Link sat with Navi in a corner of one of the waiting rooms as they listened to the cheers and cries of the crowds watching the fights. Not much had been said after they met in the hallway, the two focused on enjoying their time with their missing partner.

Finally, as the fairy sat on his shoulder, leaning against the side of his head contentedly, Link spoke. "What happened?"

Navi immediately knew what he was asking. She was an expert in understanding Link despite his usual concise manner, and that hadn't changed despite their time apart. "I don't know. When Zelda sent us back in time something happened. I'm not sure what, though I do remember feeling as though something was observing me. When I came to I was in the Temple of Time and you were nowhere to be seen. I panicked and went to Zelda, and she told me that you'd left to search for me two months before."

Link's brow furrowed. What Navi was saying was odd, especially as it conflicted a bit with his own experience upon returning. He remembered waking back in the past to find Navi missing. An intense feeling told him that she was out in the world, and he'd have to travel in order to get her back. He hadn't found her after seven years of travelling various lands and kingdoms, however, and he had almost given up when he returned.

He didn't know what it was, but something told him their differing experiences were still connected, somehow.

"Anyway, since I had no idea where you could be I went to each of the sages to see if they knew, but unfortunately I didn't. I sorta fell into my new job by doing that, though, since they asked me to pass messages along as I checked in on them. Since I couldn't find you I stuck around and worked as the sages' messenger while I waited for you to show back up." Navi sighed and closed her eyes as she enjoyed her partner's warmth, something she'd been missing for a long time now. "That's basically it for me. How about you? What have you been doing?"

"Travelling to look for you." Link said as he leaned back against the wall, listening as the crowd above let out a particularly loud cheer. "Went to different lands. Helped people. The usual."

Navi chuckled. "You never change." She said happily, referring to both his brief manner of speaking and his penchant for heroics. Not that she minded. It was good to see he was, in some ways, still the innocent kokiri who she'd woken up all those years ago. "Will you actually tell me, though? I'd like to hear about the adventures I missed. I need to make up for all the heart attacks I would have had."

Link chuckled before sighing. "Fine. I should check who I'm fighting next first, though." He proceeded to get up, Navi still on his shoulder, and headed over to the board containing the brackets.

"I don't think you're going to fight again today." Navi said. "I was there when a couple of tournament organizers reported to Zelda, since she is the one running the festival, even though it's supposed to be in her honor. She wouldn't budge on that with the King. Anyway, they said they had a lot more people sign up than expected. Almost triple, actually. They had hoped the number of entrants would be low enough to get through the first two rounds in the first day, but there's no chance of that happening now. You need to stick around till the end of the day's fights, but your next fight'll be tomorrow."

"I see…" Link said simply as he looked for his name amongst the brackets. He found it quickly, along with the name of his opponent. "Isali of Ordon Field…"

"Ordon is a small area of mostly farmland to the southeast, south of Kokiri Forest." Navi proceeded to explain, happy to fall back into her role as Link's source of information. "I don't really know much about it except that it's pretty peaceful. There are a couple of serving knights who come from the area, and I've heard there's a small family of mages that make their home there, making a living helping the farmers and hunters out, but that's pretty much it for my knowledge of the place."

"So either a mage or a hunter with combat experience." Link said simply.

"That would be my guess, yeah." The fairy said with a nod.

Satisfied with what he knew he walked back to where he had been sitting and leaned back, relaxing as he waited for the fights to pass so he could go out and grab some food and some sleep. Hopefully the following days of the tournament would be more interesting after the lackluster fight he had with Gorman.

Navi poked his cheek. "So, you were saying something about where you went after you left Hyrule…?"

Link huffed, amused by her curiosity. "I first ended up in a land called Termina…"

Navi listened intently as Link told her of the places he'd visited, a smile on her face as she enjoyed his stories.

The sun was slowly setting on the tournament grounds when the winners of the first round began marching back into the arena to commemorate the end of the first day of the competition.

Zelda smiled from her seat as Navi zipped over to her, keeping out of the crowd's eye as best she could. "Did you and Link have a good talk?" She asked pleasantly.

