Colin's feet stomped down the hall as he took a quick turn towards the room Kari and he shared. Large colorful portraits sprawled on large oil canvases whirled by him in a blur. Suits of armor watched him race by, not even casting a caring glance for the situation at hand. Colin glanced behind him; Zelda and Link were still close behind. In his hurry, the hero bumped a table and nearly tossed a vase to the floor. Luckily, he caught it in time. He placed it quickly back on the table and raced after his two friends.

When Colin reached the entrance to their room, he clicked open the lock with his key and threw the door open with a loud bang. Link and Zelda quickly followed him inside.

Just like they had been told, the pair saw Kari laying on the ground with his eyes closed. They all gathered around him and knelt on the floor. His body appeared perfectly peaceful; his eyes were closed and his chest inhaled and exhaled to an imaginary metronome.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was napping," Link said dryly as he checked the wind tamer's pulse. Thankfully, it was still there. He still couldn't shake the chilling horror out of his mind from seeing the Sheikah's corpse in Lon Lon Prison.

"I'll go get Ilia," Zelda said, rising to her feet. "Maybe she might know what to do."

The monarch glanced in Link's direction. All it took was a quick look at him to sense the guilt eating at his soul. She gave him a comforting smile and looked into his eyes; they were cloudy and chaotic like a summer storm. Link attempted to return the monarch's gesture with a half-hearted smile, but his attention was quickly drawn back to Kari. Zelda turned around and hurried out of the room, her Sheikah armor muffling any noise she made on the hard palace floor. She sighed as she whipped around the corner; if only there was something she could do to ease the hero's burdened soul.

"Colin," the hero turned to the Ordonian as he recollected his thoughts. "Any idea when he ended up like this? Were you with him when he passed out?"

Colin stood up and directed his gaze towards the window. "He was unconscious when I came in. I don't know what happened."

Link narrowed his eyes. Something just didn't smell right. Perhaps it was his wolf senses alerting him.

"Colin, if there's something you're not telling me, now's the time to speak up."

The Ordonian began to fidget with his hands in front of his lap. "Well, he was complaining about his stomach earlier. Maybe something he ate."

The wolf man shook his head. "I don't think it's that. You don't pass out because you had a bad piece of meat." He paused for a moment.. "I would've been dead a while ago."

Everyone turned towards the door as a pair of footsteps came running up the hall. Ilia and Zelda quickly arrived at the door. As the monarch shuffled to a side wall, the ranch girl stumbled clumsily to the closest table. She seemed tired and out of breath; her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been woken suddenly.

"I brought her here as fast as I could," Zelda said to Link. Ilia began fiddling through a leather pouch of medical supplies Uli had given her before departing. As her hands searched diligently for what she would need, she began firing questions one after the other. "Is he still breathing? Check his forehead! Is it warm? How's his pulse?"

"His breathing and pulse seem fine." Link placed a hand to Kari's forehead. "He seems a little warm, but nothing that alarms me."

Ilia nodded her acknowledgment and rushed to Link's side with her medical bag in her hand. She took one of his arms and examined it meticulously. She pressed her fingers on his skin until it turned white, and then watched the color come back. A rotation of his arm verified he hadn't broken anything.

"How is he?" Colin asked.

Ilia shrugged her shoulders and grunted in frustration. "I can't figure out what's wrong with him. His body seems just fine, but something's clearly wrong. He's not responding to anything." She lowered her ear to his chest. His heart beat with the steady tempo of a tribal drum.

"Goddesses, please let him be okay," Link prayed beneath his breath. His head was so low he could've swept the ground with his hair; his hands covered his face. "This can't be happening now."

He flinched when Zelda placed a hand on his shoulder. "Link, don't blame yourself. I know what you're thinking, but we don't know what's wrong with him yet," she attempted to comfort.

The hero continued to whisper prayers as if he hadn't heard her. She could hear him asking for forgiveness and pleading for the Sheikah's life. Her words had fallen on deaf ears.

The monarch knelt beside him to do some intercession of her own. "Goddesses, we entrust this young man's life in your hands…" she began.

Colin watched passively as both Link and Zelda prayed fervently. His eyes turned to Ilia who examined the wind tamer's other arm. When she found nothing, she placed two hands on his chest and tried to encourage his breathing. "Din's fire. I'm completely stumped," she cursed to herself.

The tension in the room was thick. Colin stood by the window, helpless and silent, as Zelda and Link prayed for Kari's safety and Ilia continued her physical examination. The desperate pleas of the hero and Ilia's frustrated sighs prickled his skin with anxiousness. Now was just a good time as any. He wasn't sure how much longer he could contain himself. The Ordonian shifted nervously from his position by the window. He cleared his throat and let out a small cough. "It would be great if he could just tell us what was wrong."

As if in response, the Sheikah began to stir.

"I…" Kari softly whispered.

Ilia quickly crouched closer to the Sheikah. "Did you hear that, everyone? I think he's coming around."

The Ordonian shrugged his shoulders. "Hear what?"

Zelda kept her prayer vigil but Link jumped from his position and squatted by Ilia's side. His hopeful eyes locked onto Kari's face. "Kari, can you hear me?"

"I…" the hoarse whisper repeated itself.

"Ilia, did you hear that? I think he's responding." Link looked vigilantly at the Sheikah. He thought he detected movement beneath Kari's eyelids, but it was too subtle to be certain.

Colin walked a little closer. He couldn't hide the smile on his lips. "Yeah, I think I heard something this time too."

