Chapter 1

The Time War Saga Chapter 1. Rated R for language adult themes and descriptions of graphic violence (as well as sexual references).

Well Hi again. This is the first chapter for my story and I hope you'll like it. I'm having trouble thinking of names and titles so sorry if some of this shit sounds lame but bear with me eh? This chapter is just the drama part with the first battle showing you how much power Ankhris has to spare. But apart from the battle, things don't seem to be going bad, yet. Near the end I rushed so as to make sure I could do a lot before I have to start assignments and shit. Besides, I didn't want my story to lose the first page spot. It deteriorates at then end but hopefully you won't realise it. Where is the constructive criticism I asked for as well?

Yours, Khrisna

Chapter 1

Dark Stirrings

Kob the golem smashed trough another boulder in his path not programmed to even think about walking around or even jumping over it. Skullkid was still struggling to stay on his pony. After ten years and Malon's expert coaching, he still was a terrible rider, and Tatl's constant taunting was not helping out at all. Impa quickly swerved to the right, narrowly avoiding Little Link again. The adolescent Goron could not see hwere he was going after all.

Aidyn relinquished the lead to Link, since he knew the way much better. "You were right Malon, your country is beautiful, I could get used to living here," he said, while slowing down to ride alongside his fiance. Malon was surprised to hear this, "but you're the PRINCE of Zandoria, how can you desert your country to live at my ranch?" she asked in a startled voice.

"I won't be deserting my country, it's tradition for the heirs of Zandoria to live with their spouses until we need to take over rule of the country," he replied.

Malon was exhilarated to hear that, he had never told him any of this beforehand. She had loved spending the last ten years exploring the whole continent but now she was getting married, she wanted to settle down. Even though she enjoyed living at Aidyn's crystal palace, she dearly wanted to spend the rest of her life in the peace and quiet of her ranch. However peaceful her life would be though as a princess. She could only imagine how much prin ... no, QUEEN Zelda had to sort through. At least for a while though, she could do simple farming work at the ranch, and the prince of one of the most powerful nations in the Northern Hemisphere would get his hand dirty and pitch in to help.

Zelda looked ahead to Link when she started thinking about Zelda. Link had dearly wanted to stay out of Hylia forever, for his guilt had not faded in ten years. He was worried about citizens recognising him and would cast him out. People had recognised him while they passed Cacep and Gorcox, but not in the way he expected. When they entered Cacep, the citizens cheered and word had spread all over the country. The people had heard rumours that their hero would return to attend Malon's wedding, but the people didn't keep their hopes up. The citizens of Cacep were saddened when they learnt that Link would only be passing, but every innkeeper in town had begged them to spend the night at their inn (for free of course). The party had slept outside because they it wouldn't be fair if they chose one specific inn. When they entered Gorcox for some supplies, Link was given a hero's welcome, for the citizens there had time to prepare. They threw a big banquet for the party of adventurers, and they had set up a house specifically for them when they heard about what happened at Cacep. Link had been cordial during the banquet, but he was still distant like he always was. He was worried about Zelda, for he fully expected some sort of backlash from her. He knew she still hadn't met another man, but he had left her for ten long years however.

Despite the usual worries that plagued him, he was glad to be home, and he couldn't help but smile when he finally realised something that had had been eluding his thoughts… he was home.

* * *

When they reached the ranch they were surprised to find two score guards waiting for them. The leader strode forward to talk to them. "We welcome you to our fair kingdom, Prince Aidyn," said the well-muscled man, "forgive the queen, for she wants an audience with you, however she insists in meeting with Link beforehand." They party looked at each other nervously; they didn't expect anything like this. Malon was so close to her childhood home - she could see Talon looking over a soldier's shoulder - but she was willing to fight for her dear friend again. When Link saw her going for her slender elven sword, he put a hand on her scabbard. He would not be responsible for any bloodshed today. He calmly strode forward, fully accepting his fate, even if it meant his death. "Don't worry about me," he said without looking back, "if I don't come back know that I would have loved to been at your wedding."

Malon buried her face in Aidyn's shoulder and let the tears flow as she watched Link being led away by the soldiers. Skullkid and Little Link were visibly shaked up. "I'll follow him, don't worry," said Impa, as she started off to follow the entourage from a distance.