"Yeah." The fairy said happily. "He's still the same old Link. Slayer of monsters and rescuer of damsels."

"Well, that's a relief." Ruto said from where she sat beside Zelda. "I would have hated to think that he'd become some sort of angry, belligerent ruffian." Her tone said that she'd never really worried about such a thing when it came to Link.

The talk was interrupted when the King stood to address the assembled contestants. "I extend congratulations to you all for making it passed the first round of combat!" Nohansen paused as the crowd cheered before he resumed speaking. "You have truly shown us great examples of physical and magical might, as well as cunning and endurance. Even if you should lose in the next round of the tournament, be proud of what you have accomplished here today, and leave with your head held high!" More cheering ensued as the King sat down, the contestants standing straight with pride as Zelda proceeded to stand.

"The next round of the tournament will begin tomorrow at ten in the morning." She said clearly and concisely once the crowd had quieted down. "Now that the number of contestants has been cut down to half, we will have at least two rounds of combat per day. So rest well and recover, for tomorrow will be tougher than anything you faced today!" Yet again, the crowd cheered even as the contestants stood determined, some with cocky grins on their faces. "With that, I declare the first day of the tournament at an end!"

Zelda turned as the King and her fellow sages got up to leave the stadium as the contestants did the same. She looked over at her fairy friend. "Navi, would you be so kind as to wait for a bit before you head back to Link?"

Navi tilted her head in slight confusion. "Sure, I guess. But why?"

Zelda smiled.

Link stretched as he walked out of the stadium, groaning as his back popped. He smiled as he felt the cool air caress his face before looking around to see the many stands lighting up with lanterns as the sky got darker in order to cater to the crowd that was leaving the stadium, the many salesmen eager to make more rupees.

His examination was interrupted as he felt slim yet strong arms wrap around one of his own, pulling it against a soft pair of breasts. He turned to see Malon smiling up at him mischievously, eyes glinting. "That was some show you put on, Fairy Boy. You took that brute down like it was nothing!"

Link smiled. "Thanks." He glanced around again. "Wanna play some more games?"

Malon nodded eagerly and began dragging him along by the arm, her companion chuckling at her eagerness. Link proceeded to win the girl a few more prizes at various games of skill between looking at the offerings on various stalls.

It was as Link was turning away from a stall manned by a goron who had various small blades for sale that he spotted something that made him stop in shock, feeling his stomach fall to his feet. Malon, who had just finished looking at some blown glass, turned to find him staring at a stall nearby. "What's wrong?" She asked, only to be ignored, much to her surprise, as Link made his way to the stall that had his attention, the redhead quickly following to find out what was going on.

Masks. They covered every part of the stall the two now stood in front of. Malon saw masks of all kinds, from the scary to the funny to the cute, all presumably for sale. Standing behind the counter was an odd looking man. He had red hair a shade fairer than her own, with pale, slightly yellowish skin and eyes that appeared to be permanently squinted shut, along with a slightly unnerving smile. He wore a purple outfit with golden jewelry that covered his shoulders attached to the collar. He had his hands folded in front of him as he patiently waited for customers.

When Link stepped in front of him the salesman shifted, his smile widening. "Oh… It has been some time, hasn't it, my young friend?"

Link nodded. "What are you doing here?" Malon blinked, surprised at how tense he sounded.

"Nothing like what you are thinking, I assure you. Simply plying my trade, handing out masks and buying any people might be interested in selling." The salesman's squinted eyes opened slightly, revealing red irises. "I don't suppose you have any new ones you might want to sell or trade since we last met all those years ago?" When Link shook his head his eyes closed again. "Mmm, pity. I trust you have taken care of the very special masks you have in your possession?" His smile widened when Link nodded. "Excellent…" Then he turned to Malon. "Pardon my rudeness, young lady. Simply catching up with an old friend. Do you see any mask that catches your eye?"

Malon was slightly hesitant considering how tense Link seemed to be around this 'old friend', but obligingly turned to look at the man's wares. "Umm, let me see…"

"Take your time." The salesman said cheerfully, unnerving smile still on his face.

"Majora?" Link asked suddenly, confusing Malon, his gaze intense.

