Disclaimer: I do not own, in any way, Zelda: Ocarina of Time or its characters

Match-ups: Link/? . guess you'll have to read to find out ;)

The day began like any other in the Kokiri forest; the morning sun rose over the tops of the emerald trees and the twittering of birds could be heard as echoes in the distance. As the sunlight streamed through an open window in Link's tree house, the warm rays on his face woke him out of his dreaming state.

"Awwwww, but I was having such a great dream!", whined Link.

It had been several months since Link had defeated the evil Ganondorf and been returned, by Zelda, back into his young self. After having been turned back, Link lost touch with those outside of the Kokiri forest. It seemed, after all he had done for Hyrule and the world, he had been forgotten. His past legacies became lost in the trifle affairs of parties at Hyrule Castle, and horse tourneys at Lon Lon Ranch. Everything Link had worked for, everything he risked and sacrificed for the lives of everyone, had been left to gather dust.

Link yawned, stretched his arms wide apart, and then returned.

"It figures," muttered Link to himself. "Every time I start to enjoy my dreams, that silly sun has to shine into my eyes and wake me up." Link sighed, and looked sadly at his window, draped with a tattered cloth. "Maybe I should think about putting up some decent curtains." He suddenly had a thought of Saria. She was always so nice and helpful; he knew he only had to ask it of her, and she would be there in an instant by his side, sewing him the most beautiful curtains in the whole Kokiri forest. Link smiled. Maybe I should go visit her today, thought Link. I haven't seen her in weeks.

As Link left his tree house, he was oblivious to the pair of dark eyes watching him go. They made no movement from their dark corner, and as Link walked outside and climbed down the ladder to his house, the eyes fell into furtive slits, then disappeared into the blackness. Link whistled a tune he remembered having learned in the future, yet it was beyond his memory to figure out which one.

~ meanwhile ~

"Are we prepared, my Lord?"

The face of the soldier who spoke looked upon his master with intent, yet fearful eyes. The face of the shadow he spoke to moved in the blackness. It hissed its response to the soldier.

"I finally have everything I need to begin the attack against Hyrule Castle. With the princessss away visiting the other partsss of the kingdom, we are left fortunate with an unguarded palace. It will be crushed in a matter of daysss." The evil being grinned menacingly in the darkness. The chill of its grin reached the soldier, and sent a shiver up his spine.

"I- I understand my Lord. But if I may inquire.the princess is a mere child. With her gone, the palace still remains a fortress fortified with numerous guards and an army at the ready. How does the absence of a simple child affect our chances of victory?"

The soldier's blood ran cold as he heard the grim chuckle of the shadowy figure. It slithered closer toward him and spoke again.

"Becaussse, you fool, the child is the key to Hyrule's defence. She is the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, and she is Sage of Time. Thisss gives her great power, beyond the measure of any who would oppose her. Thisss is why, without her, the cassstle is WEAK! We mussst attack as sssoon as she is gone!!" The slimy figure of darkness raised a bony, pointy-nailed finger to the base of the soldier's neck. The man in uniform squired under his cold touch.

"If you fail," the dark one hissed to the soldier, " I will personally sssee to it that your execution is a ssslow and painful one."

The soldier was visibly shaking now, and without another glance into the creature's hideous eyes, put a fist to his chest, did a quick bow, turned and nearly ran from the tent. The creature laughed to itself as it slunk back to where it sat in the shadows. With a wave of a grotesque hand, an image of an emerald forest appeared, hovering in mid-air. The small, blonde- haired boy in the image was talking to another now, a green-haired girl. They appeared as if in an engaging conversation. The creature parted it's lips, and licked a pointed tongue across them. Then he smiled. "It won't be long now, young onesss. Sssoon, I shall have everything you posses under my boot. The good and innocent will be smited by the wicked. Only evil will rule..PURE EVIL!!!"