CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

Twilight reigns over the land of Hyrule. If one didn't know which direction he or she faced, and had not seen the sky moments before, they would be unable to tell what would come as the minutes passed. Would sunlight spread across the land, bringing forth a new day? Or was this a sunset, heralding day's death and night's conquest? Only time could tell.

Days before this twilight, the sun had fallen with several people of the land mourning the death of a man they had known for some time. Seron, former dark wizard, had died in the catacombs under Hyrule Castle during a roof collapse he had caused. Wynn, hero and adventurer, had been with him at the time, trying to save Seron from himself and bring him over to the side of good. He had accomplished only one of those goals; Seron had died saving Wynn.

Now, Wynn and his five friends stay in Kakariko for the time being. Soon, they shall have to split again, returning to their individual lives. Tane, ex-mercenary and all-around rogue, shall join Shezarah, Gerudo warrior and Tane's significant other, on the trip back to the Gerudo's Fortress. Fami, a girl with strong elemental magic, shall return to Kokiri Village in the Lost Woods. Nerah, the spirited Zora rival of Fami, shall return to Zora's Domain. Jier, Sheikah and protector of Kakariko, shall stay in the village that is his home.

Wynn, however, has a specific goal in mind. Seron, with his dying words, had begged Wynn to find a girl named Kiara and pass a message on to her. Wynn had been instructed to find the girl and tell her that Seron had loved her. However, Wynn didn't know where to find her, and had been searching Kakariko for her.

Now, Wynn was preparing to visit Hyrule Marketplace, going there to search for Kiara. He needed to tell her Seron's last words, and to let her know that the man wasn't as bad as everyone had believed. However, Wynn was indeed in for a surprise.

******

Seron was alive. For the ex-villain, the past few days had been spent recovering from his wounds, and doing odd jobs in Kiara's shop. Kiara had taken him in the night of his supposed death, still furious at him due the fact he had before concealed his true identity from her, but unable to cast him out and let him die alone.

Now, Seron had almost completely recovered, thanks to Kiara's skills as a healer. Under the guise of Sertane, the name he had given Kiara before so she wouldn't discover his past, Seron had been accepted by Kiara's father as a new much-needed worker. He hadn't even demanded pay, much to Kiara's father's confusion, merely room and board.

Kiara's father hadn't even questioned the presence of the Tekiton. It was Seron's monster, the last of its kind. It was frail, and prone to explosions of emotion, but it also helped out. It liked to help in inventory, although the fact it spoke in chirps and tweets often hindered its efforts.

However, this peace Seron had earned was to be shattered very soon. A familiar evil has chosen his targets, and life as usual shall be ending very soon for two men. However, he has chosen his rivals poorly, and soon he shall face two forces that have never stood together. A battle is coming, good versus evil, the protectors of Hyrule against those that threaten it, Jevax versus Wynn…and Seron.

******

"…And don't forget to stop at that new store in the Marketplace. We're running low on bottles, no thanks to your little friend's lack of coordination," Kiara instructed Seron, who was leaning against a stack of crates he had just earlier carried into the shop.

The young man, in his late teens, ran a hand through his hair as he nodded, a serious expression on his face and a smile in his dark eyes. He let the hand fall back to the crate, pushing himself off it. He reached for a cloak, pulling it around his shoulders. His black hair was in severe need of combing, as he had been out in the wind moments before, retrieving breakfast for himself and the others from a bakery down the alley. His dark brown eyes met Kiara's as he started towards the door. He had packed his normal black armor away, instead choosing a simple black tunic and brown pants. His gloved right hand, the only give-away of his former identity, fell on the doorknob.

Seron stopped, looking to Kiara. His eyes again met her blue ones, but her gaze quickly moved. He gave her a quick smile, opening the door. "Anything else?"

She sighed. A lock of her golden blonde hair fell over her eye, and she straightened it. "That will be all."

Seron paused. "The list?"

Kiara froze, then pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of her blue vest, which she wore unbuttoned over a loose white shirt. She walked over to Seron; carefully handing it to him, making certain their hands didn't touch.

