Chapter 1: Stowaway

"WHAT?!" A fifteen-year-old Link asked.

"I'm going to Calatia by ship, but I can't bring you. I wish I could, but I can't." Zelda explained.

"But I've never seen Calatia. And who's going to protect you while you're gone?" Link asked, hoping for no answer. He was wrong.

"Don't worry, Link, I have plenty of guards with me. I think I'm well protected now." Zelda told him.

As she turned to leave, she stopped and went back for a while. "I just remembered. Here…" She said as she handed him something. Link looked at it and saw that it was a necklace with a small Triforce symbol on it. Link and Zelda hugged one last time before the princess headed off for the castle. She would be going tomorrow and she had to prepare.

Link, wanting some time alone, went to the village for a bite to eat. He went to the bar and there were a few women who looked like they had a bit too much to drink. However, there were two guys that looked like sailors he had seen once before. However, he had no time to recollect his memories and decided that a bit of soup was all he needed. The bartender, only knowing Link by reputation, noticed the glum look on his face and tried to cheer him up.

"What's the matter, Link?" He asked in a voice that didn't exactly suit him.

"Ah, Zelda's going on a business trip and I wasn't invited." Link said, as though the bartender was a psychiatrist.

"Oh, the princess? Where's she going that's so important?" The bartender asked while cleaning a shot glass.

"Some place called Calatia. I never heard of the place and I want to see what it's like." Link explained.

"Y'know," A gruff voice said from behind Link, "We've been to Calatia and we can tell stories about it from experience."

Link turned to see the sailors he saw upon entry. However, their attempt to cheer him up failed miserably.

"I'm just a little worried that Zelda could end up shipwrecked on some desolate wasteland." Link admitted.

"Aye, that would be true. I've heard this from a guy who was shipwrecked." The sailor on the right said.

This sailor had a bandana on his head and a very muscular build. Link would've mistaken him for a pirate if the guy had a skull and crossbones anywhere on his body from a tattoo to a hat. However, his buddy looked more sailor-like. He was wearing white clothes and a hat worthy for a captain. The story, this time, peaked Link's interest.

"What?" Link asked, somewhat mystified by this.

"Several years ago," The sailor on Link's left said, "my shipmate and I came across a castaway. His ship ran aground of an island way east of Calatia: an island lost in time."

"Lost in time?" Link asked.

"Well, this castaway…he spoke of a creature that was neither crocodile nor dragon. Something monstrous living on that island. He said like he was trapped in the ancient past. He gave this spot a name: Ancient Island." The sailor on the right filled him in.

Link was astounded by this tale. He just wanted to find out more on this tale, but he wouldn't exactly get his answer.

"What else did he say?" Link asked, suspense in his voice.

"Nothing. The day after we found him, he left a note saying that he jumped off Death Mountain." The sailor on the right said, shaking his head, "After that, we didn't exactly go to Calatia again."

That afternoon, thoughts of Zelda being trapped on that island rang through his head. And the creature…he couldn't stop thinking about what it would look like. 'Neither crocodile nor dragon' didn't exactly give him details, but he knew it probably wasn't good.

However, Link was a determined one. He wanted to go, because he wanted to make sure that Zelda was okay if she did get trapped on that island. He made up his mind that he would go and leave at sunset when visibility would be low.

That night, he snuck out of his house and packed a few things-only his sword and his shield. After that, he slunk off into the darkness. No one saw him and he stealthily got onboard the ship. He made sure he was in a place where no one would really go and would stay there the entire trip.

Just outside Link's treehouse, a person was waiting in the shadows. He went up the treehouse and searched the place. This shady person searched through Link's many trophies, mainly picking through the masks. He picked up the Zora mask and the Goron Mask, but threw them over his shoulder.

"Useless junk…" The person said.

The voice was that of a man, but it was unusually crafty and sounded like something a snake would say if it had a voice. The man continued to dig through until he found what he was looking for. He pulled it out as though it were a priceless treasure or a living creature.

"Here it is…" The man said, a smile of triumph apparent in his voice, "Now to make sure they stay out of my plans. I have just the idea for them…"

Zelda had gotten onto the ship with her things and plopped them on her cot that she would sleep on for the next few days. She wasn't quite used to very long trips, but for now, she would have to learn patience.

There were some strange times though, she walked by a certain door that, when she tried to open it, was locked tight. Later that night, she found it wide open and empty. Her best guess was that someone was stowing away, but who? She wouldn't have long to wait.

Okay, if this is a rocky start, just tell me.

Well, what do you think of Sages' Swords sequel so far?