"Safe and sound." The salesman said simply. "There has been no hint of any more mischief coming from it. You and your… friend… did your jobs admirably."

Malong noticed Link seemed to tense slightly at the mention of this 'friend', but relaxed immediately afterwards. "Good."

The red headed young woman then caught sight of something interesting and pointed at a cap that had cream bunny ears sticking up out of it. "How about that one?"

The salesman turned and picked the cap up, setting it on the counter before Malon. "Ah, the Bunny Hood. Quite popular. I'm told that wearing it makes you feel as fleet of foot as any rabbit when you run."

Malon picked it up, studying it before putting it on her head, turning to link with a cute smile, hoping to distract him from whatever had him on edge, though he already seemed calmer. "What do you think?"

Link looked more amused than she thought her wearing the hood warranted. "Cute." He said simply, a smile on his face.

"Mmm…" Malon hummed in thought. "How much?"

"Three hundred rupees, miss." The salesman said instantly.

Malon's eyes widened. "So much!?"

"It's enchanted." Link said as he started pulling rupees of various colors from his money pouch.

"Indeed." The salesman said, still smiling. "He would know. He wore it for quite a while in his youth."

Malon's surprise grew, and she turned to gaze at Link thoughtfully. "Really? What does it do, then?"

"Makes you run faster." Link answered as he set two purple rupees and two silver on the counter, making Malon goggle at the amount of money he was just throwing around.

"Really?" Malon asked, suddenly much more interested. "How much faster?"

"The effect is generally a doubling of your max running speed." The salesman said as he picked up the rupees and placed them in his till. "Quite useful when you're in a rush. It also gives you a very minor improvement to your stamina, though the effect is small enough that it isn't really noticeable."

"Ooh." Malon said happily. "That's amazing." She gave Link a radiant smile. "Thank you, Fairy Boy."

Link smiled back, however his attention was diverted when a member of the town guard walked over to him. "Link of the Kokiri?" When Link nodded the guard handed him an envelope bearing the seal of the Royal Family. "The princess requests your presence in the castle. I'm to escort you."

Link blinked and quickly opened the letter, finding it to be written in Zelda's elegant script, which invited him to dinner in the palace. The curious Malon read over his shoulder, her eyes wide at what it said. She looked up at him. "Guess I'll see you at the inn, Fairy Boy. You can't exactly decline an invitation like that." Link nodded and hugged back when she wrapped her arms around him. "Don't get your head chopped off." She said teasingly.

Link chuckled and nodded as he released her. Giving the mask salesman a parting nod, which was returned, he promptly began following the guardsman.

"Thank you for allowing this, Father." Zelda said with a smile as she sat in a drawing room with her father and fellow sages, Navi sitting on her shoulder.

"You said that the young man is a friend to all of you." Nohansen said with a smile of his own. "I would be remiss if I did not acquiesce to such a simple birthday request. I trust you when you say he won't be any trouble."

"He won't." Navi assured the King. "Don't take it personally if he doesn't say much, though. Link is very quiet and tends to give short, concise responses when spoken to. He only really talks a lot when he's angry. Then he can do a bit of ranting at the object of his ire. I hear Mido got yelled at a lot."

"Mido?" Nabooru asked with a curious smile on her lips as she held a glass of alcohol she was drinking from.

"He's a Kokiri that has declared himself the 'Boss' of them all, even though if the Kokiri have a leader other than the Great Deku Tree it would be Saria, since everybody listens to her due to her wise and caring nature. She's everybody's big sister. Anyway, Mido bullied Link more than a bit because he didn't have a fairy partner till shortly before he left the forest. Link usually just dealt with it silently, but from what I hear he could snap at Mido when it got to be too much. Mido tended to leave Link alone for a few days after one of his rants."

"Hard to believe someone like Link would allow himself to be bullied." Ruto said as she sipped some water.

"He wasn't always a capable warrior." Navi said. "Once upon a time he was a quiet, timid kid. Besides, he's never been one to look for conflict unnecessarily."

"So…" The king said, stroking his beard. "If I were to try to get in contact with the Kokiri for some reason, my best option is to contact this Saria?"