Suddenly, the Sheikah's eyes shot open. He lifted his head up and looked directly at Link. "I got you!"

The startled hero fell backwards, caught off guard by Kari's sudden movement. His eyes were wide with shock. He held his chest as he tried to slow down his racing heart. "You're awake!"

Zelda ceased her praying and stood up. When she realized Kari was in fact fine, she let out a sigh of relief. Her heart was still racing, but she had to smile at the elaborate prank. Anything was better than what she had feared.

The Sheikah chuckled. "Your face…the look of confusion is priceless." He turned to Colin. "You played your part well. He was taken completely off guard."

Link stood up and looked dumbfounded at the blond swordsman. "Wait? Colin?" He ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he glanced between the two. "Did I miss something?

The Ordonian balled over with laughter. Several times he slapped his knee to try and contain his amusement, but with little success. Eventually, as he started gasping for air, his head began to spin and he was forced to sit down. As he sat on his bed, he grabbed the bedpost to steady himself until his laughter finally faded into a soft snicker.

At last, Colin attempted to answer Link's question. His face was red as a hot pepper. "I…well…yes." His mouth was bursting at the seams. In a matter of moments, the youth exploded into laughter once again.

Ilia glared at the Sheikah. "So you were fine this entire time?" The look of panic on her face slowly turned to irritation as the realization hit home. Her brows creased and her mouth tightened. "You mean I jumped out of bed for this?" She cast a dirty glare at both Colin and Kari. "I'm goin' back to sleep then. You two are such idiots."

Colin quickly wiped the grin off his face as Ilia stuffed her supplies back into her bag. She quickly swiped it off the table and stomped out of the room, grumbling to herself as she traveled down the hallway. The swordsman bolted like a hunted deer as he frantically chased after her. "Ilia! Wait! We didn't mean to…." His voice trailed out the door.

The puzzled Link looked to the doorway and scratched his head. "What was that all about?" He let it go with a shrug of his shoulders and turned back to the Sheikah. "Kari? What in the underworld is going on here?"

The wind tamer quickly stopped chuckling. "We played what you call 'a practical joke." He tilted his head in confusion as he rose from his position and wiped off his clothing. "Why are you not laughing? Was it not funny enough?"

" Link's face was solemn. "Well, actually, it wasn't funny at all." He shrugged it off and turned back to Kari. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

The Sheikah seemed lost in thought. He stared intensely at Zelda's clothing but said nothing. Link had to repeat the question before the wind tamer finally realized he was being spoken to. "Sorry? What was that, Link?"

The hero rolled his shoulders. "I just wanted to make sure you were really feeling okay."

Kari nodded. "Yes, I feel fine." He looked back to the door. "But I do not understand. I was only trying to make everyone laugh…but I seem to have made them angry instead."

Zelda brushed back a few bangs that had jumped in front of her face. "Kari, you need to understand that there are some things you just don't joke about. We were really worried about you. We thought something serious happened."

The Sheikah laced and unlaced his fingers. "I will never understand Hylian humor. I never know what to joke about and what to take serious."

Link chuckled. " You'll get it someday." His smile quickly faded. "Zelda's right though. We depend on you. If something were to happen to you, I'm not sure we could even continue this quest."

Kari nodded. "Your words are kind. I will do my best not to fail."

The hero let out a long yawn, like a tired wolf just about to turn in for the night. "Well, I'm glad we got this little issue taken care of. I'm headed to bed. Night all." Zelda and Kari said farewell to him and he walked out of the room.

The monarch stretched her arms and let out a yawn of her own. "I think I'm not far behind. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow, Kari."

"Good night, Zelda."

She gave one last friendly wave and walked out of the room. The Sheikah's eyes lingered on her as she passed through the doorway.

A few minutes later, a weary Colin returned from the hallway. He was breathing hard and his cheeks were painted a hint of red. He quickly found his way to his bed and let his body crash onto the soft mattress. His head found the plush pillows and buried into them like a groundhog returning to its burrow.

"What happened?" Kari asked. "You ran out of here pretty quickly."

Colin tilted his head up just enough to talk. "Oh, that?" The sheets rustled around as he turned onto his side to face Kari. "She seemed pretty upset for being woken up," he said with a crooked smile, "so I went to apologize."

The Sheikah nodded. "I see." He walked to his own bed and turned towards the swordsman with a smirk. "I do not claim to understand this time period very well, but some things are universal. Your feelings are quite plain."

The swordsman's cheeks reddened even more. He buried his head back into his pillows like a frightened ostrich. "It's nothing like that," came the muffled response.

Kari shrugged his shoulders and jumped onto his own bed. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and began to pray silently. It was easy for him to concentrate now that the room was finally quiet. He thanked the Goddesses for bringing him and his companions this far and asked for their continued protection. When he was done, he opened his eyes and let his mind wander across a vast field of his own thoughts.

Eventually, the Sheikah heard rustling and noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look and saw Colin staring curiously at him. "Is something the matter?" he asked.

The swordsman was lying on his stomach now; his elbows rested on the bed and his head rested in the palms of his hands. His feet kicked aimlessly back and forth. The color of his cheeks was a bit more natural now. "Not really," he replied. "I was just wondering what you were thinking about."

The Sheikah was silent for several moments. He decided to change his position to mimic Colin; despite his natural flexibility, he found it uncomfortable and very strange.

"Did you see Zelda's clothes when she came in?" he asked after some time. Colin just nodded, so he continued. "Those were not the clothes she was wearing at dinner."

