A Hero Rises

Part One

It started out as a normal day. The streets of Castle Town were flourishing. Townsfolk were chatting, shopping and running errands, some were playing music while others danced in the centre by the fountain, some were cooking and enjoying their friends and families company. Life seemed to pass by in a blur of vibrant colours and vivid sounds.

As the day went on, the lively energy pulsating throughout the town had begun to pass. The musicians had went home, business owners were closing up shop, the smell of different meats and seasonings had drifted away in the slight breeze. All was quiet. All, except for the rushed panting coming from the Royal Guard on his way home after receiving some disturbing news.

His son had not come home.

Now, this was not the first time his son had been late. He was an adventurous child, always looking for the thrill of a journey and something exciting to fill his time. He was the boy who would always have fresh bruises and bright red scrapes littering his skin from his activities, but an even brighter smile on his face. The boy who would never shy away from a challenge, whatever it may be, and face it with unrivaled bravery. The boy who would, admittedly, lose track of time and make his mother and father worry of his whereabouts. But he had always come home before sundown. Everytime.

That was the one thing that drove the Guard to push his body faster, running as if his life depended on it to make it home and check in with his wife. As the sky turned from a bright blue to a pink haze, getting darker with every minute passing by, he wished with every fibre of his being that when he threw open the front door, he would be there.

He would be there, helping his mother finish setting the table, or he would be grooming the horses out back in their little stable. Just hoping he would be anywhere in his sight, and not missing like the messenger had said only a few minutes prior.

His house was insight. Thankfully, it was not far from the castle itself, as he needed to be close by if any emergency were to arise. As he stepped through the threshold, he immediately spotted his wife, wringing a towel out repeatedly into the sink. He could tell from her body language that she was just as stressed from this situation as he was.

Once she heard him shut the door, she dropped the towel and walked up to him asking, "You got my message?"

He grabbed both of her hands in his, and brought them to his lips, placing a gentle kiss upon her knuckles in an effort to cease the shaking that overtook them. "Of course. I ran here as soon as I was excused. Have you asked around, anyone who might've seen him last?"

"I spoke briefly with the academy instructor, because you know how he's been having some issues with that boy with the ridiculous haircut and his friends. I thought maybe there was another altercation that was holding him back. However the instructor said that Link had left about an hour ago. He assumed he was coming home, but that's all I have."

"Maybe he went to the garrison by the lake. The guys like having him there, and he tends to go and blow off some steam from time to time, especially if it was after training with Groose. I'll head over now and check, you head out and ask some of the people in town before it gets too late."

They then wished eachother good luck and went on their way. The Guard walked to the stable out back, immediately noticing Epona's absence. He grabbed his horse, mounted up, and sped towards Lake Kolomo.

Entering the stronghold, he was surprised to see the academy instructor with the other Captains, as they enjoyed an end of day drink.

Once in the room, he interrupted them mid conversation and bowed his head slightly. "Captains, Horwell, I deeply apologize for my disturbance but-"