

Zelda cut herself off. Maybe that sort of news would be best coming from Karane herself.

"I know," Groose sighed, massaging his reddening cheek. He looked away. "I miss her too. So very much."

"Then go back to her!" Zelda crossed her arms.

"I- I can't," Groose sighed again "Not yet. I know you won't understand, but it's hard okay?"

"No, I don't understand!" Zelda cut in. "What's so hard about staying by your wife's side whilst she brings up your child! She hates being on her own, remember? She's scared, because of what happened when Lee was born!"

Horii had told her the story, before Karane had even been able to talk about it.

"Then why aren't you with her right now?" Groose shot back, his temper getting the better of him. Zelda stopped, whatever retort she had next dying on her tongue. He had a point. She took a deep breath.

"I have to go save Link."

"What?"

"He's been kidnapped. By someone, we don't know who. All I know is that the knights came back a few days ago, and Link wasn't with them. They'd been ambushed and when they woke up. The only thing they said they saw were that the people wore hoods, they covered their faces and that they could use magic."

"Maybe you should ask Grannie about it," Groose offered. "She knows a lot about everything. Perhaps she can help identify them."

"Do you get sad?" Zelda suddenly asked, "Thinking about, y'know, Grannie from before?"

"Of course I do," Groose looked away again. "That's maybe why I've stayed here so long. I told you, you wouldn't understand. But, I feel so different since then. Like, I could have done more, to keep her around."

"It wasn't anything you or me could have done something about," Zelda put a hand on his arm, attempting to comfort Groose. "She left because her time was up."

"I know, but I still can't help but wonder. I think it just got a little bit too much for me, you know? I know I'm being selfish, but I never asked to play a part in this whole thing. I never asked for my life to be turned upside down by all this, and then flipped up again when I returned home to find a kid waiting for me. I love Karane, and I love our son, but this wasn't what I wanted for my life. I wanted to be more than that guy who trains new recruits in sword fighting, or who walks around the village watching for anyone doing anything wrong. I want to be the guy who goes out exploring. I wanted to be a proper knight, but I didn't for Karane. I guess," he laughed, but it held no mirth. "I'm still jealous of Link. But, it's not like before when I was jealous because he had you. I'm jealous because he has the life I wanted for myself. Minus the kidnapping part."

"Oh Groose," Zelda's eyes soften. "Have you told Karane this is how you feel?"

"Of course not. She'd be upset, blame herself. What good would it do anyway? She'd think she ruined my life."

"You can't keep these things to yourself. If you do, the feelings build up and up and then one day, like the day you left, they just spill out and you hurt the ones you love most," Zelda sighed "Look, Karane needs you right now, more than ever. You need to go back."

"I will. Just… not right now. I can't leave Grannie on her own."

"Where is she, anyway?" Zelda looked around. She decided not to tell Groose about why she really wanted him to go home. That was for Karane to tell him. Groose shrugged.

"She went out to get some herbs to make a tea for you to take when you go. She was muttering about monsters and that you'd need health potions," He paused "I was really worried when Grannie found you at the bottom of that cliff edge. You were so cold, I thought maybe…" he shook his head, pushing the thought away. "I'm glad you're okay, anyway."

"I'm sorry for scaring you like that." Zelda apologised.

When Grannie came back, she looked Zelda over. Confirming her arm had been broken, and that she had also suffered a fractured rib and a few cuts and bruises, Grannie also confirmed that she had healed properly and gave her the OK to carry on her journey.

"You might want to wait a little while, though," Grannie held up her satchel, "I collected some herbs to make you a potion to take with you. We don't want you getting stuck after falling down any more cliffs now, do we?"

"Thank you," Zelda smiled warmly. "There actually was something more I wanted to ask you."

"Oh?" Grannie beckoned for Zelda to follow her into the room where she brewed her potions. Once inside, Zelda began her story whilst Grannie set to work.

"My husband… Link. He's a Skyloft Knight. A few days ago, he was out on a mission when his team were ambushed. Link was taken. Groose said you might know of the people that took him."

"I might do," Grannie agreed, "I know a fair few different species that wander this land. Tell me, what do you know of them?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," Zelda sighed "From what I was told, they moved via the trees. They covered their faces and wore furs. And they could use magic."

"I know exactly of who you speak." Grannie threw a few herbs into a pot of boiling water a little more violently than she had been working before. "The Hylians. My Clan."

"The clan you ran away from?"

"Exactly. They live underground, and expect the women to cook and clean and tend to livestock. Unless you are lucky enough to have that last job, you are confined to the inside, and many of the young girls never see sunlight. Only the men, the warriors, are allowed out."

"Is that why you left?" Zelda asked. "Because you wanted to be able to go outside?"

