A/N: Hi everyone! This is the chapter where things finally start moving. Yay! And I am actually happy with how this one turned out. For all those wondering about Zelda She shall make her appearance in the next chapter and quickly gain a footing as one of the main characters. Which is good since I said that this story was mostly going to be about her (I was not lying, I promise :D) I had fun writing this and also came close to making myself very sad. I hope you all enjoy this week's chapter! Thank you so much for taking the time to read!

Starfire Eld- Aww thanks, I like 'what happened after,' stories too. I'm glad to hear I didn't mess him up, that's a relief. I like your headcanons they are pretty awesome. Thank you so much for the review.

Gojira Geek- Thanks for the review, I like your four swords theory. Hero rampages rock!

AnimeMaster24- yeah I'm not quite done with the Bulblins yet *slight spoiler* Wow I almost agree with everything you said, I think that maybe OoT Link came back to Hyrule when he was older, maybe not permanently though, cause it says that TP Link is directly from his line. But if the Hero's Shade is anything to go by, it's obvious he was a bit regretful about everything. (Poor guy)

Link The Hero of Light- thanks for the review, you have to love fan fiction writing freedom story wise (at least for as long as it last, then the fastidious will have to make improvements to their newly non-canonical tales XP)

Yami no Nokutan- Aww thanks for saying that. He, he, all your questions shall be answered in due time, irritating answer I know but it would give too much away. Yeah some of those Links really got thrown in the deep end. Thanks for reviewing!

ArianandXaia- Thank you so much for saying that, it makes me feel a little better. Thanks for the review. I like your ideas :D

Storm Dragon Wolf Princess- I promise I won't do that ;) Those were the books I despised reading for school, so I made a vow that if I were to ever become a writer I would not bore my readers. XP Sorry for the slowness but things pick up exponentially in this chapter. Thanks! :D

The Trap

Link tugged sharply on his Epona's reins as they made it inside the gorge where the village of Kakariko was situated. Epona skidded to a halt; Link and Rusl had dismounted almost before she had even stopped. By the time they had reached Kakariko, the fire had almost completely burned itself out and the village was left in shambles. Only the buildings that were made from adobe were unharmed. The people stood around their burnt and smoldering homes shocked saddened. But, for the most part, they were furiously angry. Despite the destruction wreaked about them, there did not appear to be any dead and most the villagers appeared unharmed.

"May we be of any assistance?" Rusl asked as they rode up, "We saw the smoke from Faron field."

The Shaman of Kakariko greeted them, gratefully accepting the offer for help. Letting go of his normally stoic expression, he managed to give Link a small smile which Link returned gladly. The Shaman and his daughter Luda had been instrumental in helping him out of a rather tense situation not to many months ago.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "Rusl I would be grateful if you help to organize and take an inventory of the supplies we managed to salvage from the storehouse. Link, please help find or make shelter for the few that lost their homes."

Link nodded and went off to find Barnes who had been given the same task as he and they set about constructing a makeshift tent.

"Do you have any idea what started the fire?" Link asked as he worked, suspecting that he already knew the answer.

"Of course I know what started it," the slightly odd older man snapped vehemently. "It's hard not to miss seeing the most massive ogre Bulblin of all time lighting fire to one's house. I barely got out alive. You know how I like to collect and sell various types of combustible plants?"

Link knew very well, it was Barns who had showed him how to find and use these plants to make bombs.

"My home was a death trap!" he continued, working himself up into a frenzy. "First my store room was destroyed during the Shadow Attack last year, and now my home! I only managed to save a couple bombs, and I wasted one of them trying to hit the creature…. I missed unfortunately."

Link's lips pressed together in a thin line. This game had gone on long enough. He had to stop the Bulblin before it threatened, hurt, or killed anyone else. As soon as the tent was set up, Link slunk quietly away, trying to use the last of the sunlight to find the Bulblin's trail. Once this was accomplished, he doggedly pursued it out of the village and through the winding walled-in canyon path.

Without warning, the monster's trail made an abrupt turn into a narrow pass. It was so covered with leafy scree and bushes that he nearly missed the small aperture internally. Once he made his way inside, he saw that the small rocky opening was the start to a branching winding ravine trail. It looked as if it had once been a run-off path for water during ancient storms-one that had gradually cut a channel to the now dried up river bed that had hewn out the canyon countless seasons ago.

He had never ventured into this area before, which in itself was odd because he knew most of Hyrule like the back of his hand. The path must have just been recently cleared of an old blockage for him not to have been aware of it's existence. The way was strange to him. The setting sun reflected off the rocks that made up this snaking canyon path. The ebbing light caused them to glow an eerie deep red; a far darker and more brilliant shade than their usual light rust color.

