Author's Note: I have returned again. There isn't much to explain about the story, but I know you'll all love it. And I give a special thanks to Majora's Mask. It took me a third time playing through it, but now my creative juices feel rejuvenated.


~------------------------------~


Link and Malon didn't know what they were doing. It was true that Link knew his way around Ikana Castle, but he just figured it would be better to let Zelda lead the way. She was passionate about putting an end to the Moblin menace, but she must have also been wondering how Moblins even got into Termina in the first place.

It didn't take them long to find the room they were looking for. As they all approached the throne room, Zelda pulled Link and Malon behind a pillar. Link peered out of the corner of his eye and saw several Moblins walking by one by one.

"Where are they coming from?" Malon asked.

Zelda looked out into the distance…into a mysterious door. "They're coming from in there. The whole pack must be in there. Let's go."

Link held Zelda back. "Wait! You're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm not waiting anymore," Zelda growled. "I've never gotten past this point before because I've always gotten caught. But this time, I'm not getting caught. I'm getting in and nothing's going to stop me."

A thought hit Link. "Wait! You've been caught?"

Zelda nodded confidently. "Plenty of times. You think this is my first time at this?"

Malon seemed to read Link's mind. "Then…how did you escape?"

"I always have an escape plan," Zelda grinned. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out what looked like Deku Nuts. "Smoking Deku Nuts. They always work whenever I need a quick escape. They can never catch me."

Link was still unsure about this. He looked at Malon and she only shrugged. But there wouldn't be any better opportunity to do this, so they all made their way to that mysterious door.


~--------------------~


Mido and Dore kept running through the endless Lost Woods until they ducked inside a log. It wasn't a good sign that those fairies were following them, because they meant trouble. Whenever those two fairies were around, that monstrous Wolfos was nearby.

"Are they still out there?" Dore whispered.

"I don't know," Mido whispered back. "Let me check."

Mido looked outside the log just in time to see that the fairies had just arrived on the scene. They seemed to be panting from the long, fast flight.

"Great!" the yellow fairy said cynically. "We lost them! Why'd you have to be so slow, Tael?"

"I'm sorry," Tael the purple fairy muttered. "You know I'm not as fast as you, Tatl. You should've known I wouldn't be able to keep up. Those two Kokiri probably found their way back."

"Doubt it," Tatl muttered. "But what does it matter. They're gone now. All I wanted was to find out about Link."

Mido's ears were burning and he whispered to Dore. "Did she just say 'Link'?"

"I think she did," Dore whispered back. "But how does she know about Link?"

Mido couldn't understand why he was about to do this. But he did it anyway. He stuck his head out of the log and looked over at the two fairies.

"Did you say 'Link'?"

The fairies gasped at the sight of Mido. They didn't expect anyone to be hiding inside that small log.

After a brief hesitation, Tatl finally responded. "Y-Y-Yeah. I heard you talk about him. Do you…know him?"

Mido nodded. "He's…our friend. We came out looking for him because we heard he got stuck in another world."

"Another world?" Tatl repeated. "You must mean Termina."

Dore blinked. "Um…what's a Termina?"

"It's another world that you can reach by passing the tunnel somewhere in the Lost Woods. It's…sort of a tunnel my brother and I have been guarding for a long time."

Mido nodded. "Oh…you, your brother, and that Wolfos?"

Tatl chuckled nervously. "Y-Yeah…Wolfos…right. Anyway, we haven't been guarding much lately. The tunnel seems like it's finally closing so…we've sort of stopped paying attention to it. But…you said something about Link. Is he…in Termina?"

Mido nodded. "I heard he was stuck in another world. But did you say the portal's closed?"

Tatl looked at her brother for the answer. Tael made a negative motion. "Sorry. Last time I checked, the tunnel was closed from the other side."

Mido moaned softly. "Then it's hopeless. How am I going to tell Saria?"

Tatl seemingly trailed off in thought. "Saria? Why does that name sound familiar?"

Tael flew over and whispered something in his sister's ear. Mido was beginning to wonder if these fairies knew who Saria was.

"You mean HER?" Tatl asked. "Hey…you two. Can you take us to Saria?"

