Chapter 4

Link and Zelda strolled through the crowd and into the center of the ranch to see what caught the villager's attention. What they saw is something truly odd.

A large bird was flying in a circular motion above the ranch in the sky, similar to how buzzards do before they feast. The bird is different from the hawks or any bird that both friends see around Ordon or the entirety of the Faron region. It has hawk-like features but is around the same size as the average eagle, maybe even more extensive. Its feathers were a dark purple color, also complemented with long bright green tail feathers that trailed behind by several feet.

No one could figure out what species of bird belongs to. Some villagers looked in awe. Others were uneasy at the sight of the creature. The two friends fall into the latter. They silently agreed to head over to the ranch's entrance. Zelda's parents, Rusl & Uli, their son, and his band of friends were also there.

Colin dashes over to the pair. "Link, do you know what kind of bird is that?"

"I don't…"

Colin then ran into the crowd in hopes of getting a better look. The villager's eyes still lingered on the sky, still on the bird still flying above. Then, just as soon as it had arrived, it suddenly flew out of sight. Those in the ranch just stood around confusedly.

"Mom, Dad," Zelda got the attention of her parents. "What was that?"

"That bird just appeared and just...started flying around. I've never seen anything like it," Isabel stated.

"Do you know what kind it-"

"No, we don't," Bo answered, just as unsure as everyone else was.

Suddenly, the goats in the barn start screeching loudly. Isabel noticed a flock of smaller birds frantically flying away from the area as if something terrible was about to occur. Epona, Ahearn, and a nearby horse connected to a wagon carrying the materials used for the holiday also started acting jittery. The horse's owners came to their side in hopes of calming them. Rusl did the same with the wagon horse.

"Easy, girl." Link patted the still unsettled Epona.

"What's gotten into them?" Zelda kept a tight grip on her horse's bridle to keep him calm. "Ahearn isn't this apprehensive."

"Unless...somethings not right," Rusl suggested.

Isabel felt a sudden dread in her chest. Alarms were going off in her head as her motherly instincts practically screamed at her to get both daughters in her sight.

"Zelda, where's your sister?"

"In the crowd, I think."

"Stay here." Isabel darted into the crowd, with Bo following behind, leaving behind a perplexed Zelda.

It then grew quiet. And not the peaceful kind of quiet. It was the deathly type. Zelda felt a sudden sense of dread in her chest. It was so bad that it made her nauseous. What was making her feel suddenly like this? Her thoughts ceased when something caught her eye. In the distant trees, she swore something shiny for one measly second.

Then she heard a loud boom echo through the air.

A vast fiery explosion occurred at the center of the ranch. Bodies of people went flying around. Next are screams of sheer terror from those who managed to avoid it. Figures with dark-colored armor that covered their whole body appeared from the surrounding area. They shot fire arrows from all sorts of directions which struck several people. Some had exploded upon impact.

Villagers ran around in every direction, trying to escape. Some got hit by the arrows. Beth, Talo & Malo ran towards the wagon, where Link & Zelda helped them on while Rusl helped his wife get in.

"Come on!" Link placed Beth in the wagon, and Zelda put the brothers in.

"HELP!"

"Colin!" Rusl eyes widen at the sound of his son's voice.

"Zelda, get the others out of here! I'll meet you at the tree!" Without thinking twice, Link ran into the ranch to find the boy.

Zelda did not want to leave Link behind in this chaos, but Zelda knew that she and others needed to take this chance to escape or risk getting killed. Reluctantly, she climbs upon Ahearn's back.

"Rusl, we need to leave!"

"But, Colin-"

"Link will find him! We have to go now!"

As much as he wanted to find his son, Rusl knew waiting was a luxury they could not afford now. All he can do was to rely on Link to rescue Colin. Rusl got on the wagon where his wife and Colin's friends were and rode away, with Zelda riding by their side.

The village itself was an absolute nightmare. Houses were burning, people were running around trying to escape, and the dark figures were slaying anyone without hesitation. Amid all this chaos, Zelda found her parents and sister. All three had their hands locked on, running as fast as their legs could.

"Mom! Dad! Ilia! Over here!"

The family, fortunately, heard Zelda's call, and all three of them managed to catch up to her. Bo pulled Ilia forward, with Isabel practically throwing her onto the white horse. Ilia grabbed Zelda's outstretched hand, holding on so tight that she could crush it.

