Author's Note: Well I'm excited! :D my favorite two shows are coming on soon! One is coming in just half an hour (at nine pm) and the other one is coming this Sunday! They are *drumroll* Once upon a time and Once upon a time in Wonderland! *hums*

Chapter 14: The girl and her wolf

On my way to the big boss, there were of course some obstacles in the way. Mostly bokoblins that I had to fight or shoot here and there. Nothing majorly big that would scare the daylight out of me.

It was actually hard to kill the bokoblins with your sword especially if your arm that got wounded still hurts…or ache…or both…

The new weapon I have proved to be very useful so that being said, I had favored that one the most. Sure the Slingshot can be cool but it gets…overrated, you know?

I still wasn't pleased about being pulled upwards from the magnetic blue pull but what has to be done, has to be done. Period.

Sooner or later, I reached the closed tied bridge that no doubt leads to the entrance to the Big Boss. The minute I set loose the bridge, many bokoblins came at me; some are trying to hit me with its clubs while some of them are trying to hit me with their flaming arrows.

All in all, it was pretty chaotic.

There was one time when an arrow zipped past under my earlobe, making me to feel the heat. I narrowed my eyes at the foe who fired it then went to kill it. Finally, every single one of them was dead.

I halted in my tracks when I spotted the big locked door and gulped.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for this…

"Scared?" Midna smirked, causing me to sneer in response.

"You wish."

Using the completed key, I pushed the key in its place and let the door open.

When I entered inside, it was semi-dark. There was a faint light coming from somewhere, making it a bit bearable. The environment was large with columns scattered throughout the area. However, I had noticed that there was something in the middle of the room, being all black and was chained to the ceiling whereas the bottom part were chained down to the ground.

I walked a bit closer to it, to examine it. Without a warning, a blinding red light radiated out of its forehead, illuminating the dark place. The light seemed to awaken the beast since it let out a roar though it tried to move but it realized that it got chained.

I stared at it cautiously before suddenly, right before my eyes, it burst into flames which caused me to pull out my sword.

Using its strengths, the creature pulled one of its hands forward in an attempt to break the chain. It did while it also broke the other chain on his other hand. I gulped when it was free at least and the mighty beast let out another roar.

The battle had begun.

So…this is the patriarch…lovely…I think.

Oh I'm going to die…

The beast swung its chained arms around, hoping to injury his foe but I was fast enough to avoid it. The gigantic beast stomped its way through the room as I ran for my dear life.

Why do I always have to be in a life-threatening situation?

"Midna! What do I do?" I hissed furiously.

"Um…stop running around like a manic and actually face the beast. Besides, I'm sensing some magic from that gem. Why not use your new found weapon?" Midna asked, rolling her eyes at my stupidity.

"Oh…" I stopped running and then I nervously got my Bow and Arrows out. It was a bit hard to hold it steady since the monster would stomp on the ground, causing it to shake. I then fired the arrow right in the middle of the gem which made the beast to be paralyzed for a moment.

What now?

I thought back to the mini boss and how I had to throw him. Maybe the same thing with him? It was already too late to even try the idea since the beast roared back to life, having the fire being activated on its body again. I didn't had the time to dodge its attack since I got thrown back because I got hit by the painful chain.

I smashed through one of the columns, sending small rocks to tumble down. I sprawled on the spot for a moment, being dazed from the sudden impact as I groaned. But the sudden heavy stomps that shook the place snapped me back to reality and I quickly scrambled up again only to be slightly burnt at the side of abdomen.

The creature had released its shockwave…

I got out my arrow again to fire at the gem and the creature blackened though the only thing that was alive was the bright gem. I then ran around the monster so I could pull the chain with the help of my Iron Boots.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall!" I shouted, seeing the unspeakable monster falling down. After I got my boots off, I ran quickly so that I could the weak point which was the gem.

The process continued for a bit until I finally struck the gem on the last try. This caused the beast to thrash around from the immense pain while it placed its hands on the glowing gem as if that will ease the agony. Unfortunately, it didn't work since the glow on the gem got brighter and brighter and soon it died down, letting out the light to come back in this room.

