So, this one has a lot of references to characters throughout several games. There will probably be references to more characters in the coming chapters, and I've played most of the games, so I know a lot of the characters and plots. If you don't understand something, or know one of the characters, you can ask me. (It's be too awkward to include detailed descriptions of them all in such short spaces). But for those who do recognize them, I hope you enjoy these references!

And Nabeen is my own character.

Sorry for the short chapter.

Chapter 18: Gathering

Malon stepped out of the barn, carrying a pail of Lonlon milk. She cast an uneasy glance at the sky. She could tell that something strange was brewing again. The horses and cows were restless. Things hadn't been like this since Link had defeated Ganondorf a year ago.

She turned to the door to the house and froze, because someone was standing in front of her who she had not seen a moment before. A man dressed in a blue suit with a red eye on the front.

"Sorry to startle you," he said graciously. "But there is much to say in little time."

…

A train steamed along the tracks, carrying in its cart a supply of logs. Alfonzo pulled the cable to the horn as he neared a crossing. He slowed the train to avoid losing his cargo.

Just then, something flew in the window and circled the engineer's head.

"A bug!" he shouted, taking off his hat and swatting at it.

"I'm not a bug! Stop that!"

Alfonzo paused, wondering where the voice was. He looked out the window, and then to the supply cart behind him. He looked back to the front in time to pull the train to a halt before he hit a branch that had fallen across the tracks.

He finally turned to the bug.

It wasn't a bug. It was a cream-colored fairy.

"Listen, you know Link and Zelda, right?" Tatl asked.

…

Linebeck strolled out of the shop, whistling and rattling a pouch of coins happily.

"Not a bad haul," he said, grinning. "Maybe I'll spend it on a new part for my ship." He glanced fondly at his boat, which was moored at a dock across the town.

"Ah, I found you!"

He wasn't really paying attention, so he hadn't heard the call.

"Hey, guy, I gotta talk to you!"

Linebeck started walking towards his ship. Then something purple appeared in front of his face.

"Waah!" He shouted, throwing up his arms.

"I need to ask you something," said the purple thing in front of his face.

Then Linebeck realized that it was a fairy.

"Another fairy?" he groaned. "Fairies are nothing but trouble. Shoo!"

"Wait a sec! Link's in trouble! We need help!"

…

On the top of a snowy peak, two large furry creatures sat side by side beneath a frozen tree.

"It nice day," grunted the larger figure. A yeti.

"Yes. We go sled, maybe?" suggested the smaller yeti, a female.

"You always beat Yeto!" The larger Yeti said, and he laughed.

"Excuse me," came a voice from behind them. The pair of Yetis turned around to see a girl standing behind them. Though she was dressed in what appeared to be a very thin one-piece suit, she didn't look cold at all.

"My name's Din. I need your help. Link's in danger."

…

"I don't see anything."

"Which is no reason to be so loud," Vaati responded coolly. "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it's not there."

""But there's nothing here!" Shadow Link snapped, looking out over the expanse of parched cracked ground before them, covered in dead gray grass. "Ganon likes building his forts in huge castles and stuff!"

"Maybe he's stopped being so obvious about it," Vaati responded cooly, raising an eyebrow.

"This place reeks of evil," Midna said, waving a hand in front of her face as though to dispel the stench. She leaned back against one of the rocks their group was taking shelter behind.

"Yeah," Navi agreed, buzzing back and forth anxiously.

Vaati had brought them here using the power Ganon had given to move between two times – in this case, Shadow Link's time and Midna's time. Vaati had tweaked the ability to allow all of the others to accompany him.

Medli was crouched beside the others. Volvagia had come along as well and was coiled up beside them. He'd be remaining outside with Vaati since there would be no place for a dragon wherever they were going.

"Where's the entrance?" Shadow Link demanded.

"Near the middle of the field. It's hidden though. You not only need a key, but you also need to present a display of your magic to make the door appear. And then if you get through, there's a magic barrier and guards to make sure there's no intruders."

"And how do you propose we get past all that?" Midna demanded "I can't warp in there. And warping out of there might be tricky too, if it's even possible. I think I now have enough power to warp us somewhere without the use of portals. But I've never done it with so many people before."

Vaati shrugged. "I don't really know the best way for you to get out. I'm not going in with you, that's for sure. I intend to remain a double agent for a little while longer. I need to learn more from him. But I'll stick around till you get out. I gotta baby-sit your dragon."

Volvagia growled.

"If you can make it back to where I send you, I might be able to get you out," Vaati offered.

"How'd you get out?" Medli asked Shadow Link.

Shadow Link didn't look as though he wanted to answer. "I hadn't taken solid form yet," he admitted. "I was still shadow. I managed to get into through long tunnel and slip out through a crack in the rock. I never saw the main part of the fortress because I got out at least a mile from it. But I was sure that I was in a castle. The way it was built and …"

"I never said it wasn't a castle," Vaati said, examining his fingernails.

"Meaning?" Midna demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

"Meaning it's underground. In a cavern."

There was silence for a moment.

"Is Ganon here now?" Navi asked.

Vaati shook his head. "Nah. He's off somewhere. Trying to hunt you down, probably. I doubt he expects you to walk right into one of his forts."

"You still haven't told us how to get in," Medli reminded him.

"I need to tell you one more thing," Vaati continued, as though he hadn't heard her. "There's one other person in there that you may need. Well, more than one, actually, but this person is special. Her name is Nabeen. Ganon found her by accident as he was hunting down all of the Links. She's a Gerudo girl. Ganon holds her unconscious in a guarded chamber. You'll probably want to find her after you get Link, because otherwise you'll get security after you, and they'll get Link under heavy guard. But you'll need her help. Especially if you want Link in fighting condition."

"What's that mean?" Navi asked, landing on Medli's shoulder.

"And now, I'll tell you how to get in."

"Hang on a sec. We have some more questions about…" Midna started.

But Vaati had placed his palms together and a wind picked up, ruffling his cape.

"See ya soon."

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet tore apart, and the group plunged into a dark abyss.