Chapter 5

The owners of Ancient Treasures Inc. sat around their table in their meeting room. The sun was well past midday, but sunlight still shined in through the large windows in the eastern wall. The lights in the room were off, giving an air of darkness and gloom. Perhaps this was because of some eccentricity of the group, or perhaps the affinity that shady men have for the dark. They were in the middle of a discussion.

"Well, I think we ought to go through with it, really," C.E.O Justin Harblake was saying. "It would do us a great deal of good to have the advantage in this situation."

The others considered this. "Sure it would," said C.F.O Tom Jaffner, "But don't you think it's over-doing it a little? Besides, it might raise the suspicions of the police more. You saw that weirdo snooping around. I think he's a cop."

Before anyone else could respond, an entirely different voice spoke. "Gentlemen."

All eyes in the room turned to see who had spoken; the matter they were discussing instantly forgotten in their surprise. An enormous man stood silhouetted in the door to the room. He had to be at least six feet tall, probably more, and though he looked more like a wrestler, he was dressed smartly in a black suit, with a pair of sunglasses seated neatly on the bridge of his unusually long nose. His skin was a deep brown and his vivid orange hair was slicked back on his head. A strange scar ran down his forehead, starting at his hairline and ending between his eyebrows.

On either side of the mysterious figure stood two women, both remarkably tall and muscular. They had a similar skin tone as the man, and the same striking orange hair. They stared sternly at the men around the table.

The executives gaped at the strange Gerudos that had invaded on their discussion. The man smirked at their surprise. "Well, now, is this any way to treat your guests?"

President Marcus Vahlmer rose respectfully. "I'm sorry sir, but we didn't know that we were to have visitors-"

He was abruptly cut off as Mr. Harblake jumped to his feet and angrily yelled, "We aren't supposed to be disturbed! What are you doing here? And how the h—l did you even get in?!"

The strange man still smiled. "It was quite simple, really. I merely said I wanted to see you, and no one argued." The man stared intently at Mr. Harblake. "Maybe you should hire better guards." The two women grinned at each other and cracked their knuckles. The man waited a moment for effect, then continued. "As for why I am here… I have a proposition for you. I can make all of you very wealthy men."

Mr. Harblake and Mr. Vahlmer slowly sat back down. Mr. Jaffner spoke this time. "That sounds like an interesting proposition, Mister…?"

The man shook his head amusedly. "My name is not important."

Mr. Jaffner smirked. "Fine, if that's the way you want it… However, I must warn you, we will have nothing to do with you, unless whatever you can offer us is very, very, good…"

"Have no fear of that," the man grinned. "I have… well, let's just say that I am aware of the whereabouts of more ancient temples, and therefore artifacts, than you could ever hope to discover in your lifetimes. Does that sound… good enough for you? From what I hear, you would all sell your souls for riches."

Mr. Jaffner leaned back in his chair, eyeing his companions. "Some of us would, I suppose." Mr. Jaffner grinned at the man. "But all satanic activities aside, I'm liking the sound of what you're offering. However, one thing seems strange: to benefit us without getting anything for yourself… what do you want from us?"

The man smiled. "Oh, only a… certain artifact that you might find."

"What makes you think that we will give this… whatever-it-is to you, once we find it?" Mr. Harblake interrupted, "And speaking of which, what the h—l is it?"

The man leaned forward on the table, eyeing every one of the men. "I can promise you," he said slowly, "that the money you could make from selling it will seem like spare change compared to what I could help you make. As for what it is… Well, I do not suppose it will matter if I tell you. It is a relic known as the Triforce, depicted as three golden triangles." The men looked at each other. "I see by your expressions that this means nothing to you," Ganondorf continued, "so I'm sure you will not mind parting with it. This may seem like a small price for what I offer you, but to me the Triforce…" he paused, considering his choice of words, "…is of great sentimental value. That I recive the Triforce is all that I ask."

Mr. Vahlmer quickly conferred with his associates, then spoke. "That seems good enough for us. But how will we contact you? And what shall we call you?"

