Author's Note: Thanks to 3 for favoring and following the story. Much obliged ;) by the way: if you guys want anything to happen in the story, shout it out! :D

Chapter 10: My Lonely Hero

Well, the spirit Eldin has it had introduce itself told me to hunt for the insect of darkness but the creepy sentence was still etched into my mind and I was getting desperate to shake it off.

"The darkness now hunts you."

I shuddered, still not trying to think about it. But I just couldn't. I can't.

I'm a pathetic hero, aren't I? I mean, what kind of a hero gets scared or paranoid from that simple little sentence? I bet the real Hero of Time doesn't get scared. I honed on my senses to see if the kids' scent had stopped which it did by an old-ish tent-like building.

Midna pointed it out that I could climb from old unsteady tree to reach the rooftop. We reached the rooftop with the help of sure footing but the unstable stack of wood that was implanted on the hole of the rooftop gave out and it sent me to fall down.

I didn't land that great since I kind of slipped on a loose wood that also was brought down when I fell. There were a few floating blue spirits and that made me too quickly hone my senses.

A sudden lump greeted my throat as the blue spirits finally showed me who it was.

It was the kids…

Malo…Talo, Colin and Beth. I felt so relieved to see them even if they were only in their spirit forms but they seemed so scared…I frowned at their reaction though Talo seemed to be hugging a stranger that looked like he was trying to comfort them; especially Beth.

She seemed to be on the verge of breaking down completely. I wanted more than anything to reach out for them…to tell them that everything's going to be okay. I was at least, thankful for the elderly man because he was comforting them when I couldn't.

The man had shoulder-length black hair with brownish robes and he seemed to be in his twenties or thirties.

There was also another female with them; she was beside Beth. She had short black hair with piercing black eyes and brown with white linings tunic and also appear to wear leggings.

"Cripes! I don't see those black brutes anywhere…" a voice snapped me back to reality. I turned around and saw a bizarre—well as bizarre as he look—short man.

A mask was on his forehead as he wore a mustache with glasses that sat nearly at the edge of his nose. His shirt turned out to be somewhat small since his belly was shown while pants with strings were attached to his body.

"They've gotta be hidin' somewhere, waitin' for their helpless little prey to come out! Then they'll feast!" he spoke.

My lip turned into a snarl. I knew it was useless but what was he doing? Couldn't he see that the kids were scared enough? They don't need anymore fear.

Fear of a nameless evil…

Zelda's words rang through my mind.

Talo leaned closer to the elderly man who seemed to notice the sudden nudge since he turned.

"We are safe as long as we remain in here, child. Be at ease." he said, soothingly.

"Oh yeah? I wonder if the monsters out there agree with you…" the insensitive man spoke.

The caring man turned around and gave him a stern look, warning him not to continue.

"They sure didn't seem impressed by my bombs! How long do you think we can hold this sanctuary against beasts that strong, huh?"

I snarled heavily and was about to go to attack him somehow until Midna harshly pulled me back from my ear.

"Don't. Even if you could somehow attack him—which I highly doubt you can—it wouldn't do anything. The people you see now will think of you as a monster. Nothing more, nothing less." Midna hissed.

It was harsh and cruel but it was the truth.

"Once they attack, it's OVER!"

I saw pure fear on the kids face…who wouldn't be scared in times like this? I could tell that they hope this would be over but it seemed that it wasn't.

"Remember the 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 waitin'!"

Stop it!

The elder man seemed to try to calm himself down while Beth was seriously on the verge of breaking down completely.

It wasn't funny and it isn't a pretty sight to see.

How I wish I could go and comfort her.

"You connectin' the dots?" the heartless man continued. "That means that if we get attacked by them, then we'll be…"

The caring man finally snapped.

"BARNES!" he bellowed with such ferocity that made the guy, Barnes, speechless. Thick silence hung in the air as I was waiting what was going to happen next.

I almost felt tears coming out when I saw Beth letting out sobs. The man glowered at Barns who lowered his mask.