"Hold on!"

Zelda pulled her sister up. Ilia tightly wrapped her arms around her sister once she was secured.

Bo and Isabel attempt to jump on the wagon. Uli reached out her hand, goading them to climb on. Unfortunately, before one of them could even get the chance to grab her hand, one of the bomb arrows landed between the wagon and the couple, knocking them onto the ground.

"Mom! Dad! NO!"

Ilia screamed in horror, reaching out for her parents. Zelda grabbed her sister's arm in case her impulsiveness took over. Turning her head as the view of her parents got small the further they got away. As much as it pains her, she cannot return for them. Otherwise, she could get killed. With a heavy heart, Zelda continues riding away, ordering Ilia to hold on and Rusl to follow her. They kept riding like the wind even after they rode over the Ordon Bridge. The last thing they heard was another explosion as they went straight into Faron Woods.

Link ran through the field, following the sounds of Colin's cry for help as he kept searching for the young boy. Arrows were still flying around, some barely missing him. The only means of defense Link had was his blue shield. The smell of fire continued to envelop the air, making it so hard for him to breathe that he tied a bandana around his face. After vigorous searching, he found two little legs squirming underneath a man's body with an arrow in the center of his back. The link wasn't sure if this man was protecting Colin or got caught in the crossfire. Regardless, Link moved the body away and helped the boy up.

"Are you okay, Colin?"

Without getting a chance to answer, Colin's eye's suddenly widened as they pointed at something behind Link. "Behind you!"

Link quickly turned back just in time to see a curved blade swing down at him. He pushes Colin out of the way as the edge strikes the ground.

"Get to Epona!" Colin followed Link's command and ran.

Link stood up, unsheathed his sword, and looked at his attacker. Unlike the other figures, this is a dark-skinned woman with red hair styled in a ponytail and loose bangs. She wore a dark-red sleeveless top that exposed her muscular midriff & arms and wore matching color pants. Armour covers parts of her arms & legs. A red veil covered her face; the only thing seen was her amber eyes.

They circled each other before the woman lunged at Link with her blade, to which he parried it with his shield, which caused the woman to fall off balance. The woman quickly recovered and attempted another swipe, to which Link responded with a counter-attack. They repeated this for several long seconds until they both entered a clash. This woman was a skilled warrior, the likes Link had never combated before.

Link felt the woman's strength pushing against him. Just as she was about to claim victory, Link felt a sudden growth of power. He claims more ground over the woman and knocks her away from the blades, thus winning the clash. Link took that opportunity to knock her out with his shield.

Link watched the unconscious woman, trying to get his bearings. On his left hand, Link felt a tingling sensation. However, there was nothing when Link lifted it to take a look. Whatever that surge of power he felt had dissipated.

"LINK!"

The sounds of Colin shouting snap Link back to reality. More figures, including several others resembling the woman, were advancing toward him. He quickly ran to where Colin was. Link hoisted him on Epona before putting himself behind the boy to shield him from any more attacks. They rode away from the ranch with the bandana around Link's face flying off.

The pungent smell of blood & fire hit Link's nose as Epona galloped through the burning village. Link shields Colin's eyes from the carnage around them. Link's heart ached as they heard the screams. Screams of those he knew pretty much all of his life. And he couldn't help any of them unless he wanted to sentence him and Colin to death.

They soon arrived at the village outskirts, with the bridge just a short distance from them. Before they were even halfway there, Link noticed the destroyed bridge, halting Epona to stop. Going a long way was not an option since Link wanted to avoid running into more of the attackers. That left only one alternative.

"Colin, No matter what happens. Don't. Let. Go."

Colin wrapped his arms around the mare's neck. Link commands Epona to run at the highest speed she can achieve. Epona leaped off the edge and over the gorge. All three only barely landed on the other side before she ran straight into the woods.

Zelda's group had safely arrived at The Great Faron Tree not too long ago. They were all waiting for Link and hoped he and Colin escaped the village. Every minute that passed felt like an hour. The longer they waited, the more they feared the worst had happened.

"It's been too long!" Uli cried out, almost on the brink of tears. Considering the situation, worrying and being pregnant were not a good combination for her. "What if they didn't make it? I shouldn't have let Colin out of my sight!"

"Shh...it'll be okay." Rusk held his wife close in an attempt to calm her. "Link will find Colin. They will come."

