Chapter One

Linx groaned as she woke, her entire body throbbing to the pulse of her heart. Slowly, she tried to pry open her eyelids but the tiniest bit of light was like a white hot dagger to her brain. After a few minutes of trying to open her eyes, she gave up and lay still, listening to her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was being in the Temple of Eternity but the silence of the Temple had been replaced with the swishing of wind through leaves and grass. She frowned as she wondered where she could possibly be when the sound of hoof beats reached her ear. They were slow and steady as though the horse was in no hurry to reach its destination. Linx tried again to open her eyes and was able to succeed this time. The first thing she saw was the underside of a tree. The branches swayed gently in a small breeze and as she turned her head, grass tickled her cheek. A vast expanse of green came into view and the rolling hills were so different compared to the flatness of the Yulreh Plains.

Something caught her eye as it passed between two hills and Linx sat up as fast as her spinning head would allow. Her hand went to her sword but all it found was bark as she brushed the trunk of the tree. She glanced behind her to confirm that her sword was no longer there as was her shield and bow. The hoof beats grew louder and Linx turned her head back towards them, her body trembling from the tenseness of her muscles. As she watched, the horse and rider crested the nearest hill and the rider slowed the massive horse with a soft command as they drew closer. Linx's eyes fell on his sword and she cursed softly to herself. The stranger stopped not far away and the two stared at each other for a few moments. His golden hair glinted in the sun that streamed down from between the leaves and branches which were the same shade as hit hat and tunic. Linx's eyes slid down his legs, noting the muscles beneath the white leggings that ended in a pair of heavy, brown leather boots. He cleared his throat and her eyes shot up to his which were as clear a blue as the ocean when the sun shone down on it.

Linx tensed as the stranger swung down from his reddish brown Clydesdale, his shield clinking softly against his sword. Linx scooted back against the tree and the stranger froze, both hands held out from his sides. He slowly reached under his shield and produced a small bottle full of a bright red liquid.

Linx looked at it then up at him. "Why are you bothering to help me?" she asked as she stared up into his eyes. The stranger smiled kindly but didn't answer as he held the bottle out to her. She looked at it intently before looking back up to the stranger, her gaze accusing.

"Its poison isn't it?"

His blue eyes widened in shock before he shook his head vehemently.

"Why would you try to help some complete stranger other than you're some sick man who finds a perverse pleasure in poisoning young girls and having your way with them. You sick pervert."

He stared at her, his mouth slightly open.

Linx pointed her finger at him. "See! I knew it. You were trying to poison me."

He waved his hands back and forth, his eyes imploring.

Linx narrowed her eyes at him than crossed her arms over her chest. "Drink some of it."

He uncorked the bottle than lifted it so that she could see a small amount of the bright liquid that dripped into his mouth. He swallowed then looked at her. They watched each other for several minutes in silence before Linx tilted her head. "You aren't dead." she said. He nodded than held the bottle out to her again.

Linx slowly reached out and plucked the container from his hand than uncorked it before putting it to her lips and tossing it back. After the last gulp was gone, she wipe her mouth on the back of her tunic sleeve than handed the bottle back. "Thanks" she muttered as she slowly got to her feet, the potion already working wonders.

The stranger smiled as he put the bottle back in the pouch under his shield. "You're welcome. You don't look like you're from around here. What's your name?" he said, his voice quiet.

"My name is Linx and I don't even know where here is."

The stranger frowned as he sat down on the ground, his horse grazing on the grass not far away. "This is Hyrule and I'm Link. What's the name of the place you're from?"

Linx slowly walked around the tree, her eyes taking in even more green rolling hills. "I'm from a land called Yulreh. Do you know where that is?" Link shook his head as Linx rounded the tree again than sat down across from him. She plucked at a loose thread at the sleeve of her dark blue tunic as she gazed over his shoulder at the surrounding landscape.

"Is Yulreh like Hyrule?" Link asked as he watched her curiously.

Linx shrugged as she met his gaze. "We don't have all these hills. Its mainly flat except for the Lupious Mountains, Wingen Canyon and Feral Forest."

