Oh wow… I'm so sorry guys. I was meaning to update a lot sooner than this. With school, Twilight Princess, and all this other stuff I've been really neglecting my fan fiction responsibilities… 0o

I've been working hard on an original work as well, so you can't all bite my head off mind you.

As per usual thank you for all these reviews, I pray that this rewrite is more of a success.

This chapter also reveals some other things I wanted to plug into the original storyline which I totally forgot to plug into the first version. This becomes apparent early on as you will soon find out.

So enough of my ranting, It's now time for you to READ! Oh and I don't own Zelda… because I got sucked into the dark world. Nintendo stole it from me… lol.

Chapter 3
The Thief

"The Soul Catcher," Link said making sure Impa and Zelda had his attention, "Is an artifact that was made long ago in Termina. It has the power to capture souls, and put them into something that doesn't have one."

Zelda wrinkled her nose, "So… you mean to say that this relic is evil?"

Link shook his head, "No. I didn't say it could steal souls, it just takes souls that are lost."

Impa folded her arms and leaned back in her chair, "So this item cannot be used by evil means?"

"I wouldn't say that," Link replied with a concerned look on his face, "When I got to the scene of where the burglary was, the mayor told me that there were always at least fifteen guards on duty to guard that thing; which says that this thing is very powerful. I asked the guardsmen what had happened, and they all said that the perpetrator had all knocked them out cold with a simple wave of the hand."

"So this person can use black magic…," Zelda mused, "But why would someone who delved into the dark arts want an artifact that can only do good?"

Link shrugged, "Not sure."

"So why have you come back if you have not found this doer of evil?" Impa asked with a thin eyebrow raised.

"Turns out that I tracked the little thief back to Hyrule," Link stated with obvious distaste, "What this person plans to do I'm not sure, but I'm hoping I catch him or her before anything drastic happens."

"Drastic as in, Hyrule gets taken over and you have to pull out your sword and do the hero thing?" Zelda asked bluntly resting her chin on her hand.

Link nodded.

"Better not involve me getting kidnapped…," The princess uttered under her breath, but the Sage of Shadow overheard and sent a glare her way. The Princess rolled her eyes.

"I doubt it will," Link said smirking, "I mean really this is a thief here –"

"So was Ganondorf," Impa and Zelda interjected.

"– And this person knows a little black magic –"

"So did Ganondorf, "the two sages repeated.

"– nothing bad is going to happen."

"That's what I said last time, and that somehow got the kingdom to rot for seven years," Zelda said darkly, pointing a finger at the hero and scrutinizing his overconfidence.

'That's going to get him killed if he keeps thinking like that…'

'You know what he's going to say to you don't you?'

'Yes…,' Zelda told herself begrudgingly.

'Don't-'

"Don't Worry Zelda," Link said, as if reading Zelda's mind. During her inner thinking he had got up out of his chair and walked over to the princess and put a calming hand on her shoulder, "nothing is going to happen. I'm better than that you know."

"Yes, I know, but it's just –"

"Zelda, R.E.L.A.X. Relax. It's just a thief."

"You know what I have to say to that comment don't you?" The princess asked flatly.

"Yeah I do, but it isn't going to stop me from doing my job."

Zelda scowled, but quickly let it go. Link was right after all. It was his job, and she couldn't do anything to stop him no matter what she said.

"Just," Zelda finally said, putting her trust into Link, "don't get yourself hurt."

The hero merely smiled, "That I can watch for."

Impa chuckled and she scooted her chair away from the table. She stood and folded her arms in her usual authority like manner, "You can trust Link to watch for those kinds of things Zelda. He'll be just fine," she turned her back to them and headed toward the exit, "I've got some things to do now, so I'll leave you alone to talk. But don't be long as I'm sure Link is eager to get this minor law breaker out of the way."

Impa walked toward the dining room doors and motioned for the guards to come, saying there was no need with Link around, and they all followed Impa out of the room. Both of the young Hylian's eyes watched the door as it shut and then they were alone.

"Finally…!" Link sighed exasperatingly, and he quickly delved down and kissed Zelda deeply. The princess sighed with content. They broke away for a moment and they smiled at each other.

"Were you really fighting all that time?" Zelda asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Hey, with all those guards and Impa around, there was no way in hell that I was going to give you the proper greeting. I'm just happy that we get to be alone now."

Zelda nodded happily, "I'm actually quite surprised that she left… usually she doesn't let me out of her sight."

Link smirked and showed his pearly whites, "It's because Impa trusts me I think… I mean, hey, I'm pretty formidable."

The princess laughed, "You're so full of yourself aren't you?"

