Zelda ran a hand over the book in front of her, the orb of light she generated in her palm being the the only illumination the room had, seeing as she had recently closed off the only window. It wasn't the weather or the season that caused her to obstruct her view of the outside, but dreams, dreams of experiences she could not recall and others she knew for sure she never had. Before her sixteenth birthday they were but normal fantasies brought to life by her subconscious as she slumbered, but now they became more vivid, they felt so real she awoke stunned, sure she had actually been there...and in all of them, he was there, a young man around the same age as her, his features were stunning and always adorned by his medium length blonde hair and blue eyes, his Hylian ears always stabbing through his locks just as hers did, and in most of these memories he wore a green tunic that she knew for certain belonged hundreds of years in the past. Those were the good dreams, though, the ones in which this man and she rode through green fields and near the shores of Lake Hylia, but the others were worse, they began with simple dreams of the same young man donning heavy armor over his tunic and bidding her goodbye as the heavens thundered overhead, a great feeling of anxiety and sadness overtaking her, it was then that the dreams transitioned into fierce battles and more often than not, a confrontation with an imposing man with green skin who's stature they didn't even come close to, but in her dreams they always won and as soon as she woke up, most of the details left her, but enough remained that looking upon the world outside after these dreams was too much for her.
The Princess sighed as she read the next passage, it was difficult enough to convince her father to let her get her studies done by herself with it being even harder to convince herself to stop thinking about the dreams that came when she slept. "Have I been cursed?" the mumbled, thinking back to how severe the dreams had become. She quickly got back to skimming the latest edition of 'Hyrule Historia', barely absorbing the words as she traced her hand along the page. "Somehow I feel like I already know this." she thought, pausing on a paragraph detailing the end of the Twilight Invasion. She was roused from her thoughts as a rapid knock came at the door, the Princess quickly rising from her seat and beginning to make her way over to the door before darting over to the window and pulling the shutters open, she didn't want to make anyone worry for her mental well-being, after all.
Zelda knew the sound of the knock well, it's strength and speed as well as the height from which it came only indicating it could be but one person. She quickly threw open the door, the tall, dark haired Knight Jakob Lirien standing opposite her.
"You took so long to answer I feared you'd fallen asleep during your studies." he joked.
"How could I?" Zelda asked. "The excitement they bring me is immense."
"Surely you jest." Jakob responded with a short laugh.
"Of course." Zelda replied. "The book makes a better pillow than it does amusement."
"Well, if you keep up with your studies your father may allow you a moment to leave that room of yours." Jakob said, inching closer to her.
"It was hard enough to get him to allow me to study on my own, I wasn't aware having a vast knowledge of the Hero of Time's era was required to be Queen." Zelda said.
"The Hero of Time." Jakob said, a smirk making it's way onto his face. "I can't believe people believe such rubbish...long ago someone stole what was supposedly the mortal remains of the oh-so-fearsome Ganondorf...and then nothing came of it. I only wish I could have seen their faces when they opened the coffin to find it full of dirt." he laughed.
To her own surprise Zelda found herself becoming quite irritated by Jakob's mocking, even though she hadn't an idea why.
"Are you alright, Princess?" Jakob asked.
Zelda looked up, her shining blue eyes meeting the dark green of his. "It's nothing, I just grow concerned is all."
Jakob's face took on a look of genuine worry as he regarded the Princess. "Concerned over what? Please tell me and hopefully I can ease your worries."
"I don't know if you can." Zelda replied. "The attacks on villages, they seem to be growing more frequent...I heard you and my father speaking of it."
"I realized." Jakob answered. "You didn't seem all too concerned on the stairwell the other day, what's changed?"
"Nothing, I've just been sequestered in my room for too long, I suppose." Zelda said, deciding against telling the Knight about her dreams and how familiar the circumstances were.
"Well, then, allow me to escort you to the Royal Gardens and we can rid your head of all that fear." Jakob said, bowing his arm for her to take hold of.
Zelda reached for it eagerly, she had many suitors waiting for her to become an adult, her legendary beauty bringing men from all across Hyrule and even other foreign lands, but Jakob was always far ahead of anyone, even the other Nobles her age. His sharp features, tall stature, strong frame and dark hair made many consider him to be quite the prize, the fact he was a member of House Lirien, Hyrule's most powerful family second only to the House Hyrule only added to his allure. As the Princess took his arm she couldn't help but pull away slightly, a pang of guilt striking her like an arrow.
"Zelda...Zelda, what's wrong?" Jakob asked as she fell away from him.
