Everyone moved about the auditorium during the intermission following the first act. Many were astounded how they were able pull off the massive and detailed sets, as well as were impressed by the casts' performances. Some even went so far as to say it was so far even better than the original movie. However, as intermission ended, all hurried back to their seats. Once everyone was seated, the red curtain rose and the second act began.

-Act II Prologue: "Two Worlds"-

Link marched across the desert, the hot sun beaming down hard on him. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and marched onwards. He continued marching on as the ache in his legs and feet started to take toll. It mattered little, though, for he was in the middle of nowhere, banished forever from his homeland. All he had left was marching forward, into eternity. However, his body did not agree on this point with his heart and mind, and before too long, he collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and unable to go any further. No sooner had he lay there that a group of vultures swooped down and surrounded him. He knew it was over for him, he would soon be dead. Maybe it was better this way…

As the vultures closed in around him, a war cry was heard as a warthog charged towards the vultures. Riding atop him was a meerkat who was giving off the war cry. The vultures scattered and flew off as the warthog rushed towards them. Link looked up at the duo and got a good look at them. The warthog had a green face, big cute eyes and an even bigger green nose. The meerkat on his back had on a blue vest. The meerkat descended from the warthog's back and went over to Link, "You all right there?"

Link managed to nod weakly. The warthog walked over and helped lift him up with his horns while the meerkat did his best to help Link stand up as well as the former said, "Aww he looks tired, Toad."

"Sure does Yoshi," Toad agreed, "What're you doing all the way out here for?"

"I did something terrible…" Link muttered. Toad nodded and helped the lion get on Yoshi's back and said, "We better get him to the water hole."

Yoshi carried Link forward. Link looked up and realized there was a jungle in front of them. Yoshi carried the lion into it, and after a while brought him to a river. He dropped the lion next to it, who started to drink water from it. The water ran down his throat, refreshing him. He also wetted his face before drinking lots more. Once he was finished, he stood up weakly, nearly falling over as Toad asked, "Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I just need to keep going,"

"Why?" Yoshi asked. Link shrugged, "I wouldn't be wanted anywhere."

"An outsider," Toad smiled, "Perfect! You're just like us?"

"Really?" Link asked, not believing. Yoshi and Toad nodded as Yoshi continued, "You can stay as long as you want."

Link smiled weakly, "I'm not sure what to say…"

"Then don't say anything," Toad said, "Just come with us and you can rest."

Link did indeed follow them as music began to play in the background, a steady tempo that promised something grand and fantastic. They brought him to a cliff overlooking the rest of the jungle. Link marveled at the sight of a grand waterfall in the distance, and a marvelous jungle before them as a background singer began to chant, "Put your faith in what you most believe in. Two worlds, one family. Trust your heart, let fate decide to guide these lives we see!"

Yoshi and Toad guided Link around the jungle they lived in. Link admired the beauty of this place, and observed the various monkeys, apes, okapi, elephants, gorillas and more types of birds than Link could ever count, each a different but equally beautiful mixture of colors and shades.

"A paradise untouched by man, within this world blessed with love. A simple life, they live in peace. Softly tread the sand below your feet now. Two worlds, one family. Trust your heart, let fate decide, to guide these lives we see!"

Yoshi and Toad brought Link to a tall tree in the jungle and bid him lay down at the crotch. Link did so gladly, closing his eyes to take his rest.

"Beneath the shelter of the trees, only love can enter here. A simple life, they live in peace"

Several hours later, Link awoken, completely refreshed from his nap as he joined Toad and Yoshi in further exploration of the jungle, asking about the many species of animals that lived there.

"Raise your head up, lift high the load, take strength from those that need you. Build high the walls, build strong the beams. A new life is waiting, but danger's no stranger here."

A female okapi ran up to the trio, saying, "Hey Toad, hey Yoshi."

"Hey Malon," Yoshi greeted back. Link stepped forward and introduced himself, "I'm Link."

