So just as a quick little add-on, the Dark Castle game is basically a mix up of Ocarina Of Time and Twilight Princess. It will mix up characters and settings from both games, but the overall tone I think will be that of Twilight Princess. I don't know. I'll just have to see as I write it. I may add-on more elements from other Zelda games probably. Thanks!

Chapter Three

The first thing I'm aware of is music. It sounds like it's coming from a flute. The notes flow flawlessly from one to the other, slow and soft. It's beautiful. It coaxes me out of the warm cocoon of unconsciousness. Which kind of annoys me because it was really comfortable there.

The second thing I'm aware of is my surroundings. I'm lying on a bed, with kind of scratchy sheets pulled over me. There's a fire somewhere, I can feel its warmth as well as hear its crackling. I smell something sweet, like Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies, but different. The music is coming from my left, but I can't tell what's making it.

The third thing is that I'm not alone. The source of the music, I realize, is played by a person. The short, nearly silent breaths he takes in between the notes gives him away. At least, I think it's a he. It sounds like it. At first I tense, but then I relax at him being in the room. Somehow I know I don't need to be afraid of him.

And then I remember how I got here, wherever here is. Dark Castle, my throbbing headache, the golden flash, grass underneath me. The boy and girl...

My eyes fly open and I sit up straight. The music is abruptly silenced.

"Well, you're definitely awake." It's the same male voice from before, somewhat startled by my sudden awakening. He has a slight accent, not too noticable. "How are you feeling?"

I turn to look at him. He sits on a wooden stool by the fire with a weird instrument in his hands. I guess it's responsible for the music I heard. I feel like I should know what it is... but I just can't place it. My eyes travel up. He has on tan pants and a green tunic, which is a bit odd I guess. You don't see many tunics now-a-days. My eyes settle on his face. He looks about my age, maybe a year or two older. He has blond hair, his bangs just miss falling into his eyes. His eyes. They're a deep cobalt blue, kind and warm. Concerned, also, as he looks at me.

I take my eyes from him for a moment to look around at my surroundings. We're in a warm, cozy little wooden cottage. It's actually kind of cute. There's a kitchen and two beds, with another two doors that must lead off into different rooms. All in all, I feel safe and comfortable here. Funny, considering I'm in here with a complete stranger and I don't even know where I am. You'd think I'd be more upset about this.

"Umm, hello?" The boy asks awkwardly.

I turn and look at him. "What? Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine." I say quickly, giving him a smile to confirm it. "Thanks," I look around again. "How long have I been out?" I feel a little fuzzy still, like pins-and-needles in my brain.

"About three days," The boy says, looking down at his flute thingy again. "I found you in the Lost Woods. What were you doing there? I mean, it's not the safest place to be taking a walk in."

"Three days?" I whisper. My parents must be worried sick. They don't even know I'm here. My heart gives a sharp twist when I think of them coming home to an empty house. They'll probably have called the police. Mom might be crying. Dad will be out looking everywhere. David will have come home to comfort Mom, as well as help Dad look for me... Oh my gosh...

"Wait, The Lost Woods?" I ask, confused. That's an area in Zelda. Weird. I didn't know it was an actual place.

The boy raises his eyebrows but nods. "Yeah. I was on my way home from... a little trip... keeping an eye out for monsters, when I saw you lying in the grass. At first I thought a Moblin got to you, or a Bokoblin. So I got of Epona–my horse–and went over to you. You were still alive, obviously, so I brought you back here. Alac and I have been taken turns watching you and making sure you were okay. So, you're welcome." He adds with a small smile as he lifts the flute thingy to his mouth and begins to play it again, a different song than before. This one is more upbeat, and faster. I recognize it. It sounds like Saria's Song from Ocarina of Time.

I shake my head, marveling at his words. Moblins, Bokoblins, and Epona. All from Zelda. What is going on? This has to be a joke. In fact, it's kind of ridiculous.

I laugh. "Um, obsessed much?" I ask. He looks at me, confused. "With Legend Of Zelda. I mean, come on? Bokoblins? Epona? You must really like Zelda. It's nice to meet a fellow fan and all, but seriously, what really happened? And where are we?"

He looks at me, even more confused than before. "Zelda? As in the princess? Of course I'm not obsessed with her! She's engaged, and I happen to be very good friends with the lucky man. I only see her as a friend. And that is what really happened. You can't tell me you don't think Bokoblins and Moblins are real, they're all over Hyrule. Especially in the Lost Woods. Considering you were in there, I should think you must've met one." He stops for a second. "And what's wrong with my horse's name?" He adds defensively.

I just stare at him. It's official, he's mental. Absolutely mental. I think he actually believes he's Link. What is wrong with this guy?

I shake my head in disbelief. "Believe me, I mean absolutely no disrespect to you. After all, you did take care of me and everything. But, you're crazy."

He furrows his eyebrows. "Yeah, well no offense, but I think you are the crazy one. You honestly think I'm lying?"

I'm about to make another comeback when I get a good look at something. His ears. Holy crap. Are those his real ears? No, they couldn't be! His ears are like an elf's, pointy at the top.

In Zelda, all Hylians have ears exactly like that. Yikes, he's seriously dedicated...

But the more I look at them, the more life-like they get...

He clears his throat. I know I must be making him uncomfortable, but I can't help it. "Umm, yes?"

"Are those your real ears?" I blurt out.

His hands go to his ears. "Yes... what? You've never seen ears before? What's so different between yours and mine?" He looks at my ears, exposed now because I've pushed my hair back behind them, and his face goes into shock. "Are those your real ears? What's wrong with them?"

I get up without thinking and walk over to him.

I pray that those aren't his real ears. I touch them gingerly.

Not possible. Totally not freaking possible. They are real.

"Who are you?" I say softly. This whole situation has officially skyrocketed past weird and into freaky territory.

"Who are you?"

"I asked you first,"

"Yeah, but you owe me."

"For what?"

"Saving you. In the Lost Woods. You would have died if I hadn't picked you up. No question. And all I ask in return is your name. I'm being generous. So, you first."

I hesitate. I guess he seems sane enough. I mean, besides the fact that he thinks he's Link and resembles a freakishly large elf from the North Pole. A cute elf.

I shake my head. Not the time Nicky!

"Nicole Dallas."

But before he gets the chance to respond with his name, two equally weird things happen.

First, I finally realize that I do know what the instrument is in his hand. An ocarina. How did I not remember that before?

Second, a sparkling light blue blaze of light flies into the room. It lands on the boy's shoulder.

Okay, maybe that second thing was a little weirder than the ocarina.

"Hey, look! She's awake!" It says in the same melodic voice that I heard in the supposed Lost Woods.

I gape at it. "It" is in fact a she. A tiny blue fairy stares back up at me. She wears a shimmering blue slip and her glossy blue hair is cut in an appropriate pixie cut. Great, now I'm mental. I'm seeing fairies.

"You were right, she is absolutely hot!" The fairy grins wickedly at the boy. He blushes a little and glares at her.

"Shut up Navi, or I swear I will throw you to a Deku Baba." Navi? Oh my gosh.

The fairy holds her hands up in defense. "You said it, I just repeated you. Monkey see, monkey do!"

"This is not happening," I whisper, backing away from them both. "This doesn't happen in real life. This is something that would happen in the Twilight Zone, not real life."

"The Twilight Zone?" The fairy, or Navi as the boy calls her, asks. "What's that?"

I stumble on the bed.

"Nicole?" The boy asks, the worried look back on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Your turn," I say in a shaky voice. "What's your name?" Although I think I already know the answer.

"Link," He answers. "My name is Link."