It has been seven years after Link defeated Ganondorf and returned to his own time as a child. He lived a peaceful seven years after that in Kokiri Forest, building more houses as more children wore born into the forest.

The Great Deku Tree sprout had grown a lot (a new one sprouted when Link returned to his own time), therefore bringing new forest children to the Wood. It had become quite a village. Even Malon visited him there every time she had a chance to get away from the ranch.

 

The green-clad hero often rode into Hyrule to help out at Lon-Lon Ranch, and trained at Gerudo Fortress. He didn’t see Zelda very much since she was royalty, so they grew apart. Link preferred the large, emerald-green Hyrule Field than the castle anyway.

He still played with the Skull Kids of The Lost Woods too. He even taught them how to fight using their sticks like swords.

 

Every once and awhile he would head to Lake Hylia with some new herb or something and give it to the old man in the Lakeside Laboratory to help with his research. He also went to fish at the fishing pond every chance he got to bring fresh fish home to his kokirian friends.

 

He rarely went to Zora’s Domain, mostly because he tried to avoid Princess Ruto, who still thought that they were engaged because of the Zora’s Sapphire thing, but when he did, he usually practiced fighting with them; they even made him some artificial Zora fins which he loved to fight with.

 

Link hiked up to Death Mountain a few times a month to visit the Gorons. They got interested in learning to fight (because Darunia was pretty much the only one that could), so Link made some wooden swords and taught them how to sword-fight. But they were pretty useless at that so he decided they would do better just fighting with their hands. They got very good at it, but still, Darunia was the only one Link couldn’t beat.

 

Link enjoyed these peaceful times they lived in, but, being a warrior, he longed for a real fight against a worthy opponent. No one, other than Ganondorf’s elite monsters and Ganondorf himself, could ever give him that satisfaction.

He needed adventure again; he wanted to leave Hyrule in search of one. But the Hero of Time could not leave. Ganondorf still had the Triforce of Power, and if Link ever left, the force of the Triforce of Wisdom and Courage would break and the seal on Ganon would be useless.

 

But then again, Link started to grow to like the life of ranching. He could tame horses quite easily now so he was a big help to Talon. He enjoyed being around the cows and horses and also Malon.

They had grown to be very good friends in the past seven years, they were very close. Talon even hoped that they would get married so that he could retire early and give the ranch over to Link and Malon.

Of course, Ingo couldn’t care less what he did, as long as he got to work on a ranch, he was happy.

And so, Link started to spend more and more time on the ranch, training Epona every day, and getting closer to Malon.

 

But.... His passion for adventuring never died out all the way...

 

 

 

“Whoa! Slow down Epona!” Link said. The magnificent horse stopped in it’s tracks, almost throwing Link of it’s saddle.

Malon ran up to him, laughing. “That was great! You beat your own record again!”

Link smiled, hopping down from the horse. “Finally. It took awhile, but we did it, didn’t we Epona?”

 

He stroked her mane as she nayed.

Link looked quite a bit different then he used to. His hair was still the same, but he had let it grow a bit longer, so he pulled it back into a ponytail. He wasn’t wearing his usual green tunic either. He had a black t-shirt with a pair of blue over-alls on.

 

Malon smiled then headed back to the house. “Dinner will be ready soon so you better wash-up.”

Link nodded and ran over to the water pipe, where they got fresh water all the way from Zora’s Fountain. It was a pretty neat thing that the Zora’s had set-up from them.

He turned it on and water started to pour out into the large bowl-like thing below it. Putting his hands under it, he splashed his face.

 

His eyes suddenly opened as it dripped into his mouth. Something was very wrong here. It tasted like...blood.

Link looked down at the bowl and saw red. He looked at the pipe and saw red coming from it.

“What the....b...blood?!”

 

                                                 -----------------------

 

 

Epona’s hooves stomped down on the dirt road of Hyrule Field, kicking-up dust as she galloped towards Zora’s River.

Link rode with a stern look on his face, keeping his eyes strait ahead. Epona jumped over the narrow river and headed through Zora’s River to the entrance of Zora’s Domain, where he dismounted Epona.

 

Without stopping to play Zelda’s Lullaby, he jumped towards the entrance behind the waterfall. The force violently pushed him down, but he grabbed onto the side, struggling to pull himself up.

Once he was inside, the first thing he saw was a dead zora body. He cringed slightly at the sight, and then leaned down for further examination. The lifeless Zora had three small holes in his heart. Link leaned down and sniffed them. He recoiled quickly, coving his nose with his hand. The smell of the poison was hideous and very strong.

 

“Someone must have put a poison needle in him or something.” Link looked around in horror at all the other dead bodies. Some floating in the water, some still on land. But they all had one thing in common; a tiny hole in their heart.

 

“Who ever did this is going to die!!” Link screamed, his heart full of rage. He didn’t have his sword with him, but he could do very well in hand-to-hand combat after training with the Gorons so much.

 

The Hero of Time raced into the throne room, where King Zora was laying in a heap on the floor, four small holes in the back of his neck.

Holding back tears as best he could, he headed out to Zora’s Fountain.

 

A bunch of Zoras were standing near Jabu-Jabu. Most of the water was red from blood leaking into it. Link rushed up to the dieing Lord, who had a large hole in his side.

 

“What happened here Lord Jabu-Jabu?!” Link demanded.

 

“Shadows... everywhere... They came and killed the Zoras.... I was able to hide some in my stomach... They tired to poison me. But it didn’t effect... so one of them chanted something and my side suddenly burst open,” –he coughed- “...Before they left...one of the smaller ones said... ‘Whoever serves the Royal Family shall perish’ ....they all then disappeared.”

 

Link growled. Who could it be? The Gerudos? That couldn’t be...after Ganondorf left they went back to being normal thieves. But could this mean that....

 

Link put a hand on Lord Jabu-Jabu’s head. “Rest in peace, my friend, your death shall not be in vein.”

Standing up, Link turned and silently walked away.

 

                                                        -------------------------

 

The teenager stood in front of a crate in his home. It was one he had not opened in six years.

He blew away the dust and pushed it open. There it lay. His old Hylian Shield and his sword that the King had given him.

Slowly, he pulled them out and began to dress himself in the Kokiri tunic that the children had made for him a few months before.

 

He came back out thirty minutes later. His hair cut to how it was when he had defeated Ganon, and he wore his green tunic.

Link jumped down from his house and onto Epona, riding out of Kokiri Forest.

 

The Hero of Time... had returned.

 

Note: I just remembered I forgot about the disclaimer. But everyone knows that Nintendo owns Zelda, and I don’t.

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

 

As Link rode through Hyrule field, Jabu-Jabu’s words kept going through his mind. ‘All who serve the Royal Family shall perish.’

The only time Gerudos even killed was when Ganondorf ruled over them, but after that they only stole from rich men.

 

It didn’t make sense that he could be back. Link never stepped one toe out of Hyrule, so the seal on him couldn’t have broken.

He suddenly pulled back on the reins, stopping Epona abruptly. He couldn’t go to Gerudo Fortress now!

The Gerudos may still be around Hyrule, and if he left the whole place would be unprotected. But where would they strike next?

 

Kokiri Forest? No, the Kokirians have nothing to do with the Royal Family... The Gorons! Kakariko Village!!

Link turned Epona around. “Run as fast as you can Epona!!”

Epona nayed and galloped towards Kakariko Village.

 

-------------

 

When Link arrived at the stairway that led up to Kakariko, he saw smoke floating up into the air. “Oh no...I’m too late!”

The hero jumped from Epona’s saddle and raced up the stairs to the burning village. People were running back and forth, taking water from the well and splashing it over their houses. They couldn’t do it fast enough though so the flames stayed.

 

“Please! Someone help! My baby is still in that house!” A woman cried.

Link quickly pulled out his fire tunic from his bag and slipped it on, then charged into the house.

He heard crying. Link followed the sound and grabbed onto the baby, covering it up in his arms so the fire wouldn’t burn it.

 

He made his way out of the house when a pillar fell right in front of him! He back-flipped away and pulled out his sword, cutting it in half.

Link ran out of the house and jumped out of a window, for the entrance was blocked.

“Phew...Here is your baby ma’am.”

Link handed the baby to the mother and ran over to the well. He was slightly burnt in places but it was nothing serious.

