Legend of Zelda

A Hero Reawakens

Ch. 1 pt. 1

The town within Hyrule's walls bustled and came to life as the grand celebration of Princess Zelda's 16th birthday arrived. The bakers, eager to have the Princess taste their finest works. The Tailors, impatient as to see who's fine works the Princess will chose to wear. All the people, anxious to see the young Princess in her carriage come out of her castle of sanctuary and greet them all with her loving smile. On fine occasions like this, all the Hyrulians celebrated and came toward the town to dance traditional Hyrulain dances and tell of folk lore that lingered in the land from old times.

"If you don't hurry Link, you might miss your chance to see the Princess again!" Navi spoke as she freely flew around Link's head. Link, being embarrassed to even be there, quickly caught Navi and put his pointer finger to his mouth, in a sign for silence. "Link! Why should I stay hidden? It's been about 7 years since the old prejudices about the fairy children who live in the woods. Would you quit worrying? Let's just go say hello to the Princess again!" Link sighed, knowing that old thoughts never die. He motioned for Navi to stay in his hat, where she'd be safe. "Aw, Link..." Navi said, being defiant. "If I knew you were gonna act like this I would of never brought you along! Sadly, the late Deku Tree kindly asked me to watch over you. It's been 7 years since you last saw her and saved Hyrule." Link quickly, but gently, held her up to an opening in his hat. "Ok, Ok. But only cause your doing it to keep me safe." she fluttered in and tried to keep her glow low. "Now let's find Zelda!"

Navi was right when she said that Link hadn't seen her in a long time. Her memory of the adventure wiped away by his return, he slowly missed her older self. However, being a child again helped him gain his lost time, and he enjoyed living out his childhood. He still remembered their meeting, when he decided to return to her side. He thought of the old memory as he walked through the crowd to see a carriage being pulled by fine horses out into the road, creating for itself a line where the citizens moved to let it through, shouting their praise and joy for the Princess birthday.

"Who... who are you?" Zelda asked, shocked. Link didn't know how to answer, he fidgeted and pulled his tunic down a little, slightly blushing a looking away. He didn't want to part from her again, that's really all he knew. The sudden giggle that Zelda released made him jolt upward from his thoughts. "Did you get past the guards just to see me?" she held the back of her hand up to her face as she tried to hide her smile, but continued to giggle cutely. "Silly, I'm not really allowed to see people outside the castle, father says it's too... risky. Whatever that means." she lowered her hand and looked to him kindly. He found himself staring at her in wonder, she was so cute. "it's a pleasure to meet you.. um..." she looked to him, waiting for him to say something. Uh-oh... he desperately tried too, the only problem was... all he could really muster was some odd noises. "Umm... can you talk?" he remained silent for a moment. Then pulled out his dagger and swung it around, using his battle cry to show he could.

"Hyeh, hyah!" she giggled again, "Silly, that's not talking.. that's just making silly sounds to put more power into your attacks. At least, that's what I heard." she looked off to the left for a moment and put her hand to her chin to think about it. "At least, that's what I assume. The royal guards do a session on it when learning about sparring and such." she quickly looked back to Link, realizing she had left his presence for her own personal thought process. "Sorry, I tend to think out loud sometimes." Link nodded to showed he understood, and smiled at her awkwardness at her realization of it. "I suppose I could give you a name..." she looked at him with a serious look, she walked down from where she was in her garden and walked in circles around him. He felt like he was being judged for some odd reason, and tried to not blush about it. If Navi hadn't left to make sure Deku Tree Jr. was all right, she could of told Zelda her name. Fairies have the ability to look into a person's heart through their eyes, with Navi hanging around, he wouldn't feel the need to practice talking at all. A moment went by that to Link seemed like the 7 years had gone away again. "...! I got it!" she cheered and began to dance around. "The perfect name! It's got meaning, quick to say, not to much but just enough to sound decent." she was thinking out loud again. Link looked over to her, and then motioned with his hands to come out and say it already, of course in a nice and polite way, always with a smile on his face. Zelda just seemed to be beaming with unconditional happiness, and it leaked a little onto others. He didn't see this quality when he first met her, it must have been her uncertainty at the situation unraveling in front of her that made her turn from a jolly and sweet girl into a concerned princess of Hyrule that took her duty seriously.

