Chapter 1

An arrow landed with a thud, inches from the center of the target that hung on the trunk of a tree. A young man with short blonde hair and blue eyes nocked another arrow and took aim, drawing the arrow back. At full draw and the tip angled up, slightly above the center of the target to adjust for the falling curve, he let the string slip from his fingers. The arrow soared through the air and found the center of the target. Finally hitting his mark, the boy cheered. "I did it! Link, I finally did it!"

Link, some years older with dark, golden hair that framed his light, tan skin and dark, beast-like, blue eyes, responded, "I knew you could do it, Colin. All it took was some practice."

Colin nodded. "I wonder if I can do it again." He readied another arrow, but a shout stopped him.

Link and Colin looked to the sound to see Fado - a middle-aged man with dark hair - who called, "Hey, Link! The goats ain't listenin' to me. How's about you an' Epona herd 'em into the barn real quick?"

Fado left before Link could respond. Turning to Colin with a smile, Link said, "I suppose we should go help him." Link usually helped Fado so it was nothing he wasn't already used to. Lifting a charm in the shape of a horse shoe that hung around his neck, he put it to his lips, blowing gently. From it, a soft melody began, notes rising then falling to rise and fall once more. The gentle melody carried on, seeming to echo around them. Moments after the tune faded, a whinny could be heard and only a few moments after, a soft brown horse with a cream-colored mane and tail trotted up to them, stopping just in front of Link. Epona shook her mane, eager to go. Link mounted her and asked Colin, "Are you coming?"

Colin nodded. Glancing around, he spotted a clump of green grass, the top ends brown and curved like a horse shoe. Picking a blade of the strange grass, he mimicked Link, but whistled a very different tune, the notes rising and falling slightly faster and in a different pattern. A few moments later, a light brown horse with a darker mane and tail and lighter patches trotted up to him. Mounting his own horse, Colin said, "I taught Alexa to come with that tune, much like Epona does for you." When Link said nothing, Colin added sheepishly, "I told you I wanted to be like you…"

Link smiled slightly. "I'm not perfect," he said as he coaxed Epona to a light trot. "Let's go." Colin followed on Alexa and steadily, the two horses sped up only slowing once they entered Ordon Village.

After crossing a small stream in the village and passing the mayor's house, they entered the ranch where Fado was waiting for them. Fado moved off to the side, calling, "I'll leave you to it, Link, Colin."

He closed the gate leading back to the village so the goats wouldn't escape and waited, just inside. Link spurred Epona along the outside of the clearing, forcing the goats inward. Colin, having only helped a few times, watched for a couple moments before spurring his own horse forward. While Link circled along the edges, never crossing in front of the stalls, Colin followed along in a smaller circle, urging the goats into the barn and toward their stalls. In a matter of minutes, all the goats were in their stalls.

Approaching them, Fado thanked them and asked, "Either of you want to jump some fences?"

Link considered it, after all it'd be good practice for them and the horses, but perhaps another day. He shook his head. "No, but thank you. It's been a long day for the both of us."

Colin nodded his agreement and the two of them headed back toward the village. Passing the mayor's house once more, Colin asked, "Do you miss it?"

Link cast him a puzzled look. "Miss what?"

"The action and excitement from before," the boy said. "Do you miss it?"

Link sighed, gently tugging on the reins to come to a stop. Colin turned Alexa and waited. Thinking, Link answered, "No, not really. It may have been exciting, but there was danger around every corner. Hyrule is safe and has been for years now. I don't miss the fear, sorrow and pain." Smiling slightly, he added, "Besides, if I ever feel the desire for some excitement, your father said he was more than willing to spar with me." Eyeing Colin, he asked, "Why do you ask?"

Colin shook his head slightly. "I was just wondering."

They continued in silence, Link escorting Colin home before heading home himself. Reaching his own home, just outside the village, he dismounted and climbed up the ladder. Inside, there wasn't much to look at, just clothes and other commodities and an almost forgotten slingshot lay on a table. He ran his fingers over the slingshot remembering when he had bought it and the other children had been excited to see it. Walking to his left, he descended a ladder into darkness.

