CHAPTER 2! Before I start I just want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing and following... you guys are amazing and you have no idea how happy it makes me! I'm currently working hard on Chapter 3, so I hope everyone looks forward to it.

One thing I forgot to mention is that the characters I use will be slightly OOC since many of them are minor characters and I need to change them up a bit to fit the story. For example, Aveil is actually a theif in MM, but she's royalty in this story. Get it? Cool.

IT IS STORY TIME.

Hyrule, Lanayru Province, Hyrule Castle

That night, Zelda dreamt.

First of peace, of Link. They shared warm smiles as the sun set in an orange-red sky. For once, the princess felt happy. Until the sun set. A dark cloud shrouded the kingdom in an eerie shadow. One by one the stars seemed to burn out as it got darker and darker. Fire, Zelda heard a voice whisper on her neck. Sure enough, an aura of deep orange glow appeared on the horizon, then another, and another. Zelda covered her eyes helplessly, but instead of only blackness, she saw flames. This must be a dream, she thought. A nightmare. But the screams she heard felt all too real.

"Aveil!" Zelda screamed. She reached out, but her friend and her kingdom was already devoured by the merciless flames. Soon she saw others. Viscen, Medli, Aveil... all the diplomats from all the kingdoms... gone. She turned, dreading what scene might greet her. There her kingdom stood, dark and gloomy, outlined in the same orange glow. A scream escaped her, and she could only watch helplessly as her country descended into chaos.

"Link," she murmured as she watched her Hero march into the blaze, sword in hand.

"Now then," the council head spoke loudly, standing at the end of a long table, with Zelda at his left. "We should begin." The room quickly hushed. "The banquet was a wonderful success. The leaders of Termina and the Great Sea all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Even some leaders of Koholint, Holodrum and Labrynna were able to be here. I believe we'll enjoy a period of peace." The council members all voiced their agreement happily.

"That does not mean we can let our guard down." Zelda's voice broke through the prolonged chatter and left behind only silence.

"Whatever do you mean, Highness?" a council member said meekly. "No threats have appeared all through Hyrule, Termina and the Islands,"

"We are not in immediate danger." another added.

"Not even in the distant lands of Holodrum and Labrynna have their been reports of war!" Still another chimed in.

"We cannot afford to be overconfident in times of peace. Have we not learned from our mistakes so many years ago?" Zelda said, her voice rising.

"The Hero delivered us once," said another member, trying to dismiss the princess' concerns. "He shall come again if he is needed."

"The Hero is not some nameless servant you may call upon when the mood strikes you. He will not be treated as if he owes something to Hyrule, Termina or to any of the Islands." The room was deathly silent for a moment. "I implore you all to consider our situation carefully," the young ruler went on. "It is in times of peace when we are least prepared for chaos. We will not make any changes to our current defense situation."

"P-perhaps your Highness speaks wisely," the council head said after a moment's consideration. "It would be foolhardy to reduce our defenses immediately, but I do not believe we are in any immediate danger. For now, we shall relish in an era of peace."

The council cheered happily, while Zelda simply grimaced. No matter her opinion, no matter the significance of her often prophetic dreams, the council never seemed to care. They never were concerned about anything. The Head council hurriedly changed the subject to something like crops or immigration, Zelda didn't really pay attention.

"Your Highness, I suspect your concerns aren't merely instinctual," Zelda's nursemaid and trusted attendant, Impa, said. Zelda stayed silent as she paced the large room. "Was it a dream?"

"Yes," Zelda finally responded. "It was positively chaotic."

"Would you like to talk about it, your highness?" Impa was never one for emotional exchanges, but deep within her stone cold expression she was caring.

"No," the princess responded exhaustedly. She stepped to the ornate window and gazed out to the blooming gardens and field below her and let her thoughts consume her for a mere moment, forgetting her surroundings only briefly.

"It is unwise to keep your concerns bottled up, princess." She heard Impa say behind her. Zelda took a deep breath and turned to face her guardian who stood solemn and proud, arms folded.

"Then I shall make them known," She responded, putting an unconvincing smile on her face. "In due time." Impa's concerned expression was hard to read behind her usually cold and stony features, and no matter how she may have hid it, Zelda knew it was there. "I must go," she continued. "I have some work I must catch up on today," With that, the princess left without another word, not bothering to look back as she hurried away.

