A/n: We cannot express how truly sorry we are for this incredulously long delay. There is no excuse but we hope that the extra attention and creativity we will be giving to this story will eventually make up for it. And yes, we did re-write the end of the last chapter because The Silverdark Knight was completely and totally right (and we thank you for pointing that out to us, we hope this is a little bit better.)

There might be other re-writes, but mostly just error-checking and re-wording for better flow. The plot is going in a good direction and we hope you like it.

Wolfdemon2010: Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. They are great. Fear is supposed to have taken the form of the horse Devoren rides, we might emphasize that more later but we might go back and try to make it clearer. And we don't know if you noticed, but there are a lot of old men, it's sortof becoming a motif so confusion is to be expected… ?? whatever, old men rock!

The Silverdark Knight: THANK YOU

Silver Warrior: Thanks, percentages appeal to us and I like the number 98. It's a good number.

Lalalanerd: Never be sorry for not reviewing or being late, especially with how late we were. You are wonderful for reviewing or reading at all. Thank you. Yes, we've always thought they were related—in Ocarina of Time anyway—and that's cool. Zelda stories are so fun to write because they are so epic. :D

Kulaman: WE ARE SOOO SORRY!! Thank you sooo much, we feel so bad about making you wait. We hope this is worth it, we'll work really hard, promise!

Here is the Very long awaited chapter.

Amy scuffled her feet in the dust to entertain herself as they walked. Link passed her an odd stare and then looked back to the mountain road. Ignus trotted casually behind them both. It was the morning after the dramatic encounter, when Link had found out he was actually a prince. The news had broken fairly easily among everyone, much to his surprise. Damien had patted his back with an, 'I told you so,' and Arian had smiled proudly. Aura had laughed and told him not to expect any special treatment while Naomi had told him it was fitting. Amy, however, had remained oddly quiet on the matter.

They had passed through Kakariko village very quickly, as the king had sent them on official business to the Gorons on Death Mountain, but they had seen that all its inhabitants were busy getting ready to head to Castletown after receiving notice from them yesterday. Amy and Ignus had been sent with Link for their special abilities. They could fly off the mountain to safety if things went wrong, for Damien warned that Devoren, as they discovered in Gerudo Valley, may have already overpowered the other races. Link was going because he had dealt with Goron's before and had very good relations with them—being a sworn brother and all.

Naomi and Aura had gone to the Zoras, after Naomi forced Link to write a very apologetic letter to their king for giving Ruto the impression that they would be wed. Then the Hylian king wrote a letter explaining that the Zoran princess was tending to royal affairs and that he hadn't realized that Ruto hadn't informed her father. Of course the Hylian king had laughed uproariously when Naomi and Navi explained everything, and Link allowed himself to laugh through some embarrassment.

Arian and Damien were tending war preparations at the castle. Damien readied the soldiers for what they were to come across and Arian was building and designing new weapons for them to use as he heard of the various creatures that Damien warned of. All talents were being put to use.

Amy kicked a rock far ahead of her companions. Link looked at it and then to her before returning silently to watching the road. When Amy came upon it again, she once more kicked the stone far ahead of them. Link arched a brow and watched her kick it one more time, but this time it fell nearer Link's path. Amy sighed; she no longer had something to entertain herself. However, much to her surprise, Link kicked it back onto her path without changing his straight-forward gaze. She stopped walking and looked to him, dumbfounded.

"What?" He asked after walking a few steps ahead of her. "You were having fun." Amy shrugged with a smile and nodded. She walked up and kicked the stone back up to his path. Link let out a short laugh before beginning the journey again. The stone went with them, and the two were able to get it around the sharp curves and up the hill. It wasn't until Amy accidentally kicked it over the edge of the chasm that this game ended.

They silently watched it clink into the deep while Ignus ran to where it echoed, falling into a strange grey smoke where it could no longer be seen. Amy sighed, "Aw dang…" and turned to start again but Link remained, staring at Ignus. The dragon sniffed the air, and leaned farther over this chasm. His tongue flicked out like the lizards of the desert and his paws became eager. He craned his neck out and tested the air once more before turning his head towards his companions.

"Amy…" Ignus spoke. Link jumped at the dragon's gravelly voice, as he had been unaware that the beast could speak, but he remained silent while Amy responded.