"Nice to meet you," she smiled at him, "Mind if I join you three on your walk? I was just on my way home."

"Fine with us," Toad said, and the four continued on their way. As they walked on, Link and Malon got to know each other more. He got a sense that she was a very sweet person and took very kindly to good-natured strangers such as Link. After some time, Malon said, "Well, almost home now. I should be on my way. It was nice meeting you Link."

Her warm touching smile couldn't help but force Link to smile as well, but before he could bid farewell, an orange blur sprung from the bushes, jumping onto Malon and forcing her to the ground. Link instinctually moved backwards, accidently falling over as he looked on in horror and shock at what had happened. Malon lay on the ground, completely motionless. A tiger was standing up, towering over the creature he had just killed. He wiped the dagger he held in his hand and then returned it to its sheath. At his left hip rested a broad sword in a sheath. The tiger's face was black as coal, his eyes golden and shining with an evil glare. His lips curled up in a cruel smile as he looked down at the slain Okapi. He then turned around and began to walk away.

Link's horror turned to fury, and all he could think to do was jump up and roar as loud as he could at the tiger. The tiger looked around at him, unphased by how loud the roar was as he simply asked, in his deep booming voice, "Is there a problem?"

"What did you do that for?" Link demanded, his eyes glowing with a furious fire. The tiger simple shrugged, "Because I was bored."

"Bored?!" Link roared, "You just killed an innocent creature because you were bored?"

"Well, yes," The tiger said simply, seemingly confused as to what Link's point was exactly, "My dear boy, do you not know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are, that doesn't give you the right to do what you just did," Link defiantly said. The tiger chuckled and challenged, "Oh really now?"

Link nodded, his fists clenched in anger. The tiger then asked condescendingly, "Well then, why don't you do something about it?"

"Gladly," Link replied, reaching for his sword, only to realize it wasn't there. He was at first confused at where it was, but then he remembered how he had left it behind. The tiger laughed, "What's the matter? Forgot your sword today?"

Link couldn't bring himself to look up at the tiger. The tiger shook his head and looked around the jungle. He spotted two felines passing by and roared at them to come to him. They rushed over to him and Link noticed how odd they looked. They appeared to be a pair of leopards, but they wore strange masks that were red and had pointed noises. The eyes were black with two holes to look out of, and a mouth hole to breathe. One had a rapier at his side, and the other a sword.

"Choose your weapon, young lion," The tiger commanded. Link reluctantly reached forth and grabbed the sword from its sheath, pulling it out as the tiger commented, "There. Now you're ready."

The tiger drew his sword out, and got in a fighting stance. Link studied his opponent for a moment, then made the first strike. He first made a stab at the tiger's chest, then made a swing at his left shoulder, right side, left side and right shoulder (in turn), then made a last swing from above at his head. The tiger managed to block all of these with relative ease. Their two swords locked as he blocked the final blow. He took this opportunity to taunt Link, "Typical lion sword play, just slashing and stabbing. Never applying any brute strength."

With that, he kneed Link hard in the gut, with a force that knocked all the wind out of him. Link was shocked that any being outside of an elephant could show such force as he toppled over, falling to the ground. The tiger raised his sword to finish Link off. He saw this coming and rolled to the side as the blade came crashing down. Link made his way behind the tiger, raising his sword and taking another swing at his opponent. The tiger turned around once more, intercepting the swing with a force that sent Link stumbling back. He then attacked the tiger again in a series of wild strikes, all of which the tiger blocked, before swinging at the lion. Link managed to block this, but the force sent him back against a tree. The tiger was quick to follow up, swinging at Link's neck. He noticed this just in time and ducked and rolled out of the way, facing the tiger again as he turned to face him. By now, Link was breathing heavily. Sweat ran down his face, and his arms were growing sore from the fight, his knees wobbling from having to repel the tiger's force. He made a final desperate swing at the tiger's neck, who blocked the swing and sent the sword out of Link's sweaty hands, sending it flying aside. He followed up with a hard kick to Link's chest that sent him stumbling back and falling onto the ground, weak and defeated.