The monster stood still like a statue before the gem that was implanted on his forehead popped out. Then, the blackened skin exploded, revealing to be the particles of Twilight. Like before, something pulled the particles towards each other as it formed the second Fused Shadow.

"Eee hee hee! Well done! Now we have two Fused Shadows…" she told me as she grabbed the object with her hand hair…"Hmm…You know, you've been very helpful so far, so as a reward, I'll tell you a interesting story. Zant." she started.

But the thing that threw me off was the tone in her voice. It was filled with such darkness…such venom.

"That's the name of the King of Darkness who cast this pall of shadows over your world. He's very strong. You would be nothing to him in your current state…But Zant will never be my king! I have nothing but scorn for his supposed strength. Not that your Zelda is much better…"

"At least she didn't run away." I told her, bitterly.

Something in her suddenly change and for a minute, I could've sworn I saw sadness.

"Hey, Midna. I-"I began.

"Don't." she said, sharply causing me to wince. "You're right. At least she didn't run away. But it doesn't matter. What appalls me is that this world of light is controlled by that princess. A carefree youth, a life of luxury…How does that teach duty? But I guess I shouldn't begrudge her the circumstances of her life. She didn't choose it, after all. And I would never wish harm on her…No, as long as I can get my hands of the Fused Shadow. I'll be just fine." she then floated a bit further and with her a point of her finger, a portal appeared. "Well just one more left… Shall we? Eee hee hee."

"Hold on." I spoke softly. I turned my direction to the fallen patriarch. "Hello? Anyone there…?"

From the sound of my voice, the patriarch got up groaning as he rubbed his at the side of his head.

"Unngh…Urrgh…Hmm? What am I doing here?" he moaned. "Unngh…My head, it aches…Urrrgh…So much pain…I cannot remember anything…"

I shook my head, smiling. At least he's alright.

"Will he be alright?" Midna asked, eyeing the strange creature.

"Yeah he just has a headache. Now, let's go." I walked into the portal, feeling the same feel as my body turned into particles. I then felt myself transporting into a one whole body.

I knew I had arrived since the water touched the base of my feet.

"Heroic Link…" Eldin spoke. "North of here, across the plain and past the great stone bridge, in the lands guarded by the spirit Lanayru…You shall find one who you seek…"

My eyes widened as an idiotic grin spread across my face.

Ilia…oh sweet merciful Din! I had longed to be with her. I can only pray that she's safe even if she's in her spirit form…

The spirit's voice vanished, leaving me to inhale deeply before exhaling it. I had missed the fresh air and I'm just happy that I no longer had to breathe the stuffy air from the Mines. However, my ears suddenly perked at something so I turned my head to my right and smiled.

There, were the group. Renado, Luda, the kids and Colin.

Colin…

Renado looked down at Colin who seemed to be a bit timid but after a little nudge from Luda, Colin ran as he saw me.

"Link…" he spoke out, taking a step.

I grinned.

But then he suddenly collapsed on his knees which caused me to be worried as I had ran after him. I reached him and I placed my hands on his shoulders.

"Colin? Are you alright?" I asked, worried.

Colin looked up but something about him made me to be worried even more.

"Ilia…" he replied. My eyes went wide.

"What about her? Do you know where she is?"

"You've got to save Ilia!" he spoke to me urgently. "Those monsters left me with the other kids, but they must have taken her somewhere else! Whenever I thought I couldn't go on, I would think of you and Ilia and hold on Link…"

I slowly removed my hand from his shoulder as he got up which made Colin to smile.

"See? I…I'm fine now."

I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank the Goddesses."

"Remember what I told you back in Ordon, Link?"

"How could I forget?" I grinned as the flashback came.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be just like you, Link!" Colin's voice echoed in my head.

"So you don't have to worry about me anymore! Go help Ilia!" he replied, urgently.

"Leave the children to me. I will watch over them, I swear it." Renado responded as he walked towards us. "Do not let their fates trouble you. Go to those who need you. In Hyrule, countless tales are told of the ancient hero…and your deeds bring them all to mind. May the graces of the great goddesses who shaped Hyrule bear you on your way."

He did the most unexpected thing. He bowed to me as the rest of the crowd did.

