Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is owned by Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo, and The Lord of the Rings is owned by J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and New Time Cinema. Inspiration for this fic is from John the Visionary's Rurouni Kenshin and Lord of the Rings fanfic, which is getting especially good right now. All characters are owned by those properties, this isn't for profit, just for fun.

Chapter 2: New Monsters in Hyrule

Hyrule Castle

It had been four years since Link returned to his homeland. He had spent the first two years living back at his house in the Kokiri Forest. It was a happy time living in his hometown again, but when he turned 14, he knew it was time to move out. Mido, the Kokiri Village Chief, his former rival, became sort of a little brother to him, and Saria, his best friend ever since he was a child, bid him farewell. He would miss his old home, but would have boarding ready at Lon Lon Ranch, where he would work as a ranch hand.

After two years of working on the Ranch, he had built his own house in Kakariko Village, and was tempted to join the Royal Hylian Army, so he could protect Zelda and all his friends more effectively. Yet, due to it being an era of peace, the Army had been reduced to a mere 10,000 men, and they weren't accepting any new recruits. Even though he was a great warrior, he was turned down. Disappointed he nevertheless swore to continue to protect Hyrule.

A messenger arrived at his house in the morning hours of February 28th. The messenger was from the

Dear Link,

I would like to invite you to my daughter's birthday party. She is turning 16 on the 1st of March. Please, she'd really like you to come, my friend.

Signed, your friend,

King Harkien

Link chuckled to himself, and went up to the calendar he put up in his kitchen, 'It seems that March 1st is tomorrow. I might as well swing by to help with the decorations.

Getting out of his morning clothes, Link put on his green Kokiri tunic and hat. He slipped his boots on and grabbed his gilded sword and Hero Shield, and walked out the door towards Kakariko Village's stables. His house was on the base of Death Mountain, above the Potion Shop and the Bazaar, but just below the Death Mountain Guard Post. As he walked down the street to the stables, he waved to the children who were playing in the street, who waved back.

Passing a few men who were working on the new Shooting Gallery, he turned around to see their boss barking orders and calling them incompetent idiots, even though they were doing exactly what he told them to do. He sighed, put his hand on his forehead, and kept walking along. He passed Anju's house, and waved to the girl who loved chickens. Waving to her, he almost made her drop a cuckoo chicken she just caught. Taking a left down the road he passed the massive windmill, the landmark of Kakariko Village. He walked passed it and under the tunnel towards the Graveyard, but then took a right down the road towards the Kakariko Stables.

As he entered the stables, he looked over to see a group of horses running around the track that was set up. Kakariko Stables was built by Ingo, formerly a Lon Lon Ranch employee, but Talon wanted to give the hard worker his own Stables, and the Village of Kakariko needed one. With help from the townspeople of Kakariko made the construction go by faster, and after about a month, Kakariko Stables was built and up and running. Link, as well as the merchants and soldiers who lived in Kakariko, left his horse in Ingo's capable hands.

"Hey! It's Link!" one of the stable boys yelled out, as Link gave a wave.

"Hey Bill, how's the stables now a days?" Link asked, looking at the stable boy.

"It's good, Ingo does pay well…" Bill, the stable boy replied, "What are you doing here Link?"

Link smiled at the younger boy, "I need to pick up Epona. I have to go down to Hyrule Castle today."

"Alright, I'll go fetch her," Bill told Link, who nodded, "Might as well go see Ingo, you have to pay him remember?"

"Right, see you later Bill," Link said as he waved his hand at Bill, who waved back and went to the stables.

Walking into the building that was attached to the stables, it served as both the business quarters and Ingo's house. Link rang the small bell on the desk, and waited for Ingo to come down. After a few minutes, Ingo arrived in the waiting room.

"Hello, Link, what can I do you for?" Ingo asked as he walked over to the desk.

"I'll be taking Epona out for the day," Link replied, taking out his wallet.

"All right, that'll be fifty rupees," Ingo told Link, who nodded and put the purple crystal onto the table, "Thank you, you can go to the stables now and fetch your horse, she is a fine steed, best of the brood that Malon raised."

"I know, thanks for taking care of her," Link waved good bye to Ingo, who was putting the purple rupee into a drawer for safe keeping, "Goodbye."

"Good bye, Link," Ingo said as he walked away from the desk and walked back up the stairs to his room.