Link frowned. "It doesn't sound like Yulreh is very large."

Linx shrugged. "Each range has at least three villages with miles of land between them so they're all pretty big. I know when I was after the Dawn Shield in the Canyon I…" she trailed off, her gaze going to her hands.

Link stared at her, unsure what to do as Linx swept the back of her hand over her eyes.

Link tilted his head as he watched her. "What's the Dawn Shield? Is it important?"

Linx looked up at him and nodded. "A demon, Forga, escaped from the Monk's Seal deep in the mountains and Yulreh fell into darkness. Our royal family has vanished, the villagers are turning into monsters, and my brother…"she closed her eyes tightly, her jaw clenching.

Link reached out, gently touched her knee and Linx looked up at him before taking a deep breath. "He was stolen from our home on the edge of the canyon, near the Forest path. Forga has possessed him and is using him for her own evil. I went to the capitol, Palka but when I got there, the monsters had already invaded. The towns people were killed or turned into the undead and I was chased into the Temple of Eternity where four spirits dressed as monks appeared and closed the stone door behind me. They saved me from the monsters than told me how I could save my brother…" she leaned back against the tree trunk, her eyes going up to watch the clouds float by.

"They said that we were a variation of the blood of the royal family. We are from the line that use to be called the Guardians and we watched over Yulreh until a king released us from our post because of the peace in the land. The spirits, or the Four Monks, said that in order for me to save my brother, I would have to collect the Guardian's Weapons and defeat Forga. They told me where to find the first Weapon, the Dusk Blade, and gave me a simple sword and shield before creating a portal to Yulreh Plains. As I stepped into it, the head monk bowed and wished me luck…as the Heroine of Eternity."

Linx fell silent as she watched a small black crow fly overhead, cawing as it went. Link watched it to before looking at her. "So you're the Heroine of Eternity? How did you get here?"

She looked at him as she brushed some hair back from her face. "After I collected all the weapons, I returned to the Temple and Forga was there. She had done something to the Monks I think and she knocked me unconscious, took my weapons then sent me here. All I know is that I need to get back so that I can save my brother from her."

Link looked up as his horse drew closer and butted his shoulder with her head. He stroked her face as he spoke. "How will you do that?"

Linx shrugged and rubbed her eyes with a sigh. "I have no idea."

Link looked at her and smiled. "I can help you. I've been all over Hyrule since I was young and know almost everything there is to know about it. Maybe if we work together I can help you find a way to get home."

Linx smiled than burst out laughing, making Link blush. "What?" he asked.

Linx shook her head at him. "There you go being a helpful hero again."

Link looked away. "Well actually…" he mumbled and Linx cocked her head. "Huh?"

Link looked back at her sheepishly. "I'm actually a hero…too" he said slowly as he rubbed the back of his neck. Linx blinked at him in surprise as he went on. "My story is a little different than yours but I'm the Hero of Time. Hyrule use to be ruled by an evil man from the desert by the name of Ganon and he imprisoned my friend Princess Zelda. He's been dead for a few years now and she's back in Hyrule castle so the land has returned to peace and I really have nothing to do but ride Epona and make sure the temples are still safe."

Linx looked at him quietly for a few moments then smiled. "Alright Mr. Hero, I, the desperate damsel am in need of your help. Will you provide it?"

Link smiled as he got to his feet. "Yeah I believe I have the time to spare. Come let us ride off on my gallant steed" he joked.

Linx rose to her feet and shook her head. "Yeah I knew it. Spiriting young girls away to have your way with them. Pervert." she sighed as she walked over to Epona, smirking over her shoulder.

"I'm not a pervert!" Link growled, his cheeks reddening.

"Sure you aren't." she said with a sweet smile as he walked over and swung up onto Epona's back.

He rolled his eyes at her as he offered his hand and swung her up onto the saddle behind him before turning North, where a large white fortress sat in the distance. With a nudge from Link's knees, Epona leapt forward and the journey of the two heroes began.