The man smirked. "Don't worry, I'll find you." He removed his sunglasses and met their eyes. His pupils were framed by stunning red and yellow irises. "And you can call me… Ganondorf Dragmire…"

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Link leaned back in his chair and looked around the room. It was reasonably sized, and Link sat in a comfortable swivel chair behind a large mahogany desk. This was actually his office, although he had not had much opportunity to be in it for the last month. Link sipped his coffee and sighed. His first assignment as a detective had been to help discover what exactly Ancient Treasures was doing illegally. Link was constantly out on the streets trying to find information. There wasn't much of it, though, and since that didn't make for a good report, Link hadn't been to his office to write one. AT did a good job covering their tracks; Link had to admit that much. So far, there was nothing he could find, and nobody he talked to seemed to know anything. More over, Link wondered if the owners were beginning to suspect him. Link was sure they had seen him several times, but so far nothing had happened. There were more problems besides lack of information. Working long hours trying to crack this case was making Link very tired. He had begun to miss things… important things.

Link closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his free hand. The only reason he was there was that Chief had temporarily put him on another assignment. A small one, and relatively easy. Link had complained somewhat, but the truth was he needed a break, although he would never have asked for one. Apparently there was some sort of celebration that required security. There had been a paper describing it, but Link had dozed off while reading it, and now the text was making his head ache. From what he had gathered, Link knew there were plenty of cops capable of doing a fine job, so why was he picked? Perhaps he looked more exhausted than he thought…

There was a knock on the door, and Link called, "Come in!" He assumed it was one of his friends coming to see him, but was shocked when the chief entered. Leaping to his feet, Link saluted. "Sir!"

The chief smiled, but worriedly noted Link's bleary and slightly bloodshot eyes. He forced a chuckle and said, "At ease, detective!"

Link slouched a bit, but didn't feel comfortable sitting back down. "So… what is it that I'm doing, exactly?"

The chief tried to keep a concerned expression off his face. Link was so duty-bound, it was a shock that he hadn't read the assignment. "Eh…" the chief managed a half smile as he opened the door. "Come on, I'll explain on the way." He kept talking as they walked down the hall. "The mayor's putting on a charity event with a free buffet in the plaza. A lot of important people will be there, and we don't want to take any chances." They reached the garage. "I'll drive," said the chief, raising an eyebrow jokingly, "You look like you'd get us in a wreck!"

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The plaza was a large, square area of sidewalk with a giant fountain, right in front of City Hall. The street going past had been closed off for the event, so the chief parked with the rest of the squad cars and he and Link walked the short distance to the Plaza.

Once there, the chief said, "Just keep an eye out, Link. We aren't really expecting any trouble, but it never hurts to be safe." Then a smile crossed his face and he nodded to the area behind Link. "Hey, I think someone wants to talk to you!"

Link glanced behind him to see Marco standing several yards away. "Hey, Link!" he called happily.

The chief gave Link a push in Marco's direction. "Go have some fun. I'll see you later."

With a nod to the chief, Link quickly joined Marco near the outskirts of the plaza. "Marco!" he exclaimed, "Great to see you."

They quickly fell into conversation. "So," said Marco, "How're ya doing? I haven't seen you around much, and…" He paused, looking intently at Link's face. "Say, you look awfully tired."

Link shifted uncomfortably, looking away from Marco. "…I'm fine. It's just… I've been working on this case, but I can't find any leads." He looked back at Marco, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry I haven't made time to see you. I know it's not an excuse, but I've been really out of it lately."

Marco grinned and shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't worry about it Link; duty calls!"

Their conversation was interrupted as the mayor stepped up to a podium with a microphone and began to talk. His droning was incredibly boring, but Link and Marco remained silent out of respect. Link took a moment to scan the crowd. No one there that he recognized from his observation of ATI. Good. If anyone from there saw him, his cover would be blown. As he scanned his eyes back across to confirm this, he spotted a young girl walking about, weaving her way through the mob. She looked about eleven, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a pleasant expression on her youthful face. Link knew from descriptions that she was the mayor's daughter. It made sense, since she was the only child there. Link almost did a double take as something else about her captured his attention. It was her ears. They were pointed on the tips, just like his were! Link gawked for a moment, before jabbing Marco and whispering excitedly in his ear, "Marco! Look at the mayor's daughter!"

Link pointed her out, as Marco smirked at him. "Yeah?" Marco spoke jokingly, "Isn't she a little young for you, though?"