Perhaps it was this ethereal glow and the near twilight that was making him feel uneasy. Perhaps it was the knowledge of the fact that he was gaining on his quarry. Whatever the reason, he felt a sense of something ominous, a weird feeling of foreboding that seemed to grow with the fading light. This was a dark sense of danger and warning that he had not felt since the time the land was invaded by Twilight. He closed his eyes as he cast out in front of him with his odd wolfish senses as he tried to place the weird feeling. A sudden sound from behind him triggered a defensive reflex. He sensed that someone or something was close behind him. He whirled around, sword drawn, expecting to see a foe. He stopped mid-swing, halting his sword just a hairsbreadth away from Rusl's throat.

"Rusl," he gasped startled, "I didn't know it was you."

"You're losing your edge a bit then," Rusl teased before he sobered. "Speaking of edges, you seem to be on one, more of a tip of a knife blade, really. Is something wrong? I have not seen you this tense since you recruited yourself for the job of saving the entire kingdom about a year ago. Or this summer when we were nearly caught by bounty hunters," he added grimly.

"I don't know," Link admitted unhappily. "I just have this feeling that something is seriously wrong but I just can't place it. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Same as you. Have you forgotten that I was the one who taught you how to track in the first place? I can't believe you tried to go without me again." he added with mock severity, "Blatant disrespect for you elders. Well, don't just stand there, let's look for the monster."

Link was rather glad of the company as they traveled through the darkening pass. A couple more miles down the road the narrow path widened out abruptly into a large bowl shaped hollow surrounded on every side by the craggy rough hugged sandstone. The furthermost wall was wreathed in silent shadows. In the middle of this dell, a massive figure stood.

The armor on its hulking body was illuminated, shining in the blood-red glow of the last of the failing sunlight. The colossal monstrosity turned to face them as they entered the hollow, readying an enormous rusting weapon. It was a cross between a battle-hammer and an axe that glistened darkly in the red light. Its ogre face grinned wickedly. It licked the blade of its axe before it charged the pair of challengers.

The master and his former apprentice braced themselves for the attack. Link dodged a sweep of the monsters massive weapon by rolling underneath it and around to the back of the enemy. He dealt the creature a slash to its back before the Bulblin could maneuver its bulk around to block him. It howled with pain as it whirled around to face its agiler opponent.

Link saw Rusl signal something to him and he nodded. He drew the ogre's attention to him, dodging swipe after swipe from the weapon. While the Bulblin was distracted, Rusl came at it from behind. The Bulblin turned only just in time to parry. Rusl dodged a swing whilst striking forward with his own broadsword. Their foe fell with a thud. The sense of relief and regretful joy at their victory, however, was halted by an unexpected sound before it could reach fruition.

"Well done," a familiar deep voice emanated from the shadows at the far edge of the hollow.

A chill went down Link's spine and his mouth dropped open with disbelief as he placed the voice. A mixture of feelings whirled inside him, making his chest seem to tighten: disbelief, anger, horror.

It couldn't be, he thought to himself desperately... but the dark oppressing presence he felt was unmistakable. How could it possibly be? You're dead, I killed you, his thoughts screamed, but all that came out of his mouth was one hushed word.

"Ganondorf." He whispered.

The dreaded familiar shape emerged from the shadows. There his age old enemy stood, his dark cloak flapping slightly in the breeze. His hair was the same mass of red, his skin the same dark hue—odd in one whose hair was so fair. His enemy stood almost completely unchanged—even his cold, dark, hate filled eyes—void from any form of love of care, and glittering almost insanely—were the same.

"Surprised to see me?" his enemy mocked, "I believe it is time for a rematch, don't you?"

Link readied himself for some form of magic attack, since his enemy bore no weapon, but was slightly surprised when Ganondorf raised his hand high in the air. Rusl had sided up to Link, sword at the ready, face deathly pale.

Although Link's mind was whirling with the staggering force of disbelief, shock, and repulsion, he stared shrewdly at the warlord, eyes narrowing as he tried to predict Ganondorf's next move. He did not know how Ganondorf had survived, but he was determined to try and stop him before he had a chance to hurt anyone or destroy anything. He could not allow Hyrule to suffer as it had when Ganondorf had first attacked. It was only now he understood the ominous wolfish senses that had been plaguing him. He had lost so much to this fiend and he felt anger rise within him. His heartbeat quickened within his chest. A wicked sneer lit his enemies face and he clenched his raised hand. Link's sharp ears picked up the far off twang of bow strings.