Colin just nodded. "So she changed her clothes. What's the big deal?"

Kari shook his head. "That was a distinctly Sheikah outfit. Battle armor to be precise." He closed his eyes as he tried to recall its appearance. "And I am sure that I have seen that design before…somewhere."

Colin blew out his nearby candle and shifted his position to let his cheek rest on the pillows. "You're probably just tired. Get some sleep. That's what I'm going to do."

The wind tamer slowly turned and blew out the candle beside his bed. He let his head rest against the soft cotton and watched as shadows covered the room. He closed his eyes and awaited sleep to overtake him.

"Perhaps I am over thinking this."

"Come on, Captain, just a bit further."

Geoffrey's entire body burnt like his limbs and torso had been dipped in acid and left to dry in the hot desert sun. Even without his armor, every step felt like his shoulders carried an elephant. He wheezed and panted and brought his leg forward, tightening his muscles and holding his breath as he made the effort. Sweat dripped down his forehead and his lungs pounded against the cavity of his chest. Unfortunately, the effort proved too much and he dropped to his knee.

"No further, Viscen. I just don't have the strength," the captain said through panted breaths. His eyelids blinked the sweat off his lashes as he looked to the soldier on whom he leaned for support.

The loyal soldier squatted beside his commanding officer and gently slid him off his shoulder and onto the ground. He had never seen Geoffrey so devoid of life. His face was pale like a dead man, and his eyes lacked that spark of vitality that always inspired him.

"How long has it been since you had something to eat?" Viscen asked, surveying their surroundings.

The captain bit his lip to fight the weariness in his body. "Too long."

Viscen nodded. "Well then, we'll make camp here tonight."

Geoffrey grunted his approval. "Good. Then we should reach Ordon by morning."

The other soldier unfastened the knife from his boot and began examining the quality of the blade. "Ordon, sir? Why there?"

Geoffrey held his chest and sighed. "We'll be safe there for a time. I don't think it's been affected by the chaos going on in the capital yet."

Viscen just nodded and handed his knife to the exhausted soldier. "Here, Captain. Use this if you encounter anything. I'll see if I can find us something to eat."

The captain reached weakly for the knife and placed it by his side. "Thanks, Viscen. I think a little meat on these weary bones will do me some good."

Viscen nodded to his commanding officer and turned towards the woods. The dead autumn leaves crunched beneath his armored footsteps, their sound dimming slowly but surely until the trees finally hid him.

Geoffrey grabbed the knife and tossed it to a nearby tree trunk. Several agonizing minutes later, the exhausted captain dragged his body near it. As a reward for his toil, he leaned his back against the tree trunk and let his limbs drop like gelatin. His lungs gasped desperately for breath, and his face was redder than a ripe tomato. Still, as the rough bark pressed into his back, the soldier was grateful to finally rest.

He could still hear the angry shouts of the crowd in his ears and imagine the tug of the noose against his chin. The condemning looks he had received sobered him. Despite his many years of service to Hyrule and its people, he had been treated no better than a common criminal. No matter what he said, Durian had the masses twisted around his big, fat finger.

Yet for some reason, the Goddesses had decided to spare him.

In the chaos caused by Atrayu's arrival, Viscen had seized the opportunity to free him. Together, the pair slipped off the execution platform and past the disillusioned and frightened crowd into the castle. After navigating a series of complicated passageways and tunnels, they finally emerged out a secret passage built for the Royal Family's escape in case of an emergency. Finding themselves in southern Hyrule Field, the two had continued heading south in the hopes of finding a sanctum in Ordon Village.

The captain felt fatigue taking its toll on his eyelids. Whatever the cost, he knew he couldn't fall asleep. He straightened his back and slapped himself gently on the cheek. He felt a little adrenaline flowing through his blood, and his senses were heightened temporarily.

What would become of the country and monarch he served so proudly? The thought chilled the anxious soldier as the afternoon sun beat down on his skin. Whatever Durian was planning, he knew it wouldn't spell anything good for Zelda or Hyrule. He could only hope for his monarch to return soon and restore order to a panicked nation. Could whatever reason she had for being away from Hyrule this long really be that important?

Slowly but surely, his eyes began to close on him again. This time, he left them there a little longer before jolting himself awake again. His stomach churned in starvation, sending ripples of pain through his torso. Nonetheless, his fatigue was so overwhelming that he felt he might sleep even through the hunger. To stay awake, he grabbed the knife and a small nearby stick. Layers of bark fell to the ground as the captain peeled away at the wood absentmindedly.

How many friends had he lost in this war? Captain Nadal…Rusl…Ashei…countless other comrades and brothers in arms. And of course… his father, Auru. The soldier tossed the twig aside and whittled away at another one as he recalled his younger days to stay awake.

He remembered first enlisting as a young squire while his old man was still the head of the army. Back then, General Auru had always been a difficult man to please. The other soldiers were jealous because they thought he'd get special treatment; he received the opposite. Every day he received a harsher work load and sterner punishment than the other men. Only now in hindsight did the captain realize all of it had made him stronger.

Yet, all that hard work seemed worthless now. Geoffrey hung his head. How could he call himself a soldier when he couldn't even protect the kingdom his father had died fighting for? His family…his country…his monarch…everything he fought and lived for seemed to be slipping through his fingers. As his eyes closed once again and his head leaned against the rough bark, he began to wonder why the Goddesses even spared him in the first place.

