The Legend Of Zelda: The Curse Of Zant

Chapter 6: Epona

Remaining on the ground, cradling the girl in his arms, the hero of Hyrule could not bring himself to move from the spot. The unbearable grief had already come flooding through him and was causing a hysterical reaction. He didn't think that his eyes would ever dry up.

He could hear Midna calling his name, trying to bring him back down to earth but he was just too broken up to respond. After a moment he managed to gather enough strength to rise from the floor, bringing Ilia with him. He began walking back in the direction of Ordon Village, unable to to focus on anything other than taking the girl back where she belonged.

Once they reached the village, all of the familiar faces who were busy at work, stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to the imp and the hero with the girl in his arms. Each of them with concerned and horrified expressions, came running towards him, talking over one another, desperately trying to find out what had happened.

"Master Link... what happened?" One yelled over the rest.

"Oh my... is that young Ilia?" Another asked, trying to see through the few that were up front.

"Everyone, please be calm! It is with great amounts of regret that I inform you of the passing of one of our own. Ilia, the girl who cared for both humans and horses, was attacked by Goblins on her way home from Kakariko Village. Unfortunately, I did not reach her in time." Link announced, sounding stronger than he actually felt.

The gasps, anguished cries and stunned silence of the crowd gave him time to calm himself down just as Bo, Ilia's father, came running to him looking more panicked than ever before.

"Dear God! My darling daughter.... Master Link, what happened to her?" Bo inquired.

"Goblin attack, while she was on her way back from Kakariko. I'm so sorry, I didn't find her in time." He apologised, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.

"No! No! Noooo! Not my precious girl..." Bo cried out.

As he heard the distraught cries of the Mayor, a crushing weight that was guilt fell upon his shoulders. He couldn't bare the thought that he had failed one of his own people, and that he had not managed to save the girl.

"We should bury her in the Ordon Gardens. It was the place she loved most... I am so sorry Bo, I wish I had gotten to her sooner." Link made a weak attempt to comfort the Mayor.

"You're right.... it's what she would have wanted." Bo sighed, pulling himself together for the sake of his people.

"Thank you, Master Link, for bringing her back here to us." The Mayor said gratefully.

With that being said, Link nodded and began leading the way to the beautiful garden in which he and Ilia had spent many days together before the events that happened with the Twilight Realm.

Inside the garden was peaceful and tranquil, the perfect place for a girl like Ilia. As the goat farmer began to dig, he held onto her, getting ready for the moment when he would have to let her go. It was a moment that he would rather not have to live through.

Once the hole in the ground was finished, Bo gave Link a sad and desperate nod. With permission from the Mayor, he lowered the fallen girl's body gently into the ground, making sure that her arms nor legs were at a funny angle. As he rose to his feet, he remembered that the last time they had spoken, Ilia had gave him a pink rose that had not yet blossomed. He had held onto it throughout all his adventures and after months, it had finally began to open up. Without a second thought, he took it out of his pocket and dropped it in quickly before the farmer began to throw the dirt over.
He had already decided that the pretty little flower belonged with the girl that had spent her life caring for all living creatures.