Chapter One

Ghost of the Past

Linebeck handed the crumple letter to Ciela, taking ahold of her hands before she could take the paper. He took a breath to begin explaining.

"Beck is summoning us both, Aryll, and Link to Outset. When he had arrived, he found Ruby's grave destroyed and her body gone."

"Make preparations. Be ready for being gone a long time. We sail for Outset tonight."

…

"You know, Little Bro, it's odd to think about how I haven't been back to Outset Island since we left when we were two." Linette said, leaning in the open doorway of the steamship. Her eyes were studying the small island, face almost forcibly relaxed looking.

Linette turned her head to gauge Linebeck's reaction. "Do you remember any of it?" She asked, keeping her voice light.

Linebeck only gave a nonchalant shrug. "Not a damn thing." He paused to blow the fog horn, signaling his approach to the island. After he had done so, Linebeck resumed talking. "Not that I have any particular interest if I do or don't. This island doesn't hold much emotion for me."

Linette frowned, looking back at the island. "Yeah, I guess I get what you mean. Shame about almost all the old residents leaving. Place is starting to look more like a ghost town."

"Well, there's not much left here. When news spread of a new land having been found, and vastly more opportunities there, homes and businesses began spreading, leaving the island life to slowly die." Linebeck stated. "Course, there will always be people here, just… not as populated before."

The ship rumpled underneath their feet as Linebeck slowly brought the ship into port and began shutting her down.

"Rather sad to think about." Linette said, still looking out at the buildings. As night was just falling, she could see there were more buildings dark than lit. "So everyone is pretty much gone?"

"Except for the older residents, yeah, everyone followed Kid and Snailtop to New Hyrule. Like I said, more opportunities there." Linebeck said, sliding past Linette and walking out into the open deck.

"Including you." Linette said, doing a turn around to follow Linebeck. She grabbed the other side of the gangway Linebeck was picking up, helping him slide it out onto the deck and securing it. She quickly glanced up to meet Linebeck's eyes, but she didn't keep her gaze on him long.

"Well, it's not like I exactly had a permanent home in the island, closest thing I had was the S.S. Linebeck." Linebeck responded, walking down the gangway. "The trading post just really, sorta happened. I was always running low on funds, and the Kid was getting a surplus of treasures from helping out folks. One thing led to another and suddenly I ended up with a business."

Linette threw down a rope to Linebeck, which he began tying the ship to the dock. "And I never stopped looking for you, but…" A twinge of guilt flitted across his face. "As the years went on, you…"

"Lose hope of it ever happening." Linette finished, biting her lip to try and keep the bitter tone out of her voice.

"Yeah." Linebeck said in return. He ignored the twisting of his gut as he finished tying the rope, looking up at Linette.

At that moment, Ciela walked out onto the deck of the ship, looking out at the other ships docked.

The King of Red Lions bobbed next to the other dock, dwarfed by Aryll's ship, The Seagull. It looked like Ciela, Linebeck and Linette were the last ones to arrive at the island.

A flash up in the tree line caught Ciela's eyes and she looked up at the forest in time to catch blue melting back into the treeline.

"Followed or was already here?" Ciela wondered to herself. Saying nothing, Ciela jogged to join Linebeck and Linette as they had begun to move toward the end of the dock, were Beck waited.

"So-" Linebeck had started to inquire before Beck held up a hand, stopping Linebeck from talking.

"With it getting dark out, we're moved to Link's grandmother's home. I'll discuss all what has happened there." Beck said.

Ciela and Linebeck nodded their understanding. Night falls quick and even in the daylight, the bridge wasn't the most safe of crossings.

"Lead the way." Ciela said, gesturing to the other side of the island.

Beck gave a single, silent nod. He began to walk, the others following suit.

Ciela moved to be next to Beck, resting a hand on his shoulder. "How are you doing?" She softly asked, trying to keep her tone gentle.

Beck looked like he had been wrung through the wringer, emotionally. His shoulders were slumped inward, but tense, as if waiting for a punch to suddenly come swinging. Face taut, tired eyes flickered over to Ciela, but quickly moved back to the trail.

"As well as someone who's love's grave has been desecrated." Beck said, voice filled with dull bitterness, like an a pebble that had been tossed again and again against the sand without a chance to rest. His shoulders tensed up even more before Beck seemed to deflate, voice suddenly going empty, almost begging in tone. "She just deserves the chance to rest and she can't even get that, even in fucking death!"

