"Long time no see," Kai said cautiously, slowly moving down the stairs. Without saying a word or even grunting in reply, Link calmly stood up and approached his old friend. Without so much as an acknowledgment, he grabbed Kai by the collar and threw him down the stairs, hard enough to crack the marble. Kai grunted and gasped as the force of the impact took his breath away. Link silently approached, looked down as Kai, and stomped down as hard as he could on his face, breaking several bones in Kais face.

"Link what are you doing!?" Sasha cried, rushing forward trying to rush to kais aide, not knowing who he was. Link simply stuck is arm out, blocking her advance, still not saying a word. As expected, steam began to raise from Kais injuries and he could hear the cracking of bones being snapped back together. Within just a few minutes, Kai was completely healed and back on his feet, albeit much more cautious.

"Any re- ow. Any particular reason for that?" Kai asked, rubbing his face.

"Why are you here?" Link asked dryly. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?"

"What do you mean? You're the one who wanted me to come with you to this place to begin with."

"That was two years ago. I meant come with us then. But you refused. You chose to stay with our oppressors and fight more of their battles, instead of coming with us. I've got a good thing going for me here. And I'm not going to let you mess this up for me, or for any of us. Now I'm going to ask you one more time, why are you here?" Link growled, drawing his sword. How did you find us?"

Kai took a step back, shocked by Links reception to his arrival. Begrudgingly, kai grumbled out his answer.

"Let's start with the simpler question. It wasn't hard to find you. I knew you were heading to Sol when you sailed south. I left the same shoreline you did, and wound p here. Once I landed, it wasn't hard to find you. You've developed quite a reputation for yourself here. 'Legendary Hylians' is what most people refer to you as. And you as their leader. I gotta say, that's quite a change from the last time I saw you where everyone else was calling the shots."

"Yeah well, I'm calling the shots now, and I say if you don't tell me what you're doing here, and fast, I'm going to beat you to a bloody pulp. You may not be able to die, but you'll wish you were by the time I'm done with you." Link drew his sword.

"Alright. Geez, what made you so violent huh? Well whatever. I'm here, because you're not the only one having that dream. The one of the smoke. The monster inside. The bodies. I've seen it all too. And a few nights ago, I had one that was different. In this time, there was an extra body. It took a couple nights for me to see it but when I finally did, I realized it was-"

"Zelda. I know I saw that part too. But that still doesn't explain what you're doing here."

Before Kai could respond, Sasha spoke up.

"Now hold on just a darn minute! Someone better do some explaining to me! Link, who is this? Why are you acting this way?" She crossed her arms angrily, staring at Link, waiting for an answer.

"My name is Kai." Sasha turned towards him, not expecting him to respond instead. "I'm an old friend of Links. And who might you be?"

"Sasha, I'm Links girlfriend. Kai… I know that name. Link told me about you his first night here. I know all about you and the things you've done." Sasha's intense expression was shocking to see. She never looked as angry as she did now.

"Its nice to meet you Sasha," Kai said, extending a handshake to her, seemingly oblivious to Sasha's expression. "I always thought Link would end up with-"

Before he could continue, Link quickly swing his sword, slicing off Kais hand. Kai stumbled back in pain, grasping his newly severed stump.

"Don't you dare touch her. Want more body parts to follow? Keep this up. Or tell me what I want to know. Final warning."

Sasha yelped when she saw Kais hand go flying to the ground. "Woah, Link, what did you do? Why did you do that? I know what he's done but that was too much!"

"Don't worry, it'll grow back. Now, Kai, you were saying?" Link looked at Kai with a raised eyebrow, daring him to waste any more of his time.

"The dream, its not just a dream. It's a premonition. The monster we saw in our dreams. That's it. The great evil from across the ocean I told you about so long ago. You remember right? In my home. The elders have deemed this dream a prophecy. A sign that the seal on the beast is weakening. If we don't do anything about it, and soon, the entire world will suffer the same fate Hyrule suffered hundreds of years ago. I was sent to destroy it."

"Doesn't explain why you're here though."

"Because I can't face it on my own. I need your help." Kai admitted, looking down.

