A link to the twilight

Part 2

The next morning, Link got up quickly and packed his stuff. He wasn't sure were he was heading but he had to go. Staying here would mean abandoning his desire. He paused. Link was thinking about Ilia. How sad would she be if he'd leave forever? Pretty much as sad as he was now. Link snapped out of it and continued to pack his stuff. That done, he opened the door and gave a last look at his house. He sighed and went out. Link climbed down the ladder and whistled to call Epona. She entered by the path near Link's tree. He attached his packages to Epona's saddlebags and mounted her. He kicked gently Epona's waist and she started to gallop.

Ilia was waiting for Link by the ranch's entrance. She thought that he was going to come for his duties since yesterday he was apparently feeling much better. After a while, she heard a familiar sound. Closing her eyes to focus on it, she recognized it. "That sound… he's calling Epona!" thought Ilia as she started running towards the path that led to Link's house. Shortly after Ilia started running, Fado was walking down the path out of the ranch. Since Link didn't want to show up on its own, he decided to go see if he was alright. After all, Link seemed so much in distress not so long ago. When he arrived, he called him and got no answer. He turned his head slightly to the side and noticed that Epona wasn't there. He also noticed Ilia standing and looking away absently. She was standing in front of the path that was leading to the Ordon spring. She was watching at Link going away. "He didn't even say goodbye," she murmured.

Link galloped for a while, not knowing where he was going. While he was riding and looking at the horizon, thoughts came to his mind. "The world seems not the same… Even though I know nothing as changed," he thought. After an hour or so, Epona was starting to be tired so Link slowed down. He looked around and noticed that he was near Hyrule castle. A part of his mind wanted to go there, go see Zelda. "What could I tell her?" he asked himself. Link remembered what Ilia and Rusl told him. "I have nothing to lose… I've already lost my world," he sighed. Link made Epona run towards Hyrule castle. Once in front of the wooden bridge, Link stopped and dismounted Epona. He crossed the bridge and entered castle town. The place was full of citizens as usual. They were all happy and caring only for their little businesses. Link thought for a second that he would have liked to be with them, when the twilight was still covering this part of land, as a spirit. Then he wouldn't be standing here, broken deep inside. Someone else would have been the hero. Someone that wouldn't have fallen in love with the twilight princess. Going back to reality, Link noticed that some citizens were looking at him with a curious look on their faces. Link gave them a cold look and sighed heavily. He continued to walk to the castle. On his way, he went back into his thoughts. "I have rupees galore yet I would trade them all for a single heart…" Link was so lost in his mind that he didn't even notice the guards stopping him at Hyrule castle's entrance. He lifted his head and looked at the guards with a "what the hell do you want" face.

"Identify yourself please and what is your purpose here?" asked one of the guards.

"I am Link, hero of Hyrule. I am here to see Zelda. Let me pass," ordered Link.

"Oh! Very good Sir. I'll show you the way," he offered.

"No thanks. I know the path," replied Link, coldly.

Link pushed the guard aside and passed. "At least my title gives me some advantages," he thought. Link made his way through the castle. He remembered the path very well. Only this time he didn't have to use the clawshots or any of his other weapons to make it to the throne room because Zelda had restored some of the castle starting with the stairs. When he finally got there, Zelda stood up instantly. She wasn't expecting such a visit. Link made reverence to the princess.

"Please, stand up Hero. What is the purpose of your visit?" she asked.

"I refuse to speak unless we are in private," said Link.

The princess was stunned. She looked at the guards, the chancellors, Link, the chancellors…

"I will answer to your request Hero. Please, follow me," she said.

"But milady! It's not the proper form to…" started the high chancellor.

"I will hear what the Hero has to say. And if we must be alone then alone we shall be! Do you have a problem with that, Marius?" asked Zelda.

"…No milady. I will obey to your orders,"

"Very well. If anyone wants to see me, tell them I am in reunion and will soon come back," ordered Zelda.

