Hey! I updated in less than a year this time! I'm growing increasingly excited to keep writing this story as I draw closer to finishing it. This chapter is returning to the Link plotline, but rest assured, next week we will be going back to Lana.

Thanks for all of your continued support!

Link leaned against a tree in the swamp, struggling to take in air. It was impossibly hard to breath through the dank humidity that had filled his lungs with every breath. When Vaati and the Mask disappeared with Lana, it didn't take long for weird things to begin happening with the weather all around Termina.

Goron scouts reported in that Snowhead was now full of cascading rivers because the snow had all melted away completely. The Great Bay was experiencing hurricanes and sandstorms like they had never seen before. And there in Woodfall, the air had grown extremely hot and extremely humid.

Lana was still missing, much to Link's own anxiety. She was capable of taking care of herself, of course, and he was certain that Vaati hadn't kept her a prisoner for long, but even so, he needed to be sure she was okay. None of the scouts they had sent out were able to report anything about the sorceress or her whereabouts in Termina.

With the Moon's Tear gone from the Deku Palace, the local Deku had managed to make a miraculous, albeit painful recovery. Many of them were able to move again, and few others were willing to travel with Link. The Butler had taken over commanding them as a captain in the army, leaving the Palace under the watchful eye of the Princess, who was still sick, but recovering quickly like the rest.

Even at the Butler's protests, the Princess commanded that he go and help the cause for Termina in this second battle with the Mask, and that even in her illness she would take care of the Palace.

Among everything going on, Link struggled to continue leading the armies instead of going after Vaati and the Mask himself. Lana was in danger so long as she was out there. Well, everyone was in danger so long as the Mask had now restored its power. He needed to remind himself that it wasn't only Lana he had to protect. There was so much more.

Link wiped his brow as sweat trickled down. "Was it like this the first time?" he asked Kafei, who was slumped against a tree next to him, drenched in his own sweat and swamp.

"Uh, the river here was poisoned, the Great Bay had a hurricane off the coast, Snowhead was practically frozen over, and the dead walked again in Ikana. So, uh, not the same, but basically, it still sucked." The mayor of the town panted hard. It had been a few hours since they'd run out of fresh water.

Fortunately, the Deku and goron soldiers didn't seem to mind the heat or the lack of fresh water. The gorons were happy to soak in any kind of warm or hot water, that included the river, and the Deku kind of functioned the same way that plants did.

"How are you holding up?" Kafei asked him between breaths. "I'm a little worried about the lady myself."

Shrugging, Link just shook his head. "If I let myself worry about her too much, I won't be able to help here."

Kafei nodded respectfully. "I guess I understand that. But we really do need to do something about all of this." He gestured widely towards the humans of the army, many of whom had shed pieces of their armor to at least try to cool themselves off a little. They were just an hour's march from the edge of Woodfall, but the soldiers could barely move on. They were all dehydrated as well, so even if they did make it out of Woodfall, they wouldn't make it much farther than that.

"Butler, is the water around here clean at all?" Link asked the scrub who stood nearby them.

He hooted indignantly. "With all the dead plants and animals and my own people drifting through it, it'll be months before that water is drinkable by you humans again."

The only other place Link could think of that had drinkable water was Snowhead, but that was nearly a full-day's march away with an army. Alone, he could probably make it in half a day if he walked. A goron could probably do it in an hour if they were rolling.

That sparked an idea. Link called over several of the goron scouts who had brought them intel on what was going on in the rest of Termina. About five of them arrived and wondered loudly what Link had for them to do next.

"How fast do you think you could bring water back here from Snowhead?" Link expected them to give a long answer. Maybe they could get there in an hour but getting back with barrels of water would be a different story.

The goron at their head scratched his head uncertainly. "Two hours maybe?"

Link stared at the goron, who was now nodding at his comrades who nodded back at him in confirmation. "Two hours," he reaffirmed.

Link wanted to ask how, but figured, well, if he said they could, they could. They needed water if they were going to make it back to Clock Town at all, and the Mask had made sure that they wouldn't have it.

"Don't just stand there, then," snapped the Butler. "Go!" The gorons looked to Link for confirmation before leaving. Link nodded, and the ten or so gorons curled into balls and rolled swiftly away. Looking to the Butler, Link said, "Thanks."

