Disclaimer: Yo, I don't own this shit, k?

Author's Note: So I apologize for the wait, I feel so bad I've put you all through a month or two of endearment. But nonetheless, Chapter 3 of On the Road Again, enjoy!

Chapter 3:

We reached the main part of Castle Town just fifteen minutes before the Celebration was to begin. I looked around to see that after my journey through saving and ridding Hyrule of the evil Ganon, Castle Town was completely unharmed by all the madness. I couldn't say much about the Castle, though. I was very surprised how far the Guards and the works had actually gotten to completely restoring the Castle to it's natural state. No doubt Zelda ran a tight ship when it came to her people, and of course her beloved Castle. I rolled my eyes as I began thinking about her. Such a damsel in distress when faced with evil, but when it came to bossing people around; she was quite the evil herself.

"We're almost there!" Ilia exclaimed, snapping me out of my day dreaming.

I smiled at her lightly. I knew this was a big day for her, and I planned on making it as special as any friend would.

We both hopped off Epona as we reached the stables, I gave the stable keeper a few rupees to make sure she would be taken care of while we were gone, and we started on foot towards the Castle Entrance. No doubt Zelda would make an amazing speech before the Two Moons meet. It was nearly nightfall now. I could Ilia's eyes gleam with excitement.

Upon entering, we met up with Fado, Uli, Rusl and the kids.

"Ilia!" Fado exclaimed, "How was the ride to Castle Town?" He asked her, eyes filled with desire.

Ilia smiled at him sheepishly. "Well, I can say I was in very good hands." She looked at me, still smiling.

I smiled back.

For the next ten minutes we began discussing the excitement for to night. Everything was so beautiful in Castle Town tonight. There were lit candles hanging from every roof, there were candles streaming around a circle above our heads, in the center of the sky where we could look up and see the Two Moons meet. I looked around at all the crowds, the screaming of excitement, the stands filled with delicious food, little souvenirs to take home remembering this night forever. I smiled. Not that I was happy for myself, but for all the people I saved. All the children that could finally sleep without quivering in fear, and the parents that could finally rest. This was truly what being a Hero was all about.

"Link..." Ilia said as she once again knocked me out of my day dreams.

"Yes?" I smiled at her. Awaiting her statement.

She looked down, twiddling her thumbs, blushing. I could tell there was something on her mind she had desperately wanted to tell me, but for the death of me I couldn't figure it out. That's the problem with being a guy, you can never read a woman's mind.

"There's another reason why I was so excited about being here to night," she trailed off, bringing her face to mine. "You know, not just that the Two Moon Eclipse will give me the luck I will need to grow into Adulthood..."

I stared at her, unaware of what she was going to say next.

"I just wanted to say... that... well..." she started blushing and smiling. "That... we've known each other since we were children..."

"Yes..." I said, gesturing her to go on. I had absolutely no idea what she was going to say. Damn!

Her hands trailed off towards mine, I watched as they inched closer to me as she spoke.

"... We've... known each other for a long time now. And I have grown extremely close to you in these past few months you've returned to me..." She grabbed my left hand softly with hers. "And I... just wanted to tell you... that I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the royal trumpets sounded. Everyone grew quiet as they awaited their Princess to walk out on the balcony of the Castle.

Ilia quickly let go of my hand, turning her attention to the balcony, still blushing from what she was about to tell me before being interrupted.

"Citizens of Hyrule!" One of the guards spoke loudly from the balcony. "It is my honor to give you, the one and only, The Princess of Hyrule!"

The crowed screamed in joy as she walked out. I found myself staring directly into her eyes and nothing else. She was beautiful. From her usual attire, she had a completely white dress on. That draped down on her like a ball gown, but still recognizing the hourglass figure she had. Her hair was tied to the side in beautiful curled locks that laid straight down her left shoulder.

She stood silently for a moment, watching us. Smiling at us as the crowd started to die down so she could speak.

"People of Hyrule," She spoke softly, but strongly at the same time. "You all know that in these past few years we have endured a lot." She stopped, looking at all of us. "We were encumbered with evil, dreaded to be doomed as the Twilight slowly ate up our world." She stopped slowly again, still looking at all of us. "But today, I can finally and happily say we have overcame the hardships that have been haunting our Kingdom for so many years. All because of The Great Hero."

She looked right at me. Smiling, which brought attention. Too much for my liking. Everyone looked in my direction. Cheering me on. I smiled sheepishly at all the attention. I may have been considered a Hero, but I sure didn't act like one when it came to attention.

"Because of our Great Hero," She continued. "We can safely sleep another night. To not worry about the dangers that once haunted us."

I smiled at her. Such a great, beautiful woman with a strong sense of leadership... I envied her wisdom.

"Which brings me to this night. The night of the Two Moon Eclipse, the night that will bring us good luck, and prosperity to our Kingdom for many years to come." She looked up towards the sky. We followed her in doing so, seeing the Two Moons about to join together. "In just a few moments, we will witness what only few people do witness in one life time. As you all know, for the next Month, The Two Moons will be shinning brightly, parting their distance as they bring us happiness, and peace."

The crowd cheered, as the Moons got closer and closer towards each other. Ilia grabbed my hand again. I looked at her as she laid her eyes on me. Grinning. This was it. In just one more minute, we would finally witness what we had been talking about all our childhood. This was the night.

"And her it comes!" Zelda exclaimed, the crowds cheering loudly, counting down.

"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2..."

"1!" Everyone exclaimed loudly, fireworks went flying in the air, popping. Confetti went everywhere. The screams were ecstatic. Everything was perfect in that moment.

Ilia danced around, everyone hugging her, congratulating her. But she only looked at me.

"Link..." She walked up to me, grabbing my hand again. "I have to tell you this..."

