Author's Note: So here's the question of the day for the previous chapter: which character is your favorite? The reason I didn't put an A/N for the previous chapter is that I didn't I want to ruin it.

Chapter 16: Truth Hurts

I stared numbly while processing what just happened.

Farore…that felt…horrible. I hope I would not feel it again. The horrible power that coursed through me from before wasn't right. It just wasn't right…

I…just…I…

I squeezed my eyes shut tight, trying to erase the terrible imagery that was implanted into my mind not a moment ago. No…stop it!

"Now that we know where it is, can we go now?" Midna's annoying voice came.

I didn't move. I didn't know how to…that was just terrible…get it out. Get it away from me.

"Look, what the light spirit just showed you was to warn you. It can't be too bad. Now let's go!"

"No." I mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"No." I replied, sternly and I got up though I felt dizzy. "You can get it yourself. Why on Naryu would I look for something that is dangerous? I should've stopped the minute I heard about it."

"You're being too rational."

"Well maybe it's a good thing because you can get it yourself."

"Wait just a minute!" she screeched. "I need you okay! Is that what you wanted to hear?! I'll admit I need you! And you need me too!"

"For what Midna?" I asked, sharply. "For what do I need your help with?"

Angrily, she replied. "To destroy the evil, stupid! You don't have to worry about the Fused Shadow. I'll handle that thing."

Something was heard as if a sword just got unsheathed. Midna turned around and stared at me who was holding the sword.

"What are you doing…?" she suddenly gave a shriek, dodging the oncoming weapon that struck the ground at the edge of the cliff.

"Are you bloody insane?!" Midna screamed. "What the hell, Link?!"

I stood there, shaking with such rage that I didn't even know I could produce. "I'm done."

"What?"

"I said I'm done!" I yelled, the word done echoed around the place. "I'm done with everything. I'm done being the hero. I'm done being your puppet. I'm just done."

With that, I started to walk away as I left a dumb-founded Midna who couldn't do nothing but to stare at me.

"Link, if you don't get your ass back you are so going to be in so much trouble! LINK!" she screamed, furiously.

Once out of the spring, I was happy to see that Laky Hylia was returned in its former glory. The way it should have been. Sighing, I walked to the last stair and sat down, not caring if I got my pants wet from the water. I closed my eyes, feeling the breeze.

Goddesses…what have I done?

I knew I shouldn't have acted like that but I was just so…shocked…so overwhelmed from what the light spirit told me. I didn't know how to stop the horrible images that kept on going inside my mind.

"Please help me, Goddesses." I whispered, looking at the cloudless sky. "Please! Give me a sign of what to do!" I slightly yelled.

I sighed when I received no answer.

I should probably get back and apologize to Midna about my behavior but I just simply can't. No I'm not afraid that I would get quite an earful from Midna but I'm just afraid…from what? I do not know.

It was a while before I decided that I should go back and apologize. Better late than never, right?

When I entered the spring, I saw Midna pacing (while floating) around in circles as she muttered incoherently. Though the minute she heard footsteps, she looked up to see me staring at her.

"What?! Did you finally decide on what to do?" she asked, furiously.

I sighed. "I know what I did was irresponsible, careless—"

"Stupid, dumb, idiotic…"

"Okay that's beside the point!" I exclaimed, fuming. "But the thing is I'm sorry and I shouldn't have done what I did and all that stuff."

"You forgot one more thing."

I raised an eyebrow. "And just what is that?"

She gave me a knowing look, causing me to roll my eyes.

"And I'm sorry for nearly killing you and I'm sorry for yelling—okay, let's go!"

I quickly snatched my shield and sword and bolted out of the door. Midna scowled but was finally happy that they could go. They were wasting amount of precious time.

So the trip to get out of Lake Hylia wasn't fun as I just got blasted from a cannon…anyways, I called Epona so that I rush to where I saw Ilia while remembering that I made a promise to the Queen of the Zoras which was to save her son.

