A/N: I still can't believe that we're so close to City in the Sky! Omgg! And ugh! I can't believe that it's still bloody snowing! *grumbles* we did got rain in the morning a bit…*sigh* let's continue, shall we?

Chapter 39: Stay with me

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty! Today is your first lesson!" I shouted, only to have groans.

"Aw Link! Can't you be a little bit quieter?" Colin grumbled in his sleep as he pulled his covers over his head. "And I'm not a girl!"

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Colin! Get up! Didn't you say that you wanted me to teach you on how to ride a horse?"

"Yes." a muffled reply came.

"Then get up. Rise and shine!"

Annoyed, Colin huffed while throwing the covers and then gave a blank, spacey look.

"Why do we have to get up so early? It's only seven o clock in the morning." he whined, trying to get some shut eye.

"When I was your age, I had to get up early since Rusl wanted me to teach on how to ride a horse."

"But you're a teenager and I'm a kid. There's a difference."

"Ugh!" I shouted, exasperated. "Fine then. Just to let you know, there's a bit of breakfast left. If you want it, you have to come and get it or otherwise Talo will eat it all." I responded as I got out of the room.

Colin jumped up, wide awake as he hurriedly scurried here and there trying to get everything in order. Pretty soon, there were hurried footsteps coming down the stairs and I knew I had him which was why a smile was placed on my lips.

"Good morning, Colin." I greeted him, sipping my tea.

He stared for a moment until the look turned into a glare. "That was a foul! Talo isn't even up yet! Link! That's so mean!" he cried out, earning me to chuckle.

"I had to get you up somehow. Now when you're finished, come outside. I'll be waiting at the front of the Eldin Spring." I told him before gulping the last gulp of tea then went out.

I sighed, breathing in the fresh morning air of Kakariko Village while also enjoying the ankle-deep water soaking my boots. Whenever I go into this spring, I feel relaxed as the healing water is taking its round.

A noise came that sounded like footsteps, interrupted my relaxation and I turned around to see Colin rubbing his eyes.

"Ready to learn horse riding?"

"Sure." he mumbled, still not awake yet.

I smiled softly before calling Epona on the charm in which Ilia gave it to me. The melody rang throughout the village and within a second, the familiar neigh was heard. Eventually, Epona came into the view and halted when she spotted her Master. She nuzzled as I patted her soft mane.

"Hey girl. How are you?" she nickered softly, making me to feel her breath onto my neck. I gave her a sugar cube as a treat. "Will you be a good horse for me today? I'm letting Colin to ride you so I need you to respect him as much as you respect me, can you do that?"

She snorted, padding down her hooves as I smiled.

"Thanks girl." I whispered before patting her mane one last time.

"Alright. Climb on." I instructed.

Colin looked at Epona who was still since she was waiting patiently. He felt a moment of doubt when he studied the height. Epona was much taller than him, that was for sure. The boy wanted nothing more than to ride a horse and now it was his chance. He was grateful that Link had actually kept his promise when they were back at Ordon. (A/N: this is a bit of Colin's POV so that's why I'm not using I.)

Noticing his hesitation, I went down on my knee and clasped my hands together so he can have a boost. I nodded at him, indicating that he can climb now.

However, Colin still didn't budge which made me to look at me oddly before I came to the conclusion that he was scared.

"Colin…" I replied, quietly walking away from Epona to Colin.

"I'm…scared that I might fall and…failing you." he admitted.

I gave him a soft smile, going onto my knees so I can be the same level as him. I placed a comforting shoulder which made Colin to look at me.

"I know how you feel. When I started riding Epona, I was also scared that I might fall off."

"But I thought you…"

I gave a chuckle. "That I wasn't scared of anything? Everyone's afraid of something Colin. Even Heroes can be scared of something. But, things didn't went too well for me so I fell off Epona and got a concussion since I apparently hit my head on one of the fences. I remembered Epona being scared as well since she probably wasn't used to having people riding her. Once I woken up, I promised myself that I wouldn't ride her again. After a while, I kinda broke that promise since I was determine to tame her…which I did after a long difficult session. But…what I really want to say is that I'll be right here for you to catch you if you fall."

I waited for him to reply so when he didn't, I continued.

"If you want, I could sit behind you." I offered.

Colin instantly smiled at the idea. "Can you?"

I nodded. "Of course."

"Thanks, Link!" he then gave me a hug in which I returned it.

"Now come on! I want to learn!" Colin exclaimed, running towards Epona.

