Hi everyone! So glad you all liked the last chapter, even though it was rushed so badly…hope you all like this chapter even better! I'm putting a lot of work into this one…it's getting really close to the climax! Sadly, I'm only planning a few more chapters until the end…but don't worry, I'm starting new stories one after another!

Chapter 10

(Too Many Years)

Link sprinted until he reached the castle; he took a few moments to catch his breath, staring at the cloud as he walked inside the main room of the castle. It was a strange dark cloud, it didn't look like rain, but it caused Link to feel a deep sense of dread, like something was wrong…he shut the door. He turned around, and his eyes grew wide. Mom had company… a fish-like woman stepped lightly over to him, bending down to his level.

"Don't be afraid, Link. We're friends." She smiled. He took a second to look around. There was a younger-looking girl with green hair, a fish type woman (she had just spoken to him), a huge lumpy-looking rock thing, a young woman with tan skin and dark red hair, a younger red-haired girl (she smelled like hay), Impa, and his Mom. Somehow they all seemed terribly familiar to him. He ran right up to his Mom, disregarding the sudden company.

"Mom, something's wrong! A huge cloud is outside, and it's not a rain cloud! What's going on?" he asked. Zelda looked deadly serious.

"Link, I want you to listen to me. Sit down between Malon and Saria and we'll talk about it." She motioned to the empty seat. Link looked confused, but he sat down between them as he was told. Zelda leaned across the table; staring straight at him. "Link…I need you to tell me something. Something important. There is a very evil man coming this way…have you seen anyone like that lately?" She could only hope he hadn't. Link immediately knew what she was talking about.

"The scary man…" he mumbled. "Yeah, I saw someone like that…he tried to kill me." Link was surprisingly calm. "He said he was my father." A series of gasps echoed from around the table. "He told me he could make me powerful if I let him…" Zelda pushed back her chair and ran over to Link, hugging him close to her, tears streaking her cheeks.

"He will never hurt you! I won't let him! If he dares to come even close, I'll send him to a place where he will never escape!" Link started to wiggle out of his Mother's grip, and then stopped. He found he actually enjoyed his Mom's touch. Malon spoke up just as Link began to burrow deeper into Zelda's arms.

"Zelda, we won't let Ganon come near him, we will find him first." Impa interrupted.

"I don't understand how or why it has happened, but Ganondorf has come back…and we need to be more wary than ever."

"But…Impa! What about his memories?" Zelda gestured a little towards Link.

"Don't dwell on things of less importance, Zelda. It doesn't matter now…just train him and bring him back before the council tomorrow." Zelda nodded, and rushed Link out of the room. He was perplexed.

"What was all that about?" he asked. Zelda smiled.

"Don't worry, just do what I say and everything will be fine." She led him to a large closet, placed her palm on the door, and it slowly swung open. She began to rummage through the pile of interesting gadgets and gizmos as she muttered to herself. "Link, you really need to clean your room once in a while." She finally found what she was looking for. "Ah-hah!" she squealed in triumph. "Link, meet the hover boots." She blew the dust off of them and then dropped them in front of him.

"What are these for?" Link asked, noticing the gold edges on them.

"Put them on, and you'll find out." She teased. He pulled them on, and stood up looking at himself.

"I look ridiculous." He stated.

"They are a little big, but they'll have to do." She walked to the other end of the hallway, and held her arms out as if she were gesturing to a child just learning how to walk. "Come to me." She held her arms out.

Link thought this was weird, but he decided to do it anyway. As soon as he put one foot out, however, it began sliding everywhere. He didn't know what was going on. "Ahhhh!" he screamed. He knocked Zelda over like a bowling pin.

"Well, that could have been worse…" she pulled herself up and walked to the other side. "Try again, learn the balance." She encouraged. After what seemed like an eternity, Link could move without sliding everywhere. "Looks like you've got it…any questions?" she stated.

"Yeah…how do I stop!" Link ran smack into a wall. Zelda rushed over, but it seemed like he was fine. She went back into the closet, pulling out another pair of boots.

