Chapter 1

Princess Zelda was easily the most beautiful Hylian in all of Hyrule, with golden tresses that shone with a heavenly luster that captured nearly every lord and servant alike in an infatuated daze. Her eyes, which seemed to convey the tranquility of Lake Hylia, reflected a warmth and sincerity that relaxed the nerves of any who met her gaze, and mollified the envy of any maiden. It was this gaze that Reeve envisioned as he concocted the potion. He knew that if he miscalculated a single ingredient that the entire plan would fail and that the consequences for failure would be dire.

Reeve began stirring the potion, shrugging off his oncoming anxiety. He was as sly as a snake circling its prey, and only his brother, Wade, was bold enough to approach him.

"Everything is set!"

Reeve craned his neck to see Wade stepping toward him, garbed in a solid black martial arts outfit the two used for the most recent royal costume ball. Reeve wasn't sure he would have recognized his brother if he hadn't spoken first.

"Yes, everything is set," Reeve agreed, turning back to the potion. "Do you have the bottle?"

Wade remained silent long enough for Reeve to curiously glance at him. As soon as their eyes met, Wade snapped his fingers in enlightenment and opened his bag. "Oh, that bottle! Yes, I do."

Reeve sighed. While Wade's creativity was pivotal to their success, as far as intellect was concerned, he was inferior. Reeve remained thankful that at least one of them was blessed with the brains to ensure their plan was carried out flawlessly. Feeling a wave of fear and doubt creeping in again, Reeve busied himself stirring until Wade finally produced the bottle. Carefully, the two funneled the potion to the brim, watching in awe as a pink puff of smoke escaped the cork Reeve snapped into place. The smoke rose a few inches before completely dissipating.

"Holy Din…" Wade muttered.

It was in that moment that the brothers realized that their entire future now rested on this potion. After tonight, Reeve knew that their lives would never be the same. Once Princess Zelda's suitor was out of the picture they would enjoy a prosperous and carefree life. Now all that remained was to obtain the princess' consent, and little did the princess know, she wouldn't have a say.

"Link! I can't believe you're back! It's so good to see you!" Malon cried as she hurried toward him.

Link quickly dismounted Epona and returned her embrace. "It's good to see you too, Malon."

While he knew he would most likely always live a nomadic lifestyle, he could not deny that there was something about Hyrule that prompted him to return. Every time he departed to explore and aid other lands, it was only a matter of time before he found himself missing the Hylian fields he could freely explore on his horse, Epona. He more than once found himself missing the familiarity of places such as Lon Lon Ranch and people such as Malon and Talon, who extended him hospitality while expecting nothing in return. Wanderlust permitting, he hoped that he could stay long enough to assist with any chores around the farm.

"Are you planning to stay awhile, Link? The guest room is prepared if you like."

Link nodded. During his last visit he helped construct a modest room connected to the barn where visitors could lodge for a small fee, giving Talon the opportunity to earn some extra income. "I will be around a bit longer this time, but I don't intend to stay for free. In addition for paying for my lodging I insist on helping around the ranch in any way I can."

Thinking Malon would protest as she usually did, Link had an entire argument prepared to support his case. Surprisingly, Malon solemnly nodded with a hint of sadness.

"Thank you, Link…my father hasn't been doing well lately and I was afraid to ask you for help because I know your travels are important to you. Truthfully, though, we need all the help we can get," Malon said, glancing up sidelong to catch Link's reaction.

"Of course, Malon. It's the least I can do," Link spoke before turning his attention to unhitching a sack from Epona.

Malon's melancholy expression was replaced with a relieved smile. "Great! I'll go and wake my father and tell him you're here."

"Actually…" he trailed until she stopped mid stride and regarded him again. "I just came by to drop a few things off. I'd like to go and visit Zelda before it gets dark."

The disenchanted expression that briefly crossed over her face lasted only a moment, yet remained ingrained in his mind. This wasn't the first time he caught such an expression on her, but at the moment, he struggled to recall the other times he noticed this. Drawn back to their conversation, he wondered if the change in her demeanor was due to a task she required immediate assistance with. "That is, unless you have need of me here…"

"Oh no, it's not that," Malon answered quickly. "I know the princess is a dear friend of yours and I'm sure she would love to see you…speaking of the princess, you've heard she's getting married?"

