Chapter 4

Link clutched his chest with one arm as he sped along the dirt road toward the Academy. Maybe he had been understating the pain in his chest. It hurt quite a bit more after he had been driving for a few minutes. The adrenaline had left his body maybe? He swore under his breath and gripped the front of his jacket.

At some point in the crash, the zipper, the small bit, had fallen off of the jacket, leaving it open. The wind ripped right through him as he sped down the road, his teeth chattering and his torso aching. Maybe he had broken a rib after all. But wouldn't the pain be worse if that were the case? Link chastised himself for thinking he was more hurt than he knew he actually was. Just a few bruises, probably.

The bike seemed fine at least, only a few scratches on what was left of the old paintjob and a few dents. A few MORE dents anyway. Oh who was he kidding, thinking of the little things. Well little things compared to the confusion coiling around inside his head. Why had his heart begun to race? From fear, when the Princess came into view? Wasn't he supposed to respect and admire the Princess? And, you know, not freak out when he sees her.

Why was she even going out to Kakariko? Well, she obviously wasn't destined for that old village, but she was headed somewhere in the mountains. Maybe the Goron Historical Society? She made stops there once in a while, their museum mainly. Even though that was likely, it just didn't sound right in Link's head. Why would she have this large of an entourage with her? Sure, this was Princess Zelda, but she never had anything like this when visiting the museum. At least, not according to the papers he read.

There was somewhere else the Princess could be headed though: The Academy. There wasn't really any other place she might go with that kind of following. The only question left to Link's mind was Why?

Link's heart skipped a beat, swerving back onto the road. He had almost drifted off again, which would have put him off the road and off a cliff into a freefall to his death. But even then, that's not why his heart skipped like it had (well maybe partially). His instincts had suddenly slammed into his consciousness, that "run away while you still can, or stand and fight" sort of deal. Primarily run away in this case. Was this the act of the Triforce? It didn't really seem all that courageous. Link's mind stalled as something occurred to him.

Could she be headed to the Academy because the Triforce of Courage had returned?

It was obvious, really. What other reason was there? People would surely have noticed the lack of Triforces on the backs of their hands when the real Triforce re-formed. That was just how it worked, or at least what the story implied would happen. The Triforce would remove all the false marks of Courage so that it would be obvious to anyone who the real bearer was. Which meant that she, the Princess, was coming to discover if one of the students had actually been deemed worthy of the powerful artifact.

So much for the Academy. The Academy's one purpose was to train the potential next hero of Hyrule, and all it did was train lot of people to act like Heroes. The real hero mopped their floors. Well, Link didn't do that as much as he swept the floors, but that didn't matter all too much. The fact is that while it did not train the next hero, it sort of found the next one. Well, it found the next bearer of the Triforce of Courage anyway. He wasn't a hero.

The Hero was always smart, courageous, a fighter and, most importantly, wearing a tunic. Maybe not that last part, tunics don't really exist anymore. Not in any fashion on earth as far as Link knew.

Maybe he could fight, he had been training with Kaepora for a while now. Courage? Not really. Look at what he was doing now, running away. From what? Some distorted fear of confrontation with the Princess? Heck, he didn't even go outside at night with all the thieves in the area. Then there was the hero's smartness. Link could be described as clever, but not much else. Could he really be the Hero?

Link frowned, partially losing his train of thought as he heard his motorcycle groan. Maybe it was more damaged as he had let himself believe. He eased the engine into the final stretch of dirt road as he approached the Academy, he didn't want it breaking on him after all.

He pulled up to the back door of the Academy, but there was something different. He could hear a lot of commotion coming from the front of the building, as distant as it was. He cursed his bad luck. The only other time he had heard people on the other side of the giant building was when the Princess came into town a few years back. Even then, it wasn't this loud. This was something bigger than a visit.

Link got off his bike, pulling off his helmet. It was covered in scratches and had a rather large dent in it. Link sighed, placing it onto the handlebars of the bike. He would deal with fixing it up later. He knelt down to the bottom of his bike, noticing a large branch sticking out of the side. How had he missed this? He gave it a few good pulls before it finally came free. Goddesses damned, this must have been the problem that was causing the groaning. Link threw the branch over his shoulder, pulling his hat from the side bag, a green beret that marked him as part of the Academy's staff.