* * *

Ankhris was smiling his infamous smile. The smug one that he used to demean his adversaries, for his incredible powers did not diminish in the last 10 years. He was instead keeping his power signature a low as possible and hiding. He did not fear any man or even an army of men, but he was not stupid. He wasn't going to single-handedly take the whole continent by himself was he? Besides, doing his own dirty work wasn't his style, he preferred to watch the destruction he had caused. The army he had commanded was from his alliance with the Necromancers of Necros. He was only given a score of necromancers; he only needed that many to take the nation of Lucarin anyway. The necromancers would make their own army from the dead. He did use his powers against the town of Manus though, the bodies of the innocent civilians were what the necromancers needed to start their little army.

The necromancers feared the formidable army that Lucarin would no doubt dispatch to capture the still small legion (they only managed to make around 100 skeletons, a score of zombies and a dozen ghouls) but Ankhris seemed confident that that was enough to take the capital Corinthia anyway. Indeed, even against the 500 soldiers that defended the capital, Ankhris was victorious. He used his aura skills to strengthen the undead, keep the mana of the necromancers up and decrease the moral of the Lucorin soldiers all at the same time. This was what scared the necromancers, not many magic users were able to keep up one aura, he was able to control 3, over a 5 kilometer radius, for an hour, while raising his own undead from fallen soldiers, and (the most scariest part) with a smile on his face all the while.

He felt his powers were no longer needed for this campaign. So he just relaxed while the mighty army that was created took care of the rest. In less than a fortnight, they had taken half the country, and were taking Southport, the only way the refugees could escape into open sea. He had over a thousand skeletons, 200 zombies, 150 ghouls and even a few mummies that were proffered from a raid on the tomb of heroes. There was no way Southport, a simple trading port would be able to repel the invaders, but one man had managed to gather the remainder of the Lucorin arm and make one last stand. They numbered less than 600, but they were determined to make sure they go out fighting. He respected this man, bringing his people together despite their wanting to leave the land. He only used his powers in a divination to see what sort of man this person was. He was one of those true warrior types who lived to fight and lived by a code of honour. `Just one of those types, not to formidable,' he thought. He found out that he wielded a mighty katana that had the spirit of his departed master and was named . . .

Hecto sliced two skeletons in half at the same time, his mighty katana - able to cleave steel in half - met little resistance from the brittle skeleton bones. He rushed onto the next monster - how many of these foul, undead beasts were there? - and proceeded to hack it into pieces. He sliced in a high swinging motion - even twirling in a complete circle - made two quick downward thrusts and finished with a low horizontal slice. This separated the ghoul into 6 pieces, head, arms, legs and the rest. That would guarantee that no pieces would continue the assault. Hecto knew that his efforts would soon prove futile, but he had to do as much as he could to protect his homeland.

Than he saw him. A man clad in dark clothing over the hill calmly surveying the dark forces annihilate his home. He was sitting on a folding chair with his arms behind his back. In his heart he knew that he was the leader of the necromancers, but for some reason he had an incredible fighting energy in him. He also realised he was masking his true power, no small feat! Why a warrior with so much potential was leading magic using scum was mystifying Hecto, but he rushed forward to defeat his adversary, even at the cost of his life. Ankhris then noticed Hecto, who had started charging up the hill to where he was watching. Without taking his eyes off Ankhris, Hecto sliced off the arms of two ghouls who had came forward to intercept the warrior. Ankhris was surprised the man he was scrying for was so close, and was also surprised at the speed of his movements. He was probably as fast as Link was, about 7 years ago. Ankhris simply raised a finger in defense. Hecto proceeded to roar a battle cry to his goddess Farore, asking for assistance in his moment of glory. Ankhris simply raised his finger and let loose a telekinetic blast that launched the warrior into the air. He was sailing past the battlefield, even past the port.

Elany crouched over her bed and said a quick prayer to Tur, out in her quite home, in the mountains. She was on the other side of the port from the battle, about a kilometer away, so she was safe if the city was taken to run. She wanted to stay with her husband till the end though. "Dear Farore, mighty goddess of courage, please take care of my husband and lend him some of your infinite courage. Bring him home to me, safe and.." She had to stop abruptly as her husband crashed through the roof of their home and landed squarley on the bed.

* * *

Malon spent a long time telling her father who all her new friends were, for she didn't have much contact with her father when she was away, (which she regreted and felt guilty about). Her father didn't even know she was getting married and when he found out that she was marrying a prince, the simple farm owner nearly swooned. He never expected to elevate his status over a simple peasant but suddenly he was going to become the father of a princess. She introduced her friends only briefly (he hadn't even met Little Link before) before he decided he needed a rest (as usual) and the party went outside to relax.

