Fyras14: Sorry for the delay, people...I kinda got caught up in something else...anyway, Chapter seven is as good as here...I have decided to only change and correct parts that do need correcting and not all of the chapter...however, this to, will take time, but I assure you I will move to the Monday updates...this one would have been quicker had i not forgotten about it...right now, I'm trying to update some of my stories and correcting a few others...
Anyway, next chapter might come either on Monday or at Tuesday, depending if I finish it on time...as Christmas is coming up in a couple of days. Consider this chapter an early Christmas present and well, enjoy the holidays!
See you guys next chapter!
Summary: After the attack on her castle, Zelda manages to escape, half dead. Found by Link in the wild, she is taken care of, but when fate plays its harsh hand once more, the princess must do everything in her power to aid the hero, recover her kingdom, and maybe fall in love. AU Twilight Princess.
Please read or review, or criticize, whichever comes first. Flames are not accepted, frowned upon, and possibly deleted.
Also remember, that this story is not a walkthrough, and that Zelda and its characters do not belong to me.
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says 'I'll try again tomorrow'.
-Mary Anne Radmacher
-Chapter 7-
-A Lesson in Heroics-
Zelda hated to lie to Link. She hated it!
Even as she aided the human-turned-wolf against the strange shadow creatures that had taken over her kingdom, her guilt was unbearable, unnoticed by her animal traits. It was childish, really…was there really a need to lie to the person that had taken care of her while she was cursed with this malady?
Yes! came the voice from deep inside her being, as she sunk her talons on the creature below her. I'm ashamed…what would I possibly win if I face him? …I can't possibly face him and tell him of my mistakes…Then, another voice spoke as she watched the hero wolf finish off another of those evil creatures, this one hiding no shame.
But, he would understand! He wouldn't judge me…Yet, despite these thoughts, her guilt was great and soon, they were overridden.
No…no he wouldn't…her mind went on, as the hawk princess pecked on a flying creature's belly, sending it to the ground for Link to finish the job. He'll just…no…no…he wouldn't understand…It was odd, really...why, of all the people in her kingdom, Link's matter more to her, all of the sudden. She had been feeling differently for him ever since he began to take care of her…she felt, lightheaded when in his presence at times, others, she couldn't help but blush inwardly when he praised her…yet, despite of Zelda's vast wisdom, she did not know the answer. But, maybe she did, but found it hard to explain it to her guilt-ridden heart.
As she contemplated all of this, her eyes lowered towards Link, who was finishing off the reminder of shadow beasts, aided by the little imp that had settled on top of him like a horseman to a horse. Once the creatures of shadows fell in defeat, they turned into small particles, flying back into the air, and Zelda watched in wonder as they went back to the same hole they had come from, forgotten from the battlefield.
"Phew…that was a close call," the wolf muttered, shaking his head, as Zelda landed nearby.
"Indeed," came the hawk princess's reply, as she glanced towards where the bridge once stood. "But…how would you cross to the other side?" she wondered out loud, looking back at Link. "I could try carrying you…but…it would have…unfortunate consequences, I'm afraid…" Link nodded in agreement with the hawk, before looking back at the space where the bridge once stood, and then, at the small imp on his back.
"Midna?" Link barked, catching the imp's attention; Midna only glanced back at him before sighing in frustration.
"Hmph! Those guys just made my job harder!" She looked down at Link, and offered him an explanation. "Those shadow creatures must have transported the bridge somewhere else…"
"Transported the bridge?" Zelda asked, earning a small growl, of 'I have no idea', from Link.
"Let's just say those guys just moved it to another area." Midna explained, as if understanding what they were trying to tell her. "From this world, to yours."
Ah! Zelda thought, looking back at the empty space replacing the bridge. Could it be that the creatures knew we were coming here? Perhaps that's why they got rid of the bridge…or…could they be…blocking the path…to protect something?
"And can we put the bridge back where it belongs?" Link asked the imp, making Zelda look back at them. Midna nodded, apparently already guessing the meaning of his growls and barks.