Seron nodded, his mood darkening. Making certain his cloak was pulled tight around him, he stepped out into the wind. Walking with determined strides, he headed for the Bottle Shop. He grimaced. He hated the place, especially the proprietor, with his odd hissing voice and single glowing eye. The Tekiton had taken a liking to him, though, probably out of shared physical characteristics.

Seron's thoughts again fell on Kiara. He had noticed how she was always careful never to touch him, to meet his eyes. She didn't trust him. Well, he didn't really blame her, after all he had done. He supposed it didn't help that he still hadn't told her everything about him. It wasn't his fault, though. He didn't even know his own past…and conversations were difficult if the other person would leave the room if conversation came to fall on anything besides business.

As Seron neared the shop, he froze. A shadow fell over him. He quickly turned, searching around. The alley was deserted. Frowning, Seron proceeded down the path. Things would change soon, he knew. Maybe Kiara would come to trust him, maybe even give him another chance. Still…Seron couldn't shake the feeling that something evil loomed around the corner. He didn't know how true his premonition was. As Seron stepped into the shop, he gave one last glance behind him, then turned away, satisfied it had only been his imagination.

It wasn't. A sole figure watched him from a rooftop. Chuckling, the man turned away, and leaped from the building, off to find his partner and set his plan into action.

******

"Mmm…wha are ya doin'?" mumbled a not-quite-awake Fami.

Wynn smiled as he looked over to her, then proceeded to pull his armor over his head. Securing it, he turned back to the girl, who was covering a yawn. He slid his mammoth Biggoron Sword into its sheath, and walked over to the girl. Grinning as he lifted her chin so he could look into her sleep-blurred eyes, he gave her a quick kiss.

It was before dawn, on the same day Seron would later pay a visit to the Bottle Shop. Wynn had woken up earlier, shaking off a dark dream he had quickly forgotten, and prepared himself for a trip he had put off for too long. He was getting ready to leave right after his friends woke up, waiting so he could tell them where he was going.

Fami smiled after the kiss, wrapping her arms around Wynn and holding him in a tight hug. The hero stroked her hair, and after a moment she let him go, looking up to him, awaiting the answer to her question.

Wynn's eyes darkened for a second. "I'm going to find that girl Seron spoke about. He…he had a message for her, and I need to find her, to tell her."

Fami nodded, wiping sleep from her eyes. She covered another yawn, and the hero chuckled. He looked into her chocolate eyes, and pushed her lightly towards the sleeping area. "Looks like someone didn't get enough sleep," he teased.

Fami waved him off, starting towards her pack, which held her green Kokiri-style clothing. She wore her loose nightgown, also in her favorite color. Her shoulder-length brown hair was slightly messy from sleep. Grabbing one of her tunics, she walked off, going to change.

Wynn watched her go, then looked around the room. Since they all had come to stay in Kakariko, Jier's largish house had seemed much smaller. The Cucco Lady also stayed there, in her bedroom up the stairs. Before Jier had returned home, a rather grumpy young man had also lived here, but he had since moved to Hyrule Marketplace. Wynn was glad, as he had taken a rather immediate disliking to the man.

The Cucco Lady's bed was vacant this morning, however, as she and Jier had fallen asleep on a couch during the night, leaning on each other, arms holding the other close. Shezarah and Tane were also snuggled together, exhausting themselves hours earlier during an argument and passing out on a cot on the floor. Nerah was on her own cot, snoozing peacefully.

As the first light of dawn peeked in the windows, Fami returned, having dressed in her normal clothes. She gave him another quick kiss, then walked to the door, opening it and beckoning Wynn to follow her silently.

Wynn followed the girl outside, where without a word she took his hand and began to lead him on a path around the town, their pace slow as they enjoyed each other's company. They said nothing at first, only walking. Soon, though, they began a low conversation, careful not to wake any of the inhabitants of the town in the houses they passed. Before long, the sun was visible over the hills, and they started back towards the house.

As they passed by the home of the Potion Shop owner, the conversation fell on Seron. Kiara came up in the discussion, and, as Wynn lamented he had no clue as to how to find the girl, the pair was surprised to hear someone coming up behind them. Both whirled, discovering it to be none other than the Potion Shop owner.