 

Putting his hands to the air, the young hero used Nayru’s power to lift all the water from the well and let it drop over the houses of Kakariko.

The whole village cheered and clapped for Link as the fire died down.

 

Wiping sweat from his brow, Link sped up to the entrance of Death Mountain. But he suddenly stopped, remembering something. He turned and saw Impa’s house... It wasn’t burnt at all!

 

“What the...”

He shook his head and headed up Death Mountain, towards Goron City.

 

-------------

 

“Who are you?!” Darunia yelled at the three shadowy figures in front of him.

The smallest of the three walked up in front.

 

“Are you not Darunia? Leader of the Gorons, and one of the most loyal followers of Hyrule?” He asked in a quiet tone.

“Who wants to know?” Darunia growled.

He could tell the shadow had started smirking. “We have come here to eliminate you.”

 

It pulled three darts from its cloak and tossed them at Darunia, who barely dodged them.

The Gorons saw what was happening and ran down to the bottom level to attack the shadows.

 

All hell broke loose as more shadows appeared and began battling with the Gorons. Darunia was fighting off three at once, a kick to one, a punch to another.

But then a smallest (Who by now seemed to be the leader) jumped up above the fighting and tossed four darts at Darunia.

 

He didn’t have time to move. Time seemed to slow as he watched the darts get closer, and closer...

 

KA-CHANG!

 

Link stood in front of Darunia with his shield up. “Heh, thought you were a goner huh, Darunia?”

The Goron Leader turned a little red out of embarrassment. “Shaddup and help us fight these things!!”

 

Link nodded and charged into battle, slashing one shadow in half that got in his way then jumping up to the platform the leader was on. It actually wasn’t all that small. He or she was only a little shorter than Link.

 

“You are the ones that killed King Zora and all those other Zoras aren’t you?!” yelled Link.

“Yes, it was us. We are here to kill the Royal Family and all that side with them, and anyone else that dares to get in our way!”

 

“But why?! What did they do to you?!”

“That is none of your concern little boy.”

 

Link spun his sword around once then charged the cloaked figure, then jumped up and swung down as hard as he could.

The figure flipped over the attack, then, removing a dart from it’s cloak, it threw it at Link. Link blocked with his shield then charged again, slashing horizontally. The figure withdrew a blade from its cloak; a short katana, and blocked the attack.

 

The shadow chuckled a little. “I can see your attacks coming a mile away.”

“Yeah? See if you can see THIS!!”

 

The green-clad hero swung his sword again, which the shadow blocked, but then he came around the other end with his shield, which it blocked to, but THEN he jumped up and spin-hook-kicked the shadow across the face, sending it crashing into a wall.

 

The shadow growled then let out a strange call and they all disappeared. Link sighed a bit and slid his sword back into it’s sheath as Darunia walked up to him.

“We lost some Gorons to these Shadows...but thanks to you not as many were lost. Please stay the night brother, and rest.”

 

Link nodded. “Thank you. I will.”

He then turned back to the wall the shadow had crashed into. Whatever they were, Link now knew one thing for sure: They were not Gerudos.

 

Note: Well, that’s interesting. It says I have three reviews but I can only see one... oh well x.x;

 

Chapter Three

 

 

 

“I do not know what is going to happen, Link,” The Great Fairy said. “But you will soon have to leave Hyrule.”

Link gasped. He had climbed all the way to the top of Death Mountain to seek the wisdom of the Great Fairy.

 

“But...me leaving Hyrule would mean that the seal on Ganondorf would be broken! And that would cause more harm than anything else!”

“I’m sorry Link. I just know that you will be leaving. For what, I do not know.”

 

And with that, she disappeared into the fountain. Link turned and walked out grimly. He was so confused and had had a long day.

 

“I just need some rest.” He admitted to himself, heading back down the mountain.

He arrived back at Goron City while the Gorons were burying the dead. All the death was too much for Link to handle. He quickly walked to his room, and, taking off his gear, he flopped on the bed.

 

His sleep was full of nightmares though. In one, he walked through Hyrule Field, playing his ocarina happily until dark clouds covered the sky. He looked up as it started to rain and a mark came down from the clouds....an eye with a blood red tear coming from it. Link watched in horror as an army of shadows ran into the castle, killing the inhabitants.

 

The hero of time sat up in bed, a cold sweat rolling down his face. “I...it....was just a...dream....”

The Triforce on the back of his hand started glowing, and lead him out of Goron city to the ledge that had a view of Kakariko village. It was far down but Link could tell that the people will busy trying to clean-up the mess that the fire had made.

 

That reminded him....Every house in Kakariko had been set aflame besides Impa’s house. That didn’t make much sense. She was a Sheikah and the Sheikah were sworn protectors of the Royal Family. Out of all of them, her house should have been the one to be set fire.

 

Maybe she was... No! Impa couldn’t betray the throne! She wouldn’t do that...would she?

Maybe he should take a trip to Hyrule castle and talk to her. Either way, he wasn’t going to leave until morning so he headed down the mountain to Kakariko.

 

Many people thanked him as he walked through the burnt-down village, others were too busy mending to the wounded to trying to salvage whatever they could from their house. Link saw a little boy in the corner of a burnt-down house, curled up and crying.

 

He walk into the house and cringed at the site of two burnt bodies laying on the floor. He went over and kneeled next to the child. “What’s wrong little guy?”

 

“My mommy...and daddy... won’t wake up....” He sniffed.

Link picked him up. “How old are you kid?”

He held up five fingers.

“Five years old.... Um.... I think we are going to have to leave your mom and dad here... Do you have anyone to take care of you?”

 

The boy shook his head.

“Well that’s a problem... What’s your name?”

“It’s Miroku...What’s yours?”

 

“Link. Well, Miroku, I’m going to have to find a place for you to stay... but... everyone is preoccupied right now... Hmm... I know! Someone at Kokiri Forest can take care of you. It’s kinda far but...we will make it there before sun rise. Do you want to go?”

 

“What about mom and dad?”

Link rubbed the back of his head, trying to find the words. “Well...they’ve gone somewhere...um....Heaven! Yeah, it’s a great place where they will be real happy.”

 

“Really? When will they be back?”

“Well...they will be gone for awhile so... my friends at Kakariko will take care of you while they are gone.”

“Oh...okay then!” smiled Miroku.

 

-------------

 

Link carried the boy in his arms as Epona slowly rode towards the forest. The fields of Hyrule were quiet...almost too quiet for Link.

He felt around the saddle of his horse for his bow and an arrow. Stringing the arrow, he aimed it at a bush and let go.

 

There was a low moaning sound and a shadowy creature with red glowing eyes jumped out from behind the bush.

“What on earth is that?!” Link exclaimed.

 

The monster threw its arm up then threw it back down, shooting some kinda black substance at Link.

The green clad hero quickly put his shield up and blocked the attack, but on impact the force knocked him off his horse.

 

Miroku sleepily sat up. “Wha... Link....?”

A bunch of Poe Ghosts appeared, as well as three ReDeads.

“Epona! Take Miroku as far away as you can! Head to Kokiri Forest!”

Epona snorted a bit then sped off.

“BUT LINK!!!”

 

Link drew his sword and shield, getting into a stance. “Bring it!”

A Poe charged at him, spinning its lantern. Link rolled out of the way, then turned and cut the ghost in half.

 

He heard moaning and turned to see the ReDead’s lifting their heads.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Link pulled his boomerang from his belt and threw it. It flew through the air, cutting off all three ReDead’s heads.

Link let fly an arrow at the shadow creature, hitting it right in the forehead. There was an ear-piercing scream and it disappeared in a poof of smoke.

 

The rest of the Poe Ghosts charged at him in a circle. Link held his sword behind him and started to charge energy in it. “Kai-Ten....GIRI!!!”

 

As soon as he called out ‘giri’ he started spinning around madly, letting loose all the energy at the Poe Ghosts, destroying them.

Link panted a little, sliding his sword back into its sheath.

 

“That was fairly impressive....” said a deep, male voice.

Link spun around. Before him stood a tall man with long grey hair. He looked like he was in his late 20s.

 

Link pulled his sword out as the man got closer. Link jumped back in shock when he saw a red eye with a red tear coming from it on the man’s shirt. The sign of the Sheikah!