"Yeah, we can put the thing back again. If we can find the place where those guys transported the bridge to, I can transport it back here." Before Link could open his mouth again, Zelda took over for him.
"And, how are we to find this…bridge, as you call it?" Zelda asked, trying her best to sound as if she didn't know what they were talking about, despite her mind telling her to tell the truth right there. She knew it wouldn't do her any good if she told Link who she truly was. He might even get angry at her for lying to him…but, then, her logical self reasoned, what if that evil king found them? What if this king found her, and hurt Link? Or that imp, Midna? No, she wouldn't do it. That was a given. No one would have to suffer from her mistakes, and she wasn't about to go through with another one, were she toreveal herself and Link's life or those of his friends were put in danger. It's for the best…
The hawk looked back at Link, who was looking at the imp, as Midna explained something to him, about a portal, or something like that. The wolf turned to face her, but before he could say anything, he disappeared into a million of black particles, that in turn entered the portal that still remained there.
Zelda only stood there, baffled at the sight. What had happened to Link and that imp? Had the shadow creatures gotten to them? She suddenly began to panic, hovering in the air, trying to find them. "LINK! LINK! MIDNA!" she cried out, waiting for a howl, growl, or a snide comment to call back. Zelda found none. She was about to fly away, when something strange caught her eyes. The hawk princess gave a loud gasp when the bridge that was missing minutes ago, materialized back into its place. Soon after, Link and Midna appeared, with Link growling back at the imp.
"Why didn't you warn me you were going to transport me with your magic!" Link growled. "You could have at least waited for me to tell Shannon!" Midna only giggled.
"Why are you complaining about, anyway, doggy?" she asked him, pointing a finger up in the air, where Zelda was. "She was just spooked a little…besides, bird brain is pretty careful, unlike some people, well, in your case, dogs, are! Hee hee!" Link showed his sharp teeth at her.
"Why you-"
"There really is no need to worry nor to get angry, Link." Zelda told him, landing nearby, glad to see him safe and sound. "Besides, weren't we suppose to be tracking the children?" she went on, ignoring another insult from Midna. Link sighed, and began to follow the scent, all the while hearing another mocking comment from the imp on top of him.
"Do you want to switch places? You carry this one, and I'll just watch from the ground…"
"No, thank you." Zelda mentally laughed to herself, when she heard a small whine coming from Link's canine mouth.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
It had not taken Link long to find the scent of the kids again, and soon, both he and Midna, accompanied by Shannon up in the air, found a large gate blocking their way, well, at least Link and Midna's. "Oh…great…now what?"
"Probably I could carry you…" Shannon told him, but Link only shook his head.
"Not a good idea, Shannon…you'll would drop me before we even reach that far." Midna, meanwhile, ignored the two animals as she looked at the gate, muttering to herself,
"This a pretty elaborate gate…wonder what they are trying to keep in? …Or out?" Link managed to shrug, as he examined the place to find any sort of opening, fortunately, Midna gave him an idea. "Why don't you try digging around here?" she asked him, causing Link to look back at her a bit confused. "You know, dig? As in, making a hole." The wolf growled at her snide remark, and sniffed the ground to find a patch of earth to dig through. Once he found it, he nodded at Shannon, who was already flying on the other side of the gate, waiting for him. It didn't take long for Link to pass to the other side of the gate. Shannon was already ahead of them, waiting for them to continue.
In the distance, Link could see the small village that lay at the foot of a canyon, with a huge mountain overlooking it. The sight that greeted the two animals was far from good, as more shadow beasts decorated the streets of the abandoned village. Link gave a small growl, and heard Shannon cry out, "This village…it is so…empty…did those creatures do something to it?"
"Don't know…" Link told her, jumping to bite off the neck of a beast. Midna joined the battle too, creating some sort of strange hole on the ground that paralyzed the creatures, for the two animals to attack them.
"We gotta get rid of all of this guys!" Midna told them, grabbing one of the shadow beasts with her strange orange and blue hair, then throwing it towards another. "If at least one of this guys remain standing it will call forth more of its friends!" Link growled in agreement, before he and Shannon finished the last two remaining shadow beasts. Once the shadows had been taken care of, Link looked around, looking for the spring. He didn't need to bother though, as a voice calmly called him and his allies to it.
