Chapter 13

The many years (Part 2)

~Two Years Later~

Link and Natylee are now 10 years of age. After that one night Mayra kissed Raven, they started hanging out more, eventually living together. Just recently, they got married. Akio and Ira would visit from time to time. This day, Link went up to Raven.

"Father, can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"When can you teach me how to wield a sword?"

"I'll teach you when I feel you're ready."

"When will that be? You said you'd teach me one day and it's been two years."

"Someday. I will teach you someday. Go see what your sister's doing."

"Fine." He left the house to go find Natylee.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do with him, Mayra." Mayra wrapped her arms around Raven's neck from behind.

"Link is a strong, brave, boy you know."

"I know. He reminds me of me when I was his age. Always wanting to adventure and train to be the best Swordsman I could be."

"If you set out on training when you were 10, maybe it's about time Link starts his training, don't you think? He's going to be a man in just a few short years. You can't keep him a child forever."

"Maybe you're right. Ok, I'll start his training tomorrow. We'll see if he's ready. If not, I'll wait awhile before we start again."

~Link~

Link found Natylee being bugged by Jon again. "Oy, Jon." He turned to him. "I'd leave her alone if I were you."

"Who's gonna make me?"

"Her big brother."

"Ha, you dunce, she doesn't have a big brother."

"What would you do if I said I was her big brother? Our parents got married recently, I'm her big brother now. And you remember how our last fight went. I would not recommend pissing me off even more than I am right now." Jon let Natylee go and she ran over to stay behind Link. Jon ran off. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine, big brother!"

"Good."

"Why are you so mad?"

"I asked dad about teaching me how to fight with a sword and he keeps telling me the same thing. I want to learn already. The sooner I learn, the sooner I can finally put Jon in his place so he doesn't bother you again."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me, big brother. I'll be alright. I've dealt with Jon for three years before you came to Hyrule market with dad. Why don't we get some cheese from Telma? That always makes you feel better. Or maybe we can ride Epona." Link smiled at his now little sister.

"Let's go get some cheese." They walked to Telma's bar, which wasn't very far and they walked in.

"Hey, you two. Long time no see."

"Big brother's in a bad mood, so we thought he'd feel better with some cheese."

"Sure thing. Let me get some for you." They went up to the counter to sit while Telma went to get some cheese. She brought back a small plate full of cheese. They enjoyed their free cheese and went on their way. They went back home where Mayra was at the kitchen and Raven was reading a book.

"Hey you two. Welcome home." Raven said, looking up from his book. He closed it and set it down. "Link, I need to talk to you about something." He got up and walked over. "How would you like to start your sword training?"

"Are you serious!?"

"Mostly. We'll see how you do. And I'll see if you qualify for my teachings. We start first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yay! I finally get sword training! Thank you!" Link hugged Raven tightly. Raven smiled.

~The next morning~

Link was barely able to sleep. He was so excited. He got up early, but not as early as Raven. Who was sitting in a chair across the room?

"Bout time you woke up."

"How come you always wake up before me?"

"Luck I guess. Come on. Let's get you a sword that'll fit your size."

"Ok." Link put on his boots and followed Raven to the market. It was barely daylight out. The market was silent. But they weren't going to the market to get a weapon. They were going to the Armory inside Hyrule Castle. Link had never been in Hyrule Castle as far as he remembers. Raven walked quickly and Link struggled to keep up.

"Fighting with a sword is a very serious matter. Don't expect me to take it easy on you because you're young." This was the first time in 5 years that Link was a little scared of Raven. He was being so serious. They made it to the armory. Raven picked up a dagger that was just right for Link's size. He held it out to him. Link took the dagger's sheath strap in his hand and put it on his back. Raven walked out and Link followed.

"So, what are you going to teach me first, Dad? One of your great skills?"

"We shall see." They made it to Hyrule field, where it was out in the open. Raven stopped and turned around. "First, I'll have to test you, to see if you qualify."

"Go ahead. I can handle anything."

"Careful. Don't get too full of yourself. The moment you do, you'll blind yourself and that will lead to your death. First, I want you to go over to that tree and climb it."

"What does that have to do with sword fighting?"

"Just do it." Link rolled his eyes and went to the tree. He looked up at the branches. He was a little scared. He took a deep breath and started climbing. He climbed about two feet off the ground when he placed his foot in the wrong spot and it made a branch snap. He fell down to the ground, but Raven didn't run forward to catch him.

"I could have gotten hurt you know."

"If you worry about a wound, then how can you expect to survive on the battlefield? Do it again." Link growled a bit and started to climb, he got a little further, but fell again.

"Seriously! I could get a broken neck if I fall from a higher height."

"Go again." Link started to climb the tree, but fell once again. He shook it off and started climbing again, he lost his grip on a branch and fell down for the fourth time. Link looked back at Raven, still having a serious face. Link started climbing it again.

"Dad is acting so serious and mean. What's wrong with him? Why is he making me do this?" He grabbed a branch, but it snapped and he fell. "That is it! I'm done climbing trees! Can't you teach me how to use a sword already? How does climbing a tree help me with swordplay?"