 

_____________________

 

Oooo...cliff-hanger.... Hope you liked this chapter. Please give meh some reviews! ^^;

 

Chapter Four

 

 

 

Link took a step back as the Sheikah took a step forward.

“Are you scared young hero?” the Sheikah smirked.

 

“N...no...” Link stammered. “It’s just that....well....why are you wearing those clothes?!”

“I am Shuzaro, of the Sheikah Tribe. Why else would I wear Sheikah clothing?”

 

“What do you want from me?”

Shuzaro drew a katana from the back of his shirt. “I have come to test you. Prepare yourself!”

 

Link grabbed his shield and got into a stance then charged at Shuzaro, swinging his sword downwards.

Shuzaro quickly blocked, pushing his hand against the broad side of his sword to stop it from going down on his head. His sword was faster, but Link’s was stronger.

 

The Sheikah slid to the side and swung his sword at Link. Link’s sword was too heavy to react fast enough so he blocked with his shield then leaped at him, thrusting his sword at Shuzaro’s chest.

 

He stepped to the side, but not quick enough to avoid being hit. He clutched his side as blood dripped from his wound.

“Not bad rookie!” He laughed, and then lashed out with his sword, slashing at least ten times a second. But they weren’t placed very well and Link blocked easily with his shield.

 

This guy was fast, but Link could beat him. Jumping right up into the air, he tossed his sword and shield behind the Sheikah, drew his bow and arrow then released an arrow, striking him on the shoulder.

 

Shuzaro growled in pain as Link landed behind him, and, picking up his sword, spun around and slashed Shuzaro in half diagonally.

He sighed slightly and wiped blood off his sword onto the grass. He heard the snort of a horse and turned around quickly. Malon was staring in horror at what she had just seen.

 

She was on her horse with a black cloak around her. The red headed girl couldn’t believe what she saw Link do!

Almost to tears, Malon turned her horse around and rode off, before Link had a chance to stop her.

 

“WAIT! MALON!!”

She was gone. Link looked down at the two half’s of Sheikah laying on the ground in a pool of blood. He wasn’t really sorry that he had killed this man in such an awful way. Of how many Zoras and Gorons they had slain, he felt no pity towards them.

 

But... Why the heck were the Sheikah killing these people!? This man even had the type of sword that the Sheikah used.

And what was the strangest thing of all; All the Sheikah had died out somehow. So... how were they there?

 

----------------------

 

 

Malon rushed home, trying not believe she really saw what she saw. Link wasn’t the kind of person to kill someone just like that!

It didn’t make sense to her. Who was the man he killed...? And why did he kill him so unmercifully?

She just wanted to cry. Going up to her room she stuffed her face in her pillow and sobbed quietly so her father wouldn’t hear her.

 

Unknown to her, outside her window, two shadows smirked a bit as they watched.

 

“This young one has feelings for the Hero of Time.” The first said.

“Does he return her feelings?” The second asked.

“I am...not sure yet. But we must keep her in mind, for we may need to use her.”

 

----------------------

 

 

The sun was just coming up as Link entered Kokiri Forest. He was drained from the fight and the long walk.

The green-clad hero saw Epona eating grass next to his tree-house and guessed that there was where they put Miroku.

 

He reluctantly climbed the ladder and saw the young child sleeping soundly in his bed. Taking his shield and sword off, he collapsed to the ground. Link didn’t care if it was hard; at least it was a place he could sleep without being attacked by a wandering Poe Ghost or Stalchild.

 

Chapter Five

 

 

   “GET UP LINK!! SLEEPY HEAD!!”

   Link quickly sat up. “Nn...eh..? Wha..?!”

   Saria smiled, standing over him. “Hey!”

   Link slowly sat up. “Hey Saria.” He looked at his bed. “Where’s the kid?”

   “Miroku? He’s outside eating. Did you adopt a child or something?”

   “His parents died. I thought that the Kokiri Children could take care of him.”

   “Yeah, we can do that.”

   Link stood up and slipped his boots and hat on. “Good. How is the Forest Temple doing?”

   “Oh, that’s what I meant to ask you. I’m having trouble with one of the Poe Sisters again.”

   “Which?”

   “Meg!”

   ‘Oh great...’ Link thought.

 

   Picking up his gear and strapping it on, he pulled out the ocarina Saria had given him and played the Minuet of Forest. A green light engulfed him and he disappeared.

   

                                                         -----------

 

   Link appeared in side the ‘hallway’ to the Forest Temple. He knew better than to just go in so he pulled his hook-shot out and shot it at the tree. It connected and stuck, so he made it pull him up a bit then he swung across to the entrance.

   Two Wolfos emerged from the ground and looked around. Link was already inside so they didn’t see him.

   When he entered the main hall he heard crying.

   “Not again...” Link moaned.

   He jogged down the steps and before him sat a purple Poe Ghost. Her hands were buried in her face and she was crying.

   “Oh, puh-lease Meg! Don’t you know any other tricks?”

 

Meg growled and floated up. “I guess that one is getting a little old for you. But you will not leave here alive!”

    She split herself into 20 copies. “HAHA! I know can make for copies!” They all said. “How are you going to find the really one with so many of me?!”

   “This is how,” came a quiet, childish voice.

   Fourteen Skull Kids fell from out of nowhere and smashed their sticks into the Poe’s heads.

   All the copies vanished...leaving only the real one. Link grinned and took out his sword.

   “W-wait! Lets talk about this!!” Meg pleaded.

   Link let out a powerful slash, cutting the purple ghost in half.

She screamed and disappeared.

 

   Link smiled. “Next time I should bring my Light Arrows so I can finish her for good.” He stood up and turned towards the Skull Kids. “Thanks for the help. Oh, and can you do me a favor? There may be a kid coming into the forest some times. His name is Miroku. If he wanders into the forest...make sure he doesn’t get lost.”

   “Sure, no problem Link!” They laughed and ran off.

 

                                                            -------------

 

   Link’s mind raced as he walked back to the village. None of anything made sense. First the Sheikah show up after being dead for hundreds of years and start killing anyone that is loyal to the Royal Family. They attack Kakariko but Impa’s house doesn’t get burnt at all. Then he starts having these weird dreams and now Malon is mad at him!

   The young hero collapsed to the ground. “Too much...going... through....my brain...”

   He would have to go visit Malon then go to Hyrule Castle and talk to Zelda.

 

   Something suddenly crossed his mind as he stood back up. If it were the Sheikah that was killing people loyal to the royal family then could Impa be...?!

 

                                                                 -------------

 

It was at least 4:00pm by the time Link made it to Hyrule castle, the guard stopped him.

   “Oh, it’s you Link. What are you doing here?”

   “I have to see Princess Zelda right away.”

   “I’m sorry but she left. She’s going to Lake Hylia for the weekend.”

   “Darn it.... Thanks for the info.”

   Link turned Epona around and headed out to Hyrule Field again. ‘I don’t believe this...Zelda going to Lake Hylia is the perfect chance for the Sheikah to ambush her. I hope I can catch up before she gets there...’

    

                                                                -------------

 

   Zelda sighed happily as she lay on a towel by Lake Hylia in her bathing suit (Going to Lake Hylia was the closest thing to going to the beach for her). Her best friend, Kyla was laying next to her.

   “Ah...this is the life, huh Zelda?” She smiled.

   “Yeah...it’s nice to get out of the castle once and awhile,” Zelda replied. “Hey Triston, can you get me some lemonade? ........Triston?”

   Zelda opened her eyes and screamed at the Sheikah towering over her. All her guards were laying on the floor in a pool of blood.

   “You are Princess Zelda are you not?” The Sheikah asked.

   The two girls just stared at the bodies in horror.

 

((Sorry it took so long to upload this chapter. I haven’t had the net for awhile. So I need some reviews to motivate me again. Pleeeease ^^))

 

 

 

Chapter Six

 

 

Link tore across Hyrule Field, pushing Epona to her max. She hopped over the two gates that led into Lake Hylia and continued on until they reached the Lake-side Lab.

 

Link looked franticly around for any traces of Zelda. Finding none, he jumped off Epona and ran into the laboratory.

“Doctor!!” He yelled, slamming the door open.

“Whoa, Link!” the doctor blinked, “Don’t break my door!!!”