To the hero…who was transformed into a blue-eyed beast…by the realm of shadows…in twilight….and his companion…this way…Link and Shannon exchanged glances, before they slowly made their way to the spring, that was hidden between some rocks, but not hard to spot. Shannon gave a gasp as she saw the condition the spirit was in. I am…a…spirit of light…
"More like what remains of light, you mean…" Midna muttered, earning a bark and a cry from both Link and Shannon respectively. A faint chuckle caught their ears, before the spirit spoke again.
…that is much…very true…lady of the twilight…oh…hero chosen by the gods, and his companion of the wind…Look for my light…gather the light stolen by the shadows…In a flash of light, a very familiar twig appeared by his feet. Midna grabbed it with her hair, before it disappeared into shadow particles.
"Easier if I hold it," she told the questioning glance of Link.
…return my light…to me…from the insects of shadows…but…be careful…the darkness…now hunts you…little ones…The light of Eldin soon disappeared, making Shannon looked at Link worriedly.
"Whatever has happened?"
"He's okay, we just have to collect his light…everything will return back to normal once we do…anyway, maybe we should start looking for those insects…"
"…insects? …How…odd…"
"Agreed," Link told her. "but, we can't do anything about that right now."
"Hey, you two done? We have light to return to, here…although, on the other hand, I wouldn't mind if this place stayed like this for a while." She received a glare from the two beasts accompanying her. "Okay, okay…I get it…sheesh…"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Link and Shannon had decided to look for the shadow insects separately, that way, they wouldn't lose more time as it was. The wolf watched from his spot as Shannon took the air, wishing her good luck before he began his own search. He sniffed around, trying to find any sign of the insects, when a strange voice suddenly filled his ears.
"Cripes! How the heck am I supposed to babysit someone else's little brats,when I'm supposed to be savin' myself!" Link looked around, and spotted a strange blue light nearby. The wolf recognized it immediately; this had been exactly how he had seen Coro, the lantern seller, when he was in the Twilight in Faron Woods. It seems that this guy, whoever he was, was now a spirit. A rather angry and panicked spirit at that.
"Why don't you check inside that house, eh? You might find some shadow insects in there…I'm pretty sure bird brain will cry out if she found any on her side…" Link nodded in agreement, and looked around to find a way in. After a couple of minutes of looking, Midna called out. "Hey! Look up, doggy!" Link did as he was told, and found a small platform. With Midna's help, Link jumped all the way, until he was on top of the house itself. Before he could take a couple of steps, however, something stop him from walking longer, and he fell.
When he finally felt the ground, Link shook his head, and looked around. He realized that he was inside the house, and the spirit he had seen before was nearby, looking through the window. It seems that neither this spirit, nor the others, as Link noticed, had heard him. Link examined the other group of spirits, and then gave a small gasp. It was the children! Colin, Talo, Malo, and Beth, along with another girl and a man he didn't recognize. But, where was Ilia? "Cripes!" called that voice again, making Link looked away from thechildren to face another man. It was thatsame spirit from earlier. "I don't see those black brutes anywhere…they've gotta be hidin' somewhere, waitin' for their helpless little prey to come out! Then they'll FEAST!" Link looked back at the kids, and watched as Talo crept closer to a strange man with long black hair, hugging him tightly, as Colin watched the spirit that had just spoken, calm and neutral. Link, noticed though, that he was shaking slightly.
"We are safe as long as we remain in here, child…" The long haired man told Talo kindly. "Be at ease…" The man that was looking out the window turned to face the long haired man and gave him a look.
"Oh yeah? I wonder if the monsters out there agree with you…They sure didn't seem impressed by my bombs! How long do you think we can hold this sanctuary against beasts that strong, huh?" he asked him. The long haired man glared at him, but that didn't faze the other man any bit. "Once they attack, it's OVER! Remember that 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? She was already gone, and there were TWO monsters, already waitin'! You connectin' the dots? That means that if we get attacked by them, then we are done for!"