"Look Renado…All I mean to say is that it's risky here, too! Ain't you got some place we can hide?" Barnes asked, probably to oblivious to see that this Renado was hating him.

I didn't blame him.

Renado seemed to be in deep thought until he spoke.

"There is…a cellar."

The excited Barnes quickly crawled towards him, eager to listen.

"WHAAT? You've got a CELLAR?! Where's the entrance, man?" he eagerly spoke.

"The entrance to the cellar is designed to open when all of the candles have been lit…"

Determined, Barns already had a stick that was on fire and eyed the empty pot that was beside the statue. He ran towards it, lighting up the pot but then tripped over a loose floor when the female's voice spoke. I turned to the girl that was beside Beth.

"…I would not do that." she spoke. "When Father instructed me to secure the cellar, I saw insects like the beast outside…" she used her hands to indicate about the insects.

Scared, Barnes crawled backwards into his "hiding" place.

I really did not like that guy.

Colin tried to comfort the crying Beth since he reached his arm out to place it on hers.

"Don't cry, Beth! It'll be ok!" Colin said, trying to comfort her but Beth harshly pushed Colin's hand away.

"Link is coming to save us all!" my ears perked up at his words, feeling my heart rising.

They really think I'm going to come?

That seemed to help Beth since she stopped crying when Colin mentioned me. Talo looked at Colin while the female and Renado stared at the boy with interest but the two had the same question.

Who is Link?

Barnes seemed to be confused at what's going on but he gave up on it.

"…I can feel it!"

Talo scoffed as Malo turned away, not believing him.

Colin was the only one who believed in me…he was the only one who had hopes for me…

It was then that I felt a tear rolling down…

"These kids knew you'd come save them! What a hero!" Midna's voice pulled me back.

I wasn't really listening to her…I only had a thought that was in my mind and that was from Colin's words. He was the only one…the other kids didn't believe that I was going to come…

"How sad, to be right in front of someone and not be noticed at all…Eee hee hee!" Midna's cruel words had now deeply etched into my mind. "You are chosen by the gods, and only that keeps you from turning into a spirit, or worse, into a dark monster, when you enter twilight."

Shut up, Midna!

"And no one knows what you have done…You may be doomed to toil in obscurity forever…"

Is that true?

I will be doing things that no one will know…? This is a cruel fate.

"You're the type to worry about everything. I can tell…but don't fret over Princess Zelda! She chose this state of affairs, after all…Anyway, what's with having to light candles to get to the basement?! Not very subtle, is it…So, what are you going to now? My lonely little hero…Eee hee!"

At this point, I didn't know who hate: Zelda or Midna. Her Highness could've done something! Somehow…anything…

What would I do if I was in the state of what Zelda is in? I honestly don't know…

Solemnly, I picked up the burning stick and lit all of the candles which in the end, made the statue to move to the side as it revealed the entrance to the basement. I went down the hole, automatically spotting two crackling insects that started to crawl away but was quickly defeated.

I raced the insect that crawled into a medium-size building but only to not reach it in time since it was in its hiding place. I discovered a stick that was lit up and I threw it in the fireplace.

The moment the insect buzzed out of the fireplace so did the fire. It was burning down the building.

Things always have to go bad…

"Huh?! What did you do?!" Midna asked, freaking out. "Sorry, but as romantic as this is, I'm not going to stay here with you. I'm getting out!"

Being the selfish little imp, she flew out of the burning house. I snarled: of course, she would only save herself, no one else.

That's all she ever is: a selfish, self-centered little brat. I quickly went to the hole from which I came from but the force of the fire hurled me backwards when I tried to go in, scorching my back.

It stung though I chose to ignore it since I was in a life-death situation here. On the second try, I crawled out of the burning building just as sparks shot in every corner. It finally exploded because it couldn't any more pressure, sending pieces of wood flying through the air—some of them scratched my face.

I stared at the "rewards" I got. There, were three floating tears of light.

"Hmm…I don't suppose there's any nicer way to hunt these things, huh? Well, you had to sacrifice someone's house to find Tears of Light…but that's how the cookie crumbles, right?"