 

“Has Zelda come through here today?!”

“Why, yes, she has. She stopped here to look at some of the life forms I have in those water tanks. Why do you ask?”

 

“I don’t have time to explain. Look, Doc, do you have some kinda potion that will give me a boost of speed?”

“Don’t you have your horse?”

“I mean in battle!”

“Ah....Yes...I think that I do.” He walked into his storage room and came back a little later, holding a bottle of greeny-brown stuff. “This is the stuff.”

 

Link took it. “This stuff don’t look too good...” He pulled the cork off and sniffed it. “Argh, gross! What the heck is in this?!”

 

The doctor coughed. “Erm, you should be running along now. I have a lot of stuff to do, bye!”

He shoved Link out the door and then slammed it. Link shook his head and put the bottle away.

‘Link!’

The blond haired teenager looked around. “What the....?”

‘Link, it’s me, Ruto. I am contacting you from the Sacred Realm.’

“Princess Ruto! Do you have any idea what happened to Zelda?”

‘I’m not sure... But I found five dead Hylian Guards near the Buckwood tree. I got some water sprites to bring them back to the river that flows towards Hyrule Castle.

“So...Princess Zelda wasn’t with them?”

‘No.’

“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing...wait a sec.... Impa should have been with her!”

 

                                                         ----------------------

 

“Link! How are- What’s wrong?!”

The green clad hero had stormed into Hyrule Castle. “Where is Impa?! Tell me now!”

“Whoa! Calm down! She went with Zelda to Lake Hylia, you know she goes everywhere with her.”

Link swore and punched the marble wall, busting his knuckles, but he didn’t seem to even feel it. He walked out of the castle and rode out of the market on Epona.

 

                                               -------------------------------

 

 

Link rode into Lon Lon Ranch and the first thing to catch his eye was blood. There was blood across the grass. “Oh no... MALON!!”

He jumped off and ran to barn door. Someone swung the door open, making it crash into Link’s skull. He flopped back, “Oww...”

 

“L-Link...it’s you...” said the surprised Malon.

“Yeah...” He mumbled, standing up as he rubbed his head. “I...needed to talk to you about what happened last night...”

Even though he was worried about Zelda, he knew he had to talk to Malon. She looked at him, getting teary eyed. “Link...why...why did you do that? Why did you kill that man like that... I-I know you were fighting him but...You’ve never killed anyone before EVER. So...why now...Why cut him in half like that?! It’s not right!”

 

Link looked down. He didn’t really know how to explain it to her. “Malon... That guy... he was evil. He wasn’t like anyone else... I’m sorry you had to see that, but I was filled with rage when it happened. They killed so many people...”

Malon put her arms around him and hugged him, crying into his chest. Link held her close to him, letting her weep.

 

“P...please... Don’t do it again Link...please don’t...”

Link didn’t know what to say. He was setting out now to do that very thing, he wanted to kill every last one. “Malon look at me. I want you and Talon to leave this place. It isn’t safe anymore, so go and stay at Zora’s Domain. I used the powers of the goddesses to seal it so only someone baring the Triforce can enter.”

 

“How can I get in then?” Malon asked, wiping away tears.

“I...am intrusting you with this...” Link held out a shard of the Triforce to her.

“You’re kidding. Link, I can’t take this!”

“It the only way to keep you safe. Please, do what I say. Leave now.”

 

Malon nodded. “I’ll go Link.”

Link smiled, then looked down and realized that he was holding her hand. He blushed dark red. “I have to go....”

He quickly walked back to his steed and Malon sadly watched as he rode away.

                                                         --------------------------

 

 

All the Gorons looked up as Darunia entered the room. “It is true. The Great Fairy has told me so.”

The Gorons moaned. “So we really will have to fight.”

“Yes, and we must train! Harder than ever now!”

 

                                                          --------------------------

 

 

A teenaged Zora walked onto what used to be King Zora’s throne. “The Great Fairy of the desert lands has come to me and told me of what we must do.”

“And what is that?” One Zora asked.

“We must raise an army.”

 

Chapter Seven

 

 

 

Link rode into Kokiri Forest, relived to find that everyone was OK. Miroku ran to meet him. “Link! Hi! Wow, you don’t look so good.”

Link hopped off of Epona. “I’m fine. Just a little tired. How are you doing Miroku?”

“Okay. The people here are really nice, and Saria lets me explore the Forest Temple now since she got all the evil spirits from it.”

 

“She did? Well that’s good. Grou! Get out here!” Link yelled as he walked up to his house.

A short fat Kokiri wobbled out of his house and looked at the Hylian. “What Link?”

“Go to the Great Deku Tree and tell him to put the barrier up around the forest and to not let anyone one in. Even me.”

“B-but why?”

 

“Some bad stuff is going on and it’s better just to be safe, okay? Now go tell him.”

Link jumped onto his horse as Grou ran off as fast as his short legs could carry him. “Bye Miroku. I probably won’t be back for awhile so be good.”

“Aww...okay...”

 

“Go Epona!”

Epona took off out of the forest, and a green barrier covered the entrance.

 

                                                            -------------------------- 

 

 

Ingo was in the back barn of LonLon Ranch, milking the cows. He had stubbornly decided to stay at the ranch saying; ‘I don’t care what Link said! I’m not leaving this place!’

Suddenly a chill went up his spine. He glanced around then went back to milking. A cold voice rang out in the darkness. “Where has Malon gone?”

 

Ingo jumped up, looking around anxiously. “Wh-wh-who’s there?”

“That is none of your concern. Tell me now where she has gone!”

Suddenly gathered up his courage and yelled. “I’m not telling you anything! Now come out! Show yourself!!”

 

He suddenly felt something grab him by the collar and lift him up. The Sheikah growled at him and held a knife to his neck. “Tell me. Where is the little girl?!”

“Okay! Okay! She left with Talon to go to Zora’s Domain!”

“Thank you.”

He dropped Ingo, knocking over the milk bucket.

Blood flowed and fused with the spilled milk.

 

                                                   -------------------------------

 

 

“I think we should go faster Father...” Malon said. They were about halfway to Zora’s Domain, riding on horseback there.

“Oh, there’s no hurry.” Talon passively responded.

“Link wouldn’t have told us to leave if we weren’t in some kind of danger. Please Father, let’s go faster.”

 

Suddenly someone appeared in front of them, grinning. “Why, hello Malon.”

Malon was afraid. She wished Link had gone with her. “Who are you?”

“You’re scared... I can tell... Don’t worry. We’re not going to kill you. Just use you as bait.”

“B-bait...for Link?! What do you want with him?”

The shadow snickered. “The Hero of Time will prove to be very troublesome unless we take care of him quickly by-”

“Bye getting him in a place where you can all attack him at once.” Malon interrupted.

“My, aren’t you smart! Well, shall we be going?”

 

Talon charged at the shadow on his horse. “You’re not taking Malon anywhere!!”

“Fool...” He muttered, tossing three darts from his hand at the horse. The beast instantly fell, and Talon tumbled to the ground, he got up and tackled the shadow to the ground. “Quick! RUN MALON!!!”

“But..!”

“NOW!!”

 

Malon reluctantly turned her horse and yelled for it to move and it took off, towards Zora’s River. She was scared to death but wasn’t going to let them use her to kill Link. Her horse leapt over the narrow river and onto the path through Zora’s River. A shadow jumped out in front of her, which scared the horse and knocked her off. She hit the ground and before she could get up, a hand grabbed her and pulled her up. “Not getting away now girl!”

“No! Someone help!! LIIINK!!!”

 

                                                     --------------------------

 

 

Link rode to into Hyrule Market and hopped off Epona when he reached the Temple of Time. “Stay here Epona.”

A fairy had come and given him back the powder, telling him to go back and draw the Master Sword, then get the sages to fuse the powder with the blade. He didn’t know what for but knew it would help.

He walked in front of the alter and held out the Triforce of Courage. The Door of Time opened and he walked up to the Master Sword. That was it...the Blade he had used so long ago to destroy Ganondorf, the King of Evil. He slowly put his hand on it and slid it from the stone.

He felt every drop of his old power flood into him again, he loved the feeling. Slowly the hero of time swung the blade through the air then slashed quickly to the right then vertically. He smiled. “I’ve missed you my old partner... It’s time for us to fight together again!”

