Author's Note: Huh. That's weird. Guess my notes for Chapter two didn't make it in. Weird. Anyway...if the last line of Chapter 2 sounded inappropriate I apologize. It was the only phrase that fit. If this preface doesn't appear, please tell me.

Wait...if this message doesn't show up, then how will you know to tell me?! Oh no, I'VE CREATED A PARADOX!! Eh hem, excuse me.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything unless otherwise noted.


III

A Daunting Task

Link quietly entered the stable where Epona was kept. The stable stunk of hay and dung. Link was careful where he stepped.

Why did I agree to this? He asked himself as he maneuvered around fresh dung piles. He thought of Zelda's big blue eyes and smiled.

Squish! Link froze at this sound. The stench reached his nostrils and he pushed deeper into the stable. How big is this thing?

Epona was kept in a separate stable in the back. Of course. She was special. Illia would have it any other way.

Illia. Link stopped. If Illia knew where he was going with Epona – with her horse – she would never speak to him again. Link shook his head. How would she find out, anyway? Still Link hesitated.

It then (yes, just then) occurred to him that he would be unable to speak to Epona in his present form. He would once more have to revert to his Sacred Wolf form. He tapped in the Sacred Power that dwelled within him; it was much more difficult without Midna's assistance. Eventually he found it and molded his body into the form of the wolf.

It was incredibly uncomfortable.

Quickly he approached Epona. "Epona." He tried to speak to her, but the only sound he made was a low growl. Epona understood him, however, and turned in his direction.

"Oh, Link, it's you. Why do come to me in that ungodly form." She never much like Link in the form of the Sacred Wolf; she thought it degrading towards him.

"Epona, I need to ask a favor of you."

"A favor? Such a favor that you felt the need to lower yourself to a four-legged beast?" Epona always thought Link should flaunt his status as the Hero of Time.

"I – we…we…" Link was trying to ask her delicately. "Myself and four companions are traveling north – to the Mushroom Kingdom. Through the mountains." Link's words were stuck in his throat.

"Yes?" Epona urged him to continue.

"I – they wanted me to ask you if you would…maybe, carry the food and blankets for us?" Epona instantly flew into a rage. She began stomping and kicking wildly and yelling in a tongue that even Link was unable to decipher.

"Please!" Link tried to calm her down. "They only wanted me to ask you because –." Link fumbled desperately over his thoughts trying to remember what Sheik told him to say. "They wanted me to ask you because they thought you were the most noble horse they had ever seen." Epona ceased her tantrum at once and turned to face Link once again. She lowered her head to meet Link's eyes.

"Really?"

"Y-yes. They did. They said th-they also said that you were the strongest and surest of foot of all the horses." Link's voice shook with nervousness and fear.

"Did they now?" Link nodded furiously. "They want me because I am the noblest, strongest, and surest of foot?" Link grew more confident as his flattery seemed to be working.

"Yes. It would take at least two or three horses to watch your strength and many more to even compare to your nobility." Epona pondered his words.

"You are truly in need of my help Link?"

"Yes, I would not consider asking this of you if any other horse would suffice."

"I know you wouldn't. That is why I will help and carry the food and blankets." Link's tail began to wag. "Now please, come out of that ridiculous form. It insults your nobility." At once Link was on two legs. He hugged Epona's head and rubbed her neck.

"Just don't tell anybody, especially Illia, okay?" Epona shook her head as if to say "like I could". Link smiled and led Epona around the dung heaps and out into the fresh air. Zelda (not Sheik) was there waiting for him and – upon seeing Epona – threw herself on him.

"See? I told you it would work." She kissed him on the check and ran off yelling "Back garden! Five minutes!" Link just stood there, dumbstruck. Only a semi-forceful bump from Epona brought him back. Not knowing how much time he had wasted he decided to give Epona the last good run she will have for a while. He jumped on her back and they took off.


When Link rode up on Epona Sheik, Ike, Meta Knight and Kirby were waiting already with Illusion Zelda and several servants. Link dismounted Epona and immediately the servants loaded Epona with the food and blankets they would need. Link felt incredibly guilty. Ike noticed a major flaw in their current plan.

"Why are we only bringing one horse when we still have several days journey to reach even the northern edge of Hyrule?" Link smiled; Sheik did too, but no one could see it.

"I know a shortcut. Just wait: you'll see." As though it was choreographed, Link's uncle and three companions rode up from the west: Rusl, Ashei, Auru, and Shad. All four dismounted and bowed to Illusion Zelda who, in turn, told them to rise.

