A/N: OMG! We're almost at City in the Sky…well once we find the hidden village and the statuette from Louise, but that's besides the point! To tell the truth, I actually like that dungeon…even if it can be a pain in the butt. Oh and R&R!

Chapter 36: Good things take time

So you know those fangirls from Castle Town? They are still bloody after me and I can't even shake them off! Like really?! I was deeply saddened that the Dominion Rod was not working…I had fun with that. That item was probably one of the most awesome items I have so far.

And yes, the Master Sword still remains the number one. Nothing can change that.

When the spot was clear, I quickly sprinted (and yes, I got healed) down the road that would lead to Telma's bar. Once there, I eyed the group but slumped my shoulders when Shad wasn't there.

I haven't seen him all day.

Where could he have gone?

"How's that Ilia doing, honey?"

"She's been better than the first time we found her." I replied, a bit gloomy.

"Honey, I know she will be good in no time! Just give some time and her memories will be restored! I'm sure of it! And you also got that shaman, Renado. He is a talented man, for sure! Anyway, honey, you've got your own things to worry about, so you just make sure you do what needs doing right now, ok?"

I nodded. "Um…you haven't seen Shad, have you?"

"Actually, you just missed him! He's at Kakariko Village looking into some things.

I gave her a smile before walking to the group.

"Hey Rusl." I greeted him.

He gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Link. Did you find what you were looking for?"

I nodded. "Yeah…" I then peered at the map.

"Shad is in Kakariko Village but you probably already know that. Would you check on the children if you head that way, Link?" Rusl asked.

I nodded. "Of course.

With that, I left the bar and warped to Kakariko Village. Once I did, I entered the Sanctuary where I was greeted from Darbus, the elder Goron and the shaman.

The shaman told me that Shad was in the basement, waiting for me so I went to the basement to see Shad studying what it looked like an owl statue.

"Shad!" I cried out, running towards him.

He turned around and smiled. "Li—blimey!" he nearly lost his balance when I tackled him to a hug.

"When you disappeared, I thought I would never find you! Where have you been?!" I demanded.

"Um…doing some research but I came here today to look into the Hyrulian legend of the sky beings called the Oocca but…To think that you would appear here with such perfect timing! You really are a rather extraordinary fellow, aren't you?"

I flashed him a smile while laughing. "Guess you could say that."

He slightly smirked. "But I've found it at long last…" he replied excitedly. "Observe this statue! It's the same as the one in manuscripts my dear father left me. There are many similar statues around Hyrule, but this one seems to be different. Here, look at the belly…There's something written there, you see?"

I studied the owl's belly and indeed I saw the writing. I couldn't really make it out since it was old and a bit faded away.

"What do you think it says?" I asked, tracing the rough writing on the surface with my hand.

"Well…I have my father's notes. From what I know, the writing is called Sky Writing. Um…hold on, I'm trying to remember what it says." he stared at the writing until realization struck him.

"Ah. It's: awaken us with the word that breaks the seal. Yes, indeed, that is what it says. Wait a moment…Isn't that Ilia a friend of yours?" he suddenly asked.

"Uh yeah."

"It's simply tragic how she lost her memory."

I got saddened, staring at the ground while painful flashbacks flashed into my mind, showing the most horrible ones. Just how did she lose her memory? I don't understand…

"And that rod of the heavens she mentioned…" I perked up at this. "I'm sure it has something to do with the word that breaks the seal. Hmm…Isn't there any way to restore her memory? I'm certain it would help us figure this all out…"

"I don't know…I don't even know if it's possible to restore her memory." my voice cracked.

"Link…" Shad started, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You have to believe in yourself that everything will work out. From what I know about you, you are the type of person to never give up and to never back down from anything. Once you set your goal, you are determined to finish it."

I gave a look at Shad who smiled and I gave him a weak smile.

"Ah! I have been waiting for you, Link." Renado said. "Fortune has smiled upon us! If things go well, we should be able to help Ilia recover her memory!"

How can everyone have such hopes in restoring Ilia's memory but me?

"As I have learned, when Ilia was saved, she overhear someone talking about the rod of the heavens, or something like that…The Goron elder believes that to help her regain her lost memories, we must piece together the fragments of her past…"

"How are we supposed to do that?" I finally asked.

"If we work our way backward from the very place where she lost her memory, we may find something that will restore it. Now we must retrace Ilia's path…I am certain it was Telma who cared for her before she arrived in this village, was it not?"

I nodded. "I believe so. Yes."

"Good. It would be best to speak with her first. Please take this to Telma!"

He handed me a letter which I stuffed it in my pouch.