He slid it into his other sheath and walked out of the temple.

 

Chapter Eight

 

 

 

At Zora’s Fountain, the Zora’s were already training their army. “How many Zora’s have signed up so far Commander?”

The head Zora, Lord Midoto, thought he was so cleaver because he had already thought up military names for everyone. His only son, Isuke (is-oo-kay), was getting really annoyed at him lately because he had gotten all power-happy since King Zora’s death.

“Three hundred and fifty-two, sir,” The commander replied.

“Excellent. Where is my son?” Midoto asked.

“He went out to Lake Hylia.”

 

-------------------------

 

Isuke had already gathered up the Zoras that were staying in Lake Hylia, and was briefing them on the situation. “We’ve never had to do this before. Not many of us have ever seen real combat, but if you all stick to your training seriously, we will be able to make the greatest army ever!!”

 

Everyone cheered loudly, and then dived under water, making their way through the underground water tunnel that lead right into Zora’s Domain.

 

Isuke smiled. Those men had never fought before, but they were warriors. He knew they would stand up to any army they faced.

Isuke was a pretty tall Zora for the age 16, and had a long head fin and some red in the normally blue and white skin of a Zora.

 

Suddenly he felt like something dangerous was behind him and he dived underwater, just in time before three darts went flying over him.

 

Maneuvering quickly through the water, he swam to the side then downwards, and kicking off the bottom of the lake he shot out of the water, blindly throwing his fins out at whatever was attacking him.

Two shadowy figures jumped out of the way and threw a few other darts at him, this time bigger ones. Still airborne, the young Zora clenched his fists and a wall of blue magic flamed up around him, making the darts disintegrate as soon as they hit. He landed softly on the ground, just as his fins swept back around and clung to his arms.

 

“Who are you?! Why are you attacking me?!” Isuke demanded.

The two shadows didn’t answer; they only drew their short katanas and charged at him. Isuke didn’t have a clue who they were but he knew it was either him or them. And he didn’t feel like dieing today.

 

Without hesitating, he put his hardened fin up and blocked a slash from one, then slashed with his other fin at the shadow coming from his left, but it blocked and kicked him in his stomach. Isuke was knocked away by that attack but quickly turned it into a back-flip and landed on his feet. Okay, this wasn’t going to work; he had to get them into the water where he was more agile. One of the shadowish humanoid creatures charged towards him. Isuke jumped up, grabbing it by the shoulders and throwing it into the lake, then flipped while he was still in the air and kicked the other shadow in the back, knocking him into the lake.

 

Without waiting another moment, Isuke dived into the water with his arms spread out, his fins slashing through the shadows’ chests. They gave a cry of pain but started following him almost instantly.

The Zora smiled. They didn’t stand a chance. He stopped in his tracks, letting the shadows speed past him, and released his fins at them. They swung through the water and sliced through the under arm of each shadow.

They shrieked in pain, and swam right up to them, slammed their heads together, cracking their skulls. And with a double blow to the neck, he finished them off.

 

Giving out a sigh, he finally got a good look at them. They had silverish clothes on...and had a symbol of an eye with a red tear...

 

                                                           ----------------------

 

Tossing his shield from his arm, Link sent it strait into the head of the last of the Sheikah that had attacked him, knocking him to the ground. They all stood up again, each of them with a good amount of gashes and other wounds on them. Link grinned and held the Master Sword with both his hands, getting in Kai-Ten-Giri stance.

 

Without a word, they all crossed their arms and disappeared with a bright flash.

The Hero of Time sighed and picked up his shield, muttering; “Cowards.”

He wiped the dripping blood off his sword onto the grass and slid it back into the blue and gold scabbard.

A cold wind suddenly blew through Hyrule Field.

 

Link sighed, closing his eyes as the wind swept through his hair. There was something about this wind... something pure, untainted. But something else, something sinister in the air that was even closer...

 

                                                            ---------------------

 

“Please Mother! Let me to leave! I wish to help the Hylian people. This opponent is nothing like the Gerudos, the Hero of Time needs my help.”

 

“You cannot go. If you leave, you will become a mortal until you return. Something may happen to you...I can’t let you, Zara.”

 

“I refuse to hide here in this sanctuary while the people we are supposed to help are dieing. What are we doing to help them?!” Yelled the blue haired young fairy.

 

“We serve the Hero of Time. He will come to us when he needs assistance. We can do NOTHING else.”

 

“I can. And I will,” said Zara, turning and starting to walk out.

 

“ZARA! If you leave, the elder fairies may not allow you to come back.”

“........I will not sit and watch while these people suffer.”

She turned and walked away.

                                                           --------------------

 

It was dark, and as Link rode he saw a great light coming from Lon-Lon Ranch as well as black smoke rising high into the sky. “Lon-Lon Ranch is on fire?!”

The green clad hero was about to make Epona go into full sprint when he realized that there were two Sheikah standing at the front entrance and some on the upper fence. He was sure there was more guarding other areas too.

 

“I hope Malon left in time...”

 

Either way, he wanted to find out what was going on in there.

He rode as close as he thought he could get away with and dismounted, telling Epona to stay put. He grabbed his quiver and tied it around his waist, then took his bow and readied an arrow. “Darn...only five arrows. Hopefully I won’t have to use them though.”

There had to be something big going on in there if there were Sheikah guarding the place.

 

He hated traveling heavy but he needed to be prepared. Link opened the sack on Epona’s saddle. Nothing. Link cursed himself. He hadn’t stocked up on any weapons, the only other thing he had was the Hookshot Dampe had given him before he died... it’d have to do. He stuck it into his scabbard strap then put his hand back on the string of the bow, and slowly crept through the bushes towards the ranch.

 

When he got close enough he held out his Hookshot and let the chain fly into the chimney. It connected and pulled him up to the roof with a little thud, but it was loud enough to attract the attention of the guards. Link quickly slid down the roof, onto the ground and rolled behind a crate. Right now he was thankful for all the stealth training he had done with the Gerudos.

 

He peeked around then slipped out and got closer to fire. It was like a massive bon fire and all the Sheikah were sitting around it, and three Sheikah women were doing what looked like a type of ceremonial dance. He looked closer and saw someone on a wooden platform, and on the other side of the fire, was a massive statue of a beast-like creature with his mouth open, fangs showing, and its claws up. It was the strangest looking thing, and Link couldn’t have even described it.

‘That person...it’s ...it’s.... Ingo! No...they....killed him...’

 

Link watched in horror as two men picked up the body and threw it into the fire. It burst into flames instantly and the whole fire turned bigger, but this time it was blue. The body faded into a red energy and floated up into the statue.

‘What in the name of the goddesses is going on...?’

The fire just disappeared like a candle being blown out and everyone stood.

Time for Link to leave.

 

                                                     -----------------------

 

Malon raced down the bridge that went strait into Kokiri Forest, but was knocked back by an invisible barrier.

She quickly got up and desperately pounded on the barrier, yelling, “Help me! Please let me in!!”

After much pounding, Mido showed his freckled face and slowly walked to the barrier.

 

“Malon! It’s just you...”

 

“Quick! You have to let me in! Those people! Those people are trying to kill me!!”

 

“A-alright.”

 

He ran away then came back a few seconds later. “It’s down.”

Malon walked up to Mido. “Thank you,” She grinned.

 

Chapter Nine

 

 

 

     Isuke knelt down next to the body of a dead Sheikah he had just killed. The sent of blood was still fresh in the air, and there were three other bloody bodies laying around that had been hacked up by the Zora’s blade-like fins.

     He closely examined the dead soldier’s belt and found that there were many small darts around it. Picking one up, he slowly put his finger on the tip. Nothing. It didn’t even sting.

     Just a normal dart...not the kind that my fellow zora died by...

     He spat on the body then stood and started walking away....and moments later, dropped.

 

                                                            ---------------------

 

 

     “It’s very kinda of you to help me Sir Link,” smiled the 16-year-old girl sitting behind Link on Epona. She had shoulder-length green hair, bright blue eyes, and wore a spell-caster’s blue cloak. She held a long white staff with a red butterfly at the top.

     “No problem. You’re just lucky I found you when I did.”

