A/N: This is my first attempt at a Zelda fic. Some of this story is based on my experience playing Twilight Princess. It's pretty much the only game I've tried to master (if that's the proper term). However, I know that there are more skilled Legend of Zelda players out there who are a lot better than me so I do not boast in anything.

Anyway, enough of my blabbing. On with the story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

The sun sank beneath the mountains, casting the land of Hyrule in dusk. Twilight no longer held any horror ever since the hero had banished the self-proclaimed King of Twilight. Whether it had been Zant or Ganondorf, he still didn't know. It was with a heavy heart that the former hero watched the coming darkness. He sat on top of one of the towers of the Bridge of Eldin. His knees were pulled up to his chest, his arms folded on top of his knees and his chin rested on his arms. His long, green cap stirred with the wind. His green tunic had faded with the passing seasons. A horse call brought him out of his miserable thoughts.

"Link!" a boy called.

Link shifted to his hands and knees and crawled over to the edge. Epona came to a stop near the bridge and whinnied. A blonde-haired boy sat in the saddle.

"Link," he called again.

Link shook his head in frustration. "Colin, how many times have I told you not to take Epona without permission?" he shouted.

Colin ignored the question and climbed off of Epona's back. He ran out around to the front of the bridge. Link heard him jump over the gap. He got to his feet and went to meet his mentor's son at the ladder. When Colin emerged from the hole he was met by a very agitated Link. The younger of the two slowly looked up. Link stood in front of him with his arms crossed.

"Oh, c'mon, Link. I know how to ride a horse," Colin said as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Colin, do you know how dangerous it is out here?" the Hylian asked.

"You took care of the Bulbins a long time ago," Colin pointed out.

"There are still stragglers. They like to roam around this part of the province. If they saw a lone child...pardon me...teenager with no idea how to fight while on the back of a horse, they would take advantage of that."

Colin hung his head. He heard Link sigh and glanced up to see his hero relax, somewhat. His deep, blue eyes held a dark memory as he gazed out over the field.

"I almost didn't save you last time. If something happened to you or one of the others I would never forgive myself," Link explained.

"I'm sorry, Link. Truly, I am," Colin apologized.

Link allowed his arms to fall by his sides. He could still hear the blow of the leader's horn as he summoned more of his minions. Being the chosen hero had never been easy. People used to say he could do anything. However, as Link turned his eyes to the darkening sky he felt bitterness clench his heart. He was a failure. Sure, he saved Hyrule from the grasp of evil. But he couldn't keep the most precious thing he had ever known from slipping through his fingers.

"They say twilight is the time when souls mourn," Colin's voice penetrated Link's thoughts. "You haven't been the same since those monsters disappeared. What's wrong?"

"Time changes people, Colin. If you had to go through what I went through you would understand," Link explained.

"I know what you went through. Talo can't go for two minutes without asking you to tell us stories of your adventures."

Link smiled. Talo had grown into an energetic teenager who had a knack for getting into trouble. His younger brother, Malo was better behaved, but he had his trouble-seeking moments. Link chuckled at the memory of having to chase a young Beth, Malo and Talo into the Faron Woods after Talo had spotted a monkey.

"What's so funny?" Colin asked.

"Just remembering the monkey," Link answered. "How simple life was back then."

Colin nodded in agreement. Epona whinnied again.

"We should head back to the village. Renado will be wondering where we are," Link said.

The two friends climbed down the ladder and jumped over the gap via the bird-like statue that stood in front of them and raced towards the horse. Link allowed Colin to handle the reigns since he wanted his hands free to pull out his bow or sword should there be trouble on the way back to Kakariko. Link gently tapped Epona's sides with his heels and his beloved steed galloped off towards Kakariko Village. Link couldn't help but look over his shoulder every few seconds to make sure they weren't being tracked.

"Let's pick up the pace, Epona," the former hero instructed.

Epona whinnied her response and began running. Off in the distance angry battle cries carried on the wind. Link pulled out his bow and slipped an arrow against the string. Ahead of him, Colin tensed.

"Link?"