And sleep finally claimed him.

When the captain began to stir again, the smell of cooking meat and the crackling of flames welcomed him from the land of dreams. The enticing fragrance only served to stir the hungry monster inside his stomach. Slowly opening his eyes, Geoffrey was pleased to see Viscen diligently roasting some sort of meat over the fire.

"Good evening, Captain," Viscen greeted without taking his eyes away from the task at hand.

Geoffrey slowly lifted his back off the trunk and rolled his shoulders. His back was sore from the bark pressing into it. He brought his arms down to his sides and sighed. "How long have I been asleep?" He looked up to the sky, blinking a few times to clear the dirt from his eye; the sun had retreated beneath the hills and now only the stars watched them from the heavens. The moon was conspicuously absent.

Viscen shrugged his shoulders. "I got back a little while ago and found you out cold. I thought it best not to disturb you. Lucky for us both, there were no wild animals lurking around."

A shiver traveled up the captain's spine. How could he have left himself so vulnerable?

He began to search carefully for the knife on the ground but couldn't find it. When he looked up, he noticed Viscen was using it to cut into the meat. The crackling of the fire only stirred Geoffrey's appetite further. "So what'd youfind?"

The soldier shrugged his shoulders and poked the meat with his dagger. It came out soaked in blood, so he continued to let it cook. "Couldn't find much but this chatty little bird that tried to make me buy something."

Geoffrey chuckled to himself but quickly winced from the pain in his chest. "Well, at this point, I'm willing to eat anything."

The two men continued to talk while the meat finished cooking. They discussed all manners of things, including the carefree days before the war, the current state of Hyrule, Durian's ambitions, and their plans for tomorrow. At last, when the meat was ready, Viscen gave most of the small bird to the famished captain. The man devoured it quickly, almost choking in the process.

"You know…this isn't half bad." Geoffrey commented as he wiped the mess off his mouth and hands with his already dirty sleeve.

Viscen nodded, his cheeks brightened from the light from the crackling fire. "I'm glad. I've never cooked this type of animal before." He paused for a moment, poking and moving the wood with a stick to ensure the flames had adequate air. "How do you feel, Captain?"

Geoffrey groaned. "Sore. And tired. I could fall asleep again right now."

The soldier looked up to his superior officer. "Then rest. I will take the night watch."

"But what about….?"

Viscen cut him off. "No talking. You're all Hyrule has right now. In the state you're in, you can do nothing. So rest."

Geoffrey chuckled to himself. "Rebuked by my own soldier. Very well, Viscen. I leave the rest to you."

Despite the nagging hunger pains still in his stomach, he had little trouble falling asleep. The weariness from the recent events had sapped most of his strength. The warmth of the fire felt good against the chill of the night, causing him to relax his muscles. As he closed his eyelids and leaned against the tree once more, he let the soft lullaby of the forest crickets lull him into a deep slumber once again.

The cheerful songs of birds carried through the air the next morning. A few scattered rays of sun peeked through the autumn leaves to stir the captain awake. As he opened his eyes, he was surprised to still see Viscen where he had left him: sitting in front of the now extinguished fire eying the surrounding like a sentinel. A small pile of smoke rose from the smoldering embers still remaining.

"Did you even get any rest?" the captain asked as he lifted his back off the trunk. He watched the small fumes of smoke rise up from the fire pit.

Viscen shrugged his shoulders. "I will rest when we are safely in Ordon."

Geoffrey smirked. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Skipping breakfast, they quickly gathered what little belongings they had and continued on their way. The going was slow as Geoffrey had to lean on Viscen the entire way. Although he finally had food in his stomach, his body hadn't completely recovered from his earlier battle wounds with Atrayu. The dirty floor and the lack of nutrition in prison had done little to accelerate the healing process.

A few animals looked on in curiosity as the sluggish pair trudged down the path. As the day wore on, clouds began to accumulate in the sky and cover the land in shade. They weren't very large, but the possibility of foreboding rain urged the pair onward.

By midday, they had reached Coro's hastily rebuilt hut. Though it had been ransacked by monsters earlier, the afro-sporting, animal loving lantern salesman had managed to put together a livable wooden hut with the help of the Ordonians. Covered in bruises and scars of his own, he looked at the weary pair in surprise but offered to let them stop for lunch. He poured each a bowl of his infamous soup, which he brewed fresh everyday outside his home. Driven by intense hunger, Geoffrey downed the nausea-inducing concoction, gagging only a few times when it came into contact with his taste buds; Viscen politely dumped his bowl onto the ground when Coro wasn't looking. Nonetheless, they were grateful for the man's hospitality and continued on their way with heightened spirits.

The dark, hazy clouds fully blanketed the sky by the time the two travelers reached Ordon. It surprised them how peaceful the village seemed in comparison to the capital. The sounds of goats grazing in the distance, the creaking of the water wheel, and the strange theme song of the newly renovated Malo Mart; they all contained a vibrancy and peace that contrasted greatly with the moans and angry cries of Castle Town. In fact, the villagers seemed not to notice their presence as they busily harvested the fields for Ordon pumpkins.

It wasn't until a boy with bright blonde hair and energetic blue eyes approached them that the villagers glanced up from their work. The boy looked at them curiously and extended his hand.

"Hi. I'm Zen. You two aren't from the village, are you? What's your names?"

Viscen hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Geoffrey quickly cut in.