The Princess didn't want to feel that way, but it was as if she felt as though she was being unfaithful to someone...but who? Suddenly a vision came to her, the man from her dreams, his face clear as day cutting through the blackness as she closed her eyes.
Jakob looked around frantically, "Someone! The Princess needs-" he began, Zelda gripping his arm.
"No, it's alright." she said. "I've just been in a dark room all day, the sunlight coming through the window, my eyes haven't adjusted yet...that's all." she replied.
"I...I see." Jakob replied, obviously unconvinced.
"You needn't worry about me, I can handle myself." Zelda replied.
"I'm sure." Jakob said, sweeping her into his arms.
Zelda returned the embrace, ignoring the strange feeling that there was someone else all the while.
"Sir Lirien!" a voice came.
Zelda turned her head to find a Guard quickly ascending the stairs, Jakob parting from her as he turned to face the man.
"Whatever this unwarranted intrusion is about, I'm guessing it could wait, I'm with the Princess at the moment." the Knight growled.
The Guard spun on his heels to face the Princess, visually stunned. "Many apologies, your highness, I was so focused on finding Sir Lirien I hadn't noticed you...I beg your pardon." he sputtered.
"Is he talking to me?" Zelda asked sarcastically.
"No, no he isn't." Jakob said as he strode forward and grabbed the man by his shoulder. "What do you want?" he asked.
"The King sent me, he wants you to lead a ranging mission into the desert to find this Sorcerer." the Guard said.
"Hm, it appears I must go, but we will have an evening together soon, you can be sure of that...I beg your pardon." Jakob said.
"All is forgiven." Zelda answered, the Guard giving the two of them an irritated glance before heading off with Jakob.
Zelda began on her way back to her chambers, finding that she felt oddly remorseful about the way she spoke to the Guard which only led her to began combing through her memories, beginning to feel as if the personality she exhibited all her life wasn't even her own.
oOo
Link sat in the Guardhouse, staring blankly at the table, the whole night was like a blur to him, a blur punctuated by feats he never even dreamed he could accomplish.
"Link...what happened last night." Captain Eldrin began, craning his neck to see if Link was actually listening. "You're going to want to hear this."
"Those men...who were they?" Link asked, his eyes remaining fixed on the table.
"That I don't know, likely minions of the Sorcerer hiding in the Gerudo Desert...but that's not why I called you, not entirely."
"The Sorcerer hiding in Gerudo Desert." Link picked out those words like embers among ash, for some reason this all seemed very familiar. "Did I kill them?" Link asked.
"No, it appears not...Link, I-" Captain Eldrin began.
"What is it you want to tell me so badly?" Link snapped.
The Captain leaned back slightly, narrowing his eyes as he considered ending their meeting until Link was ready to talk, but it was important he hear this. "It was fifteen years ago that illness took your parents from us...I'm sure you've heard this all the residents. As you know, Jek was a friend of your parents and took you in instantly, it wasn't long before we noticed the mark on your hand."
Link splayed his fingers on the table as he looked down at it, the grey Triforce mark that appeared so lightly on his skin one almost couldn't tell it was there. It had been his constant companion throughout his life. "I know it's the Triforce...I always assumed my parents put it there for some reason."
Captain Eldrin sighed and leaned back in his chair before raising his eyes and locking his gaze with Link's. "There are stories, they follow a Hero and Princess that are reborn throughout the ages to fight an evil Gerudo Sorcerer named Ganondorf. Hylian historians always insisted upon this being a fiction, an embellishment of actual events...but I no longer have any doubt...Link, you were born with that mark...and the skill you showed vanquishing those two...it couldn't be anything else."
Link shifted his eyes, looking around the room uneasily before looking back up at the Captain, the older man looking at him carefully. "This is nonsense, I got lucky...that's it."
"The way the Triforce mark on your hand glowed, the skill you suddenly had despite never training and your bravery in the face of those two is proof!" Captain Eldrin argued.
"How do you even know all of this?" Link replied.
"After I saw that mark on your hand for the first time I was sure! The old stories are still told, you're a legend." the Captain answered. "We were planning to wait until you were seventeen, until you remembered...but we no longer have that luxury." the Captain answered.
"This is...this is insanity." Link replied as he rose from his seat. "I'm going back home...whatever it is you think I am, I suggest you leave it be."
"Do you want to catch those two mercenaries? Confront them again, maybe?" Eldrin asked.