     Indeed it was lucky; she said she had been traveling from somewhere in the southern part of Hyrule when a group of Sheikah had attacked her. She had been able to fend a few off until Link had seen her, and raced over to help.

     Once they were defeated, Zara (that was the girl’s name) told Link she was traveling to find the Hero of Time, and that she was a Great Fairy’s daughter. He didn’t really believe her until she showed him her powers as a fairy. So, after that they both got on and headed to Lake Hylia, for that was where Link was headed before he ran into Zara.

     “I find it strange,” Link started, “that when you leave the Fairy Sanctuary you cease to be immortal, yet you retain your healing power as a fairy.”

     “It is because it isn’t something I was born with from leaving the Sanctuary. All fairies are taught it when they are old enough.”

     “Does that mean I could learn something like that?”

     “No. It still takes fairy blood, which is something I can’t surrender from leaving.”

     “What? But isn’t being immortal in your blood?”

     Zara sighed. She was getting kinda tired of all the questions. “No. Being in the Sanctuary makes me immortal.”

     “I see.”

     Link had expected her to start asking many questions about everything around him, since she had lived all her life in the Sanctuary, but it seemed everything was already familiar to her. Link had pictured the Fairy Sanctuary as a big temple where all the fairies lived happily together, sitting on colorful cushions and eating grapes. Maybe that was partly right, but he didn’t want to ask anymore questions.

      It was pretty much silent after that. They rode a long distance from the afternoon until sundown without stopping. Finally, Link broke the silence when he pointed at the sign.

     “Look, it says ‘Lake Hylia: 20 miles.’”

     “Are we going to stop?” Zara asked.

     “Nah, we can be there in an hour. Then rest at the Doc’s Lab. Besides, it’s too open out here... We’d be easy pray.”

     “Well, we could get there more quickly if we made Epona run.”

     “It might alert the enemy though.”

     Zara shook her head. “I can use my magic to conceal the sound....well, for a little while.”

     “Okay then. Go Epona!!”

     The horse’s hind legs sprung out behind her, kicking up rocks and dirt as she suddenly shot forward at amazing speed.

 

                                                             ------------------------

 

 

     “Haaaaa!!!”

     A curved sword swung up, and blood flew into the air. It swung down, and the body dropped to the ground.

     “Peh, I really expected more from the legendary Sheikah,” said the Gerudo warrior, sliding her two swords back behind her belt. “Eh? What’s that?”

     She saw something laying on the ground a few feet away and walked over. “A zora...”

     She kicked the body, wondering if he was dead. Looking closely, she saw his chest was moving. “Ah, he is alive.”

     Picking him up by his arm and slinging him over his shoulder, she walked back to her camp.

                                                          ------------------------------

 

 

     Link hopped down from his horse and helped Zara down, then walked up to the Lab’s door and knocked. The Doc opened the door. “Link! My, I didn’t expect you so soon. Did you use the formula I gave you?”

     “Not yet. I’m saving it for when I need it. Mind if I bring Epona in?”

     “The horse?! Why?!”

     “....I’ll explain over some tea. Can you put the pot on?”

     “Eh...yeah. I’m making eyeball frog too.”

 

     Link sipped his drink as the Doc thought about what he had just been told.

     “Hmmm....This is indeed a troubling situation,” He finally said.

     “I’m surprised you didn’t know of it. And we haven’t even found any clues on Princess Zelda’s whereabouts,” Zara said.

     Link didn’t bother asking her how she knew the Princess had been kidnapped. He thought fairies just knew stuff like that.

     “Hmm...Well, I think your best bet would be to go to Gerudo Valley to see what the Gerudo know,” the Doc said.

     “Why the Gerudo?” Link asked.

     “They’re the only people I can think of to ask about this. The Zoras and Gorons don’t know anything. And even you Great Fairies don’t know what’s going on. But think about it this way: Hyrule has a barrier all around it to keep outsiders...well, out. The desert is the only way to get into Hyrule, so...”

     Link suddenly sat-up. “So the Gerudo must know something about it since they would have had to pass through their territory to get here!”

     “Exactly.”

     Link nodded and sat back. He’d stay here for the night then head out first thing in the morning to Gerudo Valley. It was only a two-day ride from Lake Hylia, but if Epona rode there at full-speed he could probably get there in less than half the time. 

    

     An hour later after they had talked more often, Link and Zara figured out their sleeping areas. The Doc had offered his bed but Zara got out of that by saying she’d feel safer sleeping in the same room as Link. Link was sleeping in the actual Lab area of the house with Epona. He wasn’t going to get any sleep so he thought he may as well be in a room with a lot of books he could study.

     “You’re not getting any sleep?” Zara asked, after setting her sheets up on the floor.

     “Nah, there has to be someone awake to welcome any midnight guests that might show-up,” smiled Link.

     “I should stay up though. You’re the one that is going to have to fight.”

     “It’s alright; I can go four days without sleep.”

     “But... When was the last time you slept?”

     “.............Eh....you’re right...”

     He hadn’t slept at all since his one rest in Kokiri Village.

     “Okay....but you have to wake me up even if you here just a little noise outside, okay?”

     “I promise!”

                                                          -------------------------

 

 

     Isuke’s eyes slowly opened....his sight was blurry but he could tell he wasn’t in the fields of Hyrule anymore. He sat up instantly and blinked until his vision was back to normal.

     “Hey, slow down there blue-boy,” came a female voice.

     “Where am I?! And who are you?!” Isuke demanded. But then his hand went down to his stomach as a sharp pain shot through it.

     “I found you passed-out in the field so I brought you here. Why were you just laying there anyway?”

     “I’m not sure....I...Don’t remember what happened.....eh.... My stomach hurts....”

     “You probably need some food,” the Gerudo smiled, getting up to fix him a bowl of whatever was cooking in that pan.

     Isuke took a look around the place. They seemed to be in some sort of cave, lit only by the fire that the pan was hovering over.

     “You are a Gerudo aren’t you?”

     “Yeah. I am Rittowa, daughter of Nabooru.”

     “My name is Isuke, son of....” He stopped short and sighed.

     “Heh, not too proud of your father, eh?” Rittowa said, placing a bowl of stew in front of him.

     Isuke took the spoon and cautiously sipped the stew. To his surprise, it was delicious! He ravenously ate everything in the bowl then asked for more. The Gerudo got him more and he ate up. By the time he was full, he had eaten four bowls of it.

     “Ahhh....man, I feel so much better now...What’s in that stuff?”

     “....You don’t want to know.”

                                                  -------------------------------

 

     Link snored so loudly that Zara wouldn’t have been able to get to sleep even if she tried. She was reading a thick book on Hyrule history, and was already half-way though.

     She sighed, bored with the part she was reading, and looked out the window just in time to see something move swiftly across the lake. Zara stiffened. She dropped to the floor and crawled over to Link, tapping him on the shoulder. But Link, being the heavy sleeper that he was, didn’t move an inch.

     She moved him around a lot and when he didn’t wake up she slapped him across the face. Link’s eyes blinked open and he rubbed his cheek. “Ow...what happened?”

     “Something is out there,” Zara whispered.

     Link nodded and reached for his scabbard, drawing his sword. “I’m gonna jump on Epona. I want you to open the door for me and I’ll rush out.”

     “But is that wise?”

     “Trust me; I know what I’m doing. I want you to hide up in the attic as soon as you open the door and stay there until I take care of them all.”

     “I can help though! I didn’t come here from my Sanctuary just to watch you fight!”

     Link sighed. “....Alright.” He reached down and pulled a dagger from his boot. “Here, keep this.”

     Zara nodded and took the dagger in her left hand, her staff in her right.

     Link jumped on top of Epona, the Master Sword in his left hand, ready to destroy anything that threatened its owner.

     “Alright, let’s go!”

 

                                                                           Chapter Ten

 

 

 

 

     Zara stiffened. She dropped to the floor and crawled over to Link, tapping him on the shoulder. But Link, being the heavy sleeper that he was, didn’t move an inch.

     She moved him around a lot and when he didn’t wake up she slapped him across the face. Link’s eyes blinked open and he rubbed his cheek. “Oww...what happened?”

     “Something is out there,” Zara whispered.

     Link nodded and reached for his scabbard, drawing his sword. He slowly moved towards the window and peeked out. There were more than ten dark figures making their way towards the lab.