"Oh! I'm sorry." she bowed a little in apology. "I just thought of it, looking at you it just... I don't know, it's like something told me it would suit you." she grinned and came up to link a little nervous. "Now if you don't like it tell me, okay? Be honest with me now. I can always think of something else." she leaned in a little, as if it was a secret. Link nodded quickly, then turned his head slightly. "ready... how about... Gordo?" Link moved back in disgust, "Yeh.." he said, having his tongue out and showing how repulsed he was at it. "No? Well, gee. I told you to be honest, but not brutally honest..." she giggled again, "to tell you the truth, that's not what really came into my mind. What did come into mind was just to ridiculous to mention." she slightly spun slightly, making her head wear flow a bit in the wind, and turned away from him. "I was actually thinking... Link. But isn't that an odd name?" she looked back to him smiling with her eyes closed. "I mean, what would that be saying? A link to what? A link to an untold destiny of adventures and mystery? I don't know it was a foolish thought so I quickly came up with a something else..." Link looked overjoyed, he jumped up and down and then ran over to her, grabbing her hands he nodded up and down. "Link? You really like that name?" he nodded until he felt his brain was hurting a bit from all the racket he was causing for his poor head. She laughed now, and blushed a little. "Okay, okay. Link..." she looked into his eyes for a moment, and him in hers. A sudden feeling that everything was right in the world came over them. They both didn't really get why, but it was very comforting to them for some reason.

"Link, look out!" Link suddenly shot back to reality, the carriage was starting to move closer to his lane, he quickly moved with the others onto the side of the road that the carriage made for itself. "Princess! Princess congratulations!" people called out, a hand waved out from the carriage. The people close to their cheered. "here she comes Link! Remember to look handsome!" Link jolted in his spot from her comment and then rolled his eyes and taped his hat where she was. "Ofph! Okay, okay, I was just kidding ya know..." she slightly grumbled. "I mean, what girl could resist the Hero of Time?" he taped his hat again. "Aufph! All right already! I'm just stating the obvious." Link rose his hand one more time. "Oh! It's not my fault your too modest!" he lowered his head with a shrug. The carriage slowly was making it's way to them, he would finally see her again, after all this time. He had to leave again, since the guards were slowly catching on to his sneaking into the castle garden at a certain time to see Zelda. So it was only right that he should wait to see her again.

"What on earth...?" someone spoke quietly and in astonishment. Link looked up, gasping at the sudden notice of large dragon like creatures with ruby skinned bodies, eyes with a weird black mist in them, circling around. It was a hoard, not a good sign to Link's experienced eye. "Guard the Princess at all cost!" a royal guard called. Link shook his head, he knew they alone couldn't beat these creatures. The first one swooped down, roaring. It ripped out of it's mouth a deep crimson and shaky beam of sheer power at the road and town, destroying a building. The people began to panic, screaming in a frenzy. Link looked around for a weapon, but found none in sight, who would have a weapon available at a Princesses birthday? All he had was his bombs, arrows, and... wait... his arrows. He looked up and quickly pulled his long bow out. Skillfully, he took out an arrow and pulled back the string. He nudged his head toward the dragon and Navi quickly sprang out from the opening to the side of Link's hat. "It's about time! Yeah! Some action! Woohoo!" she flew up, turning and dodging debris that was falling all around. "Link!" she quickly said, coming over the head of the ruby skinned beast. "Yeesh, you look like a ton of red rupies were just dumped all over you and then pounded and molded into some kinda stone flesh. How do you scratch an itch?" it huffed and burst forth another big crimson lightening attack. Navi glowed another color and Link was able to aim for it's weak spot, just below it's neck was a shimmer of yellow that looked gooey and squishy. He let lose his arrow, bring the beast down from the sky into the ground. "Link! Listen!" Navi soared down, "You need more then an arrow to stop him! Go get the master sword!" He shook his head. If he got the master sword, or the renowned sword of time, he would have to travel 7 years into the future again.

