Chapter twenty-eight has arrived! Not too much action, it's just sort of... there. Haha it pretty much just helps set up the next few chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Conversations in the Bar

"Uh," Zelda paused, staring at Link with a blank expression. She was completely flabbergasted and dumbfounded by his question. It was absolutely true: if they wanted the entire Triforce, they were going to need the Triforce of Power. The only problem was that they had no idea how to find it. Link looked straight back into her eyes, waiting for an answer.

"What could've happened to the Triforce after Ganondorf's decease?" she asked, more to herself than to Link. He simply shrugged, bringing the hot beverage to his lips. Zelda squinted, deep in thought, and stared into space. Dozens of possibilities ran through her mind, and images of Ganondorf and the Triforce of Power appeared in her brain. She saw the other two pieces, glowing blue and green... but the red was still missing.

"All right, let's go over what we know about the Triforce," Zelda began intelligently. They were going to break this down step by step. "It was left by the goddesses here in Hyrule, and when Ganondorf tried to seize it so many years ago, it flocked to the three chosen ones because of his unbalanced heart: my ancestors, your ancestors, and Ganondorf. But it is usually said that Ganondorf retained the Triforce of Power by some divine prank after he was defeated by the Hero of Time..." she paused.

"Either way, the bearers of the Triforce passed down their powers to their descendants." Zelda looked into his eyes. "That's you and me. So, initially, the Triforce of Power should go to Ganondorf's descendant. But... does he have one? He's been reincarnated more than once."

"Maybe it doesn't have to be a descendant," Link suggested quietly. "Maybe it will go to the person best suited to the Triforce."

There was a thick, deafening silence after that moment, and they both went deep into the chasms of their minds.

"Link! Zelda, honey!" Telma's voice came calling from behind the counter, and they both sighed as they turned around. "Come over here for a moment, you two."

Obediently they stood, leaving their coffee mugs as they walked up to the counter where Telma was cleaning. Louise meowed, sitting on Telma's shoulder, and they were hesitant to leave their important conversation.

"I have a few things to discuss with you," Telma began. "First off, that sweet Ilia is still waiting for you, Link. So you need to hurry up and go see her."

Link nodded, and Zelda ignored the pang of jealousy.

"And, Princess, I have a favor to ask you..."

"Anything, Telma."

"Well, you see, the inside information that you have about the castle and the government of the kingdom is very important information." Telma seemed a bit fidgety, avoiding Zelda's eyes. "And we—the Resistance, I mean—were wondering if you could maybe give us some inside info. We could use all the help we can get to make Hyrule a better place."

"I think I need your help right now more than you need mine," Zelda chuckled uneasily, and Telma nodded with a relieved expression.

"Good! Now, remember, I can't have you two lollygagging at my table all day. Go out and get your stuff done. Laziness is not something I tolerate," she shooed them off with a wink, and they both returned to the table. Zelda was happy to finally have someone to help her with the royal burdens; she wouldn't have to face them alone anymore.

When they sat down, the door of the tavern opened, and people started filing in and ordering some food and drinks. Telma's Bar was open for business, and the busy day was beginning. Zelda and Link ignored them, and continued their conversation.

"Ganondorf is dead," she said quietly. "That still leaves the question of the next person to bear the Triforce of Power. This is so confusing," Zelda rubbed her temples. "We have no clues, no hints, nothing to help us figure out this puzzle."

Link returned to silence, and the only sounds were the customers conversing and laughing as they ate and drank their fill. The two chosen ones sat in silence, staring at the table and thinking over their dilemma. Zelda didn't know about Link, but she was at a complete loss; that wasn't something common for the wielder of the Triforce of Wisdom.

LINK POV

Glancing at Zelda, he could see the stress on her lovely face. It made his heart wrench, but there was nothing he could do. As much as he wished he did, Link didn't know all of the answers to her questions. On the contrary, she knew much more than he did. He couldn't imagine all of the thoughts racing through her unusually mature mind, but he didn't envy her. Zelda had so many things to worry about, and he wished he could just make them all disappear. He wanted it to just be he and she for the rest of time, with nothing to interrupt them... but that wasn't a possibility. He had his duties, and she had hers.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," she mumbled, leaning her forehead on her palm. Link sighed, watching her drink her steaming coffee. Suddenly, the voices of the customers sitting around them reached their attention.

"Hey, d'ya hear about Edward's son?" one man said.

"Oh yeah, how he got sick all of a sudden?" the other replied. "Poor kid died last night. It just breaks my heart."

At those words, Link and Zelda's heads jerked up, and they gave each other worried expressions. Discreetly, they began eavesdropping on the conversation.

"He's not the only one who got sick," a third man said, sipping his beer. "Looks like everybody around my neighborhood is coming down with a horrible illness. I don't know what the hell it is, but it's sure making me nervous."

"Yeah, I've seen some people getting sick, too. Might be an epidemic going around," the second man nodded. Zelda and Link widened their eyes at each other, and his stomach flipped. This plague was just going from bad to worse.

"And this isn't just any illness!" the third man continued. "Two people on my street have already died."