Ingo of course hated the fact that Malon had returned, but now she was going to become the princess of one of the most influential island kingdoms. Aidyn was an incredible man, just as handsome as Link, and Link was known to steal women's hearts when they simply laid their eyes on him. He even looked a lot like Link, blond, tall, well muscled (atypical for elves) and had the same aura of control that Link had. The difference between him and Link was that Aidyn was a very lighthearted and simple man. While Link wore a perpetual frown, Aidyn wore an eternal smile. Even though he was a happy chap and was a prince, Link somehow attracted more women due to his mysterious and secretive nature. He was however, an incredible warrior, skilled with his blades, magic, guns and even with pscionics (mental powers), exceeding even Links powers. For while Link's powers were God given, Aidyn's powers came from his most distant ancestor- the Goddess Din herself, one of Hylia's patron deities. His family carried this bloodline since Din (before making an alliance with Nayru and Farore) had met the first King of Zandoria. His forces were not to be taken lightly either - a mighty army comprising of knights, mages, priests, gold dragons, and incredibly advanced technology.

Speaking about advanced technology, Ingo couldn't help but wonder what those strange contraptions were that he kept on his belt. Aidyn smiled when he saw that Ingo was staring at his pistols. They were standard issue for his technologists, but their versions were larger versions that ran off capsules that they had called `shells.' His were better, since he was the prince. His were magically enchanted so they no longer needed ammo. His were capable of piercing armour, what was more, he was given two identical ones. To balance things off, he wielded the royal family's weapons for when he might have to go into melee. An elven dagger that was encrusted with flames and rubies (Din's symbol and jewel), which (not surprising) was fire enchanted, and a long sword which had a light enchantment. These weapons he wielded simultaneously like his guns, which wasn't surprising since he was ambidextrous.

He (a prince) was polishing Kob the golem while Ingo (a poor worker) watched. It was reputed that Zandoria had started creating golems that ran off gears instead of magic and were armed with giant guns that revolved and were called `miniguns,' but not even these were as strong as Kob. Kob was after all, a giant, carved ruby. He was a fire golem but was able to turn off his flames. The giant ruby that Kob was carved out of cost the family over a million rupees, but they were all worth it, for Kob was nigh on indestructible.

Malon was trying to stop worrying about Link and Impa by singing to her cows, something that she hadn't done in ten years. She went straight to the cows, she hadn't even unpacked, that's why she was still wearing the elven chainmail and short sword that Aidyn had gifted her. She had learnt a few magic spells, but they were mostly healing and summoning magics, not direct attacking magics. She knew how to take care of herself, but she was still just a minor compared to Link and Aidyn.

The Goron Link was curled up I ball and was sleeping on the grass. Little Link had managed to become quite a warrior in his time. He had become one of the strongest Gorons there was, something impressive considering a normal Goron's strength. He had learnt some basic martial arts to balance up his strength, when his hero Link told him that he was to slow and his all out offense style left him open. Little Link took his idol's advice (as he always did).

Skull Kid was playing with the cuccos and the faeries. He hadn't learned much and had tagged along not really helping the party (on the contrary, he was more of a determent than a help), until Aidyn replaced his next to useless peashooter with a lethal, magically enchanted one that greatly improved his aim. He had become the party's sniper.

Malon stopped thinking and looked at her adventuring party, all of them had grown so much since they had first gathered. Too bad Undine had left the party, but it was her goal to become the greatest water magician there was, so she became the arch-mage of the North Andris academy. She had defeated many of the South Andris fire magicians as well as everyone in the north academy. After that, she had started teaching in the academy and was buying up all the tomes on water magic she could get her hands on. She was knighted by the king of North Andris, and was the hero of her home country, all at the young age of 23. Hell, Malon, Aidyn and Link were all 26; they were all too young to have accomplished all they did.

Malon thought back to her old friend, and imagine her surprise when a puddle of water appeared in front of her, signaling that Undine was teleporting to their location. The puddle was glowing an incandescent blue, shimmering unnaturally. The magical water started to rise and take the shape of Malon's mage friend. First the water was just weird column shaped thing, but it slowly started to shift into a human form. Everyone else had just noticed and dropped everything to greet their friend. Ingo however did not know what the hell was coming from the center of the field. He shrieked in terror and stumbled, tripped and fell into the barn. This woke Talon, who was sleeping (as usual). He rushed outside to see what the commotion was and joined the gathered friends as they watched Undine appearing.