Link rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Not that Marco! Look at her ears!"

Now it was Marco's turn to do a double take. He barely remembered to whisper in time. "Holy cow, they're just like yours!" He turned to Link in amazement. "Link!" he said, barely keeping his voice at a whisper, "You have to go talk to her!"

Link blushed. "Aw, no way, Marco… What would I say?"

Marco made a face. "Whatever. Then talk to the mayor instead!"

Link froze in terror. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Marco stared at him in disbelief. "Link, you are one of the bravest guys on the police force! What is your problem?"

Link lowered his head in embarrassment. "Police work is one thing," Link explained, "but talking to somebody?" he crossed his arms uncomfortably, "That's entirely different. It's like… well, I don't know, exactly, but…"

Marco raised an eyebrow.

Link drooped pathetically. "Come on, Marco, you know me! I can charge in and do whatever I'm supposed to do, but I never know what to say to people!"

Marco sighed. "Yeah, yeah… Whatever. Look, if I go with you, will you talk to the mayor?"

Link considered this. "Well, I guess that's okay, but let's wait until he's done with his speech."

Marco grinned, pleased with Link's agreement. "Duh!"

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By the time the Mayor had finished speaking, Link had lost track of Emily. Fortunately, no ATI employees had showed up yet. Many people were heading for the buffet tables, but the mayor stood wearily to one side. All the talking must have exhausted him.

"There he is!" Marco exclaimed happily, pushing Link through the crowds of people.

They made their way up to the mayor. "Oh, hello," he said vaguely, not really paying attention to them. For the moment, he was more concerned with how to get to the food without looking too undignified.

"H-hello, sir!" Link stuttered. He had always felt awkward about holding a conversation with his superiors.

Something in Link's tone must have caught the mayor's attention, for he looked intently at Link. Then his face brightened and he smiled cheerfully. "Why, you must be Link Karlsen! I've heard good things about you, my boy!" He blinked questioningly. "So, any reason you wished to talk to me?"

"Uh, I, uh…" Link shifted his eyes nervously. The mayor knew about him!? This made things even more awkward.

Marco, who was mostly hidden from the mayor behind Link, prodded Link in the back. "Come on," he whispered fiercely, "You'll look dumber if you don't say anything. Just pretend that you're… uh, talking to me… or something."

Link had to smile slightly at Marco. Fortunately, smiling made him less nervous. "Well, uh, I was just wondering about your daughter's ears."

The mayor nodded sagely. "Oh, yes. You see, our country used to be populated by a race of people known as the Hylians. They were refined and elegant, and had pointed ears, to be able to hear the words of the gods, as the legend goes. Now, you see, that's interesting because there were several races in the land, and it is thought that the popularity of this legend caused conflict between them, possibly starting a great war that decimated the population, leading to…"

Link smiled. The mayor was a nice man, not nearly as unapproachable as he had thought. Suddenly, there was a loud cough from behind Link. He was startled for a moment, until he realized that Marco was trying to speed up the conversation.

The mayor looked surprised, and Link tried to hide the look of panic on his face as he realized that the mayor though he was the one who had coughed. But the mayor only blinked several times and then smiled. "Oh, oh yes. I am sorry, I do have a tendency to share my knowledge unwittingly. As I was saying, the Hylians had pointed ears. Now, I myself am descended from the royal family, who remained with pure Hylian blood for longer than the rest of the common people." The mayor paused for a moment, then quickly added, "Of course, I don't consider the population "common" in any way, it is just a reference."

Link nodded. "Of course."

The mayor seemed pleased with Link. "I'm impressed with your inquisitiveness, young man! Not nearly as many people ask about my daughter's ears as I would expect. It grieves me that so many don't notice things."

Link suppressed a chuckle. Obviously the mayor didn't realize his tendency to talk. "Well, sir, I have a special reason for asking," Link turned his head to the side, pointing at the tip of one of his ears.

The mayor gasped in shock. "Why, my boy, you must have some Hylian blood in you as well." He grinned broadly. "That makes us kindred spirits! Come, I must show you my gallery!"

Link froze. Sure, he enjoyed art, but galleries tended to be a little slow for his tastes. He half turned toward Marco, hoping for some excuse.