The Butler turned his glowing eyes away. "Can't have you humans dying on us. Whether I like it or not, we need you to stop that thing."

With that, the Butler stomped away gracelessly, tending to his own forces.

"That guy has issues," said Kafei from the ground beside the tree he was still leaning against. His once-styled purple hair was plastered against his face with the grime of the swamp. His shirt had been unbuttoned, leaving his bare chest out in the open.

"I think he's just doing his best," said Proxi, bobbing lightly in the air beside Link.

"You guys have issues, too."

Chuckling, Link turned to Kafei. He tried to hide his concern from the man, but as always, he could see right through him. "We have to keep moving, Link. No delays until we reach Clock Town. These soldiers are looking to you alone now."

That was what bothered Link the most. He wasn't supposed to be a general, or a captain, or anything like that. Zelda, Impa, and even Lana had proven how capable they were of handling people's lives, but that just wasn't something he wanted. He felt a bit selfish for it, but he wished Lana was there so she could help him lead these people again. Even more, he wished she was there so that he could be with her. So he take in those beautiful, violet eyes she had. So that he could hear that playful laugh of hers again, knowing she was safe.

"Right," Link said softly. It took about fifteen minutes, but eventually, Link and his captains had managed to communicate to the rest of the human army that they just needed to move a bit more to reach the edge of Woodfall, where they humidity and the heat would die down completely.

It was odd, the way the Mask affected the climate of Termina. It seemed only to target specific areas for drastic changes to the environment that made them seem like hundreds of miles apart, but they were all so close to each other.

Goron scouts had confirmed earlier that the land around Clock Town wasn't too hot or cold. In fact, they said that they only thing weird about it was the intense fog that surrounded everything. Link and his army could deal with fog.

Over the next hour, the soldiers marched through the swamp, having to go into the rivers and through thick underbrush. The river water was warm, but regardless it still felt uninviting, with muck floating through it in every direction.

More than a few soldiers passed out and were being carried along by the gorons. Thankfully, they had enough gorons to spare, seeing as practically every soldier in the area was being supported in some way by gorons. Link wasn't going to let anyone rest up until they were finally out of the swamp, seeing how difficult it was the last time to get everyone moving again. He was worried if they stopped again, they wouldn't be starting again at all.

When they reached the edge of the swamp, Link stayed back, making sure every one of his soldiers was safe and accounted for before he left the swamp himself. Every soldier had been divided into squads of ten, with each member being accountable for his comrades. Link had been worried that at least one of them would've been left behind, but thankfully, every one of them was present. A shot of guilt pierced him as he stared at the last few of them being carried by gorons.

Finally, as the last soldier crossed the threshold, Link himself stepped out of Woodfall. It was almost immediate, the way the heat and humidity left him to be replaced by a nice, cool air. He couldn't see even ten feet in front of him for the thickness of the haze that engulfed everyone.

Wait.

The goron scouts.

No, no, it wasn't a problem when they scouted everywhere else. But they weren't trying to find anything in the fog.

Link called for a few of the goron soldiers to come over to him. "I need some of you to stay in Woodfall to wait for some of your brothers," he said, gasping with every breath. Then bring them here. We will stay right here.

The gorons nodded and walked slowly back into the swamp.

Seconds after they were out of his sight, Link sat on the ground. No more sweat was dripping from his skin. His throat was dry, and the only moisture he could feel around him was from the heavy fog.

He thought of Lana, and whether or not she would approve of the way he'd been leading everyone on his own. Well, not on his own, he'd had help from Kafei and the Butler both. She had to be safe. She had to be safe. She has to be safe.

That was the last thing Link remembered thinking before the world became completely black and his consciousness faded away.

It was his wedding day. Finally, after all the pain, struggle, torment, everything, Link was getting married. There was a small group of people gathered for it, just some of his and the bride's most intimate friends, as weddings in Hyrule traditionally called for. Most other guests would be invited for the ceremony.

He was late, too. Nobody had ever told him he needed to dress specially for the occasion. It was kind of embarrassing when Kafei didn't let him into the chapel at all in his green tunic and chainmail. He wished he had his scarf, but Lana was keeping that safe for him.

Eventually, he had found some proper "wedding clothes" as Kafei had put it. Still something accented with green, but what he'd likely see in a nobleman's home. It was the most uncomfortable thing he'd ever worn.