"Yes princess,"

The princess made a signal to Link to follow her. They went back down to the room where they first met. Zelda closed the door silently behind her. She sat on the bed and waited for Link to say something which he didn't. Instead, he went to gaze at the window. She followed him with her eyes. She knew what was going on. "It's about her, isn't it Link?" she asked. Link didn't answer. He continued to gaze at the window.

"Link… it's been a month now. You know there is no way to go back there right? I'm sorry but you'll have to move on," said Zelda, knowing that it wouldn't bring any comfort to Link.

"That's easy for you to say," sighed Link.

"Why don't you just let it all out? I believe that's why you came right?" she asked.

"Yes, I suppose. You're the only one who knew her. My friends suggested me to do it. Yet it feels strange, talking to your princess about your personal feelings. We barely spent time together," said Link.

"It's alright Link. Even a hero needs a shoulder to cry on," she said, gently.

Link turned to her and smiled. He walked slowly to the bed and sat on it hesitantly. Zelda waited for him to let out his sorrow.

"I felt threatened when she broke the mirror. It's like she didn't care about us anymore. All that we did, what I have done for her…"

"Link, she didn't mean to hurt you. She did what she thought was right. You belong to two different worlds that can't mix, you know that," said Zelda.

"Yes… I do. But it doesn't mean I can't mix with hers,"

"What do you mean?"

"I would have gone with her. I would have become a part of her world. Instead, I'm still here, doomed to spend the rest of my life alone," sighed the Hero.

Zelda didn't answer to that. There was nothing say. Instead, she just put a hand on his shoulder. Link lowered his head and sighed again. Link couldn't hold it any longer. His tears traced a river down his cheeks. All the sorrow that has been contained inside him because of the healing spring was finally going out. Zelda had a sad smile. She encouraged Link to put his head on her shoulder. "Such burden shouldn't have fallen on him," she thought. Zelda waited for Link to calm down. It seemed that he didn't let it out since she left. Maybe he was going to feel better after? It usually is that way.

"I have the strength of twenty hearts yet I can't seem to be able to get over heartache," he murmured.

"There are things in life that only goes away with time," said Zelda.

"I don't want her to go away!" said Link, suddenly getting up. "I just wanna be with her... Is it to much to ask?" he said, fairly angry.

"I understand. Unfortunately, I don't know any other way than the mirror to go into her world… and I don't think there's another way either. I'm sorry," said Zelda.

Link nodded in hopelessness. He started to walk towards the door to leave. Zelda followed him with her eyes, helpless. Link turned his head to Zelda and smiled.

"Thank you for the time you accorded to me princess. If we don't see each other again, I wish to tell you that our meeting helped me. Farewell," said Link, politely.

On those words, Link left the room, not really relieved of his pain but at least sure of what he wanted to do. Zelda stayed in the room, thinking of what Link said. She was a bit worried. After all, he did say "if we don't see each other again". Alas, the princess had no time to think about Link's state of mind. A kingdom required a lot of attention. She went back to the throne room.

Link was back in castle town. The citizens were still busy with their precious little lives. They didn't care at all of the world's fate. They never knew what was going on anyway. They were just light spirits, wondering around like nothing had happened. To Link, things were a whole lot different. His life changed the day he was pulled into the twilight curtain against his will. Would he have preferred to be a spirit? Not knowing about Midna's existence? Maybe, maybe not. Love was a wonderful feeling yet a horrible pain. Link sighed. "Maybe the more ignorant you are, the happier you live," he thought. He decided to go to Telma's bar and have a drink. Link walked around the fountain and went through a path to the south. He walked for a bit and then turned to the east and went down the stairs. He opened the door and the view of the bar brought a smile on his face. To the west, the postman was still there, wondering what to order. Telma noticed him and exclaimed:

"Well if it isn't my best swordsman! How are you doing, honey? How's Ilia doing?" she asked.

"Ilia's fine," Link answered.

Telma noticed Link's sad face. "I guess you're not doing as well as her," she said.

Link walked to the bar and sat on a stool.

"My health is good," said Link.

"But not your heart," said Telma as she was taking a cup and pouring milk in it. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked Telma, giving the milk to him.