Someone's house…

"They sure weren't impress by my bombs!"

Barnes's voice echoed in my mind.

Goddesses…that's why the house exploded. It was a bomb house.

Pretty soon, I had hunted all of the insects that was in this village and began to go to the path that led to Death Mountain; a sign said so.

Well isn't that inviting…

I spotted a stone that had a hole in the middle but melody came from it. Intrigued, I studied the stone as well as listening to the tune. I don't know why but something made me to how with the melody. I twirled around as if I was hoping that something will happen which it did.

The place before me dissolved in front of my eyes, taking me to a whole new place. It was serene, instantly having me to be at ease as if all my worries had been erased away…as if it didn't exist at all. There was a majestic castle far beside us but what got my attention was the white wolf that stood on another cliff across from me.

The white wolf began first, howling the eerie music that filled the silent place.

Why did this place look so familiar?

I copied him which made us to do a duet but as soon as it started, it ended. The great big Moon stood proudly beside us, shining the place with its eerily moonlight rays.

"Let teachings of old pass to you…Take sword in hand and find me…" with that, the white wolf disappeared when it jumped down into the gap below.

And then…everything around me went white.

Midna gave an annoyed sigh. (This is going to be from Midna's view but I'm not using the word 'I')

This can't be going on every single time. He was really weak. She probably knew that he wasn't up for this task…he's just not strong enough. Another thought troubled her. Why did she choose him out of all people?

Midna scrunched her face, trying to remember where until she remembered. It was from one her legends from her people which told about a blue-eyed beast that would be transformed when he enters in the twilight and can save them all.

That was why…

She gave glance at the "fallen" hero and gave out another annoyed sigh. He still hasn't woken up yet and they were losing precious time. In her opinion, once she collects all of the three Fused Shadows, she would go and save her world. She didn't care what will happen to the world of light.

Not at all.

She wants revenge on that slimy bastard that overtook her with the false power.

"About time." she snapped when she saw that the stupid wolf was getting around.

He shook his head to clear out the blurriness so that he could get back his original focus. The wolf glowered at her, seeing that his lip was being curled into a snarl. She had to laugh at that.

"Looking at me like—or snarling—won't get the job done. Besides, it's not going to be my fault if you didn't save the light spirits in time." Midna replied, sneering.

(And this is where we are back at Link's POV)

"Looking at me like that—or snarling—won't get the job done. Besides, it's not going to be my fault if you didn't save the light spirits in time." she responded in her cruel dark voice.

She is seriously unbearable! Why did I have to be stuck with her? I would rather have Zelda to be with me. Ignoring her, I continued down the path until we had finally reached the location of Death Mountain. It was nothing but tall and endless cliffs that seemed to be reaching the twilight sky.

Occasionally, there would be platforms and gates that would help me to reach the path.

I groaned when I saw four shadow beasts, aimlessly walking around. But they were defeated quickly. When I was hunting for the last insect, a great tremor shook the place, causing me to look at the sky and saw numerous flaming rock boulders were falling down from the sky.

I narrowly avoided the boulder that nearly crashed beside me so I quickly ran for cover. As the boulders kept on falling, I let out a wolf sigh resting for a bit—I was just lucky that this cave-like tunnel was here and sleep overtook me.

I had forgotten how it was nice to sleep…

"Aw, I was just starting to have fun! Don't forget that Fused Shadow!" Midna reminded me before disappearing.

Like before, the glow began to be brighter and brighter and soon it formed an orb, creating another spirit. This one took a form of an owl with great huge wings that outstood them all.

"My name is Eldin." the light spirit introduced. "I am one of the light spirits of Hyrule. I am the spirit that guards these lands. O great hero chosen by the gods…" he then looked up to see that Mountain which also caused me to look up at it.

"The dark power you seek flies 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 go to those sacred grounds and cleanse them."

Eldin then raised his great wings and dissolved into sparkles of light. I stood there, watching the pure clean water, remembering everything that happened so far.