"Ya don't say?" the first man asked, concern on his face. "That's just strange if ya ask me."

"I just think everybody should stay inside for a while, until this all blows over. Hopefully the sickness won't kill anybody else," the third man added, shaking his head.

Link sighed anxiously, weaving his hands through his blond, knotted hair. Zelda narrowed her eyes, deep in thought. They let the conversation sink in, and Link was now on edge. This illness was worse than he thought.

"Okay, we need to just stay calm and think this through," Zelda said reassuringly.

Link nodded, but there was no way he was going to be able to stay calm: at least, not on the inside.

"I'm sure the other Orb piece will help us figure everything out."

That's when Link remembered Ordona. He gasped, straightening up and widening his eyes. For all they knew, Ordon province could be completely gone. Zelda instantly knew what he was thinking, and she sucked in a nervous breath.

"We need to go... now." She took the words straight from his mouth, and he nodded vivaciously as they both stood up, pushing their chairs back.

"Wherever you're going, make sure to stop by Ilia! That poor girl is probably wrought with worry over you." Telma called as they rushed up the stairs to pack.

It was the opposite: Link was wrought with worry over Ilia. He knew she was in good hands at Renado's, but he couldn't help but be anxious about her condition. He wanted to see her as soon as possible, but he also knew that Ordona was his first priority at this point. Zelda knew it as well, but he heard sympathy in her voice when she spoke.

"Why don't we visit Kakariko Village after getting the final Orb piece?" she touched his arm lightly. He appreciated the fact that she could read him so well; it only made them more perfect for each other.

With a nod, Link smiled appreciatively. Then he followed Zelda up the stairs to their room. Link, already packed and ready to leave, leaned on the doorframe and watched as Zelda prepared herself. There was something he was itching to say, and it was on the tip of his tongue, ready to flow from his lips. But he simply couldn't. When Zelda looked up at him, she saw a look of desperation on his face, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

"Are you okay?" she asked with a furrowed brow. Link sighed, turning away and crossing his hands on his toned chest. Zelda shook her head, but couldn't help smiling. "Why don't you go downstairs? I'll meet you down there when I'm done here."

Link chuckled, and gave her a grateful nod before heading back downstairs. Right now, he needed to be away from Zelda for just a moment to gather his thoughts. He instinctively sat at the counter, and Telma put a hand on her hip as she examined him. He leaned his chin on his palm, sighing heavily as thoughts ran through his mind.

"Looks like you're thinking about something important," she said, raising an eyebrow. Link looked up at her with glistening eyes. Then, he straightened up, realizing that maybe Telma could help him with his issue.

"Love is hard to figure out, isn't it?" Telma winked. Link nodded slowly, rolling his eyes with an uneasy smile. "A princess like that doesn't show up too often, you know."

Link exhaled deeply, and his eyes instinctively moved to the room where Zelda was.

"Tell her how you feel, Link!" Telma pressed. Link groaned, confused and lost as he buried his head in his hands. "What's the worst that could happen? She's beautiful, wise, kind... and you've got nothing to lose!"

"I don't know how to do it." Link admitted. "How do I tell her I love her?"

Telma just stared at him with a mischievous smile.

"Come on, Link. We both know the answer to that question," she rolled her eyes at his thickness. "But I suggest you make your move fast. Love only lasts for so long..."

With those wise words, Telma turned around to tend to her tavern. Link furrowed his brow, thinking over what she had just said. Then, it hit him harder than anything had hit him before, and he gasped with a broad smile. Telma saw him out of the corner of her eyes, and she smiled crookedly.

As of that moment, Link knew what his reward was going to be. But he couldn't ask for it... not yet.

As they rode through Hyrule Field on Epona, Link felt Zelda leaning against him heavily. He could sense her drifting off into sleep, and he didn't blame her. They'd gone through a rough few days, and he found himself smiling as her breathing became heavier and her arms slackened around his waist. In a few more minutes, the princess was fast asleep.

Link stared up at the blue sky, letting himself sway as Epona walked. The clouds slowly rolled by while taking on unrecognizable shapes and giving the sky its character. They were an hour away from Ordon, but Link was reluctant to enter the province. Frankly, he was afraid of what he would find. He was afraid that more of his close friends were gone, and that the place he could call home was nearly destroyed. He had been raised there, and all the villagers were like his family. It was such a small, peaceful village. Link just wished he hadn't plagued it with his fateful existence. Now, it was doomed to a life of horror and obstacles.

Link resisted the urge to turn into Kakariko Village when they passed it. He could imagine Ilia, lying down in Renado's inn, waiting for him. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint her... but he had no choice. If he wasted another moment, Ordon would be destroyed. For all he knew, Ordona could've already been dead. Link's heart started suddenly pounding heavily and goose bumps appeared on his skin. Glancing back, he saw that Zelda was still in a deep slumber.

Without another moment's hesitation, Link leaned forward and gently nudged Epona into a swift gallop. It would take their journey from an hour down to half an hour if they galloped, and they needed to save as much time as possible. Right now, Zelda's comfort wasn't the most important thing. Though, most of the time, it was the most important thing in Link's mind. Her slumber was uninterrupted by Epona's smooth gait, and Link smiled as he glanced back at her serene, beautiful face.