He pulled out his key ring and unlocked the back door, and for once the old thing didn't creak to hell. Someone must have oiled it. He walked down into the basement, hearing commotion from the other side. He wasn't one to mingle with the night staff, who would most likely still be on duty, but it wouldn't be the first time he "volunteered" for overtime. Maybe he could just get the stuff out of the first aid case and go before they acquired him. He opened the door, to a slight surprise.

All of the night crew was here, looking rather tired. Same with the day crew. They all stood in the middle, talking in somewhat hushed tones. This was very rare. Both crews barely worked with one another, and only when there was a big event that required everything to be spick and span. Except the Picori Festival which apparently only needs the day crew. School budgets man.

Up above them Link could hear the student's rushing around, either preparing for classes or something bigger, he didn't know. He made his way over to the lockers, avoiding eye contact. On the right side of the lockers was the first aid box, secured to the wall. Link unstrapped the case from the wall, placing it on the bench and revealing the contents.

It was empty.

"Damn." He whispered, closing the small container. Wasn't this illegal or something? Having an empty first aid kit could mean the death of someone. Strapping it back onto the wall, he turned back to the janitors. Shadly frowned slightly as Link approached.

"You alright Link? You look a bit battered."

Link entered the huddled group, most of them gave him a once over, nodding in agreement or not saying anything. "I had a little tumble off the road back to Ordon City. Nothing serious. Just a few scrapes and bruises."

Kaepora looked Link up and down. "You sure about that? I know that motorcycle of yours can be rather dangerous." The others nodded, aside from Jona from the night crew. Link wasn't sure that Jona even knew what a motorcycle was. He was pretty young and was from Kakariko. "At any rate," Kaepora continued. "You needn't have rushed. Princess Zelda isn't going to be here for another hour or so."

Link raised an eyebrow, noticing that his own heartrate increased at the mention of the Princess's name, but he tried not to let it show. "The Princess is coming here?" He asked, feigning ignorance.

Kaepora crossed his arms. "The Academy sent a notice to all of us, informing us of her visit and that we needed to be here." He raised an eyebrow, mirroring Link. "Did you not get this message?"

Link shrugged. "I didn't check my mail this morning." Completely true, thankfully. Unthankfully, he hadn't even made it back to his apartment last night.

Kaepora nodded, and looked like he was about to say something before the door to the main hall of the school opened up. Through it came Mr. Sturgeon, a short old man with a large, bald head. Today it gleamed with sweat, probably due to the fact that the Princess herself was going to be here soon. He was the headmaster, and was going on 30 years now as the headmaster of the Hyrule Academy. His dark green, tailored jacket trimmed with gold was a testament to his status.

He didn't approach our group, instead he stood a good distance away. Right next to the door. "K-Kaepora, is everyone here now?" Mr. Sturgeon always insisted on talking to Kaepora, probably because Kaepora was from Castle town as opposed to basically anywhere else. Kaepora nodded, standing straighter than he had before, as he always did when talking to someone that was above him in rank. Some military habits die hard.

Mr. Sturgeon nodded in return to Kaepora. "Be sure to stay out of sight, and efficient while her majesty is here. If she catches sight of you, please, try to look busy." He pulled out a small cloth and dabbed his forehead with it. Link wasn't even sure where Sturgeon decided his forehead ended and his actual head began.

"I expect nothing but the best from our staff, and I'm sure her majesty would say the same. If anything goes wrong in your department, you will pay the penalty, as you all know." He stuffed the handkerchief in his jacket pocket, and turned to leave, but Kaepora stopped him with a quick question. "Sir, do we know why she is going to be here?"

Mr. Sturgeon sighed slightly, closing the door again before turning partially back to our group. "From the message we received, her majesty is certain that the Triforce of Courage has returned. I pray to Farore that one our students actually received it." With that he pushed his way out the door and back into the polished halls of the Academy.

The staff stood huddled for a moment not talking, taking it in. Well, aside from Link. He was far from the train of thought that the others had. Theirs would most likely be trying to think about how much Hyrule might change with the return of Courage, and maybe on where the Triforce of Power might be.

Link, however, was thinking about the little triangular tattoo on the back of his hand, hidden beneath his glove for the time being. He hoped the damn thing wasn't still glowing, or it might just glow right through the fabric and give himself away. It's funny, he thought to himself, that the Triforce would actually choose someone who didn't want it. Or at least the attention in drew to him.