Ciela swallowed hard, resisting the urge to look back at the forest. "Well, hopefully none of this is affecting her rest in the spirit realm." Ciela said, her words sour in her mouth.

"Goddesses, I've been praying that every day now." Beck said, still keeping his eyes steadfast to the ground.

Ciela fell silent, and soon the group was walking into the house, the smell of simmering vegetables and broth and the warmth of the fire enveloping them from the chill of the night. Ciela breathed in slowly, savoring the comforting scent in such troubling times.

"Well, I can't believe my own eyes.".

Linette gave a start at the unfamiliar tone, eyes searching to locate the warbling voice before settling on Granny sitting in a chair by the fire, a pair of knitting needles resting in her lap. "I'm sorry?" Linette said, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

Granny pushed herself out of the chair, grabbing her cane that had become a necessary accessory in her old age. She hobbled over to Linette, smiling warmly at her.

"What a fine young woman you have become from that tiny babe I delivered so many years ago." Granny said, eyes studying Linette, a touch of sadness now sparkling. "So strong, to have handled all that you did."

Linebeck was the first to speak. "Did… Did you know about our mother and Adren?"

Granny gave a low sigh, losing her smile. "Yes, I did know. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I would have thought that Marlene would have explained the truth to you. Either she didn't get the chance or truly didn't plan on telling the pair of you, afraid of stirring up the past. As for I… I never seemed to be able to find the right moment of getting you alone to tell you the truth."

Linebeck rested one of his hands on Granny's, the one holding her cane. After a moment, Linette quickly followed suit, trusting to follow her brother's lead.

"Thank you for the picture, at the very least." Linebeck said. "It's the only picture we have of us with our real father."

Granny nodded, taking a steading breath. "They truly loved each other, Marlene and Adren, even after all that nasty business and Adren finding Sairu, Link and Aryll's mother. I often wonder how different things would be, if they had gotten the chance to be with one another properly." Granny moved her hand from underneath the twins'. "Ah, but listen to me prattle on, when you have other important matters that need to be discussed." She began hobbling back to the kitchen. "Please, if you're hungry, help yourself to some soup. It's been a long journey."

And with that Granny disappeared to the back of the house, the tapping of her cane soon ceasing.

Link, Aryll and Beck had already seated themselves, Beck at the head of the table, Link and Aryll to the right of him. Ciela sat to the left of Beck, Linebeck next to her, and Linette at the other end of the table. Catrain was also present, her green glow dim on Beck's head. When everyone was seated, Catrain alighted from her perch, a green flash, and she was soon hylian sized once more, standing behind Beck. One hand rested on his shoulder.

"As you are all aware, Beck and I summoned you here as Ruby's grave was desecrated." Catrain stated. Her face was smooth, and stiff, but there was fury and pain in her apple-green eyes.

"What exactly happened?" Linebeck asked, leaning forward on the table.

Beck's eyes shifted downward. "I had gone up to pay my respects, and to clean her grave, as I had done the previous year. There was no sign of anything being wrong until I reached her clearing. There, I found her grave having been wrecked to hell and back."

"Wrecked in what sort of way?" Ciela spoke this time, her expression worried.

"It looked like a bomb had went off. The ground was churned up, her grave had been split in two, and her coffin…" Beck found his voice failing him.

Catrain carried on for him. "Her coffin looked like it exploded. There was hardly anything left. Whatever cause it, it was focused from inside the coffin."

"Sweet Nayru." Link whispered, his face filled with horror and fury.

"So judging from what you've told us, something supernatural went after Ruby." Ciela said, her voice becoming filled with anger.

"Agreed. No normal hylian could have cause that much damage, and how it was caused." Catrain said, giving a solid nod, Beck also nodding. "First list of suspects are the villians from the quest two years ago."

"Well, Ganondorf is gone for good. There was no coming back from his death." Aryll stated. "Besides, he had no connection to Ruby."

"The only one that had a connection to her was the Wolf King. But he is firmly dead as well." Catrain continued.

"The only one left alive was Bellum, as the Phantom Blade sealed her away." Linebeck finished.

Link looked to Ciela. "As far as you know, Bellum should be sealed, correct?"

Ciela didn't immediately answer. In fact, she had suddenly gone pale, absentmindedly rolling the cell stone between her fingers. Before anyone could ask her if she was alright, Ciela stood up with a screech from her chair. She quickly exited the room, walking out into the night, bringing the cell stone to her lips.

"That's a comforting answer." Linebeck sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. Dropping his hands, he looked back toward the group, expression unreadable. "Bellum broke the seal once, who's to say she couldn't do it again? Quicker this time as well if she knew the weak points of it."