Within minutes, I arrived at Castle Town being so happy that it was full of people and music. Honestly with the twilight lingering here, it looked dull and lifeless. I turned around, trying to catch every glimpse of it as though I was afraid that it might vanish.

"Oh sorry." a person grunted when I had accidentally bumped into him.

What can I say? I was too memorized by the beauty. But the thing that probably got me amazed was the proud looking castle that outstood the town. The sun shone down on the castle, making it to shimmer from the sunlight.

It was then that I forced myself to go back to that room to where I saw Ilia in the first place.

"That is a Zora child! This is beyond my expertise! Hmmmph!" an angry voice shouted. The figure stomped away angrily while pushing me.

I stared at the figure, realizing that it was the doctor. The doctor took a glance me before it walked away.

"Doctor, wait! If something isn't done, this child will…" the voice trailed off as it realized that doctor was already gone.

I turned around and gasped when I saw who the figure was.

Ilia…

She looked at me for a while before walking away. I stared dumb-founded at the sudden reaction. What…what just happened? Isn't she glad to see me? I…what…

"Ilia…" I whispered, watching the saddened girl.

"Well this isn't good. A human doctor won't do, huh…" the woman replied, disappointed.

My heart broke when Ilia started to cry. I stared with eye-wide when I saw that Prince Ralis was lying on a bed.

"That old coot reminded me, though…I've heard a shaman in Kakariko Village, in the Eldin lands, who's tended Gorons and Zoras."

That seemed to made Ilia to stop crying since she jolted up, excited. "Really? Perhaps if we take him there…"

"Inadvisable! Too dangerous!" a sudden voice shouted, having their attention.

There was a group of soldiers.

"But we can't turn a blind eye to a pretty girl in need, either." one of the soldiers said. "Yes, we'd better escort you! Am I right, boys?!"

The rest of the soldiers cheered. This made me to smile that Ilia knew not all hope was lost.

The woman smiled as she spoke. "Well, isn't that nice. To reach Kakariko, we've got to cross two plains that are each infested by dangerous beasts." the cheers from the soldiers suddenly died down causing me to be furious at them.

Cowards.

"But we'll be safe now!" the woman said, unaware that the soldiers were gone except for one. The chubby soldier looked to his right to see that his fellow mates disappeared so when the woman looked at him, he gave out a squeak and bolted out of the bar.

"COWARDS! Don't EVER show your faces here again!" she yelled, furious before she spotted me. "Oh my! Looks like we've got one young swordsman left! And not only that, but it looks like this brave young man will escort us, so get ready to go, honey. Pronto!"

Excited, Ilia dashed out of sight but I was too upset to even hear what the woman had just said.

Ilia…why…why wasn't she happy to see me? Why?

The sound of the footsteps snapped me out of my trance only to find myself facing the woman who also wore a sad face.

What happened now?

"You know that girl, don't you?" she asked, softly.

I gave a short nod.

"It's a real shame…She can't even remember her own name right now."

"Wh-what?" I stammered.

The woman gave me a sympathy look. "Bless her heart…She found this poor boy collapsed in the road, so she did all she could to save him…More courage in that girl than in all the soldiers of Hyrule, for sure!"

I smiled, softly. "That's Ilia alright."

"Look honey, I'm sorry. But just know that everything will work out in the end. It may take a long time for her to remember herself but it will be worth it." she placed her hand on my shoulders. "Trust me."

-Sometime later-

"So you say the bridge to the west has been destroyed, huh? Then our only option is to cross the bridge to the east." she told me. "You see that means? You'll have to deal with that thing!"

I clenched my fists in anger. Didn't I kill him?

"Don't worry, I will." I replied, trying to get the anger out of my body.

We then got back to our horses and rode the path that will lead to the bridge that contained the cursed ogre.

"Th-thank you so much for this. Um, if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?" Ilia asked.

My heart broke into millions of pieces when she said that. I wanted to say that you know what my name is but after what the woman had told me, I better not.

"My name is Link."

Something flickered in her eyes and for a minute, I felt my heart rising my hope but only to be deflated.

