Chapter 4: Eight Years Later

"Yah!" I shouted, launching myself towards my dad. He had let me borrow his wooden shield for the purpose of practicing swordsmanship.

"Give up yet Landon?" Dad asked me as he and I crossed blades. I tried with every ounce of my strength to push against the force of my dad trying to overcome me with his Master Sword.

"Never!" I grunted, finally shoving him back a bit. Once my blade was free, I rolled backwards, immediately bringing up my shield to catch the blow Dad tried to land on me.

"Very good." He praised. "You've learned well my son. What say you and I take a break and stop ignoring poor Relena over there?" He offered his hand to pick me off of the ground, which I took. Dad dusted off my tunic and patted my shoulders. Relena waited on the stairs, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. She smiled as we walked closer to her. "Hello, Relena."

"Hello Your Majesty. You were very impressive today." She complimented. She unfolded her arms and gave me a friendly hug when I reached her.

"Thanks so much Relena. That's so nice of you to say." Dad said.

"You were great too Landon." She added.

"Thanks."

"There's one thing I don't understand though. Who decides to train on their birthday?" She asked me.

"My birthday was yesterday actually." I informed her.

"Ah, but you remember that your mother and I haven't given you your present yet?" Dad chimed in.

"What do you mean?"

Just then, Dad's mentor Rusl came riding from the south Hyrule Field. He stopped his horse and walked over to my dad with welcome arms. "Good day Your Majesty. Link, m'boy, it has been far too long."

Dad and Rusl hugged and when they broke the hug, Dad said, "Indeed it has old friend. Have you brought the present I requested?"

"I have." He pulled a magnificent looking sheath from the satchel on his horse. The hilt alone on this sword was beautifully crafted and it was one of the most glorious swords I have ever seen other than the Master Sword. Dad told me all about the Master Sword's abilities to stand against even the purest of evil without falter and only my father was chosen to be its wielder. Dad broke through my thoughts and called me back to attention.

"Son, I had this sword made for your eighteenth birthday but only after I have deemed you worthy to wield it. Today is that day my son. This sword is yours."

I took the sword from his hands. "Really?"

"And to go with it," He pulled a Hylian shield from Rusl's horse as well, "A Hylian shield. You know how to use them Son. I employ you to always wield these for the good of the kingdom; protect the ones you love and all of Hyrule. Some day Son, the people will look to you to protect them. I know that seems like a big burden sometimes but always remember that you do have a choice. Look to yourself to know what's right and you'll never go wrong."

I smiled at my gifts and smiled at my father. I pulled him into a manly hug. "Thanks Dad. It's a great honor."

He pulled out of my hug and patted my shoulder. "I'm glad you like it son." Dad turned back to Relena. "Relena dear, why don't you go back inside and see if Zelda is ready for some lunch."

She bowed. "Right away Your Majesty. I'll see you in a little while Landon." Relena walked up the stairs and disappeared through the South Gates. Dad gave me a suspicious glance.

"What's that about Son?" He asked.

"Relena and I are going to take a horse ride into Faron Woods. And um…we're actually going for a picnic." For some unknown reason to me, Dad smirked after I said that. I secretly hoped that we weren't going to have one of these talks but Dad had that look in his eye.

"I remember the first time I took your mom on a picnic to Faron Woods. It was where I tried to tell her that I loved her. So, Landon, why are you guys going to Faron Woods huh?" He nudged my shoulder.

"We're just…going for a picnic together." I pulled out my bow and arrow and readied my aim at a nearby tree.

"Oh come on Landon. Are you sure there is nothing going on between you and Relena?"

I dropped my bow and nearly fired the arrow into the ground. "Dad, nothing is going on between me and Relena. We're just very good friends, okay."

His smile grew even wider. "Whatever you say Landon. When will you be coming home?"

"I don't know yet Dad but I just want to spend the day with her. As friends." Dad dropped it from that point on. Together we hit a few targets and returned to the stables where servants waited with my picnic basket and Rain, saddled and ready for depature.