A tense silence fell over the group, no one sure of what to say anymore.

"Why Ruby's body though?" Aryll finally spoke, hands steepled in front of her. "If it was Bellum, why did she go after Ruby? You would think she would have gone after Linebeck or Ciela." Aryll suddenly whipped her head toward Beck.

"Beck… Ruby died from a stab wound to the stomach, correct?" Aryll asked, looking for clarification.

"Yes, she did, why... " Understanding dawned over Beck's face. "Oh Goddesses…" He whispered.

"All the villains had been dealt with by that point. Monsters were dealt with, they weren't around was fine when she got separated from us." Aryll looked to the rest of the group. "Who stabbed Ruby?"

Link looked at one of the yellowed pieces of paper lying on the table. On it was the words of the prophecy, from so long ago.

"Before they release the Wind Mage of old…" He quietly read out to the group. "What if we had been too late… what if they had managed to release him… and he was the one who killed Ruby."

"So what has he been doing these past two years? If an evil Wind Mage got loose, shouldn't we, I don't know, have heard of something by now?" Linebeck questioned, crossing his arms.

Linette finally spoke up, her voice unsure. "What. What if he was simply laying low? You know, to make sure no one knew he was, um, released." She swallowed, eyes darting from everyone now looking at her. "I mean, Jolon he, well, he hid us a long while, until the search parties, uh, stopped looking for us. Maybe this wind mage did the same thing?" Everyone was silent, processing Linette's words. "But, but but I could be wrong." Linette hurried to get out.

Catrain raised up a hand, shaking a her hand with one finger sticking out. "No. No, Linette you may be onto something." The fairy began pacing, arms folding behind her back. "If the Wind Mage was released, then he's a valid candidate for killing Ruby. Maybe… when she was trying to escape… she saw him… and he killed Ruby to keep himself a secret." Catrain froze, her voice loaded with pain.

Beck only seemed to collapse into himself further, shoulders hunched inward. "But why go after her now? What point does it send to us? What did he gain from stealing her fucking body?!" Beck was now shaking, tears running down his cheeks.

"Perhaps to make a point." Catrain spat, eyes hateful and pained again. Her own eyes shimmered with tears, but hers were of anger. "That he's done hiding."

The room fell silent once more. Seemingly all words had been spoken, and no one dared to find anything more to say.

Link looked toward the door. Ciela had yet to return and it was getting late.

"I'm going to check on Ciela." Link stated, pushing himself away from the table and out of his chair.

"I'll come with." Linebeck said, mirroring Link's movements.

Upon the half-brothers stepping outside, it was immeadiatly apparent that Ciela wasn't out on the porch. Giving a quick scan around, they spotted the glow of a lanturn at the top of the cliff. Grabbing a second lanturn, the pair began walking to the cliff.

As Linebeck and Link got closer, they found Ciela sitting on the rock, curled over the inanimate and unlit cell stone, muttering to herself.

"Please… Please pick up…. Come on, don't do to me. Not now, not with what's happening here." Ciela pleaded with the blue stone. She heard Link and Linebeck's footsteps, whipping around to look at them.

Ciela turned to look at Linebeck and Link. Her eyes were frantic and scared.

"They're not picking up." Ciela whispered, holding the stone to her chest in a poor attempt at comforting herself. "Neri, Leaf, Oshus… One of them is always there within the few minutes I'm calling them."

"When was the last time you heard from them?" Link asked, walking closer to Ciela.

"They check in every month, Great Sea time." Ciela got up from where she had been sitting and staring out at the dark ocean, beginning to pace. "But that's four months for them, and I haven't heard from them in two months here."

"So that's eight months of possible events that we won't know about unless we get into contact with them." Linebeck said in a grim tone.

Ciela nodded her agreement. "It took Beck's letter a week to get here. Plus, the month to actually sail to Outset." Ciela's voice had taken on an absent minded tone as she spoke. She was trying to process the time difference. "That's five months for them, and Goddesses, I was so focused on what was happening here, I gave no thought about how I hadn't heard from them."

Linebeck moved toward Ciela, catching her hands as she passed by him. She stopped pacing and stood there still. Her hands trembled within Linebeck's.

"I'm scared…" Ciela whispered, turning her wide eyes up at Linebeck. Tears threatened to spill from them.

Linebeck wanted to say that Oshus and the two puffballs were fine, that they could take care of themselves. But in the back of his mind, Linebeck was remembering when they learned of the Old Man's true past, and the battle Oshus had been defeated in.