"…Link?!" she said, suddenly. "I will never in all my life forget your kindness, Link."

I know you won't…

"Little lady, I think you'd best save your thanks until we're save in Kakariko…"

I smirked. "Don't believe in me?" I placed my hand over my heart as if I got offended. "I'm hurt."

Ilia giggled. I smiled, hearing her giggle. It felt so nice…

Ilia fell down, laughing and smiling…laughing…

I grimaced when the horrible flashed into my mind. Please, go away.

The woman smiled. "This swordsman of ours has great eyes, honey. They're proud and wild…like a feral beast."

I chuckled at the irony. If only you knew…

"We need a beast right now, to keep the true ones at bay. If we make it to Kakariko safely, we'll just thank him then, ok?" she then winked and made a kiss motion.

I stared, dumb-founded.

"You ready to roll, Link? You've got to protect these young ones on the way to Kakariko!"

"Try and stop me!" I stated, determined.

By the time we reached the great bridge, it was already nightfall. I sneered at the fiend who seemed that he was prepared to fight since it had shields on both sides. Oh, I can't wait to kill him again…

"Ok, it's your turn, honey!" she called out.

"Come on girl!" Epona neighed before she set out.

This was going to be fun.

Epona neighed but I calmed her down.

"Look who had come out to play." the brute chuckled, deeply.

"Laugh now because that's the last laugh you will get." I snarled.

He laughed. "So be it, boy."

We then began to charge at one another. I didn't exactly thought through since I took out my sword and did a spin attack but the only sound I heard was the sound from the sword being scratched against shields.

"Link…" Midna whispered. "Use your arrows. See how the sides are guarded but his front isn't?"

I grinned, evilly. We charged again but this time, I took out my arrows and fired straight in the middle of the fiend's chest. I got my arrows out again and released the arrow once more.

The defeated beast's boar swayed sideways before it finally hit itself on the edge of bridge's ledge, letting its Master to fall into the depths of the abyss.

Hopefully, this will be the last time.

Something tinkled through the night sky and landed on the ground with a soft thunk. I got off Epona and jogged towards where the fallen object. It was the key.

"Nice, honey! Keep up the good work!" she then went off as I quickly got on Epona.

The ride to Kakariko wasn't eventful.

I stayed behind to make sure that nothing will be in the way of the horse that contained Ilia, the prince and the woman.

When we crossed the bridge of Lake Hylia, the enemies from above released their flaming arrows which was hard to dodge since I had nearly been struck.

Seeing a locked gate, I quickly got off Epona to open it and then quickly got back on. It was then that everything started to become chaotic. The bokoblins that rode on the boars kept on firing their arrows while the Kargarocs would fly above me, dropping their bombs. But acting quickly, they didn't had the time to drop the bombs.

I started to take out all the bokoblins while I also performed multi-tasking by taking out the Kargarocs with the boomerang so that they could be destroyed from their own bombs. I grunted when the arrow zoomed past by my earlobe though it got cut at the tip of the earlobe.

I got pissed off when the bokoblin released the fire and it struck my hat sending to fly off my head.

No one messes with my hat. NO ONE!

Angered, I killed the bokoblin with a furious spin attack. Cursed bokoblin.

I had to leave my hat behind since escorting Ilia, the woman and the prince was more important.

But my hat…I sniffed at the loss of my hat.

"No!" I groaned. "No, no, no, no!" I gave out a frustrated yell when one of the evil birds planted the bomb right in front of the woman's horse. The explosion scared the horses away, sending them off course. I destroyed the pesky bird while killing two more bokoblins that distracted me.

I was relieved when we were back on track though at the same time, rain started to pour down as did thunder. I didn't mind it though, I could use the refresh-ness. I gave out a cry when the arrow pierced through my shoulder blade.

I ignored it and I resumed fighting the annoying bokoblins while also killing the birds. Finally, we reached the locked gate that led to Kakariko so I opened it, letting the horse to go through.

"Yes!" I cheered at the success.

