"We're so glad you could visit us, Princess Zelda. It has been so long since we have seen you."

Princess Ruto and Princess Zelda were sitting by the waterfall in the Zora's Domain having a casual chat while Zelda's new caretaker was busy trying to arrange some snacks for the two princesses.

"I know Ruto, I know. My only wish is that I could visit you more often, but our duties as princesses and sages keeps our lives most preoccupied."

Ruto nodded her head in knowing agreement.

"Yes. If only there were some way we could find time to be together more. Sages or not, we are still only children. It would be a waste of a childhood if we could not have some time to play freely."

"It is true. But it isn't just the two of us who are wasting our youth.there is still - oh! The snacks have arrived."

Just at that moment, a young but quiet Hylian laid a tray of Zora delights in front of the two princesses - fish, fish and more fish! Zelda wrinkled her nose at the sight of all the seafood she would have to consume. Grabbing at what looked the most dead, she consumed it quickly, coughed a little, then turned to thank her caregiver. He nodded is silence and left them.

"Alright, now we have the food but - " Ruto looked curiously at Zelda, as she forced down some more fish. "What were you mentioning just now - about not just the two of us?"

Zelda looked up and wiped her mouth on her sleeve.

"Oh! I was going to say that, while it has been some time since we last saw each other, it has been an even longer time since either of us have seen.Link."

"LINK!!" Ruto said, louder than she meant to. She quickly realized the volume of her voice, and her blue cheeks began to tinge pink. She cleared her throat.

"I mean, Link - wow, you're right. It has been ages since I have seen my future fiancée. I wonder how he is doing?"

Zelda's eyes grew wide.

"You're what?"

"My fiancée. After Link rescued me from Jabu-Jabu's belly and received my mothers Sapphire, we became engaged." "Does - does Link know about this?"

Ruto's face went even pinker.

"Of course he knows about it! He saved me and now we're engaged. No ifs, ands or buts!"

Zelda was silent for a moment, then she quickly looked up, though not at Ruto.

"I see. Well, I must be going. Plenty of other kingdoms to visit. See you again, Princess Ruto.oh, and thank you for the - uh - fish!"

With that, Zelda got to her feet and ran as fast as she could to the exit of Zora's Domain, where her transport of horses awaited. As she entered the carriage, her caregiver, also the driver of the carriage, turned to her.

"Whereto now, Princess?"

"Kokiri Forest."

The driver looked a bit disturbed by this response. "But.Princess.we can't go there.what will the King say?" Zelda was getting angry.

"I don't care. You will take me to the Kokiri Forest now, or I will run there myself - and you know how my father will react if he discovers you let me travel on my own."

The driver went wide-eyed. "Of course, Milady. To the Forest we will go." And with a tap of the reins the horses were off, and speeding towards the direction of the forest.

~ meanwhile, somewhere in a dark realm between worlds ~

A shadowy figure stands before a great crevice, within which churns the ashes and fires of a malevolent world. In the great realm of darkness, the light from the fire casts itself upon the shadowy figure, as it raises it's arms towards the black sky.

"Ssspeak to me, O evil one. I entreat thee! Come forth from your dark abyssss and bring your presence to me. Show yourself to me, in your true essence. O evil one.ARISE!"

As the last word was bellowed out, the echo of it seemed to come from all directions at once. Then, without warning, an enormous blast of red-black flame shot up from the gaping hole and torched the sky. The realm became misted in a glowing red haze that seemed to permeate every inch of the reality.

Suddenly, from somewhere within the flaming hole, a long, loud cackle filled the air. And out of the crevice, by some sort of evil power, rose the writhing, twisting body of a monster. The being's veins pulsated a violent red all over its black body, and from this beast's pointed head came two twisted horns. The being seemed wreathed in flame. It turned it's firey eyes towards the shadowed figure and spoke with a booming, echoing voice.

"Why is it you have summoned me?"

The figure bowed its head to the great demon.

"Massster, I beseech thee. I need more of the power of darknessss if I am to defeat my enemies. Will you lend me your dark power, O evil one, so I may easily overcome the powers of mine enemies?"

From within the demon rose a horrid, bone chilling sound that grated through the air - it resembled a laugh.

"You speak a good piece - but how can I know your intent is one of true evil?"

"That is simple, Massster. Come with me back to the Earth dimension. Once there, you may take on human form and be joined with me on my conquest of evil."

The beast appeared to be thinking about the figure's offer.

"All right, Shadowed One. I will accompany ye back to the Netherworld. But if I discover that your intentions are not ones of pure evil, be aware that your fate will become one of excruciating and eternal pain."

"It is agreed, Massster. With your power, the forces of Hyrule Castle will be crushed, and I will obtain complete control over Hyrule. Then after that."

The shadowy figure chuckled menacingly under his black hood.

"I will obtain all three pieces of the Triforce.and KILL those who carried them!"