By the time Talon got there the transformation was nearly complete. Undine's features were very prominent now and she was starting to solidify. She was an attractive young woman (though Zelda was much more gorgeous), with ocean blue hair that hung freely down to just past her soldiers. She had pretty blue eyes that shone like the ocean and even wore ocean blue earrings and enchanted her lips so that they shone blue. Her mage robes were blue as well, with a wave like pattern befitting her station as a water mage. She looked more like a teenager than a young woman having that deceptively innocent look that Malon had.

Undine held up her arms and smiled her trademark school girl grin that was part of her `innocent' look, and said, "Hey everyone, did you miss me?" Malon leaped into her old friend's arms and embraced her, both women giggling hysterically like teenage girls. Everyone started talking together making Undine shake her head in confusion.

"Oh my gods, you came to my wedding, but you're always so busy"

"Been a long time gorgeous"

"hehehehe hey pretty"

"Shut up Tael"

"Big Sister!"

"Who are you?"

All eyes turned to Talon at that last remark. Malon just laughed and remembered that her father did no know anything about what she had done in the last ten years. "This is Undine," explained Malon, "She is a friend of ours, a water magician from North Andris, the master one in fact." Talon shrugged and smiled underneath his large mustache, "well a friend of my daughter's a friend of mine, welcome to my humble ranch, it's hard for a simple man like myself to get over all the high ranking companions Malon had made."

"Thanks," said the mage, before she looking around the ranch for two people that were mysteriously absent from the gathering. "Hey where are Link and Impa?" she asked, "I know those two are always distant from everything that happens around us. You'd think they'd at least greet their old friend before going back to those dark corners they slink to," joked Undine, unaware of the grave situation they were in. Everyone either looked down at their feet or looked away, no one wanted to explain where their leader was.

* * *

As Link entered the city he had so loved, he saw the citizens that had come to welcome their hero. It was obvious they were planning an incredible party for their hero, for all of the citizens had gathered at the entrance assembled with flowers and streamers and banners. There was even `Greetings Our Hero' draped across the city gates, where Impa was watching the spectacle. They never imagined that Link would return under the custody of the authorities.

A young man pushed to the front of the line, eager to gaze apon his child hood hero one more time. "I remember Link from when I was 6!" he yelled, trying to gain the support of the crowd, "he saved my family from the great orc raid of '89 12 years ago. I will not allow him to be taken away after all he has done for al of us. Fight for our hero! Who's with me?!" Much of the crowd assembled came froward to try to rescue their hero, the young man leading with his dagger. He was about to kill the closest guard (who was unprepared for the sudden assault). Link, lightning fast came forward to intercept his fan however, and grabbed the man's hand while punching the wind out of him. Link protecting the guard surprised the crowd, causing the people to stop. Link carried the poor man to the closest supporter and said to the crowd, "I thank you for your concern. However, I refuse to be responsible for more deaths. Please, go home, I will come back safe and sound, I promise." He quietly thanked his would be rescuer and patted his shoulder, hoping his blatant lie would please the crowd. In truth, he believed Zelda would execute him on the spot.

He got back in line with the forty soldiers and started off again. The soldier he had saved came forward to thank him. "Thank you Link, you saved me again," he said gratefully. Link didn't even slow down or turn to regard him. Instead he just said, "don't worry Dalyn, though you mustn't have been practicing to have been caught unawares." Dalyn stopped in his tracks, Link recognised him! Even after 10 years! He felt a warm wetness creep upon his cheeks. He had joined the military at the age of 15 because of his admiration of Link, had trained with him much like all the other young soldiers. He never wanted this to happen, he didn't want to lead Link away in chains. None of the soldiers liked the task they were given. Some even refused the job and preferred to spend time in detention rather than lead Link away like this. He was hoping to escort Link into the city triumphantly. Dalyn only took the job to see his hero again. Perhaps for the last time.

They reached the castle gates and Link stepped inside. His legs were shaking, not because of fear of death, of fear of Zelda. He still loved the elven queen, he didn't want her to reject him. The castle was vast and it took as he could see that there were some minor improvements while he was gone including new curtains and plants. Impa just followed by using her old passageways that she used to sneak around.

They led Link to the garden that he first met Zelda 16 years ago (23 including his days in the Sacred Realm). The soldiers left him then, but they gave him looks saying `we don't want to see you get hurt Link, we remember what you did for us.' Link looked around the garden, and then that's when he saw her. Zelda was in the exact same position as when he first met her, bending over staring into her private little spy window into the throne room. Her throne room for the last ten years. He was still accustomed to Princess Zelda, it had a better ring. But looking at his long lost love was almost too much for Link.