On the other hand, I didn't see the boar that was racing towards me so the minute I turned around, something painful collided against my chest, causing me to fall down to the ground. Epona neighed, being startled from the sudden chaos whereas I saw stars.

I shook myself out of the state, still hearing Epona's neigh as I watched the scene. At last, I realized that the bokoblins were trying to capture Epona again.

"Hey! You leave her alone!" I shouted, getting out my arrows to kill the stupid enemies.

They all let out a howl of pain as their life got ended. I then jogged (as well as trying to ignore the pain that was in my chest) towards Epona to calm her down.

"Shh, it's okay girl. I'm here. Nothing will take you away from me." I whispered.

Once she was calm, I went inside the village.

"We're here!" I shouted, quickly getting off the horse.

"Good job out there, honey." the woman replied. "You're hurt…" she frowned.

"Who cares? Let's hurry. Hurry, hurry." I said, running to the closed Inn doors.

I then blindly barged through the opened doors. "RENADO!"

I thundered up the stairs but then halted so I went back down, poking my head out.

"Come in." I motioned them while I also helped them to get the Zora boy carefully out of the wagon.

"Are you sure it's alright to do this? I mean, breaking in?" the woman asked.

"Of course it is. I do it all the time." I then led them upstairs to where the "infirmary" was. I instructed them to lay the Zora on the bed while I went to search for some medicine or whatever Renado use to cure Zoras…

I crept back down, hoping to not wake up the shaman. Come to think of it…I didn't even see him. Where in Farore does he sleep?

But a shuffle was heard so when I went through the other part of the Inn, a room what it looked like a bed room held a figure. It was then that I realized that it was Renado.

I then went to the kitchen while carefully not making a lot of noise but one of the stupid wooden bowls clattered to the floor. I had heard it but I didn't see where it landed so I, being blind, stepped on the wooden bowl which caused me to fall down to the ground whereas the other bowls went flying.

The bowls clattered to the ground as a thunk was heard. I groaned from the impact.

"What in Farore? Link…?" I squinted when the lights in the kitchen flickered to life.

And there I saw Renado who was in his sleeping robes as he stared at me.

"Hi?" I greeted, awkwardly.

"My goodness, boy, what on Hyrule are you doing? Do you realize how late it is? And why is the upstairs light on?" he questioned me.

"Well you see sir…I just now rescued a Zora in here. Well, actually I had company with me." I sighed. "You know what, I think it's best if I showed you."

I led him up the stairs and motioned the scene. His eyes widened at the sight when he found a Zora boy lying on the bed, being accompanied by two other people.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Renado asked me.

"Well um… I didn't want to wake you up…"

He sighed. "Link…"

"I know, I know. It was foolish what I did just know and all that stuff but can you help him?!" I asked.

"I can do so if only I have the right ingredients which so happens that I do." I beamed at him until I got scolded again.

"Link!"

"What did I do?!" I asked, exasperated.

"You're hurt. Come here and let me tend you."

"No way." I refused, stubbornly. "Tend the Zora first."

Sometime later had passed and I apparently had woken up the kids well only Colin.

"…He has passed through the worst of it. As long as he rests, he should recover in due time." the shaman told us when he exited out of the room.

Colin and I smiled at each other, happy to hear that he would be alright.

"Do you know the fate of his mother?" my mood got deepened.

I really don't want to talk about it. I could just feel a small threatening tear that is just waiting to spill out.

The shaman must've figured it out since he spoke.

"Her welfare consumes him. He has been mumbling deliriously about her almost constantly…"

I lowered my head, blinking away the threatening tears. I winced when a blurry awful image raced through my mind.

"…I can see the knowledge grieves you. It must be an awful memory." the shaman spoke, sympathetically.

"I'll stay with him until he's better! No matter how long it takes!" Colin stated, proudly.

The shaman lowered himself so that he could be the same level as Colin. "Is that so? Thank you, Colin."

In the other room, I could just see Luda talking to Ilia. Deciding that I wanted some fresh air, I got out of the Inn.

In my whole life, I had grown up not knowing who my real parents are. Truthfully, I had wanted to so badly.