"What is it Ignus?" She asked, realizing that he had been quiet all this while. Ignus was rather shy in front of new acquaintances.

"I smell… things." He growled mysteriously. Amy raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Ignus, I do too. I mean, I guess I'm relieved that I'm not the only one who's noticed the nasty smell that-." She stopped short when Ignus put his ears back in irritation. She scratched her head, looking to Link for a moment, and then turned back to her dragon. "Erm… what do you smell?"

The dragon simply let out a snort and jumped down into the chasm, much to Amy and Link's surprise. Amy turned to Link again.

"I guess we should follow him." Link nodded slowly. There was a short pause, and Amy coughed awkwardly. "I'll have to carry you again." She muttered sheepishly, looking to the ground.

When she looked up, Link was smirking slightly, and Amy narrowed her eyes. "What?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Nothing. That's fine with me." Amy sighed and stepped up to him, hesitantly wrapping her arms around his waist. She quickly let out her wings and jumped off of the side of the chasm.

The drop was fairly far, but as the two neared the bottom, an unexpected sight greeted their eyes. Amy quickly landed and let Link go, her eyes growing wide.

A tall man stood next to Ignus with steel-gray hair in a ponytail and deep brown eyes that crinkled at the corners. Amy stood stiffly with her wings folded behind her. Link stepped closer to her, his expression closed. This man was completely unfamiliar, and Link's hand was itching to grab his sword.

"Is that my little deku?" The man murmured, his eyes never leaving Amy. She let out a breath and stepped up to the man.

"Dad." She said, her voice full of relief. She hugged him and buried her head under his chin. Link stared with his mouth slightly agape. He stood there awkwardly as the father and daughter embraced. They parted, and Amy's father stared at her, drinking in the sight.

"I didn't think you were alive." He said roughly with much relief. "Your mom was devastated." There was a long silence, full of a sort of suffocated emotion.

"I'm here, dad." Amy said finally, her eyes slightly moist. She smiled shakily. "I guess I'm glad I was missed." Her father smiled widely, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. He blinked for a moment, and then took a long look at her, becoming the composed figure she remembered.

"I'm so proud to see that you've returned." He eyed her wings and glowing eyes. "…And in such a state." He half-smiled. "My daughter: chosen among our people. What a blessing." He laughed. "Great deku, look how sappy I've become in your absence." Amy nodded while her father finally noticed the presence of Link. "Oh, and who is that… green young man?" He squinted to see through the fog. Ignus walked behind Link and nudged him forward.

"Oh, that?... um… I mean, him?" Amy started. Link rolled his eyes in good humor. "He's the thief—I mean, no… the hero, nooo… um… Link!" Amy finished awkwardly. Her father passed his odd gaze over to Link, which caused him to become incoherent as well.

"Yes, um… I'm the key-bearer…" He pulled the Black sword a short ways out of his sheath and then replaced it. The father's stare made him feel as though he should explain more. "And, I'm uhh… the hero of time, oh and Termina… and I used to be a Kokiri, but I'm actually Hylian, and I saw your island, it was nice! Although, yeah… I'm sorry for your loss… of your… home." Link cleared his throat and Amy's father continued his stare while Amy appeared near tearful laughter.

Link didn't notice Navi floating next to him. She hovered near his ear.

"See this? This is why I speak for you… I promise I won't sleep on the job anymore…" Link rolled his eyes as a sign of his thanks.

"It is good to know that my daughter has been traveling with such… such an accomplished companion…" He cracked a smile as he stepped forward to shake Link's hand, gripping it firmly. "I am Vahn."

"Link."

The two showed their character with their strong and friendly handshake. It broke and Vahn nodded his head and became serious again. "Now tell me, how long have you two been travelling together… alone?" He raised a critical brow. Link's eyes widened as he felt his cheeks blush. He knew where this was going by how Amy was gawking openly at her dad. Luckily, and yet unfortunately, Navi really was there to speak for him.

"Not alone, sir!" She flew around their heads. Amy's father remained seriously skeptical. "I have been with them throughout the entire journey, well, when she joined Link at least… Before that… she was with those other girls. But I am well-qualified to chaperone these two. I'm two hundred eighteen and a half!" Link's expression contorted and he stared at the small fairy. "What? You never asked how old I was… anyway, these two hated each other until just recently."