"Among other reasons, yes," Grannie stirred the pot "I would advise you not to go to them."

"Why not?" Zelda replied, a thin sheet of anger covering her words "I need to go and get my husband back."

"And what good would it be to have both of you captured, young one?" Grannie shook her head. "I can tell you this; they are corrupted. There is a darkness returning to this world, and that darkness has consumed them. They are evil, but they are not the one in control." Zelda thought about her dream last night. Perhaps that was the meaning of? But, before she could think on it anymore, Grannie continued. "You need to be careful who you trust from now on in, Goddess."

Zelda jumped. "How did you know that?"

"The magic. It radiates off of you. This is why I was afraid to use more magic on you, in case yours was more powerful than mine."

"I don't have magic," Zelda shrugged her shoulders, dismissing the idea. But then, she thought about it. "I had read that I might be able to, but since I returned home I haven't been able to call upon my powers at all. I don't have a tutor."

"Let me teach you," Grannie offered "I am well-learned in all sorts of magic. I'm sure I can teach you a few things to help keep you safe."

"This is useless!" Zelda flopped back on the ground from sitting crossed-leg. Grannie had suggested she try to meditate to unlock her mind. It seemed like a simple enough task, but Zelda had been sat outside of Grannie's hut for what felt like hours, and nothing had happened.

"You have to be patient," Grannie explained. Whilst Zelda had been mediating, Groose had been helping the old woman take down her washing.

"I am being patient! It doesn't help when you guys are milling around in the background!"

"You never did lose that fiery temper, huh," Groose shook his head "Come on Grannie, we've got the last of your stuff down from the line. Let's go inside and leave Miss Hot-Head to her meditating."

Groose picked up the basket, and offered his arm to the woman. Grannie took it, and the two headed back inside.

"Well, whatever then," Zelda huffed to herself, sitting back up and returning to her previous position. With eyes shut, she willed her mind to clear. It was difficult. The knowledge of everything going on in her life made it difficult to just forget. There was an ache in her heart for her twins. She felt so incredibly bad for leaving them, and even know she wondered how she could have left them. She trusted Karane, of course she did, but Aria and Eric were her flesh and blood. Zelda had promised to take care of the two children, come what may. Except, the first time she had been forced to choose between them and Link, she had chosen Link, and abandoned them. What would she have done if Karane wasn't there? Or her father? Or anyone willing to help her? What if the rules had never been changed, if she had been an outcast? Would she still have chosen Link first?

Tears began to run down her face. She was a terrible mother. She hadn't even thought twice. What if she were to die on this journey? Zelda herself knew the hardships of growing up without a mother, and from Link she knew how difficult it was for him to grow up without both parents. And there was no telling that Link was even still alive right now.

Zelda scrubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic. There was no point thinking like that now. She knew in her hear that Link was alive, and that she was the only one who could reach him. She huffed again; this clearing her mind stuff was not working out at all.

She heard Groose walking around again, and she frowned.

"Groose, really!" She complained, not opening her eyes. "I am TRYING to meditate. Please, go away!"

When Groose did not answer, Zelda opened one of her eyes. And then the other one shot open.

That was not Groose.

She let out a little scream, and jumped to her feet. She recognized the monster; it was a Bokoblin, and it has heading towards her now, sword raised. Groose, the actual Groose, burst through the front door, Link's training sword in his hand.

"Not again!" He shouted, reaching Zelda just in time to block the monster's swing. "Zelda, get back!"

Zelda did as she was told, running back to the hut. Inside, she quickly looked around for a weapon. Leaning up against the wall next to the door was a bow and arrows, and though she was not trained well in archery she had practiced a few times back on Skyloft, and it was better than nothing. She nocked one of the arrows, and ran back out the door.

Groose and the Bokoblin were still locked in combat, but Groose had the upper hand. Zelda drew her bow, and aimed at the monster. She let the arrow fly, and it hit him in the back. The Bokoblin let out a scream, and stumbled long enough for Groose to stab it through the chest, killing it.

"Ugh, I hate those guys!" Groose poked the dead monster with Link's old sword until he disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

"I thought all the monsters were gone," Zelda fiddled with the bow "I guess Grannie was right when she said evil was back in the land."

"Maybe I should come with you on your journey," Groose said "At least then I'd know you were safe. If these guys are all over the place, you'll need all the help you can get."

"I would love to have your help, Groose," Zelda smiled. She really would; The idea of the journey ahead did scare her, and having a familiar face would make things easier. "But, you need to get back to Karane." Zelda sighed.

She guessed she better tell Groose what was going on, or he'd never go back. "Listen, you need to go back to her because she's pregnant, Groose. She's pregnant with your second child."