A Note To New Readers:

Hey there! This story is currently undergoing some maintenance at the moment, and as such, what you have read up until this point may clash, be out of place or jump ahead/behind the chapters that follow. Please know that I am writing as fast as I can to rerelease these new chapters and believe me when I say that the story will be more concise and flow better, (not to mention be much more interesting from the get go). Please bear with me and enjoy nonetheless!

-Jack Knights

She'd been traveling with the so-called 'Knights of Hyrule' for two days now, and Jaz was still nowhere nearer understanding what they wanted with her. The first day under the protection, or their captivity, she was beginning to suspect, she'd remained inside a small carriage that transported their weapons in, trying to dodge the blades and axes and assorted weapons that would occasionally fall when the transporter would go over a bumpy road, which seemed to happen more often than not. It didn't help none that her hands were chained, as were her feet.

After they'd finally stopped for a short break, she'd practically thrown herself out of the caravan, landing face down in the dirt. She'd coughed in the dust, swore and began wriggling her body until she managed to get herself in a sitting position. That was when one of the knights had finally come over. Jaz had expected him to laugh at her, or worse yet, thrown her back into the carriage. But he hadn't done either of those. True, the corners of his mouth twitched with the tell-tale signs of mirth, (which she'd glared at, causing him to look away), but he kneeled down, key in hand as he freed her of her restraints.

And then, he'd had the gall to not help her up. Not that she would have let him, but it was to be expected of a servant of the law. She'd silently fumed to herself as she sat in the dirt. What a jerk! And rude to boot! You do not kidnap a girl and then leave her in the dirt! Eventually, she picked herself up off the floor and stalked over to where the knights had disappeared. They were scattered about the area, doing an assortment of things; two were busily looking over a map, discussing their routes, three were busy establishing a temporary camp and the rest were off in the distance, either surveying the area or gathering firewood.

Noticing that they were all distracted by their various tasks, Jaz couldn't help but grin as she slipped away, going back the way she came. If they think that releasing my bonds was a show of good faith, she sniggered to herself as she dashed from tree to tree in the open field, then they're stupider than they look. What would make them think I would hang around once left to my own devices?

"I wouldn't go that way," came a voice to her right, just as she cleared the ring of trees. "There's nothing there but bad memories." She whirled around, eyes narrowing when she saw a knight step out from behind a tree. Bad memories… does he mean, she wondered before shutting down her train of thought. I'll deal with that later. Seeing her face, he raised his hands in an apologetic manner. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"Who are you?" she questioned the knight, stepping back a few feet as he approached her. He removed his helm and light blonde hair cascade down around his face, framing deep green eyes. It fell just short of his shoulders and he swept a hand through it, flashing a quick smile.

"You don't remember me, do you?" he said congenially. "The name's Sid. And yours?"

"None of your business," Jaz responded acidly, turning heel and leaving. She heard him sigh, imagining him roll his eyes before the sound of his armour bouncing alerted her to his movements. He was suddenly beside her again, and she gritted her teeth in frustration. What's with this guy? Can't he take a hint?

"I'm sorry, did I offend you?" Sid asked, his tone as serious as his eyes. Jaz stopped suddenly and turned to face him.

"You know… you can't woo me, Hylian," she said bitterly, eyeing his pointed ears with distaste. "So you honestly shouldn't try."

"Your tongue is as sharp as my sword and as blunt as Bulbin's shield," he said with a laugh. Going red in the face, Jaz stalked away again. He stopped laughing abruptly and went after her. "Come now, don't be so hard on a man. It's difficult to contain myself around such a pretty young woman."

You can take you impulses and cram them where the sun don't shine, Jaz thought angrily. Instead of validating his witticisms with a reply, she merely walked back to the caravan and climbed inside. Just as she reached to close the door, she noticed Sid talking to another knight. Their faces were drawn and Sid especially looked grim.

What are they talking about that could be so grim? Jaz closed the door as the elder warrior looked over his shoulder, catching her curious gaze within his own piercing eyes. Something tells me that getting out of this is going to be harder than I assumed.