A yell arose from the mayhem and someone called back saying, "The Princess has been kidnapped!" Link looked up, but saw no trace of her, just the hoard of ruby dragons swiftly making their retreat. However, the one was that shot by link looked like it couldn't move much, let alone fly. "Link! The sword fulfilled it's duty! It won't send you through time again!" Link couldn't argue, he just nodded and headed for the temple of time... once again. Though, the dragon, enraged followed after him.

Link ran up the steps of the temple of time, not having time for deja vu. Gasping for air as quickly as possible, he followed clumsily after Navi, as she lead the way. Behind him the ruby skinned dragon let out another powerful blast toward the hero, destroying half of the newly refurbished temple in the process. The entrance fell right after link got his foot in and he dived to make sure he would kept his foot after as well. Navi looked back, but Link got up, motioning her to go on and that he was following her. As they hurried toward the old table with the glowing relics from the past adventure, Navi began to remember how Link and her reunited after she had left to tend to the new Deku tree.

Navi swirled back into the forest, happy to have done her mission and to have aided the hero of time. She missed Link, but she loved the Deku tree, and decided he would of thought it best for her to assist the new Deku tree as his trusted fairy.

"Ah, if it isn't little miss, 'hey, listen!'." Deku tree jr. greeted her as she flew down to him.

"hey! That isn't very nice jr. not after all I did to save Hyrule with Link! The great Deku tree would of never said something so rude." she scolded him, feeling it was her right and honor to try and teach the young sapling a thing or two. Deku tree jr. looked a bit disturbed by her comment, and then seemed to straighten up his stems and looked powerfully up at her. As if his authority as the new Deku tree was being questioned.

"And why aren't you with the legendary hero of time, huh?" he said, a bit of sass in his voice. "I thought it was your duty to guide him, being his fairy and all. And with his silent attitude, don't you think he would need his talkative fairy around? The poor boy can't seem to even muster up a word, now can he? All he does is make noises and facial expressions. The poor, poor boy." he looked to see her reaction, hoping to make her feel guilty. It was working quite well.

"Link has gained knowledge as an adult and has kept it as he returned to his present time. I don't think he needs a little fairy girl bothering him anymore. Besides, he's got his Princess to look after now." she fluttered slowly off from the Deku tree jr.'s location. Trying to justify her thinking. "also, might I add that no one would be looking after you if I didn't take the job! Your not very mature and your childish behavior is making the kokiri not respect you as they should be." Deku tree jr. looked angered now, feeling as navi wasn't helping him at all. She was far to stubborn to let a little comment like that rest in her heart for to long.

"Your one to talk! Right now Link is trying earnestly to be with Zelda! Sadly, though communications aren't working, but their still trying. At the current moment the guards just found Link and kicked him out of the castle. He's heading here to find you." he said 'you' with great emphases and Navi jerked her body around to Deku tree jr.

"He's... coming back for ... me?" she glowed a little brighter. "Yep!" the Deku tree jr. spoke happily, proud to have finally struck a nerve. "However, you have just said that your loyalty is with me now, isn't it?" Navi shook with realization, "S-So...?" "so, you can't leave me unless I command you to be Link's fairy again right?" Navi was furious now, her whole body jerked with anger. "Why you-!" "Go, I relieve you of your duty." he pouted but secretly was proud of getting his revenge. "Now that you see there is wisdom in me and a greatest of my own. I'll be fine without you, miss advisor. The kokiri love talking to me too, and I like telling them of the hero of time's adventures, so I think everything will work out one way or another." he let his childish side return, the little Deku tree had not forgotten the other future at all. Instead, he had looked into Link's memories and had understood the situation and Link's journeys from that. "So ...? isn't there a young boy out there missing his fairy?" Navi circled with joy and nudged lovingly against the Deku tree jr. "Thank you! Oh, thank you!" she dashed with lightening speed out of the area, looking for Link. "Hehe, serves you right for scolding me for trying to make a joke." he said, relaxing back into the fertile ground of his seeding place.