"Why do you need my help? I don't have any special power anymore remember? You took that away from me. I'm just a regular person now. I would be next to useless against that demon." Link said, sheathing his sword.

"That's not true. You're a capable fighter, regardless of how much shit I use to give you for it. I helped train you. I know how good you are. Its not just the Great Evil, there's monsters and dark creatures too. I can't face everything alone. And also… I have no way to get there."

That last part caught Links attention. Couldn't he just sail there?

"A long time ago, as the Hylians were leaving the land, a single man stayed behind. They say he is the one who sealed the Great Evil there, containing it to Hyrule. To prevent others from coming back, or seeking to free the beast, a massive wall of water, wind and lightning surrounds the entirety of Hyrule. Imagine that. An entire continent encircled by a single, massive ring of storms and hurricanes. Its impossible to sail through it. But maybe, it would be possible to go over it."

Link understood what Kai was getting at but let him finish anyway.

"Your mother knows how to harness the power of flight. During her entire time in the Capitol, she never made one model or prototype. She stayed strong and never gave into their… our demands. But now her invention is as crucial as ever. I'm going to need it if I have even a chance of getting to Hyrule and stopping this disaster from happening. So that's what I'm doing here."

Link thought carefully. He turned to Sasha, who now looked emotionless and confused. He considered the possibility. Then he asked Sasha if her fathers guards had any handcuffs. She nodded, and he asked her to go get some. When she returned, he went to put them on Kai.

"If you're genuine in everything you say, then you wont resist, and you'll understand that we keep you in the mansion cells for the time being while we discuss how were going to proceed." He said.

"That's fair I guess." Kai grumbled, placing his hands behind his back and allowing Link to cuff him. Sasha called for a couple guards wondering the estate to escort Kai to the cells. The immediately saluted her and rushed him off without a word.

Once Kai was gone, the adrenaline that was pumping through his body vanished, and he was left weak and dizzy. He plopped down on the stairs and rested his head on Sasha's shoulders. She ran her fingers through his hair as he thought.

"What are we going to do?" He asked.

"I don't know. I guess it comes down to whether you believe him or not. I don't think he's trust worthy. But he didn't have to come here. He knew seeing you again had to be a bad move, and yet he came anyway. That isn't something to just dismiss. But maybe he's just desperate. You know that whatever you choose to do, I'll support you."

Link sighed. "We need to tell Zelda. Shell want to know he's here."

That's a good idea. Do you want to call her up to the mansion or do you want to head back and meet her there?"

"Let's stay here. I want my mother to be here too. Hes the one who set her free, so maybe she'll have some insight too. And I don't want to make her leave her lab to go all the way back to our village. Well call Zelda here and talk. Sound good?"

"Sounds good."

"Are you freaking serious?" Zelda shouted, standing up from her seat. The three of them had gathered in the great hall in Sasha's father's mansion. They all sat at the main table at the head of the room. Link had finally told her about Kais arrival, and as expected, it didn't go well.

"I don't care what he says. We can't trust him! I don't care about some of the good things he's done. He killed Ilana, he quite literally stabbed you in the back, and killed dozens of your people Link. He betrayed and kidnapped you, ran us down like animals and is only here because he needs your mother's inventions. I say we turn him away!"

"And what exactly do you think hell do if we do that?" Link asked. "Maybe he is desperate. But that just makes him more dangerous. Sure, I might have out him in a cell, but I think he expected as much to happen. He knew it wasn't going to be a happy reunion. But if we straight up deny him, you think he'll just accept that? He could destroy everything we've built I a matter of minutes."

"But then he wouldn't have what he needs. If he destroys the village, he's definitely not getting to Hyrule. So were at a stalemate." Sasha added.

"So, then what now?" Link asked rubbing his temples.

"Hey Link, where is Ivee?" Sasha asked.

"She said shed be here when she could, but she was caught up in her work. You know how she gets." Zelda replied. "Its up to us to decide. I say no, and we send him away."

"But what about his dream? That's got to count for something, right?"

"Link, its JUST a dream! There's nothing special about it. Just because he had a similar one isn't any reason to trust him."

