Link sighed.

It's only been a few weeks, and already everything was different.

Everything.

The day he was supposed to leave, Ilia had gotten upset at him over a gash on Epona's leg. She left quickly, taking Epona with her to the spring. She had refused him entry; she had insisted that he "change his behavior", rather ironic if you think about it.

Everything happened so quickly after that.

Ilia's apology. The Bulblins. The arrow. Colin. Then blackness.

He had awoken about ten minutes later, dizzy from the hit. Realizing what had just happened, he had ran, looking desperately for his friend. Then a wall, a hand, darkness.

A beast had grabbed him by the throat and he was quickly losing consciousness.

Then a light. Searing pain. Then darkness once more.

He had awoken in a jail cell, a chain around his...paw?

He had transformed...into a wolf?!

He was a wolf.

He was a wolf.

He was a wolf!

Why?!

This was what was going through his head as he helplessly tugged at the chain.

Ilia...

Then he heard something.

A giggle.

Unearthly, almost.

He had turned to see...a girl?!

Floating?!

This was getting weirder by the second.

I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming.

"I found you!"

What?

Link growled at the strange girl. What did she want with him?

"Oooh! Aren't you scary! Eeh hee! Are you sure you want to be doing that? Snarling and glaring at me? Well, that's too bad...I was planning on helping you...if you were nice."

Wait...help...me? Why me? Maybe I should...

Link stopped growling. Maybe she was telling the truth. Besides, what does growling do? Especially to a girl who doesn't seem to be frightened at all, has black and white skin, red eyes, and floats?

"Eeh hee! That's much better! You humans are obedient to a fault, aren't you? Oops! But you AREN'T a human anymore, are you? You're a beast! Eeh hee!"

What. Did. She. Just. Call. Me?!

He tried to snap at her, but the chain didn't let him.

"There, there. You be a good boy and calm down. No need to bite!"

He backed up, but still growled at her. She held her hands in a certain way, as if holding a ball, ten she closed her eyes. A ball of black and blood red...something.. formed in her hands. Then she moved them away, and the ball disappeared. Then the chain around his front paw broke. He jumped.

"You look kind of surprised! Eeh hee hee! So! I bet you're wondering, where exactly are we? Well, I'll make you a deal. If you can get over here,"She had said, on the other side of the bars, "maybe I'll tell you! Eeh hee!"

Link growled a little. He cringed at the noise the chain made when he moved.

Well, I'm a wolf. What are wolves good at?

Scent.

He placed his nose against the cold, cobblestone ground and started to sniff around. He smelled...dirt. Mud. Under the boxes in a corner. He went over to them and broke the boxes. Yes, dirt. He dug under the bars and came out to the other side.

That was how he met Midna.

Now, he was no longer in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle, but in Kakariko, lying in a bed in the middle of the night. The Gorons were at peace, now. They had realized the pain and suffering they had caused to the people in Kakariko and had vowed never to be so selfish ever again.

Link sighed. Life works in funny ways.

Why did he have to be Hero of Twilight?

Why did Ilia have to disappear?

Why was he feeling like this?

Why couldn't it be someone else?

But he knew the answer.

Because the goddesses chose him.

Because they felt him worthy.

Because Hyrule needed him.

And he would help, even if it cost his life.

"Link..."

"Yeah, Midna?"

"We need to go. I mean, don't you have a girlfriend you want to save?"

"She's not me girlfriend"

"Huh." Midna had grown quite passive towards him. Kinda.

Link sighed. She was right. He grabbed his sword and shield and stood up to leave. He quietly opened the door.

"Link?" He turned around, surprised.

"Colin?!"

"Where are you going?"

Link sighed. "Colin, you should be in bed."

"Link, where are you going?"

"You said you wanted me to find Ilia."

"Y-Yeah...Okay." Link smiled and patted his shoulder.

"I'm gonna miss you. Be good, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay. B-Bye."

Link nodded and left quietly.

"So," Midna said, "How do you plan on getting to Lanayru Province?"