"Hi, Zen, nice to meet you. I'm Geoffrey…and this is Viscen." He firmly shook the boy's hand. "We're with the Royal Army. Are your parents around?"

The little boy shrugged his shoulders in indifference. He looked over his shoulder to where a blond young woman helped another man carry pumpkins to a shoddy wooden cart. "Well, Mama is helping with the harvest, but I'm afraid you can't talk to Papa right now."

Geoffrey furrowed his brows. "And why's that?"

Zen pointed to the cloud-filled sky and looked up. His gaze reached past it, as if there was something beyond they couldn't quite see or reach yet. "Because Mama says Papa is waiting for us in heaven. He can't come back to the village right now because he's getting things ready for us for when we get there."

The captain felt his stomach drop when he finally realized just who the boy was talking about. "I'm sure he is." A knot formed in his throat. "And I'm sure…he can't wait to see you again."

The boy just nodded and began to look around disinterestedly. "Say, will one of you play with me? I'm bored and Colin's not here anymore. None of the other kids want to play either."

"Perhaps later, kid. We need to speak with a grown up right now." Viscen replied. He shifted his weight and adjusted Geoffrey's arm back over his shoulder.

"Zen, I think I hear your mother callin' you." Mayor Bo called out as he approached the small gathering. His massive arms were covered in dirt, and the sweat from a hard day's work glistened on his forehead.

Zen looked around innocently. "I didn't hear anything."

Bo folded his arms as he arrived. His tone was sterner as he looked down at the young child. "Zen, you should go find her anyways. I'd like to speak to these two lads alone."

The little boy stamped his foot hard on the ground. "Come on! I never get to have any fun!" He spun around and pouted all the way to his mother.

The mayor of Ordon sighed and turned back to the two soldiers. "Sorry about that." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Now, what brings the two of you to Ordon?"

Geoffrey leaned more of his weight on Viscen. The fatigue in his legs was starting to swell in his muscles. "Well, we were hoping to speak to the Mayor of Ordon."

Bo nodded. "You're speakin' to him. Watcha' need?"

The captain and his fellow soldier shared a mutual glance. "Actually, we need some food, and a place to rest. We're friends of Rusl." Geoffrey explained.

The Ordonian's face darkened. "Well, you should know that Rusl…"

Geoffrey quickly cut in. "I fought with him." He paused. "I know." He looked at the river in the hopes of finding some sort of inspiration. "You see…things are chaotic in Castle Town right now. With the war and everything. I could go into the details of it, but right now, we just need warm beds and a hot meal."

Bo rubbed his two-piece mustache. "Well, the village has been kinda on edge lately. Just got attacked twice in the last few months by monsters and bandits. I don't really know how the villagers will take to me bringin' in strangers."

Geoffrey tried to persuade him. "I'm also an acquaintance of Link. And Colin. And Ilia. They should know who I am."

Now he had Bo's interest. "Really? How do you know my daughter?"

The captain raised his brow. "You're her father?" He quickly filtered his next statement. She looks nothing like him. Probably for the better.

Bo nodded, unfolding his arms and leaning forward. His eyes became filled with parental concern. "Yeah, but she never writes to her old Pa anymore. Any news of her? Have you seen her?"

Geoffrey shook his head. "Not since the Battle for Kakariko." He paused. "Is she missing?"

Bo sighed and dropped his gaze. "Well, I guess it didn't hurt to hope." He looked back up. "She left on some journey with Colin a little while ago. Haven't heard from her since."

"Where did they go?"

The mayor shrugged his shoulders. "How should I know? No one tells me anything anymore." One of his feet began to scuff at the ground. "Link took them on one of his crazy adventures with a bunch of other folk. Told me they wouldn't return for a while but that they'd keep in touch."

Geoffrey's eyes flashed. "Was there a young brunette woman traveling with them?"

Bo nodded. "Yeah. Link found himself one of those city-folk. Also some member of a traveling troupe and a little girl. What was that girl's name now….Elincia...Malon….Marin?"

"Zelda?" Geoffrey suggested.

Bo's face lit up. "Yeah….Zelda! Same name as the Queen…imagine that."

Viscen rolled his eyes. "Yeah…imagine that."

The knight nodded politely. What was going through the Queen's mind?

The captain felt a slight tap on his arm. First, there was one drop. Then two. Another fell on his shoulder. Still another on his nose. In a matter of seconds, hundreds of raindrops poured from the sky like hornets, their steady hissing making it difficult to converse. The captain's shirt was soaked in a matter of seconds; his arms began to shiver as the wind brushed against his water-covered arms.

The mayor rolled up his sleeves and placed his hand on Geoffrey's shoulder. "Well, so much for havestin' the pumpkins today. I suppose a friend o' Link's is a friend to Ordon. We'll talk aboutall this later; let's just get out of the rain." They began to jog to the nearest house, both men supporting Geoffrey so he could move faster. They stopped just outside the overhang near the door. "I'll find you two a place to stay for the night. In the meantime, go find Uli. She'll fix you right up with whatever you need."

Geoffrey smiled gratefully, wiping some of the raindrops from his face. "Thank you, Mayor Bo. You have no idea how much this means to us."

Hot! So hot! The heat was blistering. Why in Din's name was the forest so hot?

Link found himself, or rather, his dream self, in the Hero of Time's body, running towards a bright light. As he trampled across the wooden bridge and through the hollow log, his tunic stuck to his skin like a bandage. Even as he ran through the elongated passageway, he could feel the intensifying heat and hear the sick crackling of flames.