Link walked out of the building, and momentarily shielded his eyes from the bright morning sun. He walked over to Bill, who had brought Epona out.

"Thanks," Link said to Bill as he hopped over the fence, and walked over to pat Epona's nose, "How you doing, Epona? Ingo treating you well?"

Epona neighed and shook her head as a reply, and Link chuckled. A memory then sparked at the back of his mind, and he looked up into the air to see the giant Owl, Kaepora Gaebora, flying over him, towards Hyrule Castle. For some reason, Bill didn't notice the Owl flying over them.

"Hey Link, what's wrong?" Bill asked as he saw Link looking up into the air.

"Oh…it's nothing Bill…" Link replied, as Ragadast's story of the Lord of the Rings flooded back into his mind, "Thanks again, by the way."

Link mounted on Epona's saddle, and began to trot towards the gate. Bill ran over to it, and opened it. Link thanked the stable boy, and continued to trot through town. He was deep in thought from Kaepora Gaebora's arrival. The Owl always signified an arrival of something evil in Hyrule, and proved to be a guide for the Hero of Time. Memories of Radagast continued to flood his mind.

'I haven't forgotten what Radagast told me…' Link thought to himself as he rode Epona through Kakariko Village, looking down at the reigns, 'But does Kaepora's appearance signify something? He always was around when evil enters Hyrule…could that mean…that Sauron is trying to get a foothold here?'

Link looked around, looking at everything and everyone in Kakariko Village. Memories came flooding back to him of his first adventure in Hyrule, when Kakariko Village was sacked by Ganondorf's monster army. The burning houses, the dead left to rot on the ground, innocent children struck down in the prime of life, heads put on pikes as warning to all those opposed to Ganondorf. He snarled and clenched his fists for a second, still cursing Ganondorf for that atrocity. He then calmed himself, and then trotted further downtown. He passed the lookout tower and looked up to see two armed Hylian Soldiers surveying the area.

'If Gaebora's appearance is part of Radagast's prophecy about experiencing the story he told me soon…I have a bad feeling about this…' Link then shook his head, 'Got to live in the present for now…Zelda's birthday is tomorrow…'

He looked up into the air, looking for Kaepora again. He didn't see the giant owl again, and sighed. He gently kicked Epona's sides with his heels, making her run towards the entrance of Kakariko Village. Epona jumped down the stairs, leaving onlookers stunned to see a horse leap that high, and still land with perfect ease. Link gave a wave to the travelers entering Kakariko village, and he rode Epona down the second flight of stairs and he made his horse gallop across the bridge towards the opening of the gate to the city.

He rode past the guard, who knew who he was. He gave a wave and rode towards Hyrule Castle. He looked back, and a weird flash of light hit him. Link looked around, and saw Hyrule Castle City in ruins, like it was when he went forward in time to fight Ganondorf. He shook his head, and the vision past.

'What the hell was that?' he thought, looking around to see people looking at him, and then he looked up into the sky and a feather fell on his head, 'An owl's feather?"

He momentarily shook off this new shock, and he gently kicked Epona's sides to get her moving again towards Hyrule Castle.

'This is…unsettling…' Link thought, reaching into his pocket to show the guard his pass to the castle, as the gate opened his thoughts of Radagast's prophecy continued, and he came to the only conclusion he could see, '…Hyrule will be endanger soon…I can feel it…'

Link dismounted when he reached the main gate to the Castle, and the guards took Epona to the Royal stables. Link nodded thanks, and watched as the drawbridge of the castle dropped open for him, and he walked into the castle. It was midday already, and there were many people hustling and bustling about, rushing from place to place in the castle, putting up decorations, like banners, streamers, and confetti was put on the walls. Gorons were working on the pyrotechnics, the fireworks, and Link's face lit up as he saw his old friend, the King of the Gorons, Darnuia, working with his people. The mighty Goron turned around, and his face lit up as well.

"Little brother!" Darnuia exclaimed, running over to Link, and who had started back away, but it was too late, the Goron had him in a bear hug, "How have you been, lad? It has been so long since our last meeting!"

"Uh…Darnuia…air…" Link gasped, his face starting to turn blue.

"Oh…sorry about that Link…" Darnuia apologized as he let his bear hug go, "Sometimes I do not know my own strength."