"Is that true?" Her father looked at his daughter and crossed his arms.

"Well, I—I thought he stole our jewel! Someone in town had called him a thief, or said he associated with thieves… so I thought he had taken it… and he cut off a lot of my hair…" Her speech sped up as her volume increased and both Link and her father furrowed their brows.

"Now what have your mother and I told you about jumping to conclusions?" The stern older figure chastised. Amy blushed with embarrassment, stuttering in her attempts to defend herself.

"Not another word." Her father silenced her. "We had best be off. Your mother will celebrate at the sight of you, and we will be more than willing to welcome the man who brought you back safely." Amy blushed a deeper shade of red than Link had yet seen; it nearly matched the shade of her eyes.

Her father gripped her by the shoulder and led her down the foggy path. Ignus urged Link to follow behind by nudging the hero's shoulder with his long, narrow nose. They strayed from their original mission and headed towards the Draconian's hidden sanctuary.

Noami and Aura had remained on task and were just reaching the falls covering the entrance to Zora's domain. Twisting pathways of grass and stone seemed to defy gravity and rise in odd directions in front of the cascading waters. They stepped onto a part of the path marked with the triforce and stood facing the falls directly. Aura looked around.

"You know, this is the weirdest rock formation I have ever seen… I wonder what caused it?"

"Spontaneous flooding and a few… random explosions?" Naomi guessed awkwardly. "I dunno, I didn't come this way last time. I took the Lake Hylia entrance."

"Yeah, well you get to sing that song now. What was it?" Aura asked. Naomi smirked; Link had taught her the song on his ocarina before they left.

"One second…" Naomi cleared her throat and sang her quickest rendition of Zelda's lullaby; the song of the royal family that Impa had once taught Link. Strange bells echoed around them and the waters parted, showing a cave leading into the mountain wall. Aura and Naomi glanced to each other with incredulous expressions before Naomi shrugged and jumped the short distance into the cavernous path. Aura followed after her, a little more wary and wondering where those bells had come from.

However, there was a strange calm about Zelda's domain that eased Aura's discomfort. Naomi took in a deep breath and smiled as this place refreshed her (even if she had been surrounded and interrogated the first time she had ever arrived.) One of the Zora's instantly recognized her.

"Dude! You made it!" He enthusiastically swam to where the two stood before floundering onto land and awkwardly running towards them. He addressed them while standing bow-legged, a hand placed on Naomi's shoulder. "I was worried you wouldn't want to come back after all the –dude, who's your friend?"

Despite the fact that Naomi couldn't quite recollect who this Zora was, she smiled politely and wracked her brains for a name while pretending to remember.

"This is Aura." She said. Her head began subconsciously nodding as their bow-legged friend was bobbing up and down in excitement. "I'm afraid I am here to see King Zora—I'm on official business—but otherwise I would have loved to stay and chat… it's good to see you." Naomi was able to smile sincerely since seeing this Zora did make her smile. Aura, however, was grateful to be pulled away. She had become silent when the character had confiscated her hand to shake it vigorously.

They made it up the stairs and past an unlit torch, heading towards the blue king's throne room. Much to their surprise (mostly to Aura's as she had never seen the king before), the two turned the corner and saw the giant blue king standing and speaking with the excited Zora from before.

"He must have swum up the falls." Naomi said with a shrug.

"Huh?"

"That Zora I introduced you to."

"Oh, is that who that is? Honestly Naomi, how do you tell these guys apart?" She shook her head and Naomi rolled her eyes.

The Zoran king bowed his head towards them in greetings and their Zoran acquaintance ran to them, once again standing bow-legged before them.

"Good news, dudes! In honor of your return, we're gonna have a big feast! The king will not discuss business before a celebration."

The news rendered both girls speechless, though Naomi tried to utter many thoughts that came out as incoherent babble while their friend showed them the way to their great feasting table.

The two on Death Mountain were also speechless, sitting upon cushions at a low table while people were scurrying in every direction around them; bringing food, clearing dishes, and some just wandering aimlessly. They were inside a warm cave with firelight flickering from every wall. Link and Amy watched her family and many others from her village continue their lives apart from their ancient homeland.