Little Link looked around the lost woods, talked to his friends, and even went back to his old home. Feeling a little homesick he stayed there for awhile, gathering his things, and went back in search for Navi. When he found her, he was strolling in the lost woods when he heard a cry. "Link ...!" the voice was faint, and it sounded helpless. He quickly ran toward it's direction but the music was too loud at some places, so it was hard to hear clearly where the voice was. "Link..." it was fainter now, but he was able to hear it. He dashed into a pile of bushes and searched there. Finally, on a little bush lim was Navi, her wing was torn up and above him he saw a crow, circling. "Link... you found me. I thought ... after the quest ... you would of wanted me to leave. I'm sorry, I really thought that you considered me annoying and just a necessary friend. I'm sorry..." Link shook his head, concern and friendship filling his eyes. Then the crow lunged into the bush, however Link had experience from the future from bats and other flying creatures to know how to successfully avoid them. He grabbed Navi and barrel rolled quickly out of it's line of attack. It skillfully flapped it's wings back, and began to circle for another strike.

"Be careful ... Link..." Navi's little light was twinkling out, having her energy fade as well. She wasn't going to be able to handle holding on much longer. Link nodded and gently put her in his hat, where she could be safe. Then drew his dagger, suddenly missing his adult like reach and reflexes. And oh his sword... how he would love to wield it again! The mighty master sword! But he couldn't think long about the past... or what it is now known to be, the old future. As the crow dived down to attack him once again, he waited till the wings had lifted up, like the triforce sign's wings, and then sliced one off with his battle cry. "Hyah!" the crow let out a horrid screech as it disappeared into black mist, a single green rupee remaining. Link quickly took Navi out and held her in his arms, she was still twinkling but at least she didn't stop glowing. He hugged her gently, and Navi read his eyes and used her fairy power to see what his heart and mind were trying to convey. 'I need you, Navi. Your my best friend, I wouldn't want you to leave me, ever. Please stay by my side, please?' was what she found, and she rejoiced inside her heart. After that Link dashed to his home and healed her, as he had used to do with stray animals who were wounded and injured. He had taken them in and cared for them, which made him quite the animal lover. The other kokiri kids joked about how noble, kind, gentle, and sensitive his heart was. They did this especially when he cried with having to let them go back to the wild. Saria always told him to cry though, she said it helped make the pain go away quicker, and the joy return faster. Navi healed well and they both decided to never separate again.

As Navi came back from her thoughts to the real world, Link was picking the sword up out of the stone of it's resting place. A light sprang from it, and Link released it at once. "It won't send you back Link, I promise." she said, trying to encourage him. He sighed, he didn't need encouragement, he had courage. But he thought his days of fighting would have ended by now. He had spent most of his days exploring and helping make treaties or just lend a helpful hand to the people in hyrule, as a hero's work was never done. However, he wished to cease fighting after he had returned from the once lost future. "Link! Hurry!" Navi said, as the dragon dug among the wreckage with it's powerful claws, and was finding a way in. it's misty black eye searched through an opening in the rubble and then continued to dig once it saw it's target again. Link couldn't wait any longer, no more reasoning. He drew the sword, the light circling the whole room, making him close his eyes unless to be blinded again by the last time he drew it. It settled in his hand though, the light faded and he looked around. Feeling the energy return to his hand from the sword, he saw that the threat of the dragon was still there, along with Navi freaking out about the situation. "Hey! It really worked! I wasn't sure at first to be honest ... but it worked! Now, let's kill this thing quickly. It's giving me the creeps!" Link looked shocked then angry at her for making him pull it without being certain, but when half the wall collapsed and the dragon's mouth moved it's way into the building he really couldn't argue about it now. "Hup! Hyah!" he landed on it's muzzle and sliced a few of it's rock-like protecting skin off it's body. The beast stirred but didn't seem to feel anything. Instead, it opened it's big mouth and began charging to make another crimson beam come out. Link immediately hustled over the beast and ran along it's neck, as the entire temple of time was shot through by the beam of pure dark energy. Link ran along it's back, as the dragon began to emerge it's large head from the debris around it. It roared and shook it's head, as Link saw Navi move to it's tail.