"We'd love to go see Saria," Dore muttered cynically. "But there's just one problem. We're LOST!"

"That's the other thing I heard you saying," Tatl said. "You said you were looking for the Forest Temple. I know where it is."

That's all Mido was waiting to hear. "You do?! Great! Lead the way!"

"Not so fast," Tatl backtracked. "I'll lead you on one condition. You let us help you find Link."

"But we don't even know where to look," Dore pointed out. "We're just the help. Saria is the one leading the way."

"Then take us to Saria," Tatl requested again. "Let us help her."

"Um, Sis? How are WE supposed to help?" Tael asked.

Tatl hesitated. "Um…I don't know. But I don't want to stand by over here knowing Link's in trouble. Come on, guys. I'm offering you the way home over here."

Mido couldn't refuse this offer. "Ok, it's a deal. Now lead the way."

Tatl and Tael flew off towards one of the tunnels. Mido and Dore slowly followed. The two Kokiri had averted disaster. Mido couldn't help but feel a little smug.

"See? I told you I'd handle this."

Dore groaned. "Don't…even say anything. Let's just go home."


~--------------------~


Link felt lucky. Everyone managed to creep into that mysterious door. There weren't any Moblins to be seen. He soon saw why. They were all inside and to the side. They seemed to be passing the time before their next riot in Clock Town.

"All here," Zelda seethed. "I'm going to take them out…now. I'm taking my home back."

It sounded like a good idea. Link held his sword out and Zelda took out a bow. They were ready to attack. But then, Malon tugged on Link's shoulder.

"Link, look!"

Link turned his head towards another chamber; the throne room. There was a bright light and a brief crack of lightning. Link could barely make it out, but it was unmistakable. It was a portal. And out of the portal came…Moblins.

The Moblins really weren't from Termina. They were from somewhere else. But how did that portal open?

"Somebody's bringing them here," Zelda muttered angrily. "And I'm going to find out who."

Zelda was about to storm off, but Link held her down. He gave a stern gaze to remind her that they had to keep a low profile. The three crawled behind a pillar and waited for that portal to close. A few more Moblins came out and the portal slowly closed, but not before someone came out.

It was a sinister-looking sorceress. She had blue-skin and a hairstyle that looked like a scythe in addition to what could only be described as a battle dress; a dress cut off at the midriff and pointed shoulderpads.

"Do you know her?" Link asked.

Zelda shook her head. "I've never seen her before. But if she's the one bringing out the Moblins…then I'm taking her down!"

Zelda daringly (and foolishly) rushed into the throne room. She tried to rush in and tackle the sorceress, but two Moblins grabbed her. Zelda was incapacitated. There was no way for her to escape. Link's first instinct was to go in and help. It would've been the heroic thing to do. But somehow, he sensed that this wasn't a good time. He felt it was time to wait.

The sorceress stared Zelda in the face. "A girl. Trying to strike me? How dare you!"

Zelda's blood boiled. "You've brought Moblins into my home!! Who are you?!"

The sorceress smiled. "Young lady, my name is Veran…and it's the last name you shall ever hear."


~--------------------~


Saria was ready to give up. She couldn't open the portal to Termina and she was just about ready to give up and wait for Mido and Dore. But Saria remembered something. She was the Forest Sage. This was her responsibility. She had to keep going. But at this point, it just seemed so…hopeless.

Then there was a spark. Saria gasped. She was getting closer and her three friends standing at her side knew it, too. This was it. She was starting to get something. She couldn't be interrupted now. So she looked back at Somi, Mira, and Sodo.

"Guard the door!" Saria instructed. "Make sure no one gets in here and I mean NO ONE!"

Saria's three friends took the hint and exited to guard the door. Saria continued to concentrate and the sparks were getting bigger. She was closer than she had ever been before. This was it. She was going to pull it off. Saria was actually going to open her first portal…and prove to Rauru that she COULD do this. She COULD be a sage.

And she would do it by getting her childhood friend back.


~--------------------~


Link had his sword out. Zelda was still being held up by the two Moblins. He motioned Malon back as he got ready to strike. But first…he would wait. He would wait until he found out what he was up against.