"BARNES!" cried the long haired man, angrily. Link gave an angry growl of his own, noticing how this man, Barnes's, words were scaring the children. Both Barnes and the long haired man stared at each other, before a cry took them by surprise. Little Beth had began to cry. Barnes turned his head in shame, before he was on his hands and knees on the ground.
"Look, Renado…" Barnes began apologetically. "All I mean to say is that it's risky here, too! Ain't you got some place we can hide?" The long haired man, Renado, merely shrugged.
"There is…a cellar."
"WHAAT?" Barnes almost ran towards where Renado and the children were seated. "You've got a CELLAR! Where's the entrance, man?"
"The entrance to the cellar is designed to open when all of the candles have been lit…" Renado pointed to some candles across the room, hanging near a small platform that worked as the second floor. Barnes was quick to grab a stick, and lit it up. Before he began to run towards the candles to light them up, the girl that Link didn't recognize, spoke up.
"I…would not do that…" the girl told him, making Barnes trip on the floor in surprise. "When Father instructed me to secure the cellar, I saw insects like the beasts outside…" That made Barnes drop his stick to the ground, and cower back in fear. Link rolled his eyes, while Midna giggled at his reaction.
He turned back to face the children, Beth was still crying, but Colin was trying his best to calm her down. "Don't cry, Beth! It'll be OK!" Colin said, only for Beth to push him away and continue to cry. "Link is coming to save us all!...I can feel it!" At those words, everyone in the room turned to look back at him, although Barnes was visibly confused.
"Colin…" Link whispered sadly. Midna, on the other hand, was not exactly touched by the scene before her, and only giggled.
"These kids knew you'd come to save them! What a hero!" She told him, grinning a bit. "How sad, to be right in front of someone and not be noticed at all…Eee hee hee!"
"Midna…" he growled, glaring at the imp on his back.
"You actually brought this on yourself, though," she informed him. "being chosen as a hero by the gods and no one to know of your trials is quite something. Well, we better get to that cellar, since that girl said there were shadow insects down there! Now, go lonely little doggy hero!" Link shook his head at the pointless insult, and turned to face Colin. For a moment, their eyes met, showing hope. Grabbing the stick that Barnes threw to the floor earlier, Link was quick to grab the stick, which still was lit with fire. He quickly jumped towards the platform, and began to lit the candles for the cellar door to open.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Right after getting into the cellar, Link had already found three shadow insects. Taking them down was easy, but, they still needed more light tears to fill the vessel of light that Eldin had given them. Link continued to run ahead, seeing as he saw no way to enter back to the house. He and Midna soon were greeted by a dead end, with a scaffolding standing there. "How about that?" the imp said, looking at the hole in the roof. "Looks like you can climb the scaffolding to get out of here…" Link nodded at her, and expertly jumped on it, making sure not to move too much, for it looked ready to collapse under his feet.
With a little help from Midna, Link was able to make it outside. And now, he stood outside in Kakariko again, this time, however he wasn't facing houses, but headstones. A graveyard stood in front of him, and with it more shadow insects. This is…kinda spooky…Link thought as he quickly dashed to catch a shadow insect that had decided to hide underground. Twilight and graveyards don't exactly mix well in my opinion…Releasing the tear of light from the insect, Link heard another voice, this one, however was from above.
"LINK!" Looking up, Link saw Shannon flying towards them. In her talons, she was holding three tears of light, much to his amazement.
"SHANNON!" The hawk threw them nearby, so Link and Midna could collect them with the vessel. "Thanks a lot, Shannon…the vessel is almost full."
"Well, that's good to hear…" she told him, as she landed nearby.
"Yep. This next thing you're about to hear is even better! I found the kids!" Shannon looked back at him, and cocked her head.
"Really? Are they safe?" Link nodded.
"They're okay, just scared…" Shannon turned to stare at the ground, a strange emotion swimming in her eyes.
