Okay, here's the deal: I typed all my review repliesand whatnot, then I was disconnected and lost EVERYTHING I had just done, so I'll give you the abbreviated version. I'm NOT going to discontinue, nor ever mention that again. I'm glad you all like the story so much, but you're making me flippin' aloof here! XP (Da marshmallow)You're catching up quickly! There are only nineteen chapters, so you'll be here any minute! Glad you're enjoying it!

Without further ado, here's the NEXT CHAPTER!

Chapter 3: Your True Home

The next morning, Lor was awakened by the nurse who had tended to him the previous day. "Good morning, Mr. Lor," she greeted cheerfully. The half-awake boy rubbed his eyes and stretched, only to be painfully reminded of his wrist. He doubled over, drawing his breath through clenched teeth, but forced himself to cope.

"Are you all right?" the nurse asked worriedly. Lor nodded and stood. He picked up his book and followed the nurse to the lobby. "Dr. Liston has asked that you return in a few days so he can better inspect your injury," the nurse informed. "He's terribly busy as of late and apologizes for not being able to do something sooner."

Lor smiled and waved off the relayed apology. "I don't mind at all, ma'am," he said. As he turned to leave, the nurse put a hand on his shoulder and placed a business card in his hand. "Dr. Liston suggests you look into this," the woman explained before she left.

Lor looked at the white slip of paper curiously. It was the address and phone number of a self-defense class. He chuckled to himself and exited the sterile building, holding his wrist rigid at his side. Of course, being eager to please, Lor would enroll in the class. Whether or not he actually used his knowledge was another matter entirely.

It didn't take long to locate the little building. It was a little brick square built humbly between two large office buildings. There was a sign that depicted the name of the business on the door, and below that was an indication that the building was open. Lor entered somewhat cautiously. He had never been too fond of martial arts; he was opposed to all forms of conflict. Regardless, Lor was still determined to satisfy the kindly doctor.

"Excuse me," the black-haired boy said as an employee walked past. "Where should I go to enlist?" he asked. The man gestured towards the center room. "In there. Sign-up is today. There's a short demonstration going on before enrollment," he replied in a rushed voice, then hurried off. Lor timidly entered the room he had been directed to. There were a pair of combatants, one in a white tunic and one in black, fighting each other. Lor cringed at the mere notion of such a thing.

The person in white, a young woman, was struck down. A strange urge overcame the innocent black-haired spectator and he lunged into the arena to aid the fallen woman. Quickly, effortlessly he repelled the startled attacks of the black-clad man, and with one hand nonetheless! When his opponent gained a slight advantage, Lor jumped out of the way and snatched a decorative sword from the wall.

His blood ran cold at the sound of the metal being unsheathed and the pain in his wrist was forgotten. Some demon had possessed him, and he attacked relentlessly with the sword. Officials tried to calm him and take the sword from his hands, but Lor lashed at them and sliced their arms. At the sight of blood, the crazed boy gasped and threw his weapon to the floor. He backed away slowly, eyes wide with shock and fear, then turned and ran out the door.

Outside, he faced the building's front wall and pressed his hands against the brick, resting his weight upon them. He gasped for breath and wiped sweat from his forehead. "What was that?" he breathed. Lor heard someone behind him and whipped around. There was a tall man standing there, clothed in a black robe so that none of his features were evident.

"Yo, mah homie," the man said, making weird hand gestures. Lor tried to back away, but found in shock that the wall was behind him. The man lowered his hood, revealing his black hair and eyes. "Um, sorry. I thought that's how people in this dimension behaved. Judging by your reaction, it appears I was mistaken," he smiled apologetically. "My name is Drakar. How have you been, my former master?"

Lor cocked an eyebrow. "Who are you?" he asked apprehensively.

"I just said. My name is Drakar. Is your current form hard of hearing, my lord?"

"Uhh…" The boy stared, not answering. Neither of them said anything for quite a while. Then Lor sneezed.