"Yep." Navi said. "Of course, it would be kind of hard to send someone to talk to her without them getting lost and turning into a stalfos. Your best bet for contact would be me or Link, since we know our way."

Nohansen nodded. "Yes, I understand, thank you. Still, something to keep in mind, just in case."

At that point a guardsman walked into the sitting room. "Your Highness, Link of the Kokiri has arrived, as requested."

Nohansen smiled as he saw his daughter and guests perk up at the news. "Excellent. Send him in."

The sages stood up from their various seats as they waited anxiously for Link to arrive. Soon enough said man walked into the room. His eyes flitted around, taking in the occupants as he smiled, before they landed on the King. He proceeded to remove his cap and offer the man courtly bow. "You're Highness, thank you for your hospitality."

The King nodded, pleased by the young man's manners. "Your thanks should be saved for my daughter, who requested your presence. Still, you are welcome in my home, young man."

Link nodded back as he stood back up, placing his hat back on his head. He barely had time to give Zelda a smile before he was suddenly engulfed in an enthusiastic hug by a laughing Darunia. "It's good to see you, brother!"

Link's legs kicked the air as the happy goron picked him up off his feet, struggling to get free. "Darunia!" He gasped. "Ribs!"

Navi zipped over. "Darunia! Are you seriously going to try to hug my partner to death every time you see him!?" She yelled as she saw Link beginning to turn blue. "Let him down!"

The Fire Sage set his friend down with a laugh and a grin, the squishier of the two panting harshly as he held his ribs and recovered his breath.

Zelda hid her laughter with a hand, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Nabooru had no such compunctions and laughed freely as she watched her old friend try to recover.

Link was groaning as he finally stood back up straight when another pair of arms wrapped themselves around him, this time holding him gently rather than trying to break his spine. "It's good to have you back, Link." Ruto said softly before planting a kiss on his cheek.

Link blushed slightly but hugged back. "Good to see you too." He said before letting her go. Then he turned to Nabooru. "You haven't changed." He said with a smile.

"You mean I'm still as bewitchingly beautiful as the first time we met in the old temple? Aww, you're so sweet…" She said teasingly.

"Right…" Link deadpanned. Navi sighed in amused exasperation as the King chuckled.

Finally, Link turned back to Zelda with a small smile, giving a nod to the hidden Impa as he did so, prompting an impressed eyebrow raised from the Sheikah. "It's good to see you again, Princess."

Zelda smiled radiantly. "It's good to see you too, Link. I'm glad you appear to be in good health. It's been far too long since I last saw you."

"Well then, take a seat, lad. We have a few minutes before dinner." Nohansen said cheerfully, waving Link over to one of the unoccupied seats as the Sages sat back down. As the young hero took a seat he leaned forward with interest. "Now then, I've been told you have spent the last seven years travelling beyond the bounds of Hyrule. This interests me quite a bit, as due to Hyrule's geography it is rare for us to contact other lands. Tell me, what kinds of places have you seen?"

Everybody became interested in what his answer would be. None of them had, after all, travelled as extensively as Link had, even within the bounds of Hyrule. Zelda and impa were the most well travelled of the sages, and that was primarily during the time that would not be, when they had hidden from Ganondorf.

Link cocked his head as he thought about how to answer the question. "There is a place called Atolla, which holds only a small amount of land, used only for farming. The capital city actually floats on the water in the middle of a great bay, held afloat by a mixture of magic and lost technology. Fishing vessels cover the waters around it, and great towers capture sunlight and use it to power the machines. I spent many months there." He said with a smile at the memory.

His audience looked enthralled, none more so than Ruto. "Is it a zora city?" She asked, excited.

Link shook his head, much to the young woman's disappointment. "No. It belongs to humans."

Nohansen stroked his beard. "Indeed? Not many humans in Hyrule at this moment."

"There are many outside it." Link explained. "Hylians are mainly found in Hyrule, though I have seen a few in other places."

Navi floated down to look at her partner. "I haven't heard you speak this much without wanting to stab something in a long time…"

Link shrugged, smiling slightly. "Have to give the King good answers."