Link returned his attention to relieving Epona of her burden. "Yes. I was actually hoping to meet her suitor if he is around. Have you seen him?"

"No," Malon shook her head. "I haven't heard of anyone who has so much as caught a glimpse of him. But I know the princess is wise so I'm sure she selected a good match…"

Thoughts of Zelda sweeping him away, Link said nothing. While he enjoyed aiding Hyrule and would always have a special affection for friends like Malon, the one Hylian that mattered the most to him was Princess Zelda. She and Link had grown apart due to his travels and her royal duties, but he found the thought of losing her friendship to either of those aspects unbearable. Thus he promised himself that this visit to Hyrule would include a reunion with Zelda. However, unbeknownst to Link, he and Zelda had been marked for a more difficult destiny than either of them could ever dream of.

There was a knock at the door so subtle that Zelda almost ignored it until it repeated, more urgently this time. "Come in!"

Her brass door flung open, and several royal guards rushed in.

"Your Highness!" one guard humbly bowed and knelt before her. "I apologize for bothering you at this hour, but a suspicious man has breached the castle defenses. We have alerted all of the guards and have increased security at your door. Do you request a guard for your room, Highness?"

Zelda could only recall two intruders, both occasions which resulted in a close scrutiny of the castle security and several terribly dull meetings her father insisted she attend should an intruder ever reach her. Aside from Link easily evading the royal guards as a child during their first meeting, there was only one other incident. Thankfully the man was caught in the drain, and when questioned, he revealed that his only intention was to see her. None of this included the many false alarms, and feeling confident that this occasion would be no different, Zelda shook her head. "No, thank you. I think you need every guard to participate in the search."

"Please Princess!" the guard pleaded. "We would feel much better knowing that you are safe."

"Thank you for your concern, but I assure you I will notify the sentries outside my door if any trouble arises."

"As you wish, Your Highness," he replied with unmistakable foreboding.

Once the guards concluded their search and secured her door, she returned to the letter from Lord Percival she'd been looking at prior to the interruption. Two months ago, she surprised everyone, including herself, by accepting Percival's proposal. Zelda could not explain it, but the minute he entered the room she was immediately taken with him, and the two conversed as if they had known each other their entire lives. Percival's letter revealed that he still had matters to attend to in his homeland, but they would immediately wed upon his return. The thought filled Zelda with such glee that she didn't hear the intruder land on her balcony. By the time she noticed him, he was close enough to stifle her scream.

Link knew something was amiss the minute he entered Hyrule Market. The lack of merchants persistently thrusting their wares at every passerby was unusual. However, most unnerving of all was the monotonous chatter which, being the only noise present in the market, felt eerie. The source of the chatter was a crowd that had gathered near the path leading to Hyrule Castle. Each Hylian he glanced at appeared disconcerted while keeping their attention fixated on the castle. Link approached one dumbfounded man.

"Excuse me, sir, can you tell me what is going on?"

The man glanced at Link a moment before returning his gaze ahead. "An intruder is inside the castle and currently has the princess hostage," he distantly replied.

Link's eyes widened in surprise. "What? How did this happen?"

"How should I know? Now leave me be and go bother one of them!" the man angrily gestured towards a larger crowd of people huddled by the castle gate which Link failed to notice until now.

Obliging his request, Link strolled close enough to hear several Hylians conversing.

"Does he want ransom?" one Hylian asked.

"Perhaps…or there's always…" the man lowered his voice to a level Link couldn't hear, but he guessed the nature of the remark when he suddenly chimed in, "I mean, what other purpose would he have for being alone with her?"

"How horrible…Poor Princess!" A female Hylian gasped.

Boiling with rage, Link decided to take matters into his own hands. He scaled the perimeter until he utilized the route he entered the castle as a child. Staring incredulously at the predictable pattern of the guard, Link could not believe that after all of these years the guards still remained incompetent. Seizing upon the guard's turned back, Link easily evaded notice and entered the castle. Little did Link know that when he emerged, his life would be forever altered.