AUTHOR'S NOTE: /qLsnmTKg Here's the pastebin for this time around. Enjoy the chapter, easily one of, if not, the longest chapter I've written to date. I tried to explain everything the best I could, and some more explanation will probably be given in the next chapter, too. This new guy has quite the story to tell. Also, I think this is the first flashback I've ever done. Wow. We've come a long way haven't we. Also, first major original protagonist since Cheeb. Cool! Remember to read, review, and ultimately, enjoy!

Groose's mind was slowly lifted from its slumber. He sat up, rolling his wrists and shaking his head in an attempt to loosen himself from the stiffness of his sleep. The hot Lanayru sun was already high in the sky above him. Groose rolled over, knocking over the charred twigs and embers of the night's small campfire. He stopped after knocking into the crate with his sword on top of it. It fell to the ground with a loud "clang", striking the metal and falling over.

Groose moaned. "Five more minutes…" he said, following it with some unintelligible grumbling. He curled up in a ball and shut his eyes, attempting to go fall back asleep.

"Master." Groose did not respond immediately.

Fi called again, "Master." Groose, this time wanting to give at least some reaction, kicked at the sword with the heels of his boots. He managed to spin it around and eventually push it barely out of his reach. Feeling accomplished, Groose resettled himself within the shade of the shipping crate, and fell still once more.

"Master, my sources indicate that it would be productive to begin our travel across the desert now. While the temperatures may be high, they prove to provide a higher survival rate when compared against the wind chill and low temperatures of nightfall."

Groose grumbled some more before leaning up against the crate. He let out a loud moan, turned to Fi, and yelled. "Five more minutes."

"Master, we have to go."

" I don't wanna."

"Fine. As per your prior request, I will set an alarm function to go off in approximately five minutes from this point."

Groose smiled and fell backwards into the shade of the crate, happy with his work. He stretched out his arm and laid his head down on it. Nestling into the crease of his inner elbow, Groose drifted back into his light slumber, as visions of hair products and girls swirled around in his head. He was at peace.

Link's mind was quickly jolted from his slumber. He sprung up, sweating and gasping for air. He quickly searched the room, trying to gather his surroundings. He was lying on a hay cot, inside of a circular stone room. There was a fireplace on the side of the room across from him, with a small pot strung above it. To his left was the doorway he had collapsed outside of, and to his right was a small old man hunched over at a desk. He couldn't quite see from this low of an angle, but next to desk was a tall, stone slab. Link could make out what looked like a white hand dangling off of the side of it, but he couldn't see past it.

Link attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his abdomen. He fell back onto the cot and groaned, still recoiling from the pain.

"So you're awake… excellent. And how might you be feeling, young one?"

"Like a million rupees." Link coughed out. The old man, who had been flipping through pages of a book on the desk, paused to leave his position. He walked over to the fireplace and pulled a wet cloth out of the pot. He moved to Link's bedside and laid the warm fabric on Link's forehead.

"This should help relax your body, well, to some extent, anyway." The man's face was a dark tan, and looked as if it had seen its share of the desert's sun. It was wrinkled and worn, but he had a kind look upon it, nonetheless. A scraggly gray beard sat upon it, singed at the tip. The man walked back to his desk and began to turn the pages of his book once more.

His robes flowed upon the wooden floor, giving his movement the effect of agile gliding. The robes themselves were a lighter tan, extending past his hands and feet. They were adorned with scarce, but detailed patterns around the edges, mainly green and red. A hood was draped down over his back, revealing his grayed, unkempt hair. A rope was tied around his waist as a makeshift belt, and had several pouches and other odds and ends hanging from it.

"So, uh…" Link asked as he stumbled on his words, "Who are you, exactly?"

"I, as I'm sure your friend here has told you, am Alakai. A master of many arts, if I do say so myself." The man chuckled to himself as he finished his sentence.