"Where's Autumn?" I asked. Shortly after we turned sixteen, Mom and Dad gave Relena a Quarter Horse mare. She named her Autumn after her color and her Autumn birthday.

"She's right here Landon." Relena suddenly appeared into the stable atop Autumn. Her hair was blowing in the wind, her riding attire was very well fitted. Her smile beamed in glow of the sun coming through the cracks in the stable. She was…beautiful. "Are you ready to go or what Landon?"

"You better hurry Landon." Dad encouraged me. "It's best not to keep a lady waiting."

"Dad!" I whispered under my breath. I mounted Rain and met up with Relena and Autumn. "Let's go Relena." She giggled and followed my lead to Faron Woods. I looked over my shoulder at Dad; he smiled and waved and he was joined by Mom. She wrapped her arms through his and laid her head on his shoulder. And that was how I left my parents.

Relena and I were nearing Faron Woods and we decided to slow down the horses and just walk the rest of the way. "Hey Landon." Relena suddenly said.

"What is it Relena?"

"Your dad, he sure seems to know a lot about fighting."

"It's not that. He was just a farm hand."

"You're kidding." We reached Faron Woods but we lingered on our horses, engrossed in this conversation.

"No, really. He's told me this story a million times. He used to be a farmhand and then his friend and the village kids got taken away by some evil creatures and he was thrown into saving Hyrule."

Relena got down off of Autumn. "So how did your dad meet your mom?"

"He said they knew each other as kids. But since she had to learn to rule, she and Dad hadn't really seen each other until Dad saved her and the kingdom." I dismounted from Rain and patted her neck affectionately.

"He is very good at swordsmanship." Relena complimented.

"Yeah he is. I just hope I can be as good as him."

"I think you've got a long way to go." Relena teased.

"Oh really?" I asked. "Perhaps you'd like a demonstration of my abilities?"

"Hmm, what abilities would those be?" She asked, smiling and giggling.

"Alright Miss Relena, you are about to eat your words. Come on." I pulled her by the hand and lead her up the path to Ordon.

"Landon, where are we going?"

"I'm going to show you just what my father has taught me."

"What about the horses?" She asked, no longer fighting my hand in hers. Once I realized that, I felt as if my palms were sweating and my heartbeat was much faster.

"Right…we should…take them with us." My eyes found their way to our hands that were still intertwined together. I dropped her hand awkwardly and walked over to Rain. I took her reins in my hand and lead her, Relena, and Autumn to my dad's home village of Ordon. The scarecrow dummy he set up years ago was still there; obviously the pumpkin head was changed over the years. No one would want to beat on a dummy that smelled like rotting pumpkin. Of course, now that dummy was in the yard of Bromley and Ilia. The house came into view, Ilia and her husband were coming out of the house with a set of twins and a little girl eagerly climbed down the ladder.

"Who's there?" Ilia asked.

"Um…it's me…Landon. And my…friend Relena."

"Oh, you mean Prince Landon right?" Bromley asked, pointing at me.

I tried not to roll my eyes but I said, "Yes, Prince Landon. And this is my friend Relena."

"What can we do for you?" Ilia asked, juggling one of the twins on her hip.

"Well, we were wondering if we could practice some moves on the dummy that my dad had built over there. Would you mind?" I asked politely.

"Of course not. I told Bromley that he should probably take that thing apart since no one was using it but if you'd like to use it today you are more than welcome. My husband and I are on our way to my father's for a visit so…train away to your heart's content."

I bowed politely in thanks. They disappeared down the hill into the village and left Relena and I completely alone.

"They were nice people." She commented.

"Yeah. Ilia was a friend of Dad's when he lived here. So anyway, back to my original point."

"Which was what exactly?" She smiled tauntingly. Relena was trying her very best to bait me into showing off. I couldn't figure out why but my best guess was that she just wanted to tease me.

"I have improved in my training. I can tear apart that dummy over there." I smiled, pulling out my sword.