Suddenly, she stood up, she had zoned out while waiting for him, and didn't realise that Link had finally come back to her. She turned around to face him, with tears in her eyes. She had not changed a bit in the last ten years, thanks to her elven blood that allowed her to live a long life. She still had that beautiful blond hair that hung below her soldiers, seeming more like fine silk then actual hair. She still had that perfect figure, gorgeous even by elven standards. Her eyes ruined her though, she still had her sky blue eyes, but her tears ruined them.

She whispered his name and started forward to embrace her love after ten long year, but when she got close enough to hug Link, he bowed in front of her, showing his obedience. "Your highness, your servant has returned to serve… accept his punishment," he quickly said in a cracked and broken tone. Zelda stared at Link, he thought she hated him and ordered an arrest! `Why not,' she realised, `that entourage looked like an arrest order had been sent.' She just stepped forward and put her hand on his shoulder. "Rise Link," she commanded. When he was a little slow, she pulled his shirt until he complied, but he still had his head down. "Link look at me please," she asked more than demanded. He hooked a finger under his chin like a parent would to their child but he just looked to the right. How she longed to see those beautiful baby blue eyes he had again! She could melt into his eyes, they were his most attractive feature! He wouldn't even look at her though. "Link, please," she pleaded, "I love you." Link looked up at that, with a shocked expression on his face. That was the last thing he expected from her now, after him deserting her for ten years and being responsible for her father's death.

"Zelda, I don't deserve you. I am but a simple warrior. I was responsible for your father's death. You sent people to arrest me. I left you here for ten years, it has been too long," he argued, he still possessed that lack of self-esteem and depressing personality. "Link," she replied quietly, "you're the hero of the whole continent, your reputation has reached everywhere. You were not responsible for dad's death, that monster was. I sent those soldiers since I knew you wouldn't come if I didn't make you think you were in trouble. You left to make sure no one else died Link. Please Link, please tell me you still love me to," she cracked at that last comment. She fell into Link's arms and broke down.

Her sobs were incredibly loud and her desperation to get her man back was destroying her mind. Link tried to comfort his love as well as he could but whenever he tried to separate Zelda even a millimeter, she just pressed against him again. "Zelda, I can't stay with you, my conscience won't let me after all that I was responsible for, I'll be gone after Malon's wedding" he stated. Zelda looked up at Link, eyes going so wide that he thought they would jump out of her sockets. "NOOOOO Link, stay! I've been waiting for you for ten years, you can't leave me again, I, I can't live without you." She resumed her crying. Her pleas broke Link, he didn't know how to coax her from his arms and didn't think she would leave if he was still meaning to stay just for the wedding. Link took her head in his hands and kissed her for the first time in ten years. Impa, content with the scene she saw, slinked away back to join the others and report the good news.

* * *

Hecto surveyed the lost battle with Elany from his mountainside home. His ribs were going to hurt for a log time, and he knew that he would not be able to join in any battles for a long time. His home had been destroyed, and the army had been completely decimated, Southport burning in the Necromancer's wake. They had succeeded in repelling the invaders, but apart from Hecto, there were no Lucarin soldiers left. He knew there were many other Necromancers in Necro though, this was no victory today. Who was that mysterious stranger? How did he begin to wield such powers?

Hecto and Elany decided to pack up and leave. Hecto was prepared to die for his country but he knew now that nothing could stop the necromancers. They left with the other refugees to enter Korfu. They were going to travel around, trying to join a country that would fight against the Necromancers, but who would help? Necros was one of the most powerful countries, no army would take sacrifice their armies for revenge on another country's behalf. Hecto was going to go to Galatia or Hyrule to train, and maybe even Zandoria. But he resolved to find Ankhris again and slay the fiend. He had nothing else.

* * *

Link and Zelda were getting tired, but they were still happy with their decision. Walking together to Lon Lon Ranch in the middle of the night gave them time to catch up a little bit. Zelda had so many stories about life as a queen, and Lik had so many adventures he had experienced. They had refused horses to give themselves a bit more time, though it was very tiring. The couple stoped to gaze up at the full moon, shining brightly in the Hylian sky. It was a truly romantic site for the lovers. They started off to meet up with their old friends. Hand in Hand.

Part 2 is coming up, Torment. Those who love Malon will be advised to stay clear, she's in for a great deal of pain.

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