In half an hour, Epona trotted into Faron woods. As if feeling the evil presence near, Zelda jolted awake and sat up in the saddle, tightening her grip on Link's waist. He accordingly narrowed his eyes, and as they neared the bridge leading into Ordona province, Link could feel them nearing a heavy, black evil. Across the bridge, all Link could see was darkness. Behind him, Zelda sucked in an anxious breath, but kept her calm composure.

"Ordona is not doing well... I can tell," she observed as Epona took her first step onto the bridge. As soon as her hoof made contact with the wood, the mare shook her head anxiously, whinnied loudly, and then reared in fright. Link's eyes widened as he pulled on her reins, and Zelda struggled to stay on top of the frightened horse.

"Shh," he patted her neck when she finally landed back on the ground. Her ears were pressed back against her head, and she became extremely fidgety. Link saw her eyes become wide and bloodshot. He looked at Zelda, shaking his head subtly.

"Let's just continue on foot," she read his mind. With a nod, Link backed Epona up a bit, off of the bridge, and then gracefully dismounted. Zelda did the same (though with much less grace and a lot of Link's help). After tying Epona's reins to the bridge poles, he and Zelda began their fateful trek into Ordon.

Instinctively, they grabbed each other's hands and stepped onto the bridge. Right away, Link felt his limbs becoming heavier, and he cringed at the dark atmosphere. Zelda became tense beside him, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly. Then they finally reached the other side of the bridge: Ordon Province.

Everything was dead.

There was no color, no life; blackness enshrouded them, and Link felt his eyes brim with warm, genuine tears. Zelda gasped, putting a trembling hand to her mouth. Link shut his eyes tightly, willing the tears to disappear, but they refused to listen. They flowed silently down his cheeks. He just couldn't imagine what the village looked like...and the people...

"Link," Zelda said his name softly, looking at him worriedly. "A-are you okay?"

Link honestly shook his head, and he didn't even bother to wipe the tears off his cheeks. Without a word, he hesitantly started pulling Zelda forward once more. She sighed, but followed. Their steps were heavy and reluctant as they made their way to the spring, where Ordona was indubitably holding onto life by a single thread.

"Everything will be fine," she whispered. Link drew in a shaky breath, wishing that he weren't showing this side of him in front of the princess. He didn't want her sympathy or pity; he wanted her admiration, and he wanted her love most of all. Crying wasn't going to help the cause.

"Look at me." They paused in front of the entrance to the spring, and Zelda's voice was demanding yet soft at the same time. "Link, look at me."

With slight reluctance, he turned to her with watery eyes. Her features were shadowed and gray; a result of the dying world around her, but her eyes still glistened with the same blue sparkle.

"Everything will be fine," she repeated, wiping the tears off of his cheeks. "We'll save Ordon Province." He grabbed her hands, trembling slightly. Zelda smiled, and then he brought his lips to her hands gratefully.

Together, they walked into Ordona's spring.

The water was pitch black, the waterfall dead along with all of the plants, and dark clouds hung ominously overhead. Link straightened up, strengthened by Zelda's display of affection, and the tears disappeared. Here was something he wanted–no, needed–to protect. As soon as they stepped into the murky water, their Triforces began glowing brightly. Responding to the call, the golden droplet appeared, and Ordona appeared from the water.

She was at least five times smaller than her normal size, and her eyes were dull and drooping. Black and green had completely taken over the liquid gold and white of her once strong and majestic body, which now seemed weak and feeble. The light orb in between her horns was still shining brightly, much to Link and Zelda's relief, but if Ordona died...

"Great Light Spirit," Zelda knelt in the water, and uncertain, Link followed suit. When they glanced up, Ordona was breathing heavily and coughing quietly. "We have come to save your province."

"The...Orb..." Ordona's voice was hoarse and low, barely audible. It echoed hauntingly while she spoke, sending shivers down Link's spine. She sounded horrible.

Nodding, Zelda and Link both stood up. While he watched intently, the princess reached into her cloak and pulled out the nearly complete Orb. Finally, they were about to complete it. Finally, they were going to get the fourth piece and be that much closer to saving Hyrule. Finally...

All right, I've never really done this before, but I'm having a bit of a problem. The plot of this story, as you readers very well know, is a very complex one. And, frankly, I'm getting a bit lost. So, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to ask YOUR opinion on what I should do next. Don't worry: I have some ideas. I just need some help choosing haha. PM's or reviews about this would be greatly appreciated!

The dilemma with the Triforce of Power. Should I...

(A) Have Link and Zelda enter the Sacred Realm to find it

(B) Find a way to bring back Ganondorf

(C) Bring Midna back as the bearer of the Triforce

(D) Find a way for them to defeat the Source without the Triforce of Power (example: the goddesses make an exception, the Sages help them, etc...)

FEEDBACK WOULD BE WONDERFUL! Hahaha and I will not tell you which one I will choose... you'll just have to read to find out. Haha I will update soon! Thanks guys, love you all :D