Link leaned back in his chair, confused and stressed.

"Hes in the cells now. He probably won't expect an answer right away. Let's sleep on it and meet again tomorrow. I'm going to the lab."

'Ill come with you!" Sasha offered, standing up as well.

"No, I want to see her alone. Its been awhile since its been just me and her."

Sasha looked glum but accepted his answer. Zelda just sat at the table, arms crossed, feet up on the table.

"Ill see you both later." Link said, walking out of the room.

Link walked down to the basement to find his mother concentrated on a small metallic item on her desk. She was welding something to it with a blowtorch, and didn't notice him walk in. He approached her cautiously, careful to stay out of distance of her welding torch incase she turned too suddenly.

"Mom? Hello?" Link sighed, then inhaled deeply. "MOOOOOM!"

Ivee jumped, startled by the sudden noise. She turned to face link and took off her goggles once the blowtorch was extinguished.

"I'm sorry sweetie I didn't hear you come in. What's the matter? You look upset."

"Mom, do you have a minute to talk?"

"Of course! Always. Here come sit down." She said, pulling a chair over to the desk for Link to sit in.

"Remember Kai?"

"Of course. He helped get me out of that dreadful place and back to you. Why?"

Link sighed again. He explained to her about his arrival, and his request. He explained the meeting with Sasha and Zelda. Ivee didn't say a word the entire time, and just looked at him with a stern look on her face.

"Well you're right, that's quite a predicament. Both the girls have a point. Its foolish to outright trust him, but he wouldn't be here without good reason. I spent some time with him back in Castor when he was escorting me to Chardon. He seemed like an intelligent man. A bit rash and impulsive, but smart. I think he means it when he says he thinks this is something he needs to do. And the fact you're both having the same dream isn't just a coincidence. That's a very… specific dream to have."

"So, you're saying we should accept and offer our help?" Link asked.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do. You're a grown man and you make your own choices. But if you want my advice, consider this. Perhaps the dream is just a dream. You ignore it, he goes to Hyrule alone, and nothing happens. Problem solved right?"

"Right."

"But, let's say the same scenario occurs, only this time, instead of nothing, what he says comes true and whatever evil is on that land breaks out and destroys everything. The blood of every person and animal that dies will be on our hands. All our hands. If you go with him and it turns out to all be nothing, then you simply return home. Or, you help him face whatever's trying to break out. Consider all your options, and which one best covers all possibilities. Because when considering something like this, keep in mind that all possible outcomes are happening, all at once. You always need to assume every possibility COULD, and WILL happen, and take whatever steps necessary to cover all your bases. Understand?"

"Yeah."

"Good, then it seems my job here is complete. Ill leave you alone to think about that for a while. On your way out hun, could you hand me that water bucket?"

Link did as he was told and left the room, pondering his mother's words. He returned to the back porch and found Zelda and Sasha's horses were gone. He mounted his steed, and took his time trotting back to the village. He returned home to find Sasha already in bed. He laid down next to her and stared at the ceiling. He knew what he had to do. And he couldn't bring Sasha into it.

The next morning, he woke up a got dressed and headed down to the cells. Kai was in the call at the very end. The deeper he was located, the less effective he could be in the event he transformed.

"Link you're here. Is it a new day already? It al feels the same down here. Its all just dark and damp."

"Shut up for a second. I'm going to go with you." Kais eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Ill go with you to Hyrule and find out definitively if what you're saying is true, and if these dreams mean anything. If I do nothing, and something happens, that's on all of us. So, give us a week or two to make the preparations for the trip."

"Are you going to let me out of this cell now? The mold and dust is making my allergies act up."

Link raised an eyebrow at this. "What? Just because I can break bones and heal them doesn't mean I can't have allergies, jeez. My nose and eyes are on fire right now." Kai complained.

"Well give it a couple more days, just as payback for a few things. Your payment to us for some of the shitty things you did back then."

"Oh, come on!" Kai shouted, grabbing the bars to the cells angrily.

But Link wasn't listening. He left the cells and went back to the mansion to find his mother. They had work to do.

End of Chapter 25