Chapter 14

Link

With a weak whimper, Link dropped to his knees, staring sightlessly at the carnage that had been wrought. Zelda! Uncle! I wasn't fast enough! A gurgling noise alerted him to several Lizalfos speeding towards him. Eyes burning with tears and rage, he attacked like a storm, whirling and dodging, destroying the monsters in his path.

Link panted heavily as his eyes darted around, searching for any remaining enemies. Stumbling slightly from a scratch to his leg, he began to move through the spring, searching for a clue as to where Zelda might be. His heart pounded wildly as he picked his way over animal corpses, afraid that the next body would be his uncle, his Zelda.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something sparkle at the foot of the Goddess statue. He picked up the flute Impa had given him, holding it close. In its case was the pack Hestu had given to Zelda for him, a pair of small, silver loop earrings, and a note written in his friend's handwriting. His heartbeat and breathing calmed as he clutched at the items left behind and read the note.

Remember when I convinced you to get your ears pierced? You thought your dad would kill you, but it was your grandma who almost did, LOL. That little business is still open. Maybe we should take Aryll there after all this.

P.S. I got these earrings for you a little while ago. I think it'll be near the solstice when you get out. Happy (early/late) birthday!

"Why... did she wr-write a note about that?" Link mumbled aloud. "I g-got my ears pierced at..." He trailed off, eyes widening. Mt. Lanayru Piercing Studio. Mount Lanayru... the Spring of Wisdom, then?

"Clever, Zel," Link whispered.

He hesitated for a moment before putting away the flute, slipping the earrings in the case's pocket, and snapping it closed. He glanced down at his necklace. The silvery dragon now curled around Courage's Emblem, seemingly protecting it.

Link shook his head and thought. How do I get to Lanayru? It's pretty far, and I can't just fly there; I'd have to let go of the lantern, which means I can't touch any of my physical things...

Suddenly, a loud whinny broke Link from his thoughts. He turned to see a beautiful, chestnut bay horse galloping toward him, cream-colored mane and tail flying out behind her. The mare reared and kicked out her front legs as she stopped in front of him. For some reason, she gave him a feeling of déjà vu.

"Hey, girl..." he said softly, trying not to spook her. "C-can I ride you, please? I ne-ed to get to my... friend."

She snorted and rolled her eyes as if to say, "That's why I'm here, dummy."

He leapt up on her back, grasping softly at her mane. "C-can I... name you? I d-don't want to ca-all you something dumb like... like 'horse'." She whinnied in an almost laughing manner. "Alright... c-can I call you... Epona?"

Suddenly, she reared and started galloping. "Whoa!" Link shouted, even as the forest faded into a brown and green blur. "Epona it is, then?" The mare tossed her head, and he assumed it was a yes.

"Okay, Epona. L-let's go get Zelda."

_/|||\_

Epona never seemed to run out of energy, not even slowing down until they reached Blatchery Plain. She snorted anxiously, but kept going, avoiding people and the large overpasses as best she trotted up the path leading between the Pillars of Levia and Bonooru's Stand, the road that lead to Middle Kakariko. As the years went by, it had expanded out to Rabia Plain, Rikoka Hills, and Sahasra Slope, becoming a massive community of more than Sheikah.

As Link and his mount entered, villagers looked curiously at the horse who seemingly had no rider. Epona shook off anyone who tried to approach, threatening to some and gentler to others.

They ended up at a small pond with a statue of the Goddess, a flowery wreath on her head and apron around her neck. It had been a while since he had prayed to Her, even though his family went to church. He felt a bit guilty and thought he should at least try.

Bowing his head and kneeling, he directed his thoughts to Her. Dear Goddess Hylia... please, let me find Zelda. She's in danger, and I need to protect her. Let me know what to do... give me whatever help I need to accomplish this task... Please, Your Grace... The world needs her. I know it's selfish but... I need her, too...

Suddenly, he felt a presence approaching and emanating a strong sense of magic. Link turned and saw Impa. She glanced at him, then subtly gestured, "Come here," before walking away.

He was confused for a moment before realizing she didn't want to look like a crazy person for talking to thin air. He and Epona walked after her as she led them up a path that trailed up a hill and into a small forest - the road to Upper Kakariko. They didn't stop until well into Lanayru Promenade. "Link, where's Zelda? And your uncle?" his principal asked.

"I... I'm not sure. Wh-when I left the trial, the-ey were gone, and the area a-around the spring was... destroyed. She's go-one to the Spring of Wisdom; I j-just have to catch up. B-but Impa, why are you here? I th-thought you were in Castle Town."

"Union," she corrected. "Link, what day did you enter the trial?"

"Uh... the f-fourteenth of June, I think?"

"Link... today's the twenty-first. You were in the trial for a week." He stared.

"What?! N-no!" His ears twitched down, and he buried his face in his hands, clutching at his hair. HURRY-GOT-TO-HURRY-IF-HE-GETS-THERE-SHE'S-DEAD-

"Hey, don't worry. I'll got get some gear, and we'll get up the mountain, alright?"

Like lightning, his hands shot out and grasped her upper arms. His vision flashed green. "Hurry," he said, voice raspy. "Hurry."

Impa's eyes filled with confusion and - fear? She jerked out of his grip and ran back to the village. He glanced after her for a moment before biting his bottom lip anxiously. Link kept looking over at the village over the next few minutes, but she didn't show up.