There were only a few people in the chapel waiting for him. He walked past them towards the bride, whose face was covered by a pure white veil. Kafei, Impa, even Volga was there, though he still wore his dragonscale armor.

Before he reached the bride, Lana herself waved at him from the front. She wore the blue scarf around her neck, holding it tightly.

Wait, a part of him thought. This isn't right.

Zzchzz.

His heart swelled with excitement as he reached the bride. No, Lana is still sitting there, he tried to think. His brain didn't seem to be working at all.

Zzchzz.

The blue scarf he cherished was wrapped around his bride.

Zzchzz.

The blue scarf he cherished was wrapped around his own neck.

There was no officiator. Hyrulean weddings didn't typically have those. The bride and groom were expected to carry the ceremony themselves as an expression of their love towards each other, not being coerced into saying anything they may not mean.

Link opened his mouth to protest, and—

Zzchzz.

The words spoken and oaths promised, Link stared at the veil in front of him. He reached to lift it, expecting beyond hope to see Lana's face smiling back at him, but no. It wasn't Lana's at all. It was Zelda. Only, there was a long scar across one of her eyes.

Zzchzz.

Zelda looked as beautiful and stunning as ever, both of her bright, blue eyes staring back into his own. But, wait, he didn't want to marry Zelda. That meant life in the castle, life away from any kind of real adventure. He wanted to be with La—

Zzchzz.

His lips met Zelda's as they sealed the ceremony with their kiss. Butterflies swelled up inside of him as he thought of living with Lana in the forest.

Zzchzz.

Butterflies swelled up inside of him as he thought of living with Zelda in the castle.

Nothing made sense.

Link saw an entire life be lived in front of his eyes, as if he were just a spectre looking in on his own life. A few children were born to him and the princess, one of whom died shortly after being born.

He never felt love from his wife, nor she towards him. Any time they shared an intimate moment, it was for the benefit of the kingdom, "not for anything as silly as love," Zelda had told him on occasion.

He saw himself fight in many battles against foreign invaders, monsters, and even some he would describe as demons.

At the end of the life he watched, he saw himself bowed down with age, hair graying, sprouting a full beard. Zelda had long since passed away, leaving him alone to manage the affairs of the kingdom until one of their children would accept the offer of the throne, which none of them seemed to want to do.

That left him in charge of Hyrule.

He was trapped.

"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" a voice rang in his head.

"Get up, Link," he heard a voice scream in his ear. Lana?

"GET UP!" the voice screamed again.

"CHANGE YOUR FATE, YOU WORTHLESS WORM!" It was Lana's voice. But it wasn't Lana. That was Cia.

"YOU THINK I CAME BACK JUST TO WATCH YOU DIE OF HEAT EXHAUSTION? JUST TO WATCH YOU LOSE TO A FREAKISH IMP IN A MASK? COME ON, I GAVE YOU A HARDER FIGHT THAN THIS!"

Link opened his eyes suddenly, sitting bolt upright. Lana wasn't around, and neither was Zelda, thank the goddesses. He was still in Termina, no wedding, no children, no castle. He was dripping wet, but not with sweat. Above him Kafei stood with an empty bucket Link was guessing had been full at some point.

"Thank the goddesses," sighed Kafei audibly.

"This man is supposed to be our hero?" grunted the Butler, who stood off to the side.

"He is," said a deep, familiar voice. "How are you, brother?" It was Big Brother. Link's eyes shot all around him. They were still surrounded by an intense fog, but he could see the figures standing around him.

Big Brother was looking down at him with the biggest smile he'd ever seen on a goron, which was saying something. The Butler was there, too, but his gaze was pointedly facing away from Link, though it was obvious he had just been staring like the rest of them. Kafei's purple hair was easy to make out even against the fog, and he stared intently down at Link, water droplets still dripping from the emptied bucket.

"Where are we?" Link croaked, hardly sure if he was still dreaming or not.

"Just outside of Clock Town," Kafei replied.

"No thanks to you," said the Butler, which earned him a heavy slap on the back of his entire body from Big Brother.

"Thanks to him," said Big Brother indignantly, "the human army is still alive. Those fellows didn't have much time left before my brothers showed up with the water barrels on their backs."

The Butler shot Big Brother a look that clearly said, who cares about the human army? but didn't say anything, probably for fear of another goron slap to the back of his body.

