A/N: Okay, so they're from the east, not the south. On a note, for those who stumble upon this story as a search, you will not understand this story easily unless you've read my other story When Darkness Descends, which I don't think can be understood as well before having read the original Hidden Abilities. All of these stories can be found on my user lookup thing. Now, old and new readers alike, feel free to read!


Strangers from the East

Chapter One - Rendezvous at the Temple

Zelda yawned and leaned back against Link as the light of the sun started to enter the room, flecks of the light catching on the stained glass.

"My father and I used to do this when I was little. Every year, on the anniversary of Mom's death, we'd come here and he and I would watch the light as the sun rose."

"You never talk about your mom much," Link commented.

"It's because I can't really remember her very well. I was very young when she passed on and I only have a few memories about her." She sighed. "There was this one time, though. Back when you threw me that surprise party, remember? When we were outside, playing that song. I remembered being rocked to sleep. She was there, my mother, playing the Ocarina of Time, playing that song. I barely remember what she looked like, though I do remember her face a little. She had long brown hair that always fell in my face when she held me. That and she had these amazing green eyes. She was always smiling, no matter what was going on. 'The world would stop spinning if it wasn't for one smile,' Dad said she'd always say. That's all I really remember, though.

"After she passed on, my father tried his best, but he had no idea how to raise a girl. He even admitted to it, later. It's his fault, you know."

"What is?" Link asked, slightly confused by the sudden blame toward the late King.

"It's his fault that I ended up like this. He was always swinging me around in complete circles. First he'd make me wear dresses every waking moment of the day, plus some of the ones where I wasn't quite so awake. Then his annual hunting trip would wind its way here and he'd have no idea what to do with me, so I'd pack my stuff and head out with them. For a few weeks I'd learn the tricks of the trade. I learned how to sneak around with absolute stealth, how to shoot a buck from a hundred yards or so, even how to clean my kills afterward. After that we'd come back to Hyrule and I'd be free for a few months. Eventually, he would find me out and would think I was getting too boyish and we'd start the 'dresses all the time' thing again. However, the months passed and his annual trip would come again. For years this went on, until he stopped going."

"Well, hunting trips or not, I couldn't have asked for a better you."

Zelda smiled. "Thanks."

Just as she finished, the sun hit the bottom of the windows full force. The entire room lit up, sending the brilliant light to every corner of the room, filling the small area with shades of red and blue and green. It was visible for only a second as the sun continued onward, rising past that point.

Zelda sighed, resting her head on Link's shoulder. Suddenly, the doors to the Temple of Time opened, causing Link and Zelda to jump up off of the seat. Turning toward the newcomer, they saw quickly that he, for it was a he, was carrying something that looked remarkably heavy.

Link rushed to the man. In his arms, Link saw another person, this one slightly younger. The younger boy, for he, too was a he, was covered in injuries.

"I hear... Queen have... healing magic. Queen... good friend... of Saria. Queen... heal Isaac... please."

Link lifted the boy from the man's arms and carried him to the front of the Temple. Carefully laying him down, he glanced up at Zelda.

"Can you?"

"I can try." Zelda dropped to her knees in front of the boy, placing her hands over one of the most serious injuries. As she had done with Link, she channeled the magic through her into the boy, watching as his cuts shrank and vanished. She did this a few more times before falling back into Link's arms, too tired to continue.

"He'll… live. He just needs… to rest. He should... regain consciousness in a minute or two," she said, falling asleep herself. Link laid her on one of the benches, turning to the man.

"Now that your friend's out of mortal danger, an introduction would be nice."

"I Zei, resident of Kakariko. Isaac and I training in center of town when Gerudo attack us. I decent enough to fend one off, but other one too good for Isaac, hurt him like so. Saria tell us that Queen Zelda good friend of hers, would heal Isaac. I rush here with Isaac. You know rest."

"Two Gerudos attacked Kakariko?"

"Yes. Gerudo leave, though. They... how you say..? They... run? They fear... Saria because she... Sage."

"Huh. So everyone else is okay, then?"

"Yes."

Link nodded. "That's good." He paused for a second, and then remarked, "You know Saria, then?"

Zei nodded. "She... good friend of mine. She and you used to... share house together? In the Kokiri Forest?"

"Not quite, no. We lived near each other, though."

"Live together... That what she say. That not mean in same house?"

Link thought for a second. "It can, but sometimes it means live near, but in different houses. I take it you haven't been around Hyrule much?"

"Only a few months. I lived in country to east. Travel west, find Kakariko. Saria teach me Hylian; teach me to be like Hyrulean. We working hard. Know most of language. Saria say I need get grammar down bit more. Not sure how up it is, though."

Link laughed. "She meant that you need to practice it a bit more. You haven't quite mastered it yet."

"I get it! You help too?"

"Sure. Anything in particular?"

"Saria say to be like Hyrulean, three major things need: speak language, know place, know history. You help with place?"