"What are you doing all the way up here?" Link pushed. "I thought there were no humans left on the Surface. How are you here?"

Seemingly lost in his own train of thought, the man rather suddenly slammed his index finger down on a page in the book. Scanning it, he grabbed a vial from a shelf above the desk, and emptied its contents onto a spare piece of cloth laying on the desk's surface. Grabbing a couple leaves from a pouch on his belt, he laid them on top of the powder from the vial. Rushing over to the stone table, he took a quick look at whatever, or whoever, was on top. He stroked his beard, and rushed back to his book. Link watched in awe at the pace and intensity with which he worked.

The old man quickly sped through the page's words before targeting a specific section. He grabbed a small thread and closed the cloth, tying it into a makeshift bag. He shook it a bit, then glanced back down at the page. Turning around and walking to the table, he stopped above the surface of rock. Link's eyes were trained on him as he set down one hand on his subject. The mysterious recluse's eyes shut tight, and he set down the bag before holding out his hand palm up. He muttered some unintelligible gibberish, though Link could pick up bits and pieces of what he was grumbling. Link figured it to be an ancient Hylian dialect or something similar.

As Alakai finished speaking, he brought his other hand up above his outstretched one, and quickly clapped them together. There was a bright flash of white and a loud bang, startling the focused hero. When he came back to his immediate senses, there was a bright green fire in the palm of the old man's hand. Grabbing the bag with his empty hand, he quickly untied it and poured it on top of the fire. Its color turned from a bright green to a dark red. He then lowered it to the table, and presumably applied it to whatever was on top of it. Link still couldn't see, due to how low his cot was.

"Woah. What are you doing up there, doc?"

"Come see."

Link feared the pain of sitting up, but tried it anyway. Surprisingly, he felt nothing at all from his abdomen. Holding the cloth to his head, he rose up to see what was on the stone fixture's surface.

Link hadn't truly realized how bad Ghirahim had looked after that fight. The bloody gash going through his stomach was cleaned, but still looked freshly wounded. He was covered in scratches and bruises from the fight itself, but they paled in comparison to the hole right through his midsection.

"He's gonna be okay, right? You can fix him?" Link asked. This guy wasn't very good at answering questions.

"You sure do talk a lot." Alakai responded. He briskly stepped over to the fireplace and grabbed a small wooden stool. Bringing it back with him, he sat across from Link, who had sat back down on his cot. "On the topic of your friend, yes, I believe he will be fine. He owes his life to you, you know. Had you gotten him here any later, there's a likely chance he wouldn't have made it."

Link felt an immense pressure lifted from his chest. He smiled a wide grin before releasing a deep breath he had been holding. Alakai laughed.

"As for the rest of your questions, the whole story goes a little like this…" The old man looked upwards, and became lost in thought.

"Alakai! We have another three wounded!" called a voice. Amongst the clashing of metal and occasional explosion, Alakai still heard the cry of his unit's orders clearer than the waters of Lake Floria. He walked over to a makeshift tent and saw three men laid down on the grass and dirt. Quickly pulling two bottles from a table set up in the tent, he unbottled two fairies and set them loose. They hovered over two of the bodies and began to work their healing magic as Alakai bent down to tend to the third man himself. As nice as fairies were, sometimes a human's touch was needed to ensure proper treatment. Alakai simply enjoyed helping people.

The soldier was banged up pretty bad. His shield was missing, and his surcoat was torn and stained with blood. Alakai pulled off the man's helmet to reveal his light blonde hair matted down with sweat, and his face covered with dirt. He removed the broken chest plate, and seeing the damage, quickly deduced that the footsoldier had, at the very least, a couple broken ribs and some severe bruising.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing out there?" Alakai asked the rather small soldier.

"Fighting for the Goddess Hylia. What we're all here for, no?"

