The sun shone low in the sky over Hyrule Field as two horses walked side-by-side in the distance. Lear looked across the horizon towards the gathering evening. The wind gently swept her hair and whispered of adventures happening elsewhere. Link was as observant as always, scanning the environment and watching for anything of interest. For a long while they'd rode in silence, enjoying the quiet evening and each other's company. Lear was brushing her fingers calmly through Fala's mane when she noticed Link staring at something in the distance. She followed his line of sight towards the small figure running towards them. The mailman reached them at an alarming speed for a human, and Lear blinked at him. Link, however, was not swayed by such skill and greeted him warmly.

The mailman stopped and pulled out a letter from his messenger bag, jogging in place as he did so.

"Good day! I bring a message for Miss Lear!" his high pitched voice said. Lear looked at him with a raised eyebrow and accepted the letter.

"Where did this come from?" she asked him as he turned around.

"Why, it came from the desert over yonder! And now, I must be off! Good day to you!" And with that, he sped off, leaving Lear to open her letter with haste. The only person who would be sending her a letter would be her sister. And by the goddesses, she certainly hoped everything was alright. Link shifted on his saddle in curiosity.

"What does it say?"

"...it says this: 'Lear, I just wanted to let you know that I have given birth. I don't know how to say this without making you worry, but I was attacked. The trauma to my body threw me into labor, but I was able to give life to my baby boy. Your nephew, Raiquen and I are doing fine. --Your sister, Begonia.'" Lear's voice trembled.

Link drummed his fingers on his saddle, trying to break the awkward silence. "Well, we're ready for another trip, right? Let's go!" He turned Epona towards the desert, waiting for Lear to follow. She packed the note into her hat for safekeeping and followed his lead. Her heart fell within her as they set off at a swift run. Attacked? By whom? Of course her husband had enemies, he was not without a few of those. But her, who would attack her? Of course, she realized, it was for revenge or possibly even to attack Ganondorf without actually touching him. But who would plan such an attack? She knew this entire life was bad for her sister, and now her nephew was becoming a victim of such darkness too. She could not help feeling like the entire future was about to change again.

Begonia, now resting in her own bedchambers, held her son close to her in complete silence. Where did Ganondorf go? Why isn't he with her right now? She couldn't help but feel sad that he hasn't even held their son yet. It's been several hours since she sent that note to her sister; was that man really as fast as he said? Her thoughts were interrupted by Raiquen's fussing.

"Now, now...no need to cry..." she said to him as she stood up from the bed. Thanks to her healing power, she healed herself to the point where she could walk. The shadows danced on her wall, entertaining her with shapes and figures...a horse? She gasped. Could it be? Placing her son on the bed, she quickly made her way outside, hoping to see what the shadow showed her.

She ran outside to Lear arguing with a couple of the guards and waving her hands towards Link. Link himself was held at spear-point, a half smile set on his face and looking hopefully to his angry companion. Begonia gasped and hurried to the guards, shouting at them to drop their spears.

"For heaven's sake, she's my sister! Lear, please, follow me!" She turned away from her drop-jawed sister and hurried back to the fortress. She waited for a few seconds at the entrance, tapping her foot impatiently. "Lear, what are you waiting for? Come see your new-oh. Him. I forgot about him. Ladies, please release him too, for the time being." The guards reluctantly lowered their spears and glared at Link as he hurried to Lear's side. The two followed a fast-talking Begonia into the fortress.

Begonia led them to the door of her bedchambers. She wasn't sure about letting the two, especially Link, into her bedchambers. After all, they were the enemies of her husband! However, he wasn't here, so it wouldn't matter.

"Alright! Here we are..." she said as she opened the door. Her 'mother instinct' kicked in as soon as she heard Raiquen fuss and ran over to the bed. Lear followed suit, leaving Link to slowly walk into the room as if he thought there was a beast that wanted to eat him.

Lear walked slowly to her sister's side and watched her nephew quick and blink up at her. How strange it was to see so much of his father in him! For a moment, Lear even had an awful impulse to turn away and never return to this place.

"Do you want to hold him?" Her sister said with a smile. Lear blinked and looked panicked. "What-" But her sister had already placed the baby in her arms. She didn't know what to do, and just kind of bounced him up and down a little. "Is...is this right?" She asked. Begonia laughed and nodded. "You're doing great!" By this time, Link had left his comfort zone and was standing beside the nervous Lear.

The corners of Lear's mouth upturned as she held her nephew. The glaicien markings on his face seemed very familiar to her. They were very similar to his Grandfather…Kalidas. This made her wonder, would Raiquen's ability be his Grandfather's, or the opposite? Link also gazed down at the baby, smiling in awe. It was rare for him to ever see a baby…actually, when he thought about it, this may be the first time ever seeing one! Lear broke the silence.