"They have to!" Beth exclaimed.

"Yeah, Link, save Colin!" Talo added.

Zelda locked her eyes onto the path leading to the tree, looking for any sign of Link. Silently, she prayed to the goddesses.

"Farore, Nayru, Din. If you can hear me, please give us a sign that they both made it. I don't know what I do if they-"

A loud neigh echoed through the woods, followed by clopping. Everyone was too tense to move until a familiar silver bay horse emerged from the trees with its two passengers.

"Link!" Zelda ran towards him as he unmounted, hugging him tightly. "Are you okay? Thank the goddesses that you're safe!"

"I'm fine." Link wraps his arms around her.

"Mom! Dad!" Colin jumped off the horse and ran into the arms of his teary-eyed mother and father. Both parties stayed in those embraces for a long time.

After a while, Link pulled away from the hug, glancing around the area. "Did anyone else make it?"

Zelda's eyes dampened with anguish. "No... It's only us. Mom & Dad got left there as well."

Everyone went dead silent. The group scanned around, finding any sign of anyone else that escaped the village. They prayed to see at least one more of their fellow villager emerge from the tree lines. No one else came.

"Guys...Look." Malo pointed to the sky.

The group looked in the direction of where Malo was pointing. There was a clearing big enough to see parts of the sky where they saw a smoke trail. Link starts climbing up the tree to get a better look. Zelda decides to follow him. When she catches up to him, Link's face is written with despair, not even acknowledging her presence until she is beside him. Once she what he was looking at, she could see why.

In the spot where the village should be, a thick, long trail of smoke trailing into the sky was in its place instead. The smoke went far into the sky. It meant one thing. Ordon village, their home, their whole life, all of it, is gone.

It was a slow trek back to the ground. Rusl approached them the second they came back.

"Well?"

They didn't need to say anything as small tears trailed the pair's cheeks. That was a good indication of what they saw.

Rusl held his family close, mournful looks grew on their faces. Beth put her hands on her chest, trying her best not to cry. Talo had his brother close, both trying to keep a stern look, but the sadness was evident in their expressions.

Ilia reacted much differently. She grabbed some nearby grass and blew into it, imitating the sound of a hawk, a signature in Ordon. The call was loud enough to be heard for several miles. Ilia stayed alert, hoping to get some response, to listen to any sign of life still around. There was none of any kind. Ilia blew on it repeatedly, getting the same result each time. It was clear that no one would be replying.

"No. They can't be..." Ilia muttered, despair clear in her voice.

Not able to utter another word, the teen slowly starts breaking down. Tears were streaming down her face. Zelda went over and hugged her sister. Ilia buried her face into her elder sister's chest.

"Mom...Dad…our home…" Ilia sobbed. "They're all gone."

"Shh, it's okay...I'm here." Zelda rubbed Ilia's head. The wetness of Ilia's tears brushed on her chest, along with the sound of whimpering.

"Come on. We can't stay here."

Everyone looked at Link. They didn't want to leave, but they knew he was right. Whoever destroyed their village could not be far behind. Not to mention it'll get dark soon. That's when the monsters become more active. As Rusl helped the kids back on the wagon, Zelda guided Ilia to the back. She looked to Uli with pleading eyes, to which the woman gave an understanding nod before she helped Ilia onto the wagon with her.

Once everyone else settled in the wagon, Link and Zelda mounted their horses, and Rusl got on the wagon. Rusl looked over to Link, waiting for him to start moving. Link looked at the smoke trail one last time before noticing three birds flying in the opposite direction. They started moving toward the birds, leaving their lives behind.

No one knew how long they traveled, but it felt like hours. Everyone was still mourning for their village. Zelda, Ilia, Beth, Talo & Malo had no idea what the fate of their families was and were afraid of the worst. Colin wanted to comfort his friend, but he wasn't sure how. His friends didn't have their parents with them, while Colin still had his. So he remained quiet out of fear of making their pain worse.

The sky grew darker and darker as they traveled. The twilight hour ended, meaning monsters would run about soon, hunting for anything they could find. Plus, dark clouds had been forming in the sky, with sounds of thunder to accompany them. The group needed to find shelter for the night. Link and Zelda offered to go ahead to find a place to rest. The pair rode along to look around the woodlands for potential resting places. Zelda noticed a cave on her side.