Fire? In the forest? But how?

Animals fled wildly from the all-consuming conflagration as he emerged into the village clearing. The large logs that once served as houses for the Kokiri now functioned as fodder for the flames. It was as if Din herself had stretched out her arm to smite the land once full of life. Smoke formed a large cloud that blotted out the sun, but the lack of light was hardly a problem. Piles of ash lay scattered throughout the ruined village from the already consumed shrubbery.

Link ran frantically through the wall of flames to one house in particular. With every step, the heat oppressed his skin even more. He submerged himself in the river to gain relief from the heat, but even the water flowing from the forest stream felt more like a hot spring from Death Mountain. Refusing to delay for a second longer, the hero sprang through the inferno until he reached the house he was looking for.

"Saria! Saria!"

Nothing greeted him save the crackling of burning wood and the empty furniture that awaited its destruction as he stood in the doorway. A mixture of panic and relief shot through him as he looked through the empty house. Debris began to fall from the ceiling above, propelling the hero back towards the exit. He jumped back outside just as the small wooden structure collapsed.

Link looked around desperately for any sign of a Kokiri but found none. He watched in horror as the place he had called home for many years slowly succumbed to the ravenous flames. His own house burned like a torch as the fire consumed it gluttonously. It was strange for the hero as his eyes took in the overwhelming sight. Even though his mind recognized that he really hadn't grown up here, it still felt like part of his childhood was going up in flames. Through the smoke and intense heat, he felt pangs of nostalgia as he recognized familiar landmarks like the river's stepping stones and the shop that sold deku shields. But why did he care so much for a place he didn't belong to?

Not wishing to witness any more destruction, Link reached for the Ocarina of Time and brought it to his lips. His fingers and mouth knew the notes instantly, although the name of the song escaped him. Perhaps the ancient hero within once knew it. As the music echoed through the abandoned village, the heavens tore open and released a torrent of rain to heal the land's aching burns. Thunder clapped in the clouds above as the fire sizzled below. The hero walked solemnly with a heavy heart as he put the ocarina away and made his way to the Lost Woods. The flames refused to yield quite yet to the heavenly water, so he was cautious in choosing a path.

As he climbed the vines and stood over the ledge overlooking Kokiri Forest, the hero's spirit grieved even more. Several structures had collapsed on themselves, and the beautiful particles that normally darted playfully through the air were nowhere to be seen. All of the vegetation was crisp and black as charcoal, and the entire village seemed devoid of life. He turned around and entered the only other part of the forest he could think to look.

Several twists and turns through the Lost Woods and Link found himself in the Sacred Forest Meadow. Thankfully, the flames hadn't come this far. A slight smile curled on his lips. This place had always been special; it had belonged to Saria and him alone.

The ground was moist and soft beneath the hero's feet from the magical downpour as he walked through the narrow hallways leading to the temple. His tunic was cool and soaked, but it was a welcome relief from the earlier heat. Through the narrow passageway, he could hear the voices of the Kokiri. Their chatter was fast and indistinguishable, but he could detect the uncertainty in their tones. Link let out a large sigh of relief. At least a few had escaped to safety.

As he reached the top of the stairs, he saw several Kokiri huddled together for comfort around Saria's favorite log, the large temple standing over them like a protective mother. As his boots thumped softly in the now moist grass, they turned around and looked at him with wide eyes. Their chatter ceased and the sanctuary became silent save the soft pattering of the rain on the ground. The crowd parted as one green-haired girl, slightly taller than the others, leapt off the central log and sprinted towards him, nearly knocking him over with a full body embrace.

"Link! You're safe! Thank the Goddesses!" She said through mixed sobs as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

Several of the other Kokiri gathered around him and began chattering to one another. Link immediately recognized one as Tifa, although Tatl was nowhere to be seen. Still holding the sobbing Saria in his arms, Link looked around to the rest of his companions. "What happened? The forest…"

The sanctuary quieted rather quickly. No one seemed to want to answer the question. The silence was intense as the rain continued to drench them.

Saria pulled away, her cheeks wet either from her mournful tears or the rain; it was impossible to tell. Her blue eyes looked imploringly at him. "Strange men from outside the forest came. They did this."

Link felt a lump in the back of his throat. "What did they want?"

His best friend was quiet for some time. She looked to the other children and then hushed her voice. "That's why I was so worried Link." She paused. "They were looking for you."

Link's eyes narrowed as he looked at the other kids. "Who was?"

Suddenly, the entire ground began to shake something fierce. Link was knocked off his feet and onto his rear end. The entire forest trembled violently, yet the other Kokiri hardly seemed to notice. They looked at him strangely and mouthed something, yet their words were robbed of sound.

"Link…" A voice in the sky called his name.

The trembling grew worse. The sky and the ground seemed to switch places and it became impossible to know which direction was down. The hero felt dizzy and attempted to close his eyes, but the beckoning voice grew louder.

"Link!"

Suddenly, the hero's eyes shot open. A silhouette stood threateningly over his sleeping frame. Defensive instincts kicked in; he threw off the blankets and reached for the stranger's neck with an animalistic grip. The figure struggled and fought to be free.

"Link! Stop! That hurts!" Tifa screamed, the black marbles in her eyes wide with fear.

The hero snapped to his senses and quickly released his grip. He looked around as if in a haze. "Wait…what?"

The forest sage was hyperventilating as her hands wrapped around her neck to defend it. She looked at the hero in shock, almost as if she didn't recognize him.