Link stopped, closing his eyes as he thought about that night, the look in their attacker's eyes, the way they killed Ehren without a second thought. "I'll leave that to our King." Link replied.
"Do you really believe he'd do anything about it?" The Captain asked as he got up. "He's threatened by all of this and I know you are too...the difference is that you were ordained by the Goddesses for this task...you were meant to end this."
"You seem to care about this far more than someone with a casual knowledge of Hyrule's history." Link replied as he spun around.
"I'm a servant of Hyrule and a religious man...that's all the explanation you need." Eldrin replied. "I would like to leave it alone, but we can't now, they know where you are and they'll be coming back in greater numbers if we don't stop them first."
Link made to send another barb at the Guardsman but all the while things had been lining up in his mind, coupled with the dreams this all had begun to make sense. "Fine...I'll follow you."
"Thank you...I know this was all hard for you to accept." the Captain responded. "We'll be leaving on the morrow."
"What you mean one day?!" Link exclaimed.
"There's no time to waste." the Captain said.
"But that...it barely leaves me any time to get ready." Link replied.
"Soon enough you won't regret leaving, this is for the safety of everyone in Lake Hylia Township, do not worry, though, someday we will return." the Captain said.
Link thought about Jek and his neighbors, forced to their knees as their homes burned around them, anger welling up inside of him. "Okay then, you know where to find me when you're ready." Link responded, Captain Eldrin nodding in response as he departed.
"I hoped it wouldn't come to this." a feminine voice said.
"You and I both." Captain Eldrin said as he turned around to face Impa. "Won't the Royal Family notice your absence?"
"The Princess has tired of my presence for now, so I've been given a break." Impa replied.
"Just wait until she gets her memories back, she'll come to appreciate you." the Captain answered.
"Do you plan to inform Link of your true identity?" Impa asked.
"Do you plan to reveal to the Princess yours?" Eldrin answered.
"Only if the situation calls for it, Rauru." Impa responded.
"Aren't the two of us lucky? Being reborn along with the Link and Zelda to play a supporting role." Edlrin answered.
"It's a noble duty I myself won't tire of." Impa said.
"While I have you here, any news of Ganondorf?" the Captain asked.
"The King has finally sent a ranging team to try and track him down...I want it to be known I advised against it." Impa answered.
"How unfortunate for them." Eldrin remarked.
"At least that will keep Ganondorf occupied for now." Impa said, a concerned look overtaking her features.
oOo
"Link! Hey Link!" Dahlian called as the Hero made his way home. "What was that all about?" he asked as he caught up.
"Captain Eldrin says I can't talk about it." Link answered.
"Come on, we're your friends!" Dahlian replied.
"We?" Link asked, turning to find Zinnia and Viktor following close behind. "Oh...Viktor...I have to thank you for earlier...you may have saved my life last night."
Viktor let out a nervous laugh before facing Link. "You don't have to thank me...I just hope I don't have to do it again."
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Zinnia asked.
"Yeah, fishermen aren't exactly known for their combat skills." Dahlian answered.
"I...I just got lucky." Link answered.
"Like hell you did!" Dahlian shouted sarcastically. "Now tell us what the Captain wanted." He added as he ran after his friend, grabbing him by the shoulder.
Link felt frustration welling up inside of him as he turned, teeth bared, only calming as he saw Zinnia and Viktor's worried faces...he had to tell them something. "After what happened the Captain wants to take me to Castle Town to join their army...he thinks I have natural talent."
Link's friends stood in a stunned silence, mouths agape. "Link." Zinnia began. "No...he can't do that...that...that's insane." she stammered.
"I mean, he's not wrong but...he can't just take you." Dahlian retorted.
"Link, we don't want you to go." Zinnia added.
"No...I...I want to go...so I can find those two that hurt Jek and find the person who sent them." Link answered.
"Did he even make any mention of us?" Viktor asked.
"This isn't about you." Zinnia snapped.
"You didn't come up." Link answered.
"You can't seriously be going." Zinnia said.
"I second that, this is crazy." Dahlian chimed in.
"I am...I have to." Link answered.
"Zinnia!" a voice called, the three turning to find her mother running towards her. "There you are! I've been looking for you all night!"
"Not to worry, she's been with us." Dahlian replied.
"That's what I'm worried about." Zinnia's mother said, eyeing Link, Dahlian and Viktor suspiciously.
"Mother, they're my friends!" Zinnia replied.
"You all should get back to your parents, I'm sure they're worried for you as well." Zinnia's mother said before turning to her daughter. "We have to go, we can't open the bakery without you."
