Note: WooH! Chapter 3! Hands in the air! Ok so im done for the day Hopefully i can get four and maybe five tomorrow. We will see. C'mon if you want more you got to show it, give me the reviews.

Chapter 3

Link stared into the sky, the breeze rustling through his mess of brown hair. He watched the goats lounge around him, eating grass and not. It was very peaceful on the ranch. He was going to miss it. The white puffs of clouds rolled lazily overhead. His stomach grumbled and he clenched the throbbing area. The food he made last night was delicious, he had some even for breakfast. It had only been an hour and his stomach was already yelling for more. It wants the pie. Ilia said she would bake the pie so he would have it for his trip.

"Hey Link!" Fado came running from the gate. Link stood to great him.

"You opened up today?" Fado said looking at the goats out and about.

"Yessir" Link chirped. He couldn't sleep last night. He was too exited. All he could think about was this special trip.

"So, almost time for you to get goin', huh?" Fado smiled, but Link could tell he was a bit sad. Fado didn't want him to go. They had a lot of fun on the ranch together. Fado and Rusl taught him everything he knew.

"How's about we finish up early today, bud?" Fado grinned bigger, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Fado, I can see right through you. But alright. I guess we can finish up." Link gave him a smile. Fado moved out of the way as Link called Epona. He jumped on to her back and clicked his heels twice, and she took off into a gallop, herding the noisy little things grazing around.

"Hoo, boy, but y'all can herd! That was 1:40! Faster then usual, bud!"

Fado laughed. Him and Link had made a game, to see how fast Link could do it. It usually took him about 3 minutes.

"You make me so proud" Fado pretended to cry and Link laughed.

"Oh stop it. Your such a baby Fado." Link teased him.

"Have a safe trip bud. I'll be waiting for 'ya." Fado grinned up at Link, and Link winked back.

"I will."

Fado went back into the barn and Link gripped Epona's reins.

"You ready for some fun girl?" Link rubbed Epona's neck. Fado had set up the jumping fences while Link was locking the goats in. He and Epona did a few rounds, then began their way to the Mayor's house. Ilia was waiting outside for him. Ilia was Mayor Bo's daughter, and that was not the only reason he did not ask the beautiful lass out. He didn't want to be the next mayor.

"How was herdin' today, Link?" She asked, resting a hand on Epona's neck.

"Great. Epona got 'em all in 1 minute and 40 seconds! Isn't that right girl?" Link rubbed Epona's neck on both sides, getting a response from her. She pushed her neck into his hands, as if asking for more.

"All done herdin' for the day, Link? Well, nice work." Mayor Bo popped out of the house and walked down the steps. Link hopped down and walked over to the Mayor. Mayor Bo wrapped his arm around Links shoulder and turned him away from Ilia.

" The royal gift Rusl told you about is ready, so you should get ready for your trip to Hyrule Castle. Now, the royal family requested this gift specifically, so it's real special. It'd be... bad... if the representative of Ordon were to be late for such an occasion, you get me, lad?"

"I understand, Sir." Link nodded. Behind them Ilia was talking to Epona.

"The path before you is a long one, my sweet horse... but please bear Link safely along it." How cute. Man, Link just wanted to kiss the girl right then.

"Wait...what's this?" Ilia's voice suddenly turned bitter. Both the mayor and Link turned to see Ilia crouching down looking at the horse's front left leg.

"What's happened? She's injured?" Ilia turned to give Link a cold, dark stare. He flinched. And there went my urge to kiss her. She pushed herself up and stormed over to him, her hand balled into fists.

"Link! How could you! You were pushing Epona too hard again! I bet you hurt her leg jumping fences, didn't you!" She raised her voice with each word she spoke, and now was screaming at him. He moved backwards, scared the girl would do some serious damage to him. Ilia was scary when mad. And she knew how to fight. That girl could pack a punch.

" Now, now, Ilia, there is no need to get so hot with him..." Mayor Bo per-cautiously put out. Ilia turned towards him and stared him down.

