A/N: This chapter has mentioned of death and blood. Read at your own risk. Heres the warning... and yes because u already know what the comments will say, yes...Zelda is a boy in this. Mostly because i wanted to write out the dynamic between the two boys, i figured it would be interesting.

Chapter 4 - What lies under the cloak

Looking at his surroundings, Link found himself in what looked like a courtyard of a castle. There was a fountain in the middle and bright green grass all around, flowers as well. There was a stone path way that lead to the fountain and looped around. There were also stone benches across from the fountain.

Link notices a boy hunched over the fountain and staring into the water, upon a closer look he had realized it was the same boy from his last vision... The boy from the burning village, he looked older, around 14 now.

"what do you think?" A voice asked. Turning around Link noticed two people sitting on a bench not far from him. One was an older woman, she had long white hair and wore light armor. The older woman also had red markings over her red-eye.

The other was a girl around the same age as the boy at the fountain. She wore an elegant gown, a tiara, and her long hair flowed well past her shoulders. She was watching the boy at the fountain with a grin plastered on her face.

"Well I for one think its a wonderful idea... if he wants to train to become aguard of the royal family then why not?" The girl said

"Just be certain it's what he truly wants..."

The girl nodded then stood up "I will, thank you for speaking with me Impa" The girl said, she then made her way over to the boy at the fountain. "are you looking for something in the water?" She asked the boy.

The boy looked up at her and then bowed. "Hello Princess"

The princess blushed lightly and giggled. "Just call me Zelda, after all id like to think of us as friends...wouldn't you?"

The boy nodded.

"Great...so I know you said earlier in the year that you wanted to become a Royal guard... does that still stand true?" Zelda asked

The boy looked down at the water, after a moment he nodded.

This caused the princess to giggle again. "you don't like to talk much... do you?... you know as friends id like to think of myself as someone you can confide in...you know someone you can tell anything too.."

The boy let out a sigh. "...I just never know what to say...and I don't want to say the wrong thing"

"Just say what ever comes to mind.." Zelda said with a grin.

"okay... I think I can do that..." The boy said. He looked up at the princess and gained a small smile as well.

Links eyes flew open and he gasped for air, he found himself laying on the ground, everything around him was blurry and hard to focus on. Before he could even register what was going on a pair of hands gripped his shirt, Link was suddenly yanked upwards to his feet.

"Link. Oh thank the goddess that your still alive...one more minute and you'd be dead now..." A voice said.

Link managed to catch his breath and his vision slowly returned. Standing in front of him was a boy, about his age. The boy had long blonde hair and a familiar set of blue eyes, that seemed to shine in the daylight. The boy was wearing a deep blue short-sleeved shirt, a brown cloth hat and tan shorts. Link shook his head to clear it-- was he seeing things?? "...Zel????"

The boy rolled his eyes. "Who else are you expecting? Now pull yourself together" Zel said as he pulled away and faced the threat.

Gannon was standing a few feet away, she was gripping her arm just below the shoulder, blood was dripping from her hand. The look on her face said she was not very amused. Link then looked at the ground and noticed the two Bokoblins from before laying lifeless in a pool of their own blood.

Link threw his hands to his mouth as he began to gag. He quickly averted his gaze, he had never seen a body before...

"Pull yourself together Link this is not the time to be squeamish "Zel called back to him.

"Youre going to regret that boy... When I defeat you ill--" Gannon began to say

"blah blah blah" Zel interrupted. He then stomped on the hilt of one of the swords that the Bokoblin dropped. The sword flipped into the air, Zel grabbed it and then spun it in his hand until he gained a good grip. He held the sword out to Gannon. "I don't fear you...I disposed of your hideous goblins without even breaking a sweat... Do you truly think you stand even the slightest chance?... I could easily end you here and now"

Gannon narrowed her eyes, she reached down and grabbed her sword off the ground.

There was a scream that echoed down the alley, turning toward the street Link noticed a civilian standing there in terror. "Guards! Guards! Someone fetch the guards!" The woman screamed as she ran off.

"We have to go" Link whispered toZel

Zel and Gannon held each others gaze, neither moving an inch. Zel finally lowered his sword. "I think we all know that eventually we will have to face you... There's a time and a place... We both know it's not here" Zel told Gannon.

She scoffed as she sheathed her long sword. "...correct you are boy.." she pulled the hood over her face "but you haven't seen the last of me" With that Gannon spun around and she made a hasty exit.