"We're opening the bakery on a day like this? After what's happened?" Zinnia asked.
"We're opening it on a day like today especially, people need a sense of normalcy after something like that." the older woman answered.
Zinnia made to argue before turning to Link, Dahlian and Viktor, looking somewhat defeated. "I have to go now...but I'll catch up with you later." she said, turning and heading off after her mother.
"Real pleasant one she is." Dahlian remarked.
"She's just concerned is all." Link replied.
"How long do you think it will be before word gets out?" Viktor asked.
"What word?" Dahlian replied.
"That we defeated those Mercenaries!" Viktor responded.
"We?" Dahlian asked. "Link here did all the work." Dahlian said, gesturing towards his friend, suddenly sensing the open air behind him, turning to find Link walking back towards his home.
"Looks like he didn't want to talk." Viktor said.
"You know." Dahlian began. "I bet he doesn't really want to go with the Captain...and I've always wanted to see Castle Town."
"What are you playing at?" Viktor asked.
"I have a plan, go to the bakery and let Zinnia know to wait here for us after her parents fall asleep." Dahlian said with a grin.
oOo
Veran waited outside of the Spirit Temple with her arms crossed, watching sand caught by the desert winds fly by just outside of the Temple grounds.
"Did you even activate any defenses?" Koume asked.
"The sand is good at hiding things." Veran answered with a smirk.
"Whatever spell you cast worked wonders, they have no idea we know they're coming." Kotake said. "We underestimated you, little sister."
"No spell was needed, the Minister was more than happy to strike a deal with me." the Dark Fairy replied.
"Typical man, swayed by attraction alone." Koume remarked.
"Please, do you really think so little of me?" Veran asked. "He lusts after power, not women, as it turns out."
"I suppose he wants a seat at our table once we're in charge." Kotake said.
"We'll see about it when the time comes, after all, it's not our decision." Veran answered as she went inside, the witches following. "How's he feeling anyway?"
"Not at his best." Koume began.
"The death we helped him escape still calls, trying to pull him away." Kotake continued.
"Well then, let's see if he's changed his mind and will allow us to aid him today." Veran said as the trio made their way into the main chamber of the temple, an enormous map composed of energy occupying most of it's space, in the center of the room he stood, black and gold armor gleaming as traces of the gust outside caused his cape to rustle. Ganondorf had aged greatly since his resurrection, his hair and beard having gone white, his green skin turning gray and wrinkled, but his power still remained.
"What have I told you before?" he growled.
"We just want to help." Veran snapped.
"You can't." Ganondorf answered, turning and fixing his gold eyes on the Sorceress and the two witches. "Only I know where it will be."
"If you just told us what it was-" Koume began.
Ganondorf quickly brought up his right hand, a psionic burst blowing Koume and Kotake backwards with Veran barely being able to withstand it herself.
"Don't forget your place." Ganon hissed as he turned around.
"You say you're the only one who knows where it is, yet you can't even seem to find it!" Veran snapped.
Ganondorf turned to glare at her once again, this time retaining his composure. "Do you know what it is I search for?" he asked.
"Demise's Gate." Veran answered.
"How did you...?" Kotake asked in disbelief.
"There's a reason I am less wrathful towards Veran." Ganondorf said as he stepped down from the platform he stood on, the map fading away behind him.
"Do you mean to tell us you told her?" Koume asked.
"Took you long enough to catch on." Veran responded.
"Why you!" Kotake growled, flames rising around her.
Ganondorf reached an arm out, splaying his fingers wide before closing them into a fist, extinguishing Kotake's fire. "Blame only yourselves. Veran goes out in search of those loyal to our cause and collects items that may help us while the two of you have grown lazy in you duties, believing that being my adoptive mothers lifetimes ago alone entitles you to special treatment."
"But we're loyal only to you, we live to serve!" Koume argued.
"Yet you stay in the Temple making empty threats against imaginary enemies and now that a real one is on it's way, it was Veran who prepared the defenses." Ganondorf said.
"I wasn't supposed to let you know that I know...so I played along." the Dark Fairy said. "Something about you two flying off the handle...Lord Ganondorf didn't want to deal with that."
The witches eyed Veran angrily before turning back to Ganondorf. "But it was our plan to resurrect you!" Kotake shouted.
"You resurrect me in an irrelevant era and in an improper way and I am supposed to be grateful?!" Ganondorf growled as he climbed the stairs back up to his throne, taking a seat before looking up at the witches again. "You restored my mortal body but not my essence...not completely, my lifeforce ebbing away day after day for the past twenty-three years...if I don't find the gate soon, I will die."