"Archers!" he cried to Rusl, bending to his knee and bringing his shield up and in front of his head and torso. "Get behind me!"

His shield reverberated with metallic pings as volley after volley peppered its polished surface and whizzed past, burying themselves in the ground either side of him. When the barrage finally subsided, he chanced a look around him. He saw Ganondorf raise a sword high as he commanded charge. A veritable army surged out from the dark shadow of the canyon wall where they had been waiting in ambush. Somehow, Ganondorf had amassed a huge group of warriors comprised of various dark creatures, the majority of which were Bulblin's and the Dark Knights known as Darknuts.

He ignored them for the time being, his thoughts completely occupied with Rusl. He knew his old sword-master had not made it behind him in time. He lay not far from his position and Link ran towards him. He had been shot in the shoulder and the leg and an arrow had deeply grazed his side, but he was still alive. Link glanced at the advancing army that was almost upon them, and then back at the man he loved like a father. "Run!" he yelled desperately, "Get out of here! I'll hold them off!"

Rusl staggered to his feet he face white with pain, "I won't leave you."

"You have to," Link shot back as he readied his sword and shield bracing himself for the massive impact. "If you stay you'll die, I can't let that happen."

"I can't leave you," Rusl gasped.

"Please, do as I say," Link shouted as he dodged out of the path of a sword and met the hoard in combat. "Get help! Someone needs to warn the princess and the kingdom! I have the best chance of holding them off! Think of your family!"

"You are my family too," Rusl cried, but he started to back away, knowing the truth of Link's words. He staggered towards the ravine. He nearly reached its shelter when he collapsed. Using every last inch of strength, he pushed himself up and limped away. Link set himself to cover Rusl's retreat, praying that he could make it safety before the extent of his injuries took their toll.

Link faced the army fighting like a mad whirlwind, but for every enemy he knocked down, more took their place. Ganondorf had sent the Bulblins in first and had saved the Darknuts as a reserve. Link heard Ganondorf shout for them to charge when he saw that it was a necessity.

He had, by then, faced wave after wave of attack. His strength was weaning. He barely dodged a swipe from a sword and the blade lightly grazed his neck. As he staggered backwards, an enemy shield smashed into his chest. He only barely kept his footing as he fought on. He had been outflanked and his foes were closing in. He desperately tried to keep his ground but the situation was turning desperate. He knew he was losing and tiring. He knew that only seconds remained before he fell. With no one and nothing to protect his back, it was only a matter of time before one of his enemies slipped his guard. Suddenly, something large leaped down from above to fight his way to his side.

In amazement, Link realized that it was King Bulblin. Last year, during Ganondorf reign, King Bulblin had been one of Link's greatest enemies, but had switched sides at the very end. He had joined Link because, as he said in his short curt stumbling way of his, that he, "followed the strongest side." This ogre had been the first of the monster race to actually speak Hylain but had disappeared when Ganondorf fell. Link had not seen him since. The ogre fought his way over to Link, making use of his massive battle axe. When he reached him, they stood back to back. Link had no idea how or where he had come from but there were no words to describe the thankful joy he experienced upon seeing the ogre's huge ugly visage that, despite the beady red eyes and bulbous green flesh, was the face of a friend.

"Friend!" King Bulblin boomed in his harsh speech, "You stand alone. I come to play for you."

'Play,' Link knew from experience, was the ogre's word for fight. He had come to help.

"Thanks for coming," Link shouted back his face breaking into smile. "I definitely need your help."

"Let's win this game together, twig," King Bulblin grunted. He threw his fleshy head back to let out that odd barking grunting laugh of his.

Together they were able to hold the enemy back, keeping a substantial space in between them and the surrounding army. Their foe was reluctant to come too close to the flashing sword and crushing battle axe. Link and his ally were gradually easing themselves to the safety of the ravine.

All their success ended as soon as the second wave of Darknut reinforcements came. Their armor was strong and their skill was great. Twelve of these expert warriors surrounded the battling duo, slowly closing in on them. Link was hard-pressed to parry the blades and maces of the dark knights.

He redoubled his efforts to break free of the ring of death that surrounded them and he could tell by the sound that King Bulblin was doing the same. He chanced a glance behind him and was gratified to see the giant battle axe of his friend topple a Darknut. His temporary joy evaporated like dewdrops in the desert as he saw a Darknut with a plumed helmet, who'd been standing off to the side, raise a longbow and take aim.

