Hello there! Another chapter up, and I think this one is quite long!

Oh! I have a fun fact to give you!

Did you know that the Kokiri Sage from Wind Waker is called Fado?

I just realized that from playing WW again. But yeah, I still think Twilight Princess occurs after WW.

Well, sit back and ejoy the chapter!

Chapter 3: To Fall From The Skies

The day began as it had more often than not, and I was sitting at the ranch, still enveloped with anticipation; What would Hyrule be like? I had never been this anxious for many things in my life, and to be brutally honest; This was something important, that had to with a lot more than just myself.

Footsteps brought me out of my daydreaming, and as my vision fell from the skies, it met Fado. He grinned at me, obviously amused; he always did say I daydreamed a little to much.

“So, almost time for you to get goin', huh, Link?”

He may have been older than me, he may have been bigger, but he was almost as big of an emotional nutcase as the mayor. Almost, he being younger gave him another spark of playfulness. I gave him a brief nod, the smirk I had obviously showing the excitement I had.

“So how's about we finish up early today, bud?” He asked, bringing in the goats was not his speciality; I was pretty sure that was acting like one of them. I stood up, and quickly played the hymn that would call Epona; Sure enough, she trotted over.

“Ok then, Let's get started!”

With that, Epona and I started off, quickly leading the goats into the barn. It was actually fun, being able to ride Epona freely and not have to worry about hitting anything but the goats.

As we finished, Fado jogged over “Hoo, Boy, But y'all can herd! That was almost two minutes faster than usual! Well, that about wraps 'er up for today, so how's about y'all head on over to the mayor's place?”

“Alright” I said to Fado, waving him off as I went, I couldn't help but feel as though I would miss him before I was able to return from Hyrule.

We skipped the first fence, and just went and jumped the gate. And slowly made down the path back into Ordon's main sect.

As we trotted down into Ordon, I saw Ilia out on the road, it was a little odd; I guess due to the fact I hadn't scene her yesterday, but I felt a little less happy with my leaving now.

As she saw me, she called to her father, who was no doubt talking to someone or other, and she joined right up next to me.

“Hey Link.”

“Hey yourself.” I calmly replied back. Trying to stop the fluttering feeling in my chest, when the hell would it go away?

“What do you mean by that?” she said, obviously taunted by the way I said that, just as I meant it.

“Nothing, at least you're outside today.” I teased again, letting a small smile creep up onto my face.

She only gave me a glare, a friendly one, to give the impression of fake anger. Suddenly, it looked as if she remembered something, but she was cut off by her father.

“Oh, done herdin' for the day, Link?”

“I'd be lieing if I said no.” I said, giving him a shrug.

“Well, nice work.” He said, grinning back at me.

I quickly dismounted Epona, and stood up next to him.

“The royal gift Rusl told you about is ready, so you should get ready for your trip to Hyrule Castle. Now, the Royal Family requested the specifically, so it's real special.” His voice changed from what was his jolly one, to one of slight dread, almost like a kid would sound when he is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “It'd be... bad... if the representative from Ordon were to be late for such an occasion, you get me, lad?”

“Get to Hyrule, don't be late, or no one likes us anymore?” I said, sounding of course sincere, but making him know that I had no doubts about what I was doing.

Bo let a smile escape his attempt trying to be serious, and I could over hear Ilia speak to Epona “...sweet horse, but please bear Link safely along it.” I could almost be sure that I wasn't supposed to hear that part.

“Wait... what's this?”

That I did not need to hear... and that tone...

“What's happened? She's injured, isn't she?”

Damn it Damn it Damn it, I'm so dead!!! Just take a step back... I must look so guilty... Just having heaved a sigh, and looking so pathetic.

“Link! How Could you! You were pushing Epona too hard again! I bet you hurt her leg jumping the fences, didn't you!”

It was true that I had done that before... more than once. But I never meant to, but instead of being able to speak as good as I think, I only said. “I... I...”

“Now, now, Ilia. There's no need to get so hot with him...”

Thank you mayor, reason with her before your daughter kills me!

“FATHER!”

I'm scared! I want to go home!

“How can you be so easy on him? You're the MAYOR! You should start acting like one.”

I'm in my happy place, I'm in my happy place...

All I could hear now was a heavy sigh, and some light trotting...

“You poor thing...”

The mayor and I looked at each other, sure we were both thinking the same thing.

She's the poor thing here?

“It'll be alright, Epona. I'll take you to the forest spring right now. Once we sooth you in the spirit's spring, you'll feel better in no time!”

“W-wait! Ilia!!! Why, Without Epona... The gift won't be delivered in time!”

We both heaved a sigh, as he shook his head “Oh, this won't do...”

I guess I realized what I had to do, I had to go and talk to her... It may have been the same as walking into hell, but I guess it's what best friends do.

As I reached my house, I saw Colin, and for one of the first times, he approached me.

“.....Link, are you going to see Ilia? Maybe it's me, but those guys generally don't let people through...”

I had no idea what he was talking about, they probably just teased him a little.

“Um, Link, you think... you think we can go see Ilia together?”

I gave him a breif nod, and I smiled. As we both approached Talo and Malo, they started the conversation.

“Hey, We've been waiting for you, y'know Link. Yesterday was so much fun! Yeah, chasing that monkey was great!”