"Try here!" she called, and he ran along as the dragon shook it's body from the mess of rock and cement till he reached the tail. "try striking it with your spin attack! The scales might fall apart and that yellow squishy stuff might be under it!" Navi instructed. He nodded and made a jump into the air, turning his body slightly to an angular degree, he was able to knock off a few hundred of it's ruby scales. The yellow jelly like substance jerked at the impact, and Link smiled at Navi. "Do it Link!" he stabbed the area and the dragon let out a painful ear splitting roar. "there Link! Look!" link followed Navi's small blue body up to another area on the dragon, close to it's shoulder where the wing was, there another area was bulging up slightly. "Another weak point, Link!" Link saluted Navi for her keen eyes and ran up, but the dragon swung it's hurt tail at him, causing him to fall off. "Link!" he found his grappling hook and shot with great precision and it drove into the monster's eye socket. The beast roared and reared up to it's hind legs and began swinging Link around. "Wohwhaaa!" Link could see the world spinning around him, but he never let go of the grappling hook, and Navi was getting dizzy just starring at him. "Link! Move in silly!" Link got his bearings straight and pressed the trigger button to move the wire up on the grappling hook to get nearer to the beast. He held his sword in his left hand firmly and noticed the arrow still in the dragon's neck.

As the dragon let out another blast of the mysterious beam of dark energy, it skimmed Link's shoulder, almost making him him let go of the grapple hook. He then set his sights on the arrow, motioning Navi to help him. She did so by flying over it, and when he was able to swing himself close enough...

CLANG! SLING! STRIIRRR...

Link had successfully sliced off the beast's armor and then, when swinging back, got the dragon's head clean off his shoulders. The body fell, stilled with no life and the head's misty darkened eyes faded into nothingness. "Job well done Link..." Navi praised him, settling on his shoulder.

"Young man," Link, taken aback, turned sharply at the sudden address to himself. "Woah! Put down the sword good man, I am no ruby dragon." an old man said, looking skittish at the master sword in Link's hand, bloody until the blood vaporized into dark mist. "I'm Otis. The once grounds keeper of the temple of time, and currently the grounds keeper of the castle gardens." he voice was of reverence and great respect as he spoke of the once great and standing temple of time. "it's a shame it was destroyed. After being rebuilt so beautifully from the last attack on hyrule by that destructive nation." he shook his head, though Link didn't quite know what the 'destructive nation' was. He had only heard that their was an attack on the village within the castle walls, but it was some time ago. "young man, what is your name? Are you among the castle guards?" Link stepped back a minute, then looked to Navi. Her fairy powers coming in handy, 'I'm Link.' he thought as Navi looked into his eyes and then back to Otis. "His name is Link," she looked back into Link's eyes and spoke again. "He's not of the castle guards but is a sword's man none the less. Why do you ask?" Link was grateful to Navi, without her translation Link would be forced to try to speak. Which for some reason was rather hard for him to form words, he could rarely try and say a sentence, but his voice would be barely a whisper but more of just the wind blowing in the distance.