Link looked up as if he was thinking and then he looked into Zelda's eyes once more and nodded. He then cupped her face with his hand and gave her a more delicate kiss than before. Their lips parted, and then Link took on a more serious expression than the one he had on a moment ago, "Impa doesn't know, does she?"

"No," Zelda replied, equally looking as concerned as he, "Nobody knows about us. Not yet."

"Right… you know, you are risking a lot just being with me… you know that don't you?"

"I've said it before and I will say it again, I didn't get this power of the Goddess Nayru for nothing," Zelda lifted up her right hand to show her triforce piece. It twinkled in the morning light that came through the windows of the dining hall, "I'm no fool."

"What… you're saying it was like… it's the Goddess's will for us to be together?"

"…maybe…"

Link rolled his eyes and he backed away from the Princess, a smile now returning to his features, "Unfortunately, Impa was right about me being eager to get rid of this thief… and I don't want to lose this guy's trail."

"Of course…," Zelda said a little sadly.

"It won't be a problem Zelda! It's basically a hop, skip, and jump to get rid of this criminal okay? I'll be back before dinner."

"Alright, alright…. I get it now. Hurry and do a good job and all that stuff." Zelda said making her hand do a flicking motion as if she were shooing him away, "You better be back before dinner… otherwise I'll come out to find you for myself got it?"

The hero rolled his eyes and gave the Princess a very sloppy salute whilst walking backwards toward the dining room doors, "I will be back my Princess… have I failed you yet?"

He gave a very low mocking bow taking off his long green hat in the process. He stuck it back on his blonde head when the bow was over and then turned around, opening the doors, "oh and by the way: I love the dress."

He then exited, leaving Zelda to stare as the doors shut. She then sighed and stared at her half empty plate of food. She poked at it absentmindedly with her fork, not daring to pick up what was probably now cold eggs.

Zelda scrunched up her nose, "I'm not hungry any more anyway…"

She pushed the plate away and then scooted back from the dining table, her chair screeching on the floor, and started to head toward the doors, but then she changed her mind as she turned to look at the bright morning coming in through the windows. Her direction veered toward the glass panes surrounded by red velvet and gold trimming, and her eyes peered out the window just as she saw Link riding on Epona toward Castle Town.

Please come back safely…

)(0)(

Link had remembered what Hyrule Castle Town looked like after his seven year slumber. Buildings burned, streets askew, statues crushed, trees dead from no sunlight and the only inhabitants where the ghostly remains of people who were turned into Re-deads by the Evil King's Magic. But the town had certainly recovered when Ganon fell at the hand of the Hero of Time. The city once more hustled and bustled with happy everyday life; shopping in the market place, women hanging up laundry on lines and their children playing in front of their houses, with dogs sometimes keeping a sharp lookout for any strangers. This scene had always made Link happy and for one good reason: it meant that there was absolute peace and serenity. Link never liked it any other way.

The hero smiled as he saw a group of children playing a game of ball with one another. It appeared they were trying to keep it away from a child in the center of the circle. Link inwardly chuckled as the kids continued to play their game, as they then started to pull off some tricky stunts. The ball quickly passed back and forth, over and under and up ad down around the child in the middle, who was trying desperately to catch the ball for all his worth.

"Some game…," Link said, amused by these children's skill at the ball.

One child did a bounce pass toward another, but the ball flew over the target's head and it rolled to Link's feet. The hero looked down at the ball and then he saw the flood of children trying to get to it. In the front of the little mob, was the boy who was in the middle of the circle. Link then looked down at the ball again, smirking and then picked it up with one of his hands and held it up, still showing his contagious grin.

The children stopped in their tracks not knowing whether to trust him, or just leave the ball for dead, but the child that was in the middle kept on running toward him, and stopped right in front of the hero with a hope filled expression.

"Hey Mister… could you… give me the ball?" The child's voice was very timid and small, along with his stature. The boy looked worn out from his time being the one in the middle, and Link decided to take pity.

"Of course," He said in a kind manner, handing him the ball, "Sense you asked so nicely and all."

The boy's face brightened and he took the ball after Link offered it to him.

"Say, what's your name? Mine's Link by the way…"

The boy looked at him oddly and then he looked around to see if anybody was watching.

"Don't worry. I'm a person you can trust." Link said smiling. His hand pointed toward the hilt of his sword, and the boy's face brightened again.

"Name's Mich… but my real name is Michael…," the boy replied, trying to hide his face behind the ball. Apparently he was very shy.

"Alright then Mich… I just need to ask a simple question," Link said a little more seriously, "Have you seen any suspicious characters around the main square lately? Any people in a big hurry?"

"Well, a lot of people are in a hurry around here Mr. Hero… sir."

