Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda

How did Hyrule turn into muck, and Link turn into a nobody, on the very verge of death, as we know it? How did he make another friend, and another enemy? You ask for quite a tale. It all started one day...

Link was walking around Hyrule, as he no longer had a horse. After the defeat of Ganondorf, Link boasted about his deeds. People laughed, and called him loony. He had to sell his horse back to Lon Lon Ranch for a scrap of food to feed his starving stomach. Things were looking bad. During this solar phenomenon, the soil that makes plants alive has evolved; rupees no longer came out of it. He was poor, but he would find away to live. (I need riches; I want things the way they used to be...) Did I mention he had been living like this for years? Link, now 17 (again) had nothing but his trusty sword, shield, arrows, and a bow with a quiver. I am so far ahead of myself, as you see, Ganondorf found out the Secret of the Triforce of Power. He has broken free, and is now King of Hyrule and darkness. His army was chasing Link, who was forcing himself to walk because his leg was torn and limping. (I am going to die, right here, right now.) He collapsed to the ground, but instead of landing on the dirt, he had landed on Marble.

"Get up, right now."

Link got up, and realized his leg was fully healed. He was looking at a male Hylian, and had the normal pointy ears. He had somewhat long blue hair, not a pimple or wrinkle on his body. He had a spear behind his back. He had dark brown eyes, and a very fancy cloak on.

"Who are you?"

"That isn't important, Link. I need your help."

"With what? I don't even know you."

"I need your help defeating someone, I don't care if you know me or not."

"Do you need help with Ganondorf?"

"No."

"Well, what's in it for me?"

"The World." Said the boy with a touch of smirk.

"S-seriously?"

"Of course not, you dolt. I will make things the way they were for you if our mission succeeds."

"I will help. Tell me who you are, and who we need to bring down, or I won't help!"

"Help me or die, it is your choice," he said casually.

"Bring it on!" Link snarled as he unsheathed his sword. The froze there for at least a minute, when Link put his sword away and said, "Just kidding!"

"Your sense of humor is strange, now there is no time to lose. I need your help- Call me Cardaras, by the way- taking down Caidro, practically the essence of evil. Oh, I suppose after that we can destroy Ganondorf after we are done with our first mission."

"About this guy, Caidro, you teleported ME, so maybe we should teleport him somewhere..."

"Excellent. Where to?"

"Ganondorf's Castle! If he is really strong, he might even do our other job for us!"

Cardaras didn't smile at this idea, but opened his palms to for a ball of light. He expanded it, and then made it vanish.

"It is done. For now, we will depart. You still have work to do. I talk to you later."

Cardaras vanished, and the black room made of marble disappeared. He was now in the center of the Market place, where the fountain used to be. Suddenly, an echo shot out from his ears.

(For now, we will depart. You still have work to do...)

Authors Note: What did you think? How will Link and Cardaras fight Caidro, and Ganondorf? Was it a mistake putting Caidro in Ganondorf's castle? Find out in the next chapter. Make sure to review!