As soon as the local law enforcement had moved on to the next mansion, Sheik tried to drop his disguise. He willed the powers deep inside him to rise up and change his form once more, returning him to the state he was born in. He felt it surge through him, erupt through his skin, and in a bright flash of light, he changed back; once more, he was a slim man just shy of his ten-and-eighth birthday. He glanced at his reflection in the pail of water at his feet, grinning widely when he saw the familiar visage. Red eyes, shining with confidence, stared back at him, framed by platinum blonde hair that fell about his face. He dug through the underbrush, searching for his clothing. Stripping himself of the ridiculously voluminous dress, he garbed himself in his all too familiar uniform. He carefully arranged his hair under his cap, tied the long locks into a tight braid and wrapped the cowl around his head. He was gone in under ten minutes.

He groaned as his mind was assaulted by the images of his recent memory; metal against metal, battle cries and the flash of magic. Bulbins shrieking in delight as friends screamed in pain. Jaz's face, spotted with blood and eyes wild. Eyes coloured like a sunset, luminous and piercing. Flashes of pink and bright green accompanied by blackness. All this and more battled for attention in his slumbering head.

Link awoke with a start, his eyes flying open as he tried to sit up, surprised to find himself restrained once more; only this time, he had been bound to the narrow bed by thick leather straps going across his chest and around his limbs. Forcing himself to calm down, Link stared up at the white ceiling, trying to empty his mind. But try as he might, the astounding flash of flame coloured eyes kept creeping back.

Was it really her? He wondered, trying to think back to the battle. Did she really save me?

It's been more than seventy years, since you disappeared from history and Ganondorf took over, the voice of reason muttered. It's more than likely she was killed with the other monarchs at the start of Ganondorf's reign.

She could've escaped, he countered, feeling foolish for arguing with himself.

I'm betting Prince Ralis didn't give in to Ganondorf either

Despite all the sense that made, Link couldn't help but find himself hoping she at least had escaped the tyrant's murderous rampage. He sighed, the noise unusually loud in the eerily quiet room. He judged by the shadows on the roof that the sun had just set. It was that in between time when the world was unsure of how it would spend the next couple of hours.

Twilight, he realized. Oh the irony…

Leaving Saria proved to be thrice more difficult than he had originally thought. The roads were being patrolled by guards and search parties were combing the forests for any sign of the Sheikah menace that had killed the local Zora. Sheik gleaned, after eavesdropping on a couple of guards, that Dormu was actually well liked amongst the seafaring townsfolk. It didn't help that the Zora had been a monarch of some kind, a representative of the race in general at this end of the country.

Well, how was I supposed to know the big guy was practically royalty? Sheik frowned as he dashed along the beach. Besides, it's not like I killed him.

You might not have plunged the knife in him, but are no less responsible for his death, chided a small voice in his head. Sheik scowled further. He knew it was true; it was his fault that the Zora had met an unfortunate end. He steeled himself, shaking his head of such dour thoughts.

It's not like he didn't know the risks. We all knew the risks once we became involved in the Resistance, he reasoned with himself. The minute we volunteered, our lifespan shortened considerably. And yet…

He slowed to a halt, his feet digging deep into the sand. Something had changed, but he wasn't sure what. He gazed back at the lights in the distance; the town was still on the lookout. The lapping of the waves as they reached the shore suddenly changed, becoming much more irregular, but at the same time a pattern was distinguishable amid the new noise. Sheik threw his gaze out over the coast, searching. The sudden flash of a fin, followed by the crest of a Zora as it broke the water grab his attention and he cursed.

I should've know that the Zora would send backup! Sheik shook himself out of his reverie and broke into a run, trying to cover more ground as the amphibious merpeople suddenly changed direction and gave chase. A wail sounded as the next of the warriors broke the water, sending a chill down the Sheikah's spine.

That can't be good.

A light suddenly flashed along the tree line, casting about, no doubt, for him. It found him, and focused on the fleeing figure as he dashed across the sand. As he ran, he noticed the Zora began picking up speed, out distancing him by a mile, then two.

Why are they going so far ahead? He couldn't help but wonder. His answer came a moment later, when the Zora jumped clear out of the water and landed on the beach, forming an impassable line of defense. Cursing his stupidity, Sheik turned heel and ran back the way he had come, only to see torch light in the distance. He squinted, making out the forms of twenty or some people, all armed and ready to take him down.