To be honest... I stopped paying attention, sometimes they talked a little too much. I came back into focus when Talo said.

“...not gonna' let you pass.”

I was going to say something, but of course, he had to say something else.

“Oh, hey, neat Link!”

Shut the hell up and let me walk past my house!

“Lemme' borrow your wooden sword!”

I took the next few moments of his talking to really consider it, would I trust my sword to him... could I?

...the answer was no, but I had to get to Ilia, so I slow held out my sword to him.

“Whoa! YESSS! With this thing... I'll show em'!”

“Link.” I heard, but this time, from a much more pleasant voice for the moment.

“Thanks...” Colin said, I just smiled back at him. “Those guys are always teasing me... What's so fun about swinging something like that around, anyway? I hate it... it's scary... But when I grow up, I'm gonna' be just like you, Link! I don't want to learn about swords or anything, but could you teach me how to ride a horse sometime? Can you!? You have to promise!”

“Of course Colin.” I said, and couldn't help but smile. He was a bright kid, and I knew that someday, he would do something heroic.

I slowly ran my way out of Ordon, behind Colin who was now out of sight. And, thanks to a little voice in my brain called being smart, I thought.

Hey, she probably locked the gate!

You know what, she probably did! Thank you me!

No problem, just get some milk would you? I'm thirsty

Well, in doing that, I decided to take a detour, and go through an old crawl space I knew about since I was little. Ilia knew about it too, but I doubt she remembered. If she did... I'm not sure if I want to go in there. But I remembered Colin was in there, so if she killed anyone, she'd kill him first. So I slowly contorted my body into the crevice and went inside the crawl space.

After some time, I met with the light again, and as I stepped forward, I heard.

“I had no idea... I hadn't heard the details about Talo's capture...”

“But... Colin...”

I slowly stepped forward trying to be quiet, but the sand beneath my sandals betrayed me.

“So you still prefer your master over me, huh, Epona? Don't worry about your horse, Link.” She said, I could hear the relative relief in her voice. I didn't harbor any anger against her for what she did, she was a very caring person, and I could feel those stupid butterflies coming back.

“But, Link...” I heard her say, after I had probably lost some of the conversation.

“Yes Ilia?”

“Can you at least promise me this? No matter what happens on your journey, don't try to do anything... out of your league. Please. Just come home safely.” I heard the same caring emotions she had used for Epona moments ago now spared on me. Now I felt guilty about leaving... I didn't want to. But I knew now that I had to, and that another part of me wanted to. So I gave her a solid nod, and said.

“Of course Ilia, you're my best friend, I promise.”

I could see a smile light up her face, and joy in her eyes, and this was a moment, I could tell, I was never going to forget.

Slowly, I could hear a rumbling over the sound of my own heartbeat.

And with that, the gate smashed open, debris raining down. And I could only stand in horror as massive boars with bulbin riders entered the spring. Colin took off running, and Ilia ran behind him, leaning over him to protect him. And I could only run.

Suddenly, I heard a yelp of pain... and I saw the visage of my best friend falling into the water, the arrow was on course for Colin's head, but Ilia's cover had spared him.

I couldn't move. I stood there, looking at her body laying in the water. I felt Colin's eyes upon me, as he tried to run. I didn't know what to do. All these emotions coursing through my veins.

Sadness, fear, pain, worry, sorrow... but the biggest one of them all...

Rage.

A burning fire was set upon me, and I could see a glowing light from the corner of my eye, I have never felt anything like this. I started to run toward Ilia, determined to help her.

Pain soon joined the mix, as I lost consciousness and fell into the water...

A blackness was encroaching on my vision, as I saw the boar rider with the maul, ride over. As their leader, the blue boar mounted, green glutton of a bulbin picked them up.

I left out a heavy sigh... as everything faded away.

My head hurts...

The sky is so dark...

Where am I... Don't tell me I...

No... I'm the spring... but why am I...

Colin! Ilia!

No... No no no!

I started running as fast as I could in the direction they had to go, they couldn't have gone far. I can catch up to them!

They couldn't be in the village, I'd hear the villagers shrieks.

I have to hurry, I sprinted over the bridge as quickly as I could. I couldn't feel any exhaustion, only a desire to keep Pathway after the bridge is so dark... but it's the middle of the day! I need to keep running! I need to ke...

“What in hell?”I muttered aloud, as I saw... 'it'.

A monstrous, giant black gate, with what seemed like fire etched into the walls... what had happened?

Even as I thought it was almost impossible for things to get any worse... of course it did.

A monstrous hand reached from the bowls of the nightmarish plain on the other side of the wall, and dragged me into its world. I struggled, I couldn't let this be the end, this freak couldn't get the better of me.

Rusl...

Bo...

Malo....

Beth...

Talo...

Colin...

Fado...

...Ilia!

As the thoughts of the villagers, and ones most dear to me, a strange light pierced this world... from my hand, causing the beast to shriek, casting me back to the ground.

But, there was no relief, just as that had been done. Pain wrecked through my body, twisting and contorting my flesh, twisting reality before me. As I, fell to my limbs, and I cried up to the sky. My calls of pains turned to morphed whines from my mutated vessel, whatever I had become...

once again, I couldn't stay awake...

I found myself fading once more...

This time, in a world of distorted nightmares and monsters.

Link will come out on top, he always does.

Kick some ass Link!! XDD