A/N: As always, it's the readers that keep me going. I feel a little better about the story now, seeing as how writing this chapter came a little easier to me than the previous one. Your words of encouragement keep me focused, and so to all those who read and review, I thank you. Please enjoy this next installment, and keep the reviews coming – I always like to hear what people think about where the story is going, and if things need to be changed!
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Epona snorted as she continued running. The words of her beloved master echoed in her head.
"Kakariko, girl! Go to Kakariko Village!"
Epona was becoming weary. She could feel it in her hooves, her legs. Despite her fatigue, she continued on her journey. No matter how much she hated to leave her master behind, she knew she had a very important duty to fulfill - bring this little one to safety.
The horse quickly turned her head back to peek at the little girl clinging to her cream-colored mane. Sandhya had fallen asleep, exhausting finally overtaking her little body. Epona wished she could fall asleep as well, but knew that action would cost them precious time that they didn't have. So she kept running. Through the grassy plains of Hyrule Field, she made her way through the dying night, which was slowly turning into morning. As the sun started to peek over the horizon, Epona saw her destination through the early morning mist. Karkarako Village was just ahead of them. With a grunt, Epona picked up her pace, the crashing of her hoof beats against the dirt the only thing breaking through the silence.
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Sandhya awoke with a scream of confusion, but went unheard. Her sleep was interrupted when she was seemingly thrown into a body of water. She gasped as she clawed for the surface, coughing like mad when she finally emerged. Confused, she looked around her, to try to figure out what had happened. She slowly looked at her surroundings. She was in a spring of some sort - perhaps one that was blessed with a fabled light spirit. Her father had told her of the healing powers of the blessed springs, and Sandhya could feel her strength replenishing itself as she sat in the water. Turning her head more, she gasped. There lay Epona, collapsed in the water as well. Sandhya forced herself up, and ran to the aging mare.
"Epona!" She quietly whispered, as she struggled to raise the horse's head out of the water. She smiled softly when the horse snorted and opened her big brown eyes to look at the girl. Epona nuzzled her thanks, and slowly got to her feet, shaking her head and causing water to fly everywhere.
"Oh Epona..." Sandhya said softly as she approached the horse, unshed tears in her eyes. "What happened?" She asked, leaning on Epona's side. Suddenly, Sandhya remembered. Before her flashed the memory of the night before - the arrows, the bublins on their fearsome pig-like steeds, her father- "Daddy!" She shouted, her tears pouring down her face. "Epona! Daddy's out there! We need to help him!" She cried, trying to climb atop the mare.
Epona snorted softly, nudging the little girl away. There would be no going back for Link. She realized this the moment she saw the eyes of her master when he commanded her to leave. He did not expect to see either of them again.
"No..." Sandhya whispered, shock overwhelming her as she slowly backed away from the horse. "No!" She shouted this time, refusing to believe what the animal before her was implying. "We need to go back Epona! We need to help daddy!" She cried, her fists balled at her sides as her body shook with rage and fear as the tears streamed down her furry cheeks. Sandhya slowly collapsed into a kneeling position in the water, holding her head in her petite hands. Her tears fell into the water as she cried, scared and alone.
Had she been paying attention to her surroundings, Sandhya would have noticed something rather odd happening. As her tears hit the water, they became little orbs of light, their rays radiating out from her and lighting up the entire spring. Slowly the light traveled through the water, causing the hidden glyphs on the surrounding rocks to glow, and ultimately awaking the Light Spirit that resided there.
Eldin stretched her wings in silence, peering down at the small creature before her. Epona snorted towards the Light Spirit, as if to let her know that she was a protector of the young girl. With a nod, Eldin greeted Epona before speaking in a gentle tone. "Brave child... do not distress."
Sandhya gasped, shock breaking her out of her crying fit. She stared at the Light Spirit in awe. The beautiful owl-like spirit floated before her, in all her otherworldly glory. Intricate designs outlined her large wings, her body glowing like it was a small sun of it's own.
