Okay! Uploading this a few hours early because I'm going out tonight and I'm not sure when I'll be back and I don't want this to be late. A few notes about this one before we begin. First off, as you may guess further into the chapter, headcanon=Sheik is just Zelda in disguise. Secondly, lots of new characters to emerge so pay attention. Hopefully it won't get too confusing. Lastly, I don't really like the part where Sheik is introduced but I rewrote it a couple of times so... I guess it works. Please stay tuned afterwards because I have some notes for you for after the chapter as well~ Luv you guys!

Hyrule, Lanayru Province, Hyrule Castle

Link had prepared as he used to. Plenty of potions, lantern oil, and all the supplies he could find from his previous journey. He stood in the stables, trying to reassure a fidgety Epona while packing his supplies. He didn't really have a plan. But, he didn't have a plan two years ago when he set out on his first journey two years ago, did he? He figured, the first thing to do would be to find this Ghirahim person. But to do that, he probably had to find Zelda. This should be interesting, he thought.

"Link!" A voice called from behind him. He turned to see Auru, the Captain of the Hylian Guard. He smirked a bit. "I guess you're heading out to find him, huh?"

Link nodded. "I am," He said softly.

"Impa told me what's happened." Auru paused for a moment. "I'm definitely not going to let that monster wage war on this kingdom," He said with determination in his voice. Link paused, eyeing Auru carefully. He was silent for a moment. "Come with me, Link, there's some people you gotta meet."

Auru led him around the back of the training fields, to an area where the knights, servants or anyone seldom went. There was a small stable, a few horses, a tiny shack and three people that Link didn't recognize.

"Oy, Auru!"

"Oh, he's finally back."

"Took ya long enough, yeah?"

"Link," Auru said. "I'd like you to meet Ghanti and Rusl. Ahshei, I think you already know. They may not be the soldiers the kingdom's used to, but... they're the best warriors I know."

Link looked at Auru curiously.

"And they've all got the same goal - bringing that Ghirahim bastard to justice."

Link glanced at each of them. Ashei had short, black hair in two braids. She wore thick armor, like it was made for cold weather. Her face looked tired, but she was alert. Rusl was tall, had a long, squareish face and wore little armor except for traditional Ordonian garb. Ghanti was slightly short, with long, layered black hair. She wore an armored dress with loose-fitting pants, similar to the clothes of the Gerudo. Link studied them, all very different, but all with the same look of determination in their eyes.

"So, Link," Auru said. "We're going to find Zelda and that Ghirahim." He paused for a moment. "Will you come with us?"

Link smirked, looking Auru in the eyes with newfound courage. "I will,"

{Various} Hyrule

The group started by traveling around Hyrule to make sure the inhabitants of each province were safe. Link started to learn more and more about each person as they traveled, and he was enjoying their company. As he knew, Ashei had been raised in the Snowpeak mountains by her father. Ghanti was a descendant of the Hylian knights of old, but raised as a thief. Rusl was the most talented swordsman, probably in all of Ordona, as he himself put it. The journey had started off with Auru leading them, but it became evident that Link knew much more about Hyrule, and about adventuring, so it wasn't long before he began to take the lead.

"Kakariko Vilage is not far from here," He said, late one evening. Everyone was tired and hungry. "We can stop here for a while. The Shaman here is very hospitable,"

Sure enough, Renado, the Shaman, and his daughter Luda, welcomed Link & his companions with open arms. Rooms at the Inn were set up for them, and by nightfall the group of adventurers were sleeping soundly, but Link remained restless.

Hyrule, Eldin Province, Kakariko Village

Late at night, on the dusty rooftops of the quiet Kakariko village, a young man stood, simply watching the arid, sandy Eldin Province contently. A tight Sheikah garb hugs his strong, slender frame. Sand billowed with every gust of wind, but he remained stoic. He held a harp, gently and absentmindedly strumming fleeting, quiet notes. Link wandered in the village in darkness, unable to sleep. The Sheikah on the rooftops watched him silently.

"Who are you?" Link asked, spotting his observer. He leapt down, landing gracefully at the foot of the building. He had sharp, piercing red eyes and a few pieces of dark blond hair fell over them, but the rest of his face was covered by a white cotton cowl. He stepped toward Link slowly.

"You're troubled," He said after a long pause. "You can't sleep."

Link simply stared. "I guess so," He replied. Link thought for a moment. He wanted someone to talk to, of course, he'd been traveling searching for someone he cared about and the monster that attacked her with adventurers that he barely knew, but for some reason, he was ready to spill everything to this mysterious Sheikah. "I'm a little stressed out is all." He said simply. The Sheikah waited for him to continue. "I... It doesn't matter," was all Link said. He studied the Sheikah for a moment. "What's your name?" He finally asked.

"M-my name is Sheik," He said simply.

"Sheik," Link repeated. "I'm Link." He held out his hand, and Sheik shook it slowly. "So Sheik, if I may ask, what's your story?"