"Look ahead, Colin. Chances are that we'll be out of sight before they reach us."

However, that thought was extinguished as a fire arrow flew over Link's head. Epona let out a startled cry and veered away from the passage that would lead to safety. Instead she headed for the middle of the field. Link turned in the saddle and fired the arrow. It hit its target. The front rider of the advancing boar fell to the ground, lifeless. Link continued to fire off arrows as more and more Bulbins joined the chase.

"I hate these things," Link growled.

He shot down two more Bulbins that were getting too close for his liking.

"We can't shake them," Colin cried.

"Head for the bridge," Link ordered.

Epona picked up the pace even more. The green clad warrior strung three arrows into his bow and fired. Two hit Bulbin flesh, the third hit the boar. Epona began to slow down. Her heavy breathing caused Link to turn his attention away from the enemies.

"Epona can't take much more," Colin told the hero.

Link pulled out his sword and deflected an arrow. A longing to have the hilt of the Master Sword in his grasp surged through his body. However, the Master Sword was back in the Sacred Grove where it belonged, waiting for the time when Hyrule called upon its power once again. In its place on Link's back was the sword Rusl had crafted.

Epona slowed to a trot. Her body shook with exhaustion. Her breathing came in short, quick gasps.

"Come on, girl. We've been through worse. Don't give up on me now," Link begged.

Epona took off at a run again. The bridge was almost in sight. They were going to make it. If they could get past the bridge and into Larayru Province they would be able to find the entrance to the Hidden Village and rest.

We just have to get to the bridge.

He felt the arrow before he saw it. Link screamed in pain as the arrow pierced through his shoulder. He fell off Epona's back and landed in an ungraceful heap on the ground. The Bulbins made a noise that sounded like cheering. Link struggled to get to his feet.

"Link!" Colin cried.

"Get to the bridge!" Link yelled, grasping his shoulder. "Find another way back."

The Bulbins jumped down off their boars and hurried over to the fallen human. They forced him back to the ground. Epona reared up on her back legs, let out an angry cry and charged.

"Whoa!"

Colin fell forward and grabbed Epona's mane. The horse charged into the creatures effectively trampling the beasts who threatened her master. Colin lifted his head up from the horse's mane and looked around. The only living things besides Epona and the two humans were the boars. The former hero pushed himself to his feet again. Epona nudged Link's good shoulder. He patted her cheek and gave her a weak smile.

"That's my girl," he whispered.

His eyes slid closed and he fell back to the ground. Colin jumped off Epona's back and raced to Link's side and checked for a pulse. Link's breathing was shallow and labored.

"What do I do?" Colin asked.

Just then, he heard the sound of squeaking wheels. He looked up and saw a wagon coming from the direction of Kakariko. A man sat in front of the wagon, directing the horse.

"Renado!" Colin called desperately.

The wagon came to a stop a short distance from the battle scene. Renado climbed down from the seat and hurried over.

"What happened?" the shaman asked.

"We were attacked by Bulbins. One of them got a lucky shot when Link's attention was diverted," Colin explained.

Renado looked over Link's pale form.

"Fortunately, the arrow went into his shoulder and not through any vital organs. Unfortunately, I think these beasts were taught the effects of using poison."

"Poison?" Colin echoed.

Epona gave a short, high-pitched grunt.

"Not to worry. I have an antidote back in my hut. Help me get him into the wagon," Renado instructed.

The shaman and the boy lifted Link up and carefully placed him inside the wagon. Renado climbed back into the seat while Colin climbed back on to Epona's back.

"Let us get back to the village before anymore creatures arrive."

The horse headed back towards Kakariko. Without any prompting from Colin, Epona followed the wagon, keeping up enough speed so that she and Colin could see Link through the window. Colin whispered a silent prayer to the goddesses that Link would survive. He had a strange feeling that without him, Hyrule would once again be consumed by chaos.

What do you think? Worth continuing?

In case anyone is wondering, it took me forever to beat King Bulbin after he took Colin, especially on the bridge.

Reviews are welcome. Constructive criticisim is welcome. Flames, however, are not.