A/N: Here we go again. I hope you like the new - and entirely mine this time- version of this chapter.

Rewritten as of 12/10/13, completed as of 2/20/14

Chapter 15: Another Reunion

The second my eyes opened, I got the feeling I'd been sleeping for awhile. The sky outside the window was light now, and I heard chatter from downstairs. I felt cold, even with the thick blankets that were on top of me, but it wasn't as bad as it had been when I'd passed out. Still though, I was cold.

Wrapping one of the thick blankets around me, I padded out of the bedroom in bare feet, the smooth floorboards quietly creaking under me. The chatter grew quiet for a moment before resuming. I pushed my hair back from my face, wanting to groan as my fingers caught in some tangles. Those would be fun to work out, I was sure...

My stomach grumbled, reminding me that it'd been awhile since I'd eaten. Right then, I started down the stairs.

"Hey Rose." Carmen and Bethany called in unison. I was a little surprised that Carmen had called me Rose, but realized that Bethany had probably filled her in on a few things while I was out.

"Hey." I greeted. Then I grimaced internally. My throat was dry, and my voice sounded scratchy. It made me remember I was also pretty thirsty. "How long was I out?" I asked.

"Since last night. We were just finishing lunch." Carmen answered, finishing the last of what looked to be some kind of soup. "Your fever went down a few hours ago." she added.

...Huh. I'd been sick. Well, technically I was still sick, but the fever explained why I'd felt so cold. I hadn't expected to get sick, but I guess that's what I got for staying up for two days straight.

Not that I'd had much of a choice, but still.

As I moved to sit at the table, I noticed there was a familiar face missing; Link. Where was Link? I voiced this as Aren set a bowl of soup and some bread in front of me.

"He went up to the mountain a little while ago." Colin answered me. I assumed that he meant without the iron boots. There was no way he'd have found time to go up the mountain, then to Ordon and back by now.

After I'd finished my meal and dressed in my usual clothes -which I'd noticed someone had washed for me, as well as my cloak, which no longer had tears in the shoulders from the incident with the Kargorok- Link returned. I jumped back in surprise, having just been about to open the door myself. The tension that had formed in my shoulders in that split second melted away when I realized it was him. Then I laughed at my jumpiness. Link then, after a quick greeting, told me of his intentions to go to Ordon. I opened my mouth to speak up, say I was going with him as we stepped out of the motel, when the sound of fast-paced hoofbeats reached my ears. Right! Epona was back! A delighted smile came to my face.

I turned to the sound of her hoofs just in time to see her barrel past the bomb shop. In my distraction, Link had moved to intercept her further ahead, near Malo's soon-to-be shop. I felt a bit of the wind as Epona passed the motel, headed towards Link. I knew when he saw Epona had no intention of stopping for him, allowing myself a small laugh when he leaped out of the way, falling into a roll just in time. His poor horse was too riled up; it would be up to him to calm her frazzled nerves. I watched intently as he jumped onto her back from behind, nearly tumbling off when she reared up. I watched as he struggled to hold onto his mare's saddle as she tried to throw him off. He did get thrown off, twice, but after a few more minutes, Epona finally settled.

With light laughter, I applauded him. Link seemed surprised for a moment, then relieved, then he was laughing with me as he guided Epona over. The kids, who'd also witnessed it, cheered from the windows before coming to greet their favourite mare.

"Not bad at all." I said with a small smirk when Link reached us. I greeted Epona with an affectionate pat, and she nuzzled my hand. Link dismantled Epona and joined me on the porch.

"You shouldn't really be out of bed yet, should you?" he asked, continuing our conversation from before Epona had appeared. I shrugged. With a small frown he removed one of his gloves and put his hand on my forehead. "And you still feel warm." he added, pulling his hand away. I shrugged again.

"I'm not about to let a little cold slow me down. So, when do we leave?"

Link looked surprised for a second, then amused.

"I didn't believe your friends yesterday when they said you'd be up and around today, insisting you were fine." he said, chuckling. I raised my eyebrow.

"You can't get rid of me that easily." I joked. "So, when do we leave?" I repeated. Link sighed.

"You're still sick, we should wait until you're better, or you should stay here."

I huffed, crossing my arms. I wasn't some breakable flower that he had to baby, I was fine.

"I'm already better. I've put up with a lot worse, I'm fine. I'm not made of glass, and I can handle a little cold." I insisted. Midna came up from Link's shadow then; the last thing I expected her to do was side with me.