You can tell him.

Link jumped slightly from the voice he heard. His eyes opened slightly wider as he became visibly tense. Kaepora raised an eyebrow at Link, who tried to relax. Sadly, Link could not relax. He recognized that voice. Farore. The Triforce of Courage.

Kaepora can help you.

Link stayed nearly absolutely still, breathing deeply to try and calm himself. It's not every day you hear a voice in your head, let alone one you recognize. "Help me with what?" Link asked internally.

Mention to Kaepora the name Telma, and then show him me.

If it were possible to pass out and not pass out while simultaneously losing every ounce of rigidity in your body, Link did it. In other words he wobbled in place before stumbling back and landing hard on a bench. TELMA. Telma. Why in Nayrue's name would he mention Telma?

Any talking in the group stopped as Link did this, their eyes turned to him. The day crew showed concern, while night just continued to look tired, but confused. Kaepora hurriedly stepped over to him, probably the most concerned out of all of them.

"Link are you all right?" He asked, resting a hand on Link's shoulder. Link shook his head, staring off into space. "I-I think I took a harder tumble than I thought." Kaepora made Link look into his eyes. "So, you did have an accident with your bike this morning." Kaepora was looking intently at each of Link's eyes, probably looking for a concussion. Although he didn't have an electric torch, so that would be difficult.

Kaepora stopped, looking back to the day and night crews, some of whom were still watching. "How about all of you get to work. I'm pretty sure the auditorium could use some attention. Send a few of you outside to help the groundskeepers, they're down Baris and Herb today."

Both crews took a moment, probably still thinking about the Triforce of Courage's return, before they snapped back into reality and began to prep for the day. Kaepora stood up and walked over to the first aid kit, pulling the box from its spot. Link didn't bother telling him that the container was empty. He was still thinking over what he had to do.

Telma, to the less informed of Hyrule's current internal affairs, was a rebel group of sorts. They operated in secret and were in many positions of both power and the more mundane. Just two months ago they, reportedly, performed a string of robberies throughout Castle Town, Latoan City and the eastern towns. They stole mainly old magical artifacts, but also some of the outside technology Hyrule had.

But that is how they were viewed to the general public. As Link knew, they had also helped many people, by redistributing other things, such as food and water to the sick and poverty stricken. Heck, Link personally knew a few in Latoan City. Not that he was friends with them by any means, they were still criminals after all. He just happened to know them.

But to suggest that Kaepora, an ex-member of the Hylian Army, a guard in Hyrule Castle and one of the most well-known people working at the Hylian Academy even as a janitor, was a member of this underground syndicate: was quite a claim. Even coming from a goddess.

Oh goddesses, Link had nearly forgotten who had told him this in the first place. That being the Triforce of Courage itself, basically a goddess with the power it held.

To say that he was a little overwhelmed would be quite an understatement.

Kaepora pulled a chair over before lifting the lid on the first aid kit. Sighing slightly, he closed the box and went to get up. Before he was able to, Link placed a hand on his shoulder. Kaepora gave him a slightly confused look, before resettling himself. They both stayed silent until the rest of the janitorial staff had left, off to clean and take care of the academy.

"I take it you have something to say?" Kaepora stated, his tone slightly hushed.

Link took a deep breath, deciding to start small. "Well, I did crash my bike at some point last night. Passed out while driving, woke up a little over an hour ago." He paused, taking a moment to think about how he wanted to go about this. As he spoke, he removed his hand from Kaepora's shoulder.

If he didn't trust Kaepora, who was basically his mentor at this point, who could he trust?

"You don't seem finished." Kaepora said, placing the plastic box on the floor. Link nodded, prepping himself.

"Well, Kaepora. As random as this might seem… does Telma mean anything to you?" Link met Kaepora's eyes after asking this. Kaepora shifted in his seat, his face set in an expression somewhere between questioning and concerned. "That's a rather touchy subject these days Link." He leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "What exactly happened after you woke up from your crash?"

Link fidgeted in his seat, playing with his gloves. "It's not so much what happened after I woke up. It was more… while I was asleep." He was still skirting the subject. Should he just do what Farore suggested and reveal that which has probably changed his life forever?