"FATHER!" She silenced the old man.

" How can you be so easy on him? You're the MAYOR! You should start acting like one!" I don't think yelling at me about injuring my horse's leg has anything to do with being a mayor,...but I'd rather not argue with her. Both men had their heads down as Ilia grabbed the horse's reins.

"You poor thing..." she cooed. The mayor and Link both peeked at one another as Ilia walked past them with Epona.

"It'll be all right, Epona. I'll take you to the forest spring right now." They watched her leave, both stunned.

"Once we soothe you in the spirit's spring, you'll feel better in no time!" She kept cooing to the horse as she left the two men.

"W-Wait! Ilia!" Mayor Bo's hand stretched out towards her, as if the action would bring her back, but the girl just kept walking along.

"Why, without Epona... the gift won't get delivered in time! Oh this won't do..." Mayor Bo shook his head.

"I'll get her , Sir" Link said as he walked off towards the spring.

"What a brave lad." The Mayor said as he walked back into his house.

On his way past his house, Link found a Colin pouting, kicking at the dirt.

"...Link, are you going to see Ilia?" the boy seemed hopeful.

"Yeah Colin. Why?"

"Maybe it's just because it's me... but those guys don't let me through... do you think we can go to see Ilia together?" so Malo and Talo were picking on him. Link looked over to see Beth standing in front his house and Malo and Talo guarding the entrance to the Forest.

"Sure Colin." Colin followed him as he went to talk to everyone. First, Link walked up to the girl in front of his house. She tossed her shoulder length hair behind her shoulder, which fell right back into place. She glared at the hairs as Link approached.

"Beth, why are you here?" Link asked, annoyed. She would randomly come over sometimes and ask him out, and he wasn't really in the mood for little girls at the moment.

"Can you take me with you to Hyrule, Link? Nothing looks good on me in this town!" She whined. Link moaned and pinched his nose with his thumb and middle finger.

"Your too young." He grunted and walked to the other two pests.

"Hey, we've been waiting for you, Link. Yesterday was soooo much fun! Yeah, chasing that monkey was great!" Talo lied straight through his teeth. I get it. He's trying to act cool around these two. He doesn't want them to know what really happened.

"I was just telling Malo here about how we wanted to show it to him, but we let it go instead!"

Malo rolled his eyes.

"Oh, YOU didn't get caught, Talo?" He sneered.

"Oh, way to spoil everything by telling your dad, Colin. Nice job." Talo glared at the boy hiding behind Link.

"Yeah, thanks a lot! We got scolded by our dad something awful. I thought it was never gonna end..." Malo glared at the boy also. Talo snapped at Colin.

"I bet you're trying to go see Ilia, aren't you? Well, there's no way I'm gonna let you pass!"

"Hey, you two, it isn't Colin's fault. I told his dad." Link chided the two little twerps in front of him. Colin looked up at him, knowing he was lying for him. Talo looked back at him, realizing he was there, and saw his sword.

"Lemme borrow that wooden sword! Please, Link! If I had that yesterday I could've handled it alone. C'mon! Let me borrow it right now!" Talo tried to reach for the sword but was to short.

"No way, mister."

"Colin, you better start talking fast if you want to see Ilia..cuz there is no way I'm letting you through without that sword." Talo smirked. Malo looked up at his brother with a surprised expression.

"Sheesh...You are my brother, Talo...But that was pretty low."

"Fine, Talo. But no running off or hitting anyone." Link handed the little boy the wooden sword. This better not result in anything bad.

"Whoa! YESSS! With this thing... I'll show 'em!" Malo and Talo ran off, Talo trying to swing the sword, almost falling down each time he did.

"Link." Colin tugged at Links pants, and the older boy turned to look at him.

"Thanks..." Link Looked down at the small boy. Colin was a very shy and quiet boy. Link really liked him. He would make a great guy someday.

"Those guys are always teasing me...Whats so fun about swinging something like that around, anyway? I hate it...It's scary..." Link patted the kid on the back. He would make a great father.