"Goddesses dammit!" he cursed aloud. More Zora appeared, some giving chase, others popping out onto the sand behind and in front of him, effectively blocking his exits. He cast a furtive gaze at the trees that lines the sand, seeing torchlight flickering amongst the branches. Not good… they're boxing me in! He stopped his mad dash, quickly took a mental inventory of the weapons he had at his disposal, forming an escape plan in his head.

The sea is a no go, for sure. I can't outswim a Zora, no chance in hell. I can't go forward either, because of their line. Going back wouldn't be too tough, I can outrun any petty human. But that just leads me back into Saria again!

The more he dwelt on it, the closer his captors drew. He narrowed his eyes at the shadows in the forest and calculated.

The torchlight isn't strong, so that likely means there aren't many people their waiting. It's sparse and divided, so they've cast their net wide and are trying to pull it tight, he realized with a grin. Too bad this fish is faster than the all the fishermen combined.

He turned towards the trees and dashed into them just as the mob came within striking distance.

"Oh, you're awake!" a surprised girl dressed all in light blue with a mask covering her face startled him with her words. Link had been awake since the sun had risen, unable to find solace in his dreams. Not that the stifling air in Quarantine was any better, mind you. So spaced out was he that he hadn't heard the nurse until she was right next to him. "Good morning," she added brightly.

Link turned to look at her, taken aback by her cheerfulness. Despite the mask that covered all but her eyes, he could tell that she was genuinely happy to be there. She was actually glad that she was tending to apparently hopeless cases. He frowned at her, irked by her demeanour.

"Well, someone's a sourpuss," she muttered, turning to leave.

"Hold on, wait a minute!" Link found himself calling after her. She whirled around immediately, her eyes bright with glee. Oh Goddesses, what have I invoked now?

"Yes, Mister Hylian?" she almost giggled. Almost. "Is something the matter?"

"Well, I… it's just… why are you…" he faltered, unsure how to continue. He had too many questions and no idea where to begin.

"If you want to start a conversation, it's always best to introduce yourself, you know," she suggested, rolling her eyes as she shrugged. "Just something you might want to take into consideration, for next time."

Next time? he wondered, but instead said, "My name is Link, and yours?"

Now she giggled, and he felt his brows furrow, growing irritated again. "Felicia," she said, offering him her hand. He only blinked at her, then cracked a crooked smile, indicating with a shrug—at least, what he could manage—at his restraints. He watched as her mouth became a perfect 'O' before she regained her composure, leaning forward to undo his bindings. Suddenly free, he pushed himself into a sitting position, grinning from ear to ear.

"There, that ought to be a bit more comfortable," she said happily. "Now then," Felicia continued, jutting her hand forward, "pleased to meet you."

Without thinking, Link motioned to grasp her hand, and she looked down, going pale as her eyes widened, her hands flying up to her mouth. Confused, Link looked down as well, surprised to find that his arm was no longer there. He stared at his half-arm in disbelief and Felicia gave a quiet 'eep,' her eyes darting from his arm to his face. Damn them, they took my arm! he eventually processed. Furious, he ground his teeth.

"I'm so sorry," she blurted, breaking through his raging thoughts. "I really am, truly sorry! I didn't know—I mean if I did then I would have, but I did and then you, with your arm, and I…" she babbled, trailing on, making little to no sense.

"It's alright," he interrupted her mid-sentence. She clamped her mouth shut as if she only now realized he was in the room with her. "It's not your fault, honestly. I'm just as surprised as you, actually."

"What?"

"Well, recently, there's been a hand attached to my arm."

"Oh! You've got a prosthetic limb!" she said in awe. "Well, that explains the metal band around your… um, that," Felicia finished, eyeing his amputated arm. Link took one look at her face—which was full of embarrassment and unspoken apologies—and broke out laughing. Felicia grew red in the face, first as she became more embarrassed, then the anger set in and she fumed silently before getting up and stalking away.

"Oh, hey, where are you going?" Link shouted after her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! I wasn't laughing at you, I swear!"

He heard her make a sound that radiated indignation before the doors on the far side of the room opened and closed, her footsteps growing fainter as she stalked away. Goddesses dammit… he groaned. I've just managed to piss off the one friendly person I've come across since getting myself into this mess. What an idiot…

He wiped his hand over his face, the sudden realization that he could do so dawning over him for the first time. He wiggled his toes and bent his knees before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Well, at least I'm not tied up any more, he consoled himself with a shrug before dashing for the door.