To their right sat Amy's mother, Desandra, a tall, lean figure with rounded dimples, curly reddish brown hair, and smiling eyes. She had looked very aged when they had first entered the cave, but upon the sight of Amy, she appeared to become ten or twenty years younger. Desandra's mother and father sat next to her as a contrast to both herself and each other. Granna Reela was plump and about a foot shorter than her daughter. Granpa Draco might've been taller than Granna Reela, but he was hunched over near the point of deformity. While his wife wore the same kind of smile that Desandra had, he wore a pleasant grin, similar to what Link remembered Amy showing in Snowhead after the two had started to get along. It showed that he was quietly pleased with the situation and at ease with the company.

To Amy and Link's left, there sat Amy's older brother and his wife; Mikyle and Leanne. Desandra's traits dominated her brother whereas it seemed that Amy had taken after Vahn. Leanne was shorter than Amy with dark hair and darker eyes. In her arms there was a small child, Amy's niece Lanna.

Though all of them had already introduced themselves to Link, he was foggy on their connections to Amy, and so she had to explain. He was rather overwhelmed at the sheer number of relatives. He hadn't ever had more than a father-figure, until recently, that is.

Another familiar face came from one of the side caverns where bubbling noises and the clacking of stone plates sounded, Amy presumed that this had been made into the kitchen. She stood upon the arrival of a young boy just around fourteen years of age with brown hair and intelligent blue eyes. His face was lit with a great joy when he caught Amy's gaze.

"Terrin!" Amy ran to give him a hug and Link stood as well, anticipating an introduction to a younger brother, or cousin. The young boy was smiling so widely that he had closed his eyes, his head resting on Amy's hunched shoulder. When their embrace ended and his bright eyes opened, they rested on Link and narrowed.

"Who's he?" Terrin asked without his usual smiling tone.

"What? Oh, that's—he's Link." Amy said cheerfully, not noticing Terrin's change in demeanor. Link grinned slowly and nodded his head. Terrin didn't move.

"I'm Terrin." He said without blinking, his gaze remaining coldly on Link. "Amy's old friend." He added importantly. Link nodded, letting his eyes wander about the room before returning them to Terrin's gaze and saying, "It's good to meet you…" He returned to his seat. Leanne leaned across Mikyle to speak to Link in a low voice.

"Look's like you've just made yourself a friend." She laughed and watched Terrin sit opposite Amy on their circular cut stone of a table. Link heaved a sigh as Mikyle joined his wife in laughing. Amy's brother continued his wife's thought in a low gravelly voice. Link glanced over to Amy to find that she was busy speaking with her mother and was completely unaware of the conversation taking place right next to her.

"Every young lad has to have one of those impossible fancies… I had expected Terrin to develop one on either Amy or Astra ever since he started working at the Dragonry." He laughed in a low rumble and then turned to Link. "I suppose young boys here have the same experience? Our worlds can't be too different." Link looked to the tall, gaunt man in return and drifted into thought. His thoughts drifted over all the women that had fancied him, and he wondered if young boys did indeed have the same experience, and then he remembered Saria. She had been the first girl he had ever fancied, but this emotion had quickly faded as he grew older and she remained the ripe age of eleven in appearance.

"Oh, yeah… they do." Link nodded finally. Her brother was staring at him with alarmed intrigue, apparently thinking that this was a merely a shallow opener to light conversation. He was both surprised and amused by how much thought Link had put into the question before answering.

"Yeah…" Mikyle cleared his throat and looked to Leanne for inspiration. Link noticed that he had once again killed the conversation. He began to feel the usual awkward seclusion, but suddenly, hope flickered in his mind.

"Uh, you said something about a Dragonry…" Link uttered. Mikyle's eye's lit up and Link grinned casually. "Amy never told me about anything like that, what is it?" Mikyle nodded, ready and willing to go into a long explanation. Link silently celebrated: he had always been a very good listener.

"It's where we keep, raise, and train the dragons. Kinda like those um… what're they called… where you keep your um, hoses."

"Horses?" Link corrected. Mikyle nodded.

"Yeah those."

"So a Dragonry is like a ranch for dragons?" Link led him back into the conversation. A sincere smile spread across his face as he realized how well his communication skills had come along. Mikyle nodded again, jolting himself back into detailed explanations.