"Well, you'd be right, "Link said thinking of a way to reword his question, "More like… they seemed more of in a hurry than what you usually see… like anyone you've never seen before around here?"

The boy scrunched up his features as if he was in deep thought, and then he looked back up at the hero, "I saw this strange lady… I overheard she was a fortune teller or something."

Link nodded as he processed the information given to him.

"Ah… thanks Mich. I'll keep an eye out. And thanks for your help." Link gave him a wink and waved as the boy named Mich ran off with the ball now in his possession. Link watched as the children ran after the boy and continued their game, with Mich no longer in the middle.

Link then sighed and continued on his path that he was originally on,"Fortune teller huh?"

Link folded his arms at the thought that those type were here. Fortune tellers didn't come around Hyrule. Business was horrible for them here, considering most Hylians were smarter than they looked, and magic was a big part of their past time.

The hero inwardly laughed.

Well… if they haven't been to Hyrule before, than I suppose they wouldn't know that would they?

Mich had given Link a good start, but now he had to guess where a fortune teller would set up their tent. The only problem was the guessing part.

"Where in all of Farore's green goodness am I going to find this…, " Link then remembered that Mich had referred the fourtune teller as a 'lady'.

"…women…," the hero finished.

His eyes found a stone bench and he walked toward it. He figured that if he got a chance to sit down and think, he would be able to put some puzzle pieces together. He sat himself down on the hard surface, and his head fell into his leather covered palms of his hands.

Hyrule Castle Town was the biggest city in all of Hyrule. Even Link himself had not explored every district and alleyway. If Link started to look down every street, every sub division and or cul-de-sac, it would take days (maybe even weeks) to find this fortune teller.

That is way too much ground to cover…

"Should've asked more questions, "He said out loud.

Link closed his eyes as he continued to think of what to do. There were not many other options other than to search every nook and cranny of Castle Town. But then… this fortune teller could leave even before his search was over.

Link sighed and opened his eyes, expecting to see the normal moving bodies of shoppers moving form open market to open market, but was instead, greeted by a cloaked figure, garbed in dark purple.

"Whoa!" Link gasped. He immediately stood up, and calmed down as he realized it was a woman standing in front of him.

"I'm sorry…, " she said in a strange mystic voice, "did I startle you?"

"For a minute there yeah… but I'm okay… sorry… did you want a seat?"

Link observed the new stranger. She was totally covered in the dark violet cloak. Only her eyes shown through, but even then, their violent purple irises seemed to match with the rest of her clothes.

The woman shook her head at Link's offer, "No… I was just passing by and I saw you. You seemed a little… sorrowful."

"Sorrowful? Oh hardly I was just thinking about things." Link said changing her observation of him.

"Hmm… my mistake I suppose," the cloak rustled a little, showing movement of her arms. It seemed she was folding them.

Link looked over her garb once more, "Say… you're not from the desert are you?"

"The desert? Oh no. I'm from beyond the Desert of Colossus… I live in the mountains to the far west."

"Really?" Link mused, "You're an awfully long way from home aren't you?"

"I'm only here on business, "the woman said flatly.

The hero raised an eyebrow, "What sort of business?"

The woman's eyes seemed to move up as if she were smiling, "I sell exotic things I find along my travels… children call me a fortune tell for the way I dress."

Link's face turned up to a minor surprise, "They call you a fortune teller huh? Wouldn't blame them I suppose," he then smiled.

He asked, "Do you by chance fortune tell at all?"

"You seriously don't believe in fortune telling do you?" The woman asked her smile still apparent on her face.

"You could amuse me I suppose…"

"I'm surprised a person at your age would be interested."

"Well, to tell you the truth I'm not, but like I said.. it would amuse me."

Link buffed his fingernails on his tunic and then looked at them, trying to act casual.

"What is really more interesting Is the wares I sell, " the woman chided.

"Oh soliciting are we?"

"Hardly, "she replied sourly, "I'm just making an offer."

"Well I'm sort of into the 'exotic items' thing too." Link lied. He could care less with the materials he had.

"Well then perhaps you would be interested into coming with me to my tent to browse?"

Link felt like dancing for his luck, "Sure, why not?"

"You best follow me, "The woman advised, "It's a bit of a tricky route."

"No problem, just lead the way," the hero said motioning his hand as if he was showing her out the door.

The women stepped away from the stone bench and she tilted her head in a fashion that said to follow her. Link obeyed, and walked closely behind the purple clad lady.

