Dark: Hey! Just want to say something. Please Review! And I just found another story out there named the Missing Piece as well. Please know that I named this fic a long time ago and did not take any ideas from that other fic. I just suppose great minds think alike, hm?

Shokin: Dark does not own The Legend of Zelda, or Nintendo. But she would really like to. Too bad for her, ha!

Dark: You know, you're really evil. No brownies for you. Btw, the story will get better as more chapters are added, trust me! Love to all!



Chapter 1


Link sat in Epona's saddle at the top of a hill. He gazed out over all of Hyrule field. The wind blew gently against his cheek, bringing with it the smell of Hyrule's many wild flowers. He breathed deeply, taking in the beauty of the field and of the crisp blue sky. It felt good to be back home.

Two years had passed since he had left Hyrule in search of his fairy friend, Navi. Two years, and he still had not found her. Link had finally decided to come back to Hyrule, and make sure it was still there. Thankfully, it looked much the same so far, with the exception of a few bigger trees.

Epona whinnied. She probably felt tired from the long journey. Link patted her neck, then ran his fingers through her white mane, which had gotten longer with each year. Epona was also maturing into a fine horse. Her coat had gotten a lot redder and smoother. Link liked that best about Epona.

Epona was not the only one who had grown. Link, now a good ways into adolescence, was becoming more a man everyday. He remembered it like yesterday having the doorknobs of peoples' houses being just below his nose, and now they were at his stomach.

Link gave Epona a slight nudge in the side with his boot, and Epona started off at a canter in the direction of Lon Lon Ranch.


Having dropped Epona off at Lon Lon Ranch, Link had entered the town market. The shops had gained second stories, and a few more people that he didn't recognize bustled about the square, but other than that, the town market hadn't changed. Link walked up to the center of the square, a square water fountain. It was still crystal clear water that ran through it, and little green rupees were scattered on the bottom. Link took out a blue rupee, worth five green ones, and tossed it in.

Link!

Link felt a soft warmth in his chest. Zelda, he thought. Link walked around the fountain and headed out of the market towards Hyrule Castle.


The guards had recognized Link instantly and let him pass, each with a "Sir Link", much to Link's annoyance. He wasn't much for all of the worship nowdays. He'd much rather be just a normal person.

Link entered the castle courtyard, the usual meeting place. Sure enough, Zelda was standing there waiting, just like Link had known she would be.

"Link, you're back." Zelda came up to Link and embraced him.

Link stepped back and looked at her. Her golden hair now hung freely, being tossed by the gentle breeze that blew across the courtyard. She still wore the royal dress of the princess, and her figure had developed more. Her eyes were as blue as ever.

"Link, it's been so long. How are you?" Zelda said in her soothing voice.

Link smiled at her. "I'm great, Zelda. I--" Link noticed something suddenly. "Who's that?"

Behind Zelda stood a young man. He was a bit taller than Link, but not much. He wore chest and leg armor the color of slate, with brown clothes underneath. He also wore a cape that was very dark crimson on the underside and pure black on the outside. His red-brown hair was slicked back into a small ponytail and he stood there with what Link assumed to be his amused look on his face.

Zelda looked behind herself at the young man for a second, and then turned back to Link. "This is Nejora," she explained. "We met in Kakariko Village not long after you left. He's one of the last descendants of the Sheikah bloodline."

Link blinked. 'Nejora' sounds too much like 'Majora', he thought. Majora, or rather Majora's Mask, had been the cause of the moon almost crashing into the land of Termina, and had also been one of the things that had delayed him on his quest to find Navi. Link examined Nejora more closely. Sure, his armor bore the elaborate eye symbol of the Sheikahs, but didn't necessarily mean anything. The designs on his boots and gauntlets Link thought were familiar, and his ears weren't pointed enough to be full Sheikah. Something else had to be mixed in there.

"Nejora has been a real help in exterminating Hyrule of evil monsters, and in organizing treaties and agreements with the surrounding kingdoms to keep peace. He also knows a lot about swordplay like you, Link."

Nejora walked over to Link and extended a hand. Link took it, only to be polite.

"It's good to finally get to meet you, Link. I hear you were quite the hero a few years ago. Zelda's told me a lot about you," Nejora said. His voice sounded normal enough. In fact, were Link a girl, he might have found it alluring. Link still didn't trust him, though. This guy's not who he claims to be, he thought. But I've seen his face somewhere before, and his orange eyes have a way too familiar glare.

"I bet you have," Link responded. He took his hand away, but held Nejora's stare. Nejora finally looked away, appearing to be uncomfortable. He then spoke to Zelda. "You know, I better go see if the king needs my help with anything. I'll leave you two alone to catch up." With that, he kissed Zelda lightly on the cheek, and left the courtyard.

By the power of Farore, I oughta… Link caught himself before he could draw his sword and run after the guy.

Zelda saw the look on Link's face. "What's the matter with you?"

"Zelda, how can you trust him like that!"

Zelda glared at Link. "What's wrong with Nejora? He's a perfectly good person!"

"He's not who he says he is," Link retorted.

Zelda tightened her face. "Look, I'm sorry you're upset about this, but there's really no point in being that."

Link at that moment turned around and stormed out of the courtyard.