"Well, the southern route is closed due to a landslide, and the bridge to the northeast is broken. So," Link said, "that leaves the northern pass."

"Isn't it blocked?"

"The rocks aren't as big as the ones to the south. We could blow them up, or maybe climb."

"Okay. So we need bombs."

"Just in case."

"Well, there's a bomb store not too far from here...how convenient." Midna said, yawning. Link nodded and went inside.

"That is a Zora child! That is beyond my expertise! Hmmmph!"

Link moved out of the way as the doctor shoved past him.

"Doctor, wait! If something isn't done, this child will..."

Link heartbeat sped up.

Ilia.

She's alive. He took a step towards her, and she looked at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She turned around, not recognizing him, and his heart shattered.

She sat on a small box and began to cry.

"Well, this isn't good. A human doctor won't do, huh..." Link turned around and saw a woman. Telma, presumably.

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

Ilia's head snapped up and she stood, a new hope growing inside her.

"Is that true? Perhaps if we take him there..."

"Inadvisable! Too dangerous!" a Hylian soldier said, stamping his spear on the ground.

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

The group of soldiers nodded their heads, lifted their weapons, and shouted a war cry.

"Well, isn't that nice." Telma said, testing the soldiers.

"To reach Kakariko, we've got to cross two plains that are each infested by dangerous beasts." Their cries died down as she mentioned the beasts.

"But we'll be safe now!"

She turned around to face them. All but one had left, and the one remaining, seeing what had happened, hurriedly left.

"Cowards! Don't EVER show your faces here again!"

"Oh my!" she exclaimed when she saw Link.

"Looks like we've got one young swordsman left!" And, seeing that he didn't leave, but held her gaze, she continued speaking. "And not only that, but it looks like this brave young man will escort us, so get ready to go, honey. Pronto!"

Ilia nodded happily and left. Telma came up to him.

"You know that girl, don't you?" Link nodded ever so slightly.

"It's a real shame... She can't even remember her own name right now." Link looked at her, surprised. So that's why...

"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! You lend your strength to her, you hear me?"

Link nodded.

"So you say the bridge to the west has been destroyed, huh?" Link sat on top of Epona, Telma and Ilia in a cart, along with the Zora boy. Link nodded.

"Yeah."

"Then our only option is to cross the bridge to the east. You see what that means? You'll have to deal with that thing!" Telma said, pointing to King Bulblin, who paced the Bridge of Hylia back and forth.

Link nodded and fingered the Hero's Bow he had on his back. Good thing he had a full quiver...

"Th-Thank you so much for this." Ilia said nervously.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"

"Link."

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

He smiled and nodded at her. She blushed and ducked back into the cart.

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

Ilia nodded.

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

"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?"

"Okay."

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

He nodded, his heartbeat speeding up.

And he set off.

When King Bulblin saw him, recognition and anger flared in his eyes. He charged at him head on, and Link nocked and drew his bow, ready to fire.

Ilia sat in the cart, worry written on her face.

"He's crazy, Telma! He'll get himself killed like that!"

"You never know...He looks a lot more experienced in battle that those stupid, cowardly soldiers."

"Well, yes, but..."

"Ilia, calm down honey. He'll be fine."

Ilia sighed and watched him closely. He had shot the huge beast, and was aiming for the second arrow. He looked...familiar...

"Maybe..."

Link had defeated he beast, and they rode over the bridge. He looked fine.

Who is this boy?

What is this boy?

Link had managed to get the keys for the gates, and now he stood in front of the first, unlocking it. He opened the gate, and they rode through. Several Bulblins rode up, two per Bulbo. Link sighed and drew his bow, shooting the beasts. Several arrows whizzed past his head, some cutting into flesh. There was blood pouring down his sword arm. He didn't notice, thought, as he was to focused on the cart.

Ilia.

He threw his boomerang, putting the fire out temporarily.

Ilia.

He shot down the Kargorock, flying dangerously close to the cart.

Ilia.

He put out another fire. Blood was running down his forehead. He didn't care.

Ilia.

Ilia.

Ilia!