"How?" the captive Zelda demanded. "How'd you do it? How'd you bring the Moblins here? And why'd you do it?"

Veran grinned evilly. "Seeing as how I've yearned to tell someone about this, I'll tell you. Besides, what harm would it do? You won't last much longer anyway."

"Aren't I the lucky one?" Zelda replied sarcastically.

Veran ignored the biting remark and continued. "For years I have had this power. The power to wield the most powerful magic that Termina has ever known. I knew that with my power I could take over this land. But I knew that the land of Termina was far too vast for me to simply impose my power upon the people. I needed an army. And that army came in the form of Moblins."

"How?" Zelda asked again. "There haven't been Moblins in Termina for many centuries."

"But they DID exist," Veran pointed out. "It was just a matter of getting them." Then she brandished a jewel. "With this jewel created by the sorcerers of the past, I have been able to manipulate time. And with it, I was able to bring back the Moblins and use them for my own purposes."

"Your purposes?" Zelda asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "All they're doing is using their brute strength for petty vandalism. All they've done is trash Clock Town…and block off the portal to Termina."

That set something off in Link and he saw that it set something off in Malon as well. The path back to Hyrule was blocked. Link remembered that much. But what he didn't know was that it was the Moblins. But Link noticed that the path was completely impenetrable. How could Moblins do that?

"You think THEY did that?" Veran laughed. "Of course not. The path is completely sealed because of my magic. I've heard the legends, girl. I know of the legend of the Fierce Deity. And I know he came from another land by way of a portal located in the clock tower. So I took it upon myself to shut the portal. And without his interference, I WILL take over this land!"

Link sighed threw his nostrils. That explained just about everything. His way home was blocked and there was only one way back. And that was through this sorceress. Link was ready to jump out and make his heroic entrance, but first he had to do something to help Malon. He handed his bow to her.

"If they come after you," he whispered, "use the arrows. Use the Ice Arrows. They'll keep you safe. Me…I have to save Zelda…and get us home."

Malon took the arrows and gave Link a kiss. "Good luck."

Link gave off a confident half-smile. He didn't feel confident, though. He remembered what happened at the hands of these Moblins and Link didn't know if he could fight them all off. But then he got an idea. So running with his idea, Link jumped out.

"I want that portal opened!" Link shouted, not bothering with the formalities. "And you send those Moblins back…NOW!!!"

Veran looked at Link and scoffed. "Who…are you?"

Zelda shook her head. "I thought this was the Fierce Deity…but I found out that the legend was just was a mask. He's just some guy I just met."

Link felt a little hurt, but he grew determined. "I'm not a Fierce Deity…but I WILL put a stop to this!"

Veran cackled. "So the Fierce Deity is truly just a legend? And all there is…is this boy? Oh…taking over this land will be much easier than I thought. Moblins…attack!"

The Moblins began to advance on Link. Link looked out of the corner of his eye to see Malon coming out with the bow, but Link motioned her back. He had something in mind.

"Wait, Veran!" Link shouted. "If you think I'm not so tough…then why don't you fight me one- on-one? Call the pigs back!"

Veran held her hand out to halt the Moblins. "What do you mean? You want to fight me alone? I'll crush you!"

Link persisted. "I'll tell you what. If you beat me, I step down. You can take over Termina, terrorize my friends, and pretty much feed Zelda to the Moblins."

"Hey!"

"Sorry. But if I win, you send the Moblins back and let Zelda go. Do we have a deal? Or are you afraid of losing to a 'boy'?"

Veran was a vain sorceress, so she nodded. "Done. Moblins, step back." The Moblins moved out of the way and there was only room for a fight between Link and Veran. "Well, boy, it's your move."

Link moved forward with his sword, while Veran sidestepped him. Veran used her magic and knocked Link's sword out of his hand. The sword fell all the way back beyond his reach.

"It wouldn't be fair to use swords," Veran screeched. "I'm unarmed."

"Fine," Link growled. "If I don't get my sword, then you don't get THIS!"