I smiled at him, watching him as his hand went towards Epona who stood still. She nickered softly when she felt the touch. Even though it wasn't her Master, she still obliged to it. After giving him a boost, I climbed on staying true to my word. However, I loosely hugged around Colin so that way he can feel as if he was actually riding the horse by himself.

"Give her a gentle nudge." I told him.

Colin hesitated before he nudged her. I gave a nod of approval when Epona started to slowly trot. Colin placed a small smile as he was slowly adjusting himself to this. I sighed quietly as the flashbacks came to me. The flashbacks of when I rode Epona the very first time…

"If you want to be a successful rider, Link, then you have to let go of your fears. Otherwise if you don't, it won't be easy." Rusl replied as the small child, who was me, tightened the grip on the reins.

"I'm…sorry, Rusl. What happens if I fall?" I asked, feeling the panic mood coming up.

"I'll be here to catch you. I promise you, Link. I won't let anything happen to you."

I inhaled a deep breath then released it. Nodding, I slightly gave Epona a gentle nudge. A small gasp escaped from my mouth as I felt the wind whipping at my face, making me to grin silly. The horse slowly began to go into a run which made me to be scared yet again but I quickly disregard it as I enjoyed the feeling.

The feeling of being free.

At least, that's what it felt like to me.

I saw a fence and I thought Epona could jump over it. I gave her another nudge and it was like she understood me what I wanted to do. In an easy breeze, Epona gathered speed while Rusl's voice faded into the distance so I no longer was able to hear it.

The fence was starting to come closer but the horse suddenly gave out a jerk because a branch snapped and fell to the ground, startling Epona. I gave out a gasp as I tried to grab onto the reins but I didn't so I flew off the horse and hit my head hard on a nearby fence, making me to go unconscious.

"…, Link?"

I jerked my head up as I stared blankly into Colin's worried eyes. It was long a time before I finally realized that we had stopped trotting.

"Are you okay?" Colin asked, concerned.

I gave a bit of a smile. "Y-yeah. I'm fine…Why did we stopped?"

"Well…in order to actually be a successful rider, you have to try it out yourself, don't you? Anyways…" he took a breath. "I think I'm ready, Link. I want to try it by myself."

I stared at him while his eyes held sincerity. "A-are you sure?"

Colin nodded. "Yes. I'm positive."

I hesitated, trying not to cringe from the awful flashback I just had. I really hated that memory…

"Link…it will be alright. I promise I won't go too fast." Colin replied.

I was still in a quiet mode before I finally gave out my answer. "Alright. But promise me that you won't go fast—"

"Link, I promise. You don't have to worry about me."

"I'm sorry, Colin." I said, quietly. "I just…I just don't want to have the same thing happening to you. I will never forgive myself if it happened to you."

"I know, Link. I'll slow down if Epona is going too fast."

I sighed, staring into Colin's pleading eyes before I gave out my answer. "Okay. If you're sure."

I got out of my seat, leaving Colin alone on the saddle. Mind you, I'm still worrying over about it. I wish we had an extra horse. That would probably ease me as I know I would be there for him…

Colin gave Epona a nudge so that she could start off with a small, slow trot. Just to be sure, I was jogging beside them—well the best I could. It wasn't easy. I wish I could transform into a wolf but I definitely don't want to scare him. I stumbled back a bit when I felt myself out of balance but my balance was quickly regained.

It was then that I noticed that Epona started to pick up speed. How…since when did that happen? I should really stop zoning out.

"C-Colin! Wait up!" I shouted but he was unable to hear me.

Colin grinned as he felt the wind brushing past by him. At least he now knew what I felt whenever I was riding Epona. He felt free and relaxed as if all of his worries got deceased.

This is how it should be every day. Colin not worrying about everything. He kept on being worried if I would be okay. If I had arrived safely each time whenever I disappear only to be found injured every single time.

Suddenly, Epona gave out a rear of fright as something passed by her which made Colin to gasp when the horse reared up. My eyes widened with fear and shock so I desperately tried to go faster…as fast as I could go.

"C-Colin!" I shouted.

Because of Epona being scared, I was dumb enough to go right in front of the horse in an attempt to calm her down so Colin wouldn't get thrown off. However, Epona was too scared so her hooves struck me at the head, causing me to be knocked out…

And I never knew what had happened.

I made a small groan as I felt my head lying on something soft. I can't focus…it hurts too much…it hurts too much to open them.

The voices were hazy and felt like they were distant since they were also vague.

I can't seem to understand what they are talking about...

At last, I blinked several times until the room had finally came into focus. Without a doubt, I was back in the Inn…again.

I gotta stop passing out.

I cringed when a harsh headache abruptly came into my head, causing me to wince at the uncomfortable pain. It felt something is touching at the side of my head.