"She's right. I'm sure she can handle a quick trip across Hyrule field." she said. I was surprised for a moment, but remembered she probably just wanted to get the Fused Shadow as quickly as possible. I could see that the two against one majority, as well as whatever Bethany and Carmen told him last night, made Link's mind up.

"Alright, but if we end up in a fight, you take it easy." he insisted. I nodded, but knew that we probably wouldn't run into anything too bad anyways.

"That's not unreasonable." I agreed.

"Okay. If we leave in the next hour, we should be in Ordon before dark. We could be back in the morning tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me. Will we need to pack anything? If we'll be in Ordon by tonight..." I let the sentence hang, my meaning clear. Link shook his head.

"I don't think we'll need to bring much." he said. That settled it. The only thing I really needed to grab was my cloak. As I was pulling it over my shoulders, I was intercepted by Carmen.

"Remember, take it easy." she sternly reminded me. I nodded knowingly, though if a fight broke out I wasn't going to just sit back and let Link do all the work, I was set on that and I was sure my friends knew it too. I'd certainly demonstrated that same stubbornness enough times on Earth.

"Right, I'll see you guys sometime tomorrow." I said, giving a little wave before walking out the door. Talo and Beth were chasing each other around in front of the motel, laughing happily. Malo was watching on the porch, and I saw Link knelt on the ground, talking to Colin a little ways away. The look on his face was serious, and I wondered what he was saying. While I waited I walked over to Epona, petting her long mane and patting the side of her face, still watching Link and his brother-figure -from what Uli and Rusl had shared with me- out of the corner of my eye.

Whatever Link said made the boy throw his arms around him, hugging him tightly. Link responded in kind, giving the younger blond a pat on the back before releasing him and standing up. Then he started towards Epona and I. I waved at him as he made his way over.

"I take it you're ready?" he said when he reached us. I nodded.

"Yup. You?" I responded. He replied the same as he mounted Epona. I hesitated; I wasn't sure if I could get on the horse without falling off.

Like he was reading my mind, Link extended a hand with a little smile and said, "I won't let you fall." That was reassuring. Taking ahold of his hand, I gripped it tight and jumped up. With his help, I settled on the saddle behind with a nervous laugh.

"Alright?" Link asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. Let's go?"

Link tapped his heels on Epona's sides, and she started out a nice trot, turning around to exit the village in the direction of Ordon. After a minute or so outside the village, the mare picked up speed, the wind from the action pulling my hood away from my head. The feeling of the wind passing through my hair, pulling it back away from my face, felt nice.

It took us a few hours to pass through the larger part of Hyrule field, with the Kargoroks and Bokoblins everywhere. That, and every so often I saw something that brought back a memory or two; back when I was younger, when there were no monsters on the plains. The tree by the bridge, I'd gone there when I was eight years old, for a picnic with my parents. That was one of several tiny flashbacks that were triggered during our trip across the plains. I spoke some of them aloud as they came up.

"It all looks different now. I'm not sure if it's just how much time's passed, or the monsters... It's just so different." I said without realizing.

"Time does change things, but the monsters played a part too, I think." Link commented, startling me. "Even now, it looks different than it did a few years ago."

That made sense, I guessed.

The entrance to Faron Woods was in sight now, but still some distance off. Surprisingly, the only monsters roaming the plains were Bokoblins, Kargoroks, and those weird...bug things. I didn't know what they were called. All in all, a bunch of enemies that could easily be avoided. Well... except for the Kargorok that was gliding over our heads, clawing and crowing as it passed over us a few times. After the third, I was getting really irritated.

"Ugh! Just go away!" I exclaimed, trying to use my sword to bat it away. I clipped its wing, which got rid of it, but I wasn't entirely satisfied. My complaining was off-put by another flashback as we grew closer to the woods.

"A camping trip gone wrong, a band of thieves attacked them..." I mumbled.

It came in a flurry of images, disjointed but all the same scene. I couldn't hear what was being said, and the faces seemed blurry. Four children, six adults, gathered around a campfire. Conversation, laughter. These people were friends, maybe even family. My parents' faces and my own were the only ones I could distinguish.

Someone tensed. There were hushed words exchanged and swords drawn.

People erupted from every side, the cloak of night shadowing their faces save for what the campfire shed light upon. There were shouts, threats, jibes, more shouting. I saw three of the people, my mother and the other two, standing protectively in front of the kids. The fight erupted; swords clashed, a magic light flared, and I heard one of the kids crying in fear. Blood was shed, and then suddenly it was over.

I shivered. Disjointed as it was, my memory of how I felt during that fight was vivid. I'd been terrified, but I remembered trying to be brave for my friends.

