We emerged from the water gasping for breath, only, we were no longer in the same pond. Ravio now stood knee deep in a large fresh water spring that I didn't recongize. Strange, horseshoe shaped grass grew along the bank and the source of the spring came back behind us from a waterfall.
"Welcome to Ordon, Kara," Ravio panted as water dropets stuck to his face.
I noticed his appearance had changed to his original form and he was wearing his Hylian outfit. I looked down at my clothes, not entirely surprised to see it was my sleeveless black dress and pants that Link had given me when I came to Hyrule the first time. My samurai-like sword was strapped to my back and a small pouch holding some random supplies was wrapped around my waist.
I jumped from Ravio's arms, a newfound energy coursing through me. "So where do we find-?" I stopped as a young man leading an orangish brown mare emerged from a gate in front of us.
Something about him made me rush forward. Perhaps it was the gold tint to his hair, or the sapphire blue earings. Whatever it was, no one could stop me as I bolted towards the new comer screaming at the top of my lungs, "LINK!!!"
He turned around, horrified as I knocked him to the ground in a bear hug while Ravio shouted nonsense behind me. I blinked back tears as I pulled away from the boy. My smile dropped as I got a good look at him. "Y-you're not Link," I felt my cheeks grow hot as I jumped to my feet, "I-I'm so sorry! Are you okay!?"
He scooted away from me cautiously giving me a strange look. "I'm okay," he mumbled, looking over me carefully, "and, my name is Link, but I'm not sure I'm the same Link you're looking for."
That was most certain. He looked similar to the Link I knew but it most definitely wasn't him. For one, he was only about fifteen, and his straight brown hair had a golden tint to it. His crystal blue eyes were much softer and less fearsome than my Link but still had a look that had the word 'Rebel' written all over them. His outfit was simple but most definitely Hylian.
"I'm sorry for the strange greeting," I helped Link to his feet and stood back a bit, "I'm Kara, and this-," I turned to look behind me, but Ravio was gone, "Oh."
"What?" Link looked past me, trying to see the Ravio that was no longer there.
"Nevermind," I growled, thinking of the lecture I'd give Ravio when he showed his frightened face to me again.
My stomach growled and I flushed in embarracement. Link laughed playfully, stroking his horse's mane. "You must be hungry," He began walking away, "I've never had a Hero in my house before, but unless you have other plans?" He looked back at me curiously, waiting for a response.
"Did you just call me... a Hero?" I asked, feeling quite bewildered.
"Yeah?" He returned the puzzled look, his tone filled with disapointment "Aren't you? I just assumed. You really do look like one, and you have a sword..."
"Say yes!" said what sounded to be Ravio's voice inside my head.
"Uh, of course!" I stuttered, reacting without thinking, "it's just no one assumes it right away so I was shocked."
I cursed to myself for the lame excuse and my thoughtless thinking.
"Oh," Link's spirits seemed to have lifted, "so, would you want to have lunch?"
"Of course," I smiled, walking after him.
I stayed behind his horse, in a place where he could see me, but where I was out of earshot if I whispered. "Okay, Ravi, I know you're there," I hissed silently, "where are you hiding?"
"Sorry about that," I jumped as a black, shadowy form of Ravio sprang up from my shadow, "but I couldn't let him see me. Not like I truly am."
"Why not?" I whispered, looking to make sure Link hadn't noticed yet.
"Because I'm a Twili," Ravio hissed, "Twili don't belong in Hyrule, they belong in the Twili Realm. If he saw me, he would know that something was wrong."
"Whatever," I mumbled quietly, "so what about our Link? Why can't you find him?"
"Because over twenty years has passed," Ravio looked sadly at the ground, "and Link has been missing this whole time."
