FYI: the Link here is not from any of the games, and the layout of Hyrule will be the one from Ocarina of Time. Special thanks to spell check for catching all the errors I kept doing.


Hyrule Castle, the end of the Age of the Interlopers, approx. 150 years after the Hero of the Sky.

Leaning back in his chair, Link sighed. A month had passed since he had assisted the army in rounding up the last of the Interlopers. Ha, "assisted"? He thought. More like "go kill yourself going up against the strongest sorcerers while everyone else cowers behind the rocks." He sighed. Why did he agree to such a dangerous mission? He could have stayed at home minding his family's ranch instead of trekking all over the kingdom hunting down an elusive tribe of dark magic users.

But for all his complaints, he knew that there was no way that he could have remained at the ranch. Something deep down had told him to join the army, the same sense that told him where to find the sword that now hung over his shoulder. He couldn't have ignored it, not after what he'd seen the Interlopers do with his own eyes.

And now he was called "Hero" for defeating Karamus, the strongest of the Interlopers. The fall of their leader made the others accepted their defeat with little to no resistance, but he could still see their eyes as they were lead, one by one, to the Mirror, banished to a shadow world forever. All of them were dim, without hope, lifeless. The worst were the children. The king had demanded that the leaders be executed and rest banished through the mirror. There were no exceptions.

He pushed the thought aside. That ordeal was now in the past; he had other things to worry about. He now sat in a dim room deep within the castle with the king, his most trusted advisor, and representatives from all the races of Hyrule. Such a group had never gathered before, but the reason they had encompassed the entire kingdom. Every race had a right to take part in what must be done, but he couldn't figure out why he was in this room in the first place. All he did was shove a sword through where a heart was suppose to be in an evil sorcerer. To be honest, he'd even been surprised that the bastard even had a heart.

King Daphne Hyrule stood at the head of the table where they all sat. "You know why we have gathered here," he said in his deep voice. "The victory we have recently won could be so only through the power of one object." He looked at Link. "Bring forth the sword, Hero."

Link rose from his place at the far end and slowly drew the Master Sword from its sheath on his back. The blade gleamed unnaturally bright in the dim lighting as he set it down on the table, hinting at the power stored within it. Murmurs ran through those assembled as they beheld the legendary blade.

Daphne raised his hands for quiet. "This sword was found in a once secure location, but the recent events have caused the location to be known to many of our foes. Those here today are the wisest and most powerful of their respected races. We must find a way to combine our powers to protect this sword from ever being used against us."

"Why?" Link asked. "It is called the Blade of Evil's Bane for a reason: evil cannot touch it."

"Evil cannot touch it, but there is the chance that someone may be able to use it against us," Daphne replied. "We cannot allow even the possibility of some new evil gaining control of it. It must be protected for all time. The natural magic of Hyrule must combine to do this."

"And just how do you propose to do that?" a harsh voice demanded. Link looked at Navarra, the matriarch of the Gerudo Thieves. "The magic of the desert is far different that the one in this soft land. Like oil and water, they cannot mix."

"The thief is correct." This came from Ivan, the Sheikah. "There is no way to truly combine our powers. A heavily layered spell it the next best option, but as I'm sure as the thief can tell you, layered spells are easily broken."

"I have a name, you know," Navarra hissed. "And I highly suggest that you use it, Interloper."

Ivan growled at the insult, and Link was beginning to see why these two races stayed as far away from each other as possible. For all their similarities, being secretive and rarely allowing anyone outside their bloodlines enter their ranks, they hated each other for some reason that no one knew.

Just as Ivan opened his mouth respond with what was most likely another insult, Daren of the Gorons slapped a huge fist down on the table, making it shudder. "Enough!" he boomed. "This is far more important than your pride! This is the fate of all Hyrule, not just of your desert, your caverns, the mountains, or the lake. Set aside your pride and work together to save the generations that will follow you!"

The room was silent for several moments following the Goron's speech. Then Rauru, the king's advisor, stood. "Ivan made a point that is valid; a layered spell is easily broken or bypassed, but Navarra also has a point that our powers cannot mix. It seems we are at an impasse."

"Maybe they can mix, but you haven't found a way yet." Everyone looked at the shortest person sitting at the table. Dressed entirely in green with a pink fairy sitting on her shoulder, Tamera of the Kokiri smiled up at them. "I mean, how do you think I got here without too much of a problem?"

Link frowned. How was she able to stay away from the forest without any complications? Everyone who knew about the Kokiri knew that they could never leave the forest, so how did Tamera manage to come the castle?

"Yes how did you come here?" asked Azure of the Zoras asked before draining a glass of water, his fifth so far. "I thought your kind could never leave the forest."

"No we can't normally, not without risking our lives," Tamera replied. "I was able to leave because of this." She pulled out a green pendent in the shape of a leaf.

"What is that?" Rauru said softly, leaning closer for a better look.

"This is a charm that a sorceress gave me when I was chosen to come here," Tamera answered. "From what she told me, it converts any surrounding magic into the one of the forest, keeping me alive. It only works around natural magic, so I can't leave Hyrule, but I can leave the forest with no ill effects, for now at least." She smiled ruefully. "I'll have to go back eventually to recharge the spell. It's not meant to last forever."

The silence in the room was almost tangible. Then everyone jumped as Ivan spoke; "Are you saying that this pendent will convert any natural magic?"

"'Be it desert or field, light or shadow, water or fire, this pendent shall convert any natural magic into that of the forest.' Those were her exact words," Tamera replied.

"Din, Nayru, and Farore," Navarra whispered. "She's done it. This sorceress has found the connection between them all."

"Which means she could do the impossible and weave them all together," Ivan added. "This is incredible."