The pair waited patiently as the young man, only several years older than themselves, tried valiantly to regain his breath. When he was able to speak, he looked to Wynn inquisitively. "I'm sorry, but I accidentally heard you two talking as I was packing to leave. Did I hear you mention the name 'Kiara'?" He looked back and forth between the pair, who nodded. "I thought so. You see, she's my cousin, and-"

"She is?" Wynn interrupted. "Great! I need to find her; I have to tell her something. Can you tell me where she might be?"

"No." The two adventurer's faces fell, but the Potion Shop owner broke out into a grin. "I can do even better; I can take you to her." Before Wynn could interrupt again, he continued. "I'm going to Hyrule Marketplace anyways. Ever since several days ago, my cousin has been very upset, and my uncle wants me to se if I can get her to tell me why."

Wynn's face fell at those words. He knew why. "Well, in that case, sure. Thanks, a lot."

"Why do you need to see her?"

"I…I need to tell her something."

The Potion Shop owner could tell from Wynn's tone it would be wise not to push the point. "Fine. I'll be ready to leave within an hour, so meet me at my shop soon."

He turned to leave, but Fami called out to him. "Wait! Who will be taking care of the shop while you're gone?"

The man paused. "Well, after I speak to her, my cousin will come here. Oh, and that young man that has been living with them, I believe he will come to."

The two nodded farewell to him, then continued down the path to return to their friend's home. Finally, Wynn knew how to complete the task Seron had given him, and then he could lay the wizard to rest.

******

As the sun was rising towards its highest point that day, Wynn and the Potion Shop owner stood in front of the shop where Kiara lived and worked. They had left a bit later than expected, due to a few customers that could not make up their minds. Also, the Potion Shop owner had needed to haul some raw materials to his uncle's shop, and Wynn had gladly helped him load them onto a cart, and unload them next to the shop in Hyrule Marketplace.

Now, the two men were finally ready to enter the small building. Wynn grimaced, anxiety and dread clutching his stomach. He definitely was not looking forward to this, but it had to be done. Desperately trying to push aside the visions of what he must do and how his words might hurt the girl, he stepped forward and pulled the door open.

He looked around the room cautiously. Before him was the counter, and behind it was where the proprietor usually stood, but now was vacant, as the store was closed temporarily. The shelves behind that were laden with bottles of different potions, and intriguing rarities. A door led into deeper into the building, but customers never went there. At a nudge from the man beside him, he opened it slowly. Stairs ascended to the living quarters, and another door opened into the storeroom. He walked through the door, peering about.

A girl was there, turned mostly away from him, but he could see her biting her lip. He heard a small squeak nearby, but when he turned towards it, all he saw was a red blur dive behind some boxes. He scratched his head in confusion, then turned back to the girl.

So, this is the girl Seron fell in love with, he thought, not very surprised. She was quite beautiful, with long blonde hair and tanned features. At this moment, however, those features were clouded with worry and regret, but for a different reason than Wynn believed. Truth be told, she was still in turmoil over her feelings for Seron, but the hero thought the wizard was dead.

Wynn coughed lightly into his hand, stepping forward. The girl whirled, an almost annoyed look on her face. She froze when she saw the man, and didn't seem to recognize him, although they had seen each other very briefly in Kakariko a short time before Seron had 'died'.

The Potion Shop owner stepped around Wynn, a grin on his young face as he opened his arms wide, pulling Kiara into a hug. She returned the affection, but her eyes stayed on Wynn. Her lips formed the word, 'who?' but, before she could ask, her cousin cut her off.

"Cousin, how are you? I've got everything ready at the other shop, so you'll just need to get that worker of your's to unload the supplies and then open up. I'll come for you in a few days, as soon as I take care of some things." He noticed where her gaze had stayed. "Ah. This young man has a message for you…his name is Wynn."

Kiara froze at the name. Wynn…she knew from gossip around town that Seron and Wynn were mortal enemies. As a matter of fact, she believed Wynn had been the one to nearly kill him before, when he had come to her nearly dead in the night. Seron hadn't told her anything about that night, just that he wanted to leave it behind him. But, with Wynn here…

Wynn gave a weak smile, and nodded. "Yeah. Erm…" He hesitated. The Potion Shop owner's reaction to his next words wouldn't be pleasant, so privacy was a must.

Catching the reason for the pause, the other man nodded. "Well, I'll go start loading the cart. I'll see you soon, cousin…and, we need to talk."