"Prove it." She took several steps away from the dummy and folded her hands behind her back. I took a deep breath and readied my sword. Like a striking cobra, I wailed on that dummy. Strike after strike, that dummy just wobbled to and fro. I could count each strike after each move, including special ones that my dad said were passed down to him by a golden wolf. Relena seemed impressed but her face wasn't expressing much of it.

"And there you have it." I put my sword back in the sheath.

"Landon, I've seen those moves about a million times. I meant with your other…tools. Like…the bow and arrow."

"Oh. Well…I guess I can show you that." I pulled my bow out and an arrow from my quiver. I turned back to Relena. "Well come over here."

"Wait, what?"

"You think my skills are lacking, I want to see you try. Come over here and show me what you can do." She smirked and walked over to me. "Try it out."

She looked at me, shocked. "But…I don't know what I'm doing." I faced her towards the dummy and wrapped her right hand around the bow and held it there.

I cleared my throat as silently as I could manage. "Okay, so, you hold the bow like this." I grabbed her left hand and put the arrow in it. I brought her hand back as if I was firing the bow myself. "Next, pull back on the arrow like this. Keep your elbow level like this." I removed my hand from her elbow and moved it to her shoulder, forcing her to bring it down to the right level for her to shoot. The smell of her hair filled my nose; she smelled like roses and the castle. She smelled like…home. I immediately pushed that thought out of my head; Relena was my friend, she would never fall for me.

"Am I doing this right Landon?" She asked, breaking through my clashing inner monologue.

"Yes. Now, when I give the word, just let go of the arrow."

"That's it?" She asked.

"Yes." I took a few steps back. "Don't let go of anything but that arrow and never lose sight of the target. Now, are you ready?"

"Yes." She nodded. I could see her tremble just a bit but I decided to let it slide.

"Okay in 3…2…1…Fire." She did as I instructed and she managed to hit the torso of the dummy.

"I did it!" She screamed.

"That's pretty good for your first time I'll admit." Considering that I didn't even hit the target my first time. I was ten but even so, it's kind of embarrassing.

"Can you show me something else? You're a very good teacher." She handed my bow back to me. When I went to take it from her, our hands met again. This time I could swear I felt a flash of warmth come over my hand as it touched hers. I couldn't explain what it was but all I knew was that I didn't want it stop.

"Sure…I've got…a slingshot…and um…" I suddenly couldn't think. Why was this happening? What was happening? Could my dad have been right? Was I falling for my best friend, my only friend in this entire world? The real question though was what she thought of me. Should I just ask her? Or should I just tell her how I feel and wait for her response?

"Landon."

"Yes Relena?"

"Umm….are you going to take back your bow?" She smiled nervously and let go of the bow. I didn't have a full grasp on it so it fell to the ground with a light thud. I laughed nervously and bent down to pick it up.

"Sorry." I couldn't stop laughing nervously. "Relena, can I just say something?"

"What is it Landon?"

"I….I'm just really glad that you're my best friend." I finished.

"You're my best friend too Landon." She gave me a friendly hug. Holding her, something just felt right about it. It may have been a friendly hug and maybe she didn't want it to be anything more but I knew without a doubt that holding her made me feel….complete. I still couldn't shake the feeling that maybe my dad was right. But the hug ended too soon because Cyrus came charging through the forest. "Cyrus, what is it?" Relena asked. She walked toward him. Then we noticed the blood pouring from in his suit of armor and the arrow that caused it.

"Oh my gosh." Relena cried, "What happened?"

"Prince Landon, it's your parents." Cyrus barely managed to get out through his clenched teeth. He cradled his abdomen, around where the arrow struck him.

"What about them? What's happened to them Cyrus?" I asked, running to kneel beside him. Part of me was trying to think of the best way to help him and part of me was completely focused on what was going on with my parents. "Cyrus, what happened to my mom and dad?"