Everything happened so suddenly.

Here I was—at Faron Spring from before—talking to Rusl when he suddenly asked me if I could deliver that sword to the Royal Family.

Everything happened when I was supposed to deliver a simple sword. I felt my fists clench, making my knuckles to turn white. Does it feel wrong to be angry?

Taking a deep breath, I started to walk away from the calm water until something caught my interest so I turned to my left and there I saw, the kids peeking out the entrance from the door.

"Link?!" Colin asked, shocked.

That caused me to smile and in return, they smiled and laughed running up to me though Talo knocked Colin down, making me to frown. They are still pushing him around, aren't they?

The three kids all gathered around me, telling me how scared they were and how they also told me that they wish they would never have to experience like that again. I looked up at Colin who smiled when he saw me and ran excitedly at me.

"…You are the one from Ordon whom these children spoke of?" the man which I knew his name was spoke.

"Yes I am. My name is Link." I greeted Renado.

He smiled. "We are well met. I am Renado, shaman of this town. And this…"

Barnes thought he was going to be introduced since he took of his mask, plastering a welcoming smile but was ignored from Renado. Annoyed, Barnes scoffed and walked away.

"This is my daughter, Luda."

"The beasts took us and left us to die…but Mr. Renado found us." Colin spoke, remembering the horrible events.

"At first, I couldn't believe they had come from so distant a place as the Ordona Province…" he replied, feeling sympathy for these kids.

"Yeah. I…We don't remember much. All of a sudden everyone was captured—I suddenly felt stiff—and then…until now…it's been like…" he trailed off, shuddering.

But Malo finished it for him. "…A nightmare." he finished, quietly.

"Yeah! It was like a terrible dream and we couldn't wake up…" Colin agreed, his blue eyes filled with fear and worry.

I know how these kids feel. Everytime I go to sleep, I would have strange dreams that would be turn into nightmares. A terrible feeling I couldn't shake it off.

"Mmm…Nightmares are everywhere these days, it seems. This village has certainly seen its share of recent hardships." Renado responded, sharing his thoughts. "The dark beasts attacked but even worse were the sudden and inexplicable change in the mountain-dwelling Goron tribe."

Ah, the rock-eating creatures.

"They had long been our friends, but suddenly treated us as foes. Even now they refuse to permit us entry into their mines. It strains the limits of belief…To think that such a gentle and proud tribe could change so suddenly…It makes me wonder if something in those mines is the cause of this change…"

Yeap; the Fused Shadow, no doubt.

"In any case, you must take these children and flee this village before more nightmares descend. I, of course, cannot leave my village in such a time. There is no telling what may happen to us here…" the shaman stated, as if he answered my question.

"…But it is my job to try to coax the Gorons back from their recent change of heart."

Now that gave me a surprised jump.

"But—"

"I know: it is dangerous and they won't listen but I have to try." Renado interrupted me.

"No Renado." I said, sternly. "I'll go and do it. Stay here where it is safe and may I ask a favor?"

He nodded.

"Please take care of the kids while I'm gone." I requested.

"The kids are safe as long as I am around." he answered, making me to smile.

"Thank you Renado. I appreciate it." I started to walk until his voice interrupted me.

"But that does not mean that you have the permission to go up to those mines." Renado called out.

I turned around. "But…if I go, I might be able to coax them back. Please? I know it's dangerous and they are going to be stubborn and all that, but just give me a chance. If things doesn't work out that great, you can go."

He sighed, staring into my pleading eyes. He frowned while he was also thinking of whether or not he should let me go.

"Please Renado." I pleaded. I did not want him to get hurt.

He sighed again. "Very well then."

I nodded then I sprinted to the path that would lead to the entrance of Death Mountain.

Author's Note: Dun dun dunnnn! XD and Link goes off to see the 'wonderful wizard of Oz' just kidding. But will he be able to get the Gorons back to their true selves? Find out in the next chapter! Oooh if you guys want to see the dream, give me a shout ;)