"Okay. Sounds simple enough."

"Good! Now, where we are?"

"This is the Temple of Time. It's a place dedicated to the three Goddesses, Din, Nayru, and Farore."

"Power, Wisdom, Courage!" Zei shouted.

Surprised, Link nodded. "Thought you didn't know much about Hyrule."

"Goddesses I know. Goddesses create more place after Hyrule. Create my country, your country, all country."

"You boys about done with your history lesson?" Isaac asked, slowly propping himself up against the wall.

"Isaac! You alive!" Zei exclaimed, rushing over. "I fear my little buddy not come back. I not have anyone to beat in swords."

Isaac laughed, stopping when he felt his side hurt. "No dice, my Western friend. I assume you briefed him?" Zei nodded.

"Hold on a second. I thought you said you were from the east."

"I am. Isaac make joke. He lived one house east of me, makes joke about being farther east, call me Westerner."

"You mean you two were neighbors?"

"Yes. He and I were great friends ever since I can remember. When he decided to go exploring in search of new lands, I tagged along. It's a good thing I did, too. He needs a translator a lot."

"I not! I better! I speak my words, you speak yours." Sighing, he laughed and added, "Okay, you help on big word."

"See what I mean? It was worse when he and I had just gotten to Hyrule. If it wasn't for Saria, we'd have been done for soon. You know Saria, if I'm not mistaken. I think she said you were the next house down, to the left, back when you two lived in the Forest that's to the south of here."

"Well, I know it was something like that, but I can't remember exact directions."

"She seem... fond of you. What you mean to her?" Zei's accusing tone took Link by surprise.

"She's a friend of mine. We were best friends for a while, but I grew up. She became the Forest Sage, though, so we got to work together again. I assume you know all about the fairy bit."

"That it?"

"Yes, that's it."

Isaac laughed. "You'll have to excuse Zei. He's a bit hardheaded. He's rather fond of Saria himself," he commented, glancing at Zei.

"I should be! It... it my right!"

"Oh, stuff it, Zei. Just because you two are going out doesn't mean that you should talk about her twenty four seven."

"You and Saria are going out?" Link asked, taken completely by surprise.

"Yeah. I thought you had briefed him."

"I did. I told him. Saria and I... friend, no?"

"Boyfriend. The 'boy' there is integral."

"I know I guy. I no need word tell me that. And integral?"

"Very, very important. It's like how we do with names. You know, like when Jhat ascended, he was Nar'Jhat? It's like that. Up a rank, if you will."

"I comprehend now. I Saria boyfriend. You know lot about Saria, yes?"

"Well, up until a few months ago, it seems."

"What you know about green potato thing?"

"Potato thing?"

"Yes. It green, shaped like potato, and have holes. She play music with it. Called it an oc-arna."

"Ocarina, you mean. What about it?"

"Saria have it out month ago or so. She holding it and playing it and almost cry at one time. I ask her about it and she not say anything. I offer to smash it because it make her sad, but she say no. She hide it after that."

"I don't blame her. I wouldn't want people smashing my Ocarina either. See, Saria's had that Ocarina for as long as I can remember. It's her only link to the Kokiri world, after all."

"So she… miss Kokiri?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. You know, when Zelda's back on her feet, I think we should all pay her a visit. It's been a while, and Elissa's been wanting to see her."

"See who?" Elissa asked, coming into the Temple.

"Hey, 'Lissa," Link replied, watching Elissa come over to them.

"Hello. Oh," she said, noticing Zei and Isaac. "Hello."

"Hello as well to you. I am happening to be Zei."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Elissa.

"Isaac," he chimed. "And the same goes for you. Saria speaks quite highly of you, you know. One would almost think you two were related," he said with a laugh.

Elissa laughed with him. She was eight now, and had been for about a month or so. She didn't seem to have any memory of the Dark World incident, and Link honestly preferred it to be like that. She had also picked up the habit of calling Link 'Dad,' and Link didn't have the heart to correct her. Link leaned back against the wall of the Temple and thumbed through the stuff in his bag.

"Link?" Zelda asked. "You okay?"

Link came back to reality and realized that to anyone else, it would have seemed that he was digging furiously through his bag. His left hand was carefully wrapped around a small box.

He let go of the box and removed his hand from the bag. "Yeah, I'm okay. What about you?"

Elissa was standing next to Zelda, helping her sit up. "I'm okay."

Isaac filled Zelda in on what she had missed. After he finished she looked over to Link.

"I think a trip to the Desert is in order."


A/N: Yes, Zei has a heavy accent. I don't, so I'm doing my best with his, so if it's not understandable or something like that, I'm sorry and you're welcome to copy/paste what he said in a review and I'll reply, telling you what he said/meant.

Also, I'm just gonna tell you this up front. I can't promise a regular updating of this story. I will do my best, but please forgive me if I don't do so well.