"Ari and I were five, Carma was four, Aldy was six. We had nightmares for weeks after that..." I mumbled to myself. Then I frowned, going quiet in confusion.

"Rose?" Link sounded concerned when I stayed quiet for another few minutes, trying to uncover this new mystery that had come up.

"I-... I know those names. Arynn, Carma, Alderon. I can't put faces to them, I don't remember... I can't remember." I tried so hard, but trying to piece together the broken memory was just making my head hurt. Massaging my temples, I gave Link a clipped, "I'm fine." I had no way to explain what just happened, I didn't completely know that myself. I remembered them, but I didn't remember at the same time. The closer I got to figuring it out, the farther the answer slipped from my reach.

"Do you think my mother factored in how irritating this whole memory thing would be for me once my memory started coming back, when she cast the spell?" I asked. I felt Link shrug.

"I don't thinks she could have known. I don't imagine people in the past made a habit of locking other peoples' memories away."

I sighed. That was a good point, but if my headache had anything to say about it, it was still irritating.

"Hey Link... you found the howling stone on the mountain, right?" I asked when we reached the bridge into Ordon. I saw Link nod his head. "Good. We'll need to make a quick stop in the spirit spring, then. That's where the map says the golden wolf is." Another nod.

Once we passed the bridge, Link directed his mare towards the spring's entrance. The gate was still broken, I noticed. The golden wolf was right where he was supposed to be.

"There." I pointed him out to Link. He dismounted Epona and helped me to do the same. Approaching the wolf, the two of us drew our swords, falling into a ready position.

Taking its cue, the wolf leapt. Just as last time, the moment its paw touched me I was blinded, and found myself in the Ghostly Ether for the second time when my vision cleared.

Link wasn't with me, same as last time. The shade was in front of me, and I frowned when I noticed something... new. There was someone behind him, I couldn't see who they were. The Shade's large form blocked my view.

"You have more the look of a warrior than when last we met." He observed. I shrugged with one arm.

"Training with Link has really helped." I said. The shade gave and approving nod.

"Good. Do not neglect your sword training. I have another skill to teach you, but for you must demonstrate to me your skill with the last ability you were given; Farore's Wind."

Shortly after, I was run through a series of short tests; using Farore's Wind to reach a previously-unreachable place, avoiding attacks - both magical and non - and once, to attack the shade from behind.

"Impressive. You certainly understand your ability well. The next ability I have been instructed to give you is primarily for defense."

Holding out a skeletal hand, the shade offered a second scroll to me. I already had suspicions as to which ability I was getting this time around, but examined the scroll carefully in case I was wrong. Then I found it; Nayru's Love. I remembered the crystal-like shield from Super Smash Bros. and Ocarina of Time.

Much the same as the first, the scroll absorbed into my hand, faintly glowing blue for a moment. The new energy felt different than Farore's Wind had.

The Shade gave a quick explanation of how to use my new ability, and ran me through another bunch of tests; blocking magic, physical attacks, and then actually attacking. Attacking with Nayru's love was trickier than defending. I had to put a lot of focus into it. As it turned out, it was very similar to Zelda's attack in Super Smash Bros. I had to make the shield, and consciously split it apart - without dissolving the shield itself - into dangerous shards suitable to attack with.

"Good. Remember, this shield will only remain as long as you keep focused. Now, I believe there's someone who wishes to speak with you," was the last thing the Shade said before disappearing. I was confused. Who wanted to talk with me? A second or... ten, passed, and I started getting antsy. Was it possible for real life to glitch?

"Relax." I heard a voice behind me. I nearly dropped my sword; I recognized it. Only... the last time I'd heard that voice, it was in a dream, or a vision. Slowly, I turned around to face the source of the familiar voice. Then my sword did drop, clattering noisily on the misty ground.

"Dad." The word sounded choked. My mind shot back to my nightmare in the village, where Astaroth had stabbed him through the chest. I didn't have too many memories of him yet, but the thought of him dead made my heart ache. I'd missed him terribly.

Before my mind caught up with my body I shot forward into my father's open arms. His arms wrapped tightly around me, and I buried my face into his shirt. His hold felt like home.

I don't know how long we sat there, it could have been a few minutes or a few hours. I was the first to break the silence.

"How are you here?" I asked.

"Approval from the goddesses, on my part. I needed to speak to you, if only once." he said quietly. "Watching you grow up in that other world, knowing you didn't have the slightest idea of who I or your mother were, was..." he didn't finish, but I could imagine. "But... you've come home. Your mother, she's living in Castle Town, she'll be so happy to see you've returned. Your brother, as well."