"I know…I know…" Link said with his hand raised, his body shaking a bit, "I don't think I'll ever get used to the Goron hug."

"Not everyone can, my boy," Darnuia replied with a big smile on his face, "Now tell me of your adventures. I am eager to hear what you told everyone else of them…"

"Okay…where to begin…?" Link asked himself, putting his hand on his chin, "Well, I can tell you of the Goron tribe I met in Termina."

"Oh yes, please do, my old friend," Darnuia replied graciously, and they began walking past the workers.

Link told Darnuia of the Goron tribe leaving near the Snowhead Temple in the Ice Mountains of Termina, and how he fought the evil being Goht to free the land from an eternal winter. He told the Goron King that the only way he defeated the monstrous mechanical bull was the help of the Goron Hero, Darmani, who had died fighting the bull previously. Using a mystical song, the Song of Healing, Darmani's restless spirit was able to rest, and his power was transferred into a mask.

"May I see this mask, Link?" Darnuia asked, and Link shook his head.

"I left it, as well as all the masks that I got to keep, at my house. Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you here Darnuia," Link replied, as they past the fountain that was in the middle of the Castle Square, "I'll show it to you after the party."

"Fair enough, brother," Darnuia said with a smirk, "I have to go help my workers get the decorations set now, see you a little later, brother."

"Right. See you later my friend," Link watched as the Goron walked off to help his workers.

Link said goodbye to his Goron friend, and went to walking around the Castle once more. He helped the workers who were setting up decorations, and he started helping the chefs take out the tables and put the food and drinks on them. After that, he went to the garden to see more decorations being put up, and saw two children, a girl with green hair and a boy with blond, both dressed in the same color tunic as he. Then he saw two fairies flying over them. They were helping the gardeners get the garden ready for the party.

'It can't be, can it?' Link thought as he walked to them, "Saria? Mido?"

The two children got up, with strange leaves on their tunics. Their fairies flew around their heads, seemingly giggling at this.

"Surprised, aren't you Link?" the boy who looked like Mido asked.

"Yes, rightfully so," Link replied with an eyebrow raised, "How did you get here? How were you able to leave the Kokiri Forest?"

"The Great Deku Sprout gave us these leaves," the girl who looked like Saria replied, "As long as we wear them; we can travel outside the Forest without any fear of dying."

"That's great!" Link cheered, bending down and hugging his two Kokiri friends, "It's been a while since my last to the Kokiri Forest, hasn't it?"

"It sure has, got any stories to tell us Link?" Mido asked, and Link shook his head.

"Nope, unless you want to hear about the work that I have been doing," Link replied, rising to his full height, "So how is the Kokiri Forest and Deku Sprout?"

"It's pretty good, although I still do miss the Great Deku Tree," Saria replied, and they started walking around the Castle Garden.

"You're not the only one, the Great Deku Tree was a father to us all, Saria," Link told the Kokiri girl, who smiled and looked up to her best friend.

"I can't believe how big you got, Link," Mido gasped, "I still remember when you were shorter than me."

"And when you bullied me for it," Link said playfully, messing up Mido's hair and making the Kokiri's hat fall off his head.

"Heh…heh heh…so you still haven't forgotten that, huh?" Mido chuckled, and Link shook his head, saying "no", "Aw shucks."

"It is hard to forget six years of bullying, Mido," Saria told the Kokiri Chief with a giggle.

The three laughed and started walking out of the garden, towards the courtyard. Saria and Mido said they still had to help out getting the garden ready for the party, and they waved goodbye.

"See ya later guys," Link said as he waved to them, and he walked further into the courtyard.

He looked around, looking for the Princess. This was her favorite place, and he thought she would be here, tending to her little garden or spying in on her father's business.

"The Princess is up in her room," a familiar voice said from the shadows, "I could take you to her, if you want."

"Where are you, Impa?" Link asked, looking around, and he saw the Sheikah walk out of the shadows of the tunnel.

"She has forgotten that her party is tomorrow," Impa told him, "So we are trying to make it a surprise for her. She'll be 17, you know."

"Yeah, so could you take me to her? I won't tell her about the party," Link asked, and Impa nodded.