In the blink of an eye, Link reached out and took Veran's jewel off her neck.

"NO!" Veran shrieked. "Give it back to me!"

"What?" Link asked innocently. "You think I'm going to break it?"

Veran dove forward, but Link sidestepped her. Then he spiked the jewel like a ball and the jewel shattered. Link wasn't expecting the next move. The winds began to blow fiercely. A portal opened and the Moblins began to get sucked inside. Every single one, from all the way in the other chambers, were being pulled into this portal and being sent back to the time from whence they came.

"My army!" Veran wailed. "NO! You'll pay for that, boy!"

Veran seemed poised to strike with great vengeance, but that's when another wind began to blow. This time, it seemed to blow a lot harder and it was about to knock Link off his feet.

"What's happening?" Zelda asked.

Link suddenly heard Malon. "LINK!!"

Instantly forgetting everything else, Link rushed over to hold Malon and protect her from whatever this was. No matter what happened, Link would never let go. He wouldn't let anything happen to Malon. Link turned his head to see a portal opening. Then he heard a very familiar voice.

"Link?"

Link could have sworn he was dreaming. It couldn't have been her, but the childlike voice was all too familiar. He had to confirm it for himself.

"Saria?"

"Link! Come through the portal!"

Link wanted to go, but he had to make sure Malon would be safe. So he sent her off first. "Go!"

Malon was hesitant. She didn't want to leave Link behind, but she finally went and jumped through the portal. The winds were still blowing fiercely and it was hard for Link to move. He slowly moved towards the portal and was ready to go through. Unfortunately, things didn't get any easier.

Veran was storming towards Link. "You're not going to escape me!!"

Link was ignoring the sorceress. He was finally ready to go home. The Moblin threat was averted and there was no reason for Link to remain in Termina. But he wasn't expecting Veran to throw a ball of magical energy towards him. The energy blast missed, but nailed the portal…

…and that threw the portal completely out of whack.

The next thing Link knew, he was being sucked into the portal along with Veran. Link was being thrown somewhere…

…but he didn't know where.


~--------------------~


There it was. The Forest Temple was right in front of them. Tatl was glad to see the vast temple, because now she could get some answers about what happened to Link. Meanwhile, the two Kokiri kept bickering.

"Are you saying you doubted me, Dore?" Mido asked.

"Me? Doubt you?" Dore uttered sarcastically. "Duh! You got us lost!"

"Hey, I found our way back, didn't I?"

"NO! The fairies brought us back! You just got us lost!"

Tatl couldn't take the arguing and decided to put a stop to it. "Will you two SHUT UP?! Now tell me where Saria is. I have to know what happened to Link."

But as Tatl made her request, she started to hear a thunderclap coming from within the temple. She could see where it was coming from.

"Never mind," Tatl quickly said. "I think I can find her myself."

Tatl rushed off, not even waiting for her brother and flew into the huge Forest Temple. The main chamber was split into several paths and Tatl followed the one where she heard the thunderclap. She could see three Kokiri, two girls and a boy, guarding the door where the sound came from.

"Did you hear that?" one of the girls asked.

"You think she's ok?" the other asked.

"I think she's done it," the boy said. "I think she finally got it open."

Tatl ducked under the door, neither Kokiri having noticed her, and went inside. That's where she found a green-haired Kokiri opening a portal. It must have Saria, the Forest Sage. Tatl had heard of her. The Skull Kid told her about a Kokiri named Saria who taught him a special song. This must have been her and she must have also been trying to open another gateway to Termina from which she would get Link back.

And indeed a portal was opened. And someone did come out of there. But it wasn't Link who came out. It was another girl. It was a red-haired girl in a white blouse and orange-violet skirt.

Saria gasped. "Malon?"

Tatl gasped also. The name sounded so familiar. It was the girl Link told her about. The one he was living with. This was Malon.

Malon raised her head. "Where's Link?"

Saria seemingly struggled to keep the portal open. But that's when Tatl saw something strike the portal. It was a ball of energy that came from the other side. It struck the portal and, for lack of a better term, threw it out of whack. Saria let out an agonizing scream.