Link's mouth curled into a pained smile. "Sorry, Tifa, I thought you were a monster or something." He quickly thought of a justification for his behavior. "After so many night ambushes, I sorta react that way without thinking." Not that she would understand what he had just been through in the last few months.

The Kokiri stared at him for a moment. His neck felt hot with the shame of guilt. Had he traumatized her?

Tifa placed two fingers by her ears for horns. "ROOAAAR! I'M A MONSTER AND I'M GONNA EAT YOU!"

The hero chuckled in relief. That was close. He gave her a playful poke. He could play this game. "Then I guess I have to fight you."

The "monster" laughed a hearty laugh. "Not if I get you first!" Before Link could respond, the small girl sprung on top of him. The two green-clad combatants struggled in a mash of blankets on the bed, Link purposely holding back to give her a fair fight. Her arms pushed his face more than once as she scrambled on him like a monkey. After a small struggle, Tifa sat victoriously on his chest, a wide grin plastered on her face.

The hero tried to move but he didn't want her to fall off the bed. "Okay Tifa, I think you got me."

"I'm not Tifa! I'm a monster!" She said between restrained giggles. "Now you're trapped!"

Link looked at the forest girl laughing on his stomach. "Okay, Tifa, that's enough. Can you let me go now?" He looked at her only half-serious.

The forest sage tapped her chin for a moment. "Not yet. You have to be my prisoner first."

The hero sighed. What choice did he have? That was the price he paid for being ambushed in his sleep. He lied flat on his back with his hands trapped beneath pillows and blankets. He looked at the small bundle of energy. He envied her; her wide eyes and big smile held such innocence. The entire world was just a big game to her.

"Okay, then. What do I do as your prisoner?" He relented at last.

Tifa shifted her weight, causing the hero's face to twitch. "You have to answer my questions. Those are the rules." He nodded reluctantly. "First, who are you and where are you from?"

"M-my name is Link. I-I come from the l-land of Ordona." Link responded. He pretended to stutter and shiver, much to the forest girl's delight.

The forest sage giggled as she repeated the name to herself. "Okay, Sir Link." She paused for a moment to think of her next question. Her eyes quickly lit up with inspiration. "Since I caught you while you were sleeping, I want to know what you were just dreaming about."

The hero hesitated. "What if I don't want to talk about it?"

She put her hands on her hips and pouted. "You have to. You're my prisoner."

Link looked around hesitantly. "Well, I was in a forest. "

"Kokiri Forest?" Tifa leaned back, momentarily breaking her facade and causing Link to feel some uncomfortable pain on his stomach.

Link grimaced from the pressure on his torso. "Actually, it was. And you were there. And there was this green-haired girl named Saria."

"You saw Saria!" The Kokiri girl jumped in excitedly. "How do you know her?"

Link's arms were going numb from the lack of circulation. Her constant motion was sending throbs of pain through his stomach as well. Luckily he hadn't eaten anything recently. "I'm not really sure. Who is she, anyways?"

At last, Tifa rolled off his stomach and to his side. She leaned her back against his ribs as she recalled days long past. "She was always so upbeat and friendly. She stood up to Mido whenever he picked on us. The Great Deku Tree loved her. She was best friends with Link." She paused for a second and giggled. "Not you, though. The other Link." She hugged her knees to her chest as her face saddened. "She was so sad when he left the forest though. She waited for him every day by the bridge until he finally came back."

"Sounds like more than friends." Link said to himself as he finally sat up. He clenched his fingers to return the blood to his arms again. "So what happened to her? How come I didn't see her in the forest?"

Tifa shrugged her shoulders. "She left the village with Link a really long time ago."

"But I thought Kokiri normally don't leave the village."

"She and Link were best friends. Maybe they went to explore other parts of the forest together."

Link nodded. "But I'm sure they both came to visit."

The Kokiri's face saddened. "Not as much as I hoped. After the big flames ate our village, the Deku Tree hid us from the outside world." She sniffled. "I never saw either one of them after that."

The hero's ears perked when he heard the mention of the flames. He instantly recalled the dream. "A fire?"

Tifa shook her head and closed her eyes. "Mhmm. It was those scary men. You know…the ones that tried to kidnap Zelda. They started it."

Link's eyes flashed. Scorpio?

She turned her body and pushed herself underneath his arm. Link smiled and allowed her to snuggle in the nook of his shoulder. He felt her slight trembling against his sleeve. His other hand ruffled her auburn hair playfully, drawing a joyful giggle.

Suddenly, a question dawned on Link. "Tifa, why did you wake me up anyways?"

Her hand tugged gently on his sleeve. "Because I haven't seen you lately. I miss you."

The hero shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "But I've been here the entire time." Aside from being trapped in the past for months, he thought to himself.

Tifa pouted. "But you weren't at dinner last night. And you weren't at breakfast either."

Link looked towards the window. "Breakfast? How long have I been asleep?" He could hear the songs of a few birds through the glass. The blush of dawn peaked through a gap in the curtains and shone on the soft carpet below. He looked to the fireplace, but the flames had been extinguished for quite some time.

The Kokiri girl shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know." She snuggled herself tighter in his shoulder. "You are going to come to the party tomorrow, right?"

"Party?"

"Tifa! There you are!" Tatl's voice called as the fairy flew through the open door. "You took off when I wasn't looking. I've been searching everywhere for you."

Tifa giggled as the fairy landed on the toe of her boot. The small sprite looked at the Kokiri girl sternly. "I'm sorry, Link. Has she been bothering you?"