"…It shames me to say it, but to be honest, I cannot abide Telma's company…" he quietly added as a twinkle appeared in his eyes.

I grinned before he spoke in his normal voice.

"We have a fighting chance, Link!"

After the little talk, I got out of the sanctuary and warped back to Castle Town and headed immediately to Telma's bar after I changed back to a human.

"Telma! Telma!" I shouted, excitedly while stumbling over my footing.

"Goodness! You alright there Link?" Telma asked, amused by my antics.

"Yeah, yeah. We found a way to restore Ilia's memory!"

"Oh! That's good news honey!" she responded, enthusiastically. "Well I better not keep you from your work. So chop to it!"

I gave her a blank look. "Oh wait. I have a letter from Renado…" I trailed off when she snatched the letter and quickly scanned it.

"All this writing, and he doesn't bother to mention a thing about little ol' me? Honey, that is what I call rude!" she fumed.

I gave an uneasy look while deciding whether or not if I should tell her about what Renado told me about her. But, I decided to not to tell her as I didn't want to break her heart.

"Well, there's no accounting for the foolishness of a man. And at least, I understand Ilia's situation now. Of course I can lend a hand for that adorable little girl!" she exclaimed.

"Do you know anything else?"

"Hmm…The first thing one to bring Ilia to this shop was that doctor…Maybe he knows something, but he's a crusty old bat, that's for sure…Oh!" she gave a delighted gasp while her eyes shone with excitement. "I've got it! Honey, you go ahead and take this to him. This magic little paper will get that codger talking!"

She then handed me a paper that looked like an invoice.

"It sure would be nice if she started remembering things soon, eh Link?"

"Yeah. I would like that."

When I walked towards the door, I heard a meow so I looked down and saw the white cat. I bent down to give her a pat and she purred with response.

"Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it." I whispered. The cat looked at me then meowed.

Smiling fondly at the cat, I patted her again before I got out of the bar. Since I didn't know where the doctor was located, I had to ask many people until I finally reached a medium size brown building that looked like a two-story building since it had a balcony at the top followed by some more windows.

I went in only to be greeted by the doctor, instantly.

"Eh? What's that?" he replied in a rough voice. "Just as I wondered who it might be. I see it's the admirable young lad who was willing to help the Zora boy for nary a single Rupee…"

I scowled. "I wasn't asking for Rupees. I just did what I think it was right. You know, you should change your attitude and try helping people out, despite their races. It gives out a good reward."

He scoffed. "Just what is it you want, lad?" he asked impatiently while not bothering to listen to my words. "A physical? You've got some money, don't you?" he then spoke the next sentence quietly. "…By the way, that girl Ilia didn't mention anything about me, did she?"

Rolling my eyes, I took out the invoice and showed it to him. I jumped when he gave out a shout.

"AIIIGH!" he yelled. "L-Look! I can't pay this off right now! I can see Telma's hired you as some sort of heavy to strong-arm me, but she'll have to wait! Look, lad, if I'd been able to sell the wooden statue that young lady had, I would've been able to get the money…"

"Wooden statue?" I repeated.

"Yeah. However, I accidentally spilled medicine all over that little carving which made it stink awfully. I put it outside to dry…but then…" he laughed nervously. "Well, it was stolen."

"Stolen?!"

He fidgeted his fingers sheepishly. "Who goes around stealing people's stuff like that? What a world! You always have to be on guard, eh?"

I scowled. "You don't say."

"…Uh, look, Mr. Heavy, at any rate, neither the money nor the carving is here, so I can't repay you. Now, to work, to work…" he mumbled as he took off to one of the dorms.

I sighed frustrated, rubbing my temples before I could get a headache. Damnit. And you call yourself a doctor. I suddenly paused since something caught my nose's interest so I sniffed the air.

It's probably the medicine.

Having that thought in my mind, I continued to follow the awful smell until I came at the far dorm in which the smell was coming from.

"You know you have to transform into a wolf, right?" Midna said, quietly.

I gave an uneasy look at the shadow then at the doctor even though he couldn't be seen.

"Yeah but it's risky, Midna. I don't want to scare the citizens."

"You will just have to do it. I'm sorry, Link."

Sighing, I felt the transformation and started to sniff. The smell was coming from underneath the box so I shoved the box away so that I could sniff the stench better.

It stunk badly. It smelled like something got rotten.

Once sniffing the smell, I honed on my senses and started to follow the scent. The aroma led me to the balcony though I took off the senses, looking ahead. I really don't want to scare them. Defeated, I jumped off the balcony while the people screamed.