After Gannon vanished from sight Zel sighed as his poker face broke. "that was a close one" He muttered, looking relieved.

They heard the sounds of voices and the sound of approaching feet.

Zel tossed the sword to the side, then grabbed Links wrist. "Come on" He said as he took off running.

They ran down the ally and manage to come to the street just as the guards made their way to the alley.

When they reached the street they heard the sound of more guards coming from both directions. On the street was only a small handful of people none of which were paying the two boys any attention.

"Now what?" Link said.

"I have an idea..." Zel said, he then suddenly shoved Link against the wall.

"Ow-- hey what was--" Link began to complain.

"Just be quiet and stand still" Z said as he leaned against the wall beside Link, he placed his palms together. Closing his eyes Z takes a deep breath, the triforce marking on the back of Zel's hand became more prominent. The right triangle on his hand began to glow yellow.

Link watched in curiosity, a few moments passed by and a group of guards poured out from the alley. They looked around before splitting off into two groups and rushing off.

Z keeps his eyes closed as he keeps his focus, the sounds of the guards footsteps begin to recede as they slowly vanish from sight.

"they didn't see us.." Link said quietly. Zel let his hands drop to his side, he stumbled forward, Link quickly grabs Zels arms to stop him from falling over. "whoa-- are you okay??"

"I'm fine" Zel said as he managed to redeem his balance, he pulled himself out of Links grip. "Lets get moving"

"did you turn us invisible??" Link inquired.

"Yes" He said as he turned and began to walk off. Link stood there a moment... Zel was able to use magic...how amazing. Zel turned to him... "Come on, I don't have all day and I doubt you want to have another run in with Gannon.."

Link rushed over to the other blonde haired boy. The two made their way down the empty street before coming to another, narrow busier street. One with many tiny shops lining the ends. Usually on days much like today most the citizens could be found browsing the markets and small shops.

"So um...Zel--"

"You know, i change my mind. Zel sounds awful coming from you. Just call me Z" Zel said as they made their way past some shops and into the crowd of people.

"okay, Z it is...so what is that short for anyway? Like Zelron? or something weird like that?" Link asked

"You only wish you knew..." Z said.

"right...so where did you get the change clothes?" Link wondered

Zel shrugged "i stole it... I couldn't just walk around wearing what I was before... id stand out" Z said as he fixed the hat he was wearing.

"...and you've got a hat why?"

"to cover my ears... granted most common folk haven't the slightest clue that Hylians even exsisted...all knowledge, of our kind wiped, due to the sheikah."

"Why would they do that?" Link asked

"easy, to keep us safe, being on the brink of extinction was dangerous, people began to seek hylians to either sell or hunt down...but theres always that slim chance that someone may know of our kind, such as that foul Gerudo woman... Honestly I'm surprised you don't wear a hat..." Z said as he shook his head. Link pulled his hair over his ears as he remained silent.

Link couldn't help but to think back to when he was younger...When he was around 12. It was fall, Link was outside theinn, sweeping the leafs and picking up the trash. He was minding his own business when three other kids around his age were walking past. As one of the boys walked past they shoved Link to the ground.

Looking up he saw Scourge, a pale skin human, whom had dark hair with eyes to match. The kid must have been in a foul mood and was a well-known bully. "well look who it is guys. It's the freak boy...Hey freak!"

Link stared up at the boy silent for a moment before pushing himself back to his feet "it's not very kind to call people names..."

"Shut up freak" One of the other kids said as he suddenly shoved Link, causing him to stumble into one of the other kids. That kid then in turn shoved Link back to the ground and the three bullies then laughed.

Link held out his hands to lessen the impact of the fall. As he hit the ground he slid a couple of inches, Link let out agroanas he pushed himself into a sitting position. Looking down at his hands he noticed his hands scratched up and bleeding.

The bullies laughed. "oh look-- the little freak is going to cry!" One of them said

Scourge, the leader of the trio crouched down. "So us boys got a bet going on-you see i think your half fairy, which would make sense because you look like a girl!" Scourge said as he stood up. "Do yourself a favor and stay off the streets" The kid laughed as he kicked some dirt at Link and they three bullies walked off laughing.

Link sighed, a part of him knew the kids were right, he was a bit of a freak...He was different.. He pushed himself to his feet, grabbing the broom he made his way inside. He went to the back kitchen and began to wash his wounds.

His aunt walked over and gasped as she noticed the blood on his hands. "oh my-what happened???"

