CHAPTER 2

"How could you let this happen?"

"It wasn't my choice. We gave them free will, so we must not intervene."

"She's right. We've toyed with his life enough as it is." The graceful figures moved through the forest without disturbing so much as a leaf as they went. One figure had a pile of crimson red curls streaming down her back wild and untamed. Another had short hair of an emerald hue that stuck out at odd angles from her head. The final of the three seemed the calmest of all with shoulder length blue hair that was perfectly straight and shimmered like water when she moved.

Din, Farore, and Nayru: the goddesses of Hyrule. As they wandered through the forest at their leisure a fire began to grow up ahead along with a silhouette.

"Does she understand what she's getting herself into?" Din asked skeptically. Nayru paused and studied the princess' face looking a bit worried.

"I'm not sure sister, but she has strength in her yet to be revealed. You remember when she disguised herself as the Sheikiah in the alternate reality." Farore stayed back a ways with folded arms looking a little angry.

"So we must stay here and watch the princess mess around while Link is at the mercy of the black shaman? This is ridiculous Nayru! We are the goddesses. We can do as we please, and I won't see the Hero abused like this."

"Just because you hold favorites among the Hylians doesn't mean we will allow you to treat him differently Farore." Nayru replied in her usual calm tone.

"Unfortunately she is right. Link's destiny is his own. If he chooses life, or death is no longer up to us. We must not interfere. He is beyond our realm of control." Farore's eyes flashed with rage and in the next moment she was gone leaving Nayru and Din to wander the forest unnoticed.

Link's eyes snapped open, or he thought they did. All of a sudden he could see, but he wasn't sure if he was actually experiencing sight or not. It was as though everything around him was encompassed in a thick white fog, a fog that did not churn and move as it should. Standing up Link looked down at himself, but realized he saw nothing…only more fog. Where was his body! He wanted to cry out, but couldn't when out of the fog came a voice that seemed thin and elusive, but strong and encapsulating all the same.

"It's a strange feeling isn't it? No pain, no pleasure, no feeling at all. Not even numbness." Again Link tried to cry out and failed horribly much to the amusement of the voice.

"That's right Link. You're beyond the realm of the physical. You are merely a consciousness in another realm now. No body with which to defend yourself, no voice to speak with, only an idea which I can subject to anything I please."

As the voice spoke Link found himself all of a sudden very cold. He now was lying naked in the fog completely exposed to an old woman who seemed to shimmer into view.

"Stand up boy." Slowly the young Hylian did as he was told finding it better to play along- for now. Her eyes scanned him carefully, but he did not recoil from her glance choosing rather to stand his ground.

"You have a stronger will than even I would have guessed, but the favorite of the goddesses must I suppose." Stepping toward him the crone hobbled around the man leaning on a knarled wooden staff. She started to lay a twisted hand on his shoulder, but the Hero jerked away immediately regretting it as she flipped the staff around and slammed it first into his abdomen and then into his knees toppling him to the ground.

"Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"

"No. I never knew my mother." He almost growled in response. This seemingly amused the woman and she began to laugh. As she did the figure of an old hag melted away leaving a slender, well figured brunette in her place with eyes that burned like golden fire. Stepping towards him she smiled sadistically.

"I'm going to have fun with you. Now. Get on your…" She left off the sentence and her eyes took on a distant look before she turned her attention back to the young man.

"I'll be back later. We'll continue this conversation then." And with that the image faded leaving Link naked and alone in a place he knew nothing of.

"What do you want?" The brunette shaman snapped at the man who had entered her tent.

"Valrun wishes to speak with you." Hissing softly the woman stood extinguishing the candles around her with the wave of a hand. Not dressed in the traditional shamanic attire a diagonal knee length skirt hanging loosely on her hips, and a short shirt that settled on her shoulders were the only thing she wore aside from a pair of sandals that strapped up her calves. Slinking out of the tent she passed the other bandits ignoring their lustful stares and entered Valrun's tent.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Sit down Kerya. Where is the hero? I thought you said that when struck with that arrow he'd be transported here to our camp. What have you done with him?" She smirked slightly and leaned back against a plush pillow.

"He's in a safe place. His mind must be weakened before I bring him back in physical form if not he might become a problem. We don't know what tricks he has up his sleeve Valrun." The man scowled at her and then lunged grabbing her by the arm.

"If you're lying to me I'll have your head." Kerya cocked an eyebrow and dropped her shoulder allowing her shirt to dip low in the front.

"And if I'm not?" Valrun's eyes never wandered as he pulled her in and began roughly kissing first her lips and then her neck until he finally tore the clothes from her body eliciting a moan of pleasure on her part.

Link couldn't tell how long she'd been gone nothing seemed relative anymore. Fighting the urge to wander his blood chilled as a soft laugh reached his ears.

"Who's there?" His voice echoed back to him.

"It's me?"

"Me who?"

"Me silly!" A bright ball of light zoomed out of the fog tackling Link's face almost blinding him.

"Navi?"

"The one and only." She flew around his head tugging his hair and poking his shoulders as she went until she finally situated herself just beyond Link's nose.

"What are you doing here? How did you get here? Wait…you're just something sent by her aren't you?"

"Actually, you would think so, but no…I'm from you're mind. I'm here to help. You see….She put you here, but you have as much power as she does. You must simply learn to utilize it. That's why I'm here." A frown creased the young man's face. Was it possible he was in some transcendent reality beyond common knowledge or access? He doubted it, but decided to play along.

"So how do I use this power you speak of?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out." The more she spoke, the more Link was beginning to believe it really was Navi. Annoying, full of information, but over all pretty cute and lovable…it had to be her, or at least a version of her conjured by his mind.