"…hey, Begonia? Do you know what his ability is?"

Begonia pondered this for a moment. "No, not yet…I haven't seen any signs yet. But I can assure you that he doesn't have shadow within him. I don't sense it at all! Can you sense the wind, or possibly water within him?" Lear shook her head.

"No…but have you noticed how similar his marking is…to Kalidas?"

This made Begonia blink and gaze at her baby again. "They are remarkably similar, aren't they? Do you think he'll have the ice ability then?" Lear pondered this.

"No, I don't think so...I might've been able to sense the ice if he did." She continued to hold the baby, bouncing him up and down while he cooed. Link suddenly looked around him as if realizing where they were.

"Uh. Oh. Well, I hate to break this up, but Lear and I really have to go." He tugged impatiently on her arm, though being careful of the baby. Lear carefully placed the kicking Raiquen back into his mother's arms.

"He's right, we don't want to get caught by-get caught..."

Begonia looked puzzled. "Oh, you mean Ganondorf," She said, ignoring an angry look from Link. "He's not around. I haven't seen him since before the baby was born." She looked extremely sad, Lear noted, as she turned from them. Link suddenly looked serious.

"Where is he?"

Begonia lowered her head slightly, remembering what her husband had said before he left. "...I think...he went after the men that attacked me." Link grabbed Begonia by the shoulder, desperate for more information.

"Do you have any idea who attacked you?" He asked as he turned her around a bit roughly. Begonia shook her head slowly.

"I'm sorry, Link. If I did know, I would tell you...b-but.." her voice began to quiver, "when it happened, they appeared out of nowhere! They held me down while their leader stabbed me..." she said as she gestured towards the bottom of her ribcage with her open hand. Lear shook her head in disbelief. In a way, she felt that she was responsible. If only she had made contact with her more often...

Link, however, turned and grabbed her arm. "We have to go. Now!" He led the way to the door. Lear's head whipped back and forth from him to her sister.

"Begonia, I'm sorry! We'll be back soon, just take care of the baby and stay safe!" She caught her sister's worried smile through the door as she turned and followed Link at a sprint.

Darkness had begun to shadow the fields of Hyrule. Ganondorf led the Gerudos across the plains, setting things on fire and reeking havoc everywhere he went. His time for revenge has come. Revenge for his people...and revenge for his wife. As they came up a large hillside, the Castle was in range for their attack. His large steed reared up on his hind legs as the fire blazed behind him, signaling Ganondorf's minions to charge.

The King of Hyrule was talking casually with his daughter and the Royal Court when a young soldier burst through the large oak doors into the throne room. "You Highness, we're being attacked! Our soldiers can't hold the enemies off; they weren't prepared for such an attack! They've broken through our defenses and are near to flooding the castle!" The young boy was white with fear and panting. Princess Zelda stood and walked to her father, whispering something in his ear. He nodded and turned to the boy.

"Stay strong, my boy. Tell the troops to keep the line of defense as best they can until further notice!" At this, the boy nodded and ran off again. "The Sages, are you ready to call them?" The King asked Zelda.

Zelda nodded. "Yes Father, I am ready." The King nodded in response, letting her know that it is time to call forth the six sages. Zelda gracefully walked forward, her hands clasped together in prayer. The golden symbol on her hand glowed as she prayed to the goddesses, calling forth the sages. One by one, they appeared before the King. The sage of earth, fire, water, shadow, spirit, and finally, the sage of light. They humbly bowed their heads to the King and Zelda.

"What is thy command?" came the voice of the Sage of Light.

"Please, seal away this evil that has haunted us for too long." The Sages looked at one another and turned again towards the King.

"We can do this. But be warned, the seal will not last throughout all time. A future hero will again be called forth to defeat him once and for all. For now, Ganondorf will be banished into a forgotten realm."

The King pondered this for a moment and slowly nodded. "Do what you must. He must be stopped, for he has been severely angered by my men's actions." The Sages bowed their heads again and disappeared in a flash of light. Zelda turned to her father.

"Father, what is this forgotten realm that they speak of?"

"It is an empty realm that is forever tied to this one. Now it shall be filled with those that attack our land, and the vile men of our prisons." Zelda only nodded, feeling a twinge of sadness for the people who are to be banished. She knew in her heart that the reason for the attacks on the castle, were because her father had banished them to the desert. Only time would tell what will happen now.

Outside of the Castle, swords clashed and blood was drawn. The Sages made their appearance at the front of the battle, standing in between Ganondorf and the Castle. They cast an impenetrable barrier of light around him and his minions. The Hylian soldiers cheered as they watched their enemy try to fight the barrier, knowing that they had won.

Ganondorf glared furiously at the Sages as the light grew around him. He roared angrily as the light flashed bright. When it grew dim once again, the Hylian soldiers blinked in alarm. Ganondorf was gone, along with his army.