I'm sorry—wait, is that a guard running away from me?

Cowards.

I ignored the frightened screams while giving a guard an angry look then continued to find the odor which led…to Telma's bar.

Well, then…

Hold on…

"You're looking for the wooden statue that Ilia had, aren't you, dear?" the cat replied.

The scent led to the cat.

I nodded.

"Think it's a coincidence that I happen to know it got stolen form the doctor's place? No…" she trailed off, her eyes avoiding mine.

I stared at her while raising an eyebrow.

She sighed though the cat still looked at the ground, refusing to see me.

"Yes, I'll admit it…I took it. But then I was attacked by some sort of skeletal dog beasts who took it from me. I don't know why those beasts were after her statue…I thought it likely that she was in a dangerous spot though. Those fiends lurk just outside the southern gate…Unfortunately, they only come out at night. And another thing…they always move around as pack unless you give them all a thrashing."

Midna's energy field.

"That statue sounds like a key to getting Ilia's memory back…You must get it back!"

Not bothering to transform back, I got out of the place and into the entrance that was close to the bar. I descended down the stairs in order to reach the field and just waited until it was nighttime. By waiting, I mean taking a nap until Midna rudely woke me up.

Like the cat said, there were many skeletal beasts coming out of the ground. With the help of the energy field, they were quickly killed. I saw something sparkly flying into the air until it landed on the ground.

Curiously, I picked it up and it was indeed, the wooden statue. I transformed back into a human to put the statue inside my pocket and then warped to Kakariko Village.

Ilia will finally have her memory back. She will remember everything. Goddesses…I can't tell you just how blissful I am now. Happy that she will remember me. Happy that she will remember everything.

Being way too excited, I accidentally slammed the door open which the shaman gave out a startle but I paid no mind since my eyes only focused on Ilia.

"Link…?" she replied, softly.

"Hey…I um…erm…" I stuttered before mentally slapping myself. I nearly had forgotten about the statue. "Is this yours?"

She gave out a gasp while I held my breath, not daring to breath.

"What…is this?!" she gave out a moan, feeling the many flashbacks entering her mind with such an incredible speed that it started to overwhelm her. She clutched at the side of her head as if that will stop the images flowing.

I gave a worried look. "Are you…"

"I…I remember something!" she suddenly spoke. "I was confined somewhere…Yes, and I was saved by whoever was confined with me…And when that person set me free, they gave me this statue…" she crunched her face, trying to remember all of it.

She then gave out a gasp of realization.

"Yes, yes. I remember that much! But that means…that person is still in trouble! Oh, what is WRONG with me?! I can't remember where that place was!" she looked at me and she threw herself on me, tugging on the scruffs of my shirt.

I gave a concerned look at her while I caught her around the waist.

"Pl-please! You have to go to her! I would tell you the place but I can't remember! Please!" she pleaded.

"Shh…it'll be alright. Of course I will." I murmured, stroking her hair to comfort her. What threw me off was that her eyes were brimming with tears. Now that got me worried deeply.

"I REMEMBER!" the Goron's loud voice startled us. "I thought I had seen that before somewhere…That belonged to the tribe that protected the Hylian royal family long ago. They worked in secret, so they lived in a lonely, forgotten place. But I heard that tribe dwindled in the prolonged wars…If you want to find that hidden village, look for a path leading to the Lanayru province on the far side of the Bridge of Eldin." he hinted me.

Hidden Village…?

"But…a rockslide blocked the way to the village long ago, so you can't get there anymore."

Ilia gave out a deflated look.

"What? Oh, I do not mean to worry you, little human. Problems like these are not problems to Gorons." he turned to Darbus to give him a nod.

With a grunt, Darbus walked out of the sanctuary.

"Our patriarch, Darbus, will be waiting for you up ahead. Look at your map to see where. I would try to find the path beyond the Bridge of Eldin that leads to Lanayru Province." he repeated.

Ilia gave out a sigh and I carefully placed her back on her feet.

"Hey it would be alright. Everything will work out." I told her, sincerely.

"You really think so?"

I gave her a faint smile. "You just have to believe."

She stared into my blue eyes for a while. She felt that she was in a trance by them and it was hard for her to pull her gaze away. The eyes felt so calm…so peaceful…Ilia shook her head to clear the thoughts. Now, is not the time to think about that.

"Thank you." she whispered.

I gave a nod before I exited the sanctuary. Once the door was closed, I gave out a sigh and slid down so that I was hugging my knees.

I was so close in restoring Ilia's memory. Now, I've got to find another thing before her memory could be fully restored.

This isn't fair.

This just isn't fair…