"Well then Link, I must ask a favor." Otis voice grew grave, "there was a notice ... before the incident today warning of his majesty of his daughter's welfare." Link listened intently, maybe he could get a clue on Zelda's whereabouts, he put his sword back into his old swords sheath which he had flung out at that moment to replace. "As you may not know, the Princess is to be married in 10 weeks." Link's body froze, he was almost about to lift his hand from putting the master sword away, now it was inches from where it had let got of it's hilt. "It was arranged by her father and another powerful noblemen from that destructive nation without a king to rule over it's corrupt inhabitants." Otis looked to the west of them, studying the sky and the clouds. "They say it never stops raining, that the land drowns it's own people due to the chaos that it and it's people have created for itself." he looked back to Link. Navi was shocked by what his eyes had to say. "Um ... uh... which part do you want me to say Link?" She said, as his mind was full of the thoughts of why Zelda would ever marry someone from a nation like that, or why her father even agreed to it! Or even for her to think of marrying anyone else but- "He wants to know more about the threat and the Princess's engagement."Navi quickly decided to say for him.

"Come," Otis called, looking back to the hero and his fairy, motioning them to walk with him. "I usually would of never even considered letting a fairy boy from those nasty woods come into my home, but this is different. Your different." he said the 'your' part with much stress on the word, but Link was going to let that part slide. The old prejudices about the children who never age were still in the land from long ago. That old fairy tale about how demonic they are, or how they live without rules and are complete barbarians, kidnaping children to join them was all a spread of wicked lies! And how Link wanted to just holler at the old grounds keeper for accusing his home and his people of such things! But he made sure Navi didn't see his eyes, least she might say something and the old man not tell Link anything about the castle or Zelda... Zelda... he made a soft prayer in his mind to the goddesses that she was safe. Where ever she may be... he was going to rescue her no matter what. So, was the destiny of the hero of time, or rather... the disunity he agreed too. Not because it was his duty, but because more than anything, he just felt he had to protect her from that day on. The moment he met her that alternate 7 years ago, he wasn't gonna have anything ever happen to her again. And he was going to fulfill that vow he made so many years ago.

Otis sat him down near a large wooden table, Link took his seat on the opposite side of the old grounds keeper's spot. Otis took off his dirty gardener's hat, showing his rank, and wiped the sweat on his head with a washcloth. "What about to tell you boy, is only because you were able to defeat that ruby dragon. I could go through some serious consequences for even muttering these things... you understand boy? Out of all the other royal knights and guards of the princess, you were able to take that beast down." Link felt the atmosphere turn dark and serious, he kept his face with a serious look as well. Not wanting to disrespect the man's risk he was taking with a light hearted attitude. After Otis had studied Link's face with stern but wise look, he nodded. "Alright then, I'll tell you what I know..."

Otis was picking out some weeds in the garden, when he heard a feminine voice cry out and ruin the pleasant morning.

"Father! How could you do this to me? Have I not told you about them? The conspiracies and rumors of war I have heard about them and seen in there eyes. Father please!"

"Enough!" came a powerful and authoritative voice from the big counsel room. "You can't always believe what you hear, Zelda." it was less strong now, seeming to try and sound sympathetic. "Father, please. I know you think I'm still very much a child, but I have grown father. I know evil when I see it. Please, believe me!" "silence, do you think yourself a queen already?" "Father, I never said that-" "Well, you might as well. Seeing as how you think you can rule over my decision." Otis looked over into the window, trying to see the scene play out. Once or twice did he lower his head, when the king or young princess's eye line came ever so close to him. "Child, they were threatening war..." Otis sucked in his breath, Hyrule hadn't entered into a war for... for years! Since the dawn of the great battle with the demons from long ago! "Father... then you know what I say is true? And yet you still gave them your only daughter!" "Zelda! I had no choice! They have something... something dark with them... they were threatening are people's lives, there homes, there families, they even threatened me about you. If I didn't give them the throne by marriage, they were going to have you-" he stopped himself. "killed." Otis looked over the window, taking the risk, and saw how strong and brave Zelda's face was.