Brother? I had a brother? When did... oh. Lilliandil was pregnant when Jethro died.

"I can't wait to meet him." I said, recalling familiarity in those words. Jethro chuckled, probably remembering the same thing I was. Then he gave a sigh.

"I've got to let you go, now. As I understand it, you and your friend have important business to get to." He said. At his words, I held him tighter. I wanted to tell him nothing was more important than my father, but I couldn't find the words before I rejoined the land of the living.

When I woke up, I was back in the Spirit spring with Link. He appeared to have just woken up as well. That was strange. The shade's lesson had taken a long time, and the one in the game had been short.

Maybe time in the Ghostly Ether was just relative.

"That was interesting." I said softly, unsure of what word would describe what I felt. I'd just seen my father. Gotten to talk to him again for the first time in fifteen years.

But there was still a question that begged to be asked; Why?

"Why what?" Link asked. I gave him a confused look, but realized I'd spoken out loud.

"After the shade gave me a new ability I... I spoke with my father." I was still a bit dazed with that whole thing. I saw Link's eyebrows raise, and I shrugged.

"We can talk more later, if you're still interested." I said, sitting up and turning to I was sitting on my knees. "I want to show you something, my new ability." I explained. With a moment's concentration, the crystalline shield appeared in a tiny burst with a blue light and a sound like glass.

Seeming awed, Link tapped a fist against the shield. It was most definitely solid. I reached out to do the same, but a startled noise escaped me when, unlike Link's, my hand went through the barrier. So it was won-way, then.

"This is going to be convenient." I said, smiling as my voice bounced back at me. It sounded different. I dissolved the shield and stood up completely. "Shall we go?" I asked as he joined me. He nodded, taking Epona's rains and silently opting to go on foot into the village.

Upon reaching the village, Link and I went to the families of the kids one by one, informing worried parents that their kids were safe. Then came Bo, just who we needed to talk to. After getting over his initial shock, the mayor quickly ushered us into his ome. All the better, as it appeared it would soon start raining. Link told the mayo about the kids in Kakariko, it wasn't lost on Bo that the former farmhand had neglected to mention his daughter.

"I see... So the young'uns are in Kakariko Village! Well, that's good... Renado's an old friend. If they're in his care, then we can relax. ...So... Don't keep me waitin', lad! Tell me of my little girl! Ilia is with the rest of 'em, right?"

Link's expression hardened, and he looked away from the Mayor.

"I don't... she wasn't in Kakariko." he said, his voice quiet but hard. He didn't know where Ilia was, I knew it upset him. I felt an unpleasant guilt take residence; I knew where Ilia was, I couldn't tell them.

"Renado said you might be able to help us with the Gorons." I piped up quietly.

"What's that now? Y' mean the Gorons of Death Mountain?" Link and I nodded.

"Renado told us you earned their trust, and that they recognize strength." Link informed him.

"I see... he told you about that... well, it's true.. I did defeat the Gorons in a contest of strength and earned their trust, with the help of a little secret." the old man said.

"Can you... show us?" I asked, keeping the 'scene' rolling.

"I can teach Link, but the two of you young'uns have to promise to keep this secret. Can ya do that?" We both nodded again. "Good! Alrighty then, absolutely no one! C'mon, in the back." Bo gestured to a closed door in the room, opening it to reveal a sumo wrestling right.

Right.. I'd almost forgotten this part.

Another part I'd forgotten about the sumo wrestling, a part that was quickly refreshed when I returned to the wrestling room, was that link was going to be shirtless.

I'd stepped out to put my cloak in the other room -it had been rather warm in the back- and stepped outside for a quick minute to check the weather, see how close the rain clouds were, and let out an embarrassing squeak upon returning. Link was definitely not wearing a shirt. I felt myself blushing bright bed. Luckily neither Link nor Bo had noticed my entrance, still in the middle of their first match.

I could have sworn I saw the smallest hints of amusement on Link's face, though. I didn't want to point it out, both not wanting to draw attention to myself and not wanting to distract Link.

After the initial startle, and with no one to notice, I allowed myself to look at Link a few times, looking pointedly anywhere else when he happened to look over. When I was looking, I noticed not just the toned muscles from years of work on the ranch with Fado, but also a fair share of scars, some old and some new.

I remembered a few of them; bruised over scars from the Baba serpent in the Forest temple, a small one on his arm from when we were ambushed by Bokoblins - also in the forest temple - as well as a few minor ones from fights with Shadow Beats. Then there were some I didn't remember. There looked to be a mild burn-scar between his shoulder and neck, and there was a dark bruise blooming on his upper back, which I imagined was from his trip up Death Mountain before I'd woken up.