     “Great... There are ten of them. Probably more around the other end too.”

     “What are you going to do?”

     Link sat there and thought for a second. “I’m going to have to take out as many as I can before they know what’s going on...” He snapped his fingers. “I got it.”

     Reaching into one of the bags on Epona’s saddle, Link pulled out three bombs, then concentrated Din’s magic into the tip of his finger. “Okay, I want you to stay here and-”

     “No Link!” Zara said. “I didn’t come here to just watch you fight! I can fight to. The only reason you had to help me last time was because they caught me off guard. I know how to use my staff as a weapon, and I can use a little attack magic.”

     Link sighed. “Alright then. Wait for me to tell you to come out.”

     He grabbed onto the ladder at the side of the wall and climbed up to a small platform, then slowly pushed open a trapdoor in the ceiling. He sighed with relief when it didn’t creek and pulled himself up onto the flat blue roof.

     It was a dark night, the clouds were covering the moon so there so no light from anywhere. The night was cool, yet Link felt no breeze as he slowly crept behind the chimney and looked around. He couldn’t hear their movements, or see them now.

     Oh great...

     Link kept his breathing shallow, but it sounded like someone sawing a log to him in the silence. None of the usual sounds could be heard that night, no crickets chirping, no birds crowing, no wolfos’ howling...nothing. His own breathing was all he could hear.

     Sages...please help me.

     The clouds slowly moved away and the half moon gave off a little more light than it usually would have. Link looked at both sides of him and saw two Sheikah on either side that had been creeping towards him. As soon as they realized he noticed them, they both leaped towards him, their short katanas drawn. Link’s hands shot to the top of the chimney, and quick as a flash he pulled himself up, making the two Sheikah crash into each other. He did a quick back-flip and landed on top of the chimney. The young hero quickly glanced around and saw there were about five Sheikah on each side of the lab. Link grabbed two bombs from his belt and touched the tips of the fuse with his burning fingers and threw one down to the right side of the house, then jumped completely off the chimney, tossing the other bomb down at the Sheikah below him just as the first bomb exploded.

     The second one blew as soon as Link landed on the bridge (the one that goes across to the little piece of land that stood above the Water Temple).

     Gotta be more careful with this last one...that almost hit the house.

     Link pulled out the last bomb and lit it, then quickly raced through the gory leftovers of the Sheikah that had been blown-up. As soon as he was in sight of the Sheikah that were around the other side, he did a quick roll to dodge a barrage of darts that came at him, then tossed the bomb over at them. They looked like they were expecting it, but Link had waited long enough so that it exploded right before they jumped away.

     He didn’t have anymore bombs, and the only Sheikah that were left was the five on the last side of the lab, who had come out and were approaching him. Apparently he had miscounted or something because now there were seven.

     Zara, who had realized that Link had used all three bombs, ran outside and cringed at the bloody sight of the Sheikah guts, skulls, and other such body parts that had been ripped apart from the bomb explosion.

     She shook her head and ran next to Link.

     “You ready?” He asked, not moving his eyes from the shadow warriors in front of him.

     “Uh-huh,” Zara replied simply. She held her staff out and sent a flash of solar magic at the Sheikah, stunning them. Link, with the Master Sword in both hands, raced towards them, and stabbed right through the one up front, then kicked him away so that his sword came out, and punched another Sheikah in the face.

      Zara came running up behind him, jumped onto his shoulders, then leaped off, ramming her staff into the face of the Sheikah at the very back, making his nose get crushed back into his head.

     A Sheikah attacked Link with both a katana and a dagger about ten inches long. He swung his dagger at him and Link grabbed the arm, then slashed at him, which the Sheikah blocked. The green-clad hero twisted the Sheikah’s arm, and a nasty ‘snap’ was heard. The arm went limp and dropped the dagger. Link back-kicked another opponent that was coming up behind him, grabbed the dagger, and stuck it into the Sheikah behind him, then slashed across the chest of his other opponent that had held the dagger. He quickly knocked him down then jumped on top of him, crushing his ribs.

     Meanwhile, Zara had shot a fireball directly into the face of the Sheikah she was fighting, and while he was gripping his face and screaming in pain, she put him out of his misery by swinging her staff into his neck, snapping it instantly. Five down. Two to go.

     Link hopped off of the body but was met by a slash across his back. He turned around and ducked just in time to dodge another slash, then swung his leg around for a sweep. The Sheikah’s legs were kicked out from under him and he hit the ground on his back, then rolled out of the way, barely dodging Link’s downward stab. He threw a dart up at him, but the aim was off so it only made a little cut on his cheek.

     The young fairy smacked her adversary with the end of her staff across his cheek, but he quickly retaliated by kicking her in her stomach. She doubled over in pain, and the Sheikah raised his weapon to drive it into her. Amazingly, she was able to put up her staff and throw him back.

     “Fountain Burst!!” She yelled, driving her staff into the ground. The ground under the Sheikah started rumbling and a gush of water broke out, lifting him into the sky. She jumped up and brought her staff down towards him, but before it could hit, he had crossed his arms and disappeared.

     Zara dropped to the ground and turned to see Link finish off his opponent.

 

     The Sheikah ran at Link and forced his sword towards him. Fortunately, Link stepped back so the sword didn’t go very deep into his left shoulder. The pain made him drop the master sword, and he stepped back, the hand that was over the wound still holding the dagger. The Sheikah grinned from under his mask. “To think, it’ll be me that defeated the Hero of Time!”

     What happened after that seemed to go in slow-motion. He ran towards Link and stretched out his arm to stab him. Link swung his dagger outward, knocking the sword away, then jumped up, doing a back-flip-kick, which sent the Sheikah flying to the edge of the Lake. Link ran, and then did a cartwheel to cover the rest of the distance, and at the end he slammed it down into the shadow’s chest.

      Stopping for a second and panting heavily, Link kicked the body into the Lake, and it slowly sunk down....

 

                                                      -------------------------

 

     “So, about these warriors that have been killing people around Hyrule...” Rittowa started.

     “They’re the Sheikah aren’t they?” Isuke muttered.

     “That’s my guess,” she shrugged. “I was sent out from my tribe with my two sisters to find out who they are, and if they’ll be a threat to us.”

     “What happened to your sisters?”

     “They...died.”

     “While fighting the Sheikah?”

     “Yes...”

     “Ah, I see now. It’s not so much an investigation anymore is it? It’s more like a quest for revenge.”

     She didn’t say anything.

     “Well, look... I have my own score to settle with these shadow people. But right now I am looking for someone to aid me in my fight against them. Why don’t you join me and we can fight them together?”

     “Heh....Sounds good.”

     Isuke smiled a bit and nodded.

     I need to find Link...He is the one that can really help us defeat these monsters that have invaded our lands...

 

                                                  --------------------------------

 

     Link dropped back and sighed, leaning against a wall inside the lab. Zara walked up to him. “Here, I can heal your wounds.”

     Link nodded and slowly pulled the top of his tunic down and unbuttoned his under shirt. “Are you okay?”

     Zara nodded. “Just a little cut and a bruise.”

     She put her hands over the stab wound in his shoulder and it started to glow until it disappeared. The fairy took a cloth she had soaked and whipped off the blood.

     She was working on the cut on his back when the door opened and the Doc walked in sleepily.

     “Eh....What was all that racket I heard earlier?”

 

Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

     A bead of sweat rolled down Link’s face as he looked up at the raging waterfall. “....Up.....there?”

     The Doc nodded. “It’s the safest way to get into Gerudo Fortress.”

     “Safe?! You call climbing up the side of a massive waterfall safe?”

     “I mean...The best way to get in without being detected. They won’t expect it.”

     “There’s a reason for that.”

     “Fine,” The Doc shrugged. “But the entrance to Gerudo Valley is heavily guarded now. They won’t let you in.”

     Link sighed. He wasn’t really sure what to do. He had only woken up a few hours ago, about thirty minutes after 11:00pm.

     “I’m not sure if I can climb that anyway... The surface is too flat.”

     “Hmm...That is a problem.”

     Link shook his head and walked back to the lab, where Zara was still sleeping peacefully. He pulled Epona out of the house and looked out at the lake. The rays from the bright sun high in the sky made it look like there were little diamonds sparkling across the surface of the massive lake. Link smiled a little at the sight, and then started packing his stuff onto Epona’s saddle.