"Bless you, my lord," Drakar said hastily. Lor finally gathered the courage to ask the question he had been wondering the answer to for the longest time. "Why are you calling me your lord?" he inquired. The man chuckled. "You don't remember me, do you?" he grinned. Lor shook his head hesitantly.

Drakar sighed, a smirk still across his lips. "There's another place for you," he said. "Your rightful place. As a result of the magic of the Staff of Dreams, you were never to know of it. But that is where you belong. Without you there, you're demonic side is about to break loose from the Guardian Tree. If this should happen, it will run rampant until you come along to subdue it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lor interrupted, "but it sounds awfully important. I'm sure there is someone else you should be discussing these matters with."

The man shook his head and gazed at Lor from behind his sable bangs. "No, my former master," he said solemnly. "You are the one. I trust you have the tome with you? It's a leather-bound book that I stashed in Glenwood's library hoping you would come across it."

Lor drew his book out of his pack and opened it. Drakar began pointing to pictures and explaining them.

"There's Death Mountain, home of the Gorons. That right there is a Goron. And Lake Hylia, that's this one, borders the domain of these people, the Zoras. That's King Zora and his daughter Princess Ruto. Now if you look further along, you'll find more current events. This is the Hero of Time and his arch nemesis Ganondorf. This one here is the Guardian Tree, where your dark side is currently sealed," the man described. Lor raised an eyebrow at this.

"My dark side?" he repeated. Drakar nodded and flipped a few more pages. "This one," he said, gesturing to the picture of the three children and the horrible monster. "That is your inner demon. The girl here, Hieke, used the Staff of Dreams to seal your evil into the Guardian Tree. What was left was your innocence and purity: you, Lor. You were sent to this dimension and were never to see your homeland again. But something is happening and you must return!"

"What's going on?" Lor asked. He felt like he was dreaming. His entire world, his miniature paradise, was turning upside-down. He was a part of a demon from another dimension?

"Somehow your demonic side is being released," Drakar replied. "If you aren't there to subdue it, it could ravage all of Hyrule. No one is nearly powerful enough to defeat it except you."

Lor shook his head with a smile. "That has to be inaccurate," he said, spreading his arms earnestly. "Those people in the book are great warriors with powerful weapons. I'm not trained in anything besides retreat, not even self defense."

"No," Drakar disagreed. "Your power isn't in physical strength. Your mere existence is enough to overpower the demon. By the way, Kuro is what we call that astounding manifestation of evil energy. Now Lor," he paused and grabbed Lor's hand, "please come with me."

The darkly-clad man led Lor down street after street, past many a passerby and residence. Eventually they came to a lake that reflected all before it like a mirror. It shimmered with the white radiance of the sun as the black-haired boy and his guide approached.

Drakar crouched before the magnificent waters and touched his forefinger to the surface. A bright light flashed before him, and when Lor recovered from the intense glint of light, he was surprised to find that there was a glowing portal protruding from the lake. Drakar stepped halfway through and turned to his companion, gesturing for the boy to follow. Cautiously Lor reached a hand through the light, then a foot, and finally he moved through it altogether.

Lor's head swam, his stomach writhing inside of him. When the sensations came to a halt, he opened his eyes and sat up painfully. Drakar was sitting beside him, a tired smile on his face. He looked into the distance. Lor followed his gaze and gasped, scrambling for his book. He flipped through the pages and held up an illustration to compare it to the place he was now in. The drawing was accurate in every manner, right down to the gnarled tree on the desolate island.

"Lake Hylia," Lor's dark-haired friend commented as he stood, tossing aside his black robe to reveal a pair of ebony-feathered wings. Lor stared agape at the wings. Would wonders never cease?

"Welcome to Hyrule!" Drakar called to the sky as he spread his arms in a flourish. "Your homeland! This is where you truly belong!"

Wheeeeee! Third chapter! Finally! Next chapter goes back to the doings of Link and Hieke, as well as introduces an OC who will play a major role in the plot! Just what the role is, I do not yet know. I figure she's a pawn who... Oh, guys are slick! Almost making me reveal secrets in the next chapter! You'll just have to wait and read to find out!

P.S.: Illness passed! YAY!