Instead, Linebeck simply drew Ciela closer to him as her knees buckled underneath of her. They kneeled on the ground, holding each other close. A chill traveled down Linebeck's spine. Link placed a comforting hand on Ciela's shoulder, giving a worried look to Linebeck.

The small, blue stone remained silent.

The next morning, the group traveled up to Ruby's grave site. Upon reaching it, they realized that Beck and Catrain's words did not prepare them upon seeing the actual destruction.

Dirt and plants littered the clearing in about 20 feet every direction from Ruby's grave. Linette, Linebeck and Ciela noticed the withered blue talas amongst the plants. Tree branches above and around the grave had been bent back or broken off entirely. They too, littered the clearing.

Ruby's headstone had been split in two, but they were far apart from its original resting place where it stood whole. The Wolf's Bane, which Ruby had been buried with, was sunk into the stone, almost up to the hilt.

As Catrain said, Ruby's coffin looked like it exploded. Only pieces of wood and scraps of fabric littered the hole left in the ground.

There were no signs of Ruby's body.

Most disturbing to Linebeck, however, was the fact that as soon as he entered the clearing, Bellum's scar began twinging. The pain only grew worse the closer he got to where Ruby's grave once was. Which meant that in some way, Bellum was involved in this.

Linebeck gave voice to these concerns, causing the group to look confused and worried.

"What do you think, Sparkles? Your back giving you any trouble?" Silence was met with Linebeck's inquiry. In fact, looking at the group, Ciela wasn't with them anymore.

Linebeck turned around, as did the rest of the group, looking for his fiancee. "Sparkles?"

Ciela was standing about ten feet away from the group, staring at a patch of bushes and small saplings. No. Not just staring… She was arguing with it.

"Sparkles…?" Linebeck cautiously called out, raising one eyebrow. "Why are you fighting with the foliage?"

Ciela jumped. Looking guilty, she looked to the group, before back at the patch of trees. She gave a nod to it, before walking back to the group, who all looked like Ciela suddenly grew back her wings.

Taking a deep breath, Ciela clasped her hands behind her back. "So." She started, biting her lip. She wasn't meeting anyone's inquiring eyes. "Someone did see what happened to Ruby's grave, and who did it."

"Ciela, there wasn't anyone on the island, not even Link's grandmother…" Beck stated, his gaze confused.

Ciela took a deep breath, before gesturing to the trees she just stopped arguing with.

From it, a pale blue orb floated out. But not just any blue orb. Linebeck recognized it from the temple, so very long ago. But what was it doing here?

A ringing noise sounded, and the orb flashed, growing larger and larger. Taking shape of a translucent body. Arms and legs formed, uncurling from the orb. Hair rippled from a floppy, pointed hat that rested on the person's head. A tunic fluttered in a nonexistent breeze and well worn boots floated a few inches from the ground. Piercing blue eyes, the shade unchanged from when she was alive, gazed upon the group.

Within seconds, Ruby Tala floated before them.

…

I Liiiiiiiiive!

So uh… it's been two years between the end of the last book to the beginning of this one. Long story short, college kicked my butt, but I still graduated in the end! Yup, college graduate which means that all I got keeping me from writing is a job and a few other things now that I'm an adult. Which means, that hopefully, I'll be getting back into the gear of writing NERE.

I'm excited guys. There's a rollercoaster of emotions brimming in this fifty chapter book (yup, you read that right. Fifty chapters.) and I cannot wait until we get into it all. Lot of stuff that I've been building up.

And speaking of building up, I have been once again, re-writing the first book, along with a couple chapters of the second book. It's a bit of the reason I've been slow getting this one out, as I was hoping to have that completed before starting NERE. However, as the years dragged on, I decided that it's time to get this book on the road. I'll definitely let you know when those books are completed because I'll ask you ever so nicely to re-read those updated versions as the writing will be so much better, and there will be a lot of stuff referenced there. I'm up to chapter 15 of the rewrite and Ao3 has the 12 of the updated chapters. Same name as it is here. If you got nothing else and want to see what's happening.

Again, I'll definitely alert you when that is completed as again, there are things that I'm putting in the rewrite that weren't there before and I'll be referencing here.

But I won't drag this author's note out much longer. Just one last quick housekeeping update, I got six chapters of a rough version of NERE writing and working on the seventh. I'm not sure when they'll be actually typed, so I'll see you folks whenever I get the next chapter typed up!

Okay! Until next chapter darlings!

~Roses