I didn't know what to say. I was, truth be told, embarrassed to have such gratitude…

"Please, you don't need to do that." I spoke as my face turning red.

I raised an eyebrow when Colin was looking at me oddly. "Link…you're hurt." he motioned to my injured shoulder.

I dismissed it. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing major."

"But we still need to tend it if you don't want to be infected." Renado told me, sternly.

I sighed, sulking my way to the Inn where I knew that I would most likely visit here very often.

Renado asked me how was my shoulder so I answered that it was sore but other than that, just fine. He then told me that I shouldn't do any activities that would involve my arm but I insisted that I had to go to Ilia. Nonetheless, we argued until he had somehow won…

Which was why I was currently laying on the bed until Renado instructed me to use a good night's rest. You know…I won't disagree with him. I could use a nap. I hadn't slept in days well the moment I had started going up to Death Mountain.

It's amazing what the power of the Fused Shadow can do to people. I just hope that there won't be any other evil objects like that. And then…

Fatigue took over me.

"120 Rupees? You're bankrupting me!" I exclaimed.

"Hey I gotta make a living here. So you other take it or buy it." Barnes told me.

Groaning, I paid for the bomb bag so that I could have the bombs in a bomb bag…Stinkin owner. I only have 37 Rupees left! Damn it…

Angrily, I stomped out of the store while ignoring the shouts of Barnes as he said that he's open 24 hours a day. Honestly, I don't care. Stupid person…Whoever made you the owner of that shop wasn't right in his head!

"What's wrong with you?" Midna asked, amused.

"That stinkin weasel got me broke!" I yelled.

She, being the cruel sadistic imp, shrugged carelessly. "Beggars can't be choosers."

I grunted. "Aren't you being the wise one?"

We were currently on the great white bridge that probably led to Lanayru. But the minute Epona and I crossed the bridge, something in the sky appeared. I looked up sensing that something was different. It was that cursed portal that shot something down at the bridge. The red lines zapped the lines of the bridge before having me gaping at the scene.

The bloody portal took a part of the bridge!

Oh yeah on my way to the bridge, the postman came saying that I had letters from Barnes.

I swear, the postman is stalking me or how else does he know where I am every time?

He's an odd little human…

On the other hand, when a part of the bridge disappeared, three shadows plopped down from the sky and was now on the bridge.

I will deal with them later…

"Ah, we're finally here." Midna responded once we had reached the twilight wall. "There's only one Fused Shadow left…So this is the last of the twilight you'll see, I guess."

"Ooo so mysterious." I stated, sarcastically whereas the imp rolled her eyes before continuing.

"Whether or not you accomplish your final task and survive is up to you…Eee hee! So what will you do?"

I walked a bit further until we reached the wall of Twilight.

"Want me to let you into the twilight?"

"No I came all this way for nothing…"

Sneering, she flew to the inside of the wall and being the careless imp she was, she harshly grabbed me with her hand and pulled me inside.

So naturally, I was out which made the cruel imp to be pissed off.

The minute I woke up, I was automatically transformed into the blue-eyed wolf.

"About time you woke up." she responded, harshly.

Ah, there's the Midna we all know…

Well maybe next time, how about you do it more gently in the future? Maybe then I won't pass out…

"Alright then, I guess I'll have to help you!"

You don't help me…

"But what a shame that this is the last of the twilight…I had become so fond of seeing it covering this world…Or…is it really the last you'll see? Eee hee! So, shall we get going?"

No we're going to lazily sit here and watch how the ugly twilight continues to spread.

I mean duh! What kind of a question is that?

Still not pleased that I have the sadistic imp, I continued my way down the path. Maybe I could throw her off somehow…

However, I halted in my tracks when I saw something lying on the ground. The scent came off strong so I honed my senses to sniff at it. My eyes widened when I realized that the scent was Ilia. It was her pouch.

"You smell the girl, don't you? I can tell by the look on your face. Well, good. It's another clue then. But this scent could be quite old…I wonder if she is still alright? Eee hee!" she responded, darkly.

I snarled at her, telling her to lay off. Halfway through the path, Midna forced me to halt. There, ahead of us was the familiar castle that was nearly hidden from the twilight.