She's-not-coming-gotta-go-

He jumped up on Epona's back. "YAH!" he shouted. With a whinny, she leapt forward, just as impatient as him to reach Zelda. Luckily, she seemed to know exactly where to go without a single nudge from him. As they entered Naydra Field, Link felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold.

A dozen monsters glared at him for invading their territory. They charged, and Epona responded in kind. With a yell, Link jumped from her back, lunging at a Lizalfos shooting ice at Epona. It avoided the attack and almost froze him but he dodged-

Time slowed, and he was still moving, cutting into the monster, killing it in what was an instant to anything else. As Epona broke free of the ice encasing her, Link jumped back on, and they were off into the hordes. He swung the blade from the trial, slicing through enemies in an instant. Unfortunately, most of them had powers over ice, despite summer's warmer temperatures.

Another Lizalfos lunged and knocked him off the mare, and he struggled to keep its razor sharp horn from his throat. It screeched, then suddenly fell limply into him. Link shoved it off, seeing Epona flashing her hooves at any monster that came close.

He leapt up and raced around, fighting in a way he was never taught, avoiding icy attacks and messy swings from pig-like creatures' clubs. One of them - bokoblin - jumped at him from behind, cracking its crude weapon against his left shoulder. Link winced, then switched the sword to his right hand. At least I can still fight.

Suddenly, Link felt a buzzing sensation in the base of his skull. He looked up just in time to see Impa dashing through the monsters, small knives being thrown with pinpoint accuracy, a single-edged blade slashing through the monsters in an instant.

"Sorry for the wait," Impa said as she arrived. "You weren't supposed to leave without me."

Link blew air from his mouth in a frustrated sigh. Not-fast-enough-too-late...

The rest of the battle was far easier thanks to the Sheikah's skill, though she and Epona did end up frozen once or twice. As the last of the last of the bokoblins ran off like cuccos, Impa turned to him with a fiery glare.

"That was reckless, Link. You weren't prepared at all! Not to climb the mountain, not to fight monsters, and certainly not to protect Zelda!" He flinched away, ashamed.

"I... kn-know. B-but... I can't ju-ust... stop... wh-when... when I know she's in danger."

Impa's gaze softened. "You really love her, don't you?" Link blushed and looked away.

"I... I... I guess..." he whispered.

"There's no guessing to it. I see it in your eyes whenever you look at her, or when she does something and you flush and look away like you just did, or a hundred other little things. You two have a very special bond; you seem to truly be made for each other."

Link glanced at her, then ducked his head and bit his lip. We might be friends, and I might be head-over-heels in love, but that doesn't mean she loves me. Why would she? I'm so pathetic-

He cut his thoughts off, wary of the Malice Curse's influence. "U-um... we've go-ot to find Zelda. Wh-where... is the Spring?" Impa pointed to the top of Mount Lanayru. Link hesitated. I don't think Epona will be able to climb the mountain...

"Epona... pl-please stay do-own here." She snorted, eyeing him with annoyance. "I d-don't think climbing will be g-good for you. Stay." She tossed her head again, but trotted off and began to graze on the dewy grass. "Um... will you c-come with me, Impa? I... d-don't think I can d-do this by myself..." he said shyly, loathe to ask for help.

"Of course, Link."

_/|||\_

They encountered numerous monsters while trekking up the mountain, just like the ones in Naydra Field. It was frustrating when they ran into weaker monsters, unable to get past them, but still needing to expend energy to defeat them.

Link noticed a blue glow and echoing shouts gradually intensifying as they neared the top. He sped up, desperate to reach Zelda. "Link!" Impa shouted. "Don't just jump in!" He ignored her and continued racing for the Spring, not noticing how she froze not far far behind him.

He saw his uncle defending an archway against moblins, lizalfos, bokoblins, poes, and something that looked like them, but held wands - Wizzrobes. But the monsters were not what made him freeze, made him choke.

Standing in front of his uncle... was himself.

Or, more accurately, his dark mirror created by the Evil One. Except now... it looked just like him.

"Hello, uncle. How long has it been? Oh, yes, just a week since you abandoned me."

"Get outta here! Yer not Link, and I'm not lettin' ya past!" Mori shouted. Link's mirror chuckled, sounding eerily like his own laugh, though it had a darker tone to it.

"What do you mean I'm not your nephew? How do you not recognize me? Oh," a very-not-Link smile appeared on its face. "Is it that I'm not stuttering like a pathetic fool? I suppose that is different."

Slowly, Link drew his sword and shield, wincing slightly from the injury to his shoulder. He crept close enough to where the monsters only just couldn't see him. Taking a deep breath, he gathered energy in himself, readying to sprint for his doppelgänger. Link let the energy loose, rocketing towards the enemy, sword ready to slice through it and get Zelda back-

A hand gripped the blade, stopping it from cutting the monster down. Eyes just like his own glared with sheer darkness, and a small, sneering grin appeared on his opponent's face.

"Tsk, tsk. Sneak attacks aren't very heroic, now, are they?" Link's image wrenched the blade from his grasp. "But I suppose that doesn't really matter. After all..." with a flick of its hand, the sword went flying-

"ARRGH!"

"... I'm no hero."