I smiled at her.

"I think I'm beginning to..."

And there it was. The sound of horror... the sound I had wished to never hear again. That would scare me for the rest of the time I had left on this world. The screams of distress, the fire... I will never forget the fire.

The crowd went frantic. Everyone running in all directions. I had lost Ilia in the crowd. It happened to fast. I looked up to see that Zelda was no longer on the balcony. Strange... I looked around for Ilia, to see that she was with Fado, and the others. She looked at me in fear.

"LINK!" She screamed.

"YOU'RE ALL RIGHT ILIA!" I screamed back. "FADO, LEAD THE OTHERS TO SAFETY. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS OUT OF HERE."

Fado nodded at me, reassuring me that everyone would be all right from the Village, I nodded back and made my way towards the castle. I had to find Zelda.

The castle was even more frantic. Guards were running towards all the entrances, screaming "Protect the main entrances to the Town! We have to make sure our people are safe!"

Maybe Zelda was all right, they didn't seem concerned for her safety.

I made my way towards the high tower to Zelda's room. I could only pray I would find her there safely. Guards rushed to the way I had came, surely if they were coming from the high tower, Zelda was all right.

I made my way up to the last flight of stairs, trying to contain my fear of what I would find behind her door. I took my sword out, ready for whatever I might have to face, and with a deep breath, I barged in.

And there she was. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, trying to contain myself from freaking out.

She was completely surrounded by Bulblins. Her once beautiful dress was ripped to shreds, with one holding a knife to her throat. He smiled evilly.

"We've been expecting you, Hero." They mocked me. Which only made me even more angry than I was now.

I took a step towards them, standing their ground, and the Bulblin holding the knife to Zelda's throat inched towards her neck more.

"Don't make any sudden movements," He warned me. "We wouldn't want anything to happen to this beautiful face..." He stroked her cheek at me. "Such a beautiful face..."

I maintained my cool. And asked slowly. "What do you want with her... and why are you here?"

The Bulblin snickered. "I am not at liberty to give that information. I am only doing what I was told..."

"Who ordered you to do this?" I demanded. "I want an explanation now!"

Zelda remained silent. Not showing fear, nor anger. She stood their expressionless.

"First, put down your sword. I don't want you to do anything you might regret later." He said to me.

I slowly laid down my sword, eying his every movement, as he circled around me with Zelda in his grasp.

"You should also know that we have no intention of harming your dearest princess." He snarled at me, while another Bulblin took my sword. "We only want you to listen, and to listen carefully..."

I stood silently, awaiting his explanation.

"You see..." He trailed off watching me. "You have this habit of ruining everything. You trot around on that dammed horse of yours, with that dammed sword in your hand... ridding the world of evil... or so you call it."

"What are you playing at?" I demanded again. "Where is your leader? Surely he would not be happy with what you are doing!"

The Bulblins snickered. "Oh... he is not our leader. He is long gone now. Right under the ground... he won't be back anytime soon..."

They killed their leader? I thought. What could of driven them to this madness? And how could they have killed him?

"Don't seem so surprised..." He said to me. Still holding the knife firmly on Zelda's throat. "Our leader was weak... only picking the strongest side... we ARE the strongest side. And now that the Two Moon's have aligned once again, we are even stronger."

I was surprised at his statements. Usually these creatures were dumb, I had never seen nor heard them talk so smartly before in the years I have fought against them. And even with what little were here, the guards could have easily handled them.

"... Who sent you here..." I demanded again.

"We do not speak his name... he wishes to remain... how you say... unspoken of." He laughed, as did the other Bulblin's that were surrounded me.

"We only ask that you do not interfere with what is going to become the end... of Hyrule once and for all..."

I rolled my eyes. "Do you really expect me to do that?"

He smiled at me. "Only if you don't want anything to happen to her..." He said as he stroked her cheek again, this time scratching her with his sharp nails, leaving a trail of blood on her face."

"You bastard!" I said taking a step towards him. "do not touch her!"

"uh uh uh..." He said. "No movements, or I'll do worse than scratching this pretty face."

I sighed in frustration. Biting my lip hard. How could I stay still as they were taunting her like this.

"We are going to leave now..." The Bulblin said. "You have been warned..." He said as one of the other Bulblin threw my sword at me. He slowly backed away, still with Zelda in his grasp.

I watched their every movement. Thinking maybe if I was quick, I could kill most of them and leave him to torture... just like he was torturing Zelda.

Just before he went out the window, he took the knife from Zelda's neck, letting her fall to the ground in doing so. "Don't be stupid, hero." He said, as they began jumping from the window, one by one, disappearing into the night.

As the last one went, I ran towards her. Not even worrying about where they were going, or what they were planning.

"Zelda!" I yelled frantically. I leaned down, holding her in my arms.

"...Link..." She said weakly. "I have failed... I have failed my people..."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about that now. We need to get you somewhere safe. The castle is not the place to be right now. I said, picking her up and carrying her outside from the High Tower.

As I walked out of the castle with the Princess in my arms. I tried to go over in my head what I had just seen... what seemed like couldn't happen. Bulblin? Having that much power here... it was unheard of.

I took Zelda to Telma's bar, the only place I knew to go where she would at least be safe to night. Telma welcomed me with open arms, not taking note that I had the Princess in my hands. It was hard to tell it was actually her from the shredded clothes, the messy hair and dirt marks on her face. She almost looked like a commoner.

The whole night I couldn't sleep one bit. All I could do was watch over her... what seemed like a lifeless body laying in the bed. I could only think it was my fault. If I had gotten there sooner... maybe she wouldn't of had to endure the fear alone.

But I was here now, and as long as I was protecting her from here on out, I was okay with that.