Said King gave a small laugh, nodding. "Indeed. Your thoroughness is appreciated."

A servant entered the drawing room at that moment. "Excuse me, your Highness, but dinner is ready and the nobles are beginning to gather."

Link blinked. "Nobles?" He asked, sounding apprehensive.

Zelda nodded. "Yes. For the duration of the festival we will be holding nightly dinner banquets for the nobles who have travelled here for it."

Nabooru snickered at Link's obvious apprehension, despite not being very happy that she'll have to deal with a bunch of puffed up idiots either. "Don't like dealing with nobles, Link?"

"Most nobles cause me trouble." He murmured lowly, though they all caught it.

"Present company excluded, of course?" Ruto asked teasingly. She was rewarded with a flat stare.

"Jabu Jabu…" he said simply, his tone just as flat as his gaze, making the zora princess laugh sheepishly.

Nabooru glanced from Link to Ruto and back, her smile remarkably sharklike, smelling blood in the water. "What's this then?"

"Nothing!" Ruto said hurriedly. "Come on, let's eat!" She quickly got up and walked out as Navi giggled and Link smirked.

"Excellent thinking! I'm starved." Darunia said with a laugh as he did the same. The others there glanced at each other, amused, before following along.

The group arrived in a large banquet room of the castle. About thirty nobles stood around the table, waiting for the King before sitting. They turned once the royals entered, bows and curtsies abounding. Then they all moved to their seats as Nohansen took his place at the head of the table. Zelda and her fellow sages/leaders sat down after him, closest to the King.

Link was surprised to find himself seated next to Darunia rather than further down the table. He could already see several nobles eyeing him with distaste at the apparent snub of putting someone dressed commonly so close to the King rather than one of their own. The slightly overweight woman in fine silks that sat beside him glared at him from the corner of her eye. He could already tell that this was going to be extremely troublesome.

The meal began and everyone tucked into the exquisitely prepared dishes. Link ignored the talking going on around him as he ate, simply observing those at the table while eating with manners that surprised Navi, who had worried he'd accidentally make some kind of faux pas. Unfortunately, even though he was content to leave his fellow diners alone, that didn't mean they would extend him the same courtesy.

"So, who exactly are you?" An older man in golden clothing with blue stripes asked, looking down his nose at the young wanderer.

"This is Link of the Kokiri, a friend of mine I've known since I was ten." Zelda cut in before Link could respond, trying to head off any trouble. "He has been travelling for several years beyond Hyrule and has returned in order to compete in the tournament."

"He cannot be a Kokiri, your Highness." The woman seated beside him said with a disdainful sniff. "Everybody knows that all of the forest children are just that: children. They never age, and they never leave the forest."

Link took a last sip of his soup before setting the spoon down in the bowl, looking over to the woman, his blue eyes calm. "I'm adopted." He said simply.

Another noble, a man of about twenty five, wearing more ruffles and lace than most of the women there, raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Oh really? An adopted Kokiri?" He turned to the princess, a look of smug superiority on his face, apparently not noticing how her own face had gone blank and stony. "I believe this man may be lying to you, possibly in order to get close to you, knowing your kind nature. He is probably the child of some woman of the night seeking to take unearned fortune for himself."

Despite the placid look on Zelda's face at this moment the princess dearly wanted to take one of the daggers hidden in her dress and make the arrogant fop a permanent soprano. And she wasn't the only one. Ruto stabbed her fork unnecessarily hard into her fish, Darunia slowly set down the stone he was chewing on, a thunderous look on his face, and Nabooru had a dangerous smile on her lips, eyes flinty.

The King noted all of this, and prepared himself to intervene. He knew his daughter, and knew that if Link was the type to take advantage of his association with her, she would have nothing to do with him in the first place. She was much too intelligent to be taken in that way.