"Hey, Lin, about Ilia…" Colin's voice pulled me back out of my thoughts. I turned around and faced him. "Is it true, what they said about her?"

"Yes," a familiar voice quickly said. I shot a grateful look to Renado. "She has lost her memory, Colin and regaining it will be no simple task. But it will be alright, child. If we just give her some time, I am certain that Ilia will find her heart again. So, Colin, I'd like to ask you to stay in this village until then. It is our turn to show the courage that you have already displayed."

That seemed to cheer Colin up since he smiled and dashed out of sight. Renado then faced me, giving me a short bow before he walked away to the sanctuary probably.

"It's nice to see that there is still hope here. And it's always good to see happy results repay your efforts…" the barmaid spoke. "Those skills of yours…Any chance you're of the mind to put them to use for Hyrule?"

I turned around so I could speak to her. "Well I've been thinking about it…"

She smiled. "What hope there is in our kingdom is frail and dying…but there's still a group trying to do what it can. And I'm a member of that group." she walked towards me, hand out. "Call me Telma."

I smiled, shaking her hand. "Well you already know who I am."

She chuckled. "That I do, Link." she then gazed out. "I may just stay here a bit longer. I'm still worried about Ilia, and…well, never mind about the rest." she eyed a certain shaman while I followed her eye movements.

I grinned when I saw that she was staring at her.

Someone has the hots for him…

Unexpectedly, she leaned so close to me (not a pretty sight) that I had to lean back.

"link, I want to see you again at my bar, you hear me? The bar is actually a kind of safe house for my friends. There's a passageway that leads to the castle from in there, as well." she then started to run but stopped. "If you ever need anything, stop by. I'll be waiting for you, honey!" she winked before running off to catch up with Renado.

For the first time in my life, I felt warmth.

Not that I had been cold-hearted like Midna but this one felt like a mother's love. Though, Colin's mom had been giving me that but this one felt different. It's kind of hard to explain.

I smiled when the two spoke to each other. I then started to make my way to the Inn so that I could see how the Zora boy is doing. Hmm, maybe I could try to trigger Ilia's memory back…

However, before I could even open the door, I sensed something instantly giving an idea that I wasn't alone.

I was right when I saw Queen Rutela who smiled at me as if I had done something for her…

Well…

She started to float back as I followed her. "Wait!"

The Queen didn't stop and eventually we found ourselves at the graveyard. I still continued to follow her while I climbed some set of stairs. The spirit stopped only for a brief second as a stone started to pulse then glowed and then it vanished, revealing an entrance in which I crawled through.

When I entered a new area, it was breath taking. It had a medium sized pond filled with crystal clear water. There were some waterfalls here and there whereas the moonlight rays shone through the opening gap.

I spotted the spirit and she was on the other side. I jumped in the water to reach the opposite side.

"I am deeply grateful to you for aiding my son in his time of need." the spirit spoke. "You were right to bring him here. Kakariko Village is a sacred place for the Zora people. It is where we take our eternal rest. My husband in life, King Zora, also rests his spirit here. It is no coincidence my son found his salvation in this place." she then motioned to the tomb.

"…That which I have promised you is within this grave. During his lifetime, my husband created garments specifically for the chosen hero, garments that house the abilities of the Zora."

As if by magic, the tomb slid, revealing the garment that was buried. I walked towards it and carefully took it out of the stone.

"Now, at last, I can join the king in slumber. And yet…My son…He still knows nothing of my death. If you see him again, please pass on this message…Tell him he must not grieve his mother's passing. Tell him she wanted him to be brave and live on as the king of our people. And…Tell him his mother…loves him without end. Tell him…" her voice echoed as she vanished, leaving me alone.

I stared mournfully at the ground as something hard also struck me.

I actually had another family that cared for me. Not because I was the hero or anything like that. They cared for me for who I am. They loved me as much as my other family the one that resides in Ordon.

And for the first time, in my entire life, I had done something in which I didn't do in a very long time.

I cried.