"Yeah, Leanne and I help Granpa Draco, Granna Reela, and Mom run the place. Dad and Amy were dragon trainers." Mikyle started. Link's heart lifted as he realized that Mikyle would be another one of those long winded people who he always seemed to come across, which was good, very good. This meant that he wouldn't have to come up with awkward conversation, which seemed to be more the case as of late.

"The Dragonry itself is actually a cavernous system in a volcano. The hatchlings and eggs are kept closest to the magma as they haven't built up that tough skin yet to keep in the warmth and each dragon has her own cave. The alpha male, Ignus' father, lives in the mouth of the volcano. Igor had attached himself to our father. The males do that, one is born every twenty years and he chooses his master.

"What's weird is that Ignus attached himself to Amy. Males usually choose men to master them, but every now and again there's an odd one like Ignus, and I think Amy is obviously a good trainer." He looked to Link expectantly who quickly nodded in return. Mikyle smiled. "Dragon's are very perceptive of human beings, they don't let just anyone train them or even ride them. Ignus, I think, was able to see that Amy's will was particularly strong. And, as we all see now, she is the heir to our tribe's power. So, Ignus definitely chose well." Link nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes in thought.

He was beginning to understand just how much Amy was unaware of herself and how others viewed her. As he sat there, Link was easily able to see that Amy's tribe loved and respected her; they were throwing a feast in honor of her return. It had never occurred to him that Amy had such an extensive and elaborate background. Her recent demeanor, after her return, suggested that she was unimportant and even an outcast. This, in turn, made Link see that there were many more layers to her than she let on.

Mikyle was still talking, and Link had not been listening, he had never been distracted like that before. He began to panic, what if Mikyle asked him a question, or worse, asked him a favor relating to his information like all other long-winded acquaintances did? Fortunately, this worry did not plague him for long. The room erupted in cheers and everyone stood. Link, though confused, did the same and looked to see an elaborately dressed figure enter.

"That's my Uncle Kerrik—The Ardeo Kerrik." Amy's voice whispered to him as everything went silent. Link nodded, and realized that the title 'Ardeo' must represent an important position. "It's like your king, er dad…" Amy added awkwardly. Link glanced to her and thought he caught her blushing but he quickly returned his gaze to the ardeo.

He looked similar to Vahn, only thicker. His ashen black hair only had a few gray streaks, despite the fact that he appeared much older than Vahn. Kerrik stepped towards where Amy stood. Link found it odd that he wore a stony expression on his face, but as he neared, it broke into a warm and deep smile. He held out his arms and wrapped them around his niece with a laugh. The formal silence immediately broke into a multitude of separate conversations.

"And here I thought my ardeoship was cursed." He laughed again with deeper rumbles. "And, look here." He broke the embrace and glanced at Link who had just rejoined Mikyle in drinking the mead. "You even found yourself a suitor! Well this is cause for celebration. Welcome to the family!" He exclaimed boisterously and held open his arms. Link choked and mead spewed from his mouth and nose. Kerrik began laughing again. "I'm only kidding boy, thank you for bringing our young girl home!" He grabbed Link's right hand, the one he wasn't using to wipe his face with, and shook it firmly.

Though Amy had been suffocating with embarrassment as well, her manner lightened in watching Link's extreme reaction. She came to both his and her aid with a convenient but necessary change of subject.

"Uncle, erm… Ardeo Kerrik." Amy started formally. Her uncle's manner became less boisterous and firmer with Amy's formalities. "Link and I came here to see the Goron leader." Link caught on to her intentions and decided to help her after a few more coughs to clean his airways.

"We have a message from the King of Hyrule." He added, though the effect was dampened by him subconsciously rubbing his nose to rid it of the burning sensation. Amy nodded solemnly. She averted her eyes from Link to keep herself from cracking a smile. Her uncle, despite their discomforted presentation, understood the urgency and importance of this matter.

"I shall contact Darunia as soon as possible. We should be able to convene tonight." Link's eyes widened.

"Darunia? But isn't he… um… currently out somewhere?"

"His son, Link Jr—oddly enough—said that he had been missing, but that he just recently turned up, I met with him yesterday when arranging for our new Dragonry in Death Mountain." Kerrik explained. Link's brow raised and Navi chimed—her indication of something important. "I will be off then. I shall send for you the moment we are together with time to spare." Link and Amy both nodded as Kerrik gave Amy one last smile and tweaked her nose before departing. Amy abruptly turned to Link.