Before he could respond, however, Link set his wineglass down and looked at the noble who had made the accusation calmly. "I do not know who my mother is. She could have been a noble. She could have been a farmer. She could well have been a prostitute. I don't know. Before I left the forest, the Great Deku Tree told me that I was taken in when she stumbled through the forest to end up before him, fatally wounded during a battle in Hyrule's last war which she had rushed into the forest to escape, with me in her arms. She begged him to take me in, to ensure I would survive, and the Great Deku Tree, being kind hearted and wise, agreed that I would be sheltered by the Kokiri and raised among them. She gave him my name with her last breath." He took another sip of wine, not seeming to care that everybody had gone silent to hear him speak. "The Kokiri raised me, taught me. I played games that taught me combat. I ran among the trees and learned how to always find my way. Saria taught me right from wrong, along with music and the value of standing firm. And when I reached my tenth year, the Great Deku Tree said I was ready to leave if I wanted to, in order to make my own fortune, but that I would always be welcome in my first home."

"I see…" Nohansen said after a moment of silence. Not even his friends, save for Navi, had known most of that. "To think you were an orphan of that terrible conflict." He smiled at the Link. "Whatever else, from what I can see, and from what my daughter has said, you have grown into a fine young man that any mother would be proud to call her own."

Link nodded gratefully to the King, smiling slightly when he saw the sages all looking at him just as proudly. The his gaze turned mischievous, and he turned back to the man who had accused him of being out to grift Zelda. "Besides, I do not need Zelda's handouts. I didn't introduce myself properly, I'm afraid, even to the King." As everyone looked confused, Link stood up and bowed again to the King. "Allow me to re-introduce myself, your Highness." He spoke in a perfect courtly manner. "I am Sir Link of Kokiri, Marquess of Solaria, Earl of Miletirus, and member of the ruling Council of Exarchs for the land of Atolla."

The banquet hall went dead silent, absolutely everybody there staring at Link in shock. Zelda had to work hard to keep her jaw from falling. Navi had dropped onto the table in surprise. Ruto lost her grip on her fork, which landed on her porcelain plate with a clatter. Nabooru stared at him, wide eyed, before a calculating gleam appeared in her eyes. And Darunia blinked furiously before sticking a pinky in his ear to make sure he heard right.

"Y-you're lying…" The older noble stammered in shock.

Link reached into a small pouch at his belt and dropped three golden signet rings onto the table. Nabooru reached over the table and picked one up, studying the seal on it. It displayed the image of a wolf's head, mouth open, with the sun in its jaws. "This is real gold…"

"He stole them!" The overweight woman cried, trying to keep the reality that they had insulted a ruler of another land rather blatantly from being true.

"Enough!" The King thundered, and the nobles went stiff. Then Nohansen turned back to Link, speaking more formally than he had before. "Sir Link, I do not mean to doubt you, but if you truly hold such stations, why did you not tell us?"

Link shrugged. "They do not matter as much to me as they do to others. I left a proxy on the council, and placed people I trust in charge of my lands so I could continue travelling. Besides…" He smiled. "One learns people's true character more from their interactions with their inferiors than with their superiors."

Zelda smiled, admiration and pride in her eyes as she gazed at her friend. The other sages had similar looks, and Zelda could almost feel Impa's approval of the young knight from where she hid.

Link sat back down as the King ordered that the meal resume after the interruption, content to eat in silence as the nobles murmured to each other quietly, spooked, and his friends talked more enthusiastically, the unspoken decision amongst them being not to pester Link with questions. At least, not yet.

When the banquet finally ended and the nobles began to retire for the night, many eyeing Link warily, Zelda approached him with a smile. "If you want, we can have a room in the castle prepared for you, Sir Link."

Link chuckled and shook his head. "I prefer the inn. Malon already got me a room."

Zelda shook her own head ruefully. "Very well then. I'll see you tomorrow."

Link bowed his head to his friend in agreement, gave his farewells to the others, finishing with a last, courtly bow to King Nohansen, receiving a smiling nod in return, and left to head back into town, Navi flying after him.

As the King left to retire as well once Zelda told him she would help their honored guests get settled in, the leader of the sages turned to her friends, Impa melting out of the shadows to join them. "Well then, I think we have quite a bit to talk about, don't we?"

Darunia crossed his thick arms with a chuckle as Nabooru and Ruto nodded. "That's an understatement, princess." The gerudo woman said.