The portal turned a completely different color. Then she saw him. Tatl could see Link on the other side. But he wasn't coming through. He was fading fast. It was as if…he was going…somewhere else. He was breathing heavily and the look of uncertainty and fear was too much for Tatl to bear. She couldn't let him go.

"Link!!"

Tatl moved without even thinking. In the blink of an eye, Tatl went towards the portal, not knowing what was in it or even if it was dangerous. She didn't care. She had to help Link.

"SIS!!"

That was the screeching sound of Tatl's brother, Tael. He didn't get there in time to stop his sister. Tatl didn't know if this was the last time she'd hear her brother. She didn't know. She didn't think. All she thought about was Link…and helping him.

But now Tatl was going somewhere else. She felt like she was being thrown into another world.

But somehow…she sensed that this world wasn't Termina.


~--------------------~


The winds stopped. Zelda finally opened her eyes. Just a minute ago the throne room was full. Now there was only emptiness. There were no Moblins. Veran was gone. And so were Link and Malon. Zelda was all alone.

She felt like this was all a dream, but there was no mistaking that it was all very real. Zelda was a witness to everything. She saw the portal's magic come out. She saw Malon jump in and escape back into what Zelda assumed was her own world. But more than that, Zelda saw Veran attempt to stop Link from going in by throwing a magic energy ball.

The portal had been thrown out of whack and bolts of electricity began to emit from it. One of those bolts had struck Zelda directly. It didn't kill her. It just felt…different. Zelda started to feel queasy. She fell to her knees and vomited on the ground of the now-empty castle. She coughed heavily until the queasiness finally went away. She was starting to feel a little better and Zelda hoped that sickness was just a temporary aftereffect.

Yes, the castle was empty. The evil sorceress was gone and the Moblins went back to where they belonged. The hero, Link, and his faithful maiden, Malon, were also gone. It was as if nothing had happened and Zelda was alone. Yes…the orphan was alone again.

So Zelda started to walk out. With Ikana deserted, though, she wondered where to go. She knew she couldn't stay in her home anymore…since it had been abandoned. All Zelda could do…was wander.

But she would never forget Link. He saved Ikana from the Moblins…and possibly saved Termina from an even greater menace. She only wondered where he was now.

But that didn't matter. Zelda had to think of herself right now. Where would she go?


~--------------------~


Saria tried desperately to catch her breath. When she saw that ball of energy strike the portal, she started to feel an agonizing pain like she had never felt before. For a moment, she felt like she was dying. But then she recovered, but she didn't want to see the sight before her. The portal had been thrown off. She had sent Link off to who-knows-where.

Saria was in tears. She never messed up this bad before. She fell to her knees and started to cry her eyes out.

Malon gently approached her. "Saria? Where's Link?"

"I don't know!" Saria sobbed. "I lost him! He could be anywhere! All I had to do was bring him back and I couldn't even do THAT right! He's gone!"

Malon was in shock. "You mean…gone…as in…forever?"

Saria raised her head and looked at the emptiness of the wall where a portal once stood. She was overcome with grief. She had failed and this time…it may have cost her one of her dearest friends.

"I…don't…know…"


~--------------------~


It seemed like an eternity. Link seemingly floated in the vortex forever…not knowing where he was going until it was all over. Veran had completely scrambled the portal and no one knew where they would end up. Link could only hope that Malon made it back to Hyrule safely. But in the midst of his floating, he heard a shrill, familiar voice calling out for him.

"Link!"

The voice sounded so familiar, but Link couldn't place where he had heard it before. But the voice sounded so friendly, like he had known her from somewhere. Then Link could see a light at the end of the portal. He was finally reaching the end…

But Link didn't know where the end was.


THE END?


Author's Note: Obviously, this isn't the end. Part 2 is coming up in a few weeks where Link will find himself in another land. Part 2 will be based on the Game Boy Color games that have just been released, but will contain some of my own side stories. I really think it'll be something to see and I'll really enjoy writing it over the next few weeks. Come back for Part 2! You won't regret it!


Any comments? Part 2 is coming! So in the meantime, if you have any then mail me at HyruleKokiri13@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!