"Your greatest fear is that of heights, is it not?"

"Yea, so?"

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. There are far scarier things in this unforgiving world than tall places. If you can't conquer that fear at least, then you don't have what it takes to learn my skills."

"What makes you so sure!? I'm ready! Mom thinks I'm ready! I know I'm ready!"

"You aren't. That's it. Unless you can climb that tree, you can't learn how to use a sword."

"Fine! If you won't teach me, I'll find my own way!" Link ran away. Finding a blade of grass to use as a whistle to call Epona. He got Epona and climbed up, riding away. Raven walked back home where Mayra was already awake.

"Where's Link?"

"Gone."

"What do you mean?"

"He ran off. He isn't ready to learn how to wield a sword."

"You didn't stop him?! He could get seriously hurt!"

"He said he'll find his own way. Either he realizes there's no other way and comes home, or he falls."

"How can you say that about your own son!?"

"Do you know how serious swordplay is? If he isn't careful, he could die. I needed to see if he was ready, he wasn't. So I'm not teaching him until he is."

"Raven, I swear! If you don't bring Link home right now…!"

"Fine. I'll go get him back."

"You better. If my little baby gets hurt, your head will be rolling." Raven turned around and left the house. Natylee woke up and walked over. She tugged on Mayra's sleeve.

"Mom, what's wrong? Where's dad going? Where's big brother?"

"Your father has gone to go find him. Everything will be ok."

~Link~

Link rode Epona all the way to Kakariko Village. Luda welcomed him.

"What brings you around, Link?" Luda asked.

"Dad is being a jerk and won't teach me how to fight with a sword. I was hoping Ashei was here."

"She isn't, sorry. She's probably at Snow Peak again."

"Oh… Well, um, how do I get to Ordon?"

"Ordon?"

"Yea. I know of a swordsman there. Maybe he can teach me."

"Hmm. Well, to get to Ordon, you head through the front exit and stick along the wall to your left and keep following it. You'll come across Faron Woods's entrance."

"Thank you." Link followed the directions and found Ordon village in less than a half hour. He rode in then got off once he entered. He grabbed Epona's reins and walked to the village on foot. A gold wolf was watching in the distance. He made it to the village. Everything was quiet. A young man with light blond hair was walking down the path. He spotted Link and walked over.

"Um, hello."

"Hi. I was hoping there was a swordsman by the name of Rusl here."

"That's my father. I'll go get him if you wish. May I ask your name?"

"Link." The man seemed to feel a twinge of sadness when he heard that name.

"Well Link, my name's Colin. I know a bit of sword training too. A friend taught me when I was younger."

"Really? Can you teach me?"

"If you want. I'm nothing compared to my father or my friend for that matter. Let me go get him." Colin walked away. Link stayed in place. Soon, Colin came back with Rusl. "Here he is."

"Oh, it's you. It's a pleasure to see you again."

"Nice to see you too."

"What brings you to Ordon?"

"I was hoping you could teach me. I want to learn swordplay, but my father won't teach me. He claims I'm not ready, but I am." Rusl knelt down in front of him, to get to eye level. He rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Link, but I can't teach you. It's your father's responsibility to teach you how to fight. Tell you what though, I can teach you the basics."

"Really?"

"Mmhm."

"Please can you teach me? The basics are at least good enough."

"Sure. Follow me." Link happily followed Rusl over to a training area just a little outside Ordon Village to finally start his sword training. "First is a simple horizontal strike. Swing the blade from left to right or right to left."

"Ok." Link pulled out the dagger and swung the blade, he lost his footing and fell to the ground. Rusl laughed a little.

"He's still his usual clumsy self. Link hasn't seemed to have changed much despite his age." Link got back up and tried again, staying up this time. "Very good. For a vertical slice, you basically do the same thing, however you go from up to down, or down to up. Next move, stab. You thrust the sword forward." Link nodded, grabbed the hilt of the dagger with both hands and stabbed it forward. "Excellent. Now, the spin attack. You spin all the way around quickly." Link tried it, but slipped and fell again.

"Aw man."

"You'll get it eventually. Something very important is never give up. Go ahead and give it another try." Link got up and tried again. He started to lose his balance, but caught himself. "Pretty good. It'll need some work, but you'll get it eventually. Next is the jump attack. You jump forward, slashing the sword down. Like this." Rusl demonstrated. "You try." Link gripped the dagger tight and performed it with ease. "Very good. Keep practicing alright? I say we take a break. How would you like something to eat?"

"Yes please." Rusl smiled. They went back to the village, where Ilia was walking down the path. She looked so sad and depressed. Then she saw Epona.

"Epona?" Link looked up at her. "It is! It's Epona!" She ran over, then slowly approached Epona's head. She started petting her. "Remember me, girl?"

"Whoa. How did you do that? Normally she only listens to me and my dad."

"I've known this horse for many years. I thought she disappeared just as my friend has. Where did she come from? How did you get her?"

"Dad's had her since he found me. It's been 5 years since then."

"Five years…? Link disappeared 5 years ago…" Epona started to cry and hugged Epona's nose.