Zelda waved them along as she left, looking for a good place to talk.

As everyone in Castle Town was retiring for the night, a man could be seen walking across the plains to what seemed like an empty field bordered by some trees, had anybody been there to look. He glanced around before taking a few more steps forward between a couple of trees, disappearing behind an illusion.

Hidden behind the illusion was a massive military encampment which he began to walk through. All around him were tents, with soldiers, mercenaries, beasts and even some monsters going about preparatory tasks. Each troop had a bold colored insignia denoting their allegiance, seven such insignias visible in the throng. The various factions eyed each other warily, with growls, snarls, and angry words filling the air, though nobody was foolish enough to begin actually fighting. The sounds of the various denizens joined the ringing of hammers and anvils as smithies were continuously put to work, smoke rising into the air.

Finally the man reached a large tent, more elaborate than any others, and after getting announced by the guards, he walked in to find the inside as opulent as the rest. Rugs of various makes covered the floor, and shelves full of books and scrolls hid the walls, with lanterns hanging from the support beams to provide light. In the center of the tent was a round table, seven chairs set around it, and various maps of Hyrule covering the surface.

"Report!" An inhuman voice barked from one of the seats around the table.

The man bowed. "Sir, I have scouted the target extensively. The defenses of the town and the castle itself are as formidable as we had been told. Breaching it will not be a simple matter." When the voice began to growl animalistically the man hurried to continue. "H-however…"

"However…?" A sultry female voice came from another of the seats, malice creeping into it.

"Th-they're having a festival in fairgrounds outside of the town walls, in honor of the princess' birthday." The scout continued nervously. "The royal family, as well as the leaders of the other peoples of Hyrule, and many nobles who serve the King, all plan to attend every day of the festivities, which include a tournament in a stadium they set up. If we attack there, we could remove the land's leadership in one fell swoop."

The was silence in the tent for a few moments before a strong, cultured male voice began to laugh, a hint of cruel madness hiding within it. "Excellent. Truly the fates have favored us. You are right, it is a perfect time to strike."

Another male voice, this one old, yet with a hint of steel in it, spoke next. "Draw us a map, young man. Detail everything you know of the fairgrounds and the defences of the town proper. We will determine what our best course of action is once you do so."

"So, this might just be easier than we thought. Truly these Hylians are an overconfident, foolish lot." Another voice said once the scout had left with a bow. This one sounded young, like a child, yet it was mixed with the crackling noise of static discharge.

"We'llbeabletostrikebeforetheyrealizewhat'shappening." A sixth voice said so rapidly it almost couldn't be understood.

"Yes…" One last voice said. It was female, young and cultured, but it dripped with such rage and hatred that it was almost painful to hear. "Soon we will all be able to take this land for ourselves. And once we've destroyed everything these people have built, once the forests are ash, the lakes are dry, the stones of the buildings have crumbled, the the bare earth is soaked in blood…"

"When that happens, our vengeance will finally be complete."

BOOM! I'm back!

I actually meant to update this story over a month ago. Unfortunately, issues that I've gone into in the latest Brightest chapter hindered me, and it was left till now. Still, I'm happy I finally managed to release it, because I've been wanting to continue this story for a while.

So, this chapter had some surprises I highly doubt many, if any, people were expecting. Please, let me know what you thought of them.

Since Link has been travelling for seven years, but we don't really get much on what happens after Majora's Mask, I've made up several places that he visited, some of which he talked about/mentioned here.

Oh, speaking of, this fic isn't canon with the official Child Timeline. Probably obvious, but thought I'd say so.

Because of this, a lot of OCs will be present in this story, primarily amongst the villains of the fic. All the evil voices are originals.

I'm sorry if this bothers people. I know I'm not huge on OCs myself. They can be irritating if done badly. I'm hoping to avoid that problem.

This fic has a soundtrack, by the way. There's a composer called Sam Dillard who does tribute albums based on games. If you have Spotify look up Zelda Cinematica. The music is amazing. He also did one for Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cinematica, which I actually Kickstarted and highly recommend.

Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks for reading, and please review. Till next time.