The mayor peered around Link, noticing Marco for the first time. "Oh!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "Now who is this? I do not believe we have been introduced."

"Oh, uh.." Link awkwardly stepped sideways so he could present Marco. "This is my friend and colleague, Marco Carter."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir!" Marco stated formally, bowing respectfully. Link shook his head in amazement. It was astonishing to him how his friend could almost instantly change personas. Marco straightened and turned to Link. "My dear friend, I am willing to take my leave of you, so I do insist that you view the mayor's exquisite gallery. I have heard that it is quite breath-taking." Link had to stop his mouth from falling open. Where had Marco learned that kind of a dialect?

The mayor grinned even broader. "What a delightful friend you have, Link!" He took Link by the arm and began pulling him away in the direction of the mayor's mansion. "Come, now, since your friend has no objections, I trust you will be duly amazed by my vibrant collection!"

Link glanced back at Marco, his face showing a look of betrayal. "What have you done to me?" he mouthed.

Marco just grinned and chuckled. "Have fun Link! I'll catch up with you later!"

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To the mayor's credit, all the information was fascinating, but Link's attention soon waned. He never dwelled much on the past, living wholly in the present. He had been that way ever since… No, he wouldn't think about his father.

Link pulled his attention back to what the mayor was saying, in an attempt to distract himself. To his amazement, they had walked in a complete circle around the Mayor's house, and were now near the front door, and Link hadn't even noticed.

"…Now, this stained glass window is in exceptional condition, considering its age." The mayor was saying.

Link studied the window. A very lively work, it depicted a battle. On the right was an extremely tall man with dark skin and fiery red hair, fighting with a young man with flowing blond hair dressed in a strange green hat and tunic. It looked remarkably new. The colors were vivid and bright, and none of the panels were broken at all. "And, exactly how old is it?" Link asked, his curiosity piqued.

The mayor shifted uncomfortably for a moment. He was plainly not used to being asked questions; most likely everyone he brought here became so bored they just didn't care. "Well, you see…" he paused, "well, no one really knows how old it is exactly, but it is estimated to be thousands of years old."

Linked looked the window over again. "How did it survive all this time without being destroyed?" Link was no art buff, but he knew something like that wouldn't last long, what with environmental conditions and treasure hunters.

The mayor puffed with a chance to share more of his knowledge. "Well, it's not so surprising, considering where it was found. This window was discovered, along with several others, in a sealed chamber, hidden away in a location that is confidential. This chamber was well screened from prying eyes, so it was discovered only recently." The mayor's expression became thoughtful. "Well, some have said that magic preserved these windows, but…"

"So, you don't believe in magic?" Link asked.

The mayor chuckled. "Don't be silly, my boy? Me? Believe in some old wives' tales about magic? Ha!"

Yeah, silly… Link thought, but he said nothing. He looked back at the picture. It displayed a remarkably lively scene, and Link was curious what it was. "So, what does this window show?"

The mayor brightened and began talking. "Oh, yes! This is a picture of the legendary battle between the Great King of Evil and the Hero of Time!"

Link was puzzled. The titles meant nothing to him. "Who?" he asked.

The mayor's face registered a look of shock. "You do not know of the legends? You being Hylian, I thought surely…"

Link looked away from the mayor. "Well, no one ever told me…"

The mayor looked slightly disappointed. "Well, now is as good a time to learn as any…" He straightened in a very teacher like stance. "You see, the ancient peoples crafted stories to symbolize conflicts in the real world, and this is one of the central ones. In the legend, the very personification of malevolence, the Great King of Evil, shown on the right, clashed with the defender of truth and justice, the Hero of Time. This window shows just one of the recordings of their battles. Many different versions of this legend have been found, and there is debate whether the legend was merely corrupted over time, or if they are all part of a larger story that encompassed the changing times. One discrepancy is the King of Evil's appearance. There are conflicts in the legends, as some stories portray him as a large boar-like creature, and others a man, as he is show here. Some stories tell that he was transformed when he obtained a source of great power, others that his greed was too great and transformed him." The mayor chuckled. "Quite entertaining, really, that his greed turned him into a pig."