His shout of warning was lost in his ogre friend's grunt of pain. Time seemed to slow and the air itself seemed to still. Several Darknuts took the advantage when King Bulblin was reeling, to strike and he fell. Link stood over his friend as the ring closed in, doing his best to fend off the enemies for both of them. He could tell at a glance that his friend's wounds were grave. He tried to buy some time by throwing the few bomb flowers in his possession. His ploy worked and the explosions kept the enemy at bay, but he knew he could not keep it up for long.

"King Bulblin," he cried frantically as he knelt by the ogre, trying desperately to staunch the flow of greenish brown blood with one hand.

King Bulblin reached towards him as he spoke in a week hushed voice. "Though you stand alone, you are still the strongest side. I swore to fight for you. You spared my life, I never forgot. I will follow your strength to the end." His craggy face broke into a smile, "This end."

"This isn't going to be the end. You have survived far worse than this. I should know, I certainly couldn't kill you." He tired a weak smile, "Hang on, I'll get you out of this, everything will be alright…"

"You win for me, promise?" his friend struggled to say. "Life friend, it was an honor to play with you." His last words came out little louder than a whisper and he closed his eyes falling back.

Link stared shocked for a moment his deep blue eyes filling with tears, he knew there was nothing he could do for his friend anymore.

"I promise," he whispered to King Bulblin's still form.

He had run out of bombs and the Darknuts started closing in again. Rusl had been badly wounded. Link did not even know if he had managed to get away, and now his friend lay dead. He stepped back, his face made impassive by the rage that pulsed in him. Then he charged, knowing that his only chance would be to finish what he and King Bulblin had started and make it to the ravine. The sudden wild ferocity of his attack pushed back his foes. He almost broke through the left flank to safety before he was surrounded by the ten remaining Darknuts. His already battered shield was cracked and rendered useless by an enormous Darknut mace. Staggering backwards, he flung it away. His well-aimed throw took out a Bulblin. He tried to fend off the enemies with his blade alone. A sword flew through his defenses and he felt the steel bite deep into his already badly bruised shield arm. A crimson stain bloomed on the green of his tunic. A spear shaft cracked hard into his side.

There were just too many of them and the Darknuts' armor was too strong. In the end he was overrun, overpowered, and knocked to the ground face first. He rolled hastily to his back, then held still as several swords were held his throat. They pushed their blades closer and he dropped his own sword to the sound of the Darknut's deep raspy airy laughter. Several of the metal gauntleted hands reached down to grab him and he felt himself being lifted. He was held roughly in the air by his arms in between two of these tall warriors. The Darknut with the plumed helmet placed his blade hard against his throat.

"Hold," Ganondorf commanded the plumed Darknut calmly, as he stepped forward now the coast was clear. "Remember the plan."

A low growl emanated from the plumed Darknut's helm covered face. He withdrew his sword slowly as if he were considering disobeying his commander.

Ganondorf walked up to Link at a languished pace an evil smirk on his ugly face.

"Disarm him." He commanded.

The plumed Darknut took his bow and quiver of arrows and handed them to Ganondorf. Ganondorf smiled wickedly and held his bow in between his two muscular hands making a pretense of snapping it. Link's eyes widened with horror, but then the Warlord looked harder at the finely crafted bow and slung it over his own shoulder. The Darknut took his dagger, scabbard, side pouch and even his belt. Then the soldiers reached for his gauntlets and bracers, and handed all of it to Ganondorf. His side pouch contained some of his most useful weapons and gear and Link could do nothing but watch it be taken.

With a sinking heart, Link saw his horse call also taken and smashed in front of him; they might as well have hit him. Ilia had carved out the horseshoe shaped aulos flute by hand. It was more than a small trinket to him and he stared at its shattered pieces in horror.

Link glared hatred at his enemy as Ganondorf took out his wind boomerang and claw-shots, admiring them and the other things inside his pouch. The warlord took them all for his own. A Bulblin reached down for his sword and the movement caught Ganondorf's eye just in the nick of time.

"Fool," Ganondorf yelled at the hapless creature. "Don't go near that blade! Unless, of course, you wish to die."

The Bulblin stepped hastily away. Ganondorf shuddered openly as he looked at the sword before he turned his attention back to Link.

"Sorry about your two friends," he drawled sarcastically. "It may give you comfort to know that their deaths were not in vain. Their sacrifice helped to bring back the return of my empire. The carrion birds will feed well; honor and the mind of fools gives a better flavor, so I'm told."