Before Sandhya could speak, Eldin responded. "I am Eldin - I am the Light Spirit that resides in the spring. Your father... he is the Hero, yes?" The spirit asked gently, careful to not spook the little girl.
Sandhya simply nodded, her mouth open in awe. She continued to kneel in the waters of the spring as the spirit spoke.
"You are in danger." Eldin said, her tone grave. "You will not be safe here for much longer." Eldin paused, seemingly to think. "I sense... child, before your father sent you away, did he give you something?"
Sandhya remained agape while staring at the spirit before her. She had seen so much in the past few hours, her body seemed in shock. The fact that Eldin was asking her a question didn't even register. Nor did the fact that her little black cat, Coal, had emerged from the pile of knapsacks still fastened on Epona's back. The cat, despite the water, slowly made his way towards the little girl, purring. He reached Sandhya, and crawled into her lap. Sandhya looked down at Coal, shock still written across her features. "Coal... where did you come from?" She asked softly. The cat just purred in response and nudged the necklace she wore. The necklace she had received from her father the last time she had seen him.
"The charm on your necklace, child. May I see it?" Eldin asked, waiting patiently as Sandhya obediently took off the necklace and held it towards the spirit. Eldin focused her magic on the pendant, causing it to float in midair, out of Sandhya's palm. "Do you know what this object is that your father gave you?" The spirit asked the girl.
"N...no." Sandhya stuttered, her voice timid. She still looked at the light spirit in awe, but her body trembled in fear. These things happening to her - it was beginning to be too much. And Eldin could sense this.
"Child, this is a piece of the Mirror of Twilight." Eldin stated, hoping to finish her explanation quickly before the young child broke down again. "Though this is just a shard of the sacred mirror, my magic can make it active once again." She explained as the shard began to float higher up in the air, and then move towards one of the walls of the spring. "It is through this piece of glass that you will find sanctuary." As Eldin said this, a powerful ray of light was emitted from her ethereal form. The light struck the mirror shard, reflecting onto the wall of the spring. The light slowly intensified, and as it did, an unfamiliar sight graced Sandhya's eyes. The reflection on the rock wall slowly went from a bright reflection of light to a dark, intricately decorated portal.
Sandhya gasped softly. The swirling glyphs seemed to call to her. She felt as though she should be afraid, but for some reason, felt at peace. As she looked back towards the light spirit, Eldin began to speak.
"This is a portal to the Twilight Realm. You must go - you will be safer there." The spirit explained. For a few moments, Sandhya looked at the spirit in silence. Then she finally spoke.
"But... my daddy... he needs help..." She said, a tear making it's way down her face once more. No matter what was going on around her, her thoughts kept making their way back to that one fact. Her father was left behind - and she was unable to help him.
Eldin nodded. "Do not fret, Sacred One. Your father is alive. You must have faith in him. But for now, your safety is crucial. Your father will be fine - but if you do not hurry, you will be in grave danger." She explained. "Follow the small cat into the portal - he will help you on your journey in the Twilight Realm."
Sandhya looked towards Coal, who was looking back at her from the edge of the portal. With a loud 'meow', he flicked his bushy tail before leaping towards the portal, dissolving into a million pieces of light. Sandhya gasped in surprised, her head swinging back towards Eldin.
"Follow Coal, child. All will be well in time. Hurry!" Eldin urged.
Sandhya looked back towards the portal, and then to Epona, who was still standing beside her. With a small smile, Sandhya patted Epona on the nose as the horse nuzzled her. "Find daddy, okay?" She said softly, kissing Epona on the snout. "I'll miss you, girl." She said, her voice cracking. Epona nickered softly, reassuring the girl that she was doing the right thing. "I'll see you soon." Sandhya said, slowly turning back to the portal.
She approached the swirling designs, looking at them in wonder. It all seemed vaguely familiar, and yet completely new. Turning towards the light spirit, Sandhya bowed gently. "Thank-you, Great Spirit."
Eldin nodded. "We will meet again, Sacred One. Now go! Danger approaches!" She said, her voice urgent. Eldin looked on approvingly as Sandhya leapt towards the portal, her body dissolving into specks before being sucked in.