The hero patted the forest sage on the shoulder. "No, not at all. Though I am more awake now because of her."

The fairy sighed. "What am I going to do with you, girl?" She flew off the boot and rested in the Kokiri girl's hair. "Say, Link, where have you been? It's not like you to miss a meal...never mind two."

Link's lips tightened. "Oh…about that. I guess I just had a long day yesterday. The whole incident with Kari last night didn't help either."

Tatl nodded. "I heard about that. How's he doing?"

The hero sighed. "The loser is doing fine. The whole thing was a misguided practical joke between him and Colin. It was his attempt at humor."

The fairy nodded. "I see."

Tifa leaned forward, nearly knocking the fairy off balance. "So Link, are you gonna dance with me at the party tomorrow night?"

Link scratched his head. "What's this party you keep talking about?"

"Tifa, honey, Link was too busy sawing logs, remember? So he missed the announcement," Tatl corrected.

Now the hero was really confused. "Announcement?"

Tatl flew from Tifa's hair to the post of the bed. "At breakfast, Queen Ambi announced she was throwing a ball in Zelda's honor tomorrow night. All of us are her honored guests, though she wanted you to know that your presence was specially requested."

Link felt himself getting hot under the collar. "Oh, I see. I've never been to one of those before." He subconsciously brushed a hand through his untamed hair. "Kinda short notice, isn't it?"

"Maybe Ambi knew we would have to leave soon. After all, we can't stay here much longer," Tatl suggested. "There are other sages to awaken."

The hero sighed. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do for this sort of thing. How am I supposed to dress? How am I supposed to act? I'm used to fighting monsters and running in the wild with the wind on my face. I've never danced in my life." He paused. "Well, not formally."

Tifa chuckled. "Then you can dance with me, silly. I'll teach you."

Tatl sighed. "This isn't one of the Kokiri festivals. This is a formal celebration."

Link dragged his hand across his face in frustration. "That just makes it worse."

The fairy chuckled. "I must say I'm looking forward to watching you drag your feet on the floor."

The hero shook his head. "If I'm getting forced into this, I'm bringing Kari with me." He paused for a second. He then imagined what the twilight princess would look like in one of Zelda's dresses. He laughed at the thought. "And Midna." If there was anyone he wanted to dance with, it was her. He just wasn't sure how willing she would be after their conversation in 's laughter echoed through the whole room. "I could get them to dance!"

Link crossed his arms. "We'll see about that." His face dropped. "I'll just be glad when it's over."

Tatl rolled her eyes. "Come now, Link. It won't be that bad. I'm sure if you ask Zelda, she'll be happy to show you a thing or two." She paused for a moment. "Come to think of it, she might even have some ideas to replace that dirty tunic of yours. Do you wear anything else?"

The feral warrior scowled at her. "I happen to like this tunic. It's highly functional."

The fairy sighed. "If you insist, but I suggest wearing something different." She flew atop the Kokiri girl's hair and gave it a gentle tug. "Come along, Tifa, we should let Link be." She laughed aloud. "He has a lot of preparation to do for tomorrow night."

The girl's face saddened. "Okay." She looked to Link. "Promise you'll dance with me?"

Link smiled. "Of course."

Her face brightened considerably. "Yay! I get to dance with Link!" She carefully squeezed out from under Link's arm and jumped off the bed. "See you soon!" she said before turning around. Tatl held on for dear life as the Kokiri skipped out the door and down the hall.

The hero sat alone in silence for several minutes. His mind recalled all the dangers he had faced, all the places he had traveled, all the monsters he had slain. Faces and memories flashed through his mind like pictographs, each leaving quickly as another memory took its place.

The hero looked to the soft golden triangles on his left hand. "Is it sad I'm more scared of this dance than I was of Ganondorf?" He chuckled at the thought. Saying it aloud only made it sound more ridiculous. He continued to gaze at the mark of the Goddesses. "I wonder if this thing will help me dance better. Wouldn't that save me a world of embarrassment?"

A/N- Hey everyone, sorry for the big cliffhanger last chapter. I was intending on getting this chapter up sooner to relieve the suspense, but I just started a new job and I ended up getting sidetracked on a different project (more about that later). I decided this time it would be better to end on a light-hearted note. And for those who like a little fluff (aka romance) in their stories, I think you'll enjoy the next chapter.

Now about that project…my friend and illustrator TheWorldNeedsPeace brought to my attention an idea a few authors in the Zelda community are working on right now. The idea is to bring together a group of writers to attempt to tackle every possible pairing in the Zelda series. We have some standard pairs (Link x Zelda, Link x Malon), some unusual pairs (Malon x Dark, Great Fairy x Link), and some downright insane pairings (Epona x Ganondorf's horse, Link x Fierce Deity), so if you're interested, I'd highly recommend and appreciate you guys checking it out. The story is called Across the Fandom by Insane. Certifiably. We're still working through pairings and we're still looking for authors so feel free to join if you're interested. Once again, this project represents contributions from different authors so all sorts of writing styles are incorporated. Each chapter contains a different pairing by a different author. Personally, I enjoyed all of them. I wrote the Tetra x Link pairing, and TheWorldNeedsPeace wrote the Great Fairy x Link pairing, so you should def check those out if you don't read all of them. Well, that's about all.

On a side note, this story has received over 10000 hits! Thanks to all who made this possible! Next chapter coming soon…so see you then!