"...He has passed through the worst of it. As long as he rests, he should recover in due time." Renado said as he left the room.

Link nodded.

"Do you know the fate of his mother? Her welfare consumes him. He has been mumbling deliriously about her almost constantly..."

Link opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, his eyes cast downward.

"...I can see the knowledge grieves you. It must be an awful memory."

"It is."

"I'll stay with him until he's better! No matter how long it takes!" Colin said, determined to help.

"Is that so? Thank you, Colin."

"Hey, Link, about Ilia..."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Is it true, what they say about her?"

"Yes, she has lost her memory, Colin, and regaining it will be no simple task." Renado said.

"But it will be all right, 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."

Colin nodded, and Renado left to the Sanctuary.

"Nice to see there's still hope here. And it's always good to see happy results repay your efforts..." Telma said happily.

"Those skills of yours... Any chance you're of the mind to put them to use for Hyrule?"

" W-What?" Telma sighed.

"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. Call me Telma." She said, offering her hand. He shook it.

"I may just stay here a bit longer. I'm still worried about Ilia, and... Well, never mind about the rest."

Her eyes were drawn to Renado, and Link nodded.

"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. If you ever need something, stop by, I'll be waiting for you, honey!"

"O-Okay."

"There it is! The last Fused Shadow..." Midna said, relived.

"I'll just take that, thanks!"

Link frowned. "Hey, do you know how much I had to go through to get that?"

"Now, don't resent me for all I've put you through. I NEED this thing! Besides, we have to do something about Zant, the one who thinks he is the king of shadows..."

"His power is a false one..." she continued.

"I'll prove it using these!"

"So...I've done everything I needed to. I'm sorry for dragging you all over the place with me...So... Shall we go?"

"Yes. Please."

Midna nodded and opened a portal on the ground. Link stood in the middle, and she warped him to the Spirit's spring. Link sighed and turned to leave. Someone was here. He stumbled backwards, surprised. He looked up.

Was this man...Zant?

Yes.

He had to be.

The light spirit Lanayru rose to protect them, to no success. Zant took the light, and once again, the land was reduced to twilight.

How am I supposed to fight That?! Link thought, his hopes withering. He was in his beast forme.

"Zant!" Midna said angrily.

He swung his hand at her, and she hung in midair, bound by magic. Then, he took away the shadows that she and Link had found.

"Did you honestly mean to take an ancient and withered power like this and turn it against me? You are a foolish traitor, Midna. Why do you defy your king?"

"My KING? You, who do nothing but abuse the magic of your tribe? You must be joking!"

"How dare you?! Are you implying that my power is...our old magic? Now THAT is a joke!"

He took her and threw her at the ground.

"This power is granted to me by my god! It is the magic of the King of Twilight, and you WILL respect it!" he said, forming a ball of magic like Midna had done to release Link from is chains. Link jumped at him. Zant instead directed the magic towards him, and Link few back, unconscious. Midna crawled to him, trying to ease his pain, tears threatening to fall. The magic ball had formed a shard and embedded itself into his forehead.

Zant drew Midna close, binding her hands behind her.

"My Midna... Did you forget? That beast is one of the light dwellers who oppressed our people." He whispered into her ear. "No matter how much you may desire otherwise, you will never be more than a shadow in their world. You cannot consort with their kind! But if we can make their world ours, Midna...light and darkness will meet at last. Our tribe will take back their realm...and sweet darkness will blot out this harsh light! And that, Midna, is why..."

"I need you."

"Not just for me, but for all of our people... Lend me your power."

She angrily fought him and he let her go.

"So be it... I will return you to the light world you covet!"

He hung her over the spring and gave the light back to the spirit. Midna, coming in direct contact of the light, cried out in pain.

The spirit warped them to Hyrule field, away from Zant. Link looked at himself in surprise, expecting to be human again, but still a wolf.

"Link, hero chosen by the goddesses..."

Lanayru said to him. Midna lay on his back breathing heavily.

"Go to the princess locked away in the castle. That princess holds the key that can unlock you from your shadow forme..."