"Oh…you're awake!" a happy voice announced. "Renado! Link's awake!"

There were sounds of shuffling and moving until finally, the all too familiar shaman came into the room with a relieved look on his face.

"Thank the Goddesses! You have scared us quite so."

"I'm sorry." I mumbled while I scrunched up my face, trying to remember what had happened.

"Um…what did happen?"

And there it was…

The silence.

Renado sighed, looking deeply into my eyes that I had turn away from the uncomfortable gaze. My eyes only got wider when I saw the person who was lying on the bed, a couple of centimeters away.

"Colin." I croaked. "Is he okay—ow." I cringed, holding at the sides of my head the minute I got pushed myself up.

"Lie back down, Link. You are still healing as well as Colin. Yes, he is alright. He is not unconscious. He is only resting, child as I had given him a potion that will help him to be at ease." Renado told me.

I gave out a sigh of relief. Good. It was then that I felt the wraparound bandages that happened to be around my forehead. And it was also at that same time, I had remembered of what had happened. Epona rearing up since something frightened her…the hooves struck my head…Colin almost falling off…

I shut my eyes tight as I wished nothing more than to erase that horrible memory.

"Renado told me to tell you that you have to stay here and sleep." Ilia told me.

"How long have I been out?" I asked.

She went quiet.

"Please, Ilia." I pleaded.

She sighed. "Approximately four days…"

I gave her a stunned look. "Fo…four days? Oh Goddesses!" I slumped back to the bed, unable to accept that horrible fact.

"I'm sorry. But please, Link. Try to rest." Ilia pleaded before she got the small bowl and the cloth packed up and went away.

I waited for a couple of seconds until I was able to move so I swung my legs at the edge of the bed in order to pull my boots back on.

"What do you think you're doing?" I turned around to see Midna sitting beside me.

"I'm going to find those owl statues." I responded while starting to grab my boot.

Just as I was about to grab it, the boots suddenly disappeared and I turned around to give a glare at Midna.

"No." she replied.

"What do you mean no? Give me my boots back!"

"For once in your life, stop being so stupid and actually take care of yourself! You're important too, you know! In case, you have forgotten, you're a human!"

"Well actually I'm a Hylian but what does it matter?"

"Link!" Midna's sharp voice rang out. "These people care for you! Can't you see that? Why must you always be so stubborn? Why can't you just listen to other people for a change?!"

"I can see that they care for me! I don't want to waste anymore time! I don't want to see any more innocent people being killed mercilessly at the hand of the demon! Can't you see that? The more I sit here and do nothing, the more people are being killed!"

"You are so stupid! How in Farore's name did you become a Hero?!" Midna shrieked, annoyed.

"The Goddesses chose me! Me, Midna! Me! Did you honestly even stop to think that I didn't even want this at the beginning?! No, of course you didn't!" I snapped, instantly not having her the time to reply.

"Then what about now?" she asked, sharply when she got the chance. "I'm sure you have changed your mind."

I stared at her as her red visible eye bore into my blue eyes.

"I…I'm not sure. I just don't know. I don't know. A part of me feels grateful because I got chosen to be a Hero. That's not a title in which you can carry it every day. I got to meet so many people that turns out to be my friends. I got to meet you. This all sounds so wonderful and all but yet, the other part of me, actually didn't want to accept that I'm the Hero. The other me wanted to keep my plain, simple life… But after going all through these hardships…I just don't see my life staying in Ordon anymore. I would be longing to have another adventure…if you know what I mean."

"Yeah…I do." the imp said, quietly.

I blinked at the words she gave. "You…do?"

"Yes…but, it doesn't matter." Midna responded, her eyes avoiding mine which made me to look at her suspiciously.

"Of course it does! You will be here with me when a new adventure comes. Right?"

Silence.

"You will be here, right?" I asked a bit roughly.

Her eyes flickered to mine. The eyes that held hurt, sadness, confused…and pleading.

"Yes I will." she replied.

I smiled. "Good. You made me to be worried when you went into a silent mode. I would've thought that you will leave me forever." I whispered.

But a sudden feeling came into Midna. She instantly realized what it was.

Guilt.

A/N: I really hate the part where Midna has to leave DX like noo, why!? But there was a theory in which after Midna leaves, there is a mirror in Link's basement so if you go there and take out your lantern, people say you can see Midna's reflection or something like that. I don't know if that's true so I went to check it out but you sort of can't because when you defeated the game, Midna will still be there…if you know what I mean…later, peeps! Link will start his Owl Hunting in the next chapter.