"Hello Link." A voice that was strong and bold suddenly filled the air coming from somewhere behind him. A woman clad in flowing green the same color as her hair stood looking at him from behind a veil of mist.

"My name is Farore. You have no reason to fear me. I'm here despite the wishes of the others."

"Farore…the goddess?" The woman simply nodded.

"If you're a goddess why don't you get me out of here?" He wasn't wasting his time with manners. Link didn't like the idea of being stuck inside of some reality where nothing was as it seemed and he had no control.

"I can't help you Link. You're in a reality created by Kerya: the black shaman. I'm sure you've already met her. You must listen to me carefully because I'm not sure if I'll be able to come back without her knowing. If she can get into your mind, so too can you access her's. From this plane of existence you may see many things, some real, some not, it is up to you to distinguish them for what they are. You have a strong mind. Use it to your advantage. If you can control your thoughts and emotions you should be able to level the playing field with her. I'm sorry this happened. Listen to Navi. She will guide you. Good luck." Link stepped forward, but even as he did the image of the Goddess faded into the fog.

"Perhaps you should start with trying to clothe yourself Link." Rolling his eyes the Hylian folded his arms and sighed.

After a moment he looked down at himself and imagined wearing his usual garb. He remembered how it felt, how it smelled, everything he could about it. A moment later folds of green material wrapped around his body turning into a tunic and pants acceptable enough for where he was.

"That was easy enough."
"It will get harder." Link merely ignored the fairy's remark and began walking.

Zelda thought she felt a presence in the forest, but it passed as suddenly as it had appeared. Looking back to her knives she continued sliding the whetting stone along the blades staring transfixed at the fire's reflection on the metal. She'd never known what it felt like to lose someone close, and this was the closest she'd ever come. Link's eyes distant and glassed over were ingrained in her memory staring at her from deep within the fire. On the ground next to her the ocarina laid almost forgotten, a painful reminder of times past.

Realizing she'd been humming softly, Zelda stopped sharpening the blade and put it down hugging her knees to her chest before picking up the ocarina. She'd heard him play the song a hundred times, but she'd never learned it. Lifting the instrument to her lips she closed her eyes and blew softly playing a few notes. No. That wasn't it. Trying again she played a different tune. Close, but still wrong. Concentrating on the song she blew again, and was rewarded with the right tune. Epona's song. Her eyes snapped open and she played again, and again as loud as she could. At last a whinny met her ears and she couldn't help smiling.

The tall mare trotted into view snorting and throwing her head at the sight of Zelda who stood and crossed to Epona with outstretched hands.

"Hey girl. I need your help. For Link." Snorting softly the horse nuzzled Zelda's hand in agreement.

Dawn was still several hours away, but Zelda didn't care as she and Epona raced across the plains of Hyrule toward Castle Town. From there she could get the clothes she'd need for her journey.

As the sun pierced the darkness the castle's dark shape came into sight on the horizon. Urging Epona forward Zelda leaned in over her neck gripping her bare side tight to keep from falling off. By the time they arrived at the castle the drawbridge had been lowered and the market was beginning to come alive. Gently slowing the horse to a walk Zelda slid off, and patted her neck despite the layer of sweat the clung there. Leading the mare to a watering trough she washed her hands off in the cool liquid before turning to glance around the market.

"I'll return shortly Epona. Wait for me here." The horse just snorted into the water as she took long deep draughts to quench her thirst.

People were already buzzing about the market as the Princess slipped into their midst, and headed for the clothing shop. She watched the people on their daily chores but avoided eye contact; the probability of her being recognized was slim, but she didn't want to risk it. Stepping into the clothing store she went immediately to the racks and began sorting through the variety of clothes. Finally choosing a pair of soft brown pants, a black tunic, and a travelor's cloak she went to the owner and paid.

"Do you have a place where I could change?"

"Sure, just through that door." Nodding Zelda disappeared into the room, and emerged in the new clothes that were remnant of Sheik in the way they fit. Once her knives and money pouch were in place she said thank you one last time before heading back to the market to get some food.

As she sorted through the various foods trying to find what she wanted she was suddenly pushed by a young boy playing with a ball and bumped into a rough looking man with a sword.

"Watch where you're going."

"I'm sorry." She spun around looking him in the face, and frowned slightly. He reeked of alcohol.

"You damn well better be." He spat back shoving her roughly. Her eyes narrowed and her jaw locked despite her attempt to keep cool.

"Oooh, the little girly's mad is she? Get out of the way bitch." He sneered throwing a backhand at her. His eyes went wide, however, when his hand did not make contact with her face but rather a forearm clutching a long strange knife.

"Don't do that." She growled flipping the other sai into position. The man pushed her away drawing his sword as he did, but Zelda didn't wait for him to free his weapon. Instead she lunged, and cracked the hilt of the knife across his face knocking him unconscious in one blow. People stopped and watched in wonder whispering as she defeated the man so quickly.

"I'd hate to have that hangover when I woke up." Someone muttered softly as the Princess sheathed the weapons, and turned to leave.

On her way back to Epona snatches of conversations met Zelda's ears causing knots to form in her stomach.

"I heard she was kidnapped. The King sent the Hero after her."
"The poor boy, always having to rescue that princess because of the inefficient castle guards, I wonder if he ever gets tired of it?"

"I don't know I sure would, but I do feel sorry for the King…always having to worry about his daughter's security like that. It must be a hard life." The women shook their heads as they walked past the princess who now stood still staring up at the castle. She should see him first, and let him know she was okay. He didn't deserve to worry.