Everyone but Link seemed to be in awe. He didn't know much about magic (he only knew when to run away from a potentially dangerous spell), and though he could tell that what this sorceress had done was unheard of, he had no idea what they were talking about. He leaned forward. "Could someone please explain for those who have no idea what you're all talking about? What connection?"

"In order for Tamara's pendent to convert any magic to forest magic, there must be a connection between the different forms to serve as a focal point," Rauru said. "The best way to explain the connection is the relationship between a plant and water. Without water, the plant will die, thus a connection and a focal point to convert water to forest. What this sorceress has done is what so many before have failed to do: find the common connection between the different powers that shape Hyrule. She can weave a spell that can contain all the strengths of each one and none of the weaknesses."

"So what you're saying is that this sorceress is the answer to our problem," the king stated.

Rauru nodded. "If we can enlist her help, then the Master Sword can be safe for all eternity."

"That won't be easy," Tamara chimed in. "She won't it out of the goodness of her heart: she'll demand a hefty price. This pendent was made on the condition that she could remain in the Lost Woods."

"Why would she want to live in the Lost Woods?" Azure asked, half-way through his seventh glass of water. The pitcher before him was half-empty. "Those trees are dangerous to Hylians."

"She's been there for many years," the Kokiri shrugged. "She hasn't turned into a Stalfos like all the others."

"If permission to remain in the Lost Woods results in a pendent to protect a Kokiri," Ivan mused out loud, "what would we have to offer her to protect the sword?"

"We will have to send a messenger to ask," Daphne replied, "but it must be one who is from this council. No one else must know."

"I cannot," Daren boomed. "Winter is almost upon the Gorons in the mountains and we must stockpile as much food as possible before we are snowed in."

"I also cannot go," Azure chimed in. "Zoras cannot stay out of the water for the time it may take to convince her."

"Raiders are due in the desert," Navarra added. "I must be with my sisters to repel their attacks."

"The Sheikah have important matters to deal with." This quiet remark came from Ivan. "I must be present at our council."

"Your Majesty needs me here," Rauru said. "And I am far too old to be travelling this late in the year."

"She won't listen to any of the Kokiri, just the Great Deku Tree, but even then she may not listen." Tamara smiled apologetically. "Sorry, but I'm no help there."

Then everyone looked down the table at Link. "Absolutely not," he said. He could see exactly where this was going, but there was no way he was going to let them talk him into it. This was not his area of expertise. For all he cared, this wasn't even his problem, even if an inner voice was screaming for him to go. "No. I'm not going to the Lost Woods."

"We are not asking you to fight her," the king said. "Just talk to her. Find out her price to perform this task."

"No," Link repeated firmly. "I've already gone up against one sorcerer. I'm not doing it again. Karamus tried killed me on sight. What makes you think this one won't do the same?"

"Because she one of the 'ask questions now and kill later' sort," Tamara replied. "She won't attack you just for asking questions. Well, at least she won't for asking intelligent questions."

Link glared at her. "That's comforting to know." He became aware of Navarra staring intently at him from across the table. "What?"

"How old are you, kid?" Navarra asked.

Link turned to face the Gerudo. "What?"

"How old are you?"

"Eight-eighteen," he stuttered, slightly confused at where the conversation was going now.

"You married?"

"No."

"Engaged?"

"No."

"Then just walk into the Woods with your shirt off. That should distract her from killing you for a while," Navarra said with a smile. Her golden eyes lingered on Link's chest. "An attractive, single, strong young man walking alone, Din knows it would work at the Fortress."

Link bit back a retort as everyone burst out laughing. Of course the matriarch of a nearly all-female tribe would say that. He glowered at her as the rest of the council regained their composure. Daren was wiping tears from his eyes, something Link had never seen a Goron do before.

"In all seriousness, Link, you are the only one here who can do this," the king said when everyone caught their breath. "The rest of us are bound by our duties to our people. For the sake of all of Hyrule, you must go to the Lost Woods and plead with the sorceress to aid us."

Link stood up and looked the king in the eye. "No, Your Majesty, I will not go. I barely escape dying from one sorcerer; I will not risk death again confronting another. I have done my duty to Hyrule. It is time for me to go home."

The council murmured, but Link kept his gaze locked on the king. He hoped that his gaze would tell the king that he was simply not going.

"Are you still a solider of Hyrule?" the king asked.

"Yes," Link answered.

"Then I, Daphne Hyrule, King of this land, call upon you to fulfill your oath that you have taken to defend the realm. You must journey to the Lost Woods and seek the aid of the sorceress who resides there. Do you accept this mission?"

Link sat back in his chair, stunned. He hadn't seen this one coming, and he kicked himself for it. Daphne had subtly ordered him to go, and to decline would be defying the king. Army rules stated that a solider could not leave if he had any missions he had yet to complete. He was trapped.

So much for going home, he thought. With a feeling of complete helplessness and reluctance, Link looked back at the king. "When do I leave?"

"You accept then?"

"Yes."

"Then you leave in two days at dawn. Tamara, can you take him to where the sorceress lives?"

Tamara smiled. "I'll point him down the right path." She looked at the down-trodden Link. "After that, you're on your own."

Link snorted. Wasn't he always on his own? Sweet Farore, couldn't they find someone else to do this?

"Relax, kid. All you got to do is talk to her," Navarra said with a wink. "If all else fails; just take your shirt off."


Author's Note: So here's chapter one in all its "setting the scene" glory. I know some of the characters names aren't all that fancy, but I just didn't feel like coming up with weird ones for those on the Council. Anyways, please please please PLEASE read and review. First one gets a virtual homemade cookie.