Author's note: I decided to start part 2 off with a little poem I wrote that goes along with this story, which I was inspired by Loreena McKennitt and her song, "Lullaby." It sounded like you guys were really anxious to know what happens, so I decided to update this story before Funny-Looking. I might even take a break on writing it so I can finish this one. Anyway, enjoy!

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: AGE OF DARKNESS

PART II

Chapter 9: The Darkness Deepens

Oh, the voice of thunder echoes on the empty air... And the land is drowned in the wrath of war

When all is lost, and all is darkened...

Who will come to stand against dark?

When great and terrible power is unleashed...

And the cries of the oppressed fall to deaf ears

When the land has come to the state of hell...

Who will come and stand against dark?

When the senses of all are twisted...

And the souls of the people driven in madness

When the land is covered in a flood of death...

Who will come and stand against the dark?

Oh, who will stand...?

Zelda had turned on her heel and began to run toward the castle after Kaepora Gaebora had left her. Little did she know, but Zelda had failed to notice the darkening clouds gathering overhead and the grass began to dull. It was then when she was struck with shock to see the castle off in a distance, burning to the ground. Crying for her father, she continued to run toward the castle. Her pearl-like skin was now covered with smoke and ash, and her dress dirty. Zelda had managed to run through the burning hallways and reached the throne room, only to see her father dead on the throne. The sight was unspeakable for Zelda, and the description was not meant for the ears.

Gasping in shock, Zelda shielded her eyes as tears began to flow from them. The heat began to get to her as she began to feel dizzy and sweat braking on her face. Suddenly, a shadow descended upon her and Zelda looked up to find a man with piercing red eyes and built in a strong figure. She had uttered one last word before she had completely fallen to the ground, and her tone of voice implied a rather shocked and angry tone.

"Ganondorf..."

Everything was dark again for Zelda, but she heard the faint sounds of seagulls in the distance. She felt like she was in an enclosed area, and lying on a soft and comfortable bed. Slowly she opened her eyes, and above her was a wooden roof, with cracks of gray light coming through and descending upon her pale face. Her eyes had quickly shot completely open when she recalled what happened before and looked around to find herself in a small one-roomed cabin. The door had opened and in came Einan. He wore a torn poncho-like garb with fingertip-less gloves on his hands. He saw Zelda's state and smiled in a much-relieved way.

"So... finally you've awoken..."

"Wh-where am I?" Zelda said still a little shaky on what happened before, "Where's Link and Ralph? How long have I been unconscious? What happened?"

Questions were flooding her mind as she began to get more awake. Her heart began to pound as she began to realize more and more what happened. The Golden Power! What happened to it? Everything was now in a cloud of confusion, waiting to be set free with an answer. Zelda was in such a state, bound by so many questions, she began to get worried further. It was then when Einan had calmed her down by placing his hands on her shoulders and gently setting her down back in the bed.

"Shh..." He said calmly in his old voice, before coughing a little, "I'll tell you, it makes quite a story actually..."

Zelda began to listen, and slowly her bands of confusion began to lessen and break, but new bands began to form, they were bands of regret and worry. A lot came together when the old man spoke.

"The Golden Power was disturbed..."

"Yes, it was..." Zelda interrupted, still rushed in her voice, "The world should have been destroyed!"

Einan shushed her again before coughing once more, "The terrible fate of disturbing the Golden Power has not been halted... the world is dying. Ganondorf now possesses one of its pieces and is desperately searching for the other two. Our land has broke apart... the land is divided by the raging sea."

"And Link... where's Link and Ralph?"

"I found you unconscious on the shore just outside... Link and Ralph were no where to be found... I've held you in that state for a year now..."

For some reason, a deep feeling of sadness filled Zelda's heart. Tears nearly blinded her eyes as she looked down at the sheets and clenched her fists around the edges. She could not speak, for her tongue was bound from this deep sorrow. She flew into despair as Zelda heard those terrible words reach her ears. Were the both of them drowned? Zelda had seemed to be more worried about Link though. Trying to bring the grief from her, Zelda tried to avoid the subject of Link and Ralph.

"So... you've been looking after me all this time?"

Einan nodded before coughing again, except more gravely then the other times and Zelda became concerned for him.

"Are you all right?" She asked in her sweet voice.

"Yes... I'm just a bit sick... that's all."

It was then when Zelda stood up from the bed and offered Einan to rest instead, "Gramps... you need to rest more than I. I was merely unconscious."