Lear drove Fala on as fast as she dared. She couldn't see Link anymore through the driving rain, but she knew where he was headed. Fala slowed as he arrived at the castle, and Lear gasped audibly. Fire still licked and burned at several of the buildings in the market. People lay on the streets everywhere, she couldn't tell who was dead or alive. The castle's outer wall was in ruin; stones were scattered and strewn across the once beautiful castle grounds. She dismounted and didn't know where to turn. Confusion was everywhere and her mind was muddled with the smell of blood and smoke. She looked across the grounds and caught a glimpse of Epona at the entrance to the castle. She ran towards her like a child, seeking for the sense of safety and familiarity that the horse brought.

The fortress, Begonia's home, was empty...and cold. She locked herself away in her bedchambers as if she feared that a monster was outside. Every single Gerudo had disappeared, leaving her and Raiquen in the desolate place. She held her son close to her bosom, seeking comfort from him. The shadows on the wall danced, showing images of what was happening in the outside world. As she watched them, they turned dark. They showed the shapes of a deadly battle, and of her husband's capture. She gasped at what she saw. "N-no! It can't be!" she cried. She couldn't stay here any longer; she gathered up a few items and her cloak and rushed outside. She let out a shadow siren, calling Kivuli, Ganondorf's large steed to her.

As Lear neared Epona, she found the heavy doors of the castle mangled and broken. Parts of the doors still clung to the hinges, and creaked like a ghost as she entered the castle. The castle itself was dark and she stumbled on something in the shadows. Feeling somebody catch her arm and draw her to her feet, she numbly stared back at Link.

"C'mon, we have to find the Princess!" He hurried along more carefully now, watching to make sure Lear was following. The darkness grew weaker as they made their way to the throne room and listened at the door to the voices that were coming from the inside. Link considered them for a moment, then pushed his way through the oak doors into the bright room.

The King stood from his throne as Link walked into the room, Lear following behind him.

"Link, our dear hero. Darkness has fallen upon us this day. It is unfortunate that you were unable to fight." Link tried to speak but closed his mouth as the King silenced him. "There is no need to apologize. The sages have descended from the heavens and seized the capture of Ganondorf and his minions. He is to be banished to the realm of twilight." Lear's thoughts immediately drifted to her sister and Link nodded with relief.

"However...this seal will not last forever..." the King trailed off, letting Zelda finish for him.

"Our dear heroes, Link...and Lear. If it be that Ganondorf shall someday return, we will need our heroes to finally put an end to him."

She seemed to hesitate, but quickly regained her composure. "We've asked for the Sage's help once again to aid you if you accept of our plea. You will sleep until the time comes that Hyrule will need you again, and when that time comes you will awake to banish the evil forever. The choice is yours, however, and you do not have to accept this heavy burden. We know what we ask of you, but we ask that you please help us to vanquish Ganondorf for all time." Her voice rung throughout the room and nobody moved in the seconds that followed. Lear didn't allow herself to think too hard, she only had one desire and that was to follow Link into whatever adventure he was needed in. Her sister would finally be safe, along with all of Hyrule or more, if they would agree to take this chance. She knew Link's choice already. Walking to his side and casting him a half-smile, she turned her head towards the Princess. He too, raised his head, and solemnly nodded.

Zelda too, solemnly nodded. With this, she walked towards them in a graceful manner. As she stood before them, she spoke, "Dear heroes, this shall be our farewell. For when the time comes that you shall awaken, my time will have passed. I fear my descendants will not know of your existence...however, even through this, you will awaken by the will of the Goddesses." Link and Lear both nodded, side-glancing at each other. They both knew that this would be their last moment together for many years.

With that, Zelda clasped her hands together once again. The light of the triforce shone again on the back of her hand, and Lear noticed Link lift up his left hand also. With the help of both the Triforce of Courage and the Triforce of Wisdom, the spell was cast. Lear felt a tiredness unlike she'd ever felt before overcome her, and she struggled to stay awake. She fell to her knees and tried to keep her eyes open, tried to keep Hyrule with her and Link within her vision, but she fell to the ground with barely more than a cry. She opened her eyes one last time to see Link also fall to the ground and the Princess Zelda turn her face away. Then sleep overcame her and she remembered no more.

A/N: Thanks for reading!!

We've only got one more chapter to go...and the sequal is well underway! We hope that you will read it, since this story is nowhere near being finished!

Sands of Destiny: Part 2 ((a temporary name)) goes into the Twilight Princess timeline...and that's all that we shall reveal.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nintendo's characters...blah blah blah.

However, I DO own Begonia, Raiquen, Kalidas, and Pippa. My writing partner (Lear) owns her character, Lear, and Fala.