Even if it was covered in twilight, it was still looking proudly, looking more majestic, more hauntingly.

"Hey, haven't we seen this castle before? Eee hee hee! So, we finally made it back here! Well, only a little farther, so hang in there!"

I growled. I would like to throw you off.

"Or so I'd like to say, but…The going's a lot harder from here on out…Eee hee hee! Alright then. Let's get started."

I resumed my mission which was following the purple scent…wherever that lead to. I then found out my answer; the scent led me in the inside of the Castle. There wasn't much to accept of it as there were floating spirits walking around. I automatically knew that they were the people.

I let out a lonely sigh, hoping that I would be done with this mission and I don't have to keep on transforming into this cursed form. I suddenly shook my head, wondering why on Hyrule I felt a sudden pain until Midna told me (in a rude way) that I had bumped my head on the edge of the door.

I growled when she laughed at me before going inside and then I honed my senses. I didn't know what to expect to be honest but the minute I honed my sense, my heart leapt out of the cage as I saw Ilia.

I wanted to call her name but I realized that I couldn't because I was not in the human form. But something about her threw me off. She seemed…sad…She looked at a fallen figure that was laying on a bed while there was a woman which I just noticed.

She held an age that was between twenties and thirties. She was tall, had her red hair pulled back into a high ponytail while also wearing a skirt and a bodice while a cardigan was in front of the bodice. She reminded me of those people from another race.

What were they called?

Ah, the Gerudos.

But I knew she wasn't one of them.

"This boy…can you save him?!" Ilia asked but she sounded panicky.

"Alright, little lady, try to settle down, ok?! I just now sent for the doctor!" the woman told her. "But this is strange…A child of the Zoras…"

My ears perked up at this. Zoras…?

"I wonder if this is at all related to the incident the soldiers were talking about in back…"

"Aw, what an emotional reunion!" Midna replied though she held no tone of emotions. "Yes, a girl and her wolf! Eee hee! Sorry, but you know how it goes! These folks can't see you, either. Eee hee hee!"

I growled, telling her to back off.

"Ooo so scary!" she replied, mockingly. "So my little wolf, what are you going to do?"

I continued to listen to Ilia and the woman's conversation, hoping to have some kind of clues of what's going on.

"This boy is still so young, so innocent…To see him suffering like this…" Ilia responded with a sad tone.

"He'll be alright, little lady. Someone's already gone for the doctor." the woman told her again. "I'll tell you, though, from what those soldiers in back were talking about…to everything else…There sure has been a rash of trouble lately…"

Alright time to find out what these soldiers are talking about.

I studied the map that was on the table while hearing the soldier's captain talking.

"I've received orders from above to investigate why we can't go to the spirit's spring in Lake Hylia! Got that?!" he demanded.

I frowned. Why can't we go to Lake Hylia? Deciding that I want to investigate, I got out of the bar and I also got out of the castle, completely. Everything is so strange now…

"…Hey, do you smell anything funny?" Midna suddenly asked.

I stopped only to slip a little. I then sniffed as I wondered what got Midna to ask that question but her question was confirmed when I growled at the other side where I saw the pesky minion. The minion took out its arrow, making me to think that it was going to shoot me but it didn't. The foe released the flaming arrow, shooting it straight at the sky until it reached the other end with a thunk. My eyes widened when I realized that this was oil…

The opponent then released another arrow, shooting at the front of the end to where it stood so that it got me trapped.

"Oh no! We're trapped! Get out of here!" Midna responded, panicking.

I rolled my eyes at her as I began to think on how to get out of here.

"Oh for Din's sake, Link! Hurry up!" Midna screamed, earning me to cringe.

It was then that I spotted two crates that were spread out not too far out. I chose the closest one and began to push the box to the edge of the bridge.

"You're insane!" Midna responded, sharply but she knew that this was the only choice. "Ohh, someone help me…" she buried her face into my fur. "Don't wait! Just jump already!"

I climbed on the edge of the bridge and then I jumped, letting out a long howl…

Author's Note: *grins* I don't know why but I always like the part where Link jumps off the bridge…yeah, don't mind me…Any thoughts on this chapter? Question of the day: which cut scene is your favorite?