At the bottom, he lit an oil lantern he had left on the wall and carried it with him to the far end where a chest stood. Years ago, he had once found many rupees in the chest, but after returning, he had filled the large chest with the weaponry he would no longer need. Talking with Colin had drawn his mind to those times when he had been needed to defeat the evil that had threatened the land. Setting the lantern down, Link opened the chest. Inside was the bow, a quiver full of arrows, two claw shots, some empty bomb bags, the dominion rod, gale boomerang, hawkeye, spinner, hidden skills chart, and some now empty bottles.

Sifting through the items, he found the green tunic and the blue Zora armor. He stared at all the items, recalling when he had needed them in his fight against Zant and Ganondorf. How could he forget? It hadn't exactly been the most peaceful of times, monsters running rampant. causing fear. His adventure certainly hadn't been easy. Despite his life always being in danger, having to face all manners of creatures, he had fought with a single goal in mind: To return peace to Hyrule. He had been drawn from the village when Colin and Ilia had been taken, but had remained away when he had learned he had not been the only one affected.

Shaking his head, he stood, his gaze falling on the silver ball and chain he had acquired in the mountains. So many had been affected by the pervading Twilight, fear encompassing the land. Despite that, he did miss the adventure. He missed the excitement, but he would not wish to give up the peace for that feeling. This peace was something they all needed. He was glad to be able to ride through Hyrule Field without fleeing from monsters, without worrying whether his friends were safe.

He closed the chest, picking up the lantern and turning his back on the past. He knew what had happened and he hoped it would never happen again. Returning to the ladder, he put out the lantern, setting it on the wall once more and climbed back up. Since defeating Ganondorf, monsters were no longer found in the fields, or anywhere else for that matter. There was hardly any need for weapons anymore and though he had been teaching Colin how to use a bow as per his request, Link had not taken his own from the chest.

Reaching the top of the ladder, he took a glance around, the only change from before the Twilight and after was that the Ordon Sword and Hylian Shield rested in a corner on the off chance something were to happen and he would need them. Looking at the sword, he remembered the Master Sword. After defeating Ganondorf, he had returned it to the Sacred Grove where it belonged. The only thing he kept with him from his adventures was Ilia's charm, the horseshoe-shaped whistle. Everything else remained unused, sitting untouched.

Night falling, he supposed it was time for him to get some sleep, and though sleep came quickly, his dreams quickly turned to nightmares.

He woke suddenly in the middle of the night, a sense of fear trying to overwhelm him. Steadying his breathing, he sat up in his bed, glancing around. He was alone. Why would he expect it any different? Sighing, he turned his thoughts to the feeling that had ultimately woken him. He had a sense that something was not as it should be, but had no idea what it could be. Hyrule was in a time of peace and, as far he knew, there was no one powerful enough to threaten that peace. Lying back down, he tried to push that sense from his mind, but try as he did, he could not. Something wasn't right. Closing his eyes, he decided he would go to Kakariko Village and see Renado. Maybe he could help him figure out this sense. With that thought, he drifted back to sleep.


Far away in the Castle, Zelda woke suddenly, fear gripping her heart. The last time she had felt that kind of fear had been when Zant had attacked and Twilight had fallen over Hyrule. She didn't know what could cause this knew fear. Something wasn't right. Shifting under the covers of her bed, she whispered to herself, "I cannot let my people suffer any more than they already have. Whatever may be creating this fear I sense, I must find its source and put an end to it." Closing her eyes, she wondered if Link had felt it as well. In the morning, she decided, she would ask the guards to keep a sharp eye for anything out of the ordinary and perhaps even send out a summons to Link and have him warn the villages to remain vigilant. It was better to error on the side of caution. She couldn't endanger her people, not again. Trying to turn her thoughts to happier times, she allowed herself to drift back to sleep.

*Not a lot of action here, I know, but be patient. I hope you enjoyed and I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can.*

**Edited July 2018**