"Poor things…"
"Hello?" Midna called out, gaining the animals' attention. "I thought we were collecting light here, not on a picnic!" Link suddenly growled, but didn't say anything as he and Shannon headed towards Kakariko.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Right after returning to Kakariko, Zelda watched as Link quickly entered a house, saying that he could smell some shadow insects nearby. While Zelda didn't have strange and helpful senses like Link, her magic had helped her enough to find this insects. Even though her magic was strictly limited in her hawk form, Zelda could use it to perform low level magic, like telepathy and to see the unseen. She was glad to be of help to Link in this realm of darkness, and was extremely happy to hear that the children were safe and sound. Although, she was rather sadden when Link told her that he hadn't spotted Ilia anywhere with them.
As Zelda thought of the evil fate that could have befallen the girl, something strange caught her nose. Looking down, she gasped in shock as the house that Link had entered was in flames. She dashed straight towards it, but stopped from getting in, when Link got out and said, "GET AWAY FROM HERE! THIS HOUSE IS GOING TO BLOW!" Zelda didn't waste any time, and flew far away before a large BOMB! resonated all around the place. Looking down, Zelda noticed that nothing remained of the house, but three floating balls, probably tears of light. After Link had went to pick them up, Zelda landed nearby, and cocked her head at him.
"Am I to assume this was part of the plan?" she asked him, her wing pointing to the remains of the house. Link whined, a little embarrassed.
"No…not really, but…accidents happen." Link noticed that the hawk wasn't very convinced.
"…I see…your fault, then?"
"Pretty much…but, at least the vessel is full now…let's go see the spirit…" Zelda shook her head, as she went up into the air. She followed Link towards the spring, and before they knew it, light calmly returned to the area. Link, too, was quick to return to his original form, and Midna was nowhere in sight. Zelda sighed, realizing that the light would do nothing to her. Soon, a huge spirit of light in the shape of an owl, hovering in the air. The fully recovered spirit of Eldin looked back at both Link and Zelda, before he spoke.
Brave hero, and his small companion…he told them, before flapping his wings once more. My name is Eldin, one of the spirits of light that guards Hyrule, as well as these lands…if you are to seek the evil power that plagues this lands, look for it in the sacred grounds of the proud mountain dwellers. But already those grounds have been defiled, draped in shadow and seeded with evil…you must aid those in those grounds, and take care of the evil that plagues them…careful…for the journey is long, and dangerous…
"You're telling me…" Link grumbled.
"Says the guy that blew the house up." Midna piped in, earning a good glare from the hero.
"Very funny…" Link turned to leave, and was about to be followed by Zelda, when a voice in her mind stopped her. While the spirit no longer stood in their presence, the hawk princess could hear its voice in her head.
"True ruler of Hyrule…hear my voice…I know why you hide, but be wary…" Eldin's voice told her. "…the evil one that cursed you is not too far away…beware…and take care of yourself…I must advise you, too, to not tell the hero of your real identity…for I fear not only for your safety, but his and the strange one that hides in his shadow as well…" Zelda gave the spring a nod, before she returned the message with her telepathy.
"I…I shall keep my word…no harm will come to them…if I can help it…"
"Child…be warned…for your fate…is written in blood…but don't despair, for the hero shall save this land…and the other as well…" Zelda bowed to the spring, before she took to the air once more, looking around, as Link walked over to the house where he had last seen the children. He had barely noticed that a door had been opened, and a group of eyes were staring at him.
"LINK!" Turning around, Link spotted Colin and the others, and gave a smile. The other kids quickly ran towards him, knocking Colin down in the process. Malo was the only one that hardly ran at all, as he was peacefully walking towards the hero. Seeing Colin in the ground, Zelda quickly landed nearby, hearing a small cry from Talo.
"Hahaha! See, Beth! I told you Link would save us!" Once Colin moved his face up, he was happy to see Zelda nearby.
"Shannon…" he whispered, earning a sad stare and a nod from Zelda, before she watched the boy quickly get up, and go to Link's side. Zelda gave a silent cry, as she saw the kids crowd near Link. Soon, three others were nearby them, the tallest of the three strangers spoke first.