"I've never seen such a woman carry such a strong and noble face." Otis said, looking straight down at the table, his hands firmly together. "She truly is our princess. There is no doubt she had courage in her heart then. But what she then said... It was too much for even me to bear!" he closed his eyes and pulled back his whole head to the side of him. Hiding any tears that were approaching his face. Link looked to Navi desperately, and she nodded. "What happened then?" "What happened then?" the man looked up, his eyes full of horror and fear. "She spoke of battles of just men, fighting for a land they loved." his voice shook. "It was like she was relaying a vision, or prophesy! She stated that she would obey her father's agreement, but that her lost must push the people to battle." Link focused in on the man's face, almost reliving the moment with him. "Then.. as if summoned by the dark bringer of despair himself, they came again..."

"Princess, how lovely to see you." a voice broke through the Princess's speech as she froze and turned to glare at the men approaching her. "My, how lovely you look today." she looked to her father, now standing in shame. "Shard, why are you hear so... early?" "Why, your highness, you seem to have not missed me." the man took off his ridding gloves and slapped them on the counsel rooms table. "I came to see you, and your beautiful daughter." "I have no words for you, Shard. Not yet." Zelda left the room, walking past the four dark figured who guarded the mysterious man. They had long cloaks and black linen mask that covered there whole faces. She walked with dignity but power as she stormed out of the room. "Not very sociable, is she?" "Shard, why are you doing this to us? What has Hyrule ever done to you!" "Oh, now now. Dear Hyrule has nothing to do with this. It is merely between me... and my new kingdom of glorious power." "What do you mean?" the king asked with a shaken voice. "Your land tells of a marvelous legend. One I hope you will recall." he moved around the room, scanning some of the books in the shelves on the wall. "Hyrule has many legends, picking one is impossible." "haha, indeed. Very clever..." he picked out a book, lightly touching it. "ah ha! Here we are." he carefully took it out. "The legend, forbidden to be written, so it was told from oral translation. Then some fool went and jot it down..." he opened the pages of the book, huffed a little at the dust. "Don't tell me you people only open the law books around here." the king looked sternly at the man, he smiled. "I want the very power that the legend tried so hard to protect. I want the Triforce."

Link held the hand with the Triforce of courage on it. 'So... he knows... ' Navi fluttered her wings nervously on Link's shoulder, glancing to him, and then back at Otis. "And..?" she said, seeing the want in Link's eyes for the old man to continue. "He spoke harsh words, that'd I'll say. However, one of Shard's men found me. I was quickly shooed away." the air was cold now, Link tensed in his seat. But before I left, Shard had spoken of a mansion. One within his nation, he said that'd be where he was staying. He also said the marriage would take place there... but he acted so early. Would he really deceive the king, and take the princess?" Link shook his head, he didn't know. He focused hard on the table, looking down at it. He tried to recall any large buildings he might of seen on his adventures, but couldn't find a match. "If your wondering where it is. I have a map of the Destructive nation." Otis got up and plucked from a umbrella pot a map. Link held in his laughter, suddenly remembering his childhood craze about smashing pots to see what was inside. "ehem." the man cleared his throat, causing Link to look up and turn his face back into a serious one. "now, then." he sat the map down near Link. "There's a heavy duty jungle, due to all the rain pour there. You'll have to get passed that to reach it, also... there's one more thing..." he moved away from the map, Link watched him closely. "The robed men I mentioned early. More specifically, the one that pushed me away from the window and shooed me off. He.. He didn't have any eyes... they just... glowed." Link knew of eyes that glowed, Dark creatures created to serve Ganon. But Ganon was sealed away, destroyed. How could Dark creatures still exist? "Be careful, young man. Whatever sorcery this is... something tells me it's not good." Link nodded, he motioned to the map. "Yes, take it. Just please, please bring the princess back. Alive." Link stared at he man's intensity in his eyes. He nodded slowly, and thumped his chest twice, a symbol in Hyrule for a silent promise between men. Otis nodded, smiled, and opened the door for Link to exit. "Good luck, hero. May the goddess's bless thee." Link turned around quickly, but noticed the man didn't mean anything by 'hero'. He didn't know who Link truly was, but it made Link glad anyway. As he walked out into the rubble streets of what once was a productive and busy Hyrule market place, a black owl dived down and scratched at his head, ripping some hair off of his head. "HEYH!" he quickly tossed it off of him, the owl slammed into the ground, but remarkably got back up. He hobbled a little, and looked back at link, no eyes, just glowing socks. But they were different from the ruby dragon, these were glowing yellow. "Ah!" he gasped, it then took off while Link was realizing this. "Link! Hit it! Quick!" Link shook his head and grabbed his bow, he took out an arrow and aimed, he motioned with a shift movement of his head for Navi to identify his weakness. She dove up quickly, seeing no time to spare, allow him to aim clearly with her bright glow at the owl. Once she thought she found it's weakness, it slashed it's talons at her, then pecked her till she flew a ways down. Once she got her bearings, she flew back and tackled the owl as much as she could. "Link! It's got your hair!" she called, "it's protecting it for some reason!" it circled her suddenly and swiftly knocked her out of the sky. "LIIIInnnnnnnnnnnkkkkk!" she shouted as she fell into a nearby buildings roof top. "Aha!" Link gasped as he let down his bow and arrow and dashed toward her. He skillfully launched himself over the roof tops, climbing as if they were trees, and dashed toward where she had fallen. When he picked her up she coughed and fluttered her wings slightly. "Why didn't you shoot it for me, Link? You big softy..." she was joking around of course, which made link smile, seeing as his friend was all right.

