Chapter 2 is where the story really kicks off. The actual story is set into motion as Link must begin his quest by talking with Rauru.

!Disclaimer: I do not own Nintendo, the series or characters. All I own is this story. Link, Zelda and all others are trademark of Nintendo!

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Chapter 2

In Link's room at Hyrule Castle the Master Sword suddenly lit up. Link had nearly fallen asleep when it happened. "The sword!" He sprang out of bed, grabbed the Master Sword and his shield and ran to Zelda's room. He burst in without waiting for an answer.

"Link! You can't just burst in here."

"Get dressed. Something has happened."

"What do you…" Link held the Master Sword towards her before she had a chance to finish the sentence. "Oh."

"Yeah, that's a pretty big oh. So what are you waiting for? Get dressed and let's go." Zelda just stared at him. "Well?" Link asked pretty annoyed.

"Out. Now."

"Why's that? I don't mind…"

"Finish that sentence and you will mind." Zelda stared angrily at Link.

After Zelda had dressed, with Link standing outside her room, they hurried down to Castle Town. Link led them guided by the Master Sword. It was still dark but the rain had subdued a bit. The wind had settled as well. Soon they arrived at the Temple of Time. "I think it's here. Be careful" said Link as he took a firm grip of the sword. They looked carefully around. The temple was dark so it was hard to see anything. Zelda moved her hand to her necklace mumbled an incantation and held her arm above her head. A small ball of light flew from her palm to the ceiling. Once there, it changed shape and became a ring of pure light. As the light flowed across the room Link saw something at the edge of the light. He signaled Zelda and they crept closer.

They stopped about a meter away. Link was still on guard. He sensed that something was wrong but he could not put his finger on it. Zelda bend down and removed the cloak. It was a young man, he seemed really hurt. He had bruises on his ribs and cheek. She checked his breath and stared helplessly at Link. The young man would die soon. For now, he was unconscious. Link stared around the room looking for clues. Then his eyes fell on the Altar of Time. The three elemental stones were gone. "Zelda!" he called as he ran towards the Altar. Zelda joined him and was about to ask when she saw it herself. All three stones were missing. The Kokiri Emerald, the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire. "He must have come here to steal them" Link said. "But there must have been another one." Link began to search the room for clues but soon it became obvious that there were none to be found.

Meanwhile, Zelda had turned to the injured man on the floor. He coughed and gasped for air. He tried to open his eyes but he couldn't. "Sir, are you alright?" He heard a female voice and forced his eyes open.

"P…P…Princess…"

"Don't talk. " She lifted his head a bit. "You will be alright."

"I'm…sorry…They for... cough ..Forced me…"

"Who? Who forced you?" Zelda asked. But the young man had a seizure and drew his last breath. His body became weak in her arms and she put him down.

"Did you learn anything?" Link asked. Zelda told him what he had said but none of them had any idea what it meant. "You go to the castle and send a wagon down here to fetch the body. I'll stay here and wait for it." Zelda agreed and left for the castle.

While Zelda ran to the castle and alarmed the guards Link stood watch over the dead body. "They made me do it." The thought kept floating around in his mind. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't figure it out. He walked through the temple again to be sure that there were no clues. That's when he noticed the door to the inner chamber wasn't fully closed. He crept slowly closer, readying his weapons. He reached the door and peeked in. Everything seemed normal. The pedestal was still there at the center of the platform. He opened the doors and entered. His first look was right. There was nothing here. He went to the pedestal. Here he put down the Master Sword in its socket. At first nothing happened. Then, as he was just about to pull it out the time warp appeared. After a moment he was back on the very same platform where he first met Rauru.

"Well met, Hero of Time. What can I do for you?" Link explained the situation. "It is very dire news indeed. That must also be the reason why I can't keep this field much longer." A short pause. "Link you must get the stones back. But I fear your powers are not enough. Take the 6 medallions with you on your travels. They will help you out."

"But where do I have to look? We don't know who took the stones in the first place let alone where to find them."

"I sense something from the Lost Woods, Death Mountain and the Water Palace." But his voice had become scarred.

"Rauru I can't hear you! You're breaking up!" Link shouted. But the field collapsed and Link was back in the Temple of Time. He gathered the medallions and left the temple.

Meanwhile Zelda had reached the castle and alarmed the guards. Now they were riding back towards the town with a wagon to carry the body. As they arrived at the Temple of Time Zelda saw Link standing outside. While the guards took care of the body and searched for clues outside, Link told Zelda what had happened. "That's terrible!"

"I know." Link leaned back against the wall. "And all I know is that Rauru sensed something in the Lost Woods."

"Too bad the Ocarina is sealed away. It will take a long time to unseal it." They both stared at nothing in the darkness. The wind had gone dead; the rain had stopped a long time ago. All that was left was darkness. And that was enough to make them uneasy.

"I will go in the morning." Link said. Zelda gave a nod, showing she understood. When the guards were done they all left for the castle. It was a brief walk but it felt longer for Link. Once more, he felt that the weight of the world was lying on his shoulders. When they finally arrived at the castle Link went straight to his bed. He put his sword and shield in his weapons locker. As he was about to close the locket he realized something. He flung the locket open again. Most of his weapons had been destroyed. The Mirror Shield was shattered; his boomerang in two pieces, his longshot had its chain pulled out. All but his bow and arrows, and the sword and shield he had taken with him was destroyed. Furious Link searched the castle for clues but no matter what he couldn't find anything. Link went to bed, knowing that he had better get some sleep.

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The next morning Link woke early. He gathered what was left of his equipment and went outside his room. He looked back for a moment. He wouldn't be back for quite some time. He knew he had gotten soft by sleeping in a bed and did not look forward to his first night in the field. He turned again and left the tower. After a short breakfast he went into the castle yard where Zelda had readied Epona. They just stared at each other. "Come back safe."

"I will." Link swung up on Epona waved goodbye and Epona went into a sprint. Soon he was out of the town and sat a course for the Lost Woods.

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I just love that scene. You know, the scene where Link stands in Zelda's room telling her to get dressed. I just love that scene. Even if I only have seen a few episodes of the cartoon, I know that Link would react just like that.

Anyway, Link is about to head out. read on.