"Alright you cocky bastard, cut the shit and hold still." Alakai laid his hands down on the trooper's chest. Feeling the ribs beneath, he quickly found one, and soon two more following. "Yeah, I don't think you're leaving this tent, at least for the rest of this battle. You've done enough to help our cause, I think you'll be fine sitting the rest of this one out." Alakai reassured the young man.

The soldier began laughing, and sat up. "Quit now? While the Demon Tribe still walks the surface unstopped? I'll fight until my last breath, and I'll be damned if you'll stop me." The soldier, grabbing a spare chest plate from the corner of the tent, got up and fastened it to his chest before grabbing his torn surcoat from the ground. Alakai sighed as he wrapped the mangled red cloth around his neck in a makeshift scarf. Eyeing a large sword in the corner of the tent, he grabbed it with both hands and hoisted it onto his shoulder. It was obviously too big for his height and stature, but he wouldn't deny it looked cool as hell.

"You're crazy." Alakai protested.

"I'm willing." the soldier retorted.

Alakai smirked before stepping out of the way. He knew this soldier well, despite being a low-ranked recruit. He'd been in the medical tent numerous times before, and Alakai knew this wouldn't be his last visit. As the soldier hustled out of the doorway of the tent, his red scarf dancing in the wind with an intensity that matched his fighting spirit, he looked to the sky and let loose a war cry to strike fear into the heart of every monster fighting against the forces of light.

Alakai couldn't help but smile as the kid ran off back to the Sealed Temple to defend his homeland. His voice carried a power and vigor to it unheard of from such a young man, as he was racing to re-enter the fray. "With the heart of a warrior, we fight together, marching through the night!" he called out to no one in particular, excluding himself. His song rang out through the air with an awkward lack of music, but the boy didn't seem to notice. "For the kingdom we hold our flag high!" he finished, raising his sword high as he ran off into fight. Alakai recognized the war tune, a cry the boy must have adapted from a legend passed down from generation to generation, a tale of a war that would never cease.

A figure walked up gingerly behind Alakai. He turned around to meet her face to face. "Daring, isn't he?" she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, Lady Hylia." Alakai promptly reported.

She watched as he disappeared into the soot and smoke of the battlefield. If only a hero with courage like that could rise every generation to protect his homeland as that one did.

"Lady Hylia, I would like to discuss some rather immediate precautions we should take to ensure the defeat of Demise and his forces." Alakai waited for the Goddess's response.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, our strategies. Indeed, as my most trusted general, I think you should be privy to some other developments, particularly regarding… a back-up plan of sorts." Hylia responded. Alakai nodded, and followed her back to a command tent set up towards the back of the encampment.

"Hey. Uh, are you okay?" Link asked.

Alakai woke from his daydream, and wiped the drool from his beard. He look at Link. "Can you repeat the question?"

"Oh for Din's sake, who are you, why are you here, how did you get here?"

"Ah. As I said, I'm Alakai, trusted first general of the Army of Light, serving under Her Grace, Goddess Hylia. I'm a master of war strategy and white magic along with other various healing arts including alchemy. I'm here because the surface fell to the forces of evil, and I needed a place to stay alive. I got here by climbing, the same as you."

The answer raised more questions for Link, but he decided he'd gotten enough out of the odd man for now. He laid back down on the cot. "So when do you think he's going to wake up?" he asked.

"Soon enough. Once his body regenerates through its wound, it'll be some time after before he regains consciousness." the old man responded.

Suddenly, a large slam came from the wooden door. There stood Groose with a flabbergasted look on his face. "Don't worry, I'm here, now the story can be funny again!"

Link groaned as Alakai smiled warmly. "I assume you know him?" he asked Link.

"All too well."

Groose marched in and pulled out the Master Sword before throwing it on the ground. "First things first, how do I make this shut off."

Alakai simply stared at the sword.

"Fi has been beeping at me for hours now, she won't shut up, and I considered leaving it in the middle of the desert several times now. Shut. Her. Off."

Alakai looked up at Groose. "Where did you get this sword?"