When he looked up from Hyrule field to see the owl had disappeared he sighed. Cradling Navi in his hand he took the other one and pulled out the map. "Link... I can just heal in your hat. You don't have to carry me around like this... I know it's probably uncomfortable for you.." Navi said weakly, when Link shot her a look of kindness, she glowed a little brighter, seeing as he was never going to let her go till she was well again. "Oh Link..." he looked back at the map, disregarding her glowing self and giggles as just her happiness at his gesture. Once he knew which direction to go, he put the map back and swapped it with his Ocarina that Zelda had given him when he set off to find Navi. He gazed at it for moment, then played Epona's song.

A gust of wind, then a gentle pitter-patter of hooves ripping up earth. Then it grew, into a massive stamped. Link whirled around, grinned and ran up to greet his faithful and noble steed. Epona huffed and Neighed loudly, kicking her legs and then swinging her head around. "Epona! Wow! Did you get bigger, old girl?" Navi said cheerfully, in Link's swaying hand. He danced around with Epona following after him, nipping on his tunic and stealing his hat, causing him to eagerly chase after her. "Link! I'm getting nauseous!" Navi said, making Link stop and pout a minute. "besides, this is no time to play with Epona, you have to save Zelda!" the name sent an ancient feeling throughout Link's body, his playfulness left him and he looked to Epona dutifully. With a nod, he strode up to her and mounted. "Hehyah!" Epona whined and with great force lept through the air and galloped in the direction Link had reined her too.

Zelda awoke to a dark dungeon with little to no light. She tried to get up but chains were keeping her down on her wrist and ankles. "Where am I?" she demanded, looking through the dungeon bars for any figures. Nothing. "... anyone?" her voice shoke a little, but she held her throat and cleared it. Her great wisdom told her to scoot toward the wall and lift up, then she could stand. She did so, with much effort the chains loosened their hold and she was able to stand with the pressure leased.

"Outstanding, the princess hasn't cried yet." Zelda looked up, squinting through the darkness. "Who are you!" she asked, looking around. "Where are you? I demand you stop hiding like a coward and show yourself!" "Such powerful and strong words... coming from someone so weak." the shadows moved ever so slightly in Zelda's line of vision. "...Shard?" "No, good guess though." Zelda let a small sigh of relief come over her, but she retained her strong image. "Then who? Why hide from me if I am so weak as you say?" "HAHAHAAH!" she flinched, whoever this was, truly had a sickening voice that could hang in the back of someone's mind for years. "Silly, you know me... well, at least some 'knowledge' of me..." the figure in the dark stepped out, moving to the jail bars of her prison.

"...Link?"