"He also led all of us out without losing a single man. I was almost out, too, before Big Brother and the other gorons arrived." Kafei smiled at Big Brother, eyes glittering with gratitude.

"Anything to help my honorary brother," chuckled Big Brother, slapping his own chest.

As the others chattered on, Link's stomach growled furiously, and he noticed his mouth and throat were completely dry. Before he could even open his mouth, a soldier appeared at his side with a bucket of water and a ladle.

Link immediately started scooping the water into his mouth, careful not to let any of it spill as much as he could help it. Relief from the dehydration started almost immediately, his throbbing headache easing and his muscles feeling strengthened. What he really needed now was some food, but that could wait.

"What about Vaati and the Mask?" Link asked, his voice clearer now. "Where are they?"

The Butler hooted, his eyes narrowed in a glare. A ball of flame appeared in his hand and he threw it hard through the fog above them. It divided the fog it went through, leaving a clear sight to the sky. But Link couldn't see the sky.

A massive orb hung over the city of Clock Town. It was a pure black void surrounded by a dark, purple aura that seemed to cast a shade of darkness rather than glow. Small specks and particles floated up to it from all over Termina, but from what Link could tell, nothing bigger than just pebbles or twigs.

The fog settled back over them, and the black and purple mass was obscured again. "We tried calling for the Four Giants," said Kafei after they all finished staring. "None of them could even touch that thing without howling in pain."

"We're on our own this time," said another voice Link recognized. Gorman had appeared in the circle, his arm in a sling and bandages over his eye. "Once that void up there collapses on us, we're done for."

Link stared at where Gorman's injuries had been the worst, on his chest. Lana must've been able to do something for him to stop the bleeding and stitch up some of his wounds before she was kidnapped. But no, Lana had fainted.

The Skull Kid appeared on Gorman's shoulder before the mustached man swatted the child away. "I found him in the swamp after you fainted! I thought he was dead, but I guess he was still alive. I used some of the potions that I, uh, borrowed from the old hags Woodfall, and here he is, good as new!"

"Yes, yes, very touching," said Gorman, who looked like he was struggling to even keep standing. Those wounds must have been bad if the potions hadn't restored him to complete health again. "I owe you my life, now let's focus." His bloodshot eyes bored into Link's.

"What do we do now?" asked Gorman, his words echoing the expression on everyone in the circle's faces. They all looked at Link as if he would have some magical answer just pop up in the back of his mind.

It was hard to even focus on anything right now after the nightmare he'd had, let alone the black void that was threatening to consume everything. "I…" Link began but had nowhere to go with it.

Big Brother looked at him expectantly, as if he really was the hero that the goron had known all of those years ago. Link didn't even know who or what the Four Giants they had been talking about were. If only Lana was there, she would know what to do. She could come up with a plan.

Link shook his head defeatedly.

"You see?" said the Butler immediately before the others even had a chance to have downcast expressions. Instead of that, they all grew angry.

"As if YOU had come up with something!" shouted Kafei before the Butler could get another word out. "In case you'd forgotten, it's your fault they even got the Moon's Tear in the first place! If you'd just given it to us, we wouldn't be in this situation at all!"

"You had no right to barge into the palace and demand things of the princess and myself!" hooted the Butler.

"Thanks, I'll remember that when we're all swallowed up in the void." Kafei and the Butler turned away from each other, both refusing to take another glance towards the other.

The fog had started to clear slightly above them, enough to the point that they could see the void above them, threatening to fall at any second.

"Uh, howdy!" said a voice shakily.

Everyone in the circle turned their eyes on the voice of the newcomer. Or rather, the newcomers. A woman with fiery red hair and an equally fiery expression stood a little ways off from the army that was visible to Link. Her clothes were ripped and tattered, with some of the edges singed. Several cuts and bruises were visible across any part of her body that was exposed.

Standing next to her, Link couldn't believe it, was Volga. His armor was as tattered as the woman's clothes, with bits of his skin exposed behind cracks in the armor itself. His eyes were still obscured as they always were, but his chin had a large gash across it that was still bleeding.

A strange-looking mask was in his hand, with white hair and a hat resembling Link's own hat. An eerie feeling washed over Link from that mask, almost in the same way that Majora's Mask had created a similar feeling.

"So, boy," said Volga, his voice deep and demanding. "Where is the sorceress?"