The day progressed quietly, and Zelda was able to entertain her worries alone and in peace. She lingered in her personal study into the late afternoon, working, absorbing herself in her own thoughts, even reading leisurely for a while. She almost congratulated herself on a productive and uninterrupted day when she heard three quiet knocks on the study door.

"Come in," she said absentmindedly, though when she looked up at her visitor, she instantly regretted it.

"G-good afternoon, Link," Her voice faltered, but she expertly maintained composure.

"Evening, more like," He replied, looking past the princess through the window at the orange sunset.

"Ah, indeed..." She said simply. "It seems time has gotten away from me." Link sighed. He never was one for such idle small talk.

"Listen, Zelda..." He started, swallowing whatever worries he had. "I want to apologize for my actions yesterday night," the Hero scratched at the back of his head. "It was rude, and not in my concern. Can you forgive me?"

"Link," Zelda sighed. "There is nothing for me to forgive. I could not think to blame my best friend for something so meaningless to me. It was a simple question of no great importance."

Link smiled slightly at her kind forgiveness. "Then I won't worry myself any further," The pair watched the sunset in silence for a while, simply enjoying one another's company in the fading light. Zelda could not help but sigh worriedly at the orange glow in the sky.

"You're troubled," Link remarked suddenly. Zelda was slightly taken aback.

"What makes you think that?" she asked, still staring at the sun disappearing behind the horizon.

"Your eyes," he started. "They're thoughtful. More than usual. And your breath, it is heavy and tired." He looked at her, though she did not return his gaze. "The way you carry yourself." His voice lowered to a whisper. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing at all," she said, turning to her Hero, wearing the same weak smile she gave to Impa.

"That's a lie, princess," Link grinned smugly. "I know when you're lying, you know." Zelda was about to protest when she remembered Impa's words and her own promise that followed.

It is unwise to keep your concerns bottled up.

A flash, and she was back in the midst of her burning kingdoms, screaming helplessly to the Goddesses as she watched everything fall apart.

Then I shall make them known.

The resonant screams from her nightmare replayed in her mind again. She could not close her eyes for fear of what awful scene might greet her. She was reluctant to sleep for fear of whatever nightmares and terrors she may see.

"Link..." she whispered, shaking. She buried her face in his chest and let tears flow. She cried quietly as Link tried to comfort her.

Zelda wiped her eyes. "I had.. a nightmare," She said when her sobbing faded.

"A nightmare?" Link asked, puzzled. His princess was normally so strong. Fearless.

"No, Link." She said cautiously. "A nightmare." Link's eyebrows raised as he realized her meaning.

"Was it... Did you... see anything?" He asked, trying to subtly get his point across.

"It was awful," Zelda replied, new tears threatening to make an appearance. "The kingdoms destroyed and everyone was gone. They all just... burned."

"Do... do you think that it will happen?" Link's voice was faint.

"I don't know,"

The moon was high and the princess would not sleep. Her eyelids lowered, her head rested in her hands but she refused to sleep. She stared out to the horizon silently, unmoving. It was these few moments in the late evening that she felt truly free. Her flowing silken nightgown was unrestricting, her feet bare. The night was still. Peaceful, she thought, but it could not last long. She eventually heard rapid hoofprints beating against the ground in the distance. Closer and closer the horseman rode, hurriedly galloping towards the castle town gates. Zelda strained her ears to hear his message.
"I bring urgent news from Termina," He said to the guard at the gate faintly. The creaky gate opened, and the rider galloped in. Zelda stood, adorning a soft robe to cover up her nightdress and neatly braiding her hair in case she was needed. Sure enough, a faint knock came from the door. Opening it, the princess was greeted by one of the palace's messengers and the horseman she'd seen before.
"Your highness," The man said, bowing courtly. "I have terrible news from Termina, my lady." Zelda froze. "The King and Queen have been assassinated." Zelda pulled her hand to her mouth to suppress the inevitable sobbing. The King and Queen, she thought. Aveil's parents.

Dead.

Okay the ending is not really my best work but I hope you enjoy it anyways. I'm working hard on future chapters so stay tuned! It'll move a little slow for the next couple chapters but I'm trying! I really hope you're enjoying it!

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Uploaded on 3/15/2013, 10:35 pm, North American Eastern Time