A/N: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.
Three years earlier...
Ragnar had fallen into a state of disrepair. It had once been a prosperous mining village. Now, it was nothing more than a ghost town. Where people used to walk the streets, now zombie-like creatures stood waiting for another victim. However, unlike "traditional" zombies, these were capable of intellectual thought. They knew how to lure people out of the safety of their homes and ambush them. But, their main reason was to keep outsiders out.
There was one place in the entire village where the creatures seemed to congregate most. It was the largest and oldest building in the village. It was once used as a jailhouse, but, like the village it was now in disarray. The first victims to fall under the lure of the zombie-creatures were the inmates. At night, the villagers would wake up to the sounds of screaming that would make even the bravest of warriors' blood run cold. Something evil had made Ragnar its domain.
The jailhouse had gone through some remodeling on the inside. The cells were still on the top level, but down below in the lower levels was where the real nightmares were made. It was a place of torture and death. The sickening odor clung to the walls. Prisoners cried out for some sort of relief, even though they knew it would never come.
A tall, cloaked figure walked down the winding halls. The figure's face was shadowed by the hood that hung over his head. He made his way up a flight of stairs and walked into a large office, which used to belong to the jail-keeper. Another figure, this one short and thin, stood in front of the large window overlooking the mining valley.
"Did you find him?" the second figure asked.
The first one pulled back the hood of the cloak, revealing rust colored hair, a tanned face and cold amber eyes. He removed his cloak and threw it over the back of a nearby chair. His black and gold armor gleamed in the light of the fire place.
"I have searched the sacred lands for countless days with no sign of the bounty. It would seem that the gutless 'Hero' has vanished," his deep voice boomed in the quiet room.
The second figure seemed to be deep in thought.
"Do not worry, Ciar, we are not on a timed schedule. If the so-called 'Hero of Light' wishes to avoid capture, then we shall play his little game. Let him have his last moments of peace before we strip him of everything he holds dear."
Ciar smiled evilly. "The Gerudo were wrong to deny you leadership of the tribe, Sister."
"A mistake they will pay for dearly, Brother. But, the main focus is on the Hero. He took our family away from us, so we will return the favor."
The figure stepped away from the window and walked into the fire light. Her amber eyes blazed with hatred. Her long, rust colored hair fell half way down her back, tied back in a tight braid. Her already dark complexion darkened even more as her thoughts dwelt on the Hero.
"We will get our hands on the Hero, Tanith. We owe our father the corpse of his killer," Ciar assured his sister.
"You may do what you want to him when we bring him here, but I want to be the one who takes his final breath," Tanith said.
Ciar nodded. "As you wish," he replied.
The palace was bustling with activity. Servants and maids rushed around getting ready for the celebration. With the grace of a swan and the speed of a mountain cat, the Twilight Princess dashed down the long flight of stairs, her redish-blonde hair trailing behind her like a cape. She lifted her dress so she wouldn't trip and ran across the main hall. Were was he?
"Princess Luma, why the rush?" a maid asked.
Luminita stopped to catch her breath. "I have to find Gwain. I was supposed to be watching him."
"Princess, do not worry. There is not many places the young prince could have gone," the maid pointed out.
"What if he went over a cliff?" Luminita asked.
The maid smiled. "Princess, you become more like the king every day," she said.
Luminita sighed. It had been sixteen years since the Twili returned to the Twilight Realm. She had only been an infant, but as she grew older her parents told her of the final battle between Link and Ganondorf. She had almost lost her father that day.
"If it makes you feel any better, I saw Prince Gwain in the garden," the maid replied.
"Thank you, Sareal," Luminita said.
She ran off. Sareal smiled and shook her head. The princess was too much like her father. The prince needed to learn how to take care of himself.
"Hey, sis, get moving. There's too much to do to be standing around," Zane called from the balcony.
"I'm moving. I'm moving," Sareal called back. "Before you go, where's Xerxes?"
"Don't know," Zane replied. "Ever since he was appointed Captain of the Guard he hasn't been around a lot."
Sareal sighed and went back to work. Meanwhile, Luminita was hurrying through the garden.
"Where are you, Gwain?" she whispered.
She then heard the sound of wood against wood. It was followed by a thunk, a grunt, and then a thud. The princess hurried over to where she heard the noise. She came up on her father and brother. Gwain was on the ground, rubbing his shoulder. Link looked up and smiled.
"I was wondering when you would show up, Luma," he said.
Luminita walked up. Link helped Gwain to his feet. The princess looked down at the wooden practice swords. The prince picked one of the swords up and spun it, much like Link did with his real sword.
"It's my birthday gift," Gwain told his sister. "Dad said when I get the hang of handling a practice sword I can have a real sword."
Horror destroyed the princess's usual calm features.
"You're only nine Hylian summers," Luminita pointed out.
"You were younger when you held your first sword," Link put in, spinning the wooden sword.
Luminita turned to her father. "How young?" she asked.
"Three Hylian summers," Link answered.
Gwain's eyes widened. "Three Hylian summers? Whoa!"
"But..."
"Really, Luma. Stop being so overprotective of your brother. That job falls upon me and your mother," Link explained.
Luminita's face relaxed into a smiled and Gwain laughed. Link put his arms around his childrens' shoulders.
"Now, what do you say we go see what all the fuss is about?" he suggested.
"Yeah," Gwain chimed.
Luminita laughed. They made their way inside. The chaos had died down, somewhat.
"Go have fun. I'll see you two at the banquet," Link said.
Gwain ran off with Luminita right behind him. Shaking his head, the former Hero left the main hall and went to find his wife. He found her on the balcony at the back of the palace, lost in the hypnotic dance of the twilight clouds.
Midna jumped slightly when she felt someone wrap their arms around her waist. Her surprise quickly melted away and she smiled.
"Why are you all alone, fair queen?" Link asked in a whisper. "Does the noise not appeal to you?"
Midna chuckled. "And what of you, o king?" she replied. "Why are you here and not down there?"
"Practice ended early," Link answered, kissing his wife on the cheek.
"Luma finally found you, I take it," Midna said.
"Uh huh," Link confirmed.
The Twilight Queen smiled. "She becomes more like you everyday."
"I hope not."
Midna turned around and looked into Link's crystal blue eyes.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"She's becoming too much like me," Link said.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"I don't want to curse my children, Midna."
"Curse them? With what?"
Link tightened his right hand into a fist. Midna noticed the action and finally realized what he was talking about.
"Oh. You don't want to pass on the Triforce to them," the queen said.
"Zelda return it to me in order to save my life. But, then it disappeared. I don't know if Zelda took it back or if it got passed on to someone else."
Midna wrapped her arms around Link and cuddled into his chest.
"You worry too much," she said. "Even if someone ended up with the Triforce it would be a waste of time. Hyrule has been at peace for sixteen years. The Hero of Light has become legend, and you are free to live your life as a normal man."
Link closed his eyes and sighed. "It's almost too good to be true," he voiced.
"I know," Midna admitted. "But, it is."
Link opened his eyes and gazed into the shimmering clouds. It really was too good to be true. Nothing came this easily. There was always a catch. However, the only catch Link could see was being the king of the Twilight Realm and raising two high-spirited children. So far, that wasn't a bad catch. He just hoped that it was the only catch.
Let me know what you think. No flames, please.