Link was amazed by the detail that the mayor knew. "Why take the time to learn these stories if they are only legends?" Link wondered aloud.

"You see," the mayor said sadly, "None of the people who lived centuries ago recorded their history very well. Their most impressive buildings are shrines and temples to the gods, and their records tend to focus on the mythical as well. Generally, instead of history, we find impossible legends of this sort," he gestured to the window, "in all their libraries. Very little is told about actual events, so scholars debate the legends instead."

Link frowned. He found it rather odd that the people of the past scorned their own lives for fictional tales. Perhaps their lives were just too uneventful to be recorded.

"Well, there you have it!" The mayor said importantly, "my gallery. I do hope you enjoyed it."

Link nodded. "Quite so." He had enjoyed what he had seen of it, at least.

The mayor glanced at his watch. "Oh, my!" he gasped, "I must go. I've rather enjoyed your presence. I must say that some of my associates are rather dull." He looked around guiltily. "Don't tell them I said that, though." He straigtened his jacket. "So long, feel free to look around, if you like." He started to turn, but paused part way. "I think… we will be seeing each other again." His eyes twinkled merrily. Then he hurried away down the hall.

Link stood still for a moment. What was the mayor talking about? He doubted that he would ever seen the mayor again, let alone soon. Oh, well. He glanced around, but decided that he had seen enough art for one day. He turned and headed for the door.

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As Link stepped outside, the sudden change from indoor light to sunlight made him squint his eyes. He waited a moment for his eyes to adjust, then looked around. Time to deal with Marco.

He stood addressing a group of older dignitaries. They were all laughing pleasantly. Link marched over, doing little to hide the anger on his face.

As soon as Marco saw Link, he excused himself, and headed to meet him. "Link! My friend!" He called pleasantly.

"What was that?" Link ground irritatedly.

Marco looked back at the group that was slowly dispersing. "What, them? Oh just some friends I made while you were busy."

Link crossed his arms. "That's not what I meant. You basically abandoned me to the mayor and his gallery! And where did that cultured tone come from?"

Marco rolled his eyes. "Come on, Link! I didn't abandon you. You need some friends in high places, and besides, you could use some culture." He tilted his head. "The accent… well… I don't think I've ever told you, but before I became a cop, I wanted to be an actor."

Link raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really? Why didn't you make that your career?"

Marco shrugged. "Eh, there's a lot of things. Mainly, I got typecast. Because of my skin color, and my normal personality." He grinned. "As you can see, I can do a lot more than just be goofy." His look became thoughtful. "Also… everyone was just too into it. Like, they'd be mad if they didn't get the part they wanted, and there was a lot of hate and bitter feelings. I just couldn't deal with it." He smiled at Link. "But, hey, it's no biggie. I wouldn't have met you if I was an actor!"

Marco looked sideways. "Look, I'm sorry that I let the mayor give you the grand tour, a'ight?" He looked back at Link and tilted his head. "We cool?"

Link had to smile. Marco was just too kind to mean any real harm. "Sure. Now let's go get some food. I'm starving!"

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The buffet had been better than Link expected. Now he and Marco stood off to one side, chatting pleasantly. Link occasionally cast his eye over the crowd to check for trouble.

Link paused as a flash of orange caught his eye. That's certainly of a flashy outfit for this kind of event, Link thought. He turned his head to see what it was, and realized that it was someone's hair.

It was a man, unusually tall, standing by himself. Link stared for a few moments, then stiffened as a spark of recognition surged through him. The man was-! No, but it couldn't be… But he was! He looked exactly like the fabled King of Evil in the mayor's stained glass window! His hair was the same fiery orange, his nose was unusually large, and his skin was the same shade of dark brown.

"What's wrong?" Marco asked, noticing Link's long pause and shocked expression.

Link's voice was a hissing whisper. "That—that guy! Over there! With… with the hair! See him?"

Marco was about to scoff at Link's description. The guy with the hair? Everyone here had hair! But when he glanced in the direction Link was staring, he realized that it was entirely appropriate.

Marco raised an eyebrow. "As undescriptive as that was, I actually know who you're referring to."

"He… uh…" Link realized how ludicrous his thought would sound if he told Marco, but there was no way he could drop it now. He took a deep breath. "Have you ever seen the Mayor's art collection?"

