Chapter 2: Open Waters

"You're sure that you have everything you'll need?" Zelda asked, standing with Link at the edge of one of the many docks that helped to separate Lake Hylia from Faroe Ocean.

"I double checked everything myself," Link said.

"Food, water, potions-"

"Don't worry, Zelda. I have everything I need. I'll be fine."

"Just be careful, especially when you're passing the River Zoras. They've gotten a bit more violent than normal."

"I'll keep an eye out for them. Now go back to the castle where you're needed." Zelda made a motion as if leaning in to hug Link, but decided against it, else she be tempted to further try persuading him to stay.

"See you soon, Link," she said turning back toward Hyrule and walking away as fast as she could. Link had suggested that they ride a horse to the docks, but Zelda wanted to walk there. The way she saw it, talking Link out of this was all but futile, so she wanted to enjoy every single moment she could with him. At best, she would not see him for several weeks, or even months. Worst case scenario . . . was something she didn't dare think of.

"Zelda?" Link said, turning to face her as he boarded his boat.

"Yes?" she asked, her dark golden hair whipping around over her shoulders, framing her face and highlighting her eyes.

Link wanted to say something about how she looked, how she made him feel when she was around and how his heart sped up at the mere thought of being with her. He wanted to give her a compliment of some kind, but one that wasn't cheesy or clichéd. Maybe then she would pick up on the fact that he likes . . . no, that he loves her.

But he couldn't. Then he wouldn't leave. He wouldn't want to. And if he didn't leave, there was no telling what his mind would conjure up in its current state. He had to have time alone to sort things out for himself. Even if it meant being away from Zelda for months, or even years. Or worst.

"It's nothing. Just be sure to keep everyone in line."

"I will," Zelda said, her heart sinking faster than iron thrown in the water.

The two looked at each other, both almost certain of how the other felt, but neither having the heart to say it. Without another word, Link turned toward the looming ocean that laid before him and set sail into open waters.

The River Zoras weren't a problem. In fact, Link didn't see a single one, which was surprising with how much trouble they gave him when Agahnim was around.

Since Link left the docks and long after Hyrule was little more than a blimp on the horizon, things were peaceful. It was fair winds and fallowing seas as the old saying goes. The sun was high in the sky, but it wasn't too bright or too hot. Just right wouldn't be the way to describe it, because it was better than that. It wasn't perfect either though, as that would not adequately describe how all of the little flaws which exist in the world could manage to come together in such a way that they can give one of a troubled mind some form of peace. Slowly but surely, the young hero clad in green began to drift off to sleep, a dream of sorts forming behind the veil that temporarily separated him from reality.

A soft wind began to blow across a calm land, carrying with it tranquility. A disturbance quickly turned it into turn into a violent furry, threatening to carry away anyone and anything that it could. The ground began to crack as a fissure unleashed a force that had been in hiding within it for centuries. From the fissure crawled a creature of pure malice and hatred, whose sole purpose was to kill and set fire to all.

Then the violent winds began to calm. From the skies descended a hero, ever ready to fight this malevolent force. Though the hero fought hard, he could not stop the creature, but he refused to surrender. Seeing his plight, a Goddess descended from the realm beyond the clouds to aid the hero who so valiantly stood up to this creature knowing that he could not win. She saw that he was on the brink of defeat, and decided to give him rest, sending him and all others like him to the skies, hoping to keep them safe from the onslaught that was about to begin. With the aid of the other races of the land, she fought with the creature, driving it back into the fissure from whence it came from, though not without the loss of several lives and suffering grave personal injuries. Knowing that the creature would return though, she placed a seal on the beast, hoping it would hold until the time came when the creature could be destroyed for good.

Her time coming to an end, the Goddess passed, though her soul lived on, seeking the next vessel that it would reside in.

Over the next few hours, clouds began to form, followed shortly by a light drizzle, awakening the hero from his dream. It was still very nice out, just a little bit wetter. Unfortunately, the peace did not last long. The light from the sun began to gradually fade as the clouds darkened to a near totally blackened state. Hostile winds and a violent barrage of waves began throwing themselves at Link's boat with such power, it was as if they were being they controlled by an outside force. Then as if part of cruel prank, the light drizzle turned into an enormous downpour in just a matter of minutes.

As Link fought against these forces, another added itself into the fray. Lightning ripped through the skies, the sound of the devastation left in its wake striking fear into those within it's range.

"This is just great," Link muttered to himself. "My second trip out to sea in less than a week and I get caught in a thunderstorm [I]again[/I]." Things only went from bad to worst as the waves began to slowly tear Link's boat apart. "It's only a matter of time before I wind up in the water, and there's not a trace of land anywhere." His problems quickly shifted to actually being in the water when his boat was dealt it's deathblow by a stray bolt of lightning. The last thing Link saw before he passed out was a wave crashing on top of him, dragging him into the depths below.