"What is this gate?" Kotake asked.
"It's only fitting I tell you now, I suppose." Ganondorf said. "Thousands of years ago, when I was still Demise, I constructed a gate to the dimension in which I was imprisoned, just in case I was ever struck down entirely...my followers knew of it then, but it faded out of knowledge until Ghirahim used it to stage my return during the era of Skyloft...but after his destruction none knew of it's existence. You may recall that I have been resurrected before...but accessing the gate has never been needed until now, the portion of my essence that's been pulled away...it exists there and once I open the gate and reunite with it...that is when I shall return to my full power and Hyrule will fall to me at long last."
"Why not tell us this from the beginning?" Koume asked.
"The more people I entrust this knowledge to, the more the boy and the Princess have a chance of finding out and thwarting me." Ganondorf answered.
"You think we'd actually tell him?" Kotake asked incredulously.
"To ensure your own survival, maybe, or maybe because you would sent scouts out to find it, who after being found by the boy, would do the same." Ganondorf growled.
"But she gets to know!" Kotake sneered, gesturing towards Veran.
"I know how to keep a secret." Veran argued.
"Only one can know, Veran is my right hand in this life, this is my decision and you will respect it." Ganondorf answered.
"Fine, we'll be waiting for the Hylians outside." Koume said, Kotake following as the two left in a huff.
Veran waited until the witches were a substantial distance away before turning to Ganondorf. "You don't trust them." she said.
"During my last life I left them in the Dark World, leaving my work to Zant instead, I can imagine them being upset by this." the Demon King answered.
"Upset enough to betray you?" Veran asked.
"Koume and Kotake are vindictive and cruel to those they deem their enemies, I wouldn't put it past them." Ganon answered.
"Well, keeping that in mind, I'll be on my way to join them." Veran answered as she gave a quick bow before leaving the chamber. She felt a foreboding feeling rising up inside of her, Ganondorf was becoming paranoid, turning on his oldest allies without much reasoning behind his feelings.
"Is he in a talking mood?" a young, male voice called after her.
"Bastion." Veran said, turning to look at the young man. "Tell me, do you still introduce yourself as Lord Ganondorf's right hand?"
"It's all for intimidation...you needn't take issue with it." Bastion replied.
"I guess I'll let it slide...for now. So, your first fight with the Hero...didn't go too well for you." Veran answered.
"I was...caught off guard." the man replied. "I didn't expect him to be so skilled, especially without his memories."
"Understandable...to me." Veran began, smiling slyly. "Hopefully Lord Ganondorf feels the same way.
Bastion nodded at her before heading forward. "Oh, one more thing." Veran called.
"What's that?" Bastion asked.
"After reattaching your lower leg for you free of charge...and without Ganondorf's knowledge...I'll require a favor." Veran said.
"What do you want?" Bastion growled.
"I'll let you know when the time comes." Veran responded before going on her way, Bastion scoffing before heading towards Ganondorf's chamber, finding to his surprise that the Demon King was already standing to meet him. "My Lord." Bastion said as he took a knee.
"Stand, Bastion, you needn't kneel like so." Ganondorf commented.
"But I failed you." Bastion began. "I was even injured."
"This is my own fault, I did not ready you enough for the encounter." Ganondorf said.
"But I...I should have given him more of a challenge than anyone else...it's what I was made for, right?" Bastion asked.
"Of course, but there's still time to make you stronger, to train you further...you have not disappointed me." Ganondorf said.
"You mean this?" Bastion asked, removing his helm, his each and every feature mirroring the Hero's in every way, the only differences being his lighter skin tone and hair color, along with his red irises and older appearance.
"I created you, so of course not. You will become stronger as we have much work to do, my apprentice, my son, my Dark Link." Ganondorf said as he gestured towards the wall behind his throne, the nearly complete Mirror of Twilight sitting upon it.
oOo
And that concludes chapter two! I hope you all like where this story is going so far!
GerudoSpirit: I am happy to hear you liked the first chapter! I really enjoyed writing the Twilight Princess timeline opening, so I'm glad you enjoyed it so! Koume, Kotake and Veran aren't keeping things very cohesive, but Ganondorf is more to blame for this, I'd say! I hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for the review!
Ultimate Blazer: Thank you for your compliments! They're also much appreciated! I'm glad to see you here!
Alright! Thank you to all of those who clicked follow and favorite on the story! It really keeps me going!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
-Prometheus17