Kaepora didn't move, but he continued. "Was something stolen? Was Telma involved? I'm really not sure where this is going Link." Concern was etched into his face. Gone was the confusion, now all Link could see was that worry he had seen a few times in his life when talking about his life in Latoan City. It wasn't a look he ever liked. Link wasn't helpless, he had lived on his own for quite some time.

But hell if he didn't feel helpless right now.

Link steeled himself and pulled off his glove. There, just as it had been before, was the Triforce. The triangle shone slightly in the dim light of the janitor's room. Kaepora didn't immediately notice, taking off a glove isn't exactly a large noteworthy event. But he wasn't dense, and less than a second passed before he took notice of the holy mark on the back of his protégé's hand.

There were a few moments of silence before Link spoke. "I had a… dream. And I woke up with this. It was brighter then, but now it's a bit duller." Link didn't take a breath. "Then after Mr. Sturgeon left it spoke to me to tell me to show you that I had it. But it also told me to mention Telma to you. I'm not really sure what it meant, or why but I did and now I don't exactly know what to-"

Kaepora slapped him across the face with a loud smack. It stung. Link took a moment to gather himself.

"Thanks." He managed.

Kaepora didn't reply as he looked a moment longer at the back of Link's hand. Link swallowed hard, not knowing what to do.

"Link, I am a member of Telma." Kaepora Looked Link dead in the eyes. They still showed concern, but his face had changed. It was steely. Cold. Determined. Thankfully it was the eyes that mattered most.

"I don't know why the Triforce chose me." Link said, almost desperately. Link chided himself. Every story of the bearers of the Triforce mentioned the same thing. It is one thing to be cliché, but it's another to continue a trend.

"I don't think anyone knows why anything happens to them, even if they tried to get that thing to happen." Kaepora blinked a few times before picking up the first aid kit and standing up. He didn't say anything as he replaced it on the wall.

"Kaepora… do you know why the Triforce would direct me… to Telma? To you?" Link made to get u, but fell back down again. His legs were still like rubber, but feeling was returning to them as the initial shock of… well of many things was giving way to worry.

Kaepora gave a kind smile, opening his locker. "Well Link, I think your Triforce has more of an idea than I do. But I can take a guess."

He pulled out his jacket, an old leather number with the Hylian crest etched into the shoulder. This was followed by his bag, which he pulled onto his shoulder. He tossed his own green beret inside before he closed the locker.

He turned back to Link. "Telma can help you begin what I can only assume is your quest."

Link actually managed to get up, though a bit wobbly. Kaepora steadied Link by grabbing his shoulder, to which Link mumbled a thanks. "And what is that quest?" Please don't be cryptic, he asked internally.

Kaepora approached the back door, and turned around. "Telma has been looking out for the good of Hyrule since the beginning of the Cold War. Stealing technology, information and resources for the good people stuck in the middle. More recently, however," He opened the door, motioning for Link to follow him before continuing. "Telma has taken an interest in the magic that envelops and lives within Hyrule." He paused a moment. "Well, did. Magic has been leaking out of Hyrule in unprecedented amounts. I think, and this is me spit balling here so don't take it to heart, that your quest will be to stop that." With that they stepped out into the now well-lit backside of the Academy.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Link exclaimed, ever so slightly exasperated. Kaepora might have chuckled under his breath, but Link wasn't certain. He walked up to Link's bike and picked up the helmet. Turning it over in his hands, Kaepora replied. "How about we start by getting to Kakariko Village." With that he tossed the helmet to Link and got on the bike.

"We should get going."

Author Words

So… I am very late with this. Better than a year, I suppose. I guess I should offer an excuse. That being: I forgot about it. With my new job (I work nights) throwing off my schedule, the end of my third semester at college (A few months ago) and general distractions (damn it tf2) I simply had to put this aside. And for me out of sight = out of mind. Thank you New Universe Returns for posting a review and completely reminding me that I had a halfway finished chapter sitting on my computer.

But here it is! The next chapter! I'm wrapping this up at about 2 in the morning, New York time. I will try to update the next chapter soon, but this part of the story still needs to be fleshed out in a planning stage. Once we get a little farther (a chapter or two) I will be able to churn these out much faster. That being said, I am easily distracted. I will give myself a deadline: August 11th. Sometime between now, and then. See you then!