There was a door in the tunnel, which Impa led Link into. Walking up a flight of stairs, through a windowless hallways and stairways, torches were lit to provide light for them. They passed up three flights of stairs, before Impa led him into the Royal Guest quarters wing at the back of the castle. Walking further down the hallway of the guest quarters wing, the nursemaid led Link to Zelda's room.

"Thank you Impa," Link said graciously, and the Sheikah nursemaid bowed and walked back into the shadows.

Link quietly opened the door to Zelda's bed chambers, and he looked around her room. He saw her brushing her golden locks of hair while looking at herself in the mirror. She was a vision of beauty, and Link was captivated when he was in her presence. Her blue eyes, her beautiful face, her sensuous curves, her golden locks and her silky smooth skin, any man would kill for just a chance to look at her. She put down her brush, and put on her Royal Triforce earrings. She then looked to the corner of her mirror, and saw Link standing near the door.

"Link, when did you get here?" Zelda asked, as she finished putting on her earrings.

"Just a few minutes ago…I didn't want to disturb you," Link replied, his face flashing a blush.

"I was already finishing up, so what brings you to the Castle?" Zelda asked, getting up out of her desk chair, and she straightened her dress.

"Nothing really, just wanted to swing by and say hello," Link replied, looking around the room, "Do you want me to regal you with a story from my adventure in Termina?"

"Of course, I always enjoyed your stories of that land," Zelda then walked over to her bed, and sat down, "What part of your journey will you tell me today?"

"How about when I helped Kafei and Anju?" Link replied, taking a seat next to Zelda on her bed, "Kafei had been turned into a child by the magic that the Skull Kid's Majoras Mask wielded. He is the son of the mayor of Clocktown, and was engaged to marry Anju, the receptionist and owner of the Stock Pot Inn."

"Continue, this story sounds interesting," Zelda urged him, and Link nodded.

"I found a way into Kafei's hideout; I had to beat him to the door while he was giving the Clocktown Mailman a letter to Anju. I snuck into his hideout, and when he was walking back in, I hid behind a wooden box. He didn't notice me at first, until my temporary fairy partner Tatl caught his attention," Link continued, and he blushed for a second, making Zelda laugh, "Then, he revealed who he was by taking off his Keaton mask. I gave Anju's love letter to him, and he told me to look through a little peep hole in the hideout. It showed Clocktown's pawn shop, and I saw the thief that tried to steal the bomb bag from the old lady near the opening of East Clocktown in there, selling some more stolen goods to the shop owner."

"What happened next?" Zelda asked, scooting a little closer to Link.

"Kafei told me that the thief stole his Sun Mask, the marriage mask he was going to wear to his wedding to Anju, who had the Moon Mask. He tells me where the thief's hideout is, in the Ikana Valley. We staked out his hideout, and on sundown on the second day, we sprang our trap. Once he opened the door, Kafei tackled him and I rushed into the hideout. Getting past the traps, I retrieved the Sun Mask from the chamber. I rushed out, unsheathed by blade, and pointed it at the Thief, who was starting to choke Kafei to death…"

"…when he rushed back to Clocktown, I rushed into Ikana Valley, and in the Stone Towers, I fought my way to the monster who had been controlling the drought on the desert area. I fought and beat the twin worms, Twinmold, in a very difficult battle. I finally struck down both worms when the Giant Mask came into my possession, and I freed the last protector Giant of Termina. I rushed back to Clocktown before the festival started, and I went to the Stock Pot Inn to check and see if Kafei got to Anju. I walked upstairs, and I noticed that Anju's room was unlocked. Standing near Anju was Kafei, who was standing on her bed. They gave me their thanks, and through some unknown magic, their masks were melded together. They gave me the Couple's Mask as a token of their thanks. Kafei told me to beat the Skullkid and I ran off towards the Clocktower…"

"…and you beat the Skullkid, right?" Zelda interjected, and Link nodded.

"It was a matter of beating the Majora's Mask that possessed him actually. After the Giants braced the moon from falling, I battled the Mask on it. I was given a special mask, the Fierce Deity's mask, to combat him. When I assumed the Fierce Deity's form, my power was overwhelming, and I beat all four of his incarnations with ease. Defeating the Magic Entity inside Majora's Mask, it reverted to its harmless form," Link told her, "I took off the Fierce Deity's Mask, and destroyed Majora's. I was tempted to keep the power of the Fierce Deity with me, but I realized it was too dangerous. After I watched Kafei's and Anju's wedding, I headed to the Great Bay, and with the help of the Zoras, I boated out to the deepest chasm of the ocean, and dropped the Fierce Deity's mask into it, so no one will be able to use it's power again."