Watching the man walk away, Wynn gathered his thoughts. This would not be fun at all, he knew. However, the conversation began in a way he never would have expected.

"You're here for him, aren't you?" Kiara demanded angrily.

Wynn's eyes widened, and he scratched his head in confusion. "Excuse me?"

Kiara blushed, and let out a quiet yelp as a box slip across the floor as if kicked, bumping into her side. Wynn whirled, looking for the cause of the strange behavior of the inanimate object, but Kiara grabbed his attention again.

"Why are you here?"

Wynn sighed. "I was asked to bring you a message. Ser…someone…asked me to tell you something, before he…" Although he could not see it, as his eyes were on the floor, Kiara's jaw was dropping. "He told me…he told me to tell you that he loved-"

"YOU!"

******

Seron smiled grimly as he walked through the streets, his path taking him straight to Kiara's shop. He gave a nod to the young man loading supplies onto the cart, trying to sheild his face from view because the other could recognize his true identity. He opened the door, then entered the hall, pausing at the door to the storeroom.

He could hear another male voice through the door. He frowned, wondering whom it could be. Deep down, he knew it, but desperately hoped it wasn't who he thought it was.

He opened the door.

"YOU!"

Standing before him was his worst nightmare. The two pairs of eyes, almost indistinguishable in their likeness, met each other, both whirling with suspicion. Trouble had found them both once again.

******

Wynn couldn't believe his eyes. Right in front of him was the man he thought he had seen die. Seron could not have escaped from that cave. He had to have died.

But…he hadn't. He was right there.

Wynn's eyes widened even further with shock. Without knowing why, he drew his sword. "What are you?" he hissed.

Seron's eyes lit with fury. "I am Seron, you fool. What are you doing here?"

"What you told me to, with what was supposed to be your last breath! I came here to tell Kiara that-"

Seron growled. "Stay away from her."

Wynn lowered his sword. "You scum. You tricked me into believing you had turned good. I thought you had finally seen what you had become, but instead you lie!"

Seron's hands crackled with energy. "Leave this place."

Wynn eyes were cold. "Yes, I shall. But, Seron, you will pay for deceiving me. I see now that you threw away your second chance. There will be no third."

And, the hero was gone.

Once he knew he was gone, Seron collapsed against the wall. His eyes were dim, and he clutched at his chest. He had feared that his peaceful life here would leave him, but to happen this soon? He couldn't believe the injustice of it all.

"I heard it all."

All three in the room, including the Tekiton, who had risen from his hiding place behind the boxes, whirled at the voice. At the door, face contorted with fury, was the Potion Shop owner. He was pointing a trembling finger at the other man, and he took a step forward. Seron stepped back, but then there was someone standing between him and the other.

"Cousin, no! Leave him be," Kiara ordered, a fierce look on her face. She spread her arms, shielding Seron with her body.

"Kiara, do you know what that thing is? Do you know what he has done?"

"Well, he isn't here to do any of that! He is here to put it behind him! And if it wasn't for everyone interfering, then maybe we could all forget what has been done and go on with our lives instead of always hunting for someone to blame! I have forgiven this man…can't you?"

The man frowned. "Kiara…"

Seron's eyes fell to the floor. He couldn't be happy. He had done too much in the past for that. He could see that now. "Come on, Tekiton. Let's go."

"Where?" Kiara demanded, whirling.

"Somewhere. Anywhere. Some place that I won't cause you any more trouble."

Kiara was furious. "NO! This is the only way you can live a normal life! If you leave, they'll…"

"I know what they will do to me. But, I can't live a normal life. I'm not normal. I never was."

With his saddened monster at his heels, the dark wizard grabbed his sparse belongings, and was gone. Behind him, the shop was silent, until moments later. Then, sobs erupted, along with a whispered name: "Sertane." But, he was no longer there to hear it.

Sertane was dead. Seron had returned from the grave.

Author's note: Back from a vacation, at long last. This story isn't complete, but I have over six chapters done, so it shouldn't be too long...hopefully. I'll have to be slow in posting, though...don't expect more than one or two chapters a week, or less if I hit a bad writer's block. Here's to hoping my troubles with writing are through for now.