Chapter 3: You've started a war

Link shifted in and out of consciousness as he was carried somewhere, quick glances of green and browns shifting through his mind. The deep voice of Darbus came in spots as Link tried to stay alive. He felt himself being sat on something, the voice of someone familiar calling his name. Just as he began to fade into the darkness, he heard her voice.

"Link! It's Ilia, come back!"

Link's eyes fluttered open, before closing, his body leaking blood. Ilia yelled at him to come back, as Link's vision blurred, his consciousness slipping away.

Link's thoughts began to stir. He saw himself, as if from another's eyes, chained by his ankles and wrists, suspended in the air. It was dark, and he could barely make out where he was. The walls, floors, and ceilings were all sandy bricks, with dirt and sand scattered on the floor. He seemed to be beaten and broken, bruises and cuts covering his body. He was knocked out, not moving, save for labored breathing. A loud clang echoed through the room, as a door opened, and a figure in a brown cloak and hood slowly approached Link. He whispered something, as the scene began to blur, Link losing consciousness once more, his vision ending...

"He'll be okay, Ilia." Mayor Bo said, wrapping his arm around the distraught girl. Darbus was pacing quickly on the porch of the home, and Stark hadn't left Link's side. Mayor Bo sat down. "The doctor said that the arrow's force broke one of Link's ribs, and that he lost a lot of blood, so he'll be weak, but he'll recover." Ilia sat down in relief. "Thanks, dad...I'll go tell Darbus." Inside Link's room, sat Stark, right beside him. He sat mostly in silence, staring at his friend. "I was there, you know." He said quietly. "I've never mentioned it before. But I was there. You rode into battle on that grand horse of yours, the princess on your back. I was there. We all were. We watched you do what nobody else could. We saw you fight the devil. We saw you. I..saw you." He said looking down. "To me, you were like a god. You strode into that castle, and came out with Ganondorf RUNNING. You scared him, captain. You showed us non heroes that we all can be someone, something greater. And that's what set you apart from the other heroes of the Resistance, and Zelda. When you and the princess came back, we were hiding behind the debris, and we gathered together, scared. But you gave that speech, and we all looked up to you and her. But after the rebuilding started, you were the only one still being a hero. Zelda sat and wrote papers, the Resistance drank themselves stupid, but you...you didn't stop. You once told me-" the door to Link's room swung open, and Stark silenced himself. Rusl stood, his aged face concerned. "You must be Stark?" He said, clearly distraught, his beard ruffled. "Yes, sir." Rusl closed the door. "I'm Rusl. Link's mentor. Darbus told me everything. I was on guard duty, and...The Hyrule Soldiers are on their way here." Stark's eyes widened, fear filling his eyes. "What?!" Rusl sat beside Link. "Apparently Ordon is next on the list. We're high priority, it appears. It'll take them about a week, but we nonetheless have to move." Stark started to speak, but was stopped. "Snowpeak." Rusl looked at the bed, as Link's eyes were opened, but tired, a smirk on his face. "I've taken worse than arrows, I don't know why you kids were scared." He teased. Rusl chuckled. "I've missed you, brother." Link sat up, cringing, Stark reaching to help him. Link put his hand up. "I've got it." Rusl sighed. "Link, you know we'll likely be interrogated about you. They'll ask if you're here, or if not, where you are. We are loyal to Hyrule, you know this..." Link looked angered. "Rusl, you can't-" "But we are more loyal to our own. We will stick with you till the end of the line. I'll go with you to Snowpeak. Ashei's there, anyways. You'll be well hidden, and well protected." Link smiled. "You still haven't given up on me?" "Never."

Zelda sat in her office, reading over important documents. She had heard of Link's attack on the soldiers, but had yet to take action, waiting for the proper moment to attack. She assembled a task force that consisted of people loyal to her cause, The Zora Prince Ralis, Shad of the Resistance, who was present in the Kakariko event, and Ledo, the son of Renado. They were all currently being trained by the highest ranking soldiers. Zelda poored over her papers. A knock on her door broke her concentration, as she looked up. Mordu stepped in. "Princess, they are ready. Are you?" She nodded, standing up with a sigh. "I'm not going to let this escalate. It's been weeks. Link has to be captured. I don't know what's gone into him, but...this is what needs to be done. Fetch me my Rapier, and assemble The Squad. We head for Ordon."

Link was walking with a cane fashined from a branch, as he packed blankets and coats into a pouch in his belt, overseeing the final construction of the carriage that would look to be the one to carry them across Hyrule, and into the frozen wasteland of Snowpeak. While he did this, Rusl and Darbus were carving a tunnel through the water, which would open into a river that if followed, would bring them directly to the Peak Province. Link knew the squad of soldier's ariving at Ordon would be the Elite, and knew a carriage was to slow, and easily interceptable. He saw Rusl climb out of the water, and motioned to him. Link nodded. "Stark!" he called. Stark was sitting with the children, telling them stories of Link's heroics as they listened eagerly. He told them he had to go, and they all protested, hugging at his waist as he looked at Link with a grin. Link walked over to the water, and tossed his cane aside. "Leaving already, huh?" Said a kind voice behind him. He turned, and faced Ilia. "Ilia...I have to go. I've already put everyone here at risk. You know I'll come back." Ilia looked down. "You're reckless. You should settle down, find...someone." Link smiled. "One day, Ilia. But there's a lot to do before anyone can get to that point." She looked away, before suddenly hugging him. "You are too mean." She said, pouting. Link smiled, hugging her back, before giving her a goodbye, as he and Stark dipped into the water. "Colin!" He called. The young man peaked from the driver's seat of the carriage. "Time to go?" He said. Link nodded. "Hopefully, I'll meet you there." Colin nodded, and started the horses as he rode out of Ordon. Link and his group dove down, and began swimming through the tubes.

Link had been gone for almost 2 hours, and Ilia sat thinking. She took in the sounds of the forest, the birds chirping, the wind blowing against the lush grass, the horsehooves beating. "Horse hooves?" She said, snapping from her dream. Along the rode came a squad of heavily armored soldiers, with a grand woman with a rapier between them. She leaped up, as the guards rose their swords at her. "People of Ordon!" Called the captain. "Nobody move, we are here for Link!"

Phew! That was a long one, huh? I really hope you guys like this one, I'm so excited to share with you the epic twists that happen in this story! But first, I want you guys to review, telling me what you think will happen next! Thanks for viewing, and I hope you're anticipating chapter 4!

Also, as a side note, for those who have played TP, the armored soldiers of Zelda's squad look like light versions of Darknuts. ;D

Are you Team Zelda, or Team Link?

-Darth Ganon