"I'm sorry, did I make you cry?" Ilia looked down at the boy and wiped her tears.

"No. I'm just remembering my friend. He disappeared 5 years ago. This was his horse." She knelt down in front of him. "So, I'm Ilia, what's your name?"

"Link." Ilia's eyes widened.

"That's a very good name. Keep it close and keep it strong. It belongs to that of a strong, brave, noble young man I once knew." She hugged him tight. "When I hug him, it reminds me of when Link and I were kids. It's him… I don't know what happened to him, but I know it's my Link. I loved him." Ilia pulled away. "How about we get you something to eat? Let's say, pumpkin soup."

"Ooh, I love pumpkin soup. It's my favorite."

"I figured. Haha." Rusl smiled. Seemed Ilia wasn't depressed anymore. They got Link something to eat. He decided to leave right after eating. They led him to the path.

"Sure you can't stay longer?"

"No, I better get home. My mom and my sister are probably worried sick."

"We understand."

"Come back any time you like, ok?"

"I'll be sure to. Thank you for everything." He got onto Epona's back and rode off.

"It's at least a relief he's ok. He isn't the same Link as he was, but he's still our Link. If he's ok, that's what matters. I have hope."

"I wonder if Raven will tell him one day."

"If that day comes, I wonder if he'll come back."

"We'll just have to see what the future holds."

Link made it out of the forest where he was attacked. An arrow flew and hit his right shoulder. He didn't bother looking, he just made Epona go faster. Another Arrow went into his back and he fell off Epona. He struggled to get up. His arm and back hurt.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

"Seems to be a child." It was three riders. They looked to be bandits.

"Looks like one of the Hyrule Knights' kids. Maybe we'll get a pretty sum of money for him." Link pulled the dragger out of its sheath.

"I-I'm warning you… stay away from me."

"Hmm, seem to be a tough kid, but no skill." Link was so scared. He backed away as the three started to advance toward him. That's when, a Gold wolf came running up and attacked one of them. The other two freaked out. He jumped onto another one and pinned him by his throat. The last one freaked out, got on his horse and fled. He got off that one man and went over to Link, standing in front of him, guarding him, growling at the two that were trying to take him. They got up and ran off on their horses. The gold wolf looked back at Link. He turned around and licked his face then nudged him with his head.

"Y-you won't hurt me?" Link looked at the gold wolf. "Th-thank you." There was something familiar about his eyes, but couldn't quite place it. Link's eyes slid closed and he passed out. The golden wolf transformed into human form. He pulled the arrows out and lifted Link's shirt off. He pulled out a cloth and bandages and started to fix him up.

"I'm so sorry Link, I shouldn't have been so hard on you." He bandaged him up. He picked Link up and got on Epona. He rode back to Hyrule market. "Mayra's gonna kill me." He made it home and carried Link inside. Mayra ran up. She saw Link's state and took him out of Raven's arms.

"Oh my little baby. What happened?"

"Three bandits hurt him and tried to abduct him, but I found him in time. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so hard on him. I just wanted him to understand that swordplay is very serious." Mayra turned around and set Link in bed. Link was rather small and light weight, so Mayra was able to pick him up with ease.

"I'll go find Natylee." Mayra left the house. Raven walked over to Link's bedside and sat down. He opened his eyes.

"Oh, you're awake." He sat up.

"What happened? Where'd that gold wolf go?"

"You may seem him again one day. How are you feeling?" Link hugged Raven tight.

"I'm sorry, father. I should have listened. I promise, I'll listen."

"Ok. I promise not to be as hard."

Despite the pain Link felt, he wanted to do more training the next day. So the two went out to the field to practice.

"Ok, go ahead and climb the tree." Link went over to the tree and looked up. He started to climb, but one of the branches snapped and he fell. "Watch it. It requires patience and quick thinking. Think you can do that?"

"I'll try." Link started to climb the three again. Another branch broke under his foot, but he kept a tight grip on the branches and kept climbing, getting further. He didn't stop until he made it to the top. He looked around. "Hey, the view's pretty good from up here."

"Haha, come on and come back down, ok?"

"Kay." Link started to climb back down, but fell.

"Close enough. Ok. I think you're ready. Shall we begin?" Link nodded and got up. Raven was teaching him what he knew. As many of the hidden skills he could do. They stopped when night approached. "Remember, the sword is an extension of yourself. How you use it. However, it wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage."

"Ok."

"Let's keep at it."

They kept training and training. It took a several days until Raven felt he qualified. "I'd say you did pretty well. You kept at it and kept strong." Raven took off his earrings and walked over to Link. "Hold still. This may sting a bit." He put the earring on Link's ears. "In the Sheika tribe, ear piercings are symbol of a boy coming of age." The earrings hurt a little. He grabbed hold of one.

"S-So, I'm a man now?" Link asked.

"From my perspective. Who knows, one day you may very well become a Hylian Knight like me."

"Really?"

"Yep. Keep at it and you can." Link smiled, then ran to show his mom his earrings. Raven smiled.

Aw. Isn't that sweet. Well, the next chapter is going to get intense, probably. You'll see what happens. Review if you wish.

See ya

Hero of Twili :D