"I'm sorry, I should have warned you about my uncle… he tends to be a little… um… mischievous…" Amy said before answering a call from her parents. Link watched her go with a smile and then turned to Navi.

"Listen!" She squeaked and he focused all of his attention on her. "If Darunia has returned, maybe the other mages have too. You should play Saria's song and see if she answers!" Link nodded and stepped outside.

Arian and Damien were the only two not currently feasting. Instead they sat in a dark room with charts laid out before them. Arian had quill in hand and scratched notes on a piece of parchment while Damien sank deeply into thought.

"He had giant, armored creatures that would break straight through the walls… what could defend against that?" He asked Arian who scratched some more notes before contorting his face in thought.

"Maybe, a trap for them… a fake wall for them to boulder through into… erm… a cage, no… explosives… no, let's see… armored..." He rubbed his chin. "A deeper moat, so that the armor would make them sink and they would drown!"

"Good thinking Scooter, write that one down. We could get Zoran help on that one…" Damien replied. Arian started moving his quill again but stopped abruptly and stared stoically at Damien.

"When are you gonna stop calling me that?"

"When you stop being so adorable, Fang." Said Damien with a sly smirk. Arian stared at him with a disturbed expression while Damien raised his brows and smiled.

"Allll-riiight then, sweetums" Arian went back to writing and Damien laughed through his nose.

A knock on the door interrupted their brainstorming and name-calling. The king entered with a worn expression. The two boys were surprised to see Tatl fly from the king and circle them before returning to circle his crown.

"It is time to inform the Hylians. I will need you two with me, if that's alright."

Arian put down his quill and stood silently. Damien also remained rather quiet as he followed the king out the door.

The sky was streaked with orange and red. The drawbridge was just being pulled up. All of the townspeople were huddled together in the main square and the king stood with Arian and Damien on a risen platform where his voice would project. Hyrule Castletown had never been this crowded. There were people from Kakariko village and all of the inhabitants of the Hylian fields, including Lon Lon Ranch, were present. Despite the multitude of people, young and old, surrounding them, it was very quiet.

"I have gathered you all here now because this message cannot wait any longer. While I do not wish to alarm any of you, it is my duty as your king to inform you of any danger to the kingdom."

The orange and red of the sky was reflected on the waters of the Zora's sacred lake, where Lord Jabu-Jabu had once resided. Naomi and Aura were at a place of honor at a table set upon an old stone platform with water surrounding them. Naomi was already standing, and the Zoras were silently looking to her.

"All of Hyrule is, at present, in grave danger. An ancient evil has been awoken, one that Hyrule has not previously known."

Fire burned inside of the Goron leader's room. Carpets littered the floor and there were many decorative pots sitting upon surrounding tables. Darunia and Kerrik stood in front of a strange stone statue and Link and Amy were facing them. Link's voice, seemingly stronger than usual, captured their attention.

"There is a great army that is readying for war that we have already seen. Their hope is to catch us by surprise, which is why we need to begin preparing ourselves now."

The Hylian king took a deep breath and stared at his worrying people. He could tell that they understood his message.

"I urge all of you to take extra precautions and ask all of you to offer a helping hand when you can." He stopped and looked to Damien and Arian. "Especially to these two young men and their friends. Now is not the time to seclude one's self. We must think of each other, and in doing so, we think of Hyrule."

The epic speech came to a close. The general moral was low and every face in the crowd looked frightened. Tatl, floating above the king's head, left her post and soared above the crowd. The last of the sun reflected off her wings and fairy dust fell upon the townspeople in great circles, following the yellow fairy. The tiny particles sparkled in the waning orange light, and an inexplicable sense of peace and hope rose in each person's heart. The silence no longer seemed heavy, and there was no longer a sense of helplessness. One by one, each person left the square with renewed energy and a new purpose.

Tatl floated back over to the King's head. As she saw his impressed expression, she fluttered to his shoulder.

"Yeah, I thought it was a good idea." She muttered. The king smiled slightly.

"Nice job, Tatl. And thank you for helping me with my speech." He laughed and turned towards the castle, the little fairy and the two young men following him.