"Link, meet the iron boots." She dropped them in front of him. A loud thud could be heard as the somewhat twenty pounds hit the floor.

"You've got to be kidding." Link looked at them. "I'm supposed to walk in those?" Zelda nodded.

"Yes, and you'd better hurry. We've still got twice as much to learn." The rest of the night was spent doing target practice, tunic briefings, bombing, and hookshot practice. Zelda sang Link to sleep. In the morning, he was once again brought before the council. But before them there was a new Link. Impa got Zelda's attention. She went to the closet, pulling out something she held behind her back.

"There is one more thing you need to learn Link." Zelda whispered as she approached him. She buckled a shield around his back. "Always use it for good." She slowly backed off. Link reached behind his back. He felt something and pulled. A bright flash filled the room. There was a sword in his hands. "Link." Whispered Zelda, "Meet the Master Sword." He twirled it around his head a few times, practicing. Then he sheathed it, looking up at his Mom.

"Mom…there's something I need to know." He looked down. "Are you really my Mother?" Zelda gasped.

"Why would you ask something like that, Link?" her heart had stopped beating for a second.

"If…if you're not…I just need to know…I've felt things about you lately I shouldn't feel…if you're my Mother." Zelda swallowed the large lump forming in her throat. It was time to tell him the truth.

"Link…the truth is…" she was interrupted by a mocking laugh and a blinding flash. When Link looked up, his Mother was trapped in a crystal. He pounded on the surface of the crystal, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Mom! Mom!" the crystal began to lift into the air. Impa held Link back. "I'll come for you! I'll save you! I promise!" the crystal disappeared. The loud laughing once again echoed through the room.

"Do you want your Mommy back, Link? Then come to where she is…if you can remember!" it faded out. Link tore himself from Impa's grasp and fell to his knees, softly sobbing. Everyone was silent. Not a soul had ever seen Link cry, not even Saria. He lifted himself up, shaking.

"I'm going to find her. I won't let him get away with this. Mom or not, I'll never let him hurt her." He began heading for the door. "I love her…" he whispered.

"Hold on there, hero." Impa pulled herself up from her chair. "We can help." Link smiled for a moment, and then looked into the distance.

"I will find you Mom…Zelda." Little did Link know that he was about to endure his most dangerous battle yet…

So…what did you think? What did I tell you? Was this cool or what? I bet you can't wait for the next chapter! It's my birthday today, by the way! May 18…yeah…anywho, I'll try to update soon!

BakOtaku: You make me so happy! Even in the midst of all my schoolwork…lol, you like it anyway! Sigh…so happy!

Zekoi: Thanks! It was and still will be fun for them!

Goldensungeek: Yeah, I'll pull through, don't worry. I'm glad you loved the little bit between Link and Zelda there. Yes, it's very suspenseful.

Dragoonknight1: Yeah, we all agree with that, I'm sure.

Queenie64: Thanks! I did this one pretty fast, but put more work into it. Much more! Yeah, Link will remember more than ever soon… (I mean, really soon!)…;)

KrazieShadowNinja: Yes, he was smaller, but not enough for Krystal to notice, I guess. She's kind of a naïve girl…lol. Anywho, I don't think I'll be bringing the sorceress back, but Link will have more than a few enemies to deal with soon…

Theherooftime2005: Well if I told you, it wouldn't be suspenseful, would it? ;p

Lisin: Oh, well thank you then! I'm glad you don't think so! So glad you like my story so far! School takes away from so many important things…sigh…on to more pleasant things! Have a gift basket! (hands pink gift basket)

Themasterofskittles: Oh! Was yours empty? I apologize…please; have a new and improved gift basket! It's got cookies! Anyway, I can't believe it! You figured out tiny tidbits of my plot! For now, Link's sorry butt is safe…he won't get fried…yet.lol.

Sweswe: Ohhhh…now I get it! So glad you like it! I couldn't change the romance all of a sudden…it's not right! Naw, you didn't sound rude at all! I sound that way a lot of the time! ;p

Sapphirethewindwolf: Link is definitely thinking about Zelda…lol. And if you guessed Ganondorf, then yes.;)