The tiger stood over Link, his tip at the lion's neck as he said, "You have spirit, boy, I'll grant you that. But in the next life, don't enter a fight you know you can't win."

He then raised his sword to finish Link off. And in that moment, Link knew it was all over. His father couldn't save him this time. Here he lay, defeated, about to meet his doom, and he had been proven that he was not the great warrior his father was. As the tiger prepared to bring the sword down, Toad blurted out, "But he didn't know!"

The tiger paused, then slowly turned towards Toad, who had grown pale and looked as if he were about to throw up any minute, his body petrified from fear. The tiger slowly asked, "What?"

"He, he, he didn't know… He only just arrived at the jungle today. He has no idea who you are," Toad managed to say. The tiger turned back to Link and asked, "Is this true?"

Link nodded. The tiger thought for a moment and finally said, "Very well. I suppose I can spare him this once, and leave him with a warning not to challenge me in the future."

He then moved the tip to the top of Link's left cheek and cut downwards, leaving a long cut on his cheek. Link immediately tensed up from the harsh stinging this cut brought as the tiger sheathed his sword, saying, "And may that serve as a reminder to you."

The tiger than began to walk away, but then stopped and said, "One last thing. You may not know who I am, but I do know who you are. You have your father's eyes, you see. And if you ever cross me again, I shall take much pleasure in making sure it's the last thing you ever do."

He then marched off into the jungle, leaving them behind. The leopard picked up his sword and walked off with his companion. Link stood up, covering his cut with his hand as he heard someone from behind say, "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid for taking on Ganondorf."

Link turned around and saw a gorilla there. He had blue hair sticking out from his fur and blue eyes. He made his way over to Link, who asked, "Ganondorf? That's who he was?"

"Yeah, heard of him I take it?"

"I've heard stories about him," Link said, "That he came from a land far to the east. That he once terrorized the Pride Lands, but was defeated in combat by King Mario, who banished him."

"And this is where he ended up," The gorilla said, "My name is Marth by the way."

"I'm Link," the lion introduced himself, "How does he get away with this?"

"He hunts animals outside the jungle to eat," Marth says, "Usually those who can survive in the desert or who live on the outer edges of the jungle. He only ever hunts this deep in the jungle for fun, and to show us all how powerful he is. Everyone fears and hates him."

"And no one can do anything about it?"

"Not a chance," Marth said sadly, "No one who's stood up to him has ever lived. You're the first in fact. And there's something else. Remember how those leopards had masks on? Well, that means they're in service to him. He always goes with them into the jungle once every now and then to hunt. Most of them never end up killing anything during the trip, and hate being in his service, but they know it's either that or be killed by him. Another reason they wear the masks is so you can't see their faces."

"Why? What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing really, except if you saw them you'd see how hopeless they are. They've all been broken in spirit one by one by Ganondorf. He's become the unofficial king of this land, and uses his feline followers as insurance that a large scale rebellion doesn't happen."

"That's horrible…" Link gasped. Marth nodded and said, "It's the way we have to live."

Link looked over and saw Malon's parents standing there, her mother sobbing hard as she held onto Malon's father, who was crying also at the sight of their daughter. Link's heart sank at seeing this.

"No words describe a mother's tears, no words can heal a broken heart. A dream is gone, but where there's hope…"

"Come with me," Marth said, "We have to get you ready."

As Marth walked away, Link followed, asking, "For what?"

"To defend yourself against hunters," Marth said, "Should you ever be at the outer edges of the jungle when they attack. You'll need a weapon, and I know someone who can train you to fight like them."

Link nodded and followed Marth further into the jungle.

"Somewhere something is calling for you. Two worlds, one family. Trust your heart, let fate decide to guide these lives we see!"

Well, that was certainly a long one. Anyways, I hope everyone is enjoying this story so far, and like the new elements introduced in this chapter.