"My story?" Sheik said. "There is not much to say. I'm one of the Sheikah, protectors of the Royal Family since ancient times."

"Royal Family?" Link said. "What do you know about them?"

"Uh... Very little," Sheik remarked. "Most Sheikah are only protectors of them in title and tradition." Link looked disappointed. "Wh... why do you ask?" Sheik asked.

"Oh, um... I was a guard of the p-princess. But I haven't seen her in almost a month, and apparently she was attacked. I jus-"

"Is that why you can't sleep?" Sheik interrupted.

Link was silent for a long moment. "Yeah."

"And... you're searching for her?"

"I am,"

"Let me help you,"

"What?"

"I want to help you Link," Sheik said confidently. "Let me come with you."

Link didn't respond for a moment. He didn't even react. Sheik waited for his answer, watched for a reaction or any movement. Slowly, a grin appeared on his face. "Yeah," He said slowly. "The more the merrier. I'll have to ask Auru, so come find me in the morning."

"A-auru?" Sheik repeated. "Okay..."

Without another word, Link hurried back to the inn.

For once, he slept soundly.

The next morning, Link awoke to the sound of Rusl and Auru getting ready to leave.

"Oy, mornin', Link!" Rusl said as he noticed Link sit up in his bed.

"The girls are all ready," Auru remarked. "Come on, sleepyhead, it's time to get up. Go eat something."

Luda had fixed breakfast for everyone, but when Link got down to the small dining room in the inn, everyone was gone, and there was one plate left. He ate quickly by himself. From what he could tell, it was very early. The sun barely rose past the peak of Death Mountain. When Link finished eating, he gathered what little supplies he had, dressed himself, thanked Renado and Luda for their hospitality and tried to pay them (thought they would not accept). Rusl, Ashei and Ghanti waited outside for him.

"Morning!" Rusl greeted.

"Oh shut it, you," Ghanti said bitterly.

"What's your problem?" Ashei asked.

"Don't start. You woke me up before the sunrise, I swear to Din." Ghanti grumbled.

"Who's that?" Rusl interrupted the girl's chatter. There, on a cliff above the village, was Sheik. Link smiled inwardly. Though he didn't know Sheik well, there was something about him that made Link trust him.

"My name is Sheik," he said.

'A Sheikah?" Ghanti asked.

"I am," He replied.

At that moment, Auru emerged from the inn. "Morning, everyone... who's this?"

"This is Sheik," Link said. "He is a... friend of mine." Sheik glanced at Link briefly. "He can help us... to find Zelda."

"Protector of the Royal Family, huh?" Ashei remarked.

Sheik laughed.

"Well, Sheik," Auru said, shaking the Sheikah's hand. "A friend of Link's is a friend of mine."

Everyone introduced themselves and it was not long before they were off.

Traveling with Link, Sheik saw more of Hyrule than she ever did as Zelda. Zelda visited kingdoms, townships cities. But Sheik explored mountains, caves, forests & lakes. Guilt plagued her, every so often, that the person they were all looking for was right in front of them. Not even Auru knew Sheik's true identity. She sometimes felt an urge to just rip off the mask she wore, but her better judgement told her that would put not only her, but this group of people she'd come to grow fond of in danger.

She learned so much about this group, and about her own kingdom, as she traveled. Rusl was a talented swordsman from Ordona. Ghanti's ancestors were ancient soldiers of Hyrule, but she was brought up by thieves. Ashei was raised in the heights of the Snowpeak Mountains by her father. She was amazed at how little she knew of her own kingdom. It was all so interesting. So new. And the fact that Link was traveling with her, well, it made her that much happier.

Okay! So, pretty much... I've got a few new characters here so let me list them for you:

Rusl - Twilight Princess

Renado & Luda - Twilight Princess

Ashei - Twilight Princess

Ghanti - A Link to the Past (manga only)

And... Sheik is Zelda. Duh.

So... Ghanti was a character who only appeared in the LttP manga by Akira Himekawa. I really love this character and wanted to use her, so all the information about her in the story will be 100% canon (from the manga). Now, this brings me to an interesting point: In the manga, Ghanti has the ability to transform into a fox. I would really love to use this in my story but I'm not sure how well it would work and how I would work it into the plot, especially with Link's being able to turn into a wolf... So my request to you is to tell me what you think, maybe read the zeldapedia page on Ghanti (it's sometimes spelled Ganty) and let me know your opinion! I'd really like to know what you think. Should I or shouldn't I? And, as always, review review review review! Love ya!

Chapter 8 is going... slowly. There may be some late future chapters but I can't be sure so check my profile for updates when you can. ALSO! I know the story had kind of been following Link lately but we're going back to Zelda soon, and as per the disguise I'm referring to her as Sheik instead of Zelda. Okay? Okay. Review. Thanks. Sorry for all the A/N. Okay. I'm done now. I promise.

Uploaded on 4/19/13, 4:35pm, EST