"What about that cave?"

Link got off Epona to check the cave out. He thoroughly examined the shelter for several moments to ensure it was empty. The last thing everyone needs is trespassing into the den of a bear or a Lynel.

"Well...it's dark, but no signs of anyone or anything living here. It looks safe enough."

Zelda nodded and rode away on Ahearn to get the rest of their party. Link secures Epona before gathering sticks that are nearby to make a fire. The fire started when Zelda returned with the others.

By the time the late hours of the night fell, rain was pouring down from the sky. Despite the thunder, the kids were sound asleep around Uli while Colin slept beside his father. Ilia sat close to Zelda, with Link by the older sister's side. The adults and teenagers all gazed were discussing the events that transpired only hours ago.

"Who attacked our village? It was not monsters," Zelda wondered.

"Maybe bandits?" Link suggested.

"I'm not so sure about that," Rusl pondered. "That wasn't like any bandit raid I've heard of. It looked like whoever attacked us wanted everyone in the village dead…."

"Why?" Zelda questioned again. No one had an answer.

"...What do we do now?" Ilia spoke up after a while.

"I know a village near here. We'll settle there until everything gets sorted out," Rusl settled.

"And then what?"

No one said a word to each other. Rusl glanced over at his sleeping son and pregnant wife, the two sisters just looked at each other, and Link just watched everyone.

"I think we should get some sleep," Rusl suggested. "I'll take the first watch. Link, you'll take the second watch. We head out first thing tomorrow."

Everyone who was still awake, besides Rusl, lay down on the cave floors and closed their eyes, hoping to get some rest.

Hours later...

Link had started his watch about an hour ago. He listened to the sounds of the night and the fireplace. The rain was going down more lightly than earlier. Glancing over to the side, Link saw Rusl and his family sleeping. It must've been an ordeal for him and Uli, almost losing their son like that. If Link hadn't found Colin...he did not want to think about that. The fact that Link found Colin trapped underneath a dead man's body haunted him.

He then glances over to the other kids with no loved ones to turn to for comfort. While Colin was lucky to have his parents, Beth, Talo & Malo, didn't have that luxury. Link can only hope their parents are okay but worries about how they would be if it turns out their parents were no longer around. The same goes for Zelda & Ilia. Their parents sacrifice their safety so that the two girls can escape.

Link noticed Zelda tossing and turning in her sleep. She was whimpering as well. Figuring she was having a nightmare, he gently shook her.

"Zelda? Wake up."

Zelda darted her eyes open and quickly sat up, breathing heavily. Seeing her distress, Link pulled her into a hug.

"Hey, it's alright. You're safe," Link assures her gently.

"Why…Why did this happen to us?" She lifted herself from her friend, but her eyes gazed at the ground. "Why did they want to hurt us? We never did anything to anyone, and they hurt us anyways. Those people, whoever they were, didn't hesitate to kill anyone in their way. Mom, Dad, Fado, Damon, Talia, and everyone else...They're all trapped there. And I just left them!" Zelda covered her face, several light sobs escaped from her. "They all took care of me, treated me as part of their family, and this is how I repay them?! They're all gone! Our friends, the whole village, my parents most of all. I left them...I left them all to die."

"Zelda!" Something warm pressed against her cheek. She looks up to see Link, his hand on her cheek, staring at her with his sapphire eyes. "There was nothing that you, or anyone, could've done. Even if you tried, those people would have killed you."

"I still wish I could've saved them."

"But you saved Ilia, Rusl, Uli, and the kids. I'm sure everyone in the village, including the kid's parents, would be happy you all got out."

Zelda just closed her eyes, a lone tear streamed down her face. Another rumble of thunder echoed outside the cave.

"What do you think is going to happen to us now?"

Link uses his thumb to wipe the tear off her cheek. "I don't know."

He again held her close to his chest, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace. Never once did Link dare let her go. No words had been exchanged between them for the rest of the night. Not until dawn had peaked over the skies of Hyrule.

It's almost 2 AM, but I'm posting this chapter anyways.

So if you read the original version, you all saw this coming. I hope it doesn't take away the sadness from it (which I think I did a decent job at).

So yeah, Ordon is gone and Link and others have no idea what their future holds.

I may or may not borrowed some elements from a certain memory from Breath of the Wild...

Favs, Follows, and Reviews are appreciated.