"Always playing the responsible hero, aren't you Link?" Zelda joked, and then she looked out her window, "Oh, your story lasted so long, the sun has set..."

Link got off her bed, and started walking to the door, "I have to get home now."

Zelda practically leapt off her bed and grabbed his arm, "You can stay for the night, in one of the guest rooms if you want."

Link smiled, "I think I will do that," he replied graciously, "the monsters come out at night, so it isn't safe for riding."

"Yeah, you wouldn't want to get injured, or your beautiful horse, Epona," Zelda told him, and he nodded, "I'll expect you at dinner?"

"Yes, I'll be there," Link replied, and he walked out of her room and shut the door.

Impa was waiting for him, "Did your meeting with Zelda go well?"

"Yes, it was nice to see her again, and no, I didn't tell her about the party," Link replied, anticipating Impa's next question.

"That is good…." Impa said, as she started to sink back into the shadows, "Now, I have to investigate a strange monster attack near Lon Lon Ranch."

This caught Link's attention, "Strange Monsters? Were they Moblins? Or Lizardfos?"

"No, they were different. Witnesses described them wearing black armor, looking like demons or something. They had either piercing evil yellow or red eyes, and they let out frightening, blood lusted roars. On their armor, they had a white hand on it, or a red eye," Impa replied.

"Maybe I should go with you, you might need help," Link offered, and Impa shook her head.

"No need, Link. Nabooru is meeting me out on Hyrule field, since the same monster attacks have occurred in the Gerudo Desert," Impa replied, "Oh, I prepared a room for you incase you decided to stay the night."

"Thank you, I guess we'll see you tomorrow," Link told the Sheikah nursemaid, who pointed at the direction of his room, "Thank you again."

"No problem, I'll see you in the morning," Impa vanished into the shadows, and Link walked down to his guest room.

Hyrule Field

On Hyrule field, the beautiful queen of the Gerudo Tribe waited for Impa to arrive. She had brought two horses with her, one for her and one for Impa. She looked around for a second, and heard a loud bang behind her. She turned around to see Impa standing behind her.

"Took you long enough, Sheikah," Nabooru sneered, "We must get going; my scouts have spotted the strange monsters that have attacked Lon Lon Ranch and the Village on the edge of my Desert near the Kokiri Forest."

"Lead the way," Impa retorted, climbing onto the saddle of one of the horses.

Nabooru did the same on her horse, Amazon, and both rode off to the strange monster's camp. It took about a half an hour to reach the monster's camp, and they dismounted. Walking stealth fully through the night, they spied the monster's camp.

"They are as hideous as the witnesses reported," Impa whispered as she crept closer to the camp.

"Careful, Sheikah, these creatures have their senses…" Nabooru told the Sheikah nursemaid.

"They don't look too much smarter than those Moblins that inhabit these lands, but they seem to have tamed wolf-like beasts to do their bidding," Impa whispered, looking at the giant wolves these creatures were riding.

Nabooru took out one of her scimitars, and whispered to Impa, "We are about to be attack…"

"I know…" Impa replied, unsheathing her blade.

Both warrior women leapt into the air to see they were surrounded by the strange creatures, who were riding the strange wolves.

"It looks like we have a few visitors to our camp."

"Perfect for knifing…"

"What are you?" Impa yelled in defiance, as the giant wolf snarled at her.

"We are Orcs of Sauron, and these lands no belong to our master…" one of the strange creatures snapped, "Attack!"

Nabooru brought out her second scimitar, and slashed one of the wolf beasts that charged her, "We won't go down so easily."

"Get them!"

The orcs on their wolfish-steeds attacked both Impa and Nabooru, who were grievously outnumbered….

To be continued…

A/N: How do you like this chapter? Please read and review.

Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is owned by Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo, and The Lord of the Rings is owned by J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and New Time Cinema. Inspiration for this fic is from John the Visionary's Rurouni Kenshin and Lord of the Rings fanfic, which is getting especially good right now. All characters are owned by those properties, this isn't for profit, just for fun.