"...I fell" Link responded, he was calm, but had a frown on his head.

His aunt knew better however she frowned and brushed some hair from his face. "was it those bullies again? you know I could always say something to them"

"no..its okay..."

"...why don't you ever fight back? Youre a strong kid, you could easily give then a taste of their own medicine" His aunt pointed out

He shook his head. "it's not right... just because they want to push me around and be mean, don't mean i should do the same..." This made his aunt smile, he was a smart, kind child, and she knew he was going to grow up to become awonderful man. Link paused, he looked up at his aunt with a frown. "Hey Annette...Am I a freak?"

"what??? no why on earth would you think that??? is that what those bullies said"

"well yes... but also... when ever I leave the house I notice people give me strange looks...some people try to avoid me on the street like I'm a monster..." Link said as he dropped his head in shame, he never knew why he was so different from everyone...

"oh Linkin, my dear boy.. it's because your different, and sometimes people don't know how to accept things that are different...but being different does not make you a freak...it means your special" His Aunt reassured and she poked his cheek. "now smile my boy...because youre perfect" Link looked up at his Aunt and grinned, then hugged her.

Link shook his head to clear it, he needed to focus on the now. "Wait, Z--" Link was suddenly grabbed the arm by a deku scrub.

"Say you!" The deku scrub said in a squeaky voice "you know I've got a great eye for people inneed-and you my sir are in dire need"

"No thanks I'm not interested--"

"For you today I got this--" The deku showed off an object that was medium is size. It was a beautiful blue and seemed as if made from some sort of glass, it sparkled and radiated with a strange beauty. "a moons tear! It's very rare, very valuable-- today I sell it to you for 200 rupees"

"why would I need--"

"Okay okay okay" the deku waves his hand "I cut the price for you-- today I give for 40 rupees-- come on, I see it all over your face, a man in trouble with the one he loves. Impress him-- buy him this moons tear and I promise all of your troubles will go away"

"what??--no it's not like-- fine" Link reached into his pouched and dropped a purple rupee in the deku's hand. "50 rupees-- keep the change" Link said as he grabbed the moons tear and walked away.

Looking around he noticed his friend gone, he scanned the crowded shops as he tried to find Z.

He spotted the blonde hair boy standing at a less crowded stand, it was a stand full of knives, daggers and other sorts of sharp objects. Link made his way through the crowded streets and over to Z.

Z was holding a sword of some sort, he seemedas if he were pestering the shop keep.

"2000 rupees is a fair price" the shop keep said

"really? for some poorly made sword???" Z scoffed "the writing on this blade is not some ancient script as you claim... More like poorly drawn symbols from a man who is trying to steal money from people who don't know any better"

"Yeah? well don't like it then don't buy it you brat" The man said as he snatched the sword from Z "Now get out of here"

Z huffed then began to walk away. Link joined him at his side. "That man was a phony"

"Welcome to Castle Town, where everyone is trying to rob you blind" Link said.

"...It was different you know..." Z said

"What? Castle Town?... I find that hard to believe..." Link muttered.

"Not just castle town but all of Hyrule..." Zel said as they turned on another street, away from the roaring market place.

"I wouldn't know... never left castle town... actually i hardly ever left home..." Link confessed.

"I'm actually not surprised.." Z muttered quietly.

Link raised an eyebrow, what was that suppose to mean, he let it go however. "So what is are next step? I mean what do we do if Gannon returns" Link questions

"That's simple...were leaving castle town. Were going to my village..." Z stated.

Link fell silent, leaving castle town had always been a dream of his... But what kind of darkness laid beyond the walls of castle town... It was hard to say... He couldn't imagine what. Granted he had always heard stories from Kolin, but whose to say what was real and what was fake...

The two came to a stop, looking up Link noticed that they were standing outside the Inn. Link took a deep breath.

"Get what you need and hurry. We need to leave Castle town soon...We have a three days trip through Hyrule field" Z said

Link nodded "Alright. But here's the deal... you let me do the talking..." Link said as he took a step but then paused and looked at Zel. "but first I have one question that's kind of been bugging me.. How did you even get captured in the first place, I mean clearly you have the capability to fight those men off so how did you even get--"

"Does it truly matter??" Z said as he looked at Link, giving him a serious look, he meant business...

"...no... I guess not-just wondering is all..."

"Lets just go get your things... and let's make it quick..." Z said as he started walking again. Link chuckled quietly and then followed along.