"No, not really. I just wanted to be in a place where there's no memory of her," he said.

Link looked up and saw the strings still hanging from platform to another. "Then again…" he sighed. Link took a sip of milk. It was always a good and refreshing taste.

"Anyway, there's another reason why I came here. I'd like to see Shad. Do you know where he is?" asked Link.

"No. But knowing him, he's probably off on some intellectual journey," mocked Telma.

"Heehee, probably. Well if you see him, please let him know that I need to see him," said Link, finishing the milk.

"Sure will, honey. Until we meet again, don't do anything reckless," smiled Telma.

Link smiled and got up. He didn't know why but this imposing woman was always warming his heart. She always had this little thing in her words to make you smile. Link closed the door behind him. He walked back to the west entrance and went out. Epona was still there, waiting for him. Link mounted her and left Hyrule castle. The sun was now high in the sky. Link searched a long time for a place to establish a hideout. He thought of many places but there was always a catch. If only he could be a wolf, he could dig somewhere and make a cave. It would be perfect to disappear. He then thought of something underwater. No, there's always a Zora near by. "Since I can't be a wolf anymore, I'll just have to use a shovel," thought Link. Knowing now that he could hide anywhere, he quickly thought of a place he remembered well. He had to use the spinner to get there. That's another advantage. Not many people can ride on walls. Link looked at his map. It was just outside the hidden village. A bit far from where he was but Link had all the time he needed now. He set off for the little wooden bridge outside the hidden village. While Epona was running, Link got lost in his mind. So many thoughts were floating in his memories. So many possibilities of why she broke the mirror, what could she be doing now, was she happy, did she forget about him… It has been a month now. Maybe she moved on. Even if she did, Link felt that he had to try. He needed to know… even if it was gonna cost a lot. He had to be sure. Going back to reality, Link noticed that it was nightfall. He closed his eyes and saw the twilight realm, surrounded by shiny pinkish clouds. An eternal beauty it was. "I love you," whispered Link, hoping that Midna could hear it. Link finally reached the little wooden bridge. There were fiends around. Some were shooting arrows and some were trying to make him fall off his horse. Link jumped backwards and took out his sword. "Pathetic little monsters! Come and get it!" screamed Link. When some were close enough for Link to attack, he quickly jumped sideways and rolled behind, hitting but not killing them. Link didn't have time for this. Wasting time killing monsters was part of the past. Link put his sword back in its sheath and waited for the monsters to be close enough to him so he could perform the mortal draw. It didn't take long before blood start spreading on the ground. Link rushed to the one that was shooting arrows at him and hit him ferociously. "Damn, I wish I had the master sword, it wouldn't have taken so long," he complained. Link sighed and took out his spinner. He rode on the wall for a bit and landed on a small ledge. Link smiled. He always liked to use the spinner. It was always a sensation of excitement. Link took out a shovel and started digging. After a couple minutes, a hole appeared and Link smiled of relief. He sat on the edge and let himself fall in the hole. Inside, he noticed some red and purple blob. The purple one was sliding towards the red one. "Oh no you don't! I'm not gonna let you mix with my red potions!" yelled Link as he drew his sword. Link hit the purple moving liquid before it could blend with the red one. That took cared of, Link killed the red one and scoop what was left of it. After that, Link started to clean the place. But as he cut the grass, his eyes were closing. It was night already and Link had a tough day. He put his sword aside and took the grass he cut to make a small cheap pillow. He closed his eyes and flew were all his dreams were a reality.

--

Zelda was daydreaming in her room when her thoughts went out of her control. Images were appearing in her mind. Images of devastated lands. Lanayru province was on fire. Cries of pain were carried by the wind. Zelda was in horror before those images. The sages appeared in front of her.

The evil is awakening again and it is already growing as we speak. It lust for power yet has no need of it. It is already pure power has it is. Search for the hero, only him can overcome it.

Zelda woke up suddenly, sweating. She put her hand on her face. She got up and walked by the window. "Only one month and already we have to go through this again…" she sighed.