Link tried to keep his eye on her and his surroundings, but she was moving so swiftly that he had to keep up with her, otherwise he would lose her trail; but he was regretting that he wasn't checking his surroundings. They had turned so many times down so many unfamiliar streets, to the point where Link did not know where he was precisely. Why a woman wanted to put her business all the way down here was up to speculation. Link had his own idea

She must have put her tent down here so no one could find her. She's either the culprit… or just a suspect.

Link prayed that his assumption was right. They were now starting to get into an ugly part of town. No children roamed the streets with smiling faces, stray cats walked around minding their own business, and groups of scraggly clad people hung together talking of mischievous ideas. Some turned their heads and looked at Link in an ugly manner which told the hero one thing; he wasn't welcome here.

"Did you uh… did you really have to bring your business all the way down here?" Link asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Let's just say my line of work is not… appreciated by the good people of this city. My best customers come around here, so therefore I've moved my business wherever they go."

"Riiight…," Link said, his eyes going into thin slits, "…say. I never got your name."

"The name is Dismara… yours?"

"Link."

"Interesting name… but it matches for an interesting person."

"Thanks… same for you I guess."

Dismara finally stopped in front of a finely decorated tent, which matched the material of Dismara's cloak. She walked over and lifted the dark curtain to reveal the entrance to the colorful temporary home.

"Please… step inside," she said kindly. Link did as she asked and stepped into the tent.

The scent of the air changed almost automatically as incense and other herbs and spices made his nostrils flare. The scent made him fell a little more relaxed and not so edgy.

It's more… brighter… than outside to say the least.

Link looked around at the furnishings. Many astronomy trinkets gleamed with the low candle light that was in the tent, dark wood furniture such as a desk and two chairs were placed in the center, and many trunks lined the perimeter. On top of the trunks were many interesting devices which Link could only guess as to what they did. Some made noises, others seemed alive, and some looked rather dangerous.

Geeze… does she have a permit for this stuff?

"Well? What do you think?"

Link snapped out of his mind at the voice of the owner of the tent and his head veered to the entrance of the small encampment.

"Oh.. it's nice. Cozy."

"Would you like to sit?" Dismara moved toward one of the chairs and her hand offered him to sit.

"Well, sure. I am a little bushed from the walk here after all."

Dismara passed the desk and sat in another chair that was right across from Link's

"Would you like me to…. amuse you?" the woman asked, her eyebrow subtly raised.

"Only if you insist…," Link said smirking.

Dismara then slowly took off her dark violet hood and scarf to reveal her face. She had dark long hair that flowed down to the waist. The hair lined her high cheek boned face which contained the eyes that held the strong violet orbs that sucked Link into their depth. Her mouth was surrounded by beautiful blood red lips which shined in the candle light. Her hands, which had long black fingernails, placed the scarf down by her and then they went down below the desk. Her hands came back containing a crystal ball.

"So what will you tell me? Certain doom… a short life… anything life threatening?"

"Who knows. I make it different every time."

The woman placed the crystal ball in between them and placed the flat side of her hands onto the surface of the desk.

"Stay still will you?" She said, "Movement that is close by causes me to lose concentration."

Link nodded while rolling his eyes.

Her hands then hovered over the ominous crystal ball and she then began to chant words that were two inconspicuous to be understood.

Link continued to look at her and the crystal ball, but was unimpressed as it seemed nothing was happening. Over time her chant became more understandable as her voice became louder and louder, and the forming of her words became faster and faster.

Wait a second… that's…

Link waited a moment longer to see if anything was specifically happening… and Link spotted an eerie green light emitting off of strange designs on her body.

That's no playful crap… that's magic…!

Dismara's hair then began to billow in and out as an unseen force started to form around her. She then opened her eyes and they too were emitting off the strange light that was emitting off of her body. Her chanting was soon done and a wicked grin appeared on her features.

"SHIT!" Link cursed as he scooted away from the desk as fast as possible, and darted for the exit. But he was too late.

Dismara released her spell with a witch like cackle and strange dark like ropes flowed out of her hands and wrapped themselves around the hero, binding him and sending him to the floor. The ropes crawled around his ankles and hands, and then covered up his mouth to prevent him from causing too much noise.

The woman got up slowly from her chair and walked over to the now struggling Link. She bent down to his face, which was facing up at the roof of the tent and smirked, her red blood lips curving with the expression.

A long finger brushed some of Link's hair our of the way of his face.

"Tsk tsk tsk… I thought someone told you never to talk to strangers."

Her hand that had previously brushed the hero's hair then cupped his cheek and she put an amused expression on her face.

"My what a face… too bad I must use you for something else entirely."

She stepped away from Link and then came back with what seemed like a very heavy object. She swung it back, and then brought it colliding full force with the side of Link's head.

Oh damn it…

Link's vision blurred, and soon he faded into darkness.