A/N: Yes – it's been awhile. My life has been uber crazy, so this story has been put on the backburner. Don't worry though – I haven't forgotten about it, and I plan on continuing to update as I find time to write. I apologize in advance to those who left reviews that I didn't respond to. I promise that I do read them, and take what you have to say to heart. I'll try to do better this time with responses. That being said, reviews are appreciated, and are the fuel that keeps me going on this little 'project'. Hope you enjoy!

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"Sandhya..." a gruff voice called out softly. "Sandhya!"

Sandhya shook her head, slowly picking herself up off the ground. Raising her little body by pushing up with her arms, she finally opened her big blue eyes. She narrowed her orbs in confusion. Gently running her hand over the grass that had cushioned her fall from the portal, she contemplated what she was observing. "The grass... it's purple!" she thought. With a shake of her head, she slowly looked up at the sky. Her eyes widened as she looked at the softly glowing clouds above her. She lifted her hand to the air, as if to touch the gentle glow, only to be surprised by the glowing glyphs on her skin. With a yelp, she leapt to her feet and spun around, looking at her body. Her fur was a more muted red, and bright blue glyphs shown brightly against the darker fur. "Where am I?" She muttered to herself, looking back to the sky. She was startled when a voice answered her.

"The Twilight Realm."

Spinning around, Sandhya let out a startled scream. Before her stood a magnificent lion, bathed in the dusky light. It was unlike any lion she had ever seen. Once in a while a traveling circus would make it's way to Lake Hylia, and would bring lions with it. "But none looked like this!" Her mind shouted as she stood, rooted to the spot.

The creature before her gave her a toothy grin, his black mane and body shimmering in the twilight. The silvery markings on his body were unique to Sandhya's eyes. "Fear not, little master." He chuckled, slowly approaching, his tail lazily swinging behind his massive body. "I mean you no harm."

"How do you know my name?" Sandhya whispered, nervously backing away. She was so small compared to the beast before her, that she feared she could become his next meal.

The lion gave her an amused grin. "I'm hurt! You don't recognize your beloved pussy cat?" He said with a laugh, turning his body in a circle.

Sandhya stood silently for a moment. "Coal?!" She finally exclaimed, her tearful eyes lighting up. She raced to the lion, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck in a futile attempt in a bear hug.

Coal chuckled as he gently patted her back with a massive paw. "The one and only, m'lady." He said softly, letting the frightened child clutch his mane. After a few moments, she finally released the large cat from her grasp.

"What happened?" Sandhya asked softly, her bright blue eyes staring into the lion's golden ones.

"That portal you walked through - it was a portal to this place. The Twilight Realm." Coal said, looking up at the sky as Sandhya followed his gaze. "It's another world connected to the one you know. This is the place where the Goddesses banished those who abused their power. This is the place your father is famous from rescuing all of Hyrule from." He finished slowly, looking back at the girl. "This is my real home." Coal smiled.

Sandhya continued to survey the landscape, trying to understand all that she was seeing and hearing. "Another world... connected to the light..." She mumbled. Looking at Coal with wide eyes, she finally said aloud, "I don't get it."

Coal laughed, gently pawing the ground. "Oh, young master - do not fret." He said with a grin, seeing Sandhya's disappointment on her face. "You are young... all this," He said motioning to their surroundings with a massive paw. "...it's very confusing to understand."

Sandhya smiled back shyly. "Yeah..." She said, looking at the ground. "But... why did you change?" She asked, confusion marring her delicate features.

Coal nodded. "It's kind of a long story, one which I will share with you as we head to our destination." He said, as he walked up to the girl. "Come - get on my back. I will tell you my tale."

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Link awoke groggily, groaning in pain. He repeatedly blinked his eyes, trying to get the images before him to clear. "Wha..." He said with a croak, his throat dry. He tried to take a deep breath, but ended up coughing and moaning in discomfort. "Feels like a broken rib... need some red potion." He thought to himself as he started to move his arms. He furrowed his brow in puzzlement. "What the heck?" He asked himself. His arms weren't moving at all, as though they were chained in place. "That would be because they are." He thought to himself in annoyance, looking at the shackles that attached him to the dingy rock wall with disdain. With a quiet sigh, he tried to pull at his restraints, but to no avail. "Damn." He whispered. He stood silently, trying to create a plan, when he suddenly heard voices in the distance. He tilted his head towards the noise, his eyes narrowed as he strained to hear what was being said.

"...he'd better be alive." Said an angry female voice.

Link nearly growled as he recognized it. "Ilia." He snorted. His earlier fear proved to be true. What had happened earlier was her responsibility.

"...he alive! I make sure! Only bruises! Maybe broken bone... maybe." Said a deep, guttural voice.

Link rolled his eyes. "Poor speaking skills, horrible smell. Probably one of the higher-ranking bulbins." He determined.

"That had better be it! I promise, if you've messed up this part of the plan as well, King Bulbin will be the least of you worries!" Ilia snarled, her voice approaching Link's location. "Now come. Let us see how are 'mighty hero' is fairing."

Link tensed. His head perked up as he heard a door above him being opened. "Am I in a dungeon?" He asked himself, the darkness making it difficult to make out exactly where he was. He didn't have much time to contemplate, as someone rounded a corner, carrying a lit lantern.

"Well, well..." Ilia said softly. "Look what the cat dragged in." She said with a nasty grin, holding the lamp up to Link's face. "Ouch..." She said softly. "If only you could see yourself in a mirror." She said with a shake of her head. "You look like you've been beaten by a horde of bulbins!" She chuckled, looking over towards her gremlin-like companion.

Link glared at the girl before him. His breathing became harsh and shallow as he strained against his restraints subconsciously.

Ilia held a hand up to her mouth, mock terror on her face. "Oh dear! Have I angered our famous 'hero'?" She grinned back, her eyes narrowing. "I was surprised that it only took fifteen bulbin riders to take you out. Honestly, I expected better. What happened, 'hero'? Get soft over the past few years?" She asked with a pout, placing a hand on Link's cheek.

It happened so quickly, Link didn't even know what had occurred. With the touch of Ilia's hand to his skin, he reacted in the worst way possible. He spit in her face. Link was left reeling as his action was responded to - with a wooden club to the side of his head. He tried to shake his head to clear his vision, but it was no use. Between the concussion he most certainly had been given and the blood dripping into his eyes, he could barely see.

"Enough!" Ilia shouted, wiping her face with her sleeve. With a dark chuckle, she looked at the man before her. "Link... I would recommend that you behave. We're not the friends we used to be. I'm not as merciful as you once remember." She said coldly.

Link sank in his restraints. Between the beating he had received and the flashbacks to his childhood with Ilia, the situation was becoming a bit much to bear. He finally forced a sentence out of his sore throat. "Sa...Sandhya...where?" He said shakily.

Ilia grinned wickedly, approaching Link once again. "Ah! The same question we were about to ask you." She snarled, taking a clump of his hair in her hand and pulling, causing Link to hiss in pain. "Don't play dumb, hero. The bulbins heard you shout to that stupid horse of yours! Where did you send her?"

Link smiled. This was just the response he was hoping for. They did know where his little girl was, and he was willing to take that little bit of information to the grave in order to keep her safe. "Go..."

Ilia leaned in as the Hero whispered a response. "Where?" She asked firmly, tugging on his hair again.

"Go... to Hell!" Link croaked, lifting up a leg and kicking her back as hard as he could. He snarled as he heard the bulbin squeal in anger. Luckily for him, he passed out after the first blow.