     Zara stumbled out of the house, yawning. “Are we leaving?” She asked, rubbing her eyes.

     “In a little while. Get your stuff together.”

     “Are we going to Gerudo Valley?”

     “I’m...not sure yet. Doc says it is being heavily guarded right now and the only other way to get in would be from the water-fall....which I can’t climb. Besides, I have this feeling I should check on Kokiri Village...”

     “A feeling? Like, something is wrong there?”

     “Not sure...”

     Link finished strapping his stuff to Epona then climbed up onto her saddle, and pulled Zara up after him as the Doc was walking towards them. “You two leaving already?”

     “Yes,” Link nodded. “Kokiri Forest isn’t that far from here so I thought I’d check on everyone there.”

     “Alright then,” the Doc said, then pulled out a jar of black powder. “Here, I made a little magic powder for you. Just dip the tip of your arrows in it, then concentrate Din’s Fire magic on the arrow-head, and there you go! Explosive Arrows!”

     “Great, thanks. That’ll be a lot better than carrying around bombs.” Link grabbed the bottle.

     “Well, go get a move on Link!”

     Link nodded, “Let’s go Epona!”

     Epona nayed then took off out of Lake Hylia.

 

                                                            --------------------------------

 

     As Isuke and Rittowa walked across the fields of Hyrule, both of them could tell that the Sheikah’s constant killing was destroying Hyrule’s own life-force. The normally green field was now turning brown, the trees and plants were dieing. It made Isuke sick.

Rittowa, however, just was glad that she could feel grass under her feet, since where she came from there was nothing but sand.

     Most of their traveling was in silence, only the occasional word here and there, until Isuke saw two figures on horse-back ride into the woods.

     “I wonder who that is...” Isuke muttered.

     “What are you talking about?” Rittowa asked.

     “Over there. Two people on a horse rode just into the forest.”

     “Do you think they’re Sheikah?”

     “Let’s find out, shall we?”

     Isuke ran down the hill towards the forest, Rittowa closing following.

 

    

     The Zora and the Gerudo made their way through the ‘thin’ forest, following the hoof tracks. Bright rays of light shone down from breaks in the trees, right onto some of the tracks, but the rest were harder to find whenever the horse had gone into more grassy areas.

     “From the maps I’ve studied,” Isuke started, “I’d say we’re in Kokiri Forest right now.”

     “Kokiri Forest? Never heard of it,” Rittowa shrugged.

     “Not many do. I only know of it because Link, the Hero of Time, told me about it. He’s drawn maps showing the location.”

     “Why? Why would he do that? Isn’t it secret for a reason?”

     “Of course, but he said if there is ever danger, Kokiri Forest would be the safest place to go. It’s weird that we entered it so easily.

     A scream suddenly rang-out from somewhere in the forest, saying something, but the two warriors couldn’t tell what.

     “Let’s go!”

     They both took off running towards it, but were stopped when four wolfos jumped out from behind some bushes. “Argh...Darn it!” Isuke growled, his fins growing and the edges sharpening. Rittowa pulled out her curved blades from behind her waist and slashed away a wolfos that jumped over to attack her. Another wolfos pounced towards Isuke, thrashing his claws like mad. Isuke put up his fin to block, then swung around with his other, slicing the wolfos’ head clean off. Rittowa jumped over another wolfos, and brought her sword down, cutting it completely in half. Isuke finished off the last one by simply side-stepping an attack and doing his ‘flip-stab’ attack to kill the wolf.

     “Pitiful creatures,” Rittowa spat.

     “Quick!” Isuke yelled, taking off towards where they heard the scream.

 

                                                                         -----------------------------

 

     “Where are we now?” Zara asked as she and Link entered the woods.

     “These are the Lothrein Woods,” Link replied. “It’s another way to get into Kokiri Forest.”

     “Oh, I see.”

     They made their way through the forest until it got a bit thicker. “We’re almost there.” Link hopped off his horse and walked up to a tree, and then raised his hand. “What...? The barrier....it’s not here...”

     He dashed away from the tree, heading towards Kokiri Village.

     “Link! Wait!” Zara called, jumping off Epona and following him.

    

     Link raced down a steep hill, but tripped on a rock and tumbled through so bushes, out into an opening. “Argh...”

     He slowly got up and froze at the sight he saw. Everywhere....lay bodies of the Kokiri. Everyone he had grown-up knowing...they were all there, laying on the floor.

     Link stumbled over to Mido’s body, and dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “No....no...why....why did this happen....they were supposed to be safe...”

     Zara ran up behind him. “Oh...my...” she didn’t finish. With rage, hate, and sadness all mixed together, Link yelled out an ear-splitting scream, his magic energy blasting out of his body, knocking Zara all the way back into the bushes.

      “I....will....KILL THEM ALL!!!” Link screamed, his voice not his own anymore. The magic energy was engulfing him, roaring like a storm. With one last cry, Link took off into the Lost Woods.

     “Link! Wait! Don’t go!!” Zara yelled.

 

     Isuke and Rittowa raced down the hill and stopped right behind the fairy.

     “Who are you?” Rittowa demanded, drawing her sword.

     Zara turned around and looked at them both, then recoiled at the sight of the sword. “I-I’m Zara....who are you?”

     “I ask the questions here, missy.”

     “Rittowa...” Isuke said. “Everyone is dead.”

     Rittowa looked around and her eyes widened at the sight of all the dead Kokiri.

     The red Zora kneeled down and looked closely at the wound. “This was done by the Sheikah. It’s the same tiny hole over the heart...”

     “Link....went into the Lost Woods...”

     “What?! Link was here?” Isuke exclaimed.

     “Yes....He ran into the Lost Woods after he saw all the bodies. W-we have to go after him!”

     Isuke nodded and Zara ran to the entrance of the Lost Woods, the Zora and Gerudo following closely behind.

 

                                                    ---------------------------

 

     Link stomped through the entrance of the Forest Temple, his eyes blazing red, his fist clenched so tight that his finger-nails were digging into his skin.

     “Where are you?!” Link snarled. “I know you’re here Sheikah!”

     A green light appeared before the enraged hero, slowly turning into the form of a young girl with green hair.

     “What in Hyrule is the matter with you Link?!”

     “Out of my way!” Link yelled, back-handing the Kokiri across the face. The force knocked her into the wall and she dropped to the ground.... unconscious.

     Three stalfos sprung from the ground as Link approached the center of the great hall. Without batting an eye-lid he unsheathed the Master Sword cut through them all, then crushed the elevator in the center of the room and jumped down the hole. He landed on the carpeted area and found a female Sheikah staring him right in the face. She looked 18 and was wearing the same kind of outfit Impa wore, except with a little cloth around the breast-plate she used as a top.

     “So, you finally show-up, Hero of Time,” She smirked. “How did you like the little display we set up for you?”

     Link growled. “I’m going to rip out your heart you piece of-”

     “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not going to fight you...just yet. Have fun with my pet.” She turned around, crossed her arms and disappeared.

     “You dare turn your back to me?!”

     He heard a door open and spun around, looking at the beast before him. At first he thought it was a wolfos, but this thing was standing on its hind legs, drooling and snarling.

     “I will....destroy anything that gets in my way!!”

     Link’s rage started building, and his hair slowly started to fade....white. Markings appeared on his face and he grew a little, looking more mature, but, as his eyes opened....he had no pupils. The Master Sword in his hand started shaking then the blade split into two, grew longer and carefully twisted themselves around each other until they came to a point.

     Oni-Link now faced the werewolf, and silently jumped towards him, swinging his sword down. The wolfos blocked using its massive claws then lashed out with his other hand, cutting Oni-Link across the shoulder. The white-haired Link cringed, and the wolfos instantly thrashed out again, cutting him across the chest and leg. Oni-Link managed to block the last few hits and slashed out with his own sword, cutting down the side of the beast’s face. He jumped over it and sent his sword horizontally towards the wolfos’ back, slicing him in two.

Without a word, he turned away from the carcass and made his way out of the Temple.

 

                                                    --------------------------------

 

     Zara sighed. “Okay...We’re lost.”

     Rittowa sighed. “Just great...now what are we going to do?”

     Isuke