"They've been captured young Prince. They are gone." My heart shattered. Not two hours ago, my parents were happily looking on after Relena and I, still in love and serene. Now, it seems that all as been plunged into chaos and sorrow.

I stood up, pulling half of Cyrus and Relena pulling up the other half. "We have to get back to the castle. We'll also send for the doctor on our way through Castle Town."

"Right Landon. We better hurry." Relena and I helped Cyrus back onto his horse, immediately rushing back to Rain and Autumn once we got him situated. We galloped with full velocity back to the castle; thoughts crowded my mind. What was going to happen now? Who could've done this? Who would do this? I had not one single answer and it was at that moment that I would not stop until I found the answers. I asked the first guard I saw once we reached the gates to hurry to the doctor's home and summon him to the castle immediately. We pressed on as fast as we could, carrying Cyrus the whole way.

We set him down in the main ballroom and waited anxiously for the doctor to arrive. The guards burst through the doors with the doctor smushed in between the two of them. He went right to work on Cyrus, removing the arrow and stopping the bleeding. It seemed to take forever but the doctor finally put away his tools and said, "Cyrus will heal quite nicely. I wish you a pleasant day Your Highness." He bowed and left the castle.

"Thank you for your help Your Highness. It was not necessary." Cyrus thanked me.

"I've known you my entire life Cyrus. I couldn't just leave you in Ordon to die. No thanks is necessary."

"What do we do know Landon?" Relena asked me. She held onto me; I guessed she was worried I just might collapse from the stress of today. And she had every right to be. With everything that happened in so short of a time, it was too overwhelming. My dad's words rang in my head.

"Landon. Someday the kingdom will look to you. You must be strong and persevere. It is important that you always remember what you stand for and never give up." My dad said.

I mentally shook myself. "We need to look for a clue."

"A clue?" Relena asked.

"Yes. A note, a piece of clothing, anything that can tell me something about my parents and if they're okay." I looked down to Relena. "I'm sorry Relena. I just wanted us to have a nice picnic today."

She rubbed my arm in comfort. "It's okay Landon. I know you're worried. I am too. But we'll find them. If I learned anything from living with your family for all of these years, it's that you never give up. Nothing can keep your family down."

We scoured all over the castle; we searched the ballrooms, the kitchen, the throne room. And then we made our way to the bedrooms. Skewered to the door of my parent's room was a written note signed to me.

"Landon." Relena couldn't think of anything else to say. I took down the note and held it at a length both of us could read. It said…

Dear Prince Landon,

If you want to see your parents again, you'll have to prove that you're the son of the Great Hero. There are six temples that could be housing one of your parents. Which ones will be up to you to figure out. The six temples are: The Forest Temple, The Death Mountain Temple, The Water Temple, Snowpeak Ruins, The Temple of Time, and The City in the Sky. If I were you, I'd get started looking for your mommy and daddy. I'm afraid they don't have a lot of time. See you soon little prince.

Demetrius

I tore the note in half; anger consumed me and I couldn't help but through myself into the wall.

"Landon." Relena tried to reach me. "Landon, calm down. It's okay."

"No." I screamed. "It's not okay Relena. My parents have been abducted and I'm being sent on a wild goose chase. Who knows if they're even in one of those six temples like he claims they are? I don't know if I can do this."

She pulled me away from the wall and into a hug. She held herself to me until I gave in and wrapped my arms around her. Then she whispered in my ear. "You can do this Landon. You've got what it takes. You are the son of the Chosen Hero. If anyone can, you can."

"You really believe that?"

"I do. Would I lie to you?" She asked.

We held each other for a little bit longer. There was one thing I needed to get before we left. I didn't bother telling Relena; I marched straight into my parent's bedroom. Dad's wardrobe rested on the other side of the room and inside was the garb of the Chosen Hero. It has seen many battles and from the history my father told me, many Chosen Heroes. Given the current situation, I am the chosen hero for my parents. Demetrius wanted me specifically and therefore only I could help my parents now. It turns out my dad was right; someday Hyrule would look to me. Today is that day.