"…You are the one from Ordon whom these children spoke of?" the man asked Link.
"Yep."
"We are well met. I am Renado, shaman of this town. And this…" Renado glanced at an older man momentarily, before his eyes fell unto the young girl next to the older man. "…my daughter, Luda." The girl, Luda, gave him a happy nod, as the older man behind her shook his head.
"And the name's Barnes…" The older man, Barnes, replied, rather rejected, and walked away from the group. Before Link could ask anything, Colin beat him to it.
"The beasts took us and left us to die...but Mr. Renado found us," he told the hero, answering his unasked question. Link gave a small thank you to Renado, who nodded.
"At first, I couldn't believe they had come from so distant a place as the Ordona Province…" Renado told Link, before Colin continued his tale.
"Yeah…I…well, we…don't remember much. All of the sudden everyone was captured, and then…until now…it's been like…"
"…a nightmare." Talo finished for him, rather sadly.
"I see…" Link whispered, patting Talo and Beth's heads, kindly. Zelda, too, looked worriedly at the children. To experience such a thing at a young age…ah…the terrors she had unleashed to them…oh, why was fate harsh with her? Where her people fated to suffer under her rule?
"Yeah!" Colin went on, kneeling to pat Zelda on the head, gently. "It was like a terrible dream…and we couldn't wake up…" Renado kneeled to Colin's level, and patted his shoulder.
"Hmm…nightmares are everywhere these days, it seems." He turned to face Link, who gave him a hard nod, as if understanding what he meant. "This village has certainly seen its share of recent hardships…first, those dark beasts attack, and then, the Goron tribe changed as well…"
"The Gorons?" Link asked, a bit confused.
"Yes….they had long been our friends, but suddenly treated us as foes…even now, they refuse to permit us entry into their mines…" As Renado continued to inform Link about the problem with the Gorons, Zelda turned to face the mountain, Death Mountain to be more exact.
What Renado was saying was hard to believe, as even Zelda knew that the Gorons were peaceful by nature. When Zelda had gone to visit them or the other way around, they always treated her with kindness, and a little bit of respect, with being the ruler of Hyrule and all that. She wondered if it had something to do with that dark power that Eldin spoke about…the one that Link was collecting. Zelda looked back at Renado, who was still talking to Link.
"But…calming the Gorons is my job…so please, do not concern yourself with this…and take the children back home…"
"But, Mr. Renado!" Talo cried, cathching the attention of the two adults. "We can't just leave you here!" Renado smiled sadly at Talo.
"You must return home, children…your parents are waiting for you."
"But we can't just abandoned the people that saved us!" Talo quickly turned to Link. "Come on, Link! Couldn't you do something!" Link scratched the back of his head.
"I could…after all, I do owe Renado, here, for taking care of you…"
"Ah! Please, I don't want to involve you more than you already are…."
"No problem…in fac-" Link couldn't even continue his sentence, when a loud cry caught their ears. Zelda was up in the air, nodding at Link, before she left towards Death Mountain.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-00-0-00-0
It had not taken Zelda long to reach the base of the mountain. She could see a Goron not too far away, standing vigilant nearby. Before she was about to fly towards the path that led deeper into the mountain, a new voice caught her by surprise. "I wouldn't recommend you going in there, lady hawk!" Turning around, while hovering in the air, Zelda spotted a raven not too far away, sitting on a branch of a leafless tree. "The rock dwellers in there have become extremely violent…even to us, beasts…" Zelda landed nearby, at the foot of the tree.
"But, why? I have heard that the…" Zelda quickly rephrased her words, before she spoke to the raven again. "…rock dwellers are peaceful.."
"That was before…we were covered in the shadows…" Zelda cocked her head at the raven.
"You know?" she could hear the raven laugh, as if he had heard a good joke.