"You listen here, gramps, you shut this thing off for me and I'll tell you anything you want, just make her stop, please!" Groose covered his ears as he stepped outside.

Alakai bent down and picked up the sword by the hilt, brushing it with his hand.

"Is Groose gone?" Fi called from within the sword.

"Yep." Link affirmed. Fi leapt out of the sword and burst into a fit of laughter. "Alarm function… there's a 100% chance he's a buffoon." Fi clicked her heels together and the beeping stopped emanating from the sword. She turned around to see Alakai.

"Lady Fi?" Alakai asked, reaching out a hand as if to touch her to see if she was actually there.

"Processing…" Fi paused. "...I remember you. First General Alakai of the Army of Light, serving under Her Grace, Goddess Hylia. Consultant and medical extraordinaire. Indeed, I remember you."

Groose walked back in as soon as he felt it was safe. Rushing past Fi, he grabbed Groose's shoulders and shook him. "Where did you get this sword?" he pleaded.

"Inside the Goddess Statue in Skyloft. Duh. Haven't you heard of me? Groose, the magnificent, leader of Grooseland, inspiration to the masses?"

"So the legend was true… Demise has been released from his imprisonment…"

"Yeah, twice now." Link piped in.

"Twice!? That's impossible. The moment that any sign of Demise's return had occurred, the Sheikah would have alerted me!"

Groose and Link looked at each other worriedly. They both knew that the senile old lady wouldn't have survived the journey out here, and the only other "Impa" was sealed inside a crystal in the Sealed Temple.

"Uh… Maybe she forgot?" Link responded, trying not to look guilty.

"Forgot? Nobody tells me anything anymore! I never get the memo until after it's done with!" Alakai threw his hands up in frustration before walking back to his desk. "Well, I suppose I can help with anything else then, being that it's my job to serve the goddess and fight against evil."

"Hold that thought." Groose said, before exiting the house. He quickly returned with the two giant metal gauntlets, one held on each shoulder. "Do you think you can do anything with these?" Groose threw the rather large gauntlets down on the wooden floor. Alakai took a quick glance at them before grabbing a book off of a shelf. He flipped directly to the page he wanted, and held out his hand. He muttered a few words, turned the page, and softly spoke a few more. Slamming the book shut, he set it down on his desk.

Groose watched as the gauntlets began to glow. A golden light washed over them, and they faded into a dark smoke that dissipated in the air. Left in their place was a piece of the Triforce and a very disoriented Kikwi.

Picking up the Triforce piece, Groose counted a total of four pieces, with four to go. Half way there. Cheeb vomited on the floor before looking up. "Groose! Link!" he screamed with delight. He wiped his beak and leapt up into Groose's arms. "I'm so glad I'm out of that thing! It smelled awful and there was no air conditioning. Next time I see that masked guy, I'm gonna kick his-"

Groose squeezed him, and Cheeb made a squeak. "D'awww, we missed you too."

Alakai simply smiled at the reunion he wasn't truly a part of. He could sense the bond shared between these rugged adventurers was strong. Stepping in, he gave his offer. "You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need. At least until your friend here gets better. It's the least I can do."

Groose took a few steps towards the old man and shook his hand. "Thank you. I have just one question: Where are Cheeb and I sleeping?"

Alakai snapped his fingers, and a wooden door opened on the floor. "It may be a little chilly down there, but there's a bunk bed and some blankets down there. Feel free to use them."

Groose looked at Cheeb, and immediately raced towards the hole. "Dibs on top!" he called. Cheeb quickly waddled across the ground after him. There was a loud crash at the bottom as Groose hit the floor. Evidently he didn't see the ladder.

Link settled into his cot. He felt at ease for the first time in what felt like forever. It was a good feeling. He laid his head back and drifted off, as Alakai looked over Ghirahim's body again. The fire seemed to be working, as he could already see the wound closing itself internally. It wouldn't be long now.