"Thank you, child..." Einan said crawling into the bed and coughing once again, "Could you get us something to eat? There's fish just outside in the water on the shore."

Zelda nodded and stumbled when she began to walk, getting used to going on her feet again. She went out of the small cabin and went outside. When walking out, it could almost be immediately seen that the world was tearing apart. The clouds were now darker, and the voice of thunder was more frequent than the time before. She looked to the shore and gracefully walked toward it and bending down, her gaze running along the water searching for a fish. Once she had seen one, and caught it with her hands, she headed toward the cabin once more.

When she had come inside, it was deathly quiet. Still holding the fish in her hands, Zelda went by Einan's side and spoke to him.

"Gramps...?"

She observed him further. He lay there motionless, and not drawing breath. His lips were now dull and his eyes still, staring up at the ceiling. Einan was dead.

"Gramps... don't worry... you can rest, I'll be back." She said heading toward the cabin door once more.

Looking back at him, Zelda had shed only one tear, trying to make her parting easier with him. He had done so much for her, and now was his time to go from her. Zelda left, without any more grief coming to her. She had come to the shore once more and set the struggling fish free back into the water before she had turned her gaze to the sky. Zelda wondered about Link, as a seagull passed her gaze and landed on the ground.

Her gaze was now on the gull as it hopped along the ground, picking at the sand with the point of its beak. Zelda had noticed a cloth wrapped around its wing, and she slowly walked toward it. To her surprise, it did not fly away, as if it were used to someone like her.

"You're hurt..." She said observing its wing. Then a spark of familiarity hit her, that cloth... it was the same one Link used for her. She began to speak a little more loudly, hope in her voice, "That cloth! Who gave it to you? Who..."

However, the seagull had flown away before Zelda could expect some kind of answer coming from it. That small and short moment gave her more hope than ever before. She looked up at the sky, tears trickling down her cheeks and watching the seagull fly off.

"Link is still alive!" She said to herself, with a breath of relief in her voice.

Zelda gasped and looked down at the sand now. She wiped her tears in vain before more came streaming down her cheeks. At that moment, she realized something that changed her, "I can't deny it... I want to see him... I want to see Link once more."

Heavy breaths escaped her lips as she imagined Link there beside her. In her own world of dreams, he had taken her in his arms and comforted her, warming her. She felt safe, as the warm feeling of familiarity and hope went through her. She let out a small smile as she closed her eyes. She thought of his beautiful deep voice, letting something merely of a daydream soothe her heart. He had said to her,

"I'm right here, Zelda... You're safe now..."

Zelda had opened her eyes from her daydream and saw the beach's sand once more. The sea water rushed around under her feet, and rushed along the sand before it had pulled back into the sea once more. The salty scent of the sea filled the air, and despite its coldness, Zelda still felt warm and comfortable.

"It's clear now..." She said lifting her head and letting the wind blow her beautiful blond hair back, tears trickling down her cheeks, "I must be in love with him... Without realizing it... Deep inside, I've grown to love him... Lost memories or no... I've still fallen in love with him... this sweet and gentle man."

She turned toward the shore and saw a small boat there ready to set sail, as if it was prepared for her. Zelda climbed in reluctantly and grabbed hold of the oars and began to paddle away from the shore. Before she had left the small little island completely, she looked back at the cabin and smiled lightly.

"Thank you Gramps..." She said before setting out to the sea in her blind search for Ralph... and her secret love, Link.

Author's note: Now the fan fiction is really starting to get its heart. The upcoming chapters are the best part of the story. I tried not to leave you on as big as a cliffy, due to the overwhelming suspension I left everybody in the last chapter. That was a pretty high note, eh? Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter, REVIEW!

Special thanks (what happened to everybody?):

kat-SageOfWisdom-princessZel: ... ... ... I don't have a childhood teddy bear. But I DO have a five inch Link action figure I treat like my childhood cherished possession! But you can't get it... because I updated... MWA HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! ... ... ... Anyway, thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Sakurelle: MWA HA, HA, HA, HA!!! I feel SO evil! Heh, heh... ANYWAY... I just leaving my audience in suspense at times... just to let you know. Yes, there will be romance, yup... I can guarantee that. I get irritated too when I'm on the internet and one of my parents comes upstairs... "It's time to go to bed, (real name here.)" (heh... heh...) But I'm glad you think this story's interesting! Thanks for the review(s)!