Link won the first match after another minute or two.

"Hmph! You seem to understand the basics. Y' always were a quick learner..." Bo mumbled as he stood up. "Alright, I won't go easy on you next time, lad. Fight me as if you were fightin' a Goron!"

The Mayor's movements were almost predictable; I wasn't surprised when Link won again, though it was more tightly-matched than before. A few instances, I thought Bo might win, but it wasn't the case.

"Whoa ho! Not too shabby, lad!" Bo exclaimed. "With your natural talent, I'm sure you can take on the Gorons..."

"You've gotten a sight stronger since I saw you last, Link. Strong as you are, y' can't beat the Gorons with power alone. They're made of stone, y'know." The two had changed, and we were all back in the front room - and properly dressed.

I saw Link wince a little bit. I was sure he knew very well that the Gorons were made of rock.

"Naw, my little secret's in that chest. Take it with you, lad." With that, Bo gestured to a chest in the corner of the room, where the iron boots were.

The mayor went on to explain that the boots were made of iron, how they'd keep Link standing in a fight against a Goron, and that we had to keep them a secret. With a short goodbye we left his house - ah, there was the rain I'd seen earlier - returning to Link's to spend the night.

The next morning passed without incident, but I had a sick feeling in my stomach; there was something I was forgetting. Something bad was coming, I couldn't quite place what. I was afraid to tell Link. How could I explain I knew something bad was going to happen? All the ways the scenario could go wrong swirled in my head. Would he be angry, would he still trust me? I didn't know.

"Rose?" Link stirred me from my thoughts and I startled. "You've been really quiet since this morning, are you okay?"

I sighed, and anxiety curled in my stomach as I tried to remember.

"No, I'm not. I've felt like something bad's going to happen ever since I woke up, and I've been trying to figure out what it was." I started.

"What is it?" he prompted, sounding concerned.

"I... I don't remember. I just feel like... danger's on the way." Link didn't respond for a few seconds. The entrance to Kakariko was in view, not too far away now. I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped when I saw something ahead of us on the field. "Link..."

"I see them."

The bulblins were there, riding towards the village. They weren't too far ahead of us. The sight spurred Link into action. He had Epona riding faster, racing towards them. The Bulblin King was the first to notice when it heard Epona. It sneered at us before shouting something to the other riders. They picked up speed, we were no longer gaining on them. When we finally reached the village, ice flooded my veins at the picture I was seeing. The king Bulblin had two hostages, I saw in my peripheral that Twill was holding a struggling Aren back, and there was a fallen figure in front of the sanctuary.

The Bulblin held his hostages up like trophies, and I saw who the second one was; Ben, Aren's son. The Bulblins charged away to the North exit of the village, and I jumped off Epona's back when Link gave chase, using Farore's Wind to soften my landing.

"Rose!" I heard Link call.

"Just go!" I shouted back.

I waited til Epona was out of sight, before taking off towards the person on the ground, gasping when I realized who it was.

"Carmen..." I whispered, kneeling beside my unconscious friend. I saw a large still-forming bump on the back of her head, it didn't look good.

"She tried to save Ben, but those green guys hit her on the head and knocked her out..." Malo said. Bethany was suddenly beside me, helping to lift the smaller girl into the Sanctuary, where I noticed the remaining villagers had taken to sleeping, instead of the motel. After we got Carmen inside, I went to Aren and Twill, the former of which had dissolved into sobs against the latter.

"They.. they took my son.." I heard her cry. The guilt from before returned full force when I realized that I could have stopped the attack from happening. I'd known before, when we left and I'd just... forgotten. But I could have warned them before we left, and none of it would have happened. Ben and Colin wouldn't be in the hands of those green monsters, and Carmen wouldn't be unconscious -she probably had a concussion, too, at the least.

"It-It'll be fine. Link's gonna bring them back, he'll make it better.." I mumbled.

I had to go, had to think. I needed to be away from... people. I left Aren and Twill, and just walked. I used my magic to get to the roof of the bomb shop, from there to the building where Talo would soon be keeping a lookout.

I'm not sure how long I sat on the roof, but next time I was consciously aware, the sun was much lower in the sky, and a cold wind was blowing in from the North.

"Rose."

I gasped, practically jumping to my feet and turning to face the person who'd startled me;

Link.

A/N: I leave you this cliffhanger, an apology for taking so bloody long to finish, and the hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Bye!