Link lost it then; he felt rage boiling up within him. His teeth bared in a snarl, a savage, almost inhuman sounding, cry of anger rose in his throat. He struggled madly, his fury giving him an unexpected burst of energy and he almost broke free from the grasp of the Darknuts, before a harsh kick from the plume-helmed knight and a threatening gesture with a knife subdued him.

"What is this?" Gannon mused as he caught sight of the purple scarf that was tied around Link's arm. He reached forward and untied it, unfurling it to reveal Hyrule's crest. "Oh, it's a token from the princess... how honored you must feel," he mocked mordantly as he ripped it in half long-ways before tying it back sloppily to Link's arm. "Well, men," he said addressing his army, "our time for victory is near. We have our advantage. My plan is almost complete."

"I think the word has suffered enough of you doomed plans," Link said, hiding his hurt and anger behind a mocking smile, "and to think I once thought you were cunning."

Ganondorf lunged forward grasping Link by the throat as he spoke darkly, "I would like nothing more than to wring your neck; but, don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. Pathetic as it seems, I need you. It is a revolting truth, I know. I wish there were another way but there isn't. So I will keep you alive, but," he added his voice growing darker, "that might just be worse than being dead for you."

He released his grip and Link took as gasp of air. Despite the severity of his situation, he could not help but notice that something was off in his enemy. Ganondorf's hand had been shaking, and he had not used a single magic attack. Also the warlord preferred to face his opponents himself, one on one, yet he had used an small army. Link could not help but wonder why. Then realization hit him; when Ganondorf had choked him his hand had been ungloved and something had been missing.

"You've lost your power haven't you?" Link asked shrewdly, "Your Triforce symbol has almost faded completely away."

"Your concern is touching. Not to worry, I will soon get it back, now that I have you," he said, turning his back and walking away.

As he walked he snapped his fingers and Link got a Darknut's fist in his face and he started to slip into unconsciousness. They dragged his limp form to the edge of the bowl-shaped hollow. Through a haze of half-consciousness, he saw five of the strong Darknuts move a boulder revealing a hidden passage. Link was the last to be dragged through before it closed. With his last ounce of strength, he pulled off one the halves of Zelda's loosely tied colors and dropped it halfway in, and halfway out, of the opening before he lost all consciousness.

~x~X~x~

Colin and Ilia had finally reached the village of Kakariko with some help from Ordon. Talo and his mother and father had come. They had walked through part of the night because the sun had set when they were halfway to the canyons. The threat of Bulblins had kept them all on their toes on the dark way over and Colin had often found his hand straying to his sword hilt. When they arrived they found that most of the village was huddled around a large fire and some makeshift tents built in front of what was left the houses. The Shaman and his daughter Luda greeted them. Talo's parents instantly set themselves to work but Ilia hung back, tightly clutching Colin's arm, frantically scanning the faces by the fire. Colin was yanked after her as she trotted over to the shaman.

"Where are Link and Rusl?" she queried anxiously. "They did make it here, didn't they?"

"They were here a couple of hours ago but they both left and I have no idea where they have gone."

"They went that way," Barnes interrupted, not at all ashamed of the fact that he had obviously been eavesdropping. "Link went first and then Rusl went after him about five minutes later. Link was acting funny so I spied on him," Barnes explained without a hint of guilt. "It looked like he was tracking something."

"Come on!" Ilia yelled. She reasserted her grip on Colin's hand and pulled him after her. She ran straight down the darkened canyon path. Colin, thinking quickly, grabbed a lantern, handing it to Ilia as they passed the outskirts of the village. For a long while they encountered nothing, but then the flickering light dimly illuminated a figure lying halfway between the ravine path and a half hidden narrow one.

"Dad!" Colin yelled in dismay, his heart filling with dread as he knelt by the still form of his father. Ilia knelt down beside him and together they rolled Rusl over.

"Colin, Ilia." Rusl gasped.

"What happened?" Colin cried reaching for his father's hand, "How bad is it? Will he be alright?" he asked Ilia, tears filling his eyes.

"They're not fatal," Ilia assured him, "but he needs help."

"Rusl," she asked leaning in closely her eyes wide with worry, "where is Link?"

Colin felt his chest tighten with a lump of dread at the expression in his father's eyes. Rusl looked at Ilia solemnly, his eyes filling with tears, and shook his head. Colin gasped. Ilia's face paled. The lantern in her hand made a dull 'thump' as it fell from her grasp to the sandy ground below.

*Evil laughter* I'm so mean, aren't I? I hope you liked it!

Chapter Question:

What are your thoughts on King Bulblin?