" It's not for fun. I use it to protect the people I love. Like you. And the village." Link said with a smile. Colin looked up at him wit bright, shining, chocolate brown eyes.

"When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like you, Link! I don't want to learn about swords or anything, but could you teach me how to ride a horse sometime? Can you?" Colin clasped his hands to his chest, sort of like Beth always did when she was around Link.

"Sure, bud. I promise." Colin smiled, and ran off to find Ilia. Link took one last look at the small boys swinging the sword around, and then walked to find Colin and Ilia, a smile on his face.

Link crawled though a little hole near the springs. He would surprise them. As he got up and dusted himself off, he heard Ilia's and Colin's conversation.

"I had no idea... I hadn't heard details about Talo's capture... but, Colin..." Ilia reached her hand out to the boy as he lowered his head. Link stepped forward, and Ilia, noticing him, turned towards Epona. She began to reach for the horse, but Epona shook her head, as if saying not to touch her. Ilia backed a bit, and smiled down at the water.

"So you still prefer you master over me, huh, Epona? Don't worry about your horse, Link." Ilia glanced at him, and then back at the horse, her smile turning to a frown.

"Fortunately, it looks like the injury isn't too serious. You two can go on together." The girl closed her eyes for a second, then looked up to the sky. She looked down again, closing her eyes and whispered.

"But, Link... Can you at least promise me this? No matter what happens on your journey, don't try to do anything... out of your league. Please." She looked at him from the corner of her eye, Her Crystal Blue eyes shining in the sun ray's that were seeping through the leaves and branches overhead. She turned toward him and smiled, her head slightly tilted down, looking so beautiful and angelic.

"Just come home safely." Link nodded.

" I pro-" Suddenly the ground began to quake, and Bulbins stormed the gate. They rode on some big bullbos, creatures that look like big pigs. Link watched One of the Bulbin riders point an arrow at Ilia. He began running toward the fleeing girl, as he saw the archer release. His hand outstretched, he attempted to grab her and pull her toward him before the arrow hit it's mark. Something crashed into the back of his head, and everything around him spun out of control. He felt his knees hit the water and the ground underneath, and then his face splashing into it. He rolled over onto his back as water filled his mouth. He swallowed what had entered and breathed in big gulps of air. His head lolled to the side, and as his vision began to sport black dots and shapes, he saw Ilia crash into the water, and a giant hand lifting her. And then, he lost everything.

Link awoke to find no one in the springs. He sat up suddenly, his head aching as memories rushed his fuddled thoughts. He raced out of the springs and towards the woods. He stopped, staring up to the sky, as a black wall loomed over head, stopping him from reaching the Faron woods. Not only did the sky take on a eerie orange glow out of no where, but the air seemed thick with a horrible feeling. He had to get Ilia and Colin. Link took a deep breath in, and stepped towards the black mass. Suddenly a gray hand struck at him through the wall and grabbed him around the neck. Link struggled, his airways already throbbing and burning from water spilling in, but the hand was very powerful, it pulled him into the wall sucking him through. Link felt as if he had crashed through glass, every cell in his body shattering and every bone breaking. He screamed as new light found way to his eyes. Link emerged in an orange world, that looked exactly like Faron woods. Black particles of something floated everywhere and Link looked into the face of a strange creature that held his 's black body was shining with blue markings, and it had a mask that long hair like ropes hung from, it stood on all fours, but it's body looked sorta like a human. Suddenly, Links hand began to glow, and his entire body felt like it was engulfed in flames. Link let out another scream of pain. His body convulsed, his blood stopping, his head exploading in side of his skull. The creature gave a shriek and threw the boy away from it. Link flew to the ground, the impact not noticeable for the flame sensation throughout his body was quite worse. Everything seemed to change as he felt his bones and features shift, and then all went black once more. Before it did, he could have sworn he saw a flash of black and and blue and yellow in the sky, almost like a human. His head hit the ground and he let out a strangled breath.

"Ilia..."