"Of course, I knew! When something affects the land it affects us animals," he told her. "A worm knows the earth, therefore it can tell if its dying. The bird knows the sky, therefore it knows the winds are filthy. The fish knows the sea, therefore it knows the cooling of waters…and so on…" The raven told her wisely. "Even I could sense someone working their magic around here, and possibly it was you…and that strange beast, right?" Zelda opened her mouth a little, but then, closed it. Unsure of what to say, she just nodded. "Ah, I see…well, maybe I can help you…and your friend…"
"Help us?" The raven nodded.
"Yes…you see, take it as payment for returning our land back to normal…lady hawk…or should I say…what is your name…?"
"Shannon." Zelda was quick to respond, receiving a nod from the other bird.
"Alright, Shannon, then…the name's Kaepora Gaebora…"
"A pleasure to meet you. But, how can you aid my friend and myself?"
"Ah! Simple!" Kaepora Gaebora told her, spreading his wings. "This lands…I know them well…I travel through them…so I hear things from animals from the other parts of the land…if you wish so, I can give you information that might aid you in your quest!" Zelda seemed intrigued by this, and gave the raven a nod. Any information they could get from Kaepora Gaebora would be helpful during Link's journey.
"That is very helpful, thank you." Kaepora Gaebora shook his head.
"Think nothing of it, Shannon…ah, before I leave, you probably should tell that boy to not climb-"
"No trespassers! OUT!"
"Hey, wait! AAAAAAHHHH!" Zelda turned back to face Link nearby, lying face down on the ground. An angry Goron looking back at him.
"I said, no trespassers!"
"Ah…never mind…" The raven nodded at Zelda once more, before he began to fly again, disappearing in the sky. Zelda calmly walked over to Link, who was shaking his head in pain. Link turned to face Zelda, who grabbed his part of his tunic with her beak, guiding him away from the Goron and the path to the mountain.
"I think…" Link whispered, getting up. "That this will be harder than before…" He shook his head. Zelda landed on top of the hilt of his sword, as he began to make his way towards the village.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-00-0
After a good talking to from Renado, Link and the shaman decided it was best to get back to Ordon, and ask Bo how to make peace with the Gorons. He was also glad to hear that Renado wouldn't mind guarding the children while he was away.
Link gave a small sigh as he made his way out towards the Kakariko Gorge, realizing that it will take him a whole day to get to Ordon. Shannon was seated calmly on the hilt of his Ordon Sword, visibly exhausted. Not like Link couldn't blame her, she after all, had turned out more helpful than he would ever think. "Hey, Midna…" Link called down to his shadow.
"What?" came the response.
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just transport me back to Ordon?" he asked her.
"I can't, doggy."
"Do we sincerely have to go through the name calling again?" Link asked her, groaning. "Anyway, why not?"
"Unless there's twilight portal in the area, which there is not, I can't transport you around. If I did transport you without one, I wouldn't even be able to get you that far…and well…you might probably miss a few pieces during the trip…" He could hear her giggle. "Besides, you do need the exercise!"
"Hahaha…very fu-" Before he could say anything to Midna, a loud cry caught his ears. Shannon was already up in the air, pointing her beak impatiently to the road ahead of him. Link gasped at what he saw.
"EPONA!" Epona, Link's missing horse, was making her way towards him, two Bulblins on her back, scaring her. Seeing that the horse wasn't going to stop, Link moved out of the way, before he was trampled. The horse had managed to shake the two Bulblins off, and now, was heading her way towards the spring. Link took after her in a hurry, with Shannon following behind. She began to raise her feet up in the air, neighing in terror. Taking his chance, Link quickly jumped on her, and tried to calm her. "EASY GIRL! EASY!" Link grabbed the horse's reins, trying his best to calm her, and for Epona to not shake him off. Shannon watched worriedly from the air, crying out as well, as if trying to calm the horse.
Minutes passed, and Link was finally able to control the rampaging horse. "There, there…" Link told her, patting her neck. "Good girl…everything's alright now…" Epona neighed in response, shaking her head. Shannon, then, calmly landed on top of Link's sword hilt, sighing in relief.
"Well, what do you know?" Midna's voice called, spooking Epona a little, but still, she regained herself. "You're a good wrangler after all! Won't this make the trip back to that little village of yours a lot easier?"
