Chapter 1

Link

Link opened his eyes. Floating, in a dark space.

In the distance, there was a small light, a figure. Moving toward it, he called out: "Hello?" There was no response, and yet this presence felt familiar.

Getting closer, he started. "Zelda?"

She faced him, but there was no light in her gaze. "He is coming."

"W-what?" A broken whisper.

"He is coming."

Red light began to fill the darkness. Tendrils of a burning, viscous substance rose up to surround her. Link raced towards her, wanting, needing to stop the odd substance from covering her. But a few feet away, the ooze wrapped around his legs, preventing him from moving any further. It burned with an acidic intensity he had never felt before. Link struggled to move, desperate to help his friend, his Zelda. The substance moved faster, covering his arms and torso, freezing him entirely. Her unusually cold gaze burned into him. One last phrase escaped her lips: "How could you have failed me... Link." And then she was gone, turned to ash.

Link let out a pained whimper, frozen still by the angry, corroding substance. Zel! I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do! I couldn't move! I'M SORRY! He made a strangled noise, feeling himself beginning to disintegrate as well.

A new presence appeared, a shadow that emanated the malicious, painful miasma. It grabbed Link by the throat and lifted him up to its evil, glowing eyes.

"So THIS is the supposed 'hero'? Pathetic. A sniveling coward."

Link gasped for breath, absorbing the words of this - this thing. He's - It's right... I'm a coward... I didn't do anything at all to help Zelda... I... couldn't, though. Always too weak, too late...

"Well, no matter. You'll be gone long before your precious land is rebuilt, and becomes something better, where I rule ALL!"

The monstrous being squeezed tighter, choking him, killing him. One last raspy breath was taken, before the demon's face and awful words disappeared into the darkness.

Link awoke, gasping for breath. Sweat trickled down his face as he took in the familiar surroundings. Father and uncle, snoring in the next room. Moonlight filtering through old, musty curtains. His things piled neatly - the only orderly place in the house.

He managed to take a deep, shaky breath. The nightmares were back, more haunting than ever.

What time is it? He glanced over at the glowing clock. 5:32. No point trying to fall back asleep now; he normally had to get up at six to get to school on time. Link sighed and began to get dressed, albeit quietly... His twelve-year-old sister, Aryll, got upset if she woke before she thought it was the right time.

Oh, and it's the finals in fencing today. Better make sure to grab my extra sabre, in case Groose snatched my usual again. Idiot.

As Link reached for the blade, he heard a small chime. Frowning, he glanced to where he had heard it. Nothing. Perhaps he was just imagining things after that nightmare. Grabbing the sabre and his backpack, Link made his way for the door, when the chime sounded again. Looking again, he could have sworn a small light had flitted away from the window.

Just imagining things.

Even though he was cautious in exiting his room, Aryll was curled on the couch, tears on her slightly grumpy looking face. "I hate being up early," she muttered, hastily wiping her eyes.

He winced. "S-sorry. I was trying to be-"

"No, no. It's fine. I, um, heard you having a nightmare. I checked in to make sure nothing like... last time was happening."

Link flinched again. The last time his nightmares had been that intense...

He sat down next to her. "Don't w-worry, Aryll. I... I'm here, a-and... I'll be okay."

She snorted. "Sure. You, mister, are a trouble magnet." She paused, a worry line creasing her eyebrows. "Nothing's happened recently, right? Nothing bad?"

Link shook his head. Aryll pursed her lips. "Be careful. I just don't know... if you can, like, sense stuff or whatever but ever since that, I worry about anything happening to you."

He opened his arms for a hug, and Aryll jumped onto his lap. "Please be safe, big brother."

"I will," he whispered. But a painful tug in his gut - not to mention his nightmare - said otherwise.

_/|||\_

As he walked into the school, he noticed a familiar golden-haired girl bouncing toward him. He tried not to flinch, the nightmare still fresh in his mind. He tried for a gentle smile, and she jumped and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. "Link! You'll never guess what happened this weekend!"

He pulled back. Keep smiling, be normal, can't let her see something's wrong... "W-what?"

"I got to go to this archeological site, and there were so many ancient ruins, and they had Ancient Hyrulian writings! And they had uncovered part of an enormous skeleton! It looked like an ancient Leviathan!"

Link smiled brightly, and tried not to blush. Zelda's enthusiasm for just about everything was infectious, not to mention adorable. Don't think about that, she's too good for you. "Where was i-t? I heard there was one in H-hebra that they were di-digging up..."

"Oh, no. It was in the Gerudo desert, actually quite far from Gerudo Town. But I did get to see Urbosa and Nabooru," she replied, still bouncing happily. Just as Link was about to respond, the bell rang. Zelda sighed. "C'mon, let's get to class."

As they walked towards the gym - their first class - Zelda asked, "Are you alright, Link? You seem distracted." He tried to avoid reacting, but his ears twitched and began to point down, an uncontrollable tic he had when nervous or scared.

He swallowed. "I'm f-fine. Do-on't worry."

Zelda frowned, but before she could respond, they were pushed in the gym with the masses. But as soon as they entered with a bunch of other kids, Link's blood ran cold, and he felt himself freezing in place. A symbol was drawn on the wall, one of hate and vile intent. The eye of the Sheikah, flipped, as a sign of the Yiga clan. Heralds of evil, a gang obsessed with violence, especially aimed toward Hylians. And a group he had encountered before, the horrid memories making the scar on the side of his face tingle. And there were words next to it, ones that sent his mind whirling.

He is coming.

A/N: I will use some fencing and archery terms especially in the beginning chapters. I'm not really experienced in these areas, so if I make a mistake, make sure to let me know. (: A sabre is supposedly a type of fencing blade that is used differently than the foil and épée. Instead of just thrusts, the sabre is also a cutting blade, and the entire blade can score. I felt like it would be the closest to the sword style that Link uses in games.