Illusion Zelda introduced them to Ike, Meta Knight, and Kirby. "My friends, these travelers are Rusl, Ashei, Auru, and Shad. They assisted in the liberation of Hyrule." The four took no notice of this praise. "They have some important information." All eyes turned to them.

"That is correct." Rusl spoke first. "Shad and Ashei recently returned from a reconnaissance mission to the Mushroom Kingdom. A southern city known as Mycelia was shielded by the mountains and escaped Bowser's rampage. Tell them what you have discovered." Rusl turned to Ashei who stepped back, indicating that she did not want to deliver this awful news, so Shad stepped up.

"Bowser is much more powerful than previously anticipated. The majority of the Mushroom Kingdom is in ruins. Only a few small towns survived and they were all hidden in the mountains. There is effectively no acting government." This astonished even Sheik. Meta Knight translated for Kirby, who gasped upon understanding the situation.

"It also seems that both Ike and Meta Knight's suspicions were correct." Auru reveled his findings. "It seems Bowser does indeed plan to attack Dreamland and the nations of Tellius."

"Tellius?" Ike nervously laughed. "How can he expect to conquer all of Tellius? That is five nations. Six or seven if Naesala and Tibaran agree to assist."

"Bowser is motivated by a different sort of power than he used to. It is a ruthless, malicious power. He himself seems to be totally lost in this power." Link and Sheik's hearts beat furiously in their chests. They wished he would stop speaking. "It closely resembles the very power Zant wielded over a year ago. The power of Twilight." Everyone's worst fears were then realized.

'While you go to investigate the Mushroom Kingdom, we will travel southwest to Tellius and rally the nations against Bowser." Rusl assured the group.

"Go first to Begnion." Ike half-commanded them. "Seek Lord Marth and Lady Lyndis. Mention my name. They will listen."

"Thank you Lord Ike." Rusl bowed slightly. "Now, by your leave, Princess, we shall depart for Begnion at once." The other three bowed as well. Rusl put his hand on Link's shoulder. "You take care of yourself, now."

"You take care of yourself." Link shot back. Rusl smiled and mounted his horse. The four travelers shouted a final farewell and rod off to the southwest.

"We should get going as well." Ike suggested. "Which brings me back to my original question: what is your shortcut?"

"Oh, right. Everyone gather around me and Epona." Everyone did, unsure of what was about to happen. Link looked up into the sky. Everyone followed his gaze and saw something they had not seen ever before: a Warp Portal; A remnant of Twilight influence over Hyrule. Link could still feel some of the Twilight energy radiating from it. Using his Sacred Power he latched onto the tendrils of power and then searched for his destination. Once found it, the Powers mixed and were out of his control. Everyone gasped as the process started. Every single particle was taken apart and sucked through the portal.


And for a moment their consciousnesses grazed the Twilight Realm. But for Link, his experience was different.

A familiar presence grazed his consciousness, but for only a moment. It was familiar, but strange. At once it lashed out at his mind, intending to cause harm. But only for a moment.


The five materialized deep in Zora's domain in northern Hyrule. Zora's waterfall thundered behind them, spilling into the small lake. Everyone one emerged from the Portal in once piece and amazed; everyone, except for Link. The instant he materialized he fell to the ground with a yell.

His very consciousness was burning.

Sheik and Ike were first at his side; Kirby and Meta Knight did not know what to do. "Link! What's happening? What's wrong?" Ike asked him repeatedly. Sheik saw that there was noting to be done and pulled Ike back, giving Link air. Eventually the pain subsided and Link was able to stand. "What happened?" Ike asked again.

"N-nothing. It was just – I thought I – nothing. Nothing." Link was breathing heavily. His breathing slowed and he stood up straighter.

"Drink some water." Ike handed him his water skin. Link reluctantly took it after Ike insisted. The water did feel good. Minutes passed and Link's strength returned.

"Lets' go." Ike and Sheik were alarmed.

"Are you sure that you're alright?"

"Yeah. We need to get moving. Bowser won't stop and wait for us now will he?"

"Indeed. We have wasted enough time." This was all Meta Knight contributed. Ike gave up.

"Where to?" He asked Link. All eyes turned to him. He looked at Sheik who indicated that it was he who was to lead this group.

Link shrugged. "Alright, this way." He led them behind Zora's Waterfall to a hidden cavern through the mountains.


How 'bout that, eh? Three Chapters in less than a week. That's gotta be some kind of record, right? cricket Yes? You, you in the back? Yes, no... sigh

Like I said ( but I guess you didn't get the message) Ike's personality will continue to develop i the next few chapters. Kirby won't do much at first.

And, as always, please review.