As soon as Link had arrived in the village, a huge crowd of worried parents made their way to meet the green tunic wearing hero, his horse, and hawk. Link had calmed the worried crowd and told them that the children were safe and in the care of Renado, a shaman from Kakariko. Everyone had been relieved to know t hat their children were alright.
While the parents were off crying out in happiness, Uli took him aside, and thanked him for finding Colin. She, however, also gave him the sad news that Rusl had left the village to look for him and the kids. Uli assured him, though, that she'll send him a letter telling them of what happened, so he shouldn't worry about them now that they are safe. Link thanked the pregnant woman, as he made his way towards Mayor Bo's house, Shannon still sitting on the hilt of his sword. When he knocked on the mayor's home, he was given a rather good and painful huge from the occupant inside.
Mayor Bo himself was extremely tall, compared to Rusl and Fado. He also had a muscular built, and was the second strongest man in the village, after Rusl. "Link! It is good to see you! Please, come inside!" Bo didn't even bother to throw Shannon outside, as he literally forced both the hawk and the hero inside his home.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-00-0-0
Bo paced around the room, sighing sadly as Link finished talking. Shannon was sitting nearby, watching the two men talk before them, also looking a bit tad sad herself. "I'm sorry…that I couldn't find Ilia…Mayor Bo…" Bo only brushed him off.
"It's alright, Link…I guess I also need to think about all the other kids not just about my own…but, now, to the real problem…so, what you told me about the Gorons…is that true, Link?"
"Got the bruises to prove it…" Bo sighed, glancing a bit at the calm bird sitting nearby. "Renado did say that you managed to win the Gorons' trust, how's that?" The mayor scratched his head, as he turn back to face the young man.
"Well, it's true…I did defeat the Gorons in a contest of strength and earned their trust…that is with the help of a little secret…"
"A secret?" Link got up, standing up from his seat. Shannon raised her head to face the older man before Link.
"I can teach you this secret…only if you promise to not disclose it to anyone?"
"Is it…embarrassing?" Bo gave him a look. "Sorry, just asking."
"Not really an embarrassing thing, really…it's just well…" Bo trailed off, a loss of words. "…eh, never mind…it is sort of embarrassing…but, just promise me this, don't tell, okay?"
"I got ya, I won't. Don't worry, Mayor." Bo gave him a grin, and argued Link to follow him to another room. Shannon soon, followed, apparently notwanting to stay behind. Bo only laughed at her, no longer carrying that hate in his eyes, the ones that Shannon had grown so familiar with.
"So, Link…tell me, have you ever heard of sumo wrestling, boy?"
"Sumo what?"
"Nope…I guess you haven't. Well, this is going to be a long practice."
"I'm guessing I'll have more bruises, huh?"
Link sighed as he and Epona passed through Hyrule Field straight towards Kakariko without trouble. The sumo wrestling lessons had been a pain, and he could still hear the giggles from Midna haunting his mind. Shannon, herself, had been quite amused by his match against Bo, and only stared at the fight taking place. Bo even joked that Shannon was going to take up wrestling soon because she was so concentrated in their match. While Link had earned a few bruises during the fight, he also earned something extra…Bo's little secret at defeating the Gorons, that Midna had hidden who knows where.
Link rubbed his arm as Epona galloped through the field. They were nearing Kakariko, already and Link was itching to help the Gorons as fast as possible, then, to find Ilia. "Hey! Look there!" Taking his attention away from his bruised arm, Link turned to face the distance, and gasped. It was them! The group of Bulblins were back again! They were heading straight towards the village!
The hero was forced to hit Epona hard in order for them to reach the village faster. Shannon flew ahead of them, visibly worried about what the beasts could do to the children. Link felt the minutes pass by like hours, and before he could even reach the end of the village, ignoring everything around, he had seen the leader of the gang, carrying Colin and taking him away. Shannon was flying above Link and Epona, having been unsuccessful to rescue the boy. The Bulblin showed his prize to Link, before he galloped away on top of his monstrosity.