Marco thought for a moment. "Uh, can't say I have."

"Well, he has this really nice looking stained glass window, with the Hero of Time and the King of Evil, and, well…" Link paused uncomfortably, "that guy looks exactly like the King of Evil."

Marco stared at Link in disbelief. "What?" Marco looked back at the man, thinking of the pictures he had seen of the King of Evil. He was surprised by the similarity. Well, I guess he kind of does, Marco thought, but…

"There's no way he's the "King of Evil" or whatever." Marco paused and raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know who that guy is?"

"Uh, no…" Link said sheepishly.

Marco's mouth dropped open. "You are pretty out of it, Link. He's the new president of ATI. I think his name's Ganondorf Dragmire"

Link was shocked. "But, I… he… What?" Link hung his head. "Man, I'm really losing it…"

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Ganondorf was lost in thought. So far everything had gone well. He had been able to convince the board that he would be most effective at finding artifacts with a high level position in the company. He had only come to this event to build trust with the other leaders. They were relived that he had been willing to go as their representative, as they were "busy." Ganondorf didn't feel the need to inquire further. He had found that this event was a good place to make himself known to the most important people in the city, and he had acted charmingly, earning their trust. He wasn't sure if he needed it, but it might come in handy later.

Now he was growing bored. He was sick of acting friendly, and wished only to continue his search for the "hero." He signed. It might be a futile endeavor, however. For the past month, he had searched through records for any mention of someone named Link. But there was a massive amount of data to be searched, and he had found nothing. Ganondorf began to wish that the heroes had a last name in common, so he could simply look in the phone book.

Ganondorf looked around. He had been planning to talk to the mayor, but he had lost sight of him earlier, and now he was nowhere to be seen. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a startling green outfit. Green… that reminded him of Link. Then he remembered that green was the official police color. Interesting that the police uniforms had been modeled after the hero's own clothing. Ganondorf looked over. There were two police officers, standing together. Ganondorf noted immediately that they were a perfect physical contrast. The one was short, with dark skin and black, curly hair, and the other was tall, with fair skin and straight, blond hair. The blond cop glanced at him, and recognition struck Ganondorf. He looked exactly like…

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Link quickly dropped his gaze. "Shoot, I think he saw me looking at him…"

Marco crossed his arms. "Well, that's what you get for staring."

Link cast a casual glance back up, and then began to panic. "He's walking over here! What if he recognizes me? What are we gonna do?!"

"Calm down, man!" Marco hissed, "he probably just wants to…" Marco paused. How would the guy recognize Link, anyway? "Uh, well, I don't know, but just act natural."

"Feh," Link muttered, eying his theatrical friend, "easy for you to say…" He looked up to see that Ganondorf was standing right in front of him. Link swallowed nervously, unable to prevent his eyes from wandering to the scar in the middle of Ganondorf's forehead.

Ganondorf was silent for a moment. "You, what's your name?" he asked Link, completely ignoring Marco.

Link stared. Ganondorf only wanted to know his name? It seemed odd, but it was an easy enough question. "Uh… I'm Link Karlsen."

An unreadable expression flashed across Ganondorf's face, but it was quickly replaced by an odd smirk. "Well… Link" he said the name as if he detested it, "I'm… glad to have met you." He turned, and said over his shoulder, "I… look forward to meeting you again." Then he briskly strode off.

Link and Marco stood in stunned silence for a moment.

"That," Link finally said, "was really creepy."

Marco slowly nodded in agreement. "I gotta agree with you there." One corner of his mouth lifted. "I mean, he didn't even ask what my name was," he joked.

Link didn't respond, still staring after Ganondorf.

Marco glanced sideways at Link. "That guy is so not the King of Evil."

Link shrugged. "Well…"

"Come on, Link!" Marco was exasperated. The King of Evil is a complete myth! There's no way he could even exist, let alone be in our city!" He rolled his eyes. "Just let it drop, and let's go get some more food."

That was really weird, thought Link as he followed Marco to the buffet table. When he looked at me, it almost seemed like… I'd seen him before… Link shook his head. No, I guess Marco's right. Appearances can be deceiving. After all, I looked a lot like the Hero of Time…